"Hey Rose," Jack said, more nervous than when he had attempted proposal to Vicky, "I don't quite know where to start, but there is something I need to tell you."
"What is it, honey?" Rose took his hand, smiling at him calmingly, "You don't ever have to be afraid to say anything to me, you can always share what you feel."
"Well," he gulped, "It's just that, I know we've been sort of getting together a lot and I know you've been going really slow for me and, well, I just feel bad that we've been putting off really moving forward so long, so I just thought I would take this time to say that I really appreciate how good you've been to me through all of this but I know we've never really made it official so, I was wondering," he paused again, "Would you say we're together?"
Rose laughed adoringly, realizing Jack was not used to the dating world as he had been years ago, "Well if you're trying to ask me to go steady with you, I kind of already did that on my own. I've been wanting to tell you something too, Jack. I may have taken it slow for you, but I can't begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed being with you. You make me laugh with everything you say and do, I feel so happy when I'm with you, the sight of you just makes me forget anything that was ever wrong. I know we said it before once, but now I feel I can really say, I love you, Jack. I can't remember the last time anyone has meant this much to me. When I'm at work, I think about you even when you're not there. Ever since that first day we met, I've always been so concerned for you, hoping you would never get hurt again. I've lost so many people in my life that were important to me, not just in the romance department, and I was always so afraid I would lose you as well. I hope you understand, I don't want to rush anything either, but I know in you I've found, if nothing else someone very special I don't ever want to lose."
"Rose," Jack sighed out, baffled at what she had said, "I don't know what to say. I feel the same way about you. I just feel so complete when I'm with you. When I look in your eyes I see the heart you have. I don't even know why I asked if you would go with me, because you're right, what we have needs no label or formality, but I have to ask, what did you mean by not just the romance department?"
Rose clutched his hand a bit tighter, looking down at the floor so he would not see her tear up, but he noticed, asking "Rose, what is it? Did I say something wrong?"
She shook her head silently, stifling a cry, "No you didn't. I never mentioned this because it was too fresh, but I lost my dad last year suddenly, right after my engagement broke off at that, and it's just hard to talk about because I know he'd adore you," she lost her voice and squeaked out, "I'm sorry."
"Aww no, what's to be sorry for?" he pulled her into a hug, embracing her tightly letting her cry, "I'm the one that should be sorry, I wish you had told me sooner."
"I wanted to, honey," she gasped back, "I just needed time to process it. It's not easy having so many losses that close together."
"I know it isn't," Jack whispered sincerely, trying not to choke up again and make things worse on her, "Makes what I went through seem like nothing, doesn't it?"
Rose cleared her throat, "Don't say that, Jack, you were in pain too and I understand that. I'm just grateful to have you in my life at all, I don't know if I could have gotten through all this had I not met you."
She pulled back yet again to look at him, only to notice he was smiling from ear to ear, causing a dimple to show, and laughed through her crying, then gushed when she noticed remnants of a fallen tear stream which had been stopped where his dimple was. She leaned over and kissed down the stream, drying it away, as if to tell him,
"You didn't have to cry for me!" Suddenly without thinking, they both leaned in and kissed deeply. Both of their hearts raced, even though Jack had kissed her before spontaneously, this was their first kiss as a couple, officially. After they had parted ways and went home, both were floating inside like they never had before.
Later that day...
When Jack got home, the phone had rung. Much to Jack's surprise, it was Chrissy Snow, his other former roommate. Jack wondered why she would be calling after all this time.
"Chrissy!" he said excitedly, "How in the world have you been? How did you even get my number? I don't remember giving it to you after I moved?"
"You didn't, Jack" she giggled, "Janet gave it to me! I heard your good news too! I'm really sorry things didn't work out with your last relationship, but Janet told me you've met another special girl?"
"Oh, special," he said enthusiastically "Special doesn't even cut it! She's incredible! I was hurting so bad and she didn't even rush things at all! We just spent time together until both of us felt comfortable and in fact, today we sort of made it official!"
Chrissy squealed, "That is so sweet, Jack! You think you guys will ever get married? Because if you do, I want to be there! And Janet better be invited too!"
"Well, I don't know just yet about marriage," Jack said, "But believe me, if it happens, you will definitely be invited! You and Janet are like sisters to me, I'd be a fool not to have you both there!"
"Oh Jack," Chrissy melted, "I am so honored! I really do hope things work out for you guys, I'd love to meet her some time!"
"You will, Chrissy, don't worry." Jack laughed, "I can't tell you how great it is to talk to you! I don't know if Janet told you, we ran into each other at the Regal Beagle, that was how she found out about Rose! She was waitressing that day!"
"Rose," Chrissy said, taking in what she was being told, "That is such a beautiful name too, it sounds like you two were meant to be!"
"I'll say!" Jack beamed to himself, "So what's been going on with you?"
They had talked for almost an hour catching up. Jack learned that Chrissy had just met someone herself and was getting serious, and her cousin, Cindy, who also lived with Jack and Janet for some time, had just had a baby with her husband of a year and a half as well. Things appeared to be looking up for everyone. After they had finished the call, Jack made himself dinner and sat down to rest, contently thinking of Rose and how happy he was to have her in his life as well as being reunited with both of his old friends.