Jack and Rose contently sat on a bench under a gazebo holding hands and staring in amazement at the scenery. Birds chirping, trees swaying in a light breeze, and the calming sound of passers by sharing happiness with their own families and loved ones. As wonderful as that all was, both of their hearts burst with the unbreakable love they had grown to feel so deeply. It had been exactly a year since they had met, and their feelings toward one another had never changed one bit.
Jack suddenly looked over at Rose, "Can you believe we have been together for over a year? It seems like just yesterday we met."
"It sure does, doesn't it?" Rose leaned on him, "I have to say though, I have had the best times in my life when I am with you."
Jack could not help but smile at that, once again revealing that prominent dimple, "I can say the very same about you, Rose. When I am with you, none of my troubles exist anymore, it's incredible. I can't remember the last time I've been with anyone this long and something didn't go wrong."
"I know," Rose replied with obvious affection in her voice, "You've had it really hard recently, but that's all over now and I don't know about you, but I am glad we're together."
"So am I, Rose," he said beaming, "In fact there's been something I have wanted to say to you that's been kind of hard to say."
"What is it, babe?" she asked him, once again drawn heavily to those blue eyes.
"Well, I just never thought I would be able to love again after what happened with Vicky, but the moment I met you it was like, I knew if nothing else, I had found someone I could, at the very least, count on at my lowest time."
"You can, baby," Rose took both his hands in hers, "Always, I promise."
"Even if I fall face first down the stairs or trip over the sidewalk?" Jack lovingly joked.
"Honey, if it came to that, I'd catch you! In fact," she stood up "Come over here, I have something I want to say too."
"What's that?" he asked in suspense.
"Jack," Rose began, "I don't know where to start when it comes to just how deeply I feel for you. Nobody I have ever been with makes me feel the way you do. When I look at you or even think about that adorable face of yours, all my troubles are gone too. You make me smile so much."
"Oh, come on..." Jack looked down at the floor and closed his eyes in a blush, when he opened them, he could not believe what he was seeing.
Rose continued, much to Jack's surprise, on one knee, "I think I know what it is you wanted to say to me, because I want to say the same thing. I know it's not the usual thing to do, but I just can't help it! I love you, I love everything about you, with all my heart and soul. You are so beautiful to me, Jack Tripper, will you marry me?"
Jack's heart melted, suddenly realizing not only what was happening, but that she had mentioned the very song she hummed to him that first visit to his apartment.
"Oh Rose," he replied breathlessly, "I thought you'd never ask! I'd wanted to ask but seeing as how this time last year, getting rejected, I couldn't form the words!
Of course I will!"
Rose stood up and simply took him into her arms, softly humming into his ear once again, swaying in that familiar gentle hold.
The next day...
Rose once again paced the Regal Beagle, scurrying to take orders, very distracted by the realization of her recent engagement. Moments later, none other than Jack's former landlord, Ralph Furley, entered the pub with his wife of one year, Donna.
"Hey, pretty lady," he called flirtatiously, "How about we get a little service over here, if you know what I mean!"
"Ralph, stop it!" Donna playfully slapped him, "You can't be flirting with the waitresses every time we go anywhere!"
"Why not?" Mr. Furley said, obliviously, "It's what I do best! After all, that is how we met, isn't it?"
"That's just my point, Ralph!" Donna said, "You're supposed to be flirting with me!"
Rose could not help but giggle overhearing that, and spoke up, "Hello, you two, what can I get for you today?"
"Two tomato sandwiches, please!" Donna answered before he even could start, "I can't have my husband flirting with every waitress on the planet!"
"Oh, come on, Donna," he begged, "I wasn't gonna flirt!"
"Right, Ralph," she laughed, "You can't help yourself, you're worse than my high school prom date!"
Rose interjected, laughing as well, "I'll be right back with your sandwiches." She walked off giggling to herself, wondering if this is what she was in for.
She returned with the sandwiches and spoke up, "You know, you guys really crack me up. I just got engaged yesterday and all I can think is, is this what marriage is like?"
"Well, not always," Mr. Furley said, dragging out 'well', "If you marry young it's a bit easier, 'cause you have time to get used to your spouse, but when you've lived most of your life, sometimes it can be a pain."
"Ralph!" Donna snapped
"Let me finish!" he griped, "Even though it can have its ups and downs, those wonderful moments shared always make it worth it."
"I have no doubt," Rose said with an affectionate sigh, "I've been engaged before but that didn't go well, I think this one may be different though. He's had it really hard, but we have done so well together, I just had to go for it."
"You mean, you proposed?" Mr. Furley said, surprised.
"Actually, yes I did," Rose shook her head, "I could tell he wanted to, but he had a hard time getting the words out because of his last rejection, the poor thing."
"Oh, that's a shame," Mr Furley responded, "I hope it works out for you guys."
"Me too," Rose sort of spaced out, "I don't know what I'd do if it didn't, we've both lost loves before so we're kind of holding each other up, but Jack's been so wonderful about everything."
Mr. Furley's eyes widened, "Jack? That's funny, I had a tenant named Jack a few years ago."
It was Rose's turn to be surprised, once again, "Tenant, wait a minute, you must be Mr. Furley!" Rose exclaimed with familiarity.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" he asked, "Don't tell me your fiance is Jack Tripper."
Rose laughed in total disbelief, "As a matter of fact, yeah! He did tell me about you awhile back, but I always thought you'd be more the business type, but you seem fun!"
"Yeah I can be," he said with self pride, "You have to be, these days."
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from the back, "Rose! Once again, what did I tell you about fraternizing with the customers?"
Rose exhaled in annoyance, "Yes, Doug, I know, I'm on it!" and went back to work, leaving the couple to eat.
Later that day...
Back at his apartment, Jack seemed to be floating on air as the blissful effects of his engagement were still in full force. He seemed to be in such great spirits as he glided into the kitchen to prepare dinner, cleaning the table without even thinking. "I'm getting married!" he said to himself, quietly celebrating.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and a familiar voice rang out, "Jack, you in there? It's me!"
Jack's mouth went to the floor and he quickly put a fork down on the table, muttering to himself, "I don't believe this!"
He opened the door in complete surprise, "Mr. Furley!" Jack exclaimed, "What on earth are you doing here? Come on in!"
Mr. Furley stepped into the apartment, hugging his old friend and former tenant, "I just wanted to stop by and say congratulations! I heard the good news!"
"Gosh, Mr. Furley," Jack said, flabbergasted, "Thanks a lot, but how did you find out? We haven't spoken in years!"
Mr. Furley just grinned in his usual way, "I ran into Rose down at the Regal Beagle, she told me she proposed to you, is that true? What ever happened to you and that girl Vicky you moved in with?"
"Yeah she did," Jack smittenly beamed, "I wanted to, but I couldn't get the words out, it was too painful."
"Painful?" Mr. Furley said, confused, "Why would proposing marriage be painful?"
"See," Jack began, "Last year on Valentine's Day, I tried to ask Vicky again, thinking she might be more relaxed since we'd lived together for years and worked out,
but she not only reminded me of her marital fears, but says out of nowhere that she was afraid if we got married, I wouldn't be able to support her properly because my restaurant went out of business!"
"Your restaurant went out of business?" Mr. Furley responded, bewildered, "I'm so sorry to hear that, and I'm sorry you and Vicky didn't work out!"
"Yeah, I am too," Jack said, trying to block out the painful memory, "After Vicky left the restaurant, I just started crying at the table and Rose overheard me, so what does she do but come to check on me before taking the order, and she tells me about how her ex fiance broke off their engagement at Thanksgiving in front of her family and his!"
"Aww, that's sweet, Jack," Mr. Furley said, "So she got you back on your feet then?"
Jack had to smile again, "Yeah, she did. After we talked for a few minutes, I was so broken up, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I apologized for being emotional but Rose put her hand on my back and just said it was okay to cry and held me for an hour straight! Let me tell you, not even Janet, Chrissy or Terri ever did that for me!"
"You've certainly got yourself a keeper, Jack," Mr. Furley said with sincerity, "I got married myself a year ago, to an old high school sweetheart, can you believe that after all these years?"
"I sure can't, Mr. Furley," Jack exhaled, "You a married man? As I recall, you were always flirting with the ladies and trying to teach me a thing or two!"
"Yep, we've sure come a long way," Mr. Furley said, "A lot can happen in three years."
"It sure can," Jack said, "But listen, since we're old friends and you know Rose, I have a really big favor to ask of you. You don't have to do this but I know it would mean the world to Rose if you did this."
"Sure Jack," Mr. Furley agreed, "What is it? I'd do anything to help you kids out!"
"Mr. Furley," Jack began, "See, Rose's father died just before we met and I didn't find this out until months later, so I was wondering, would you give her away at our wedding? It would mean so much to me and her."
Mr. Furley's mouth dropped, "Why, Jack, I don't know what to say," he almost lost his voice for a moment, "I would be honored. I've never had any kids of my own so this is real special."
Jack hugged his former landlord once more, "Thank you so much, Mr. Furley," he said, "I know Rose will appreciate this too, she didn't take losing her dad too well."
"I know how that is, Jack," Mr. Furley empathized, his voice slightly cracking, "I just hope I don't cry at the wedding, you're already like a son to me and now this would be like giving my own daughter away. I can't tell you how grateful I am."
Mr. Furley stayed for dinner and the two continued to talk more about the wedding plans and Mr. Furley told Jack more about his new wife and what to expect in new marriage, just as he did with Rose, and after that day, Jack and Rose continued to discuss wedding plans and the guest list. Rose decided Janet would be her Maid of Honor while Larry would be Jack's Best Man. Everyone was so excited, including Jack and Rose, but the most touched of all was Mr. Furley. Finally after all the years gone by, he was finally getting, in a sense, the family he never had, and Jack was finally getting someone he loved as well.