Chapter 3

Another few days passed after Jack's return before we decided it was time that we tried to get our lives back on some sense of normalcy. Although now, we weren't entirely sure what that meant. Jack had gone off to try and get his old job back, leaving me home alone with Ellie.

It felt like any regular morning would have when he was still gone. Only this time, I felt that Ellie missed Jack's presence just as much as I was. Before, she missed him just for the sake of missing him and seeing how broken I was over the whole prospect. Now that she'd begun to warm up to him a bit more, his being gone was affecting her in ways it hadn't previously.

A knock at the door brought me out of my haze. I set my newspaper back down on the table and made my way to the door. Where, to my surprise, Molly was standing. "Molly! W-what are you doing here?"

She looked at me with her infectious smile, "I thought I'd check in. You and Ellie were supposed to come for dinner last night, and when you didn't, I decided to stop by."

"Oh my goodness, I totally forgot, I'm so sorry! Come in, come in."

Molly came in and headed straight to the living room, spotting Jack's opened portfolio on the table. He'd been going through some of his old work the previous night, trying to find some inspiration to begin drawing again. It hadn't been working all that well, but he was hoping for a spark soon.

She looked to me, "Missing Jack?"

I realized that I hadn't told Molly - or anyone for that matter - that Jack was safe. I felt even worse, because how could I have forgotten to tell Molly of all people, especially after she'd treated him as if he were her own son? "Something like that." I wanted to wait to tell her. I didn't think doing right then was the best time. "Could I make you come tea?"

Once we were seated across from each other, tea in front of us, the questions started.

"So, what's new?" Molly asked, plopping a sugar cube in her cup.

All I could think about was how amazing Molly had been to me throughout the time in my life where I knew her. She would do anything for my family, and with everything she'd already done, it felt like she had. She provided us money when we were down on our luck, new parents with nothing to our names. She watched Ellie when we couldn't, acting as if offering to do so were as simple as breathing. Kindness was in her nature, and me prolonging telling her about Jack only made me feel as though I was doing a disservice to every one of her deeds.

"Molly… Jack came home a few days ago."

The news obviously stunned her, and she stopped stirring around her sugar. It took her a few seconds to recuperate, and when she did, her voice shook, "What?"

"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, it completely slipped my mind. Everything was so crazy for a while. But he's home, and he's… alright, I suppose. At least in the physical sense, he's alright."

Molly, always one for catching the smaller details, raised an eyebrow, "Are things alright between you two?"

"It's hard. He's different, I'm different, Ellie's different, and we're trying to fit back into this life we used to share… it's not easy," I paused, inhaling deeply. "I love him so much, Molly. All I want to do is hold him and make everything better, but I can't. We haven't had much time to ourselves either, which makes things difficult."

"Why don't I take Eleanor for the night, give you two both some time alone?"

I shook my head vigorously at the thought, "I couldn't possibly-"

She put her hand out, as if to stop me. "I insist."

If there was one thing I knew, it was that there was no arguing with Molly Brown. Whatever she said was law, and you just had to obey it. I didn't mind it anyway, seeing as Ellie loved her so much. They'd been a duo from the day Ellie was born, and Molly was more or less like an aunt to her. Part of me felt awful about sending my daughter away for the night just as things were starting to come back together, but seeing how excited she was for a sleepover washed all my worries away.

By the time Jack got home, it was just the two of us. I cooked his favorite meal, wanting the night to feel special. I felt as though he hadn't felt all too important since his return, and I wanted to make sure he knew just how much I appreciated him.

"What's going on?" I heard Jack call from the front door. I emerged from the kitchen, watching him look around and take in the silence. "Where's Ellie?"

"Molly took her for the night, so it's just us," I looked up at him, flashing a smile.

Jack didn't reciprocate the gesture and instead swallowed hard, obviously nervous. I knew that he was already thinking about sleeping, knowing that I'd be expecting him beside me now that our daughter isn't there. He scratched the back of his neck, "You did all of this?"

I nodded, shrugging as I walked back into the kitchen, "It's no big deal."

"You're too modest," he chuckled behind me, right on my heels.

After dinner, we retreated to the couch, where I was finally able to press myself against Jack's chest, arms wrapped around his torso. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me in close as he whispered to me, "Oh, I missed you so much. I knew I missed you when I was gone. Not a minute went by that I wasn't thinking of you and Ellie… but it was only when I got back that I realized how much I missed you, and everything about you."

I tried to find the words, touched by everything he'd said, but it had all been so perfect. He'd said all the things I wanted to. "Same here."

"I don't know how I survived so long as a nomad, moving around with no family or home." He swallowed hard, "I just know that if I had you to come home to, I wouldn't stay away for a minute longer than I had to."

"I never thought I'd end up with someone I could truly love, and I really thought the war was just the universe fixing its mistake, taking away the one person who gave me everything I ever wanted."

Jack pulled me in closer, "You'll never lose me, I promise. We'll always be together, no matter what."

"You promise?" I looked up at Jack, supposing I sounded like Ellie. She needed reassurance as much as I did. She needed reassurance just as much as I did.

"I promise." He smiled at me, and I mirrored the look, "You know I'd do anything for you. I'd move heaven and earth just to keep you in my arms."

When he rubbed my cheek with his thumb, looking back at me with the most sincere look, I knew he meant it. I supposed he already had, in a way, always found a way back to me no matter where or what was thrown at him. I leaned my head upwards, connecting our lips and bringing us closer.

He seemed nervous to be with me, oddly so, in a way he didn't used to be. I felt as though I was taking the lead, something also unusual. He wasn't uncomfortable, no, but visually nervous, which hurt, because he'd never been nervous with me before. Neither of us ever had been, not even when we were just barely adults, running away from an ex-cop turned valet and sneaking away into the depths of an ill-fated ship.

…

The problem with the night is that it brings darkness. Not just in a literal sense, but in a mental capacity as well, and for Jack that means nightmares. I'd known he'd experienced them on some degree, but it wasn't until I woke up to him screaming beside me that I truly understood the inner turmoil he was going through.

At first, I was sure that he'd been hurt, and I shot up from where I'd been laying. I quickly realized what was going on, "Jack, wake up. You're having a nightmare. Wake up!"

For a moment, it seemed to do no good. Then suddenly, he'd got ahold of my arm, his eyes opening wide, petrified and not quite grounded. His panting didn't slow down until his eyes locked with mine, and I assumed he'd figured out where he was.

"You were having a nightmare," I did my best to try and hide the concern on my face, although it was most likely as clear as day, and for once, I was thankful for the darkness.

"Oh," Jack mumbled, quickly going to stand up. I stopped him before he got the chance, turning on the bedside lamp to get a better look at him. In the lightness of the room, I was truly able to take in his features, so horrified of either the dream itself or me having witnessed the aftermath of it. When he averted his gaze away from mine, I knew it was both.

Calmly, I approached the subject, "Is this why you didn't want to sleep together? Why you looked nervous when I mentioned us having the night alone?"

He avoided my question immediately. "I'm gonna sleep in Ellie's room."

"You're not going anywhere until you answer me," I told him, still calm, yet forceful in my tone. "Listen, I know it's hard. I can't even imagine what you're thinking and feeling right now. But I need you to talk to me, because seeing the pain and sadness in your eyes and feeling like I can't ask you about it or help you is killing me."

Jack's eyes softened, and I could tell that I'd gotten through to him. He could see that this wasn't only hard for him, but for me as well. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just try to communicate as best as you can."

"I will, I promise," he wrapped his arms around me, holding me once more. "I don't want to hurt you, Rose, and I'm afraid if I stay here with you, I will."

"I'm not afraid, Jack." I smiled, pressing my hand against his cheek, "We've been through this before, with Titanic, and we got through it. I have no doubt we'll be able to do it again. And keeping our distance from each other won't help." I removed my hand after Jack nodded, "I know you're worried when it comes to Ellie, and I understand that, so if you want to sleep in her room for a while, I understand. But you don't have to distance yourself from me. I want you with me."

Jack leaned forward, kissing me. "I'll stay, I promise." He tightens his grip around my frame, holding me as close as we can get. I figured that maybe, after the nightmare he'd suffered through, enclosing us in darkness wasn't the best option, so I left the light on. I didn't really think it'd help, but I did it anyway. Before I fell asleep, Jack spoke once more. His tone portrayed his drowsiness, as well as his appreciation for what I'd said, "I love you, sweetheart."

I smiled into him, pressing my head against his chest. "I love you too."

When I awoke, it was more peaceful than the time before. The air felt lighter in a way. I smiled at nothing in particular, turning around in Jack's grasp, only to find him looking back at me. He wiped a finger across my face, moving a hair out of my eyes.

"How did you sleep?" I asked, only to stop him before he responded. "The truth this time."

Jack smiled, his finger tracing down my forehead and to my cheek, where he started rubbing it. "I slept fine."

I couldn't help but smile back. I leaned in to kiss his lips quickly, "We should take a walk to Molly's to pick up Ellie. I know Molly wants to see you."

"That sounds good." It was easy to see Jack's nervousness seeping through his simple nod of the head. I could understand why - the woman had done so much for him, and he felt entirely changed now. Like he had with me, he feared that she'd be expecting only the old him.

We untangled from each other as we got up and readied ourselves for the day, nearly forgetting about breakfast entirely. I cooked, even though Jack stood close behind me and asked time and time again if he could help. I politely declined each request, wanting him to relax and take a step back before we went to see Molly.

He looked almost far off after I denied him once more. His gaze was trained on the window and his foot again began to restlessly tap against the tiles of the kitchen. I was humming a tune to some song, swaying back and forth as I prepped our plates.

It'd been so long since I'd made breakfast with him by my side. It'd been so long since it was only the two of us in general. We hardly got any time after Ellie was born - not that we minded it, since we loved her more than anything, but it was just a big adjustment. Every now and then, I wished that someone could take her for the night so we could have a moment alone, but after Jack was gone and it was just her and I, I would never wish for something such as that again.

When we were together we were complete. I handed him a plate of food, snapping us both out of our minds. Breakfast went by smoothly with little chatter, both of us stealing glances at one another every now and then.

The walk over to Molly's was short. She lived not too far away from us, which I was thankful for. Now that Jack was home, word had quickly spread, leading to eyes on us everywhere we went. I tried to make sure he didn't see them, but I knew he noticed. He noticed everything, it seemed.

We arrived at Molly's hand in hand, and as I knocked on the door, Jack squeezed mine tighter. It took some slight back and forth banter with the housekeeper to get inside, but once we were I giddily sighed into the air, my singsong tone echoing through the room, "Molly, I have someone for you to see."

Molly entered the room almost immediately, making her way towards us. She broke the grasp Jack and I had on each other, grabbing one of his hands with both of hers, "Oh my goodness, Jack! Thank god you're alright. I'm so glad you're home safe."

"Me too," he answered. "I'm so glad to be back with my girls." He turned back and flashed me a quick smile.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Ellie bursted into the room, running towards us. I was somewhat surprised (though not disappointed) when she went to Jack first. He quickly let go of Molly and crouched down to scoop her up.

He seemed to forget that there was anyone else in the world besides her. And I loved that about him - and for our daughter, how he was the center of her universe. "Did you have fun with Aunt Molly?"

Ellie nodded. "I had so much fun, but I missed you."

I looked into Jack's face as he smiled at her, "I missed you too."

All I did was watch the moment, feeling warm and safe. Ellie was scared to leave him, I knew, but seeing them back together knocked all my previous sorrows away. They were back together. We were back together. It'd take much more than a few days to mend the lost time, but seeing her in his arms, eyes and smile wide as could be, I knew we were on the right path.

The hard, tough path, but the right path.