He looked from the staff to Rose's face and realized who was standing on him.

"Rose?" he said in disbelief.

"Got that right, Dragon Boy," Rose growled. "You and I have a score to settle."

She raised her staff, Jake squeezed his eyes shut, and Rose thrust her staff down. Jake realized he wasn't dead and opened his eyes to see the tip of the Hunts staff buried into the ground. Rose squatted beside him and lifted his head in her hands. She did something none of them would expect. She lowered her head and kissed him right on his dragon lips. Jake just stared at her, too stunned to speak. Rose laughed and kissed him a second time. She would have kept on kissing him, but at some point she would have to explain herself. Though Jake didn't look like he minded the kisses. Rose quickly stood up and put a little distance between her and Jake.

He stood and had this 'why'd you stop' look on his face. Rose covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

"Uh…sorry about that," she apologized, knowing full well that she wasn't. "I guess you're all wanting an explanation, but I don't think the middle of Central Park is the place to give it."

"Where do you suggest we go?" Fu Dog asked snappishly.

"Any place that has little to no people," Rose answered.

"I know a place, " Jake said.

Rose smiled at him and went back to retrieve her duffle bag. She put the Hunts staff in it and Lao Shi picked up the bag. He transformed into his dragon form and Fu climbed onto his back.

"Hop on," Jake said to Rose with a smile.

She timidly got on his back and held on to his shoulders.

"Better hold on to my neck," Jake said over his shoulder.

Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and Jake smiled to himself. Lao Shi took to the air first, followed by Jake. Rose nervously buried her face into the back of Jake's neck, not at all wanting to look down.

"Easy, babe," he said softly. "You're not going to fall."

Rose was still not going to look down, so instead she focused on the green spines on Jake's neck. She fiddled with them causing Jake to squirm.

"Gah! Rose, stop that!" he cried.

Rose laughed and said in a low voice, "Why?"

"Because!" Jake said.

Rose didn't think a dragon could be ticklish, but apparently they could.

"Well if you're going to be snappy, I just won't touch you anymore," she teased, letting go of his neck and crossing her arms.

"Aww, man," Jake groaned playfully.

Rose laughed and hugged his neck. Soon they landed on the roof of a building that resembled a garden. Rose slid off Jake's back, rather reluctantly, and took her bag from Lao Shi.

"What's in there anyway?" Fu Dog asked.

"A change of clothes, a map, a little food and the Hunts staff, " Rose said. "Not that it's good for anything. All its powers are gone, so basically all you can do is hit someone with it."

"Then why do you keep it?" Fu asked suspiciously.

Rose shrugged and said, "Hey, something's better than nothing. Ninja skills are good, but when you're up against a creature like the Jersey Devil, you need something to even out the odds."

"You mean that freak's still around?" Jake asked, surprised.

"He's every bit alive as you are," Rose said. "Getting into situations like that is what brought me here."

She sighed and knew it was time to begin her explaining.

"After I set Jake free on the Hunts Clan's Grand Equinox Hunt, I took this very Hunts staff and headed for the hills," Rose began. "I couldn't go home, because I knew my uncle would've found out what I'd done and I would be toast. So I ran away as far as I could. I skipped from state to state, never staying in one place long. For each town I settled in, I had a different name and a different look. In Georgia, I was a redhead with green eyes named Lela. I think I was Allison in Oregon, but I can't remember what color hair I had. I think in California I was Mandy with light brown hair and lavender eyes. No matter how far in the states I went, or how many times I changed identities, I couldn't feel safe. I stayed in Canada about a year, which I hated every minute of. So I went east, to Asia and Europe. Those two kept me occupied for about three years. Then on to Australia, I mainly left it because of the Australian Dragon. His stupid, loud mouth almost led the Dragon Council right to me. I suppose I owe him some credit, because he did inform me that the Hunts Clan had given up the search for me. That also influenced my decision to leave. Instead of coming straight to New York, I hung out in Jersey, just to make sure the coast was clear. Then homebound I became."

"I'll bet you left behind a trail of broken hearts," Jake commented.

Rose shook her head.

"The only guy I had multiple contact with was Fred Nerk in Australia," a look of disgust on Jake's face, "and no, Jake, I didn't date him. He was plainly my information provider."

"Information on what?" Fu spat. "The Top Ten Ways to Make Out?"

Rose's normally gentle eyes went dark and stormy.

"I only wanted information on two things: who was after me and how the American Dragon was doing," Rose said tensely. "We had an understanding from day one. If he ever made a move on me, I'd snap his lizard neck in half and leave his rotten corpse in the Outback for the dingoes to munch on."

She turned her back to Fu and looked at Jake. Her angry expression softened and she managed to smile.

"I swear to you, Jake, Nerk and I never did a thing," she said. "I did think about trying to date, but I couldn't do it. There was only one guy I wanted, and I wouldn't settle for a substitute."

"So why, exactly, did you come back?" Lao Shi asked.

Rose looked at him and said, "I eventually figured out that I'd never really be safe from Hunts Man, and his hatred of me ranks right up there with dragons. I saw that I was a sitting duck, running around by myself with nothing to protect me but an empty shell of a Hunts staff. The fight with the Jersey Devil right before I came back drove the point home. I realized that the most powerful weapon I had was right in front of me the whole time and is right in front of me now."

Jake grinned and pulled Rose in for a hug. Lao Shi smiled and looked away.

"So tell me," Jake said quietly so that only Rose could hear. "What was that all about back at the park?"

Rose smiled and looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling.

"I missed you," she said.

Jake's heart skipped a beat when those words came out. He'd never been missed before. Rose snuggled closer in his embrace. Wow! She was the affectionate type, very affectionate. You wouldn't look at a dragon and think it as a cuddly critter, but apparently, Rose did. Jake was enjoying the warm feeling all over, but Fu Dog's voice interrupted their moment.

"I, uh hate to break this up, but I think you guys may want some lunch before we change the name to supper," Fu said.

"Okay Fu," Jake chuckled. "We'll be down in a minute."

Fu and Lao Shi understood that the two needed a few minutes alone and went downstairs. Rose realized they must've been on the roof of the electronics shop. She and Jake were glad for the little bit of alone time.

"Let me see your human form," Rose said quietly.

Jake released her and stepped back. Rose wrapped her arms around herself, both bracing herself and trying to replace the warmth that left with him. He closed his eyes and transformed. Rose was stunned at what she saw. Jake still looked basically the same, except he was much taller and definitely bulkier than he'd been at thirteen. His hair was in its same characteristic style, and his clothes bore the same basic color scheme.

"Well?" Jake asked with a smile.

Rose smiled and said, "Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor."

They both laughed.

"I didn't think it was possible," Jake said, "but you get more beautiful with time."

Rose blushed and looked down at her feet. Jake was totally smitten by the sight of her blushing face. He closed the distance between them and placed his hand on her cheek. The red in her cheeks faded to a rosy glow and made her blue eyes shine and sparkle even more. Jake was helplessly lost in her eyes. He didn't resurface until he noticed her face was getting closer, which took some effort because her head lacked an inch brushing his chin. He lowered his head and slowly met her lips with his. This kiss, unlike the two earlier, was slower and filled with much more emotion. When their lips broke apart, they smiled at each other. Without warning, Jake scooped Rose up in his arms (she squeaked in surprise) and carried her to a lawn chair. He sat down and set her in his lap. She leaned against him and he wrapped his arms around her. He sighed, totally in a daze. This was what he dreamed about, holding Rose. She felt so small, so vulnerable, and so dependent on him. It brought out his most protective instincts. It was then and there he knew that he'd protect her with ten times the ferocity a dragon was capable of.

Rose turned those beautiful blue eyes on him and said softly, "I think we should go now before your dog has a stroke."

Jake smiled and sat up. Rose stood and he followed suit. She went and picked up her bag and went to the stairs. As they descended into the building, they grew dark and Rose paused. Jake came up beside her and put an arm around her waist. She looked at him and he winked at her. They went down the stairs together and found several cartons of Chinese take-out on the counter.

"Help yourself, "Fu said, his mouth full of chow mien.

No one enjoyed the meal more than Rose, who hadn't had a decent bite to eat in days. She made a mental note to make dinner for Jake, Fu and Lao Shi when she got her living arrangements settled.