Chapter 8: I Love You
Rose's Point of View

Many weeks had passed since Jack and I had told each other about our past. Mine seemed like nothing compared to what he had been through. His parents had died in a fire that consumed their whole house, everything he had once known. The house was still not built again and the land still not owned, but it was still there. It was across town, down a dirt road and a lane that had a pond by it. It was the beautiful, tranquil pond in the picture in my room. He had trusted me with his pain, fearing my rejection, but knowing he had to get it out somehow. I had never seen a guy cry like he had. He had sobbed, all the pain inside him spilling out from 5 years of being alone and no one there to understand him. Until I came, he had said.

He said there was something about me that made him trust me, and tell me. He had cried big hot tears that soaked my shirt while I held him close. His whole body had shaken with grief; he hadn't told anyone about what he felt but grandma and me, and that wasn't until a few years went by. He just told facts, careful to leave his heart closed off to anyone who got close. "It was slowly killing me," his hoarse voice had whispered to me as he looked deep into my eyes for a reaction. I had kissed his forehead and pressed his face to me again.

He had a way of seeing a person's soul, just by looking into their eyes. His heart was pleading with me to accept him the way he was, and not give him a cause for pain anymore. That day we had confessed that we did feel something toward each other, and said we'd take it slow. And he'd said something that I never forgot since, "We'll make each day count."

And that's how it was. We had. I had told him about how I felt when he kissed me, and held me; I had to be totally honest and open with him. I saw what had shone in his eyes. It was acceptance, and care. He had accepted me, past and everything. "We all have extra baggage that we wish wasn't there." He had commented. He would take care of my heart, be careful with my past, and love me for me. The new Rose and my new life were already better than my past one. Every day since then was a new day between us.

Grandma could tell there was something different, and she was overjoyed that we were "together". She had insisted that I call her grandma;

"You're living in this house, and I plan on seeing you and my grandson having lots of beautiful babies one day. From now on, you call me grandma."

I had laughed. Jack had decided to walk in just then and see me blushing about her comment. He had wrapped his arms around me from behind, and let his chin rest on my shoulder.

"What are you blushing about?" his voice had whispered and his warm breath was on my ear. I had told him, not looking him in the eyes and blushing. He laughed and nibbled my ear.

"You like the idea?" His arms had tightened around my waist.

"Eventually maybe," was all I said. Chills had run up my spine as a husky laugh sounded softly in my ear, and he backed away.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

I felt arms come around me from behind. "You."

"Oh, kinda dangerous isn't it?"

"Yep, especially when you come interrupt a good thought."

"What was it?"

"When grandma said that she wanted a lot of babies running around here one day. And you asked me if I liked the idea."

"If I remember correctly, you didn't exactly give me and answer," he returned teasingly as he kissed my neck. A chill ran up my spine, and I could tell he knew that.

"I said eventually maybe."

"Yes or No."

"Maybe."

"Rose."

His voice was low and he was smiling. His fingers found my ticklish spot and took advantage of it.

"Jack, no, please." I said helplessly.

"Yes or no."

"Maybe." I said defiantly.

I felt him start tickling me again and gasped.

"Jack!"

He laughed at me, knowing that I was extremely ticklish, and he was more powerful than I was at that moment. I got out of his arms and started running away from him, but it did no good. I laughed again, and he caught me. I ducked from his arms and when the sun blinded me, he tripped me.

All of a sudden I was on the floor and he was hovering over me.

"Now get away from me."

His ocean blue eyes glinted with humor and something I wanted to call love. His hands found that ticklish spot again and I was at his mercy.

"Jack, please! Yes!"

His fingers immediately stopped, "good."

He was satisfied for the moment. He helped me get up and took me into his arms. His cheek rested on my hair, and his arms were gently wrapped around me.

The look in his eyes turned serious and studied my face.

"I love you, Rose."

My heart soared. He loved me.

"Jack," I was cut off by him coming closer to study my eyes, and him putting his fingers over my mouth.

"I want to say this first before you answer me."

I nodded.

"I've never met anyone so free, so wonderful in my life. You are so beautiful, inside and out. When I first saw you, I could tell there was something different about you. But I wouldn't let myself get close because my heart was off limits. You let and helped me unlock that place in my heart that has been shut off for 5 years. The part that lets me love. I don't know what's going to happen to us in the next few months, or even the next few days or weeks. But I want you to know that I love you, and I'll never do anything to hurt you. Ever."

I kissed his fingers and his eyes darkened as they focused on my face to see what I was gong to say. I took his fingers and brought them to me.

"Thank you, Jack. I love you too. You probably know how much those words mean to me. My heart has started healing from everything. Jack, when I started getting to know you, I knew there was something different. You're not like any guy, you're a gentleman. You've never been anything but caring, and gentle towards me. That told me something that words never could. It means so much to have someone near that loves me and understands almost everything I feel."

He smiled.

"How about we go rent a movie and spend the day here?"

"Sure"

He let me go and I walked over to slip my black flip-flops on. He reached over by the door and got his tennis shoes. I glanced back at him, smiling

"What are we gonna get?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, but I know what you'll want."

"Yep, my favorite movie, in which the guy acting looks exactly likes you."

He grinned, flashing me his dimples

"Whatever you say."

A lock of his blondish brown hair fell over his forehead and he tied his other shoe. He stood and pulled me up from the chair I was sitting in. He grabbed his keys from his pocket and closed the door after we left the house.

He drove us to the video rental store and said to pick out 2 movies.

I laughed, already knowing one, and deciding to get one he liked as the other. I guess he didn't like looking at his "twin" on the TV. I already knew where to go to get Titanic, and he shook his head and smiled when I picked it up.

We looked over the selection for another one. He pointed to one and then picked it up. The title was Tears of the Sun.

"Ever see this one?" he asked while looking at the back.

"No, have you?"

"Nope, but I've heard that it's good."

"Okay."

He pulled Titanic from my hands and we walked to the counter.

I saw the guy behind the counter eye me and then stare openly, raising his eyebrows and not caring that Jack was beside me. I felt Jack's hand tighten on mine, and I returned the squeeze.

"I think you should check out those movies, don't you?" he said with steel in his voice.

I would've smiled at his tone if he hadn't been protective and a little bit mad. I don't know what I felt. I didn't feel like Jack was overreacting though. I mean, if a girl were looking my Jack over, I would've been doing the same thing. The men behind the counter smiled tightly at Jack, and sent a way too warm look my way. I glared back at him and looked pointedly at the movies. Neither one of us said thank you as we paid and walked out and to the car.

"Did you see the look he gave you, Rose?"

"Yes."

"Yes? That's all you have to say?"

"What can I say Jack? I can't help it-"

He shook his head. "You have no idea how beautiful and how much anyone would pay to be with you just one time."

"What?"

He put his hand behind my neck and drew my face to his.

"Yeah, Rose, and I'm telling you what that guy saw. He saw a beautiful girl. He didn't care about the fact that I was there; he saw you."

"What am I supposed to do about it?"

"I don't know, nothing."

He started the car. I turned to him and took his face in my hands.

"Jack, I love you. I don't care about anybody else looking at me, you are one in a million and the only person I love."

He sighed. "I know. It just makes me mad when guys look at you and want you. You're mine."

I smiled. "I know. And you're mine."

Later that afternoon

"Jack, I'm flying" I lip synced the words while staring at him in fake total adoration.

"That is so weird. I mean, he looks exactly like you and even has the name, Jack."

"And her name is Rose, and you look like her too."

"Yep."

"No wonder this is your favorite movie. What did you think when you saw me? That I was Leo's twin?"

"Yes, but he looks different now; with that gotee thing going on. And you're stuck looking like Jack. And you don't even wear make up."

He burst out laughing and grinned down at me.

"Very true."

"And I get to date a real, down to earth Rose. And I'm not sure if you wear make up and die your hair or not."

"Only lipstick. And only if we go somewhere nice and I'm dressed up."

He slid his hand down my shoulder and back to rest on my waist. I was comfortable, curled up and my arms around him. He returned my embrace and settled into the couch.

Grandma Adrianne's Point of View

I heard the television going and then Rose's voice say on exactly the right moment, "Jack, I'm flying!"

I almost laughed, Titanic was their favorite movie, whether Jack said so or not. My grandson had finally opened his heart to someone, and a person that wouldn't let him down or leave him. No, Rose had talked to me about everything that had happened to her. She was a very special girl. Any other girl would have been bitter, unforgiving, and closed off. She was still a sweet, gentle girl that would never change. It was amazing how she had changed in the last few months. Yes, she had been in the rough crowd. And she had been a little rebellious before, but it was because she had no one to talk to, and no one to pour her heart out to. Now she had Jack and I.

Seeing them cuddled on the couch together, seeing them everyday when he came home from work, and seeing them around each other told me that they would one day be inseparable. What they had was what I used to have with my husband, love. It was something precious that deserved to be recognized. They had both seen something in each other that reminded them of themselves.

I sighed happily, watching them move to get more comfortable. Jack would always have Rose to be there for him, no matter what.

Jack had heard me sigh, and looked toward the stairs. He smiled softly and I could see the love he had for Rose in his eyes, even from here.

I smiled back and nodded. Everything was going to be okay.