Rose woke up with the feeling of warm breath brushing the back of her neck. Frowning, she turned over onto her opposite side, and opened her eyes to the sleeping face of Jack, who was fully clothed, and laying on top of the covers instead of underneath, most likely in an attempt to make her comfortable in case she woke up.

She couldn't help but feel a little sad that he felt the need to keep a distance. There once had been a time when they had been comfortable with one another enough to be naked under the covers together. Which was how the beautiful Cora had been made.

Longing fell upon Rose as she tried to find the memory of what it had been like to be so close to Jack in such an undressed way. What had his naked skin felt like against hers? What was it like to kiss those lips in a heated moment of passion? To be held close to his naked body? Loved, safe, and protected? She closed her eyes, trying to call up the memory. Frustrated tears welled up as the memory refused to come.

Sniffling,she opened her eyes to stair into Jack's now opened blue eyes,containing concern.

"You're crying? Did I do something wrong?" He asked, his voice almost a whisper as gentle fingers wiped away her tears.

Rose shook her head, embarrassed about the reason for her tears. It was silly really. Why cry over not being able to remember the night they had concieved their daughter, or not even being able to remember what it was like to be a wife to him? To be a lover? She felt silly, but she couldn't hide from him. She knew that things would only get worse between them if she tried.

"It's silly, really. I...I was just trying to remember the night...we made Cora...what it was like...but the memory wouldn't come. I can't even remember what it was like to kiss you..."

"Rose..."

"I'm sorry. I know that I'm being...silly and maybe strange...it's just...it was a part of my life that I want back and...I'm afraid that I'll never get it back. That I'll always be this...half of a person..."

Jack's heart went out to Rose. He couldn't help it. He could only imagine what it was like to find that you had a life that you couldn't remember but wanted back, yet the memories that you want won't come.

"Be patient, it'll come back eventually. You're already remembering some, even though it's not the memory you want. But it'll come Rose. I'm sure of it."

She looked into those warm blue eyes, full of warm concern and affection. Her own hand slid up to touch his face and she licked her lips at the warmth and smoothness of his skin. He was so exquisite. How did she get so lucky to have this man be a part of her past and present? To share a child with him?

"You are amazing," She breathed, feeling herself get lost in his gaze.

"No I'm not. I just want to help you get your bond with Cora back," He sadly smiled.

Was that all? She had hoped that he was wanting to get their own bond back as well. But she should have known not to get her hopes up. Jack was just being kind. Comforting her when a bad memory striked, allowing her to sleep in his bed...even next to him...was that all for Cora's sake, or was it something else as well? Everything was so confusing...the only thing that she was sure of was what she wanted. She wanted her family back, and that especially included this handsome man with the stunning blue eyes and mouth that was just begging to be kissed.

"I had a dream...not the one about the boy, but another one. We were flying...at the bow of a ship..."

The widening of Jack's eyes told her that this wasn't just a dream. Her heart beat faster, remembering how he had held her...how he had kissed her in that dream...it had felt so exhilarating...yet unreal...

"I take it that it had really happened? It was a memory?"

"Yes. A very good one. It was our first kiss..."

Rose couldn't help her smile. No matter what, she wanted to kiss him so badly! "It's a really beautiful memory..."

Jack chuckled. "One of the best..."

Looking into his eyes, Rose realized something. If she wanted Jack back, she was going to have to make the first move. If she wanted a kiss from him...she was just going to have to do it. It was forward, her mother would faint if she knew how aggressive Rose was being...but at that moment, she didn't care. She wanted Jack...she wanted his kisses and his hugs. She wanted to know what it was like to be held in a passionate embrace by him. She may not get the passionate embrace...but she could have the kiss...something in his eyes told her so...

Not giving herself anymore time to think about it,she closed her eyes and leaned in until her lips softly connected with his. She felt him pause, then she felt her gentle pressure returned, somewhat hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure what to do, but he did. He kissed her back. Relaxing, she leaned in more as a delicious heat flowed from her head down to her toes.

Suddenly, his lips were no longer on hers, but she could still feel the warmth of his breath against her face. She opened her eyes to stare into a sea of blue that looked both hesitant, yet full of desire and want. Despite seeing her own desire mirrored back, she wondered if she had done something wrong. Maybe she shouldn't have made the first move. After all, she was not the wronged party. He was not the reason why they were not fully together now. That was all her fault, sick or not.

"I'm sorry? Maybe I shouldn't have..."

His hand softly carressing her cheek stopped all words from leaving her lips.

"I wanted it. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't. That for the past few days, I've wanted nothing more than to just take you in my arms and kiss you and let things go back to the way they were before," he confessed, his voice soft and gentle, yet there was a tinge of pain there. He was still hurt by what she had done. He was still scared to trust what they both felt, obviously.

"But?"

"I feel like I'd be taking advantage of you if I let this go any farther. You're still not fully back to yourself and it just wouldn't be right to expect you to...go back to how we were. Besides...we barely knew each other when we got married and made Cora. Maybe it'd be best to take things slow...to let our relationship build back up on a new...more stable foundation. For Cora's sake as well as our own. I do love you, Rose. I'm not going to deny that. I want you back, so badly. But I want us to be more stable in our relationship and I want to feel like...it won't be taking advantage, because we took our time to get to know each other again. Do you understand?"

She did. She was even relieved about it. She had been afraid that he was going to tell her that they could never be together again. That there was too much hurt and that she was only here for Cora and he only wanted to be friends and co-parents. Fortunately, that wasn't it at all. He still loved her. He wanted her back, but he just wanted to take things slowly.

"I understand. I am sorry for being so...forward. It's just...that memory...and...I woke up wanting to kiss you so badly..."

"I understand. Really...the kissing is okay, I don't mind that. I just think we shouldn't go any further than that...not yet."

"You're right...it's best this way...but...can we still kiss? Every now and then?"

Jack couldn't help but laugh. This woman, she was so adorable right then, asking if it was alright if they could still kiss, her eyes wide and hopeful, as if she was a little girl asking for treats. The expression was so familar and with amusement, he knew where he saw it. Their daughter had the same expression. "Yes. We can still kiss. Just a little more warning first."

Pleased, Rose smiled. Somehow she felt like the weakened bond that she had with Jack was strengthening. They may not be back to how they were, but they were going to get there eventually. She was sure of it. "Okay. Can I kiss you now?"

In answer, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers in a sweet, but chaste kiss. He lingered there for a few seconds, savoring the warmth of her lips against his, then he pulled away againt, his eyes meeting hers.

"We're going to be okay, Rose."

For the first time, she actually felt like they were. For the first time since discovering that she had a family waiting for her, she felt like she was standing on solid ground instead of quick sand. She just hoped that the feeling lasted.

...

It was the early morning hours. Rose was heading back to her room, knowing that there would be questions from both her mother and the awful Lisa Dawson if she was seen leaving Jack's, when she heard a cry coming from the nursery. Frowning, she headed down the hall and into the dark room. She switched on the light to find Cora standing up in bed, her blue eyes full of tears as she cried for her daddy.

"Darling, what's wrong? Was it a bad dream?" Rose immediately went to the child and scooped her up into her arms, hugging her close in a protective embrace. "It's alright. Momma's here. Momma's here now. She's never going to leave you ever again. I promise," She kissed Cora's blond curls, relishing the weight of the child in her arms.

For a few minutes, Cora continued to cry, but then she began to quiet down, realizing that she was in the arms of a familar grown up. She wasn't daddy, but she was close enough.

Rose was so focused on soothing Cora, she didn't notice Jack, who was now leaning in the doorframe, quietly watching, feeling satisfied with his decision to let Rose be a part of Cora's life. He knew it was the right thing and here was proof. He smiled as Rose began to sing a familar tune to the child, one that he sung to her often.

"Come Josephine in my flying machine and it's up she goes, up she goes," Rose softly sang to the child, still unaware of Jack's presence.

Jack felt the remains of the wall he had constructed begin to crumble away as he walked up to mother and child and placed a gentle hand on Rose's back and a gentle kiss on Cora's head. He joined her in the singing of the song until the child was back asleep.

"You remembered our song..."

"I remember you singing it to me on Titanic...at the bow. I didn't know, but guessed that maybe you sang it to her as well," Rose smiled, carrying Cora back to bed, not at all surprised that Jack had joined them. "I thought that you had gone to sleep."

"I heard Cora...came in to see that you had beat me to it."

Rose sighed, her mood dampening a little as she stared down at her sleeping daughter. Again, she wondered how she could have walked away from her the way she had and had stayed away for so long? What made her leave her family when she felt such love for them? Tears pricked her eyes and she tried to blink them away, not wanting to spoil this moment with the three of them. But it was no use. The tears would not be denied.

"I...I'm so sorry...how could either of you forgive me for walking away like that? I'm so worry..."

Jack frowned, taken by surprise by the sudden change in mood and topic. He kept his hand against her back and stood a little closer. "Don't. It's alright. We forgive you. You came back to us and that's what matters. Cora won't even remember and...I've already forgiven you. It's the past now and in the past it will stay, as far as Cora and I are concerned. So no more, sorrys. Okay? We forgive you. Now all you have to do is forgive yourself."

She looked at him with sad eyes and slowly shook her head. "I don't know if I can."

Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close. He pressed a gentle kiss against her red curls as they stood there together, looking over their sleeping daughter. He hadn't been lying when he told Rose that he had forgiven her. He had, almost seamlessly it felt. He just couldn't keep hold of that hurt and anger. He just wished that Rose would get there too. He hoped that someday, Rose could forgive herself for something that she had no control over. He did know one thing. He'll stand by her for as long as it took for her to get there. That was a silent promise that he was willing to make.