I couldn't leave it there. This is just a continuation. I am writing chapter by chapter as I honestly don't know what else I can do with this story and how to develop a relationship which isn't really established yet two people are in love and young parents as well as finding out about each other...

I just feel a slight obsession with them at this moment...

Might be unsuitable for some younger eyes...

As night fell, once dreams which haunted Rose's mind were replaced by a calm, pleasant serenity. It had taken a lifetime for her to reach such a place – or so it felt that way. Darkness fell over the room, with strange shadows crossing the walls from the lights outside the window. As her body relaxed against the plush pillows, she allowed herself to think freely. Her hands settled with entwined fingers across her stomach. The ache of the birth no longer circulated her body but it had been replaced with another one, more of a pull in her stomach, an urge. She licked her lips nervously knowing that just hours before, Jack had kissed her. Butterflies cramped her stomach. A light sigh escaped her lips. The rest of the afternoon had been spent walking the length of the gardens without so uttering much as a word. They had shared another small kiss or two but nothing quite as intense as the first. Elizabeth had slept soundly until after lunch when they had spent time with Molly, laughing and enjoying the thorough feel of been a family, a very unconventional one at that. Molly's husband would return at some point the week after and the homely dynamic would change once more. Perhaps that would then be the time to move; although that was another discussion which needed to be had. Elizabeth had been asleep for over an hour after her last feed in her Father's arms as Rose had changed into a long sleeved, ankle length white nightgown. One you would imagine to be worn on a wedding night, with the lace and beading. She smiled at the thought. White was not a colour to be worn after conceiving a child.

Elizabeth rustled about in her crib as she settled. Rose listened for a whimper but there was nothing except Jack's steady breathing as he lay on the floor at the foot of the bed. He had refused to leave their side and she had never felt as safe as she did with him there and nor had he ever complained of discomfort.

He seemed to sense her mind ticking over in the darkness.

''The sun was just lovely today.'' He whispered, lightly. His words surprised her for once lights were out, he never once spoke even if he had sensed her to be awake he had simply remained silent.

''Yes, it was.'' She agreed, although her mind wasn't on the weather.

''Perhaps tomorrow, we could take a walk again? Get the air in our lungs?''

''Yes.'' She replied. Her breathing became shallow. She wrung her hands, entwining her fingers over and over.

She heard him shuffle about, moving something before it grew silent once more. Her body relaxed into the pillow until she gasped as she saw his shadow across the wall, frightening her half to death as it emerged from nowhere. He had gotten to his feet.

''It is just me. I'm sorry.''

''It's all right.'' She placed her hand on her racing heart to steady it but once she saw that he had stood and was moving towards her, she no longer had any control. She narrowed her eyes, sure that his shirt was open as it billowed with his movement. He stood beside the bed. She swallowed nervously.

''Would you like me to leave? To go to my own room?''

Her stomach sank. She shook her head, slowly before realising that he couldn't see.

''No.'' She whispered in the darkness. Her quietness must have stirred something inside him; the feeling that she didn't wish for him to be around but the truth was so far away. She needed him to be beside her, beside Elizabeth and her feelings for him were just so—overwhelming.

She heard his heavy sigh.

''This afternoon meant so much to me.'' She closed her eyes, feeling the waves hit her once more just as it had all settled. ''I just- I am so underprepared for what you and I have. I have never been in love, Jack.''

He knew he should ask for permission to come closer but caution had been thrown to the wind already. He slowly settled himself on the bed beside her. Once he was closer, he could make out her lovely features in the dim light which shone outside. Her breathing was hitched just as it was that afternoon when he had grown closer to her.

''I haven't loved before, either.'' He told her, seeing the sparkle of her eyes. ''I haven't felt any of what I feel for you.''

His hand slowly reached out to hers. She allowed him to touch them, freely. The rough skin of his fingers soothed her and she bit into her lip, nerves taking over her entire body. His presence shook her, his words were so open, raw and honest and they taught her to do be the same. It was refreshing, unbelievable and yet all so real.

''Don't leave me tonight, Jack.'' The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could even process them. It was then she realised that she hadn't thought through just what she had meant. ''If you were not here then I couldn't sleep. I know you are here, I feel safe.''

He nodded. ''I won't leave.'' He let go of her hands to tenderly tuck away a curl behind her ear. Her lips quivered from the tingle it left as his hand trailed back across her cheek. His own stomach twisted as he fought a damned hard battle to kiss her fiercely right there and then. His breathing had stopped for a moment as he felt the grip of her fingers on his hand had tightened and she had begun to tremble.

''Don't leave.'' She repeated, before she even knew what she had said once more. Falling under his spell had caused her to lose herself again and she couldn't even see his eyes clearly. He still had such a power over her.

Every single nerve ending seemed to be touched as his fingers trailed to her lips. Memories of her kissing his fingers on their first night together flashed to her and she shuddered. Her stomach was flying, feeling the urge which had been disturbed recently suddenly growing stronger as she grew weaker beneath his touch. Her grasp on his hand grew tighter as he seemed to inch closer and closer to her. It wasn't her imagination.

This afternoon she had offered him no hesitation but Jack knew that repeating such an act in darkness could result in starting something which he was unsure if either one of them were prepared for but he felt the urge, the pull and he couldn't ignore the instinct which led him to her lips once more. Once he found them, something exploded. It was a slight scratch of the itch which had been slowly nagging them both. Her hands landed against his chest as his desperate lips searched hers for the relief which they both needed to find in the other. Her hand was shaking as it travelled along his collar, her fingertips grazing the base of his neck every now and again so that it made his spine tickle and every nerve ending spark. All of Rose's energy was lost, she was no longer strong and yet she felt so powerful against Jack. She held onto him with both of her hands around his head, his neck and the top of his open shirt. How could one feel this way? The longing and the ache wouldn't grow duller but purer and stronger. He kissed the right side of her neck, so tenderly to the point where she shivered with weakness. Her whole body was ready to crumple beneath him. Her nipples hardened so much. She had never felt like way before from a single kiss not even the first time he had almost taken her in the boiler room.

He trailed kisses just to the top of her shoulder before he stopped. He pulled away seeing her eyes flutter open. She was so breathless. He stopped himself from kissing her again, knowing he wouldn't be able to stop.

He glanced behind him as they heard Elizabeth stirring within the crib and then it was silent once more. Those few seconds had given them enough time to gather their breathes a little more.

Rose pressed her lips together. Hesitantly, she reached her palm to touch the flat of his chest over his heart ever so gently. It was hard, with little hair and she felt the fast rhythm of his heart. Her own stomach flipped. He felt what she did too. She affected him in the same way. She continued to place her pressed palm against his chest lightly grazing it from his chest down to his stomach. He winced and she pulled her hand away immediately.

''No, it's not you.'' He whispered slowly as he touched her face. ''The bruises are still healing.''

And then she remembered his fight with Cal.

''Oh-''

''Shh, don't think of it. I am all right.''

She saw his smile in the dim light and with growing confidence she replaced her hand against his chest and then his stomach. His skin was bare, his breathing hitched as she tickled and yet soothed him. He sucked in his pain as he allowed her to touch him so freely in the most intimate way he had experienced. She loved him, he could feel it.

He cocked his head to the right side, watching how her lips parted as she touched him with innocent eyes so full of wonder. Jack knew that he had been the only one. And he knew that he would need to be careful to touch her again. Any longing which he had, he tried to suppress in the best possible way. His right hand came to her cheek, down her neck and then stroked through her hair. She leant against his palm, her eyes closing as he touched her. She felt herself falling to lean against him, her body sagging with relief as his lips came to hers once more to kiss her. She felt how firm, yet soft he was against her. This time it wasn't as soft it was hungry. They had both held back for so long. Their hands entwined. He clutched her to him tightly, needing to feel his body press so firmly against hers. She leant against him, feeling her body ache for him so much. She was so intoxicated that she couldn't stop. All thoughts were tossed from her mind. They both needed to relive the tension which had built up between them for so long. These last few days had been such a hard struggle between them. His tongue massaged hers so strongly that she felt the strength. They pulled each other so closely as though their lives depended on it. The passion which had exploded was immense and she felt the need to feel his naked torso pressed so tightly against her own. She could hear his breath, the raggedness and the struggle which he had kept up for so long. She had her own struggle but now she felt the unhappiness drain away from her body and it was replaced by a strong need to be with Jack, an almost animal longing which only grew stronger.

He touched her face with his palm and then he spoke to her with such sincerity her body melted. ''I love you.''

She ached for him again and this time it was Rose who crushed her body to his and her lips against his. She had thrown out any insecurities which had tarnished her body for so long. Jack could feel himself losing control even more and he didn't know how to stop it. He wasn't strong enough to. She fell against his body and he used his weight to hold her up. The kiss was like nothing she had felt before. He stopped kissing her lips and trailed soft hungry kisses down her neck and she shivered as she pulled at the tops of her nightdress just for some freedom from the garment. She struggled beneath him as he landed aside her on the bed. Lying beside another person was something which she had never done before, not in a bed. All fear had left her body.

''It's all right, Jack.'' She whispered against his cheek. ''I can sense your hesitance.'' He pulled away, breathless, his eyes finding hers in the dark. Something inside both of them had changed over the last few hours. They would find their way forward, together.