The sound of the ocean waves echoed in Jack's ears as he lay upon a beach towel, his arms wrapped behind his head as he absorbed the sun's warmth against his chest. His eyes stayed shut as he listened to the waves, hearing the odd seagull call out above him.

"It's nice, isn't it?" he said.

"Hmm, it's wonderful." Jen responded. She lay next to him, leaning against her arms as she gazed at the ocean water. "I just love the ocean."

"Yeah?" Jack replied.

"It's just so beautiful. Hypnotizing in a way, you know? It just makes me think of when we were younger, hanging out at the beach."

"Those were good times," Jack said. "For the most part."

Jen continued to stare out at the ocean. "Whenever I come here, I always find myself daydreaming about our lives back then. How innocent we were. How much we didn't know about ourselves yet."

Jack opened one of his eyes. It squinted tightly from the bright sunlight as he looked up at Jen. Her face was bright and beautiful, even though her eyes were hidden under the large black shades. Her golden-blonde hair was tied in a messy bun, her light skin glowing. Her face was still, though looked as if she had a lot on her mind as she looked beyond the distance. Jack could see a few lines of fading stretchmarks among the lower part of her stomach.

He looked back up to where her eyes hid under the black lens. "Is there something on your mind?"

Jen's lips smiled, "Not really. I just think Amy should come to the ocean more often, when she's a bit older anyway."

"Well, you should take her to the ocean more often." Jack replied.

Jen's smile went away, "Yeah, I guess."

"Why don't you two and Grams move back here? I have plenty of room at my place you know."

"We couldn't do that. Amy is only a few months old, and Grams has her doctor back at home."

"There are doctors here, plus you don't have an ocean in SoHo." Jack teased.

"I guess that just gives us another reason to come visit." Jen said. She laid down next to Jack, placing her head against his shoulder.

They both closed their eyes. Jack then remembered a time when they would lay in the same position, watching the stars in the night sky during a particularly hot Indian Summer. It was a few months after he moved in with Jen and Grams, a time that held some of his happiest memories he often looked back on. He could feel Jen's hand lay against his chest. No matter what, she always brought him comfort. She was a piece of him that he never knew he needed until they finally met all those years ago. Now, that piece lived in New York, where it was before they had first met. Jen would try to come visit every few weeks, for Jack's teaching job restricted his ability to travel a lot. But Jen didn't mind, because she needed that piece too.

Jack opened his eyes. That piece was gone. It's been gone for about a month now, and he didn't feel complete without it. He looked over to see Amy sitting on the towel next to him, wearing a large hat to protect herself from the sun's rays. She ran her little hands through the warm sand, holding it up and watching it fall through the cracks of her fingers.

They were waiting for Doug to show up for their usual Saturday picnic. Jack looked out at the ocean, thinking about that day he had with Jen in that same spot a year ago. How could he not have known? Better yet, how could Jen not have told him about her illness? He wondered this constantly. He knew she didn't want him to worry, but it made him feel like a fool. "You should take her to the ocean more often". How stupid. Of course he knew now why Jen seemed hesitant about it. Because she knew. She knew what was to become of herself and she was dreading it.

That's why he was there; why he had weekly picnics at the ocean. Because that's what Jen wanted for Amy. She was trying to tell Jack that on that day at the beach, and Jack didn't even know at the time. But he knew now. He wished he knew sooner.

Jack heard a ringing coming from his beach bag. He reached inside and pulled out his cell phone.

"Hey Jack, it's me." Doug said on the other end.

"Oh hey, you still coming?" Jack replied.

"I'm really sorry, but I can't make it."

"Really? Why not?" Jack said in disappointment, looking down at Amy's obliviousness in the sand.

"Something just came up, so I won't be seeing you till after my shift tonight." Doug responded.

"Alright, I guess I'll see you then."

"Give Amy a kiss for me."

Before Jack could say goodbye, Doug had hung up.