I.

He stepped out of the magical telephone booth, looking around anxiously while he waited. Jake's surroundings looked exactly like he had remembered them from previously stepping off at the train station. Oriental people by the masses crowded in and out of subway cars at an alarming rate. There came a draft that made Jake pull the old dark blue parka closer to his face and squint into the crowds as he moved fast and brisk to locate the one single other person in his life he knew he could trust. This individual was someone he had made sacrifices for. As they, themselves, had sacrificed their very existence for Jake; He sighed.

"Rose." her name was spoken as though she would appear from the air.

"Jake?" The surprised voice Rose would always use rang bells of joy in his head and heart.

"Close enough." A grin spread across the dragon's face.

"I'm sorry." She handed his shoulder. "I'm so, so-," Jake whirled around and caught her in the tightest hug he could manage. Rose held him to herself and sobbed quietly into his gel - free hair. "You -," she ran her fingers through the soft black trim. "you cut it all off."

Jake's grin broadened to it's fullest extent and he lightened his hold only slightly on her.

OoO

Late day, a Bonsai garden overlooking a coy pond…

"Jake." This time his name being spoken wasn't a question.

"Rose." He smiled her way, trying to shake the unpleasant second meeting he'd had with her unhappy parents. "Come sit with me." His hand gently patted the place next to him; A calm had befallen him. It was an odd, somewhat numbing feeling that Jake had. Maturity?

"I'm sorry Dad threw that turkey baster at you."

The teenaged dragon laughed. "I'm sorry he thought I wouldn't start a food fight."

A moment of silence followed.

"Jake-,"

"Rose-,"

"I'm sorry!" They said in unison.

"Jake, you know I'll always care about you." Rose said.

"I know." He pulled her in next to him, his voice got caught up in a quick breath.

She was quiet for a moment.

"They call you up and tell you what was happening?"

"Yes."

"That the reason you wanted me to come around?"

Rose looked directly into Jake's eyes. "Do you believe that?"

A beat went by.

"No."

"I support you Jake and whatever decision you make. And I'll -," tears brimmed around her eyes, glistening slightly against the blue in them, "I'll always be your friend, Jake. If nothing else," She fingered his chin and pulled him closer. "I will not ever abandon you."

"But you can't promise you'll be there either." Jake found his voice and caught her hand.

"No." Rose's eyes didn't shift away. "And the reason why I asked you here isn't because I want to jumpstart a relationship that never existed, I wanted you here to ask you to stay."

"W-w," He stood up in shock.

"I want you to be happy, Jake. And I can't ever give you that. Just…" She stood up with her hands grasping his. "Come find me if you need me. Come to my house, or stay here."

"How do I know you'll come?" He backed away. "If I don't stay."

Rose closed her eyes. "You won't, Jake."

His brows arched up uncertainly. "But we'll always be friends?"

She met his gaze again… and smiled.

Jake smiled in return.

As night fell the two wound themselves in a longer, lasting hug.

"I love you, Jake."

"I love you too, Rose." He cried for the first time now; for the first time since they'd been wished into this bizarre life. "Your friendship. That's all I really want now, your friendship."

A/N: Well, there you have it. Rose supports Jake but only as a close friend. I always felt that Rose loved Jake more like a brother and that Jake has finally accepted this. All's well. Well, until I add more drama next chapter! ^^ But I promise to deliver and so truly I will!

To be continued…

~Lavenderpaw~