Life settled down into a pleasant routine for Rose, Jack, and their friends. Rose and Jack spent most of their time together, studying, kissing, talking, and making plans for the future. Rose would mainly watch Jack as he worked on the paintings he planed to send to the art academy. As for Rose, she applied to different colleges, around the country but had her heart set on NYU, so she could go to New York with Jack. Her father had been pleased when she told him her aspirations to become a lawyer. He couldn't been more touched and proud and agreed with her that people should be able to afford a good attorney without having to mortgage their house. Tommy and Annabelle continued to grow closer as Derrick finally turned 18 and moved both himself and his sister into their own apartment. He was also now officially dating Julie, much to Jack's shock. But he was happy for his cousin and relieved that her attention was being put elsewhere now.

Rose couldn't believe how good her life had become, especially after all the pain she had experienced at the beginning of the school year. Thanksgiving came and went, as did Christmas. For the first time, Rose felt like she was finally experiencing the meaning of the holidays meant for family and friends. She spent both with the people most important to her. Her father, Katarina, and Jack. She had never been happier.

Which was why February's tragedy was so poignant. So shattering...it had almost destroyed her completely.

It started out like any other school day for Rose. She woke up bright and early, showered, got dressed. Made sure that the paper she had done on Rosa Parks was nicely organized and put away, ready to turn in when she got to History class. She went downstairs to breakfast where her father and Katarina were having breakfast in the kitchen. Last night, they had celebrated a victory. Constance Rothes was not going to do hard time. First she was going to a hospice which would help her through the trauma she had suffered at Cal's hand. Then she would go to a low security detention center for five years as punishment for Cal's death. It hadn't been her fault entirely, but it was still a crime that needed to be punished, but the judge was as lenient as she could be.

Nathan Hockley had been furious of course, but all of his rants and vows of vengeance was ignored.

So after it was all over, everyone had celebrated that it was over and the evil of the Hockleys was gone for good. Or so everyone had thought at the time.

Rose spent that final breakfast with her father and Katarina, laughing at their jokes, watching them across the table, fully in love and happy. She smiled, thinking of the secret Katarina had shared with her the morning before. There may be a half sister on the way. Rose couldn't be happier for them and wondered if she'll find the same happiness with Jack.

Finally it was time for Rose to leave for school. She gave her father and step-mother one final hug and kiss and slipped into her own car and drove off to school, not looking back. It'd be the one thing that she wished she had done. Look back one last time at the life she had come to love. But she couldn't have known what was going to happen, so she didn't look back. She was looking forward to the day. Mainly, she was looking forward to seeing Jack again.

At school, all thoughts were on her friends. She had paid no mind when a group of fire trucks and ambulances passed by the school, the wail of their sirens breaking through the winter air. As she leaned into Jack's kiss, she never thought that the passing emergency vehicles had anything to do with her.

…..

Ruth Dewitt Bukater had been in her office, finishing up another meeting. She had completely cut off all contact with her daughter months ago and hadn't given the girl another thought since then, nor had she thought of her ex-husband and his wife. Not until a police officer had shown up at her office, his face grim. She frowned, not knowing why a police officer would show up here at her office. Her work had nothing to do with law enforcement at all.

"Mrs. Dewitt Bukater? Are you the former wife of a William Dewitt Bukater?" the officer questioned.

Ruth frowned. Whatever was this about? Why was this officer asking her about her former husband? She had nothing to do with the man now a days. "Of course. But we no longer have any contact. Whatever is going on and what does it have to do with me?"

Ruth listened in horror as the officer informed her of what had just happened and what that entailed for her. A trembling hand covered her mouth and her pale hand rested against her throat. She may have hated the man, but she had never wanted anything like this to happen to him. And what of Rose?

"We have a daughter together...does she know?" Ruth looked up at the officer, begging him to say that she did. That the task of telling Rose was not going to fall upon her.

"The girl is in school right now. We thought it'd be best if the news came from you, ma'am."

Ruth wasn't sure if she agreed with the officers on that assessment. The relationship with her daughter was now nonexistent and Ruth had been fine with that. But now...with William gone...nonexistent was no longer a possibility and she knew that Rose was never going to be okay with that.

…..

Art class was nearly over. Everyone was working on sculptures. Jack was walking around the group, ready to help if needed. Lately, his help wasn't needed as the students now had their comfort zones and were all doing just fine. Usually, he'd be at Rose's side, watching her creations take shape, but the teacher had told him recently to start making the rounds again instead of giving all of his attention to just Rose.

He was watching Nancy Luthor try to sculpt a cat out of a lump of clay when Ruth Dewitt Bukater entered the classroom. He glanced over to Rose, who had also spotted her mother. She met Jack's eyes and shrugged, having no idea why she was there.

"Rose, your mother would like to you please. Out in the hall dear," The teacher addressed her.

Jack wanted to go with her, but knew that it wouldn't be appropriate. All he could do was stand back and watch.

Rose for her part was confused. She hadn't spoken to her mother in months. Whatever could she want with her now? Berate her some more over Cal? Well, if she was pulling her out of class just for that, Rose was ready to defend herself.

"Mother? What is this about? Why are you here?" Rose asked, feeling Jack's gaze on her from within the classroom, drawing comfort from it.

"Rose...this is not easy for me to tell you. Maybe we should go somewhere more private than the hallway...perhaps...," Ruth stammered, not knowing how to tell this girl that their lives have changed once again.

"Mother, whatever this is about, just tell me. Is this about Cal? Because if it is..."

"Caledon Hockley has nothing to do with this, Rose. Let the poor boy rest in peace," Ruth sighed, pressing a pale hand to her forehead. "Rose. This is not easy for me to tell you. I rather it not fall to me, but since I am your mother, we are just going to have to make the best of things..."

"Mother, what are you talking about? Does daddy know you're here? I bet he doesn't? Maybe I should call..."

"Rose," Ruth tried to gain control of the conversation, unable to believe how quickly things were getting out of hand. Why wouldn't the girl just shut up and listen to her for once.

"I am sure that whatever this is, he can straighten out and..."

"Rose..."

"Things can go on as they have been. Us not..."

"He's dead Rose! Your father is dead!" Ruth shouted, giving up on trying to be gentle. Rose obviously wasn't going to allow that.

The girl stopped reaching for her phone and stared at her mother with wide, disbelieving eyes. "What did you just say?"

Ruth sighed, frustrated and worn out. Why couldn't someone else tell her? Why was it falling to her? She should have told the girl's boyfriend and let him tell her. Rose would probably take this easier from him. "Your father is dead. So is that woman he married. There was some car bomb and it went off, killing them both. The bodies were burned beyond recognition, or so the officer said."

"What? No, you're lying! I saw them this morning! They were alive and happy! Katarina's pregnant, she's telling daddy tonight! We're finally happy and you can't stand it and now you're here telling me this disgusting lie!" Rose angrily yelled, shaking her head, refusing to believe her mother's words. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. People weren't alive one minute and gone the next! It had to be a lie!

"Rose, I know that you have a low opinion of me, but I am not lying. Not about this. Your father and Katarina...they died in a car bombing. It's all over the news. Now, the police say...," words were cut off by the sound of Rose's hand slapping Ruth's cheek. The older woman's eyes widened in shock as she stared at her angry daughter.

"How dare you! How dare you come here and spread these lies! Daddy's not dead! Neither is Katarina! You are not going to get away with this mother!"

Having kept an eye on the scene outside the classroom, and witnessing the slap, Jack slipped out of the classroom and went to his girlfriend. "Rose?"

"Jack!" She raced to him, her fingers twisting into his shirt. "She's lying! She's trying to say that daddy and Katarina are dead, killed by some car bomb! How convoluted, right? Like something like that happens here all the time. Like this is some kind of movie! How silly, right? Jack..."

Jack looked at Ruth, who held her hand to her reddened cheek, still shocked that her daughter had slapped her, then he looked past Ruth to the officer standing not too far away, looking concerned and grim. His heart dropped in his stomach, seeing the truth in the officer's eyes. "Rose...I think she's telling the truth...there's a police officer not too far away..."

"What?" Rose turned and saw the officer as well. "No! No that doesn't mean anything! She could have paid them to be here, to give her story more credibility! They can't be dead Jack! I saw them this morning! Look, I'll call! You'll see! You'll both see, they're okay! Daddy's probably at his office and Katarina at her support group..."

Jack felt helpless as he watched Rose dig out her cellphone and dial her father's cell. After waiting ten rings for an answer, she hung up.

"He's in a meeting probably...I'll call Kat...she always answers," Rose hung up and dialed Katarina's number, not allowing herself to remember that her father never ignored her calls, even when he was in a meeting. She didn't hang up this time as the phone rang and rang. "She'll pick up any minute now."

Finally, Jack had enough. He couldn't let her go on like this. Gently, he took the phone away and pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry Rose, I'm so sorry..."

"Jack now, you can't believe her! They're not dead! They can't be! I was with them this morning...we were happy and a family and...," At first she struggled against his hold, not wanting to accept that her father and step-mother were gone. Wanting to believe that nothing had changed. That the happy world she had been living in for the past few months was still there. But Jack didn't let go, her mother remained silent, and the police officer remained where he was.

He took out his own cellphone and opened the web browser and signed onto the local news, where there was a report going on, of a car bombing. He listened as the reporter gave a description of the car and said that the bodies were believed to be the lawyer William Dewitt Bukater and his wife Katarina Dewitt Bukater. That the deaths were believed to be a homicide and the investigation was ongoing. He quickly turned off the phone and tightened his hold around Rose as deep sadness filled him. It was so unfair. Rose was finally happy. All the pain from earlier that year, it had finally faded and Rose had been happy. She had a family that loved her. A home she had felt safe in, and now, just like that, it had been ripped away.

"Baby, I'm so sorry...I'm sorry," He rocked her in his arms as she began to sob, her face buried against his shirt. His heart broke for her. He knew all too well what it was like to lose your parents. He looked at Ruth, knowing that this woman couldn't help. Just looking at her, he knew that she didn't have it in her to comfort her daughter. "What's going to happen now?"

Ruth sighed, not feeling like she should have to explain things to this boy, but knowing if she was going to have any cooperation from Rose, she was going to need his help. "The police officer says that she will have to come live with me. The police think it's not safe for her to be alone at the mansion. Who knows who sat that bomb and why."

"No...," Rose shook her head, clinging to Jack. "No, I won't go. I'm eighteen now, she can't make me do anything..."

"Rose it may be for the best. Whoever did this...they may have set something at the house. You'd be safer at your mother's," Jack sighed, hating everything about this.

Rose didn't say anything as she felt all the will to fight leave her. She just clung to Jack, the only real safe place that she felt she had left.

"Bring her to my house after school. She knows where it is," Ruth replied, needing to go about making arrangements for Rose to move back in. She did feel sorry for the girl, but Jack had been right in his assessment that Ruth didn't have it in her to comfort Rose. She had been raised to pull up your bootstraps and carry on. Not to comfort and reassure.

Knowing that Rose was in no condition to attend the last class of the day, he took her to his car in the school parking lot and let her follow him into the backseat, where he held her as she cried endless tears of grief and loss. He found that he cried right along with her. William Dewitt Bukater had been a good man. He had gotten him out of trouble with the Hockley's and helped Constance Rothes, and most of all he gave Rose a safe place to go when she needed one. He had given her a happy life for a while and Jack was grateful for that.

Finally her tears stopped and she just laid in his arms, weak and exhausted. She didn't have the strength to cry anymore, or even talk. She could just lay there and marinate in her grief. The dismissal bell rang and Jack watched as everyone came out and claimed their own cars and left. It amazed him how life was. Rose's world had just come to an end, and everyone else kept on going, as if nothing had happened.

"I guess I better get you to your mother's huh?"

Rose didn't answer. She just laid remained still, staring into space, her tears drying, but her eyes still full of grief.

"Will you be okay back here while I drive?" Jack asked and frowned when he didn't get an answer. Sighing, he slipped out from under her and laid her on the seat. "I'll be right up front Rose."

Jack carefully slid out from under Rose and gently laid her back onto the car seat. He climbed up front into the driver's seat and started the ignition. As he pulled out of the school parking lot, he wished that he could take Rose back to his house. She would be much more comforted if she was able to rest in his bed. But he knew that wouldn't be a good idea. Ruth Dewitt Bukater was not as understanding as Rose's father had been. He was not going to do anything to cause the woman to ban him from the premises, especially when Rose needed him.

Once they reached Ruth's home, Jack got out of the car and lifted Rose into his arms once again. He carried her to the door and knocked. Ruth opened the door, looking even more pale and out of place. She just gave Jack a once over and stepped aside.

"Take her up to her room," Ruth directed.

Ruth led the way and stood aside as Jack carried her inside and laid her onto the bed and covered her with the blankets, kissing her head.

"She hasn't moved or said anything for a while now," Jack replied. "She's never been this quiet before."

Ruth frowned at this news. "If she doesn't snap out of it soon, I'll call in a doctor. I am sure she is just in shock at the moment. She will be fine."

Jack nodded. He didn't want to leave Rose here with only her mother, who had the warmth of an iceberg. At least that was the impression Jack had gotten. He would stay, but he knew it wouldn't be for long. He didn't think Ruth, nor his own guardians would be understanding. He spotted a notepad and pencil on Rose's desk and quickly wrote his number. "If she asks for me, or needs me for anything, here's my number. Will you call?"

Ruth just nodded. It was best for her friends to deal with an emotional Rose other than her. She had no idea how to handle the girl now. Not anymore. Especially not when she was like this.

Jack just nodded and slowly left the room, hating to leave Rose's side for a minute, but it was too hard to see his bright lively girlfriend just a shadow of herself, drowning in grief, unable to be reached, even by him.