After leaving Rose's, Jack found himself stationed in front of the television, watching the news, trying to catch as much information as he could about the deaths of William and Katarina. It was definitely a homicide. The remains of a powerful bomb had been found in the wreckage. Jack shuddered. Rose could have been in that car with them. He could have lost her! Thank the powers that be that they had school and Rose had been nowhere near that car! He had lost far too many people in his life, he didn't think he'd be able to handle losing Rose too.

The authorities have searched the mansion and had even returned to the school parking lot and searched Rose's car for anymore explosives, but found none, thank god! So far there were far too many suspects to name. A lawyer as powerful as William Dewitt Bukater had plenty of enemies that would want to see him dead, but one popped up right away in Jack's mind. Nathan Hockley. After all, he had sworn revenge against William for helping Constance and making sure that people saw Caledon Hockley for the monster he was. Jack wondered if the authorities had the same name on top of their lists and if anything would come out of it. Probably not. Hockley was rich and powerful and the only man in town that wasn't afraid of him was now dead. No, if Hockley was the culprit, there would be no justice for Rose. It made Jack sick and made him feel helpless.

None of this was right. That man had hurt far too many people and was getting away with it. There was no end to his evil in sight! New York couldn't come fast enough. Jack just wanted to take Rose and flee California for good and just get her away from this toxic atmosphere.

Uncle Phil turned off the television and shook his head. "This is a bunch of bull. We all know who did it! Why the police refuse to say is way beyond me."

"Hush Phil," Aunt Beth walked over and rubbed her husband's arm. "We don't know anything. Only the police do and I'm sure that they'll try their best to find the culprit."

"Uncle Phil is right. But nothing will come of it. It'll remain unsolved. There was only one person brave enough to go against the Hockley's and we all now know what happened to him. I just hope that I get into that academy and this time next year, I'll have Rose safely away from here," Jack got up, rubbing his tired eyes. "I'm going to bed. I'm picking up Rose for school in the morning...that is if she even wants to go."

"That's a good idea sweetie," Beth nodded, watching her nephew disappear up the stairs. She turned to Phil and sighed. "New York is a good idea."

…..

By time Jack pulled up in front of the home of Ruth Dewitt Bukater, Rose was nearly back to herself. She had woken up, feeling groggy, her memory clear of her recent loss. She felt confused to find herself back in her old room at her mothers...then it all came rushing back to her and she nearly collapsed back on the bed.

Gone. Her father and Katarina and their baby. Gone. All in a flash...leaving her here with her mother, who she barely remembered slapping in her goal to deny reality.

Why? Why had this happened to her? She had been so happy. For once, she was beginning to feel like a normal girl again. The broken girl from earlier that year was gone and Rose was returning to herself again. Not only did she have a loving boyfriend, but a father that loved her and a stepmother that she could talk about anything with. A home to feel safe and secure in. Life had been good for Rose.

She should have known that it wouldn't last. Happiness for her was always going to be fleeting. If she was too happy...there will always be someone there to ruin it.

To Rose's surprise, Trudy came into her room, carrying a breakfast tray. A sad smile graced her lips. "Hey Rose. Welcome back, huh? I wish it was under happier circumstances. Your mother sent you up breakfast and wanted me to remind you to get ready for school. That the Dawson boy...Jack..will be here to pick you up in a hour."

Rose sighed, not feeling like talking much. She didn't want to eat. She didn't want to go to school. She just wanted to lay here and wait to die so she could join her father and Katarina. But she knew that her mother would never allow that. So she just sighed and accepted the tray. "Thank you, Trudy."

Trudy just nodded. She didn't know what to say really. Rose had been so unhappy here in her mother's house and it had seemed like she had just gotten to a happy place in her life when this happened. "Rose...I'd just like to say that I'm sorry about what happened to your father. He seemed like a nice man and you were actually happy. As someone who had lost her own father...let me just say that it may all seem dark now. You may feel alone and horrible but...you still have people that love you and will be here for you to lean on if you need it. You're not alone."

"Thank you Trudy. That means a lot," Rose tried to smile, wishing that she felt more friendly, but she just couldn't manage it. She turned to her breakfast, not really wanting it, but knowing that there was no choice. Trudy laid out an outfit from her old life, a purple blouse with a black pencil skirt for Rose to wear. It wasn't her style, not anymore, but her clothes was at home...the mansion and she had yet to retrieve them.

Sensing that help was needed, Trudy helped Rose slip into her clothes and go through the motions of getting ready for school.

Once her hair was braided, she went downstairs, where her mother was getting ready for the day.

"Rose, good you're up. There are arrangements to be made for the funerals. I know that at 18 you're capable of arranging everything yourself, but I thought that some suggestions wouldn't hurt. You may want to call Regency funeral homes. Their services may be steep, but they're tasteful and they may give you a good price on the coffins," Ruth handed Rose a number. "Do try to call by five. Abraham likes to get the paperwork done by then. Oh and your father's lawyer called. There's the will reading to be considered."

"You expect me to do all of this on my own?" Rose stared at her mother, feeling lost.

"Of course," Ruth looked at her as if she hadn't expected anything else. "You are of age now to handle these affairs, Rose. After all, you are William's daughter. Really, you didn't think I'd be doing all of it, did you? William and I had nothing to do with each other after you had moved in with him full time. Of course, you're staying here because you are my blood, but that's where my obligation ends. You're a big girl now. You can do this."

Rose wanted to cry again, feeling alone and abandoned, but she pushed it down, not wanting her mother to see her emotional turmoil. She just squared her shoulders and nodded, accepting the list that her mother handed her. "You're right. I wasn't thinking."

"It's alright. You are grieving. That has to be considered."

The sound of the doorbell interrupted the conversation, much to Ruth's relief it looked like. Rose looked like she was going to cry again and she didn't know how to handle that. Let it be someone else's problem.

"Trudy, that must be Rose's ride. Will you please show the boy in?" Ruth forced a smile.

"His name is Jack, mother," Rose sighed, turning away from her mother and walking to the door herself, ready to be out of her mother's presence.

Indeed it was Jack at the door, a hesitant smile on his face. "Hey, you're up and about. Yesterday you were kind of..."

"Catatonic? I know...I'm sorry...I just couldn't deal with what had happened then...I still don't know if I can...but I can't stay in bed forever, right? Life keeps moving on."

Jack placed a gentle hand against her cheek. "Just take it one day at a time Rose. You'll make it through this. As someone who had lost both of his parents, I promise you that."

"I have so much to do Jack...I have to call the funeral home...then call his lawyer and...how can I do this on my own...I can't," she began to ramble, feeling the urge to panic build inside her. It was Jack's warm arms pulling her against his check that helped her keep her composure.

"Hey, who said that you have to do this on your own? You have me and the gang. We'll help you, all you have to do is ask, you know that. You're not alone Rose. I'll be right by your side. I promise you that," Jack stroked her curls, nodding at Trudy who only smiled in greeting.

"Someday, you are going to get sick of having to hold my hand through one trauma after another," Rose sniffed.

"I don't think I could ever get sick of holding your lovely hand Rose," Jack kissed her hand and held it between his own. "That's an impossibility. Now let's go so we won't be late for class. We'll start on all of this once classes are done for the day. I think your father would want it that way."

Rose just smiled and followed Jack to the car, trying to push through her grief so she could get through the day. Nothing would get done if she remained a weepy mess all day long.

…..

The school day dragged by for Rose. Everyone gave her pitying stares and kept telling her how sorry they were for her loss. She couldn't concentrate on any of her classes. All she could think about about was the explosion and all she had to do once school was over. Finally the last bell rang and she was in the front seat of Jack's car, going over a list of what she had to do.

"Talk to the funeral home...I guess that should be first. I suppose they're going to want me to pick out a coffin," Rose sighed, feeling a heavy weight settle on her shoulders. "Or do I have to purchase the grave plots first? And with what money? I doubt mother is going to give me any and I don't know if daddy had left me anything...oh god Jack..."

"Hey, hey, calm down. One thing at a time, alright? Take a deep breath," Jack rubbed her back soothingly. "We'll figure it out. Don't worry."

"So...what do I do now?"

"Well...I guess we should go to the county coroner first. Insurance purposes I think...um...let's see...god. My Uncle handled everything when my parents had died, but I know that was the first thing he did...and then he called the executor of the estate...because they take care of bills and stuff..."

Rose dug a notebook out of her book-bag and began writing it all down, pushing back her grief and throwing herself into what needed to be done for her father and Katarina. "Alright...county coroner...and call the executor of daddy's estate..."

"Oooh, you'll also have to call their family and friends. Let them know what happened..."

"Oh god..."

"I'll help," Jack again promised, not wanting her to feel overwhelmed. "You're not alone in this..."

"It's just so much, Jack. I thought mother would help, but all she's doing is giving me a place to stay. She says the rest is my responsibility."

Jack shook his head. He just could not understand Rose's mother. Even though they were no longe married, the woman could still have offered her help to Rose, knowing that she was young and not even out of high school yet.

"Hey, don't you worry, alright. My Aunt and Uncle will help too if you need it. We don't need your mother, if that's the way she's going to be."

"I...I need to go to the mansion and get my things...I should probably start packing up their belongings too, but...I can't...not right now..."

"Hey, it's okay. Take your time, alright?," Jack gently kissed her. "We'll go to the coroner and go to the funeral home to see what needs to be done and call your dad's lawyer. Surely he'll help with a lot of this stuff...and then we'll go to the mansion and pack up your things. No problem."

"I'm such a burden to you..."

"Don't say that. You're not. Besides, you'd do the same for me," Jack squeezed her hand in reassurance. "It's going to be alright, Rose. You'll see."

…..

It only took a week to get the perfect funeral together, but Rose's heavy grief made it seem like it had taken forever. But with the help of Jack and his Uncle and Aunt who handled things that seemed too big for the teenagers, a nice service for William and Katarina was prepared.

It was a Sunday with sunny skies and warm breezes when Rose put her father and step-mother to rest. It wasn't the kind of day that seemed appropriate for a funeral, at least not in Rose's opinion. Looking around, she saw a lot of people she knew and some she didn't know. There were the cousins on her father's side and her Aunt and Uncle. There was also Katarina's parents and brother, there to mourn their daughter and sister. Rose had made it a point to go up to them and tell them how much their daughter and sister had meant to her...how she had helped her through the hardest time in her life and would miss her greatly. They had just smiled and given her a quick hug before allowing her to return to her place between her mother, who was there for appearance sake, and Jack, who held her hand tightly lending her strength and support.

She bowed her head and for the first time since her breakdown at school, she allowed her tears to flow as the priest said his words over the coffins. She felt her knees buckle as she heard the gears of the machinery lowering the coffins into the ground, realizing that this was it. The final step. After today, she wouldn't even be able to view their burned remains. They would be buried. Hidden from the eyes of the living. Her father, her hero...she'll never see him again. The baby that Katarina was carrying...gone. Never had a chance to live. The family she had looked forward to having in her life forever...gone. Just like that.

Jack's arms wrapped around her and held her up. She trembled in her arms, her sobs almost over taking her. Jack had to beg her mother to thank people for attending while he took her into the church and had her sit down until the tears and trembling stopped.

"I can't do this...I can't go on with him gone, Jack..."

"Yes you can. You are so much stronger than you think you are, Rose. Look, I undersand how you feel right now. You feel lost. Adrift. Like you don't have an anchor. I felt that way too when my parents died...but then my Aunt and Uncle came and they were my anchor. They didn't let me drown in my grief. They held me up. And I'm gonna do the same for you Rose. I love you so much...and...it breaks my heart to see you hurting like this. I am going to do all I can to relief you of that grief."

"I would have been lost without you," Rose sniffed, thinking back over the past week, of how he had to take over for her when she had become too overwhelmed to deal with things.

Jack just smiled and touched her cheek, silently promising her that he'll always be there for her. No matter what.