Saturday, while Jack and Rose was spending a fun day on Venice Beach, Tommy and Julie found themselves at Derrick and Annabelle's apartment, watching DVD's, munching on snacks, and trying not to think about what Jack and Rose were up to at the moment.

"We should invite Helga and Fabrizio over," Annabelle dug into her bag of chips, her eyes never leaving the screen. "I'm sure they miss Jack and Rose too."

"Oh please, those two are worse than Jack and Rose. They're always feeling on each other and connected at the lips. At least Jack and Rose keep it PG-13," Julie chuckles. "No, leave them to their love fest. Us normal people are just fine without all the snogging."

"I like snogging," Derrick pouted. The pout turned into a snort of laughter when his girlfriend pinched him.

"Speak for yourself. I mean, I like doing it, but seeing too much of it can be nauseating," Julie chuckled.

Annabelle smiled, watching her brother and his girlfriend tease each other about the subject of snogging. She couldn't help but feel a little sad, knowing that the subject was no laughing matter for her. In fact, it was a very serious topic. "I think I'll go get us some more drinks."

Annabelle got up from her seat beside Tommy and disappeared into the kitchen. She sighed, feeling relieved at the lack of conversation. She loved her brother and liked his girlfriend, but they took things like kissing and displays of affection totally for granted. They would never understand how hard it was for her to even hold Tommy's hand without being nervous about what kind of signals she was sending the handsome Irish boy. It drove her crazy.

"They mean well, lass. Sometimes they don't think."

Annabelle turned around and smiled, not surprised that her boyfriend, if that's what Tommy could be called, had followed her. "They're just so nonchalant. It's like they don't know what a big step Rose is taking this weekend, and as for snogging...that's a step that I have yet to take, and I know that you must be getting tired of waiting for that much."

"I'm not getting tired of anything," Tommy frowned, taking her hand in his. He had thought that she knew that he didn't mind waiting for her. That he thought her special and worth the wait. But obviously she didn't. It troubled him,because he never wanted to give her the impression that he was tired of waiting. "Look, as much as I love the act of kissing and hugging and holding hands, I can also wait for those things to happen. You're not ready. I get that, I swear I do. You're well worth the wait, Anna. I'm in no hurry."

"I knew that you would say this...," Annabelle sighed. "You're always so patient. But even saint's have limits."

Tommy chuckled. "Well then it's a good thing that I'm not a saint. Look, we are both still young. Heck, we've just started seeing each other really. So waiting is natural. And when you're ready to give me the greatest snog of my lifetime, I'll be ready too. But as long as you're not, I'm not either and that's just the way things are for us."

"You don't have to do this. There are other girls who don't have so much baggage and will kiss you whenever you want without a problem. You don't have to pretend."

Tommy sighed and shook his head. "I am not pretending. When have I ever pretended with you, huh? I swear on my honor as an Irishman, I am happy with the way things are now. I can wait. Sure, it's not easy. But nothing worth having ever is."

Annabelle just nodded, still not sure if she believed him, but she didn't want to anger him by arguing the point. If he was okay waiting for her, she wasn't going to dispute it. "Okay...if you are sure."

"I am. Now let's go out there and finish that movie...oh and Derrick wants more ginger ale. I guess we should grab him some," Tommy chuckled, opening the refrigerator and taking out a couple of cans of soda.

"Tommy..."

He turned around, his eyes questioning. "Yes?"

"Thank you..."

He just smiled and turned to walk back into the living room where Julie and Derrick were waiting.

…..

Derrick and Julie were fast asleep on the couch, while Annabelle and Tommy sat on the floor watching the last of The Notebook.

"I can't believe you girls find this romantic," Tommy snorted, tossing a popcorn kernel at the television.

Annabelle looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "It is romantic. I mean, it's the classic rich girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl finds boy again later in life. And the fact that he's telling her their story because she has Alzheimers...how can you not be moved?"

"But there's no urgency. No big tragedy to be had. No real obstacle...like say...a earthquake...or a sinking ship. I just don't see how this story is considered a epic love story...not like Lusitania.. When Mike died...after making Lily promise to go on...now that was a love story," Tommy sighed. "We should have watched that instead."

"You didn't love that because of the love story. You just liked the sight of that torpedo hitting the ship. The closest thing to an action movie you can think of," Annabelle accused.

Tommy gasped, mock offended. "I am shocked that you'd think such a thing of me, Anna. Absolutely shocked."

"Tommy, I watched you throughout the movie. You were bored stiff until the torpedo and then the sinking. You could have cared less about Mike and Lily," Annabelle shook her head, her heart still aching over the end of that movie. She couldn't believe that after all they had gone through, Mike died and Lily's evil fiancee lived. It wasn't fair!

"But did the Notebook make you cry like Lusitania did?" Tommy smirked, already knowing the answer.

"Well...no...but it's a totally different movie and..."

"I rest my case. An epic romance should make you cry like nothing else and The Notebook failed to do that," Tommy grinned, thinking that he had won.

"Like you cried at the end of Lusitania..."

"I did. You just didn't see me."

"Mmm...I'm sure."

"I did!"

Annabelle turned her head to deny him again, but all words left her as their eyes met. His eyes seemed warmer than usual, and his lips...she licked her own and struggled for words, her own having fled seconds before.

Tommy too lost track of what he was saying as he lost himself in her blue eyes. He didn't know what was going on between them, but whatever it was, it was strong. In that moment, he was sure that if he tried, she would let him kiss her. But should he try?

Annabelle answered that question by for once letting her instincts take control. Not giving herself enough time to think it through, she leaned in and kissed him. It wasn't long or passionate. It was a simple touching of the lips and that was it. But still, it was a kiss. The first kiss she had shared since the second attack and it was the nicest thing she had ever felt.

"Are you okay?" Tommy asked, his eyes half closed, savoring the memory of the warmth of her lips against his.

Annabelle swallowed and smiled, feeling shocked at what she had just done and relieved now that she had done it. "Yes. I'm alright. I'm sorry if I shocked you...I just felt that it was time..."

"You can shock me like that anytime you want, lassie. The nicest kiss a bloke like me had ever received to be honest."

She was skeptical. Tommy had dated Julie and a number of other girls. Surely he had nicer kisses than that one chaste one. "I don't believe you."

"Really. Telling the truth here. No other kiss has ever had so much meaning..."

Annabelle smiled up at him before leaning her head against his shoulder. "I can't explain why it felt right now...it just did..."

"Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason. Sometimes, it just is and we have to accept what's given to us. Myself...I feel like it was perfect..."

"Me too," Annabelle sighed, feeling content for the first time in ages. For once, she really did feel like she was on the road to getting her life back and she was happy to have Tommy by her side. She remembered wondering when she would find her "Jack". To be honest, she really think she already had.