The next few weeks were busy ones for Jack and Rose. It was all about studying for finales, getting ready for graduation and their permanent move to New York. It was hectic and left little time for their friends, much less each other. Which was why everyone was happy that Beth and Phillip Dawson had decided to throw one last dinner party for the group of friends. They knew that most likely, it'll be the last time that they'll ever dine together as a group again, especially with Jack and Rose leaving for New York and Julie joining the military after graduation.

The dinner was taking place on a Sunday and everyone made sure to have that day free. The plan was to spend the entire day at the Dawsons with each other and just celebrate their friendship and enjoy this one last time that they would gather together as family and friends.

Rose couldn't help but be excited. If White Star had never closed, she probably wouldn't be here now. She would have probably been sent away and if she had came back, she wouldn't have any friends. She'd be alone and her life would be bleak and hopeless. She shuddered just thinking about what could have been. Instead, White Star and closed and she had transferred to JFK and her life had changed for the better. Not only had she made new friends, but she had been taken in as part of a family. She had also found her soulmate in Jack. It was a life that she had never expected to find, but happily accepted.

She arrived at the Dawson house, carrying the dessert that she had purchased at one of the bakeries in town. She was going to try to cook a cake on her own, but thought that it'd be best for everyone's sake if she just brought something instead.

Beth gasped in surprise as she opened the door to Rose with a Savanti's cake box in hand. "Rose! You didn't have to bring dessert!"

"Oh it was no trouble. I remember everyone saying how much that they liked red velvet cake, I thought it'd be suitable if we enjoy one together tonight."

"How sweet of you," Beth took the cake, her mouth salivating at the thought of digging into a slice. "This is going to be so good. Come in. Jack is in the living room sorting through the home videos. We have a lot this year."

"Maybe I can help," Rose smiled as Beth disappeared into the kitchen. Rose walked into the living room to find Jack sitting on the floor sorting through different DVD discs. "Need help?"

Jack grinned up at her, thrilled to see that she was the first to arrive. He patted the spot next to him. "Take a seat. You can keep me company."

"So what are all of these about?"

"Old times and new. It's going to be a compilation, from the moment I came to live here up to today, when you, Annabelle, and Derrick, and Trudy joined our group of friends this year. And I'm hoping to make a copy for everyone."

"That's sweet," Rose smiled. "I can't believe that it's almost over and we'll be leaving. I feel kind of sad. At the beginning of the year…I had never dreamed of becoming part of such a close group of friends. I had felt the lonliest I had ever been. And now…it feels like all of that had happened to someone else. Another Rose."

Jack nodded, understanding Rose completely. When he had first arrived in LA after his parents deaths, he had felt alone and broken. His friends were all back in Chippewa Falls. The girl that he had thought that he had loved had dumped him, and his family was gone, destroyed by someone that they had trusted. He had been alone and bitter and the only thing he had cared about was his art, because it took him away from the pain. Then Fabrizio came into his life, then Tommy and Helga. They had pulled him out of himself and made him care about the world again. Then Rose came and it was like the sun had come out after a long rain. Sure, she had been like a shattered doll for him to pick up the pieces and put back together. But put back together he had and now she was one of the strongest women he knew and he loved her more than he had thought possible to love someone.

He was a different Jack from the sad Jack from Chippewa Falls. He was happy. He had a family. He had a future. He had a woman that he loved more than anything. The Jack from Chippewa Falls had lost everything. He had nothing. But the Jack he was now, he had the world.

"I understand. I'm another Jack too. I was very different from how I am now. I had lost everything when I first came here. Now, three years later, I have everything that I could ever want."

"Yeah. I never thought that I'd have friends and family that I would hate to leave behind…but I do. I'm going to miss your Aunt and Uncle and our friends. I'm even going to miss my mother…in a way. I wouldn't have been able to say that last year, but I can now."

"We grew as people. That's a good thing," Jack squeezed her hand, just as the door opened and in came Tommy, Annabelle, and Derrick.

"We're here, mates! Where's the music?" Tommy announced, spotting Jack and Rose near the TV.

"Welcome welcome!" Beth bustled into the room and took everyone's jackets. "Make yourselves at home."

"Of course, Mrs. Beth. This is home away from home after all," Tommy kissed her cheek before grabbing Annabelle's hand and turning to Jack and Rose. "I take it that we've beaten Fabri and Hels here."

"Yeah. Her father is again giving Fabri a hard time, so it may be a while," Jack smiled. "Come in. Put on some music if you like."

"Where's Julie?" Derrick asked, looking around for his girlfriend. They hadn't really been getting along lately. Julie had signed up for the military and Derrick was in disagreement with her decision. He hoped that tonight, they could just relax and enjoy the company of their friends.

"Upstairs reading more about women in the military," Jack answered. He didn't know how to feel about Julie's plans. His Aunt and Uncle didn't really agree with it, but Julie was an adult and there was nothing that they could do to stop her. They were still working on accepting the decision.

Derrick just sighed and rolled his eyes and took a seat on the couch with his sister, deciding to leave Julie to it. He didn't want to argue. Not today anyway.

The ring of the bell announced Fabrizio and Helga's arrival. Both looked like they had seen better days. Jack stood up and went to his friend, who looked rather nervous about something.

"Hey what's up?" Jack asked, curious.

Fabrizio and Helga looked at each other then turned their attention to their friends. They had a big announcement to make. A secret to share and this was the time to do it, while they were all together.

"You may want to sit down, Jack. Helga and I...we have something shocking to share with all of you," Fabrizio warned, taking Helga's hand and walking into the middle of the room.

Jack frowned and sat next to Rose. "What is it? You guys can tell us anything. You know that."

Helga and Fabrizio looked at each other once again. Fabrizio then wrapped his arm around Helga's waist and pulled her closer. "Helga's and I have been keeping a secret. We have two secrets that we must share with you now. The first secret is..."

"I am pregnant," Helga spoke, not wanting to leave it all to Fabrizio.

"Oh my god," Rose gasped. She hadn't been expecting that. She looked at Jack wonderingly. Thanks to her mother, she was safely on birth control and Jack always wore a condom. They had been as safe as safe can be. But Rose had to wonder what a child of her and Jack's would look like and how would Jack react if she had became pregnant?

"I am two months along...and I am sorry for not telling you guys, but so much has been going on and we really haven't had a chance...and with poppa throwing me out..."

"He threw you out?" Rose's frown deepened. How could a father do that to his daughter? How mean and callous. She had thought that her own mother was cold, but Rose had left on her own. She didn't think that Ruth would ever go that far with her.

"You have to understand. Poppa is very old fashioned. He comes from the old world, where this doesn't happen outside of marriage...not to mention that he can't really stand Fabri...well he was less than pleased with me," Helga looked down at the floor, feeling the hurt that her father's actions had caused. "He will not even speak to me on the phone. He won't have anything to do with me and won't let me talk to anyone else in the family."

"Oh Helga, I'm so sorry that you're going through this. How have you been living? What are you and Fabri going to do, lass?" Tommy frowned, his eyes warm with concern.

"I've been staying with Fabri...not only that...but...yesterday..."

"We got married," Fabrizio finished, not looking at his friends, knowing that they would probably be hurt that none of them had been there. "My mama insisted. She was not comfortable letting us stay in the same house unmarried..."

Silence fell over the room as the shock sank in. No one had been expecting that. Helga and Fabrizio were still high school students. Yes, they were still of age. Yes, they were having a baby, but everything was going so fast. It was Jack that broke the silence.

"And I thought that Rose and I would be the first to marry," Jack chuckled, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "What can I say but congratulations?"

"And a new baby as well? How wonderful," Rose smiled. Suddenly she was curious. What were their plans after graduation? "What are you guys going to do after we all leave school? Do you have any plans?"

Fabrizio and Helga looked at each other and shook their heads.

"No, not really. We get place of our own and work probably," Fabrizio answered, feeling the familiar panic he had been feeling for the past couple of days rise up once again. He had no idea how he was going to support himself, Helga and the new bambino on the way.

"Why don't you come with us? Jack and I haven't chosen an apartment yet, so we can choose a bigger one and split the rent?" The idea had just come to Rose. Why not take Fabrizio and Helga with them? She knew that Jack wanted to be around for his best friend and it'd be great to have some familiar faces tag along.

"That's a great idea," Jack nodded in agreement.

Fabrizio and Helga looked at each other. They hadn't really thought of leaving LA altogether, but the idea felt appealing. It would be a new start for their family.

"We don't want to intrude," Helga wringed her hands, feeling reluctant to accept the offer.

"You won't be. Seriously, you'll be helping us out. Besides, you can't expect me to skip out on my duties as godfather," Jack grinned, reassuring Helga that he and Rose would like nothing more than for them to join them in their New York adventure.

"Who says that you're godfather, huh?" Tommy playfully huffed.

"I'm the natural choice. I am Fabri's best friend you know," Jack winked.

"Come on you two, cut it out. I am sure that there can be more than one godfather," Rose giggled. "So what do you say? Come with us?"

"We won't take no for an answer," Jack crossed his arms.

"Well in that case….yes. Yes we go with you to New York. Start our life there," Fabrizio nodded, seeing the answer in Helga's eyes.

…..

Dinner was delicious. It consisted of fried chicken, corn, mash potatoes, green beans, and dinner rolls. For dessert, the group dug into the red velvet cake that Rose had purchased. Everything had been perfect. Good food, good friends, good conversation. Now everyone was full and ready to move into the living room, but first, some speeches were to be had. Jack was first.

Jack stood up from his chair and looked at each and every person at the table. Each person meant a lot to him and had a hand in who he was today compared to who he had been when he first came to LA.

"When I first came here, I was sad and angry. I had lost my parents and my sister and I wanted to have nothing to do with anyone. But you wouldn't let me close myself off. You guys forced your way into my life and made me a part of your group. You kept me from sinking into despair. I really appreciate that. You're more than my best friends. You're family and you always will be. No matter where I am. It's sad that this will be the last dinner we all will share as a group. But it's also a happy time, because we're all heading off into the future and the next time we see each other like this, we will have all kinds of stories to tell. I love you guys. I always will. I look forward to hearing those stories."

Jack sat down and Rose stood up, tears shining in her eyes.

"When I first met you all…I was a broken mess. I was afraid of my own shadow and could barely speak. But you guys…you were patient and kind. You showed me more kindness than I had ever known at that point and you soon became the kind of friends that I had never thought I'd have. The kind of friends that I could think of as family. This year had started off hellish, but thanks to you, it ended up being the best year of my life. Thank you. Thank you so much, I love you all."

More speeches came, each one heartfelt and tear inducing. The bond between everyone in the group was more than obvious and it made everyone sad to have to say goodbye.

After the speeches was over, everyone gathered into the living room and watched the home movies that Jack had arranged, starting from Jack's arrival in LA up to a few weeks ago, when Jack and Rose were reenacting Rose's favorite scene from Ghost. Everyone teased Jack over that one. A blushing Jack just told them to shut up and that they were just jealous.

Finally, the evening came to an end. After one last group hug everyone began to file out. Rose was the last to leave. She stood in the doorway, holding onto Jack's hand.

"It's getting harder and harder to say good-bye," She sighed, wishing that she could stay.

"I know. But it won't be much longer now."

"One more week of classes and that's it," Rose smiled, unable to believe that high school was soon going to be over.

"Unbelievable, huh?"

"After all we've been through, yes. I better go, I guess. Good night…"

Jack wrapped her in his arms and gave her one last kiss before releasing her. Watching her walk away, sadness came over him. Times were changing fast. Soon they'll be in New York, going to school and childhood will be over. He just couldn't help but wish that his parents had been there to see it all.