TWENTY TWO - 'REUNIONS'

SUNDAY

Jack and Rose were in the twins rooms, packing up their stuff so they could all enjoy their last day together without having to pack or stress. The twins came in from playing outside and sat on their beds "are you OK?" Jack asked, they nodded "can you read us a story?" Harry asked "of course… give us 2 minutes to put this away" Jack smiled gently, putting their bags in the wardrobe, not wanting the luggage to upset them.

"Rose?" Harry said quietly "yes darling?" She looked at him "are we allowed to take our toys back to New York? Or do we have to leave them here?" "Of course you can take them back to New York! They're yours!" "We haven't had any toys since Daddy was alive… thank you" Harry said. She smiled sympathetically and kissed his head "now, what book would the two of you like?" "Can we have this one?" Poppy said picking one up "is that OK with you Harry?" Rose asked, to which he nodded. "Can we go and read it on your bed? There's more room" Poppy asked "of course… come on" she walked in to hers and Jacks room as Jack and the twins followed.

SUNDAY NIGHT

It was around 11pm when Jack and Rose headed to bed. Jack opened the twins bedroom to check they were asleep - as they did every night. "They're not there" Jack said to Rose, who was in their room. Rose sighed, knowing exactly where they'd be. She rubbed Jack's arm and walked past him, creeping to Grace's room. She opened the door and saw the 3 of them asleep in Grace's bed "they've not slept with Grace for ages" Jack said "they're probably just trying to get back to what they know they're going back to…" Rose whispered and lifted up Harry's teddy that had ended up on the floor and put it beside him, before quietly walking out.

—

Jack and Rose fell asleep fairly quickly once in bed, it had been a long few days and they were warn out physically. They were also warn out mentally, knowing that they would soon be saying goodbye to the children.

—

3am Monday Morning

Rose groaned as she opened her eyes, noticing Jack getting out of bed "what's that noise?" Rose asked, referring to an aggressive banging that sounded like it was coming from downstairs "it's someone at the door I think… stay here" he said "no, I'm coming with you" Rose said, getting out of bed quickly and wrapping a dressing gown over her pyjamas "stay behind me then" Rose nodded and they walked on to the landing where Grace was "Grace, go back to bed darling" Rose whispered, not wanting to wake the twins, who were somehow sleeping through all the noise. Grace turned around, pretending to go back to her room.

Jack and Rose got to the front door, Jack reminding Rose to stay behind him "hello?" he opened the door and frowned confused at the woman stood in front of him "hello, I'm Lucy, I'm here to collect my children" "I'm sorry?" Rose raised an eyebrow and moved from behind Jack to beside him "Grace… Harry… Poppy… you know, my children" the woman looked at her like she was stupid "Mum?" Grace said confused as she walked downstairs "Hello Grace, can you go and get your stuff and the twins?" "Sorry Miss, but it's 3 o'clock in the morning. Grace isn't getting her stuff and the 3 of them aren't going anywhere at this time of night. Come back tomorrow and we'll talk about it further" Jack said "No" Lucy said, raising her voice "they're my children, and I am taking them now" "Grace?" Poppy said, rubbing her eyes from the top of the stairs, her other hand holding on to Harry's "why is everyone shouting" "go back to bed you two, I'll be back soon" Grace smiled gently, hoping they were too sleepy to realise their mum was there "Harry? Poppy?" Lucy said, making Rose sigh. The twins came down stairs and stood behind Grace. Poppy looked terrified, but Harry showed no emotion "come here!" Lucy smiled at them, pushing past Jack to get in to the hallway, opening her arms out for the twins, but neither moved.

"I missed you all" she kept the fake smile upon her face "no you didn't" Grace laughed "I'm sorry?" Lucy raised an eyebrow "you didn't miss us… you missed starving me, hitting Poppy with the brush, shouting at Harry when he coughed at the wrong moment. You didn't miss us, you missed what you get to do when we're around" Grace glared at her but Lucy ignored her "Poppy, come to Mummy, baby" Lucy said, holding out her arms again. Poppy moved from behind Grace "Poppy, stay where you are" she said, but Poppy ignored her and did as she was told; walked over to her Mum… except, she walked over to Rose and wrapped her arm around her hips. Rose's heart melted and she picked her up "she is not your Mummy!" Lucy hissed at Poppy but Poppy just nodded "yes she is" she said as rested her head against Rose's "Rose is nice Mummy… you're mean Mummy" "how dare you speak to me like that! Grace, get yours and the twins coats, immediately!" Grace stared at Lucy for a moment, seeing the anger build up in her eyes, and suddenly she became frightened, the first time she'd been as such since she arrived at Jack and Rose's house. She took a deep breathe, knowing that really, there was nothing Jack and Rose could do anymore. She walked over to Rose and held her arms out for Poppy, who let her take her from Rose. Grace carried her back to the stairs and sat down with her on her lap, next to Harry "listen, we have to go back to New York now… I'm so sorry both of you. If there was anything I could do to keep us here then I would, but it's too late… I'm sorry" Grace said, trying her hardest not to cry "we have to leave Jack and Rose?" Harry said, his bottom lip trembling, Grace nodded "I'm sorry" she sighed and hugged them both tightly "how about you two go and get your bags, hey? They're in the cupboard in your bedroom I think"

Harry got up and began to walk upstairs, Poppy following behind him. Grace took a deep breath "I hope you know how selfish it is to be dragging 3 children out of their home at 3am" "well for starters, this isn't your home, secondly, the cheapest train home I could get was at 4am so that's what time we're getting. Now, you go and get your stuff too" Lucy said aggressively, making Grace walk upstairs.

—

"What can we do for you so you'll let them stay here, with us?" Rose pleaded "Nothing. They're my children and they will be returning with me- now." "Yes, your children that you don't look after" Jack laughed, disgusted.

—

"Grace?" Harry said as he and Poppy walked in to her room, their bag and coat in hand, watching as Grace threw a photo of her, the twins, Jack and Rose in her bag "yes?" Grace turned to face them, wiping her eyes "we don't want to go back with her" Poppy said "I don't want to either, but I promise you, I'll look after you both… here, let me put your coats on" she bent down and helped the twins put their coats on, buttoning them up as far as they'd go, before helping them put their backpacks on, her taking the heavier bags with the toys in. "Let's go" she held her hand out for the twins, who took them and held on to her tightly as they walked downstairs.

"Right, come on" Lucy said in a rush "we want to say goodbye to Jack and Rose" Grace snapped "well quickly" Lucy rolled her eyes. Grace hugged Jack "thank you for everything you've done for me and the twins. We're so grateful" Jack kissed her forehead "Thank YOU for teaching me so much, Grace. Remember, you're so special and you're worth so much more than people tell you" he said, holding her cheeks, Grace just nodded and whispered 'thank you' whilst crying and turned her attention to the twins.

Rose was bent down to the twins level "you two, you're the sweetest little boy and girl I've ever met. We're so glad and lucky we got to look after you. Always remember how important you are, and how much we love you, OK?" Rose said, wiping her eyes before hugging the two of them "love you too" they both replied before walking over to Jack and Grace went to Rose.

Rose didn't say anything, just pulled Grace in to a tight hug "we'll always be here, remember that… we love you all so much, and thank you for letting me be your Mum" Rose whispered, still hugging her. "Thank you for being our parents, we'll really miss it here… miss you both… we'll try and write if we can" Grace whispered back. Rose nodded and kissed her forehead before hugging her again.

Jack was holding the twins, one on each hip. "I love you both, understand? You'll always be our favourite set of twins" Jack smirked at them both a little "you'll always be our favourite daddy" Poppy said. Jack took a deep breath, trying to hold it together, before Lucy interrupted.

"As sweet as this is" she rolled her eyes "we've got a train to catch" she continued "so let's go you three" she said to Grace and the twins. Grace held her hands out for the twins "have you got your teddies you two?" Jack asked them, they nodded as they stepped out the door with Grace "goodbye" Grace forced the weakest smile "bye bye" the twins said in unison to Jack and Rose" "bye darlings" Rose said "we love you" Jack said, watching at the 3 of them walked down the driveway, following their Mum.

Once out of sight, Jack shut the door as Rose burst in to tears. He pulled her close and she rested her head on his chest, also crying himself.