Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the characters in this story. All rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any names or locations are simply for storyline purposes.

Chapter 36- Forgive Yourself

NOTE: ** STEAM ALERT** STEAM ALERT**STEAM ALERT** STEAM ALERT**

Please remember that Jack and Elizabeth are a newly married couple, and steam will most definitely be included in this chapter. If that is not what you are interested in, please move along. YOU HAVE BEEN FORWARNED…

**STEAM ALERT** STEAM ALERT** STEAM ALERT** STEAM ALERT**

Raising his head to the sun, his face was devoid of any color. Elizabeth wasn't certain if his face was actually that pale, which frightened her, or if it was simply the sun's glare upon his skin.

She watched as a tear slipped down his cheek, the only indication of the heavy weight resting on his shoulders. He glanced down before casting his eyes back out onto the ocean.

Elizabeth brushed his tear away, "Jack, what's wrong?" she asked; her voice was soft and tender.

Jack took a deep breath, and took hold of her hands. Before starting, he looked down, as if he was too embarrassed or ashamed to look into her eyes.

"Please look at me, Jack."

He caught her eyes, "Before I say anything else, I want to apologize for last night."

"It wasn't like you, Jack. It was like you expected me to 'put out' as payment for the evening. What was with you?"

"Elizabeth, you are my world; I hope you know that," his hand rested along her jaw as his thumb brushed across her cheek. "I have no excuse; you should never feel obligated to make love to me, and I should be respectful of how you feel. I'm so sorry that I snapped at you. You didn't deserve that."

"No, I didn't, but Jack you must know how much I love you; I always want to be with you, but there has to be a sense of comfort and… I'm sorry; I just don't feel right being that close to you in your mother's home."

He smiled, albeit hesitantly, "I do understand, and if I'm being completely honest, I didn't want to either, but I just needed to feel close to you."

"Jack, maybe men and women are different, well, I know they are, but I feel close to you when we do this…just talk. So please, tell me what's wrong; I can't help you if I don't know what's bothering you. If you're worried about me, I'm okay; we're together and that's really all that matters."

Not certain that he could follow through with this talk, Jack looked out at the initially calm ocean only to find it churning as white caps began rolling ashore.

"Does this have anything to do with you leaving early for Spring Training?" she hoped it was that simple.

"No, and I'm sorry if I caught you off guard. I just feel the need to make a good impression on the owners; after all they're paying a lot of money to get me out here."

"I understand; I was just hoping we had more time together before you left. I wish you would have told me and we could have discussed it."

"I'm sorry; I guess I'm still getting used to the fact that all of my decisions impact you as well. We can discuss it and if you don't want me to go early, I won't."

"Okay, that's not what's bothering you, so what is?" her eyes pleaded with his.

"I know how much you want a baby."

She leaned in as her eyes met his, "That's no surprise, but I'm so sorry that the topic ever came up. Well, maybe not ever, but certainly not on our honeymoon. It was the wrong time; let's just put it out of our heads, okay?"

"I wish it was that simple…"

"Jack, I can wait until you're ready. I've told you that, and I mean it. I'm sorry if you felt like I was pushing."

"I should have told you…It's not fair to you."

"Told me what? What's not fair to me?" Her eyes widened as if a light bulb was suddenly turned on in her head. "Oh no, do you already have a child? Children? Did you lose a child? Were you married before? Did you lose your first wife?" she reeled off question after question, many of them too absurd to even warrant an answer, and she found herself suffocating just a bit more with each one. "I can deal with a lot of things, but the not knowing is killing me. Please, just tell me…" Not certain what truth was coming, she slipped away from him slightly.

He reached out and pulled her close as he held her trembling body, "Shh, no honey, it's nothing like that."

He swallowed hard before starting, "Elizabeth, I never thought I'd fall in love." His voice was broken, obviously so full of emotion, "I mean, that mind blowing, all consuming love that makes you willing to give up everything to keep hold of it." He turned to look into her eyes, "But then you came along and my world was turned upside down. Marriage wasn't truly a thought, so kids, although I love them, wasn't something that I even thought about."

Jack wrapped his arms around his bent legs, closed his eyes and attempted to take a deep breath, but instead he felt his chest tightening, "You are my life, and I would do anything for you; I hope you know that, but…"

Elizabeth placed her hand on his back, gently rubbing in circles, doing her best to comfort him. Assuming that his release of feelings had to do with children, she asked, "Jack, are you not able to have kids of your own?"

The look on his face caused her to continue, "I love you Jack, and if that's the case, it's okay. I need you; you make me whole and we'll be fine just the two of us."

Releasing a harsh breath, he half heartedly smiled, "No honey, that's not it."

"Jack, you're scaring me…please, what is it?"

He released his arms from around his legs, placed his hands together as if he was praying and rested his chin in the bend between his thumbs and forefingers. "Back when I was about 22, I had just started in the minors. I had a friend, Josh, who played for UCLA. We were drafted by the Mets, and both of us ended up on the same farm team."

Although nervous about what Jack was preparing to confess, Elizabeth remained quiet, allowing him to unburden himself. Her hand continued to brush across his back, as she did her best to remain calm.

"Josh married his college sweetheart, Cat, right out of school and although he said that she got pregnant right away, I think she was already pregnant when they married."

Elizabeth leaned her head against his shoulder, "Did he love her?"

"My God, she was his life; he loved her with everything he had. Pregnant or not, he would have married her. He never felt obligated or force when it came to her."

"Loved…?"

He lifted his head from his hands and again wrapped his arms around his legs, burying his face in the circle of his arms.

"Jack, what happened?"

"It was my fault," although the sound was muffled as the words were released into the safe circle of his arms, he repeated the comment several times.

"What was your fault?"

Jack's respiration was becoming more rapid as he hesitated.

"Jack, it can't be as bad as you're making it," she offered. "Please, tell me."

Jack started talking, mumbling actually; his eyes glanced in her direction, then out to sea, and then back again, but it was evident that what he was seeing was in his mind.

The sound of the waves crashing over the rocks was ordinarily soothing, relaxing, and often exhilarating. However, right now, as he began to purge himself, having no rhyme or reason for where he started or how it flowed, he paid little attention to the one place that had always brought him peace.

Eight Years Ago…

"Jack, you'd better stop for gas on the way to the game," Josh mentioned as he glanced at the gas gauge.

"I'll stop after the game," Jack replied.

"Man, your rolling on fumes already; we have time," Josh stated as he observed Jack drive past three more stations. "You are such a procrastinator."

"Maybe so, but just think of the adventure, never knowing if we'll make it," Jack laughed.

"I don't like having to walk when we've got your car. Wait, do you not have any money? We just got paid," Josh advised him.

"We did?" Jack asked.

"Yea, I checked the bank before we left," Josh responded as they passed the last gas station on their way to the ballpark.

"Well, I have enough to get to the gas station on the way home."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"Is Cat coming to the game?" Jack asked.

"Of course; has she ever missed a home game?"

"Now that you mention it…no. Is she driving or riding with someone?"

"Rob Coleman's girlfriend is picking her up and she'll ride home with us.

"Is she doing okay?" Jack asked as he thought of Cat as the sister he never had.

"She's doing great. She had an ultrasound this morning…We're having a girl."

Jack pulled into his parking space at the ballpark, "So, are you naming her after me?" Jack joked.

"What…Jack?"

"Well, it could be Jacklyn…"

"Sorry dude, but her name in Meaghan, and I can't wait to be her daddy."

"Man, are you crying?"

"So, what's it to you? One day you're going to feel this kind of love, and I hope I'm around to see it."

"WOW, you as a father. I never thought I'd see that day," Jack teased.

"Don't you want to have kids, Jack? You know, Cat has some gorgeous single girlfriends…"

"Not interested. I have plans to make it into the big leagues, and then, once I'm established, maybe I'll find someone."

"It doesn't work like that, Jack. You'll find her when you least expect it," Josh advised him as they walked into the locker room.

Back to the Beach…

"Cat was six months along, and as far as I knew, her pregnancy was going well. We had a game in town, and she sat through it, tie breaking innings and all," he explained as he looked out into the ocean and seemed to be carried away, or he wish he had been.

"Jack, what happened?" feeling quite anxious, Elizabeth's voice wavered.

"After the game, a bunch of us were sitting around the locker room, and I won't lie, there was drinking going on. All of us wanted to go out, but Cat was tired and needed to go home…"

"Oh no…"

"It's not what you think," he replied.

"Josh had a great game, and, well he was celebrating. He'd had a few beers so I said that I'd drive Cat home and then I'd give Josh a ride later," Jack explained. I planned to meet the guys at "Baron's Pub." His eyes were cast downward, unable to look at Elizabeth.

"Jack, had you been drinking?" she hesitantly asked.

"No…no, I wouldn't have driven her if I had been drinking."

"So what happened?"

Jack's expression suddenly went angry. Although Elizabeth couldn't tell to who it was directed, assuming that it very well may have been internalized.

"We were heading home and…"

"And what, Jack?"

"I forgot to get gas."

"So you forgot to get gas; that's not the end of the world."

"Elizabeth my car was really old, and I never had to use my hazard lights before, so I wasn't aware that they weren't working."

"Hazard lights? What are you talking about?"

"I ran out of gas near a stop light."

"So you had to walk to the gas station?"

"I wish it was that easy."

"Please Jack; what happened?"

"We ran out of gas near an intersection; I pulled over as far as I could. I got out and pushed the Jeep off of the road. I had just gotten back inside when someone came along; he didn't realize that I was stopped. He ran off the road and into the back of us," his eyes watered. "He was drunk; maybe he just didn't see us."

At this point, Jack barely took time for the shallow breaths that the lump in his throat allowed. "The guy was wasted; he was cruising and hit us so hard that I felt like his car was sitting in my back seat. He pushed us into the intersection, and then BAM…" he yelled as he relived that very moment.

His voice was loud, audible over the crashing waves; it startled her as she nearly fell from the rock.

"We were hit broadside," Jack wiped his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Elizabeth regained her balance, horrified by his pronouncement, "Jack…I…" she wanted to console him, but no words would come.

"This truck slammed right into Cat's door; she was pushed into my lap, and all I saw was blood," his eyes were darting everywhere; a frantic expression covered his face as his breaths became more ragged. "Elizabeth, it was horrible; blood was all over her, me, the inside of my Jeep, and…and the screams, they were deafening."

Elizabeth moved closer as she felt the need to hold him, trying her best to calm him. "Jack were you hurt?" she asked, but he wasn't listening.

His respiration was rapid and shallow, "Honey, take a breath," she could hear him inhale, but he was struggling to get it into his lungs.

"I'm sorry that I never told you; I had put it down so deep that I just didn't want to think about it."

She took hold of his hand as her thumb gently rubbed across his skin. She wanted to ask questions, and although he was talking to her, it was evident that he was far from this Southern California beach where they sat, so she remained quiet, allowing him to talk.

"She was practically in my lap, and I just remember her screaming my name and begging me to help her. I can still hear her crying, 'Meaghan, don't go; mommy loves you,' and there wasn't a damn thing I could do. I felt so helpless."

With a frightened expression on his face, one she'd never seen before, he continued, "She looked over at me and said, 'We're not going to make it Jack.'" He remained quiet for a moment, "She was suddenly calm, like she wanted to make certain that what she needed to say was said."

"She grabbed my arm…I don't know how she did it; her arm was obviously broken, but she somehow held mine while she pleaded with me, 'Please tell Josh…" he looked down as he suddenly had the memory of that moment, "that my arms will no longer hold him, but my heart always will. Make sure he knows that. Promise me…"

"I promise, but you'll be fine…"

"Jack, please; just listen… tell Josh that it's okay for him to move on; he will be a wonderful father someday.'"

His tears were now free falling as he kept apologizing to her for crying, "I'm sorry, you didn't sign up for this when you married me."

"Jack, I think a real man shows his emotions. He lets those he loves into that soft side of himself. Besides, I married you because I loved you; I still love you and will always love you."

"Elizabeth, I had just talked to Josh that afternoon about the baby. He was so excited. I took that away from him."

Elizabeth scooted around in front of Jack, doing her best to get his attention, "Just breathe, Jack…" finding the rock difficult to balance on, she returned to her seat beside him. As she slipped her arm around him, she stated firmly, "Sweetheart, you didn't take anything away from Josh; for whatever reason, it was God's plan. But if it was anyone's fault, it was the guy who was drinking and driving."

"He wasn't even hurt. He crawled out the broken windshield of his car and stumbled away," Jack stated as his anger took on a deeper tone. "He walked away, Elizabeth."

"Did they ever find him?" she asked.

"Yes…he was convicted of DWI- Second Degree Manslaughter, but he was only sentenced to five years in prison."

"The punishment hardly fits the crime, but at least they caught him. It was his fault Jack, not yours."

"I do know that, but I lied to her, Elizabeth. I told her that she was going to be fine. I was talking to her, trying to get her to hold on, and she said, 'Do you promise?' Jack leaned against Elizabeth, "That's the last thing I know. I passed out; Cat was taken to one hospital and I was taken to another. When I woke up my mom was there."

"Jack, you were just trying to give her some hope; you can't beat yourself up over that," she replied. "How badly were you hurt?" she asked.

"It should have been me. If I'd stopped for gas on the way to the game, it never would have happened."

"Jack, it wasn't your fault. Do you not see that?"

Jack turned his face in her direction; his eyes were red as tears stained his cheeks.

"Were you hurt?" she asked as her fingers brushed across his forehead, revealing a scar just below his hairline that she'd never noticed before.

"It doesn't matter; I didn't matter."

"It matters to me, Jack; I want to know."

He released a harsh breath, "When the truck hit us, my head went through the driver's side window. I had a bad concussion and needed a bunch of stitches, but Cat…"

Based on his hesitancy, it was evident to Elizabeth that Cat miscarried, and now some of his concerns about her having a baby were becoming clearer.

"The baby?" needing to know, she asked.

His head simply shook back and forth. "The ambulance came and they took Cat to Mount Sinai Hospital. By the time Josh was notified, she was gone…they were gone."

"They…?

"Cat died in surgery, and Josh wasn't there; I don't think he ever forgave me."

He continued, "I can't help feeling responsible."

She did her best to console him as her arms went around his body and she pulled him close. "Jack, a lot of time has passed. I'm sure Josh has moved on and maybe he's afraid to get in touch with you."

"I'm not so sure; Josh hasn't spoken to me since that day. At the funeral, he acted as though he didn't even know me," Jack responded, the look in his eyes explained the horror that he was apparently reliving.

Her finger under his chin turned his face in her direction, "Jack, haven't you ever been late leaving your house and ten minutes up the road you encounter a horrible accident that had recently happened? You drive by and just know in your heart that you were stalled for some reason; because if not that would have been you in the midst of the mangled metal."

His face remained in her direction, but his eyes were cast downward, and his expression indicated that he was thinking. Maybe, just maybe she was getting through to him.

"Jack, if I was sitting where you are with the same story, would you feel differently? Would you feel that I was guilty?"

"Of course not, but you're a woman."

She leaned closer; her hand rested on his jaw line as her thumb brushed away tears that he tried to hide. "Jack, that makes no sense. Whether you believe me or not, this was an accident, and you aren't to blame. Now I understand you're conflicting feelings about having a baby."

"Somehow, it doesn't seem fair for me to have a family when he lost his." Years of being strong, hiding the impact, and pushing it deeper into his subconscious now felt as though it was crushing him.

"Jack, how do you know that he blames you? He may have withdrawn from everyone because of his own misguided guilt."

Jack took a deep, cleansing breath, releasing it as the Southern California breeze carried it down the beach. The tension which seemed to grip his body whenever talk of children was broached was now in the open. If nothing else, he was no longer dealing with this tragedy alone.

"Jack, you aren't to blame for this; it was an accident. I mean if anyone is to blame, it's the guy who ran into the back of you."

"It doesn't matter; the outcome is still the same. Cat and Meaghan are both gone."

"Jack, it isn't your fault. You shouldn't have carried this all by yourself."

"Then why do I feel guilty?"

"Jack, you're happy, and the last time you saw him, he wasn't," her hand on the side of his face turned him back in her direction. With her own tears forming, she replied, "Let me tell you something, Jack Thornton; you are a kind, gentle man, and what happens to others affects you," her soothing voice seemed to penetrate his soul. As she took hold of his hand she asked, "Jack, did you ever talk with anyone about this?"

"I'm talking to you."

"Jack, I mean professionally."

"I did; my coach sent me to a therapist."

"What about Josh; did he see anyone?"

"I don't know; he quit and flew home. I haven't seen him since the funeral."

"How long did you see the therapist?"

"For a few months; until the end of the baseball season."

"What did your therapist say?"Before he could answer she continued, "I'm sorry; that's personal."

"Elizabeth, I want to be an open book with you. I don't want to keep secrets," he assured her. "I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you this one."

"Jack, you shouldn't have kept it to yourself. The more you talk about it, I think the more you'll understand that it wasn't your fault."

"Maybe so…"

"Do you mind sharing what the therapist said?"

"He rarely said anything; he just shook his head up and down and took notes as I talked. On my last session, he finally said, "Son, this wasn't your fault. I hope you realize that. We don't always have control over what happens in life, but we can control how we respond to what's thrown our way."

"See, I told you it wasn't your fault."

"Maybe the actual accident wasn't my fault, but Elizabeth, she died alone. I know she had to be scared, and that's what really bothers me. I loved her…"

Misinterpreting the expression on her face he continued, "Don't look at me like that; she was like the sister I never had. If I could have gotten in touch with Josh, gotten him to the hospital before she…"

Her hand rested on his cheek, "But Jack, you can't control things that are out of your control. Maybe the Lord didn't want Josh seeing her like that. The last image of her in his mind is when she left the ballpark."

"I suppose you're right…"

"Why didn't you tell me before? I hate seeing how this is eating you up, and that I've contributed to it."

Jack took her hands and looked into her eyes, "You've done nothing wrong; you've only told me what you need in your life and I can't blame you for that. As for not telling you, I think I've pushed it down so far that I didn't think about it until the talk of babies came up. I'm so sorry to put you through this, especially now, on our honeymoon. I sure know how to suck the joy out of things."

"Stop it, Jack," she smiled; it was the first one he'd seen in a while. "We just got married; I love you more than I ever dreamed possible, and we have a lifetime of joy ahead of us; I just know it."

"It's just so unfair," he whispered as his eyes returned to the vast ocean before him. "Why do things have to happen that are out of our control?"

"Jack, when you got hurt playing baseball, do you think the guy meant to do it?" she asked.

"I would hope not."

Elizabeth began to explain, "Well, I suspect that if you hadn't gotten hurt, we never would have met. You were in New York, and I was in Baltimore with no plans to make the two hour drive into the City. I'm certain that you had no intention of coming down to Baltimore either. Besides, even if I had driven into New York, the chances are minute that we would have crossed paths."

Jack finally smiled; it was bright and showed his dimpled cheeks as a massive weight seemed to have been lifted from his shoulders, "I would have found you. Even when I didn't know you, I was searching for you…I believe that you were always who I was meant to be with."

"Well Jack, I'm sorry you got hurt, but in the end, the injury sent you to me, and I can't imagine my life without you in it," she stated, as she no longer fought back her own tears. "You are an amazing man, Jack Thornton."

"Elizabeth…"

"What is it Jack…"

"I didn't have the ability before, but I'd like to do a scholarship in Cat's name," Jack suggested.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," she agreed as he edged off of their makeshift seat, held out his hand and helped her down onto the rock covered sand. "What was Cat involved in?"

"She and Josh met at UCLA, and she was a dancer," Jack smiled as he thought about the joy that entertaining others brought to her. "She gave up being a professional performer because she wanted to marry Josh and travel with him."

"Okay, then how about a yearly scholarship for a dancer entering the Creative Arts Department at UCLA…oh, and you can even do a grant to help a dancer who has graduated and is trying to make his or her way. You know, you could cover their expenses for a while to help them get started."

It was as though Jack was experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child. He was suddenly excited, his blood was pumping, and although it would not bring Cat back, it would help to turn a tragedy into a turning point for others.

"What's her full name?" Elizabeth asked.

"Her maiden name was Catherine Michelle Spencer, but after she and Josh married she went by Catherine S. Lambert."

"Hmm, the Catherine S. Lambert scholarship for dance; it has a nice ring to it," she remarked.

He took her hand as they walked a short distance down the beach. He suddenly stopped and turned her to face him, "Hey, let's get dress up; I'd like to take my beautiful wife out for a nice dinner," he remarked as his hand slipped behind her head and his lips quickly met hers. Her lips were warm and soft and it definitely brought him back to a comfortable and familiar place.

"Are you sure?"

"Elizabeth, I'm positive," he assured her as he led her up the stairs and inside the house.

As they both walked into the bedroom, she asked, "How dressed up do you want to be?"

"I'm wearing a suit…"

"Okay, I have the perfect dress," she stated as she went right for her dress bag.

She grabbed her clothes and slipped into the bathroom to freshen up. Jack gave her some privacy as he slipped into one of the three remaining full baths to take a shower, hoping to clear away his tear stained cheeks, and make himself more presentable.

Twenty minutes later she stepped out of the bathroom wearing a white floral print maxi dress with spaghetti straps that crisscross on her back and laced up around her waist. Her hair was pulled up on the sides and secured by clips.

She stepped out to an empty room, holding her strappy pink sandals in her hand. Leaning against the dresser, she was putting on her shoes when he stepped back into the room.

One look at her and he was certain that every ounce of breath had been sucked from his body. As his eyes ventured up and down her tall, svelte frame he knew that each and every one of his adventures, trials, tribulations, and successes had brought him to this point, to her and he felt extremely blessed.

"You look beautiful, Elizabeth," he whispered as he leaned in and brushed his lips across her cheek.

She smiled, "I'm a lucky woman to be out with the most handsome man in Malibu."

"Just is Malibu?" he teased.

She laughed, "I meant the most handsome man ever. So where are we going, Stud?"

"Hmm, I like that… I just called and made reservations at Mastro's in Malibu. It's really nice and has a beautiful view of the ocean," he replied before taking her hand and walking toward the door.

As he opened the door, and they stepped outside onto the porch, he turned her around to face him, "Thank you. I'm sorry about everything; it's not fair to throw my baggage at you."

Elizabeth held her clutch in her left hand as her right one rested along his cheek. She could see him struggling to hold back the few tears that were remaining in the corner of his eyes, "You don't need to apologize, Jack. I love you, and I'm just so sorry that you've been carrying this around. You've been feeling guilty for something that was absolutely not your fault."

She brushed her thumb across his cheek, sweeping away a few tears that managed to escape his eye. Her lips gently pressed against his, "You are an amazing man; you have a kind, giving heart, and I know that the scholarship will honor Cat and may help you heal. Who knows, maybe you and Josh can both heal."

Her hand slipped around his neck as she pulled him close. With his arms around her waist, holding her securely against him, there was no space for even the soft Pacific Ocean breeze to slip between them.

Her lips met his; seemingly hungry but not for food, she whispered, "We could order in and stay here."

"As much of a temptation as that is, and believe me; I could carry you upstairs right now; this is our last night here, and I want to take you out and show you off," he softly responded as he pulled her hand up to his lips.

As they stepped down off of the flight of stairs from the front porch to the driveway, she mentioned, "Okay, but I'm just saying, there may have been some outside activity if we'd stayed…"

As he opened the passenger side door on the van for her he suddenly realized the context in which her comment was made, "What…wait, can I have a do-over?"

"Nope, it was a one-time offer," she giggled as she slipped into the passenger seat.

WOW, I certainly didn't think that one through, he thought as he closed the door and disappointedly walked around to the driver's side.

As he slipped inside the van, "Okay look, I'm driving around in a mom van, can you at least tell me that you will consider it at some point in the future; I mean the near future?"

"I told you before that I'd think about it, but it may have to wait until I get back out here, because we won't be doing it on the back patio of our townhouse."

Jack laughed, "Doing it…?"

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do, but it's just funny hearing you put it that way."

A few miles down the road, Jack pulled into the parking lot at Mastros Ocean Club Restaurant, located in Malibu and right on the water. In front of them in line was a twin turbo Porsche 996.

Embarrassed, Jack pulled up in the minivan as a valet opened his door, and a second younger valet, obviously in training, opened Elizabeth's.

"Ma'am, you look beautiful tonight," the valet, who appeared much younger than Elizabeth, remarked as she slipped out of the van.

"Thank you very much."

As Jack stepped out he jokingly remarked, "Take it easy and don't pop any wheelies, okay?"

"No problem, sir…"

As the valet jumped into the minivan, joining his co-worker who was in the passenger seat, he said, "Have a nice evening sir."

Jack stood stunned, how old does he think I am?

As the valet sat behind the wheel looking over the controls, the next comment made by his co-worker in the passenger seat, really caught Jack's attention, "We should have grabbed that ride in front. You know the tip is bound to be great on that one. This here is a family car."

"Maybe so, but each person deserves our best. We don't pick and choose which cars we park," the valet behind the wheel commented.

The second valet responded as the van pulled away, "Right, you keep thinking that way. I'm getting the Porsche when he comes back out."

Jack stood in disbelief as the van pulled away.

"Honey, are you coming?" she called out as she observed him watching the Porsche being driven to a special section on the lot.

Jack perused the parking lot, watching as his rental van moved passed the section containing smaller Porsches, BMW's, and the like, continuing passed a larger section which held mid-size and larger luxury cars, many of which were Rolls Royce. Jack had to laugh as his van pulled out on Pacific Coast Highway and headed to a parking lot just down the street.

"Jack, are you coming?" she asked again.

As the owner of the Porsche stepped passed Elizabeth, she asked Jack, "Are you jealous?"

Jack glanced at the man who was accompanied by another gentleman and then turned back to his beautiful wife, "Is that a joke? He can have the sports car; I have the real prize tonight."

She was truly the most beautiful woman he knew and he happily joined her as she slipped her arm through his, resting her hand in the crook of his elbow.

They walked inside, as the staff, many of whom were Dodgers fans, immediately recognized him. They were taken to an intimate spot, the best table in the restaurant, with an impeccable view of the ocean.

"Oh look Jack," Elizabeth called out as she looked through the drink menu. "They have a drink called the "Seventh Inning Stretch."

Jack smiled, "I'm driving, so if you want to drink, go ahead."

"I'm okay, but if you'd like a cocktail, I'll drive back to the house," she offered.

Jack reached over and took her hand, "My dear wife, you're intoxicating."

The waitress approached, "Good evening, may I get you something from the bar?"

Jack looked at Elizabeth and then back to the waitress, "We'd like a bottle of Pinot Noir please."

"I thought you didn't want to drink." She seemed surprised at his selection.

"It's the last night of our honeymoon, and I think we need to celebrate. Besides, take a look at that view; we can take a walk before we leave if you'd like," he offered as they both glanced out the window and watched as the waves crashed on shore.

"I'd love to take a walk with you after dinner," she stated as Jack reached over and took hold of her hand.

"Jack, I want to thank you for everything."

"I'm glad that you like this place."

"No, not this; oh, I mean I love this place too, but I mean the trip to San Francisco, the Big Sur house, yesterday's hike, the private jets, I mean, just all of it. This honeymoon far exceeds my wildest dreams, and it's all because of you."

"I'm glad that you've enjoyed it. Maybe we can take a honeymoon every year," he suggested.

"Well, I guess it can be called a honeymoon until we…" she suddenly stopped.

"Please finish," he encouraged her to say what was on her mind.

She swallowed hard not wanting to put a damper on the evening, "Well, I guess it can be called a honeymoon until we have children, and then it's just called a vacation." She waited for a disappointed response, which never came.

He smiled, "After you are out here and we're together permanently, if you still want a baby, at that time we'll try, okay?"

That was the closest he'd come to agreeing to having a baby, so she felt quite hopeful. "I appreciate that, Jack. I won't bring it up again until summer; by that time, school will be over and I should be out here."

Dinner began with Shrimp Cocktail for each of them. Elizabeth ordered scallops in Mastros special sauce with mashed potatoes.

"Honey, are you sure that's what you want?" he asked.

"Of course; I know what I want. I've been craving some good scallops," she replied.

"Okay, if you're sure," he responded. "I'll take a steak, lobster mac 'n cheese, and asparagus.

When their dinners arrived, everything was plated so beautifully. However, Elizabeth found herself captivated by the topping on her scallops. "Jack, what's that?" she asked as she pointed to the red and black bead like objects on top of her scallops.

"That's caviar; what did you think it was?" he laughed softly.

"I thought it was pieces of fruit," she replied as she took her spoon and scraped off the decorative delicacy. "Why are you laughing?" she asked.

"Because I knew it was caviar, and that's why I asked if that was really what you wanted. That truly is an acquired taste."

"Well, I'm a Golden Corral kind of girl, and they don't have caviar there; do you want it?" she asked as she scooped it up and held up the spoon for him.

"No thanks; I never acquired a taste for it."

Although there were other patrons in the restaurant, Jack and Elizabeth talked undisturbed. They discussed returning to the real world, school, where they wanted to live when she moved out to LA, and the approaching holidays. Topics like Jack leaving for spring training earlier than she'd anticipated and children were purposely left off the table.

When they prepared to leave, the waitress brought a sample dessert tray with "Congratulations" written in chocolate on the white plate. Jack and Elizabeth nibbled at the cake, pie, fruit and soufflé, although they were no longer hungry, they didn't want to appear rude or unappreciative.

Elizabeth excused herself and went to the ladies room. While she was gone, Jack had the waitress package up part of the uneaten dessert tray, knowing that later in the evening, with the activity he had planned, that they'd be hungry afterward. He handed her a tip, and asked her to take the dessert out to the valet stand where he'd pick it up when they retrieved his vehicle.

As they stood out on the deck, Elizabeth asked Jack to borrow his phone and she proceeded to take a short video as the waves rushed the shore. The sound of the ocean was loud, but nonetheless soothing, and she was certain that when they were separated by 3000 miles, she would be able to watch, listen and know that she'd be immediately brought back to this moment.

Jack and Elizabeth took a walk along the shoreline, heading toward the setting sun. The beach was basically deserted, with the exception of a passerby here and there.

Glancing out over the ocean, Elizabeth was in awe of the number of shooting stars streaking across the sky, each one containing the dreams of those who wished upon them. "Jack look…" she called out as she pointed to the sky. "Quick, make a wish."

They held hands as each of them made a wish.

"Okay, what did you wish for?" she asked.

"I can't tell you or it won't come true," he advised her.

"Come on, Jack. That's an old wives tale," she pushed for as answer.

"You tell me yours, and then I'll tell you mine," he offered.

"No, now I'm afraid that it won't come true," she replied.

"Mine's a good one; I'm not taking any chances," he admitted.

Virtually alone, Jack turned her to face him. His hand brushed several strands of errant curls behind her ear and then rested on her cheek. His other hand cradled the other side of her face as he pulled her close.

Their lips touched, only lightly, and yet their skin tingled and blood began to warm. His hand slipped behind her head as their lips met again, and again, each kiss was deeper and more passionate that the one before.

"It's been an emotionally exhausting day. Let's go back to the house, and enjoy our final night here, okay?" he suggested.

"Um, Jack…" she hesitated slightly, "We don't have to go home tomorrow. I'm off until next Monday."

"Okay, so what do you have in mind?"

"I think you should go see Josh; tell him about your plans for the scholarship. You need to see him; see how he is doing."

"Will you go with me?"

She smiled brightly; a feeling of togetherness consumed her with his simple invitation, "Absolutely."

"Thank you," he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I'll get started on the particulars of the scholarship when we get home. We should be able to get everything in place to offer it next year."

As they walked back to the valet stand, the man they'd followed into the restaurant was again in front of them. Jack and Elizabeth stood by as the twin turbo Porsche 966 was pulled into the parking lot and up to the stand.

Right behind the Porsche, Jack and Elizabeth's minivan turned into the parking lot and pulled up.

Jack remembered a time when he worked as a valet. He knew how dependant he was on tips, but also prided himself on doing a good job.

As the doors were opened and Jack and Elizabeth slipped inside, he handed the valet a tip, the amount was unknown as the bill was rolled up in his hand.

As the Porsche owner and his friend slipped into their vehicle, the driver did the same and handed the valet a tip. When both vehicles pulled out onto Pacific Coast Highway, the valets joked with each other, knowing that the tips were not going to be equal.

"Okay, on the count of three open up your tip…"

"One…"

"Two…"

"Three…"

"Are you kidding me?" the valet who pushed to retrieve the Porsche was noticeably disappointed. "$3.00…you have got to be kidding me?"

"Are you kidding me?" the valet who originally parked Jack's van was obviously delighted. "$50.00… WOW dude, thanks," he whispered as he watched Jack's van heading down the highway.

Jack pulled the van into the driveway, got out and rushed around to her side of the van where he opened the door, took her hand and helped her out. He grabbed a small package from the back seat, and headed for the steps.

"What's that?" she asked.

"It's a surprise…"

They barely made it into the house before he had her dress untied, his jacket off, his shirt ripped open as the buttons flew and his belt unbuckled.

"Down boy; let me slip into something you haven't seen before…my surprise to you, and get this sand out from between my toes," she stated as she grabbed a handful of his shirt at the chest and pulled him close.

Her lips hungrily met his, but rushing to freshen up, their kiss ended much sooner than either of them wanted. She slipped out of her high heeled sandals, grabbed her dress near the bottom and held it in her hand to keep from tripping on it as she climbed the stairs with him initially in hot pursuit.

"Oh crap…" he stopped, grabbed the box off of the entryway table and threw it in the refrigerator before scaling the stairs, skipping one or two steps with each stride.

She was in her suitcase when he rushed in the door.

"Truly you don't need to change; I'm just going to take it off of you anyway," he stated as he closed the distance between them.

"Close your eyes," she yelled as he did what she asked, assuming that he would love the outcome.

Elizabeth…" he called out but didn't open his eyes until he heard the bathroom door close. "Really, clothes are optional and truly not necessary…"

"Jack," her voice was slightly muffled as it penetrated the bathroom door. "Get in bed and I'll be out shortly."

Cleaning the sand from between her toes proved to be more time consuming than she'd anticipated. She slipped into her negligee, sprayed her perfume into the air and walked through the mist before opening the door.

Twenty minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom. The room was dimly lit by several scented candles placed strategically about the room. The door leading to the balcony was open and a warm gentle breeze slipped inside as the waves crashing on the rocks below was both soothing and romantic.

Music was piped in from the stereo system downstairs, so she stepped into the bedroom as soft music played in the background.

Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room waiting for Jack to make some comment about her negligee, a surprise that she'd kept for their final honeymoon night.

She stepped closer to the bed and turned several times to give his the full flowing effect of the garment.

"Jack, do you like it," she asked as she spun for a third and final time.

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…"

"Seriously…" she smiled knowing that today had been very emotional for him, and with the activities of the past week, he was most likely exhausted, because she certainly was.

She slipped on her robe, grabbed her bag, walked downstairs and out onto the second floor balcony. She flipped on the soft porch light, took a seat, pulled her journal from her bag, and thought about the events of the day.

As Kacey Musgraves' "Rainbow" softly played through the speakers, Elizabeth walked to the railing and watched the waves as the music soothed her. She thought about her life, and the love of her life, knowing that because he was such a kind man, that he hurt so deeply.

When it rain it pours but you didn't even notice
It ain't rainin' anymore, It's hard to breathe when all we know is
The struggle of staying above, the rising water line

The sky is finally open, the rain and wind stopped blowin'
But you're stuck out in the same old storm again
Hold tight to your umbrella, darlin' I'm just tryin' to tell ya
That there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head

If you could see what I see, you'd be blinded by the colours
Yellow, red and orange and green, and atleast a million others
Tie up your bow, take off your coat and take a look around

'Cause the sky is finally open, the rain and wind stopped blown'
But you're stuck out in the same old storm again
Hold tight to your umbrella, darlin' I'm just tryin' to tell ya
That there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head

So tie up your bow, take off your coat and take a look around
Everything is alright now
'Cause the sky is finally open, the rain and wind stopped blowin'
But you're stuck out in the same old storm again
Let go of your umbrella, darlin' I'm just tryin' to tell ya
That there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head
Yeah there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head

As the song ended, she decided that now was a good time to discuss her most recent thoughts, feelings and emotions.

She returned to a chair on the deck, closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and took in the smell of the relaxing salt air. She clicked her pen, flipped to the next blank page and opened her heart to everything that was contained within…

"Secrets are those bits of information that we hold tight to our chest, fearful that once released, the knowledge contained within could essentially turn those we love the most against us. The keeping of secrets is often damaging to us and our relationships, while releasing them, although frightening, can be quite cathartic.

We feel guilty; we feel responsible, true or not those are our feelings and we are entitled to them. However, although we do not have the ability to change what happened, we can see it, own it, understand it, learn from it and move forward, making certain that each and every new moment is spent seeking the joy in life, and not living in fear, regret, guilt or anger.

When you hide your feelings, I hurt for the unknown. I want to help; I need to understand, for sadly, without the whys, I begin to internalize the blame, feeling somehow that it falls solely in my lap. The guilt you feel, misguided or not is left to fester, slowly poisoning those relationships you dreamed of having. You let people in, but never too close for exposing the secret you hold would be too painful.

Maybe as you say, you have pushed it so far down that even you no longer know the truth. Possibly you're right and as we've gotten closer, sharing the most personal sides of ourselves and facing life's choices, that your knowledge of what occurred has reared its ugly head. I thank you for finally opening up; for letting me into your world, allowing me to understand your truth. You talked, releasing the sadness and responsibility, realizing that for many situations the outcome is beyond our control. Coming to that realization does not diminish the pain of the loss, but once shared, we can begin the grieving process."

Elizabeth closed her journal and slipped it back inside her bag. She walked to the railing and glanced out over the ocean. The cool breeze swept through her hair, as she slipped off her robe, enjoying the feel of the wind on her exposed skin. The grounds below were empty and she couldn't help smiling… You missed your chance, Jack…You'll probably never sleep again.

Elizabeth grabbed her belongings and returned to the master bedroom on the third floor. Stepping into the room, Elizabeth laid her things down on the table and slipped back into bed.

Scooting over close to Jack, she thought possibly that jostling his body slightly would awaken him. The smile on his face led her to believe that he was having a wonderful dream, and she could only hope that she was an integral part of it.

Jack never woke, but his arm instinctively wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. She could feel his warm breath on her neck, and she was certain that sleep would evade her.

She allowed her body to relax, doing her best to put everything out of her head, and surprisingly, within minutes she too was experiencing her own wonderful dream.

Several hours later, the only light shining in through the French door was from the full moon, sitting quietly out on the Pacific Ocean. Jack woke. He stretched feeling somewhat disoriented until he glanced beside him and observed her snuggled next to him, sleeping on her stomach in a violet colored negligee. Suddenly, the events of the previous day returned, and he couldn't believe that he had, in fact, fallen asleep. Boy, I'll never live this one down,

The sight of her long tanned legs stretched out from the negligee's high-low hem immediately caused his body to stir. He placed his hand on her back as his fingers traced along the crisscross spaghetti straps, hoping that his simple touch would awaken her.

He leaned in and whispered, "Elizabeth, are you awake…?"

She didn't budge.

His whisper became slightly more intense, "Elizabeth, are you awake…?"

Still she didn't move.

He nudged her body with his own, "Elizabeth, honey are you awake…?"

She rolled over but still never opened her eyes.

Finally, his fingers traced down her arm and along her torso, apparently tickling her, "Honey, are you awake?"

"Huh," she sleepily commented as her eyes sprung open and she moved away from his hands.

"Oh I'm sorry; I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked with a smile as his lips met the skin on her neck.

"What's this?" he asked as his fingers slid under the spaghetti strap on the back of her negligee.

Her skin tingled as his fingers worked their way underneath the strap of her negligee, gently brushing across her shoulders. She rolled over on her back to give him a full view of the lace bodice, "You like?"

"I certainly do…." He jumped up, "Wait here; I'll be right back," he kissed her forehead as he ran toward the door. "Please don't fall asleep," he called out from the hallway as he ran down the carpeted stairs. Once he hit the hardwood floor…BAM!

"I'm okay," he called out from the main floor.

Less than a minute later, Elizabeth heard him climbing the stairs again. He entered the room carrying a Styrofoam container, and falling all over himself while attempting to remove his socks.

"What's that?" she asked, smiling as he opened the top to display chocolate covered strawberries and whipped crème, part of their "Congratulations" dessert gift from the restaurant.

He dipped one strawberry in whipped crème and placed it to her lips. Without realizing how seductive she looked, her tongue tasted the tip of the berry before her lips closed around it. She bit into the small fruit as the juice slipped passed her lips.

He sat beside her on the bed; his mouth hungrily met hers. Her lips were soft, and cool from the refrigerated dessert, tasting berry sweet, with a hint of the chocolate that melted in her mouth.

Leaning her back, and laying her head on the pillow, his lips met the soft skin on her neck, just below her left ear "Mmm," she whispered as he continued to moved down her neck, across her collarbone, stopping in the middle of her chest.

His fingers under the strap of her negligee gently moved back and forth. He had no idea that such a simple touch had the power to set her body on fire. He slipped the strap over her shoulder and down her arm, exposing her left breast.

His lips moved slowly and meticulously as they traced down her cleavage. His fingers slid under the other strap of her negligee, slipping it over her shoulder, down her arm, eventually leaving both breasts exposed.

With her hands on either side of his face, their eyes met, "Tell me what you want…" she whispered. Actually she thought she knew what he'd say, until...

Leaning over her body, his lips met hers, and his answer surprised her. "I just want to be with you; I just want to love you."

In the soft light, Jack lowered his mouth to hers. As their lips touched, gently at first, he was right; she was filled with fire and heat as they both consumed him. The scent of her "Flowerbomb" perfume, a turn-on in and of itself, softly lingered from the night before.

The warm ocean breeze blew in through the French door, kissing her skin as she laced her fingers behind his head and pulled him down to her.

His mouth gently covered her left breast and his tongue made circles around her erect nipple. She tasted sweet, much like a ripe cherry he'd once tasted while on vacation. His hand cupped her right breast, not wanting it to feel left out as he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger , becoming even more aroused by her soft, gentle moans of pleasure.

Jack pulled gently on her negligee as she lifted her hips slightly to allow it to pass over her body and down her long, tanned and shapely legs, dropping the satin garment onto the floor.

His hand on her calf edged higher…

"Wait Jack," she whispered. Her voice was soft, breathless, and barely audible.

"What's wrong?" concerned that he had done something wrong, he jumped out of bed.

"Not here…"

Jack slipped one arm under her bent knees and the other behind her back. Picking her up, he headed for the door.

"No Jack, the balcony…"

"Really…?" his expression was as if he was experiencing Christmas, his birthday, their wedding and first night together all at once. He walked back to the bed and gently laid her down.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect this. You don't want to be with me outside, after all your pleading…?"

Between the excitement of being with the love of his life, and having the opportunity to fulfill a deep desire of his, he could barely catch his breath. He grabbed blankets, pillows and the fluffy comforter before capturing her lips once more. "I want this to be special for you too."

She rested on her side as she watched him through the French door as he fixed a comfortable makeshift bed. He ran over to the railing to make certain that they were alone before rushing back to the bed, somewhat afraid that she would change her mind.

"Are you sure?" he asked, never wanting her to do anything that she felt uncomfortable with.

As she smiled and her lips pressed against his, he received the answer he'd hoped for. Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, he scooped her up in his arms as he held her body close to his chest.

Jack gently laid her down on the bed he'd made for them under a blanket of stars. She watched as he shed his button down short, which as a result of his rush to undress last night, no longer contained any buttons, several of which were scattered along the staircase.

Elizabeth didn't think she'd ever get over the male body and how quickly they became aroused. His erection tented his trousers and she watched as he carefully unzipped his pants, dropping them to the floor along with his boxers. He stepped out of them, hoping to prevent another tripping incident, and he lay down beside her.

His hand on her leg moved higher as she took hold of his hand. She brought it up to her lips before placing it beside his body.

The music was soft and romantic and mixed quite well with the sound of the waves rushing onshore. Any inhibitions she'd previously had disappeared with her desire to be with him; to show him that he will always be the only man for her.

She rolled onto her side and placed her hand on his chest as she pressed her lips to his. Her tongue seemed slightly forceful as it pressed into his mouth, sliding gently along the soft skin on the inside of his lips.

His lips seemed magnetically attached to hers and each time they separated, they were immediately brought back together. Her fingers walked down his chest and she felt his hips thrust against her hand as she took hold of his rigid length.

His mouth opened slightly as a rush of air, accompanied by moans of pleasure fed the desire felt by each of them. Her lips followed her fingers, down passed his naval.

"Are you sure?" he whispered as she moved closer to his pelvis.

"Do you not want me to?" she whispered as she looked up into his eyes.

She may have been inexperienced in the many ways to make love, but as he placed his hands on her shoulders, she knew exactly what his body wanted. Her mouth consumed him as it was evident that he was enjoying the sensations provided, while controlling himself, in hopes of providing her pleasure as well.

His voice was soft and almost weak, "Oh, I want you so bad," as his hands on her upper arms brought her up to his chest.

He rolled her over on her back as his hand rested on her cheek, "You are so beautiful…inside and out; I love you Elizabeth Thornton."

"I love you too, Jack," she stated with a soft smile that made his heart swell.

His hand rested on her knee as he inched higher and higher up her thigh. His finger slipped through the thin elastic strap on the side of her panties. He slid his finger down her legs carrying the panties and eventually tossing them in the air.

Working his way back up her leg, she edged closer, never realizing before now just how much she needed his touch. His hand massaged the inside of her thighs and he watched as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back when his fingers pressed against her aching flesh. His lips kissed down her chest between her breast and onto her abdomen.

She could feel his warm breath as his lips and hand met and the sheer pleasure she felt was more than she'd ever dreamed possible. She twitched, and moaned softly as her hips lifted upon his touch. Feeling herself getting closer to the edge, her hand on his arm pulled him up her body, "I need to feel you inside me; please Jack, make love to me."

Like a predatory animal, she watched as he climbed up her body, again taking time with each breast before finding her mouth.

"Wait," she called out. "Can I put your condom on?"

Looking as though he was a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar he quickly responded, "I don't have one, but…"

"But what?"

"I don't want to wear one."

"Jack, I don't have any other birth control; you have to wear one."

His voice was soft as she observed tears pooling in his eyes, "Let's make a baby…"

"Jack now is not the time to make that decision."

He rolled over beside her, leaned down, and she could feel his warm breath on her skin, "I look into your eyes and I see children, our children. I know that I can't let the past rule my future, and I'm ready…are you?"

"I've been ready, but what about not wanting me to get pregnant until we're both on the same coast?" she asked.

"Who's to say we'll get pregnant right away, and if you do, we'll just take precautions," he replied.

"Jack…"

His lips met her neck, "We can enjoy the practice until it happens."

She felt her body completely relax as he nibbled on her earlobe before returning to her neck. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

"Okay, let's practice…"

Jack moved slightly allowing her knees to bend and he eagerly slipped between them. Although she wouldn't admit it to Jack, her body hadn't yet gotten to where his initial penetration was not a little painful. In their other times together, she simply turned her head realizing that the initial feeling of discomfort would be over soon, and she didn't want to concern him.

She turned her head as his fingers on her chin turned her back to face him. His lips met hers, as she felt his erection pressing against her.

As he entered her, slowly, and gently, he wouldn't let her turn away, wanting desperately to see her expression. She was surprised that now, this time, the slight discomfort was gone. As he rotated his hips, she did the same, her body reaching for the sky as if she was seeking something in the air.

With each stroke, her back arched. Their lips met, practically holding on to each other as he pressed deeper and her body continued to absorb him. She knew that deep conversation brought couples close, but never in her wildest dreams would she have ever imagined how close she felt to him at that moment.

Jack's hands rested on either side of her head. With each thrust, he was certain that his erection was growing larger and harder. As he withdrew from her, even slightly, he felt a sense of disappointment until he filled her again.

Her legs wrapped around his waist, whatever he had, she wanted, happily containing him much like a ship in a bottle, and the moans he released, rivaling hers, told her that he was enjoying himself too.

Their bodies were on fire, seemingly hotter than the stars they lay under. As they moved closer to the edge, Jack felt as though he was going to burst. This experience with Elizabeth far surpassed their other encounters, minimal as they may have been. On this occasion he was experiencing an overwhelming sensation; almost as though something inside her, something special to her, was passing through to him, something powerful, and it made him feel closer to her than ever.

As they moved together, their rhythm more rapid and both nearly breathless, they reached the top of the mountain. Elizabeth's toes pointed as he felt her work the muscles on his shoulders under her fingertips.

Jack collapsed and rolled over beside her, taking a blanket and covering them as she rested her head on his chest. Neither one spoke; words were not needed as they lay quietly, their hearts beating in time with each other, slowly calming.

Looking into the blanket of stars above them, Elizabeth commented, "Look Jack, more shooting stars."

"My wish already came true."

She crossed her arms on his chest and rested her chin in her hands, "This was beautiful Jack. Everything is private but we had the stars above us. Oh, and my wish came true too."

As they lay quietly listening to the sound of the waves, she asked, "Does it ever stop?"

"What honey?"

"The wanting you… I want you so much that my chest feels tight and my body aches to touch you again."

His arms tightened around her, "No, I certainly hope not. I know that I'll never stop wanting you."

They remained outside, high enough up to be sheltered from prying eyes. As the sun came up, he wrapped her in a comforter, while he remained in a sheet. They stood by the railing; the beach was basically bare with the exception of a few surfers, and while wrapped in his arms, they watched the sun rise over the ocean.

"Jack, this is so beautiful. I think I could get used to living here."

"Honey, you say that about every place we've stayed."

"I know, but this place is special."

He pulled her into his body and nestled his lips into her neck, "I could get used to it too."

An hour later, they were dressed and taking a walk on the beach before Jack made some much needed phone calls to schedule a visit with Josh. The beach was nearly deserted. They saw a few people north of their house, but observed no one around them.

They headed north, talking as they approached others walking toward them.

"Are you nervous about seeing Josh?" she asked.

"I don't know if he'll even see me, but if I'm honest, I'd have to say, 'yes.' I know it needs to be done. Besides, you're coming with me, right?"

"Of course I am…"

"Bandit, come back here," hearing a woman's voice, Jack and Elizabeth turned back toward their house and observed a couple, who they hadn't seen before, chasing a Jack Russell terrier down the beach. Jack attempted to scoop him up but he couldn't grab his collar.

"Keep walking, Jack…" she stated as she turned around and started back toward the house.

"What are you doing?" he asked as he jogged to catch up to her.

"Did anything strike you funny about that dog?" she asked.

"No, nothing other than his collar. How do people figure that they can control their dog when the collar doesn't even fit?"

"That's because he was wearing my panties around his neck."

"Your what?"

"Apparently you threw them over the railing while we were in the throes of passion. Hmm, maybe you do need to go to Spring Training early and work on your aim," she giggled.

He turned her around to face him, "Mrs. Thornton, I think my aim is just fine."

To be continued…

NOTE: To those of you who follow the facebook fan fiction pages, I will be posting pictures and a few videos to go along with this chapter.