CHANGES
Chapter Thirteen
September 2, 2004
Rose rolled over in bed, only to find Jack
was not there. Slowly, she opened one eye and glanced around the room. Sunlight
poured in through the windows, and there was a noise coming from the bathroom
that adjoined their room. Jack was in the shower. Grinning mischievously, Rose
got up and sneaked into the bathroom. She quickly removed her clothes and slid
in behind Jack, managing to remain undetected. Smiling to herself, Rose
teasingly ran a finger over his spine, making him jump and whirl around.
"You're going to pay for that one,"
he said huskily, kissing her hungrily.
"Mmm...I've been a bad girl. Teach me a
lesson," Rose murmured, once they parted.
Jack shook his head and kissed her again,
pressing her against the shower wall...
*****
We should do that more often," Jack
commented, as he dried Rose's hair with a towel.
Rose gave him a semi-sad smile. "Well,
we're probably not going to be able to do it again for awhile. I'm getting
bigger every day."
It was true. At nearly five months pregnant,
her pregnancy was becoming more obvious each moment that passed.
"I'm sure we can find some way around
that," Jack said, kissing her neck.
"Knowing you, we probably could,"
Rose agreed, pushing him off the bed. "Now, get out of here. You're going
to be late for school."
Jack shook his head. "All right. I'm
going. We're going out tonight, though. We've got an anniversary to
celebrate."
Rose smiled. "You're lucky you
remembered," she said, kissing him lightly before shoving him out the
door. "See you later!"
*****
"What the hell..." Rose mumbled
when the doorbell rang. Sighing, she got up and went to answer it, smiling when
she saw a single rose with a note lying on the doorstep. She sniffed the flower
and went back inside the house to read the note.
Rose,
I'm not sure how to put into words what I
feel for you, but I'm going to try. You're the breath in my soul, the one I was
always meant to be with. There is nothing in the world that can compare to your
beauty, that competes with the happiness only you can give me. And to think
that we've been together for a year makes me want to love you forever. A year
is nowhere near long enough. I'm not really good with words, so I hope that in
at least a small way, you get the feelings I'm trying to convey here. Tonight
will be special. I love you.
Jack
Rose felt a tear slide down her cheek as she
read the letter. It was so like Jack to do something like this. It was funny,
what a year could do. If someone had said to her a year ago that she'd be with
him, head over heels in love, living with him, carrying his child and still
sublimely happy, she would've had them carted off to the nearest mental
institution. But it was true, she was all those things and more. Smiling, she
put the rose in some water and went to get ready.
*****
"Hey Rose? You home?" Jack called,
unlocking the front door.
"In the bedroom."
Jack grinned and jogged up the stairs, two at
a time. He sneaked up behind her. "BOO!"
Rose spun around. "Don't you do
that!" she exclaimed, punching him lightly on the shoulder.
Jack grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards
him, and planted a kiss on her lips. "All right. I won't anymore, promise.
You almost ready to go?"
Rose looked up at him in surprise.
"Already? You just got home."
"Ah, my dear, you lost track of time.
It's almost six."
A glance at the clock confirmed that it was
indeed, ten minutes to six. "Damn! I've been sitting here for nearly two
hours."
Jack gave her a quizzical look. "What
could you possibly have been doing in here for two hours?"
Rose giggled. "Plotting my seduction for
tonight," she whispered, kissing him with all her might.
Jack broke away and leaned his forehead
against hers, his hands spread out across her stomach. "I think we might
just have to stay here..."
Rose shook her head. "No way. You
promised me a night on the town, and I'm holding you to that."
Smiling, he agreed. "All right. We'll go
have a night on the town. But then..." He paused, kissing her. "We're
going to come back here and have a celebration on the bed."
Rose rolled her eyes and moved to get
dressed.
*****
"Did you enjoy your dinner?" Jack
asked as he led Rose back to the car. They had spent the last hour and a half
at the most prestigious--and the most expensive--restaurant, and were now
headed to the Janet Jackson concert Rose had so desperately wanted to see. She
didn't know they were going, and Jack had managed to get them a private box.
"Mmm...yes. Where are we going
now?"
Jack cleared his throat before presenting the
tickets to her. Rose's eyes went wide and she shrieked excitedly. "I can't
believe you got these! How in the world did you? They've been sold out for
months!"
Jack smiled. "I planned ahead. As soon
as I heard about the concert, I knew I had to take you to it. It's just fate
she was playing on our anniversary."
Rose stopped him before he started the car,
giving him the most intense kiss they'd ever shared. It was some time before
they pulled away, both heavily panting. "Thank you. You'll definitely be
repaid for this tonight," she said, raising an eyebrow.
Jack gave her a look of desire, and started
the car.
*****
"Oh, my God. Was that not the best
concert you've ever been to?" Rose exclaimed as they exited the arena.
Jack nodded wholeheartedly. "I have to
admit it was. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Rose twirled around to face him. "Thank
you so much. This night has been perfect."
Jack kissed her before opening her door.
"Let's go home and make it even more perfect."