CHANGES
Chapter Twenty-One

The months following the big misunderstanding, as Jack came to refer to it as, proved to bless this little family. Despite being under piles of stress, between school, work, parenting, and working on their relationship, things had never been so good. As promised, Jack had quit his internship at the law firm, instead taking a job at a nearby bookstore, and Rose, too, joined the ranks of working beings, finding a job at a small CD store down the street. January came and went, as did Amanda's first birthday. Jack turned twenty in March and Rose followed suit in April. May passed quickly and June brought the end of the school year, much to the relief of the students. After much debating, the two decided that they would return to Minneapolis for the summer. And so, on a scorching hot day in late June, they boarded their plane.

*****

"I can't open the door. You open it," Rose exclaimed as she and Jack stood on the doorstep of their Minneapolis home.

Jack gave her an impatient look. "I've kind of got my hands full here, Rose."

Rose gave him a so? look. "And I suppose you just want me to drop our sleeping daughter on the ground to do it?" she said, reminding him of the child in her arms.

Grinning sheepishly, Jack finally let go of one of the suitcases he was holding and struggled to unlock the door. Finally, after much fighting and a few choice words, he managed to push it open. Stepping inside, they were assaulted by a foul smell.

Rose wrinkled her nose as she lay the still sleeping Amanda on the couch. "Ew. What is that?"

Jack, who had just dropped their stuff in the front hall and was now opening a window in hopes of clearing the air, gagged. "I don't know. We didn't leave any rotting dead corpses around last time we were here, did we?"

"Ha, ha, very funny," Rose deadpanned, heading into the kitchen. She immediately backtracked, her eyes watering. "Okay, it's definitely coming from in there."

Taking a deep gulp of the fresh air floating in from the open window, Jack shot her a look and marched into the kitchen. Two seconds later, he was back in the living room, his face a sickly shade of green. "I think we need to invest in some gas masks. But you're right, it's coming from the kitchen."

"One of us has to go in there and get rid of whatever it is," Rose said pointedly.

Jack sighed. "I'll do it. But if I die, I'm coming back to haunt you."

"My hero," Rose teased. "Duly noted. Now go before I gag to death."

Sighing again, Jack held his breath and disappeared into the other room. Five minutes later, he exited with a garbage bag, the stench following him as he left the house. When he came back in, Rose had opened every window on the first floor and was currently spraying air freshener throughout. "I need a shower," he complained.

Rose grinned. "Yes, I'd have to agree. What the hell was it?"

"An old thing of milk," he said accusingly.

"Nuh-uh, you're not blaming that on me."

Jack just eyed her.

"It was your turn to clean the fridge out last time," Rose said haughtily.

Jack shrugged. "Okay, my fault. I'm gonna go shower."

"She's asleep," Rose said automatically, smirking.

Jack chuckled, and hand in hand, they vanished into the bathroom together.

*****

"Rose, really, we haven't seen you in months," Ruth objected.

Rose rolled her eyes at the phone while spooning food into Amanda's mouth. "Mom, we'll come visit, just not today. We just got in this morning. Give us a break."

"I really don't know why you two couldn't have found a place closer to home--"

"Mom, we've gone over this. I'm not arguing about it again," Rose interrupted. Jack came in then, casting her a curious look. Rose shrugged and handed him the spoon, indicating it was up to him to finish feeding her.

"All I'm saying is that your father and I are willing to buy you a place closer to Knollwood. Duluth, perhaps," Ruth said.

"We don't need you to buy us a place, Mom." Rose sighed, ignoring the questioning expression on Jack's face. "We have a place. Two, at that. I realize you wish it were closer to home, and that's great. But we're adults. We don't need to be within walking distance of our parents anymore."

"Rose, don't take that tone with me."

"What tone?" Rose asked, obviously aggravated. "I'm sorry that we're not living where you want, but that's our choice. When did this turn into a move back to Knollwood campaign anyway? I thought we were making plans for us to come visit."

"We are. I was just pointing out that if you guys had bought a place a little closer to us, we wouldn't have to argue about who has to make the trip so we can visit," Ruth said, her voice stressed.

"Mom, we live in Boston."

"For the school year, and that's fine. I understand. But must you stay so far away during the summer as well?"

Rose rolled her eyes, making kill me now gestures towards Jack, who chuckled silently. "Listen, Mom, as much as I'd love to continue this incredibly pointless conversation, I haven't eaten since yesterday."

Ruth sighed in resignation. "All right. Fine. I'll give you a call tomorrow and we can straighten things out."

"Okay," Rose agreed. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye." Hitting the off button, she sank down into the chair next to Jack, crossed her eyes and made a face. "She's driving me insane already, and we've only been here for two hours."

Jack wiped the food off Amanda's face before turning his attention towards Rose. "Give her a break. She hasn't seen you since January."

"I would, if that's what she was going on about. But no, she had to restart on the whole why can't you get a place in Knollwood like your brother and sisters trip. Can you believe she actually offered to buy us a new house just so we would be closer?"

Jack laughed and pulled her closer to him. "You're her daughter with her only grandchild. Can you blame her? I mean, shit, if I were her, I'd probably be doing the same thing."

Rose rested her chin in her hands and sighed. "I know. But still, we moved here almost two years ago and now she's throwing a fit. It's not fair. Your parents should be torturing you, too."

"Nah, my parents got enough to worry about with Jessie's wedding just around the corner," Jack said, freeing his daughter from her high chair. Amanda immediately tottered over to where some of her toys were set up and made herself at home, while her parents watched lovingly.

Rose sighed at the mention of a wedding. "That's another thing she loves bringing up. Whether or not we're still getting married."

Jack ran his thumb over the diamond engagement ring that still adorned her finger. They had been engaged for a year and a half, but had still made no plans concerning the ceremony, or anything that followed. It wasn't that they weren't going to get married. They just had other things to worry about. "Well, don't feel too bad. My parents have been harping on me about that, too."

Rose met his eyes and grinned slightly. "My mom's favorite thing is how she just knows I'm going to get pregnant again and we're going to have like eighty illegitimate kids and then you're gonna leave me."

Though Jack laughed at that, his tone was serious. "We're getting married, Rose. And as long as this ring is on your finger, I'm going to be with you. All eighty illegitimate children and all."

Rose giggled and leaned over to kiss him. Passion that the two hadn't shared in quite some time took over and Jack groaned when they parted, his azure eyes glowing with desire. "Tonight," he growled.

Rose replied with a smoldering look of want.

*****

The next day the three of them were packed up and bound for Knollwood, only to be stuck in the middle of a traffic jam on the highway. And to make matters worse, the cell phone died and Amanda decided it was time to throw a tantrum. Rose was forced to literally get out of the car in the middle of the road and climb in the back seat to calm the crying toddler. The drive, which normally would've taken two and a half hours, now took four. By the time they pulled into the DeWitt-Bukaters' driveway, nerves were on end and the tension was so thick you could cut it.

Balancing her daughter on a hip, Rose shot Jack a cold look and entered her childhood home, with him following closely behind. "Mom? Dad?" she called out, putting the squirming child on the floor.

Morgan stuck her head out, squealing when she saw her older sister and niece there. "Rose!"

Rose smiled as she enveloped her sister in a bear hug. "Hey, Morg. Where's everyone?"

Morgan gestured towards the backyard. "Outside."

"Okay, thanks," Rose said, picking Amanda up again. "You coming?" she asked the other two.

Jack nodded slightly, smiling as Amanda grinned happily at him. Morgan too, nodded. "Yeah. I'll be out in a minute."

Rose acknowledged this and headed towards the backdoor, but Jack quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She gave him a weary look. "What?"

Jack's eyes burned holes into hers and she suddenly felt her knees go weak from the intensity in them. "I really don't think we should go out there at odds with each other. Especially considering what happened at Christmas. So, I'm sorry for yelling at you."

Rose agreed almost instantly. "I'm sorry, too."

Jack pulled her to him, planting a chaste kiss on her lips and on Amanda's forehead before escorting them out.

"Hey, you made it," Frankie said, coming up to his younger sister and company.

Amanda whimpered upon seeing her favorite uncle and was promptly handed over as Rose hugged him. "Massive backup on the way here."

Frankie nodded understandingly and greeted Jack as the rest of their respective families joined them. The baby was passed around before finally ending up in her father's lap, smiling brightly at her overly large family.

"Have you decided how long you're staying in Minnesota?" Joseph asked, once everyone was situated.

Rose and Jack exchanged a look. "No, we haven't," Jack stated. "We're playing it by ear."

A loud groan was heard from Tiffany's direction and Rose shot her a curious look. Joseph frowned. "Playing it by ear? Is that how you intend on living your life?"

"Daddy, please," Rose interrupted, before the lecture could begin. Ever since Jack had dropped his law major, her father had been on his case, demanding to know how he expected to support his family.

Joseph's eyes narrowed at his daughter. "I'm only concerned--"

"I know you're only concerned for my welfare, but can we not get into this now? We haven't seen you in months," Rose pleaded.

Sighing, he conceded. "I'll drop it. For now."

Again Jack and Rose shared a look, both already beginning to regret the decision to come home.

*****

Later that day, the girls all headed down the street to the Dawson residence to talk about Jessica's upcoming wedding while the guys stayed behind. It was then Joseph pulled Jack into his office, a grim expression on his face.

"Sit," he commanded, closing the door behind them.

Jack did as he was told and inwardly sighed. Even if he was the son of Joseph's best friend, it seemed he still wasn't good enough for his daughter. He watched silently as the older man sat behind the large oak desk, his blue eyes twinkling with curiosity. The silence was literally deafening until Joseph spoke. "Jack."

"Sir."

Joseph stared at him for a moment, studying the young man his beloved child loved so dearly. He wasn't interrogating him because he disliked him, rather because he wanted nothing but the best for Rose. "Have you decided on a major, yet?"

Jack cringed. This guy didn't waste any time. Slowly, he shook his head. "No, sir. Not yet."

"I see. And, pray tell, when exactly do you plan on deciding?"

"I can't give you a time frame. I mean, it'll happen when it happens."

"You're going on your third year, yes?" Joseph inquired, folding his hands.

Jack nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Juniors in college usually have an idea of what they want to do, do they not?"

"I suppose so. I've got all summer to make my decision, though. For now, I just want to concentrate on my relationship with Rose and being a good father to my daughter," Jack said. Wrong thing to say.

"And wouldn't you agree that part of being a good father is to do everything in your power to ensure a bright future for your children?"

"Yes. But, sir, I don't think that this is a decision to take lightly. I've got a world of possibilities in front of me, and I want to take my time before I make the decision that will affect not only the rest of my life, but Rose and Mandy's as well," Jack pointed out.

Joseph gave a slight nod in agreement. "I can't argue with that, so I'll leave it alone. However, there are some other things I want to discuss with you."

"Okay."

"If my memory serves me right, you proposed to my daughter over a year ago. Do you intend on making good on that?"

Jack coughed. "Sir, I love Rose and I fully intend on making her my wife. But we've talked it over and we're happy with the way things are now. We'll get married someday, just not now."

Joseph frowned. "And what if she gets pregnant again?"

"If it happens, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But we are taking the necessary precautions so that it doesn't. Not until we're ready." Jack sighed.

"Hmm..." Joseph murmured, and seemingly ended the conversation.

Chapter Twenty-Two
Stories