ALL THE WAY
Chapter Two

Late One Friday, After Valentines Day
February 1920

Rose pushed the iron down on the shirt and tired once again to get the wrinkle to go away. She sighed tiredly as she lifted the iron off and found the wrinkle still there. For the past ten minutes she had been working on this shirt of Jack's and it still looked horrible.

"Come on," she whispered, pressing the iron on again. When the shirt came out looking the same, Rose sighed heavily again.

"I give up," she said shaking her head and threw the shirt in the dirty clothes pile. Maybe washing it again would work.

Rose glanced at the clock; it was just about three. "I should probably wake those children up if I don't want them up all night," she spoke to herself.

Rose grabbed a stack of clean clothes and started out of the laundry room. She walked up to her room and put the clothes away in their appropriate places.

"Come on Addy, off the bed," she called as she walked out of the room. The collie jumped off the bed and followed Rose into Michael's room.

After Rose had woken Jillian, Michael, and gotten Luke up, they all went downstairs. "You guys want a snack?" she asked, carrying Luke on her hip.

Michael and Jillian nodded sleepily and walked into the kitchen.

Rose followed her children and started making herself busy in the kitchen. "Here," she said after a minute. Rose put down a plate of cookies in the middle of the table and then sat down. "You guys have a good sleep?" she asked before she started nursing Luke.

"Yeah," Michael mumbled, munching on a cookie.

"What about you Jill?" Rose asked.

"Fine Mommy," Jillian answered.

Rose noticed after a minute that Jillian was looking at her. "What is it darling?" she asked, looking around.

"Mommy, why do you do that?" Jillian asked as she cocked her head to the side.

Rose was confused. "Do what?" she asked.

"Have Baby Luke suck on you like that," Jillian said innocently.

Rose resisted the urge to start laughing. Of course Jillian's question was reasonable. It was just the way that she said it. Rose would have to tell Jack about that one. "Honey, when a Mommy has a baby her body produces milk. The milk is for the baby to drink. It's good for the baby."

"I didn't do that!" Jillian yelled.

Rose smiled, "Oh yes you did. And Michael did too. Everyone did darling. Even your Daddy and I did once too."

"Daddy sucked on you?" Michael asked, coming into the conversation.

Rose bit her lip and tried not to laugh again. She sighed instead, "No, not me, his Mother. And it's not sucking you two, its called nursing."

"Daddy had a mommy?" Jillian asked, leaning over in her chair.

"Yes, Jillian, Daddy had a mommy. Everyone had a mommy at one time sweetie," Rose said, reaching over and ruffling Jillian's hair.

"So you had a mommy?" Michael asked.

"Yes, I have--had a mommy," Rose said, catching herself. She and Jack had agreed to tell the children, if they ever asked, that Ruth had died a long time ago. And that they had no living grandparents.

"What did she look like?" Michael asked, taking another cookie and putting into his mouth.

"That’s enough," Rose said taking the plate of cookies away from Michael. "My mommy was really pretty Michael. She had long red hair--"

"Like you?" Michael asked, interrupting.

"It was a little shorter," Rose answered.

"Oh," Michael and Jillian said in unison.

"What happened to--"

"Hello everyone!"

"Daddy!" Michael and Jillian yelled together. They jumped off the chair and ran into the front hallway.

Rose laughed now and gently took Luke away from her breast. She buttoned her dress up and then held Luke against her, burping him quickly. Rose then got up and started for the front hall.

"Hello," she called, coming in. Jack stood holding Jillian in his arms and holding Michael's hand.

"Hey," Jack said. He leaned over and kissed Rose gently.

"What are you doing home so early?" she asked, smiling.

Jack kissed Jillian and put her down on the floor. She and Michael ran off in search of something--neither Jack nor Rose knew what.

Jack put his arm around Rose's shoulders. "Oh, no reason," he said, kissing the top of her head. Rose looked up and noticed something in Jack's eyes. "Oh yes you are," she accused. "I know that look of yours! You have got something up your sleeve Jack Dawson!"

Jack started laughing and loosened the tie around his neck.

"Oh dear," Rose sighed. "What have you done now?"

Jack shook his head. "You act like I did something bad Rose," he joked.

Rose rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Jack, I've lived with you for the past eight years. I know what you are like." Jack laughed again and took Luke from Rose. "Don't worry," he whispered, kissing her on the cheek, "you'll find out after dinner."

"Oh, this is going to be a fun three hours," Rose sighed as they made their way upstairs.

"Just trust me Rose," Jack said, winking at her.

Rose rolled her eyes again and then smiled brightly at Jack.

*****

"Please pass the tatos Daddy," Michael said quietly.

"Here Mike," Jack said, handing over a bowl of mashed potatoes to Michael.

"Be careful," Rose warned as she watched Michael carefully spoon some of the food onto his plate. She smiled across the table to where Jack was sitting at the other end.

The lights were off and two candles flickered, setting a sensual mood in the dining room.

Jack smiled back at Rose and then she noticed that he glanced at Jillian and Michael. Jillian seemed to be done with her dinner, and Michael was just finishing up. He then glanced down at Luke, who was lying on a blanket laid out on the floor. He was throwing his hands up in the air and kicking his feet. Jack looked at Rose again and smiled.

"Jillian, Michael," he said gently, "are you finished with your supper?"

Jillian nodded and Michael put down his fork. "Yes," Michael said, wiping his hands on a napkin.

"Why don't you go play upstairs before bed then," Jack suggested.

"Yeah! Come on Jilly," Michael yelled, jumping off his chair. He and Jillian ran off upstairs, yelling and screaming.

"Calm down," Rose called weakly after the noisy children. She turned back to Jack and smiled. "These two," she sighed.

Jack nodded and then smiled at Rose. "Want me to tell you what’s going on now?" he asked.

Rose nodded eagerly. "Yes Jack, yes," she whispered, somewhat tongue tied by the look Jack was giving her. "Come here," he whispered gently.

Rose moved to a different chair and scooted closer to Jack. "What is it?" she asked.

Jack smiled and then took Rose's hand. "Remember when I handed you that pair of mittens and a scarf on Valentine's Day? And I told you that you would have to wait for the rest?"

Rose nodded. "Yes," she said, "and I am still confused though."

Jack started rummaging in his pants pocket and finally pulled out what looked like two tickets. He handed them to Rose and raised his eyebrows.

Rose glanced at Jack and then down at what was indeed tickets. She held them up in an attempt to catch more light. They were for tomorrow afternoon. But she couldn't read what for or where too.

"Jack...what is this?" she asked gently, looking at him.

"Remember, six years ago or so, when we talked about going up to a cabin. You know, during the winter with snow and all that good stuff."

Rose nodded, her eyes starting to water. "You--"

"I got us train tickets Rose. We're leaving tomorrow, for a week. Its all arranged...Brittany is gonna watch the kids, the people are expecting us the afternoon after next, and..."

Rose stood up and laughed giddily. "Oh my God," she whispered.

Jack stood up and came over. He was smiling from ear to ear. Jack laughed with her. "Happy?"

"Oh my Lord Jack!" Rose screamed. She threw her arms around Jack's neck and kissed his cheek. "I love you," she whispered. "I can't believe you did this."

Jack kissed her back and held her close. "I love you too. I figured we needed this Rose. We deserve it," he whispered.

Rose pulled away and looked Jack in the eyes. "Thank you," she said, "so much."

Jack smiled happily.

"Should we tell the children?" Rose asked, smiling back at Jack.

"They know. I told them this morning. They weren’t supposed to tell you. I am surprised they didn't already."

Rose laughed happily, snuggling close to Jack again. "Yes, so am I," she said.

Then she suddenly broke away and started singing. "We're going on vacation! We're going on vacation!"

Jack laughed and started singing along with her. Their voices carried upstairs and made Jillian and Michael run down.

"Mommy!" Jillian yelled. She held her arms up, symbolizing she wanted to be picked up.

Rose picked up her daughter and Jack picked up Michael. They started dancing around with the children, making them laugh.

Luke's cry broke through the singing, making Rose and Jack stop dancing. Luke had been so quiet that they had forgotten that he was there.

Jack started laughing again and put Michael down. He picked up Luke.

"You just felt left out, didn't you, Luke," he said. Luke, who had stooped crying when Jack picked up him, made a sound.

"Luke said 'Yes Daddy,' " Michael shouted. All of them started laughing again, making Luke smile.

*****

"You'll be good for Aunt Brittany, won't you?"

"Yes Daddy, I will. I'll make sure Jilly and Luke do too," Michael answered his father.

He rubbed his eyes. "I am tired Daddy. Can I go to sleep now?"

Jack smiled and got up. He tucked the blankets closer around Michael and then kissed him on the cheek.

"Good night Mickey," he whispered. "Do you want Mommy to come in and say goodnight?"

"Yeah," Michael mumbled half asleep.

"All right," Jack whispered. "Goodnight." He left Michael's room and met Rose in the hall.

"Michael wants you to come in," he said.

Rose nodded. "Okay," she whispered. She kissed Jack softly. "I'll be into bed in a minute," she promised before going into Michael's room. Jack smiled and went to his own room.

"Good night Michael Andrew," Rose whispered coming in.

"Night Mommy," Michael said tiredly.

Rose came over and sat down on the edge of Michael's bed.

"I am going to miss you Mommy," Michael said suddenly.

"Oh, Mike," Rose whispered, realizing it would be the first time she had been away from her children for more then a night. She reached down and pulled the covers away from Michael's small warm body.

"Mommy, I wanna sleep," he protested weakly.

"Shh, just come here for a moment," Rose whispered. She pulled Mike onto her lap in the dark and smoothed his hair with her hand. "I am going to miss you to Buddy," she whispered into his ear.

Michael nodded and leaned back against Rose.

"You are going to have so much fun at Aunt Brittany's. And Jillian and Luke are going to be there. So you'll have them."

"Yeah," Michael mumbled.

Rose kissed Michael's head. "And Daddy and I will bring you something back, I promise."

Michael turned his head and smiled. "Okay Mommy," he whispered. "Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Yes Mike," Rose whispered. She laid him back down and covered him back up with the covers.

"Good night," she whispered, getting up.

"Night Mommy. See you in the morning."

Chapter Three
Stories