A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Thirty-Nine

May 5, 1917

Tim watched Rose walk towards the door. "Wait!" he cried.

"I don't think I have anything to say to you," she replied harshly.

He sighed. "I love you."

She turned around. "What?" Her voice was a whisper.

He walked to her. "I love you."

Tears filled her eyes. "But my husband..."

"I don't care about him. Do you love me?"

She nodded. "Yes, I do."

He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a passionate kiss. "I've wanted to do that for so long."

She laid her head on his chest. "Just hold me." She raised her head and gazed into his eyes. Rose ran her fingers through his hair. "This is dangerous. If we get caught, who knows what could happen?"

"It doesn't matter. You're mine now. I love you. I love you." He said it over and over as he kissed every part of her that he could lay his mouth on. She, too, proclaimed her love for him. They held each other tightly.

"I never want this moment to end." Rose sighed out. Suddenly a shot rang out. Tim crumpled in her arms. "No!" She cried. She looked up to see who had done it. "How could you?! How could you!?!" She held Tim in her arms and rocked him back and forth. He looked up at her. "I love you." Was the last thing he uttered before his eyes closed forever. Rose's body shook with sobs. She kissed his face in a vain attempt to revive him. She heard footsteps come towards her. She looked up and in split second the bullet pierced her heart and she was dead.

A loud cheer erupted from the audience. People were on their feet. "Bravo! Bravo!" they cried. The curtain closed.

Rose stood up and helped Tim to his feet. "I think they liked it," she whispered to him.

Ben smiled at the two of them. "I'm sorry I had to kill you." All three of them laughed. They had just performed The Secret Love of Tommy. Tim was Tommy, Rose played his object of desire Lily, and Ben was Rose's husband and later her murderer, James. Tim had actually written the play and persuaded Erik to produce it. It was opening night and by the cheers they could tell it was a success. The curtain rose again and the actors took their bows. Flowers were thrown at their feet.

Rose looked in the audience and front row center was Jack, Maggie, and Brian. Jack was cheering wildly. He had a huge bouquet of flowers sitting on the seat. He smiled at her and mouthed, "I love you." Rose smiled and did the same thing. Tim saw the whole thing.

"You were wonderful," he whispered in her ear.

"Well, it was a wonderful script." She smiled at him. The curtain closed again.

"There they are!" Erik ran to Tim, Rose, and Ben. "My stars." He gave them all hugs. "Tim, it seems you've been holding out on me. You're quite the playwright. What an ending!"

Tim smiled. "Thank you."

"Rose!" Jack ran in and picked her up. He spun her around. "You were wonderful!" He kissed her. "Here." He gave her a huge bouquet of all kinds of flowers. "These are for you."

"You were fantastic." A very pregnant Maggie waddled over. "I would hug you but I don't think I don't think you could get your arms around me."

Rose smiled. She walked over and kissed Maggie on the cheek. "I told you not to come. You need your rest."

"I told her that but she said nothing would stop her from seeing her best friend on opening night." Brian handed Rose some flowers and gave her a hug and kiss. "You really were fantastic."

"Why don't we all go out and celebrate?" Erik said.

"Oh, I don't know. Maggie really should get home," Rose said.

"Don't worry about me," Maggie said. "You go. I'll go home."

"I couldn't do that," Rose interjected.

"No, no, go. Celebrate, you earned it." Brian smiled. "Go on."

"Are you sure?" Jack asked.

"Positive. Go." Maggie put her hand on Jack's arm. "Please. Don't fight with a pregnant woman."

Rose smiled. "And don't you fight with me. There is no way I'm celebrating without my two best friends. Jack and I will go home with you. That's that. It's settled."

Maggie laughed. "All right, all right. But can we go now? I haven't been feeling too good today."

"We certainly can," Rose said. She gave Tim a hug and kiss. "Thank you for letting me be in your marvelous play."

"I wrote it for you." He smiled.

"You're such a dear." She kissed his forehead and walked over to Jack.

"Bye, Tim." Jack smiled and waved at him.

Jack, Rose, Maggie, and Brian walked out of the theater. Rose noticed that Maggie seemed uncomfortable. The got in the cab and Maggie rested her head on Brian's shoulder. She put her hand on her stomach and sighed.

When the arrived home Jack and Rose hopped out of the cab. Brian helped Maggie out. They walked in the house and Rose ran upstairs and put her flowers in water. While she walking back downstairs she looked at Maggie and Brian. Maggie had her hands on his arm. Jack was looking at them.

"Is something wrong?" Rose asked as she jumped off the last step.

Maggie looked up at Rose. "You have to go get the doctor. The baby is coming."

Rose gasped. "Oh my! Yes, Jack and I will get him."

Jack and Rose quickly caught a cab and drove to the doctor's house. When they showed up he laughed at how worried they were.

"Hold on, hold on. The baby isn't going anywhere. We've got time. Let me get my things." He grabbed his medical bag and the other things he needed. Plus, he got his wife. He laughed. "It's helpful being married to the midwife. You never have to go further than your bedroom to find her."

The four of them got back in the cab and when they arrived home Maggie was in bed.

"Okay, Maggie, would you like Brian or Rose to stay with you?"

"Brian." She looked at Rose. "I'm sorry."

Rose smiled. "No, it's all right. I would have picked Jack." She walked over and kissed Maggie on the forehead. "If you need anything tell Brian to get me. I love you."

Maggie smiled. "I love you, too."

Jack and Rose went and sat in the living room. They waited and waited and waited. Over time they could her some noise and slight cries. Rose laid her head in Jack's lap and fell asleep. When Jack noticed that he pulled her up into his arms and laid down with her. After a few minutes he also fell asleep. Hours later a cry came from the bedroom. Rose opened her eyes and listened to it. "That's a baby's cry." She gasped and sat up. "Jack." She shook him. He looked up at her. "She had the baby." He sat up. They waited for a little while and finally the doctor and midwife came out.

"Well?" Rose and Jack asked in unison.

He smiled. "I'm not allowed to say anything. They made me swear. But it's healthy."

"Can we see them?"

"Yes, you can."

Rose and Jack didn't say anything else, they ran into the bedroom. When they arrived Maggie was lying in the bed. She looked exhausted but happier than either had ever seen her. Brian was standing next to the bed holding the tiny child. He looked up at them and smiled.

"I have a son," he said quietly.

Maggie smiled brightly. "Andrew John Fagin, born May 6, 1917, 4:37 AM and weighing a wonderful seven pounds nine ounces."

Rose walked over. "He's an angel."

Brian stared at the baby in awe. "I can't believe him. He's perfect. Absolutely perfect." He looked up at Rose. "Would you like to hold your godson?"

"I would love to." She took him in her arms and was blown away. Rose felt a special connection with him. "He's just gorgeous."

"Can I hold him?" Jack asked.

Rose smiled and laid Andrew in his arms. Jack laughed gently. "I haven't held a baby in...I don't even know how long."

After a few minutes Andrew started to squirm. Jack handed him to Maggie. She yawned. "It's been a long day."

Rose smiled. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow Jack and I will take care of you two. You just look out for that little bundle of joy."

Brian smiled. "Thank you." He gave her a hug.

They stayed up a little longer, but they were all drained. So Jack and Rose finally climbed the stairs and crawled into bed. While the were lying side by side, Rose spoke up.

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

She sighed. "Nothing. Good night." Rose didn't know why but she got the strangest feeling just then that something big was about to happen. Something she couldn't stop.

"Good night." Jack pulled her tighter to him and kissed her neck. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

In a few minutes they drifted off to sleep. The entire house was peaceful and quite. All five boarders were asleep. Little did any of them know it would be one of the last peaceful nights all of them would have together.

Chapter Forty
Stories