A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Fifty-Two

Rose studied every face that passed her. She was jumping out of her skin. She shut her eyes tightly and reopened them. Rose sighed with relief. She was still standing at the harbor, and soldiers were still exiting the ship. She had feared it was all a dream. But in a few short minutes, she would be back in her love's arms.

Rose had made the decision to come alone. She knew this would be a very emotional and cherished time. She wanted it to herself. Maybe that was selfish, but she felt she had a right to be selfish when it came to Jack.

Rose scanned the crowd once more. Her heart stopped. "Jack," she gasped out. Rose felt something inside of her stir. Her eyes focused in and out. It was him! It was Jack! Her body began to move towards him. She didn't have any idea how fast she was walking, or even if she was walking, but in one motion, arms encircled her, and she buried her face in a comforting chest.

Jack laid his head on her shoulder. His arms went tighter around her. She moved her hands up his back. He shut his eyes tightly and let the tears fall free. Here she was, in his arms. Her soft hair against his skin. Something he hadn't felt in two years. She was no longer a dream or vision he held onto for comfort. She was living and breathing. Her gentle crying and the soft way she uttered his name was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.

Now he needed something. It wasn't a want, it was a need. He felt that if he had to go one more day without it, he would die. Jack lowered his mouth to hers. He could feel her warm breath on his face. He closed his eyes and they shared a soft gentle kiss. Jack pulled back and looked in her eyes.

Rose was pleading with him to kiss her again. The way he once did. The way she knew he wanted to do again. Her eyes looked up at him with a longing. She put her arms around his neck.

Jack moved back to her mouth. He worried. Would the fire and the passion still be there? Would it feel the same? He didn't care, though. Jack pulled Rose to him and they were locked in a passionate embrace.

Rose more than willingly opened her mouth and let his tongue massage hers. She felts parts of her awaken and come alive. It was all flooding back. She was being revived. All the pain was dissolving.

Jack deepened the kiss. He forgot how good at had felt to kiss her. Now he was afraid he wouldn't be able to stop. He thought about all those nights when he had dreamed off this moment. His dreams hadn't come close to the real feeling.

Rose pulled away, and rested her head on his shoulder. Jack rocked her back and forth, and kissed her neck.

"You're back. You came home," Rose said gently.

"Of course I did. Nothing could keep me from this." Jack kissed her again.

They just held each other. Words were completely unnecessary. They could both sense that each had been through something horrific. But right now, all they cared about was that they were together. Each had their eyes closed. For some reason they didn't feel ready to look at one another completely.

Jack opened his eyes and realized that the harbor had emptied. They must have been holding each other for over an hour. "Let's go home," he said in an emotion filled voice.

Rose nodded and brushed her tears away. Jack placed his palm on her cheek and kissed her tear tracks. One fallen to her lips. He kissed it sweetly away and smiled very slightly.

Jack wrapped his arm around Rose's waist, and they walked to a cab that just happened to pull up. They climbed in the back seat. Their arms were intertwined, and they rested their heads against one another. Jack shut his eyes again and his breathing slowed. The building need inside of him was beginning to take its toll.

To both Jack and Rose, it seemed like time had disappeared. And a minute to them could have been an hour to the rest of the world. For it seemed like the moment they stepped in the cab it pulled up in front of their home.

Jack, still clutching Rose, opened the front door. All either one of them wanted to do was go upstairs. They started towards the steps. Brian and Maggie were at the kitchen door. They knew better than to say anything. Jack and Rose deserved this time alone.

Andrew was standing at his father's feet. He didn't recognize the man who with Rose. He started to walk towards them, but his mother grabbed him. She lifted him into her arms and shook her head. Then she and Brian turned around and walked into the kitchen.

Jack and Rose entered their apartment. He pulled her to his mouth and kissed her passionately. When he stopped, the kiss had taken so much out of the two of them that he had to lean back against the door. Rose rested herself against his chest and sighed heavily. She shut her eyes. It was all so surreal. She had barely looked at him or spoken to him since he arrived home. She realized how much they had to say to each other.

"Jack, we have to..."

Jack put his finger against her lips. He lifted her head so he could look at her. This was the first time he had really looked at her. He studied her face. She looked even more beautiful than she had the last time he saw her. When he looked in her eyes, he could tell she had been so through many ordeals. Her eyes reflected experience.

Rose gazed lovingly at him. He had changed greatly since he left. He looked mature. Grown up. He was still her Jack, though. She knew his heart was still the same. She could tell by his eyes. They revealed everything. She could see the compassion and fire that she always saw.

Jack closed his eyes to make a decision. When he reopened them he gave Rose a penetrating look. "Rose, do you think maybe, just for tonight, we could act like nothing has happened? Like nothing has changed? Just for one night. Please. I know there are things to discuss, but right now I just want you...I need you."

Rose did not even have to think about it. She nodded her head. "Yes...yes. Jack, that's fine."

Jack kissed her softly. "I love you."

"I've been waiting so long to hear you say that again." Rose shook her head gently. "I love you."

Jack smiled weakly. He wanted to pick up where they left off. Two years ago, at the train station, when they had said good-bye he had showered her with kisses. He began to do the same thing. At first he focused exclusively on her mouth. Then, slowly, with a growing passion, he moved across her face and down her neck. Further still.

Rose moaned. "Jack..." she breathed out.

They backed themselves into the bedroom. Their clothes fell off effortlessly. As Jack moved his mouth and hands around Rose's he began to want her more. It had been over two years, and now that she was in his arms he was ready to explode. They fell into the bed and everything disappeared. All the pain, worrying, wondering, heartache, confusion, everything. The only thing on their minds were each other.

Up in their own little world, Jack and Rose were lost in passion. Over and over again they reached unimaginable heights. Everything felt new, like it was the first time. It had been so long. Neither Jack nor Rose had forgotten, but they missed it so much it was painful. Now they were so overwhelmed with each other's presence, it was impossible to stop.

Hours later their bodies had had enough and were tired. Rose snuggled into Jack's arms. Her head rested on his chest. A smile crossed her face. A genuine smile. The last time she had been this happy was before Jack had left. Before there had been a war. She felt at peace.

Jack breathed in deeply. Feeling Rose against him was unbelievable. For a long time, he had thought he would never be able to feel this way again. He felt alive and awakened. He had died in France. Everything that made him Jack had been killed. But now, Rose had brought him back to life. It was something only she could do. And she done it. He felt like he could conquer the world. But all he wanted to do was hold onto Rose and stay with her forever.

Eventually they fell asleep. Smiles were on both their lips. They knew they had made the right decision by putting everything off for the next day. They didn't need to think about that now. They didn't want to. All that was important was that they were both alive and safe, with each other. And from now on nothing was going to keep them apart. They were stronger and more in love. Tonight was the start of a new, better life for the both of them.

Chapter Fifty-Three
Stories