IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
Chapter Four

Jack vaguely remembered Fabrizio taking him by the hand and leading him outside. Now, here he was, out on the streets, just having learned the worst possible news anyone could ever tell him. His only love was a Bukater. The one family his parents hated and would have killed if they could. Jack watched as his friends laughed and joked with each other. But he was in no mood for all this. He needed to see Rose again, to work everything out with her. A second later, he was running from the group and toward the orchard walls. Right away, his friends noticed that he was missing.

"Jack!" Fabrizio called.

"Where are you going?" they all asked.

Jack ignored them and kept running. He climbed the orchard walls and leaped over to the other side. He could hear everyone still calling him.

"Madman!" Fabrizio yelled. "You are running after Eleanor, aren't you? Forget her, Jack. She is dead to you."

Jack hid in the darkness, waiting for them to leave. Finally, he heard Tommy say, "Come on. We don't have to waste our time on him. Good-bye, Jack!"

After a minute, when he was sure they had left, Jack climbed out of the tree he was in and walked closer to the Bukater house. He climbed up into another orange tree so he could get a better look at the upper level rooms. Suddenly, a light appeared in the room and Jack gasped. A moment later, Rose came out of the door in a white nightgown and stood on the balcony, resting her head on her hand.

"Oh, it is Rose. It is my love," Jack whispered to the night. "Oh, how I wish she knew that she were my love. She is speaking to me, but yet she is saying nothing. It is her eyes that are speaking to me. Oh, look how she rests her head against her hand. If only I were her glove, I might touch that cheek." Suddenly, he heard Rose speak.

"Oh, my," she said, talking to herself.

Jack smiled, and whispered, "She spoke. Oh, Rose, speak again, angel. I love your beautiful voice."

Rose sighed heavily and looked out into the night. "Oh, Jack, Jack, why are you a Dawson? If only you could throw away your title. Defy your father. Or, that that will not work, I'll swear to you my love, and I'll no longer be a Bukater."

Jack listened to all this from the tree. Rose had no idea that he was here and seemed to be talking to herself. "Do I speak at this?" Jack asked himself. But he decided to keep quiet when Rose continued.

"It is only my name that is your enemy," Rose said, sighing again. "You are yourself, not a Dawson. What's a Dawson? It is not hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, or any other part belonging to a man. Oh, Jack, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a flower by another name would still smell the same. So Jack would, were he not Jack called, keep that perfection that he already has. Jack, get rid of your name," Rose said, smiling and speaking louder than before. She turned around and hugged herself tight. "And for your name, which is not part of you, take all myself." She giggled and smiled to herself at the thought of Jack.

Jack couldn't keep quiet any longer. He finally talked loud enough for Rose to hear. "I take your word, Rose. Call me love and I'll be renewed. From this moment on, I'll never be Jack." Jack heard Rose gasp, and she started looking around.

"Who are you?" she called. "Where are you hidden? Why were you listening to my most private thoughts?"

Jack smiled. "I do not know how to tell you my name, love. I hate my name because it is an enemy of you. If I had the words written, I would tear the paper!"

Rose gasped as the man talked to her. She instantly knew who it was. "I have not heard more than a hundred of your words, but I know the sound. Are you Jack, and a Dawson?" Jack finally moved into the light so she could see him. It was indeed Jack. She smiled at him.

"I am neither, Rose, if you dislike them so," he said, coming closer and climbing the tree closest to her balcony.

Rose moved closer to him. "How did you get here?" she asked, looking at Jack. He looked so wonderful sitting in the tree like that. Rose continued, "The orchard walls are high and very hard to climb. And this place is death, considering who you are. If any of my family find you here…well…"

Jack smiled at Rose with his brightest smile. "I came by the way of love, Rose. Walls cannot hold love out, nor what love can do. Therefore, your family is no match for me," Jack said, getting louder as he spoke.

"Shh," Rose said, putting her finger to her lips. "If they do see you, though, they will murder you," she explained, leaning over the edge of the balcony to get closer to him.

Jack looked at her before speaking. "I have the night's darkness to hide me from their eyes. But if you love me, let them find me here. My life is better ended by their hate than death without knowing you, Rose."

Rose smiled as Jack told her this. He was so wonderful, she could hardly breathe. "How did you find this place?" she finally managed to ask.

Jack smiled. "By love. Love brought me here."

Rose blushed at Jack's statement. "You heard me speak tonight, Jack. You know my feeling then. Why else would I blush?" She saw Jack smile at her statement. Then Rose immediately went into what she wanted to know now. "Do you love me?" she asked. Before he could answer, she went on, "I know you will say yes, and I will take your word. But if you do swear it, it may prove you false. Oh, Jack, if you love me, pronounce it faithfully. Or, if you think I am too quickly won, I will act against my own wishes and discourage you. In truth, Jack, I am too fond and you may think my behavior light. But trust me, Jack, I'll prove true."

Jack watched as Rose's face became worried. He pointed to the moon and spoke. "Rose, I swear by the moon—"

"Oh, swear not by the moon," Rose broke in, cutting him off, "the inconstant moon that monthly changes in a circled orbit. Your love may prove to be the same thing if you do."

Jack almost laughed at her boldness. "What should I swear by?" he asked, moving farther out onto the tree branch.

"Do not swear at all," Rose said, smiling. "Or, if you will, swear by yourself. I'll believe you then."

Jack smiled. "Okay. I swear—"

Rose interrupted him again. "Oh, do not swear at all, Jack! Although I joy in you, I have no joy in this engagement tonight. It is too rash, too sudden, too like the lightning that ceases to exist before anyone can say it lightens. Sweet, good night." With that, Rose turned and left Jack in the tree.

But Jack couldn't let her go. "Will you leave me so unsatisfied?"

Rose turned and looked at him. "What satisfaction can you have tonight?" she asked, coming back.

Jack looked at her. "The exchange of your vows for mine," he said.

Rose's face brightened and she smiled a secret smile. "I gave you mine before you asked!" she said, running over to him and throwing herself into Jack's arms.

Jack pressed his lips against hers and began to kiss her all over. Rose kissed him back and pulled him onto the ledge that was on the balcony. They continued to kiss and enjoy their time together when, out of nowhere, Trudy called from inside, "Rose! Rose!"

Rose broke away from Jack, turning her face towards the door. "I'll be there in a minute, Trudy!" Then she turned back to Jack. "Hold on. I'll come back!" With that, she raced into the house.

Jack smiled to himself. "Oh, I am afraid that since it is night, this is all a dream. It is too sweet to be real."

Just then, Rose appeared. She came over and kissed him again. "Good night, Jack. If your intentions are honorable and you propose marriage, send me word tomorrow by someone who I'll send to you. Tell that person where and what time to perform the ceremony and I'll lay everything down and follow you around the world, Jack." She kissed him again before Trudy called for her once more. "Miss Rose!" Rose sighed and turned towards the house. "I'll be there in a minute!" Then she turned back towards Jack. "But if you don't mean well, I do beg you—"

"Miss Rose!"

"I'll be there in a minute!" Rose shouted before continuing, "To stop your efforts and leave me alone. Tomorrow I'll send someone."

Jack smiled at her. "I'll wait forever."

Rose smiled and said, "A thousand times good night." She kissed Jack one last time before returning into the house. Jack began to climb out of the tree and towards the orchard wall when he heard Rose call again.

"Jack! Jack!"

Jack turned and looked at her.

"Jack!"

"Yes, my sweet?" Jack asked.

"What time should I send to you tomorrow?" she asked in a hushed whisper.

"By nine," Jack answered, smiling at her.

"I will not fail. Oh, it is twenty years until then!"

With that, Jack climbed back up the tree onto the ledge and kissed Rose again. Rose moaned and kissed him back until Trudy once again cut in.

"Miss Rose, now!"

"Good night!" Rose called, and ran into the house.

"Good night, Rose," Jack whispered before leaving to climb back over the wall.

Chapter Five
Stories