JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Twenty-One

"Shh, Dianna. Shh, don't cry dear." Rose said in a comforting voice. But Dianna still continued to sob in Rose's arms.

"Shh, Dianna look at me." Rose said. Dianna picked her head up, her mascara was running down her checks, and her eyes were red.

"Now come on Dianna, what's this all about? Tell me, nobody is here."

"Oh Rose…I have just missed you so much." Dianna got out between sobs.

"I know, but there's more isn't there?" Rose asked, still comforting Dianna. She nodded and whipped her eyes. Rose handed her a tissue. "Now tell me what's going on?"

"Rose, it's just everything. You left and I was fine with that until Brittany started collage. Than she was always at school and Bryan was always at work. And than on weekends Bryan was ether out with his friends or was tried and cranky. And Brittany was always studying and cranky also. She would never laughing at my jokes anymore and I just stopped doing them because I thought she didn't like them." Dianna confined.

"Oh Dianna, Brittany said that you were to uptight and didn't tell jokes anymore." Rose told her.

"Well I thought that she didn't want to here them anymore." Dianna said, sniffling a little.

"I know dear, I know." Rose said.

"And than my Dad and Mother moved to Washington, I haven't seen them since. And than it was just one thing after another. And the stress in my life. And than the baby." Dianna said starting to sniff a little again.

"The baby?" Rose asked.

Dianna bit her lip and sighed, "I was two and a half mouths pregnant, and than I went in for my check-up. They said that I had lost the baby. Bryan and I had been so excited and then when I told him he was devastated. We both were." Dianna said begging to cry again.

"Oh Dianna why didn't you tell us?" Rose asked tears coming to her own eyes.

"Because it was right after you left and we didn't have your address yet, and by the time we got it we had lost the baby. But don't worry, nobody knew except for family. Not even Brit. We didn't want to tell anyone ether, after what happened." Dianna got out.

"Oh Dianna that is terrible. No wonder you have been so wired, and I can understand why you didn't tell me. But something I don't understand, why does Bryan seem fine?" Rose asked. Dianna pulled away from Rose's arms and looked at her.

"Because he pretends that he forgot in a way. He keeps his sad emotions inside."

"But you said that he was devastated." Rose interrupted.

"He was, but only for about a week, than he just kind of forgot." Dianna finished.

"Oh Dianna, that is so sad. Now I understand why you have been so uptight and serious."

"Oh thank you Rose. It feels so good to tell this to someone. I tried to tell Bryan, but he just says that he doesn't want to talk about it." Rose smiled at Dianna.

"Do you feel better now?" she asked.

"Yes Rose, I truly do. Now I think now that I will be able to joke and have fun again."

"Good." Rose said.

"One more thing Rose. Will you tell this to know one, not Brittany, not even Jack. I want this to just be our secret." Dianna asked, almost in a pleading tone.

"Oh course Dianna. I will carry this to the grave." Rose said.

"Thank you so much Rose." Dianna said standing up. Rose nodded and stood up as well. Dianna looked at her friend for a moment before giving her a hug. Rose hugged her back and than pulled away.

"Now I want to make you something special." Rose said.

"What do you want?"

"Oh Rose you don't have to make me anything. Besides, Bryan, Jack, and Brit are bringing home lunch. I don't want to be stuffed when they get here."

"OK than we will make your favorite desert." Rose said pulling Dianna out the bedroom and into the kitchen.

"Now what do you want? Cake? Brownies?" Rose asked.

Dianna smiled, "I guess a cake would be nice. We can all eat it tonight." Dianna answered smiling brightly again. Rose smiled at her and started the two started to get to work making a vanilla cake. They were just putting the chocolate frosting on when they heard the front door open.

"Hi honey were home!" Rose heard Jack call.

"Hi dear! We are in the kitchen!" Rose yelled back.

"Look's good." Jack said coming in with Brittany and Bryan close behind.

"Umm thanks, Dianna and I made it." Rose said giving Jack a kiss.

"Is that frosting on your check?" Jack asked taking her into his arms and kissing her where the frosting was.

"Not anymore." Rose said giving him a smile. Behind them Rose and Jack heard snickers. They turned and saw Brittany and Bryan standing there, holding back giggles. Than suddenly Dianna burst out laughing from the other side of the kitchen. Everyone looked at her, surprised that she was laughing. But she was.

"Dianna?" Bryan asked. But Dianna just smiled at Bryan and walked over to him and he put his arm around her.

"I'll explain later." She whispered. Bryan nodded.

Than she turned to Rose and Jack, "Rose, the way you two act I am surprised that you haven't gotten yourself pregnant yet."

"So am I." Jack said. Everyone laughed and Rose blushed again.

"There goes Rose with the blushing again." Dianna called out, and that just made everyone laugh more.

"OK, I have to ask. Rose, Dianna what went on while we were gone?" Brittany finally got out.

"Oh, Rose and I just had a little talk." Dianna said simply.

"Well thank you Rose, what ever you did." Bryan said. Rose smiled at him and than Jack kissed her hair.

"See there they go again." Dianna said to Bryan under her breath, but it was loud enough so that even Rose and Jack heard. Jack laughed and put his forehead to Rose's.

"I am very sorry to interrupt this conversation, but we do have Chinese food waiting and you know how gross Chinese food is when it is cold." Bryan said.

"Yes." Dianna said leaning against Bryan. Everyone else agreed and sat down and went about preparing for lunch.

Darkness had fallen over Santa Monica and the five friends sat in the living room. Bryan was in a chair, Brittany and Dianna on one end of the couch and Jack on the other end with Rose in his lap. The dinner dishes were all done and most of the cake had been eaten. Now they were all sitting down talking.

"So Rose, Jack, how is life really out here?" Bryan asked.

"Great!" They said in unison. Everyone rolled his or her eyes again.

"No really, it's wonderful, paradise. All I miss is the snow." Rose said.

"Ya I fell the same way." Jack said. Rose smiled at him and put her arms around his neck, than she leaned in to kiss him.

"Oh look, they're at it again." Dianna said from the other end of the couch in a board tone. Rose pulled away from Jack and looked at everyone. All at once they started laughing.

"You guys." Bryan said shaking his head.

"What?" Rose asked pretending to not know what was going on. Everyone just looked at her shaking his or her heads, including Jack. He glanced at the clock, 9:30.

"Ah, I hate to break this up, but you girls are going shopping tomorrow I believe, and Bryan and I were going to the pier tomorrow." Jack said.

"Oh Bryan you will have so much fun." Rose said. "The pier is really fun, games and rides. Its wonderful."

"So I have been told." He said glancing at Jack.

"Jack I think you are right." Rose said nodding her head toward Brittany who was yawning.

"Yes, it's been a long day." Bryan said.

"And it's not over for those two." Dianna said nodding to Rose and Jack.

"Dianna come on, I think these two have had enough of your teasing today. Let's go to bed." Dianna nodded as Bryan stood and pulled her up.

"Good night Brittany. Night Rose and Jack, have a good time!" She called as she and Bryan disappeared though the bedroom door.

Jack chuckled, "That Dianna. What did you do to her today anyway?"

"Oh nothing we just had a good talk. Now let's get to bed. Brit here looks like she is going to fall over." Jack nodded and Rose climbed out of Jack's lap.

"Do you need anything?" Rose asked Brittany.

"No, I have enough blankets and more than enough pillows. I'll be fine. Thanks Rose. Good night Jack, goodnight Rose."

"Night." Jack said and disappeared into Rose and his own room. Rose when about turning off lights and putting a few things away, and Brittany made up her bed. When she was done, Brittany scampered off into the bathroom to change. She did quickly and came back out, heading for the couch. Rose fished tidying up and came over.

"Good night Brit. I am glad you came out." Rose said giving her friend a hug.

"Good night Rose. See you in the morning." Brittany said and laid down, closing her eyes. Rose smiled and turned off the living room lamp. She tiredly walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

"What a day." She said tiredly as she entered the room. Rose saw that Jack had already gotten his nightclothes on and was in bed with a book in his hand.

"You look tired." Jack observed.

"How did you guess?" Rose asked playfully, grabbing some of Jack's old clothes that he let her have because she was always wearing them and walking into the bathroom. In the bathroom she slipped of her dress and put on the old big-for-her pants and big tee shirt. Than she let her hair down and whipped off her light makeup. Finally she picked her dirty clothes and opened the bathroom door. Dumping the clothes in a pile on the floor, she grabbed her book off the nightstand and climbed under the covers.

Rose had just opened her book when Jack asked, "Can you believe Dianna today. It's like her good twin came and switched places with her. And the jokes she was making, man."

"I know." Rose said putting her book down.

"What did you do?" Jack asked.

"Jack, I told you. We just had a long talk. That's all." Rose told him.

"OK, but whatever you did, it worked." Jack said leaning over and giving Rose a kiss.

"I am going to sleep." Jack said putting his book on the nightstand and shutting off the light.

"Good night honey." Rose said.

"Night Rose." Jack said his eyes closing. Rose when back to reading for about ten minutes, but than decided that she was to tired. She closed the book and set it on her nightstand and shutting off her own light. Sighing, she snuggled under the covers. When Jack, who was not yet asleep, heard her get under the covers, he rolled over and wrapped her in his arms. Rose to rolled over so that her face was just inches away from Jack's.

"I love you Rose." He said his eyes still closed. Rose smiled and caressed his face. Finally she too closed her eyes.

"I love you to Jack."

Chapter Twenty-Two
Stories