JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Thirty-Four

July 4, 1914

Rose and Jack walked hand and hand down the small path in their backyard that led to the beach. In Jack's free hand he had a picnic basket and in Rose's free had she had a few oversized blankets. The basket was filled with all sorts of food--sandwiches, apples, and cookies. Jack and Rose walked in silence, alone with their thoughts as they approached the sand. It was their last night in Santa Monica before their trip to Paris. It also happened to be Independence Day and the Fosters and Langstons had decided to throw a goodbye/Forth of July party on the beach. That's where Jack and Rose were headed now, to the party. Rose was very excited to see the Fosters as she hadn't seen them sense they got back from Yakima two days ago. Suddenly, the path gave way from dirt to sand and Rose and Jack could now see the Fosters and Langstons already there setting up. Jack squeezed Rose's hand as they walked up to the Fosters and Langstons and Rose squeezed his back. They were leaving so early tomorrow morning, they wouldn't get to see their friend until they got back after this and Rose know she and Dianna and Jennifer were going to be very emotional.

"Dianna!" Rose called as soon as she was close to her. Dianna smiled and walked over with little Meaghan in her arms. Jack set his stuff down and went to talk to Bryan and Scott who were setting up a fire. Rose hugged Dianna, being careful not to hurt six mouth old Meaghan.

"Oh Dianna I have missed you. And it's so good to see you."

"I can't believe right after we get back you are leaving." Dianna said shaking her head and smiling at the same time.

"I know, it's crazy isn't it?"

"Yes it is. So how ya been Rose?" Dianna asked, shifting Meaghan to her other hip.

"Good, and you." Rose asked, setting her blanket down next to the logs they were going to use for sitting on.

"Good, it was so nice up in Washington. I love it up there."

Rose smiled, "And how is my girl?" Rose asked taking Meaghan and holding her. Meaghan smiled and laughed, which made Dianna and Rose laugh.

"Where's Jen?" Rose asked, looking around and not seeing Jennifer anywhere.

"She ran back to get something."

"Oh," Rose said, sitting down on one of the logs and sitting Meaghan in her lap. Rose leaned into the little girl and pointed to the fire. "See Meaghan, that's a fire. Isn't it pretty?" Meaghan gasped as Jack put another log on the fire and it sprang up. Then she started laughing and squirmed in Rose's lap. "Oh no you don't Maggie." Rose said turning Meaghan around and standing her up on her legs, holding her up by her waist. The little girl continued laughing and then threw her arms around Rose's neck. She continued like this until she discovered Rose's long hair, simple necklace, and various rings. Rose sat her back down in her lap, this time facing her, and let her look at her rings and play with and pull her hair.

"You are so good with her." Dianna said coming over and sitting next to Rose on the log. "You and Jack should defiantly have children Rose, you are so good with them."

Rose blushed and looked over at Dianna, "We are thinking about it."

"Really," Dianna exclaimed. "Rose, that is great! You will be able to spoil your own kids instead of mine."

Rose laughed, "I don't spoil Meaghan."

"Oh yes you do and you know it."

"She's my girl," Rose said kissing a surprised Meaghan on the nose. Again, Meaghan started laughing.

"What are ya'll talking about." Jennifer asked sitting down across from Dianna and Rose.

"Hi Jen," Rose said.

"Hi, so what are you talking about?" Jennifer said tucking her skirts around her legs.

"Rose, and how she should have kids so she can spoil her own kids instead of mine." Dianna answered; taking Meaghan whom was reaching out for her mother.

Jennifer smiled, "Yeah, Rose, you are going to make a wonderful mother." Rose blushed again.

Jennifer saw this and gasped, "Wait, Rose you're not…are you?"

Rose laughed, "No, not yet. At least I don't think so."

Dianna laughed, "And I am very surprised." Jennifer started laughing hysterically. Rose hit Dianna on the arm and then threw a handful of sand at Jennifer.

"Rose, don't." Dianna and Jennifer said at the same time. Rose laughed, stood up, and walked over to Jack who was sitting on the other end side of the fire. She sat down by him and Jack wrapped his arm around Rose.

"Hay," he said.

"Hi, what are you all talking about?" Rose asked.

"Nothing," all three men replied in unison.

Rose raised her eyebrows, "Nothing? Sounds pretty suspicious to me."

"Okay, we were talking about how good you are with Meaghan." Jack told her.

"Oh really, that's what we were talking about. Then Dianna made one of her jokes and I came over here."

Bryan shook his head, "I am sorry Rose. I keep talking to her about those jokes and she just keeps dishing them out. I'll talk to her again if you want me to."

Rose shook her head this time, "No, it's all right Bryan. I have gotten used to them now." Everyone laughed and Jennifer and Dianna turned their heads.

"What are you laughing at?" Jennifer called.

"Nothing," they all said in unison and then cracked up with laughter again. Dianna and Jennifer looked at each other and then came over.

"So what are we going to do until the fireworks show?" Jennifer asked, sitting down next to Scott.

"Eat and play games." Bryan said.

"Play games?" Rose repeated.

"Yeah, I brought a football and a baseball and a bat." Rose looked at Jack, she had never played either of those games before.

"Don't worry Rose. I'll show you how to play. And we're gonna win too! I just happen to be the world's best baseball and football player. We can whip the Fosters and the Langstons any day." Rose, along with everyone else, laughed.

"But first we gotta eat." Bryan said.

"We can't play on an empty stomach." Everyone agreed and started unpacking all the food they had brought.

"Okay, I am not playing because I need to stay with Meaghan, so it can be the Langstons viruses the Dawsons and Bryan can be the umpire or whatever is needed for the games." Dianna said after everyone had eaten dinner and cleaned up. The sun was just starting to be visibly going down and it was going the beach a heavenly look.

"Sounds good to me." Jack said and everyone spilt up.

"What are we going to play first?" Rose asked.

"Baseball." Bryan answered simply and pulled his bat and gloves and baseball out of his bag. He brought everything over and set it at the Langstons and Dawson's feet.

"Okay, here are the rules. If you hit the ball into the ocean and lose it, you bye me a new ball and you get an out. Second, if you hit in into the ocean and you find it, it's a home run. Those pieces of wood are the bases and anywhere past that log is a home run. Now, since both teams only have two players, one of you is the pitcher and bases. The other handles the outfield and covers for the pitcher. Any questions?" Bryan asked. Jennifer, Scott, Jack, and Rose shook their heads.

"Good, now I got a coin here. Rose and Jen will pick heads or tails. Who ever wins will get to bad first. Okay," Jennifer and Rose nodded.

"Okay, Rose call it." Bryan said flipping the coin in the air.

"Tails," Rose said.

"Tails." Bryan said as soon as the coin landed in his hand.

"Yes!" Jack exclaimed. "We get to be up first!" He grabbed Rose's hand and they ran up to 'home plate'.

"Okay Rose, you wanna go first?" Jack asked.

Rose nodded, "Yeah, but you gotta show me how to do this. I have no idea," Jack nodded and took the bat from Bryan who was holding it out to him.

"All right, now hold it like this." Jack instructed.

"No, relax your hands a little more. Good, like that. Now when I tell you to, swing like this." Jack said putting his arms around Rose and showing her how to swing.

"Okay, I think I can to this." Rose said.

Jack nodded, "Good, now lets PLAY BALL!" he yelled. Rose followed Jack's instructions and stood at home plate. Scott threw the first pitch. It almost hit Rose, but she backed away.

"That was good Rose." Jack told her and then shouted, "Don't you hit my wife Langston or you'll be sorry!"

"Sorry!" Scott yelled. He pitched the ball again and this time it was a little low and off center from the plate.

"Ball two!" Bryan yelled. The next pitch was right down the center of the plate and just the right height.

"Swing now, Rose!" Jack yelled and Rose swung the bat. The bat and ball connected and the ball went sailing out past the home run log.

"Yes! Home run!" Jack shouted and jumped up and down.

"Run to first! And then run around to home!" he told Rose.

"Which one is first?" Rose asked desperately.

"That one!" Jack yelled pointing to the right base. Rose held up her skirts and ran fast around the bases. When she got back to first, Jack was waiting and he picked her up and spun her around.

"Yes Rose! Home run on your first time playing baseball! That has got to be a record or something!" Jack said excitedly. Rose was smiling brightly and laughed as Jack swag her around and kissed her on the face.

"Jack, stop, put me down. You're up!" Rose said through her laughter. Jack smiled and put her down. He grabbed the bat and stood at home plate. The next pitch was right like the last one and Jack smacked it out right next to ocean. Jennifer ran to get the ball while Jack ran around the bases. Rose was waiting at home for him. They continued to be up and bat and only had one out at fifteen at bats when Bryan suggested they switch sides so that the Langstons could have a try. The Dawsons agreed and switched sides with Jennifer and Scott. Rose was standing in the outfield waiting for Jack to pitch when she noticed Dianna standing off to the side. Dianna had Meaghan in her arms and was spinning the little girl around and around, cheering on both teams. Rose laughed and shouted hi to them. Dianna waved and then held Meagan’s little arm up and made her wave too. Meaghan laughed wildly at the adults and then snuggled up to her mother.

"Rose, come on!" Jack yelled and pitched the ball. Scott, who was up, missed and got a strike. Finally he hit it on the last try and it went sailing into the infield.

"Rose, get on second!" Jack yelled as he ran to get the ball. Rose did as she was told and Jack tossed her the ball. She caught it and tagged Scott who was almost to second base.

"Out!" Bryan yelled.

"Yes!" Rose yelled. The Langstons were up for a few more times before Jennifer got out and Scott got out again, making it three outs.

"I don't wanna play this anymore!" Jennifer announced.

"Rose and Jack are creaming the hell out of us and I know we are going to lose." Rose laughed and agreed with Jennifer.

"Good," Scott moaned. This time it was Jack who laughed.

"Can we play football now? I am better at that." Jennifer asked.

"Yep," Bryan said and started to explain the rules of football. They were very lose rules and anyone had to do was get it across the touchdown line and they got a point. The fist one to get ten points won.

"Can we get the ball first since we lost the baseball game?" Scott asked. Bryan nodded and tossed the football to him. He immediately started running to his touchdown line. But Jack stopped him and tried to take the ball away. Scott tossed the ball to Jennifer who tried to catch it but dropped in on the sand. Rose picked it up and started running to her touchdown line. Right before she got there though, she tripped on her skirts and fell into the sand.

"Damn these skirts!" she cursed. Jack came over laughing and helped her up. Rose grinned brushed herself off. Jack took the ball and was going to hand it to Scott so they could start over when he felt someone jump on his back. He almost lost his balance and dropped the football. Jack looked back and saw Rose grinning at him.

"What are you doing?" "You can give a piggy back while I hold and catch the ball and you run for both of us. This way I won't trip." Jack laughed and held Rose up.

"All right!" He said.

"Hay! That looks like fun!" Jennifer shouted and jumped on Scott's back. Both Scott and Jack started laughing.

"Okay, we'll play like this." Jack said.

"Yes!" Jennifer and Rose shouted at the same time. Scott carefully bent down at retrieved the football. He handed it to Jen and then started running. Jack and Rose ran after them and when they were close enough, Rose tried to take the ball away.

"No, its mine!" Jennifer shouted playfully.

"Jack," Rose pretended to whine. "She won't give me the football!" Jack laughed at her, as did Scott.

"You want the football, go get it!" Jen shouted and threw the ball across the beach. Unfortunately, Jennifer had bad aim and threw it right into the ocean.

"Shit," she said and Rose laughed.

Jack looked out into the ocean for a minute before saying, "Rose, get down." Rose, confused, did as she was told. The second she was off, Jack sped off toward the ocean. Rose watched as he ran into the waves and dived under the water.

"What are you doing!" She shouted coming over and standing at the waters edge.

"Looking for the football!" Jack shouted back and started swimming around looking for it. Rose could hear everyone laughing behind her; probably thinking Jack had gone mad. But if Jack was going mad, she was going mad with him. Rose reached down, pulled off her shoes, threw them to the side, and jumped in the water. Jack came up from looking and saw her.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked smiling.

"Helping you look," Rose said. "Now, where did you last see it?"

"Over there." Jack said pointing off to Rose's left. They swam around looking for the football for a few minutes, but could not find it. Rose stood up and looked around her. Suddenly she saw it! The football was about ten feet away being kicked around by the waves She swam over and retrieved the ball.

"Got it!" she shouted as she held the ball up above her head. Everyone gave a loud cheer. Jack came over and gave her a kiss, causing her to lose her balance. Both Rose and Jack fell into a heap in the ocean. When they came up everyone was standing at the edge of the water laughing their heads off. Rose and Jack looked at each other and started laughing as well.

"Well, we got the football," Rose said, squeezing the water out of her hair. She threw the ball up to Bryan, who caught it. Jack and Rose ran out of the water and up to their fire site. Everyone else caught up with them and sat they all sat around the fire. Rose and Jack grabbed the two oversized blankets they had brought and sat down close to the fire, facing the ocean with their backs against one of logs. Jack and Rose sat close together and wrapped one of the blankets around their legs and took the other one and wrapped it around their shoulders and around their fronts. Unnoticeable to everyone else, Jack and Rose had their legs entwined underneath the blanket. The Langstons, Fosters, and Dawsons all talked for a while, waiting for the fireworks to start. Rose sighed, and laid her head on Jack's shoulder. This was wonderful. Being here with her friends, on the beach, with Jack, and having a wonderful time. She watched as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Smiling. She snuggled closer to Jack under the blanket.

"Cold?" Jack asked, resting his head on hers.

"No, I just love being out here with you that's all." Rose whispered.

Jack kissed her hair, "Good, I don't want you to catch a cold now." Rose smiled even sweeter and took Jack's hand under the blanket. Dianna sat off to the side of Jack and Rose, watching them. She opened her mouth to say something, but Bryan clamped his hand over Dianna's mouth.

Dianna bit her lip and looked at Bryan, "Why did you do that?" she asked quietly in an annoyed voice.

Bryan shook his head, "Dianna, honey, give them a break please."

Dianna raised her eyebrows, "Oh."

"Dianna, they are leaving tomorrow morning. We aren't going to see them for over a month. Don't ruin this for them, and me, please."

"All right, all right, I'll stop. Now, take Meaghan for me please, she is getting fussy." Bryan took Meaghan out of Dianna's arms and comforted the little girl. It was just getting to be very dark and suddenly a big red firework exploded in the sky. The Dawson, Langstons, and Fosters all looked up in awe. Meaghan laughed and grinned wildly and clapped her hands together. Over and over fireworks exploded in the dark sky. They were being shot off a boat on the ocean. Meagan’s laugh could be heard over the blasts of the fireworks. The colors were all brilliant and bright. The colors ranged from white and red to blue and purple. Rose personally didn't like the white. It reminded her of the Titanic way to much. But she did love the purple ones. The ceremony went on for a while more. Just as the fireworks were ending, Rose looked around. First she looked at Jack, and then at Jennifer and Scott cuddled up together, then at Bryan and Dianna with Meaghan, and last back at Jack again. Jack noticed her looking at him and leaned down to kiss Rose. After the kiss Rose put her head back on Jack's shoulder and thought about how wonderful her life was right now and how she didn't want to be anywhere but here at the moment.

Chapter Thirty-Five
Stories