JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Sixty-Four

July 22, 1918

"Michael, sweetheart, don't go near the water yet!" Rose called as she watched Michael run ahead of her on the beach. The boy stopped, turned around, and waved. "Don't go into the water," Rose repeated, coming closer.

Michael nodded and walked back over to Rose, who was dressed in a bathing suit and carrying Jillian, among other things. "I won't, Mommy," he said.

Rose had to smile as she looked down at her son. He was dressed in a typical 1918 swimming suit and his golden hair, Jack's hair, was shinning in the noonday sunlight. Michael's beautiful blue eyes, also something he had gotten from Jack, held an excited look, with just a hint of teasing and playfulness thrown in.

"Mommy down!" Jillian yelled, demanding to be put down on the sand with her brother.

Rose set Jillian down carefully and then stood back up. She transferred the beach bag she was carrying onto her other shoulder and then took Michael's and Jillian's small hands in her own.

"Okay you two, where do you want to sit?" she asked looking from one small head to the next. Michael pointed to a spot about three yards away, close to the water.

"There! There is where we should sit, Mommy!" he called, breaking free of Rose arms, starting to run.

"Michael!" Rose warned and she started to follow him.

Once she had reached the spot where Michael had picked out, Rose set the bag down and pulled a blanket out of it. She spread the blanket over the sand, told Jillian to sit down on it for a minute, and then took a big hat out of the bag as well. Also stashed in the bag were some towels, a few snacks, a change of clothes, and a few other things Rose had come to know they would need for a day at the beach. As she set the straw hat on her head, Rose felt someone tug her hand. She looked down at Michael, who was looking up at her again. He was carrying a metal pail and small shovel.

"Can I go play now, Mommy?" he asked.

Rose kneeled down and took his chin her in hands, forcing him to look her in the eye. "You won't go in the water 'til I am there to go in with you?" Michael shook his head. "And you'll watch out for other people?" Michael nodded this time. "Okay," Rose said releasing her son's face. "Go play for a little while and then I'll go into the water with you."

She kissed him on the cheek before watching him run off, carrying the pail and shovel. A few feet away, he stopped, set his tools down, kneeled down by them, and then started to dig in the sand. Rose laughed silently and went to go sit by Jillian, settling down next to her. Jillian, now two years old, was dressed in an old play dress that she had worn out a few months ago. Her shoulder length, red, curly hair could be seen under the simple little hat she wore to keep the sun off her face. And her adorable smile was as big as ever. Rose smiled back at her daughter and then pointed to where Michael was making a sandcastle.

"See that, Jillian? Mike is making a sandcastle. Remember when we made one of those with Gracie and Meaghan?"

Jillian nodded and then giggled at something. "Can I go in the water, Mommy?" she asked.

Rose nodded. "I'll take you in, sweetheart. Just wait a few minutes," she promised.

Jillian seemed to like this and nodded. "Okay, Mommy," she said. "Can I play with Mickey?"

Rose laughed. Mickey. That was Jillian's pet name for her brother. Mostly because she couldn't pronounce Michael.

"Yes, you may go play with Michael," Rose said, standing up and pulling Jillian up too. "I'll go with you, okay?"

Jillian nodded and then started running as best she could toward her brother. Rose followed her and then sat down in the sand next to Michael.

"What are you building, Mike?" she asked as if she didn't know, ruffling his hair at the same time.

"A castle," Mike replied as he filled his pail with more wet sand.

"Is it okay if Jillian and I help you?" Rose asked.

Michael nodded and handed Rose the little shovel. "You can dig one of those things that goes around the castle. The things filled with water," he said as he turned the pail upside-down and banged on the top. He then lifted the pail up and left behind was a pile of packed together sand, shaped like the pail.

"You want me to build a moat?" Rose asked as she watched her son start to fill the pail again.

"Yeah! That's it!" Michael said, smiling at his mother.

Rose laughed and turned toward Jillian. "You gonna help me?" she asked of her daughter.

Jillian nodded and then started digging in the sand. Rose helped her shape the moat with the shovel. They then dug the moat deep enough so that it reached the water table and started filling with water.

"That's good, Mommy," Michael said when he had seen what they had done.

Rose laughed. "Thank you, sweetie. Jillian did a good job, too, didn't you?" she asked teasingly.

Jillian started to laugh again as she nodded her head. Rose smiled and looked over to see what Michael had done. The castle looked sort of like a wedding cake, with a few layers going up. At the top, he had set a stick with a leaf attached to it, resembling a flag.

"You made a very nice castle Michael," she said, smiling at her son.

"Thank you, Mommy," Michael said.

Rose looked from her son to her daughter. "You two wanna go swimming now?" she asked excitedly. Rose knew how much her children loved the ocean and enjoyed splashing around in the water, so she tried to take them swimming as much as she could.

"Yeah!" came the combined voices of Jillian and Michael.

"Okay," Rose said, jumping up, "let's go." She picked up Jillian and motioned for Michael to follow. As they walked toward the water's edge, Rose explained some rules to Michael. Just so he would remember them from last time. "Okay, Mike, remember don't go in farther than your knees unless I am holding your hand. And don't dunk your head under; it scares Mommy when you do that, okay?"

Michael nodded, and said, "Yes, Mommy."

Rose smiled down at him. "One more thing, sweetie," she said as they got closer to the water. "Watch out for seashells and big waves, all right?" Michael nodded again. "Okay," Rose said as they stood at the edge of the surf. "You may go in now. I will be right here, all right, Michael?"

"Okay, Mommy!" Michael called as he took a few steps into the water and then sat down. The incoming wave washed up over his hips and sprayed water in his face, making him laugh.

Rose laughed as she set Jillian down in the water. "Ready?" she asked.

Jillian nodded and tightly grasped Rose's hand. Rose held her daughter's hand as they waded out into the water. A wave came and almost caused Jillian to fall backwards, but Rose held her hand tight. Jillian giggled as water sprayed her face and got her dress wet. Rose smiled and then glanced over at Michael, who was still sitting where he had been before. He was playing with the wet sand under him. Every few moments, the sand would be covered with water and then become uncovered again. Michael thought this was amazing and kept shouting whenever the water would come to his waist. He then would throw the wet sand around and Rose sighed as she saw a big lump of it land in his hair.

"Mama!" Jillian called as another wave came in and covered her from the waist down. She started laughing again and looked up at her mother.

Rose giggled with her and then picked her up. "Come on, Jill," she said, "let's go play by Michael."

Once they reached him, Michael stood up and held Rose's hand. Rose put Jillian down and then took her hand. They waded out into the water again and then all laughed as another wave came up. Rose sighed happily as she looked from her son to her daughter. 'If only Jack were here right now,' she said to herself, thinking about all Jack was missing.

*****

Rose looked down at Michael and Jillian, both asleep against her leg. They were still down at the beach, but now it was late afternoon. After playing around in the water some more, Rose had given Michael and Jillian a snack and then they had fallen asleep against her. Rose had then pulled out a book and began to read, enjoying the nice afternoon sun and quiet. Not a lot of people were out on the beach today, for one reason or another, and the peacefulness was a nice change.

Rose watched as Michael stirred, but didn't get up. He wrapped his arm around Rose's leg and then made a sound. Rose reached down and softly stroked his hair, thinking about how much he looked and acted like Jack. Jack had been gone for almost nine months now, and Rose missed him more every day. She still hadn't gotten used to him not being around.

So far, other then a few scrapes and bruises, Jack had only been hurt once. Rose had almost laughed when she had heard what happened. It had been a day when there had been no battles, just a quiet sort of day off for all the soldiers. Jack had been walking over to a friend's tent when he tripped over a gopher hole and sprained his ankle. Only Jack, Rose decided, would go through eight months of war unharmed and then sprain his ankle on his day off. As a result of his hurt ankle, Jack had been sent to the hospital close by and was looked over. His last letter had said that he had been up and moving again, in a week and half, and was doing much better.

"Hey, stranger," came a voice.

Rose looked up and gasped. "Dianna Christine Foster! What are you doing up in your condition!" she exclaimed, looking at the very pregnant Dianna.

Dianna just laughed and patted her stomach. "Little Foster here wanted to take a walk," she said. "And so did its Mommy."

Rose laughed and then looked around. "Where are Meg and Gracie?" she asked, not seeing the two little girls anywhere.

"Oh, Bryan's sister is in town and took them for the day," Dianna replied. "I think they went to the zoo or something. I am not sure." Rose laughed again and put her book away. "Seems like those two had a hard day," Dianna remarked, looking at the sleeping Michael and Jillian.

Rose nodded her head. "Oh yes, they had so much work to do. I forced them to build sandcastles and run around in the water. They hated it," she said jokingly.

Dianna smiled. "Well, I am gonna do lie down for a while," she said putting her hand on her back.

Rose nodded. "Okay."

"I'll see you later, Rose!" Dianna called, starting to walk away.

"Bye!" Rose called softly.

She looked out at the water and watched as the waves slowly rose and fell, her thoughts turning back to Jack. And wondering if he was watching the ocean this very minute as well.

Later that Evening...

"Michael, come here!" Rose called from the bathroom where she was filling the bathtub with water. Michael came into the room with his shirt off and face dirty. Rose laughed and shook her head. "Honey, put your hand in the water and tell Mommy if it's too hot," she said.

Michael stuck his hand in the water and then pulled it out. "It's fine, Mommy," he said, before starting to run off again.

"No you don't, little man," Rose said grabbing him from behind. "You are gonna take a bath."

"Mommy! I don't wanna!" Michael yelled, trying to break free of Rose's grasp.

"Michael, you need a bath. You are filthy," Rose explained gently, turning Michael around and taking the rest of his clothes off.

"Jillian doesn't have to take a bath!" Michael protested, folding his arms across his chest.

"Oh, yes, she does," Rose said. "I am going to go get her right now." Michael pouted as Rose went to the bathroom doorway and then stuck her head out. "Jellybean!" she called, using the family's pet name for her. "It's time for your bath, honey!"

Jillian came out of her room and followed Rose into the bathroom. She was as dirty as Michael was with dirt on her face, hands, and legs.

Rose helped Michael get into the tub and then undressed Jillian before putting her in the tub as well. Rose washed their hair and scrubbed them free of the dirt. By this time, Michael had forgotten about not wanting a bath and instead wanted to stay in the tub. Rose said that he may play for a while, but after that it was time for bed. So she took a magazine from off the floor and leaned back against the wall while Michael and Jillian played with little wooden people they had. She half listened as they talked for the little figures and as they acted out what they were doing on the edge of the bathtub.

"I am gonna get you!" Michael said, moving his little wooden doll over to Jillian's doll.

"No! Bad Man!" Jillian said. "You can't get me!" She moved the little figurine out of Michael's reach. But Michael moved and knocked it out of her hand into the water. "Michael!" Jillian exclaimed, pronouncing his name right for once. "You made Suzy get in the water!"

Rose bit her tongue to keep from laughing; all Jillian's dolls were named Suzy.

"Not me! It was Bad Man that did it!" Michael insisted.

"You go get her, Mickey Dawson!" Jillian yelled.

"No! I don't wanna!" Michael yelled back, splashing water at his sister. Jillian tried to splash back but Rose cut in.

"That's enough, you two. It's time for bed anyway," she said, lifting Jillian out and wrapping a towel around her. She did the same for Michael and then told them to go pick out pajamas.

Jillian screamed excitedly for no reason and ran out of the bathroom. Michael followed her and went into his own room. Rose sighed and pulled the plug to let the bath water drain. She then went into Jillian's room and found her standing next to her dresser, no clothes on, going through her dresser. The towel was thrown on the floor, so Rose walked over and picked it up before throwing it in a pile of dirty clothes. A minute later Jillian spun around, holding a pinkish nightgown, and handed it to Rose. Rose slipped it over her head and buttoned the few buttons at the top.

"You want your bottle?" Rose asked gently. Jillian nodded and then jumped into Rose's arms. They started out of the room and on the way downstairs Rose called, "Michael! I want your pajamas on by the time I get upstairs!" She took Jillian to the kitchen and got a bottle filled with water out of the icebox. "There you go, sweetie," Rose whispered, handing her the bottle.

Jillian took it and put it in her mouth. Rose started back upstairs and then went into Michael's room. Michael was sitting on the floor, his pajamas on, holding out a book.

"Read this, Mommy!" he said.

Rose reached down and took the book, looking at the cover. "Michael where did you get this?" she asked, shaking her head.

"This morning, downstairs," Michael responded as he got up.

Rose sighed tiredly. Michael had picked out A Midsummer's Night Dream. A Shakespeare play. "Sweetie, you are not gonna understand this," she said.

Michael shrugged. "That's okay, Mommy," he said. "Read it!"

"Read, Mama," Jillian said taking the bottle out of her mouth for a moment.

Rose gave up and agreed to read part of the book. At least her children were interested in Shakespeare, she thought. Rose sat down in the rocking chair and Jillian climbed into her lap. Michael sat on the floor, his yellow blanket in hand. As Rose opened the book and began to read, Jillian rested her head back against Rose, held her bottle with one hand, and twirling her hair with the other. It was a habit Jillian had, twirling her hair. Rose vaguely remembered her mother saying she used to do the same thing when she little. She smiled at the picturesque scene and locked it in her memory. She would describe to Jack when he got home and have him sketch it.

*****

"You whore! I can't believe you went with that gutter rat and are now married to him! And you have children with him! That's disgusting!"

"Just shut up, Cal!" Rose spat back.

She and Cal were standing in the middle of her living room. She couldn't see Michael or Jillian or Jack anywhere.

"Where is my family, Cal?" she asked angrily.

Cal laughed bitterly. "I had it arranged so that Jack will be killed over at war, tomorrow. And it's too late to think about your children. I had them kidnapped and killed a few minutes ago! They're dead and gone!"

Rose started screaming and lunged at Cal, tears running down her face. "You bastard!" she yelled, hitting him.

Cal snapped his fingers, and a moment later, Rose felt arms come around her and hold her back from hitting anyone.

"Let me go!" she screamed. "You are going to go to hell Cal Hockley!"

"Watch your language there, Rose," Cal said smugly.

"You fucking, unimaginable bastard!" Rose screamed at the top of her lungs.

Cal started to laugh and then snapped his fingers again. This time, two new men came in. They were carrying guns.

"What are you going to do to me?" Rose asked through clenched teeth.

Cal smiled. "Nothing much. First, I am going to get what I always wanted from you. Then...I'll kill you."

"I'd never do it with you, Cal!" Rose yelled at him. "You can't make me!"

"You can't make me," Cal mocked. "I can too make you!"

"How the hell can you make me?" Cal just laughed again and walked over to Rose.

"Like this," he mumbled, reaching to go under her blouse. Rose tried to bite him, but Cal moved. "You are going to have to be better then that, Rose," Cal whispered in her ear.

"You bastard!" Rose screamed again.

Cal just smiled at her and started to undo her clothes. Rose's arms were still being held captive, so she couldn't move. She did the only thing she could, she kneed Cal where it would hurt and then screamed at him.

"You bastard! I hate you! I hope you rot in hell!"

Cal looked at her, disgusted, and then motioned to his men with guns. "Get her! Kill her now!"

Rose watched as the two men pointed the guns at her. She started screaming and screaming as loud as she could. The next thing she knew, there was the sound of the gun and then everything went black.

*****

Rose sat up in bed, breathing heavily. She looked around at her familiar surroundings. The bed, dressers, pictures, everything.

"It was just a dream," she whispered to herself, wiping sweat from her brow. Rose pulled herself out of bed and went into the bathroom, flipping on the light. Her face was drenched with sweat and her whole body was shaking.

Rose took a drink of water and then washed her face with cold water from the sink. She hadn't had a dream like this in a long time. In fact, the last time she had a nightmare this bad was before she had met Jack. Sure, there had been nightmares over the years, but this had been the worst.

"God," she whispered, holding her head in her hands.

She wished Jack were here to calm her down, like he usually did after a nightmare. Rose stared to cry. She missed Jack. She missed Jack more then anything. She needed him. She missed his arms, his legs, his eyes, and every single part of his body she could think of. Damn the war, she thought angrily. If there hadn't been a war, Jack would be here now. He could be holding her.

Rose looked at herself in the mirror again, as tears ran down her cheeks. She really looked at herself for the first time in nine months. Her eyes were missing something, she decided. And the shine just wasn't in her face. Even when she smiled, something was missing. Like someone had taken something away. The way she walked and talked and acted seemed to reflect sadness. Rose knew that before she would feel complete again, Jack would have to come home. Until then, she knew that she would lack that brightness and shine that people knew about her.

Sighing, Rose wiped the last of her tears away and made her way back to bed. Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was 2:45 in the morning. There was still four or five hours left to sleep. Then she could get up and get her mind off the dream for a while. Rose jumped into bed and pulled the covers up around her. She rolled over on her side and pulled a pillow to her, cuddling it against herself. She closed her eyes and tried to get her mind focused on other things.

"Mommy?" came a small voice.

Rose sat up and looked at the doorway. Michael was standing there, his hair a mess and his feet bare. "You all right, Mike?" Rose asked quietly.

"I don't feel good, Mommy," Michael said as he came over.

Rose sat up some more and drew him to her. She kissed his forehead. "You don't feel hot sweetie. What hurts?" she asked.

"My tummy," Michael mumbled.

Rose frowned at her son. He had probably gotten a mouthful of saltwater at the beach today. "Wanna climb into bed with me?" she asked pulling away the covers.

Michael nodded and then climbed into bed next to Rose. Rose covered him up with the blankets and then snuggled down next to him. There was a little bit of moonlight shining through the window, so Rose could see her son fine. "I miss Daddy," Michael said after a minute.

"Oh, sweetie, I know you do," Rose said, smoothing down his hair. She pulled him into her arms and held him close. "We all do, Michael."

"When's he coming back?" Michael asked innocently.

Rose sighed and shook her head. "I don't know, sweetie. I don't know," she whispered.

Michael frowned. "I want him to come back," he whispered.

"I do too, Michael," Rose said. "But you know what? I see him every day in you."

Michael smiled. "You do?" he asked in a whisper.

Rose nodded and smiled at her son. "You've got his eyes," she said pointing to Michael's piercing blue eyes. Michael giggled and then smiled. "And you've got his hair, and his face, and his smile," Rose went on, pointing to each of those features. "And you act like your daddy. And sometimes, you talk like him, too. You know that?"

Michael shook his head and then pointed to his nose. "What about my nose, Mommy?"

Rose laughed and tapped his nose with her finger. "You have my nose, sweetie," she whispered.

Michael smiled and then moved closer to his mother. "I love you, Mommy," he whispered as he closed his eyes.

Rose's eyes filled with tears. That was just what she needed. To hear 'I love you' from someone. It gave her strength to go on until Jack got home. Rose smiled down at Michael and then kissed his tiny cheek.

"I love you, too, Michael."

Chapter Sixty-Five
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