September 18, 1912

Jack and Rose arrived in the late afternoon. The bungalow Erik had rented was beautiful. It was right on the water. There was only one bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. On the back of the house was a deck that looked right out at sea and they could see the pier if they looked down the beach. There weren't many houses around and those that were, were set far away. They had their own little haven for two blissful weeks.

"It's so beautiful here." Rose stared out the window. The sun was setting casting a golden shine off the ocean. She turned around to Jack. He was clearing the table, they had just finished eating. "Let's go for a walk. Right on the beach." She took a sip from her wine glass.

He smiled at her. "That's a good idea." Jack walked over and took her glass. He kissed her cheek. "I'll put this away, you go get ready."

Rose went into the bedroom. She pinned her hair up in a loose bun, and pulled her shawl out. She was about to go meet Jack but decided to take of her shoes. "Are you ready?" she heard him call to her. "I'll be right there." She smiled to herself and went to him.

"I took mine off too." Jack pointed down to his barefoot feet. He had rolled up his pants to the middle of his shine. "Come on. The sun is just setting." Jack took her hand and they walked out to the deck. A warm breeze swept around them. They walked down the steps to the sand. Rose felt the grains in between her toes. "I haven't done this since I was a little girl." She gave him a dazzling smile.

"I wish I had known you as a little girl."

"Not as much as I wish I could have known you as a child. I can see you now, climbing trees, jumping in puddles, throwing frogs in girls hair."

Jack laughed. "How did you know I did all those things?"

"I can see it in your eyes."

"What about you? I bet you were a terror at boarding school. Smarter than all your teachers. Pulling pranks on the snobby girls. Scuffing up your shoes."

Rose giggled. "Yes, all those things and more." The sun was now set. "Jack look, they turned the pier lights on."

He smiled. "You're going to love it."

"When will we go?"

"When the time is right. We don't want to spoil it."

She kissed him quickly. "Catch me if you can." Suddenly Rose dashed ahead of him.

Jack laughed until he realized she was getting away from him. "Oh no you don't!" He ran after her. He could her a sweet laughter echoing through the night air.

Rose turned her head back to see where Jack was. He was gaining on her very quickly. She faced forward and picked up speed. She heard him behind her and before she knew it he had toppled her to the ground. She let out a slight scream. Jack had turned her over so he was laying on top of her. The were both laughing hysterically. He brushed the hair out of her face. "Excuse me sir but would you please climb off of me?"

He smiled. "No, I don't think I will." "Well, then I will just have to make you." She started to squirm and push him off her but the fact that she really didn't want him off and she wasn't strong enough he remained in the same spot.

He laughed gently. Jack brushed his lips against hers, he felt her shiver under him. "Are you cold?" He asked softly.

She smiled. "No." Rose answered in a whisper.

He smiled charmingly and kissed her. They kept kissing and were swept away in a wave of passion when out of no where the sky opened up and rain poured to the ground. Jack and Rose started to laugh. "Well, that ruins everything." He said.

"It doesn't have to." She smiled and pushed Jack off her. Rose grabbed his hand and pulled him up off the beach. "Come on!" Holding his hand tightly she started to run down the beach.

"What are we doing?" he said through laughter.

"Having fun." She took his other hand and started to spin around. "I've waited to long for this day to let a little water destroy it." Rose pulled Jack to her body. "A little water has never stopped us before."

He smiled. "You're right." Jack kissed her. "Let's have some fun."

They ran around the beach in the rain. Jack lifted Rose off the ground and spun her around he then, despite her screaming, threw her into the water. She chased after him and jumped on his back. He ran with her on his back until thunder stared to rumble and lighting crashed. They ran back to the house and went inside.

"We're soaked!" Jack said through fits of laughter. He was resting his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. He looked up at Rose. "I hope you didn't ruin your dress."

She smiled at him. "I don't think I did. It's just some rain. And who cares if I did? It was worth it." Rose walked over to Jack and kissed him passionately.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Try not to move."

"Sorry, but that won't work on me today."

"But I want it to be perfect."

"Can't it be perfect if I move? It will give you a challenge. I thought you loved challenges?"

"Who am I kidding anything I drew of you would be perfect." Jack laughed. Rose was sitting in the sand with a blanket over her shoulders and was leafing through a poetry book she had found in the house. The wind blew her loosely pinned up hair around. He watched intently as she wriggled her toes through the sand. It was a perfect picture. The waves were right in front of her and the birds soured overhead. He wanted to capture it but he kept getting distracted as she would find a poem and read it out to him. Today she decided not to act as his model and refused to sit still. If he wanted to draw her he would have to do it while she was moving. He moved the coal around the sketch pad.

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think maybe I should get a job?"

"If you like. Do you want one?"

"A little. It's just that you go off to work everyday and I have nothing to do. I've cleaned the apartment so many times that it almost glows. But I would feel bad leaving Maggie. We usually spend the day together. If I had a job what would she do? Brian is usually off on a job. I enjoy our daily outings." She looked out at the water. "Oh I don't know what to do."

Jack smiled. He put his sketching down and made sure they wouldn't blow away. Then he crawled over and sat behind Rose. He wrapped his arms around her chest and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Don't think about it now. We're supposed to be relaxing. We'll talk about all this when we get back to New York. Right now it's just you and me and we can do anything we want."

She smiled. "I think I would just like to sit here for a while."

Jack smiled. They sat there for some time watching waves crash to the shore. It was a very peaceful moment.

"Jack?"

"Hum?"

"Do you feel any different?"

"How do you mean?"

"Now that we're married. Does it feel different?"

"No, I just feel safer. Nothing can keep us apart now. I've felt like you were my wife since we moved to New York, but there was always this fear. Like, at any moment someone from your old life could show up and take you away. I don't have to worry about that now. We're legally bound." He smiled. "So now you're stuck with me."

"Rats." She laughed. "Well, I guess I'll have to get used to you."

They both laughed.

Rose stretched her arms in front of her and then cuddled close to Jack again. She thought about all that had happened over the past few days. After they arrived in Santa Monica it had been nothing but bliss. They had picnics on the beach. They strolled the shopping areas. They would run around the beach like a couple of kids. Jack even bought a kite they had it for a few days but it broke and flew away. They had gone swimming a few times. It was perfect. The only thing they had left to do was go to the pier. Jack promised her it would be a surprise.

"We have to get a lot of sleep tonight."

"Why?" she asked curiously.

"You'll see. It's a surprise."

"What have you got up your sleeve buster?"

"Nothing special, just one of the many things I've been planning for since I first met you."

Rose smiled. "You were planning things?"

"Uh-uh. Let's see...Take her to a real party, check,....Get her to smile more often, check check...Draw her, check...Kiss her." He smiled and kissed her. "That's a definite check...Marry her, that's one big check...Take her flying..."

"Check." Rose wanted to answer that one.

He smile broadened when she answered. "There's more, but you will just have to wait and see them for yourself."

Rose laughed. "I can hardly wait!"

Jack laughed. He knew Rose would never guess where he was planning on taking her tomorrow.