June 6, 1917

Andrew was one month old today, but it was not a very happy time. A few days ago Brian and Jack received their letters that they would be required to fight in the war. Brian was leaving June 12. So he and Maggie only had 6 more days together. Brian was lucky though. His letter said he wouldn't be gone very long, only a few months. And he wasn't even going to fight. He was going to France to do something with translating. Maggie didn't quite understand, nor did she care. All she knew was that her husband was going to a different country and he would be away from her and his one month old son for God only knew how long.

Jack had not been as lucky. He was also being sent to France, but would be fighting. When Rose heard this news she thought she would die. She was glad that he wouldn't be leaving until October 10. So she still had 4 months with him. Jack was extremely upset and terrified but he never showed it. He needed to be there for Rose. He also knew he would need to be there for Maggie when Brian left. Jack and Rose watched Andrew for the final 6 days that Brian was home. They felt Maggie deserved time alone with him.

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

June, 12 1917

"Brian don't go." Maggie wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Maggie, you know that's impossible."

Brian and Maggie were in their bedroom. He was leaving to today. At the moment he was putting the finishing touches on his uniform. When he looked in the mirror he could see Maggie in tears behind him. He sighed sadly.

"Come here." Brian put out his arms and Maggie laid herself against him. "Now, listen to me. I'm coming back. The letter itself says I won't even be gone a year. For all we know the war could end tomorrow. I'm not going to fight so you don't have to worry."

She looked up at him. "You know very well that they bomb all kinds of buildings, it doesn't matter that your not fighting."

Brian walked over to the bed and sat her down. He kneeled beside her. "I've known you my entire life. I barley remember a day when I haven't seen you. I've loved you forever. You are the mother of my child." He smiled. "And we're going to have more children."

Brian sat on the bed next to her. He kissed her tenderly. "I want you to do something for me. Ok?"

She nodded gently. "Anything."

"When Jack leaves, look out for Rose. They haven't had each other as long as we've had one another. You understand how in love are. I don't know how she'll handle it when he leaves. And he'll be fighting. You know yourself how horrible the situation in France is right now. There's a good chance he won't come back. So, will you do that? Look out for Rose?"

She smiled. "I would have done it anyway."

Brian studied Maggie. Her curly auburn hair hung down freely. The beautiful hazel eyes that had so enchanted him as a young boy had tears hanging in them. The freckles on her cheeks made him smile gently. He remembered when she was embarrassed by them, he told her they were "angel kisses." A sob caught in his throat. "I love you so much." He pulled her tightly to him and ran his fingers through her thick hair.

She cried softly. "You're coming back. I know you are."

Their lips found each other and for one sweet moment they could share their love. Brian pulled back slowly. "I have to go."

She nodded and took his hand. The couple walked to the front door. Rose and Jack were sitting on the stairs, holding Andrew. Brian took his son in his arms. Of all the things this would be the hardest. He had no idea what he would miss in his sons life.

"I'm going to miss you." Andrew gurgled and smiled at his father. Brian laughed. "I'm glad you're to little to know what's going on. I'm doing this for you. I never want you to be involved in a war like this or live in world where there is a war like this." Andrew laughed again. Brian wiped tears from his eyes and kissed his son on the head.

There was a knock at the door. It was the cab, come to take Brian. Rose gave him a long hug. Jack hugged him too and whispered that he would watch out for Maggie. Brian held Andrew in one hand and had the other arm around Maggie. They walked out the door to the cab. He kissed her over and over until finally the cabbie said it was time to leave. Brain tearfully handed Andrew over to Maggie and got in the car. She watched him until the cab was out of sight. The second Maggie walked in the house she went to her room, laid Andrew in his crib and cried for hours.

Upstairs Rose sat on the corner of her bed. Jack was next to her, he laid her head on his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?" He asked quietly.

"How proud I am of myself." She took a breath. "I've never taken you for granted. Every time I wake up with you in my bed I thank God." Roses eyes glazed over. "Watching Maggie and Brian having to say good-bye got me thinking about when we'll have to do that, but when we do it I'll be able to say that I've always known how lucky I've been to have you." She looked at him. "I've never forgotten how close I came to loosing you. It's always been on my mind when I'm with you. Those few hours when I thought you were dead were the worst of my life. There was this horrible pain in my stomach and this hole in my heart. I'll never forget that. Every time I see you I just think My God, I'm so lucky that this man loves me and that he's here with me." She swallowed hard.

Jack was so moved by her words he could barley think. "I'm the lucky one Rose. I'm lucky that you love me." He smiled. "And you should be proud of yourself. Proud that you're so smart, beautiful, talented, compassionate, strong-willed, confident, independent, funny, and just plain wonderful. I'm the lucky one. And I'll always love you, and will always be here with you, even if it's only in spirit."

She smiled at him and placed her hand on his cheek. "I don't want you to go. I don't like the idea of you out there all by yourself. Fighting. You don't deserve that. We don't deserve that. We went through enough."

Jack pulled her to him and stroked her hair. "I don't want to go anymore than you want me too. I have to though. Do you think I like the idea of leaving you alone? You'll be here by yourself. That's what's getting me sick more than anything. And Maggie. She has Andrew. I hate the fact you two will be here with no one, and a baby to look after." He sighed. "I thank God for Erik. I know he'll look after you. And Tim too. He'll keep you company at work."

Rose looked up at him. She smiled weakly. "But everything will be fine. You'll be gone a little while, but we'll write each other letters. And then you'll be home. Where you belong. Everything will be fine."

He smiled weakly too and laid her head back against his chest. "Of course things will be fine. They have to be. We still have so much love to share. And so much of our lives ahead of us. Nothing can come between us. Nothing." Jack kissed the top of her head.