It was the next day, and Rose was up making breakfast. Jack came down clean and ready for the day.
"Morning."
"Morning," Rose replied and placed some bacon strips into the frying pan.
Jack wrapped his arms around her, and whispered, "Please don't be sad on our last day together."
Rose turned around with tears in her eyes, and Jack kissed her. "It seems only yesterday you held me like this when we found each other on the Carpathia."
Jack cried silently as he stroked his wife's hair. Neither of them could help it. "I should start heading to the hospital."
"I'll come with you."
"No, you need to stay here with the children."
"I'll bring them with me."
"Rose, I really don't think that the doctors would be happy to see my whole family come with me for the physical." That was the first time Jack actually saw a smile on Rose's face for a while.
"All right. I understand."
Jack kissed Rose's forehead and headed out the door. Only a few moments later, Ruth stepped in the door and noticed her daughter crying at the table.
"Rose, honey, what's wrong?"
"Jack got drafted," Rose said, in between sobs.
"Oh, no." Ruth held her daughter close to her.
"Did Jonathan?"
"No. He's too old."
"You're so lucky."
"He actually wants to go and help fight."
"He's crazy."
Ruth laughed. "Just think of it this way, Rose. Jack will be part of history. He will be known as a soldier who fought in war."
Rose thought for a moment, and realized that her mother did have a point. Rose wiped her eyes and looked at her mother.
"Listen, Rose, I know how you feel, and crying about this will not help one bit."
"How do you know?"
"When your father died, I knew that I would never see him again. I cried and cried, but he didn't come back, and nothing got better." Ruth placed a piece of Rose's hair on the side of her face as she talked to her.
"Grandma Ruth!" Max yelled, running into the kitchen.
"Hey, Max."
"What are you doing here?"
"I was just visiting your mother."
"Mommy was crying yesterday."
"Was she?"
"Yeah. She was thinking, and she started to cry."
"Oh, that's too bad."
"I don't like to see my mommy cry."
"Me, either."
"You have a mommy?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"In heaven."
"Is she all better now?"
"Yes."
"That's good."
Ruth smiled, and looked over at Rose, who was smiling. "Well, I should go. I'll talk to you later, Rose."
"All right. Bye, Mother."
"Bye." Rose heard Ruth close the door and she walked over to Max. "Would you like to go upstairs with me and check on your sister?"
"Okay."
"All right, then. Let's go." Rose held Max's hand as they went upstairs. Rose gently opened Audrey's door to find her talking baby in her crib. "Hey, honey." Rose picked up Audrey and kissed her cheek. "Are we ready to eat?"
"I am!"
Rose giggled. "All right. Let's go to the kitchen."
The three walked downstairs and entered the kitchen. Rose sat Audrey in her high chair, and Max sat down at the table. Rose gave Max his plate, and he handed Audrey some small strips of pancake.
The door opened, and she saw Jack enter with a couple of bags in his hand. At that moment, Rose knew that tomorrow Jack was going to leave.
*****
It was later on when Jack and Rose were putting Max and Audrey to sleep. Jack decided to put Max asleep and Rose would put Audrey to sleep. Jack decided to say his good-byes to Max and Audrey tonight, since he had to get up very early in the morning. Rose talked to Audrey until she was sound asleep. She went over to Max's room, where she heard the boys talking.
"You know, teddy bears our are best friends."
"Teddy is my best friend."
"Did you know that teddy bears walk?"
"REALLY?"
"Yes, but as soon as we come back into the rooms they go back into their places quick as lightning."
Max's eyes lightened as his father told him the fascinating background of teddy bears.
"Daddy, I'll miss you."
Rose could feel the tears in her eyes. Max started to cry.
"Shh, Max. Don't cry. Listen, you have to be brave for Mommy and Audrey."
"I do?"
"Yes. You're me when I'm gone. Can you handle that, or do I have to have Audrey be me?"
"No, Daddy. I can handle it." Max sniffed, and hugged his Father.
"I'll see you when I get back." Jack kissed Max as he tucked him into the bed. Neither Jack nor Max knew that Rose just heard that whole conversation. She hurried back into Audrey's room, and sat down on the rocking chair. Jack entered and saw Rose in the chair.
"She's asleep already?"
"She was really tired." Rose got up and went over to the crib.
Jack rubbed his thumb across Audrey's forehead as she slept. "Good-bye, little Audrey."
Jack kissed her forehead, and followed Rose out the door.
The two entered their bedroom, and Rose opened her curtains, which revealed the huge doors. Rose had her arms crossed as she looked sideways out the window. Jack sneaked up behind her and kissed her shoulder. She raked her fingers through his shaggy blonde hair, and he looked up at her. She kissed Jack, and they walked over to the bed for their last night of romance for a while.
