Jack stood up from his seat, pleading with Rosemary. "I can't do this on my own! You've seen Mark! You know how he is." Rosemary stared into his eyes; her posture relaxed when she calmly told him. "I have. Which is why I'm telling you that you don't need my help." Jack shrugged, mumbling out. "But what do I do...? This whole thing started because of a potion... What if we need it to continue what we have?" Rosemary moved closer to encourage Jack to sit back down. Once he was seated, her hands slid down from his shoulders to his wrists as she kneeled. Giving him a warm smile, she told him sweetly. "Mark didn't NEED the love potion. I gave it to him to give him a little push. And... got a little carried away along the way. But I'm human too... The point is that what you both have. It was always there. Mark loves you." Jack gently took her wrists, saying back in a broken voice. "All I'm asking for is a little push. Mark... I feel like he's buried any love we had. I just... I need to feel that it's still there."

Rosemary sighed heavily, telling him seriously. "I understand... but Jack. Magic isn't going to fix your problems. It's only going to mask them. Magic is like any drug. It dulls the pain and it gives you what you want... but not what you need. To truly be happy, you have to be honest with him. Talk to him. The magic you are looking for can't be bought... because it lays within." Rosemary put a hand to Jack's heart, her voice turning motherly as she told him. "The love you two share is stronger than any spell or potion I can give you... because it's coming from a pure and natural source of energy. A power that lies within us all and connects us to everything. My spells and potions are meant as remedies and things to help people make up their minds. I'm a healer... and Jack... you don't need healing." Jack sniffled a little, shaking his head as he asked. "Then why do I feel broken? You didn't see the way he looked at me..." Rosemary patted his knee for a minute, before looking away and saying softly. "I may have one thing that can help you."

Standing up, she moved to a cabinet in her kitchen and pulled down a small white box with a pink bow. Moving back to the table, she set the box down and told him. "This might help you." Jack watched her pull the ribbon off and carefully lift the lid. Inside was pink tissue paper that she lifted off a pink object. Leaning closer, he peeked inside to see it was a pink candle in the molded shape of two people wrapped in an intimate embrace. Above the heads of both partners was a white wick. Gesturing to the candle but not touching it, Rosemary told him nicely. "This is the safest thing I can give you. This is one of my love candles. Made with Love Potion number one. You both light the candles. And your passion will burn for as long as the candles are lit. Unlike my other love potions, this one doesn't have any side effects. It's temporary... but it might be the nudge you are looking for." Jack started to reach for it, but Rosemary closed the box, telling him in a firm but caring voice. "Just promise me that you will try to talk to him first." Jack nodded to her, then stood up to hug her.

She rubbed his back, sweetly chuckling out softly. "Don't thank me just yet. Magic isn't always guaranteed. Sometimes the universe just won't allow it. And I'm sure my Karma is going to bite me in the ass for doing this again..." Jack pulled from her, saying honestly. "I'll follow your instructions to the letter. I won't mess up. And if it doesn't work... I won't hold it against you." Rosemary rolled her eyes, chuckling out doubtfully under her breath. "Not the first time I have heard that..." Rosemary took a cookie to eat, when Jack asked her. "How much for it?" Rosemary waved him off, answering after swallowing. "Don't. It's fine. I can't charge you for this because... I need you to understand that this will cure your yearning, but after using it... You're yearning will only return. And you'll be right back here. Asking me for something else." Jack shook his head, telling her swiftly. "No, I won't. I-" Rosemary raised a hand to stop him, before saying seriously. "Just listen to me. I can't stop you from coming back... but get one thing straight. No spell or potion will make you genuinely happy because it takes more than magic to make something work. You have to feel it in your heart that it's the right thing. Deep down you already know what you need. But I understand... The heart is a powerful thing. Just be careful what you do to it."

Jack glanced down at the box, placing a hand on it as he told her honestly. "I'll try to remember that. And I'll do what you say." Rosemary gestured to Nico, telling them both warmly. "It's getting late. Mark is probably worried about you. Nico, take him home." Nico snatched another cookie from the plate, then dashed to the door. Jack wrapped the box back up with the ribbon and carried it outside. Giving Rosemary a small smile before shutting the door. She gave him a hopeful smile in return, but there was an expressionless knowing behind her eyes. He was curious if she foresaw something to come, or was just worried she had made a bad decision by letting him go with the box. He followed Nico back to the bike, stashing the box in one of his saddlebags. Nico then drove out slowly. The whole way back home, Jack thought about Rosemary's words. He didn't know what to believe... but since she knew this stuff better than him, he didn't see the harm in listening to her. She had never steered them wrong before. Nico slowed the bike up beside the curb, informing him nicely. "I hope things work out for you both. And... I'm sorry about what I did to you."

Jack retrieved his box from Nico's bag, replying back sweetly. "It's alright. I forgive you. It wasn't all bad... I don't think either of us would have had kids without... help." Nico chuckled very softly but told him a bit grimly. "I still feel bad about it though... You didn't deserve that." Jack walked up beside Nico, placing a hand on his shoulder as he told him honestly. "Maybe I didn't... but don't forget that it was you that opened the door. I don't think I'd be here if you hadn't done that." Nico smirked a little, bowing his head to blush out. "Speaking of which... Tell Chica I said Hi. I haven't been up this way in a while since..." Jack patted Nico's back, then started up the lawn toward the house. Barely getting halfway across the lawn, Jack stopped as something cold hit his nose. Looking up, he watched a light snow start to fall. Nico waved to him, driving off. Jack waved to him, then flinched as Mark's front door was yanked open. Light from the house poured across the lawn as Mark stepped out and asked him in a worried voice. "Jack? You alright? Where did you go?"

Jack trudged up to him, listening to the babies crying in the background. He didn't know what to say to Mark, but Mark cut in to tell him a bit strained. "Jack, about what I said... I... I don't know why I said it. I'm sorry. That wasn't fair to you." Jack inched closer to him, answering in a soft hesitant voice. "It's ok... I forgive you." Mark stepped back to let him inside, closing the door behind him. Jack set the box down on the table by the door, turning slowly to face Mark. He wanted to say something but just didn't know where to begin. Despite the babies crying, Mark reached out to touch his face with his fingertips hesitantly. Jack looked up into Mark's eyes, gently placing a hand on Mark's warm chest. Jack's throat was tight, when he leaned forward cautiously to see if Mark wanted to kiss him. Mark leaned in the rest of the way to touch his lips to his for the briefest of moments. It felt like Mark was scared to kiss him. Mark pressed his forehead to his, then stepped away as he said. "I have to check on them."

Tears ran down Jack's cheeks as he heard Mark walk away. What was wrong? Why did this feel so different? Glancing at the box, Jack wiped his tears away and scooped it back up. Taking it to the bedroom, Jack slowed to look inside the babies' room. Mark was turning on the mobiles over the cribs and trying to get them to settle down by tucking them in. Jack thought about helping but he didn't want to be in the way. So, he trudged off to the bedroom. Sitting on his usual side of the bed, Jack set the box on his nightstand and just looked at it. He had promised Rosemary that he'd talk to Mark... but part of him didn't know how much good that would do. Removing his clothes, he grabbed one of Mark's oversized shirts and laid down across the bed. For a while, he laid in the dark and ignored how hungry he was. He didn't care what his body said, he couldn't eat. The door creaked open, but Jack didn't look up. He figured it was Chica or Henry. At least, until a warm hand touched his arm. Turning over slightly, he looked at Mark with fragile eyes.

Mark looked as tired as ever as he crawled onto the bed with him. To his surprise, Mark set a paper plate with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich down in front of him. Jack stared at the sandwich, while Mark snuggled up behind him. Kissing his shoulder, Mark whispered to him. "Aren't you hungry?" Jack set the plate up beside the box, mumbling out grimly. "I'm not a baby... You don't have to take care of me." Mark recoiled from him, telling him softly. "I know that... I just thought... Never mind." Mark moved away, sitting up on the other side of the bed as far from Jack as he could get. Jack stared off into the distance, asking Mark in a broken voice. "Mark...? What's happening to us?" Mark's voice was tired and blunt as he answered. "I don't know..." Jack took too long to form a question, which spurred Mark into saying with a grim sigh. "I think I'll sleep on the couch tonight. Give you some space." Jack's stomach twisted as Mark got up. Space was the last thing he wanted. Quickly sitting up, he whispered out desperately. "Mark! Wait..."

Mark stopped at the door, turning slowly to look at him. Jack opened his mouth, but nothing was coming out. Slowly he reached for the box and removed a box of matches from the drawer. He knew Mark kept candles in the bedroom in case an earthquake knocked out power. Swallowing, Jack hated himself a little as he flipped open the box and told Mark in a cool voice that was driven by his desperate emotions. "I picked something up before I came home. Will you light with me?" Mark moved to the edge of the bed, asking curiously. "Can't you light it yourself?" Jack removed a match, telling him honestly. "Please, just do this for me? We both can light it..." Jack took out two matches, handing one out for Mark in the dark. Mark took a match from him, then the matchbox. Jack removed the candle, holding it up for him. Mark struck the match, carefully taking it to the wick. Once it was lit, Mark blew out the match and asked him curiously. "What kind of candle is that?" Jack set the candle down on the nightstand, then quickly took the matchbox from Mark. He didn't want to answer Mark just yet.

He had just struck the match as Mark said a bit nervously. "Jack...? Where did you go?" Bringing the match to the unlit wick, Jack told him softly. "Rosemary's." Mark's eyes widened and he snatched Jack's wrist, but it was too late. The wick was lit. Jack blew out the match in his hand, telling Mark softly. "It's just for tonight." Mark released his wrist, leaning forward to grab the edges of the bed as he strained out. "Jack... What have you done?" Jack felt goosebumps ripple down his arms, but he ignored it to cup Mark's face. Bringing his lips to Mark's, he kissed him briefly and whispered out breathlessly. "It's temporary... Please, Mark? Don't resist it. We need this." Mark shook his head, but his lips sought out his. Jack moaned into his kiss, coaxing him to make it last longer. Mark tried to resist and pull back, but Jack only pulled him back into the kiss. Their kiss turned from light and sweet to deep and needy. Mark pushed him back across the bed, without breaking the kiss. Laying over him as Mark wrapped his arms under his shoulders to hold him close.

Raising his bare legs, Jack wrapped them around Mark's waist. His whole body felt warm and his skin tingled. Grabbing Mark's shirt, Jack began to pull it off of him. Mark untangled himself to help toss his shirt aside, then started unbuckling his pants. Glaring at him for a second, Mark straightened up beside the bed and told him breathlessly. "I'm so mad at you, Jack..." Jack pushed Mark's pants and underwear down, purring up over his lips. "I know... You can scold me after." Mark grabbed Jack's knees, pulling him to the edge of the bed and against him. Kissing Mark's chest, Jack clawed at his sides and back hungrily. Mark bent down a bit to get a hold of him, then lifted Jack off the bed. Jack giggled as Mark hefted him better into his arms. Kissing him passionately, he felt Mark climb onto the bed before dropping him across it. Jack spread his legs and raised his arms to let Mark lay completely over him. From the other room, the babies began to cry, and Mark groaned in frustration. Even if he wanted to go to them, he couldn't. The spell wouldn't allow it. Tonight, he was all Jack's. To Be Continued...