Romance survives the distance for Jessica Marais and James Stewart

PACKED To The Rafters golden girl Jessica Marais has kissed away speculation her engagement to James Stewart is on the rocks.

PACKED To The Rafters golden girl Jessica Marais has kissed away speculation that her engagement to on-screen love James Stewart is on the rocks.

The blonde beauty arrived home in Sydney last week after a whirlwind job-finding trip to the US - and straight into the arms of her adoring fiance.

The lovestruck couple were clearly happy to be reunited, sharing a passionate kiss outside their Newtown home.

Marais made a swift departure to the US after quitting the Channel Seven series three weeks ago to try her luck on the LA audition circuit.Her departure left many questioning whether the couple's engagement would survive.

But the 26-year-old quashed the rumours, telling the The Sunday Telegraph that love was still very much in the air.

"I wasn't there long; it was really like a holiday," she said. "And we spoke every day. Thank God for Skype."

Clearly, the pair had much to catch up on, though, spending much of the week inside their love nest before emerging on Friday morning.

Marais, wearing jeans, a cream cardigan and her signature aviator sunglasses, left the house first, heading to King St for essentials.

Stewart, 33, met her a short time later at a cafe, where they bought take-away burgers.

He let go of Marais' hand only to open the front door, revealing the 1.12-carat, diamond-and-gold engagement ring.

The couple couldn't hide their smiles when they re-emerged about 2.30pm, sharing a spontaneous smooch after Stewart lifted Marais' suitcase into the back of a waiting cab.

The couple - who began dating nearly two years ago after meeting on Packed To The Rafters - headed to

the airport to board a flight to Queensland, where they attended a friend's wedding.

Marais said she was planning to head back to Los Angeles in the next couple of weeks, but "only for a few days".