A Life So Changed

This is the sequel to "What Hurts The Most." If you haven't read that yet, I suggest you do before you read "A Life So Changed." Now that that's out of the way, the only thing I own is Sarah and this plot line. I still don't own Titanic, Jack, Rose, or Cal. I got this title from the Titanic soundtrack, so I suppose I don't own it, either. I never own the titles...Oh well. Enough with my ramblings. You all probably find this rather boring. So without further ado, A Life So Changed.

(A/N: Just in case you're wondering why Sarah refers to Rose as Mum and not Mom, it's because both of her biological parents were British.)

Chapter One

Understanding

Two months had passed since Sarah became a Dawson. Rose was legally Sarah's mother, but it didn't feel like it. Well, it did, but she never referred to Rose as "mum." For as long as Sarah and her had fatefully met, it was always just Rose.

As ironic as she found it, Sarah often found herself thinking about Cal. That face of his that she used to love and hate popped into her head at random times. Sometimes even when she would go surprise Rose over at the cabaret she worked at. Especially during a song titled "Heart of the Ocean" that Rose had said that was supposed to be about him. She never went into much detail as to why she had named it what she did.

She found herself thinking about Jack at random times, too. Sarah could finally say that she had met the most influential and important man in Rose's life. Even though it was a brief one-day period, it was obvious that he was indeed unforgettable. He had left a lasting impression that would probably last a lifetime on her.

But every spirit that Sarah had crossed over never left her memory. True, she had only crossed over two, but she had seen countless dead people in just her short fifteen years of life. Sometimes she would see them when she was walking down the street, at a store, sometimes even in the cabaret.

Rose was becoming more open and accepting to Sarah's "gift," as Rose often referred to it as. Sarah was never asked to do a seance for Jack, although she knew that she could do it. She could see it in Rose's eyes that she wanted to do it, but she was to afraid to ask. Rose often asked questions about her gift, and even two months later, she didn't seem to run out of questions.

"Did you see one today?" Rose asked one night while getting ready for bed from the master bathroom.

Sarah stood by the open window. The cool June evening air blew the curtains gently around, as long as Sarah's thin brown hair.

"See what?" she asked, even though she knew what she was saying.

Rose came out of the bathroom, her red hair held back in a clip. She patted her face with a small towel, her face freshly cleaned. "You know what I mean," she said. "Did you see anyone?"

Sarah smiled. "Oh, that. No, not today."

Rose put her the towel down and crawled into bed. "How do you even know that you're seeing ghosts and not people?"

Sarah thought about how to say this. "You know when you look at a picture and you just have a feeling about it right away, like you've experienced it, even though you haven't?"

Rose nodded.

"That's how I get when I see ghosts. I feel what they're feeling. They don't have a shadow around them, that's one other thing. But I can see them just like I'm looking at you. That's what took me forever to figure out." She sighed. "I don't even know how to use it. This 'gift', I mean."

"Yes, you do," Rose said soothingly. "You helped Jack cross over. That was a huge thing, and you did it effortlessly."

"But I was scared that I would do it wrong or say something wrong or...I don't know, Rose. It's hard."

She nodded in understand. "Just know, Sarah, that I'm never going to doubt you or laugh at you or think you're crazy. You're my daughter. Even though you're adopted doesn't mean I don't love you."

She smiled. "Thank you. And you're my mum. So, yes, I love you, too."

Rose smiled. "Time for you to go, sweetheart. We've both had a long day."

Sarah nodded, even though she wasn't felt tired. "Goodnight, Rose. I'll see you tomorrow." She closed the door behind her and headed to her bedroom and got in her bed. Above her she could see the stars.

Again, Jack had popped into her mind. Sarah wished that she hadn't crossed over Jack as fast as she did. True, he didn't belong here, but she wished that she could have known him just a little longer.

Maybe she could contact Jack for Rose's birthday. Even though that was four months away, she made a quick mental note to try and do that.

As soon as Sarah's head hit the pillow, she realized how tired she really was. Sleep sounded good. Sarah closed her eyes, dreaming of, for once, nothing.