A/N Complementary to A Fresh Start. Christmas is around the corner, and Jack and Rose board once more on R.M.S. Olympic. You don't have to read the entire story, but it does help to understand the backstory.

Christmas Eve 1913

Jack and Rose board the R.M.S. Olympic, along with their young son Tommy, as second class passengers, on the shortest trip to Southampton. They wanted to celebrate their Christmas the year Jesse and his wife Marion married, but things fell apart after he was kidnapped by Cal. A year had gone by since then, and Jack was happy still since they got married in the same ship just months prior, on the anniversary of the Titanic disaster.

From Cherbourg, they disembarked the Nomadic to board the Olympic. Once on board, the band was playing a light Christmas tune on violins and bass, as they made their way to their cabins. Now it was Jack's turn to hold Tommy, since he was getting heavier, and they had forgotten their baby carriage back at Fabrizio's hometown in Italy. Jack also wanted Fabrizio to join them, but he had work to do back at the harbor, but they will keep in touch of their activities. Jack was saddened, but he knew Rose was looking forward to having a Christmas once, since she never had one.

Rose at nine years Christmas 1904

Rose looked out the window as her father arrived in his horse carriage. He had the driver stop the carriage, then goes to the back of the carriage, rummages through the various luggage he had back there, and emerges with the biggest gift-wrapped box she had ever seen.

"Rose!" she would hear his booming voice as he entered the house. Rose would run to meet her father, arms outstretched, and would close as she was pulled in, feeling the gentle warmth her father's body had given her. He had one of the hardest squeezes, yet so gentle at the same time. He puts her down, and pushes the gift wrapped present to her. Soon the house was filled with noises as wrapping paper was being torn off the package, and soon, Rose let out her happy squeal, as her father had given her a rocking horse. Her mother had frowned upon seeing the mechanical thing, but he knew he made his daughter happy.

Rose sniffed, as Jack hugged her as they both sat on their bed. Jack knew it had also been awhile since he had a decent Christmas, since his father was always working at the mill, and at times, there would be no money for presents, much less a Christmas tree, or even dinner. Rose looks around their modest cabin. A desk had sat across from their bunk-style bed, but they chose to sleep as one, since they are married, and nothing would be scandalous now. A bassinet had been set up at the foot of the bed, as Tommy made a happy squeal. Rose sniffled for the last time, and gets up from the bed, to pick up Tommy. Jack had already set them in, as if they were home, even though they were only going for a short trip.

Soon, the ship's horn sounded, and only a few people boarded, as it slowly steamed away from Cherbourg. Jack wandered throughout the second-class part of the ship, as he only made it as far as the library and the smoking room. He tried to look for the dining area, as he smelled the wonderful smells of a plump Christmas goose wafting from one of the kitchens. He entered, and there were only three people in the dining room; perfect setting for his Christmas with Rose.

He makes his way back to his cabin, on board an almost empty ship. He knew some of the passengers had flocked to the new German Hamburg-America Line's S.S. Imperator, as she completed her maiden voyage to America back in the summer, and had surpassed the Olympic in size now. Jack wished his brother and friend Jesse would have came also, but he was swamped with work as well, and had just left Europe a month ago, with his father. Jesse was a reliable man; hard worker, but also a kind, young man. He and Marion have gotten along well, and Jack heard the news that they were finally having a kid as well. He and Rose knew they were both blessed, and that their paths have crossed. Who knows what would of happened to Rose if he didn't board Titanic? Or worse? Jack shuddered, as he weaves his way through the mazes of corridors and makes his back to his cabin once more, now feeling more hungry than ever before. The only noise the ship was making was the faint sounds of the engines running below and the steam from the boiler rooms.

Jack enters his cabin, as Tommy coos playfully in his crib, and Rose tickling his delicate stomach. He wraps his arms around Rose's waist, and gives her some kisses on her cheek and her neck, as Jack had secretly tied a mistletoe over the crib, while Rose was daydreaming about her memorable Christmas with her late father. Soon, their stomachs began to growl, and both laughed.

"What do you say we get something to eat?" Jack says, brushing Rose's hair away from her ear.

"I'd love that." she turns and kisses Jack on his lips, as they pick up Tommy, and head for the dining room.

The dining room was less exquisite than the one Rose was in, but nonetheless, it was a dining hall, and it was the perfect setting of Christmas. A tree was being decorated in the corner, next to a piano, and officers were putting up streamers on the ceiling. Rose then looks around, as they and a few passengers slowly entered the hall. Soon the aroma of cooked goose filled the room, and Jack was getting more hungry by the minute. Meanwhile, the first class Grand Staircase had the best tree that was being set up, and the crew were also stringing up streamers along the sweeping Grand Staircase. Even the Cherub had its own Santa hat draped on its head, while holding the torch. Somewhere deep in the ship a Christmas band is playing, all while filling the ship with Christmas sights and aroma of turkey, goose, vanilla, coming in from their kitchens. Some of the ship's lights have been turned off, to give the warm, glowing calm atmosphere as Olympic steamed through the darkness, on her way to Southampton.