Once the lifeboat had arrived, both Jack and Rose were pulled onto it and given bundles of blankets. They both changed into dry clothes and lay down. Jack, though he was cold himself, wrapped his arms around Rose and whispered in a shaky voice into her ear how much he loved her. Rose snuggled into jack's embrace and they both fell asleep soundly.
Rose woke up an hour later and stared up at the Carpathia.
"We're saved," she whispered and smiled. Jack subconsciously tightened his grasp on Rose when he felt her stir, and opened his eyes in a short time.
"I told you we'd make it, Rose," Jack whispered and kissed her cheek.
They boarded the Carpathia and were taken to the hospital. They were both immediately put into beds with six blankets apiece and treated for hypothermia. They both fell asleep again, exhausted, but slightly thawed out at least.
In the middle of the night Rose awoke to hear shuffling in the bed next to her. She turned to see what Jack was doing and saw him getting out of bed.
"Don't leave me, Jack," Rose said groggily.
"I'm not," said Jack and he chuckled softly. Once he had untangled himself from the blankets encompassing him, he walked over and crawled into Rose's bed. Rose turned toward him and Jack wrapped his arms around her. Rose leaned her head on his chest and sighed contentedly. Jack kissed her on the head and stroked her hair. She turned her face up to his and he kissed her on the lips softly.
"We made it," he said and kissed her again.
"Now," said Rose, resting her head on his chest again, "as soon as the ship docks, you have to teach me to ride like a man." They both laughed softly.
"I intend to," whispered Jack. He began to talk about what they would do together on that beach in Santa Monica until he heard Rose's breathing even out. He looked down and saw her sleeping peacefully, wrapped protectively in his arms. He squeezed her and said softly, "I love you, Rose." Then he shut his eyes and fell asleep.
They were both awoken at dawn by the scolding of a nurse.
"What are you two doing?" she asked disapprovingly.
Jack was the first to awake. "What?" he asked half asleep.
"You are not supposed to leave your own bed," she said.
"Sorry," said Jack. He began to get up, but Rose tightened her grasp around him and groaned in her sleep. She opened her eyes slightly. "Jack," she said quietly. "Don't go. Please don't go."
The nurse's face softened. "Fine, you can stay there with her for now, but when the doctor does his rounds you two better be in your proper places."
Jack had already lain back down with his arms around Rose. "Thank you ma'am."
Rose looked up at Jack, finally fully awake. "What happened?" she asked, leaning her head on Jack's chest again.
"Nothing," Jack said, rubbing Rose's back soothingly. "Misunderstanding."
"Oh," whispered Rose, already half asleep again. "Okay."
Jack woke up again just in time to see the doctor striding towards he and Rose who still were in the same bed. The nurse was walking behind the doctor, glaring at Jack. Jack practically fell out of the bed in his haste to get back to his own bed. Rose woke up suddenly from the commotion and frowned when she saw that Jack had left her. Her body felt cold in the places where his touch once was.
"Easy there," the doctor said, chuckling.
"Sorry about leaving my bed and all," Jack said sheepishly, glancing nervously at Rose. "She just seemed kind of cold."
"Oh yeah," the nurse said sarcastically. "She must have been freezing with six wool blankets over her."
The doctor shot the nurse a stern glance.
"Sorry, sir," the nurse said as she began to examine her shoes, which now seemed terribly interesting.
The doctor turned his attention back to Jack and Rose and his face softened. "It's quite alright," he said. "Now, let's take a look at you two."
He checked both their temperatures, which had both risen back to normal. He then checked their pulses and both seemed stable. Their heartbeats seemed regular as well.
"Well," the doctor exclaimed after finishing their check-ups, "you both seem quite healthy. Congratulations."
Jack and Rose smiled at each other. The doctor eyed the two young lovers and then walked away. As the doctor approached the door he glanced over his shoulder and saw Rose and Jack kissing tenderly. He chuckled softly to himself. It had been years since he remembered feeling that way.
"Hey," Jack said squeezing Rose, "What do you want to do today?"
"I don't know," Rose said. "How about we just explore this new ship."
"Okay," Jack agreed, nodding. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before taking her hand and leading her out onto the deck.
The sun was shining brightly and people were milling about on the deck. Some looked joyful as they clung to their loved ones, but others looked so mournful and hopeless that Rose's heart ached. She spotted one woman pleading with an officer to check the survival list again
"Please," the woman begged. "Please just check it again."
"I'm sorry ma'am, but there is no one under that name," the officer said sadly.
"There has to be," the woman cried. "Maybe there is another list. He isn't dead."
"This is the most updated list ma'am. I'm sorry," the officer looked helpless. He didn't know what to do as the woman broke down into sobs. He slowly backed away mumbling how sorry he was, leaving the woman with tears streaming down her face.
Rose turned and buried her head in Jack's chest. "What's wrong?" he asked, stroking her hair.
"Let's get away from here," she whispered into his shirt. Jack wrapped his arms around her and nodded his head. He took her hand and they walked away from the sound of the crying. They ran to the bow of the ship where fewer survivors were scattered and sat on a bench where they got a good view of the open sea.
"All of those people," Rose said quietly. "All of them gone." Jack nodded his head, images of those people floating in the water flashing through his mind. Suddenly Jack froze. Rose glanced up at him and followed his gaze to a man sauntering toward them. A man chillingly familiar.
"Sweet pea! I'm so glad you made it," Cal said. Jack and Rose both stood up, but his arms never loosened their grasp around Rose.
"Dawson, thank you for keeping my fiancé safe," Cal said coldly, "but we really should be going." He pulled Rose from Jack's arms and smothered her in a rough embrace.
"Get off of me!" Rose said, breaking free from Cal and returning to Jack.
"Rose," Cal said threateningly, "Get back here. You're my fiancé for Christ's sake."
Jack only glared at Cal. He wondered where this man got the nerve to treat the people around him like crap and still expect them to come running into his arms.
"Cal," Rose said evenly, "from now on, you are not to address me as your fiancé. We are no longer engaged. I am getting off the boat with Jack. I hope never to see you again."
"What do you see in him?" Cal yelled. "He's a poor artist with no more than a dime in his pocket."
"He loves me and I love him! That's one thing I never felt for you," Rose said.
"Rose, be sensible. It may be all fun and games now, but what happens when you're living on the street, cold and afraid, not knowing when your next meal will be. You'll probably die within a week if you go with him."
"I'm not some fragile woman who needs anybody's protection. Ever since I met Jack, I've been happier than I ever was with you. You may wear tuxedos and eat caviar, but to me you'll always be a spoiled little brat who has a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants." Rose spit the words out in his face. "Well you better go start crying to daddy, because I'm one thing you are never going to lay your hands on again!"
Cal's body went rigid and his arm flinched as if he was about to slap Rose. Jack tensed up as well, ready to come between him and Rose. But Cal only turned and walked away. Rose collapsed into Jack's body and began to cry. They both sat back down on the bench and Jack held Rose as she cried.