Part 4: 1996

Emotionally drained couldn't even cover the events of the past three days aboard the Keldysh with Brock Lovett and his team. Lizzy Dawson ran his hands through her waist length blonde hair. All she thought of, as she glanced out to the black sea was her grandfather, Jack. He had been out here, with her grandmother. All of these years, they had kept such a secret. They had met on the Titanic. Rose had revealed every single detail to them all over the last few days, reliving the true tragedy of a sinking ship but the most amazing thing had come out of that; her grandparents love.

There was faded music in the background but she didn't hear it, her mind was far too consumed with everything else. When Brock Lovett joined her at the rail, she couldn't help but place her hand atop of his. He handed her a beer and she took it, gratefully. She wasn't one to drink too much but she felt the need for several more after tonight.

''I'm sorry, you didn't find the diamond.'' She raised her eyes to meet his.

He shook his head. ''For three years, I thought of nothing but Titanic.'' He took a swig of his beer. ''I spent thousands out here, for what?''

Lizzy sensed his frustration but, in that moment, she knew it wasn't because he couldn't find the diamond. it was something else which seemed firmly rooted in his stomach. ''Your grandmother is a remarkable woman.''

''I know, that. My grandfather was pretty amazing, too. He passed when I was ten, but, we talk about him all the time as though he is still here.'' She glanced about and, in that moment, she wondered if he really was here. The dark ocean was still, just as Rose has described that night had been. It was eerie and she had struggled to even imagine anyone been out here, never mind one thousand five hundred people...

''Perhaps.'' He swigged his beer.

''So, what now?''

He shrugged. ''Home.''

''Where is home?''

He sighed, his frustration evident in each breath. ''I don't know, Lizzy. I spent years out here. We all did. I just-'' He couldn't finish his sentence, for he had no other words. His mind was fully consumed by everything and he was unable to concentrate on anything, it was as though someone had switched off his interest in the diamond. ''I just never got it. I never let what happened get to me, but now I see it so clearly.''

Lizzy glanced out at the sea, goose bumps appearing over her skin. ''Nana never told us either, she came out here for her own reasons. God knows what they were, perhaps she needed to make peace with the past in some way.''

''Honestly, it sounds like she did. I mean, why else would she at 101 years old make this trip?'' Brock smirked and Lizzie remained silent but she knew it was true. Although, her Nana was over a century old, it hadn't stopped her flying in a helicopter. In fact, she had become rather excited.

''So, what happens now?''

His eyes met hers and she got the feeling he was asking her a silent question.

''We go home, right?''

Brock felt the cloud of fog lift right from his head. He had suffered with it for days, weeks even and now they had found nothing, he had felt it take over his body. But as he swigged the last of his beer, he raised his dark eyes to meet Lizzy's. They were so blue, it almost took his breath away in that moment. Sure, at first, he had noticed how attractive she was, he might have not been with a woman in almost ten years but it hadn't stopped him noticing her trim figure, but now, the fog lifted and her stare was magnificent. A crooked grin crossed his face.

''You, know, I haven't taken a woman on a date in so long I wonder if they have changed how to do it, as for anything further than that, never ask me! But, wherever home is? I assume there is no husband waiting for you?''

With a smile, Lizzy shook her head.

''Boyfriend?''

Again, she shook her head. ''No, there is no one. My Mother passed two years ago and I solely care for Nana, I am the only one left.''

Brock nodded. ''Well, in that case, do you have an objection to joining me for coffee when we hit land?''

Lizzy fluttered her lashes. She was thirty-six years of age and despite her lack of interest in guys in recent years, not one had ever made her stomach flutter like a youth, but in that moment, she felt seventeen.

''Sure.''

''Oh, Nana, I have no idea all of these years how you have kept all of these pictures when we have travelled.'' Lizzy stroked her fingers over a picture of Jack with her own Mother, Helen as a child. Rose was dressed in her long, white nightgown as she settled herself into bed. She had applied her hand cream and face cream and she laid down, resting her aged body. Lizzy came to her, fluffing up some pillows to ensure her grandmother was comfortable before she settled herself on the edge of the bed.

''We took them with us, dear, Lizzy. I like to see my life, my children and those I cherish most, with me.''

Beneath the wrinkled face, Lizzy saw the twinkling eyes of Rose's youth. With tears shining in her own eyes, she blinked them away. ''Why didn't you or grandpops tell us, Nana? Why did you wait until now?''

Rose pressed her gnarled hands to her granddaughter's youthful face. ''Oh, my little Lizzy, it was never time. Now it was. Your grandfather and I were broken after the sinking, we had no money and no clothes. We ran into New York City as blind and naïve as rats but look where we got. We had nothing but love and a determination.''

Lizzy felt the tears come down her face. ''He really loved you, Nana.''

''Yes, and I love him, my Jack. He loved you all, too. His children and the grandkids.''

Lizzy squeezed her grandmothers hand. ''Oh, Nana. We all loved him, too.''

Rose reached out to a picture which she had positioned to face her. It was black and white. Of her and Jack in New York City. She touched the glass, running her hand down her husband's handsome face. Eighty-four years stood between that picture and now and yet she could still hear the squeals of laughter.

''This was the first photograph we ever had taken together. It was at a fair in New York City.'' Jack was so beautifully handsome, and he smiled, right next to her. ''We were living in a garret, poor but so free. We were exhilarated and yet all we had was each other.''

Lizzy took the photograph from Rose and vaguely remembered seeing it someplace as a child. ''How handsome he was, and you, too Nana, just beautiful.''

''Yes, well, time is cruel to one's face. It will age you, wrinkle and take away your mobility but you will never lose your sense of humour, never lose the faith and never stop loving. No matter what happens. Even after my children passed away, even after Jack passed twenty-six years ago.''

Lizzy blinked back tears at her beautiful words. Rose took her youthful hands in hers.

''You know, you have been wonderful to me. You have taken care of me for twenty years.''

''It hasn't been a burden to me, Nana. If that's what you're saying.''

''No, but perhaps it has stopped you from finding yourself.''

Lizzy shook her head, dismissing her Nana's ridiculous notion.

''No, I know myself better because of it.'' She placed the picture back on the cabinet and faced it so that Rose could see it.

''Hmm, perhaps. But I love you, my dear girl and you are a young woman. You need a husband, some children and a life of your own.''

''That will come.''

Rose raised a knowing eyebrow as she nestled herself down to sleep. ''Hmm, sooner than you think.''

Lizzy shook her amused head.

''I am beyond tired, my darling. Too tired for my eyes to remain open any longer. Would you turn out the light and go up on decks to the party? Go dance, be merry and drink beers. Let loose. I would if I was as young as you.''

Lizzy laughed as she went to the door. Inside the bed, her Nana looked so small and frail. It was hard to imagine she had carried six children and lived through God knows how many wars. ''I will have a couple of beers, for you.''

''Good, girl.''

''I love you, rest up. Big day tomorrow.''

''I love you too, goodnight, God bless.''

Lizzy turned out the light and went up to the party. As she laid in the darkness, Rose felt a strange calm overcome her. Her hands found the petite wedding ring which she had worn for over eighty years.

She had done it. She had told their story. She had done all that she could have done. For her family. They had all grown and now it was their time.

Her eyes closed, her hands clasped together. She felt someone touch her hand, a cold touch that soon turned warm. Jack. She knowingly smiled. I'm coming home.

The next thing she knew she was flying, soaring and her stomach had that kind of excitement you had as a young girl. It was light, so bright and kept growing brighter and brighter. She seemed to follow the moonlight type beam and suddenly, she was plunged into water. Deeper, deeper, deeper...

The wreck of the Titanic loomed, she travelled over the forecastle deck. Inside, echoes of music strained, like a waltz. The rust of the corridors had faded and it became beautiful, light and airy, once more. She emerged onto the grand staircase, lit by glowing chandelier. The music was vibrant now, and the room was populated by men in tie and tails, women in gowns. Beautiful...

At the top of the staircase, she saw him. Jack. He had waited.

She travelled towards him and suddenly, he turned. He was no longer old and decrepit. She was no longer aged or ached. She was a girl of seventeen and he was a boy of twenty, just as they once had been.

He held out his hand to her and before them, she noticed the Titanic clock. Make it count, meet me at the clock. He had written to her, before he passed.

Her hand was on his, he pulled her to him. His wife, his love, the mother of his children and the woman he had lived his live with.

''You're here.'' He whispered to her.

''You waited.''

''Always.''

He leant forward and she closed her eyes as his lips found hers for the first time in so long. A loud applause erupted around them but they weren't heard for all that mattered was the other. She was home.