June, 1922

Rose knew that she and Jacque both needed a change of scenery. There had been so much to take in these past few months. Rose decided that with school being out for Jacque, and because she had not currently accepted any new roles, they were free. At least until school started again. Rose booked them for a trip to Santa Monica. She had been saving up money from her different acting jobs, and although she and Jacque had everything they could want, she chose not to over spend, as felt that was frivolous, and didn't see any of that as necessary.

The train ride last nearly a week, and they were able to see some of the countryside that they had never seen before. At least, they finally arrived in Santa Monica.

Once they arrived at and got settled in their hotel, rose told Jacque she wanted to take her on a walk.

"Why, Mama? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, baby," Rose told her with a smile.

They walked along the pier as rose continued her story.

"Remember when I told you about the afternoon your father and I spent strolling across the Titanic?"

Jacque nodded.

"During that, we talked about Santa Monica. He had already been here, and was telling me all about it. The roller coasters, the horses, the cheap…well, everything," she said, catching herself.

"He was here? Daddy was here?" Jacque asked excitedly.

Rose sighed, though not very loudly. She didn't think Jacque was quite grasping the concept she was trying to get across.

"You do realize that he isn't here, don't you, Jacque?"

"I know, mama. But I feel close to him."

"Me too," Rose said. Everywhere she looked, she wondered what it would be like to see it with Jack, and how it had changed since he had last seen it.


"Your little girl is pretty," Cora said, as she sat on the bench beside me. I never could quite get over the beauty of her. She would eternally be seven years old, but one of the most beautiful seven year olds that I had ever seen. Not to mention how sweet she was. She hadn't known me any better than she had known anyone else on the ship, yet we had formed a bond those few days, and over these years, we had formed an even closer one. Even though I was eternally twelve years older than her, I could tell that her father was happy that she had someone a little closer to her age to hang around with.

"She is, isn't she?" I said, putting my arm around Cora's shoulders. She must have been hanging around Tommy a little too much, I thought. But at least she wasn't giving me a hard time for following up on their lives.

"You would be a good Dad to her," she told me. "You've always been so good to me."

I almost teared up at that. But Jack Dawson does not cry. Well, at least where anyone can see.

I lay on the bench for a while, staring at the stars, the same way I had that night when I first met. Rose.

I had seen her before that, of course. But it wasn't until I saw her running desperately and I knew I had to help her, that we actually met.

She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. But I could tell there was more to her than met the eye. And I was right, I found out, as I got to know her more.


"The roller coaster was so much fun, Mama!" Jacque cried as they limbed off after riding for the third time.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, dear," Rose said carefully, easing herself onto a bench slowly.

Well, Jack, you go that part right, she thought. I did ride the roller coast until I threw up.

"I knew you'd enjoy it," I said to her smiling.

"Jacque, did you say something?"