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It wasn't until the final afternoon on the Carpathia when Jack was strong enough to leave the ship's infirmary. He held onto Rose's hand tightly as they walked among the steerage passengers, not wanting Rose's mother or Cal to know that they were alive. Ruth DeWitt Bukater would never allow Rose to stay with Jack if she knew her daughter was alive. Jack wanted to be able to see the Statue of Liberty as they sailed by, he smiled sadly as they passed the symbol of freedom, welcoming them into America.
"What is it Jack dear?" Rose asks as she sees his sad smile, looking at him gently. She did love him with all her heart, something that has never happened with Caledon Hockley. She was so lucky to meet Jack when she did, he gave her the strength to break from the horrible life that she had been brought up in and no she was free of it. She didn't have the riches of her upbringing anymore but that didn't bother her in the slightest, as long as she had Jack, she had all that she needed to survive.
"Just thinking about all the lives that were lost out there, in the freezing cold ocean…" Jack says and sighs softly as he looks down at the beautiful redhead standing next to him as the heavens open and rain started to pour on them. Rose rested her head on Jack's shoulder as they stood together in the pouring rain, just grieving the loss of many friends they had made on the voyage on the Titanic.
"Jack, what are we going to do when we disembark the ship? We don't have anywhere to go, I definitely do not want my mother to know I am still alive, she will take me away from you." Rose says and looks up at the blonde-haired young man she fell in love with the first time that she saw him.
"Well, as long as we have each other I think we will be okay, I know I can't give you the life you are used to, but I hope that you still feel satisfied and happy with me." Jack says and let's go of Rose's hand so he can slip his arm round her waist to hold her closer to him.
Rose smiles softly to herself as she leans against Jack's chest, sliding her hands into the pockets of the coat that Cal had draped over her shoulders when he was trying to get her on a lifeboat when the Titanic was sinking, she frowned when her fingers brushed against something cold and hard. She pulled away from Jack slightly as she pulled the large wad of money and the Heart of the Ocean necklace out of her pocket.
Rose gasped at the sight that was in her hands and looked at Jack quickly. "Jack, look!" She says quickly and shows Jack what Cal had left in the coat pocket. "There are thousands of dollars in my hand…"
Jack looked at her in shock, he had begun to worry about what they were going to do once they got to New York earlier that morning, they had no money and nowhere to go. Jack kissed her head softly as she put the money and necklace back into her pocket before they walked among the passengers together as the ship slowly docked in New York. He held onto her hand the entire time as they walked off the ship, glad not to be one of the first survivors off as there were so many reporters waiting to hear the about the fateful night.
Jack guided Rose out of the crowd slowly, so they could get a hotel room for the night before they decide where to go next for the next chapter in their life together. Rose gripped onto his hand and followed him through the crowd, both wanting to get away from the commotion at the docks.
Before finding a hotel for the night, they went for a little shopping spree as all the clothes that they had were the ones on their backs and were still cold from being plunged into the Atlantic waters. Jack bought some new shirts and pants, as well as some underwear and socks, whereas Rose picked out a few nice dresses in varying colours, green, lavender and pale pink. They also bought a suitcase that they could use to carry them to the hotel, but also on their travels after New York. As Jack was paying for all the clothes, they had picked out for themselves, using some of Cal's money he stupidly left in the coat pocket Rose was wearing, Rose found an artist's portfolio that she could buy Jack, seeing his is now at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It was perfect for him, leather bound and perfect to carry around with him if he wanted to take it places with him. She also bought a couple pads of sketching paper and a set of charcoal, drawing and coloured pencils. As she took the bag from the sales clerk, Jack walked up to her with their new suitcase full of their new clothes.
"What's in the bag?" He asks as they slowly walk out of the shop together, hand-in-hand, ready to find somewhere to sleep for the night and relax after everything that has happened in the last week.
"Just a little something, I will show you once we get a hotel room dear." Rose says and squeezes Jack's hand lightly, smiling at him softly as the rain began to let up as they walked out from the shop.
They walked until they found a somewhat low-key hotel and paid for a room for a couple of nights, so that they could have time to decide what they were going to do next. When they walked into the room, they were given the key to, Jack was in awe of it all, just like he was when he was in the first-class dinner lounge on the Titanic. Rose smiled at how Jack was in shock that they were staying in a beautiful hotel like this before she shrugged off the coat she was wearing and hung it on the chair which was positioned at the writing desk underneath the window.
Rose slowly sat down on the bed to remove her shoes as she felt Jack sit down next to her, his hand caressing her hair gently as he watches her quietly. Rose slid her feet out of the shoes before looking up at Jack, smiling softly at him, still a little fragile over the entire voyage to New York. She pressed a light kiss to his lips and looks at him again, just making sure she wasn't dreaming that he was still here because he was in the freezing waters for a long time.
"What is it?" Jack asks a little bemused, holding Rose close to him lightly.
"Nothing, just cannot believe that you are still here with me." She says and takes his hand in hers gently, lacing their fingers together, tears welling up in her eyes again. "You were in the freezing water for such a long time Jack, you nearly died."
"Hey, Rose, look at me…" Jack says and tilts her head up, so she looks at him before wiping away her tears slowly. "I am here, and I am not going to leave you. You jump, I jump, remember." He smiles at her softly before hugging her close, closing his eyes as they hold onto each other tightly, like if they let go one of them would disappear.
Rose smiled lightly to herself as she allowed herself to calm down before looking up at Jack again, kissing him softly before getting up slowly, wiping the final tears from her eyes. "Right, Mr Dawson, I am going to have a lovely warm bath…" She says gently, smiling to herself as she begins to untie her dress.
"Would the lady like some company in the bath tub?" Jack asks as he kicks off his shoes, smiling up at Rose carefully.
"Well, that isn't very proper is it? What would my mother say if she was here?" Rose asks, smiling back at Jack as she let her dress drop to the floor.
Jack chuckles and unbuttons his shirt slowly, walking to the bathroom to let the tub fill up quickly. "When has any of our relationship been proper my love?" He asks her and takes her face in his hands, kissing her gently. Rose smiles into the kiss gently before pulling away from him to go and get into the bath tub, Jack smiles widely to himself as he follows her quietly, grateful that he was able to survive the freezing Atlantic waters. He settles into the bath tub behind Rose carefully, sighing as the hot water touches his skin. He kisses the back of Rose's head as she lays back against his chest, lacing their fingers together slowly, relaxing as they listen to the hustle and bustle of New York coming from the window.
By the time Jack had emptied the tub and dried himself off to get into bed, Rose was already falling asleep under the duvet, her face looked peaceful for the first time since he had met her and he was glad. He quietly walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers to climb in as well, turning down the lamp as he settled down against the pillows next to her. Once it was dark enough to sleep Jack carefully placed a kiss on Rose's head and took her outreached hand in his, pressing a kiss on her knuckles as well.
"Goodnight my sweet Rose." He whispers before falling asleep himself in the most comfortable bed he has laid on since leaving home.
