A/N: I thought I would be generous and post a new chapter today since I hadn't been writing for this one in a while! :D Now onto the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own Titanic
We waited by the Stage Coach. We hadn't yet seen Rose and Ethan was becoming impatient. "Where's Aunty Rose?" he asked, tugging at my skirt. "She'll be here soon. She probably has to get all her stuff together," I said, kneeling so I was at Ethan's height. He began singing a little song Rose used to sing to him when I couldn't get him to sleep. I never learned the words to it so I didn't know the song. That was one of the songs Rose had always used to practice with.
"Eliza! Eliza!" Rose called. She came rushing up to me and Ethan, smiling. I thought her grin would split her face if it got any bigger. "I missed you and Ethan so much!" she said, picking up Ethan. She was wearing one of the coats that the actresses always wore at Dancing Schools. I assumed they were supposed to wear them on and off stage… Or maybe she just liked wearing it. It was a light blue, like the color of her eyes. Her hair had been dyed blond. She looked entirely different since last Ethan and I had seen her. She had always been writing to us about how much she had been learning whether it was tap dancing to piano, or flute to jazz dancing.
"We missed you too, Rose!" I said. Ethan was too happy to say anything, so he just bounced around in her arms. "How have you two been?" Rose asked, trying to keep Ethan from falling out of her arms. "We've been doing. Money's running a bit dry, but we've been managing," I said. I realized too late that I hadn't meant to tell her about the money…
"Why didn't you write about it to me? I could've helped!" Rose said. "Now I feel bad," she said. "Please don't, Rose. If wasn't making enough money with washing, drying, and ironing clothes all day, I would've written to you about it," I said. I still hadn't found my talent, so I was stuck doing the chores of a maid. It gave me something to do though when Ethan was napping or playing around the house.
"I met someone in Hollywood," she said. We were almost at the house by this point. "Really? Who?" I asked.
(A/N: Anyone know what Old Rose's husband's name is? Something Calvert… I'm gonna make up a name for now, but if someone knows, I'll change it later!)
"His name is Charles Calvert," she said. She really liked this man. I knew she still thought about Jack, but the wounds weren't fresh anymore. I hadn't recovered from the loss nearly as well as she had, but then again I had Ethan, and he was the closest thing to Tommy that I had left. "You seem to really fancy him," I said. I expected her to be in denial, but she wasn't. She also didn't jump on it either as quickly as possible. She wouldn't do that to Jack.
Ethan was asleep on my lap as I absently mindedly played with is blond curly hair as I listened to Rose explain her new found love. "He took me out to dinner the other night after rehearsals," she said. I could see she was happy. I was happy too for everything. I wished Tommy were here though so he could see Ethan… I hadn't worried in a long time about when Ethan would begin to ask about his father. The week was going to be good. Rose was here, Ethan's birthday was only three days away, and I wouldn't have to do any chores for a little while!
I listened as Rose continued to talk about Charles. He sounded almost like Jack. Wild and free-spirited. A person who didn't think and went with the wind. "He's sounds lovely," I said once she finished. "He is," she said. I could hear the hint of dreaminess in her voice. I smiled to myself.
Everyone was happy which meant I should be too… But I wasn't. I wanted Tommy more than anything just listening to Rose. I wanted Tommy to be here, but I knew as well as anyone that he wasn't coming back. It had been years ago, too, and it was horrible to think I was breaking my promise to Tommy. I shook my head to clear the thought from my mind.
When we arrived at the house, Rose already put her stuff in her old room and was back quickly. I guess she really missed us! "Momma? What's for lunch?" Tommy asked. I was starving too, but I had no idea what to make. Perhaps sandwiches. Rose suggested it too.
After lunch, I had put Ethan down for his nap. He had fallen asleep rather quickly. At least I wouldn't have to sing some song I didn't know! Rose was here though, but she was busy unpacking. I went into her room, asking if she needed help. "No, but thank you, Eliza. I just had to finish setting up my pictures!" she said, admiring one in particular. It was a photo taken her first year in Hollywood. She was posed just like other actresses had been, but she was gorgeous. She looked more of a model than an actress. "I still can't believe how far I've gone with my talent," she said mostly to herself. "It's amazing," I said. She smiled. "Well, what do you say, after Ethan wakes up, we go down to the surf. I'd always wanted to learn how to ride," she said. "I thought you learned side-saddle," I said. She smiled. "I did, but Jack had told me that was the wrong way to ride a horse. You had to ride a horse like a man. No side-saddle," she said, laughing.
I laughed at that. It was definitely like Jack. Everything had to be done "like a man!" That being thought, made me remember all the times I had shared with the boys.
"No wonder I couldn't find it! Hand it over," I said, extending my arm. "Eh—about that… We don't know where it is now," Fabrizio answered. I sighed. It was quite meaningless anyway—all my best drawings and designs were saved in my rucksack.
"It's fine," I said, shocking the lot of them. "It's fine?" Tommy asked, incredulously. "Oh, yes. See, all my better drawings are saved away, hidden from you prying boys!" I teased. "We're men!" Jack said, puffing out his chest. "Prove it," I said. They all looked dumbfounded.
They stood up, and right then I knew how they were planning to prove they were men. "Don't you dare! Sit back down!" I cried looking away, laughing. They all chuckled but sat back down. "Have we proven we are men?" Jack asked. "As long as you don't try to go commando in public again, I'll say you did," I chuckled.
I remember that day. It was still the funniest thing that had ever happened to me. That was I believe the day after I had met the three. Fabrizio and Helga were together, but Tommy and I, and Jack and Rose weren't. Not yet. I knew they would wait for us.
I just wish that Ethan could've had the chance to meet Tommy. I, like Rose, wished I had some picture or something of theirs to hold onto and to cherish. I only had Ethan, which means more than anything to me. More than anything I could've gotten. Rose only had the necklace Cal gave her, that Jack had drawn her wearing. I wondered if Rose ever thought of Cal. We both knew he survived Titanic. But since the crash, we haven't had to worry about him ever finding Rose.
I had the necklace sitting on the shelf above the fireplace. I had it placed there because the sun would hit it all day, and it would make beautiful blue shimmers on the wall.
I walked around the house tidying up anything that needed my attention. Rose was in the living room admiring the necklace. Once I had finished tidying up, which was about an hour of my time put to good use, I went to go get Ethan so we could go to the surf.
I placed my hand on Ethan's shoulder, and gently rubbed it. He awoke, yawning. "Momma?" he said. "Yes, baby?" I asked. "I had a dream," he said, groggily. "What was your dream about?" I asked. He sat up rubbing his eyes. "I had a dream about you and daddy," he said. I thought my heart stopped. He'd never met his father! I never talked about his father around him! Could he have heard me talking to Rose before? "You did?" I asked, feigning calm. Ethan nodded.
I felt tears threatening to fall, but I held them back. "Aunty Rose wants to take us to the surf. Maybe the amusement park," I said. His face lit up. He had Tommy's lopsided smile. "She is!" he asked happily clapping his hands. "Yes, she is. Now I'm going to go get her and she'll help you get ready," I said. My voice was starting to crack.
"R-Rose?" I called. She didn't answer. "Rose!" I called. My voice was cracking even more now. Rose in the room from the kitchen. "Eliza? What happened?" she asked. Her voice was laced with fear and concern. "I just, um, need you to go get Ethan ready… I have s-something to do," I lied. I knew she saw right through it, but she went to Ethan's room without question. I leaned against the wall, hoping it would keep me from falling over.
How did Ethan know about Tommy? I'd never even mentioned him around Ethan! I barely spoke of him to anyone!
A/N: Okay! I'll be gone today and tomorrow morning, so I'll keep writing but I won't be able to post until tomorrow evening! So sorry, but I hope you enjoyed the chapter!