Chapter Seven
"Why Rose darlin', there you are. We've been looking for you. Where have you been?" Molly asked, taking Rose's arm as she returned to the tour.
Rose looked ahead and saw that Caroline and her mother was out of earshot, not wanting Caroline to hear that Jack had seen her anyway, despite her warnings. "I was with Jack."
"Oh I see." Molly nodded in understanding. "And?"
"He wanted to say good-bye to me Molly. He's engaged to Caroline, but you saw how she treats him. Molly, you remember your talk about soulmates, right? I have to confess, at first I didn't believe you but...if they are real...well, I believe that he's mine. I love him Molly and he loves me too, I can see it in his eyes. And...it wouldn't have happened so fast if we weren't meant to be together, right?"
"Oh Rose," Molly felt bad for her niece. Of course she knew it wasn't right to encourage a love affair with an engaged man, but there was something about Jack that fit her niece so perfectly and Rose was right. That Caroline was horrid. Someone as sweet as the Dawson boy deserved better.
"The funny thing is, if she treated him decently and showed that she truly loved him I would let him say good-bye. I would walk away knowing that he was happy and well loved. But he's not happy. He's not happy and she doesn't love him at all. I don't know why she holds on to him but it's not because of love."
"Are you going to fight for him Rose?" Molly asked, hoping that the answer was yes. She had seen Rose happier than she had ever been last night and knew that such happiness would be hers again if she was with Jack.
"I can't. I can't save him. Only he can do that. But I can help him see that he can break away from her and be with the one he really loves," Rose's eyes widened with realization. This wasn't the end. At least it didn't have to be. If she could just convince Jack to give what they had a chance and leave Caroline, she could make him see that he deserved real love. Not whatever it was Caroline was offering.
"Well then go for it Rosie. I don't know what it is between you two, but it's something. It deserves a chance to develop."
"Thank you Aunt Molly. I love you," Rose kissed her cheek and takes off in the other direction, glad that she had spoken to her Aunt and got an outsider's advice. Whatever this was between her and Jack, it was far better than anything he had with Caroline. She just had to make him see it too.
"Where are you going?"
"To find him of course. I'm going to tell him that there are no good-byes between us. Never are and never will be!"
"Good luck darlin'! I hope things work out," Molly waved, watching her niece disappear into the crowd.
…..
Jack walked towards the bow of the ship, his mind stuck on Rose. Things hadn't gone as planned. He did say good-bye, but not without realizing that he what he was feeling for Rose was the closest thing to love that he's ever felt in his life and that most likely, she felt the same way. There was no way he was going to be able to get her out of his heart, now. It felt like his heart was made for her. But he was engaged and there was nothing he could do to change things except have another huge confrontation with Caroline and he really didn't want to do that. He sighed once more and leaned against the railing. What was he going to do? He had planned to marry Caroline the minute they got back to Chippewa Falls, but how could he possibly do that when he felt so strongly for another woman?
The sound of loud voices walking pass him tore him out of his thoughts. He turned to see a middle aged couple walking away from him, their voice's, well, the woman's voice rather loud.
The woman seemed to be a fiery red head and the man was about Jack's build. The woman was roughly yanking on the man's arm telling him how stupid he was and how he'd never amount to anything. The man all the time staring at the ground mumbling, "Yes dear. Of course dear. And you're so right dear. Anything you say dear."
Jack couldn't help but laugh to himself. That man was so henpecked it really wasn't funny. He reminded Jack of most of the men back home in Chippewa Falls. Their wives were some of the meanest women around and all the men could do was stand there with their arms folded and mumble yes dear, you're right dear and anything you say dear. They never even tried to stand up to the women.
Man, he was glad that he wasn't them, that he wasn't attached to a woman that was always putting him down and booked no argument. That never had a nice thing to say about...Wait a minute…what did he mean that he was glad he wasn't them? If he wasn't one of them yet…he sure was on his way there! He had just told a sweet girl that he wouldn't be seeing her anymore so he could go on and marry a girl that will grow into one of those women that made their husbands henpecked as hell! If he didn't do something and do it soon then he will be one of those men that say yes dear and no dear and anything you say dear. He didn't want that. He didn't want that at all. He'd be betraying his parents if he became that. He wouldn't be making his life count! He would be a fucking hypocrite! That's what he would be!
He had to change things and change them now before it was too late. He had to find Rose. Or Caroline. Either way, this engagement was off. He couldn't marry Caroline. Even if there was no Rose, he still couldn't marry her. He couldn't let himself turn into the kind of man that marrying Caroline would require him to be.
He turned around to head back to first class just to find Rose approaching him with a nervous smile, yet hard determination in her eyes. He had admit, at this moment, when he had finally made up his mind about his relationship with Caroline, he was happy to see her.
"Hello Jack," She smiled, feeling nervous. What if she couldn't change his mind? "I was hoping you changed your mind."
Jack didn't say anything. He just smiled at her. If only she knew...well, he guessed that she was about to find out.
"They told me that you might be up here," Rose said, feeling the need to explain how she had found him.
"Shhh," Jack placed a finger to his lips and then held a hand out to her. "Come here."
Looking at him strangely, Rose took his hand and allowed him to pull her up to him. "Now close your eyes," Jack directed. "Go on. Close them."
Rose closed her eyes.
"Step up. Now hold on to the railing. Don't peek."
"I'm not," Rose stepped up on the railing.
"Step up on the rail. Hold on. Keep your eyes closed. Don't peek. Do you trust me?"
"I trust you."
Jack lifted her arms 'til they're out to her side. He placed his hand on her waist and smiled. "Open your eyes.".
Rose gasped in delighted surprise as she saw nothing but water out ahead of her and the wind whiping through her hair "Jack, I'm flying."
Jack smiled and breathed in the scent of her hair. It was then that he knew. He loved her. He loved her more thanhe had ever loved anyone, besides his family. He definitely didn't feel this way about Caroline. He took his hands away from her waist and intertwined his fingers with hers. "Come Josephine in my flying machine and it's up she goes, up she goes," Jack sang into her ear causing Rose to smile.
She was the happiest she's ever been. She was in love. That's what this strong feeling for Jack had to be. She didn't know how she had gotten so lucky to have found him, but she had found him. Her soulmate. She knew that he felt the same. She had never doubted it. It had been in his eyes, even earlier today, when he had tried to say goodbye to her. She could tell that it was been killing him to do so. But that was the past. She had refused to let Jack go and Jack had somehow came to his senses on his own. Now here they were flying into the horizon, away from both of the people that had hurt them so much throughout the years. Nothing else existed except for her and Jack and the love that they shared.
She smiled and turned her head towards him, meeting his beautiful blue eyes so filled with love and passion. Their faces were so close that she could feel his breath on her face. She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth and leaned closer. Soon their lips are slightly touching. Rose wanted more, so she opened her mouth and allowed Jack to deepen the kiss as his arms wrapped around her holding her close. Her hand went up into his hair and she pulled him closer. Jack and the ship was now one force of power and optimism, lifting her and buoying her forward on a magical journey, soaring onward into a night without fear and a world full of love.
…..
Rose and Jack entered her empty stateroom. She knew that both her mother and Molly wouldn't be returning until late.
"This is quite proper I assure you," Rose giggled. "Is this light good enough?"
"What?" Jack asked, looking around the room, a bit overwhelmed.
"Don't artists need good light?"
"That is true, but I'm not used to working in such horrible conditions," Jack smiled going into a phony French accent. Jack's eyes widened as he took in the sight of all of the paintings Rose had brought in Paris and had unpacked a couple of days ago. He definitely couldn't take his eyes off of one painting in particular. "Monet," Jack gasped, walking over for a closer look.
"You know his work?" Rose asked, going into her mother's adjoining stateroom
"Of course. Don't you just love his sense of color?"
"I know. It's amazing," Rose smiled, opening her mother's jewelry box and takeing out a gorgeous heart shaped necklace. The stone was blue and had diamonds surrounding it. Rose gives it to Jack. "What do you think?"
"Classy," Jack whistled. "Must have costed a fortune. What is it? A sapphire?"
"No," Rose shook her head, looking at the necklace from behind Jack's shoulder. "It's a diamond. A very rare diamond. It's a family heirloom and my mother's most precious possession. Supposedly my father gave it to her as a wedding gift. I want you to draw me like one of your French girls Jack. Wearing this."
"Ok," Jack nodded. He would do anything Rose asked him to do.
"Wearing only this," Rose smiled at his expression when he turned to look at her.
"Are you sure."
"More sure than I've ever been about anything before I met you," Rose kissed him softly. "Will you do it?"
"If that's what you want."
"It is."
…..
Jack was sharpening his pencil with his portfolio in his lap when Rose emerged wearing a kimono. It was obvious that she was not wearing anything under the kimono. He could feel his heart beat rapidly with anticipation, but he was determined to remain professional.
"Now the last thing I need is another picture making me look like a porcelain doll," Rose walked towards him. "As a paying customer, I expect to get what I want." She tossed a dime to him. He looked at the dime and back up at Rose with a smile on his face. His eyes widened as she slipped off the robe.
She was gorgeous. He couldn't take his eyes off her. "Over there on the bed…I mean the couch," Jack directed.
Rose did as she was told. "How do you want me to…"
"The way you were. Your arm over the…yeah that's right. Now your eyes to me…keep them on me…okay. That's it," Jack began to sketch.
"So serious," Rose teased. Jack just looked at her and smiled as he continued to move his pencil over the paper, her form taking shape. Ten minutes past and Rose noticed the red glow of Jack's face. "I believe you are blushing Mr. Big Artiste. I can't imagine Monsieur Monet blushing."
"He does landscapes," Jack smiled once again. "Now keep your face still. No laughing."
Despite his nervousness and sheer desire for Rose, He drew with sure strokes, and what emerged was the best thing he had ever done. Her pose was languid, her hands beautiful, and her eyes radiated her energy.
One hour later Jack was finished and Rose was back in her kimono. Jack signed the drawing while Rose leaned over his shoulder to watch. She gazed at the drawing and gasped, astonished. He had captured her soul.
"Date it Jack. I want to always remember this night."
"Ok," Jack wrote the date and his initials below the drawing. Rose meanwhile scribbled a note on a piece of Titanic stationary. It was time to show her mother that she didn't need nor want her love or approval anymore. As long as she had Jack she was fine. He was all she had ever needed and all she ever wanted.
She took the drawing and the necklace, plus the note and placed all three of them back into her mother's jewelry box where she was sure to find them.
"Jack…can I stay with you tonight?" Rose asked almost shyly. She really didn't know why she was so shy. He's seen her naked now and he still seemed to like her. There really wasn't anything else that could scare him away.
"Sure. But we can't go back to third. Caroline will be there," Jack sighed, remembering that he still had to break the engagement with her. It wasn't going to be a pretty scene and he didn't want Rose to be around. She'd only get caught in the middle and she was already deep enough.
"Well then we can stay up here in my room. As long as we're together," Rose smiled. We can share my bed, if you don't mind or I can sleep on the floor. Which ever you feel more comfortable with."
"It's up to you," Jack took her in his arms and gently kissed her. He pulled away a little and looked into her eyes. "I love you Rose. I don't think I ever told her that. You know? I didn't feel it so I couldn't say it. But I feel it now here with you. I love you."
Rose's heart soared. He loved her! He really loved her! She felt like screaming it at the top of her lungs! Jack Dawson, the most wonderful man in the world loved her! How did she ever get so lucky?
"I love you too Jack," Rose hugged him tightly. "I love you more than anything in this world."
…..
Meanwhile, in the library, Caroline was pacing the floor. Mrs. Dewitt Bukater's butler, Mr. Lovejoy had yet to find her missing daughter. Caroline didn't know why it worried her, but she was pretty sure that the girl was with Jack. Either way Caroline was going to be doing a lot of yelling when she caught up with Jack later. She had specifically told him to stay away from Rose Dewitt Bukater.
"Ruth darlin, why don't you just leave the poor girl alone. You don't need her right now," Molly sighed, already knowing where Rose was. She was with the other girl's fiancée. She was with Jack. And who knew what they were doing. But she wasn't going to tell Ruth that. She had a feeling that Jack would want to break the news to Caroline himself.
"I couldn't find her Madame," Lovejoy returned.
"Oh goodness gracious it's a ship! There's only so many places she could be," Ruth rolled her eyes.
"How about my fiancée?" Caroline spoke up. "Was he down in third class? She may be with him."
"No one's seen him neither," Lovejoy shook his head.
"Find them Lovejoy," Ruth looks into the mans eyes. "Don't come back until you find them."
"Yes Madame," The butler nodded and headed back out again.
"Don't worry dear. He'll find them," Ruth placed a motherly arm around Caroline.
Molly shook her head at the sight before her. Ruth was so loving and motherly with a girl that wasn't even blood, but she couldn't even show the same compassion towards her own daughter. Molly thanked god that Rose had found love with Jack. Who knew what would have became of the girl if she hadn't?
