Chapter 10

All Cora remembered was being violently thrown foward, then, nothing. As she finally did come to, she was on the street, and she felt more light-headed than any bout of head rush could make her. She reached up to scratch an itch on her forehead, but recoiled when she felt fresh blood coat her hand. She struggled to sit up, but could barely even lift her head. The feeling of helplessness hurt her almost as much as the head wound that continued to pour blood.

"Cora!" Rose ran out to the girl, carefully avoiding the glass that had once been the windows of the beautiful automobile.

To Cora, the voice was an echo, seemingly distant, so she said, "Mother?"

Rose knelt beside her, replying in a concerned, protective sort of way, "No, Cora, it's me, Rose. You're going to be okay, we've called for help. I never should have let us get in the car. You and I both know that driver was drunk. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

"No," whispered Cora, "it's nobody's fault. Everything happens for a reason."

Just then, the passenger in the other car got out to see if the girl was okay. The man had blond hair and blue eyes. His clothes made it obvious that he'd used quite a bit of his savings to have someone drive him around.

"Is she okay? Wait, Cora?"

Rose turned around then to see who this person was and how he knew Cora.

"Jack." Her voice was barely audible; her lip was quivering. "It's me, Rose DeWitt Bukater."

"I think I'm gonna have to have you write that one down."

Rose laughed lightly, just as she had when he'd first told her that. Then she lowered her head, silent tears falling to the ground. Jack took her in his arms then, and they sobbed in each others embrace for what seemed like forever. They then turned to Cora, who was crying herself.

"I should have told you. I should have told you right away, Rose."

"Told me what?"

"I knew he was alive. I knew both of you were alive. I was just mad. Mad at you, Uncle Jack. I... I'm so sorry."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up, kid. We're together now. We can be a family now, the three of us." It was killing Jack to try to keep from crying. Cora could tell.

In a painful attempt to shake her head, the dying girl said, "No. It just can't be that way. It won't be that way. It's time for me to see my mother and father again. It's been six years, you know."

That's when the irony dawned on all of them. Cora had escaped Death's clutches on April 14, 1912, but would die on April 14th after all. Then it was too much to handle, and Jack broke.

"You can't go! We're all together now. You can't miss out on this, you just can't."

She took his hand, and looked in his eyes, and said, "I'll be in your heart. From this day on, now and forever more. I may not be with you, but always hold on."

They were both crying freely, and Jack nodded. It was a promise that he would hold close to his heart, until the day he died.

"You're still my best girl, Cora."

"That's all I needed to hear." Her voice was so quiet that Jack had to lean in to hear her.

Then, right there, in the middle of the street, Cora Cartmell died. She died quietly and peacefully, and there was something tragically beautiful about her passing, for without it, Jack and Rose Dawson would never have found one another again.

A.N.- I hope that was a good, emotional ending for you guys. Now you know why I called it Still My Best Girl. So, freakily enough, I went on Pandora and put on "My Heart Will Go On" radio, and songs came on that totally fit the part of the chapter I was writing. When Rose was apologizing to Cora for getting in the car, "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan came on. When Jack got out of his car, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban came on. When Jack and Rose were crying when they found each other, "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz came on. When Cora grabbed Jack's hand, "You'll Be In My Heart" by Phil Collins came on, and I used some of the lyrics as dialogue. Thanks to all who supported me in writing my first fic and accepted me so openly. I think I'm going to take a stab at the "Neverland" fandom next, so any of you who have seen the SyFy miniseries will have something to look foward to!

Peace, Love, and Flying Machines,

Titanicfangirl