Dearest Lily,

I haven't written you in a long time. I hope everyone is doing well. Jack and I have just gotten back from France, we have stayed there for two and a half months and we got back two weeks ago. I got to play a small part in a play, oh how I loved it. To be fair, I am a bit scared to tell you this, but we got married last week so I am now officially Rose Dawson. It wasn't big, far from it even. Just us and two of our friends. I don't have much else to say besides that we are going to Jack's hometown in a couple of days. Also I want you to know that I am doing fine. I am happy. Truly happy. Kisses to Harry and Adam.

Love,

Rose

"I don't really know what to say about this." Ruth sighs and lays down the paper next to her on the couch. Lily looks at her. "You don't have to say anything, mother."

"Care for anymore tea, ma'am?" Lucy asks as she stands next to Lily. "Just a little bit." Lucy nods and pours it in.

"It is her birthday next week. Can't we invite her over?" Harry asks them.

"I don't want to have dinner at the same table as that Dawson man."

"Mother, please. She is a Dawson now as well."

"I don't want it, Lily."

"But don't you want to see your daughter again, Ruth? It's been more than 6 months."

"Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't, because it feels like she isn't my daughter. She lived with a man without being married. She has had an acting job in Paris. Perhaps she is even pregnant now."

"She would have told us if she were, mother. But fine. I respect your decision. We'll just write her back." Lily takes a sip of her tea and a bite of her piece of cake.

"Do whatever you want. But that chauffer's name isn't allowed in this house anymore!"

….

"What are you thinking of, darling?" Harry crawls into bed and moves closer to Lily. She sighs. "I can't believe she is married now. Give it a moment and I'll become an aunt."

"I am not going to discuss this thing again. She is happy... Didn't you read it?"

"You don't have to be all snobby at me about it, you wanted to know what I was thinking about and well… this is it."

"Can't we just invite them? Ruth doesn't have to come over if she doesn't want to."

"Why do you want to see them so badly? I don't think it's a good idea, because it will be too awkward. Trust me." She turns down the light and crawls further under the sheets.

"I am also thinking about Adam. He'd love to see Rose." Lily pretends like she doesn't hear him and closes her eyes.

...

"Is it normal that my belly looks like this at this stage of pregnancy. I mean I look huge."

"You look beautiful. Pregnant women always look beautiful." Rose puts down her cup of tea and stares at Sara. She laughs. "Then I am glad you haven't seen my mother when she was pregnant with my younger brother. She looked like a balloon. Oh god... That's why I look so big as well."

"You have to stop exaggerating, Sara. You have this growing miracle inside of you. You should be proud."

"But how was it with your sister?"

"I can't really remember that well since she was already married and didn't live with us. But the times she came over she was fine, I guess."

"But first let's talk about your birthday." Sara smiles and sits down next to Rose. "My birthday. I don't think it's that necessarily to celebrate my birthday."

"Haha don't act as if you don't like birthdays."

"It's not like I don't like birthdays. It's just that I don't want it to be celebrated that big. Just you and a big piece of cake." She laughs

Sara raises an eyebrow and giggles. "Birthdays are fun!"

"Birthdays?" Suddenly Fabrizio stands from behind Sara and wraps his arms around her belly.

"Rose doesn't want to celebrate her birthday." She mocks.

"That is so not true! It's just that I don't want it to be such a fuzz," she stands up, "and now I am going to help your mother in the garden, because she asked me to." Fabrizio and Sara both laugh at her and shake their heads.

"It is a good that Jack not hear this. He talking all week about Rose's birthday."

"What about a small surprise party. Just a small one."

"We have to discuss with Jack but I like the idea."

"Great." She smiles and kisses him.

"You feel good?" Fabrizio looks at her belly. "I feel wonderful thank you."

"You look so gorgeous." Sara blushes and kisses him again.

...

"Please stop crying!" Rosie tries to calm her little boy down, but he has been crying for up to 20 minutes straight. "Stop crying, please! SAMUEL STOP CRYING!"

*knock knock knock*

Rosie rushes towards the door and sighs in relief when she sees April standing outside. "Here let me have him." She takes Samuel out of her arms and tries to calm him down.

"Come on little boy, there is nothing to be sad about!"

"I just fed him, he has a clean diaper so it can't be that!"

"Did you ever see a lassie,

A lassie, a lassie?

Did you ever see a lassie,

Go this way and that?

Go this way and that way,

Go this way and that way.

Did you ever see a lassie,

Go this way and that?"

The little boy is now fast asleep and April kisses him while putting him in his crib. "Are you sure you are alright?"

Rosie shakes her head and a sob escapes her lips. "I don't know how to do this, April. I can hardly take care of him. I don't have a job, I miss Albert and I am just a terrible mother."

"Don't you dare to say that about yourself. I am here to help you, you don't have to do this alone."

"But that is not healthy, April. You have your job and I need to learn to take care of myself."

"But it's never bad to ask for an extra hand. I am your friend. Friends help each other."

"But how are you going to help me?"

"I'll come around every single day from now on. I can find a way to fix it with my mistress, don't worry about that."

...

"Hey night owl, don't you want to come to bed?" Rose stands in the doorway while the soft evening breeze blows through her loose curls. She looks at Jack sitting on the porch while smoking a cigarette.

"Hey, I thought you were asleep."

"I was but suddenly it felt quite cold." She steps outside and sits next to him. She looks at his cigarette and without saying a word he gently puts it between her lips. The fresh tobacco burns slightly in her throat, but it feels nice

"You look blue." She tells him a bit worried. "Do I?" "You do, Jack."

He sighs. "It's just that I don't know what I really want. I love cars and it sure makes quite some money, but drawing. Drawing is where my heart is you know? But there is no future in it. At least not for me."

"Jack, don't look at the money. It's not the most important part." She kisses his hand.

"But I promised Harry to take care of you."

"And how wonderful you are in doing that," she looks up at the sky and looks at the stars, "You know every time I look up at the sky I thank whoever there is that I have met you." She looks back at him and he smiles at her.

"I can see you are nervous to go back to Chippewa Falls. I mean if you don't..."

"No I want to go. It's good to go, I think. I am thinking about it. That's true."

Rose leans in and kisses him gently. "I love you, Jack Dawson." He smiles at her and kisses her back. "I love you, Rose Dawson. Let's go inside."

…

April 5th 1914

"Granny." Adam shuffles over to his grandmother. "Yes, Adam?"

"Daddy said that it is Auntie Rose's birthday today but I can't find her anywhere."

"Oh Adam. You know that Rose is not here."

"But where is she then?"

"She is on her own. Alone somewhere in this world." Adam looks at his grandmother with big eyes and he doesn't understand a single word. He just nods his head and smiles at her while running off.

"Adam, don't run around like a wild beast!" His mother warns him while he runs past her.

"What a sugary cake can do to a child." Ruth falsely laughs. "Harry doesn't know what is healthy for him."

"Where is he actually?"

"In the library he had to make a phone call." The two ladies sit down. "I can still remember her ball last year. Wasn't her dress beautiful?"

"Yeah… Harry wrote her to congratulate her."

"He hasn't invited him over, has he?"

"No no no! I told him that he absolutely couldn't do that."

"I bet having a chauffeur joining us for dinner would make headlines."

"Quite the scandal. But mother?"

"Wouldn't you like to see her once? Or write her a telegram?"

"Sometimes I do. I still dream most nights of how it all could have been. How it would have been if I paid maybe a bit more attention."

"Don't blame yourself. Those two had secret meetings not even a detective could know of."

"This morning I woke up and thought about how this day could have been so different. Us five. Rose Hockley happily married and we would sit in the garden in our old house…"

The door suddenly opens and Harry walks in with Adam tight around his arm. "Excuse me ladies. It was Mr. Harper. That man never knows when to shut his mouth."

Ruth and Lily laugh. "Lily told me that you wrote Rose a letter."

"Yes. Yes I did. I thought as an act of kindness. And I haven't congratulated them on being married either so I thought it was my duty to do so."

"Daddy I want to play outside."

"One second little man. I congratulated Mr. Dawson as well. So you know. I don't want to keep those things a secret. Well now I am going to take this little monkey outside." He lifts his son up and puts him onto his shoulders.

"But not all the money is gone, mother. And maybe with Harry's business propositions you never know what could happen next. I am thinking about it sometimes, that If everything will go as planned for once… you could be able go back to the old house."

Ruth kisses her daughter's cheek. "I don't deserve you."

…

Rose wakes up as she feels the bright sunlight burn through her eyes. She yawns and stretches to realize that the side next to her is completely empty. The bed is perfectly made up and she doesn't hear him in the bathroom either. She throws the covers off her body and shuffles down the stairs. It's extremely quiet. Almost too quiet.

"Happy birthday, Rose!" Suddenly Sara throws herself onto her from behind the corner and Rose stumbles back almost losing her balance.

"Thank you," She smiles still wondering where everyone else are, "Where are Jack and Fabrizio? Or your mother?"

"Isn't my company enough for you? No just kidding!" she laughs, "the thing is that Jack and Fabrizio are at the garage. They had to leave super early. And mother is getting some bread from the bakery."

"Oh alright…" She mumbles a but disappointed. Why wouldn't Jack have woken her up? She'd always feel him planting a kiss onto her forehead whenever he has to leave early. Now he just left without showing any sign of him being awake. Would he have forgotten that it's her birthday?

"Since you don't really want to celebrate you birthday I thought maybe it would just be fun to pop into town today. Just to have a nice girls' day.

"Sounds lovely, Sara. I have to make myself ready first."

"Oh take your time."

"Alright." Sara grins as she follows Rose's figure walking back up the stairs.

…

"This dress is so beautiful! Isn't it, Rose?"

"It is beautiful indeed. I really like the green in it." Sara takes her hand and almost drags her inside. "I was thinking about buying a skirt maybe one or two sizes larger so it will last longer."

Rose moves her fingers across the fabric of some dresses and skirts. "Isn't it best to wait a bit longer?"

"Ma'am" Sara puts up her hand and calls for the lady behind the counter.

"How can I help you?"

"I would like to have this skirt please... But do you perhaps have it one or two sizes bigger?"

"Bigger?" The woman asks slightly confused.

"Well..." Sara puts her hands onto her stomach, "it's growing fast you see."

"But ma'am you need to have maternity clothing in your situation."

"Well the problem is that maternity clothing is somewhat expensive."

"I am sorry but I cannot help you with it." Sara rolls her eyes and take her friend by the arm. "Then we ought to go... Her loss." She mumbles into Rose's ear when they step outside.

"What if I treat us on some tea and a piece of cake? There is this nice little cafe just around the corner."

"Oh please don't bother yourself."

"Come one it's my birthday. A pregnant woman has got to treat herself sometimes."

Sara smiles. "I was actually thinking about going home. We've been strolling around all day. Don't you want to go home?"

Rose shrugs her shoulders. "I just don't understand why Jack had to leave so early, I thought he had the day off?"

"I know, darling. But Fabrizio received a telegram last evening and they said it was urgent."

Rose swipes a loose strand of hair behind her ear and nods. "It's fine. Let's go home and I'll make us some tea there."

...

"Oh I am not really sure about that yet. I've asked Jack, but he said there was no rush." Sara nods and opens the door.

"Why is it so dark?" Rose asks as they step in. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know it just looks so dark in the house. Are the curtains closed?"

"Wait I'll have a look." Sara steps inside the sitting room, "Rose could you help me with it for a moment, I think it is stuck."

"Of course. Let me hang up my coat." After maybe seconds she follows. "SURPRISE!" Rose shrieks and takes a step back to see the three of them standing around a table with a cake in the middle.

"Oh my God." Rose laughs. Jack rushes over to her and spoils her with kisses. "Happy birthday, baby."

"I thought you had to work!"

"It was all a big lie. I am really sorry that I didn't wake you up this morning." Rose laughs and kisses Jack's cheek. "Now I forgive you."

"You didn't want to celebrate your birthday, but we'd feel so guilty if we would not do something so... Surprise!" Sara laughs.

"I don't know what to say! Truly." She laughs nervously

"You don't have to say anything. Just have a nice piece of cake with us." Jack kisses her forehead and lets her sit down.

"It also explains why you were being so mysterious all day." Rose laughs at Sara. "I was quite surprised about my acting skills as well!"

"Here."

"What is this?" Rose takes a small box out of Jack's hands.

"Your gift."

"No..."

"Yes." He laughs and strikes his hands through his hair.

"Jack, you shouldn't have done this."

"Just open it." He laughs again.

Rose opens the box and gasps when it reveals a small golden necklace. "Oh my God..."

"Is that a good thing?" Fabrizio whispers in Sara's ear.

"Jack, this is absolutely beautiful. But... This most have cost you a fortune."

"Actually... It was my mother's. You see it is the only thing that I have left from my parents. But it's been lying inside this box for years. So I thought you'd have a better use of of it. And my mother wouldn't have want it otherwise."

"It has her name carved on the back. For Helen Dawson 1890."

"Here let me put it on." He stands up and attaches it around her neck. It feels nice and light. She looks at it through the small mirror above the chimney. She is quiet for a while. Her mind wonders to about two years ago. The Heart of the Ocean must have cost about 50 times more, yet she feels like the richest girl on earth wearing this necklace.

"I… Thank you, Jack. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, love." They share a passionate kiss. "I hope your mother approves with me wearing it."

"Oh trust me, she would have given it yourself if she were here. I can bet on it!" Rose smiles and kisses him again.

"This came for you in mail today as well." Fabrizio hands Rose a small envelope. "Thank you."

Dear Rose,

I am happy you are doing so well. I am writing you because I wanted to congratulate you. Not only on your birthday, but also on your marriage. You deserve all the luck in the world, little flower. You and Jack. Adam has been asking a lot about you since you left, I can't deny that. So I was hoping to meet you two soon. To see how you are doing and to hear about your adventurous life. Hope to hear from you.

Your sincerely,

Harry

"It's a letter from Harry!" Rose shrieks utterly surprised.

"What does he say?" Jack puts down his cup of tea and scoots closer towards Rose.

"He wants to meet us soon. To catch up. And he wants to congratulate us on our marriage."

"What about your sister?"

"He doesn't mention her. But I haven't received a letter from her in ages."

"But he wants to meet us?" Rose nods and hands Jack the letter. "But I am not sure about it. We simply don't have enough money. Because we are going to Chippewa Falls first. What if mother will be there?"

"You don't have to decide now. You could write him back saying that you haven't made your mind about it yet."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"He wants to see you as well…"

"Yoohoo! Rose, it's your birthday. Leave it for tomorrow perhaps. Or next week even!" Sara giggles. Rose hesitates for a moment but then realizes that Sara is right. Worrying about it now would be so pointless.

"You are right."

...

"Can I have another beer please!" Rose almost screams at the bartender.

"Don't you think you've had enough?!"

She shakes her head. "It is my birthday!"

"I see. So how many springs?"

"19!" Rose laughs.

"Rose!" Rose hears her voice and sees Jack walking over to her with two beers in his hand. "Here."

"Oh Jack," she says while taking the glass, "I am afraid I am feeling a little tipsy."

"I can see your cheeks are all blushing." She kisses him. "Thank you for this amazing birthday!"

He kisses her again and takes both of the glasses and puts it onto a table so he can get hold of her hands to pull her in for a dance. "Come Josephine in my flying machine going up she goes. Up she goes!" He sings to her. Rose wants to join him, but the alcohol makes her stumble onto her words.

"Balance yourself like a bird on a beam in the air she goes. There she goes!"