A/N: thanks for the great reviews :)

Chapter 21 - Coming Together

The walk from the park to the bed sit wasn't very far, but Rose enjoyed a walk in the afternoon sun. Jack had remained in the park, drawing for the rest of the afternoon. The afternoon had being amazing for Rose, she had learned about Jack's past and his travels and she felt his pain. But the words he had spoken to her 'I want to marry you someday Rose Dewitt Bukater…'they had sent shivers through her entire body. The yapping of a small dog interrupted Rose from her thoughts and she glanced downwards to see a small terrier jumping up and down at her feet, it was grey in colour and it panted with its tongue hanging out in the midday sun. The dog was followed by very tall man dressed in a black suit with a top hat and a walking stick, he approached Rose, and she assumed he was the owner of the terrier.

'Miss, I am terribly sorry, the mutt does not take a blind bit of notice.' He called to the dog but he wouldn't move. Rose laughed, finding the dog cute. She turned her attention to the gentleman who had spoken to her in an Irish accent. He was around fifty years of age and appeared to be a very smartly dressed gentleman.

'It's quite all right.' Rose smiled gently to him. She raised her hand to her face to shield away the sun. 'Is it male or female?'

'Oh male, very male. It has the yap of a female though.' He remarked and they both laughed. 'I'm Irwin Manning.' He held his gloved hand out to her.

'Rose Dewitt Bukater.' She replied, shaking his hand.

'My, my. You are a Miss I am assuming?' He asked, seeing she had no band on her wedding finger. Rose was confused at first before clicking onto his words.

'Oh yes, I am not married.'

'A little young to be married perhaps?' He asked her, leaning against a small wall. He was intrigued by this young lady.

'Yes I believe so.' She smiled to him. 'So are you from Ireland?'

'Yes through and through. And you are American. Well I can say I have never met an American lady before.' He grinned to her. 'What brings you to these parts of London?'

Rose thought before she answered, she couldn't exactly tell this stranger her story. 'I, um well…I was at finishing school in Paris, I was taught Latin, French, Spanish, German and piano and ballet. But then I decided that I wanted to travel a little more, so here I am.'

Irwin was stunned by her talents. 'You speak five languages?'

'Including English, yes.'

Irwin gasped, perhaps this young girl was what he had been looking for. 'Say Miss Bukater, how old are you?'

'I turn seventeen next week.' She told him, not seeing what difference her age made. Irwin thought for a few seconds, he touched his chin and glanced her up and down for a moment and then decided he would proposition her, after all she seemed to fit the bill.

'Miss Bukater, I am a teacher at St Catherine's School for Girls. Mrs Emerson left us nine months ago and since that time we have been very under staffed with just two teachers of a few hundred girls. With your talents, I was wondering if maybe you would like to join us?'

Rose thought she was hearing things, or that she had gone crazy. This man she had just met was offering her a job as a teacher. She gasped slightly, taken aback by his offer. 'Mr Manning…I don't know what to say.'

'Say yes, and save me the stress of finding someone else who fit's the bill.' He smiled to her, and she couldn't stop smiling. She had well and truly landed on her feet.

'Well then yes, of course I will. Thank you so much.' She was stunned, she held out her hand to his to shake it.

'Good. Well the school is past the church, you won't miss it. Start Wednesday if you like, that will give you two days to prepare.' He shook her hand, and nodded his head to her. Taking his terrier out this afternoon seemed to have paid off well. 'Come on you.' he called to his dog, who sat and didn't move. Rose burst out laughing and Irwin rolled his eyes knowing he could be there a little longer if the dog didn't listen.

'Jack…Jack.' Rose's voice shouted and he heard her running up the stairs quickly, her voice loud and echoing throughout the building. Quickly he jumped from the bed and opened the door to see her running up the stairs holding her skirts and a large smile on her face. Opening the door wider, she almost jumped on his as she reached the top of the stairs and he couldn't help but laugh. 'Guess what?'

'What?' He was confused to why she was so excited.

'I have got a job teaching languages at an all girls school.' She cried, clapping her hands together. Jack's eyes widened with shock, but he felt his heart soar seeing how happy she was.

'Holy shit! How?'

'When I left you, I met this Irish man Irwin Manning, he is a teacher at the school and when I told him I could speak five languages' he asked me if I wanted the job, apparently they have been looking for a teacher for months.' Rose said breathlessly. Jack picked her up in his arms and whirled her around several times, feeling the rush of dizziness, he put her down and leaned down and kissed her.

'I'm so happy for you.' he told her, and she closed her eyes as he pulled her into a hug.

'What is all the fuss about up here?' Mrs Brooke's grinned winking to Jack, who shook his head to her. Rose frowned not understanding.

'Rose got a job.' Jack told Mrs Brooke's. She wiped her hands down her apron and clapped them together.

'Ooh that's good news.' She bounced. 'Perhaps Jack would take you out to celebrate tonight.'

Jack rolled his eyes to Mrs Brooke's, knowing what she was suggesting. 'I don't know, would you want to Rose?'

'Of course she would, you should take her dancing. Or to the bridge down by the river, it's a lovely spot for a picnic, in fact that's where Larry asked me to marry him.' She winked to Jack who only smiled.

'That sounds great.' Rose pulled away from Jack. 'What do you say Rose? Pack a picnic?'

Before Rose could reply, Mrs Brooke's had left the room and was scurrying downstairs. 'I'm on it.' she shouted to the couple.

Pouring the rest of the wine into a glass, Jack handed it to Rose. It was a perfect night as they sat on a small strip of grass beside the river. The bridge was overhead, it was an old railway bridge which had ceased use in the late 1800's. The stars loomed over head and the moon was full and shone down brightly casting a beautiful glow over Rose's face, and Jack couldn't stop looking at her, he was in pure awe. The whole day had been amazing, from their talk in the park to Rose getting a job, their new life here was something worth celebrating. Even though they were surrounded by poverty, they were happy. Rose sipped some of her wine, she felt as though she could sing with pure happiness. She noticed Jack's eyes fall on her every few moments and knew something was on his mind, but what she didn't know. Mrs Brooke's had been awfully keen for them to come to this spot for a picnic, and she was right it was lovely. She had packed them several ham and cheese sandwiches, a few pieces of chocolate cake and a bottle of wine from the fridge.

'Isn't it magnificent?' Rose leaned her head back, taking in the entire sky, the clearness, the stars and the moon.

'Yeah.'

'So vast and endless.' She spoke as though she was in a dream. She felt transfixed by the beauty of the sky. Suddenly, a shooting star went flying through the sky like an angel, leaving a silver trail behind it almost like magic. 'Did you see it?'

'Yeah I did.' Jack leaned his head back. 'You know Pops used to tell me it was a soul going to heaven…' Jack remembered his father, how he missed him and wished he was here to meet Rose.

'I like that. Aren't we supposed to wish on it?' She asked, standing up and walking around still glancing at the sky, she stopped to lean against a railing next to the river. Jack came beside her and placed his hands on her waist, not taking his eyes away from her.

'Why? What would you wish for?' He asked, almost in a whisper.

'Nothing.' She replied, becoming lost in his eyes. 'I have everything I've ever wanted right here.'

Jack felt his stomach churn, knowing what she meant. God he loved her so much, he would do anything for her and he knew she returned his love but…

'Actually there's one thing I want…' He backed away from her slightly, and she glanced downwards to him taking her attention away from the sky. As her eyes found his, he slowly bent down on one knee as if in slow motion. It took a few seconds for her mind to comprehend what was happening. He wanted something…Cupping her hand around her mouth, she felt like she was dreaming everything.

'Jack…?'

'There's one more thing I want Rose…' He smiled to her, but tears shined in his eyes. He held out his hand to her and she shakily she slipped her hand in his feeling nervous. She couldn't believe this was happening, was he going to ask her to marry him?

'I want you to marry me.'

As he spoke the words, tears finally escaped her eyes and she felt dizzy. A smile came across her face, and she knew there would only be one answer to his question. He felt inside his coat pocket, and pulled out a small box…carefully he opened it, to reveal a small ring sparkling inside.

'Rose, will you marry me?'

Rose hesitated her answer, and Jack hoped with all his heart that she said 'yes.' He knew they were young but she was all he wanted in his life. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Rose bent down on her knees. She touched his face with both of her trembling hands, seeing how nervous he was. 'Jack…of course I will marry you.' she whispered to him. Shakily he pulled the ring from the box and hoped that it fit her finger and to both of their surprise it did. It wasn't anything grand just gold with a small diamond, all she needed.

'Oh Rose…I love you so much.' He too, felt tears prick in his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her, slowly at first but then she put both of her arms around his neck and together they fell onto the grass wrapped in each others arms.

'I love you too.' She whispered back to him.

She laid in his arms silent for a few minutes. She had never felt so close to anyone as she did Jack. 'Are you happy Rose?' he asked her quietly.

'Of course I am. Why would you think I wasn't?' Worry tinted her voice, her eyes sparkling.

'I just wanted to make sure marriage was what you wanted.' Jack smiled a little. 'I told Mrs Brooke's earlier that we weren't married, that I wanted to ask you.'

'That why she was so determined for us to come here.' Rose playfully tapped Jack before laying back down in his arms. She did feel happy, and marriage was what she wanted, she was sure of it.