A/N Hey guys, I'm very sorry for the long wait on this update! I've just been really busy with work! Yes, I got a summer job, and I've been working a lot, so sometimes I lose track of how much time has really gone by! Hopefully you're all still reading! Big thank you's to MirrorFlower and DarkWind , Susan Viktorija , Charlie loves socks xD , and Guest for your reviews on chapter 24! :) xx. As I always say, reviews are greatly appreciated, and I welcome constructive critisism! :) So, remember to leave me a review with your opinion on this story! Thank you, and without further delay, here is the long awaited chapter 25! Enjoy!

Chapter 25 Sally-Mae Pickett & The Issues of Aging

Rosalinda and Nathan had officially been married for two months now. They had married in August, and it was now October. Rosalinda was four months into her pregnancy now, and getting slightly rounder as time progressed. Her worries about Nathan's mother thinking she was a whore for conceiving a child before they had actually been married seemed for nothing now. Her and Nathan had told his mother just days after the wedding event itself, that Rosa had already been pregnant for two months before they were wed, and his mother didn't seem to have a care in the least. She expressed that she was just happy that Nathan had managed to find an amazing girl like Rosalinda, which made me very proud to be Rosa's mother.

They were living in Nathan's mansion, only five blocks away, and things couldn't have been going any better for the pair.

Just a week ago, it was announced that Evelynn had given birth to her and Charles' first child, it was a boy whom they named Fredrick. This was my first born grandson, and I couldn't have been more delighted with this news. He was born on October 12th 1953 at 2:33 in the morning.

Around the same time, it was also announced to the family that Lillian was pregnant yet again with their fourth child, and that she would be giving birth sometime in the early months of the new year.

Charles had grinned broadly when he had heard this, and stated that he hoped it would be a boy this time, so his name could finally be used like Jack had promised when Lillian had given birth to their first child Marie. Everyone found this hilarious, and Jack agreed that he hoped so too, so that Charles would finally get off of his back about it.

I myself secretly longed for them to have a boy also, but for a completely different reason. To carry on the Dawson name.

Today was Thursday, and there was nothing particularly special about it. There never really was anything special about my days anymore.

The house was quiet as I sat by myself in the sitting room on the comfortable sofa, twiddling my thumbs and wondering solemnly what to do with myself to pass the time. Ever since all of my children had left the house to pursue their own lives and children and futures, I was constantly stuck with nothing to keep myself occupied. Other than when they occasionally stopped by, and brought themselves, and my grandchildren along for a short visit.

The house was always eerily silent now, and I ended up turning the small television set more often than not these days, simply for the noise. There was also nobody to clean up after, and no one to cook for, other than myself of course which never took long as I always kept things around the home fairly tidy. My home also suddenly seemed very large to me, without six people constantly running around hectically inside of it.

I turned the television set on, turned the volume up, and began to pace around the sitting room, which eventually ended up including the kitchen as I paced back and forth, waiting and waiting. Waiting for what? I wasn't entirely sure. Waiting for something, anything to happen, waiting to stumble upon anything to do I suppose.

Eventually, without even realising it I was pacing around the entire household. In and out of my children's previous bedrooms, past the bathroom, into my bedroom, and back out to the kitchen and sitting room.

Finally, something made me stop dead in my tracks. I was turning around to exit my bedroom for the umpteenth time and make my way back to the kitchen when I caught my reflection in the circular mirror hanging on my bedroom wall right next to my chest of drawers. I was slightly taken aback by my appearance, I'm not going to lie.

These days, being 57 years old, I tried to avoid looking into a mirror, or even any other reflective surface as much as I possibly could.

I have to say, I didn't look good. Not at all. All though time does heal all wounds, it also ages you severely.

Did I think I was going to stay young and beautiful forever? No, of course not. I most definitely wasn't that naïve. So then, why was I so disturbed by my current state?

My pale porcelain skin that was always so smooth and clear throughout the course of my life was beginning to darken, and show more and more age spots. My entire face was aging, showing off lines and even a fair few wrinkles. My mint green eyes that had once been so bright and alive were now dull. Mind you, that was most likely just because I wasn't very happy at the present moment.

I moved closer to the mirror reluctantly, and began to realise that the closer I got, the worse I seemed to look. Looking this closely, I saw that my face had much more than just a fair few wrinkles, and that I had a few long hairs that seemed to be growing out of my… chin? Just like a young mans! I was absolutely horrified by this aspect, and quickly yanked them out with my fingers.

My hair was worn loose, and I had recently gotten it cut just below the shoulders. Looking closely at the crown of my head, I saw a number of grey hairs protruding out of my fiery red locks, some very long and some short. I nearly cried out in despair. How had I failed to notice this before? This was an absolute nightmare!

I was not taking this situation lightly, not at all. This was one of the utmost inconvenient times for me to notice such a thing, for it was my daughters wedding in only a week!

My second eldest daughter Sally-Mae was to be wed to George Pickett on the 26th of October.

Once she had caught the flowers at Rosalinda's wedding (which was a sign, according to old legend that the person who catches the brides bouquet will be the next to wed) she was ecstatic, and George had proposed to her only 3 weeks later.

She had said yes instantly, and had planned for their wedding to be in late October. The date had been set, and I needed to do something about my ghastly appearance before that day. All though I did know that there was actually very little, if anything at all that I could do about it.

All I could really do at this point and time was take comfort in the fact that if I wasn't standing to terribly close to somebody, they would never be able to notice these things that bothered me so deeply.

I returned to the sitting room grudgingly, dragging my feet, feeling even more depressed than I had before. My appearance was surely a sign that I was almost done keeping my promise to my angel. I took some comfort in that fact as well. But, Jack had told me that I would die an old, old lady warm in my bed and I suddenly started to wonder, was it really almost my time? Was it really only a matter of years before I saw my Jack Dawson on the grandest ship in the world again? Of course, I couldn't be sure.

I mean, how old is old really? I'm 57 now, and yes it seems old to me, but is it really that old? Jack had said old, and I thought I was old, but perhaps I wasn't nearly as old as I already felt.

I shook my head vigorously and tried my best to stop thinking about it, it would only drive me crazy to think to much on it. When it was time, it would be time. I couldn't rush this, there was no possible way too, no matter how much I wanted to. I needed to be patient. But I had had patience my whole life, and it was only natural that in 41 years it had begun to run out.

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It was the day of Sally's wedding, and I had awoken early in the hopes that I could do something to improve my shockingly aging appearance.

Finally, after what seemed to be endless amounts of hair care and make up products, I felt that I looked suitable enough to go out.

I smiled at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, pleased with my work. Perhaps I could be a beautician, or a hairstylist yet.

When I arrived at the church everyone appeared to be present already. I quickly scrambled out of the car and through the church doors, cursing myself and my beauty products silently for making me run so late.

Once again, it was a small ceremony, just family. Ours and George and Evelynn's. Their parents and one younger sister. I had met them once before at Charles and Evelynn's wedding, and I found that they were lovely people. Once again, as their father Charles wasn't here to do so, I escorted Sally-Mae down the isle and gave her away.

It was really a beautiful ceremony. When they had finally been pronounced husband and wife, and had shared that kiss, I suddenly wondered if my late husband Charles was watching. He who had passed away so many years ago now. I wondered where he was now, if he was watching, and if he was proud of all of our children. Our children who had each grown up to be such beautiful, intelligent, genuine people, and a part of society.

Then, another thought struck me. Had Charles ever come across Jack? Had they possibly met? After all, I really didn't know anything about the other side. And what if they had met? What kind of words, and thoughts would possibly be exchanged between the two of them? Would they discuss me? Oh god! That would be terribly awkward!

So many questions ran through my mind. So many dreadful, awkward scenarios. I tried desperately to think of anything else as I departed the church, and started back towards my deserted home.