(A/N: Today is the first half of the anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. This chapter is dedicated to the poor people that perished that night. May they rest in peace.)

Dear Rose,

Tomorrow I will be going into battle. It'll be my first one. Am I scared? Well I could lie and pretend to be brave and gun ho and ready to kill the enemy. I could tell you how sure I am that we will be victorious with no casualties and this will probably be our only battle. But I'd be lying.

I am scared. But I am determined. I am determined to survive this battle and every battle after, because each one will bring me closer to coming home to you and our children. I just hope that you won't hate me when I return. I don't want to be here. I don't want to kill anyone really. Not over a stupid dispute that should have been resolved diplomatically and not cost people who had nothing to do with it their lives. It's so unfair. Why couldn't the world leaders just duke it out among each other one on one in a boxing ring like we did in school? That way only they would be the ones affected while the rest of us go on with our lives?

If I had my way, I would never have to take part I this. I try not to think about the other side too much. I try not to remember that they are people too...that the person I shoot may be my age, with a soul mate waiting for them to come home to be with them and their children...that I may be the reason that never happens. Thinking about that is enough to drive me mad.

I don't tell anyone this. Everyone is so eager to go into battle and to kill. To lead our side into victory. They don't think about the consequences or the lives they take. It's all just war, bombs, and bullets to them.

I may be scared about the battle tomorrow, but my biggest fear of all is coming home and you not wanting me anymore. Losing your love because I'll be a killer instead of the artist that had swept you off your feet six years ago. That I'll lose everything that is important to me...including my morals and self respect.

But regardless, I will fight on and I will come home and deal with the fallout then. For now...I'm still your Jack. Your artist who loves you more than anything on this earth. It's the memory of your face and voice that keeps me going.

Don't worry if I don't write again for a while. We'll be on the move and in battles. Continue to write to me, love. I will get your letters eventually, just as you will get mine. Try not to worry too much. Remember that I love you and I'll never let go. That's a promise that I'm making you now.

Give Janie and Hockley my best. As well as Alice, I'm pretty sure that Micheal is gone by now. I hope the best for him as well. Tell the children that daddy loves them.

Love

Jack

"Hey Dawson, are you finished writing yet?" Maxwell Combs plopped down next to his bunk mate, an apple in his hand as he grinned at the older man that had become his closest friend in their regiment.

"Just about. I'm about to write a reply to my son," Jack folded the letter that had just written to Rose. He smiled at the young man next to him. Maxwell reminded him of Tommy Ryan with his curly blond hair and friendly brown eyes. He had been immediately drawn to him when they had first met and had become fast friends, bonding over how they missed the women that they loved and would rather be back home than at war, a feeling that they kept between themselves with their fellow soldiers being excited and optimistic about fighting the war.

"You're a lucky man, Jack. I can't wait to get home to Doris and start our family. Rumor has it that she's pregnant already. Can you imagine? She's pregnant and I'm not there with her? I'd do anything to be able to go through with her," Maxwell gave a wistful sigh. "At least you got to feel your baby kick while still inside your wife. How was that?"

Jack sadly smiled, thinking of Micheal Calvert. He was in the same boat as Maxwell right now. "It's miraculous. But surely this won't be the only baby you will have. You'll get to experience your baby's first kick during the next pregnancy."

"I hope you're right, man. I just hate that I have to be away from her at all. Of course, you understand that. Do you want to see a picture of her again?"

"Sure," Jack shrugged, wishing that Maxwell would go and find something else to do so he could reply to Jake, but he was too nice to tell the man to go away. With him being the youngest in their group, Jack was the closest person to his own age and was easier to get along with than the others.

Maxwell pulled out a picture of a girl who looked to have black hair and light colored eyes that could be gray, blue, or green. It was hard to tell in the picture. "Isn't she the prettiest thing?"

Jack smiled. Indeed, the girl was pretty, but to Jack, she was nothing when compared to his Rose. "Rose is a first class girl from Philadelphia. She chose a life with me over all the money she could have married into. She's a beautiful as a rose too..."

Jack took out the picture he had brought with him and showed it to Maxwell, who whistled in appreciation.

"She is a beauty."

"Yeah. Hopefully she'll still want me when I return."

"Of course she will. True love never goes away. If she loved you before you left, she'll love you when you return."

Jack smiled, feeling a little better by Maxwell's words. He was right. Besides, after all they've been through, Rose wouldn't let some war come between them, right? "Thanks. I needed to hear that, I think."

"We'll get home to our ladies Jack. We'll get home and it'll be like we had never left."

…..

Dear Jake,

I am so happy that momma has you to look after her. Knowing that she has you to comfort her is a relief to me. Congratulations about the art show. I hope that it was a success. I wish I could have been there for it. I am so proud of you my big boy.

And you are always a good boy. Don't you worry about that. I promise to come back to you and your momma and siblings as soon as I can. I miss all of you more than I can describe.

Love

Daddy

Jack folded the paper and placed it in the envelope with Rose's. This was nowhere near enough contact with his family. He didn't know how much longer he could stand this. But he must. There was no choice but to push on.

Sighing, he walked over to the tent for mail and sent the letter off and returned to his tent, knowing that this would probably be the last good night sleep he'll have for while. Tomorrow, they'll fight. He laid down on his cot, listening to Maxwell's soft snores, wishing that he was back home in Rose's arms. Was he really going to survive this war? Would he ever see Rose again? Or was this it for him? He didn't know. All he knew was that he was going to try his damnedest to survive. It was all he could do until he was back home in Rose's arms.

…..

Irene Dawson walked in with Jack's letter in hand. Her heart ached as she thought of both of her sons over in Europe fighting the war. She was terrified for them both. She couldn't lose them. It was bad enough losing Albert, but she would die if her boys were gone as well. Not that she would be left alone. She was staying with Janie and visiting Rose constantly, keeping the young mother company as much as possible with Jack gone off to war. It broke her heart to see her. The beautiful, vibrant redhead was now a shadow of herself, really. Without Jack, she had lost that spark that had drawn her son to her. She was just going through the motions and it broke Irene's heart to see. She wished that there was some way to comfort the girl, but she knew that there was nothing that she could do. The only thing that could help Rose was Jack's return and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

"Rosie, dear. You have a letter from Jack," Irene walked into the kitchen, where Rose was preparing lunch.

Rose smiled and accepted the letter, grateful for more proof that Jack was still apart of this earth. Ever since his last letter, she had been plagued with sleepless nights, wondering what he was doing, what he was seeing, how he was feeling at that moment.

Irene went ahead and took over the cooking, knowing that Rose wanted...no, she needed, to read Jack's words as soon as possible. She sat down and read, a tear appearing in her eyes at some point and a small frown turning down her mouth. Jack was afraid she wouldn't want him anymore? How could he think such a thing?

"Irene, do you mind if I go and write an answer to Jack's letter?" Rose asked once she had finished reading.

"Go ahead dear. I have everything under control in here," Irene kindly smiled at her daughter in law, knowing that she wanted to answer Jack's letter as soon as possible. "Take as much time as you need."

"Thank you," Rose smiled, standing up from her chair and heading to her office, where the pen and stationary awaited…

…..

Dear Jack,

I had just received your letter. I hope that this letter finds you well. I cannot tell you how afraid I am for you. I don't like you going into battle and having to fight for your life. Didn't you do enough of that that horrible night Titanic sank out from under us? This is not fair that you have to fight again. I am so afraid that you won't make it back.

But what disturbs me the most is your fear that I won't want you anymore after you return. Oh Jack, don't you know that there is absolutely nothing that you can do that will make me stop wanting you...stop loving you? Don't you know that my love for you is forever? No matter what? Besides, none of this is your fault. You didn't want to go over there and fight. You are being forced to and you are doing what you have to do to make sure that you come home to me and our family.

And Jack...try not to think about the other side. It'll just make things harder for you. You are such a kind, noble man...and it kills me what they are forcing you to do. But I by no means blame you for it. I just worry for you and your well being.

Just come home to me Jack. That's all I want. I'll take you anyway I can get you. I don't care what you had to do during the war. Nothing will ever affect the love I have for you, my beautiful artist.

You tell me not to worry, that you may not be able to write for a while...but Jack that is impossible. As long as you are over there and not home in my arms, I will always worry. But just know that no matter what, I love you and that will never change. Hold on to that Jack, even during your darkest moments. That's what I do when your absence becomes too much. I remember that you are still out there and that you love me. It's your love that is seeing me through this hard time and I hope my love is doing the same for you...

Love

Rose