(A/N: Lots of Dawson family drama in this chapter.

I also took some liberties with the song What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I know, the song didn't exist in 1912, but I always pictured Rose singing it and it kind of fits Jack and Rose.

Anyway, a thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, and faved and followed this story:) I hope that you continue to enjoy it.)

Jack looked out the window again for the thousandth time since breakfast had ended. Richie had gone to the train station to pick up their cousins and should be returning any minute now. Jack couldn't help but be excited. He had always loved Thanksgiving, when family would come into town and everyone was just happy to be together and thankful for the good things that happened that year. Despite his father's death, his Uncle's snide remarks, and his mother in law's snobbish behavior, he was looking forward to Thanksgiving. Not only was it his first one with Rose, but it was his first one home in quite a while.

"Are they here yet?" Carl laughed, enjoying seeing his Nephew excited. His relationship with Jack hadn't gotten any better, but he still loved the boy dearly.

"No," Jack sighed impatiently. "Janie is supposed to be coming back today as well."

"Oh yeah. Another one that married a swell."

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes. "Uncle Carl, do not make me defend Caledon Hockley, alright? It's the holidays. Let your dislike for the first class go. For me. It's my first year home."

"I was just making a comment," Carl shrugged.

Jack sighed, knowing that his Uncle wasn't going to let anything drop. If only dad was still alive. He was the main reason that Jack was looking forward to Thanksgiving. After dinner, everyone would gather around and listen to his father's stories. Stories that Jack had loved. He had been looking forward to having that again, with Rose happy in his arms. But his dad died and now he still won't have it...he'll never have it again...

Rose came downstairs with Ruth talking about idle gossip of her old friends in Philadelphia when she spotted Jack by the window, looking down at his shoes, his shoulders slumped, grief written all over him. Obviously, he was missing his father again.

"Jack," Rose went to him, wrapping her arms around him.

"He was supposed to be here...I came home because I wanted my father...but he's not here anymore...," he buried his face against her hair, letting her comfort him.

"I know, Jack. I know...I'm so sorry. I wish he was here, too."

Jack allowed the grief to take over for three more minutes. Finally, he took a deep breath and pushed it away to the back of his mind. After all, this was a holiday. A time for happiness and family togetherness. Not a time for grief. He released Rose, wiping away his tears.

"I'm sorry...it just...became overwhelming."

"It's okay, Jack. I understand," Rose stroked his cheek, wiping away a stray tear. "He was so proud of you, you know. Of the man you became. I saw it every time he looked at you."

"You think so?"

"Yeah," Rose smiled, giving him a light kiss. "I'm thankful that I brought you home to him...that he got to see the kind, compassionate man that I fell in love with."

"I'm thankful that he got to meet you. You and Jake. God, I can't believe he's gone."

Richie frowned as he and Jolene came downstairs with Jason and Jake.

"You alright there, Jack?"

"I'm fine. I'll be fine now...," Jack nodded, smiling at his brother.

"Rose, you ready to work some magic in the kitchen?" Jolene grinned, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.

"Rose you don't know how to cook," Ruth stared at her daughter.

"There's something called recipes and following them, mother. A perfect way to learn," Rose chuckled. "It's quite effective, I assure you."

"Recipes that you girls won't be needing," Irene replied coming downstairs, looking refreshed and ready to work. The grief for her husband was still there, but there was also determination.

"Mom, you came down," Jack smiled, happy to see his mother up and about.

"Yes. I decided that it was time to get up and get back to running this house. The girls have done a wonderful job, and I thank them for giving me the time I needed, but Thanksgiving they should be by the sides of their husbands, enjoying the day, not stuck in the kitchen cooking. So Jolene, and Rose you have the day off. I'm taking over," Irene smiled.

"Oh Irene, you don't have to, we don't mind," Jolene protested, but the older woman held up a hand silencing her.

"I know you don't mind, sweetie. But it's time. And you girls do have family to meet. Besides, Janie will be home and I know she's looking forward to my cooking," Irene chuckled.

"Thanks mom," Richie grinned, kissing his mother's cheek. "This is going to be...not a perfect Thanksgiving, but a nice one."

…..

It was noon when everyone began to arrive. Jack had changed into a navey blue shirt and tan trousers while Rose wore a green tea dress with a white shawl to go with it. It resembled what Jack called her flying dress on Titanic. She had also pulled her hair back, fastening the sides back with a decorated butterfly comb and left the rest hanging down her back. She was the very picture of the girl Jack had taught to fly on the bow of Titanic. It brought back good memories to them both, and put them in much brighter spirits than they had been in that morning.

"When are Janie and Cal arriving?" Rose asked, putting the finishing touches on her make-up.

"Probably later in the afternoon. I don't know. Her message just said she'll be here after everyone else arrives," Jack shrugged, brushing the tangles out of his hair. Even though he had cut it, it still tied up in tangles every now and then. "I haven't seen any of these people in so long, I wonder if they'll even recognize me."

Rose just looked in the mirror and smiled at him. "Of course they will. I just hope that mother remains on her best behavior. And Janie will be back. I can use as many friendly faces that I can get."

"Not everyone is going to be like my Uncle, Rose...at least I hope not," Jack frowned. What if they were?

Rose sighed, sitting down her brush and looking at her reflection. Sometimes it was hard to remember the happiness she had felt just a short while ago. Santa Monica, where it was bright and sunny and everyone liked everyone else...

"What are you thinking about?"

"Santa Monica. How much happier we both were there in contrast to happy we are now," Rose sighed, placing her brush on the dresser.

"I'm happy...or as happy as I can be all considering...but my unhappiness has nothing to do with you. I hope you know that, Rose. You're the one of the two things that do make me happy. You and Jake."

Rose smiled. "I feel the same."

"Well then, from here on out, we stick to each others sides. You stick by me and I'll stick by you. It doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks," He went to her, kneeling before her and taking her hand in his.

Rose nodded. "I like that plan."

Jack kissed her hands as he got to his feet and pulled her up out of her chair. "Let's go face them all then."

…..

When Jack and Rose got downstairs, the cousins have already arrived and obviously have talked to Carl and had been exposed to Ruth. Even though they were nice to Jack, they didn't really address Rose or took notice of her presence. And it was hard on Jake as well, never having met these people before, he stuck close to his parents.

Jack held on to his temper as he watched how everyone treated Jolene when compared to Rose. Not that he was angry with Jolene, it wasn't her fault. Having enough, he pulled Rose and Jake outside away from everyone else.

"Do you just want to see if Cal and Janie are back instead of waiting for them here? We can even take your mother, it'd probably be a much better evening."

Rose wanted to say yes, she wanted to just get herself and Jake both out of this stressful situation, but Irene had spent all day cooking for Janie and it wouldn't be right to ignore that. "Your mother is expecting her Jack. Look, it's ok. Really."

"No it's not Rose..."

"It is. I didn't even want to meet anyone, anyway remember?"

"Rose..."

"Look, just for today. Tomorrow we'll go somewhere, just the three of us. But your mom deserves a as close to normal Thanksgiving after the loss she had, don't you think?"

Jack sighed. He really didn't want to stick around for more of the same that's been happening for the for the past couple of weeks, but Rose had a point. "Alright...just as long as it doesn't get any worse. If it does, we're leaving."

They went back inside and walked up to Richie and Jolene. "Is dinner ready yet?"

"Give it another hour," Richie said. "Hey, why don't Jake go play with those kids over there? No point in hanging out with us boring adults all day."

"Would you like that darling? Emma will be here soon to join you," Rose knelt to her adopted son.

Jake just nodded and ran off to the group of children in the back of the room.

"Hopefully he'll have a good time," Jack sighed, hoping that one of them will enjoy today. He again wished for his father's presence. Albert Dawson would not stand for any of this in his house.

"I'm sorry, Jack. For what everyone is putting you and Rose through," Richie apologized, feeling bad.

"It's not your fault," Jack shrugged, just as three more guests arrive.

"Jack!" A much welcomed voice called out. "Rose!"

"Janie!" Jack took Rose's hand and led her to where Janie, Cal, and Emma were just entering the house. "Thank god! You are a sight for sore eyes."

"Mr. Hockley?" Ruth came up, staring at Cal in surprise. She had heard that he had finally gotten married, but not to who. The Dawson house was definitely the last place that she expected to find him. "What are you doing here?"

"Ruth," Cal nodded in greeting. "I've returned from our honeymoon of course. My bride wanted to spend the holiday with her family."

"Your bride?"

"Did Molly not tell you, mother? Cal married Jack's sister just a few weeks ago. It wasn't a big affair. I do believe the bigger ceremony will be in the summer, am I right?" Rose couldn't help her amusement.

"What?" Ruth looked at Cal, then Janie, then Cal again. "But she's not...a society girl like Rose..."

"Well let's just say that Rose taught me an important lesson. I doesn't matter where your soul mate is from. Just that you find them," Cal smiled at Janie, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Well...I never...," Ruth stammered, speechless.

Rose couldn't help but laugh. From the look on her mother's face, she was sure the woman would faint dead away. Her worldview was being turned completely on it's head. "Oh mother, stop the dramatics. The world is changing for the better. It is time you change with it."

"Ruth Dewitt Bukater speechless. I never thought I'd see the day," Cal chuckled.

"Mother, are you ok? Do you need to lay down?"

"I am quite alright, Rose. I think I will go join Irene in the kitchen. I am no longer in the mood to socialize. It's not like these people are too friendly anyway," Ruth frowned, turning her back and heading into the kitchen.

Janie frowned. "What does she mean by that?"

All amusement had left Jack's eyes at the mention of the tense atmosphere of the house. "You're sure to find out. Let's just say, everyone is taking Uncle Carl's lead."

"Jack..."

"It's only fair that's she's warned, Rose. Don't you think?," He looked at Cal. "Don't expect a warm welcome to the family. And I'm not saying that because I don't like you."

"Jack...," Janie frowned catching the repressed anger in Jack's voice.

"Come Emma. I'll show you where Jake is," Jack scooped the smiling little girl up into his arms and headed to where the children were playing, leaving Rose with Cal and Janie.

"What was that about?" She frowned. She had been sure that things had changed between Cal and Jack.

"You're about to find out," Rose frowned as she spotted Carl heading in their direction.

Janie sighed, her heart sinking. She should have known. Maybe coming home for Thanksgiving was not a good idea, but judging the look on Rose's face, maybe it was. "How bad is he?"

"I never thought there would be a Dawson I didn't like. I was wrong," was all Rose could say.

"I see the prodigal niece has returned," Carl greeted, eyeing the trio.

"Yes I have. I wasn't going to miss Thanksgiving," Janie crossed her arms, ready to give her Uncle a piece of her mind if she insulted Cal in anyway.

"And this is him? He's even worse than the one your brother married," Carl frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean? Are you talking about Rose? Because she is the nicest person I've ever met," Janie glared at her Uncle. "Tell me Uncle Carl, what have you been putting my brother and my sister-in-law through since your arrival, because I can tell when my normally easy going brother is boiling with anger."

"I don't know why Jack is angry this time," Carl shrugged. "The boy stays in a perpetual state of anger these days."

"You know that is a lie. You know good and well why Jack is angry!" Rose wasn't going to engage Carl in any form of conversation, but she was not going to stand here and let the man make Jack seem like something he's not. "You've done enough ever since you showed up to make Jack plenty angry. Don't act like you have nothing to do with it."

"Isn't deemed ill mannered to call your elders a liar, young lady?" Carl turned a glare from Cal and Janie to Rose.

"Who ever said Rose was well-mannered?" Cal snorted, receiving a punch from Janie. "Shut up. This is not the time."

"Cal is right. I was never one to be well mannered and I'm not going to stand here and let you lie about Jack," Rose returned the glare, the anger that had been building up during the past couple of weeks flaring to the surface. "Jack wouldn't be so angry if you and your minions actually gave people a chance to prove themselves instead of going off on your own preconceived notions!"

"What exactly have you been up to, Uncle Carl?" Janie crossed her arms, taking Rose's side in this. She knew her Uncle and of course she knew Jack and Rose. Jack was never angry without a good reason.

"He's been awful towards me ever since he showed up and judging from how your cousins have been pretending that I don't even exist, he's recruited them to his side. Which is fine. I've never been much of a people person anyway. But it hurts Jack and I'm not standing for it anymore," Rose ranted, on a role now, she was so angry. "And now he stands here and has the nerve to pretend that Jack is unreasonable in his anger! How dare you sir!"

Rose didn't see Jack return, standing not too far away, watching the scene. He smiled as he recognized that fire that had drawn him to her. Unfortunately, Ruth was emerging from the kitchen and was mortified by her daughter's behavior.

"Rose! What are you doing? This is not appropriate behavior at a party," Ruth criticized approaching the group.

This time it was Cal who spoke up. "Do stay out of this, Ruth."

"Yes mother. For once I agree with Cal. Stay out of it," Rose turned her glare on her mother. "if you're going to take his side, you can pack your things and return to Molly."

Ruth fell quiet then, realizing that she was still on thin ice where Rose was concerned. She spotted Jack and walked over to stand next to him, out of Rose's line of fire.

"Do you speak to all of your elders this way, girl? I'm older than you. You will respect me."

"Respect is earned, not just given, Mr. Dawson. I'll respect you when you've earned it, not before." With that said, Rose turned and stormed out of the house.

"Jack wasn't kidding when he said she was a pistol and not to piss her off," Janie whistled.

"Can you believe the nerve," Carl grumbled angrily.

"Yes, and Rose has a lot of it when she believes Jack is being treated unfairly. She even took on the great Mabel Baker not too long ago. Rose is a nice girl, and she may be from high society, but she's not one to hide her opinions, and she's not one to sit back and let people treat the people she loves badly," Janie crossed her arms. "And obviously there has been a lot of treating badly going on around here."

"And you, young lady. You have some nerve marrying this swell and bringing him here, expecting him to be part of this family."

"And now it begins. For your information, Uncle Carl, my father approved of my marriage to Cal himself. Your opinion on who I and Jack for that matter, marries is of no consequence. I don't have to explain my choices to you or anyone else here and neither does Jack! I bet you've been treating Rose like crap and Jack hasn't said anything to keep the peace. Well, I'm not Jack. I was never fond of you the way he was. I never hoped that you would rise above your own prejudices and see how my choices make me happy. I never saw the good in you the way Jack sees good in every one. No, I've always been the twin that saw the bad in people and unless proven differently. You've never fooled me, therefore you can't hurt me the way you've most likely hurt him. So you just keep being you, Uncle Carl. I don't care what you think."

She looks at her cousins, many she had grown up with and gotten on quite well and raised her voice to address them. "And if you want to stop talking to me or ignore Cal because you want to listen to Uncle Carl's foolishness, go ahead! But you're missing out and making yourselves and our family as a whole look bad! Rose used to think there was never a mean Dawson in this family. I have to say, today she was proven wrong. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to see my mother."

Janie grabbed Cal's arm and pulled him into the kitchen, ignoring everyone else's mutters and stares.

…..

While Janie was telling off Carl, Jack had gone out after Rose. He found her in the backyard, staring off into space while she was smoking one of his cigarettes. Sometimes he forgot that she smoked and it was a shock to see her doing so, as if it was the most natural thing to do.

"Rose," He went to stand next to her.

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Jack. I just...he stood there and tried to pretend that you had no reason to be angry and I snapped. I just snapped," Rose sighed, closing her eyes as she took another drag on the cigarette. "It just all became too much."

"Embarrassed? How can I be embarrassed when I'm so proud of you? When that fire that I love so much flared right up," Jack chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm not embarrassed baby. I wouldn't have you any other way."

"I don't get how you can be apart of those people. You're so sweet and kind and see the good in people. You never judge them upon meeting. How can they be so awful and you be so wonderful and still be part of the same family?"

"I used to wonder the same thing, when it came to you and your mother," Jack chuckled. "Maybe we both were just born to the wrong addresses."

"No...your parents are great, just like you are. Maybe it's the rest of them," Rose giggled.

"Hmmm, maybe. Regardless, they don't matter. Not to me. I don't care what they think. I love you, Rose. I love you and that fiery temper of yours."

"I love you too, Jack. You and your kind heart and compassion."

They looked into each other's eyes and smiled, so caught up in each other, everything else disappeared. Jack leaned in, kissing her with all the love and passion his body contained for this beautiful woman with a soul made of fire and spice. She may have once been first class, but she belonged with him, in a world of their own making. A world that was suddenly disrupted by Jake running up to them yelling for his daddy. They separated in time for Jack to catch his son in his arms.

"Hey, what is this?" Jack asked, standing up with the boy in his arms.

"It's Emma! Daddy! That mean boy was making fun of me! Calling me a swell and she punched him and now that man whose mean to mommy is trying to spank her! He tried to grab me too, but I ran away!"

Jack handed Jake to Rose and went back to the house, his own temper beginning to flare up. He stormed into his house to see Carl walking with Emma's arm tight in his hand and a built in the other, with everyone else gathered around. Janie and Cal must still be in the kitchen. Keeping hold of his temper Jack stormed up to Carl.

"You take your hands off of her!" Jack yelled grabbing Emma away from Carl, lifting her safely up into his arms. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"The girl hit Jenna's boy," Carl explained. "I don't know how they handle things in the first class, but that's not appropriate here!"

"One, she's not from the first class! She's an adopted orphan from Ireland! Her parents died in an accident and she was adopted by Cal! Knowing what I know about the Irish, they're loyal to their friends and defend them and she was defending Jake!"

Rose came up behind Jack, Jake in her arms. She stood behind Jack, her grip tightening on the little boy. "And what did he do to Jake that Emma felt that she had to defend him?"

"He called me a swell!" Jake pointed at the other little boy, who also had blond hair and blue eyes.

"A swell?"

Jack sighed. "You know. Another word for rich, but Jake wouldn't know that..."

"Mommy, what's a swell?" Jake asked.

"It means you are from money, sweetie."

"But I don't have any money," Jake frowned.

"Didn't you get him from that Baker woman? She's pretty rich," Jenna Dawson asked, stepping forward, since her son was involved.

"Jake was not raised by the Bakers. When he was born they stuck him in an orphanage and kept him from being adopted. When Jack came back and discovered that he had a son, Mabel Baker decided to try to claim custody before Jack could. Cecily Baker finally managed to go against her mother and gave Jake to Jack. Jake didn't grow up in the Baker household. He grew up in an orphanage. Definitely not a wealthy background," Rose explained.

"What is going on out here?" Janie and Cal came back into the room, followed by Irene. He frowned to see Jack holding Emma away from the man named Carl Dawson and saw the man with the belt. "What in the hell, were you planning to use that against my daughter?" Cal stormed up to Carl and grabbed him by the labels of his shirt.

"Cal stop. It was a misunderstanding. Jack and I handled it," Rose sighed, feeling tired. She was not hungry at all. She just wanted to take her husband and son somewhere away from all of these people and just be alone for a while.

"I don't even want to be here anymore," Janie shook her head, also tired and disappointed in her family. She wished that her father was here, because if he had been, none of this would have been happening. "I don't care what happened. No one has a right to discipline Emma but myself and Cal."

Janie turned to Emma. "Mom, I'm sorry...I was looking forward to Thanksgiving with the family...but...I just can't right now."

"I understand," Irene sighed, disappointed as well. She had hoped for a peaceful Thanksgiving with her family, but it was all going wrong. Albert should have been here. He would never have stood for any of this. She looked over at Jack and Rose and Jack, knowing just what a miserable time they've been having of it. "Jack, why don't you and Rose take Jake and join Janie. She should at least have some family with her at this time of year." And it'll get some of the tension out of the house.

The hurt was clear in Jack's eyes, but he just nodded. It was probably for the best for everyone. "Yeah. That's probably for the best. Ruth? Will you be joining us?"

Might as well take Rose's mother with them.

Ruth's eyes lit up. Thanksgiving in a mansion? With servants and valets and the life she was used to? "Of course I am coming."

…..

When they reached the Hockley estate, they found the house full of good cooking food smells and the warmth of a lit fire. It was like the place was waiting for a Thanksgiving meal to be had.

"Cal, I thought the plan was to have Thanksgiving with my family," Janie turned to her husband, as Giles appeared and began taking coats.

"It was. I am just as confused as you are. You did call Mrs. Addler and tell her that we wouldn't be dining here, didn't you?" Cal answered.

Janie paused, then blushed, realizing her mistake. "Oops...this first class life is going to take some getting used too..."

Cal just laughed. "Well, it is a good thing that you did forget. Now we will have a fine meal after all," He wrapped his arms around his bride and kissed her deeply.

Rose smiled as she watched he newlyweds, remembering how her and Jack had been the same way when they had first wed, then had renewed their vows.

"Where are all the servants?" Ruth frowned as Giles took her coat, looking around for someone to boss around.

"We're not fully staffed at he moment, Ruth. With it being just Emma and I, it wasn't necessary. I suppose I will be hiring Janie a lady's maid and a few more servants..."

"Oh please. I don't need a lady's maid. I'm having a bad enough time giving orders to the servants we do have," Janie giggled.

Rose had to admit, she was surprised. She was expecting Caledon Hockley to have a houseful of servants. She looked around the house, noting that it wasn't as big as she had been expecting either. "This place is...cozy. A lot better than that monstrosity in Philadelphia."

"Oh yes, that beautiful mansion I had picked out for us to reside in after the wedding. We would be there now, hosting the finest Thanksgiving feast...," Ruth sighed dreamily.

Rose just rolled her eyes and walked over to Jack, who was standing in front of the fireplace, looking into the roaring flames, his face unreadable. She knew that he wasn't happy. He had been hurt by his mother's suggestion that they be the ones to leave. She understood why he was hurt, but she also understood Irene as well. She wanted everyone to have a happy Thanksgiving and it just wouldn't have turned out happy for anyone if they had stayed. This way, they can at least make the best of it. They were still with family. That counted. Right?

"It's not that that bad. At least we're with family and with each other and there's none of that awful tension," Rose sighed, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Yeah. You're right," Jack turned around, forcing a smile.

"Giles, when will dinner be ready?" Cal asked, searching for his cigar case.

"In another hour, sir," Giles replied.

"Good. Take Emma and young Mr. Dawson into the playroom. They should have a good time there," Cal ordered.

"Yes sir. Come along children," Giles took both Jake and Emma by the hand and led them out of the sitting room.

"Oh Giles, some tea please? I take Earl Grey," Ruth called out, taking off her gloves.

"Oh dear lord," Cal grumbled, earning a giggle from Janie. "Sorry. I was just so certain that I was through with that woman."

"Jack! Let's introduce some of our traditions, shall we?" Janie clapped her hands happily.

"I don't know. The best tradition was pa's stories...but he's gone now. There's no point," Jack frowned, not really wanting anything to do with the old traditions anymore.

"You're just saying that because you're hurt and you're missing daddy," Janie frowned, hurt herself by Jack's bad mood.

Jack sighed, he hadn't meant to hurt Janie. "I'm sorry Janie. How about, we start our own tradition, yeah? I mean...why stick with the old when we can start something new?"

"That's a good idea, Jack," Rose smiled, encouragingly.

"Rose...why don't you sing that song you used to sing for your father every Thanksgiving. That was nice," Ruth spoke, surprising everyone. "You do have a nice voice."

"Oh mother, I'm sure that everyone would rather listen to some records or something more pleasant..."

"You do have a pleasant voice, Rose," Jack smiled. He's heard her sing a number of times, first to their never to be born baby, and then to Jake whenever he woke from a nightmare and can't get back to sleep.

"You're biased."

"I'd never lie about beauty and you have a beautiful voice, my dear," Jack kissed her cheek, wrapping his arms around her shoulder.

"Please Rose! Sing!" Janie begged, as Cal too wrapped a arm around his wife's shoulder.

"Looks like you've been outnumbered, sweet pea," Cal smirked.

"Don't you dare call me that," Rose glared, hating that nick name.

"Well then sing," Cal chuckled.

Rose rolled her eyes, feeling overruled. "Fine, but if anyone boos me..."

"I'll knock their teeth out," Jack grinned. "Not to worry, Rose. We're among...well...more pleasant company now. No one will boo you."

She looks at Jack and takes his hand, her eyes never leaving him. When she sings, it's pretty clear that he was the one she was singing to.

"I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom before me and you. And I think to myself
What a wonderful world. I see skies of blue and clouds of white. The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. And I think to myself, What a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Or also on the faces of people going by. I see friends shaking hands, saying "How do you do?" They're really saying, I love you. I hear babies crying, I watch them them grow. They'll learn much more and I'll never know.

And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. Yes, I think to myself. What a wonderful world..."

Tears were in Rose's eyes as she finished the song. Touched, Jack wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug. "That was beautiful, Rose."

Janie clapped, also wiping the tears from her eyes. "That was indeed beautiful...and fits Thanksgiving perfectly."

"Hear, hear," Cal nodded.

Mrs. Addler appeared in the doorway just then, her hands folded. "Mr. Hockley. Dinner is ready to be served."

"Oh...thank you Mrs. Addler. This is much appreciated," Cal turned around and looked at what could be considered his family now. Who in the world thought that his in-laws would include Rose and Dawson. Certainly not him. It seemed that the Universe had a sense of humor after all. "I'd like to say, that even though I had never imagined my thanksgiving being spent here...with the people in this room...I am glad that it is. This year has been a trial for all of us...from the sinking of Titanic, up until now...and we've all survived it. I think that alone is enough to be thankful for."

"I have to say I agree with Hockley. All of us in this room had something to lose from the sinking of Titanic...,"Jack reached out and took his beloved sister's hand, who had tears in her eyes.

"But we didn't. You survived it and brought Rose...and to some extent, Cal into our lives. I am indeed thankful, for all three of you Jack and that I'm spending Thanksgiving here with you. It wouldn't be a happy one without you."

Rose and Cal watched as the siblings embraced. It was almost funny, how back in May, they were looking towards a life with each other as man and wife, but now here they were at thanksgiving, married to different people, yet still a part of each others lives and even better people because of it.

Ruth got up to her feet, impatient. "Well with that being said, dinner is waiting for us. Mr. Hockley, after you."

"Leave it to you, Ruth to disrupt a touching moment," Cal mumbled, leading the way into the dining room, where everyone enjoyed a luxurious Thanksgiving meal. It may not have been the way Rose had imagined Thanksgiving would be, but she was with Jack and there was plenty of love and laughter at that table, making it the best Thanksgiving she had ever experienced.