31th December 1913

Boston

Rose winced as the sun light hitted her eyes, making her open her eyes. The light was entering from a small gap between the curtains and it fall directly to her and Jack.

Jack was still sleeping and Rose couldn't help but smile. His hair was tucked under the pillow and small snores were coming from his mouth. He was so perfect; sleeping like a baby and Rose laughed at this.

Rose stared at the wall wondering if she had to get up. It was New Year Eve and her family was coming tonight to celebrate, breaking the unwritten rules of going at cotillions and galas. All were coming (except her mother whom she wasn't seen since the wedding) and Rose was about to get prepared for the day. She had cookers but she wanted to do them on their own when it is about your family. That was also because she wanted to learn, not only put other people at your chores. Cooking became one of her hobbies.

A arm slipped around her waist and Rose smiled as Jack kissed her shoulder softly. "What are you thinking about my darling?"

Rose shrugged and relaxed in Jack's embrace. "Just thinking what I have to do today. I'm gonna write a whole list in my notebook during breakfast"

"You should become a journalist you know" Jack laughed.

"How come?" Rose asked, raising her eyebrows. Journalism was never a option she would choose. She didn't like them, running around asking questions when it wasn't time and write lies about other people. At least this was what happened at the announcement of her engagement with Cal.

"You want to do things perfect and keep notes about everything. You never leave that notepad down" he said smirking at her reaction.

"That's my persona" she said. "I'm sorry if I disappointed you Mr. You Should Be Journalist"

Jack roared with laughter as he kissed her forehead softly. "Oh Rose. I love you"

Tears formed in her eyes as this three words left his mouth. "I love you too Jack" she whispered.

"The question is; What are you going to do today Jack?" Rose asked as the maids brought everything to the breakfast table and once they were both seated.

Jack shrugged, taking his fork. "I'll spend a calm day. I just want to get a rest from work, the first days of adapting in that crazy situation, with having a real business is really awful."

Rose slowly drank from her tea cup as she stared at him. "I don't like it, you know. But if it wasn't for you, we would live on the street. And that's what I wanted to discuss with you"

Jack settled his coffee cup down, looking at her. "About what?"

"I just noticed that we have billions of money and people act like we are kings of Boston. Why don't we spend some of these billions to help some homeless people and orphans?"

"I tried to do this once you know" Jack said, getting back to his teenage years.

"What?" Rose asked excited. "When? How old were you?"

Before Jack could answer the door knocked and the shy maid entered inside. "Your newspaper Mr. Dawson"

Jack smiled taking the papers and after the door closed he turned back to Rose. "I was fourteen. I had grown tired of the world around me and I wanted to help these who really needed it. So I was skipping school only to go and give my own money to charities. Until my parents of course found out and because they are heartless I was watched every day and I was also forbidded to give a penny in anyone. I remember my father's words; Don't ever give money to these people. They deserve to be locked away, not among us, among the good people"

"Oh Jack. This is horrible and reminds me my own mother" Rose sighed sadly.

"So now it's time to do what I want without anyone watching me"

Rose's eyes grew and she threw her arms around me. "Oh Jack you're so perfect" she said kissing him. "You're the best"

Jack smiled sadly, looking at her green eyes. "I love you"

Rose walked around the living room, seeming anxious, wiping away some dust and fixing some of the decorations in the three. The sixth time Jack glanced to her from the newspaper and frowned

"Rose what's going on?" he asked. "You're pacing over ten minutes, fixing the... decorations and wiping some imaginary dust."

"I want everything to be perfect. Outstanding"

"Rose they don't judge you by how good you decorated"

"I don't know that. I hadn't a close relationship with anyone in my family because I was mother's favourite pet. And I was so stupid going with her rules that they thought I'd be like her. Cruel and heartless. Putting other people doing her jobs. I want to prove I'm not that"

"You don't have to prove anything" Jack whispered kissing her earlobe softly. "They love you. This is enough."

"What if they don't love me?"

"They do? Or else why they made so many efforts to attend your wedding? That begged you to forgive them for not contacting you?"

Rose nodded, leaning back to the couch. "Maybe you're right" she said staring at the beautiful Christmas tree.

Jack smiled. "That's my girl. Do you want some tea?"

Rose stand in front of the bathroom mirror, checking what makeup she should put on. She hadn't applied makeup ever on her own and this made her uneasy.

"I have some pimples" she whispered. Why she hadn't watched the maid carefully when she was doing this kind of job?

Rose turned over the various vessels, trying to remember why her mother had bought them for her. She came across one labeled 'concealer', which was full of a skin-colored cream. She slowly applied some in her forehead and nose, wincing at the coldness. She rubbed it around and she noticed satisfied that the pimples were gone.

Next, she carefully picked up some powder, remembering poor Trudy applying it. She blend it as best as she could at her cheeks, and noticed that her cheeks had lost its colour and it was pale.

A pencil-like object caught her eye, and she recalled seeing both Trudy and her Mother applying it along their eye-lashes both above and below the eye. She picked it up and, with a steady hand, did the same, making thin, light lines. Then she took some eye-shadow, which was a dark powder, and dusted it on her eye-lids.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she decided that she liked it. She was like a different person, more beautiful. Really, really beautiful, not just a natural beauty that made her look like a zombie in the morning and like a ghost the rest of the day.

Last, she applied some lipstick which it was a rich, red colour. She decided that she was strong and beautiful. Her self confidence was in the clouds right then.

The glasses were filled with red wine and the family of DeWitt Bukater (except Ruth) and the Dawsons' (who insisted on going in a ball but they accepted only for this year) were gathered in the table. All the family laughed, telling jokes about their lifestyles (except James Dawson) and talked about the new year ahead.

"What are you planning to do John?" James asked coldly. "You have banned me from the business completely and I worry that this will be a disaster. What are you planning for 1913?"

"I don't know yet and I don't want to discuss it right now, in the family table, in the New Year's Eve when the year is about to change in a few hour" Jack said the same coldly. He wasn't getting this inside his house.

"Alright boys let's not destroy the happy mood" Helena said, glaring at her husband and son. "Why we don't-

Suddenly the door bell rang, leaving all of them frowning. "Do we wait anyone?" Jack asked Rose.

"No, I wonder who might be" Rose answered the same time that Lauren, the housemaid entered inside.

"Mrs. Dawson I'm sorry for the interruption but a Ruth DeWitt Bukater is at the door, requesting to talk with the lady of the house."

All gasped and Rose sighed dramatically. "Can't I spend a calm New Year's Eve for once?"

"What should I do Mrs. Dawson?" Lauren asked patiently.

"I'll talk to her. What else can I do?" she sighed, getting up.

Ruth was standing in the door, proud as always, but Rose saw a bit of sadness and melancholy in her eyes.

"What do you want mother?"

Ruth sighed. "Rose please if you give me a chance to explain-

"Explain what? Don't you understand Mother? I'm done with you. You'll be asking sorry again and later do the same things over and over again"

"Rose, I don't know if you and your siblings, and your father will be able to forgive me...I ask for a bit of mercy. I have no family and I don't have anyone to spend the holidays"

"Well you deserve it" Rose said coldy.

"Give her a chance" Jack whispered in her ear and Rose almost jumped. She hadn't noticed him from behind. "She might have really regretted everything"

Rose sighed. "One chance. Just because I don't want to feel guilty later"

Ruth beamed and she kissed Rose's cheek. Rose showed no emotion as they made their way to the table where the discussions were cut in the sight of Ruth.

"Thirty seconds." Liz said excited. "Jack close the lights. Good, let's start count"

"Twelve...

"Eleven...

"Ten...

"Nine..." Rose said excitedly holding hands with Jack and beaming.

"Eight..."Liz and Max said.

"Seven..." Daniel and Eva said together.

"Six..." Ruth said wishing she would be fully forgiven for her horrible actions one day.

"Five..." Helena and James said together and all actually saw for first time James smile.

"Four..." Harriet said excitedly.

"Three..." Micheal said, looking at his brother and sister-in-law.

"Two..." Helena said really excited.

"One..." Rose whispered making a wish that everything would go well that year.

"Happy new year!" all cheered, hugging and kissing each other. Rose fall at Jack's arms kissing him while James and Helena did the same. They even managed to hug with Ruth, who seemed really happy and close to tears.

"1914 is going to be a perfect year" Rose whispered.

A/N. Happy new year to all of you, with love and healthiness. I wanted to make a Christmas chapter as well, since I'm a Orthodox and as I saw from the movie they were the same...But unfortunately I was sick so I hope you had fun and had a nice time with family and friends. Love you all.