Chapter 17

Jack, Rose, and Josie all sat and ate dinner. "Can I ask you a question?" Josie asked.

"Sure," they both replied.

"How did you meet?" Josie asked. Jack and Rose looked at each other anxiously, and he took her hand under the table. "I mean, I know you met on Titanic, but how did a first class girl meet… you know…"

"A poor guy," said Jack, and he and Rose chuckled. "You can say it."

"Okay, fine," said Josie.

"I was doing something stupid, and Dad stopped me," said Rose. "That's the story."

Josie smiled. "What exactly were you doing?"

"You're relentless," said Rose, rolling her eyes. She glanced over at Jack, trying to decide what to tell her. "I was trying to kill myself."

"What?" Josie asked, shocked.

Rose nodded. "I was incredibly unhappy and felt trapped. I thought it was the only way out," she said. "Turns out, it wasn't. And your dad showed me that."

Josie looked down. "I'm glad you didn't do it."

"Me too," Rose said.

Josie finished her food just as the doorbell rang. "I got it!"

"Just promise me you'll take it easy, Josie!" Rose called after her.

Josie opened the door to find a familiar face. He had brown hair, light blue eyes, and a bright smile. And Josie couldn't help but notice he had gotten tall and fit. "Hey, I was looking for my friend Josie? Have you seen her?"

"Shut up!" Josie exclaimed as she hugged Ethan tightly. "I missed you, dude."

"You too, dude," said Ethan.

Josie pulled out of the hug. "Come on, there's someone I want you to meet." She led Ethan into the kitchen. "Ethan, you know my mom. This is my dad."

Dad, Jack thought to himself. He was so glad to be Josie's dad. "Hi, I'm Ethan."

"Jack." They shook hands.

Josie looked at Ethan. "Come on, let's go."

They went up to Josie's room and sat on her bed. "I like the shorter hair," said Ethan. "It looks good on you."

"Thanks," said Josie. She felt differently around him all of a sudden. She couldn't explain it, but she did. They hung out for a while before Ethan had to go home.

"So tell me about this whole dad thing."

Josie shrugged. "He's amazing. He loves my mom so much, and we both love him. I just hate the fact that he wasn't here for so long."

"He didn't know your mom was alive?"

"No," Josie shook her head. "

Meanwhile, downstairs, Jack and Rose were cleaning up from dinner. "I can't believe we're back. I can't believe she's home and seeing her friends." Rose wrapped her arms around Jack's neck. "And I can't believe you're here."

"Believe it," said Jack, and he kissed her. "Come on. Let's go for a little walk."

"We can't leave Josie," Rose reminded him.

"We'll walk around the backyard," said Jack, and Rose giggled.

"Okay," she said, taking his hand. "Let's go." They went to walk outside, where the sun was setting, leaving the sky in beautiful colors of pink, blue, orange, and purple.

Josie sat upstairs painting her toenails. Her window was open, and she could hear the sound of Rose's laughter. She smiled and walked over to the window, wanting to see what was going on. She watched as Rose laughed and lightly hit Jack's arm.

All of a sudden, Jack walked ahead. He looked at Rose and got down on one knee.

Josie tried to listen to what he was saying, but she couldn't hear, even though she was sitting against the window. "Hey," she said, not thinking. Jack and Rose looked up at her, both looking uncomfortable. "It's really hard to eavesdrop when you talk so quietly."

Rose and Jack both laughed. "What I was trying to say was, I had to live without you for fifteen years, and I never want to spend another second without you and our beautiful daughter. Rose Dawson, will you marry me?"

Josie watched, waiting for a reaction from Rose. Say yes, she tried to telepathically tell her mother. Say yes. Rose smiled, a tear trickling down her cheek. "Yes."

Jack stood up and slid the ring on Rose's finger. He then lifted Rose off the ground and held her tightly in his arms. Josie was still in the window, watching them. "Yay!" Josie said. She thought she said it quietly, but they heard her.

Rose laughed and looked at the window. "Josie, get down here!"

Josie ran down the stairs (which she shouldn't have done since she just had surgery). She ran outside and into Rose and Jack's embrace, and they shared a group hug. "I'm so happy!"

Jack laughed and watched as Rose hugged Josie and looked at him lovingly. "Me too," Rose said.

•••

Jack and Rose were sitting together in the living room. He handed Rose a glass of champagne and raised his own. "A toast," he began. "To spending the rest of our lives together."

"To spending the rest of our lives together." They clinked their glasses before taking a sip. "I love you."

She leaned over and pulled Jack closer to her, kissing him lovingly. Jack kissed her back with the same passion he had in the boiler room. "So should we start discussing wedding plans?" Jack asked.

Rose smiled and laughed. "Absolutely. So when do you want to do it?"

"Tomorrow," said Jack. He leaned in to kiss her, but Rose moved back.

"What?" Rose asked, her eyes widened.

Jack smiled and put his hand against her cheek. "I don't want to spend another day not married to you."

"Are you sure about this?" Rose asked.

Jack nodded. "I'm sure. All we need is you, me, and Josie. And anyone else you might want to invite."

"Molly," said Rose. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."

"Okay," Jack smiled. He leaned over and kissed her.

"Is there anyone you want to invite?"

"You," said Jack, and he kissed her again.

Rose laughed. "I'm being serious!"

"So am I," said Jack. "You're all I need."

Rose smiled before Jack kissed her again, trailing her jaw in light kisses. She lifted Jack's face to be level with her own. She kissed him lovingly, her tongue dancing with his. Suddenly, Rose started to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked. Rose laughed again. "What is it?"

"If someone told me two weeks ago that I would find you, I would've told them that they're crazy," Rose smiled.

"Yeah, I know," said Jack. "But we never have to go back to that ever again."

They kissed again. "I wanted to show you something."

"Okay."

Rose stood up and walked over to the bookshelf. She pulled out a large fabric book. "I don't know if this'll help or hurt you…"

"What is it?" Jack asked.

"A photo album," said Rose. "You don't have to look unless you want to."

"I want to," said Jack.

Rose smiled and sat next to him. "Are you sure?"

"Very sure," he replied.

"Okay," said Rose. She opened the book. On the first pace was a picture of Rose holding a newborn Josie. "That was the day Josie was born. I was so fat."

"I bet you were gorgeous," said Jack. "You look beautiful in the picture."

"I didn't feel beautiful at the time," Rose remembered. "Now, looking at this picture, I did look pretty, all things considered."

"Can you tell me about the day she was born?" Jack asked.

Rose thought back to that day. "It started like any other. I woke up from a dream of you, and I realized you weren't there. I went downstairs, and I started having contractions. I was in labor for what felt like forty days… in reality, it was about forty hours."

"That's still a crazy long time," said Jack.

"Yeah," said Rose. "But at three fifteen a.m., Josie was born. And everything started to look up from there."

"Was it really painful?" Jack asked.

"Physically? Yes," said Rose. "Emotionally? Unbearable." Jack looked down. "If you want more detail, I can give you some."

"Do I want more detail?" Jack asked.

Rose laughed under her her breath. "People often describe the experience as the most meaningful thing in the world. I think it's more akin to doing the splits on a crate of dynamite."

Jack couldn't help but laugh. "But the moment she was born… the moment she stopped crying and opened her eyes and looked at me… that was the most meaningful thing in the world.

"She was the most amazing little girl, Jack. The sweetest, happiest, prettiest little girl." Rose smiled at the memory. "She made me happier than I ever thought I could be after losing you… certainly happier than I would've been with Cal."

Rose stood up and walked to the closet. "Where are you going?" Jack asked.

"To get something," said Rose.

"Well, that part is obvious," said Jack. "What is it?"

She returned with a cardboard box. "My Jack box," she said sadly. "All the things from when we were together."

"Can I see?" Jack asked. Rose handed him the box, and he opened it. "Hockley's coat, your dress." Jack stopped and looked up at her. "I always did think that dress looked beautiful on you."

Jack continued looking as Rose smiled and looked down, blushing. "What are these?" Jack asked.

Rose looked over at the items in his hands. It was a bundle of envelopes, addressed to Jack Dawson, RMS Titanic. "The letters I've written to you all these years." She reached out and squeezed his hand. "You can read them if you'd like."

Jack nodded. He opened one and started to read. Rose watched nervously as he did so. "You wrote this when you found out you were pregnant?"

"Yes," said Rose. "You don't have to read them unless you want to. I'm sure they'll make you a little… upset."

"I want to read them," said Jack. "Just… another time."

"Okay," said Rose. "That way I get to do this."

She kissed him lovingly, grabbing his hand and dragging him upstairs.

Jack kissed her repeatedly, moving down to her neck. "Jack," she began, but his lips were too distracting. "Jack, wait a second."

"What is it?" He asked.

"What if we wake her?" Rose asked. "What if she hears us?"

"Well, I would think it's pretty impressive if we can scar her a little bit this late in the game."

Rose laughed as Jack quietly took her back to the stars.