Beta credit and thanks to GoodShipSherlollipop. Check out her work if you like, she's a really good author!

Waiting in the push and shove line amongst the chaos to board a lifeboat, Jack right behind her, Rose watched anxiously as wives and children tearfully said goodbye to their husbands and daddys. Then it hit her, and she turned to face Jack, desperation apparent.

"I'm not going without you."

"You have to. Now," he returned softly, looking intently in her eyes.

"No, Jack."

"Get in the boat, Rose," he said again.

"No, Jack," she replied, shaking her head.

"Yes. Get on the boat." He raised his voice slightly, pleading to her with concern.

"Yes, get on the boat, Rose," Cal intervened as if coming out of nowhere, startling them both.

"Look at you. You look a fright. Here, put this on." Swiftly removing the coat Rose was wearing whilst looking to make sure noone saw, Cal pushed the coat against Jack giving them both a shove. Then he removed his coat and replaced it on Rose, akwardly attempting to caress her face and smooth her hair.

Jack, seeing that Rose clearly wanted no part of this, stepped between them, taking Rose's upper arms gently but firmly and added, "no, you look beautiful. Now, go on. I'll get the next one."

"No. Not without you." Her voice was pleading and slightly shaking as she returned his embrace while Cal looked on.

"Rose, please," Jack begged, exasperated.

"Remember, you jump, I jump?" Rose tried to reason.

"Yes, but it'll be best to do it this way. You get in the boat, I'll stay behind and find a way. I'm a survivor. When help arrives we'll find each other. Now go and get on and I'll see you soon, alright?" Jack begged her one final time.

"I don't want to leave you, Jack."

"I dont want to leave you either."

They caressed each other's cheeks. "But it's our best chance. Cling to our plans for Santa Monica and promise me you'll survive. No matter what happens. Promise me, Rose."

"You have to promise me the same, Jack."

"I promise you, Rose. I'll be looking for you when help arrives. You trust me?"

"I promise and I trust you."

Pulling her to him, closing the distance of their loose embrace Jack kissed her deeply, lovingly, urgently, pouring everything he had into it. Rose returned the kiss just as eagerly. Both knew in the back of their minds that others were watching, especially Cal, but despite this they also knew that while they hoped not, this could be their last kiss and goodbye. It had to count, and it had to express their unspoken love.

"Oh, this is absurd, creating such an inappropriate scene," sneered Cal looking on with embarrassed defeated disgust. "And what's this you jump, I jump nonsense about?"

The boat hand tugged at Rose's arm as she and Jack broke the kiss.

"See you soon, Rose." Jack held her hand as the steward pulled her into the boat.

Both weeping, Jack and Rose locked eyes and held each other's gaze as the life boat made its descent into the frigid water below and made its way out to sea. Continuing to watch each other in the black night as long as each could see the other, Rose finally saw Jack turn away, but she kept her eyes on the grand ship.

"Well, good luck to you, Cal." Jack started for the stern of the ship but stopped short, his arms straight in front of him in protective shock. "Whoah!"

"You're not going anywhere Dawson...and you certainly won't be looking for Rose." Cal reached into Lovejoy's coat, withdrawing his gun, pointing it straight at Jack.

Thinking on impulse, Jack kicked the gun out of a surprised Cal's hand, causing it to discharge into the air as it sailed over the side and into sea, the lone bullet soon following it harming noone in their paths.

A deck steward who whitnessed the spectacle took control of Cal.

"Mr Hockley, the ship is sinking and folks are fighting for their lives. Do you really want to be cuffed and go down without a chance?"

"Ah, bloody...the cuffs won't be necessary, sir."

"Then pull yourself together. Sir," the steward addressed Jack, "you alright?"

"Fine, thanks. I'll be on my way now." Got a promise to keep, he thought to himself.

"Jack," Cal looked toward the other man, arrogantly, "I always win. One way or another."

"Best of luck to you, Cal." Jack walked away toward the stern of the boat amongst the panicked crowd.

"Mr. Hockley, I suggest you do the same," advised a deck steward.

"Yes, thank you." Cal went toward the life boats instead.

Rose and the other ladies watched in disbelief as Titanic slowly slipped into the icy sea leaving hundreds in the freezing waters . Rose silently wept as she whispered, "Come Josephine..."

"My flying machine," Jack quietly sang, drawing his strength from the thought of her as he lay on the piece of floating debris he'd found. I know Rose is ok. I have to get back to her.

Jack had to have lived. He promised he would.

There's a boat, I have to make my presence known to survive, Jack reflected and splashed back into the ice cold water to swim for a whistle frozen to an officer's mouth.

"Find Jack alive out there. You have to find Jack amongst the survivors," she whispered a quiet plea to the boat that went back. "Jack has to be one of the survivors."

It's not Rose's boat but at least I'm out of the water, Jack thought as he wrapped himself in the blanket provided by the crew.

He promised he'd survive. He's gotta be in that lifeboat. Rose stared intently in the direction of the boat hoping to catch a glimpse of him in the darkness.

When the Carpethia arrived, later in the night, the lifeboats unloaded one by one.

Jack and Rose began to tearfully and hopefully search in the midst of a crowd full of sadness and shock. With every passing minute they each became more desperate.

Then their eyes meet from across the boat, relief washing over them both as they immediately made their way through the crowd straight to each other's arms. They held each other close, exchanging sweet soft kisses as they wept.

"You kept your promise. You made it," Rose managed through her tears between kisses.

"I told you I would."

"I don't know what I'd do if you didn't make it, Jack. I couldn't bear the thought of being without you. Being away from you and not knowing was hard enough, but being without you..."

"I know. I feel the same way. I knew you were ok in the boat. That water was so so cold...thinking about you got me through it."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Oh, Jack. I can't tell you how good it feels to be in your arms again."

"Yours too. Come on, let's go find some accommodation until we dock."

The next few days were spent walking and talking on deck holding hands and sharing sweet occasional kisses and sleeping cuddled together on their cot. Neither Cal nor Ruth made their presence known to either of them. Though when they saw Molly Brown she shared with them that Cal's was one of the frozen bodies that had been found in the water in a life jacket.

Then, on that last evening, there it was. They were approaching the Statue of Liberty in the rainy night.

Standing on the Carpethia's deck with an umbrella, Jack put an arm around Rose and pulled her close and with a questioning look of nervousness.

"I meant what I said on the Titanic, Jack. I'm getting off this ship with you. I hope you know that."

"This is so unreal to me...that a woman as amazing as you would be interested in me."

"Why wouldn't I be? You're pretty amazing yourself. I love you, Jack." She smiled, radiantly glowing.

"Rose," he looked in her eyes as he pulled her a little closer. His expression tender. "I love you too." And his lips took hers in a sweet, sensual kiss as they continued to stand under their umbrella in the rain.

"So, what's next?" Rose questioned, placing her hand on his chest.

"We'll work our way to Santa Monica so I can keep my promises to you."

"Alright. I wouldn't mind going back to the stars if we can find a place of privacy."

"I can't promise privacy but we'll try."

"This will be an adventure."

"Rose." He took both her hands into his and looked deep into her eyes once again. "I want to get off this ship with you, make love with you over and over and have a lifetime of adventures with you...Santa Monica only being the start. I can't promise we'll always have a roof over our heads, but I promise to do my best and to love and take care of you."

They shared a beaming smile.

"Like that shooting star the other night, sounds like a wish or rather, a dream come tr...wait...Jack...what are you saying?" Her voice trailed off.

"Marry me Rose? Get off this ship with me as my wife?"

"Your wife? Marry you?"

"Yes. But that's what I was hoping you'd say."

They shared a chuckle.

"Jack Dawson, I would love nothing more than to become your wife."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Let's go."

A short while later, the Carpethia docked and unloaded the passengers to a crowd of reporters and anxious loved ones. Jack and Rose being two of the last to get off when, just before they could, a deck steward approached them.

"Could I take your names please?"

"Dawson, Jack and Rose Dawson." Jack replied as they held hands standing side by side. "Mrs. Dawson are you ready?" He looked at her with a smile.

"For what?" She returned his smile radiantly as her eyes met his.

"The first day of the rest of our lives."

"I'm ready. Show me the world."

And off they went. After a brief honeymoon at the Jane hotel where survivors were offered a few free nights, Jack and Rose made their way to Santa Monica where they sold the Heart of the Ocean necklace that Rose discovered in the pocket of the coat Cal had put on her. They settled, raised two children and traveled. After 84 bliss filled years they passed away in each other's arms.