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"Memory loss?" Ruth looked at Cal with widened eyes. He nodded his head and put his cigar back in his mouth.

"Apparently he doesn't know a single thing. He doesn't even remember Rose."

"Does she know?"

Again, he answered by nodding his head once more. He looked over Ruth's shoulder to see if there was any sound or movement coming from the other room, but everything remained silent. Her mother had finally persuaded her daughter to get herself cleaned up. She was still in the bath, listening to the mumbling of their voices and splashing the water carelessly against the edge of the tub. Back home, Trudy would make the most wonderful oils of lavender, rosemary or mint which made her skin glow and feel so soft. When Rose was slightly younger, Trudy would accompany her by telling stories of her youth or singing old songs from her hometown. She hadn't seen Trudy anywhere, not even her mother had asked about her.

She lifted her arms from out of the water, her hands and fingers all covered in wrinkles. Moving her head towards the pile of clothes, her eyes glued to the pocket of Cal's coat he had thrown over her body. Something was glistering in the sunlight. Getting out of the bath, she wrapped herself into a towel and grabbed the coat from the chair. It felt cold and heavy as she took the object out. Her heart stopped for a moment.

"Jack I want you to draw me like one of your French girls. Wearing this."

"Alright." He said casually, still inspecting the Heart Of The Ocean like he was some serious jeweller.

"Wearing only this."

Now she was holding the diamond into her own hands. Still looking perfect, it had no form of any damage. A knock on the door emerged her thoughts. Her mother was calling for her to hurry up. Rose's voice croaked slightly when she said she was done. She put the diamond back and walked out.

"Please, Rose. Cover yourself properly." She followed her daughter into the bedroom where a lady was so kind to lend her her clothes. Throwing her towel onto the ground, she looked at her naked reflection in the mirror. There were some slight bruises on her legs and arms from trying to move through the cold water. On the other side of the room, Rose could her mother clear her throat. It was an awkward situation. Ruth had seen her bare only when she was a little girl, now it was up to her to help her daughter get dressed. Ruth waited until she had put on her chemise and drawers, a step woman could do entirely by herself.

"Where is your corset?"

"I wasn't wearing any." Rose answered. Ruth remained silent and continued. Eventually, they both sat down onto the bed and her mother brushed her hair softly. Her touch was surprisingly gentle. The calm strokes relaxed her in some way, but being in the presence of her mother always made her somewhat uncomfortable.

"Everything will be alright, Rose." Ruth spoke softly, "I want you to know that both Cal and I forgive you. That boy has taken advantage of in innocent girl and now God is finally punishing him. We as a family are meant to be together."

"Don't you," Rose stated firmly, "ever talk about him like that ever again." She stood up and turned towards her mother. "You don't know anything about him. You don't know anything about the real world in general."

"Don't speak to your mother like that." Cal had entered to room, "You're very lucky that I still want you to become my wife after this scandalous behaviour of yours."

She couldn't respond anymore, but had to flee.

"You are going to that boy?" Cal grabbed her by her arm as she tried to move past him, "He doesn't know you, Rose!"

"What is this stupid thing you are carrying around?" Rose grabbed the sketchbook out of his hands. "So what are you an artist or something?" She slowly opened it, not expecting to be so mesmerised by the drawings. She flipped through some pages and it looked like every drawing became better and better.

"Well these are rather good. Very good actually." They both sat down onto a two deckchairs and he watched her as she was scanning is art.

"Jack this is exquisite work."

"Well they didn't think too much of it in old Paris."

"Paris?" She looked up at him, "You do get around for a po-. A person with limited means."

"A poor guy you can say it." He laughed and showed her some other drawings. Most of them were of women, completely naked. Rose had never seen such a representation of life put down onto paper. It was raw and real. It wasn't only about the undressed women, it was about their emotions, the stories behind their lives and the way it could be seen in their eyes. Next was an elder woman sitting at a bar, wearing every single piece of jewellery she owned. They called her Madame Bijoux

"You have a gift, Jack. You do. You see people."

"I see you."

"And?" She straightened her back, smiling, as if she was about to receive a flattering compliment. Jack's facial expression remained calm, only his piercing blue eyes staring directly into her soul.

"You wouldn't have jumped." He simply said. Rose looked away for a moment and handed him back his drawings. All she was wondering was how could this man, this stranger see through her so vividly. It scared her in a way, but also kept her interested.

"You are planning to go back to France?" She quickly changed the subject. He shrug his shoulders and lighted a cigarette. Handing it to her, she refused, too scared anyone would see her. He kept the smoke in front of her until she quickly took a puff. The smoke burned slightly in her throat, but it soon felt good. She took another drag before giving it back to him.

"I don't think I wanna go back very soon. I mean I could have stayed longer if I wanted to, but after more than two years something was aching in me to go back to The States. But one day, definitely. Also Italy where my buddy is from."

"I envy you, Jack. I've been in Paris many times, but never further than my hotel, a visit to the dressmaker or a tour around the Seine."

"You could sneak out in the middle of the night and experience its full glory." He jokingly said. But the melancholy look told him otherwise. She stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress.

"Maybe in my next life, I'll be braver," She said, "shall we walk further?"

The days she had spent with him on the ship had turned her into a completely different person. The person she was always meant to be. Bravery had formed her character, like the way she had told him to run off with him. She meant it. But the course of one event, one night, had put her back into her old world. Tossing and turning she could not find her peace. They would arrive in New York the next day, which definitely meant the end. Looking at the small pocket watch on her nightstand it was long past three O'clock. Rose suddenly shot up and look at the bed beside her. Her mother was sound asleep and she threw her legs over the edge, her feet touching the cold wooden floor. It creaked for a moment as Rose stood up and she waited a few seconds to see if anyone had heard her. Luckily she was safe.

Cal was smart, but not smart enough to leave the keys of the cabin unwatched. Within minutes she knew where to find them and opened the door, shutting it close behind her. Her bare feet marching down the corridors she rushed down into the deepest part of the ship where he was. Rose stopped at the edge of his bed and looked at him for awhile, the contours of his face still prominently visible in the darkness. She allowed herself to sit down. How peaceful he looked. As if he could open his eyes any moment, stare at her and proceeded with his life as if nothing had happened. The urge to kiss his soft lips or to touch his hands was almost too much to handle. She sighed deeply.

"I am not letting you go that easily, Dawson." She told him, a slight tremble in her voice, "for a fact you were the one who couldn't keep your eyes off me. I don't know if there even is a God, but if there is, he didn't let us meet only for a laugh. I will get back to you, I promise."

She took a few moments to recollect her thoughts again and eventually took his hand in hers. He didn't move a single muscle in her body, only the motion of his chest going slightly up and down gave away that he in fact was alive.

"I love you, Jack."

A shadow was suddenly behind her, scared of it being one of them she quickly let go of him. The phantom told her not to worry and kept her distance. Molly had heard her leave and being worried about her safety she had decided to follow her. It did not surprise her where she was heading and only watched the two at a distance for a little while.

"You don't have to worry about him, Rose." She then told her. Rose looked up at Molly, but quickly moved her gaze back towards Jack. Of course she worried about him, how could she not. She felt Molly's hand resting on her shoulder and signed the young woman to walk with her. They ended up on the decks with only the howl of the waves and the freezing cold to keep them company.

"I'll take care of him, Rose. You're not the only one who has grown fond of the man."

"How will you do it?" She sounded hesitant.

"He can stay with me until he has been properly taken care of by a good doctor and we know what's the matter with him."

"To Denver Colorado? That's almost on the other side of the country!"

"Then what do you suggest?" Molly's voice sounded stern like a school teacher, "I am trying to help you dear because if I don't do it, God knows what will happen to him."

Rose knew she was right, but the stubbornness inside her didn't want to admit it. It was indeed selfish of her wanting to keep him near her when she knew nothing would become of him. Her family had found her and didn't intend on letting her out of their sight ever again. Or at least not for now. The piercing cold stung in her eyes as she looked at the horizon, eventually following Mrs. Brown back inside. She had begged Rose to trust her, to believe her intentions were nothing but good. Who more to trust than a person who had once lived a life almost exactly like him. Mrs. Brown knew what she was getting herself into because in the times of her poverty she had often wanted people to help her when she had nowhere to go. They would do nothing, but look away and only to look back years later as her husband had stumbled upon a gold mine. Nothing had changed about her but her income. And suddenly all those people, people Rose had known all her life put a form of interest into the Brown family.

Before they entered their cabin Rose stopped Molly in her tracks and hugged her tightly.

"I trust you." She said to her, "Please let him be safe."

The next evening, as rain was pouring down, Rose didn't look over the horizon anymore but straight into the eyes Of The Statue of Liberty. Everyone had gathered outside waiting desperately to take a step onto dry land. Families and friends had also gathered around the docks, all waiting anxiously for any sign of life from their loved ones. As she looked around she thought about their departure over a week ago. How many people were onboard then compared to now. Death had taken almost all of their souls.

How grand and powerful the statue looked. it intrigued Rose immensely. The sound of a steward's voice put her back into reality. He looked at her patiently with a notebook and pen in his hands. As he asked for her name, Cal came to stand behind her and rested the palm of his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened by his touch and released herself from it.

"My name is Caledon Hockley and this is my fiancee Rose DeWitt Bukater together with her mother Ruth DeWitt Bukater."

The steward thanked him, wrote their names down and headed off. Rose turned towards him, her hands in the pockets of Cal's large coat. The diamond was still there. Twitching and turning it for a second she finally took it out and placed it into his hand forcefully. His eyes widened in shock.

"I don't want it anymore, Cal." Rose spoke firmly, "I can't look at it without thinking about the ship or him. That's why I am giving it back, so I can leave this all behind me."

"Rose, I don't know what to say."

"I hope you will respect my decision."

He quickly put the necklace into his own pockets so no one could see him. He simply nodded at her and looked at Ruth who was observing the situation from a few steps back. She looked at him, wanting to speak, but also she was at a loss of words. It seemed as if her words had come clear to Rose and she was ready to move on. Getting closer to her daughter, Ruth hugged her tightly and planted a kiss on her cheek.

After what felt like an eternity, The Carpathia finally docked at her pier. The crowd overwhelmed Rose, but she managed to remain calm. People ran towards one another, reuniting with their families. The flashes of the cameras were blinding as she tried to pass through. An older man stopped in front of her and started asking her tons of questions about the whole disaster.

"How did you manage to escape, miss?" The journalist asked her and the photographer snapped a picture of her. Cal pushed them aside and pulled his fiancee close to him.

"I ask you to leave her alone, will you?"

"What about you, sir? How, as a man, did you find yourself a spot into a lifeboat?" The man now turned his attention towards Cal. Without giving any form of response, Mr. Hockley, together with mother and daughter, finally got themselves out of the situation. Rose's heart was pounding in her chest to a point where it felt as if she was going to collapse any moment. How was Jack going to push through this in the state he was in, she thought to herself. But Molly was with him. Trust her, Rose. You have to trust she'll make sure he is alright. Her mind then moved to the girl she had met on the lifeboat. She hadn't seen Meredith since she had left the room to get them some food. She was all alone.

Being the man he is, Caledon Hockley had arranged everything for their arrival to be as smooth and luxurious as possible. A private car was waiting for them to bring them towards the Windsor Hotel for the night. They could get a good night sleep before heading back to Philadelphia the next day where they would be finally at peace.

The servants were waiting anxiously for the arrival of the family. Still not knowing what or whom to expect they could only hope for the best. As they entered their home, the staff only nodded at them but soon came to the conclusion that one of their colleagues was not there. Rose silently walked past everyone and headed up the stairs. After two months of touring through Europe, everything still looked the same as before she left. She opened the blinds, letting the natural light of day fill her room. She plopped down onto her bed and stared at her reflexion in the mirror. Her hair was hanging loosely, strands covering her pale and tired face. How one big disaster could make her look as if she had aged many years.

"Say we'll go there. To that pier, even if we only ever just talk about it."

"No we'll do it." Jack told her, his voice full of enthusiasm. "We'll drink cheap beer, ride in the rollercoaster until we throw up and we'll ride horses on the beach right in the surf. But you have to do it like a real cowboy, none of that side-saddle stuff."

"You mean one leg on each side?"

Jack nodded and Rose laughed at the scandalous idea. How it would shock her mother. She loved it.

"Can you show me?"

"Sure, if you'd like."

With these thoughts in her mind, the memories that would often pop up into her head she laid herself down onto her soft silk pillow and closed her eyes slowly. Could she stay asleep forever with him in her dreams. A place where she could still see him and feel his soft touch. A place where she was allowed to do so, where she could be completely free and ultimately happy. A knock was heard on her door, followed by someone entering, but she did not respond.