Disclaimer: This is a story based upon the screenplay for the 1997 Titanic movie, created by James Cameron. All other characters by me. This story is not intended to be "true to the film", or 100% historically, or otherwise, accurate.

Chapter 1

Jack Dawson was fascinated with watching the sunrise. To him it was one of the most magnificent offerings of mother nature. The colors that painted the sky were brilliant; a work of art that not even the finest artist could imitate. The sunrises, and sunsets, he had observed while on Titanic were unlike anything he had ever seen, unobstructed by any type of landscape. His perspective of this particular sunrise however, on the fifteenth of April, 1912 was quite different. Gone was the majestic ship, fatally injured by an iceberg. Now, the only thing separating him from the deep, icy waters of the north Atlantic was a wardrobe door. It was undoubtedly the strangest and most frightening perspective he had ever seen the sunrise from. This morning however, he paid little attention to it. It was merely an indication of how much time had passed since the sinking, and morbid reminder of his grim situation. He could now see the ship that had come to the rescue of the survivors, steaming away from him until she finally became just a dot on the horizon.

It all seemed so unfair. He had beaten the odds, and he had done it gracefully. He didn't even dare to try to get into a lifeboat. Certainly not before a woman or a child and there were still plenty about when the last boat was lowered. He did not know the exact number, but he imagined that at the very least, several hundred people had succumbed to the frigid waters just a few hours earlier. He was sure that he was the only survivor among them now. He had managed to stay on the ship as long as possible. Up until the point in which the sea had finally swallowed the stern section whole, he did not remember hearing a single cry from those who had taken an early plunge into the water. He had held onto the railing at the very tip of the stern until it was flush with the water. He was pulled down with the suction, but the gulp wasn't nearly as bad as he thought it would be, he managed to make his way back to the surface in less than a minute. It was then when everything hit him. The cold water stabbed at him like a thousand knives, all over his body. It was the most accurate description he could give. At first, The roar of the people in the water, scrambling for their lives was like being in a baseball stadium. Hardly any word or phrase uttered was distinguishable unless that person was within very close proximity to him. However, the overall consensus of the mood of the crowd was always clearly conveyed. Jack hoped he would never have to hear such a roar again. Never had he felt such overwhelming panic, fear and anguish. It had all faded away at a frightening pace, until eventually all he heard was the soft rippling of the water.

The one thing that Jack did not do, could not do, was panic. He was determined to survive this, and he found his refuge upon the wardrobe door. He knew there was a good chance of finding a piece of wreckage large enough to sustain him, but he had to work hard to find it, but he did it. He would now survive. He promised Rose that he would. It was all he could do to get her into a lifeboat and ensure their future together. She refused to go the first time, for that he could hardly complain. She had come to his rescue. The second attempt was interrupted by Cal. He hadn't the chance to assure her that everything would be alright. Cal had barged into the scene and taken over, wrapping his coat around her protectively and making empty promises to her. However, Jack couldn't help but side with Cal on this one. If it would get her into the boat, then it was well worth it. Much confused by now, Rose climbed in the boat. Jack wouldn't let her out of his sight until her boat landed safely in the water. He smiled at her lovingly, reassuringly; trying to convey to her without words his confidence that everything would be alright. Rose glanced back and forth between two little girls crying and waving goodbyes, final goodbyes, to their father, and Jack. She was unwilling to leave him and she leapt from the lifeboat as it was being lowered, back onto the ship. Jack ran back below deck to meet her and she jumped into his arms. You jump, I jump. Again, he tried to talk some sense into her after he had calmed her down a bit, but Cal had witnessed the scene too. Ultimately, he realized that he could not win and he became enraged. He grabbed the pistol hidden inside Lovejoy's pocket and took aim right at them, not seeming to care which one of them he hit, and fired. He chased them until the last bullet was fired, fortunately missing them both completely.. Jack and Rose had hidden behind some furniture in the flooded dining saloon and remained there until they were sure he was well on his way. By the time they made it back to the boat deck, he was already in a lifeboat beginning to descend down the port side of the ship. Jack panicked for an instant fearing that they had all gone but they were told there was still some remaining on the other side. He grabbed Rose by the arm and hurried her to the other side of the ship where a few lifeboats remained. The officers were not letting any men on. It was just as well though; he would never take a woman or child's seat on the boat. Rose again insisted she would not board without him, but he had won her over. He assured her he would survive, and her seat in a lifeboat would ensure her survival. He was a fighter, and he had the amazing ability to remain calm in frightening situations. He reminded her of the time he fell through thin ice and of his experience with working on boats and began to fabricate a story of surviving a wreck in very similar weather and water temperature conditions while working on a fishing boat. She bought it. He promised her he would meet her on the rescue ship, now that rescue ship was gone. Jack couldn't help but smile however, for he knew that his Rose was safe. She had a new chance at life now and he prayed for her that she would make the most of it. Make it count. He only hoped there was still a chance he could be there to live it with her.