A/N: Again, sorry it took so long. School really is bugging me. Well, here is the new chapter...hope you like it!!
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was mid afternoon, when Rose had awoken from the aftermath of their lovemaking. Lifting her head off of Jack's chest, she looked out the window, finding that the sun was shining brightly down at her, as the sunlight crept into their hotel room. Rose slipped out of Jack's embrace, as she slipped on her undergarments, as well as the dress she planned to wear for the day. She walked over to her dresser and brushed her hair, untangling her curls, until they shone and until her curls bounced happily around her face. Setting her brush down, Rose took a ribbon, and put her hair in a ponytail, leaving a few strands of curls to fall onto her face. Examining her face on the vanity mirror, Rose picked up a few hairpins and took a couple of strands of curls away from her face, and pinned them, so they wouldn't fall onto her face as they were before. She took her perfume off the dresser top, and sprayed it against her skin, to let the fragrance of her perfume linger in the air.
Rose got up and put on her shoes, as she stood up straight, smoothing her dress with her hands. The pale yellow dress looked similar to the one she wore on the Titanic, but wasn't as elegant, nor did it have the embroidery her other had, or the silkiness texture. The dress she wore now, was knee length, and had a gold trim on the hemline as well as the end of the short-sleeves. The short-sleeves were off her shoulders, and was low-cut. The dress also showed part of her back, and showed off her figure. Rose watched as Jack turned, his hand laying on the side that she was lying in earlier. His hand brushed against the sheet, as he opened his eyes, sitting up as he did so.
"Rose?" Jack said, groggily, rubbing his eyes with his hands.
"Yes, Jack?" Rose asked, looking down at her husband.
"What time is it?" Jack asked, as he yawned.
"It's a quarter to one." Rose said, reading from the clock, that was hung on the wall. Jack sat up, as his legs hung at the edge of the bed, as the sheet covered up the area below his waist. Stretching, Jack bent down, to pick up his underwear, slipping them on as he done so. "We should be heading off you know, if we want to arrive at the Michael's by two." Jack nodded as he got up, picking up his clothes. He began redressing himself, as Rose stood there, watching him. He buttoned up his shirt, and slipped on his corduroy pants, buttoning and zipping it up. The suspenders hung at the side of his waist, as he walked towards his boots, putting them on. He sat at the edge of the bed, where he bent down, to tie his laces together. When he done so, he got up, pulling his suspenders over his shoulder as he did so. He ran his fingers through his hair, as he let out a short yawn. He walked towards Rose, as he placed his hands onto her waist, pulling her close to him.
"I love you..." Jack said, as he leaned closer to her, pressing his lips onto hers, bringing her into a loving kiss. Rose's hands went to the back of Jack's neck, as she opened her mouth slightly, allowing for Jack's tongue to enter her mouth, as his tongue interlocked with hers. Rose's fingers went through Jack's hair, as she kissed him with all the passion that was held within her heart. Rose felt a warm sensation go through her body, as she kissed Jack. Their noses touched, as they kissed, and Jack moved his hands towards her face, where his fingers gently went over her delicate cheek. Their mouths pulled apart, as they caught their breaths. Their faces were mere inches apart as they could feel each other's breaths on their faces.
"I love you, too." Rose said, smiling up at him. Jack smiled as he kissed her forehead, before hugging her. They pulled away, as Rose began picking up the rest of the clothes that were on the floor, or on the bed. She took the wooden suitcase, and opened it, as she began placing the clothing inside the suitcase. Rose took her brush, as well as her perfume, and placed it in the suitcase as well. She also took other necessities, placing them into the suitcase as well. When she made sure everything was inside the suitcase, including Jack's new portfolio and Monet's painting. Once she had finished packing everything up, Rose closed the suitcase, and took it by the handle. She walked towards Jack, smiling. "So, are you ready?"
"I'll be ready, once you give me that suitcase." Jack said, taking the suitcase from her hands, as he pressed his lips onto hers again. When he pulled away, he gave her his famous smile as he looked down into her eyes. Rose smiled back, as leaned against his chest, as his arm went around her shoulders. Both left the hotel room, as they went downstairs to the check-in counter.
"How may I help you?" The man said.
"Uh, we would like to check out." Jack said, leaning against the counter.
"Name?" The man asked.
"Dawson." Jack said. The man opened a book, and skimmed through the names that were in the pages.
"Jack and Rose Dawson?" The man asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "How much do we owe you?"
"Well, you were here two nights, I presume?" The man asked.
"Correct." Jack said.
"Well, then, that'll be ten dollars." The man said. Jack nodded, as he slipped his hand into his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill, handing it to the man.
"Thank you." The man said. "I hope you enjoyed your stay, here at the Santa Monica Hotel."
"Thanks." Jack said, as he held Rose's hand, leading her out of the hotel. As they walked, the breeze blew onto them, and birds flew over their heads. Passerby's often glanced at them, at their intimacy, but neither cared, for they were too much in love to bother with someone else's opinions. Jack and Rose walked across the street, as they made their way through the pier. As they were walking on the pier, a boy, about ten or so, was selling paper.
"Extra! Extra!" The boy said. "Get the news on the greatest disaster in history! Only ten cents!" The boy waved the newspaper around, which in big bold letters wrote Titanic sinks on April,15,1912 taking more than fifteen hundred with her...Rose looked up at Jack, as he looked down at her. Jack went towards the boy, and took ten cents out of his pocket, handing it to the boy, as he took a newspaper. "Thank you, mister."
"No problem." Jack said, his voice soft and shaky. The little boy nodded, as he walked away, trying to get more passerby's to buy the newspaper. Jack and Rose stopped as they looked through the newspaper. They found a bench nearby, and decided to sit on it, to have a chance to look through the paper. Setting the suitcase down, Jack stared at the front cover of the paper, reading its words out loud. "The famous ocean liner, Titanic, had sunk in the depths of the North Atlantic, around two thirty in the morning of April fifteenth. It was soon discovered, that more than fifteen hundred souls had perished along with her, leaving only about seven hundred living. Many lost their loved ones, as well as other family members and friends. It was said that the ship was 'unsinkable', but was soon proved wrong, when the ship struck the iceberg on April fourteenth. Rumors has it, that the ship went down in one piece..." Jack stopped reading as he read the last line. He slowly shook his head as set the newspaper down. He looked over at Rose, finding her stare down at her hands, not saying anything.
"One piece..." Rose said, as she lifted her head. "we know that's not true. We were on it, as it split in two...how could they say that? How could they have the nerve to call it 'unsinkable' anyway? God knows that every ship is sinkable. Nothing could go against God's will. God has the power to do whatever He pleases..." Rose said. She swallowed as she looked up at her husband. "Which reminds me of the time when we boarded the ship. Cal had made a comment that God, Himself, couldn't sink Titanic...and you see what happened?" Rose asked, her eyes beginning to moisten by her upcoming tears. "It's funny, you know, how these people go against God, not realizing that He has something up His sleeve. That He might do something that could prove them wrong, to show how powerful He really is, no matter what they say." Jack scooted closer to her, as he placed his hand by her waist.
"Rose, no matter what they say, we know what happened. We experienced the real thing." Jack said. "They're just making up things, to get the money."
"Is everything about money?" Rose asked, looking up at her husband.
"No," Jack said. "it isn't. We all know that money isn't everything. To these people, yes it is, but to us, and to others, no, it's not. Rose, I'm just glad that we're alive. That God gave us another chance to live, that he gave us another chance to love each other, and for that, I'm thankful. Always will be." Rose smiled as she threw her arms around Jack's neck, as she hugged him.
"I love you so much, Jack." Rose said. "More than words can ever say."
"Me too, Rose." Jack said, stroking her back. "I always will." Rose pulled away, just enough to look into his eyes. Rose pulled Jack closer, as their lips met. The passionate kiss lasted for more than thirty seconds. When they pulled away, they smiled and hugged each other once more. After they pulled away from their hug, they got up and continued walking, towards the houses that were about a block away. When they did, they turned a corner, and went towards the light blue house, that they had been in the previous day. Jack and Rose went through the gate, and after closing it, they climbed the steps and Jack knocked on the door. After a few seconds of waiting, the door burst open, to reveal Katherine in a pale blue dress.
"Jack, Rose!" Katherine said, a bright smile on her face. "I'm so glad you considered to come here." Jack and Rose both smiled. "I just finished with the guest room...oh, do mind my manners, do come in!" Jack and Rose went inside, as Katherine closed the front door. "I'll show you to your room." Katherine said, as she led the way. Jack and Rose followed her up the stairs. She then went to the third door on the left, opening it. Jack and Rose went inside, as they admired the room. The walls were light blue, and the windows were open, letting the cool breeze blow into the room, with the curtains flying in the wind. The bed was against a wall, in the middle of the room, with a pale blue sheet, and a dark blue comforter. At both sides of the bed, there was a nightstand, with a lamp. The floor was hardwood, and there was a glass door that led to the balcony. There was also a chestnut dresser, opposite of the bed, and there was a clock that was hung on the wall, just by the bed. The room wasn't big, nor was it small. It was the perfect size for the two couples. "So, do you like it?" Katherine asked the couple.
"Like it?" Rose said, looking at her. "We don't like it." Katherine frowned, as she looked down at the floor. "We love it." Katherine looked up, smiling.
"Oh, you scared me there for a minute." Katherine said. "I'm glad you love it, you guys deserve it."
"Thank you so much, Kat." Rose said, as she went over to Katherine, hugging her. "I'm so glad to have met you."
"Me too, Rose." Katherine smiled. "Oh, Mandy would be thrilled to see you. She has been talking about you all morning. Why don't you put the suitcase down, and we could go down to the kitchen, where I'll prepare you a decent meal, and you guys could say hi to Amanda." Jack went inside, and set the suitcase on the bed. He opened the suitcase, and took out his portfolio. Closing the suitcase, he went back towards Rose, as he closed the door behind him. Katherine already went down the stairs, as Jack and Rose followed her. They went into the kitchen, where they found Amanda in her high chair, coloring. She looked up, finding Jack and Rose with her mother. A smile immediately came across her face.
"Rosie!" Amanda said, dropping her crayon on the floor as she threw her arms in the air. Rose smiled and went towards her.
"Hey, Mandy!" Rose said, lifting her from her high chair. "How's my favorite little girl?" Amanda giggled as she threw her arms around Rose's neck. "You missed me, didn't you?" Rose asked, as she looked into Amanda's eyes. Amanda nodded happily with a bright smile on her face. "Oh...I missed you too, sweetheart. You're so adorable." Amanda giggled happily.
"Jack!" Amanda said happily, holding out her arms towards him. Jack smiled and set his portfolio down on the kitchen table and went towards Rose, to claim Amanda. Once he had her in his arms, Amanda gave him a hug, and a peck on his lips. Jack smiled. "I miss you, Jack!"
"I missed you, too, Amanda." Jack said, pressing his lips on her round cheek. Amanda smiled up at him. Jack set her down, as she ran out of the kitchen. Jack stood up straight, placing his hands into his pockets, smiling at the direction Amanda had ran. He looked over at Katherine, finding her cook some food. "Where's Jonathan?" Jack asked, taking a seat.
"He's at work." Katherine said. "But he will be home at around five, six o'clock." Jack nodded as he opened his portfolio. Jack took out his artist tools and began sharpening the lead that he would use to draw. Once he had done so, he began to draw Rose and Katherine, who were talking with each other. "So, did you guys do anything special last night, after you left here?" Katherine asked, as she kept an eye on the cooking food.
"Why, yes, actually." Rose said, smiling. "Jack and I went horseback riding, right on the surf, under the sunset. It was beautiful."
"That sounds romantic." Katherine said, looking up at her.
"It was." Rose said, smiling.
"You what the funniest thing Amanda said this morning?" Katherine asked.
"What?" Rose asked, smiling.
"Well, we were talking about how Jon and I met, and when we married." Katherine said. "So, she asked me if she would ever marry, and I told her, one day, when you get older and fall in love you will." Katherine said, smiling. "Then, she told me something that was so adorable. She said that she was going to marry Jack when she gets older."
"Oh, so she's planning on stealing my husband away from me?" Rose asked, a teasing smile on her face.
"I tried to tell her." Katherine said, playing along. "But, she kept saying that she's going to marry Jack and live happily ever after." Rose had a smile on her face.
"Happily ever after, huh?" Rose asked. "She seems to be having my fairytale." Katherine laughed.
"But she loves you two. She only met you guys yesterday, and she has taken a very great liking to you two. It just surprises me, because she's never like that with everyone else." Katherine said, shutting off the stove. "She's usually shy and quiet, but once she saw you two, she...I don't know... changed?" Katherine said. "Amanda seems to have a connection between you and Jack. There's just something about you guys that made her fall in love with you. I, honestly, have no clue how she got so glued up to you. It's like some miracle happened when you came." Katherine said, as she took two plates out of the cupboard, beginning to fill them up with her stew. She walked over to the table, and set a plate down in front of Jack, and one beside him. Katherine watched what Jack was doing, with a confused expression pasted on her face. "You draw?" Katherine asked. Jack looked up from his work and smiled.
"Yeah," Jack said. "I've been drawing for most of my life."
"That's amazing!" Katherine said, smiling. "I never knew a real life artist before." Jack chuckled as he blushed.
"Well, now you have." Jack said, smiling.
"Mind if I see?" Katherine asked.
"Not at all..." Jack said, handing her the paper that he drew on. Katherine took it and gasped.
"Oh, my God, Jack!" Katherine said, looking from her drawing, to Jack. "This...this is...wow...I don't know what to say..." Katherine said, as she looked at the drawing, which showed herself and Rose chatting by the stove, a smile placed on each of their faces. "This looks so realistic!"
"I know...that's one of the things that made me fall in love with him." Rose said, smiling.
"I don't blame you." Katherine said, smiling at Rose. She looked at the drawing and then looked up at Jack. "Are you drawing, professionally?" Katherine asked.
"Well, no." Jack said. "But, I plan to own my own gallery someday, and if anyone offers me a job, to be a professional artist, I'll be glad to take it. As for now, I'm just enjoying my honeymoon with my new, beautiful wife." Jack smiled at Rose, who blushed.
"Jon had never told me that you were a talented artist." Katherine said. Jack smiled, as his cheeks took in a nice shade of pink. "This is amazing, Jack."
"Thanks." Jack said, smiling happily.
"No problem." Katherine said, handing him the drawing back. Jack took it and placed it in his portfolio. He initialed and dated it, before putting his supplies away. He found that Rose sat down beside him, as she began eating the stew that was placed in front of her. Jack smiled, as he too, picked up his fork, and began eating Katherine's stew.
"This is delicious!" Rose said, after she swallowed the food.
"Thank you." Katherine said, smiling.
"It's more better than the first class food I used to eat." Rose said, smiling, as she continued to eat.
"I have to agree with Rose here...this is delicious!" Jack said, putting another forkful of stew into his mouth. Katherine just smiled happily. She heard a knock on the door.
"Excuse me..." Katherine said, as she got up and went to answer the door. Jack and Rose just continued eating, as Katherine greeted to whoever was at the door. A few minutes later, Katherine reentered the kitchen, with two guests. Jack and Rose looked up, finding Charles with a beautiful woman.
"Hey, Charles!" Jack said, getting up to give his friend a manly hug. "Who's this beauty?" Jack asked, looking at the woman beside him.
"This here, is my wife, Jessica Stephens," Charles said. "Jess, this is my good friend that I've been talking about. This is Jack Dawson, and that beautiful woman over there, is his wife, Rose Dawson." Charles introduced his wife to Jack and Rose.
"It's nice to meet you two..." Jessica said. "Charles talked so much about you, Jack." Jessica said, smiling.
"Hope it's good things..." Jack said.
"Of course." Jessica smiled. Jack smiled back. "Why, hello, Mrs. Dawson..." Jessica said, smiling over at Rose.
"Please, do call me Rose." Rose smiled, getting up, to shake Jessica's hand.
"If you insist," Jessica said, smiling, as she shook Rose's hand.
"Please, do sit, while I prepare your lunches!" Katherine said, as she went over to the stove, taking out two extra plates, and filling them up with stew. Charles and Jessica took their seats, with Jessica beside Rose, and Charles beside Jack. Katherine placed a plate in front of Charles and Jessica, as she went over to the refrigerator, taking out a fresh bottle of wine, and filling out four wine glasses with the white wine. As she placed each glass in front of her guests, she heard Amanda call for her.
"Coming, sweetie!" Katherine called out, as she left the kitchen, and climbed the stairs to go to her daughter's room. Meanwhile, Jack, Rose, Charles and Jessica ate their stew, as they waited for one of them to speak.
"So," Jack said, setting his fork down, as he looked up at Charles. "how long have you and Jessica been married?" Jack asked, his eyes looking from Charles to Jessica, then back to Charles.
"Well, for three years now." Charles answered. "I met her a week after you left, and we began to see each other more often, then, one day, when it was summer, I took her to the beach, proposed, and got married on August seventeenth of 1909, and we've been happily married since." Charles said. "How 'bout you? When did you get married?"
"Well, right now, Rose and I are on our honeymoon." Jack said. "We married on the twentieth of this month."
"Really?" Charles said, smiling. "So, you two married five days ago?" Jack nodded their heads. "How long have you two known each other?" Charles asked, after he put a forkful of stew into his mouth, looking up at Jack. Jack coughed, as he answered his question.
"For more than a week." Jack said, his eyes glancing at Charles, waiting for his reaction.
"More than a week?!?" Charles exclaimed, his eyes wide. "You met her for about a week, then married her? How'd that happen?"
"It's a long story." Jack said, looking down at his food, finding that he had lost his appetite. He looked over at Rose, finding her smiling at him, but he could see the pain lingering in her once happy eyes. He sighed.
"Care to share it with us?" Charles asked. Jessica nudged him on his elbow. Charles looked over at her. "What?" Jessica just gave him a stern look.
"Charles, it's none of your business, just as it isn't mine, now don't go asking people questions like that, when they're not really interested in telling us." Jessica said.
"I'm just curious." Charles said, innocently. "Besides, we're supposed to be good friends. Friends don't keep secrets from each other, especially if you haven't seen him for about two years."
"Charles-" Jessica began.
"It's okay," Jack said, cutting down the small argument between Charles and is wife. "I already discussed this with Jon and I know that Charles is curious, and I don't blame him. I mean, we haven't seen each other for about two years, and sure enough that curiosity is gonna build up on him." Jack said, giving both of them a small smile. "This may be hard and painful for us to share, but we both believe it's better to share than to hide it and feel the pain for the rest of your life." Jack felt Rose's hand slip into his. Jack glanced over at Rose and smiled.
"Everything will be fine, Jack." Rose whispered, smiling sweetly at him. Jack nodded and lifted her hand, pressing his lips against her knuckles, as he smiled at her. Rose gave him a small smile, as she remembered the last time he kissed her hand like that. The last time he did, was after she promised him that she would move on with her life, and the one before, was before the dinner. And as he kissed her knuckles, he always smiles at the end, no matter the situation.
"Well, I'll tell you my side of the story first." Jack said. "It was April tenth of this year, and I was in Southampton, England with a good friend. His name was Fabrizio di Rossi, an Italian boy, whom I met in Italy, the year before. We were good pals, very good pals."
"Were?" Charles asked, confused.
"Let me finish," Jack said. Charles nodded. "he was the sort of guy who understood me...who was like a brother to me, you know? We anyway, that morning, Fabri and I went to a pub, to get a drink. Two Swedes, Sven and Olaf, called us over, for a poker game. We agreed to it, and we began playing. I bet every penny in my pocket, as Fabri bet a couple of his change, and his father's pocketknife. Olaf bet his pocket watch, as Sven bet the tickets to the Titanic." Jack said.
"Titanic?" Charles asked. "The Titanic that sank on the fifteenth?" Jack nodded, his blue eyes shining with gloominess.
"Unfortunately, we won, and we boarded the ship, a little after twelve noon. We were third class passengers aboard the luxurious ship. It was beautiful...very beautiful." Jack said. "She was like a floating palace. They said that the third class section of the ship, was as elegant as the first. I have to say that it isn't true, because I've been to first class. I've seen how beautiful it was. But I can say, that third class on the Titanic, was more better than any third class on any ship. Now, the day after I boarded the ship, was when I first laid eyes on this beauty." Jack said, looking over at Rose, smiling sweetly at her. Rose blushed, as she smiled back.
"So, you met her onboard the ship?" Charles asked.
"Yeah." Jack said. "Only, she wasn't third class."
"So, she was second class?" Charles asked. Jack shook his head. "First class?" Jack nodded head, as he looked up at him. "How?"
"Well, you see, I was out on deck, when I first laid eyes on him. I was miserable, trapped, lonely--even though I had a fiancée." Rose said, explaining how they first met.
"But what would Jack offer you?" Charles asked. "I mean, he doesn't have any money..."
"He doesn't have to." Rose said. "I never cared for the money. Yes, I know I had all these beautiful jewelry and wonderful dresses, but that doesn't mean anything. Ever since my father died, when I was sixteen, everything has changed. Nothing was the same, anymore. My mother grew more bossy, and forced me to get engaged to Caledon Hockley, unfortunately, since he was the friend of the family, and a rich one at that. My mother was the one who cared for the money. I was opposite. I was more like my father, I should say. He loved my mother and me more than anything. That's what I liked most about my father. He was the most caring man I've ever known, besides Jack, and he always found a way to make me smile, to make me feel loved-just as Jack does." Rose said, looking up at her husband. "So, you see, Charles, money isn't everything. It's just a piece of paper with printed value, or a piece of metal, molded into a circular shape. You can't buy a husband or a wife with money, you can't buy life with money. That's something you need to earn. Love, Charles, love is the most important thing in a person's life, no matter who it's from. If that person loves you, and you love them back, you'd be the richest person in the world. Nothing matters more to me, than Jack's love for me. That's why I fell in love with him. Cal didn't love me, if he did, he didn't show it. All Cal did, was treat me as a possession, as if I'm a trophy, that he won at a game or a bid. He didn't even come close to Jack. Jack doesn't have to have billions of dollars, he doesn't even have to have any amount of money, all he needs, is that ounce of love that I give him, and he'll know that his life is worth living, just as I know, I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have a husband like Jack Dawson. He changed my life. Moreover, he saved my life. Something a man has never had the courage to do. And I cherish him for that." Rose said, glancing over at her husband with a small smile on her face, and her eyes shinning with every ounce of love that was inside of her.
"Wow, Jack," Charles said. "you have some wife there. Take care of her."
"Don't worry, I will." Jack said, smiling.
"That must've been frightening...to be on the Titanic..." Jessica said, eyeing both Jack and Rose.
"Well, it was, when the iceberg hit, and during the sinking. Even after the ship sank. There were fifteen hundred people floating nearby, freezing to death as they waited for the boats to come back." Rose said. "And only one came back. One boat, out of twenty. They only took six survivors out of the water...Jack and I included. But I assure you, that before that iceberg hit, being on the Titanic was the best thing that could've ever happened to me, for I know if I wasn't aboard the ship, I would've never met Jack, and I would never be his wife today." Jessica smiled.
"I must've been romantic, meeting your loved one aboard a luxurious ship." Jessica said, glancing over at Rose.
"It was." Rose said, smiling back at her. "We also shared our true love first kiss at the bow."
"Really?" Jessica said, smiling happily. Rose nodded.
"Jack took me 'flying'." Rose said, her eyes shining with happiness.
"That sounds very romantic." Jessica said. Rose smiled, happily. Rose nodded.
"It was." Rose said. "Titanic changed my life. Good ways, and bad. And I have to admit, that I'm glad I was on that ship. I was glad that I have met Jack. With him around, I feel loved and cared for, and I feel as if...as if I...I just can't describe the feeling, but all I know is that he's the only man that I'll ever love; the only man that would ever understand me, the only man who could see right through me and read my soul, as if I were an open book. And for that, I love him. I love him so much, that every time I look at him, I get butterflies in my stomach, as if I first met him. I fall in love with him, all over again. My heart opens up more, allowing him to capture it, to have my love and hold onto it, until the day, we have to meet up in heaven. Until the day, where we have completed our vows and lived our lives. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was the one." Rose said, her eyes moistening from her tears, as Rose looked over at her husband. Rose mouthed 'I love you' as she smiled at him. Jack smiled back, and gently squeezed her hand.
"I never heard anything so beautiful," Jessica said, her voice choked up. "so...true. You two are in love, and you're not afraid to admit it. You're not afraid to show other people how much in love you are. I don't know what to say. You guys are the only people, besides Jon and Kat, who are so much in love with each other and are not afraid to show it, and for that, I'm glad to have finally met you." Jack and Rose smiled. "Rose, you're beautiful, and you're actually the only first class girl, that I've met, that said that money isn't important. I came from that territory, before I met Charles. Being a first class debutante. And, to tell you the truth, I despised it. I hated being served, and being dressed by my maids. I know I'm capable in doing those chores myself. I don't need anybody else doing them for me. My mother, she never understood. She never knew how money isn't that important, nor that much valuable as having the ability to love someone, and get the same love in return." Jessica said. "I met Charles when my family and I were on a summer vacation. I wanted to go to California, at the time. When I told my mother, she looked at me, as if I had five heads. I told her I wanted to see the climate, and the people there, and that I didn't care if she didn't want to go. I told her I'd be more than happy to go on my own. My mother, being the woman that she is, finally gave in, and we went on the next train to Santa Monica."
"You were a debutante?" Rose asked. Jessica nodded.
"But I didn't act like it." Jessica said.
"Don't worry, neither did I." Rose said, smiling. Jack saw how Rose enjoyed having a conversation with Jessica, and he smiled. He decided to let them have their own conversation, privately, so he got up.
"Charles, why don't you come with me to the parlor room, so we could catch up on the good ol' times." Jack said. Charles nodded, and got up as well. "Let's leave the ladies alone to talk."
"Of course." Charles said, smiling. He went over to Jessica and gave her a tender kiss on her lips, before leaving the kitchen. Jack went over to Rose and pressed his lips against hers, as he slipped his tongue into hers, bringing her into a passionate kiss. Rose brought her hand towards his face, as she caressed his cheek with her delicate fingers. A few moments passed, when they broke apart.
"See you later." Jack said, smiling, as he left the kitchen. Rose smiled back, as she sighed happily.
"Isn't it good to have husbands that loves us so much?" Jessica asked. Rose turned to face her and smiled.
"Of course it is." Rose said, smiling.
"You two are so beautiful together." Jessica said. "You guys are a match made in heaven." Rose blushed.
"Thank you." Rose said. "Well, back to our little conversation."
"Oh, yes." Jessica said, crossing her legs under the table. "I tell you, being a debutante isn't that much fun."
"I know." Rose agreed. "Mother always expected me to be perfect, to fit in with the rest of them. She wanted me to marry the richest man she knew, so that my future children would live in luxury, and so that I would be stunningly beautiful and perfect."
"Wow, your mother and mine would make perfect friends," Jessica said, smiling.
"Well, back then they would." Rose said. "She changed now. Believe me."
"So, I assume she found out of the sinking." Jessica said.
"She sure did. She finally found out the ship was sinking, when we were boarding the lifeboats." Rose said, giving out a chuckle.
"She was with you?" Jessica asked. Rose nodded.
"With my ex-fiancée." Rose added. "The famous Caledon Hockley, son of Nathan Hockley, also known as Pittsburgh Steel Tycoon. The handsome, rich, perfect gentleman in first class. As known to everyone else. A thirty year old, bachelor, who's looking for the right woman to marry, looking for a young wife, obviously, to carry his heir." Jessica let out a chuckle.
"Isn't that always the mother's dream for their daughters?" Jessica asked, smiling.
"Well, if your daughter is a beautiful debutante, that is." Rose said.
"Oh, yes, of course." Jessica said, smiling. "How is it, that our mothers always have to choose our husbands, who are rich, about twenty years older than us, when they have the ability to marry them themselves?"
"I, honestly, have no idea." Rose said. "Why can't they just let us choose our own husbands?"
"I know!" Jessica said, agreeing.
"Well, seems that we already did." Rose said, smiling.
"I suppose we did," Jessica said, giving off a short laugh. Rose joined in the laughter.
"It's just amazing, how both of us were debutantes, and how we both married the one man that we love." Rose said. "I find it so incredible, that we have that one thing in common."
"I know. I have never met anyone in my life, who was in first class, who agreed with my opinions, who agreed that money isn't actually worth more than love is." Jessica said. "And I treasure that within my heart. And Rose," Jessica said, her voice choked up with her upcoming tears. "I hope we become great friends." Rose looked at her with smiling eyes.
"I couldn't agree more." Rose said. Jessica smiled, as she threw her arms around Rose's shoulders, bringing her into a friendly hug.
"You don't know how much this means to me, Rose." Jessica said. "I haven't had a true friend ever since I was a small child."
"I'll be more than happy to share my friendship with you." Rose said, pulling away from the hug. Jessica smiled. There was a moment's silence between the two. Rose was the first to break it. "So, what happened to your father?"
"I never met him." Jessica said. "Mother told me that he died a few months before I was born."
"I'm sorry," Rose said, feeling the grief.
"Don't worry about it." Jessica said. "What happened to yours?"
"He passed away when I was sixteen." Rose said, looking down at her hands. "He died of leukemia." Rose said, as she looked up at her.
"I do apologize." Jessica said. "It must hurt to lose a loved one."
"It does." Rose said. "I almost lost Jack, and that would've broke my heart."
"Well, you haven't." Jessica said. "Don't dwell on the past. It won't do any good."
"I know." Rose said. "But it's still fresh in my mind. I can't erase it, nor can I get rid of it. That tragedy will always be with me, no matter what I do."
"I know." Jessica said. "I know that it will, but don't look back on it, and saying that you could've lost Jack. That will make you even more upset. Trust me, I know."
"You do?" Rose asked, looking up at her.
"Yes." Jessica said. "I had a best friend, whom I knew for all my life. She was like my sister. Her name was Daniella Matthews. She had chestnut brown hair, with light green eyes. She was beautiful, and dreamed of becoming a wife and a mother someday. When I was fourteen, Daniella and I went over to a lake, in Philadelphia." Jessica's eyes began to moisten. "I, not knowing that she couldn't swim, pushed her into the lake, watching her wave her arms and her coughing. I thought she was fooling around, so when she fell under, and didn't resurface, I began to panic. I went in, and tried to look for her, but couldn't find her. She drowned, because of my stupidity, because of my idiotic behavior. I should've known that she couldn't swim...I should've known!" Jessica cried, as tears cascaded down her cheeks. Rose got up from her chair and went towards her, as she knelt beside her.
"I'm sorry," Rose apologized, her eyes shining with sorrow and regret. "I shouldn't have brought up the subject. I should've just kept my feelings to myself."
"No--no, it's okay." Jessica said. "I'll be fine. That happened five years ago...I'll get over it."
"Jessica, I know you miss her. I know you do." Rose said. "The only way it will make you feel better, is if you let all your pain out. And the only way you could do that, is cry. I cried a lot this week, all for the same reason. The tragedy, the disaster, that changed my life. Also, I cry because I mourn for the fifteen hundred people who died, and for my father, who was the only man, before Jack, who understood me, and loved me, for who I was. I miss him, I really miss him, but I remember all the good times I had with him. That's all that matters, remembering all the fun times you had together, then you'll know that you had that person in your life for so long, that it's just hard to let go. And you don't have to. Daniella will always be in your heart, just as my father is. Don't hold your pain inside you. That will only make it worse." Jessica looked down at Rose, as she allowed for the tears to flow, as she mourned over her best friend, for the first time in five years. For the past five years, she kept the pain locked up inside her, not wanting to let Daniella go, not wanting to believe that she had passed away--that she had drowned in the lake. She felt Rose's arms go around her, as she pulled her into a friendly, comforting hug. Jessica buried her face at the crook of her neck, as she cried on her shoulder. Rose patted Jessica's back, as she allowed for Jessica to cry on her shoulder; to relieve her pain and lift the weight off her shoulders.
"I just wish I could've helped her." Jessica cried. "I just wish I could bring her back."
"I know, Jessica, I know." Rose said, trying to hold back her tears. They stayed that way for a few minutes, with Rose comforting Jessica, and Jessica crying on her shoulder. Jessica pulled away, as she began wiping her tears away with her fingers. "Jessica, just remember, that she will always be watching over you. She'll be right here, in your heart." Rose said, placing a gentle hand over her heart. "I don't want you to hold your feelings inside you. It will only make matters worse." Jessica nodded.
"Thank you," Jessica said. "thank you for your help. I really needed that."
"Not a problem, at all." Rose said, bringing a smile across her face. "I'm glad to help my friends out." Jessica smiled, and hugged Rose.
"I really appreciate it, Rose. I never had a true friend as you, before Daniella." Jessica said. She pulled away to look into Rose's eyes. "I'm glad you followed your heart, and married the one you love."
"Me too, Jessica." Rose said, smiling. "Me too."
"Jess?" Charles called out from the parlor room. Jessica looked over her shoulder. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, Charles. I'm ready." Jessica said. She turned to face Rose. "Well, I better get going, then. Charles and I are going to visit his relatives." Rose smiled. "We haven't seen them since last Christmas!"
"Well, then you better get going. You wouldn't want to be late." Rose said, smiling, as she motioned for Jessica to go.
"I'll probably visit here, tomorrow. You're going to be here, right?" Jessica asked.
"Yes. I'm staying here for the remainder of our honeymoon. Katherine insisted that we stay here, instead of in a hotel." Rose said. "Besides, I don't mind staying here at all. I love her little girl."
"Who doesn't?" Jessica asked. "She's the sweetest thing I've ever seen!"
"Are you planning on having some of your own?" Rose asked.
"Of course. I would be delighted to become a mother someday. And you?" Jessica asked.
"I feel the same way." Rose said. "It's just that, I don't know if Jack wants to have kids, yet."
"I'm sure he will. If he adores Amanda, he'll love to have children of his own." Jessica said. "Just give him time. Before you know it, you'll be carrying that child inside you." Rose smiled, as she blushed at her words.
"Well, I'll see you later then, Jessica." Rose said.
"Of course." Jessica said. "Bye, Rose." Rose gave her a smile, as she watched her leave the kitchen.
Rose stood in the kitchen, alone. Sighing, she turned, to find the table full of dirty dishes. Heading towards the table, Rose began gathering up the dishes, placing them in a neat pile, and carrying them towards the sink, where she turned on the faucet. Rose began cleaning every dish there was to be cleaned. She heard the door open, so Rose looked over her shoulder, finding Katherine standing by the doorway. Rose smiled, as she continued to was the dishes.
"Oh, Rose, you don't have to--" Katherine began.
"Nonsense," Rose said. "I want to. Besides, I don't want to be treated as a guest. I've been served for all my life, and for once, I want to do things on my own. I have no problem, whatsoever, helping you wash the dishes." Rose said, as she placed a clean dish in a dish racket. "You already have enough to do. You have to take care of that daughter of yours. Don't you worry about me, I'm fine. Why don't you worry about yourself, and get some time off." Katherine smiled.
"Thank you, Rose." Katherine said. "I really appreciate it."
"No problem." Rose said, as she continued to wash the dishes. "So, what are they doing in there?" Rose asked, referring to Jack and Jon.
"Oh, they're just talking." Katherine said. "You know, catching up on the good old times, as they say." Rose laughed.
"They must really be good friends." Rose said, as she placed another clean plate on the dish racket.
"They are," Katherine said. "but I have a feeling that Jon isn't his best friend...like, he really isn't that one person he could call his brother, you know." Rose stopped what she was doing and looked over her shoulder.
"Well, he did have a friend with him, aboard the Titanic, and I should say that he was like a brother to Jack. Someone who cared for Jack...who treated him as a brother. But...he died on that night." Rose said, her voice getting choked up. "He was a nice man, Katherine. I could tell you that."
"I'm sorry." Katherine apologized.
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Kat." Rose said. "I only knew Fabrizio for one day. I hardly knew him, to tell you the truth. All I knew, was that Fabrizio meant a lot to Jack, and now he's gone. Taken away from him, because of a stupid bloody iceberg!" Tears threatened to escape Rose's eyes, but she prevented them from doing so. She closed her eyes, as she took a deep breath, to calm her nerves. "I'm sorry. It's just that so many people died that night...died for no reason. Innocent people, who wanted to see America, died on that dreadful night, because of an iceberg. Sure, they said that the Titanic was unsinkable. But look at it now. She's under the North Atlantic, with fifteen hundred people. A lot of them were third class. Only because those officers wanted to get the rich and famous onto a lifeboat first." Rose said, as she felt a tear slide down her cheek. "Jack could've been one of them...and I...I just can't get it out of my mind, that he was very close to death on that night...I...I'm sorry." Rose cried, as she turned to finish washing the dishes. Katherine went towards her, as she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Rose, it's okay to cry." Katherine said. Rose turned around and let all her tears out. Katherine just wrapped her arms around her, as she brought her into a friendly, comforting hug. "Shhh, I'm here, Rose. Everything will be okay." Rose wrapped her arms around Katherine's back, as she cried on her shoulder. Katherine had tears shining in her eyes. "Don't worry."
"I just wish I could bring them back." Rose cried. "I want to bring them back."
"I know, Rose, but you can't change the past." Katherine said, as she pulled away from the hug, to look into her face. "Rose, I know it hurts you, but there's nothing you can do about it. You're a survivor from the tragedy, and because you are, that tragedy is going to play in your mind over and over, no matter how many times you try to forget it. There's no way you could forget a tragedy as this. This was the famous ocean liner, a ship that was said to be unsinkable, but was proven wrong. Rose, don't stress yourself. I don't want to see you end up depressed, and lonely. Jack is here, he'll always be there for you, remember that. He won't leave you. He loves you." Rose looked down, as more tears slid down her porcelain cheek.
"I know he does." Rose said, her voice a bit shaky. Katherine smiled.
"Why don't you just sit down, and relax, while I finish the dishes, okay?" Katherine asked. Rose nodded, as she went to take a seat on one of the chairs. She watched as Katherine finished washing the remainder of the dishes that were left. Rose heard the kitchen door open. Rose lifted her head, to find Amanda smiling up at her.
"Hey, Mandy." Rose smiled.
"Hi, Rosie!" Amanda said, running towards her.
"No running in the house, sweetie." Katherine said, over her shoulder, as she placed a plate in the dish racket with the others.
"Sorry, mommy." Amanda said. "Rosie, can you come play with me?"
"Mandy, leave Rosie alone for now, she's--" Katherine began.
"No, it's fine. I'd love to, Amanda." Rose said, getting up, as she allowed for Amanda to lead her out of the kitchen. Katherine just shook her head, as she smiled. Amanda led Rose to the parlor room, where she found Jack and Jon talking with each other. Jack turned as he smiled at his wife. Rose smiled back, and went up the stairs, where she went inside Amanda's room, and played with her.
A/N: So, how'd you like it?? Please, please, review...it keeps me writing, and makes me happy. Besides, I have something nice planned for the later chapters...so, please, please let the reviews keep coming!!!