A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I have bronchitis, and I had no time to post the new chapters...well, as always, hope you enjoy:D
Chapter Forty-One
November,25,1912
Weeks had come and gone, and before anyone could believe it, it had already been Thanksgiving. It had been a chilly evening in New York City, and the more colder it got outside, the more chillier it had gotten inside. The heater was working, but wasn't hot enough to heat the room fully. Rose was hunched over the oven, where she was getting the basted turkey out. Her mother has been by her side all the time, telling Rose to sit and that she would take care of it. Rose would ignore her mother's concerns and told her that it was her and Jack's first Thanksgiving together, and that she had wanted it to be perfect, and moreover, she wanted to cook everything. However, Patricia was cooking the rest of the needed food for the holiday, much to Rose's dismay. As Rose pulled out the turkey, she set it on the stovetop, and smiled, as she had seen that everything has gone as planned. Steam was coming out of the heated turkey, and it shone in the light. The aroma also filled the kitchen, causing for her appetite to grow bigger, for she had felt her stomach growl. Rose stroked her stomach absentmindedly, as she turned to face her mother, who only looked over at her with worry shining in her eyes. Rose sighed, and just rolled her eyes, as she brushed past her and gotten out a platter to put the turkey on.
"Rose, I really think you should sit down," Ruth said, worry hinted in her tone of voice. "You shouldn't be cooking in your condition."
"Mother!" Rose complained, as she lifted her head up. "You really should stop worrying. I'm perfectly fine! I'm not even as tired as I should be…please, just let me do this for at least this once. This really means a lot to me."
"But there will always be Thanksgiving next year," Ruth added.
"I know, but there will never be a first Thanksgiving together," Rose pointed out.
"Rose, I really think you should sit down, I—" Ruth began, worried about her daughter's condition.
"Mother, I'm fine, really!" Rose said, trying to reassure her mother. She put both hands on her shoulder, and looked into her mother's eyes. "Listen, I promise that nothing would happen to me. I won't let it, and neither will Jack. This really means a lot to me, mother. Please, just let me make Thanksgiving memorable to Jack and I. Then after, I promise I'll rest."
"Rose…" Ruth said, still worried.
Rose rolled her eyes, and just stood there. "Look, if I let you help me with the dinner, will you let me try to make Thanksgiving worthwhile?" Rose asked, as she realized that her mother was beginning to be more and more protective of her. "Please, mother…I really want this for Jack and I. I wouldn't ask you if I really didn't mean it."
Ruth sighed, and nodded reluctantly. "All right, but you must at least rest once you're through eating," Ruth said. "Don't even bother with the dishes. Just go straight to bed. You're seven months pregnant. You shouldn't really do any maneuvering whatsoever—at least not in your condition. I'm just worried about you and that child of yours inside you. I don't want nothing to happen to either of you."
Rose put on a gentle smile and caressed her mother's shoulder. "It's your job to worry mother, and I know once this baby's born, I'm going to be worried as well, but now, there's nothing to be worried about. The baby isn't due within another two months, and until then, we needn't worry about anything," Rose said, trying to ease up her mother's worries. Rose glanced up at the clock, finding that it was ten minutes to eight—almost time for the table to be served. "Look, the guests will arrive soon, and Jack will come back from his late shift at the art gallery. Why don't you help me set the table. I'll even let you carry the turkey if you want…"
Ruth smiled and nodded. "Okay, okay," Ruth said, looking into her daughter's eyes. She then placed a hand on her cheek, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "It seems like yesterday since I held you in my arms, after you have been born. Now, I see you married, expecting a child, and…" Ruth closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I just don't know where the time has gone…seventeen years has passed since I had given birth to you—my beautiful daughter. Seventeen years. In a month, you'll turn eighteen, and the month after, you'll be a mother. My Rose, you're growing up so fast, you're making me feel old."
Rose held back a laugh, as she looked into her mother's eyes. "No matter how old I get mother, just remember that I'll always be your daughter. No matter what," Rose said. "You'll always be my mother, and you'll always be the grandmother of my children. Nothing's going to change that…I promise."
Ruth smiled and pulled her daughter into a motherly hug, before pressing her lips onto her cheeks.
"You're the best daughter any mother could ever have," Ruth said. "I'm just glad you made me realize that before it was too late."
Rose smiled and caressed her mother's cheek as she moved over to the counter, picking up the bowl of mashed potatoes and green salad. She walked into the small dining room that they had, and set the bowls on the table, leaving room for the turkey, which would be placed in the center. As she was ready to walk back, she noticed her mother carefully carrying the turkey and set it in the middle of the table, placing a satisfied smile upon her face. Two small vases were placed at opposite ends of the turkey, with roses placed in them. There were also candles placed on the table, waiting to be lit. Rose stroked her abdomen as she nodded, with a satisfied smile on her face.
"This dinner is going to be perfect," Rose said to herself. "I could tell."
Just then, the grandfather clock chimed, warning everyone that it was ten minutes to eight o'clock, and almost time for dinner. Just then, there were knocks on the door. Rose smiled and made her way towards the door, pulling it open, to greet Michael, Annie, and Jimmy who were standing by the doorway, smiles pasted on their faces.
"Why, hello!" Rose said, moving aside to allow them to enter the apartment. "It's so good of you to be able to come."
"It's good of you to invite us," Jimmy said, smiling down at her. He held a pie in his hands. "Oh, my mom made this for me, so I decided to bring it over to share with everybody. This is my mom's best apple pie. You're gonna love it!"
"Thanks for bringing it over, Jimmy," Rose said, smiling sweetly at him. "Just place it on the table along with the other food. I'm sure we'll eat everything that's on the table."
"I sure hope so, 'cause I'm starving!" Jimmy said, walking over to the table, setting the pie in an empty space.
Rose smiled and turned to her other guests. "Well, come on in," Rose said. "Make yourself at home and have a seat. Jack would be back from work within a few minutes, so we could start eating until then."
"All right," Michael said, nodding, as he walked inside, alongside Annie.
Rose smiled at the two, as she watched them seat themselves beside each other on the table. Rose turned, about to shut the door closed, when she saw Jack appear out of nowhere. Rose's eyes twinkled as her smile grew.
"Missed me?" Jack asked, smiling down at her.
"Probably more than I should have, Jack," Rose said, as she moved closer to him.
Jack placed his hands on her waist as he leaned in closer, giving her a passionate kiss that only the two could share.
"I missed you so much Rose, that I've drawn about five portraits of you on my break," Jack said, gazing down at her with love shining in his piercing blue eyes.
"That's good to know," Rose said, clutching onto Jack's arms. She looked over his shoulder, and just as she did, she spotted Benjamin, along with a girl about her age or older, with a blonde-haired man alongside her. "Why, hello, Ben…" Rose smiled, letting Jack go, to greet her boss. "It's so good of you to come by."
"I'm glad to be invited," Benjamin said, smiling. "Oh, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Lucy Wilson, and her fiancée Jason Calvert."
"It's nice to meet you, Lucy," Rose smiled, extending her hand out to her.
"It's nice to meet you too, Rose," Lucy said, shaking her hand, with a smile on her face. "My father has told me so much about you."
"Well, I hope that he has said good things about me," Rose said, smiling over at Benjamin.
"Oh, he has," Lucy said, smiling.
Rose looked over at Jason, and realized that he looked similar to Michael. "You're Jason Calvert? Are you in any relation to Michael Calvert?" Rose asked, as she extended her hand out to shake his in greeting.
"Why yes," Jason said, shaking her hand. "I'm his older brother. We haven't seen each other for three years."
"Well, I guess it's going to be a family reunion as well as a Thanksgiving dinner, for Michael is sitting over there by the table," Rose said, pointing towards Michael who was caught up in a conversation with Annie.
"He is?" Jason asked, looking over the direction she pointed. Suddenly, a small smile came on his face. He turned down to Lucy, and smiled. "I'll be right back…"
"Okay," Lucy said, smiling. She let his hand go, and watched as he walked over to the table.
"Oh, I forgot my manners," Rose said, putting a hand over her forehead. "Please, do come in!" Rose moved aside, to allow for the two to enter the apartment. "Sit yourselves down and get comfortable. Dinner will start within another five minutes."
Rose watched as the two headed towards the table, where they took their seats, along with the other guests. Rose smiled and turned to face her husband. The only guests that were left were Fabrizio and Angelina. As if on cue, the two appeared on the doorway, bright smiles pasted on their faces.
"Buonasera, mio famiglia!" Fabrizio said, his smile brightening up his face. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!" Fabrizio's accent was noticeable, but he was getting better at his English.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Fabrizio," Rose said, a warm smile pasted on her face. "It's so good of you to come…"
"No…it's 'a good of you to 'a invite me," Fabrizio said, a gentle smile on his face. "This is mio primo Thanksgiving, and I would 'a love to spend it with 'a you and Jack. You two are 'a like my family. Nobody except 'a for mio madre e mio padre, Angelina, and you two, has 'a treated me with love and 'a care. I'm 'a glad to have met you, la bella Rosa, and to have met Jack two years ago…" Fabrizio paused as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Mio madre always said to me, in Italian, if you ever feel lonely, look for the ones you love…if they are 'a not there, close your eyes and think of them. That's 'a what I have been doing to get me through l'America. I was 'a thinking of my mother, and my father, you two, and my Angelina. That gives me hope that someday, I will live up with my dream."
Fabrizio's accent had sent a warm sensation through Rose's body, for his accent had brought his voice into a musical tone, and everything she heard it, she felt comfortable.
"Well, I'm glad that we have given you that support," Rose said, slipping her arm through Jack's. Just then, the clock chimed once more, signaling that the hour has come. "Well, it's time for dinner, so why don't you two have a seat…Jack and I will be there in a minute."
"S�," Fabrizio said, smiling as he led Angelina towards the table.
Rose smiled and carefully shut the door closed, as she glanced up at her husband, who was now smiling down at her.
"Jack…" Rose said, her eyes shining. She held Jack close to her, as he held her close to him as well. "I…I just want to let you know just how much I'm in love with you. It seems that my love for you grows and gets stronger within every day that passes, and no matter what, I still feel the same way as I did the first time we kissed and the first time we…well, you know…" Rose said, blushing, as she looked into his eyes. "It's like I'm falling in love with you all over again, and I love that feeling. You have changed my life, Jack. You made it more worthwhile and more free than it ever was before I met you. You made me feel loved and cared for, and you made me feel free. You freed me from my trap, and I…I want to thank you again. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here right now, and I—" Rose was cut off when Jack planted a kiss onto her lips. An intense kiss that had sent loving shivers up her spine, as well as made her feel weak to the knees. She clutched onto his shirt, as she responded to his kiss, making it more and more deeper and passionate than it ever was before.
Jack transferred all his love and affection to Rose in the kiss that they had shred. The words that Rose had uttered to him had made him feel proud to have boarded the Titanic, as well as proud to have talked some sense into Rose the night she had tried to jump off the ship—even though he knew she wasn't going to. That she wasn't going to end her life at a young age and so soon. Jack's hands rested over her enlarged stomach, feeling the soft kicks from the baby within her flesh. He gently caressed her middle, as if that would relax the baby and made their kiss more and more intense as he leaned in closer to her. A few short moments later, their kiss had been interrupted, when Ruth had 'coughed'.
"Well come on you two!" Ruth said. "It's Thanksgiving and dinner's about ready. You have time to show your love for each other later. Go sit yourselves down and let's have a Thanksgiving we won't ever forget."
"We're coming mother," Rose said, smiling, as she felt her cheeks turn a deep shade of pink as she held Jack's hand in hers, leading him towards their seats, which was at the end of the table.
Jack smiled and pulled out a chair for Rose, allowing her to sit down, as he gently pushed her chair in, before he sat himself down beside her. He looked down at her, and smiled, while he squeezed her hand with full of love and devotion. He then turned to their guests and smiled.
"Well, I'm sure glad to have all of you here for our first Thanksgiving," Jack said, smiling towards them. "I'm sure you all know just how much this means to both me and Rose, and how we have suffered to be together." Jack cleared his throat and went on, holding Rose's hand through his small speech. "Well, as a good man once told me, life is a gift, and you shouldn't waste it. You never know what hand you're gonna be dealt next, so you gotta learn to live life as it comes at ya. Don't let someone tell you what you should do with your life, for you're the only one to chose that option. You are in control of your life, and no one else. You shouldn't feel trapped or controlled. You should be able to live life to the fullest—the way you feel is right to live by," Jack said. He looked down at Rose and smiled. His thumb was caressing the back of her hand, lovingly, as he continued his speech. "I remembered someone who was trapped, and their life was controlled and planned for them, without their consent. Luckily, someone has saved them, and prevented that person from making a big mistake." Jack's finger's tightened around Rose's hand, for he was talking about her situation, before he had met her. "What I'm trying to get at you guys is that you should make each day count, for you never know when your last day will come. It could be tomorrow, it could be next week, next month, next year, or many years from now, but you never know. I'm telling you guys not to waste your life. Not to watch it slip by, as if it were a motion picture. Having a life is a gift, and you shouldn't waste it. Not when you have a whole life to live. My father had told me that, and I followed his steps. I made each day count, and I still am. I have a beautiful wife by my side, who's carrying our first child—the first out of many children, I know for sure, and I have a job—that might help me live up with my dream, and probably make it come true, and I have you guys. There's nothing more I could ever ask for. I'm a lucky guy to have a wife like Rose, and to have a mother-in-law like Ruth, and to have all you guys as my friends. I have everything I need right in front of me, and there's nothing in the world that could ever replace that. You guys mean so much to me—as does Rose—and I can't imagine having you guys taken away from my life." Jack said, his voice gentle and serious. "I just wanna let you guys know how thankful I am to have you guys in my life, and how thankful I am to be married to the woman I love." Jack looked down at Rose, a loving smile on his face. "My life is perfect when you're by my side…I love you, Rose."
Rose smiled, her eyes filling with joyous tears. "I love you too, Jack," Rose smiled. "More than words could ever describe."
Jack leaned down and kissed her, right in front of their guests. Their love was as strong as it was the first time they met, and felt as if it never would die—and they knew it wouldn't. It would take more than an iceberg to separate them from their love for each other, and much more than the freezing depths of the North Atlantic to take away their love. Jack knew that nothing in the world would ever break their strong bond, and that no one would ever be able to keep them from loving each other, as they did now. Their love was just too strong and too powerful to be broken apart and taken away. The applaud from the guests was what had caused for the two to pull away from their kiss, and as they had done so, their faces turned into a deep, loving, shade of pink as sheepish grins had been pasted upon their faces.
"Well…" Jack said, clearing his throat, and raising his eyebrows. "Let's just enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner, and after, we'll all share what we're thankful for."
Jack got up, and brought the turkey towards the end of the table, where he was sitting, and took out a long knife. He looked over at his guests and smiled. His eyes then gazed downward at Rose, where he winked at her, as he had finally turned his attention to the turkey that was waiting to be eaten. Jack then sank the blade of the knife into the turkey, and made the first cut from the breast section, and set it on his plate. Next, he cut a piece of the wing and set it on Rose's plate, who had smiled brightly over him. Jack smiled back, and continued serving everyone with a piece of the turkey, until there were only scraps left of the bird. After everyone had gotten their share of the turkey, they began serving themselves of the other choices of delicious foods made by Rose, Ruth, and Patricia. Jack sat himself down, and served himself some of the potatoes, salad, and other of the food that was on the table. He had also filled Rose's plate of the same, before setting it in front of her. Jack smiled and pressed his lips onto her forehead, before he officially began to eat his Thanksgiving meal.
Jack took his last bite of the turkey that was left on his plate, before he sat back, and placed both hands over his stomach. He hadn't been this full since before his parents died, for he remembered on Thanksgiving, his mother used to fill him up with the old Dawson recipes of different dishes. This Thanksgiving has got to be the most unforgettable Thanksgiving he had ever had within the years he had lived on earth, for he was spending it with the love of his life, his mother-in-law, as well as his close friends. He had never imagined a more better Thanksgiving holiday than the one he was spending at the moment. He turned of to Rose, who was still munching on some of the Turkey wings that was placed on her plate, as there were still scraps of potatoes and salad left for her to eat. Jack smiled as he glanced down at her abdomen, realizing that within two months, he would officially become a father. A father. He would have a new title. He wouldn't be just Jack Dawson, the artist, but he would become Jack Dawson, the artist, who is husband to Rose Dawson, and father to their first child. Just the thought of becoming a father had giving him hope that he would have a family to care for and wouldn't have to run away, as he had when he was fifteen. It seemed so long ago, that Jack had fled Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Since his house had gone on fire—with his parents in it, as well as his dog, Shadow. It felt as if it had happened twenty years ago, when in all reality, it had happened only five years ago. Five years since Jack had become independent and had begun exploring the world. Had seen what the world had to offer. He had been through rough times, during his exploring, and he had been to the slums of New York City before, but he never expected to settle down, with a wife and a child on the way. That was something new to him, and he was ready to learn to become a father, and learn to hold the responsibility in caring for a child.
Jack had also realized that their child was conceived out of wedlock. That child that was developing in Rose's abdomen had been conceived on the night of the fourteenth of April 1912, in the back of the Renault, before the Titanic had struck the iceberg, and before Jack and Rose had to fight for their lives. Jack was amazed at how strong that baby was, for it survived the freezing depths of the North Atlantic, as well as survived during the rough times they had with Kristen. Jack, absentmindedly, placed his hand over Rose's stomach, allowing for his fingers to caress the soft fabric of Rose's dress as he felt the firm kick of their unborn child. A smile grazed his face as he looked into Rose's eyes. He felt her place her hands over his, as she smiled brightly at him. It was as if she knew what he was thinking, for her eyes glistened with tears, mirroring him, for tears shone in his eyes as well. Having this baby alive, inside her stomach, had been a miracle. A miracle that Jack was thankful for. He leaned in closer to Rose, as he pressed his lips onto her cheek, feeling the smooth texture of her skin upon his rough, but tender, lips.
Rose felt her body warm up against Jack's as his lips pressed against her skin. She felt Jack's fingers spread out from under her grip, as they brushed against her stomach. Rose knew that Jack was just as happy as she was, on having to become parents within two months. Sometimes she found herself wanting the baby out of her, so she could see what it would look like, and so she could see how good of a mother she would become. Most of the time, she hadn't wanted to give birth to her child, for as her mother had said, once it came out, it wouldn't stop growing and time would flash by so quickly, they wouldn't even know where the time has gone. Rose looked over at the many guests that had arrived, finding that they were caught up in their own conversations, leaving Jack and Rose a small amount of privacy. Rose turned to Jack, and couldn't help but widen her smile as she brushed her thumb against his jaw. She saw the smile that she loved appear on Jack's face, causing for his face to bright up, as well as for his blue eyes to shine with happiness and love. Rose smiled back and felt Jack pull her closer to him. Rose smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as she wished that the night would never end.
Ruth glanced over at her daughter, finding that she was leaning against Jack's shoulder. No matter how many times Jack and Rose had spent with each other, love still shone on both of their eyes, giving proof to the world that their love would never die. Ruth sighed, as a small smile was placed on her lips as she had continued to eat her meal, which had only the potatoes and bits of salad left over. While she was eating, however, she felt a pair of eyes bore into her skin, making her glance up towards the direction of Benjamin, who had immediately looked down at his now empty plate, as he placed with the scraps that were left over from the turkey. Ruth smiled and went along with eating her meal, before taking a sip of the wine that was poured into her glass. Benjamin and Ruth had spent more time with each other for the past three weeks that had passed, and between the weeks, Ruth had found herself wanting to spend more and more time with Benjamin—something she had never expected herself to feel—especially since she was a widow to a husband that she dearly loved. Ruth looked over at him once more, this time, finding a smile pasted upon his face. Rose smiled back and picked up her wineglass, as she took a sip of the white wine. Setting her glass back down, she looked down at her plate, and picked up the last bits of potatoes and salad with her fork, and set it into her mouth, where she began chewing, and finishing her meal.
"Well, looks like everyone's finished to me," Jack said, looking over at the guests that had just finished their meals. "Okay! So, who should go first?"
"You should, Jack," Rose said, looking up at him. "You're the man of the house, you know."
"I think I already said what I'm thankful for," Jack said, looking down at her. "Well, I'll say it again then. I'm thankful to have been able to marry the woman that I'm deeply in love with and to have such great friends like you. Also, I'm thankful to have a woman who I could look up to as my mother, and most of all, I'm thankful to have made each day count. I'm still making each day count, and I'm not gonna stop until I take my last breath on earth. I'm also thankful to have fathered the child that my wife is carrying at the moment, and I'm just thankful to be alive. If it weren't for Rose, I wouldn't be here right now…" Jack said, his eyes gazing into Rose's eyes, as he placed a warm smile upon his lips. His hand was placed over Rose's on top of the table, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Rose smiled and felt her eyes glisten with joyous tears. She then turned to the guests and smiled.
"Well, I'm thankful for many things," Rose began, as she looked over at her mother and smiled. "But I am most thankful to be free. Or should I say, rescued by my knight in shining armor…" Rose said, as she looked up at Jack. "…if it weren't for him, I would not be here right now, so I should say we both saved each other. In more ways than one. And I should say, that I'm thankful to have met him and fallen in love with him, and to have had the opportunity to love him. To show just the way I feel about him. To make it short, I'm thankful for Jack Dawson. I'm thankful for my husband. I'm thankful for our unborn child, and I'm thankful for my mother. She had indeed changed throughout the months that we've spent with each other, and there's nothing else I could as for. I'm just thankful to have you guys in my life, and I'm just thankful to be in love."
The guests had applauded for what Jack and Rose had said, and had spent the next twenty minutes reciting to what they're thankful for. Within an hour and a half, everyone has finished with the dinner, and began gathering up the dishes, bringing them towards the sink. Since Rose had promised her mother that she would relax after dinner, she had led Jack towards the parlor room, where they would have their peace and quiet for a bit, before they would return to the group. Rose placed her hands over Jack's chest as she craned her neck up to look at him. Every day, her love grows for him more and more. It was as if she were on the ship again—meeting the love of her life. She felt a smile come across her face, as Jack's breath blew against her smooth skin, while he had pressed his cheek against hers. His arms went around her, enveloping her in his warmth, as her pregnant stomach had put a limit to how close they held each other.
"Rose, what you said back there…" Jack said, nodding his head towards the dining room. "…it brought warmth into my heart to know that I have changed your life the way I did, and…" Jack paused, finding it hard to put what he wanted to say into words. "What I feel about you, at the moment, is hard to put into words. I guess I'm just gonna have to show you the only way our lips will understand…" Jack said, as he inched closer and closer to Rose's face, until their lips met and pressed against each other, as the two lovers shared yet another passionate kiss.
It was close to ten o'clock at night when the guests were beginning to head home. The first to leave was Jimmy, saying something about having to go over to his sister's house the next day, and that he needed a good rest to be awake. Fabrizio and Angelina were the next to leave, for Fabrizio had said that he had to work at the restaurant early the next morning, while Angelina had to wake up early the next day, to head over her parents house. Benjamin, Lucy, Jason, Michael, Ruth and Patricia were the only ones left in the apartment, after Jimmy, Fabrizio, and Angelina had left. Jack and Rose stood by each other, as they watched the guests stand in the parlor room, neither knowing what to say to one another, for everything had been said during the Thanksgiving meal. Jack and Rose looked over at Jason and Michael, never knowing that Michael had an older brother. Jason was three inches taller than Michael, and was more muscular and tanned. However, they could pick out the similarities between the two, for they both had light brown hair—which looked blonde on some occasions—and blue eyes. They both seem to have the same smile, however the shape of their jaws were much different. Rose assumed that Michael looked more like his father, while Jason looked more like his mother. She had seen pictures of them, which Michael had exposed to them several weeks ago, and Rose immediately saw the resemblance between Michael and his father.
Rose stroked her abdomen, as she was beginning to grow more and more impatient at the awkward silence.
"Well, Michael, I hadn't known that you had a brother," Rose said, as she looked over at Jason and Michael. "You hardly mentioned that you had other relatives, besides your parents."
"Oh…" Michael said, looking over at Rose, as he suddenly became interested in the floorboard below him. "Well, Jason and I didn't get along pretty well on occasions, so sometimes when we were near each other, we would often quarrel. I remember one time, when I was a kid, I used to follow Jason around everywhere, and he would get pretty annoyed, so he would often yell at me and tell me to leave him alone. I was five, and he was ten. He hated when I would do all the things he used to do. That went on until I was nineteen, and he was twenty-four. But I should say that we get along pretty well at the moment. It's just sibling rivalry that gets in our way at times."
"Eh, probably so," Jason said. He looked down at Lucy and smiled. "But all siblings fight you know. Not all siblings get along. At least we don't chop each other's heads off or fist fight. We just fight verbally, which is good that we have the same temper as our father."
Michael chuckled and nodded. "Yeah…we may have our father's temper, but we do seem to know how to control it. Thanks to our mother's way of controlling things…" Michael said, his smile brightening.
"Jason, I think we should go," Lucy said, glancing at the clock. "It's getting pretty late, and I'm tired."
Jason looked down at her and smiled. "Okay…" Jason said, as he gently caressed her cheek, as he gazed into her deep blue eyes. Her light brown hair had fallen past her shoulders, as it framed her face beautifully. He then looked over at Jack and Rose. "Well, I guess we better go. Lucy here, is tired, and so am I. The dinner was delicious, Rose. You should become a cook."
Rose smiled as her cheeks turned into a deep shade of pink. "Why, thank you. I'm glad you liked it. It was actually the first time I prepared a Thanksgiving meal," Rose admitted, as she looked up at Jack, then back at Jason.
"Really?" Jason said, raising his eyebrows. "Wow…Jack, you've got yourself a good wife right there…"
Jack chuckled and held Rose close to him. "Thanks, but I didn't just marry her to be my wife you know…I married her because I love her, and she's my best friend—or should I say, my soul mate," Jack said, gazing into Rose's emerald-blue eyes, smiling. Jack then turned his attention to Lucy. "I'm sure Lucy will be a perfect wife to you…"
"Sure will be," Jason said, smiling down at his fiancée. "Why else to you think I proposed to her? I love her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
"Awww, Jason, that's so sweet," Lucy said, smiling. "But I'm really tired. I'll fall asleep on the floor, if we don't leave now."
Jason chuckled and nodded. "Okay, okay, we're going," Jason said. He turned to his brother, and offered his hand to him. Michael smiled and shook his hand.
"So, a handshake is all I get from my older brother, whom I haven't seen for a whole year?" Michael teased, smiling.
Jason smiled and pulled Michael into a tight, brotherly hug. "It's good that we get along now, buddy," Jason said, ruffling his younger brother's hair. "Let's just hope it stays that way."
Michael smiled and nodded. "Hopefully it will, Jason," Michael said.
Jason looked over at Annie, who was standing two feet away from Michael, and smiled as he leaned closer and whispered in his brother's ear.
"I see the way you look at that girl, Mike," Jason whispered. "Maybe you should take another step with her…" Jason then pulled away, gazing into his brother's eyes. "Think about it, Mike. Maybe you two will work out fine…"
"We'll see, Jason," Michael said, smiling.
Jason nodded and smiled. "Well, I'll be seeing you guys," Jason said. "Bye!" Jason led Lucy out of the door and down the staircase, where they stepped into his car that he had purchased in Cedar Rapids.
Michael and Annie had left, saying their goodbyes to Jack and Rose, and had gone to their apartments, where they were to get ready for the night. Benjamin, Ruth, and Patricia were the only guests left, and they stood in the parlor, glancing at each other, then at Jack and Rose.
"Well, my dear," Ruth said, walking towards Rose, placing both hands over her face. "The food was delicious and tonight was certainly unforgettable."
Rose smiled. "Thank you, mother," Rose said. "I'm glad you liked it."
"I loved it, Rose…" Ruth corrected. "Well, I must be off. I'm exhausted and I should get my rest for work tomorrow."
"Okay, mother," Rose said, pulling her mother into a hug. "Hope you have a good night's rest."
"The same goes for you, Rose," Ruth said. "That baby inside you is counting on you to be healthy and safe. I do suggest that you relax. Don't overwork yourself. You have Jack beside you, and I'm sure he'll help you, and if he wouldn't, I'm always here."
Rose smiled and stifled a giggle. "I'm sure Jack will help," Rose said. "He's just as worried as you mother, if not, more. And believe me, mother, he would hardly let me pick up an empty box because of my condition, so you need not worry as much. Jack is just as protective as you are," Rose said, feeling Jack's hand slip into hers.
"Well he should be," Ruth said. "He's the father after all."
Rose smiled and tightened her grip on Jack's hand. "Well, good night mother. I'll see you tomorrow, if not, I'll see you around," Rose said.
"Okay, Rose," Ruth said, planting a motherly kiss on Rose's cheek. "Take care of yourself, and be careful."
Rose rolled her eyes and sighed, as she smiled. "I will mother," Rose reassured her. "I promise."
"Very well, then," Ruth said. "Good night, and see you around…"
With that, Ruth left the apartment, followed by Benjamin, then Patricia. Finally, there were no more guests in the house, allowing for Jack to lock up the door and gaze down at his wife.
"Finally…we're alone," Jack said, smiling.
"Oh no, I smell trouble," Rose teased, as she welcomed Jack in her arms.
"Hmmm…" Jack said, wrapping his arms around her. "You should, because there's going to be lots of mischief going on in the bedroom."
"Oh, really?" Rose asked, smiling up at him. "And I wonder since when did my Jack Dawson become so naughty all of a sudden?"
"Well, you'll be surprised just how much I have changed from the day that I've met you," Jack said, breathing in the scent of Rose's curls.
Rose giggled. "I'm sure I do," Rose said, smiling. She looked deeply into Jack's blue eyes and saw that they shone with love, happiness, and want. "Well, if you want mischief to go on, then we should start now…"
Jack chuckled. "I guess you have gotten naughty over the months too," Jack said, as he was being dragged into the bedroom, where Jack kicked the door closed behind them.
Even in the dark room, Jack could see the smile pasted on Rose's face, and saw her eyes twinkle. Jack smiled and leaned in closer to her, as he pressed his lips onto hers, with a seductive touch on her body. His kiss had given warmth throughout his body, as he felt Rose unbutton his shirt, revealing his tense muscles. Whilst they were sharing their kiss, Rose slid Jack's shirt off, as her arms went around his bare skin, feeling the rough bumps of his muscles in his arms. Jack's hands went around her, as he managed to unzip her dress, and let it fall to the floor, revealing her body. He pulled from the kiss and just looked down at her, as he smiled. He then removed his trousers, as his fingers brushed against her middle. Jack smiled and leaned down, letting his lips press against her enlarged stomach, feeling the baby squirm within Rose's flesh. With one final gaze, Jack led Rose to the bed, where he threw the covers over their bodies, as he began to bring her to the stars, once again.
A/N: Review is welcome! Please review:D