April 18th 1912

Rose stood aboard the rescue ship, Carpathia, and sighed, she woke up from days of slumber that she just managed to do, this is the beginning of her new life, her life of freedom. But it wasnt what she expected it to be, not what she had planned, Rose wanted to start her new life of freedom with her one and only love, Jack, as he lay at the bottom of the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. So, what was she going to do, she had no money, no where to stay, and she knew no-body.

Rose stood on the deck of Carpathia, staring at the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of freedom, thinking of her new life, without Cal and her mother, who suffercated her for 17 years. The rain was pouring down, and Rose just couldn't stop looking at the magnificent landmark, with many images, thoughts and memories flashing through her head, until an officer approached her with an umbrella and clipboard, 'Can i take your name please, love?' he asked, needing a reply, so he can move onto the next survivor, she stared at him, 'Dawson, Rose Dawon'. Rose smiled at her response, she dreamt of being the real Mrs Dawson, it was only true in her heart, she no longer wanted to be Rose Dewitt Bukater, she was free, and wasn't a rich first class girl.

The ship docked, but as she was in steerage, she was last off the ship, obviosly first class got off first, that would involve Cal, her mother and Lovejoy, who she didnt want to see!

She got off the ship with all the other steerage passengers, running, trying to attempt not to be smothered by local new reporters! Heading for a street, Rose ran to seek a quiet place, quiet enough for her to think, the past week was too sudden and hard to take in for a young 17 year old girl, who lost the love of her life, boarded on a ship that is now in the depth of the North Atlantic, and was no longer a rich first class girl, that had no money or shelter!

It has been three days since the disaster of the "unsinkable" ship went down to a watery grave, and all the survivors were on the rescue ship, Carpathia, moarning over the people who lost their lives. Jack was laying in a ward, filled with people who just managed to survive the icy waters, which was only a few people, as some had been released.

He woke from a long sleep, rubbing his eyes, looking around the room, but only one thing suddenly popped into his head... Rose

Jack pushed aside the pile of blankets that were wrapped around his frozen body, attempting to search for his love, until a young nurse emerged from another survivors bed side, 'Excuse me sir, please, get back into bed' , she said in a caring, yet persuading voice, trying to get him into the ward bed, 'No! I need to find Rose!', Jack yelled as hard as he could, as his voice was very croaky, as he had been in freezing waters for hours! 'Sir, you are very weak, please, atleast let me bring you a hot cup of tea, and some soup, and I promise i'll get you the survivors list, to look for your friend...'

As the nurse walked away, Jack sighed, he thought to himself, What if her name wasn't on the list, She must of survived! i couldn't bare to carry on my life without my beautiful Rose! And why did the nurse say friend! She's certainly more than a friend to me! Jack tugged at the blankets, trying to keep warm, thinking of his beloved Rose, he was desperately trying to find her, but could barely move! He was weak, and was hardly able to talk!

'Here you are, drink up!' The nurse said, arriving with a cup of tea, handing it carefully to Jack. He sipped at the tea, until it was gone, and turned to the nurse, 'can i please see the survivors list?', 'Of course sir, ill be right back' she said, taking the empty cup, and disappeared from the room.

Moments later, she returned, handing him the list, Jack quickly skimmed the first class list... she wasnt there, maybe she is in another class, maybe Cal didnt find her! Jack speedily looked through the second and steerage list...'no!' Oh no! My Rose, my beautiful Rose, my love didnt survive, she promised me she'd survive!

Jack panicked, he couldnt live without her, what was he to do! He pushed the blankets off himself, gathered all his strength, and ran out of the room, pushing the nurse aside.

Running to the railing of the rescue ship, Carpathia, he gasped for air! His eyes were filling with tears, he couldnt live without her, he loved her, and couldnt love anyone else asmuch as he loved Rose! An officer approached him, 'Can i take you name please, sir?', 'Jack Dawson' he said, thinking to himself the officers are still taking names, maybe she still is on this ship!, he ran half way down the deck, until another officer stopped him,'Welcome to New York, we'll be docking in 20 minutes', he said, walking to the next couple. He sat on a deckchair, in the pouring rain, not knowing whats going to happen, will he find his Rose, the one he loved dearly!

20 mins later...

An officer shouted out, 'Steerage! You can now leave the ship', Jack was relieved, he couldn't bare staying on another ship! He wiped away the tears in his eyes, and stepped off the ship, spotting a heap of reporters, so he ran, ran into a strange street, away from the painful memories of the past week, not wanting any reporters to remind him of his loss!

Rose sat down on a bench in the middle of a dark, cold street in New York, the part of New York she'd never seen before, it was different, very different, much poorer, much darker and more dangerous! Panicking, she desperately tried to seek a hotel, but thought i have no money, where am i going to stay, well, i guess ill have to stay on this bench, ill sleep here tonight, then look for a job in the morning! Rose wasn't sure whether she should risk her life, sleeping outside, the place did look rough, dangerous, and not safe for a 17 year old girl in the middle of the night! She put her legs up onto the bench, laying into a little ball, and attempting to sleep, but too much was on her mind, mainly Jack! The thought of Jack made Rose cry, she was moarning the loss of Jack, she missed him so much, and was going to keep his promise, no matter what. Rose cried herself to sleep, but she felt uncomfortable, something was digging into her side, she got up, and reached into her pocket and pulled out the Heart of the Ocean, the necklace Cal had given her, looking stunned, she placed it back in her pocket, she couldn't look at it any more longer! it reminded her too much of Cal... and Jack! Once again, she tried to sleep, to make the night pass, but she just couldn't! Rose got up, looking around the dark, deserted street, i wonder if there is somewhere i can get a drink, i am gasping! Also, i need to think! So, Rose got up from the cold, rusty bench, and started wondering about, looking for a pub, or somewhere that served drinks!

34 mins later...

Success! After trapsing about dangerous New York at the wee hours of the morning, she discovered a 24 hour pub! Rose burst through the doors, and started to look around, it was deserted, but with one man at the end of the bar, with his head down, a few men at a table, arm-wrestling, and a loved-up couple chatting away by the window of the pub...

Rose started making her way to the table in the far corner of the pub, away from the comotion, but was stopped by one of the drunken men, 'Hey babe, wanna get lucky...', one man said, before turning around and throwing up, 'uhhh, sorry about that, ooooo you look nice! wanna join us?' he shouted, pulling her arm, making her sit at his table, but Rose was trying to get away... 'Get off me! No! i wanna be on my own! No...!' But as Rose was struggling, the man, sulking at the bar raised his head, he heard alot of commotion coming from the other side of the room, so he got up and walked over to the man, and was not happy what-so-ever... 'Hey, leave her alone! she isn't your property, if she wants to be alone, she can be alone!', he turned to Rose, 'are you oka...' The man was half-way asking if she was ok, and stood at her in amazement...