It's early April now. Rose's birthday is a day away, and they are again nearing the anniversary of the Titanic voyage. Not wanting to wallow again in sadness now that they had been reunited, Jack has once again planned a surprise for Rose— he's not sure how it will go over, but he's hopeful. The only downside has been that in order to pull it off, he has had to get her to leave the house for a whole day.

Rose is curious. Jack has been secretive for weeks, and she knows that this surprise has something to do with the letters he's been writing since he arrived. She'll walk into the kitchen in the mornings, and he'll hurry to hide them under his newspaper, away from her prying eyes, and she knows that he had been collecting his personal mail at the post office rather than getting it delivered. She had asked him about it and always received the same response: "you'll see."

He had asked her to leave the house for the day so he could finish setting something up— suggested that she and Josephine, who was also clueless about this surprise, take an early train to the city and perhaps see a picture or do some shopping.

He had told her that she deserved to treat herself, and for once Rose had agreed to it, pushing aside the guilt that she usually got when doing anything remotely materialistic or frivolous. She had renounced her old life of luxury as she had stepped off of the Carpathia and since then had been reluctant to buy so much as a new work dress unless absolutely necessary, but Jack had assured her that in buying herself some new clothing she wasn't being a snob— that they could afford comforts and fun days, and she and Josephine deserved to have nice things, especially on birthdays.

The day itself was fantastic. The weather was warm and sunny and it had been a while since she and Josephine had done anything, just the two of them. It reminded Rose to make a point of spending solo time with her daughter more often. They arrived to Eau Clair relatively early in the day and wandered around the shops and department stores, where both girls got some new clothing and undergarments, and Josephine got a new pair of shoes. Rose loved the newer fashions— the lower drop waists and looser fabrics and higher hemlines so unlike the corsetry and frills she had grown up with, and it would be nice to feel more in style than she had been for years. The dresses made her feel young and vibrant again in a way that now seemed foreign, and her daughter, who was used to mended and patched skirts and stockings felt like a princess in the still quite modest purchases.

Around noon, as they were sitting in a diner eating lunch, Josephine tapped Rose on the elbow excitedly, pointing out the window, and Rose followed her gaze.

"Mama, look at that lady's hair!"

The woman outside who had caught Jo's eye appeared to be in her late twenties as well, and was sporting a very short bob, the bleach blonde of her hair shining in the sun and catching the eye of everyone passing her by. Rose, like her daughter, was transfixed. Not only was this woman's hair short, but she was also dressed in men's sporting trousers, shirt, and vest. Suddenly Rose had an idea of how to spend the rest of the afternoon, and to give Jack a surprise of his own.

Finding a barber willing to do the job was easy and the length of Rose's curls was gone within the hour, much to her daughter's delight, and while not as drastic a cut, she allowed her daughter to get a trim as well and have her hair parted and styled differently.

"Mama, you look like a moving picture star!" her daughter had squealed in delight upon seeing Rose's much shorter auburn 'do. Jack had recently taken them to see a Marion Davies film, and the nine-year-old still couldn't stop talking about it.

Feeling bold and like a new woman with her new cut, she changed into one of her new dresses at the train station; its a silky fabric in a deep navy color that makes her eyes stand out and her hair look even more red, and the hemline falls just below her knee— far shorter than any dress she had ever worn. Her newly shorn curls are styled and finger waved smoothly, and covered for now in a close-fitting cloche hat, and she has even gone as far as to apply some darker lipstick, overdrawing her top lip slightly to accentuate her pout. The butterflies are swarming in her stomach in anticipation for Jack's reaction. She knows that he loves her long hair but has a feeling that he'll be equally adoring of her new more modern look.

She has to admit on the way home, however, that maybe her impromptu makeover is a little too modern for the taste of some in this rather rural area. More than one woman had moved further down the train car, and one man had audibly scoffed, but Rose is determined not to let it ruin her mood. Tomorrow is her birthday, after all. She had spent a wonderful day with her daughter who was happily clad in a new spring frock and shoes, and she had made a change to her look that made her feel brave and free, and her adoring fiancé was waiting at home with a birthday surprise.

As they near the long pathway leading up to the old farm-style house that is now framed by early spring blooms, Josephine runs ahead excitedly, Rose spies a nice looking car parked nearby and her curiosity peaks. Jack, who must have known what time their train was getting in, is waiting out for them on the porch, smoking a cigarette, which Rose see's him set aside in an ashtray in order to embrace his daughter who is running towards him at full force in her excitement. He picks her up as she jumps into his arms, and boosts her up onto one hip— she's still quite small for nine years old, but is getting to a size that he's not sure he'll be able to hold her like this for much longer.

Rose loves how easily Josephine has taken to Jack now, always hugging him in greeting and talking away excitedly as if they've been the best of friends forever. He always listens to everything she has to say with full attention, making sure that she knows that her thoughts and opinions matter. As Rose steps up the stairs, Jack has yet to look up and see her appearance, too busy complimenting Jo on her breezy new claret colored dress, now twirling her like a dancer. Taking the opportunity while he's distracted, Rose sets down their bags, and leans herself dramatically against the railing of the porch, crossing her legs in a flattering manner to show off the short hem of the dress, and carefully removing her hat.

When he finally looks her direction, Jack freezes where he stands, his eyes going wide as his gives a visible gulp. As his gaze trails from her hair down to her toes and back up his expression reminds her of how he had been similarly awed by her appearance once upon a time as she had descended that ill-fated staircase aboard the Titanic on the night he had joined first class for dinner, and it sends a shock of pride and confidence up her spine.

"What do you think?" she asks, turning her head slightly from side to side. Jack steps forward as Josephine stifles a giggle at her flirting parents.

"I think I'm the luckiest man around," he responds in a mater-of-fact tone. His hand travels up to the back of her newly exposed neck and he kisses her deeply on her cherry painted lips, making her heart hammer in her chest.

Suddenly a new voice interrupts their moment.

"You gonna keep her out there all day, Sonny?"

Rose pulls back, startled, and tries to see around to Jack to find out who has spoken.

"Come on," he pulls back grinning, and she's glad to see none of her lipstick had transferred to his face. "That surprise is waiting."

—

Jack's surprise, as it turns out is a small birthday party, and she is genuinely shocked at some of the guests in attendance, mainly the presence of Molly Brown, and an Italian man she recalled as Fabrizio whom she had met a handful of times aboard Titanic and had heard Jack talk a lot about. Others are there as well; Fabrizio's wife and young sons and infant daughter, and a man around Jack's age whom she learns is Molly's son, as well as Miranda and William.

Upon Rose's entrance into the house, Jack had led the way in the darkened hallway through to the sitting room where a light was flicked on and they had all yelled a birthday greeting to surprise her, only to be equally surprised by Rose's new appearance. Overwhelmed, her eyes travel to Jack's as she fights to keep tears from her eyes. She's overwhelmed. No one had ever celebrated her this way.

He's there by her side, grinning like a cheshire cat, and she doesn't think his gaze has left her and her new hair-do since he saw her outside.

It's Molly who steps forward first, speaking up, and Rose is instantly reminded of what a comforting and encouraging presence the woman holds. "Well aren't you the picture of a modern woman!" she exclaims, and Rose grins, accepting the older lady's motherly embrace as its offered. "When Jack here wrote me and told me he had finally found you, in his own home of all places, I couldn't believe it and had to come see for myself!"

"I couldn't believe it when he showed up. After so many years— there are still days when it doesn't yet feel real." Rose gazes up at Jack who simply smiles down at her, letting his hand settle at the small of her back.

Molly turns towards Josephine, who has gotten shy in front of so many strangers, and is hiding behind her mother and Jack. "And you must be Josephine!" she exclaims, diverting her attention to the young girl. "I have heard so much about you and your talent. And my goodness, you look just like your father!"

"Ah, she's got her mother's smile and beauty," Jack responds, nudging the young girl with his elbow just enough to earn giggle and a golden smile now as she protests his silly antics.

"Rosa!" Fabrizio comes forward as well, greeting Rose like an old friend. "Non posso crederci! When I got Jack's letter, I can't believe it," he says, accent still thick. "But here, I see its true! And my friend, he is happy!" The Italian claps Jack on the shoulder hard enough to shake him and earn a look of annoyance from Jack. "Jack was so, erm," he searches for a word in English, "blue. For years and years, and now, here you are!"

"Here she is," says Jack, learning close to Rose again. "Fabrizio here didn't believe me when I first wrote— the thought I was pulling some kind of practical joke on him. It took two letters to convince him I had really found you and Jo here."

Rose smiles at the look of innocence that Fabrizio pulls now, at being found out. "Can you blame me, Rosa? Jack is always playing jokes, no?"

"He is," she confirms. "And always planning surprises too," she adds. "I can't believe you did this."

He shrugs, grinning again. She can tell that he's proud of himself. "It's your birthday. You deserve a party."

He walks over to a side table he has set up in the sitting room. On it, Rose is surprised to see a few bottles of wine and liquor. With prohibition in full effect now, its impossible to buy the stuff legally, but not actually illegal to drink. She wonders where he has gotten it, and Jack seems to guess at her question, as he begins to fill glasses with champaign and pass them around to everyone, even pouring small sips of it for Josephine and William, and juice for Fabrizio's six and seven-year-olds. "I found a rather large store of wine, brandy, and whiskey in my father's office and in the attic," he tells her, "but Molly was kind enough to bring along the champaign." He hands her her glass last before picking up his own and turning out towards the rest of their friends gathered in the room.

"I wanted to thank you all of you," he begins, raising his glass to the room and looking around at all the faces. "I still can't believe how everything has worked out over the past few months, and I'll always be thankful to each of you, for helping us, when we were apart, and now together. Rose and Molly were there the last time I gave any kind of a speech, and I spoke then about luck. It was luck that brought Rose and I together— a lucky hand of poker. If felt for a while after that as if my luck had run out, but then by some manner of luck, and perhaps maybe a miracle, we've found each other again in spite of everything that's happened, and I know without a doubt that I really am the luckiest son-of-a-bitch around." His swear earns a giggle from his daughter that she quickly stifles, to everyone's amusement. He looks to Rose standing next to him, gazing into her eyes and taking her hand in his free one, before raising his glass. "So, here's to my fiancé Rose, and her birthday— hopefully the first of many birthdays we'll spend together. And to all of you, for being here with us."