Chapter 26

April 19, 1912

With the news of the loss of the R.M.S. Titanic now spreading around the globe like wildfire, President William Howard Taft wasn't aware of it, nor of his good friend Archibald Butts. During the evening of the sinking, he was at a theatre, watching a play that was going underway. Like many people, he thought the Titanic was also saved, and that everyone, including his good friend, were safely on board the rescue ship, and they were making their way to Halifax. Taft didn't get the official word until long after the Titanic disappeared beneath the waves. He was frantic, wanting every personnel of the press to update him about the whereabouts of Major Butts. He would been soon be devastated to hear that his good friend was lost among those who perished with the ship. Theodore Roosevelt also heard, and he too, spoke of his grief and shock. Archibald Butts had served both presidents, but Taft regarded him more of a younger brother and a member of his family.

President Taft's inquiry would be one among hundreds from all over the country that would be received at the White Star offices.

April 21, 1912

With the Titanic Inquiry now going underway as to find out why the impossible had happened, across town, in a small home Eric is the first person to wake up, as the sun shone through the lace curtains of his nephew's room. He pushes his dark hair away from his forehead, as his blue eyes slowly adjusts for the light that was filtering into his nephew's room, where he also shared with Fabrizio and Karl. He slowly sat upright, and his eyes met Jesse's former room, the door closed off as if it was a tomb of sorts. The night they arrived from the Carpathia the family agreed that Jesse's room was strictly off limits, even though Jessica's father occasionally stays at the house before his business trips to Europe, and had used the room numerous times.

Eric sniffled lightly, hoping he wouldn't wake up his friends/guests, or that matter, his little nephew. He stirred lightly under his covers, then sighed before returning back to his sleep.

He must be having another wonderful, adventurous dream about his uncle again, Eric thought tearfully, as he wasn't ready to explain the concept of death to his nephew until he was a bit older. He wiped his eyes, as he slowly got up from the carpeted floor in Jack's room. He tip-toed his way to his brother's room, and found the couple still soundly asleep in their bed. Jon had missed work since their arrival to comfort his wife, as she lost sleep after she found out Jesse never made it back home. Jon snorted, as he turned about in his sheets, before returning back to sleep. With his heart hammering in his ears, Eric carefully made his way to Jesse's room, careful to step over some of the floorboards that squeaked. He was almost hopeful he was in a dream, and that Jesse was actually in his bed, snuggled comfortably. Slowly, he turned the knob, and ever so slowly as the door creaked, and was disheartened to find the bed perfectly made, exactly how he left it, or his father-in-law had stayed in the room and made the bed before his European departure.

Eric's body shook with his sobs; seeing the empty bed was too much for him, and of Jesse's beautiful picture on the little nightstand. He laid his head down on the dresser and wept for his younger brother-in-law, whom he's never going to see ever again. Slowly, he made his way to the bed, and carefully takes the picture from the stand, as if he might drop it, making Jesse forever lost in memory.

Eric studied the picture, the only known photo of his brother-in-law in the house. He was soon drawn in by Jesse's beauty, which almost looked like an artwork than a person. He looked at the picture with great detail. His dark hair was neatly parted to one side, and had beautiful waves at the ends, that framed his delicate face. He had on his school uniform as he graduated the boarding school from somewhere out west. His eyes...it was too much for Eric to bear looking at his brother-in-law. He carefully placed the picture, face down on the bed, before weeping in great sadness that he will never see Jesse again.

Jessica stood at the door, as she watched with a heavy heart of her brother-in-law, sitting on the bed, crying. She saw the picture frame sitting next to him, as he cried in his hands. Jessica leaned in, as she led Eric out of the room. She was also carrying her beloved brother's picture, as she carefully closed the door behind them, and led Eric down to the living room. The picture was carefully placed on the shelf, while Jon brought out some candles and lit them, then places them next to Jesse's picture. Fabrizio quietly came down the stairs, along with Karl as he was helping him down the stairs. His leg had healed quickly, much to his amazement, though he was still weak to walk on it just yet. They slowly made their way to the somber living room, where Fabrizio saw the picture, as he managed to choke back his tears, before managing to speak, though with slight difficulty.

"Jack ancora addormentato (Jack's still asleep)" he says softly, as his voice cracked just mentioning Jack's name. Eric looked up, then nods to his sister-in-law, assuring her that her son was indeed still sleeping, for he didn't want him to know, just yet, of what truly happened to his uncle. As he and Jessica knew, Jack was very close with Jesse, and had always looked up to him, more of like an older brother he wished he was, rather than an uncle, and Jesse was very excellent at being a brotherly figure to his nephew. Meanwhile Fabrizio had nothing of Jack; no picture, nothing. Nonetheless, he began his prayer in Italian, as everyone bowed their heads, that Jack, Tommy, Helga and Jesse had made their way to heaven, along with the souls who had died on the ship. Once he was done, he wept softly for his friends, and especially for Jack, and Jesse. Karl looked up at the picture, only to quickly look away, as he felt the tears sting his eyes. With a huge lump in his throat, he wished Jesse a safe journey, while looking back at the picture, as the last candle flickered, then finally went out.

...

April 25, 1912

Fabrizio had been knocked off from one of the lifeboats, after he tried to help free a boat from the ropes. The water now is unbearably cold, as he struggled to stay afloat. People around him splashed about, screaming, wailing in agony, but he was trying to find any means to escape. He was ready to make his swim, until he heard cables snap, then splashed the water next to him. Fabrizio turned, and sees the giant funnel falling towards him. It falls, crushing him in the process...

...

Fabrizio awoke, panting and sweating. The house was still dark, and quiet, save for the silent breathing of Karl, and light snoring coming from Eric. Little Jack groaned, then shuffled about in his sleep. He slowly sat back up, then rubbed his face. That dream looked so real; him trying to free the ropes, but was pushed off. Luckily for him, a piece of the funnel hit his leg, dislocating it. The pain had subsided since then, but he could occasionally feel it in the form of a 'charley horse' now. He wiped his tears from his eyes, then scanned about the dark room, while his eyes slowly adjusted for the dark, until he could make out the shadows in the room. A window brought in filtered lights from the city, but it still wasn't enough to make the room bright. He laid back down, unable to go back to sleep. He slowly got back up, and carefully made his way to the hall.

Fabrizio made his way to the stairs, but missed his step, and tumbled down while the carpet nearly muffled his fall. Both Jessica and Jon, along with Eric and Karl, quickly ran to his aid, after hearing the commotion.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked, worry on his face. Fabrizio gently rubbed his leg, then carefully moved it.

"Don't move it too much." Jon placed a hand on the young man's shoulders. "We'll take you to the hospital. Let them look at it." Both Jon and Karl helped their friend back to his feet, then helped him to the car. Jon drove Fabrizio to the hospital, to get his leg checked upon.

April 26, 1912

By the end of the week, Eric had finally managed to return back to Philadelphia, as he worked for the Hockley Steel Co., for the last couple of years. He told his sister-in-law to be strong, as Jesse would be looking down from above. He gave a final, huge tearful hug to his beautiful sister-in-law, shook hands with Karl, and a final embrace with Fabrizio, before he left the house. Meanwhile, Jon finally returned back to work in the middle of the week, while Fabrizio and Karl stayed behind, to help out with duties around the house, and to hopefully get their citizenship in the process. Fabrizio stood at the porch, as he watched Eric climb into a cab. Karl stayed inside the house, as he watched Jack play with his toys on the carpet. The car slowly puttered off, carrying Eric to the Grand Central Station, for he needed to be at work for the Hockley Steel the following week.

Fabrizio took a deep shaking breath. Just as he did, a sudden gust of breeze blew, stirring up some dried leaves and dirt in front of the house, then carrying them over the small picket fence, into the dirt street ahead. Soon, Jessica and Karl stepped out, after putting Jack in his bed for his afternoon nap, and Karl was done with the dishes, and a quick sweep of the living room. Jessica had memories of her younger brother, as she looked at the picket fence. He did almost all of the work to their home, including putting up the fence, while Jon never found the time to do so. Her most fondest memories were of the porch, which he and their father had rebuilt, before they left for Southampton aboard the Mauretania. She knew the house still had some much needed repairs to be worked on; the roof leaked, the windows were drafty, and the back door never seemed to close properly. Even the toilet had trouble flushing at times as well. Even Jesse worked on their car on a few occasions, but never getting to the root cause. The 1910 Model T was still parked, exactly where they left it since their arrival, as Jon took the cab instead. Fabrizio hoped someday he would get to drive the car, and to have his own, as he looked longingly at the car. But right now, he and Karl had better start preparing for their path to citizenship, even though their their papers went down with the ship. And what was left of their lives as they followed their respective companions for a better opportunity in America.

Jessica took a deep breath, then looks up at the clear blue sky. Despite what has happened to her beloved brother, deep down, she knew, even with a slightest hope, he was still alive, somewhere, in this big, growing New York. Maybe in a hospital somewhere, or wandering and completely dazed, she knew with a slightest hope Jesse was still alive. Even if it was just a sliver of hope.

It would be another week before her father finally returned from his Paris business trip, without a slightest clue that Jesse would ever return back to the States. He had always said Jesse might've found work in France or England, or he might have gone to one of the finest engineering schools Germany has to offer, as his employer wanted him to go there. Around this time also, Fabrizio had finally gotten his leg checked, and to gather his courage as he prepares to earn his American citizenship, despite losing their papers in the ship.

The future was looking bright for the two men, even though they lost their friends in the disaster.

A/N In my opinion, this is not my strongest, but let me know what you think. Thanks for reading, even if it's a dense fanfic.