Chapter 39

June 17, 1912

Marion wakes up, expecting to be back at the Dewitt Bukater home, as if she were back being the maid once again. She rubs and opens her eyes while she tries to slowly sit upright on the carpeted floor, and slowly turned. She is greeted by the sight of Jesse's beautiful, youthful face and side profile next to hers, and that she was brought back to reality. She'd spent all night dreaming about him, about what they are going to do together. She blushed at the thought of what her children would look like with this man. She knew not even a sinking ship could sink something as beautiful as this man, sleeping next to her. She slowly and carefully turned her body, then propped her head on her hand while she studies Jesse once more; his body barely heaving at the rhythm of his breathing, and his hands were clasped over his chest. No sound came out, not even a nose whistle. What she loved the most was seeing Jesse's beautiful, delicate sleeping face, something that reminded her of a French doll, only this was life-sized, and with each passing moment, he even began to look like a doll himself. She tries to get up, the pain of sleeping on the floor was too much for her. She let out a groan as she winces in pain, as it had been a long time since she slept on the floor. Jesse eyes immediately opened to the slightest sound he heard, with a worried look on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a hint of worry, then tries to get up himself. He felt a sharp pain shooting from his neck to his lower back as he tried to move it. He cracks his neck, then smiles at Marion. She blushes as Jesse had his hair entirely over his eyes. He shakes his head, only getting one eye covered again. She kissed him, slowly at first, then backs away. She felt awkward for doing so, then she cried softly, putting her face in her hands.

"What's wrong?" Jesse asked, more concerned now, pushing back his hair.

She didn't answer him, as she continued to cry softly, then leans close to Jesse, before she began stroking his face, and brushing his hair away from his eyes. Before she met Rose's fiancé, she was doing odd jobs working in various bars and taverns. Lots of drunken men would pounce and grab at her, as she tried to get away from them and preventing her from continuing on with her duties. But Jesse was very different from the other men, and besides Jack, he was unlike any men she had ever seen. She held his dark hair away from his eyes so she can get a good look into his intense, beautiful brown eyes. She saw slight sadness in them, sadness that will continue to haunt him forever, and she knew he had seen a lot that night. She remembered back in Philadelphia when Rose telling her about him. He was the most perfect example of a gentleman, even when in danger. He always had that dark hair hiding one eye, as if hiding a secret, or something like that. He had that intense look, even with his hair covering one eye. Marion places her forehead on Jesse's chest, letting the tears fall from her eyes, and landing on Jesse's shirt. Jesse comforts her, then placing his hands on her chin, he brings her face up. He kissed her lips softly and ever so gently, that Marion had the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. He backs away slowly, looking at her face while stroking her soft, silky shoulder-length hair, caressing every soft strand as he ran his fingers through her hair, then gently wiped away her tears. Marion looked up at Jesse once more, then put both her hands on Jesse's shoulders, took a long loving look at her boyfriend before she pulled him in for a big hug. They both hugged each other for a while until Mr. Williams snorted loudly as he turned about in the couch, before returning to sleep. Both Jesse and Marion stifled their laughs.

"C'mon. Let's make breakfast before everyone wakes up." Jesse whispers, then helps Marion to her feet.

Jesse and Marion makes their way to the kitchen, where they were greeted to an ugly sight. They look at the table, which was still a messy sight from the night prior, that contained half eaten hot dog rolls, half empty bottles of Coca-Cola, even pieces of cake and the tub of ice cream that had melted overnight, and was dripping onto the floor. It truly looked like someone threw a party. Jesse quickly cleaned the mess around the table, then brings in his brother-in-law's newspapers from the porch while Marion gathers the supplies needed to make a simple breakfast. After he was done, Jesse grabbed some eggs, and goes over to the stove. Marion had already heated the pan before Jesse could make his scrambled eggs. Marion was impressed with her boyfriend's cooking skills, as he flipped the eggs almost gracefully, then looked at her boyfriend even more with awe. Her image of Jesse being her "wife" was interrupted when Fabrizio walks in, rubbing his eyes and yawning, asking if anything was needed.

"You can make some coffee." Jesse says, as he grabs some bacon from a nearby ice box, and Marion was already stirring the eggs. Jesse places the bacon strips in a pan, then sets about setting the table, all while doing a balancing act and a dance between Marion and Fabrizio. Marion finishes with the eggs, then scoops them in plates set by Jesse. Then she grabs some more eggs, breaking them inside the pan and scrambles them.

"Oohh," Jesse says, flipping over the bacon, as he nearly burnt them to a crisp as Marion laughs, while she was still stirring her eggs. Just then they heard running footsteps above them, followed by "Mommy, Daddy, are you awake yet?"

Moments later, little Jack is at the table, playing with his favorite car on the table as everyone slowly gathered around the table. Mr. Williams groans as he sat down, and before he could grab his morning paper Jack suddenly runs in the kitchen and yells "Grampa!"

"Oh my, you're getting big, young man," says Jesse's father, as Jack sat on the man's lap, with Mr. Williams helping his grandson up with difficulty.

"I'm not a man, I'm 4 years old." little Jack says, holding up four fingers. His parents come to the breakfast table, with Jon yawning loudly, and Jessica rubbing her eyes. Meanwhile Jesse and Marion were already eating as everyone gathered around the table to eat their breakfast.

"Jack. Be nice, okay? Grandpa's not getting any younger." Jon says sternly to his son, who immediately pouts.

"Mommy, who's the pretty lady next to Uncle Dessy?" Jack asks, as his mother sits down next to her father. Jesse gently nudges at Marion's arm, who blushes, and looks away shyly.

"Jack, she might be your auntie soon, if she says yes." Jesse says, putting the eggs in his mouth, and began chewing, making Marion blush harder now.

"Jesse! Close your mouth when you eat. We've got company, it's not polite, and its making me sick!" Jessica sternly says to her brother, but Marion didn't seemed at all fazed, as she just laughed. Mr. Williams simply gave a light-hearted chuckle, and shook his head. The siblings were always like this, squabbling over the small, unimportant things. Despite that, he knew they were very close with each other, since their mother passed while they were still very young. He nearly teared at the thought, as he quickly raised the paper over his face.

"Father! Make him stop!" Jessica whined, while Jon rubbed her shoulders, pushed her hair back from her neck and gave her a gentle kiss there.

"He eats just like my brothers. Though unlike them, Jesse's still clean." Marion watches as Jesse grabs a napkin, but quickly rushes to wipe his mouth before he could respond.

Eventually Jack, Rose and Karl make their way to the table, while Jessica tries unsuccessfully to get her son to eat his breakfast, as he is running around the kitchen, making car noises as he does. Jon and Jack pour themselves some coffee, and Karl pours some salt as he eats. Fabrizio eats his eggs and bacon wrapped in a bread like a miniature burrito. Soon, the whole kitchen bursts with laughter as everyone laughs and jokes amongst each other over their breakfast.

"Next Monday, Jesse and I will be heading back for the country to take back what is mine." His father announced, as he rolled up his newspaper. "If any of you would like to come for this joyous occasion, please, feel free to do so." He gets up from the table, putting his plate in the sink. "But I must warn you, it's hot this time of the year." he says, before disappearing into the living room, followed by groaning as he sat down on the couch, and the sounds of rustling paper was heard.

"This is good. Who made this?" Jack asks, his mouth full, and he bit into another crunchy piece of bacon.

"We did." Jesse and Marion says simultaneously, then looked at each other.

"But although I almost burnt the bacon," Jesse says, a little embarrassed.

"No, don't be. I like it a little crunchy." Jack laughs, his mouth was also half full. Everyone starts laughing as well. Eventually, everyone finishes their meals, and Jack and Rose offered to help with the dishes.

"Come Josephine, my flying machine," Jack sings as he wipes the dishes dry. They both kiss, then Rose picks up, "Its up she goes, there she goes."

"Balance yourself like a bird on a beam. I love you Rose."

"I love you too Jack." They are soon engaged in a passionate kiss, and twirling each other in the middle of the kitchen, dripping water and soap onto the floor.

"Anything good in there, Father?" Jessica asked, taking her seat next to him as her father turned the pages of his paper. She began to notice her father drank less and less, compared to years past, when she and her brother were younger, and he would have a small glass of whiskey to go with his paper.

"No, nothing. Nothing in here to spark my interests. I don't know why I bother sometimes." He grumbles, as he continually turns the pages. "Lousy paper. They need to hire better writers, or staffers, or something."

Meanwhile Jack wanted to go to Coney Island again. Jesse decided he'd take him, since this might be his last weekend he would be spending with his beloved nephew again. Marion decided she will go along as well, trying to practice her role in parenting, in case the day came, she told herself. Little Jack started to get in the habit of calling Marion his aunt, even though she wasn't married and they were still in their infancy of courting each other around. They decided that New York had plenty to offer for a starting young couple, at least for the weekend, for Jesse, and he wanted to see part of the city for himself. He suddenly had an announcement to make.

"Friends, family. Before I go back to the countryside let me take the opportunity to say we'll have an informal family get-together, here at my lovely sister and her husband's house, as well as a quick moment of silence and prayer for those lost on Titanic. We'll gather the supplies needed for a small barbecue, tomorrow afternoon." Everyone agrees to this occasion, then Jesse and Marion gets ready to head out to Coney Island, taking their "son" with them. Jack, Rose, Fabrizio, Karl and the rest of the family watched from the porch as Jesse and Marion get in the car, while Jesse straps Jack in his seat. Jesse gets in the driver seat and starts the car.

"He'll make a perfect father someday." Jon says, hugging his wife. Jack and Rose agree, as they hugged each other. Rose looks at her former maid, who is now happier she's ever been, as she knew she found someone. Rose was glad she told her all about Jesse, and in the end, they would totally make a perfect couple. They watched as the couple and the kid drive off to New York, followed by Coney Island in the evening, knowing they will have a time of their lives.