Chapter 68

January 2, 1913

Cal slowly walks out of the police station, distraught after he had heard the news of his father's passing that had happened sometime his stay at the Philadelphia jail that night. Even though he was content with getting his father's full inheritance, including the business and his millions, he had wanted to marry Rose so she would've provided an heir for his father's company, and to be what's it like to be a future grandfather to their baby. Instead, he thought of something, something he would've never ever dreamed of, even in this situation he was in, but there was no other choice to be had. Instead, he went back to the plant, and once back in his lush office he began to mull it over. He, along with Walter, who was recovering from a gunshot wound to his knee, thought about what to come up with during this difficult time. His secretary knocks on the door, breaking them out of their serious throughts.

"Come in." Cal says, signalling Mildred, who was surprised. Usually, Cal was always in a bitter mood; but for some reason, he was in a slightly better mood. She walks past Walter as he was sitting in the chair, a crutch by his side, as she makes her way to Cal's desk. Mildred pulls up a chair, sits next to Walter, and Cal leans forward.

"As you may know, my father passed sometime yesterday, when I had that young, pretty-looking but strong man in my grip. When he departed, I felt a change of heart." Cal says, sniffling a bit, then he gets up, before turning around to face the window that overlooked the plant his father had left behind. He also left him millions in that will, and he had a sudden change of heart, that he wanted to share for a moment, especially with Jack and Jesse, to congratulate them both, and especially to Jack, that he would take care of Rose once and for all. And of course, something for Jesse, no matter what he did, he will always have a place in his heart. Two special people, he wanted to share with. He had known Mr. Williams' last known address was with the Bukater residence, but her former home and property were now sold off. Suddenly he remembered seeing a resignation letter from a young man named Eric Almstead, whom he never recognized before. He began contacting some of the coworkers who had either last seen, or had worked with, Mr. Almstead before he left the Hockley plant.

Cal was in luck, for Eric's parents only lived across the state; the same place he tried to kidnap Jesse in exchange for Rose, but it didn't pan out the way he wanted, but was now glad nobody was killed in that charade. He could pay a visit to the Almsteads in Pittsburgh, to pay for his forgiveness, and to let the couple walk free once and for all. He wanted to talk to Eric for the last time, mostly due to the fact that Rose, Jack and Jesse will not believe him for all the things he had put them through, especially up to the events leading up to that time, after both the Mauretania and the Titanic.

Jesse slowly opens his eyes, before realizing he was awake before everyone else in the room, and gave a quiet, deep yawn. He saw Jack had slept next to him, his arm resting over his chest, as if protecting him. Jesse carefully lifted his head from his jacket he was using as a pillow, and in some instance, his little blanket. He carefully moved Jack's arm, then with slight difficulty, he slowly got up, wincing a little from the pain coming from his leg. Once he stood up, he sees his older brother Matthew snuggling under the covers of the large bed. He looks at his father, trying to curl himself in that tiny couch again, as he was still snoring. He also sees Fabrizio resting on Thomas' stomach like a pillow of sorts, and Thomas himself was completely sprawled on the floor. Jesse groaned quietly as he carefully shuffles his way over to the bathroom, nearly tripping over Milton, as he sleeps on his jacket for a pillow, while Jon and Eric were sleeping in the far corner of the tiny room.

Jesse washes his face in the sink, then looks up to the mirror, while he reaches for a towel on a nearby cubby. After he towel-dried his face, he looks at himself in the mirror once more. The bruise was most noticeable, even with his hair covering it up. He patted the cut on his lip, which had healed to a measly scar now. He took a deep breath, as he gets ready to depart from Philadelphia once and for all, for all he was looking forward to was going home, and of course, rekindling the marriage with Marion, Thomas and Milton's youngest sister.

...

They made their way to the train platform, before Caledon runs to meet up with the young man named Eric. Jack and Jesse could see Eric and Cal engaging in some sort of conversation, but could not make out what he was saying, and Jesse tried to no avail to read the hand gestures the men were making. Eventually, Eric walks into the cabin they were sitting in, and motions Jack and Jesse to follow him. Jack furrows his brow, then turns to Jesse in front of him, then they get up to follow Eric out of the train.

Cal stood there, smiling, as Jack and Jesse had no clue what was going through this madman's head. Suddenly he offered his hand to the men.

"You've won, Mr. Dawson. From now on I will leave you and Rose to your own devices. Never again shall both of you live in fear, and in gratitude, I offer you the handsome token of some of my fortune." Cal began to hand Jack the sack of money, containing approximately $50,000. He also had a handsome sum to Jesse as well, including to Mr. Williams. Jack tried to refuse, as if the man was playing some sort of trick.

"No tricks. I let you go scot free. Now, take my offer. It's yours, to start your life anew, with beautiful Rose. I know you have lived a hard life, but this is your chance to rebuild some of your life, to go on as you please. Now, take my offer." Cal thrusts the sack to Jack. Suddenly realization flooded Jack; he knew, deep down, his father must have passed away, the stress of thinking when he was going to bring back Rose, the same way Ruth felt when her daughter went missing. Jack reluctantly took the sack from Cal, and he shook hands with the tycoon.

"And you, Jesse…" Cal began, as Jesse began to refuse politely, but Cal insisted. "No, no. You've already taken my offer. Here." He thrusts the sack, also containing the same amount of money, to Jesse. He also takes the sack reluctantly. "And this is a token, to your father." Cal looks into the train windows, as Mr. Williams looks back at them. Jesse had two sacks, as he thrusts one over his shoulder. Cal offered his hand to the boy. Jesse quickly placed the sack down, to give the man a shake, despite their earlier differences.

"I am deeply sorry for putting you through all this mess. Now you will never hear from me again." The two shake hands for the last time, before Cal disappears among the throngs of people, never to be seen again.

"All aboard." the conductor yells. Quickly, Jesse picks up the sack of money, then turns back to the train. The train lets out a whistle, as people on the platform wave to the passengers. Jesse takes his seat again, before handing the other sack of money to his father, and his under the table, and Jack does the same. Jack looks out the window, as Philadelphia is once again left behind. Just like the former life he had lived in, that was now being left behind. No more looking behind his back, no more panics of when he will show up, to strike, for that day had come for Jack. For Rose, and his child. He looked forward to going back to Chippewa Falls, to rebuild his parents place, near the Wissota Lake, where his father took him ice fishing years before. He looks out the train windows as the Philadelphia skyline becomes smaller, slowly being replaced by snowy fields. He begins to see the snow covered fields as a sign to start fresh, just like pulling out a brand new sheet of paper from his sketchbook, and drawing out new frontiers, one that will have a lasting impact on his life. One that will leave Rose breathless, leaving impressionable memories that will last a lifetime. He no longer fears Cal, that past has been cleared. Instead, his mind began to take out a sheet of paper, to draw out his life, to make that lasting impression.

For Rose.

For his child.

His new destiny awaits. He began to drift a little, which turned into a dreamful sleep, as the train makes its way across the vast fields of snow.

Back to Pittsburgh.

April 1996

Aboard the Keldysh.

"That was the last time I ever saw him. He married, of course, and inherited his millions. The crash of '29 hit his interests hard, and he put a pistol in his mouth that year. His children fought over the scraps of his estate like hyenas, or so I read." Rose says, facing the crowd. Meanwhile, Jack snickered in the corner, trying to remember the paper he had read that time. Jesse's great-grandson looked over at Jack, and gave him a slow nudge. To him, it was a sort of funny read, to see the image of Cal's children fighting over the estate and remaining inheritance. Rose gave a small smile, to which others barely saw, except to Jack and Jesse's great-grandson. She soon turned her attention back to the many television screens that played out over the wreck of Titanic...

January 4, 1913

The women were making stew for lunch as Anna hears a car putter into the drive. Ruth carefuly turns in the sofa and looks out the thin-laced covered window.

"They're back." she says, Everyone begins rushing into the large living room of Eric and Jon's parents' home, especially Marion and Rose, as they eagerly awaited their respective partners. Once they saw the car come to a complete stop, Rose and Marion rushed out of the house, and down the porch stairs, followed by little Jack. Soon, the trio stood at the snowy front lawn of the house, watching eagerly.

Jon and his father emerged from the car first, follwed by six men whom emerged from the backseat of the car. Back on the lawn Marion and Rose tried to look for their respective partners, until Rose squealed with joy when she saw Jack again. Marion also leaped with joy after seeing her husband, along with Jack and her older brother, with both of the men's arms wrapped around Jesse's neck and underarms.

"Do you think you can walk?" Milton asked, but it didn't matter, his arms were already wrapped around Jesse's small, toned body, while Jack threw Jesse's arm over his neck. Together, they limped Jesse back to the house. Milton, seeing as he was almost the same height as his younger brother-in-law, gently pushed his hair back away from his face, then looked at his side profile with content. Jesse's father was the last to get out of the car, who was putting on a heavy coat before reaching back inside the car to find his hat.

Marion ran across the snow-covered lawn, greeting her husband once more since the kidnapping at the church, as well as her brothers. Marion hugged her older brothers, then Jack, before going to Jesse, and giving him the biggest hug she could muster. Behind the couple Mr. Williams reached back into the car the final time, then held out the sacks of money that were for him and his son, while Thomas and Milton ran inside the house.

Marion squeezed Jesse as hard as she could, with tears coming from eyes, for she missed him very dearly. The long, sleepless nights, crying herself to sleep, as she wondered what has happened to her husband. Those days are now over, as she finally has Jesse right where he needed to be, in her arms, as she snuggled close to his firm, yet warm body. Soon, she felt an arm pulling her close to Jesse's body, as she finally wanted to cry, her throat tightened, and tears poured from her eyes even more. Marion looked up, as Jesse pushed his hair back, then tried to smile, but his wife began to cry at the sight of her husband, after she saw the bruises below his eye, and the small cut he had on his lip. She had also noticed he was slightly limping, but despite what had happened, Jesse looked at his beautiful wife, then gave her a small, beautifully dimpled smile, with his hair hanging over one eye. Marion looked up, and once she saw the tears on her husband's cheeks, it made her cry even more, as she clutched his shirt, and put her head on his chest. Jesse once more ran his hand through his hair, then they both embraced hard, enjoying each other's company once more after that ordeal had happened, as he felt Marion's wracking sobs while they held each other closely. Jesse held his wife's face closely, while he slowly wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb, as Marion reached up and brushed Jesse's hair away to look up into his intense brown eyes. Soon they both kissed and hugged once more, forever enjoying the moment that would come to both the couple, and of Jack and Rose, with tears in their eyes, as they watched the couple.

Jesse and Marion slowly make their way back to the large house, with Jesse hobbling, while Jack carried Rose bridal-style up the stairs. Once inside Thomas and Milton were laughing and joking with each other, and Jon sighs as he takes off his hat, then hangs it up the tree. Soon, the two brothers got up, after seeing their younger brother-in-law coming in, and they delved into a squabble as to who would help with Jesse's wounds. They continued to bicker in the kitchen, to get ice for Jesse's bruise, and who would be the one to apply it.

"You already shoulder rubbed him." Thomas says, playfully punching his younger brother. "And you helped him out of the car."

"You were too scared back at that hotel. And you were too scared of him just now. I saw you." Milton fired back, slapping his arm, then shaking his head. "Scared of your own brother-in-law. Such nonsense."

Jesse shook his head, rolled his eyes, then carefully headed outside to do the work himself, while Marion grabbed a towel from the bathroom. He had never been in a position where people would fight over him, like he was some sort of prize that the winner would get. Henry puts his and Jesse's money in the room, then decides to share the wealth he had gotten from the Hockleys, despite what had happened. Outside, Jesse placed the snow in the towel Marion had grabbed from the bathroom, then carefully placed it on his thigh.

"Oh, that's cold..." Jesse winced, but he felt a little better, the pain in his leg began to subside a little. His wife watched, with fascination, as her husband threw his head back, then stared in awe at his beautiful face and neck, while he pushed his hair back away from his face, then closed his eyes, while his stud earrings glistened to the light as they were revealed when Jesse shook his head...

In Marion's mind, she thought she could see Jesse as a reincarnation as a girl, his eyes were closed, his head back, and his now shoulder-length hair; he could resemble a girl in a dream...

...

Everyone agreed in the living room Jesse should go to the hospital to get checked for any possible injuries he sustained while he was held by Cal, and Jon had agreed he'll be driving him there, as they were playing a card game. With Jesse concentrating on his hand Marion played with her husband's hair, oftentimes, making a short ponytail for him, while her older brother watched nervously, and began to shift uncomfortably in his seat. In the kitchen Jack tries to help Anna prepare the food as best he can, and Rose helps set the table. Soon, the evening dinner was done, and Jesse and Marion were the last to enter the dining room, where they manage to find a place to sit at the table, and Jack and Rose opposite of the newly-wed couple. Milton quickly got a chair and sat next to his younger sister, while Thomas nervously sat next to Jesse, and soon found himself staring intensely at his younger brother-in-law, and his heart hammered in his ears, and his mouth went dry; at his hair, his side profile and jawline, his slender neck, his slightly upturned nose...

Jesse ran his hand over his hair, and tucked it behind his ear... Thomas shook his head, then turned his attention to the food that was going around to everyone. A prayer was made, first at Jesse and Marion, then at Rose and Jack, and the food, before everyone finally ate their meals again in what felt like an agonizing two weeks, two weeks everyone had been worrying about Jesse's well-being and safety. There was finally laughter once more at the Almstead home, as everyone shares jokes, and their future was discussed, what will come out of it now that Jesse was back home once more, as he squeezed his wife. Marion's father gave a toast to his daugher, and especially to his son-in-law, before drinking the contents in his glass, and everyone followed.

...

At the hospital later that evening, the doctor examined Jesse's head, the bruise below his eye, and for a possible leg injury, for he was concerned that Jesse was limping.

"You are one lucky son of a gun there, son." the doctor says, as Fabrizio beams that he and the man sitting on the table had survived the Titanic, and had survived the man that had held him.

"You really are lucky. That was some tragedy. I have heard all about it, and yet here you are, sitting on my exam table. You have no serious head injuries, though you might just have a headache, and thankfully, you leg is not broken. I will prescribe painkillers to help ease the pain a bit, but in the meantime, try to get some rest, and your wife here will take care of the rest." Marion blushes, then thanks the doctor, before hugging Jesse's neck and kissing him.

"Here, let me listen to your heart for a moment," the doctor says, placing the stethoscope under Jesse's shirt for the final time. "Deep breaths, son," the doctor says, now bringing the stethoscope to Jesse's back, while Jesse takes deep breaths.

"Well, everything is in order. Your heart rate is fine. Your breathing is also normal for someone your age. Well, you go on and take care of yourselves." The doctor packs his instruments into his bag, then leaves everyone in the room, and Jesse buttons back his shirt. Fabrizio places his head on Jesse's shoulder as he wept silently, glad his friend was back. He tried to shake the feeling that he had nearly died in Cal's clutches, and might have came after Rose at last. Marion also hugs Fabrizio, as he began to cry harder now. He knew he will never get to have the same experiences as Jack and Jesse, as Helga had gone down with the ship. Fabrizio wipes his eyes, as a future in America holds many promises, including a chance at a new love once again.

Jesse slowly limps to the hospital pharmacy, while behind the counter, a pharmacist awaited Jesse. He picks up his pain medications for his small headache and a sore leg. Marion happily wraps her arms around her husband's waist, while Jesse wraps his arm around his wife as they make their way out of the hospital, and once outside the hospital they lock lips with each other. Snow began to fall lightly around the couple as Jesse wraps his arms around his wife, and before long they are engaged in a long kiss.

Fabrizio and Jon watched the newly-wed couple finished their kissing before making their way to the car, as if finishing where they had left off before Jesse was hauled away by Cal. The couple gets in the back seat, with Fabrizio taking the wheel and Jon in the passenger seat, and they go back to the Almstead home.

...

The snowfall began to subside as the men arrived back at the house. Fabrizio nearly gets a leg cramp as he tries to get out of the car, and out of nowhere a snowball flies past as Jesse helps Marion out of the car. Everyone begins throwing snowballs at one another, and laughing, as Fabrizio slips before Jon dumps snow on him. Marion pummels her husband with a lightly packed snowball as he was beginning to turn around, and Jesse hurls snow as it fell apart, and they both laughed. Jack and Rose also joined in the laughter, including little Jack, as Jessica tries to coax her son to put on his jacket. Meanwhile, Milton gently nudges Thomas' ribs, who was staring intently at his younger brother-in-law through the chaos that had ensued below them.

"You're doing that thing again, boyo." he told his brother. Thomas shook his head.

"I still can't believe our sister married that...that-" Thomas gestured, then pointed at Jesse, for he was at a loss for words. He also couldn't help himself staring at Jesse's beauty, and wrapping his head on why their sister married him. The biggest question: Where did she find someone like him? He shook his head once more.

"Just let it go. He'll make an excellent father, and a ranch hand someday." Milton says, pulling onto his suspenders, remembering Jesse's rock-hard muscles. "Besides, it's nice to have something for a change this time. Now, where did I put my hat?" They both watch on as Jesse ran his hand through his hair, then he looked up at his older brother-in-laws at the porch. He gave a small smile, which Milton thought he could see Thomas blush. He knew his older brother was quite intimidated by beautiful people, and oftentimes was very shy around Rose, and nervous around Jack, and especially to Jesse.

Eventually, everyone was tired from the laughing and frolicking in the snow, and Marion flings herself on the snow, as she makes a snow angel, then writes Jesse's name next to the angel. With a yawn Jesse carefully picks up and carries his tired nephew back into the house, as he also yawned and slowly drifts to sleep on his uncle's strong shoulder, with Marion following right behind her husband. Everyone had gone inside at this point, while out on the porch Jack puts his hand around Rose's neck before going in for another long kiss. He gently rubs Rose's big baby bulge, then walks behind her, hands carefully wrapped around her stomach, as they make their way back inside the warm house.

Upstairs, Jesse groaned as he flopped on the bed, face down, his face buried in the pillows and sheets while his wife got ready for bed, as he was clearly tired from the ordeal of being held captive. Little Jack was already asleep in his little bed that Jon's father had made for his grandson, from scraps of wood he kept in the back shed. Marion soon turned off the light, then carefully walked back to the bed and at the same time she could hear Jesse turning to lay on his back, while he blinked a few times to get his eyes to adjust to the now dimly lit room, from the gas streetlamps filtering through the thick curtains. They both shared a passionate kiss, before finally falling asleep.

Jack tries to look for Jesse throughout this slight ordeal that was going on.

"He's gone up to bed, with his wife." Mr. Highland says, as he puts his whisky glass down on the table, then holds his wife. He had been watching his son-in-law kissing his daughter many times, and he thought he'd try one of Jesse's signature moves on his wife. He gently pushes Mrs. Highland's hair away from her ear, and she giggles.

"Oh, Frank." She laughs, as she turns to her husband and plants him a big kiss on his lips. Jack lightly tickles Rose's belly before going in for a final kiss, then proceeds to turn in for the night themselves. The Almsteads, Highlands, Mr. Williams and Mrs. Dewitt Bukater were the only members in the living room, as they engaged in a card game of sorts, and turning the living room into an impromptu Titanic-style smoke room, complete with drinks, cards, and cigarettes.

...

Jesse and Marion were fast asleep in their rooms, with little Jack in his little bed that Jon brought him to sleep with his uncle and aunt. He liked Eric somewhat, but he was always too busy with work and often tired to play, so Jesse is his favorite, as he was always energetic. In the next room, Jack and Rose were beginning to tuck in, as Jack turns out the lights, then making his way to the bed. They were both glad that Cal will no longer be following them. Eric was given a new job at Mr. Highland's mine office there in Pittsburgh, after resigning from Caledon Hockley, and he was to start in the morning. Fabrizio slept with Eric, as he too, will leaving back to the southwest and return to his foundation job.

Outside the house, the clouds break to reveal the starry sky as everyone finally goes to bed for the night.