April 15, 1912

2:39 am

Jack woke up to the sound of Rose whimpering in his arms. He immediately leaned over and shook her awake.

"What's wrong, Rose?" He asked her, concerned. She had silent tears falling from her cheeks. He slowly brushed them away.

"The Titanic...just sank," she whispered.

"Oh, Rose," Jack sighed and pulled her to him. He knew this entire experience must have been so horrible for Rose. He wanted to be here for her now, even if he didn't remember being with her then.

"It was so bad, Jack," she murmered into his shoulder. "The water was so cold and so many people...so many people are out there right now dying and–"

She hiccupped and more tears fell. Jack shushed her and pulled her closer. Her head fell into the crook of his neck and she shook there in his arms.

"It's okay, Rose, you're here now, I'm here, I got you. I won't let go," Jack said softly into her ear. She nodded slightly, still shivering.

He kissed the top of her hair and slowly eased her back down into a laying position next to himself.

"Let's try and get some sleep, huh?"

"All those people...Tommy...Fabrizio..."

Jack froze. That's right! Fabrizio was on the ship...who was Tommy?

"Did Fabrizio survive the last time?" Jack asked urgently. He was a horrible friend! He had forgotten all about Fabri with all that had been going on.

"I don't think so," Rose whispered sadly. I know Tommy didn't. I heard...he was...shot."

"Shot? Who's Tommy?"

"He w-was a friend of yours, the last time, I think h-he was Irish?"

Jack thought back to the dream he had the first day he met Rose. "That makes sense," he nodded. "But will Fabri be okay? This is all my fault."

"No, Jack no, there's n-nothing either of us could've done to prevent this tragedy. From what I read in the papers, it was because of a bunch of different people and a bunch of little unfortunate mishaps."

Jack sighed. "I just want...want Fabri to be okay. I mean, I'm here safe with you, but he's out there, right now, fighting for his life, maybe."

"We can't do anything about it–"

"I know, and it's killing me!"

Rose leaned into him. "I know, Jack. I know. It's an even worse feeling when you're out there, waiting for the lifeboats, not knowing if you're gonna die or live, or who's going to save you or if you can save anyone. It's a helpless feeling. And I'm sorry."

Jack scratched his neck. "Did...did I ever tell you how I met Fabrizio?" And he honestly didn't know the answer.

"No," Rose said quietly.

"Well, I went to Italy for a year. The first year I was homeless, right after my folks died. So I was 15 going on 16. Anyway, I, uh, one day I was scrounging around for food, still unexperienced in the world of living on my own."

Rose nodded and Jack took a breath.

"So, this guy comes up to me, right? And he's big and has a mustache. A curly one, almost like ringlets on a man's face. He starts to threaten me for no reason and I get scared, I'm only a boy. I have no way to protect myself. The man started to beat me."

Rose gasped and Jack gently reached over to her face. "It's alright, Rose. Anyway, suddenly this Italian boy who looked about my age came behind the man and whacked him over the head with a rolling pin! This big man with the mustache fell right over to the side! It was one of the best moments of my life."

Rose let out a small life and Jack grinned at her.

"Then you and Fabri were friends for life?"

"Pretty much," Jack shrugged. "He saved me, and homeless lads tend to stick together."

"I'm so sorry," Rose whispered. "I should've thought about all those other people too. I came back to save you but still couldn't save everyoje else."

"No, Rose," Jack said firmly. "There's no way you could have stopped the entire ship from sinking. You saved my life, and that's what counts right now. Just focus on moving forward."

Rose hugged her arms and Jack reached over and pulled her to him. She was shaking slightly, he noticed. He rubbed her arms gently and she calmed down quickly. She sighed.

"I know all those people just died...and it's so horrible to think about..." She began. Jack tried to ignore the stab of pain in his heart. That could have been him. It might be Fabrizio.

"But...?"

"But...this is nice. To be in your arms again, having you to comfort me."

Jack smiled. This beautiful woman had chosen him not once, but twice. She was so above his level and yet she had given up everything she knew for him. He didn't know how, but he loved her. And despite the tragedy of the Titanic, he knew Rose and he could push through it.

"It is nice," he agreed. "Best feeling I've ever felt."

"I do hope...Fabrizio is okay. And Tommy. And Helga. And...I know Mr. Andrews won't make it...but I do wish he would try this time..."

Jack wiped the tears forming in the corners of Rose's eyes. "Shh, it's okay. Why...why don't we pray for...for all the people going through that tonight?"

Rose looked up at him. "Can we?"

"It's the most we can do right now," Jack replied, shrugging. He wasn't a religious man by any means. You lose track of which day is Sunday when you're on your own. He hadn't been to church since his folks died. But he believed in God and knew that praying would be the best option.

Jack and Rose sat there for a few moments, silently praying for all the souls that would be lost, all who would survive with those painful memories, and all their families.

Rose sat back first, and Jack slowly followed her, so soon they were laying back on the ground. Jack entwined his fingers through hers, and she smiled softly.

"I feel so much better with you here," she said softly. "Before...when I had to live a year on my own...I felt free, but I was missing something."

She placed her other hand on Jack's steadily beating heart. "I was missing you."

"Obviously," Jack said obnoxiously, grinning. Rose giggled.

"Alright. Let's try and get some sleep, now, eh? I think we hop off in the morning."

Rose was the first to fall asleep, and Jack lay there next to her, watching her. She seemed so small, so delicate, when in reality, she was the strongest woman he had ever met. He smiled peacefully and moved a little closer to her, wrapping his arms around her, eventually falling asleep.

xXxXx

Jack woke up the next time to the jolt of the train. He knew this feeling well. He quickly turned and shook Rose.

"Rose," he whispered. "We need to get off."

She groaned and rolled over. Jack smiled, standing up.

"Five more minutes," she muttered.

"Rose, we need to jump off this train before anyone notices we're on it," Jack patiently explained.

"We're here?" Rose sat up curiously, her hair covering her eyes and being very disheveled.

"The train just started to stop, we need to move," Jack replied, smiling and pushing her stray hair out of her face, causing her to flinch a little. Jack guessed she wasn't used to physical touch...or his physical touch. "You didn't expect us to stay on the train forever, did you?"

Jack heard Rose mutter something like, "It sure felt like it..."

"What was that, Rose?" Jack asked innocently.

"Nothing," Rose said quickly and stood up. She stumbled a little, and Jack caught her.

"Sorry," Rose said quickly and pulled away. "Not awake all the way yet."

Jack laughed and shook his head. "How much more sleep do you need, woman? It's probably already nine thirty!"

"You'd be surprised at how long I can sleep," Rose said, sounding proud. Jack just smiled.

"Alright, come on."

They headed to the back of the train with their bags and looked around. Rose gasped and Jack smiled at her pleasure. They had indeed arrived in Paris.

Short chapter on both of my stories, sorry. But next chapter will be totally worth the wait, I swear. ;)