First of all, I'd like to thank my readers for being patient and still reading this! I wish I could update more regularly! Second, I've done something in this story that I'm sure a lot of you would have liked to see happen in the movie and it's something I've always wanted to do in a story. Hope you enjoy and please review!
Several hours passed before Rose opened her eyes. The infirmary was dimly lit now and Rose assumed it was dark outside. Jack was no longer wrapped around her, but in a cot next to her. She smiled at his sleeping form, wondering when he had moved. She didn't blame him; the cots were tiny and barely comfortable.
Sitting up slowly so as not to get sick, Rose looked around until she spotted a nurse. Rose waited and watched as the nurse was bent over a patient at the moment. When the nurse turned, Rose waved at her, catching her attention.
"Is everything alright Miss?" the nurse said in a low voice.
"Yes. I was just wondering where the restroom is." Her back ached from a full bladder.
"Right over there Miss," the nurse said, pointing. "Is that all? Are you well enough to stand?"
Rose nodded and stood slowly, waking her muscles up with a stretch. "What time is it?"
The nurse pulled out a pocket watch from her uniform. "It's just past one in the morning. You've been asleep for nearly twelve hours. Your husband here woke a few hours ago and asked for a cot of his own. He's been asleep otherwise."
Rose smiled. "Would it be possible for you to wait for me here in case he wakes?"
The nurse nodded and Rose headed off to the restroom, sighing with relief when she sat on the toilet. She splashed some cold water on her face and looked in the mirror. Her hair was a matted mess and she was a bit paler than usual. She couldn't wait for a hot bath and clean clothes. She felt sticky all over and was certain that she stunk, though she knew Jack would never complain. She smiled, feeling relieved that she didn't have to spend hours making herself look perfect. To Jack, she was already perfect.
As Rose headed back toward her cot, she saw Jack was sitting up and talking to the nurse. "Hey Rose," he said as she reached him.
"Hello," she replied.
"I'll be back shortly," the nurse said and left.
"She's bringing us something to eat," Jack told Rose. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," she told him. "I'm glad the nurse is getting us some food. I'm starving. Why did you ask for a cot? Do I smell awful or something?"
Jack laughed softly. "No. Or at least if you do, I didn't notice," he teased. He kissed her nose. "As much I loved holding you, I needed to stretch out a little bit." He yawned. "I'm sorry."
Rose shrugged. "I understand darling." Now it was Rose's turn to yawn. "Can you believe we slept for twelve hours? I feel like I could sleep another ten, at least," Rose said.
Before Jack could respond, the nurse appeared, carrying two steaming bowls on a tray. It was chicken noodle soup and Rose thought it smelled wonderful.
"Thank you," Rose said when the nurse handed them the bowls.
"It's no trouble at all. Just leave the bowls on the table after you finish," the nurse said. They ate in silence and placed their empty bowls on the table that the nurse had pointed to. Rose laid back on her bed and yawned.
"Going back to sleep?" Jack asked. He pulled the blanket up to her chin.
"Yes." Jack kissed her forehead. "Are you?"
Jack shrugged. "I dunno. I might lie down and see if I can. But don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," he assured her.
Rose smiled with her eyes closed. "I hope not." She rolled onto her side. "Will you hold me until I fall asleep?"
"Sure." Jack pulled back the blanket and curled up to Rose. She snuggled into his form as he wrapped an arm around her. Rose was soon snoring softly and Jack smiled to himself. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but found himself unable to.
Very gingerly, Jack crawled out of the bed and sat on his cot. He glanced around and spotted a roll top desk. Curious, he walked over to it. He knew he should ask for permission, but he hadn't seen anyone around since the nurse brought them the soup. Quietly as he could, he rolled the top of the desk up. He saw exactly what he was looking for. Jack quickly grabbed half a dozen sheets of blank paper and a couple of pencils and closed the desk.
Rose slept peacefully. Her hair was tangled and lackluster. Her normally pink lips were dull and dry. There were rings under her eyes. Jack still thought she was the beautiful woman in the world. He sat on his cot and grabbed the tray that the nurse had carried the soup in on. He propped one leg across the other and rested the tray on his lap. Looking at Rose, he put the pencil to the paper.
Within seconds, Jack was lost in the drawing. He stole glances at Rose as often as he could, knowing she could move at any second. He wanted to make sure that he memorized her form before that happened. But Rose slept deeply and didn't move before Jack finished. He sighed as he dated it. He knew that he would have plenty of opportunities to draw her, but he hated that he would never have the first drawing he did of her.
Jack laid the drawing to the side along with the rest of the paper and the pencils. His eyes were beginning to feel heavy again. Jack stretched out on the cot and closed his eyes.
…
Before Rose opened her eyes, she knew that it was morning. She could hear more voices and moving around and it seemed brighter, even behind her closed lids. She yawned and stretched before opening her eyes slowly.
Rose rolled over and saw that Jack was no longer on his cot. She sighed and sat up. After another yawn and stretch, Rose's eyes landed on a sketch of her. Rose smiled to herself as she picked it up. She studied it for a minute before setting it back on the table. Then she spotted the note from Jack.
Good morning darlin'. I needed some fresh air. I'll be back soon. I love you. Jack.
Rose saw the pencil beside the note and grabbed it. She wrote quickly, letting Jack know that she was going to attempt to wash up. Within minutes, Rose was relaxing in a warm bath. She ran her hand over her stomach and sighed. She knew it was still too early to tell by looking, but she swore she could feel just the tiniest hint of a bump. Pictures flashed in her mind of Jack drawing her at all stages of her pregnancy and Rose smiled to herself
…
"Excuse me. I'm looking for my daughter," Ruth said to the nurse. "Her name is Rose Hockley."
The nurse looked at the papers on the desk in front of her. "I'm sorry ma'am. There is a Rosalie here, but her last name is not Hockley."
Ruth shook her head and smiled. She remembered how her husband used to call Rose, Rosalie. She also assumed that Rose wouldn't use her actual last name, but was prepared to correct that mistake. "Forgive me. She was just married a few weeks ago. Her last name is Dawson now. Rosalie Dawson."
The nurse looked at the paper again. "Yes she's here. Right this way ma'am." The nurse led Ruth to Rose's bedside. "I believe she is washing up. Her husband is outside on the boat deck. Would you like to me alert them of your arrival?"
"No," Ruth said quickly. She looked around. Most of the people were up and about, but a few still slept. Ruth overheard someone coughing hard and fought to contain a shudder. "I don't mind waiting, if that's alright."
The nurse nodded and left. So he did survive, Ruth thought bitterly. She briefly considered sitting on the bed, but decided against it. Lord only knows what kind of disease he's already given to her. Ruth stood patiently, or at least made it appear so. Her stomach felt like it was nothing more than a pit of snakes. The snakes were twisting and biting. In a matter of days her life had been turned upside down. She had to convince Rose to come home with her and leave that gutter rat behind.
"What are you doing here?" The voice came from behind her and Ruth jumped slightly. She turned around and came face to face with Jack.
"I've come to see my daughter," Ruth said. "Please, don't be mistaken by believing you can prevent me from doing so."
Jack's jaw tensed. He had run into Molly Brown on the boat deck. Judging by what he had learned from Molly, Jack had a feeling that he knew exactly what Ruth wanted.
"She won't want to see you," Jack said. "After she found out the truth about her father and why she married Cal, she wants absolutely nothing to do with you," he warned.
Ruth felt anger surge through her. "How dare you speak of things that you have no knowledge of!" she snapped at him. "Rose is able to make her own decisions."
"Ironic that you should believe that now," said Rose behind Ruth. Ruth turned in surprise.
"Rose!" Ruth cried. "I'm pleased to see that you're well."
"I'm sure you are," Rose replied, rolling her eyes.
"Don't be cynical Rose."
Rose ignored Ruth and walked into Jack's embrace. Ruth scowled at them but they didn't see it.
"I missed you," Rose said, pressing her face into Jack's neck. He smiled into her hair.
"I missed you too. I didn't realize that I had been gone for so long." He wanted to say more, but decided to save that for later.
Ruth cleared her throat, hitting just the right tone of polite and annoyed. Rose sighed heavily and turned to face her mother.
"What do you want Ruth?" she asked. Ruth flinched at Rose calling her by her given name. Rose noticed. "Don't expect me to call you mother after what I've learned."
"I was hoping to speak to you in private," Ruth said. She shot an unnecessary glare at Jack to prove her point.
"Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of Jack." Rose grasped Jack's hand. "Even if he did step out, I would just tell him everything anyways. So just say whatever it is that you have to say."
Ruth took a deep breath and eased her glare on Jack. She looked to Rose.
"Caldeon's dead."
Rose felt a pang in her chest. She knew immediately that it wasn't sorrow or guilt that caused it, but simply shock.
"What?" Rose said. She looked to Jack.
"It's true. I spoke with Molly and she told me. I was planning to tell you, but Ruth beat me to it," Jack said.
"I can only assume that he went down with the ship," Ruth said, suddenly felt hot. Talking about it made her nervous and uncomfortable. Already the gossip was spreading on the ship about her loss.
Rose sat on the bed. "Well I never wished him dead, but I'm not sorry that he's gone," she told Ruth. "If that's all you came to tell me, you shouldn't have bothered. I would have found out eventually."
"Rose, he was your husband!" Ruth scolded. "Don't be so crass!"
"I didn't love him Ruth. You may have, and for his money at that, but I did not. Don't expect me to burst into tears or faint or anything of the sort."
Ruth grudgingly sat on the bed. "Everyone thinks that you didn't make it either. You've got to come home with me." Rose opened her mouth to speak and Ruth raised a hand to silence her. "Without you, I have nothing. No home to go to, no money to buy a home, nothing Rose."
Rose suddenly laughed. "That's why you want to me return with you? To ensure your financial and social status? Are you planning to auction me off to the highest bidder?"
Ruth shook her head sadly. "Rose, your husband has died. I'm sure he did what any proper husband would do and ensured that you would be taken care of."
"So in turn you would need me to take care of you," Rose said with a chuckle. "Ruth that is not going to happen. I'm with Jack now." Rose looked at him and smiled.
"You'd rather live in the streets? You'd see your own mother living in the streets?"
"She won't be living in the streets," Jack snapped. "Despite what you may think, I do have skills and I can earn a living."
"I assume you plan to draw a lot of naked women then," Ruth retorted.
Rose saw Jack's face grow red with anger, but she shot him a look. Just let it go, Jack. He responded as she hoped and calmed down.
"Ruth, it's your turn to listen to me," Rose said. "I'm not going back with you. As far as anyone needs to know, Rose Hockley died. I didn't put that name on the survivor list because she no longer exists." Rose briefly wondered how Ruth found her, but didn't care enough to ask. "I'm staying right here with Jack. If you think differently, you're mistaken."
Ruth searched her daughter's face for any trace of love. She found none. Ruth hung her head in defeat, swallowed hard a few times and finally stood.
"You won't be left with nothing Ruth," Rose said. Ruth looked at her in surprise. "Cal made sure that he had a documented will shortly before we wed. In the event of his death, he clearly stated that you and I both were to be taken care of and provided for unless one of us decided to remarry. If we both died, then you would be provided for, unless of course you remarry. As I said before, Rose Hockley is dead."
Ruth smiled. "Oh Rose." She moved to hug her daughter but Rose crossed her arms.
"Now I recommend that you leave, before I show up in public, very much alive and married to another man." She saw Jack smile.
"Thank you Rose. Good-bye."
"Good-bye Ruth." Jack wrapped his arms around Rose's middle as Ruth walked away from them. He kissed her forehead.
"Wow Rose!" he exclaimed with a huge grin. "I had no idea that you could be so convincing."
Rose chuckled. "Neither did I."
"Can I ask you something?" Rose nodded. "Why didn't you tell her that you're pregnant?"
"Well not only would it have caused a bigger argument, but I really didn't feel that it was any of her business." She kissed him softly. "So you saw Molly?"
Jack nodded. "Yeah. I was looking for Fabri and Tommy. I ran into her, got to talking and suddenly realized how late it was. I hurried back and I'm glad I did."
"Me too," Rose replied. Her stomach growled. "Let's go see if we can find anything about Tommy and Fabrizio. Then we'll get something to eat."
Jack shook his head. "No, you need to eat first. I've heard that the survivor list isn't completed yet, so I'd rather wait." He took her hand. "C'mon."
They walked in silence to the third class dining hall. And that was where they found Tommy and Fabrizio.