Titanic - The Heart Goes On By HL Griffiths

(Sequel to The Heart Never Lies)

Chapter Three – Understandings

End of September 1912 Santa Monica

Jack

Lying in my single bed in our Santa Monica house I heard the Grandfather clock in the hall chime 7 Am. I was just awake. From the bath room I could hear the sounds of retching. Poor Rose. This pregnancy was taking its toll on her; she had terrible sickness and was exhausted.

From what I could gather after Titanic she had to work in a Photographers shop processing film in the dark room. I was worried the chemicals could have harmed her or the baby and after being in the icy water too I hoped the baby was going to be alright.

I got up and I slipped on my robe as I heard Rose creep back into her room. It was all quite amusing really, us in single rooms. The shock of us meeting up on the beach when we thought we'd never seen each other again was strange. We had slipped into a strict no touch protocol since a sort of delayed shock, we weren't on Titanic anymore, this was real life and we had to behave... I hadn't touched Rose since Titanic (not that I wasn't longing too. I was white hot for her) The last occasion being the heated intimacies in the Renault car as we carved out precious desperate moments together and our love had to taken us to a higher plane where only we existed..

Anyway with Ruth living with us it made things difficult and Roses pregnancy. It would be different after the wedding next week; When Rose would be my wife, for always. I smiled in pleasure.

Rose

My door opened and Jack crept into my room and knelt down by the bed and took my hand gently. I looked at him and a grin crept up my face. His face had a similar big smile. He was so handsome, his hair smoothed to one side, his eyes alive.

"Jack" I whispered "What are you doing?"

"Morning my sweet Rose and my naughty baby making you being sick," he kissed my hand and then leant over and kissed my head.

"I still can't believe our baby is in there sometimes" he said. I sat up slowly. He reached a hand down and touched my bump tenderly.

"I could climb in bed with you" he said quietly "I want to hold you and be yours and you mine".

I giggled "No we can't; you'll have to wait till we're married" then added in a low serious voice "Then you can take me to the stars, again I can't wait!"

His eyes were huge in his face and I could see the desire burning there. I felt my senses start to heighten and our gazes locked. Wordlessly I pulled him to me and our lips met in a passionate embrace. I closed my eyes and held him tight, he moaned audibly with passion.

He pulled back his eyes smiling "You are everything I could ever want" he said. "When I saw you that first time standing on the high deck of the promenade deck looking so beautiful but sad I knew you were mine, I had never wanted anyone as much I as wanted you"

"As I did, it was the same for me too" I replied holding his hand tightly, the love flowing between us... We could not stop touching each other; he was like a drug to me

He kissed my hands" Try and sleep Rose, I will get the doctor to check you and our baby over later" he stood up

"I think I hear your mother downstairs, I'll go and get some breakfast. I'll get your mother to bring you something up later" I yawned. I was so tired. The baby in protest suddenly kicked me hard. "I'll try Jack, see you later"

He walked out the room blowing kisses as he left.

"Only a week to go, only a week" he was singing

Jack

I walked into the dining room. Ruth was sitting at the table having a cup of tea. She smiled a bit and nodded hello. It was still awkward around her, we had not had the best of starts, she was all animosity when she first met me as she though I was ruining Roses chances of matrimony with Cal and she admitted that she had conspired with Cal to plant the necklace on me and also to keep Rose under lock and key till the Hockley wedding.

I should have hated her but I couldn't Titanic had changed her and also the knowledge that the precious Hockley's had brought about her families downfall before hand, all premeditated... She had brought me and Rose back together with Molly's help and to be fair was bending over backwards to be nice and to make amends but Rose still looked at her funny and didn't trust her. I would get Molly to help to find Ruth her own place after our honey moon; we would need our own space.

"How is Rose?" Ruth said tentively. I glanced at her, she was very pale. "Not too good, everything has been an ordeal for her, she's only 17 at the end of the day" I said harshly "I'll get the Doctor to look her and the baby over later"

"Jack" Ruth said more firmly. I got myself a cup of tea and sat down and looked at her

Ruth eyes were bright "Jack" she repeated "I know you don't like me, I can't blame you after what I put you and Rose through. I am so sorry"

"What's done is done Ruth, we can only move on. Rose and our child is the future" I replied.

A wry smile touched her lips "Rose was a difficult pregnancy" she said in an amused tone "I was as sick as a dog with her, then she was born and she had the loudest pair of lungs I had ever heard" she laughed and relaxed. Our eyes met and I smiled "Really" I asked "What was she like as a girl?"

Ruth's face and demeanor relaxed suddenly stuck me as I could see her similarities to Rose, Ruth could certainly be quite nice once she stopped holding herself so prissily.

"Oh headstrong, so headstrong Jack, if I said black, she'd say white. She was so different from me. She always wanted to be a boy and was climbing trees, being argumentative and forceful"

I laughed "She's still like that!" Ruth laughed too, and then her smile faded

"With her father Daniel, they got on so well, but with me it was hard work. Daniel was the same with me, chalk and cheese; it was not a happy marriage Jack"

"I'm sorry" I said.

"Were your parents happily married? Did you have a nice childhood?" she enquired suddenly. I was taken aback.

"Yes" I said sipping my tea "I grew up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. My Father Jim managed our small farm house and our bit of land and my mother Hope ran the local shop; it was an ok childhood, and they were content. I was the only son, and then it all changed when I was thirteen." I frowned as I remembered.

"Jack" Aunt Jannettes voice holding me as I sobbed "I am sorry, they were good people" She had tried to bring me up, but the memories and the pain held me back I had to escape Chippewa Falls in the end and make my own way. Like tumbleweed, being blown this way and that!

"They died in a fire, they went back to rescue the horses from the barn and never got out."

"I'm sorry Jack" Ruth said

"It was along time ago" I said "My Aunty Janette and her husband William moved in and brought me up but I left when I was fifteen and went traveling, had lots of adventures then ended up on Titanic."

"Your Aunt is she well?" Ruth asked"

"I really should go and see her; I did telegraph her I was ok"

"Jack, maybe you should go and see her, after my grandchild is born, but I am looking forward to being a grandmother I suppose" Ruth said warmly

We were interrupted by a banging on the door.

Mrs Amoy the housekeeper/domestic appeared a moment later.

"Beg your pardon Mrs Ruth, Mr Jack. Mrs Brown is here and says it's Urgent"

Rose

I had hurriedly dressed and joined Mother and Jack in the parlor. Molly Browns flushed face was serious for once.

"Sorry to disturb you Rose" she said. "Jack and Ruth"

Jack came to stand by me and put his arm round my shoulder.

"What's up Molly, you are concerning us with your seriousness" jack demanded.

Molly grimaced and pulled a letter fro her bag and passed it to Jack. I read it out loud over Jacks shoulder. Mother was looking worried.

"Dear Mrs Margaret Brown" I read

"I was sincerely hoping you could assist myself, Nathan Frederick Hockley and my Son Caledon Hockley II in the search for Caledon's missing fiancée Rose Dewitt Bukater. She vanished prior to their Engagement Gala in June. We believe she is still in shock and is traumatized due to the recent sinking of the Titanic which she and my son were on.

He misses her terribly and there is reward on offer for the news of the whereabouts of Miss Dewitt Bukater or her mother Ruth who too has vanished.

My son is beside himself and wishes only to find his beloved so they can marry and be happy again.

If you can help please contact Mr Fisher of Fisher and White detectives Agency, Main Street New York with information..."

I stopped reading

"What the ..." Jack yelled. We turned and looked at each other, nausea rising in me I sat in the nearest chair.

"I don't believe it" My mother said in shock

"Oh Dear, I had a feeling he'd do something like this" Molly said.

"Rose" Jack said and looked at me, lips narrowed, eyes dark and cross "He won't find us, he's had no right to you. We won't let him spoil anything. Just because he's got money he thinks he can buy everything and everybody"

"He never brought me" I said "and I never want to see him again as long as I live, he's a snake, he tried to kill me and Jack!" I laid my head in my hands as a blinding headache took over.

Molly said she was going to call the doctor and Jack led me back upstairs to lie down. My mother followed behind us vacantly very upset by the sudden terrible intrusion of Caledon Hockley's dark influence reaching out once again. Would we ever be free of him?