Chapter Eight: And Time Stood Still
Jack and Rose stared at each other. They seemed to think the other was an illusion, and if they stared hard enough, they would see reality. But this was reality. "Jack?" Rose asked tentatively. "Rose?" Jack replied, cautiously. If this wasn't real, he didn't want to hope. It would be pulled out from his feet, and he couldn't stand up again. Why couldn't they stop staring? Rose wanted to throw herself on him, wanted to kiss him, and tell him everything would be alright, now that he was here. Jack wanted the same thing. But they couldn't move. It was Rose who moved first.
She took a step toward him. She reached her hand out slowly but decidedly, and touched his face. She took another step. Jack reached up and tucked a piece of hair from her face. "It's really you," Jack said. Rose smiled. "It's really me!" Jack laughed, and pulled her into the house.
"What are you doing here?" Rose asked in a whisper.
"I'm living in my own house, that's what! What are you doing here?" Jack answered. Rose laughed.
"I came to buy the house! I thought you were dead, so I wanted your house! I didn't think you lived in it!"
"Stupid Rose," Jack said, and pulled her into a kiss. Then, he had a thought, and pulled away.
"Do you still wanna live in this house?" Jack asked.
"Are you gonna be in it?" Rose retorted.
"I suppose I am. Would you wanna live in this house as my wife?"
" I suppose I would," replied Rose softly. She gazed into his eyes, and held it steady.
"Then I guess that's settled," Jack said, as he leaned in to kiss her again. But she pulled back.
"You have done two things wrong. First, you did not kneel. Our of al 15 of my proposals, you are the only one I would lovingly accept, and the only one who did not kneel. Second, you do not have the blue diamond of a deceased King in the shape of a heart dangling from a chain. Until you acquire one of those, I am not so sure this can stand."she said, in a jokingly pompous manner. He laughed. Then he got down on one knee, and said,
"Rose DeWitt-Butaker, will you marry me?" Jack said.
"Very well. I suppose I will have to go on without a diamond. Well, from you at least.," Rose replied mischievously, as she pulled the Heart of the Ocean from her pocket. Jack's eyes widened.
"Rose! How did you get that thing?"
"Cal is a stupid man. He put the diamond in his coat, and he put the coat on me," she said, eyes twinkling. Jack couldn't help but feel utter joy at saying her name. Rose. Saying it aloud to her, made it all the more final that she was there. Now, he had to know. How?
"Rose, how did you live? Where did you go?" Jack asked her, suddenly very serious.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Rose asked, suddenly looking abashed.
"You first since I asked first," Jack said. Rose heaved a sigh. She moved and sat in front of the fire, on his old, worn couch. She removed her boots, and drew her legs to her chest. She patted the seat next to her, and Jack sat. "First, Jack, you must know I love you very much…"