Eleven:

''Holy shit Rose! We have got champagne. Molly did go all out!'' Jack pulled the bottle out of the ice bucket. Rose laughed at him, he was like a small child at a funfair. Loosening his tie, he threw it to the floor before removing his jacket. The attire he had worn all day was annoying him, he could never be a flashy man with a lot of money, he couldn't wear the clothing. ''Shall I pour us a drink?'' He asked her and she nodded, her hands shaking from the day's events. Jack had taken her to church that afternoon, and with two strangers as a witness; he had married her. They were one.

Jack handed her a glass of champagne. ''Well, Molly did tell us she had a surprise.'' A simple gold band sat on his fourth finger and her eyes came to her own hand. They were married.

''I hope Elizabeth is all right.''

Jack came to her, pressing his lips to her forehead. ''She will be.'' He assured her. ''I know it will be hard for us, but, separation is good for us all. Besides, I have plans for us.''

His words were soft and laced with such promise that it pulled her stomach, lingering there for a moment. She took a sip of champagne to steady her nerves. It had been so long since she had tasted it and found she disliked it immediately.

Jack sipped his too but he placed it on the mantelpiece of the living room and it was soon forgotten. His hands came to out to her, placing them on her waist and she saw the love flicker in his eyes. Something lingered between them both, something different. ''You married me.'' His voice was a whisper. ''After everything, you married me.''

''Yes.''

His smile was warm, gentle and she knew that he was contemplating his own luck, his own life and everything which had happened in just one year.

''Rose, I want to take you to Santa Monica next week. To start living our lives. We cannot hide here, forever and I don't wish for us to.'' His shining eyes met hers. ''Would you let me do that?''

Nerves of excitement fluttered about her stomach. ''Yes, of course.''

Their faces were a mere inch apart, her heart beat rapidly just as it had the night of their first kiss. Their eyes interlocked, he moved closer to her. The inch which was between them was now closed and she returned his kiss. It was soft and lovely. She sobbed against his lips, as she kissed him, it was very bittersweet. She let go of her shawl and it fell to the floor and she wore just a simple white nightdress. She felt as though she didn't care how she looked, she felt beautiful and young. She felt desired how a woman should. He ran his fingers up and down her bare arms causing goose bumps to surface. She shivered as she felt his tongue enter her mouth. He pulled away again. She felt like she was his soul mate, and that a strong force pulled him towards her. His palms were sticky and he felt somewhat nervous. For moments, they simply gazed into each other's eyes, feeling connected. Ever so slowly, Jack leaned towards Rose and inched towards her face his eyes not leaving hers until his mouth captured hers ever so slightly. Rose's eyes flickered closed, and she continued their kiss. Their bodies moved closer together and her hands ran down his back, as he touched her face gently and then her hair. It was like heaven, the tension which was present between them was finally released. The kiss felt different to the first time they had kissed, it was more passionate as if it had been something they had been waiting for all of this time. Neither remembered how they had climbed the stairs to the guest bedroom, but they had.

Molly had ensured the room was freshened up with new linens, flowers and another bottle of champagne but all of that was cast aside. The décor, the fancy things didn't matter; only the other. This was their time now. They were married. Over the last few months, Jack had made love to her time after time and there was always that lingering excitement, nerves and hesitation but now, it was as though all barriers were stripped away, for they belonged to each other.

''Jack-''

Something had shifted between them and she didn't know what it was. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears, her breathing still ragged.

He pulled her to him. ''I promise that I won't ever let you go.'' His voice tickled her ears.

She stopped breathing for a second and closed her eyes long enough to realise what he had told her. She placed a shaking hand on his now bare chest and he reached out to her. How could one single touch cause every nerve in her body to tingle so? His hands threaded through her hair, down the base of her neck and down her spine. He halted at the bottom, grasping her hips ever so slightly. His touch was hesitant and gentle, driven by her beauty and the longing to love her.

She turned, her eyes burning into his. They ran down to his bare chest and then up to his lips. She could tell his breathing had quickened. He leant forward to kiss her and she parted her lips, the kiss was deeper than before. His hand came up to her throat and his other hand came to her waist. She had never experienced such dizziness, she relied on him for stability. His tongue touched hers and she fell into a deeper spiral of overwhelming intoxication. He moved to her neck as her eyes lazily closed as she clung to his sleeves. She shivered as he kissed along her shoulder and could taste the saltiness of her skin. She ran her hands up his arms to his shoulders where her fingers met his bare skin. Their eyes found the others, the passion mirrored.

They moved backwards to where he pressed her against the bed, the backs of her knees pressing against the softness of the covers. Jack pulled at her nightdress and it came over her head and was discarded to the floor in one swoop. She was there; naked and exposed before him, just as she had been many times before but this time, she was his to take and love.

She was laid on the bed, cocooned in the blankets within seconds and Jack was beside her, kissing her and then he loved her, over and over. His wife and her husband. Sweat lined their faces, the saltiness of their skin lingered on the others tongue but it didn't stop either of them needing to just go to the heights once more. It was hours before they stopped and the sky had darkened with stars shining brightly, illuminating their way through the curtains as they held each other. It was like this that they drifted into a light sleep, both elated and exhausted from the day's events with a future filled with such promise and it would only belong to each other.

After midnight, Rose fell into a deep sleep. One which she had needed for so long. Jack watched her, intently. His hands stroked at her face, her fingers which held the ring he had placed upon her finger and then, he lay, silently just gazing at the ceiling. He wanted to think of his Ma, Pa and Daniel. He didn't often allow himself to think of them so freely but after today, he had his own family and he thought of how it would have been to have his own parents about for his daughter. With a content sigh, he felt his own eyes grow heavier and heavier until...

...bang.

His eyes sprung open. He was sat up in the bed within a second, his eyes darting about the quiet room. Had Molly returned? In the dim moonlight, he made out the figures of the clock. Almost one a.m.

He didn't hear it again and he almost relaxed back down beside Rose when he heard it again. This time he knew it was from downstairs. He glanced at Rose, she was fast asleep. Her naked body was entangled in the sheets, her lips parted and her hair messy in a dishevelled way. He made the decision to leave her be. It could, after all, simply be a draft.

He pushed the covers back and found a pair of pants scattered across the floor and his shirt. He put them on before heading out of the door barefoot. He was quiet and he could only hear the cracking of his own ankles as he walked. He carefully treaded down the stairs in the dark, the only light was front the gas lamps outside which shone through the windows. He cursed himself for not turning a light on but he reached the bottom and knew that he would draw attention if there had been someone here. He glanced into the direction of the study and creaked the door open. In the dark, the house felt creepy even though it was a relatively modern build. He was just about the flick the light switch on when he thought he saw a dark figure outside of the window in the garden. Squinting his eyes, he looked again. A dark figure wearing a top hat and coat was stood in the garden looking directly up at the house. Who was it? How did he get into the garden. Jack's heart beat faster. It wasn't Cal was it? Slowly, Jack moved to the side of the window to attempt to get a closer glimpse, he didn't switch the light on knowing he would be seen. Pressing his back to the side of the wall next to the window, he slowly leant forward to attempt to see but the figure had moved in the direction of the front door.

''Rose!'' He whispered. His eyes were wide as he toyed with the idea of running back upstairs to her or to confront the person right here and alone.

Quickly, he ran into the parlour, picking up the receiver of the telephone and dialled the number of Molly's son who she had gone to stay with. He waited for an answer...one second...two...three...

''Hello, this is-'' Jack knew it would be the hired help answering this time of night but he didn't care. He spoke quickly, ensuring his words were clear.

''It's Jack Dawson, tell Molly and JJ there's someone at the house, I don't know who it is, it could be Hockley. Come quick and fetch the police.''

With that, he replaced the telephone receiver back and was just about the leave the study when he saw the man's figure at the front door.

He felt his heart thump and quickly thought of something which he could defend himself with if it came down to it. Jack found his way to a small cupboard in the corner of the study. Feeling around, he pulled out something long which felt like it would do, it wasn't until he pulled the entire object from the cupboard he realised it was a shotgun.

''Holy shit!'' he gasped, checking if the gun was loaded but it wasn't. Jack's eyes widened in shock, he had not handled this type of gun before. The front door clicked open and Jack suddenly froze behind the door of the study. The floor was wooden so any movement he made could be heard especially the creak of the floor. He held the shotgun tightly to his chest fearing movement he made would inform the person that the house was not empty.

He thought of Rose, laying asleep just upstairs but inside, he told himself to remain calm. The person seemed to whisper as they approached the bottom of the stairs. With trembling hands and a hammering heart, Jack closed his eyes, praying silently for this to end well.

From nowhere, he seemed to gain some confidence and strength. He no longer feared the man who had allowed himself into this home. Jack knew Hockley had come to find her, but he wouldn't allow her to be hurt. He would fight until his own death for Rose's life to be spared.

Footsteps started up the stairs and quickly Jack tiptoed out of the study and into the landing area. He was unsure of what to do but he hoped help would turn up soon so they could catch the bastard. Flicking on the light switch, he glanced upwards to see the person half way up the stairs, a small handgun in his hands.

''Don't you dare move more one fuckin' inch.'' He threatened as the figure stopped and turned. It was then, he met a startling pair of blue eyes. Blue...just like his, his fathers, his uncle Michael and then-

''Phillip?''

He hadn't realised that he had been holding his breath until a dizzy spell overcame him. The person removed their hat to reveal the features of his own cousin.

''Jack? Are you Jack?''