Chapter 6

Rose turned the key to the door of her apartment. "Come on." she urged. Jack walked inside, his hand covering the cut on his forehead.

"Sit down" she instructed gesturing over to her bed.

"I can see you're still pretty aggressive" Jack said with a laugh, but stopped when he saw that Rose wasn't. Either she didn't find his little quip funny or she was much too focused on treating his wound.

She went beside the bed to her nightstand and turned on the lamp. In an instant the room was lit under a dim yellowish orange glow giving the room an intimate look. Outside the rain pattered heavily against the window and the low rumble of thunder could be heard off in the distance. Jack watched as Rose strode purposefully to the small bathroom. He heard the sound of running water and when she returned she was holding a damp red cloth. Rose stood in front of him and pried his hand from the cut and gently applied pressure with the cloth.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Jack asked wanting to fill the awkward silence.

Rose looked down into his eyes. Her face was unreadable. She pushed on the towel a little indicating that she wanted him to hold it then stood back, arms folded looking at him the way an officer eyed a suspect for questioning.

"Who are you?...really?"

Jack took a deep breath deciding to try once more, "I'm Jack Dawson…. and your name is Rose Dewitt Bukater –or at least it was—you were engaged to Caledon Hockley, your mother's name is Ruth. The night we met you were trying to kill yourself."

Her eyes turned to the side and she sucked in her lips in annoyance holding up a hand to stop him she said, "Do you think I'm an idiot? Why are you doing this to me?"

Now it was Jack's turn to be annoyed. The woman was just so damn stubborn. "Look Rose, I'm really getting tired of this, this month would go a lot easier for me if you would just accept the fact that I am Jack so we can move on."

She gave him an incredulous look. "What do you mean 'this month'?"

He shook his head "Nothing, just please Rose, I'm asking you- no- begging you, I really need you to just listen and not doubt me alright?"

"Thank you for saving me. Now I want you to leave and I don't want to see you again, for the last time leave me alone. If you don't I will notify the authorities."

"Oh don't give me that horseshit," Jack growled, "I know you Rose, if you really wanted me to leave you alone you would've called them already, what's it been a week? Obviously a part of you must enjoy my company."

Rose's face turned red with anger "You arrogant bastard, you really must be deranged if you think that you hold any value to me at all."

That was the last straw Jack jumped to his feet and threw down the red rag and in two strides he was standing in front of her. His anger mirrored hers as they both glared in each other's eyes neither backing down.

"God damn it Rose, what is your problem?"

"You are my problem!" she yelled her tone matching his, "my life was just fine until you barged into it!"

"Why do you keep running away from me Rose, just tell me that? I know deep down there is a part of you that knows that what I'm saying is true. I know it because you can't stand to look at me! Why do you ignore it? Don't turn away from me, look at me; I want you to look at me!"

"Let go of my face, don't touch me I don't want you touching me!"

"Why? Because my touch is familiar to you, you recognize it don't you. The feel of my hands on your face is like lightning coursing through your body isn't it? Isn't it? I know because that's how I feel when I touch you, when you touch me! Stop running from me Rose and embrace what's right in front of you! You know who I am I know you do!"

"Let go of me!" angry tears coursed down her face as she pounded her fists at his chest

"No I'm not letting go not until you listen! I haven't even scratched the surface. I saved you that night from making a big mistake, you wanted to end your life but I convinced you not to do it, and when the master at arms tried to arrest me you lied and said you were trying to look at the propellers. Right?"

"Stop it!"

"No! Tell me, how would I know that Rose? How would I know that?"

"The morning after the party in 3rd class I snuck above decks to see you. I pulled you aside to tell you how I felt about you and you denied your feelings then because you were afraid, just like you are now. I know you Rose. Why are you so afraid of me? What is it about me that scares you? Talk to me!"

"Please stop! Stop doing this to me! Get away from me!" With all her strength she pushed him away from her but Jack came hurling back.

"I'm not going anywhere and you don't want me to leave. That's your problem, you're a stubborn, spoiled brat, and damn it I admit that it can get a little grating at times, but I still love you for it just the same." Then, without thinking, without caring about the consequence, Jack grabbed Rose's face and kissed her, hard and desperate. The kiss was almost savage as their teeth grated together and their tongues locked in a vicious tangle. For so long Jack had yearned to taste her lips once more and now he was. He had forgotten the effect it had on him, it made his knees weak and it left his body aching for hers. How he longed for that closeness. By the way she was kissing him back and the soft moan that escaped from her lips he knew she could feel that same heat but he also sensed her reluctance. He tasted the salty wetness of her tears running into his mouth. As if snapping out of a spell Rose shoved him away and landed a hard slap across his face.

Jack stepped back, his chest heaving and his hand covering the spot where she hit him. Both of them stood opposite each other trying to catch their breath. Rose leaned up against the wall and Jack collapsed onto the bed and hunched over with his head in his hands. It was hopeless, a week had already gone by and Rose just wouldn't believe him. This trip really was for nothing.

"The first time I saw you," he whispered, "you were standing up on the first class deck."

His hands dropped down into the gap between his legs and he leaned on his elbows for support. He looked up at her with tearful eyes.

"I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, you were like a princess looking out from the tallest tower and I was just a common man who could only dream of ever getting close to you. It reminded me of the stories my mother liked to read me when I was a boy, princesses of unmatched beauty and long flowing hair that was strong enough to climb."

"It was that moment," he said laughing through his tears, "where I knew I was a goner."

"I remember thinking 'I would give anything to draw her, something that beautiful needs to be preserved on paper' and even then it just wouldn't be enough to portray how beautiful you are."

Jack continued to talk and as he did Rose slowly started to approach him.

"That night when you tried to kill yourself you wore a black and red beaded dress and your hair was down. With the wind ripping through it and the light on your face it looked as if it were on fire."

"Since that night I was happy for every moment I spent with you, this beautiful first class princess spending time with the likes of me, a tumbleweed. I would not have traded those three days for anything in the world."

Rose knelt down in front of him with tears streaming down her face and she gingerly took hold of his hand.

"I think the happiest moment of my life was when you came back to me after you told me to leave you alone and that was when I gave you your first flying lesson. You leaned back against me, arms spread and I sang in your ear, Come Josephine in my flying machine….

And then she joined in, her voice choked with tears, "and it's up she goes, up she goes…"

Rose cupped both hands to his face and made him look at her. She stroked his cheek and pushed the fallen strands of hair away from his face. She looked into his eyes for a long time, her eyes penetrated into his soul, searching for an answer. Jack didn't move allowing her to conduct her inspection. Finally she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips and he kissed her back, no longer urgent they took their time. It felt more experimental than an act of longing. Jack had caught her off guard the first time not really giving her the chance to process what was happening. This time something registered, Jack knew because she drew him closer to deepen the kiss. When at last they pulled away Rose sat back on her knees with her hand over her mouth.

"Jack?" she whispered, "Is it really you?"

"I had to see you again Rose, I know I don't look like myself but it was the only way." The confirmation of her long dead beloved at last returned to her made her weep all the more. She let out gasping sobs and before Jack could say anything else Rose came above him, hooked an arm around his neck, and pulled him close, hugging his head tightly to her breast and her cheek resting atop his head. Jack wrapped his strong arms around her back and the two of them just held each other releasing all of their tears and emotions.

"Took you long enough." Jack joked and despite their tears they both laughed but neither let go of other.