A/N: Every story has to come to an end... This story has been wonderful! I have loved every bit and how it's challenged me. I hope you enjoy the ending :) xx Mariah

Every day that passed after the sinking of the Titanic, the world heard news of another passenger that was found floating in the sea.

Katherine waited to hear about Daniel, Annie, and Henry but never heard anything about them again. She had mixed feelings about hearing the names of the passengers they did find. A part of her wanted to shut out any and all news of the tragedy, trying to forget the horrible memory of that night.

But another part of her felt that she needed to know who they were. She needed to know the names of the people that could have taken her place on the lifeboat.

Why should she have lived when they did not? How was it fair that she survived and they did not?

Ned always told her that they shouldn't think like that. That it only brought on undeserved guilt. He would always remind her that they couldn't change what happened and that they should try to be thankful that both them of survived and were able to get married.

He was right about that. It had been the most perfect year of her life.

Katie and Ned had managed to find a small apartment in New York City. Well, an apartment was a glamorous word, it was really just one big room with a bed, a kitchen, a table, a dresser and another room with a toilet, mirror and a bathtub.

It wasn't glamorous any means, but they were just trying to put the pieces of their lives back together. Even though living in a small apartment wasn't ideal, she found that it became endearing. Living close quarters with Ned, she was getting to know every little detail about him. Even the annoying ones, like how he always double-knotted his shoelaces and absolutely had to sleep with the windows open.

Katherine only fell more in love with him every single day.

Ned struggled to find a job, so he stayed home and made sure the apartment was clean, or he would go out and run whatever errands were necessary. Supper was always ready her when she got home from taking care of the children of a wealthier couple in Queens.

Katherine was thrilled to learn that he could cook. She knew he could bake, his father had owned a bakery in England up until his death.

It was as if they were finally letting the tragedies and horrors of their past and grasping their future. One night after they got married, Katherine came home from work to find that Ned had made all kinds of bread, which were strewn about the small kitchen.

"So I guess we are having bread for dinner?" She asked jokingly, wrapping her arms around him.

He was startled and she immediately regretted sneaking up on him, but then he chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in." He looked up and kissed her cheek as he continued to knead the dough he was currently working on.

"So bread?" She asked, smiling as she moved to the side of him.

"Well…I was thinking," he began slowly but then stopped.

"Thinking what?" She encouraged him to continue.

"What if we opened a bakery?" He sounded like a small child when he asked that as if he were expecting her to say no.

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Ned," she replied happily.

He looked up to face her, wiping his hands off. "Really?" He smiled.

She nodded and took hold of his hands once he put the towel down. "You have always wanted to honor the memory of your father and I think opening a bakery is the perfect way to do that." She said happily.

The grin that spread itself on his face was so wide she thought it would split his face. He smacked a loud kiss on her lips before he said, "Thank you, Katherine. Thank you."

She laughed. "You don't have to thank me, sweetheart. This will be good for both of us." He nodded, still looking happy, but he sighed. "What's wrong? Are you overthinking again?"

"No," he sighed. "Now I just have to convince the bank to agree with me too."

It was only a matter of time before Katherine knew she was being a hypocrite. She'd gotten off easy with a seat on a lifeboat – she knew her sister and James had gone through more that night.

It took Melinda a year and six months after that terrible night to tell Katherine what happened after she and Ned boarded the lifeboat and James and she remained on the Titanic. She had never pried, knowing that her older sister would tell her about the horrors she experienced when she was ready.

When she finally did tell her, Melinda remained surprisingly calm but had to pause several times to maintain her composure. Especially when she talked about the little boy whom she'd found and lost.

In the end, after they both had cried all of their tears, Melinda looked up at her with a smile. "I did come to talk to you for a better reason than this," Melinda whispered softly, wiping her tears away.

"Anything is better than talking about this," she shook her head at her sister. "But what is it?"

"James and I are having a baby," Melinda said excitedly, smiling at her sister. "I found out just a few days ago."

"That's wonderful! We must celebrate soon," she cheered. "I cannot wait to tell Ned of this news! How wonderful… and just in time. You won't be too far along in the summer."

"I know. I've been blessed," Melinda chuckled. "James is so excited, even if he has to work a few extra ships down at the docks. How are things going with Ned? Is the bank going to give him the loan?"

Katherine sighed. "I'm not sure." She shrugged. "He said they liked him and his odds. I really hope he can open the bakery. It would be another wonderful thing." The door to the apartment opened and she stood, seeing that Ned walked inside. "Hi, how did it go?"

Ned's face broke out into a grin. "We got it," he nodded.

"Really?" She surprised herself at her excitement, but Ned seemed enamored with it and he wrapped his arms around her. "We did?"

"Yes. We can open the bakery," he suddenly reached up and caressed her cheek. "I feel like I could shout from the rooftops right now."

"And that's why I tell you to keep positive. I told you we would," she said softly, smiling up at him.

He leaned down and gave her a full, warm kiss. It was as if all of the guilt and horrible memories that had ever happened to them dissipated in that kiss. She pulled back and tapped his cheek. "My sister has even better news," she said.

"I don't think it's quite as good as his news," Melinda blushed, standing up. "I should be going. James should be off soon."

"Well, what news?" Ned asked, smiling at her sister.

"James and Melinda are having a child! Isn't that wonderful?" Katherine exclaimed, side hugging her sister.

"That is wonderful news," Ned beamed, hugging Melinda. "Be sure to tell James my congrats. We will have to celebrate sometime soon."

"Of course," Melinda hugged him. "We are just across the hall. You two come over for dinner, alright?"

"Sounds likes a wonderful idea," he said, leading her to the door. "Around six?"

"Jim will be home soon, so six should be enough time." Melinda nodded and walked across the hall to her apartment.

Once Ned closed the door, they kissed. There was hardly a day when they weren't intimate. Their kiss quickly became full of heat, passion, and desperation. Ned brought her to the bed made love to her slow and steady, and with so much love and tenderness that she couldn't imagine a world without him.

The gratitude she felt for him and how he'd taken care of her this last year and a half overwhelmed her and tears leaked down her cheeks as Ned laid on her breasts, catching his breath after his release.

He must have heard her sniffle because he lifted his head and looked up at her. "Sweetheart, what is it?" he asked, running his thumbs gently along her cheeks to catch her tears.

"I'm so grateful for you," she blurted out. "And what we share together… I think we should start a family. Hearing Melinda's news just made me think we should have a baby too."

His eyes widened. "Really?"

She took a deep breath and repeated herself, "Yes."

He stared at her, his mouth hanging open. He didn't respond for so long that she began to panic, thinking that he would say no or that he wasn't alright. Suddenly he broke out into a huge grin. "I supposed now that we'll have a bakery we'll need children to help us run it."

"So you will?" She asked, still feeling anxious.

He laughed. "Of course, Katherine. I want everything with you." He kissed her deeply. "Yes." They both giggled as they peppered each other's faces with kisses. "What made you ask me that?" he asked after a moment.

"I was just thinking…I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't survived that night, Ned." She held his face lightly in her hands. "I can't imagine what would've happened if life without you. And I don't want to waste any more time. I want to have a family and build a life with you. I want you by my side every day for the rest of my life."

He looked at her with such adoration and love that Katherine thought her heart might burst from her chest. When he kissed her again, the passion led them to the bed, where he laid her down, and they hoped they would make a child.

That next day, Ned began to develop plans for his bakery. He hired the right people and they built the perfect building with a big enough apartment above it for them and a future family to live in. It took a little over a year for everything to be done, but it was well worth the time and money.

The bakery thrived with Ned's variety of excellent cakes, loaves of bread, and other pastries. Everyone had heard of the Banks' Bakery and its fantastic reputation, so they never failed to have customers. Even when the stock market crashed later, they continued to thrive. People still needed bread, and Ned probably donated more than he should have, but they managed.

The bakery was so dear to their hearts, that their children were able to grow up there. They had two of them. A boy and a girl.

Katherine always thought having children would scare her, but she was so happy and safe and secure in her life that she had built with Ned, even after the tragedies they had endured, she couldn't wait to meet the first child that grew inside her. It was only a few months after Melinda had told them that she was pregnant when Katherine thought she might be with child. When she had told Ned, he was sure his smile shone brighter than the sun. He had picked her up and swung her around and wouldn't stop kissing her.

Their first child, a daughter, was born just after the bakery opened. He was thrilled that their daughter, Alice, had more of her looks than his. Dark hair and olive skin. But her eyes were startlingly green like her father's. And as Alice got older, they found that she had more of Ned's mannerisms than mine. She was gentle, kind-hearted, and quick to smile. She followed her father around everywhere and wanted him to teach her to bake, which he gladly obliged.

Their second child, David, was born three years later. He possessed more of Ned's physical features. Blonde hair and fair skin. But he had his mother's brown eyes and all her qualities that accompanied them. He was fiery, contemplative, and stubborn. He was also enjoyed outdoors as Katherine did when she was young and even now, so she and her little boy have spent many days in quiet places in Central Park.

It was one Christmas night when Katherine, , ed and their family were settled in their home now that the bakery had closed and getting ready for a Christmas dinner. Katherine was in charge of dinner and Ned was in charge of dessert, as usual. Their children, who were eight and five, we're getting ready and playing with their new toys they'd gotten that morning.

Melinda, James and their children were coming over. They had three rambunctious boys, each were a year apart. John, Jacob, and Jack. Melinda had also recently found out they were going to have a fourth child, and while excited to meet their child not matter a boy or a girl she knew that her older sister was praying finally to have a little girl.

It wasn't long before there was a knock at the door. Katherine was just pulling dinner from the oven and so Ned wiped his hands clean and walked to the door. He was happy to see James and Melinda. He wasn't able to really keep an eye on any of the children as all three of them came running in to find their cousins.

It was a beautiful family day. Melinda came into the kitchen as Ned helped Jim bring presents to put under the tree.

"Dinner is done," Katherine waved her sister off as she went to put her hair up and help her. "I don't need any help. Just go and enjoy the holiday with Jim and Ned and the children."

"Are you sure?" Melinda asked.

"Of course," she smiled and set the casserole on the counter before going to hug her. "It's so good to see you, my dear sister. How are things?"

"Wonderful. The boys are as rambunctious as ever, but that's nothing unusual." Melinda chuckled, smiling at her. "Jim and I are doing good. The baby is healthy and kicking up a storm. How about you?"

"How great to hear! I hope this new year will bring nothing but happiness to both of our families," she nodded. "The bakery is doing great. The holidays always bring good business. Alice is helping in the bakery with Ned and David and I are working on his reading."

Melinda smiled as they walked out to see Jim and Ned sitting amongst the children who were helping pass out presents while they waited for their mothers.

What a wonderful time after such a terrible tragedy. They had all done well and were happy with their lives, and that was all that mattered.