It's Christmas day today, and I can't help but feel incredibly warmhearted. Everything is just so relaxing! And that's a good thing, because flying to Belfast to buy that house was the most stressful thing I'd ever done in my entire life. Although flying there in a matter on hours was convenient, I probably shouldn't have been reading about 9/11 on the flight. It wasn't my fault though, the delinquent's brother suggested I read about some other disasters in history to feel better about my own disaster. Well it hasn't worked! I mean, I've read about the Lusitania, both World Wars, and then one of the last things I read was about 9/11. I was almost to the end of it when the plane started to land. How terrifying!
After all that though, I did manage to buy the house! And I even found the door which the key opens. However, I decided not to go through it just yet, I'd like to wait until the delinquent and Jack are there before I rush through there. But I know exactly what I'm going to do when I do pass through the door. I'm going to run straight home and take Helen into my arms. I'm going to tell her how much I love her and how much I missed her! And Elba, oh my darling little girl! She would love to be here with me this morning, tearing open her presents from Santa.
Today is incredibly interesting, because everyone here in an adult. Christmas without children around takes the fun out of it slightly, but it does make it much more peaceful! The tree looks beautiful, actually the whole house does! When I got back from my trip the ruffian's mother had me help her string lights and put of various decorations. After helping her, she seems to like me actually. When the two love bird's got back Jack was blown away by the house, the ruffian just laughed and said "Some things never change eh Mom?". I suppose her mother does this every year!
There's a pretty good blanket of snow covering the ground, which the delinquent says she likes because her last couple of Christmas' at home, apparently there was no snow. There's certainly snow now! Hannah practically dives under the tree excitedly, even though she's 19 years old. Alex, the ruffian's younger brother, is a little more dignified as he goes under the tree and gets his gifts. The ruffian's parents are in the dining room, and her siblings quickly head in there for breakfast leaving the love birds and I alone in the living room with the tree.
Jack smiles as he hands his wife a small wrapped box with a bow on it. When she opens it she gives him a funny look before pulling out a key "What's this go to?" she asks him. His smile grows even brightly "That's the key to your new house! In Belfast!" he tells her. She practically tackles him "Oh my God Jack really? You bought me a house?" she asks. He laughs "Well, I technically didn't. James Cameron supplied the funds and Thomas bought the house when we were away" he tells her. She smiles "Aw, thank you Thomas! And we already sent James a Christmas card so that should suffice as a thank you. Right?".
The house was from both of us, therefore it's my turn to open my presents. The first gift is from Jack, it's a pretty substantial box. I tear the paper off and open it, it's empty! I look at him "Where's the gift?" I ask him. He shrugs "I uh, I couldn't afford a present this year, so I got you that box!" he replies. I try not to smile and laugh, because that's exactly what I got him too! An empty box! Won't he be surprised when he opens his present? Next it's the delinquent's turn, she hands me a present and I wonder what she could have possibly gotten me.
I open it and realize it's a framed photograph. What could it possibly be of? I finish tearing open the paper and turn it over, my heart skips a beat. There are actually 2 pictures in this frame! The first one is of Helen and I on our wedding day, the one below is is of Elba sitting on the side of a couch. Where could she have possibly gotten these pictures from? I look up at her and she smiles "Do you like it Thomas?" she asks, I can only nod as my eyes fall back to the pictures. Finally I ask her where she got the photos from and she tells me "It doesn't matter where I got them. If I told you it would ruin it". I take it that means she printed them off of some website or something. I don't care though! They're perfect!
Now it's Jack's turn to open his presents. When he opens my empty box he laughs "Hey! Great minds must think alike!" he says. I also laugh "More like we're both jobless and penniless" I reply. Next it's his turn to open his gift from the ruffian. He opens the box and picks up a thermometer looking object, but it has a plus sign on it! He holds it close to his face to examine it and try to figure out what it is. Finally he asks her and she laughs "First of all, I wouldn't hold that too close to your face, cause I peed on it". This causes him to drop the thing back into the box "Ew! Why didn't you say so before?" he asked. She smiles "Because I thought it was funny".
Finally she decides to answer him "Jack, that's a pregnancy test" she tells him. He looks back at the object in the box "I'm confused. You gave me a stick you peed on? Why would you give me that?" he asks, still thinking about the fact he'd been holding it so close to her face and not registering what it was. She rolls her eyes "Jack! I'm pregnant!" she says. I nearly choke on my coffee and Jack's head snaps up "You're, you're gonna have a baby? Like, MY baby?" he asks. She laughs "No Jack, I'm having Thomas' baby!" she tells him sarcastically, but Jack immediately stands up "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S HIS? THOMAS HOW DARE YOU KNOCK UP MY WIFE YOU SON OF A BI-" she cuts him off by standing "Jack! Jack calm down I was kidding! He hasn't done anything" she assures him. He gets sort of a blank look on his face "Oh, well in that case that's wonderful you're having a baby!" he says after a moment, smiling.
The rest of the day goes by uneventfully, and the delinquent keeps her pregnancy a secret from her family until New Years. On that day she rounds up her brother and sister, and tells them. Her sister is shocked by the news, her brother doesn't appear to care that much, either way they both agree not to tell her parents. After New Years, the delinquent tells us she has to work the trip going back on Titanic II. Jack doesn't seem to want her to "But sweetheart, what about the baby?" he asks. She smiles and kisses him "It'll be alright. Now Jack, I need you to take Killian, Ramin, and both the Thomas' back to my apartment in London. Empty the place, except for the furniture, and bring it to the new house. I'll take a plane from Southampton to Belfast once I get home. There is a barn at the new house, isn't there?" she asks.
Jack smiles "There can be, there's plenty of room" he replies. She nods "Good, well there needs to be a place for Rocky to stay, after all he is coming with me on ship". I shake my head, did I hear that right "You are bringing your horse onto my ship?" I ask her. She nods "Yep! I got a discount!" she tells me proudly. Where is she going to keep a horse? I suppose it would be best not to question it, yes I believe it is definitely for the best!
We part ways in New York City, the ruffian kissing her husband and promising to see him soon, she hugs me and promises me she'll make sure everything runs perfectly for me. I smile, though I'm actually slightly worried to let her get on this ship by herself. What if something happens? When I say this she sighs "Thomas, I'll make it home. Everything will be just fine. Now, hurry up now or you guys are going to miss your flight!" she tells us. I swallow and nods and she gives us both a final hug before turning and heading over to where her pony is waiting to be loaded onto the ship.
With the delinquent gone, Jack and I get as much done as possible. Cleaning out her apartment was simple, she didn't really have too much that seemed to belong to her. It took a day to get to London, a day to pack up her apartment and get it moving towards the airport. Then it took another day for us to get to Belfast, get all her things, and get to the house. By then we were exhausted, and not in the mood to unpack, so we decided to leave that for when the delinquent came back. Instead Jack called around and managed to get a small barn and stock fence to temporarily keep Rocky contained until we could get a real fence back there.
By the time the delinquent arrives with the horse, Jack and I had pretty much settled in. She seemed incredibly relieved to see us again "Oh my God, you would not BELIEVE the people on that stupid ship!" she tells us at dinner. Jack smiles sympathetically "I'm sure it wasn't so bad". She then decides to list every reason why it WAS bad! And after just a few of the things she had to put up with, Jack and I both find ourselves nodding with her in agreement. Jack chuckles "Well, while you were having a terrible time, did you hear the good news?" he asks. She shakes her head and I smile "I got a job!" I announce proudly.
It was true, Harland and Wolff had taken me back as a designer! Although times had changed, and I would need to learn those changes. However, they agreed to give me some training, and then I would be set to design once again! I am very excited to start work, soon perhaps things will feel normal in this time period! Maybe I'll even be happy!
Once dinner finishes Jack asks me about the silver key, to the door. I tell him I still have it "Thomas, I think you should only go back in time once" he tells me after a moment "Because it could be dangerous to go there a lot, you know?" he asks. I understand where he's coming from. The delinquent overhears our conversation "Thomas, why don't you go back tonight?" she asks me. I don't know if I should, I almost dread having to go back in time. Of course I want to see Helen and Elba again, but I know for sure it will be the last time I ever see them. I'll have to say goodbye, and I don't want to say goodbye!
No! I'm going to do it tonight! I have to, the longer I wait the more upset I'll be! I need to just go and do it! The three of us all walk upstairs and down the hall. At the end of the hall is the door, the door that will lead us to the future. Although I know the key fits in there, I never turned it, never opened the door. Jack and the ruffian both watch as I put the key into the lock and turn it. The door opens with a click and I open the door expecting to walk straight into the past. But instead, I'm greeted by a narrow set of wooden stairs. Jack and the delinquent both peak past me curiously "Yea, have fun Thomas, I sure as hell ain't goin down there!" she tells me.
Thanks for the support my friends! I sigh and began heading down the stairs. They creak under my weight and I wonder if they might break. When I reach the bottom of the stairs I'm face to face with another door! Who knows what's behind that door? I take a deep breath, and rest my hand on the door, opening it just a crack. Once I'm sure it's alright to open, I open it all the way and step into the door. I recognize this place, this is my bedroom! I look around, everything is exactly as I left it! I begin looking through my things, I could get all my stuff and bring it back to the future! Why didn't I think of that before? I open the wardrobe, all of my things are still here!
Suddenly a light snaps on and I spin around. Nellie is standing in her nightgown, holding a candelabra as though she's going to attack me "What are you doing in my house?" she asks. I hold up my hands "Nellie, Nellie look it's me! Thomas!" I tell her. She shakes her head "Don't lie! He died over a month ago on that" her voice trembles slightly "On that stupid ship!". I approach her slowly "Nellie, please" I beg her "I am Thomas, I, I came back from the future to, to say goodbye" I tell her. She lowers the weapon, and eventually drops it "Thomas? Thomas you went to the future again?" she asks. She remember the second time around! The one with the delinquent! Oh what a blessing! I close the gap between us and she falls into my arms, sobbing "Oh Thomas, don't leave again!" she tells me.
I hush her "Listen to me Nellie, a day hasn't gone by where I haven't thought of you. I love you more than anything else in the world. But I can't stay here, I'm supposed to be dead" I tell her. She shakes her head "No darling! Tommie you're alive!", how can I put this to her in a way she'll understand "I'm not alive Helen, not here. I'm alive in a different place and a different time, but not here" I tell her. She looks up at me "Tommie, how did you get here from the future? Did you swim again?" she asks. I shake my head "No, I live in a house with a door that leads me back and forth. But I'm only here to see you, to say goodbye". She looks more upset "Goodbye? You said goodbye before!" she tells me.
"Yes, I did. But it wasn't a permanent one. It was a 'I'll see you in a week or so' goodbye. Now we both know better, this will be the last time you ever see me" I tell her. She breaks down crying again and I lead her to our bed, sitting down beside her and cradling her. I try to be brave for her, but my heart breaks knowing this really will be the very last time. I kiss her "Nellie, where's Elba?" I ask. She swallows "Asleep" she tells me through her tears. I hold her hands "I want to see her before I go" I tell her. She nods "Go into her room and wake her then. She's been missing you, so I'm sure she won't mind" she finally tells me. I kiss her again before standing and leaving our room.
Everything in the house is exactly as it should be, and it almost feels like a dream! When I reach Elba's bedroom door I push it open and peak inside. The little girl is asleep in her bed and I quietly approach her, sitting on the side of her bed and reaching out, running my fingers through her hair "Elba, Elba wake up" I say quietly. She stirs before blinking open her eyes and looking up at me. It takes her a moment to register who I am, but when she recognizes me she jumps into my arms "Daddy!". I hold her tightly "Oh Daddy! You're finally home!" she says happily. I try not to cry as I pull away from her embrace "Well Elba, you see, Daddy is just visiting. I can't, stay" I tell her. She looks confused "Why not Daddy?" she asks.
How can I put this into a way that she can understand? It's apparent that Nellie hasn't told her what happened to me, so I suppose I'll have to explain it "I'm, I'm an angel" I tell her. She turns on a light and looks at me funny "Daddy, I don't think you're an angel, you don't have a halo or wings" she says. I laugh slightly, she's such a smart little girl "I have them, you just can't see them when I'm on earth" I tell her. "Daddy why are you an angel?" she asks, I swallow "Um, well, an evil iceberg sank my big ship" I tell her. She puts on a pouty face "That meanie iceberg! Why did it sink your ship?" she asks. She's so full of questions!
"I guess the iceberg didn't like me" I reply, she kisses my cheek "I love you Daddy!" she replies. She hops off her bed and walks over to her little desk, picking up a pile of papers and carrying them over to me "Look Daddy! I drew you some pictures!" she shows me. The first picture is very amusing "That's Mr. Meanie Head" she tells me, pointing to a picture that is supposed to represent Mr. Ismay. She shows me another one "And that's a picture of you meeting the big green lady in America!".
She shows me another "And look! I drew this one for Gabby! It's a Breadfish!" she says proudly. I take it from her and carefully put it in my pocket "I'll be sure to give it to her" I tell her. She goes through her drawings "I want you to take this one too!" she tells me, handing me the drawing. She points "That's you, me, and Mommy all on your big ship!" she takes it back from me "Hold on, I want to add something!" she tells me, running over to her desk and picking up a pink crayon. She draws something, then picks up a black crayon and writes something. She gives it back to me, she drew a heart with a bunch of scribbles on it "I signed it Daddy!" she announces proudly. I smile "It's very nice" I tell her "Thank you. Now, I think you should go back to sleep now" I tell her.
Her face changes and she shakes her head "No! You'll go away again!". I pick her up and sit her on my lap, she wraps her arms around my neck "Elba, I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to listen very carefully to me" I say. She nods and I continue "Your mommy loves me very much, and she's very hurt right now" she cuts me off "But Daddy, she doesn't look hurt!" she tells me. I run a hand through her hair "Her heart hurts sweetheart, you can't see it on the outside" I explain. She allows me to go on "I can't stay here with you and your mommy, I have to go back to heaven. So I can't fix her heart. But you can, but you have to know something very important in order to do it".
"What Daddy?" she asks, she seems to believe I'm giving her some kind of special mission or something. I smile slightly at this, it'll make it easier "You have to know, that I haven't left you on purpose. I didn't leave you because I didn't love you, I love you and your Mommy very much. But I'm not allowed to stay for reasons beyond my control. Do you understand that?" I ask her. She nods and hugs me tighter "Mommy thinks you don't love her?" she asks me, I wrap my arms around her and stare at her bedroom wall "I don't know" I admit.
I believe Helen is hurt because she begged me not to go on the ship, but I went anyway. I wish she only remembered the first time, the time when neither of us knew what would happen. When we thought I'd come home in a matter of weeks. I hug my daughter tighter as I feel tears trickle down my cheeks "Daddy don't cry! I'll take care of Mommy!" she assures me. I smile at her "I know you will, I'm just going to miss you" I tell her. She kisses me "I'll miss you too Daddy!" she says.
I tuck her back into bed and kiss her goodnight. She wraps her arms around my neck one more time "Will you at least stay til I'm asleep?" she asks. I nod and she grabs my hand, to make sure I don't leave. I wait for several minutes, when I'm positive she's asleep I kiss her hand before going over to the desk and picking up a blank sheet of paper. Even though it's hard to see what I'm doing in the dark, I decide not to turn on the light so that Elba can sleep. I begin drawing the Titanic, and then decide to have some 'Breadfish' jumping out of the water alongside the ship, like dolphins. Finally I draw myself, Elba, and her mother on the bow. For the finishing touch I draw a heart and then sign my name like she did in her drawing.
On the back I write her a message, telling her to go out and do whatever she wanted in life, no matter what anybody else said. I tell her that life is too short not to. On the bottom I remind her to help her mommy and be a good girl, and I tell her that perhaps we'll meet each other again. Finally, I write that I love her, and I'll think about her always. I sign my name and then take the piece of paper, folding it carefully and tucking it under her arm. This is it, the very last time. I kiss her and choke out goodbye before turning and leaving the room, heading back to my bedroom.
Helen is sitting in our bed, staring at her hands. She looks up when I sit next to her "Thomas, would you be angry if I..." she trails off, then continues "If I married again?". I knew she would marry again, I just didn't expect her to ask my consent. I shake my head "Of course not, I want you to be happy. If marrying another man will make you happy, then I want you to do it" I tell her. She leans onto my shoulder and closes her eyes, I think she's exhausted "Nellie, I think I should go now" I tell her. She looks up at me, tears running down her pretty face "Thomas, I don't know how I'm going to live without you. These past few weeks have been so hard!" she tells me.
I wrap my arms around her "You'll be just fine Nellie, you're strong" I tell her. She sobs "But Thomas!" I hush her "Nellie, you're going to live a long, happy life. And you're going to watch Elizabeth grow up, and you're going to marry again and have the big family we never got to have. And you'll do all the things we never even had time to dream of". She kisses me and I kiss her back before standing "Will you help me get some of my things? I'd like to bring them into the future with me" I tell her. She nods, pulling a suitcase out from under our bed and opening it.
Together we go through my things, I get all of my clothing, and a few of my favorite books. There is only so much room in my suitcase for things. I stand by the door I came in, ready to go back through and go back to the future. We stand and look at each other quietly before I say "Nellie, I love you". Her eyes grow soft and she approaches me, reaching to her left hand she carefully pulls off her wedding band. Wordlessly she takes my free hand, placing the ring in it and closing it. "Goodbye Thomas" she whispers simply. I swallow back tears as I turn to leave, but I can't do it! I turn back to her and take her into my arms one more time, kissing her passionately. We both smile at each other before I pick up my suitcase and leave her wordlessly. All the way up the stairs my heart breaks and I want to turn around and run back to her.
By the time I reach the top of the stairs and open the door to the future, I'm sobbing. The delinquent and Jack are there to support me, but it's no use. I'll never see my wife and child again! I push them aside and head to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I just want to be alone for the rest of the night. As I lie in my bed I can hear Jack and the ruffian talking. She sounds upset, and I can hear the door as they turn the key and lock it. Their retreating footsteps are the last thing I hear of them before the house grows quiet. I hold Nellie's ring in my hand, the ultimate symbol of our love and devotion to each other, and she gave it back to me! I remember though, the delinquent telling me that she would wear my engagement ring for the rest of her life. Perhaps her giving me this ring was so I'd remember her, and the vows she made to love me.
Things will only get better from here, I'm sure of it! I'm going to start all over again! A completely fresh start! I take Nellie's ring and link it to the chain on my pocket watch, so that it will be with me always. Everything will be alright now, tonight has been the worst night of my life. But I'm sure things will only get better from here!
This chapter and the next chapter are SERIOSO with a few jokes and stuff thrown in. The next chapter is actually finished, I'll probably post it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. After that, there will probably only be 1 or 2 more chapters. Then it'll all be over! NOOOOooooooo!
Thank you all for reading and supporting me through all of this. They say sequels are never as good as the original, but what do you all think? Do you like this one, or the original better. Or do you like both? And why?
Today in the review shop, we have Titanic the Board Game! You thought T is for Titanic was bad? Well you clearly haven't played this game yet! Here's how you play, you and your friends are third class passengers on Titanic. You have to race up the ship, and get all your stuff before going to the lifeboat. You also have to avoid getting sent back down to steerage. I must also mention, you're racing for the LAST SPOT on the lifeboat. So if you win, you survive, and all your friends and family playing the game DIE! Doesn't that sound fun? So if you want one of those, REVIEW! And yes, I swear on my life this is real! You can buy them on ebay!
As always, thanks everybody!