A/N: Chapter 4! This fic isn't even a week old yet and we already have 8 reviews :)). Thank you all SOOO much for the reviews and favouriting etc. We can't even tell you how grateful we are-seriously; keep going cos it motivates us too. We're not in NEARLY done yet. Quite a while to go means lots of drama for Jack+Rose. Enjoy and please keep reviewing!

Thanks to..

GraciiRoseDawson (for your support in another chapter-seriously-you rock!)

The Silver Magician Of Chaos

Snape1918

Swimmer64

PreciiousPrincess

RosePotterDawson

ArtemisKey-Ahha tell your sister that we update as much and as we can as quickly as we can. It's a really important year for us in college so we're trying to get as much done before exams as we can-usually it takes us about a hour to write a chapter but we share writing-whoever starts the chapter writes, then we email back and forward proof reading and editing until it's perfect for you, and that's weekends-so bear with us! We're a-doin'. We're so glad you think so! Thankyou so much :D x

KateandLeogottalovethem

Enjoy, read and review cause it makes us never let go.

Love

-The2DawsonGirls

Talia&Alessia

Xx

A Whole New Life

Chapter 4

"Oh Jack, I-" Rose started, tears streaming down her cheeks. Jack was on tenterhooks, tears of joy or sadness? He didn't understand. Why was she crying? Had he done something wrong? Did she really not love him? They were interrupted by Nurse Haydock, bursting through the door. Jack leapt up and backed away from Rose, knowing full well that if she found them in this compromising position he would not be allowed to see Rose for the remainder of their time on the ship. The Nurse tutted as Rose hastily wiped her eyes and pushed her back down gently onto the bed and covered her up with the sheets

"Doctor Marshall will be through soon to assess whether or not you need to stay in the infirmary any longer. He'll be about 5 minutes,'' she looked over at Jack disdainfully

''He'll be through to assess you also, Mr Dawson. I suggest you make your way back to your room before he gets here, or we'll both loose our place onboard the Carpathia.'' Jack felt relief wash over him. She wasn't going to tell the big boss man that he'd been there. Sure; it was for completely selfish reasons, but he still appreciated the severity of his punishment if he was found out. He kissed Rose's forehead tenderly and raced through the door, cursing through his teeth as the pain of his frozen legs caught up with him, and he collapsed onto the blue carpeted floor, and with a gasp; a young Nurse rushed over and helped him up

''Are you alright, sir?'' he gritted his teeth and nodded

''Sure,sure. I uh..needed the bathroom and my uh..feet got wet on the-'' the Nurse smiled knowingly

''Sure, I slip on the way back from my boyfriends bathroom too.'' Jack chuckled

''I'm Jack Dawson. Not to sound rude-I will ask your name later, but I really need to get back to my room.'' the nurse smiled and trailed Jack's left arm round her shoulders and she helped hi, all the way down seven corridors back to his room. She spoke softly as they did, and Jack found that her name was Edwina Marlow, though she told Jack affectionately to call her Eddi, a newly qualified nurse from Birmingham. Her Godfather had been on the Titanic on his way to see her, and luckily had been spared. He was first class, you see. Jack nodded and sporadically listened, however; he was too busy praying and hoping with every cell inside his body that Rose was OK to leave the infirmary and he was too.

She still hadn't given him his answer yet.

Eddi laid him down on his bed as Doctor Marshall burst through the doors with a frowny woman behind him. She was wearing a dark nurses suit, and Eddi lowered her head as she entered, and Jack realised she must be the matron everyone seemed to be afraid of upsetting. He'd heard them speak of her as he walked-well, steadily jogged to Rose's room; ''Oh that Matron Holberry-she's a one!'' and ''Oh that Mrs Holberry, she's a bad'un!''. Dr Marshall nodded to Eddi

''Nurse Marlow, you are dismissed.'' the girl almost curtsied, and Jack couldn't help but feel pity. He was a free man-and had no employer. He'd only ever had one steady job-and he was 11-so he didn't think that counted. How must it feel to be afraid all day every day-and getting hardly anything in return; except for, of course-money? He realised with a start that this must have been exactly how Rose had felt during her life with Ruth and Cal. Titanic-although atragedy- had brought Rose closer to the person she had dreamed of being, and deep down-had always been to afraid to be. The Doc placed a freezing stethoscope on his bare chest, and Jack saw that he had crippling pins and needles. Then the doctor tested his reflexes, which he noted were fine. Jack had simply been frozen-lucky for him they found him when they did-otherwise hypothermia would have set in and Jack would have died for sure.

''Well, Mr Dawson-it would seem you're fine.'' Jack shook the man's hand, who he noted had a New York accent. He hated New York. He'd once sat down on a bench drinking a crappy cup of coffee and someone dropped a dime in it.

''Thank you sir.''

''Are you sure, Doctor Marshall? Mr Dawson was complaining of severe pain in his limbs and was frozen for-''

''Nurse Holberry, are you contesting my diagnosis? if you are I will see you are sent back to Missouri.'' Jack heard from his voice the man wasn't joking-but couldn't help but be shocked audibly by the short temper and harshness of the punishment. Nurse Holberry frowned at him, but sighed back at the senior

''No, Doctor Marshall. I was simply saying-''

''Yes well, in future, I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.'' Nurse Holberry was red, and with a snarl, walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Dr Marshall sat down on the edge of Jack's bed, draping the stethoscope round his shoulders

"Now then, Mr Dawson. Do you have any questions?''

'Yeah, as a matter of fact. My..fiancée is Rose Dawson. I know you treated her-is she alright?'' Dr Marshall nodded

''Why, Ms Dawson is as fit as a fiddle! She's being discharged from the infirmary as we speak. I daresay you can join her. As you're my last patient today I'll sign the paperwork myself.'' Jack once again shook the man's hand then jumped out of bed, and the Doctor raised an eyebrow as Jack was already fully dressed, but did not say a word as he looked in confusion to the patient.

Half an hour later, Jack was free of the hospital's chains. He raced around the ship looking for his Rose. He was about to walk through the corridor labelled 'First' as a arm yanked him back out of a door. He looked at this mystery person and almost burst into tears in relief. Rose, with the sparkle back in her eyes. He smiled at her, and she grinned back-similar to the way she did when they had begun what Jack liked to call 'The Big Spitathon'. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers, and a familiar calmness fell over him, and the comfortable heat inside his chest had also returned. They heard voices and suddenly Rose froze, and as soon as recognition set in with Jack, he grabbed Rose's hand and dragged her (as gently as he could, behind the mast)

"Mr Hockley, please tell me you've located my daughter.'' said a snooty female voice, Ruth DeWitt Bukater.

''I'm sorry, Ruth. There's no record of a Rose DeWitt Bukater on this ship.'' Rose heard a sob come from her Mother, and felt her heart break. That was how her Mother sobbed when her Father, Henry had died. She thought Rose was dead. She desperately wanted to run over to her Mother and embrace her, telling her everything was fine-that Rose was alive, and not to be sad anymore. She would have done it to-if it hadn't had been for the next poisonous words that escaped her perfectly rounded lips

''And..that filth from third class? Dawson?'' Jack's grip tightened on Rose's shoulder, and Rose sensed that it was his way of stopping himself from rushing over to Ruth and telling her exactly what kind of Mother she was, and knocking Cal out. She just felt furious. Jack was worth one million, no, one billion of Ruth and Cal.

''No, there's no record of any Jack Dawson. They expect he died in steerage.'' from peeking round the mast, Jack and Rose saw Ruth grip Cal's arm. She was wearing mourning colours, as if she was sad for every soul onboard that cursed ship. ''Bullshit'' Jack thought angrily. She had to maintain her image. She was probably happy most of third didn't live-less fleas for her to worry about.

They stood wordlessly for about a minute until a amused voice said from behind them

''I knew when they said you guys didn't make it, it wasn't true!'' they spun round and saw the wonderful Margaret Brown. Maggie. Rose could have cried. She'd known this woman a mere week and already she felt more respect for her than she ever had for her Mother.

''Rose, Jack. I'm so happy you guys are okay.'' she cried, throwing her arms round them both, and pulling them close. Rose could smell her familiar perfume, and Jack felt the warmth of her black dress. This was different from when Ruth wore them, Margaret had a soul-and he was sure she genuinely was devastated for all of those people. She let go of them and held them in front of her

''Oh, you both look alright. Are you? Nothing wrong or anything?'' they shook their heads

''The Doc kept us in a night.'' Jack said, smiling. It was permanently glued to his face, the smile.

''Well, let me get you both something to eat. Come on.''

Rose and Jack wiped their mouths as they finished their food, pot roast with carrots julienne, baked potatoes and peas, and a big piece of baked alaska afterward. Jack remembered the first time he'd had such a big supper, Thanksgiving when he was six. His Father had sliced the roast beef and his Mother had poured him some OJ.

''Jake, honey. Do you want some wine?'' his Mother had asked. His Dad smiled and kissed his wife's head

''That'd be swell, Lily.'' then they kissed again. Jack had giggled and poked his meat. It was the last thanksgiving that they'd had. Every year after that Jake had been away at work, and came home a few days later. They died when he was thirteen. Jack flinched internally as he remembered the cop coming to his school..taking him out of class..and he remembered his Gramma's scream as she found out. She'd died from a stroke afterward. Jack was alone.

Margaret ordered champagne to have with it, to celebrate how they were all able to be there.

''To life. And let's pray that all those poor people are welcomed by God.'' Rose and Margaret clinked their glasses and Jack did to, but he could help feeling like a hypocrite as an atheist talking about God. There was no God, he'd realised that after his parents were snatched from him as a kid.

''Now, Rosie. Are you planning on telling your Mom that you're alright?'' Rose exchanged a look with Jack and shook her head

''I'm sorry, Mrs Brown. We overheard Mother and Cal say some horrible things today and anyway, we want to start a new life together. Away from all this.'' Margaret nodded

''Rosie, call me Margaret. I'm only Mrs Brown to the maid. And where are you two planning on going?'' Jack started. They hadn't thought of that. Without Cal and her Mother, Rose was penniless, and Jack had no money anyway. Where were they realistically planning on going?

''You don't know where you're going, do you?'' Margaret said thoughtfully. Rose looked down in embarrassment

''Tell ya' what. I have a country home in California. Castle Point. I don't hardly use it anymore since the kids grew out of holidays with their parents. How would you guys like it?'' Rose and Jack were shocked into silence by the woman's generosity

''Margaret, we can't ask you to-'' Jack begun, but Margaret cut him off

''You didn't ask, honey. I offered. Now, are you gonna take it or not?'' Jack and Rose exchanged a knowing glance and then Jack smiled at Margaret and nodded. Rose leapt out of her seat and hugged the generous lady, tears sneaking down her face

''Now, now, honey. Don't cry cause' you'll make me cry too! Come on. We gotta talk about how we're gonna do this.'' Rose sat down, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. Jack gripped the other one. For the first time, they looked like a regular couple

''Now, you're gonna need a job, Jackie. Aren't you?'' Jack nodded

''We'll be paying rent, every month, Mrs-Margaret.'' Rose corrected herself with a shy smile.

''Well-Jack needs a job first. So what are you good at, Jack?'' He was about to say 'nothing' when Rose jumped in and said

''He's an artist. He lost his drawings to the ship, but my Lord, Margaret. He puts Picasso to shame.'' Jack smirked

''She's over exaggerating. I'm not nearly that good.'' Margaret thought, then clicked her fingers

''I tell you what. Mr Brown owns a comic book line. How would you like to illustrate it? Good pay of course.'' Jack was gasping. He was going to get paid to do something as cool as comic book illustrating? Rose squeezed his hand and smiled proudly

''He'd love to, Margaret. We can't even tell you how grateful we are.'' Margaret stood up

''Jack reminds me of someone when they were young. I'm only doing what that person would have wanted. All anybody wants in life is to be happy,'' Margaret gestured for Rose to stand up and follow her

''Now, Rosie. We need you to get some new clothes. Jack, when you've done impersonating a guppy, you follow Mr Braison through their and he'll get you some new clothes too.'' Jack closed his mouth and Rose and Margaret laughed. As they were walking to the closet, Rose asked inquisitively

''Mrs Brown, who was the person Jack reminds you of?'' Margaret smiled and held a lilac dress against Rose and then suddenly frowned and threw it to the floor, then got out a beautiful light green dress. It was layered at the bottom and had a gold belt round the waist. It suited Rose's eyes and made her look breathtakingly beautiful and Margaret smiled triumphantly

''There. I knew this would be your dress.'' Rose smiled

''Margaret, who does Jack remind you of when they were young?'' Margaret smiled and met her eye as she placed a hair slide into her long velvet red locks

''Me.''

A/N- We know you're virtually stabbing us over and over for not giving you an answer to the proposal, but we needed somewhere for Rose and Jack to go when they got off the ship; so we'll have to see in the next chapter :) how many of you love Margaret Brown as much as we do? Please review! Stay tuned

-The2DawsonGirls