A/N I'm getting married in the morning.. Well, people. We've come a long way..14 chapters& a spoiler...but here's what you've been waiting for :D This is the wedding! OK, so Talia decided last Friday she didn't like the name Rosalie (Alessia came up with it. It's such a girly, pretty name, and it suited her so...Rosalie is staying) Also, we got a Beta! Everyone give some love (and reviews ;D) to Robyn!
'To love, honour and cherish, until death do us part.'
A Whole New Life
Chapter 14
It was 10pm and Jack and Rose had been home tidying up for an hour and a half. Both were very quiet, but Rose noticed that Jack wasn't coping very well. His eyes were glazed over with a veil of sadness
'Jack?" Rose asked nervously "Are you alright?" Jack just looked at her, his eyes looking so...empty. As dark and deep as the ocean they had almost perished in.
He simply walked over to her side of the room and hugged her tight. Realising that this had affected her love in an awful and heart wrenching manner, Rose led him to the couch and sat down with him, staring straight into those turquoise blue whirlpools he called his eyes. She was the 'Blue Eyed Artist's Girl'; soon to be wife.
"Talk to me" Rose said stroking his hair, the long locks of beautiful straw coloured hair, but soft like silk, not rough and coarse, like it's colour; straw.
"I'm so sorry Rose, I wanted our lives to be perfect, I promised to keep you safe and I…I failed". Rose could hardly believe what she was hearing. Failed?
"Jack, this is not your fault. Not at all! Our lives can't be completely perfect. I am safe…and I am happy...and I love you. Nothing has happened to me. Please, Jack. Listen to me! I love you and this was not your fault" Rose pleaded. Jack, who had tears in his eyes, really had no other choice but to believe her. "Have I ever told you how amazing you are?". Rose just giggled nervously and looked down. Jack guided her head up with a soft kiss. "How about we go to bed?" Jack cheekily asked. Rose had spent the whole day telling Jack that he would have to sleep in the spare room that nigh because it was bad luck. Jack, of course, was not happy about this and wouldn't accept that he and Rose would even spend one night apart.
Jack and Rose were standing in the doorway of their main bedroom, the silence shared between them awkward and uncomfortable. Rose knew she'd have to break it; but how?
"Jack please don't make this hard for me" Rose pleaded, as Jack placed kisses all over her neck, obviously trying to distract her.
"Rose, I need you, I need to fall asleep next to you, I need to wake up beside you"
"…and you will! Tomorrow and the next day and the next…' Rose said softly
"..OK. But please; if you need anything come and get me, okay?" Jack asked stroking her cheek with his palm softly. She smiled lovingly at him, watching in wander his beautiful features.
"I will. Goodnight, I love you"
"I love you more" he whispered as he began to kiss her. it lasted for a glorious three minutes when Rose pulled away because she knew if she didn't it would lead to something else. They both went to their separate bedrooms, exchanging excited looks as the door shut. This would be the last time
It was 1am in the morning when the dreams started. Jack was fast asleep holding a pillow in place of his Rose, and he had a big smile on his face, knowing that the next day would be the first day of the biggest adventure of his life. Rose, on the other hand was in a far less relaxing predicament.
Cal was in a good mood and Rose knew what she had coming her way. The crude, yet subtle comments...the looks...she could almost feel… "I think I'm going to go to bed, darling," Rose said quickly and before Cal even had a chance to answer she was already half way up the stairs, running a fast as she could, as if the devil himself were chasing her.
Which, in a way; she supposed he was.
Rose sat bolt upright in her bed covered in a cold sweat. She just wished she could stop having these dreams. They had been a regular occurrence since the Titanic. She knew she needed Jack, but she didn't want their marriage to be full of bad luck. "I need him" she whispered to herself. "No Rose, be strong" she thought to herself. In an attempt to clear her mind she decided to wash her face. After she got back from the bathroom she went back to bed but as soon as she closed her eyes…
Rose and Cal, who had been married for three years had just arrived back from a function in Northern Philadelphia. Cal was in a good mood and Rose knew what she had coming her way. The crude, yet subtle comments...the looks...she could almost feel… "I think I'm going to go to bed, darling," Rose said quickly and before Cal even had a chance to answer she was already half way up the stairs, running a fast as she could, as if the devil himself were chasing her.
Which, in a way; she supposed.. he was.
Rose's eyes shot open. She looked around the room and once she was content that she was in her own home she tried to fall asleep again but once again when she closed her eyes the vivid vision came back to her. She hadn't married Cal. Why was she having dreams of her with a wedding band on? The nightmare commenced from where it had left off.
Rose had just made it into bed when Cal walked in with a cruel grin on his face. One that was one sided. She would never ever, as long as she lived, smile like that. It struck fear into her very core.
"Sweet pea, do I have to tell you again what you promised to do once you married me?" Cal said as he sat down on the bed next to Rose and slid his hand under the cover to stroke her leg. She jerked away, but Cal's fingers tightened around her flesh, and made her wince, as his nails dug in, like a warning.
She became to realise that no matter how much bad luck going to Jack could bring, it wouldn't compare to how her marriage to Cal would have panned out. She felt like if she left him for another moment it would be a second too long of his life she had missed. She had missed so much already, nearly 20 years.
So she decided that she needed to be in Jack's arms so she got up and made her way over to the spare room. Rose didn't want to wake him so she crept slowly towards the door of the room Jack was sleeping in, as she opened it with a creak she saw him sleeping with a slightly distressed look on his face. It was almost as if he knew there was something wrong; but didn't know how to escape the prison of his own mind and come and Rose save her. Like he always would. She tiptoed over to Jack's side of the bed, and for some reason unbeknownst to her, a tear fell from each of her eyes. She then slowly went over to the other side of the bed and slipped under the covers next to him.
"Rose?" Jack groaned, rubbing sleep from his eyes
"Is that you?" Jack asked turning around.
"Uh-huh" Rose said, trying her very hardest not to cry. Hearing the tone in Rose's voice Jack became concerned so as quick as anything, he turned around fully so he was facing Rose and cupped her face in his hands, trying to gauge what was troubling her.
"Sweetheart, what happened". Jacks eyes were full of worry.
"if your worried about what happened earlier, don't worry because I'm gonna' get us out of here" Jack said stroking her hair.
"No! it's not that, I…I had a bad dream but I can't tell you what it's about, not yet" as she said this her voice started to crack.
"Oh Rose" Jack said as he wrapped his arms around her "I understand, love" Jack kissed her forehead. "Hold me" was all Rose could stutter out before shaking and starting to cry again. Jack wrapped his arms round her, trying to suffocate the darkness within her, leaving his perfect rose, happy, and his.
"Always".
They slept for what couldn't have been thirty minutes, before Rose had another terror.
"Please, Cal. No!" Rose tried one more time to stop her abusive husband from, once again, taking advantage of the marriage vows they shared three years before.
"No, Cal! please NO!" Rose cried out.
"Rose! What's wrong" Jack woke up with a start and pulled Rose onto his lap, rocking her back and forth.
"Please tell me what happened, I want to help you" externally, he was a vision of placidness, but internally; every ounce of blood rushed through him, fuelled by adrenaline, and it all screamed:
What could that bastard have done to her for this to happen?
"I can't tell you now. One day I will, and I don't know whether that will be tomorrow.. or in three years time. I'm just scared that if I say it out loud it will happen again" Jack held Rose in his arms, fury overwhelming him.
"That's okay, I understand. I love you" he said, kissing her cheek.
"I love you too Jack, so much please don't forget it, please"
"Never". They stayed like that for another five minutes, the silence; this time round, much more calming.
"Jack, I don't know whether I'll be able to get back to sleep… so I'm going to go down stairs and read a book" Jack reluctantly released her, and Rose up from the bed and began to walk out the door when she herd foot steps behind her, she turned around and there was her beloved fiancée.
"What are you doing?" Rose said with a slight giggle.
"Coming with you." Jack replied in a matter of fact tone of voice, raising an eyebrow as if it was obvious. Rose gave him a slightly confused look back.
"Is that a problem, dear"? Jack cheekily asked, and she rolled her eyes, and continued walking down the stairs, but smiling as soon as she couldn't see her face anymore.
"No, dear, I don't believe there is". Rose suddenly felt pursuit behind her, and in a millisecond, there was a hand just underneath her knees and one on her back as Jack picked her up, bridal style, and continuing calmly, carried her down the stairs. They got to the living room and sat facing each other on the couch.
"So, tell me Mrs. Dawson. If you could be anywhere- anywhere in the world, where would it be?" Jack said pulling her leg up so it was draped over his knee. He smiled at her, and she leaned forward and kissed him softly, before leaning back
"In your arms" she concluded softly.
"Come here then". Jack opened his arms for her. Rose moved so she was lying next to Jack in a spoon position. She had heard about this from her cook, Tabitha; who had said being wrapped in the arms of a loved one was the best feeling one could have. As he wrapped one arm around her tummy and gently kissed her neck.
"l love you, sweetheart" he said softly into her hair'
"I love you, too". She replied, closing her eyes to surrender herself to sleep.
She concluded, with a happy sigh; that Tabitha was right.
The next thing Rose knew, the sun was beaming down on her face, and she heard frantic, loud knocking on the front door. Confused, she got up saw through the window that it was in fact Cassie, Terry's wife, come to come ad help her get ready for the wedding. Before she opened the door she realised that Jack wasn't with her anymore. She was about to panic when she found a note on her pillow in jack's signature scrawl, a cartoon heart at the bottom, entwined with a rose, the long stem wrapping round it, before the flower perched at the top, looking back at her proudly.\
Sweetheart,
I went to get ready for the wedding. I love you more than you'll ever know and I can't wait to see you later.
All the love in the world
Jack.
While reading the letter, she had somewhat spaced out, and forgot all about the gradually becoming irritated woman knocking on her door. When she snapped out of her trance she went to answer it, blessing the God who had given her salvation for this day.
"Hi Cassie. How are you?" Rose asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes. Cassie smirked, smoothing down her shamrock green dress.
"What did I say about beauty sleep? Not even paint could cover up those circles!" she sighed and opened her door more, turning so that she could turn and walk down the hall and Cassie could follow her, sighing as the door clicked.
"I had a nightmare. Well I had three actually-"
"Never mind that! How are you feeling, Mrs soon to be Dawson?" Cassie excitedly asked with a huge grin on her face. She dropped a large blue zip up clothes bag onto the bed and pushed Rose down into a seat in front of a mirror, and the bride to be shied away as he saw the black circles under her eyes.
"I'm OK-"
"Now, I've made a few adjustments to the dress, so here go and try it on". Cassie took the dress out the bag and gave it to Rose directing her up the stairs to the bed room.
"Oh, Rose you look beautiful! Jack is a very lucky man." Cassie said marvelling at her friend, whilst pulling down the hem.
"Thank you so much Cassie. Really I don't know what I would have done with out you" Rose said hugging her, silently praying that the dress wouldn't ride up as she walked down the aisle to her destiny.
"Now Rose, what do I want to do with your hair?" Cassie said while randomly tugging at pieces of it, making Rose wince
"I want most of it down but the two side bits tied back, that's how Jack likes it"
"It's not about what Jack wants! You have to feel pretty, Rosie. It's your day!" Rose shrugged, almost going into shock at the prospect of being given her own choice.
"Okay, I'll do that for you".
It's now 11:55am and the wedding is due to start in 5 minutes. Because it was raining, the wedding venue had been changed, Jack and Terry had rushed around to the post office to use the phone, and had rung all their guests (those who had phones; Paul Hangar would be sent as an usher to the park for those who didn't) The small church, which is decorated with white flowers, has a small number of people in it. Jack is standing at the end of the isle waiting for his Rose. Rose has just arrived and is preparing to walk down the isle.
Jack, what's wrong with you? Why are you nervous? You love her more than life itself! Jack thought to himself as he waked for Rose to walk towards him. As he looked up he saw Rose walk, no, glide down the isle. Her dress fitted her like a glove, like angles had come down from heaven and carved a dress out of the clouds. He is gorgeous, I love him so much these were Rose's thoughts as she walked down the centre of the church. After what seemed like an eternity the two were, finally, only a few centimetres apart.
"You look beyond beautiful" Jack whispered. And then the ceremony began...
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, to witness to marriage of Jack Jacob Dawson, and Rosalie Elizabeth DeWitt-Bukater, which is a noble estate. Before I begin, if anyone knows of any lawful impediment why these two may not be married, speak now, or forever hold your peace.
At that moment the doors of the church burst open to reveal someone Rose had never wanted to see again. Someone who scared her so much that she physically jumped and hid behind Jack as he clenched his fists, glaring at the smug man now strolling casually down the aisle.
Cal Hockley, the one am whom Jack and Rose hoped they would never have to see again.
"She's mine, Dawson!" Cal shouted as he walked towards Jack and Rose, his eyes narrowed as he glared at his rival. He pointed at the woman cowering behind Jack, who was shuddering with fear. Everyone in the church was left stunned.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean, Sir. May I ask who you are?" the Vicar added quietly, nervously. Cal was incredulous, looking round as if he had just noticed that he was in a Church and not on the Titanic completely alone and completely in power.
"My name is Caledon Hockley and she is mine" he cried pointing at Rose. Rose tried to move further behind Jack, not noticing that Terry, Jack's best man had moved forward to defend him and his fiancée's honour. Cassie pushed past her husband and stood in front of Cal, her arms crossed
"Look, I'm not sure exactly who you think you are, but you are disturbing a wedding, so leave before we call the authorities." Cal's head snapped back, as if Cassie had slapped him. He looked at her curiously, a child's confused expression in his eyes as the dark abysses sparkled with mischievousness, but as Cal the man returned, the glittering became more sinister, and soon became an evil glow.
"Excuse me? Move out of my way you ugly little peasant!" Cal yelled back. Terry lurched forward, aware of his daughter gasping and his wife raising an eyebrow, luckily; Cassie caught his arm as he growled and pulled his fist back
"Oh God" Rose breathlessly whispered. She didn't want this! She just wanted to marry Jack, not have her friends fight over her honour at her own wedding to the man who had called Jack a gutter rat and Rose his whore.
"It's gonna be okay," her wonderful fiancée said softly, gripping her hand, instantly calming her. "I won't let him near you".
"For heaven's sake! Come here sweetheart" Cal cried, grabbing Rose's arm as she struggled to get free of the enslavement sure to follow.
"Get off of her and get out" he growled, squaring up to the dark haired abomination of a man. He thought, fleetingly, that if Cal really loved Rose he wouldn't be doing this. He'd want her to be happy. No, he didn't love her; he wanted to control her. The two were very different. In Jack's eyes, Rose was perfect. Whereas to Cal, Rose was an object, something to be brought and traded at will. He didn't see the sparkle in her eyes, the beauty of her lips as the edge of her mouth tilted to break out in a smile. Cal's face, however, turned to stone and his lips downturned to scowl, making his eyebrows narrow, and making him look, Jack thought, like a bulldog.
"Move Dawson, she's mine".
"Mr Hockley, I'm very sorry, but I don't think you're wanted here so please leave" the vicar butted in firmly, looking so irritated that if he could, he would curse. Cal raised his fist to punch the poor vicar when Terry grabbed his arm and pulled it behind his back, yanking it up so Cal screamed like a little girl in pain. Over his shoulder he yelled
"Paulie! Grab his other arm, son!" Paul Hangar instantly ran over, grabbing Hockley's other flailing hand and kicking the back of his knees, causing the man to moan and fall to his knees. Another man, whom Rose recognised as Jonathan Brian, Mary's husband: grabbed Cal from behind and with the help of the Hangars', started to drag him from the church.
"I'll be back for her, Dawson, I'll be back!" Cal shouted on his way out the church, struggling as another man, Derrick, Molly's wife, kicked open the door to let the men out, and with a sly look at Jack, rolled up his sleeves and winked, before following, closing the door with a melodic 'click.'
The congregation broke into excited whispers, the gossip that had just occurred too delicious to resist. Instantly, Cassie and Ciara raced over, gripping Rose's hands and muttering soothing words as Jack spoke briefly with the Vicar, explaining the situation and apologising profusely.
"Rose, it wasn't your fault!" Ciara cried, frowning worriedly at her friend, Aoife in her arms, who giggled as her Mother recognised her weight, and switched which arm she held her with. Cassie, however, ignored the fact that Rose was struggling to contain tears and lifted up her sleeve to reveal a bracelet with a pin cushion on it, and several tiny dress pins and needles with silver thread on it. She looked at the rip on Rose's sleeve where Cal had pulled, and started frantically sewing, and within five minutes it was done, and Rose had a new pattern on her arm, smiling sadly at Cassie as she stood up proudly.
She knew she didn't deserve friends; why would she? She was a whore. No matter what kind of person Cal was, her was her fiancée and she dishonoured him by cheating with Jack. The man had every right to be angry. A quick glance over at her love, however, caught Rose remembering all the wrong doing Cal had, such as slapping her and now, attempting to ruin what would probably be the most important day of her life. Ciara put Aoife down, and immediately she ran over to her Grandfather, who with a small smirk that was identical to Tommy's (and made Rose's heart break), hoisted her into the air, amid her squealing and her grandmother scolding him, saying he would break his back if he continued, to which Bartley replied with a roll of his eyes that had Ailis growling at him ferally. Ciara sat down next to Rose in the chairs set up for the altar servers, and Cassie stood next to them, squeezing the bride's nervous, and shaking hand. Cal had really scared her, and she wasn't sure she could stay still for long without feeling sick. With a start, Rose looked over at Tommy's widow, who was staring for a long while at the stained glass window, a glaze over her eyes, like she was remembering something beautiful. Her smile which appeared after a moment confirmed it. However, what made Rose start was that Ciara's stomach seemed to be…rather large. She patted Ciara's leg, and she looked over, startled; before smiling apologetically.
"Sorry,Rose. I..I jus' remembered my own wedding. Twas' a beautiful day. Our Liam was ring bearer and I remember..Tom going mad wi'worry looking for the rings, thinkin' the babby had eaten em.' Good thing he didn't, e' said, cause I woulda' sent him a bill! " Ciara laughed at the happy memory, but then her eyes clouded with things unsaid and she looked away. Rose sighed, and Cassie also looked away awkwardly at the door, and looked slightly worried for her husband and son.
"Ciara…are you alright?" she asked timidly, and Ciara raised an eyebrow amusedly
"Sure. I'm fine. Why?" Cassie's head snapped back over impatiently, and with a smirk asked
"Are you pregnant?" Ciara's eyes grew large, and her hand flew to her abdomen, as if underneath the deep blue fabric as a baby, hiding. She opened her mouth the respond with a smile, when she was interrupted by the men came back into the church wiping mud of their knees
"I don't think he'll be troubling you for a long time" one of the men, Terrence said and Jack and Rose breathed and sigh of relief and shared thankful glances. Ciara hissed over at her friends, and Cassie and Rose looked round quickly, smiling with joy as Ciara nodded
"I'm abou' three months. From when our Tommy came home." Rose squeezed her hand, excited as the Vicar then continued with the ceremony, and it was ended with a passionate, and loving kiss; the first of many to be shared between the new husband and wife.
~Castle Point Park; USA~
Jack and Rose both decided they didn't want (and frankly, couldn't afford) a wedding reception so they could save their money for a honey moon, so instead they opted for a romantic picnic in the park since the rain had cleared up. They bought a blanket with them because the ground was still wet. The food was laid out like a veritable feast, sandwiches, puddings and drinks spread out like it was fit for a king. Rose giggled as Jack fed her a grape; stating she felt like one of the princesses in one of her old paintings.
"I missed waking up next to you this morning Mr. Dawson" Rose whispered as she snuggled up into Jack on the grass. He just looked at her and slowly brought her into a kiss, a kiss that made them both go dizzy.
"I love you, Jack. So much"
"I love you more". They kissed again, and at that moment, felt like the whole world could frown at them and their relationship, and they just wouldn't give a damn. The moment was interrupted by a small drop of rain that fell from the tree above them, which made them both giggle.
"Here let's play a game. I throw grapes at your mouth and you have to try and catch them, okay?" Jack said excited, like a child who'd just had the best idea ever, and picked up the bunch of red grapes he'd been plucking fruit off.
"Alright, then" Rose said with a hesitant giggle. And the game began. Jack threw a grape in the direction of Rose's mouth and, inevitably, it missed and bounced off her head much to the amusement of him. They both burst out laughing, and Rose wiped the tears from her eyes and stated firmly
"Okay, now it's my turn" Rose said leaning forward to grab a grape. Jack smirked
"Bring it on, Dawson." Rose giggled at the sound of her new name and grinned back,
"You're on, Dawson." She threw at, what she thought was, his mouth and it bounced off his nose which caused them both to burst out laughing, and not stop until Jack moved so he was next to Rose.
"Can you believe we're married?"
"Yes and no, I mean I've dreamed all my life to marry someone as amazing as you, but never thought it would happen, I mean, it almost didn't". They hugged until they heard a rustle and a tiny moan, and with a start, Jack stood up, pulling his wife up with him, and they both spun round.
A tiny, blond child had an incriminating hand in their picnic basket, and was looking fearfully up at the pair, her tin, grey eyes shining. Rose realised, with a start; that this child looked just like Jack, except that her face was rounder, and her eyes closer together. She was still a very beautiful child. She watched as Jack crouched so he was at her level, and she slowly drew her hand from the food.
"Hi. I'm Jack. What's your name?" the child looked at him curiously, edging away, as if fearing that he would bite.
"B..Beatrice. But my..my Mom called me Betty." Jack whistled
"Wow. Beatrice. That's a pretty name. Where are your Mommy and Daddy, Betty? Did you get lost?" Betty edged away as fast as she could, only stopping with a groan as she backed into a tree.
"My...my Mommy and Daddy died." Jack shook his head sadly, and smiled knowingly, albeit sadly at the small child, whose unshed tears, and eyes that were mature past their years were large and scared
"My Mom and Dad died too. Who do you live with, Betty? Your Grandma?" Betty shook her head, staring at Rose fearfully, as she had done to Jack before.
"I…I don't live with anyone. I live on my own." Rose's gasp was barely audible, but Jack's sigh loud, and Betty edged away further, only stopping as her eyes followed Jack's hand to the picnic basket, and she licked her lips as he drew out a sandwich and a juice box which Rose had no idea as to why was there.
"Here, take these. Rose, sweetheart? This is Beatrice. Rose, this is my wife, Rose." Betty again, looked at Rose curiously, not seeming worried now, but looking like she saw what was inside her, like she saw her heart breaking for the child. Slowly, however, and with a smile, Rose walked over to kneel next to her husband and smiled reassuringly at the child.
"Hi. How old are you?" Betty sucked on the juice, and when she was down, took out the straw and squinted to try and look inside, only to look sad and let her face fall as she saw it was empty. Patiently, Jack got another one, and she started sucking on that hungrily too
"I'm..one..two..five! I'm five. Least' that's what Mommy said I was. I dunno. I've been here a long time." The woman's heart was snapped in half then, and Jack looked over sadly and nodded. Rose instantly knew what she meant, and she and Jack rose; smiling at Betty as Jack told her to stay put, but she noticed the 5 year old's eyes get suddenly anxious, and as they returned with the authorities, to their horror, they realised that the blanket and the picnic basket was gone.
And so was Betty.
~Three Hours Later~
They spoke to the police for three hours. Apparently, Betty had run away from home after her Father had left and her Mother had gone out to buy milk. She had slipped through a hole in the back of their fence, and had been gone ever since. Three months, she had been missing. Her Mother had committed suicide two days ago, the torture of losing her baby and the guilt that it was her fault consuming her.
"It's getting kind of dark so wanna go home?" Jack said getting up from the grass and helping Rose up. He nodded to the policemen, Officer Brady and Chief Carmichael. "Sure". She replied, feeling her legs shaking with horror. What would become of Betty on the streets? She was so small,
"Thank you, Mr and Mrs Dawson." Carmichael said, nodding before turning with his colleague and they started to walk away, chatting amicably. Rose suddenly broke away from Jack, and she raced toward them and grabbed Carmichael's arm, who spun round in surprise, and raised an eyebrow
"Mrs Dawson-"
"If you hear anything of Betty. Please. Let us know." Carmichael looked over her shoulder to Jack, who nodded too. Carmichael pulled himself away from Rose and nodded
"Very well. Good day, Mr and Mrs Dawson."
-Castle Point, Cali~
When they finally reached the front of the house Jack picked up his wife and took her to the front door. They watched each other, Rose smiling as jack muttered a curse word as he stubbed his toe on the step.
"Rose, when I open this door it will be the start of our married life together, I love you, Rose, so much" Jack then kissed Rose on the lips as he opened the door and without breaking the kiss he walked into the house. Still mid kiss he took Rose up to the bed room and laid her down on the bed then finally let the kiss go. Jack just stated at her
"You're so beautiful, you know that right?" Rose just smiled. There was something on her mind. To try and distract herself she kissed Jack with everything she had in her.
"Rose" Jack said breathlessly he had no more words left in him so he, once again, kissed Rose but this time the he trailed the kiss from her lips to her neck to behind her ear and back to her lips. Each kiss was followed with
"I, love you, Rose". The 'make out session' lasted for 15 minutes, they hadn't gone to the stats because Jack didn't know if Rose was ready yet or not. "Jack you're amazing" Rose whispered into Jack chest.
"I'm gonna get us some dinner, stay here" Jack got up off Rose and gave her a kiss. "Okay, don't be long"
"I won't".
"I'll miss you."
"I already miss you."
"OK. Go get the food, Jack."
After Jack had left the room and gone down stairs, Rose found herself feeling a little tired, due to the lack of sleep she had the night before, and before she knew it she was fast asleep. She had been asleep for no more than five minutes when her mind went blank, and suddenly; the terrors came, in sharper, clearer images than before. Her body froze in fear as the story began.
Rose and Cal, her husband of three years, had just arrived back from a function in Northern Philadelphia. Cal was in a good mood and Rose knew what she had coming her way. The crude, yet subtle comments...the looks...she could almost feel… "I think I'm going to go to bed, darling," Rose said quickly and before Cal even had a chance to answer she was already half way up the stairs, running a fast as she could, as if the devil himself were chasing her.
Which, in a way; she supposed he was.
Rose had just made it into bed when Cal walked in with a cruel grin on his face. One that was one sided. She would never ever, as long as she lived, smile like that. It struck fear into her very core. "Sweet pea, do I have to tell you again what you promised to do once you married me?" Cal said as he sat down on the bed next to Rose and slid his hand under the cover to stroke her leg. She jerked away, but Cal's fingers tightened around her flesh, and made her wince as his nails dug in, like a warning.
"Cal, please not tonight. I'm really very tired" Rose pleaded trying to move her bare leg out of his grasp. All Cal did was laugh off her comment and slip his other hand under the covers to stroke her breast. She tried to move away; but the bed post stopped her, and she was trapped like a child in a corner. She felt like a child. Scared and helpless. Cal had been intimidating her from the first time he had met her. He warned her to keep on his good side, or he'd see to it that her Mother would end up in the streets, and Rose in a brothel. She had no intention of finding out whether or not he was bluffing, and she was sure that if he wanted to, Cal would always get what he wanted. He always won; in one way or another.
"Oh, darling, you really don't get it do you?" Cal spat in Rose's face, suddenly angry once again. She shrunk away, still very aware and self-conscious of his hand on her breast. With a snarl of fury, Cal tore his hand from her breast and gripped her night dress, and as Rose screamed, ripped it out of the way effortlessly. She knew he was strong, and she knew that his money made him invincible
"You are my wife and that means that I own you and I can have you whenever I want, you WILL fulfil my needs as a man! It is your duty, you little bitch! Do you understand me?" Rose was now shaking all over, but she had to think of her Mother, of her carnal fear of being a seamstress, of her own fear of being treated as an object of cursed desire. At least it was only Cal who treated her like this-she couldn't imagine the pain of being passed around like a plaything. She knew she had to do it, however sick it made her feel.
"Please, Cal. No!" Rose tried one more time to stop her abusive husband from, once again, taking advantage of the marriage vows they shared three years before.
"No? You stupid woman! Say yes" Cal said as he violently attacked her face with sharp kisses, which she obviously didn't respond to. He slapped her sharply, and Rose shivered; before obediently whispering
"Yes." Before she could do anything to stop him, Cal had taken the cover off the bed and was hovering over her naked body and breathing sudden, heavy, hot breaths onto her face.
''Now, you little whore, you'd better enjoy this," and with that last sentence the ordeal began, again
And there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"NO! CAL STOP! PLEASE! NO, PLEASE!" she screamed as awoke from the nightmare she had been having visions of the night before. This time it was of an event that had really happened. A day after a polo match they had attended in London the day before they travelled to Southampton. She had sweat pouring like a desperate rain fall on her forehead, dripping down her cheeks. She had somehow managed to kick the duvet off the bed in the whole ordeal. Jack, who had heard his wife's cries, was already half way up the stairs and in no time had made it into their bedroom only to see Rose on the bed shaking and crying.
"Rose, sweetheart, what's wrong?" he asked desperately, scanning the room for any sign of the intruder returning. If he found that someone had hurt his Rose in her own house-no, her own bedroom, then he didn't care about the law. The guy was dead.
As he picked the cover up off of the floor, he looked at the floor for any footprints. Nothing. The floor was spotless. What had happened? Slowly, and gently he wrapped it around him and Rose as they sat in the middle of the bed comfortably.
"He did it again" was all Rose could choke out before she started crying again. She felt so very pathetic crying all the time. She couldn't help it. It was as if her insides had sprung a leak, and she felt like her heart was dead.
"Rose, I love you, you can tell me anything". Jack decided to let her cry for a while, hoping and praying that she would tell him when she's ready. After about five minutes of her crying into his bare chest and him rocking her back and forth when she decided that she was ready to tell Jack.
"Jack?" Rose said softly.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I..I think I'm ready to tell you what happened...it may take me some time though" Jack reassured her by rubbing circles into the small of her back, and she relaxed under his touch.
"For you, I have all the time in the world" Jack said before he kissed Rose on the lips.
"Um.. I met.. Cal seven months before we boarded Titanic and at first he was the perfect gentleman. My Mother had arranged my marriage from when I was younger. My Father had always disapproved , but when he died; there was no one to stop the wedding from going ahead." Rose's voice began to crack.
"You don't have to do this sweetheart" Jack whispered, placing a small kiss on her cheek, already a sense of dread growing fast in his stomach.
"N..No, I need to.. or things will never be the same. Like I said he was the perfect gentleman, until his 30th birthday...that's when that all changed. He held a big dinner with around 300 guests it was all very overwhelming. After the dinner had finished I went I was about to go home when Cal told my mother that he needed to show me something before I left and that he should go home and he would arrange a car to take me home. He took me upstairs and... And he um... Well.. what he did was h-h-h-e..." Rose collapsed into a fit of desperate tears, that just wouldn't stop flowing and Jack pulled her up on his lap. Understanding that this was something Rose had to do he offered her support "angle I know you can do this".
"he raped me, Jack, he raped me and that wasn't the first time. He would do it almost every day. He abused me, not only physically but mentally too. He would call me a fat ugly slut and would hit me if I didn't do what I was told and that is what I've been dreaming about. No matter what anyone does it will never go away. He stole what was mine to give away. He made me give away my virginity. Something I wish I'd kept. It hurts because whenever I close my eyes I remember. I'm so scared, Jack. Seeing him at our wedding just reminded me that no matter what we do, no matter how many times we move; Cal will always find me. He always wins. No matter what."
Jack had never felt so angry in his life.
He thought he had reached his climax of anger after he found out what Mr Longshaw had done to her. He thought he'd reached it again when Cal showed up at their wedding; but that was nothing compared to this. An anger that couldn't be ignored couldn't be pushed down. It rose inside him instead of falling steadily. This would haunt her forever and he couldn't, no matter what he did, make it go away. He didn't want to scare her by showing his anger but he had involuntarily been clenching his fists for the entirety of the account that Rose had given.
How could he do that to her? I'm gonna kill him! He has no idea what he's done to her? How he's made her feel?
Jack could barely make out what Rose was saying through her tears. Her voice was rough and her words cut at his soul. It was easier to block it out, but he knew he couldn't do that; because that was the equivalent of backing off and basically saying 'this isn't my problem. You deal with it by yourself.' He would never do that to her. Never. He would never be like the people she had known all her life and had let her down. He loved her, and that was the difference that made his world turn upside down over and over. Jack hugged Rose tighter than ever before
"Rose, oh, my sweet Rose. I..I had no idea. I'm so sorry and I know that 'sorry' can't do anything but I'm so sorry. You don't deserve that, no one does but especially not my wife. You're beautiful, not ugly. You could never be ugly. You're definitely not a wanted to make you feel small so he could use you. Nothing he said is true do you understand me?"
"It will take time for me to understand, is that okay?" Rose timidly asked. Jack felt tears well up in his eyes as he draped his arm round her shoulder and kissed her head
"It's more than okay" he answered softly.
"Go back to sleep, OK? I'll be right here. He can't hurt you while I'm here. Nothing will ever hurt you while I'm here; and I'm never leaving." Rose kissed her wonderful, beautiful husband's cheek before leaning back into her pillow. Jack could barely hear her whisper before she fell asleep.
"Till death do us part."
Rose threw a hat at Jack, who smiled as it fell from his cheek bone into his bag. His wife giggled, twirling round to grab her dress, freshly pressed using some money they had received at their wedding, as had Jack's suits and shirts. Jack watched in wonder as she threw a swimming suit in, and it floated through the air like a feather on the wind, before shuddering and dropping on top of her shoes. He sneaked up behind her, and pinched her sides, ignoring her squeal as he wrapped his arms round her waist and whispered in her ear
"What are you thinking, Mrs Dawson?" she smiled
"Of how that magpie is going to...go all over the grass! Why I oughta'..." Jack laughed, and Rose reciprocated, and they didn't stop until their sides hurt. He pulled her round to face him, and kissed her softly. She smiled as they pulled away and whispered
"Santa Monica?" Jack nodded, looking out of the window as a bird ducked and dived through the air carelessly
"Santa Monica."
A/N: Well...guess this is it. We're going on hiatus for a little while (until exams are over, 27th June. We'll be trying to write whenever we can; and hopefully we'll have one (or maybe more) chapter(s) ready for you then. We will still be responding to reviews and reading them and stuff like that; but we won't be posting. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and who is planning on reviewing or story alerting or favouriting…really we're so honoured. Have a great few weeks, and good luck in exams if you have them you can still email us (taliaxo 15(at) gmail . com) remove the spaces and there you have it! Somewhere to ask us questions, get in touch or ask for advice. Until we get back, please read Blue Eye'd Artist's Girl's story. Don't think we didn't notice you dedicating us Gracii...we're so honoured. Thank you, Grace Rose (still love your name) Her stories are pretty amazing...and she helped us out at the beginning, so go read. Now…but review us first. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, and spelling mistakes and typos should be sent through PM, so we can correct. We love your reviews, and they might just keep us motivated through exams...emotional blackmail ftw ;D
Also, how does face claims for O'CS sound to you guys? We'll only do it if you want them (face claims are having actors or random Google people acting as your o/c's; if your new to this like Tal was). It's no problem for us; Alessia always looks for face claims before she creates a character (helps her to write) so we have them all ready (Y). Let us know!
Lots of love,
Have a good month and a bit :D
Talia&Alessia
(The2DawsonGirls)
Xxx
Next time…
"Jack! You already carried me over the threshold once! No! Jack put me-Jack!" she giggled as he hoisted her into his arms and captured her lips in a chaste kiss and kicked open the door to their small room. Love and a whole lot of lust washed over her, and she smiled as Jack kicked the door shut and dropped her onto their bed. Her love for her husband was eternal, and nothing would ever change that. Not her Mother, not the Titanic, and not even Cal; who had damaged her and pretended it hadn't happened. Panic started to grow again, but as Jack lay down on the bed with her, she felt it disappear. How could she focus on horrible things, when perfection was laid next to her? They kissed for what felt like a minute…a second…not enough, but jumped away from each other like naughty school children as there was a knock at the door…
Please turn to next chapter for thanks and updates on the hiatus and on the o/c competitions. Please review first though ;)