Rose stood before the mirror in her wedding dress, ready to walk down the aisle. It was the day she had been waiting for all of this time. She was finally marrying the man of her dreams after nearly a year of waiting! She was ready, all decked out in her wedding dress that was covered in sequins and jewels. The garment nearly swallowed her whole, but that was fine. She was still gorgeous and she was still getting married.

.

"Are you ready, Rose?" Ruth stood behind her, her posture ramrod straight and her expression hard and cold. One would think that the woman was an emotionless statue

Rose turned and smiled at her mother, feeling kindly towards the woman that had given birth to and raised her. To think years of fighting and resisting guidance, they've finally arrived here, at the point where they were to start separate lives at last. Rose almost felt sad.

"Yes, I'm ready mother."

"Remember all I've taught you about being the perfect wife. Keep your figure up and remember to always moisturize. That way you won't wrinkle early."

"Okay," Rose chuckled, giving her mother an odd look. Like her groom would care about such things. Sighing happily, Rose got into position to be walked down the aisle. She frowned as she felt her mother's tight grip on her arm. Startled she stared at Ruth. "Mother?"

"Just do what you're told, Rose. I will not condone any more of your tricks and games. Not today. Today has to go perfectly. We have to make a good impression on our guests. The Hockleys demand it."

Rose's frown deepened, her mind ringing alarm bells. Something was wrong. Why were the Hockleys making demands at her wedding? She didn't understand.

"Mother? What...what's going on? What did you do?"

"I bided my time, that's what I did. I allowed that dalliance with the Dawson boy to go on for as long as I had to in order to perform this coup. Now things have finally been set the way they should have been from the start."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, a sinking feeling taking over her insides.

"I mean that you will not be seeing Jack Dawson ever again. Is that in any way unclear to you Rose?"

"But I'm getting married to him! I'm marrying him right now!" Rose exclaimed, just as the wedding march began and the door leading into the cathedral opened to reveal not only pews filled with all of Philadelphia society but at the end of the long red aisle, dressed to the nines, with an arrogant, cruel smile, was Caledon Hockley, standing before the alter, waiting for his bride to be handed to him, by her mother, who wore a cruel smile of her own.

"No, you will not. You will be marrying Cal, just like I had planned all along and there will be no more resistance from you, young lady! Now come along. Cal is waiting," Ruth's grip tightened on her daughter as she began to drag her down the aisle.

"NO! No, I will not marry Cal! I will not marry Cal, I'm marrying Jack!" Rose struggled to get out of her mother's tight hold to no avail. No matter how she dug in, no matter how hard she tried to pull away, Ruth was too strong and continued to drag her daughter down the aisle toward the unwanted groom. It was no use. She was trapped! It was like all the months spent with Jack had never happened.

"Come now, sweetpea. No need for all these dramatics. It's time to come back to reality," Cal's laugh was a mixture of victory and arrogance. His dark eyes were hard and full of malevolence.

"No, no I will not marry you! I will not marry you! Where is Jack?! What did you do with Jack?!" Rose screamed, pounding on Cal's chest as he wrapped his arms around her, locking her into his tight embrace, which was just as inescapable as her mother's grip had been.

"Why right over there, sweetpea. He will not be bothering us again."

Rose's eyes drifted over to the front of the church, where the doors were wide open, revealing a body of water and in that water, frozen in a block of ice, was her Jack. Judging by how pale he was and the blueness of his lips and the ice framing his face and hair, it was obvious he was dead.

"No! No what did you do to him?! No, Jack! Jack!" Rose screamed in horror as Cal and Ruth both began laughing in delight.

"Jack!"

…..

"Jack!" Rose screamed, sitting upright in bed, her green eyes filled with terror, her hands clutching her pillow, which was damp with sweat.

She cried out as she felt arms wrap around her and a light switch on, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Her eyes darted everywhere, looking for any sign of Jack and the church and Cal...but all she found was her bedroom and Emilie, who had her arms around her, holding her tight.

"Rose, what is it? What's wrong, are you hurt?" Emilie asked, looking Rose over for any injury.

"What? I...where's the church? Cal?...Jack?!" Her voice cracked with horrified grief as she said Jack's name, still somewhat stuck in the dream.

"What? Rose, you must have been having a nightmare. You're not in a church. Caledon Hockley? Is that who you're talking about? He's probably in Pittsburgh nursing his bruised ego. And Jack is at the mansion getting ready for tomorrow," Emilie gently explained, realizing that it was just a nightmare. "It's alright. You must have been having a nightmare, probably caused by pre-wedding anxiety. I mean, tomorrow is the big day. You're going to be marrying the love of your life. Nightmares before the event are expected."

Rose felt her racing heart begin to slow as she slowly returned to reality and realized that she was not in a church but safely in her bedroom with no Cal in sight. Emilie was right, but the dream was still so upsetting. Her emotions were too heightened and she couldn't let go of Emilie, afraid that her mother would burst in and drag her back to Cal somehow.

"It was awful...it was the wedding day and...oh my god, everything was to my mother's liking but...I didn't realize that something was wrong..until she started talking about the Hockleys and then...Cal was there at the altar and they wouldn't let me go. I couldn't get away and then...I looked towards the entrance and Jack was….he was dead! He was dead and Cal wouldn't let me go and he and mother were laughing because they won!" Rose sobbed.

"Oh Rose, that is indeed an awful dream. But it was just a dream. You're safe and your mother has accepted the fact that you won't be marrying that awful man. Tomorrow you will be marrying my cousin and that is that. I promise, it's all going to be okay," Emilie tried to reassure her soon-to-be-in-law.

"But what if...what if the dream was a warning? What if Cal is here somewhere and he's hurting Jack and that dream was warning me of what to expect? Oh my god…"

"Now Rose, you're being paranoid now," Emilie sighed, feeling helpless. She did wish that Jack was here. He would probably know how to soothe Rose right now. Of course, Jack was back at the mansion, avoiding Rose at all costs, thanks to the whole bride and groom not seeing each other before the wedding superstition.

"I have to see Jack. I need to know that he's okay," Rose sniffed, rubbing her eyes.

"Oh Rose, you can't. Not only is it in the middle of the night, but the bride and the groom can't see each other before the wedding. It's a tradition, remember?"

"But I can't go back to sleep without seeing Jack...please, Emilie...I doubt that superstition is real. I just need to relieve my mind. I need to see him…"

Emilie sighed. She should say no, but Rose was in such a state...she couldn't leave her like this. "Fine. I'll have Giles go fetch Jack. In the meantime, let's get you to the kitchen and make you some relaxing tea."

"I am sorry for being such a bother," Rose sniffed. This night was supposed to have been fun for both herself and Emilie. One night of saying goodbye to girlhood, because tomorrow she was going to become a wife. Emilie had stayed the night and they had laughed and talked about finishing school and the people they knew, and boys that they had liked, and most of all, about Jack. Emilie was full of stories of their childhood together. But now it seemed that the night was going to be ended with tears from a terrifying nightmare and Rose felt guilty for that.

"Hey, you're not a bother, alright? Besides, it's no wonder that you haven't been having nightmares after the fate you had just escaped. Now come, let's get that tea and Giles. I want Jack to at least think that I'm taking good care of you," Emilie chuckled, helping Rose stand on trembling legs.

….

Jack was still groggy as they arrived at Rose's soon-to-be former home. He had been woken up by the butler, who had reported that Giles was at the door, with a request for his immediate presence by Emilie. Something about Rose needing to see him, which was strange, because both girls had been adamant about keeping with the superstition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding, but Rose said she needed him and he wasn't about to refuse her, so he had quickly dressed and went to join Giles, who was waiting in the car, ready to drive him to Rose.

"I do apologize, sir. I know it is late," The butler again replied, his own tiredness clear in his eyes.

"It is us that should apologize to you, dear Giles. You have gone above and beyond your duties. I do appreciate it. You take such good care of my Rose," Jack smiled, placing a fond hand on the butler's shoulder. "I sincerely thank you. I know Rose's mother is a lot…"

"But Miss. Rose is a joy. I have enjoyed serving her. She will make you a beautiful bride sir," Giles nodded.

The two men entered the house, with Jack scanning the house for any sign of his distressed fiancee. "Is she in her quarters?"

"No sir. Miss. Emilie had taken her into the kitchen for tea," Giles explained, not surprised as the young man went straight to the kitchen, where indeed, Rose was sitting at a table sipping a cup of chamomile tea and nibbling on a quacker.

As soon as she saw Jack, she shot up and ran into his arms.

"Jack!" She clung to him tightly, as if she was afraid he'd disappear if she didn't hold him tight enough.

"Hey, what's going on? Giles said that you needed me," Jack held her close with one hand and stroked her hair with the other, kissing her cheek. "What's going on with my Rose, huh?"

"She had a bad nightmare," Emilie explained, her heart aching for the redhead, who was obviously still upset over the dream. "She insisted that she needed to see you, despite it being the night before the wedding."

"Well, I'm glad that you sent Giles to get me. No stupid superstition could keep me away," Jack lead Rose over to the chair she was sitting in. He sat down, pulling her onto his lap, where he continued to hug her close.

Feeling better, Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. Just his presence seemed to calm her frazzled nerves and the dream was beginning to fade back into the recesses of her mind at last.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jack asked, keeping his voice calm, gentle, and loving.

"Mother...she tricked me. Somehow, everything about the wedding was to her liking. That should have been a clue that something wasn't right, but in the dream, it all seemed so normal...like her plans were mine, when they weren't. Then...when I went to go down the aisle...she grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go and at the end of the aisle was...Cal. It was awful Jack. His smile was so arrogant and cruel and no matter what I did...I couldn't get away."

"Oh Rose, that's awful. But it was just a nightmare."

"That wasn't the most awful part, though. When I looked towards the entrance...you were floating in a body of water, frozen to death. You were dead," Tears appeared in Rose's eyes once again as she remembered the image of her Jack, frozen solid, his beautiful eyes closed forever, his handsome features framed by ice crystals.

"Oh Rose, that was an awful dream."

"Why would I dream that, Jack? I know that I'm nervous about the wedding, but why dream something so awful?"

"Maybe because you're trying to prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario?" Emilie spoke, her own mind pondering the situation. "What could be the worse thing to happen that could derail the upcoming wedding? Could things really go as smoothly as they seem to? What if it's all a trick and what could happen to Jack so they could get away with it? Your mind decided to answer those questions for you, unfortunately."

"But Rose, none of that is going to happen. Ruth has no control over this wedding. She hasn't even spoken to the Hockleys since our engagement. She's accepted the fact that you're marrying me. Caledon Hockley has gone on a European trip at his father's insistence, so there's no way he can cause any problems. And as you can see, I'm alive and well and I'm going nowhere. I'm going to be at the end of that aisle waiting for you tomorrow, where we'll say our vows and be announced man and wife and we'll never have to be apart again. Tonight is your last night as a single woman, love. You'll have to deal with me until we're old and gray."

"Promise?"

Jack chuckled and kissed her long and deep. "I promise."

Rose's arms tightened around his neck, not wanting to let him go. "I wish you could stay the night…"

"You know I can't. I'm already breaking the rules just being here now. But I couldn't stay away. You needed me."

"I still need you…"

Jack smiled and kissed her cheek. "Not as badly, though. I think you'll be okay now without me. It's just a few hours more, Rose. A few hours more and then you'll be back in my arms again and I'll never let you go."

Rose sighed and nodded, making her arms loosen their hold. "Alright. I'll go back to bed...get this day over with so we can be back together again soon."

"That's my girl," Jack smiled, standing up from the chair, with his arms still around her. "You'll be okay. Emilie is here. She'll take care of you for me, alright?"

Rose simply nodded, her body missing his as he released her and stepped away. She watched as Jack turned to his cousin and hugged her.

"Thank you for sending for me. I know how you feel about these silly traditions."

"Hey, I love Rose too. I wasn't about to let her suffer when she needed you," Emilie smiled. "And you're ruining all men for me, right now. I hope you know that."

"Nah, I'm just being an example of the kind of man you deserve and I hope that you get. You're on the right track so far with Tommy."

"You really think so?" Emilie's eyes lit up at the mention of the handsome Irishman.

"He couldn't stop talking about you at the bachelor party," Jack winked. He sighed as he looked at Rose one last time, noticing just how lost she looked, standing there, hugging her shoulders, obviously not wanting him to leave. It hurt his heart to see her like that. Not giving himself much time to think over what he was doing, he took off his coat and wrapped it around Rose.

"Sleep with this. You should feel better…"

Rose wanted to refuse. She wanted to give the coat back, not wanting him to catch a cold, but the moment he wrapped her in the coat, surrounding her with his scent of sunshine and charcoal, she couldn't make herself give it back. She just clutched the garment, wrapping it around her shoulders tighter.

"Better?" Jack smiled.

"Better. Thank you," Rose smiled, grateful that Jack seemed to know just what she needed.

Jack pulled her into his arms one last time, holding her close. "Dream of me, alright? Me and you, dancing the night away or somewhere romantic. Nothing but good things in your dreams from now on."

"I most definitely will now," Rose sighed, feeling more relaxed. More...safe.

Jack kissed her one last time, then pulled away. "Goodnight, darling."

"Good night," Rose smiled.

Rose watched Jack leave, feeling more relaxed for the first time since she had woken up screaming. The very aroma of Jack's coat had washed the dream from her mind completely. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't Jack. She needed to be with him so badly. She was just glad that it would be the last time they would have to bid each other good night. After tonight, she and Jack will never have to part ever again.