Rose woke up feeling thoroughly refreshed and ready for the exciting day ahead. It was finally here! Her wedding day to Jack! Today was her last day as Rose Dewitt Bukater. In a few hours, she'll be Mrs. Jack Dawson and she couldn't wait!

"Rose! Are you awake!" Emilie knocked on the door, her own voice brimming with happiness for the coming festivities. What they had all been working towards since Jack's return home has finally arrived!

"Yes, awake and hungry," Rose laughed, getting up out of bed and going over to the door to let Emilie in. "Mother had talked about a wedding breakfast...is it ready?"

"Yes, so let's get you dressed so we can dig in! We have so much to do before we get to the church," Emilie grinned, laughing when she heard her own stomach growl. "Let's hurry before my stomach makes any more unladylike complaints."

Rose simply smiled as her lady's maid entered, ready to lace her up in a corset. "I wish we didn't have to wear these things. They're so constricting."

Emilie just gave an apologetic smile. "I suppose some things can't be helped. But just think about how much fun it'll be when Jack takes it off of you tonight."

"Emilie!" Rose gave a shocked gasp, pretending to be scandalized.

"Oh please. Don't pretend that you don't think about bedding my cousin constantly. I know I think about bedding Tommy almost daily and we're just courting."

.

"You are a bad influence indeed. I know mother probably thinks it's my influence," Rose giggled.

"By the way, are you feeling better? You were pretty upset last night."

Rose nodded, remembering the nightmare and how upset she had been. Jack's late-night visit had been just what she needed and sleeping with his coat had kept any more nightmares away. "I feel a lot better and better yet, refreshed. Jack's coat did the trick. Even in sleep, he looks after me."

"Rose? Emilie?!" Ruth called up. "Are you girls not ready yet? Breakfast is waiting!"

"We will be down, mother! Not to worry, just give us a few more minutes!" Rose called back down. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I am sorry for my mother's rudeness. I am afraid you are witnessing what I've had to live with for all of these years."

"Well, this will be the last day you'll be under her thumb. Let her enjoy it, I say," Emilie winked, reaching for her green morning dress.

Rose's morning dress was a pale pink that easily slipped on. She tied her hair back in a loose ponytail. "Thank you for being my maid of honor. I know it was unexpected, and even though I do love Louise, I'm nowhere as close to her as I've grown to you."

"It's my pleasure, Rose. Truly. I was so honored when you asked. I love you like a sister, I really do."

"The feeling is mutual," Rose hugged Emilie tight, a light happy feeling filling her chest. She had never felt so endlessly happy so early in the morning like this. She hoped that it would last the whole day through and spread throughout the rest of her life. She wanted to forget what it was like to ever be sad. She knew it was a hope that wouldn't come true, but she couldn't help wishing for it anyway.

"Come. Let's join your mother for breakfast then enjoy the garden one last time before we prepare for the big event. The girls will sure to be here at twelve, ready to get all pretty," Emilie giggled, picking up the gloves that went with her dress.

…..

After enjoying a quiet breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast with tea and orange juice, Rose and Emilie spent an hour enjoying the garden behind the house. They walked among the flowers, with Rose picking a few daisies to wear in her hair. Then after the hour was over, the bridesmaids began to show up, which were girls that both Emilie and Rose knew from finishing school, including the newly married Louise.

Once hair and makeup and the normal gossip were over, the girls stood before a floor-length mirror, admiring the bride. Rose was dressed in the simple silk and lace white dress she had been admiring all those months ago in the boutique that she and Irene Dawson had visited. Rose could not forget about the dress. It had suited her perfectly. Her hair was pulled back in an intricate style covered by a white veil that was edged with crystals and pearls, something her mother had insisted on, since Rose was insisting on the dress being void of such things. It did go nicely with the dress, Rose had to admit. It gave her a little bit of sparkle without being overwhelming.

Rose in turn admired her bridesmaids in their pretty sky-blue gowns. She would indeed have preferred lavender, but the blue reminded her of Jack, which made her even more ready to head for the church.

"You are absolutely glowing Rose!" Louise gasped, giving her friend a brief hug. This Rose was indeed different from the sad creature she had dragged to a slumming party so very long ago. It made her happy to see such a change.

"I feel like I am. I am about to marry the man of my dreams. I honestly never thought I'd be this happy to get married, but I am."

"Girls! It's time to head for the church! The ceremony will be starting in another hour!" Ruth's voice called, a tinge of impatience sharpening her words.

"Alright, let's go. It's time to get you married to my cousin, at last!" Emilie smiled, gripping Rose's hand in hers. "I call first dibs on the bouquet, by the way."

"Hey!" Louise huffed.

"What? You're already married," Emilie laughed, leading the way out of the room and down to the waiting car that was to take them to the cathedral.

…..

Rose gripped her bouquet tightly in her trembling hands as she stood at the door leading into the main room of the church. She heard the wedding march begin and waited until the signal for her to enter. For the first time that day, her nightmare came to mind. Her mother, dragging her down the aisle toward a gloating Cal. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping and praying that the man at the end of the aisle was indeed Jack. That all of this wasn't some trick by her mother to get what she had originally wanted. The only thing that soothed her at the moment was the fact that Ruth was in her mother-of-the-bride seat, watching the wedding like everyone else. Not like in the dream, where she was ready to give Rose away.

"Are you ready, Rose?"

Rose turned around and gasped in delight to see her mother's eldest brother standing behind her, offering his arm.

"Uncle Baxter? How? We haven't heard from you in ages, since you went on that safari," Rose stared in absolute shock.

Uncle Baxter just laughed and gave a good-natured wink. "I heard that my favorite niece was getting married. I called Ruth and she confirmed it and asked if I could come and give you away. I couldn't say no."

Tears appeared in Rose's eyes as she hugged her favorite Uncle. She had missed him so much with the fantastical stories of his travels, and now here he was, ready to escort her to her new life. "I am so happy that you're here! I wish that you had come earlier so you could properly meet Jack. You'll like him, Uncle Baxter. He reminds me a lot of you and he'd love to hear about your adventures."

Uncle Baxter smiled. "He has to be a special young man to put that glow of happiness in your eyes, my lovely girl. I look forward to the introduction."

The signal for Rose to start down the aisle played and a trembling Rose took her Uncle's arm. "Here we go," she nervously smiled.

"You make a beautiful bride. He will be pleased," Her uncle winked, leading her into the Church's main room, where people sat in the pews, watching her closely as she walked down the aisle to a smiling Jack, who was stunning in his black tuxedo with his blond hair combed back and his blue eyes glowing with love and happiness. Cal was nowhere in sight.

"He's rather handsome," Baxter whispered to Rose, whose eyes were glued to Jack's.

"He's the sweetest man on the planet. I never thought I'd love anyone as I love him."

"Enjoy it, Rose. It's not every day that one gets to marry their soulmate."

Rose knew that was right. How many girls had married men that were picked out for them by their parents? How many girls stuck themselves in marriages of convenience instead of waiting for the right man to come along? Far too many and Rose was grateful not to be one of them.

Uncle Baxter gave Rose one last smile as they finally arrived at the end of the aisle, where Jack was waiting.

"Who gives this woman to be with this man?" The priest asked, his voice loud, yet warm.

"I do," Uncle Baxter answered, giving his niece's arm an affectionate squeeze as she stepped away from him and next to the man she was to wed. He smiled as the couple linked hands and lovingly gazed into each other's eyes. He was pleased and felt like his brother-in-law was smiling from heaven, happy that his little girl was marrying someone that she truly loved.

Rose gripped Jack's hand in hers as the priest had them recite their vows. She was still incredibly nervous, despite her hands being tightly held by Jack. Looking into his eyes, she saw the future. It was one of love and adventure. Partnership, and respect. It was everything she had ever wanted in her life and she was finally getting it.

Jack too saw his future. Love, partnership, respect, and family. Rose was everything he had ever dreamed of, wrapped in one beautiful package and he was going to cherish her for the rest of his life. He hoped to always make her feel not only wanted but free to do whatever she wanted. He wanted her to feel like her own person, not just a decorative extension of himself. As he recited his vows, he inwardly pledged to help Rose make each and every one of her dreams come true. No matter what it took.

The exchange of rings symbolized all their promises to one another and a long passionate kiss sealed their fate to be joined as one soul. To love each other unconditionally and see each other through any storms life sent their way. To be each other's best friends, to be each other's confidante. As the priest announced them as man and wife, they knew that nothing would ever come between them. Not even death.

"May I present Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Rose Dawson," The priest happily announced. "What God has put together may no man put asunder."

Jack and Rose's smile was bright and adoring as they made their way down the aisle, towards the exit as the church erupted in applause. Finally, they did it! After several long months of waiting, they were finally married and Rose was finally free to fully enjoy her life, now that the threat of Cal and her mother's finances were at last behind her! She was not only free but loved and that was all she had ever asked for.