Full of cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes, Rose and Jack returned to their hotel room, warm and satisfied.

"That was definitely better than any post-wedding meal that my mother could have ever come up with," Rose giggled, collapsing onto the bed and pushing off her shoes with her tired feet.

"I don't know...that meal in first class was really delicious, despite all the utensils I had to use," Jack snorted, settling down next to his new wife. "They could have definitely used some milkshakes though."

"Nice and chocolatey! Then again, mother would have never let me have it. She would claim that I had to watch my figure so I could fit into that horrid wedding dress she had ordered.

"She ordered? You're the bride, why is she ordering your dress?"

"Darling, you don't understand. That wedding was never about me. It was all about her and her likes and her wishes. I couldn't even have the bridesmaid's dresses that I wanted because she detested the color. Believe me, the small wedding we had was to my liking which made it perfect. My mother didn't have a chance to ruin it."

"My poor Rosie. I wish you never had to experience all of what Cal and Ruth had put you through. I wish I had known you way before he did. I would have made sure that you would never feel so trapped."

"You're too sweet, Jack," Rose sighed, laying down on her back to look up at the ceiling, her hand on her now full belly. "But maybe it all had to happen that way so I can get to this point. After all, it is our experiences that make us. I would rather you have never lost your parents, that you never felt that you had to run away and work from place to place...but if you hadn't, we may never have met and you may not be the person you are now. All that you had gone through brought us together and it made you the Jack Dawson that I am hopelessly in love with."

"Yeah, I hate losing my parents, but I don't regret getting to see Paris and Italy and meeting you and falling in love. Like I said that night of the sinking, winning those tickets was the best thing that had ever happened to me. It brought me to you and I'm grateful."

Rose felt the bed dip as he lay down and joined her in looking up at the ceiling. "I'm grateful too. For both you and Lily."

Their eyes met as they turned their heads to look at each other. Jack took the hand that was next to his and gave it a tight squeeze. "Do you still want to see Santa Monica?"

Rose giggled. "You know that I do. Is that even a proper question?"

"Yes, because I need to know everything you want to do, Rose. I need to know so I can plan how and when to make it happen."

Rose rolled her eyes and sighed. Everything seemed to be about her when it came to Jack. Her feelings, hopes, and dreams. Her choices. But what about him? She didn't want to just take and take. She wanted to give too. "That goes both ways, Jack. I can tell you all my hopes and dreams, but what about yours? What do you want to do? Where do you want to go? Is there a way for me to help make it happen? I mean, this is an equal-opportunity marriage. We're partners in everything."

"I've done everything already," Jack laughed.

Rose just gave him a pointed look, with an arched brow. "Everything?"

"Well...I would like to run my own gallery someday...even though I can't see that happening in Chippewa Falls...not even here in Eau Claire…"

"Why not?"

"Because, people probably have more important things to do with their money than buy works of art," Jack shrugged, not really giving it much thought.

"I don't know, Jack. Art is something that everyone likes and I'm pretty sure that you're not the only artist in town. There are probably tons of talented people, just like you are, who just need help getting their work out there. You can open up a place just for that. After all, isn't that how all businesses start? A small store and then it grows? Maybe you can start a small gallery here...let the papers advertise it and get business and clients that way. As a former rich person, I can tell you, we all love wasting our money on good art. No matter where we're from."

Jack turned over on his side, Rose's idea taking root. "You really think I can do that? Start a gallery? Get other artists to show off their work there and get the local papers to advertise?"

"I know you can," Rose smiled, her green eyes wide with love and belief in her husband's capabilities. "It won't hurt to try. If it doesn't work out, at least you know that you tried to make it happen. You won't have any regrets."

"I don't have any regrets now."

"I know. I know that you feel that you've done everything that you've ever wanted to do, but that's the thing about hopes, dreams, and wants. There are dreams we haven't realized until we have them. You may want more than just a gallery later on. You may want more than me…"

"Hey, that will never happen. I can never want more than you. You're...you're everything to me, Rose. Don't ever doubt that. I can die today and I'll die a fulfilled man because I have you and your love and Lily and our friends. I just don't want you to have any regrets. I mean...you've given up everything, Rose. Your life before Titanic...it's gone and partly it's because of me. I don't want you to look back and regret that decision."

"I can most definitely tell you that I won't. The only regret I have is that I had gone a whole year without you. If I had my way, we would never have been apart."

"We'll never be apart again. Not purposely anyway," Jack reached over to gently stroke her cheek. "I promised you forever today, Rose. I intend to keep that promise."

"Good, because that's a promise that I'm holding you to, Mr. Dawson," Rose smiled, leaning in to claim his lips in a gentle kiss that turned more and more passionate.

Their lips never parted as Jack was pulled on top of Rose and nimble fingers began to undo buttons and unzip zippers and pull off clothes.

An intense need filled Rose as her hands touched bare tanned skin and her fingers roamed his back, chest, and arms. He felt like complete heaven to her and she wanted more of him. It was the same for Jack. His hands slide over her soft porcelain skin and cupped her firm breasts. He drowned in the heat of the body beneath him. He wanted to be enveloped by her, body and soul.

It was such a different experience from the Renault town car on Titanic. On Titanic, their lovemaking had been a rushed affair, knowing that people were looking for them. That any moment, they could be discovered. But now, in this motel room, in this bed, they had all the time in the world to explore each other fully and completely.

They both became lost in each other, gasping and moaning when he entered her and crying out in ecstasy when the climax came and they went toppling over the edge, hungrily clinging to each other.

Panting heavily, they stared into each other's eyes, knowing that this was it for them. They were a part of each other's souls and nothing in this world would be able to come between them. Not for long anyway.

"You're trembling," She smiled at the familiar words.

"Don't worry. I'll be alright," Jack returned the smile, before claiming her lips one last time, before resting his head against her chest, listening to the heartbeat that kept rhythm with his own.

…..

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Sarah watched from the top of the stairs eavesdropping as her father and Cal talked about what sounded like the future.

"Now that you're engaged and will be married next month, it is time for us to start looking for Sarah a suitable husband," Nathan paced the floor as his son stood in the middle of the room, smoking a cigar.

"Well, I don't know what man would want such a...wild girl," Cal snorted. "I'm afraid Rose had ruined her. Had her reading books and...thinking…"

"Well, we must put our foot down. I'll have those books removed and reviewed. We'll replace them with works that are more appropriate for girls her age. Maybe if Ruth had done the same, her daughter would be alive and well right now instead of at the bottom of the ocean."

Cal just snorted at that. "No more of that feminism crap, as well father. You should ban that. No more talk of women voting and...working like men. That should be off limits too. Rose was always going on about university and working and having the same rights we do. I overheard them talk about that stuff many times."

"Oh of course! By the time we're through, your sister will be ready to make one of our friends a proper wife! I can assure you of that!"

"I do hope so. This family has had enough shame brought upon it as it is. Sarah is just going to have to behave herself. There's no other option."

Sarah frowned as she silently made her way back to her room. Slowly but surely, her life was being taken from her and there was no other way to stop it, other than going through with the plan she had mentioned to Leah. She was going to have to leave. She hated pulling her friend into this mess with her, but she was too afraid to go by herself, and she must go. There was no way she could stay and allow her life to be controlled in such a way. May she'll return someday, when her father was too old and frail to ruin her life. When Cal no longer cared about how her opinions affected his family. She'll come back then. But for now, running away was her only option.