Chapter 22

The snow fell just outside the window, the snowflakes larger than Rose had ever seen. She sat by the window, sipping her cup of tea that Jack had made for her, reading a book. It was the perfect, idyllic, even, snowy day. The only thing she wished was different was that Jack was at home with her, instead of at the office.

Heavy footsteps approached her, and Rose looked up quickly, thrilled to see her husband standing in front of her. He had dragged in some snow, but Rose didn't even care. She put down the tea and the book, jumped up, and rushed over to her husband. "You're home!"

Jack grinned at her, removing his hat and shaking out his hair, sending snowflakes falling in a circle around him. "It's getting dangerous out there. I didn't want people driving in this weather, so I closed down the office for the day. And besides, most of the city has already lost power," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "And Betty and Liza haven't entirely finished their house yet, and they're so far from everything, so I told them to stay here for the rest of the blizzard."

"Good idea," Rose smiled, placing her hands on Jack's stomach, feeling his cold, toned muscles beneath them. She knew that the warmth of her hands would feel good, so she moved them around, trying to warm him up. "It must be freezing outside."

"Pretty much," he sat down on the couch, and Rose sat next to him, grabbing her tea and handing it to him, offering him the warm beverage. He took a sip, smiling and handing it back to her. "Thanks." He looked at her, smiling happily. Nothing seemed to ruin their days anymore. Nothing seemed as important as the fact that they had each other, and that they were fine.

Still, some times were harder than others. Jack would often have dreams about his father, and he would wake up and be met with the reality: that his father was gone. Rose was uncomfortable a lot of the time, since she was eight months pregnant, and she hated that Jack left her every day. She struggled to find things to do to keep busy during the day, though that problem didn't last very long, since by this point in her pregnancy, she didn't have much energy to do things anyway. And besides, soon she'd have a baby to care for.

Rose rested her head on the back of the couch, watching her husband with adoring eyes. "You have snow on your nose," she whispered, reaching to wipe it off. "There. Now you're perfect."

Jack smiled at her, reaching over and touching her stomach. "How do you feel?" He asked.

"Well, the baby hasn't stopped kicking for a single minute." She placed her hand on top of Jack's, and the baby gave a swift, hard kick. "I usually love when I feel kicks, but those are just painful." Jack knelt down and kissed her stomach, then rubbed gently, trying to make her feel better. She knew how much he wished he could take the discomfort away, so when he did things like that, she made sure she was always appreciative. "I can't believe there's a month to go. I wish I could just… have the baby already."

Jack nodded. "I agree." His hand moved back and forth over her stomach. "I hate seeing you uncomfortable. And besides, everything's ready, all that's missing from the nursery is the baby. But they need to cook a little longer"

Rose smiled. "The discomfort isn't so bad, really. It's definitely worth it," she shrugged. "I'd do it again, if it meant having another baby. But I want some time with this baby first before making any more."

She removed her hand from Jack's, placing it on his cheek, pulling herself closer to him. She kissed him once, lovingly, then leaned back. "What was that for?" He asked.

"For being so wonderful," she answered. "I know things are going to change in the next few months, but I just want you to know, there's no one I would rather spend my life with, no one I would rather raise my child with, and no one I'd rather be stuck with in a blizzard."

Jack laughed. "You're lucky you're pregnant," he said quietly. "Because if you weren't, I'd have thrown a snowball right at you. And you can ask Betty. I'm a snowball fight master."

Rose laughed as well. "Yes, I'm thankful for that," she answered. "Because I would fire right back at you, and it would hurt." She smiled at him, and he smiled back at her. "I bet you've never been beat up by a girl."

"Of course I have," he rolled his eyes playfully. "Have you seen Betty?"

As Jack said her name, Betty appeared in the doorway. "I beat Jack up plenty when we were kids," she said proudly, grinning. "I couldn't let him get too arrogant, could I?" She leaned against the doorway, and Liza appeared right next to her.

Rose went to get up, but Betty stopped her. "Don't get up, I'm coming to you," she rushed over to Rose, hugging her tightly. Liza came over next, greeting both Jack and Rose. "I'm so glad you asked us to stay. The house is not blizzard ready."

"Of course we did!" Rose smiled as the couple sat down across from them. "I'm just glad you both came. I hardly get to see you anymore, things are so busy." She placed her hand on her stomach, trying to stop the kicking, which seemed to be futile.

The four of them, plus Anna, who joined them a bit later, sat and relaxed with hot chocolates and a warm, crackling fire. They exchanged stories, updates on their lives, and finally decided it was time for dinner.

"Before we go, we have something to tell you all," Betty began, taking Liza's hand. Now, there was a small diamond ring on it, which matched Liza's. "We're getting married. We know it's not going to be legal, but that won't make it any less real for us, and the important part is that we love each other and want to vow to spend the rest of our lives together."

Rose smiled, instantly jumping up and hugging Betty and Liza. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you both," she was thrilled that Betty had found someone she loved, and that Liza had as well. And she was thrilled that they had made things work, despite the turmoil in their pasts.

Before she could sit back down, Rose felt a sharp pain in her stomach. "Ouch," she said quietly, and before she knew it, Jack had stood up and wrapped a protective arm around her. "I-I think I'm okay. I think that was just another kick."

But she was wrong. Another pain hit her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them, seeing the fear and concern in Jack's eyes. "Don't worry, this is just false labor. It's happened before."

Anna stood up, taking charge, since she could tell Jack couldn't think straight while seeing Rose in so much pain. "Okay, I'm sure you're right. But just in case, let's lay you down on the couch, and let's time your contractions." She glanced at her watch for the time, then looked back up. "And as long as you can talk through them, it's probably still false labor."

Rose nodded, looking over to see Jack sitting on the floor right next to the couch, taking her hand in his. "I'm alright, Jack," she smiled, a real, true smile. "I'm fine. It's too early. This isn't real, active labor."

"I just want to make sure you're okay," he said quietly. "You're my whole life, Rose. I need you to be alright."

"Of course I'm alright," she smiled, though another pain hit her, this one much more powerful than any of the others. She couldn't speak, she could barely breathe, her chest rising and falling in uneven intervals.

Jack stared at her, his eyes fully fearful and concerned now. They reminded her of the concern when she was first in the hospital after Titanic. "This is real, Rose," he said nervously, his voice shaky.

As another contraction hit, Jack stared at her, holding her hand and wishing he could take this away. "No, no," Rose shook her head. "It's too early!" Tears rolled down her cheeks, her hand covering her abdomen protectively. "I-I can't be in labor."

"You are," Jack said quietly. "What do we do? We're in the middle of a blizzard, we've lost power. We can't call for a doctor; hell, the doctor couldn't even get here! I can't deliver this baby."

Rose stared at him, her eyes filling with tears again. "There's no other choice," she said quietly. "This blizzard is lasting for days, so you have to. I know you've never done it before but-"

"I have," Anna interrupted, standing up. "Before I met William, I was studying to be a midwife. I haven't delivered a baby in decades, but I remember how." She walked over to Rose, and everyone could tell she was nervous.

Jack stood, walking toward his mother and talking quietly enough that only she could hear him. "You know exactly what you're doing, right?" He asked, and she nodded. "She's my entire life, I can't lose her."

Anna stared back at him. "She'll be fine, Jack. I promise." She turned back to Betty and Liza. "Betty, I need you to get warm water and towels. Liza, get some blankets and candles. Jack, walk with Rose to the guest bedroom downstairs. I don't want you walking all the way upstairs." With everyone doing exactly what they were told, Anna grabbed the things she needed in order to deliver the baby.

Rose rested on the bed while Jack built a fire. He heard her moaning in pain and wished to hold her, but he needed to keep her warm. Finally, he was done, and he went back over to her. "I'm so sorry, Rosie. I wish I could take this instead."

"It's okay," she said quietly, as another contraction hit. She squeezed her eyes shut, holding onto Jack as tightly as she could. "I'm okay, Jack. I can do this."

Jack looked at her, and for the first time since this started, instead of being afraid, he was proud. Proud of how strong his wife was, how resilient she always proved to be. "I know you can," he said quietly, kissing her cheek. "You're my Rose. You can do anything."

Anna came in, followed by Betty and Liza, carrying all of the supplies they were asked to bring. "Okay, I'm going to give you a quick exam." Rose nodded, and Anna proceeded, finding that things were progressing faster than she thought. "Rose, it's time to push."

Rose began to bear down, pushing as hard as she could. Jack stood beside her, continuing to whisper words of encouragement, each of which made Rose feel even stronger "You're doing so well," he whispered, wiping the sweat off her forehead and pulling her hair off her face. "Just a few more, Rose. You can do this."

Doing as she was told, Rose continued to push, until finally, she heard the sharp cry of a newborn. Tears fell down her own cheeks as Anna covered the baby with a blanket, holding them up for Rose to see. "It's a boy!" She smiled, and she placed the baby right on Rose's chest, allowing her to hold her baby, after months and months of waiting.

Jack's own eyes filled with tears as he stared down at his beautiful wife and child. "You're amazing," he whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. "He's beautiful. He's absolutely perfect."

Rose nodded, and Anna continued to take care of everything. Finally, she was finished, and she excused herself from the room, giving Rose and Jack a moment with their child. "It's a boy," Rose whispered. "I can't believe he's finally here."

"I can't believe it's a boy," Jack said surprisedly. He stared down at his son, touching the thin hairs atop his head. "I really thought it would be a girl for some reason."

They both looked down at the tiny baby resting on Rose's chest, feeling nothing but love for him and for each other. They were a family now, a real one. They had each other, they were married, and they had a little piece of the love they shared in their son. "What should we name him?" Jack asked.

Rose didn't hesitate, not even for a second. "William," she said quietly, staring at his tiny face. She looked at Jack and saw the bit of shock in his eyes. "Your father was so excited to meet the baby, and it breaks my heart that he never will. I can't even imagine how much it must hurt for you. And I know that maybe having him named after your father is too painful for you, and if that's the case, we don't have to do this. But I want you to know, it would be an honor to name our son after such a kind, wonderful man."

Jack smiled at him, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I would love that," he whispered. He fixed Rose's blanket, making sure both she and the baby were warm enough. "He would have loved to be here for this," he said quietly. "It means the world to me that you would name him after my father."

"Of course I would," she smiled at him, and he kissed her forehead. She reached out a free hand, taking Jack's. "Jack, darling… Do you want to hold him?"

"Can I?" He asked, and Rose nodded, slowly sitting up and swaddling the baby, then handed him to Jack. "He's so tiny," he whispered, staring at his son. His eyes were closed, but Jack knew that they were blue, his little nose was Rose's, and he had a few blonde hairs atop his head. "I can't believe he's here." He looked up at Rose. "You're a mother."

"Oh, that makes me sound so old!" Rose whined, smiling as she looked at Jack holding his son. She knew that baby William was the luckiest child in the world to have such a wonderful father. "You're a father. That's mad."

Jack smiled up at her. "I know."

"No, think about it," Rose looked at him as he walked with the baby, shifting his weight back and forth. "The girl who got drunk below decks on Titanic with a man she met the day before is a mother," she laughed, and so did Jack. "The boy who drew naked women for years is a father."

"If I remember correctly, you were quite fond of my naked drawings," he arched an eyebrow, knowing he caught her. She blushed, looking away. Only a moment later, the baby started crying, and Rose looked back at him. "I don't think he likes naked drawings."

"Jack!" Rose gasped. "You've lost baby rights. Give him to me." She put out her arms, and Jack gently placed him down. "Shh, shh, it's okay, the bad man is gone." She glared at Jack dramatically, causing him to laugh.

"I think he's hungry," Jack suggested. He sat down next to Rose, carefully wrapping his arm around her. He stared down at his son, whose eyes were scrunched as he continued wailing.
Rose turned to look at him. "You just want to see me topless."

Jack chuckled. "I always want to see you topless, but this time, I really do think he's hungry." Rose smiled and lowered her shirt, trying to feed the baby. Finally, after a few tries, he latched, suckling away as Rose closed her eyes, leaning against Jack's chest. "Do you feel alright?" He asked, staring down at her, his eyes full of concern.

"I'm fine, I'm just a bit sore, and absolutely exhausted," she felt his lips on the top of her head. "I just need to close my eyes for a few minutes."

"Of course," he whispered, stroking her arm gently. "Close your eyes, I'll wake you in a few minutes." He held her, feeling as if he was holding his entire life in his arms. And in a way he was: Rose and William were his entire life now, and they were all he ever needed.

He watched as William opened his eyes, looking right at him, and he couldn't help but smile. "Hi," he whispered, careful not to wake Rose. "I love you so much." In response, William fussed for a minute, then closed his eyes, sleeping in Rose's arms.

A few minutes later, Rose opened her eyes, picking her head off Jack's chest. "Hey," she whispered. She looked down at the baby, who was fast asleep in her arms. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Only a couple minutes," he answered. "He was sleeping most of that time anyway." Rose rubbed her eyes with her free hand, careful not to wake the baby. "Do you want to call everyone in to meet him?"

Rose nodded. "Can I just change my clothes first?" She asked. "And maybe take a quick bath? I feel gross." She carefully handed the baby off to Jack, who was happy to hold his son while Rose cleaned up. She disappeared into the bathroom, turned on the bath, then looked at her reflection.

She looked exhausted. How had all of this happened so quickly? In all the books she read, it said that the first baby is the slowest, and it could take days to deliver. Clearly, William had other plans. Her stomach was flatter now, though not nearly where it was before the pregnancy. But it didn't matter to her, not in the least. All she saw was that her body had changed in order to give her their precious baby, and she would have done anything to have him.

Looking away from the mirror, Rose stepped into the bath, the warm water relaxing her muscles instantly. She leaned back, closed her eyes, and remembered the many baths she had taken throughout her pregnancy, where she would simply sit and watch her stomach move as the baby kicked and moved.

Now, she had him, and it was hard to believe that he had been inside her that entire time. She couldn't believe that after everything she had gone through, after all the preparing she and Jack had done, he was finally here. Just seeing him for one moment and holding him in her arms made it all worth it.

Feeling better from the bath, Rose stepped out and wrapped herself in a bathing robe. She was still somewhat sore, though she felt cleaner and more like herself. It had rejuvenated her greatly. She looked at the small closet in the bathroom, where there hung one single piece of clothing. A baby blue dress, one that was not too fitted and was very soft, perfect for her to wear that day. Jack must have placed it there at some point, knowing that she would look beautiful in it and that it would be most comfortable for her.

She put it on, then returned to the bedroom, where Jack sat, holding William in his arms. "You look beautiful," he smiled at her, and she couldn't help but smile back. If the bath hadn't helped her, Jack's compliment certainly would. "And you look so much more relaxed and peaceful now."

Rose nodded, climbing back into the bed next to him. "I needed that bath," she said quietly, reaching for the baby. Even after just a few minutes without him, she missed him and needed to hold him. "Thank you for watching him while I did that."

"Of course, Rose," Jack smiled, kissing her cheek. "I know that a lot of the time, the responsibilities of taking care of a baby fall onto the mother, but I want to help. I want to be your partner throughout this. You'll never be alone."

That was one of the things Rose loved most about him. His ability to make her feel at ease, comfortable, and like she wasn't alone. She knew she never would be, as long as she had Jack with her. "I love you, she whispered, kissing him tenderly.

The kiss was cut short by a gentle knock on the door. "Can we come in?" Betty called, and Jack and Rose separated.

Rose looked back at Jack. "Go open the door and tell them to be quiet, I don't want them waking him," she instructed, and Jack did as she asked. Slowly, Betty, Liza, and Anna walked in, looking right at the baby in her arms. "Hi!"

Betty smiled at the baby. "He's so adorable," she whispered, careful not to wake him. Liza wrapped her arms around Betty, trying to get a look as well. "He looks so much like both of you." She looked down at him, marveling at the fact that he was real. She couldn't even believe that her older brother had a child.

Anna was standing there silently, staring down at her grandson. She was so in shock that she couldn't even speak. Somehow, all of that had been put on hold when she had to deliver the baby. But now that things were alright, she was able to deal with the utter shock she felt. "Anna, would you like to hold him?" Rose asked.

Slowly, Anna nodded, taking the baby from Rose's arms. She looked down at him, smiling softly. "He's so beautiful," she whispered. "I can't believe he's here. I can't believe I delivered him." She shifted her weight back and forth, smiling at the baby, watching him sleep in her arms. "What's his name?"

Rose looked over at Jack, and he nodded, telling her to tell his mother. After all, it was her idea. "His name is William," she smiled, watching as Anna looked up, tears rushing to her eyes. "William Andrew Dawson."

Anna looked up at them, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I love it," she whispered. She looked back down at the baby, smiling at him. "It's perfect."

Jack looked at Rose and smiled, pulling her closer. "Ma," he began, getting her attention again. She looked back up at him. "He's named after you, too. Andrew is for Anna. He's named after someone we both love, and someone who he'll grow to love as well. And, coincidentally, the woman who delivered him."

She laughed quietly, walking back over to them, giving them both gentle hugs. "I love you both so much," she said, tears still flowing down her cheeks.

While the three of them talked about the baby, watching as he yawned, Betty pulled Liza's hand, silently dragging her out of the room. "What, what is it?" Liza asked, staring at her. "Are you alright?"

Betty nodded, smiling. "Look outside," she said quietly, and Liza looked out the window. "It's like a winter wonderland out there." Liza smiled back at her, and Betty reached for her hands. "I remember you telling me how much you love the snow, and how you always ran outside and played in it until your family yelled at you. So… I had an idea."

"What was it?" Liza asked. Without answering, Betty led her toward the door, took their coats, and continued to head right outside. "Betty, what are we doing out here? It's freezing!"

Betty smiled, the large snowflakes falling all around them. "I want to marry you, right here, right now," she smiled. "It doesn't matter if no one is here. It's just you and I, and that's enough for me."

"Are you sure?" Liza asked.

"Yes," she smiled, taking Liza's hands. She slid off her own ring, as well as Liza's. She cleared her throat, then began. "I'm not going to go with the classic line that everyone says, because honestly, I think I'd rather just tell you how I feel about you," she paused, smiling at Liza. "When I found out I had to leave my family and live in Maine in hiding, I was devastated. I thought I was losing my family, when really, I was finding it." She saw Liza's eyes fill with tears, but she continued. "I've never been as happy as I have been with you, and I love you so much." She handed Liza her ring, which Liza then slid onto her finger.

"My turn?" Liza asked, and Betty nodded. "I didn't know it was possible to be this happy. I didn't know I could love someone as much as I love you." She smiled at Betty. "I know you think I'm giving up things in order to be with you: a socially acceptable relationship, children. But I want you to know that I would do anything to be with you." She smiled and wiped a tear from Betty's eye. "I love you so much, Betty, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She handed Betty her ring, which Betty slid onto her fourth finger.

They shared a loving kiss, then smiled at each other, realizing what they had done. "I don't care what anyone says," Betty whispered. "You're my wife. We're just as married as anyone else is."

Liza smiled. "I agree," she whispered. "I love you so much."

They kissed one last time, then went back indoors, shedding their coats and wiping the snow off of their hair and faces. They walked back into the sitting room to find Jack and Rose sitting with William, since Rose no longer wanted to be in bed. They all sat around, smiling at the new addition to their little family.

Jack wrapped his arm around Rose, holding her as he had been all day. "Can I tell you something?" Jack asked, and Rose looked up at him. "I love you. And I can't imagine my life without you." Rose smiled at him, and her eyes filled with tears (either due to her hormones or Jack's sweetness; who could tell?). "You gave me a life I love, and this year has been the best year of my entire life. And I know that it's only gonna get better.

"Of course it will," Rose whispered, touching her lips to his. She leaned against his chest, staring down at their perfect baby, all their champagne problems so far away, and so very forgotten.