AFTER TITANIC
BOOK ONE:
Chapter Five:
"Name please?" the man with the clipboard
asked as Jack and Rose are about to disembark the ship.
"Rose and Jack Dawson," Jack proudly replied, placing a
reassuring arm around Rose who was growing anxioust to get off
the ship.
"Thank you," The man nods, moving onto the next
passenger.
"Man that sounded good," Jack grinned happily.
"Rose and Jack Dawson."
"Jack," Rose nervously replied, staring into the
churning crowd. "Look at all the reporters. They must be
here about the Titanic. "What do we do?"
"Let's try to get past them as best we can. Here, put this
on. It'll keep you warm," Jack placed Cal's coat around her
shoulders.
"Thanks Jack...wait a minute...what's this? Rose's brow
furrows as she thrusts her hand in her pocket and feels a hard
and cold object. She wraps her hand hand around the object and
brings it out into the sunlight. She gasps when she notices the
heart of the ocean that Cal had presented to her the night she
tried to kill herself. "Oh my goodness. Cal must have left
it in there. No matter what he was chasing us."
"What are we going to do with it," Jack asked.
"I don't know. We could pawn it. We do need the money."
"No Rose. If we pawn it, it could get back to Cal that you
survived. It's best that we keep it put up somewhere. Somewhere
safe," Jack looks at the sparkling necklace.
But where is that? In fact,
where are we going to stay?"
Rose had a point. Where were they going to stay? They couldn't
stay out here in the cold rain. That was alright for Jack, but
not his Rose. He wanted to keep her as dry and warm as possible,
especially after what they been through. "Don't worry Rose.
I'll think of something."
He places a protective arm around her shoulder and they begin
pushing their way through the crowd of reporters. They've just
reached the streets when a familiar voice calls out. "Hey
Jack! Is that you?"
They instantly recognize Molly Brown heading in their direction.
"Why so it is Jack Dawson...and goodness gracious, is that
Rose? Why girl, everybody thinks you're dead!"
"Hello Molly," Jack smiled. He had instantly taken a
liking to Molly Brown. She was a third class woman in a first
class body. Just like his Rose. In fact, if it wasn't for Molly,
him and Rose wouldn't be together now.
"What happened to you two? People have been searching
everywhere for you. In fact, Rose your mother had a breakdown
over your death, but here you are, as alive as daylight,"
Molly said.
"I know Molly, and that's the way we want to keep it,"
Rose looks the woman straight in the eye. "In fact, Jack and
I had just gotten married. I'm now Rose Dawson, Rose Dewitt
Bukater died along with the Titanic."
"...I understand Rose and I respect you wishes. Your mother
and Cal won't find out from me that you're alive," Molly
nods, clear understanding shining in her friendly brown eyes.
"And congratulations to you two. I knew the moment I saw you
two together that you were made for each other. Is there anything
else I can do for you other than keeping your secret?"
"Well actually Molly...there is something else you can
do," Jack said, determination on his face. He gave it some
thought and came to the conclusion that the important thing was
to get Rose and the necklace somewhere safe. Somewhere warm and
dry. In the meantime, he'll look for somewhere permanent.
"Can you please let Rose stay with you until I can find a
place for us to stay?"
"Sure doll. Just let me call the hotel and let them know I'm
going to have two guests and we'll be on our way."
"No Molly. Only Rose. I'm staying out here and look for a
permanent place to live," Jack stopped Molly from going for
a phone.
"What?" Rose feels her heart sinking. He wanted to
spend the night apart? But why? Can't he see that she wanted to
be with him more than anything? She didn't care if it was wet and
cold out. Nothing mattered as long as she was with Jack. "No
Jack. I'm not going anywhere without you."
"Rose, please. Don't fight me on this," Jack looks into
her tear-filled eyes. He hated to make her cry, but she had to
understand why he had to do this.
"Jack, Rose is right. You two have just been married. It's
not right that you two should be separated. Please, let me put
both of you up 'til you find a place of your own. I don't mind
really. You let me help you once, let me help both of you
now," Molly sides with Rose, squeezing the girl's hand,
trying to reassure her that she'll get Jack to agree.
"...Molly...I can't...I can only accept so much charity. Any
more and we'd be taking advantage of you."
"My dear boy, nobody takes advantage of Molly Brown. Plus I
don't mind helping out two young newlyweds. So please, for this
dear girl's sake, stay with her at the hotel. That way you both
will be warm and dry and most importantly, together," Molly
said, staring into Jack's eyes, making it clear that she'll
accept nothing else than that.
"Well...since you're going to be insistant about it....fine
then. I'll stay too," Jack bit his lip. He hated accepting
charity from anyone, but for Rose's sake, he'll accept again,
this one time.
"Oh thank goodness," Rose breathes a sigh of relief. If
she had to spend a night away from Jack...she'd die. She just
knew she would. "Thank you Molly."
"No need to thank me. Like I said, I don't mind helping out
two newlyweds. You shouldn't be separated so soon after your
wedding and this terrible tragedy," Molly shrugs off the
thanks. "Anyway, forget about calling the hotel. Let's just
hot foot it on over there. The sooner we get out of this rain,
the better," Molly grabs their hands and head away from the
crowd that was surrounding the Carpathia.
The room was bit and luxerious. Rose knew thiss was the perfect
way to spend a honeymoon. She just wished Jack would agree. Ever
since they've settled in their room, he's been gloomy, not even
muttering a word to her.
"Jack...say something...please. I know you're not happy
about accepting Molly's offer, but this is for the best,"
Rose walks up behind her husband and wraps her arms around his
waist. She can't help but savour the feel of his shirt against
her cheek. It made him seem so real, not just a dream to wake up
from.
"But Rose...I don't know. I don't even know what I was
thinking when we married. I'm sure Cal could take better care of
you...better than I can. The guy's filthy rich...while I don't
even have ten dollars in my pocket. I have nothing to offer
you," Jack sighed forlornly.
"Oh Jack, you have plenty to offer me. You can offer me
something Cal never could. Freedom to be myself and love. That's
something Cal wanted to take away from me," Rose squeezed
Jack harder. "Believe me when I say that I'm more happy now,
dirt poor, than I ever was when I was filthy rich."
"Oh Rose I love you. I just don't want you to regret
marrying me," Jack strokes her hair. "And believe me,
we'll find somewhere to stay. Even if we have to go back to
Chippewa Falls.
"Hey that's an idea," Rose's eyes light up. "Do
you still have that house you used to live in?"
"...I guess. I mean, I haven't been there for five years.
But we can go check it out. But I don't know Rose. I mean, it's
been a long time since I been to Chippewa Falls,"Jack's blue
eyes suddenly grow dark with some kind of memeory. "I don't
even know if I'd fin it there anymore."
"I'll love you forever Jack. I'll wait for you. Don't
forget me."
"Jack? Are you ok?" Rose asks, coming over to face
him, noticing how quiet he's grown.
"Yes Rose. I'm fine. I'll tell you what; I'll keep Chippewa
Falls in mind. It may be the only place we have to go to,"
Jack said, now serious. Jack was a person who believed in
destiny. Just as he knew it was destiny that he found Rose and
made her his wife, he knew it was his destiny to return to
Chippewa Falls Wisconsin and face his demons. Maybe the time was
now...after Titanic.
"Jack?" Rose was concerned. She had never seen Jack
look so grim, not even when they thought they were going to die
on the titanic.
'It's okay Rose. Everything will be okay, I promise. It's time
for bed now. I suggest we turn in," Jack squeezed his wife's
hand, trying to reassure her that everything was fine with him.
"Jack wait," Rose stops him from moving any closer to
the bed. "I'm your wife. I just want you to know that
whatever it is bothering you...you can talk to me about it. You
can always talk to me."
"Oh Rose....I love you so much," Jack hugs her tightly,
buryingi his face in her red tresses. "Remember that. No
matter what."
"I will Jack. I promise," Rose hugged him twice as
hard. Whatever was bothering her husband, she was going to make
him feel better. No matter how long it would take them to work it
out, they will do so together and then she'll have her optimistic
Jack back.