CHAPTER ELEVEN

April 29, 1913

It’s been a whole year since Titanic sank and Jack’s return to his home town. The past year was kind to Jack. He had picked up his life and somehow the pain of losing Rose turned into a dull ache. He was able to remember his time with her and feel happiness and be grateful that he had known her and gave her a few moments of happiness…no matter how brief those moments were.

He stayed on six months at the Calverts until he had rebuilt his parents house. He now lives there and works as a art instructor at the community center in town.

Leah was happy to have her old friend back. They days together when Jack wasn’t working. Leah’s feelings soon became stronger for her friend, and for Jack, they were changing as well. In fact, Jack and Leah were officially dating. A good couple by Chippewa Falls standards. Of course Jack didn’t love Leah with his whole heart like he did Rose. He didn’t think he could let himself love that fully again. Plus, Rose would always own the majority of his heart. But he did care a great deal about Leah. She was his best friend, the one person he could talk to about anything and everything. The only person in town that he felt totally relaxed with…that he didn’t have to put on any false pretense with. Kind of like what he was for Rose sort to speak. So what if it wasn’t the acheing, needing, love he had with Rose. Leah was a good person, and would make him a good wife someday. Besides, he was doing what Rose would want him to do. He was going on with his life.

Life has finally settled down into a nice routine for Jack. For once he knew where he was and who he was going to be with. He was completely satisfied until a year after the sinking and losing Rose that his life was once again disrupted.

The local general store was unusually empty for that time of day. Jack was walking along the rows of stacked shelves, looking for more art supplies. He didn’t notice the ring of the bell as someone entered the store, but he did notice the soft gurgles of a baby and a couple of words like mama and ball.

"Shhh Jake. Not now, mama has to ask this nice man some questions," a voice slightly familiar shooshed the baby.

"Yes mam," Mr. Lavery, the store manager asks. "What can I do for you?"

"Yes. I was looking for a house here, belonging to a family by the name of Dawson."

"Well there’s only one address like that and the owner is in this store right now. Let me go look for him for ya. Always absorbed in the art supplies," The store manager laughed, not noticing the shocked expression on the girl’s face. The bell rings again and enters Leah. She was here to meet Jack. They were going to go to lunch before Jack had to go back to work. She stops in her tracks when she sees the girl. From Jack’s description of his lost love…she was the splitting image. But she couldn’t be her. For one Rose Dewitt Bukater was dead. Another, she never had any children.

"Pretty," The baby cooed, pointing at Leah.

"What a cute baby," Leah smiles.

"Oh thank you. He looks just like his daddy," the girl runs a gentle hand through the baby’s blond curls, a hint of unshed tears shown in her eyes.

"Where is his daddy?"

A tear finally leaks from her green eyes. "He died…a year ago…" The girl looked as if she was going to break at any moment. Ever since then we’ve been on our own."

"Oh…I’m sorry…why come to Chippewa Falls," Leah couldn’t help but be curious. This girl was obviously from high society by the way she carried herself and talked, but her clothes spoke of a lower class background.

"Because he was from here. I thought maybe I can find out more about my baby’s father so when he’s old enough I can tell him what a good man his father was. How he grew up."

"Oh how rude of me, asking you personal questions and don’t even introduce myself. Leah Calvert." She offers her hand.

The girl smiles shy and a bit nervously. "Rose. Rose Dawson."

Leah blinks. "Did you just say Dawson?"

Jack comes out from the shelves with the store manager and stops in his tracks when he sees the girl asking about his family. He closes his eyes and opens them again, to make sure she wasn’t a hallucination.

"…J-Jack," She whispered, her face whiter than it was that horrible night. "I-it can’t be. Y-you’re…You’re dead."

"Rose?" Jack takes a step closer.

"This is Rose?" Leah looks at the girl in disbelief, and her heart drops. Of course. That would explain the mannerisms and the cloths, why the baby had the trademark blond hair and blue eyes that all the dawson’s sported, and why the girl wanted to cry at the mere mention of the baby’s father.

"So you two know each other?" The store manager asked. "What a coincidence. In fact did you know that both of your names were Dawson?"

"Dawson…that explains why you weren’t on the list," Jack thoughtfully replies.

"I took Dawson so Cal and mother wouldn’t find me, plus…it kept you alive for me somehow. I felt if I was Rose Dawson instead of Rose Dewitt Bukater…it’d be like both of us were alive and together. Plus our baby would have your name…even though at the time I didn’t know he existed.

"Baby?" Jack finally notices the nine month old cradled in her arms. "He’s mine?"

Rose tearfully nods. "Jake Jackson Dawson. He was born in Janurary. That was the most frightening moment of my life, next to titanic of course."

"And you were alone through all of it," Jack sniffed. "I’m so sorry."

Rose smiled. "No need to be sorry. Jake is the most wonderful thing to me. He was another gift from you Jack. And I’m forever grateful for him."

Jack smiled. He honestly was at a loss for words. He had dreamed of this moment for so long…and now that it’s actually happened, he was at a loss at what to say. "I can’t believe it’s you. That you’re here and alive."

"You’re alive too…But Jack what happened? The boat came back and I tried to wake you up but you wouldn’t. So I had to let you go so I can get to a whistle to get it’s attention. After that I passed out."

"I woke up when the water closed around my head. I kicked for the surface and just as they were rolling away. I was in the infirmary the whole time. Then I looked for your name and it said you were dead."

"Oh Jack," Rose sniffed. "I should have tried harder to find you instead of assuming that you were dead. I should have went through every infirmary…"

"It’s okay Rose. The important thing is that we’re both alive," Jack goes to her and pulls both her and his son into a hug, forgetting that they were in the middle of a general store, with people watching.

"I’m sorry Jack…I’m so sorry."

"There’s nothing to be sorry about," Jack strokes her hair. "If anyone’s sorry it’s me. You must have had a hard time being alone and pregnant."
Rose sadly nods. "But it was worth it if it brought me back to you."

"She can stay with us I guess. In your old room," Leah sighs. "It’ll be a warm place to stay. And won’t cause too much of a scandal."

"Good idea," Jack smiles, not taking his eyes off Rose. "Come on, let’s go right now. The sooner we get Rose settled, the better," He takes Rose’s hand and leads her out the door. Leah just stands staring after them.

"I haven’t seen Jack that happy ever since his folks died. Wonder who the girl is to him?"
"She’s the woman he loves," Leah sighed sadly walking away before anything else could be said.

Two hours later, Rose and baby Jake was all settled. Rose now sat in the Calvert living room, gazing at Jack who was cradling a sleeping Jake in his arms.

"He’s beautiful Rose," Jack shook his head, disappointment was clear in his eyes. "I hate that I missed so much."

"I do too, but you’re here now and you can catch up," Rose smiled at Jack and their son. "He’s so peaceful with you Jack. I think he knows you’re his father."

"You think so?" Jack asked, hope filled his voice.

Rose just smiled and nods.

"So Rose, tell us how you know Jack," Irene entered carrying a pot of hot tea and scones.

"Uh…"Rose nervously stammers.

"I saved her life," Jack quickly speaks up. She almost fell into the ocean and I pulled her back."

Rose glanced at Jack questioningly. She wondered if he was actually going to tell them the truth.

"Oh dear. How horrible. It was a good thing Jack was there to save you dearie."

"A very good thing indeed," Rose smiled at Jack. A slight blush reached his face.

"So tell us about little Jake there. He’s a doll I must say," Irene gazes at the baby in Jack’s arms. "Amazing how he resembles Jack so much."

Jack smiled at Rose. "Really? I see a lot of Rose in him myself."

Leah enters and her heart sinks when she saw Jack with Rose and his son. They seemed like the perfect family. The attraction between Jack and Rose was unmistakable. Jack was a completely different person around her. He was so gentle, yet so much more sure of himself. He held his son like it was the most natural thing in the world. If she hadn’t known any better, she would have said that they had never been apart.

"Well all of Rose’s things are up in her room," Leah sighs wearily. "Is there anything else?"

"No. That should be it," Rose smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

"Just make yourself at home dearie," Irene patted Rose’s hand. "You’re welcomed here as long as you like. You and little Jake."

Rose smiled uncomfortably. Somehow she doubted that. By the looks Leah was throwing her, Rose wondered just how welcomed was she.

"Jake seems to be sleeping peacefully," Leah sets next to Jack looking over at the baby.

"The first time in weeks actually," Rose laughed. "He would always wake up and want to play."

"Oh Jack was like that when he was little. His mother didn’t know what to do with him!" Irene laughed. "I was so afraid Leah would pick up that habit."

Rose looked at Jack and smiled. "Really."

"Well Jack’s settled down now mother," Leah clears her throat.

"That he has thank goodness," Irene laughed even harder. "To think your children have a chance to be as playful."

"What?" Rose asked, realization was suddenly dawning on her. It’s been a whole year since she’s seen Jack. A whole year for him to move on with his life. What exactly was Leah to him? She couldn’t stand to stay in the room any longer. She needed air, so she got up and went outside, not saying a word. Five minutes later Jack was beside her, Jake now fully awake in his arms.

"I guess we have a lot of catching up to do," Rose sniffed. "Do you love her Jack?"

Jack is silent for a minute, not knowing what to say. Of course he loved Leah, but it wasn’t like how he loved Rose. Leah was his best friend. Someone he could tell things to and not be judged for it, not that Rose would judge him, it just that with Leah he was more at home. More relaxed. With Rose, he was more passionate, more loving. A better person. When she was in the room his heart stopped and he thought about her constantly. He found it hard to go through a day without her. And now that she was here in Chippewa Falls…with his son…"I love her Rose. But I’m not in love with her…like I am with you. Leah was my best friend since we were children. We did everything together. In the past months we began to see each other. With me thinking you dead, I proposed, knowing I’d never find another you, so I decided to go ahead and settle down with someone I cared about at least."

"But you’re not in love with her?" Rose looked at him, confusion shining in her eyes.

Jack smiled and stepped closer to her. He tenderly touched her face and looked deeply into her eyes. "No I’m not rose. The only woman I can ever be in love with is you."

"Oh Jack," Rose cried, hugging and kissing him deeply. She never wanted that moment to end. The feel of Jack’s lips on her was a welcomed familiarity. The smell of his skin, his hair, how his eyes danced when he smiled. Then it dawns on her. She had no right to do this. He was no longer hers. He belonged to another and soon it would be official.

"Jack wait! Stop," Rose pulls away. "This isn’t right. Leah doesn’t deserve this. You made a commitment to her."

"You made one to Cal too but that didn’t stop us from being together."

"Leah’s not Cal Jack. From what I’ve seen of her, she kind, smart, friendly…she doesn’t deserve this," Rose takes Jake from Jack’s arms.

Jack sighs sadly. Rose was right. Leah’s been good to him and she deserved much better than that.

"What about Jake?" Jack asked, gently touching the baby’s face.

Rose shrugged. "I haven’t thought much about that."

"He’s my son too Rose…I would like to get to know him…"

Rose looked at Jack, her expression torn. She had lost Jack…can she really bare to lose her son also? Her one reason for living? But how can she deny Jack the right to know his son? She couldn’t. "I’ll think of something."

Jack looked at her, catching the near sob in her voice. He wasn’t sure if he liked the vibe he was getting from Rose. "This isn’t fair. It’s like the world is trying to keep us apart."

She looked up at him, all the sadness in the world glimmering in her beautiful green eyes. "It does seem that way doesn’t it? We better go in. Everyone’s wondering about us," Rose turns away and head back into the house.

That night, Jack sets out on the Calvert front porch, staring up at the stars and smoking a cigarette when Leah came out to join him.

"You’ve been quiet all evening. Thinking about Rose?" Leah tilts her head, already knowing the answer. Of course he was thinking about Rose. He certainly wasn’t thinking about her. That was for sure.

"Me and you. Wondering how I’m going to remain apart of Jake’s life as well," Jack answered, his voice void of emotion.

Leah’s eyes widened in surprise. She was positive that Jack would be on the first train with Rose, heading out for the horizon. "Are you saying you want to be with me? Not Rose?"

"We’re engaged Leah. I’m not backing out of that," Jack answered matter-of-factly. In a way, it was like he was talking about a business deal, not a real marriage. Leah shook her head. Jack would never even think of this as a business deal. They loved each other. The fact that he was staying with her was proof of that.

Leah smiled tenderly and sets next to her fiancee, resting her head on his shoulder. "So you’re not leaving with Rose?"

"No. I said I’d marry you and that’s what I’m going to do," Jack sighed, feeling just as trapped as Rose must have felt when she was about to jump off the back of Titanic. How had he gotten himself into this mess? Rose stands out of sight in the doorway, watching Jack and Leah. She sighs once again. Leah loved Jack with her whole heart obviously. That in itself made it a little easier to let him go. Knowing that he was well loved. Glancing upstairs where Jake slept, she came to a decision. She knew what she had to do. The only thing was getting the strength to do it.

Tears spilling from her eyes she went back upstairs and spent the next couple of hours with her son.

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