7

Back at the Dawson house, Samantha and George were downstairs making coffee, while recovering from the shock of Jack’s return while Molly and Jack tended to Rose up in his old room. Jack’s curiousity of the situation was finally getting the better of him. He wanted to know everything that had gone on in Rose’s life since her rescue from the water.

"Molly. Tell me what’s going on? What’s Rose doing here? Why couldn’t I find her on the Carpathia? How did she get rid of her mother and Cal?" Jack questioned as he watched Molly lay a damp cloth on Rose’s forehead.

"One question at a time there darlin’," Molly laughed good-naturedly. "You couldn’t find Rose on the Carpathia because you were looking for Rose Dewitt Bukater. She was going by Rose Dawson in order to hide from Ruth and Cal. Three months later she found out she was pregnant with your baby and she got in touch with me. Rose was terribly upset about your death and the fact that you wouldn’t get to see your baby grow up and that she didn’t know much about you to tell the baby so I came up with the solution to come here to your hometown where people knew you and would be able to tell her all about you to tell the baby. She told your cousins downstairs that she was your widow. Of course that’s not exactly true. But I do think that you’ll correct that soon enough."

"So everyone thinks we’re married?"

Molly nodded. "You’ll be glad to know that everyone in this town has been right kind to Rose since our arrival. They’ve treated her like one of their own. Especially your cousin. He took us in the very day we arrived practically."

"I have to thank him someday," Jack smiled, looking back down at Rose. "And I plan to make Rose my wife as soon as possible."

"She’s waking up," Molly nodded as Rose began to stir.

*

Light filtered through Rose’s eyelids as she begins to awaken, sure that she’s lost her mind. Everyone must think she’s insane by now. She frowned as she noticed the texture of the floor. It was so soft and warm and there was someone holding her hand. She opened her eyes all the way to see Molly smiling down at her.

"I see sleeping beauty’s awake," Molly grinned.

"Where am I?" Rose groaned.

"Back at the Dawson house. You had us all scared Rosie. But the doctor said you’ll be fine. You just had a shock that’s all."

"Jack…I saw Jack Molly. He looked so real," a tear fell from Rose’s eyes, breaking Jack’s heart.

"I am real Rose," Jack squeezed her hand moving closer to her. "I’m here now. Everything will be alright."

"Jack," Rose gasped, turning to his direction. "Oh my god Jack! You’re alive! You’re really alive!" Rose eyes filled with tears as Jack pulled her into his arms and held her tightly against him.

"I’m sorry Rose. I’m so sorry that you went through the past months alone. I should have been there for you."

"But how? I called you but you wouldn’t wake up. I shook your hand. I saw you sink into the ocean."

"I’ll go down and help George and Samantha. You two have a nice talk," Molly patted Rose’s hand. "God has granted your wish Rosie. You must be doing something right." Molly smiled before leaving them alone.

"The cold water woke me up and the officer must have seen me resurface because the next think I knew I was being lifted up into the boat and then I passed out. I looked for Rose Dewitt Bukater when I woke up and was able to move about. But I couldn’t find you. Molly told me you were going by Rose Dawson."

"I was. Taking your last name made me feel closer to you. I wish I had known you were alive…I should have looked for you…"

"Rose you thought you had watched me die. It’s perfectly understandable that you didn’t look."

"Where did you go after the Carpathia docked?"

"I stayed in New York looking for you. But after three months, I decided there was no use. You were either dead or married to Cal. Either way you were lost to me forever. So I saved enough money and headed back here to Chippewa Falls. I wanted to hide out from the world."

Rose felt hot tears coarse from her eyes as she sat up and embraced Jack, thanking God for reuniting them. She had really thought she lost him forever. "Oh Jack…I’m sorry. I wish that we were together. I needed you so much!"

"I know Rose. And I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you. But I promise I’m going to make it up to you. I’m here now and I’m going to make everything alright. First off by making you Mrs. Dawson for real."
"Oh my God Jack, people already think…"

"We’ll go to Eau Claire and elope there. No one has to be the wiser that we’re not already married," Jack kissed her forehead. We’ll go first thing tomorrow."

Rose sniffed and bit her lip. "Jack…George and Samantha…I want them to be there. They’ve been so kind to me and I’ve hated lying to them. I want to tell them the truth and have them there to see us marry."

Jack nodded. "Ok. We’ll tell them when you’re ready."

"Now," Rose sat up, clinging tightly to Jack’s hand. "I want to tell them everything now."
Jack nodded just as George and Samantha entered the room, followed by Molly.

"We wanted to check on Rose," George explained.

"Come on in. We were just talking about you," Jack smiled. "Rose and I have something to tell you."

"Ok. Sure. What is this about?" Samantha lead the way deeper into the room.

"Uh…well you two have been so kind to me the past couple of weeks. Putting up with my constant grief over Jack’s ‘death’…and I’ve hated not being totally truthful with you. You have been so kind and honest…but the truth is that Jack and I aren’t married."

"What?" George and Samantha said in unison.

"I can explain why I lied. I was pregnant and unwed. The father of my baby, Jack, I thought was dead. I knew if people knew that I wasn’t married they’d look down on me and the baby and Jack. And I couldn’t let them think badly of Jack or his baby. They were too important to me. I wanted to tell you the truth so many times, but I was afraid."

"Don’t feel badly towards Rose. She’s new to this sort of situation. Plus she was scared and alone and grieving. Besides, if we were never separated, we would have married as soon as possible," Jack quickly jumped in, trying to read his cousin’s face, but unsuccessfully. Whatever George was feeling, he was hiding it well.

"Why are you telling us now?" George asked. "Jack’s alive and you two could go on pretending to be married, no one the wiser."

"Because we’re going to Eau Claire to be married first thing tomorrow and Rose and I want you to be there. In fact…I’d like it if you’d be my best man," Jack explained. "What do you say?"
George looked at Samantha who was still recovering from the shock of the truth. "What do you say?"

"What do I say? I say you poor dear," She went and embraced Rose. "I understand completely why you weren’t truthful. I too was in a similar situation. My father disowned me when he found out was pregnant before George and I wed. It must have been doubly frieghtening for you thinking that Jack was dead."

"Frightening and comforting at the same time," Rose nodded. "I was scared of what was going to happen to me and the baby, but comforted that I had a part of Jack with me. It made the hurt of losing him lessen a bit."

"Yes Rose, we understand all about unforeseen circumstances. I’m sure that you and Jack were already planning a life together and weren’t expecting that ship to sink," George nodded his own understanding. "And Jack…are you sure it’s me that you want as a best man? What happened to Thomas or Frederick?"

"Because for one, Rose and I aren’t going to tell anyone else that we weren’t really married. I don’t want anyone in this town looking down on Rose. Not after all she’s gone through. And second…you’re my best friend. I don’t trust anyone as much as I trust you. Plus you’re the only ones that we plan to know the truth. You know how judgemental this town can be at times. They’ll never forget that Rose lied when she got here."

"Well that’s the truth," George nodded.

"His answer is yes," Samantha stood up and wrapped a arm around her husband’s waist. "He’d be honored to be your best man."

"On one condition. You treat Rose with respect and never ever leave her again," George crossed his arms.

"Now that’s a promise I can keep," Jack grinned at his soon to be wife.

"Well then you have a best man."

"Molly…will you give me away? I know it’s unconventional, but my father is dead and my mother…well you know the story behind that," Rose nervously asked.

"Oh Rose of course I will. I’m honored," Molly wiped at her eyes with a hankerchief.

"And I’ll be your maid of honor," Samantha volunteered happily. "This will be great. Having another female around to talk to."

"Thank you. Thank you both for being so good to me," Rose wiped away her remaining tears. "Tomorrow is going to be the happiest day of my life."

"It sure will be sugar," Molly grinned. "But now it’s time for you to catch up on some much needed sleep. Jack will you be staying with her?" Molly looked at the young man who never took his eyes away from Rose.

"Of course," Jack nodded. "I’ll take good care of her."

"I’ll go down and get dinner ready," Samantha smiled. "George, we need some more firewood."
"Yes dear," George kissed his wife. "Jack, trust me, you’ll love married life." George waved as he walked out the door.

"Well, I’ll see you two children later this evening. Rosie, you get some sleep. I mean it now," Molly sternly wagged a finger at Rose who happily snuggled closer to Jack.

"I’ll make sure of it Molly. Don’t worry," Jack squeezed Rose’s shoulder.

Molly nodded before leaving Jack and Rose to themselves.

"Alone at last," Rose sighed happily.

"Yes. Alone at last. I can’t begin to tell you how much finding you here means to me. I thought I was looking at a ghost when I walked into that church and saw you standing there," Jack sighed.

"You’re not the only one. I thought you were another one of my daydreams and when you didn’t disappear…I actually thought I was losing my mind."
"Well you’re not. I’m here and we’ll never be separated again. That’s a promise. Mrs. Dawson."
Rose smiled at the thought that this time tomorrow, Dawson will truly be her real last name, not just wishful thinking. "Jack…do you think I’ll be a good housewife?"
"You’ll be a wonderful housewife and I’ll do my hardest to be a wonderful husband to you Rose. I’m going to take good care of you."

"Just don’t be like Cal. Ordering for me, acting like I’m some fragile porcelain doll…that’s definitely something I’ve had enough of."

Jack laughed. "I got that idea in your stateroom."
Rose just rolled her eyes. "Too bad that picture went down on the Titanic. It would have been a great memento."

"Yeah and have our son or daughter find it later on? No way," Jack shook his head. "You’d never live it down."

"Me? How about you Mr. Big Artiste?"

Jack laughed. "I’m only the artist. Not the model."

Rose just growled and playfully punched his arm. "See if I model for you again."

Jack only smiled and pulled Rose closer. "Just as long as you’re with me always, I won’t hold it against you."

Rose only smiled happily and closed her eyes, enjoying the realness of him, his warmth and strength. She had thought she’d never feel those things again. She sighed dreamily as he began to hum the tune to Come Josephine to her, unknowingly lolling her to sleep.

"Rose?" Jack asked after a while, noticing how still she had become. He looked over her shoulder and smiled as he saw that she had fallen into a comfortable, peaceful sleep. "Sweet dreams Rosie," he gently kissed her head, laying her on the pillow.

*

Jack had decided to get up and go downstairs to visit with his family and friend. It’s been a long and lonely five months, plus he wanted to be filled in on how things were holding up in town since his departure. He found George on the porch smoking a cigarette. George looked at him and held out the pack.

"What one?"

"No thanks," Jack shook his head. "I’m going to kick the habit now that I’m going to be a father."
"Sam wants me to do the same, but it’s not as easy as it looks. You’ll find out."

"Anything is easier than going through a sinking," Jack shrugged, taking a seat in the chair next to George. "So Samantha seems nice. How did you two meet?"
"It was a year after you took off. I was going into Eau Claire for some supplies for the house, which by the way I was remodeling. I thought you’d like it fixed up if you ever returned. Well anyway, I was in Eau Claire for some supplies when I saw this beautiful creature behind the counter. We hit it off instantly. Six months ago, after a night of passion, I found out she was expecting. So since I loved her anyway, I proposed and we’ve been together ever since."

"Wow," Jack nodded. "Love at first sight for you too huh?"
George happily nodded. "She’s my life Jack. Sam and our child…they’re my whole world. As long as I have her, I can do anything."

"I’m happy for you George. I’m glad I’m not the only Dawson to find true love. Rose…she’s the most amazing…woman I’ve ever known. Sure she can be a brat sometimes, but when the going gets tough her fire comes out. You should have seen her on Titanic George…I really saw why I loved her so much. She rose to each challenge we faced on that ship. Her and Molly are the bravest women I know. Especially Rose. You’d never expect it from a first class girl."

"Well I’m glad you found happiness Jack and I’m sure that Aunt Sarah and Uncle William would love Rose if they had met her. She fits right in with our family you know."

"You think?"

George nodded. "And I’m honored that you asked me to be your best man. Even though I’m sure that’s just because of you and Rose’s little secret."
"George, if we were having a big wedding with the whole town there, I’d still choose you to be my best man. There’s really no other choice for me. I know for a fact that if Thomas knew the truth he’d look down his nose at both Rose and myself. To tell the truth, I don’t know what got into me that night. I just knew that I loved her and had to have her. Actually I thought I’d never have a chance to be with her again until she announced she was getting off the ship with me."

"Why do you say that?" George asked confused.

"Rose was engaged to a rich and powerful man. We only met by chance. We fell in love almost immediately…and the rest is history," Jack shrugged. "I thought by time the voyage was over, that Rose would go back to her life with her mother and fiancee and I would return to my adventures. I didn’t want to let her go, but I wouldn’t have had a choice."

"Wow. Wait a minute…it’s Hockley! I knew I saw Rose somewhere before, I just never put two and two together," George sat up straight and stared at his cousin with wonder. "Gee Jack, you sure do aim high don’t ya?"

Jack laughed. "Believe me, I wasn’t aiming. I just got lucky. All the way around…even in the sinking…I really could have died that night. I don’t know how or why I didn’t but I could’ve. It gives make each day count a whole new meaning for me."

"For me too. When Rose told me you had died…I couldn’t believe it. It really brought things home for me. Family is everything. What I’m trying to say here Jack is that I know that we’ve grown apart since your departure, but now that you’re back I want us to be close again. Like we were when we were kids. I want you to be a part of my kid’s life as well. What do you say? We rebuild our relationship back to where it was, maybe even better?"

"Sure! That’d be great!" Jack enthusiastically agreed.

"Sam will be so happy to have female companionship around here. She gets mighty lonely."

"And Rose can ask her questions about her pregnancy. It’ll be great," Jack nodded. "I knew coming back here was a good idea. Now not only do I have Rose back, I get my family back as well," Jack got to his feet and embraced his cousin.

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