8

The next morning turned out to be a wonderful day for a wedding. Rose stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a white chenille dress Samantha had loaned her. It fitted her perfectly, hiding her swollen stomach. It looked as if she had her old figure again. Samantha stood behind Rose, putting the finishing touches to Rose’s hair, a french braid with white lilies from the garden outside intertwined. Rose looked like lovely maiden from medieval times, awaiting her prince from the royal castle, the kind she had read in fairy tales.

"You look absolutely gorgeous Rose," Samantha gushed smoothing down the fabric of her own dress of lavender satin, violets were laced in her own braid.

"You look beautiful too Samantha," Rose smiled. "You some how managed to even outshine the bride I think."

Samantha laughed. "Not in Jack’s opinion I’m sure."

"Are you gals ready in here? The men are downstairs waiting," Molly boisterously entered the room and stopped in midstride when she saw Rose. "God almight Rose. Aren’t you a pretty sight. Jack is going to thank his lucky stars when he lay eyes on you."

"You think so Molly?" Rose nervously asked.

"I know so darlin. Now let’s get you downstairs so we can get you to Eau Claire and married!" Molly grabbed Rose’s hand and drags her out the door, Samantha quickly following them.

Jack’s eyes widened in admiration as Rose descended the stairs, a nervous smile on her face.

"You’re beautiful," Jack took her hand once she reached him.

"You don’t look half bad yourself," Rose smiled at her soon to be husband.

"Come on. Let’s roll," George smiled at Samantha, remembering their wedding day and how she looked beautiful in the very lavender dress she was wearing.

"Ready to become a married woman at last Rose?" Molly chuckled.

"For the first time in my life I can truthfully say yes," Rose smiled. "I’m definitely ready."

"Come on. Let’s get out of here," George held the door open.

The ceremoney was short but sweet. Jack and Rose were lost in each other as they recited their vows, taking to heart each and every word. Applause rang out over the small office as the justice of the peace announced them man and wife and Jack and Rose enveloped each other in a long passionate kiss that even George and Sam admited they probably couldn’t top. A kiss of being joined after such a long separation.

Molly smiled and glance over to the other couple. She was mildly surprised to spy tears in Samantha’s eyes. "Why darling, what ever is wrong?"

"Oh she always cry at weddings," George grinned. "She really blubbered at ours."

"George," Sam hissed at her husband.

"Well you did."

"Well we’ve gotten you children married," Molly turned to Jack and Rose who had just separated, still gazing into each other’s eyes. "I’m starved. What do you say to a wedding breakfast?"

Jack looked away from Rose and happily nodded. "That’s a great idea. I know just the place. It’s not too far from here. It’s called breakfast at Abby’s. They cook nothing but breakfast foods. Their eggs benedict is wonderful. It’s been so long since I’ve had it…"

"Well then Breakfast at Abby’s on me!" Molly announced. "We don’t only have a wedding to celebrate. A homecoming as well."

Hand in hand, Jack and Rose led the way out of the justice of the peace and to the tiny restaurant right down the way.

Everyone has just finished their breakfast and now leaned back in their chairs, full to satisfaction.

"I haven’t eaten this good since the first class dinner on…" Jack stopped in midsentence, realizing what he was referriing to.

"It’s ok Jack," Rose touched her husband’s hand. "It’s alright to talk about Titanic. It was where we met…where we fell in love. It’s a part of us and always will be and we did have some good memories there. Don’t feel like you have to stop whenever you find yourself talking about something that happened there."

Jack gently smiled and tucked a red curl behind Rose’s ear. "You are so insightful and wise. Did you know that?"

Rose smiled and shook her head. "You are the first person to tell me that."

"Well you are," Jack kissed her forehead. Smiling Jack leaned his forehead against Rose’s and they once again got lost in each other’s eyes.

"My cousin definitely has it bad," George laughed.

"Like you didn’t act the same when we first married," Sam knowingly smiled, getting lost in memories of her first few days as a married woman. She knew Rose was in pure heaven right now.

"I’d like to propose a toast," Molly stood, holding up her glass of orange juice. Rose and Jack pulled each other out of their world and back into reality. They each took their respective glasses. "When I first met Rose, she was the crème of the crème of high society. Not only was she beautiful, she was poised and elegant. Yet even at first meeting, I knew she was a pistol. She even dared to ask the owner of the white star line if he had heard of Dr. Freud. Something about an obsession with size I believe."

Rose blushed at the memory and Jack laughed. "Why darling, I didn’t know you had that in you."

Rose only shrugged and turned back to Molly.

"And Jack…he was the brash, yet courageous young man who had gotten himself invited to dinner in the first class saloon and was teaching a certain young woman how to spit over the railing of the ship. The more I got to know both Jack and Rose, the more I liked them, and I knew immediately that those two were meant for each other. And the fact that they’re married now, despite Rose’s uptight mother and fiancee and the sinking proves me right. To Jack and Rose! The free spirit and the hellfire. May you be forever happy and in love!"

"Jack and Rose!" George and Samantha raised their glasses.

"Thank you Molly," Rose got up to hug her friend. "thank you for all you’ve done for me in the past months. If it wasn’t for you, I may never have found out Jack was alive. Thank you."

"Hey that’s what friends are for sugar," Molly hugged Rose tightly. "If you ever need me for anything, just give me a call. Ok?"

Rose nodded. "Thank you."

Two hours later, they arrive back at the Dawson house. Samantha and George head for the kitchen, Samantha wanting to make a special dinner and George wanting to keep an eye on her since she was so far along in her pregnancy. The baby was due to arrive any day now and he didn’t want to chance being somewhere else when it happened. Molly decided to go in her room and read a book and Jack and Rose decided to head upstairs to spend the next hours alone, basking in the glow of newlyweds.

Rose sighed contently, resting her face against his chest, inhaling his scent of charcoal and cologne.

"I’ve never been so happy in my life. This feels like a dream," Rose sighed.

"Well it’s real baby. We’re husband and wife and we’ll be together forever," Jack rubbed her back in a circular motion. "We’re going to be a happy family. You, me, and the baby."

"Jack!" Rose sat up, her excitement sparkling in her green eyes. "We have to think of names!"

"Names?"