INTO THE LIGHT

This story is situated right after Jack makes Rose promise to go on. It's about her very last conversation and glimpse of him until they're reunited eighty-five years later.

Rose feels his hand on hers, but yet her hand is so numb and despite her promise she had just made him, she wanted to die. Oh it would be so easy just to close her eyes and just drift away. Yes. She could do that. Jack wouldn't know until it was too late.
She sighs a sigh of relief and closes her eyes when she jerks awake to stare into a pair of fierce bright blue eyes burning into hers.
"Don't Rose. Don't do it," Jack's voice is firm and strong. "You romised me. Remember?"
"But you can't possibly expect me to follow through with it Jack. Look at us. We're freezing to death. In fact, I'm surprised we've made it this long," Rose could hear herself answer.
"Oh Rose," Jack's eyes held a touch of sadness. But the sadness is suddenly pushed back and it's replaced with determination. "Don't talk like that. You just have to be determined to keep that promise. That's all. Rose, there will be a boat and you will be on it. I know it."
"Oh Jack. Don't you know by now there is no boat coming back? If there was, it would've been here by now," Rose looks over the ocean that now seemed to be illuminated by some strange white light. In fact, both her and Jack too was surrounded by this strange light. This must be a side effect of her dying brain. They weren't really surrounded by light. Her mind was just making it seem so as it died.
"One's going to come Rose," Jack said, still determined. "And I want you to promise that you'll get on it. No matter what."
"Not another promise."
"Rose please..."
"Ok ok. I promise," Rose sniffed. She'd promise him anything right then. Anything just to take away the morbid reality of their situation.
"I know I didn't tell you this on the ship Rose. But I want to tell you now...while I can," Jack seemed to float closer to her.
"I love you Rose. I'll love you forever," Jack whispered.
"I love you too Jack," Rose choked back a sob. Oh this was so unfair. She had just found the love of her life and they both were going to die before they could even enjoy it. Why was life so unkind to her?
"Rose, hang in there," Jack once again said. "Help is on the way."
"Right Jack."
He smiled sweetly at her and brushed a red strand out of her eyes. She stared at him, his eyes were two shining blue globes, enveloping her in their warmth. For the first time in hours, she felt warm and safe just staring at him. He was like her gaurdian angel and he would never leave her.
"Rose..." He whispered, his voice full of love.
"Jack," Rose smiled, then her smile disappeared. It was strange, his voice wasn't shaking anymore and the white light had grown brighter. In fact she was warmer too and her fear had faded away. Where were they? Suddenly she's afraid. She's very afraid..
"Jack? What's going on? Where are we?" Rose asked, clutching his hand even harder.
"I think we're in heaven," Jack looks around, his blue eyes wide with wonder. Rose follows his gaze and gasps. The frozen people in the North Atlantic were now wide awake and they were getting out of the water, floating in midair, clutching the hands of people dressed in white.
"Oh my God Jack Do you see what I'm seeing?" Rose asked.
"Yes," Was Jack's simple answer.
Rose's fear increases as she looks behind Jack. There standing behind him was a man and a woman. Both had soft serene faces. The woman had Jack's blonde hair and smile. The man had Jack's piercing blue eyes.
"W-who are you?" Rose stammered, fearing that she already knew.
"My parents," Jack answers, his voice full of wonder.
"But you told my your parents were dead," Rose stares at him in confusion, then the confusion clears. How long was Jack in the water? Certainly not long enought to....No! They couldn't be here for him! Not yet!
"Jack we've come for you," the woman holds out her hand towards him.
"Jack?" Rose turns to him her eyes full of fear.
Jack just smiled at her and turns and accepts his parents outstretched hands. He's now out of the water and is standing between his parents.
"Welcome home son," The man grasps Jack's shoulder.
"Jack?" Rose asked, looking up at them.
Jack turns back to face Rose, his blue eyes are now full of sadness. "I have to go now Rose."
"Now? Aren't you going to wait for me?"
"Of course I'll wait for you, but you have a promise to keep first. Remember?" Jack kneels down next to her, he's now surrounded by a beautiful white light. Rose can feel the warmth of the light eminating from him. He gently touches her face to wipe away her falling tears. "You have to go on first Rose. Have all those babies I was telling ya about."
"No Jack. No. I can't go on, not without you," Rose shakes her head, trying to get to her feet. Jack gently takes her hands and holds them tightly.
"You made me a promise Rose. And if you truly love me, you'll keep it. You'll live the life we could've had together. De everything we ever talked about and more."
"Without you?"
"With me Rose. I made a promise that I'll be with you forever and I will be. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean that I'm not there."
"Jack...," Rose tries to say.
"We have to go now Jack," His mother lays a hand on his shoulder. "There's no more time."
Jack looks at his parents and then back at Rose, she had never once seen him loos so sad as he does now. "This is good-bye for now Rose. But I just want to remind you of your promise and to tell you that I'll be watching," Jack smiles. "Making sure you keep that promise."
Rose begins to sob. "But I love you so much Jack."
"I love you too Rose. But it just wasn't meant to be. Just keep the memories of us in your heart. And when you're strong enough, and you're ready, perhaps share our story with someone. You'll know when it's time," Jack smiles and touches her cheek. I'll send you a sign."
"Jack," Rose reaches out to him as he returns to his parents side. Looking back once, he waves to Rose then he turns away and follows his parents into the white light, disappearing out of her sight forever. If she listened hard enough, she can hear Jack with his parents, singing the song he had sung to her on the bow. That song was the only thing that kept her from going insane, the only thing that kept her connected to Jack.

A bright light shines in her face and a distant voice calls out. Rose immediately stops singing the song that she woke up singing. She turns and sighs in relief when she sees not only a boat, but also Jack grasping her hand, also in what seemed to be a peaceful sleep. He hadn't left her after all.
"Jack," She shakes his hand. "There's a boat Jack."
He doesn't respond.
"Jack. Jack!" She shakes his hand harder, but still there's no response.
"Jack!" Realization dawns on Rose. Jack wasn't going to wake up. He wasn't asleep. He was dead. She begins to sob and shakes his hand one more time. "Jack...there's a boat."
Sobbing, she lays her head down on his cold hand, losing the will to live. That's when a voice, strong and determined, a voice that will remain with her throughout her life when she had began to lose hope, speaks up in her ear: "Don't even think about giving up Rose. You promised."
"Jack?" Rose opens her eyes, she looks over at her beloved, but he still hasn't moved.
"Keep your promise Rose. Get on that boat," The voice repeats.
"Come back!" Rose calls, but her voice is so weak from the cold that it comes out in a croak. Breaking loose from Jack's icy grip she kisses his hand.
"Never let go Rose," the voice whispers.
"I'll never let go! I promise," She lets him go and watches her quickly disappear into the icy depths of the sea. Gathering up all her strength, she forces herself into the freezing water and swims over to a dead officer with a whistle in his mouth. Snatching the whistle out of the officer's mouth, she begins to blow until she gets the boat's attention.
"Come about!" the officer in the lifeboat hollers, flashing the light on Rose's determined face, reminding her of the dream she just had of Jack. She can almost see Jack's smiling face mouthing the words I love you and never let go.
The Carpathia reached New York City and Rose is about to disembark. She couldn't wait to get off the ship. She has no desire whatsoever to set foot on another ship again. THere were too many bad memories.
She jumps as she feels a gloved hand touch her shoulder. She whirls around expecting to see Cal, ready to drag her back to her old life, but instead comes face to face with a officer.
"Your name love?" The officer asked.
Rose looks up at the rainy night sky and immediately knew what her new identity should be. "Rose. Rose Dawson."
"Thank you Miss," The officer nods, moving along to the next passenger.
Rose looks up at the statue with new meaning. For the first time she understood the fascination the immigrants had with the statue. It was a symbol for them, like it was now for her. It not only symbolized freedome, but it was also a symbol of the gift Jack had given her...the symbol of love, trust, and of course freedom.
"Thank-you Jack," Rose whispered. "I hope you're happy wherever you are."
"I am Rose," She can hear his voice in her mind. "I am."

Eighty five years later...

Rose is now a old woman and she had not only gotten through telling her and Jack's story, but she has returned the heart of the ocean to it's rightful place. With the Titanic.
She looks at her withered reflexion in the porthole and smiles as she thinks she can almost see Jack smiling back at her. But of course that was impossible. She couldn't have seen Jack smiling at her. He's been dead for eighty-five years now. So he couldn't be smiling at her.
Yawning tiredly, she slips under her covers and closes her eyes for the last time. Suddenly she's not on the Keldish anymore. She's under the North Atlantic, heading for the wreck of Titanic. Now she's a seventeen year old girl again and she's inside the wreck and as she goes further into the ship, the wreck disappears and she's on Titanic as it once was eighty-five years ago before it sank and she somehow knew exactly where to go. The first class dining saloon.
And there he was at the top of the steps by the clock. Waiting for her. Nodding to all her long dead friends she had made aboard the ship, she ascends the stairs. Her heart leaps as Jack turns around and smiles at her, his eyes full of happiness and love. He holds out his hand for her and she takes it and allows him to pull her up the rest of the way. He takes her in his arms and they passionately kiss. Losing all track of their surroundings.
"I missed you Jack," Rose smiled once they came up for air.
"I missed you too. Come on. My parents have been wanting to get to know you better. They only got to see you that one time you know."
"Ok," Rose takes his arm, and he leads her into a bright white light where two figures await

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