DAPHNE’S STORY OF FINDING HER FATHER
Chapter Seven

Jack's breath moved against Rose's flushed cheeks as their moans faded away. He positioned himself to be able to look down at Rose, whose eyes where still closed in fear that she would drown in his blue eyes.

She could feel his heartbeat as his bare chest rested against hers. His artist’s fingers brushed away the red locks on her forehead before moving his hand behind her neck. Jack could do nothing but brush his cheek against hers while whispering words of love and comfort. He wanted to memorize every detail of his delicate yet powerful Rose with whom he had fallen in love with.

"Rose?" Jack asked, longing to read her eyes. His wish was fulfilled when Rose immediately set her gaze upon him.

"Yes, Jack?"

"How do we always end up in the back of a car?" he asked with a grin and kissed her cheek gently.

Rose lightly laughed before replying, "I don't know. I guess it's our traditional way of going to the stars."

"Well, could we possibly find a more…um…comfortable place? There's barely any room back here." Their laughter resonated before vanishing in a long silence. Rose looked at Jack, who was still playing with her curls.

"I'm in love with you, Jack Dawson," Rose said as she pulled him to her and kissed him. Regretfully, Jack pulled away from her and did nothing but smile back at her.

"Really?" Jack asked. "Well, I'm in love with you, Rose DeWitt--"

"Dawson. Rose Dawson," Rose said, a grin on her face. Jack blushed at Rose's remark, and his mind drifted back to a few hours ago when he got down on one knee and asked Rose to marry him.

"Rose…you saying yes to me when I asked you to marry me was the best thing that could ever happen to me," Jack told Rose as he lazily began to play with a curl in her hair. Rose smiled at Jack.

"It was the best thing that ever happened to me, too, Jack. Ever since I found out that I was pregnant with Daphne, I kept wishing that you were with me and that we could get married. It seems that now my wish has come true," Rose said with a smile as she ran a hand through his thick blond hair.

"Rose, I love you and Daphne so much, and it means a lot to me that we all stay together as a family. What are we going to do after we get married? Where are we going to live? What will happen, Rose?" Jack asked with concern in his voice. Rose's eyes began to widen. She hadn't even thought about that. What would happen? Rose looked Jack in the eyes doubtfully.

"Jack, I didn't even think of that…what are we going to do?" Rose asked, doubt and concern overwhelming her voice.

*****

When Daphne woke up, her head hurt. She put her hand to her head and felt something wrapped around it. Daphne looked around, finding that she was in a hospital room. The door opened and Jack and Rose walked in with Dr. Roberts.

"Hello, Miss Dawson. It's nice to see you awake," Dr. Roberts said. Daphne looked at Jack and Rose in confusion. They were holding hands, and Daphne noticed an engagement ring on Rose's finger. Rose sat on the edge of the bed.

"Are you okay? You hit your head pretty badly," Rose asked. Daphne nodded. Dr. Roberts walked up to Daphne, took the bandage off her head, and threw it away. He took Daphne's arm and examined it. Daphne jumped a little and Jack put his hand on Daphne's shoulder.

"She broke her arm when she was hit by that car," Dr. Roberts explained.

"What car?" Daphne asked.

"You were hit by a car and you've been in a coma," Rose answered.

"Who was the driver?" Daphne asked.

"Cal. You remember him, don't you?" Rose asked.

"You mean the guy who framed Dad, who slapped you, and who shot at you and Dad? Yeah, I think I do," Daphne answered. Dr. Roberts checked the cast on Daphne's arm and left the room.

"I can see that you not only have a sense of humor like me, but you also have the same opinion as me," Jack said with a grin. Daphne nodded her head and yawned tiredly.

"I’m really tired and my head aches," Daphne complained. Jack smiled and sat on the bed beside his daughter.

"Here. Lean on me," Jack said with a smile. Daphne smiled at her dad and with no hesitation rested her head on her father’s chest. Jack looked down at his resting daughter as her eyes began to close. Even though her eyes were closed, Daphne still spoke to her mother.

"So, Mom…I see that you’re wearing an engagement ring," Daphne said with a brazen smirk. Rose blushed and looked at her ring.

"Daphne, there is something your father and I have to tell you," Rose began. Daphne quickly opened her eyes and stared at her parents.

"What is it?" Daphne asked with a knowing smirk.

"We’re engaged now. But there is something else we want to tell you. Your father and I don’t know where we should raise a family. Jack has built a life here, I’ve built a life back home, and we’re not sure what should happen," Rose explained to her daughter. Daphne looked at both of her parents, full of anger.

"You guys can’t do this! You guys have been dreaming and thinking of each other for sixteen years. You can’t just throw all that away now," Daphne said, trying not to let tears roll down her cheeks. Jack took his daughter’s hand and put a brave smile on.

"Honey, your mother and I don’t want to lose each other, but we want to do what’s right for you. I know that you may be more comfortable where you and your mother have been living, and I won’t be mad if you want to live with your mother. I’ll visit you as many times as I can," Jack told her, trying his hardest not to let tears fall down his cheeks.

Daphne stared at both of her parents. She could see in their eyes that they wanted and needed each other. It would be a sin for them to be separated again after years of feeling lonely and incomplete. Daphne saw that, especially with her mother. Every time her mother brought Jack up, she could see in her beautiful green eyes that she was upset that she didn’t have Jack with her. It wouldn’t be fair that she would go to sleep another night without Jack holding her in his arms. Daphne had to think of a way to keep them together. After a few moments of thinking, Daphne had an idea.

"I just came up with an idea that can keep us all together," Daphne said with a smile.

"What?" her parents asked.

"Dad…in New York, so many companies need artists, and with your talent, we could get you to move your store over to New York. The pay is amazing. And Mom, I know that you’re going to say that it won’t be fair for Dad to leave this life behind, but maybe we can buy some property here and come to California during the holidays and the summer. Please…I actually know who I am now with both my parents…you can’t just take that away from me…from our family! Please…I don’t want that to go away."

Six Months Later

Daphne smiled as she watched Jack and Rose break away from their dance and walked towards a table. Jack and Rose had decided to go with Daphne's idea. Since Rose didn't have many friends, she had Daphne be the maid of honor and had a guy that Daphne had a crush on, Jim, be the best man.

"Now, fathers and daughters, you may go to the dance floor," a woman said from the stage. Jack walked up to Daphne and held his hand in hers.

"May I have this dance?" Jack asked. Daphne smiled and took his hand. Jack led Daphne to the dance floor and they began to slow dance. Daphne rested her head on Jack's shoulder.

"Dad?" Daphne asked into his shoulder as they danced around in circles. Jack looked down at his daughter.

"Yes, sweetie?" Jack asked. Daphne looked up at her father and she smiled proudly. She finally had her father. She knew who she was. Jack had helped her find her true self.

"I love you."

"I love you, too," Jack said.

The End.

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