Written by RonXbouillabase
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.

"Grandma, if this is too hard for you, I can--"

"No!" said Rose firmly. She walked slowly, haltingly, to the image of the ruined door. She touched the screen with her fingertips. I remember this door when it was a gleaming mahogany with beautiful glass in it. I remember the groomed steward in the tuxedo, opening it politely. It is all turned to dust now. Look at me--how I used to be, and how I am.

We were both young
When I first saw you
I close my eyes
And the flashback starts
I’m standing there
On a balcony in summer air.

"See, I’m involved now. You jump, I jump."

Rose had looked toward him with hesitancy, seeking security but too out-of-sorts to realize it.

"W-what do you mean? That’s silly, don’t talk that way--"

"Not to mention, the water’s ice cold. Maybe ten degrees, maybe below zero. I fell into a pond once, when I was ice skating. You know what ice skating is, don’t you--"

"Yes!" Rose snapped. "Yes, you idiot! Of course I know what ice skating is."

"Well, like I said, I fell into the pond, and I still remember that feeling--the feeling of a thousand knives hitting me all over. It ain’t a pretty death…would you really want to die that way?"

And then…

"Well," Cal had said reluctantly, fingering the stubble where his moustache used to be. "I suppose you men can give him twenty dollars and call it a deal."

Rose, in spite of herself, had wanted to know more about Jack. And, evidently, she was grateful enough to forget about his social class, unlike Cal. "Is that really the price these days for saving the love of your life?"

"All right," he acquiesced. "What say you to forty dollars, and he comes to dinner?"

Rose said nothing, but flashed a grateful smile at him and looked back at Jack as they walked away. You owe me, her look had clearly said.

I know, his returning glance had replied.

See the lights
See the party the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say hello.

"Sorry," Jack had laughed after he had kissed her hand. "I saw that in a nickelodeon once, and I always wanted to try it out."

Rose had laughed as well. His laughter was infectious.

Hanging onto his arm with pride, she had described the various guests milling around. "See, over there, that’s John Jacob Astor. His wife is the same age as me, and she’s already in a delicate condition. Society is buzzing about it. See how she’s trying to hide it?"

And indeed, the young Mrs. Astor had been trying to cover up her large belly with her hands and shawl.

Jack snorted.

"And over there," said Rose, waving condescendingly, "over there, that’s Lady Duff-Gordon. She designs lingerie, among her many other talents. And that’s Benjamin Guggenheim, with his French mistress, Madame Aubert. Mrs. Guggenheim is home with the children, of course. And…"

Little did I know
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said stay away from Juliet.

"Tell me," Rose’s mother had said, her voice colder than icicles. "How are the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Dawson? I hear they are first rate."

And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don’t go
And I said
Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
The time in the car
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run.

"Jack," she’d said, her eyes shining, "when the ship docks, I’m going with you."

"Really?" Jack was surprised. But not as shocked as he would have been.

"I know it doesn’t make sense. That’s why I’m trusting it."

You’ll be the prince
And I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story
Baby just say yes.

Darling, now you can keep us locked up together in your safe.

--Rose

Romeo save me
They’re trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult
But it’s real.

"Rose," Jack had said, taking her hand, "sometimes you can be the most obnoxious spoiled brat I have ever seen, but there’s a whole different side to you that they’re trying to get rid of. And if you go off and marry Cal, I’m scared that will die out."

Cal was jealous, ridiculous, and abusive. Perhaps he loved her in his own way, but only in his preconceived image of her--an elegant, beautiful society lady. Jack knew her for who she was.

Don’t be afraid
We’ll make it out of this mess
It’s a life story
Baby just say yes
I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town.

Is she coming? He told her later that’s what he had thought.

"Rose!" he’d shouted. "Rose, you’re here! Help!"

She looked for the key everywhere conceivable--and she couldn’t find it. Finally, she thought of the fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher!

They’d had faith in each other, courage for the sake of each other. And somehow, they were both pulled into the lifeboat--sopping wet and half-dead, but still alive, a precious gift from God.

And I said
Romeo save me
I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting
For you but you never come
Is this in my head? I don’t know what to think--
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said
Marry me Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone
I love you and that’s all I really know.

"Rose." He proposed in New York, in the small flat they’d worked so hard for, the first night they’d moved in. "Rose, will you marry me?"

He knelt and pulled a ring from his pocket. It was small and thin, but graceful and delicate. She loved it a thousand times more than she’d ever admired Cal’s ring.

I talked to your dad
Go pick out a white dress
It’s a love story
Baby just say yes.

After a long, two-hour conference with Rose’s mother in her new sewing store, she’d grudgingly given in.

‘Cause we were both young when I first saw you…

Rose sighed and came back to the present. "My husband died a couple of years ago. I will be with him soon. And I am happy I was able to tell my story after all these years."

Her granddaughter helped her back to her cabin.

The End.

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