Written by Kirsty Ferreira
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron

Background: Jack and Rose were rescued after the Titanic sank, and vowed never to part, ever again. Life was difficult for the couple after arriving in New York. Both had to seek employment to ensure their survival. Rose had discovered the Heart of the Ocean in her coat pocket, but kept it as a reminder of what she had left behind. Jack found himself a steady job, which he excelled at, and moved quickly through the ranks. Jack and Rose were blessed with four children of their own, and six grandchildren.

It was Christmas Eve, 1970, and the entire family had once again reunited for the traditional family Christmas. A seventy-five-year-old Rose and a seventy-eight-year-old Jack sat in their usual chairs, with their grandchildren seated on the floor in front of them. The parents sat on the other chairs, or stood in the doorways, with knowing looks on their faces. As was the family Christmas traditional, so was this gathering in front of the fireplace becoming traditional.

Jack and Rose's youngest daughter walked through with the last of the coffees, and took her place next to her husband. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I can't believe I'm going to hear the story again. It gives me shivers every time, but I keep coming back for more." Her husband laughed softly, gently took her hand in his, and placed a loving kiss on her cheek.

"Ahem! If you're quite finished," began Rose, with a twinkle in her eye, sounding very much like her own mother. "I think we should begin."

Jack looked over at Rose and returned the smile. He took a breath and began. "Well, it was April, 1912, and my best friend Fabrizio and I had decided that it was time to move on to America. We had had our fill of England. Besides, drifting at that time was what kept us alive!"

This time, the eldest daughter leaned over towards her husband. "Judging from Daddy's face, I sure wished I had met this Fabrizio. He sounds like a good guy to have around. He obviously meant the world to him, too."

Her husband smiled, and replied, "Darling, I want you to know that you mean the world to me, too."

Rose continued with the story. "At that time, I was engaged to be married to a wealthy steel tycoon. Mother had practically forced me into the engagement, and I was not happy one bit."

"Meanwhile, Fabrizio and I were enjoying a serious game of poker! You see, a pair of third class tickets were up for grabs for the Titanic." The group laughed at Jack's use of the word grabs, it was quite amusing for a seventy-eight-year-old man to use such modern language.

"To this day I still thank my lucky stars. If it had not been for them, you all would not be here!" Once again, the group erupted in peals of laughter. However, they did not notice Rose blushing ever so slightly. "Obviously, we managed to win the hand with the tickets, and just managed to get aboard the Titanic."

"You know, I never realized how valuable my painting were at that time. How I miss them," mused a wistful Rose. "It was, and still is, our love of art that really brought a well-rounded sense of meaning to our relationship." She spoke directly to Jack, as if she needed confirmation once more of their strong bond of love. Jack's response was a reassuring smile and a quick squeeze of the hand.

"It was much later on the first night when we actually met. To this day, I'm still grateful that I was there. I cannot imagine how my life would have turned out. Probably still drifting!" The group once more chuckled at their own versions of an ancient Jack drifting from place to place.

"So am I," began Rose softly. "It was the lowest and saddest moment of my life, which was turned around to be the most joyous. I felt as if my life were not my own. Society and social standing were forcing me to be something that I wasn't. My only thought was to get away from it all. Only, Jack had other ideas." She offered a smile at Jack, and looked at all her children's faces before continuing. "I had succeeded in climbing over the rail, preparing myself to jump, but I was stopped and goaded in climbing back over. It was at that moment, when Cal mistreated Jack, that I knew my life had changed. For the better."

"It was the next day when I got to know her better," added Jack, laughing to himself at the memory. "She had sought me out, to thank me, or so she said, although I found out she had other motives. We ended up speaking the entire day, talking about ourselves and the things we wanted to do once we got off the ship. And we did every one of those things."

"Tell me again what they were. Please, Grandpa!" chorused the children on the floor in front of him.

Jack smiled and reached over to squeeze Rose's hand. "Let's just say that they were things that were meaningful to the both of us."

Rose picked up the story and continued. "We were all at dinner that night. My mother and Cal tried their best to belittle your grandpa, but he bounced back stronger than ever! It was also the night that held my celebration of life. I had never felt so daring in my life before!" Rose closed her eyes for a second, remembering the upbeat Irish music and Jack encouraging her to go with it.

"Well, needless to say, we found out how everyone else felt the next day. I tried to go see Rose, but was pushed away. Later, I learned that Rose got treated far more harshly by her own mother and Cal. I caught up to the group that was taking a stroll around the ship and managed to talk to your grandmother. I wanted to talk some sense into her, which worked, as you can see."

"Now, Dad, when there's time and we're alone, you have got to tell me how you did it. I need to know how to talk some sense into your daughter here," laughed Jack's son-in-law, who good-naturedly poked his wife, who was sitting next to him.

"Oh, please, Daddy. When will you learn? It's you, silly, that needs sense." The couple’s oldest daughter rolled her eyes at her father, then turned back towards her husband and did the same.

This little scene had caused much laughter amongst the others, but Rose managed to calm everyone down. "Anyway...that afternoon I came to realize where my life was heading, and did not like it one bit. I found Jack, and we spent the rest of the night together. I had my portrait drawn, only it was lost in the sinking." Rose's voice began to take on a hint of sadness mixed with frustration.

"This was also the night of the sinking. I'll never forget that night for as long as I live. Do you know that Cal actually shot at us? He could not stand the idea that Rose had chosen me over him! Needless to say, the actual sinking was very terrifying. After the ship had sunk, I found a raft for your grandmother to stay afloat on. The only problem was that it couldn't support me, too!" Rose gently leaned over and patted Jack's arm.

"If the lifeboat had not come when it did, you would not have known your father." She spoke this directly to her oldest daughter. "You see, unbeknownst to me, you were conceived that night. That night that was mixed with such joy and sadness."

Everyone fell silent at this point, each in their own private thoughts. Jack then began to pray, quietly, for all those families who had lost their loved ones, and to give thanks for saving their own lives.

The End.

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