ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Ten

Jack went to his parents' house while Rose was getting ready.

"Hey, Jack--your mother and I have planned a party for you tonight, sort of an engagement party and a welcome back party."

"Ah, Dad y'all didn't have to."

"I know, son. We wanted to. And I am sure you want to meet Oscar O'Daniel's wife."

"Oscar got married? No way!"

"Yep, and she's expecting!"

"I can't believe it! Oscar? Married? And expecting."

"Yes, he is."

"Whew! He can't be! He never wanted to get married!"

Later

"Rose, come on! The party is about to start!"

"I'll be right there. All right. I'm ready."

Jack turned around.

"Damn, Rose--you look gorgeous! I think we should just stay here!" he exclaimed, and she laughed.

"Well, I would look better if you didn't rush me, Mr. Dawson."

"Sorry. My offer is still up for staying here for the night."

"No, I want to meet your friends first. Then we can have a party of our own tonight."

"Well, well, well Rose...quite the sly one, aren't ya?"

"Come on. Let's go. Oh, where's Cora?"

"She is with my mom."

"Okay."

"Oh, Rose, I almost forgot. I'm sorry that while we were on the Carpathia I didn't give you a ring. So..." He dropped to his knee. "Rose, will you marry me?" he said, as he pulled out a gold band with a solitaire diamond.

"Jack, the answer is the same as before. Yes, of course!"

"I love you, Rose."

"I love you, too, Jack."

They kissed passionately.

"Is your offer still up for staying here?" Rose asked jokingly.

"Well, like you said, let's go see my old friends, and then we can have a party of our own tonight."

"Humph...all right," Rose said, acting disappointed.

"Come on. Let's get to the party."

At The Party

"Hey, Jack!" exclaimed a friendly voice.

"Oscar! I hear you got married!" Jack said.

"Yep...this is Mina O'Daniel. My wife."

"Nice to meet you. Oscar, this is Rose. We are getting married. Rose, this is Oscar, my best friend. We were the troublemakers at school," Jack said.

"Nice to meet you, Oscar and Mina."

"And to you, too, Rose," Mina said.

"Oh, David, this is Cora. We sort of adopted her."

"Well, hello, Cora...nice to meet you."

Jack and Rose told Oscar and Mina their story about how they met. Mina was in tears, and Oscar was shocked, when they were done telling their story.

"I know we've only known each other for two weeks, but we are still madly in love."

"Well, Jack, how did you manage to get HER?" Oscar questioned. "I mean, she is beautiful, but how? Rose, why would you want HIM?"

"I don't know...he is annoying, isn't he?" Rose said jokingly.

"I am still here!"

Rose laughed. "I love you, honey."

"I love you, too, Rose."

Irish music started playing. It was similar to the music on the Titanic.

Jack and Rose looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Do we dare?" Rose asked.

"We dare!" Jack said.

They got up and started dancing. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched the couple glide across the floor.

When the song ended, everyone was clapping for them.

They were too busy kissing to notice this, though.

They walked over to a table with drinks, and Jack gave one to Rose and got one for himself.

He then whispered, "I can't wait until the real party starts."

She smiled.

"Me, neither," Rose said with a sly grin on her face.

"Let's go in an hour, okay?"

"But, Jack, they will know."

"Well, you want to be an actress...act like you faint, and I will take you back to the house. Okay?"

"Jack, this is crazy!"

"But don't you trust crazy things?"

"You've got me there. All right. Tell me when."

"In about forty-five minutes, go talk to my mom and then you faint. I will come up to you and have my arm around you so you won't hit the ground, okay?"

"All right. I love you."

"I love you more, Rose."

"No, you don't. I love you more."

"Nope, I love you more."

"We love each other equally."

"Okay, but I still love you more."

And before Rose could get another word in, he walked away.

Forty-Five Minutes Later

"Hello, Elizabeth. Thanks for the party," Rose said.

"Oh, dear, you're welcome. I watched you and my son dance. You were amazing. You two have great chemistry."

"Thank you, Liz. Jack taught me."

Jack came up and put his arm around Rose. And the three of them talked for a while, and then Rose fainted.

"Oh, dear!" Liz exclaimed.

"Whoa. I better take her to the house."

And with that, Jack picked Rose up and went to the house.

Once out of sight, he put Rose down.

"You were wonderful. You're a good actress."

"Thank you," she said in a high-society accent.

"Now the real party starts," Jack said, once they were in the room. He kissed her passionately.

She returned the kiss with more passion.

They spent their night in the stars, where they always wanted to be.

Chapter Eleven
Stories