Two Months Later
There was a knock at the door.
Rose answered it.
"Is a Mr. Jack Dawson home?" a man in a soldier uniform asked.
"No...but I'm his wife. May I help you?"
"Yes...give this to him as soon as possible."
"I will."
"Thank you," he said, and left.
Rose ripped it open.
"Oh, my God!" she screamed.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Alexander asked, walking down the stairs.
"I'll tell you when Daddy gets home, dear," Rose said, and tried to hide her tears. "Why don't you go play with your sisters?" she asked.
"Because they're playing with dolls."
Rose smiled.
"Well, Daddy will be home any minute, and you can play with him after I get finished talking with him."
"Okay, Mommy," he said, and ran back upstairs.
*****
"Rose...I'm home!" Jack called out, walking into the house.
He walked into the living room, and was immediately worried by the look on her face.
"Honey, what's wrong?" he asked, sitting next to her.
"Read this." She handed him the telegram.
"Shit..." he said, silently.
"Jack...I can't live without you. Don't go."
"Rose...I don't have to leave until January."
"I know, but the time will fly by, Jack."
"Rose...I promise you, I'll come home...I promise."
"Oh, Jack." She began to cry, and he put her head on his chest.
"It's okay, angel...I love you."
"I love you, too, Jack. More than anything."
Six Months Later
January 4, 1918
Like Rose had said, time did fly by.
Jack, Rose, and their children were standing on the train station platform.
"Don't go, Daddy...I'm going to miss you," Lizzy said.
"Yeah," the other three children cried.
"I know...I'll miss you, too. I'll be gone for a little while. Only a little while. Now you be good for Mommy, okay? Will you do that for me?"
They all nodded.
He stood up and looked into Rose's eyes.
"Never let go, okay? Promise me."
"I promise," she said, between sobs.
"God, I'm going to miss you. Don't cry, Rose. You're breaking my heart."
"Oh, Jack...please hurry home. The sooner you leave, the sooner we celebrate your return."
"I love you, Rose." His eyes welled up with tears.
"I love you, too, Jack. I'm going to miss you so much."
"I know...I'll miss you more," he said, while she put a picture of their family in his pocket.
"I'll write to you every day," Rose said.
"I'll write to you as much as I can."
The train whistle blew.
"Never let go," he said.
And after kissing them all once more, he boarded the train and cried.