ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Seven

Jack woke up, and looked over at Rose, who was studying him thoroughly. "Good morning," she said.

He responded with a passionate kiss. "Now it's even better!" he said.

A knock on the door broke their loving stare.

It was Ruth and Cora.

Ruth was carrying Cora, because she was still asleep, and she and Molly needed to go out to the deck.

Jack took Cora to her room, while Ruth and Rose talked.

Rose said, "Mother, we are moving to Jack's hometown in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. But we are going to Santa Monica for the honeymoon, so we can visit you in Denver on our way there. All right?"

"Oh, Rose, that sounds perfect! I am sure you will have an amazing time. Who is going to watch Cora while you two are on your honeymoon?"

"Well, Mother, I was wondering if you and Molly can take care of her."

"Really, Rose? I would absolutely love it! She is such a sweetheart!"

By this time, Jack had walked in and greeted Ruth with a hug.

"Well, ladies, what are you two talking about?"

"Oh, Mother is going to watch Cora while we are on our honeymoon."

"Really? Thanks, Mrs. DeWitt Bukater!"

"Oh, Jack, call me Ruth. And anytime. Well, I better get going. Molly wants me to meet her on the deck."

"All right. Bye, Mother!"

"Bye, Ruth."

"Well, Jack, we had better get ready to dock."

"Yeah. Do you think I should wake Cora right now, or let her sleep?"

"No, let her sleep until we are ready. Then, wake her up."

"All right."

After Jack was ready, he heard a knock on the door. He opened it, and to his surprise, it was Caledon Hockley!

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Jack asked.

"I have come to take Rose, and pay you back!" Cal said, and then tried to punch Jack.

Jack ducked just in time, and then punched Cal in the stomach.

Rose came out, and Cal grabbed her arm. "Let me go!"

"No, Rose, you're coming with me!"

"Oh, no, she is not!" Jack said, as he punched Cal, sending him to the floor.

"Now, leave us alone!" Jack said, as he pushed Cal out the door.

"Are you okay, Rose?"

"Yeah. I am fine. My arm just hurts a little."

Cora woke up with all of the screaming, and went to Rose. Rose picked her up.

"Rosie, what happened?"

"Oh, nothing, dear. It's okay. We are going to be docking in about two hours ,so you need to go get ready, okay?"

"Okay."

Jack smiled. "She calls you Rosie, and your mother Ruthie. I hope she doesn't call me Jackie!" He laughed, as did she.

"Well, I haven't been called Rosie since my father died."

"Oh, Rose, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault."

"Well, I don't want to see you in pain, Rose."

"I know, darling. I know."

Two Hours Later

"Come on, Rose! Come on, Cora! We need to hurry up and go see the Statue of Liberty," Jack said, as he waited impatiently for Rose and Cora to finish getting ready.

"Hold on, Jack. It won't walk away, you know!" Rose said sarcastically.

Rose walked out of the room with Cora in her arms.

"Women--why are they always taking so long to get ready?" Jack murmured, as Rose walked by him.

"I heard that!" Rose said.

"What? Me? I didn't say anything," Jack said, laughing.

"Well, anyway, Mother told me to make sure we meet her at the bow, so we can ride with her and Molly to the Waldorf Hotel."

"All right," Jack said, as he grabbed Cora out of Rose's arms so that Rose didn't have to carry her the whole way.

When they got outside, they met up with Ruth and Molly.

There was a crowd of people at the dock.

But Rose wasn't paying attention to that. She stared at something that loomed over her.

Jack realized that she had gotten quiet, so he looked at the Statue of Liberty with her, and whispered, "I love you, Rose," in her ear.

Then he began singing, "Come Josephine in my flying machine..."

She quietly giggled, and said, "I love you, too, Jack."

It was a tough fight getting through the reporters and worried people waiting to see their loved ones come off the Carpathia.

Molly led the group to the car that awaited them.

Chapter Eight
Stories