Jack raced home quickly and burst through the door. He slammed it unintentionally behind him.
"Rose! Rose!" he called.
A few seconds later, Rose came down the stairs. "Jack, what are you doing home so early?" she asked him.
Jack raced over to her, picked her up, and spun her around before kissing her face over and over again. "I'm ready, Rose! Let's get married today! In Central Park! It doesn't have to be big, but I want to marry you now! Come on!" Jack exclaimed, taking Rose's hand and trying to drag her out of the house.
Rose grabbed onto the doorframe and stopped him. "Jack, does it have to be now? I mean, I'm not exactly prepared for a wedding…" she said, but Jack quickly pressed his lips against hers.
"Sweetheart, we should be married today! Look at us! We're madly in love! I don't want to waste another moment of my life not being married to you!" he said, kissing her again. He hugged her. "I love you so much, Rose, that I'm willing to die for you! If that isn't enough to convince you to marry me today, then I don't know what is!"
"Jack, can't we at least wait until my father comes home? I want him to be there for us," said Rose.
Joseph was a very busy man and was away on another business trip.
Jack calmed down. "Oh, right," he said. "Of course we will!" He went back into the house, followed shortly by Rose.
*****
Joseph returned a few days later to hear the good news.
"Daddy, Jack and I are getting married," said Rose to her father.
Joseph dropped the teacup he'd been holding, which smashed on the floor. He cupped Rose's face in his hands. "Oh, Rosebud! I'm so happy for you! You're marrying the man you love!" he exclaimed, hugging her. He let go and walked over to Jack. "And Jack! You're marrying my daughter! Oh, I cannot believe that someone could make her so happy!" Joseph exclaimed, pulling Jack into a hug. He patted his back twice before letting him go. "When is the wedding?"
"Today, actually," said Rose.
"Today?" exclaimed Joseph. "Well, then…"
"We planned it to be in Central Park in an hour," said Jack.
"Well, then, you'd better get ready! Both of you!" exclaimed Joseph, rushing out of the room.
*****
The wedding in Central Park wasn't very big. It only had a few guests—Lynette, Martin, Cora, and Elizabeth, whom Rose had not seen yet. Joseph was there, as well as the butler. Daniel was there, sitting proudly in his seat. Rose's director and Jack's art studio boss were there, too. There was a tent set up where Rose was getting ready. She heard the flap open, and she assumed that it was Lynette.
"Lynette, I need your help with this flower," said Rose without looking back, handing the person behind her the flower pin. A hand that looked a bit older and pampered took the pin and placed it in Rose's hair. "Lynette, I'm not sure that I'm ready. I mean, I love Jack. Really, I do. I'm just…I'm just not ready."
"Oh, Rose, it's your last minute hesitation speaking," said the woman, who didn't sound like Lynette at all. Rose's nervous expression was exchanged for an angry one. She turned around.
"What are you doing here, Mother?" Rose demanded.
"To support you, Rose. If you really love this man, then I, as your mother, have no choice but to support your decision, no matter how much I disapprove of them," replied her mother. Outside, music began playing.
"It's time for the wedding," Rose said quietly, looking back into the mirror.
Her mother gave her one last look. "You'll be one happy family. You, Mr. Dawson, and the baby," she said, rubbing her hand lightly on Rose's bulging stomach. She felt a small kick against her hand. "Good luck out there, Rose." She left and went to sit down next to Joseph.
"Hello, Joseph," she said.
"Hello, Ruth," said Joseph in a cool tone.
"Back from the grave, I see," said Ruth.
"Back from hell, I see," said Joseph, and they faced forward.
Rose walked out of the tent and down the aisle. Jack stood at the end. Once Rose was within reach, he held out his hand, and she took it, smiling at him. He smiled at her, as well. The minister began the ceremony, and they said their vows. At last, the moment where everything changed came.
"I now pronounce you man and wife," said the minister. "You may kiss your bride."
Jack and Rose took a few moments to look at each other, piercing blue eyes looking into forest green. And at last they shared their first kiss as Jack and Rose Dawson, the married couple.