LOVE THAT NEVER FADES
Chapter Fifteen

Santa Monica

Three days had passed since Jack and Rose had boarded the train. They were getting closer to Santa Monica, and were going to arrive in the next hour or so. Rose was sleeping on his shoulder, while Jack looked out the window, watching the scenery pass by. It was about five o’clock in the afternoon on the twenty-third of April. Jack ran his fingers through his hair, wishing for them to get there already. He was getting tired of sitting on the train, doing absolutely nothing but wait for three days to pass. Before he had met Rose, he hadn’t minded sitting in a train for more than three days, since he had hopped on it while it was moving. Back then, he had had no money to afford a ticket, so that was the only way he’d get to places.

But now, he had a wife and didn’t really look forward to sitting on a train for three days, waiting to arrive in Santa Monica as the train made its way across the country. Jack looked down at Rose’s sleeping face. Her arm was draped around his waist, while his was over her shoulder. Her head rested on his shoulder as she slept like an angel. Jack smiled and kissed the top of her head. He rested his head on the back of the seat and closed his eyes for awhile, hoping that when he woke up they would be in Santa Monica.

*****

An hour passed by, and the train came to a halt. Jack quickly opened his eyes and looked out the window. There, he saw the train station in Santa Monica. He smiled and looked at the still sleeping Rose. Jack gently shook her, and she opened her eyes. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Are we there?" Rose asked. Jack nodded. She smiled at him. "Finally." Jack laughed. Jack got up and took the wooden box from the seat across from them and held out his hand. Rose gladly took it and followed him off of the train and into the train station. "So, this is Santa Monica?" Rose looked around the station.

"Yep. The good old Santa Monica," Jack said, smiling. "Come on. We gotta stay in a hotel."

Jack led Rose out of the train station and led her to the nearest hotel. When they finally found one, they went inside and checked in, receiving the key to their room. Jack thanked the man and took Rose’s hand, leading her upstairs and to their assigned room. Once he found it, he opened the door and went inside, with Rose behind him. In the room, there was a queen-size bed in front of the window and one nightstand on each side. There was also a bureau on the left side of the room. Rose smiled and leaned on Jack’s shoulder. He looked at her and smiled. He kissed the top of her head and put the wooden box down beside the bed. Jack stretched and yawned.

"I think we should get some rest so tomorrow we can start looking around Santa Monica," Jack said. Rose smiled and went over to him.

"I love you," Rose said.

"I love you, too," Jack said, smiling. He leaned down and kissed her, laying her on the bed as he hovered over her. Once they pulled apart, they stared at each other lovingly.

"Take me to the stars again, Jack," Rose said, looking into his piercing blue eyes. Jack smiled.

"My pleasure," Jack said, kissing her once more. Both stripped out of their clothes, and Jack threw the covers over them, visiting the stars once more.

*****

It was two o’clock in the morning, and Jack and Rose were cuddled together, sleeping. Rose’s head lay on Jack’s bare chest, while his arm was draped across her shoulders. Suddenly, Rose began breathing heavily, as if she was frightened, and tears began running down her cheeks while she slept. She stirred, causing Jack to wake up, and she began shaking.

"Jack...Jack, no...Jack, please come back. Don’t die...Jack...please...I love you. Don’t leave me...Jack...please, Jack. Don’t die!" Rose cried out in her sleep, tears running down her cheeks. Jack sat up and gently shook her.

"Rose...Rose, wake up," Jack said, trying to wake Rose up. "Rose, wake up! I’m here! Rose!" Rose opened her eyes, then sat upright, fright shining in her eyes. She looked down at her left hand, where her engagement ring and her wedding ring sat on her ring finger. Slowly, she turned to face Jack, and more tears came to her eyes. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him close, crying on his shoulder, saying his name over and over. "Shh. I’m here. I’m here. I’m not leaving you...everything will be all right. I promise." Jack hugged her close and rocked her back and forth to calm her down. Rose pulled away and looked into Jack’s worried eyes.

"Oh, Jack!" Rose cried, covering her face with her hands and sobbing. Jack hugged her once more.

"What happened?" Jack asked. Rose looked up at him.

"I had a dream about the Titanic and what we’ve been through...but it was different. When we were in the water, you were...you were...oh, Jack!" Rose cried, clinging to him, afraid that he’d disappear if she didn’t hug him. Jack suddenly knew what she had dreamt about, and hugged her close.

"I’m here, Rose. I’m not going anywhere," Jack said, wrapping his arms around her bare back. "Everything will be fine. I promise. I’m not going anywhere." Jack buried his face in her hair. Rose cried and just held him close.

"I love you!" Rose cried, holding onto him. "I love you."

All Jack could do was hold her close. She probably had had a dream that he had passed away, and that must’ve frightened her. Jack gently caressed her bare back to soothe her and calm her nerves. He hated to see her cry. It broke his heart. Jack kissed her head and just let her cry. It was all he could do. The Titanic was something they had both experienced, and it would haunt them for as long as they lived. A single tear slid down his cheek as he realized he had been close to death on that night, and he would’ve left Rose alone...to mourn over him. Jack hugged her close and buried his face in her fiery red hair, breathing in the scent.

"I love you, too, Rose," Jack whispered. He caressed her hair lovingly. "I will always love you." Rose just hugged him close and cried into his bare chest, letting the hot tears fall down her face and fall onto Jack’s chest. Jack pulled away, held her face in his hands, and looked into her eyes. "I just want you to remember that I’ll always be with you, no matter what. I’m never leaving your side. I promise." Rose looked up at him and kissed him.

"Oh, Jack. What would I do without you?" Rose asked, hugging him once more. Jack smiled weakly and hugged her back.

"I don’t know, but I do know that I wouldn’t be able to live without you," Jack said. Rose smiled and kissed him with all the passion in her. When they broke apart, they lay back down, cuddled close together, and just fell asleep into a dreamless slumber.

*****

It was now close to eight o’clock in the morning. Jack and Rose were still sleeping. The sun had crept into their room from the window above them, causing Jack to squeeze his eyes shut against the bright sun. Jack rubbed his eyes and sat up, yawning. He turned and saw that Rose was still asleep. Jack got up from the bed and put on his undergarments, which had been thrown on the floor the previous night. When he had, he scratched his head and remembered Rose waking up at two o’clock in the morning from a frightening nightmare. He sighed as he watched her sleeping form. She clung to the sheet, covering her naked body, and her red curls were spread out on the pillow. Her mouth was partly open, taking shallow breaths in her relaxed sleep.

Her eyelids were closed, preventing Jack from seeing her emerald green eyes, which he enjoyed looking into. Jack smiled and put on the rest of the clothes that he had thrown on the floor before they had made love. When Jack had dressed himself, he took some money and left the hotel to buy them a decent meal to eat for breakfast, since this hotel didn’t have room service. Jack walked fast, so that he could return before Rose woke up. He didn’t want her to cry just from finding that he was missing. When he exited the hotel, he turned the corner and went into a café.

Rose’s eyes suddenly fluttered open, awakening her from her dreamless sleep. She sat up slightly and looked around her. She stared at the spot beside her, finding it empty. Rose held the sheet close to her, trying to remember what had happened. After awhile, she remembered. Rose closed her eyes and sighed. She had had a nightmare about the ill-fated ship that both she and Jack and been on while it was sinking. Rose looked around, hoping to see Jack come out of the bathroom, but the door didn’t open. She got up and covered herself with the sheet. She stood in the middle of the room, confused.

"Jack?" Rose called out, her voice shaking. No response. Where had Jack gone? Did he leave me? Oh, dear God, please tell me that he didn’t. It would break my heart, knowing that he doesn’t love me anymore...does he love me? Was it right to marry Jack so soon? Oh, dear Lord, please help me. Bring Jack back to me. Don’t let him leave me, not after what we’ve been through. Please! Tears suddenly welled up in Rose’s eyes at the thought of Jack leaving her. She closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling down her delicate cheeks. Rose suddenly burst into tears and fell to her knees, holding onto the sheet. "Oh, Jack, why? Why did you leave me?" Rose covered her face with one of her hands, the other holding onto the sheet.

Jack had just exited the café, holding a brown bag filled with a jar of coffee, two pastries, and two freshly baked muffins. Jack walked back towards the hotel he was staying in and went inside. He climbed the stairs and reached the hotel room that Rose and himself were staying in. Jack was about to open the door when he heard sobbing. Perplexed, Jack opened the door and found Rose on the floor, clinging to the sheet, crying. Her back was facing him, and her body shook with sobs. Jack closed the door quietly and placed the brown paper bag on the bureau beside him. Slowly, he made his way towards her and knelt down beside her, wrapping his arms around her.

Rose jumped, feeling a pair of strong arms around her body. She turned and found Jack looking at her worriedly. A smile appeared on her lips as she threw her arms around Jack’s neck, crying on his shoulder. Confused, Jack wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her. The sheet Rose was clinging to before had fallen down, showing off her breasts but covering her waist. Rose hugged Jack tightly, not letting him go. She had thought that Jack had left her, only to find that he hadn’t. Jack pulled away and looked into Rose’s eyes.

"What happened?" Jack asked, concerned and worried for Rose.

"I-I thought you left me," Rose said, looking at Jack with tear-filled eyes. Jack just chuckled sweetly.

"Left you?" Jack asked, as if she was out of her mind. "Rosie, I would never leave you. I married you, didn’t I?" Jack saw Rose nod, looking down. "Rose, if I married you, I’m going to live with you and love you until the day death tears us apart. I’m true to our vows. I’ll love and cherish you, if you’re sick or not, if you’re rich or poor, until death tears us apart. Rose, it doesn’t matter to me if your rich, poor, sick, healthy, or whatever. What matters to me is that I love you. And what made me fall in love with you was you. Not your wealth, but you, Rose Dawson, you made me fall in love with you." Jack caressed her cheek with his thumb. Rose smiled, held the hand that was on her cheek, and closed her eyes, tears of happiness beginning to fall down her delicate cheeks. "Rose, I want you to know that I love you, and I would never leave or hurt you. Okay?" Rose nodded. "Trust me on this, Rose. I love you. And after what we’ve been through together, I’ll be sure to protect you from all the dangers in the world."

"I trust you," Rose said. Jack smiled and brought her face to his, kissing her lovingly.

"C’mon," Jack said, getting up and holding out his hand. "I got us some breakfast." Rose smiled, took his hand, and allowed him to help her up. Rose pulled the sheet over her chest, standing up straight. Jack smiled at her. "So, you’re planning to wear the sheet all day?" Rose laughed and shook her head.

"No," Rose said, smiling. "I’ll be right back." Rose turned, went to pick up the underclothes that were thrown on the floor, and put them on, as well as the dress she had worn yesterday. Once she was fully dressed, she went over to Jack and sat on the bed beside him as he took out the coffee, the pastries, and the muffins. He hand Rose her coffee, pastry, and muffin, setting his coffee cup on the floor and placing the pastry and the muffin on his lap while he placed the brown paper bag on the bed, behind him. Rose took a sip of the coffee and placed the cup on the floor, as well, since they didn’t have a small table. She began devouring her pastry, enjoying the sweet taste of it, better than the food she had been used to when she had been in first class.

Rose looked over at her new husband and smiled, watching him devour his pastry, as well. Rose continued eating her pastry until she had eaten all of it. She picked up the muffin from her lap and began eating that, as well. Once she had finished the muffin, she picked up her coffee cup from the floor and slowly drank the hot fluid. From the corner of her eye, she could see Jack doing the same. After ten minutes had passed, both had finished their breakfasts and begun disposing of the trash that was left over. Once they were finished, Jack smiled. Rose smiled back and went to stand in front of him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Jack smiled and leaned down, placing a loving kiss on her lips. Rose craned her neck up so the kiss could go deeper, and brought her hands to the back of his neck, running her fingers through his hair.

Jack placed his hands on the small of her back, gently pulling her close against his body. He lifted her up, lips still connected, and spun her around. Rose let out a shriek as they kissed and laughed lovingly, holding onto each other. Jack laughed as they kissed and continued spinning her around, holding onto her waist so that she wouldn’t fly out and fall. Shortly after, he put her down, but he was still kissing her. Rose was the one to pull away. She looked up at him and smiled.

"So, what are we going to do today?" Rose asked. Jack smiled.

"Well, first we’ll go to the pier and drink cheap beer, then we’ll ride the roller coaster ‘til we throw up, and then ride horses on the beach...right in the surf, just like we talked about on the Titanic," Jack said, smiling. Rose smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. She threw her arms around him, hugging him with pure love and adoration.

"We’re going to head out for the horizon, aren’t we?" Rose asked.

"I promised you, didn’t I?" Jack asked. "You know I don’t break my promises." Rose smiled and looked up at him, bringing her lips to his, bringing him into a kiss. "C’mon. Let’s get going." Jack held out his hand. Rose smiled and took his hand, allowing him to lead her out of the hotel. Jack called a cab, and both got inside.

"Where to, miss?" the driver asked Rose. Jack and Rose looked at each other, remembering when Jack had said that. Jack smiled, as did Rose.

"To the Santa Monica Pier," Rose said, trying not to laugh. The driver drove off, wondering why the couple was suddenly acting strange. Jack and Rose interlocked hands, staring at each other lovingly. Less than fifteen minutes later, the cab arrived at the Santa Monica Pier. Jack reached into his pocket, pulling out the money he had taken from the bank. He retrieved five dollars and handed it to the man. The man was about to give him his change, but Jack shook his head.

"Keep the change," Jack said, smiling. The driver smiled, as well, and thanked him. Jack and Rose left the cab. Rose stopped and looked at the pier in awe. A hundred yards away stood the amazing roller coaster that Jack had talked about, and a dozen yards away from that was the beach. Rose smiled and looked up at her husband. "So, Mrs. Dawson, are you ready to head out for the horizon?" Jack looked at Rose, a playful smile on his face. Rose looked at him and smiled.

"Of course, Mr. Dawson. I’m ready when you’re ready," Rose said. Jack smiled and kissed her, holding her close to him. He led her towards a bar that he had gone to when he had been there. He opened the door for Rose and let her go in front of him. The place was dimly lit, with only five individual lights hanging from the ceiling to light the room. Rose could see about ten tables around the bar, and some men at the tables played poker, drank beer, smoked, and talked--everything that men usually do in bars. Jack placed his hand on her waist, bringing her closer to him. He began walking towards the bar, where there were individual stools waiting to be sat on. Jack helped Rose sit on one of the stools, sitting on one beside her.

"Two beers, please!" Jack called, banging on the counter to get the bartender’s attention.

"Coming right up," the bartender said. Jack recognized the voice and smiled.

"Well, if it isn’t good old James Anderson!" Jack said. The bartender stopped and looked up.

"Well, I’ll be. Jack Dawson, where in the hell have you been?" Mr. Anderson asked, smiling.

"Here and there," Jack said, smiling. "Oh, I would like for you to meet my wife, Rose Dawson. Rose, this is James Anderson. I would always come down to this pub after I draw my portraits and drink beer here. We got to be good friends." Rose smiled.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Anderson," Rose said, smiling.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Dawson," James said.

"Oh, please call me Rose," Rose insisted.

"As long as you call me James, I’ll call ya Rose." James smiled. Rose smiled back.

"Seems fair to me." Rose smiled. James poured the beers into two glasses and handed them to the couple. Rose took the glass and began drinking it, shocking James.

"Well, I never seen a woman drink that much before in my life. Jack, you got yourself some strong, free-willed wife there. Take care of her," James said.

"Don’t worry. I will," Jack said, smiling. Rose set the glass down, her chest heaving from gulping the beer without taking a breath. Jack smiled and took a sip of his beer. Jack turned and looked around the bar, remembering the last time he had been here. He had met two people here, two people who had helped him when he had needed help. Jack looked around the bar, seeing men playing poker, drinking beer, arm wrestling, fighting, and just talking. He saw a table with two men sitting across from each other, talking. To Jack, they looked familiar. One of the men had brown hair with matching eyes, while the other had dark brown hair, with the same eyes as the other had. Jack squinted, and realized that the two men were the men who had helped him when he had been in Santa Monica. Those two men were Jonathan Michaels and Charles Stephens. Jack smiled and set his glass down, getting down from the stool and going over to the table they were sitting at, leaving Rose alone on the stool.

When Jack had reached the table where he had seen his friends, he smiled. He just stood there, watching the two men playing poker and talking. Jack turned, finding Rose looking at him, confused. Jack just gave her a reassuring smile, sending her a message from his eyes that everything would be fine. Rose smiled back and took a long drink of the beer she was holding in her hand. Jack smiled and turned back to his friends, who were now staring at him. At first, they didn’t acknowledge him, but a few moments later, their eyes widened and both stood up, hugging Jack. Jack smiled, hugging both of them.

"Jack, where have you been?" Jonathan asked, looking Jack over.

"Yeah. You’ve been gone for two years...where have you been, exactly?" Charles asked. Jack just smiled.

"I’ve been everywhere. New York, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Norway...you guys name it, I’ve been there," Jack said, smiling happily.

"Wow. You’re some traveler," Jonathan said.

"Well, I’m Jack Dawson. Jack Dawson is a traveler," Jack said. "Although I may cut down on all the traveling."

"Why?" Jonathan asked, his face wrinkled in confusion.

"Well, I’m settling down," Jack said. "I got married."

"M-married?" Charles asked, eyes wide with shock. "The Jack Dawson, who wouldn’t let any woman touch him, got married?" Jack nodded. "When?"

"Four days ago. We’re on our honeymoon," Jack said.

"Where is she?" Jonathan asked.

"Over there, sitting by the bar," Jack said, looking over.

"The blonde?" Charles asked. Jack turned and found that a blonde woman was sitting beside Rose, having a conversation with her.

"No...I don’t know the blonde," Jack said, smiling. "The red-headed beauty."

"How’d you two meet?" Jonathan asked, curious. "I mean, there has to be some reason you two have met. A woman that beautiful...with you? I mean, come on."

"It’s a long story, a story I’m not yet ready to tell, but I’ll tell you that I met her onboard a ship," Jack said, placing his hands in his pockets, trying to keep his nerves at bay. He hadn’t mentioned the Titanic, but the mere thought of it made his body chill.

"Can we meet your wife?" Charles asked. "I mean, if the Jack Dawson I know got married, I have a right to know who married him." Jack smiled.

"Sure," Jack said, leading them towards Rose. Rose turned and looked up at Jack, with a loving smile. "Rose, I’d like you to meet two men I met when I was in Santa Monica. This is Jonathan Michaels and Charles Stephens. Jon, Charles, this is my beautiful wife, Rose Dawson." Jack introduced his friends to Rose, who was smiling brightly.

"It’s good to meet you, Rose," Charles said. "It’s good to know Jack has married a beautiful woman." Rose smiled, a shade of pink covering her cheeks as she blushed at his kind words.

"It’s good to meet you, as well, Mr. Stephens," Rose said.

"Please...call me Charles. Mr. Stephens was my father," Charles said.

"All right...Charles." Rose smiled.

"If Jack ever causes trouble," Jonathan said, looking over the beauty Jack had married, "you call me, and I’ll take care of him." Rose laughed.

"Don’t worry, Jon. I think I have him under control," Rose said. Jon smiled, as did Jack and Charles. Jack looked over at Rose and gave her a loving smile. A smile that he only gave to Rose--his wife. Rose smiled back, and her eyes shone as she did so. Jack leaned closer and kissed her, not caring if people were watching, nor that his friends were in front of him. All that mattered to him was his love for Rose. A love that he cherished with all his heart. A love that was found aboard a doomed ship between two different people from different classes. As Jack pulled away, he stared into the beauty of Rose’s eyes and smiled. Jack moved a red curl that was in Rose’s face and pushed it behind her ear, caressing her cheek as he did so. He looked at his wife with love and care shining in his eyes, knowing that she was the love of his life and that she deserved to be happy--deserved to head out for the horizon, as they had once talked about onboard the unsinkable ship. Rose deserved to fulfill her dreams here in Santa Monica--just as they had talked about. Jack smiled, moved his hand down to her lap, and cupped her hand in his, holding onto it tightly, but with love. He knew that now Jack and Rose Dawson would start their lives and head out for the horizon...whenever they felt like it. They smiled at each other and kissed once more, enjoying the presence of one another. Enjoying being husband and wife for the first time, enjoying being on their honeymoon in Santa Monica--the place of Rose’s dreams.

Chapter Sixteen
Stories