LOVE THAT NEVER FADES
Chapter Twenty-One

Dwelling on the Past

The sun had already set when Jack and Rose pulled away from their kiss. Rose smiled, leaning against Jack’s chest and watching the sun disappearing over the horizon. The stars twinkled brighter, the waves crashing on the shore. The breeze grew colder, while Rose’s curls flew behind her. Jack guided the horse away from the surf, stopping a few feet away. Jack placed his arms around Rose’s waist, while she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness and love. Jack smiled, bringing his hand onto her face, his thumb gently caressing her porcelain cheek. The gentle breeze played with their hair while they smiled at each other. Jack pressed his lips against her forehead before he got off the horse. Taking the reins in his hands, he slowly led the horse back towards the stable, Rose still on the horse. Once they reached the stable, Jack stopped the horse and went to Rose’s side, holding out his arms to help her down. Rose smiled, bringing her arms around his neck, holding onto him tightly when he got her off the horse safely.

Rose was safely on the ground, her arms still around Jack’s neck. Her face was craned up, looking into Jack’s piercing blue eyes. Jack’s arms were around her waist, while he looked at her with loving eyes. Rose’s hands went to his cheeks, her thumbs gently running over them and feeling Jack’s skin against her own. Her eyes stared into his, while Jack held her close to him, as if protecting her from all the dangers the world had to offer. Rose’s fingers ran through Jack’s tousled hair, removing it from his eyes, a smile appearing on his face. Rose smiled back, pressing her lips against his, her hand going to the back of his head and her fingers gently running through every strand of hair. Jack’s hands traveled up her back, feeling the breeze blow her hair to the side, along with her dress. Jack’s hands held onto her, pressing her against himself, feeling the gentle warmth creeping through him while their kiss grew more intense.

Rose’s other arm went around his back, their lips brushing against each other‘s. They didn’t notice that the moon had risen up in the dark sky, giving them light as their kiss became loving and intense. Rose’s chest was heaving when their lips grew closer together, when Jack moved his face closer to Rose’s, wrapping his arms around her, while Rose’s arms came around his back. Rose’s face was craned up, their lips connected. After a minute passed by, they pulled apart, but were still in each other’s arms. Rose’s face was still craned up, and Jack was still looking at her. Jack’s hands gently caressed her back while he smiled at her. The moonlight illuminated her beauty, making him fall in love with her all over again.

When Rose looked at him, she found that his eyes had grown darker under the moonlight, which illuminated his features, making him more handsome than he already was. Rose felt her knees growing weak and her heart beating rapidly, falling in love with Jack again. Knowing why she had fallen in love with him in the first place. A smile played upon her lips, her eyes gazing into his with love and admiration while she was in his arms, protected and safe by the man she loved. Rose felt Jack’s hands caressing her red curls. His thumb gently pressed against her cheek, while the rest of his fingers were around her fiery red curls, curling up against his fingers. Rose smiled, resting her head against his chest while his steady heartbeat played in her ear. A smile came across her face, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. She felt Jack’s chin on top of her head, his arms wrapping tighter around her while Rose’s arms circled around Jack’s waist.

"Uh...excuse me..." Henry said, his face growing pink. Jack and Rose looked at him, seeing that his face was pink from embarrassment. "Are y-you f-finished with B-Buttercup there?" Henry pointed at the beige horse. Jack smiled.

"Yeah," Jack said, slipping his hand into his pocket, taking out a dollar bill, and handing it to him. "Here you go..." Jack gave him the money.

"Th-thank you," Henry said, smiling nervously.

"No problem," Jack said, smiling at him. He watched as Henry took Buttercup’s reins and led her back into the stable, closing the doors behind him. Jack and Rose could not hold back their laughter any longer. They doubled over in laughter, walking away from the stable and holding hands. "Did you see his face?" Jack laughed. "Did you see the way he looked at us?" Rose laughed with him, stopping in front of him, holding both of his hands in her own and smiling brightly at him. Jack looked at her, smiling at her, his eyes shining with love and admiration. They stood quietly, looking at each other with their eyes shining brightly. Jack’s hands came down to Rose’s waist while his face came closer to hers, bringing Rose into a loving kiss. They wrapped their arms tightly around each other. Their lips stayed connected as the breeze hit against them, causing Rose’s hair to dance in the wind and her dress to flutter in the wind.

A moment passed when their lips disconnected, when their faces were a mere inch apart, when their eyes locked into each other in a loving gaze. They could feel their breath against each other’s faces, their chests heaving to catch their breath after the kiss they had shared. Rose’s hands moved against his chest, clutching his shirt. His hands moved onto Rose’s shoulders, gently rubbing them in an attempt to warm her against the cool breeze that was blowing against them. The moon was high in the black sky, stars twinkling, filling the night with beauty and light. They heard the waves crash against the shore, filling them with the sounds of nature. Rose craned her face up, looking at her husband, her ruby lips curving into a loving smile.

"Shouldn’t we be heading back?" Rose asked. "It’s dark." Jack smiled.

"I suppose we should," Jack said, holding Rose’s hand. Rose smiled at him, leaving the beach and heading back towards the hotel they were staying in. Once they entered the hotel, they went up to their hotel room, getting ready for bed. Rose took off her shoes, putting them aside. She took off her dress, putting it on a chair by the window. Rose walked towards the wooden box they had brought and took out a nightgown. Rose slipped on the nightgown, walking towards the dresser, brushing her hair and untangling every fiery red curl. When she was finished, she put her brush down, walking towards the bed and getting under the covers. Jack was taking off his heavy boots and slipping his suspenders off his shoulders, allowing them to hang down around his legs. Jack took off his shirt, showing his chest. He dropped the shirt on the floor and unbuttoned his pants, slipping them off as well. Jack walked towards the bed, climbing under the covers beside Rose. "Good night, Rose." Jack kissed her before lying down against his pillow. Rose smiled, laying against her pillow.

Suddenly, Rose remembered Jack’s gift, which was lying in the closet. Rose sat upright, uncovering herself, and walked towards the closet, slowly opening the squeaky door. She heard Jack sit up, probably looking confused as to why Rose had gotten up so suddenly. Rose took the bag, taking out the wrapped package and walking back to her side of the bed. She covered herself, laying the package in her lap. Jack looked at her, a confused expression on his face. Rose just smiled at him. She looked at the package, praying to herself that Jack would love it just as much as he had loved his old one. The one he had had on the Titanic. She looked at him, her eyes meeting with his. She had a warm smile on her face.

"Jack," Rose said, finding her voice. She leaned against the headboard. "This is my wedding gift to you." Rose handed him the wrapped package.

"Oh, Rose, you didn’t have to..." Jack began.

"No...I wanted to," Rose said.

"I didn’t even get a chance to get you your wedding present," Jack said.

"You don’t have to," Rose said. "You’re all I need in my life. There’s nothing in this world that would ever make me as happy as you do. You’re everything to me, Jack. I don’t need anything for you to make me happy."

"But how am I--" Jack began.

"Jack, just open it," Rose said, smiling. "You’ll love it...trust me." Jack smiled at her.

"I trust you," Jack said, looking at her once more before ripping the wrapping paper from the box. Once he had, he opened the box, coming across a print from his favorite artist--Monet. Smiling, Jack took the print out of the box, looking at the magnificent color that Monet had used. Jack ran his artist’s fingers over the colors of the print, a small smile coming across his face. "Rose, y-you didn’t have to get me this..."

"I wanted to, Jack," Rose said. "Besides, there’s more."

"More?" Jack asked, looking at her. Rose nodded.

"Look in the box," Rose said. Jack smiled and did what he was told. He took out a thin sheet of paper from the box, coming across a brown leather portfolio. Jack looked at Rose with a small smile. He looked at the box, taking the portfolio out of it. He found that the portfolio had a strap, where he could tie it together, and at the front, there was a string, where it held the pouch of artists’ tools. Tears welled up in his eyes, looking at Rose. He hadn’t drawn anything since the night of April 14, 1912, when he had drawn Rose in the nude. The portfolio he had in his hands now looked better than the one he had had before, and he treasured it more now, since it came from his beloved wife. He looked at her and smiled brightly.

"Thank you so much, Rose," Jack said, his voice choked from his upcoming tears. "You don’t know how much this means to me." Rose smiled.

"Look inside the portfolio," Rose said. Jack looked at her and smiled. He untied the two straps, opening the portfolio and finding blank sheets of paper waiting to be drawn on. He smiled. He looked at the inside of the portfolio cover and found a message embossed into it.

Dearest Jack,

Before I met you, I felt miserable, trapped, and used. When I boarded the Titanic, I felt as if I was going to America in chains, on a slave ship. I felt as if nobody cared, or even noticed me. When I first laid eyes on you that morning, I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach, as if I knew that from then on you’d be mine. That you’d be my true love. On the night that I was at the end of the ship, I wanted to end my misery. When you came, I knew my life was about to change. From the moment I looked into your blue eyes, I fell in love with you. From the moment I was in your warm embrace, I knew our love would last forever. I knew that you were the man I should spend the rest of my life with. When we shared our love’s first kiss at the bow, you completed my heart. You made my love grow stronger than ever before. From the moment you drew me in the nude, I knew your artistic talent drew me the way I felt on that day. The moment in the Renault proved to me how much you really love me--how much you were willing to love me, just as I loved you. Jack, I will never forget that night for as long as I live. Your love for me, Jack, means more to me than any jewel in this whole world. You are my everything, Jack. You saw the best there was in me, and you lifted me up when I couldn’t reach. You proved to me that I am everything I am, because I know that you love me. Jack Dawson, you’re my world. You’re my life. Without you, I would be miserable, with a life not worth living. Jack Dawson, I love you with all my heart and soul. I love you so much that I can’t even describe the feelings I have in my heart whenever you enter my mind. Jack Dawson, you are my true love. You are my husband, and I’m glad that you are. For I can’t imagine a husband as handsome, as intelligent, as talented, and most of all, as caring and loving as you are. I love you, Jack Dawson, more than words can ever say.

With all my love,
Rose Dawson

When Jack finished reading the embossed words, he looked at his wife, a smile on his face and tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. He scooted closer to her, putting his hand on the back of her neck, bringing her closer and pressing his lips against hers. Rose ran her fingers through Jack’s hair, kissing him back. When they pulled apart, Jack caressed her cheek softly, gazing into her eyes with love shining in his eyes and a small, loving smile upon his handsome face. Rose smiled back at him, running her gentle fingers over his cheeks before putting her hand in her lap. Jack looked at his gift, running his fingers over the embossed words before closing it and setting it aside. Once he had, he turned off the lamp and pulled the covers over him, cuddling up against Rose and kissing her. His hands fiddled with the buttons on the front of her nightgown.

Rose ran her hands over Jack’s bare back, pulling him atop her, their mouths still connected in their kiss. Jack managed to undo the buttons, slipping the top part of the nightgown off her shoulders. Jack’s lips left Rose’s, kissing her cheek and traveling down her neck, leaving soft, teasing kisses on Rose’s neck, causing her to giggle. Jack’s fingers gently brushed against Rose’s soft skin, managing to remove the gown from Rose’s body. Removing his underwear, he threw the sheets over them, kissing once more before making love with each other, going up to meet the stars.

*****

It was the early morning of April 25, 1912 when Rose awakened from her dreamless slumber. Her eyes fluttered open when the sunshine crept into their hotel room. Jack’s arm was around her shoulders, while Rose’s head rested upon his bare chest. Rose lifted her head, looking over the headboard to where the curtains fluttered in the gentle movement of the cool breeze. Slipping out of Jack’s warm embrace, she picked up her nightgown, slipping it on, before walking towards the wooden box to take out fresh, clean clothes. Once she had done so, she left the hotel room to go to the bathroom, which was across the hall. She turned up the water until it was warm enough for her. She placed the plug in the drain, letting the tub fill up with warm water. Once it was full enough for her, she turned off the running water and took off her nightgown, slowly getting into the tub. She leaned her head against the end of the tub, the water going just over her chest. Closing her eyes, Rose relaxed in the warm water, feeling it soothe her body.

Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her body. She felt cold, as if she were back in the Atlantic Ocean. Her eyes shone with fear, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She knew the Titanic would never leave her. She knew she would be stuck with the experience for as long as she would live. Rose closed her eyes, ducking under the water, where air bubbles were formed. All of a sudden, she wasn’t in the tub anymore. She was back in the North Atlantic Ocean, with more than fifteen hundred people floating close by...some dead, some alive. She lay on the driftwood, Jack’s frozen hand clutching hers at the side of the board. Stars twinkled high in the dark sky, while screams were heard from those who were still alive. The freezing water hit against Rose’s body, while she looked down at her beloved, who wasn‘t breathing.

Rose opened her eyes, lifting her head out of the water and letting out a frightened scream. Tears fell from her eyes, while she shivered against the warm water. She heard voices outside the door, one of a man, another of a woman, but neither were Jack. She heard running footsteps, and she heard banging on the door, and a voice calling her name over and over. Her head shot up against the wooden wall, her eyes going wide. Her lower lip was trembling, her eyes looking around frantically. She let out a sorrowful cry, bringing her knees to her chin. She heard the doorknob turn as someone tried to open it. A few moments later, she heard a key go into the key hole, the door opening. Rose turned her head to the side, preventing the person from seeing her. She heard the door close and heard his voice. Her head lifted up, looking at the owner of the voice. There, she found Jack standing, looking at her with a worried expression on his face. Rose got up from the tub, dripping wet, throwing her arms around Jack’s bare back, hugging him close, tears running down her cheeks and her voice letting out a cry.

Jack’s arms went around her body, his face buried in her wet curls. Her naked body was pressed against his. His had put on his underwear when he had heard Rose’s scream. He hadn’t bothered dressing himself in his other clothing, which still lay on the floor. Rose’s body shook against his, clutching him and crying. Tears of despair fell from her eyes, falling onto Jack’s smooth but rough skin. Jack embraced Rose tightly, his face brushing against Rose’s curls. Jack could feel Rose’s naked body against his, feeling more of Rose’s tears fall upon his skin when she buried her face in his chest, holding him close.

"Oh, Jack..." Rose cried, her voice barely audible from beyond Jack’s chest, her hands caressing his back, her soft hands brushing against his body.

"Shh," Jack said, comforting her and holding onto her. "Everything will be fine...I’m here...don’t cry." Jack gently caressed her wet curls, breathing in the scent of her fiery red hair. Rose continued to cry against his chest while he held onto her in hopes of comforting her with his loving arms and protecting her from the past.

"Jack...oh, Jack..." Rose cried, lifting her head from his chest, her tear-filled sapphire-emerald eyes shining with sadness, fear, regret, anger, and love, a mixture of feelings that dealt with the past and with the present, looking into the eyes of her beloved husband. "I’m scared...I’m scared, Jack!" Rose sobbed, looking at his piercing blue eyes.

From the look in her eyes, Jack knew what she was talking about. Deep down in his soul, he knew that Rose still dwelled on the past, dwelled on the part where they had witnessed over fifteen hundred people dying in the freezing depths of the North Atlantic. Both had been there when the iceberg had struck the ship, and both had been through the actual sinking, later suffering in the icy cold waters that had swallowed the Titanic. The shivering of her naked body showed the aftermath of the sinking...that no matter how much they dreaded it, no matter how much they didn’t want to think about it, the Titanic would be with them for the rest of their lives. Until they drew their last breaths and fulfilled their righteous vows, the tragedy of the Titanic would never leave them. Jack just hugged her closer to him to revive her happiness, to make her smile again, to make her feel happy and not dwell on the past. He wanted Rose to realize that they were both alive, and that they still had the rest of their lives to live. He didn’t want her to inhabit the past and make her life more miserable, more depressing, and cause her to feel more hurt and remorse from what had happened eleven days earlier.

Jack pulled away just enough to look into her eyes, and he saw her look down, her face scrunched up in despair. He ran his fingers through her wet hair, cupping her chin with his hand to lift her face up. He looked into her eyes and found that more tears were falling from her sapphire-emerald eyes, the jewels that would always look to him for love. His thumb gently wiped away every single tear that managed to escape the jewels, looking at her. He found that she was shivering, so he took a towel from the rack in the bathroom and wrapped it around her. Lifting her clothes up, he wrapped his arms around her, allowing her head to lean against his shoulder. Finding that Rose wasn’t walking normally, he bent down, placing his arm under her legs while his other held her back, lifting her up from the ground. He slowly moved to open the door, and once he had, he found the hotel manager, four guests, and the bellboy looking at him with eyes that shone with curiosity. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest once again, as if she were a small child, afraid of the world, afraid of her surroundings, of the curiosity that shone in other people’s eyes. Jack looked from one person to another, eyes shooting daggers at each of them.

"There’s nothing to see here. Please return to your rooms and do whatever you were doing before you came here," Jack said, trying to walk past the small crowd of people. The hotel manager stopped them.

"Uh...excuse me, but don’t you think you should send her to the hospital?" the hotel manager asked. "She doesn’t look too good."

"She’s fine," Jack said. "She’ll be just fine. She just needs some rest. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to head back to my hotel room and get her into bed." Jack passed the crowd of people and went back to his room, kicking the door closed as he did so. Jack quickly made his way towards the bed, where he gently put Rose on it, bringing the covers over her. Jack gently caressed her face, looking at her. "It’s okay, Rose...everything will be okay." Rose looked at him.

"Oh, Jack...why won’t the Titanic leave us alone?" Rose asked, her eyes looking at him, tears falling from them. "Why can’t we just forget about it?" Jack sat on the edge of the bed, his hand holding hers.

"Rose," Jack said, his eyes looking at her. "No matter how much it hurts, the Titanic will always be with us. We both experienced the tragedy. Therefore, it will be with us until the day we die."

"But it hurts, Jack!" Rose cried. "It just hurts, knowing that more than fifteen hundred people died that night...that so many innocent people perished...many of whom I’d encountered...and knowing that they died...it kills me. All those people...you could’ve been one of them...oh, Jack!" Rose cried, covering her face with her hands, letting all the hurt and pain out with her tears. Jack removed her hands from her face, lifting her chin with his fingers, forcing her to look at him. His eyes shone with love and concern, his thumb grazing against her delicate skin, her tear-filled eyes looking at him.

"I know it hurts, Rose," Jack said, looking down at her. "But there’s nothing I can do about it, except to love you." Jack sighed, running his fingers through his golden hair. "I lost my parents five years ago. They were everything I had, before I met you, of course. To me, they were the most loving parents any child could have. Then, the fire happened, and no matter how much I was hurt by their sudden deaths, there’s nothing in this world that I can do to bring them back. Just like we can’t do anything to change the fact that the Titanic sank. That’s the past now. We can only look at it as memories. Maybe some hurtful memories, but there are some that we might enjoy looking back at."

"Jack, it just...I don’t know...it just hurts me deep down inside," Rose said, tears escaping her eyes once more. "Every time I think about it...I feel pain, hurt, sorrow...and every time I do think about it..." Rose cried, looking at him. "I see you dying in the freezing waters, and no matter how much I try to tell myself that you’re alive, I still get haunted by the nightmare..."

"Oh, Rose..." Jack said, wrapping his arms around her, the sheet covering her. "I’m sorry you have to suffer through this pain. I wish I could take it away and make you feel happy again."

"Jack, the only thing you can do to make me happy is to love me the way you do now," Rose said, her eyes still wet from her tears. "There’s nothing else in this world that matters to me."

Jack’s eyes stared into her own when she said this. He examined her face, which was pale from crying, and her eyes were red. Her hair was still damp, her body continuing to shiver in the cool breeze from the window. Noticing this, Jack got up and walked over to the window, shutting it to prevent the outside breeze from coming inside. When he had done so, he closed the curtains and walked back towards Rose. Checking the time on the clock, he found that it was only 8:30 in the morning. Sighing, Jack picked up the clothes that were on the floor, beginning dressing himself. After he slipped on his suspenders, he took his boots from the floor and put them on, beginning to tie the laces together. Once he had completed his task, he looked up, finding that Rose had drifted into another world--as if she had a lot going on in her mind. Running his fingers through his hair, he watched her staring off into space, her face expressionless, holding the sheet close to her.

Rose had drifted into a world of her own, unaware of the fact that Jack was staring at her worriedly, and unaware that he had dressed himself in his outer clothing. Rose just held the sheet close to her body, gazing back into her memories. Back to her childhood--before the Titanic...before Jack. Before anything that had changed her life. Before she had found the love of her life. Rose drifted back to her old life, childhood memories overtaking her mind, reviving the precious moments of her high society life. Of her rich childhood, of her father’s recent death, of traveling on the ship of dreams with the man she dreaded, but had learned to forgive. She could say she missed her old life--her life in high society, but she swore to herself that she would never go back. That her love for Jack was much stronger than any money that the world could offer. Even though she had befriended Cal, she still wouldn’t return to her old life. Even though Michael Calvert had deposited one hundred thousand dollars in their bank account, she still wouldn’t go back to her old life. To the life that ruled her for over seventeen years. The life that had only given her misery and hurt. To the life that would soon disappear into a life that she would enjoy. Into the arms of her beloved husband, who she had met aboard the so-called unsinkable ship. Her mind drifted to her early teen years. To when she was thirteen, when her father had taken her horseback riding in a Philadelphia park, just outside of their mansion.

*****

It was early in the morning, on the wonderful day of June 15, 1908, and thirteen-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater and her father, William Bukater, were about to go horseback riding in a park in Philadelphia, which was just outside of the mansion that they lived in. Rose wore a lavender dress, which wasn’t as elegant as the other dresses she had, with a matching ribbon in her hair. She watched as her father took Brownie, Rose’s brown horse, out of the stable, as well as Wisdom, his white horse. Rose’s horse had a sidesaddle on it, while William’s had a regular saddle. William walked over to his daughter, helping her up onto the horse, Rose taking hold of the reins. William smiled at her, walking over to his horse and climbing on.

"So, Rosebud, are you ready?" William asked. Rose turned her head and smiled at her father.

"Yes, Father. I’m ready," Rose said, her fiery red curls blowing in the gentle breeze. Her father smiled, gently kicking his horse. Rose did the same, and both were riding along the pathway that led to the woods. Beyond the woods, there was a beautiful lake, where Rose and her father would spend time together before Rose’s mother awoke from her slumber. They knew the exact time Ruth DeWitt Bukater woke up, which was 9:30, the latest in the household. Rose’s father was a few yards ahead of her, while Rose laughed, trying to catch up. They went through the woods, the horses’ hooves crushing twigs, crunching on dry leaves, and sped through the warm air. They came to the end of the woods to be greeted by a beautiful blue lake with various flowers growing beside it. William stopped his horse and got off, tying the reins to a branch nearby. He went towards Rose to help her down.

Once Rose was on her own two feet, William tied her reins to a branch, as well, then held her hand, leading her towards a boulder, where both of them sat to watch the sun rise over the lake. Rose watched as seagulls made their morning calls to the other seagulls, and watched as some had landed on the water, floating across the blue lake. Rose looked at her father and found him looking at her, smiling. Rose smiled back, and leaned her head against her father’s chest.

"Daddy?" Rose asked, looking up.

"Yes, Rosie?" William asked, looking at his daughter.

"Are you going to walk me down the aisle when I marry?" Rose asked.

"Why, of course!" William said. "What kind of a father would I be if I didn’t?" Rose smiled at him. "Why would you ask such a question?"

"Oh, nothing," Rose said, looking at her father with smiling eyes. "I just wanted to know. That’s all."

"Don’t you worry, my beautiful flower. I’ll be there when you marry. I’m not going anywhere. I promise," William said. Rose smiled and threw her arms around him.

"I love you, Daddy!" Rose smiled, holding her father close to her.

"I love you, too, Rosie," William said, wrapping his arms around her. "I will always love you."

"How come Mother doesn’t love me?" Rose asked.

"Rosie, your mother loves you," William said, shocked to hear this from his daughter. "She loves you very much. It’s just that...she...well, she just can’t say it, but she does show it."

"How, Daddy?" Rose asked, sitting up straighter. "Mother has never said she loves me like you do. All she cares about is money." William sighed, finding it hard to debate his daughter, since most of what she was saying was true. Ruth did care about money, but he knew that she loved Rose just as much as he did. He just hoped that Rose could see that...and that Ruth could actually tell Rose that she loved her.

"Rose, your mother...she just doesn’t realize how much she loves you, to express her feelings towards you. You’re very precious to us, Rose, and we would do anything to protect you from the dangers of the world," William said.

"I know, Daddy. But I just wish that Mother would say those words to me. Sometimes I feel as if I’m a bad child to her. And Daddy, I’m very nice to her. You know that. I listen to everything she tells me, and I even try to act the same way she does...I try to walk straight like her, and eat like her. I try everything to make her notice how much I love her, but she doesn’t see it, Daddy. She doesn’t," Rose said, looking at her hands. William cupped her chin, lifting her head up to force her to look into his eyes.

"My sweet Rose, I know your mother loves you. She has done many things to give you a happy childhood," William said.

"But Daddy, I want her to say that she loves me," Rose said, getting up and turning to face her father. "Don’t you understand how important it is for Mother to say that she loves me? I want to have two loving parents, not one. Sometimes I wish I never had a mother at all." Rose turned around and crossed her arms, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Oh, Rose..." William said, getting up, wrapping his arms around his daughter, and bringing her face to his chest when she cried into his shirt.

"Oh, Daddy!" Rose cried, clutching his shirt. "I love her. I love Mother so much. I’m just afraid that she doesn’t love me."

"She does, sweetie," William said, caressing her red curls. "I know she does." William looked at his daughter, whose tear-filled eyes glistened with hurt. Sighing, he wiped the tears away with his fingers. "How about we return to the mansion and I get you some breakfast?" Rose smiled and nodded. "Let’s go, Rosie." William led her towards her horse, where he lifted her up and put her in her sidesaddle. William untied the reins and handed them to his daughter, going over to his horse, untying the reins from the branch, and hopping onto the horse, then turning it and galloping away from the lake. Rose did the same, staying close behind her father until they reached the stable. Rose managed to get off her horse on her own and put the horse inside the stable. Once she put Brownie in her own stall, she left the stable and found her father leaning against a tree that was a couple of yards away. Rose smiled, making her way towards him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, while his arms went around her shoulders, and both walked towards their mansion to spend the morning together.

*****

It was the morning of December 24, 1910. Rose stared at her reflection. She wore a red dress, the sleeves off her shoulders, the dress floor-length. Her hair was up and she had a locket around her neck. A locket that her father had given her when she was a baby. For the past year, her father had been severely ill. He had been in bed for most of the year with maids tending to him and the doctor visiting daily. Her father had been diagnosed with leukemia in February, and he had been bedridden since then. The doctor knew that he didn’t have much time to live, since his body was too weak to fight off the cancer. They were running out of money with the medical bills. Rose knew that the money was gone, but she didn’t care about the money. She cared about her father’s life. Nothing mattered to her more than her love for her father. Tears welled up in Rose’s eyes as she smoothed her dress with her delicate fingers. Her high-heeled shoes clicked on the hardwood floor when she walked away from the mirror and went towards the window seat, where she sat down, looking out the window and watching the gardeners prune the trees. A single tear slid down her cheek, while she looked down at her hands. She had this feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was about to happen--something bad.

Today was Rose’s sixteenth birthday, and her mother was planning a big birthday party later today, but Rose wasn’t really interested in going. She wanted to stay with her father and talk to him like they used to. Ever since her father had become sick, he had gotten weak, and when he had gotten weak, he hadn’t had time to spend time with Rose, or listen to her like he used to. He would sleep for the whole day, waking up to use the bathroom or to eat. Otherwise, he was sound asleep. Sometimes, Rose feared that he wouldn’t ever wake up when he slept. That he would leave her forever, and never love her again. Rose wiped away the single tear that fell from her eyes, taking a shaky breath and getting up from the bench. The clicking of her shoes was heard as Rose made her way out of her room. Closing the door quietly, Rose passed her father’s room, where she heard him call her.

"Rose..." William said weakly. Rose stopped dead in her tracks and turned, making her way towards her father’s bedroom door. Slowly, she opened the door, poking her head inside the room.

"Yes, Father?" Rose asked, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Please...c-come here," William said, holding out his hand. Rose went inside and closed the door, making her way towards her father while the sound of her clicking shoes rang in her ears. Rose sat on the edge of her father’s bed, taking his hand in her own and finding it cold. Freezing cold.

"Daddy, your hands are cold..." Rose choked, closing his hand in both of hers in an attempt to warm it. William gave her a weak smile.

"Rose..." William said, his voice weak, his breathing becoming shallow. "It’s time for me to go." Rose looked at her father with eyes that glistened with hurt and sorrow. Her breathing quickened, and tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

"No, Daddy," Rose choked. "You’re not going to die...you still have to walk me down the aisle...remember?" Rose’s voice was shaky from her upcoming tears.

"I-I’m s-sorry, Rosie," William stuttered. "I tried...b-but I-I c-can’t hold on m-much longer..."

"Daddy, please!" Rose begged, feeling tears fall down her face. "Today’s my birthday. You can’t leave yet! Besides, tomorrow’s Christmas!" Rose cried.

"Rose...l-listen to me," William said, facing her, his face pale. "It’s my time...the Lord says so...I-I know it’s your birthday...th-that’s why I sent y-you a present..."

"No, Daddy. I don’t want any present...I want--" Rose began, but she was cut off by her father.

"It’s in the drawer right there," William said, pointing towards the dresser behind Rose. Rose looked over her shoulder, her tear-filled eyes landing on the fancy dresser that was in her father’s room. "Go on...it’s in the t-top drawer." Rose looked at him and let go of his hand, getting up and walking towards the dresser, opening the top drawer with both hands. Inside the drawer, she found a perfectly wrapped gift with a card on top. Rose took the gift out of the drawer and walked towards the bed, setting the gift in her lap.

"Daddy--" Rose began.

"Open it," William said, his breathing becoming more and more shallow. Rose felt more tears threaten to fall from her eyes, doing what she was told. She took the card and set it aside, beginning to unwrap the gift. Once she had, she opened the box, setting it on the floor and looking inside. She gasped, taking out a picture frame, which held a picture of her and her father when she was thirteen--at the lake. Tears fell down her cheeks, looking at her father. She looked at the picture, finding herself and her father smiling brightly at the camera, which a passerby had. She felt his freezing hand land on hers, looking up. "I love you, Rose...y-you mean the world to me. From the m-moment you w-were born, I have loved you with all my heart." William took a deep breath, finding it hard to breathe. Rose cried, watching her father suffer.

"Daddy, don’t talk," Rose said, placing a hand over his. "The doctor will be here in a moment...he’ll make you feel better!" Rose cried.

"N-no, Rose," William said, slowly shaking his head. "He won’t help...I feel myself slipping away...there’s nothing we can do..." Rose cried harder, hearing her father say this.

"Daddy, I love you!" Rose sobbed. "Don’t leave me! Please!"

"Rose...please listen...I love you with all my heart and soul...I-I’ll always be with you, n-no matter what. I-I’ll b-be in y-your heart..." William said, placing a cold hand over her heart. "P-promise me that y-you’ll find your true love a-and m-marry him. Share your life with h-him. I want you to learn to l-love someone e-else...j-just as you love m-me." Tears cascaded down Rose’s cheeks, listening to her father. "I-I want you to b-be happy. J-just as I was w-with y-your mother. D-don’t marry s-someone y-you don’t love. You’ll b-be m-miserable, and I don’t w-want you to b-be. I want y-you to f-find your love. Y-your soul mate. W-will y-you promise me?" William looked at his daughter. Rose nodded, her eyes red from crying.

"I promise, Daddy!" Rose cried, holding onto her father’s hand with her own. William gave her a weak smile, looking at her.

"You’re s-so beautiful," William said. Rose let out a cry, trying to smile but failing. "A-any man w-would b-be happy with y-you."

"Oh, Daddy!" Rose cried, feeling her heart break in two. She looked at her pale father, taking shallow breaths.

"It’s time..." William said. Rose cried, burying her face in his hand. "I love you, Rose. I always have...always will. You’re my little angel. I love you..." Rose looked at him, hearing him take his last breath. She saw his head fall to the side, and his limp hand hung over the edge of the bed. Rose’s lower lip trembled, tears cascading down her cheeks hastily.

"D-Daddy?" Rose choked. She heard no response. "Daddy, wake up! Please!" Rose cried, seeing that he didn’t respond. "Daddy!" Rose fell onto him, burying her face in his chest, clutching his pajamas and letting her tears fall onto the fabric. "I love you!" Rose cried, her body shaking with heart-wrenching sobs. She heard running footsteps and heard someone open the door. Rose didn’t bother getting up. She stayed there, crying on her father, feeling strong arms go around her waist and pulling her away from her father. "No!" Rose’s arms stretched out towards her father. "Put me down!" Rose kicked her feet in the air, managing to escape the man’s tight grasp. She went over to the bed and picked up the picture frame, hugging it against her chest. Tears were sliding down her cheeks, turning around to face the person who had pulled her away from her father. He had dark hair with matching eyes, and he looked to be at least six feet tall, or even taller. He had a fine suit on, with a bowtie, looking at her. Rose hugged the frame closer to herself, crying and running past the man and out of the room. She ran out of the mansion, letting her feet take her towards the lake that she and her father used to spend their time at. Rose went towards a boulder and sat on it, tears falling from her eyes.

Rose looked at the picture frame, staring at the picture of her father smiling. She looked at the sky, the chill of the wind blowing around her. Clouds covered the sky, snow beginning to fall from the sky. She felt the snowflakes fall on her skin, and she felt the snowflakes melt into water once they had landed on her skin. Snowflakes landed on her red curls when she heard distant caroling in the background. Rose looked down and just broke down, crying hysterically, falling to the ground and hugging the picture frame to her chest. Her body shook against the chill of the wind, curling up into a fetal position. Rose brought her knees up under her chin, the picture frame between her chest and her thighs. Rose squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a cry, tears falling down her cheeks when she did so.

"Why, Daddy?" Rose cried. "Why did you have to die?" Rose’s body shook with sobs and with the chill of the cold wind that was blowing around her. She suddenly heard footsteps coming from the woods. Sitting up, Rose turned towards the sound of the footsteps, grasping the picture frame. She kept taking steps backwards, not really wanting any company, nor wanting to put up a fight.

"Rose?" Rose heard a voice say. "Are you here?"

"Leave me alone!" Rose said, her voice shaky. She saw the same man who had pulled her away from her father standing before her. Rose looked down, not bothering to meet his curious gaze.

"I didn’t have the chance to introduce myself," the man said. "I’m Caledon Hockley--"

"I could care less who you are!" Rose cried. "Just leave me alone, please."

"But you’re shivering," Caledon said. He took off his coat. "Here, put this on." Caledon walked towards her and put the coat on her shoulders. Rose looked at him, noticing him smiling at her.

"Th-thank you," Rose said, looking down. "I’m sorry I said that. I’m just not in a very good mood at the moment."

"I know," Caledon said, smiling at her and putting an arm around her shoulders. "I’m sorry about your father..."

"Thank you," Rose said, her voice choked up from her tears.

"Come on. Let’s get inside. It’s freezing out," Cal said. Rose managed to give him a small smile, going back towards the mansion. Once they were inside, Caledon closed the back door, rubbing his hands together in an attempt to warm them. Rose just walked into the parlor, where she took off Caledon’s coat and placed it on a chair. She went over to the staircase, slowly climbing up each step with all the strength her legs could give. The clicking of her shoes echoed through the parlor when she finally climbed the last step. She walked over to her bedroom door and went inside, locking the door behind her. She went over to her bed, put the picture frame on her pillow, and just fell on the bed, burying her face in her arms and crying. Her body shook with her sobs, the tears of a broken heart escaping her sapphire-emerald eyes, mourning her father, who she had loved with all her heart but had been taken away from her at a young age. A fatherless girl, who had adored her father more than anything in the world. Her broken heart ached with hurt and sorrow, and she continued to cry, continued to grieve over the man that she had looked up to, the man who had always cared and loved her as a father would love a daughter, a father who had spent all of his time with her. No matter what day it had been, no matter what time it had been, he had always found a way to be with his daughter. Now, Rose had lost that person. She had lost part of her life. She had lost her father.

*****

Tears streamed down Rose’s cheeks, crying over the loss of her father. For the man, before Jack, who had loved her for who she was and cared for her with all his heart. For the man who had always been there for her when she needed him. For the man who had been father to Rose DeWitt Bukater and had always found some way to make her smile. Rose looked at her hands, letting the tears flow down her cheeks. As she let herself mourn her father, the person who had always been there, the person who had always cared, the person who had always loved her, no matter how upset he was. Rose’s father had been the best person that she had ever known before Jack, until he had passed away on her sixteenth birthday. Rose didn’t notice that Jack was staring at her with worried eyes until she faced him. When she saw the look in his eyes, she covered her face with her hands and cried harder, feeling the hurt in her heart increase when Jack went towards her.

*****

Jack watched Rose staring off into space, as if she was reliving the past. She had stayed like that for the past fifteen minutes or so, not moving, not saying a word to reassure Jack that she was all right. Suddenly, he saw tears begin to glisten in her eyes, as if she were about to cry. He watched as a single tear slid down her porcelain cheek, her lower lip beginning to tremble. Jack wanted to get up and comfort her, but his body didn’t budge, nor did he want to disturb her. He felt that Rose needed to let all her pain out, and the only way she could do so was to cry. The one key that would make her feel better, once she had removed all the pain that was locked up inside her for God knew how long. Jack saw even more tears cascading down her cheeks, her eyes growing red, and her body shaking with sobs. He saw her covering her face with both of her hands, her body shaking with heart-wrenching sobs. Getting up, Jack slowly walked towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to his body and cradling her head in his arms.

"Shh..." Jack whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Everything will be fine. I promise...don’t cry."

"I miss him, Jack," Rose cried. "I miss him so much." Rose clutched his shirt, burying her face in it. Jack looked down with saddened eyes. Had she met someone before Cal? Had she fallen in love with another man before she had met Cal? Before she had met him? Swallowing, Jack pulled away, just enough for him to look into her eyes. Just enough to see the pain in her eyes, tears falling from the corners of them.

"Wh-who?" Jack asked, getting prepared for the answer.

"My father!" Rose cried, looking at him. Jack looked at her, feeling the weight lift off his shoulders. Sighing in relief, he pulled her into his arms once more, allowing her to cry into his shirt, allowing her tears to fall into it.

"I’m sorry..." Jack whispered.

"There’s nothing to be sorry about, Jack," Rose said, her voice choked up. "It’s already happened...there’s nothing we can do about it." Jack sighed, caressing her red curls.

"I know...I just wish that there was something I could do to help you," Jack said, looking into her eyes.

"There is..." Rose said, looking at him, her eyes glistening with tears. "You can love me." Jack pulled her into another tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"And I do, Rose. I do love you," Jack whispered into her curls.

"I know you do..." Rose said, wrapping her arms around Jack’s body and holding him close. "That’s why I love you." Jack pulled away just enough to see her face, pressing his lips against hers, bringing her into a kiss that enveloped their love for each other. As the kiss grew more intense, Rose began taking off Jack’s clothes, while Jack pulled off his boots. With their lips still connected, Rose removed his underwear and his shirt, hugging him close. Jack got under the covers with Rose, making love to her...taking her to the stars, erasing all the painful tears that managed to escape her eyes. The two shared their love for each other, growing as one.

Chapter Twenty-Two
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