LOVE THAT NEVER FADES
Chapter Forty-Seven

The train sped across the land, taking Jack and Rose, along with their newborn son, towards Santa Monica. Jack had finished sketching a portrait of his wife and his son and smiled at the drawing. His eyes moved upward, watching Rose covering her exposed breast and putting a piece of cloth over her shoulder, burping William. After William had burped softly, she heard him whimper and cradled him in her arms, looking at Jack.

"Why are you just sitting there?" Rose asked, rocking her son and trying to make him fall asleep.

"No reason…watching my beautiful wife take care of our son."

Jack got up and walked towards her, sitting beside her and gazing at his son, a fatherly smile on his face.

"I can’t believe I’m a father," Jack whispered, pressing his cheek against Rose’s and looking at William.

"I know. It’s hard to believe that I’m a mother."

She looked at Jack, a gentle, loving smile on her face. Her eyes shone brightly with love for him and her face brightened with the happiness of being the mother of Jack’s child. Their child.

Jack smiled and leaned in, pressing his lips against hers and putting a hand over the one that was wrapped around the baby, slowly feeling his passion for her growing and drawing himself closer, almost forgetting that William was between them.

Rose giggled and pulled away, gazing into Jack’s eyes.

"Jack! Have you forgotten that I’m holding our child in my arms?"

Jack chuckled and scratched his head.

"Guess I did…"

They both laughed softly, finding that William had fallen fast asleep in Rose’s arms. Rose stood up and walked over to the bassinette that they had brought into their compartment, putting her son carefully into the bed and covering him with a soft blanket, smiling sweetly at him.

She turned to Jack and threw him a loving smile, slowly walking towards him.

"So, I guess we’re finally alone…" Rose yawned, a tired expression on her beauteous features. She gave him a tired smile, sitting down and leaning against his shoulder, putting her hand over his.

Jack kissed her curls and held her closer.

"Guess we are…but we still have that little one asleep over there, you know…"

He heard no response, so he looked down, finding that Rose was fast asleep.

"Guess I have more than one Dawson sleeping, huh?"

Jack chuckled to himself and kissed Rose’s forehead softly, setting her carefully on her bed and pulling the covers over her. Jack put a final kiss on her cheek before he walked to William, putting a gentle kiss on his round cheek and gazing at him, watching how peaceful his son seemed to be when he was asleep, his clenched fists under the covers. A smile curved his lips, realizing that it was a miracle having a son in his life, for if he had not survived the freezing depths of the North Atlantic, he did not know where Rose would be right now, but he knew that she would be moving on—for him and for their son. After he pondered his final thoughts, he shut off the light and got under the covers of his own bed, where he fell fast asleep.

*****

The sudden wail from William was heard in the compartment after hours had passed by. It was now two o’clock in the morning and Jack and Rose were sound asleep. As the cry got louder, Rose stirred under the covers and opened her eyes. She groaned inwardly, getting up and throwing the covers off. She yawned, slowly getting up and walking towards the bassinette, lifting William from the bed.

"Shh…Mommy is here…don’t you cry now."

Rose rocked back and forth softly, humming gently to her son.

"There, there…everything is all right now…"

Rose’s voice was soft and soothing. She kept rocking back and forth, humming him a lullaby.

"Want Mommy to stay up with you? Is that what my little boy wants?"

William whimpered softly in her arms, gazing at her with wide blue eyes. Rose smiled, knowing that those eyes had come from none other than Jack.

"You’re going to be a handsome young fellow, aren’t you?"

Rose sat on her bed, looking at her son.

"You have your father’s handsome features and your mommy’s smile…"

Rose smiled, and just then, William looked at her with curious eyes, as if he were wondering why his mother was smiling.

"You are safe with us, Willy—your daddy and I are going to take good care of you, I promise—no one’s going to hurt you."

William banged his fist on her chest, causing Rose to laugh and smile.

"Baby’s hungry again? My, my, pretty soon, I’m going to be exhausted—especially if you keep Mommy up this late."

Rose nursed her son and watched as the little creature calmed down. Rose was tired and her eyes were beginning to droop, but she forced them open, finding that her son was through. She burped him carefully, covered her breast, and got up and slowly set her son back in the bassinette before giving him a kiss.

"Good night, sweetheart…sleep well. Mommy loves you."

With that, Rose stood up straight, looked at the bed Jack was sleeping in, and smiled.

He was lying on his side, his arm hanging over the edge of the bed and his hair falling over his closed eyes. His mouth was partially open, a soft snore escaping his lips. Rose walked towards him and put a gentle kiss on his lips when she felt his arms go around her and pull her to lie beside him.

Rose giggled softly and clutched Jack’s woolen shirt, looking into his soft blue eyes.

"Now, I thought you were sleeping, Mr. Dawson."

"Well, I was…up until Mrs. Dawson interrupted me from my sleep."

"Hmm…so all it takes to wake you up is a kiss?"

"Yes. A kiss from my beloved wife, that is."

"Hmm…and I suppose that you did not hear William cry earlier, did you?"

"I did…but I knew that you would come here, so I just had to take my chances."

Jack smiled mischievously, gazing lovingly into her eyes. Even in the dark, he could see her eyes sparkling whenever she looked at him. His arm was wrapped securely around her. She was comfortably in his arms—as if she were made to fit in his arms.

"You’re so beautiful…" Jack breathed, still feeling his heart fluttering whenever he glanced peacefully into her eyes.

"Oh, stop it, Jack. You tell me that every day!"

"But you are! I can’t help it. Your beauty takes my breath away."

"And what if I weren’t as beautiful as I am now? Would you still be married to me?"

"Of course! Your looks are the last on my list of why I fell in love with you—your fiery spirit made me fall in love with you the first place, and I’m still in love with you—will be for many years to come—many, many years."

"I love you Jack."

Rose rested her head against his shoulder and in a matter of seconds her eyelids grew heavy and covered the emerald-blue orbs. Her hand clutched his shirt tightly, her curls draping over his arms like a silk blanket.

"Love you, too, my angel."

Jack put a gentle kiss on her forehead and leaned down, resting his head on the pillow beside her, and he, too, fell fast asleep yet again.

*****

Two days passed and the train was slowly coming to a halt. Jack and Rose were in their compartment, Rose getting William dressed and cleaned up. Jack got his stuff together and made sure that they had not forgotten anything. Once Jack made sure that they had everything, he looked at Rose, who was putting a baby bonnet on William, who was sound asleep.

"You ready?" Jack asked, standing in the doorway.

"Yes. We’re about ready."

Rose tucked the bonnet over his ears and smiled, slowly lifting him up and cradling him.

"Sleep tight, my little boy. Mommy loves you."

Rose leaned down and put a kiss on his forehead. She looked up and smiled at Jack.

"Let’s go," Rose said softly.

Jack smiled and let Rose go ahead of him, closing the compartment door and rushing towards the exit. He jumped off and set the bags down, reaching up to Rose.

"Jack, I’m not sure about this…" Rose said cautiously, looking around.

"Rose, I’m gonna get ya. Don’t worry. I’m not gonna drop you."

"I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Willy."

Jack smiled and held out his arms.

"Give him to me, then."

Rose leaned down and carefully put William in Jack’s arms, hopping off of the train. She smoothed out the skirt of her dress and held out her arms to retrieve her son.

Jack put William in Rose’s arms, then bent and picked up the bags. He felt his hair fluttering in the cool air, searching for a cab. Jack rushed to the carriage and whistled. The driver stepped out of the carriage and went to put the bags in the back. When Jack had those bags in, he went over to the luggage area, retrieved the other four valises from the cart, and took them to the carriage two by two. When all the luggage was in the carriage, Jack turned to Rose and gestured for her to come towards it. Rose smiled and headed towards the carriage, Jack holding the door open for her, allowing her to slide to the other side of the carriage. Once Rose was securely in the carriage, he stepped in and shut the door behind him. The driver was seated in front, holding the reins with both hands and looking at the couple.

"Where to?" the driver asked, eyeing Jack and Rose.

Jack gave him the address of their new house, and in minutes the driver drove off, away from the train station and into a residential area where there were many houses, stopping in front of a white three-story house.

"Oh, my God, Jack," Rose breathed, looking at the house. "It’s beautiful!"

Jack smiled, pushed open the door, and stepped out. He rushed to Rose’s side and pulled open her door, holding out his hand, a smile on his face.

Rose giggled and put her hand in his. He gripped it and helped her out of the carriage. Rose cradled William in her arms, gazing at the house.

"Thank you, Jack." Rose smiled, tears shining in her eyes. "Thank you so much for everything."

Jack put a warm hand on her shoulder and held her close.

"You’re welcome."

Jack looked down and put a warm, loving kiss on her lips, smiling.

"Why don’t you go on inside while I take care of everything out here?"

"All right." Rose walked towards the house, climbed the brick steps, and pulled open the door, gasping at the beauty of the house inside.

Slowly, all her dreams were coming true. She had always wanted to live in California, and now she had gotten her wish, and she had wanted to marry a man she loved, and had gotten that as well. Also, she wanted to have many children, and so far, she had accomplished part of that wish. Rose smiled and closed her eyes, feeling her heart flutter in her chest.

Rose felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist, Jack resting his chin on her shoulder and gazing at their son. Rose smiled and leaned her head against Jack’s chest, craning her neck up and gazing into his eyes.

"We’re finally here," Rose said, her voice soft and loving.

"Yes, we are—and we’re together."

Rose looked at him and smiled.

"Of course we’re together—no matter what. You jump, I jump, right?"

Jack smiled and pulled her closer to him.

"Right."

With that, the two lovers shared an intense kiss. Jack put an arm around Rose, who was holding William securely, deepening the kiss and holding her as close to him as he could. They had overcome all obstacles and had stuck together throughout the nine months that they had been together. Their love was strong and unique. Their love was a love that never fades.

The End.

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