Written
by Heather Akers
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.
"Never let go, Rose. Never let go,"
Jack whispered to Rose; he was sure he would die out there in the freezing
water of the Atlantic, and he needed to know she would go on--with or with out
him. That she would not try to kill herself again, but, more importantly--she
would not go back to her mother or worse yet, to Cal.
Sometime later, Rose realized that it had
gotten much quieter--perhaps people had died, she assumed silently. Her only
plea is that her Jack and she make it alive. Please, God let us stay together--whatever
that entails. All of a sudden, she hears someone.
"Is anyone alive out there, is anyone
alive?" he shouts frantically, wondering why his boat was the only one to
return to retrieve these lost souls.
He sees a movement--it looks like a lady
trying to catch his attention. "Come about!" he yells again.
Rose realizes that someone is coming towards
her--a rescue boat! She turns to her beloved and says, "Oh Jack--it’s a
boat!"
Slowly, but enough that she could tell he was
still alive, he said "Rosie, I can’t move--you’re going to have to get me
in that boat, can you do that?"
She smiled, silently thanking God for
allowing her love and herself to live. "OK, Jack."
After the boat arrived, they quickly managed
to get on, and snuggled together as close as they could, to conserve body heat.
Before they went to sleep, they told the other one "I love you," and
dreamt of each other.
The next morning, they realized that they
came upon another ship. It was called Carpathia. When they got on the new ship,
a man taking the names of the survivors quickly approached them. He asked Rose,
"May I take your name please, love?"
"Dawson, Rose Dawson."
Jack was speechless. The woman he loved was
willing to have his last name--he remembered that piece of information for later.
While he was off thinking, he almost did not realize the man also asking him
for his name. "Oh, I’m sorry. It’s Jack Dawson, I’m with that beautiful
redhead."
At hearing this comment, Rose blushed, and
Jack just kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Rose?"
"Huh?"
He got on one knee, and Rose was breathless.
"I heard you telling that man your last name was Dawson…would you like to
make it official once we get off this ship?"
"Oh, Jack, that would be wonderful! Yes!
Of course. Why wouldn’t I?"
Feeling a little uneasy, he replied with,
"Well, you have to remember, I’m poor--you would not have riches or
anything much you’re used to--are you sure? I love you more than life itself,
but I couldn’t bear it to have you regret your decision. I have nothing to
offer you. Not even a ring--I mean, I can get you one in America, but not right
now…"
She just laughed, and cut him off with a
kiss. "Oh that is where you’re wrong, mister. You have more than I have
ever had with Cal--you give me love. You offer me love, and for that I thank
you, but you need to be looked at by the nurse. Remember? You were too cold to
get in the boat by yourself? Let’s see--just to be safe."
"OK, but only to humor you. I feel
fine." He just smiled; he loved how she worried about him.
They left the nurse’s, and they both had a
clean bill of health. Jack requested her to be checked, since he was, and
figured it couldn’t hurt. As soon as they left, Rose saw Cal--he appeared to be
searching for something. Then, she realized she was on the third class with
Jack. He was looking for her.
"Hello, sweetpea. I see that you have
made sure that this gutter rat is safe. How kind. Now, come along, it’s time to
go back now."
"No. I love him, and this gutter rat as
you refer to him as has a name, and also is more than you could ever be. Oh,
and by the way," taking off her engagement ring, and placing the ring in
Cal’s hand, "our engagement is off. I’m now Jack’s fiancé. We both love
each other more than you are capable of understanding."
After she spilled her emotions, everyone was
watching Rose, Cal, and Jack.
Jack was speechless. He whispered into her
ear. All he said was, "Rose, maybe we should get out of here. We should
probably avoid Cal the most we can."
"Good idea."
Cal just looked at the girl he just lost, to
this gutter rat. He realized he really did love her, and loving someone means
to let him or her go, if it means his or her happiness. This time, it did. He
truly wished the best for her, in his heart, but could never say that out loud,
and allow people to know he lost to Jack. All he asked her, was, "What
should I tell Ruth? She thinks you are dead."
She almost felt sorry for him. Almost. She
knew he loved her, in his own way. But what he did to her and Jack was
unacceptable. "Tell her that her daughter, Rose DeWitt Bukater, died on
Titanic. It’s the truth. I am now Rose Dawson. A new person, with a new life.
Good-bye, Mister Hockley."
They walked away, Cal defeated.
The next morning, they reached New York, and
Rose told Jack, "See? I did get off with you--just not the way I
thought." Her eyes were teary, but not of sadness, but of happiness. She
found her soulmate, and was now free.
"Are you ready, Rose?"
"Yes."
*****
Two weeks later, Rose and Jack were married.
Over the course of their lives, they had six children; Mackenzie Rose Dawson
and Keith James "Jack, Jr." Dawson were born January 16, 1913. Timothy
William was born on July 19, 1916. Sarah Michelle Dawson was born on September
22, 1918. Christopher Nelson Dawson was born on April 10, 1922--which they were
thrilled about--exactly ten years after Titanic set sail. And last, Elena Molly
Dawson was born, on February 25, 1925; Molly after Molly Brown, who helped them
on Titanic. They died together a peaceful death, in their sleep, on August 8,
1998. May they rest in peace.
The End.