IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
Chapter Eight

April 13, 1912

Jack and Rose lay wrapped up in bed together. Rose had her head on Jack's bare chest and their hands were laced together. Both were still fast asleep and dreaming things about each other. Sweet dreams, where nothing bad ever happened and Jack and Rose were in they own little world. Jack smiled in his sleep and stirred a bit. In his mind, he and Rose were together on the beach, with no one coming to bother them. The sun was just setting and night was about to fall. A beautiful mist surrounded them, causing Rose to look like some sort of angel. She was about to lean in and kiss him when Rose's face turned to that of Trevor's, crying out in pain as Jack shot him. Jack woke up, sweating and breathing hard. He put his free hand to his head and tried to calm himself. It was just a dream, he told himself. Jack looked down at Rose. She was smiling sweetly in her sleep, and as he stirred, she hugged him closer with her arm. Jack sat up and gently put Rose down on the sheet. Lying next to her, he gently kissed her cheek before kissing her softly on the mouth. Rose stirred, but did not wake up. Jack smiled at his wife and unwillingly sat up. He reached down to the floor and picked up his underwear and pants, slipping them on. He was reaching for his shirt when he felt someone lean their chin on his shoulder. Jack looked back and saw Rose smiling gently at him.

She kissed him gently before asking, "Do you have to go? It's not even close to morning."

Jack watched as she pushed him back down to the bed and snuggled up on his chest. "I have to go and live, or stay and die. Morning has broken already, Rosie," Jack said, smiling at her.

"It is some special light only we can see, Jack, to light you on your way to Los Angeles. Please, don't go," Rose whispered, her voice muffled. "It's not day."

Jack looked at her for a moment. So what if he died? If it was for Rose, it was for the best. "I'll stay, then," he said, rolling over on top of her and pulling the sheet over them at the same time. Rose giggled in surprise and looked up at him with her shining morning face. Jack sat up, pulling the sheet with him. He threw out his arms. "I welcome death, Rose, if that's what you want." Rose laughed and pulled him down again. "Let's talk. You are right; it is not day," Jack whispered before kissing her neck.

Rose moaned softly and ran her fingers through Jack's messed-up hair. She looked up at the white sheet above her and her eyes opened wide. Panicking, she pushed Jack up. "It is morning," she moaned. "Be gone. Hurry before anyone catches you."

Jack pulled them both up into a kneeling position, wrapping the sheet around them. "I don't care, Rose," he whispered before kissing her.

Rose forgot about everything and passionately kissed him back. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Miss Rose, your mother is coming up to your room!" Trudy called from outside the room.

Rose and Jack gasped and slipped out of their embrace and out of bed. Rose quickly slipped into a robe while Jack put on his shoes. Rose hurried over and helped him with buttoning his shirt. They quickly threw open the balcony doors and ran outside.

Before Jack began to climb down, he took Rose's head in his hands. "Rose, will you promise me something?" he asked.

"Anything, Jack," Rose whispered, putting her hands over Jack's.

"Promise me you'll always believe. Promise me that you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise," Jack whispered.

"I promise," Rose whispered.

"Never let go," Jack whispered.

"I promise. I'll never let go, Jack. I'll never let go," Rose whispered before kissing him.

With that, Jack began to climb down while Rose knelt down and stuck her head between two of the miniature posts. "Do you think we'll ever see each other again?" she asked.

Jack looked up and nodded. "Yes, we will, Rose. Do you trust me?"

"I trust you," Rose said.

"Good. We will meet again. Trust me," Jack said.

Rose smiled and leaned down, kissing Jack one last time. "I'd trust you with my life, Jack. Here," she said, taking off her necklace and slipping her wedding ring on it.

Jack smiled and took it from her, kissing it before jumping to the ground.

"Good-bye, Jack!" Rose called, trying to smile for him.

Jack smiled at her from below. "Good-bye, Rose," he whispered up to her. "I love you!"

Rose waved, her eyes filling with tears. "I love you, too!" she called.

Jack smiled at her one last time before turning and running out of sight.

Rose watched him go, her eyes spilling buckets of tears.

"Rose! Unlock this door!" someone called from inside the house.

Rose sighed and left the balcony, closing the door behind her. She crossed the room to where her door was and unlocked the door. Her mother immediately burst in, her face filled with happiness. Trudy followed her close behind. Rose backed away and sat on her bed as Trudy and her mother opened the windows and let more light in. Ruth, for the first time, turned and looked at her daughter. She saw Rose sitting on the bed, tears running down her cheeks.

"Oh, sweetheart, still upset about Trevor?" Ruth asked, coming over and sitting down next to Rose.

Rose just looked down.

"Well, we should all be sad. But in spite off all this mess, I have some good news!"

Rose looked up at her mother, wondering what her news could possibly be.

"Rose, you should consider yourself lucky!" Ruth said excitedly. "The wonderful Caledon Hockley has asked for your hand in marriage and your father has said yes! You are to be married this Thursday at St. Peter's Church! Isn't that wonderful? Say something, Rose."

Rose's eyes became wide and she felt her heart stop. Cal? Asking to marry me already? This Thursday? Get married when I am already married to Jack? These things ran through her head as she got up and crossed the room. Rose looked out the window and she began to breathe harder. This couldn't be happening. Rose turned around and looked her mother straight in the eye. "I will not be married at St. Peter's Church on Thursday," she said strongly.

Ruth gasped and her eyes became narrow. "Rose, you will do what we say, or else!"

"Or else what, Mother?" Rose shouted.

Just then, Rose's father walked into the room. "What is all this yelling about?" he demanded, looking from Ruth to Rose. "Ruth, have you told Rose the news?"

Ruth nodded. "I have. But she will not hear of it."

James looked at his daughter, his eyes filling with anger. "She will not hear of it?" he yelled.

Rose quickly got up and ran around to the back of Trudy, hiding behind her. "Father, please—" Rose started, but was cut off.

"Now, listen up, Rose!" her father bellowed. "You will be married this Thursday to Cal, or you will never again live in this house. Is this clear?"

Rose started crying and mumbled something.

"What?" James asked angrily.

Rose brought her head up and looked at her father. "I said, I will not marry Cal! Can you hear that now?" she yelled with all her might.

Her father looked as if he wanted to slap her, but instead he yelled, "You will marry Cal, or I will throw you out on the street and let you die in the gutters like a gutter rat!"

Rose started crying hysterically and shrunk up into a little ball.

James Bukater took one last look around before stomping out of the room.

Rose calmed down a bit, brought her head out from behind Trudy, and looked at her mother. "Please, Mother, don't make me marry Cal," she whispered weakly, her voice breaking.

Ruth looked at her daughter. "I am with your father," she said before standing up and leaving the room, slamming the door behind her.

Rose's face tightened and she started to cry again. "What am I going to do?" she choked out through her tears. "You've got to help me, Trudy."

Trudy sighed and crossed the room to Rose's bathroom. She started drawing a bath for Rose. "Come here, Rose. Relax, take a nice long bath, and calm down a bit," Trudy said.

Rose stood up and went over to Trudy. "I won't calm down until you tell me what to do, Trudy. I need help," she said.

Trudy turned and looked at Rose. She looked so much older than her seventeen years, and Trudy hated to do this to her. "Rose, I am sorry. But I think you should marry Cal," she said.

Rose's face became white and her eyes became wide.

When she said nothing, Trudy continued, "It is for the best, Rose. This marriage will excel your first. Try to forget about Jack. He is dead to you."

With that last remark, Rose turned around, not wanting to look at Trudy. "Is that how you really feel?" she asked.

"Yes," Trudy said, "with all my heart and soul."

Rose's eyes filled with tears again. What was she going to do now? She had thought that at least Trudy would be on her side. Who could she turn to? "And if you need anything, please come to me. You know I will help you will anything." Father Andrews’ words from the day before echoed in her mind. That was who she would go to, Father Andrews! Rose finally spoke, "Go. Tell my father that I am sorry and I am going to ask Father Andrews for forgiveness."

"Rose," Trudy said gently, coming up and putting her hand on Rose's shoulder.

"Go!" Rose said sternly.

Trudy sighed and turned around. "Yes, miss," she mumbled before leaving the room.

*****

Rose walked down the darkened corridor on her way to see Father Andrews. Finally, she spotted him walking towards her. Unfortunately, Cal was walking with him. Rose kept a straight face and walked up to them. "Good morning, Father Andrews," she said, saying nothing to Cal.

"Good morning, Rose," Father Andrews said, smiling.

"Do you have a few minutes? I need to talk with you," Rose said.

Father Andrews looked at Rose. He could see she was worried about something. "Yes, Rose, of course. Cal, will you excuse us?"

Cal smiled his annoying-to-Rose smile. "Yes, of course. See you this Thursday, Father, Rose," Cal said before leaving.

Rose made a face after he had left before following Father Andrews into his room. Once inside, Rose ran and flopped down on the couch, the same couch Jack had been hiding behind the night before. "Shut the door, and when you have, come and cry with me! Everything is past hope and help!" Rose wailed, starting to cry again.

Father Andrews closed the door and came over to Rose. "Oh, Rose, I already know about everything. About Cal, and how you are to be married to him," Father Andrews said, sitting down next to her.

Rose sighed and tried to wipe her tears away. "Please, don't talk about it unless you can tell me a way to get out of it! I long to die if what you speak of is not a plan!"

Father Andrews thought for a minute. Then, something came to his mind. "Rose, I might have something that may help you. I will give it to you if you wish," Father Andrews said, getting up and walking over to a table.

Rose brought her head up, and she, too, crossed the room, kneeling before the table. "I will do anything if it means being with Jack and not having to marry Cal," she said with passion in her voice.

Father Andrews began getting bottles out and mixing things together in a little glass container. "Go home, be happy, and tell your parents you will marry Cal," Father Andrews said. He watched as Rose's eyes opened wide. "Tomorrow night, make sure you are alone," he went on, "and take this mixture while you are in bed. This liquid will make you seem dead. You won't breathe, no blood will run through your veins, and even doctors will believe you are dead. You will stay like this for about thirty-six hours and then awake as if you were sleeping the whole time. I will have your family lay you in the church and I will keep you there until the time when you are to awake. Then Jack, who by my letters will come, and I will watch you awake and help you escape to Los Angeles."

Rose started to smile at the mention of Jack. She held out her hand. "Give me. Tell me not of fear."

Father Andrews put the bottle in Rose's hand. "Go. I'll send word to Jack right away."

Rose smiled and nodded. "Love give me strength," she whispered before getting up. "Thank you, Father Andrews. Thank you!" she called as she left the room.

*****

That night, Rose was sitting up in bed, looking at the bottle she held in her hand. She had told her parents that she would marry Cal and had made peace with them earlier that day. Now she had shut herself up in her room, telling her parents she needed some time to prepare her mind for the wedding. What if this doesn't work? Rose asked herself. Will I then be married to Cal? She held the bottle up to the light. The bluish liquid was now see-through. Rose shook her head. You are crazy, she told herself. Suddenly, there was knock on the door. Rose quickly hid the bottle under her pillow before calling out, "Come in!"

Ruth pushed open the door and walked over to her daughter. "Hello, dear," Ruth said, smiling at her daughter. "Do you need anything?" she asked, turning off the lamp.

"No, Mother," Rose replied.

Ruth smiled again. "Well, good night, then."

Rose smiled and kissed her mother on the cheek. This would probably be the last time Rose would ever see her mother, and even though Ruth had been not the best mother, Rose felt somewhat sad about their torn relationship. "Good night, Mother," Rose whispered as Ruth left the room.

Ruth turned and stood in the doorway, smiling at Rose before turning and leaving.

As the door closed, Rose whispered something as a tear dropped from her eye. "I love you, Mother." Sighing and wiping her tears, she took the bottle from behind the pillow and sat up. Rose held it up again and uncorked the top. "Here's to you, Jack," she whispered before bravely drinking the contents. Instantly, she started to fall, still clutching the bottle. As soon as her head hit the pillow, her hand went limp and the bottle was flung to the ground, rolling under a desk.

Chapter Nine
Stories