JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Forty-Six
August 14, 1914
Somewhere in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean
Rose groaned as she tried to put her hair
half up and half down in front of a mirror. She was already tried and stressed
enough, and this was going to be the last straw in a minute. She set the rubber
band down and took a deep breath.
"I swear, I am going crazy," she
mumbled flopping down on the bed. Rose sighed as she looked up at the ceiling;
she couldn't wait to get home. She wanted to get off this ship too. It was
making her already sometimes-queasy stomach worse at times. She hadn't gotten
sick yet, but there had been times where she felt like she was going to. And
since she had never been queasy on ships before, she assumed this was all part
of her suspicions. And on top off all that, Rose was trying to hide all this
from Jack until she knew for sure and he was not making it easy. He'd always
ask if she was okay whenever he saw her looking pale. Or if she was up at
night, going over things in her mind, he'd ask her what she was thinking about.
Rose knew he was just being compassionate and caring. And Rose knew he was just
trying to make sure she was okay. But for some reason, the last couple of times
he had asked, Rose had found herself getting slightly mad. She had even snapped
a "No, I am just fine thank you. You're driving me crazy, do you always
have to ask that?" to him last night. The moment the words were out of her
mouth, Rose had regretted them. Jack had looked so hurt and confused and Rose
felt really badly afterwards. She and Jack had never fought, or even snapped at
one another. It seamed like half the time they knew what the other was
thinking. The would finish each other's sentences, understand what the other
was trying to say, and almost always agreed. And even if they didn't agree,
they never fought about it. Even when they teased and poked fun at one another,
they knew it was just in fun. And although, Rose had to admit, she got
frustrated with Jack once and a while, she never got mad. But last night,
something had happened and Rose had just lashed out. Things hadn't been the
same since then. They had just keep quiet, occasionally murmuring something or
saying something. But they hadn't really talked since then. And to make matters
worse, Jack was out right now. Rose had been washing up for dinner and had come
out of the bathroom to find a note form Jack on the bed saying that he gone out
for a walk and that he would be back in time for dinner.
Rose had been hoping to mend things before
they left for dinner, but there was no hope now. She wondered how Jack felt.
"Probably awful," she mused.
"Probably thinks that it's his fault.
God, I feel so bad." Rose heard and knock on the door and thinking it was
Jack coming back and forgetting his key, she got up to answer it. But it wasn't
Jack; it was their steward James. While James wasn't exactly as annoying as
Brett had been, he was still checking up on them way too much.
"Yes James," Rose said sighing.
"Dinner is being served Miss,"
James explained. Rose's heart sank and her eyes filled with tears. Jack wasn't
back yet and was probably going to miss dinner. "Something wrong
Miss?" James asked seeing her tears.
"No, no, just something in my eye. Thank
you James," Rose whispered before closing the door. The moment the door
was shut, she sank to the floor. Was Jack really that mad at her?
"Oh God Jack, I am so sorry," she
whispered closing her eyes and trying to think of what to do.
"Might as well go and see if he's there.
I need to apologize and quick." Sighing, she pulled herself and walked
back to the mirror that was hanging over the vanity in their first-class room
aboard the Mauritania. Rose had laughed when she had heard that that was ship
they were going on. And when Jack had asked why, she had told him about her
remark when she had first seen the Titanic. Jack, had too, smiled and laughed
with her. She had sailed on it once, coming home from boarding school for the
last time when she had been sixteen. But now the only joy in sailing on a ship
had been dimmed with last night's remarks. Rose looked in the mirror and tired
to smile. But even with her wide smile her eyes were still filled with sadness
and uncertainty. Giving up trying to look happy, she grabbed the rubber band
again and ran her brush through her hair. This time, her hair went up perfectly
the first time.
"Figures," Rose thought as she
smoothed her navy blue dress. Grabbing a shawl, she checked herself in the
mirror one last time. Rose ran her hand over her stomach and studied herself in
the mirror. She didn't look pregnant. But Rose knew these things took time. If
she was even pregnant in the first place. Sighing, she dragged herself away
from the mirror and left the room. Rose stepped into the dinning room and
looked around. Jack wasn't anywhere. She sighed and tears filled her eyes.
Suddenly, she spotted James in the crowd of people. She caught his eye motioned
for him to come over.
"Do you know where Jack is?" she asked
him once he came over.
"Ah, I saw him right before I came to
your cabin miss. He was out on the boat deck. Walking towards the bow. My guess
is, that's where is now," James said trying to be cheerful. "Do you
need anything Miss?"
Rose shook her head, trying to figure out why
Jack had gone up there.
"No, I am fine. Thank you."
"Alright, I'll be checking in
later," James said walking off. Rose bit her lip and then suddenly gasped.
She turned around quickly and hurried off to find Jack.
************
Jack was indeed at the bow, and had been for
the last fifteen minutes. He knew he should be getting back, but something was
keeping him here. Something was going on with Rose, and he knew it. She usually
wasn't this moody, and hardly ever snapped at people. Plus, there were all her
headaches. Jack sighed, he wished she would tell he what was going. The best
idea he could come up with was that she was going through her "once a
month stuff" as he called it. But then again, she had never acted this way
before. "Maybe she just is really worn out and tried," he thought. He
had forgiven her, but she did not know that yet. Maybe she really was mad at
him for some reason. Jack looked out at the ocean. The sun was just begging to
set and causing the sky to turn into a collage of purple, blue, orange, and
pink. It reminded him of sunset on Titanic when he and Rose had first kissed.
Oh how he wished everything was back to normal with them. He missed her.
"Hello Jack," a voice behind him
said. He turned and saw Rose standing there. A soft smile on her face.
Ironically, she was dressed similar to when he took her flying. Rose had a
beautiful navy blue-purplish dress that accented her eyes, a shawl around her
shoulders, and her hair half up and half down. Jack knew now, that she wasn't
mad at him. She would have never had tried to find him if she was.
"I'm sorry," she said starting to
walk forward. "I don't know what came over me, I guess I was just tried
and I didn't mean--"
"Shh," Jack whispered smiling at
her. "Give me your hand."
Rose smiled back at Jack. He wasn't mad at
her at all. Everything was going to be okay. With only those few words
everything was forgiven. Rose held out her hand to Jack and she felt his hand
slip into hers. Her heart felt like it was going to explode as he kept her eyes
locked on Jacks. He looked like he had that night on Titanic with his hair
hanging in his face, his simple clothes on, a big black coat around his
shoulders, and that spark in his eyes that Rose had not seen in almost
twenty-four hours. She watched as he drew her to him.
"Now, close your eyes," he said.
"Go on, close them."
Rose smiled and closed her eyes, letting Jack
be her guide.
"Now, step up," he said helping her
up. "Hold on. Keep your eyes closed, don't peak."
"I'm not," Rose whispered.
Jack smiled, "Now step up onto the rail.
Hold on, hold on Rose. Do you trust me?" Jack asked as Rose giggled a
little.
"I trust you," Rose said sincerely.
Jack stepped up on the rail behind Rose and spread her arms out like she was
flying. Then he put his hands on her waist and leaned in close to her.
"Alright, open your eyes," he
whispered.
Rose opened her eyes and gasped. It was just
like she was flying again.
"I'm flying, Jack!" Rose said excitedly
and Jack smiled. They stood there for a few minuets, letting the wind blow
through their hair and over their bodies, before Jack brought his hands up to
Rose's and started caressing through them. Rose smiled and caressed her own
hands over Jack's, savoring every moment with him. She forgot about last night,
about all her suspicions, even that they were even on a ship. She felt like she
was really flying, high above the water, with Jack right beside her.
"Come Josephine, in my flying machine,
going up she goes, up she goes," he sang in her ear, sending shivers
through Rose's body. Jack leaned in closer to her, letting her send wash over
her. Suddenly, he brought Rose's arms to her waist with his own hands over
hers. Rose took the hint and turned her head, meeting Jack's mouth with her
own. They kissed slowly at first, as if it was their first kiss all over again,
but slowly built into a passionate and meaningful kiss that carried them higher
then the sky.
**********************
Rose and Jack entered their cabin, still
giddy from their kiss on the bow. Rose giggled as she flopped down onto the
couch.
"We missed dinner," she laughed, as
if it were the funniest thing she had ever heard. Jack laughed with her and
flopped down in the nearest chair.
"Do you want me to get you something to
eat?" he asked.
Rose laughed again, "No, I'm not really
hungry."
"Me either," Jack whispered getting
up and coming over to her. Rose pulled her feet off one end of the couch so
Jack could sit down. He did sit down and then pulled Rose's feet into his lap.
Taking her shoes and socks off, he gently rubbed her feet. Rose closed her eyes
and moaned.
"Mmm, thank you Jack," she
whispered.
"Rose?" Jack asked.
"Hmmm?" Rose responded, her eyes
still closed.
"I'm sorry for--"
"Jack, don't," Rose said bringing
her head up. "It was my fault and I was tired. And you were right; I
wasn't feeling that well. But I don't want to talk about it anymore, we've had
a perfect evening."
Jack smiled, "You're right. I'll forget
about it."
Rose smiled back and then turned her body
around so that her head was now in Jack's lap and her feet were at the opposite
end of the couch. Jack took her hair out of its half ponytail and started
running his fingers through it. Rose closed her eyes again and smiled.
"How long until we get to New
York?" she asked.
"Hmmm, I don't know. Probably a few
days," Jack whispered. He saw Rose nod, her eyes still closed. Jack smiled
and looked out the little window in their sitting room. A full moon was out,
lighting up the water like a giant spotlight.
"Hay Rose," Jack whispered.
Rose opened her eyes and looked at Jack.
"Yes?"
Jack brought pulled her up and pointed
outside, "Look! Isn't it beautiful."
Rose nodded, "It is beautiful Jack. Just
like you."
"Hay," Jack said getting up and
turning off the light, "come here."
Rose got up and fell into Jack's arms. He
started moving them around in the moonlight. Rose rested her chin on Jack's
shoulder and smiled. Jack started to sing to her their song. Rose closed her
eyes and let Jack take over her.
"Going up she goes, up she goes,"
he sang softly in her ear. Rose sighed happily and wrapped her arms tighter
around Jack.
"Up, up, a little bit higher. Oh my, the
moon is on fire," Jack sang. Rose giggled as he kissed right under her
ear. After the song was over, Jack started humming something she didn't know.
"That's pretty," Rose commented.
"What is it?"
Jack stopped humming and looked into her eyes
while they moved around.
"It's an Old Irish love song, called The
Sally Gardens. My dad used to sing it to my mom when they thought I wasn't
looking. There's lyrics, but I can't remember them."
Rose smiled, "Its beautiful. Please,
don't stop singing it."
Jack smiled and started humming again. Rose
set her chin back on his shoulder and listened to Jack's voice. She began to
forget about all her worries and suspicions. All that was in her mind was Jack.
A few minutes later Jack stopped humming and moving. The next thing Rose knew was
that she was in her bedroom, lying on the bed, with Jack beside her. The
moonlight reflected off the water and into the room, causing Jack's face to be
lit up.
"Hi," Jack whispered.
Rose giggled and smiled, "Hi."
Jack smiled at her and then began to kiss all
over her face.
"Jack?" Rose asked.
"Hmmm," Jack mumbled.
"I love you," Rose whispered.
"Don't ever forget that."
Jack brought his head up and looked into her
shinning eyes.
"I love you too," he whispered.
Rose smiled, "I know Jack, I know."
Jack smiled before kissing her eyes, her
nose, and then her mouth. Rose deepened the kiss, allowing Jack to take her far
away. Higher and higher until the heavens were far below them.