JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Sixty-Two

November 1, 1917
Late Afternoon

"Rosie?" Jack approached Rose. She was standing out at the end of the pier, looking out at the water. No one else was around, as the day promised rain. Rose turned her head at the sound of Jack's voice and looked at him for a moment before turning back to the water. Jack came up and stood next to her. "I got your note," he said gently. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just thinking," Rose mumbled. "The kids all right at Jennifer’s?" she asked quietly.

Jack nodded. "They're fine." There was a moment of silence before Jack asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Rose sighed heavily. "You, me, the children. Everything, all that we have been through. And all we have done." She turned and faced Jack. "I'm so scared Jack, I'm so scared. I don't want anything to happen to you. And I have tried to...to be strong. But I honestly don't know how I am going to do this."

Jack pulled Rose into his arms and held her tightly against him. "I'm scared too, Rose," he whispered gently. "I wish I could make today stand still. I don't want to leave tomorrow."

Tears ran down Rose's cheeks as she pulled away and looked at her husband. After a minute, she spoke. "Jack, you made me promise to survive, to go on and do all these things. And to never let go. I kept that promise. Now." She paused. "I want you to promise me something." Rose swallowed the lump that was rising her in throat. "I want you to come back. Promise me that you'll come back," she said.

Jack nodded, his face wet with tears. "Okay," he whispered.

"Say 'I promise' Jack," Rose commanded gently.

"I promise," Jack whispered. Rose flung herself back into Jack's arms and started to cry. Jack held her and stroked her hair. "It’s going to be okay," he whispered. Rose nodded quickly and held onto Jack as tightly as she could.

Much Later

Jack stood looking at Michael, who was asleep in his crib. He had just come from Jillian's room, where he had done the same thing he was doing now. Jack was getting a good, long look at his children. He didn't know how long it would be until he saw them again. Michael's hair hung in his face and a soft, innocent-looking smile was on his lips. One of his thumbs was in his mouth and he was sucking on it. His other arm was wrapped around a stuffed bear; "Bubba" is what Michael called it. That yellow blanket Rose had made was covering him from the waist down. Jack reached down and covered him up a little more before gently caressing his head.

"Jack? Are you in here?" Rose whispered, coming into the room. She came up behind her husband and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "You okay?" she asked.

Jack turned around and nodded. "Yeah," he mumbled, "considering."

Rose sighed and took Jack's hand. "Come on, you'll see them in the morning," she said, pulling him out of the room. "And besides, Jack, we still have a little bit of making it count left to do."

Jack smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders. "You're right Rosie," he whispered.

Rose smiled back and led him to their bedroom. She pushed open the door, and without bothering to turn on the lights, brought Jack in, closing the door behind them. Jack gasped at what he saw. On the nightstands, which were on either side of the bed, were two lit candles. Resting on one nightstand was a bucket of ice with a bottle of champagne and on the other were two wineglasses. The bed sheets were turned back and all of the windows and doors were closed.

"Oh, Rose." Jack sighed.

"It's amazing what you can do to a room in five minutes," Rose mumbled as she snuggled against Jack.

Jack just nodded and held Rose close to him. "I am going to miss this so much," he whispered in her ear.

"Don't think about that Jack, don't. Just forget about everything but you and I," she whispered back. Jack pulled her away and looked into her eyes. Rose started to smirk and then took Jack's hand and placed it on the small of her back. She put her hand on his shoulder and then took Jack's other hand in her own. "Dance with me, Jack," she whispered.

Jack looked down and then up again and smiled. "We're going to have to get a little bit closer," he said, pulling her closer to himself.

Rose smiled. "I am not objecting."

Jack started to move them gracefully around the room. Rose moved closer to him, closed her eyes, and leaned her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes, she felt Jack dip her down and her body then came in contact with something soft. Rose opened her eyes and saw that she was now lying on the bed, Jack looking down on her. She moved back so that her head was on the pillow and Jack moved with her. As he started to kiss her Rose asked, "What about the champagne?"

"Forget it," Jack mumbled, reaching up and brushing some hair away from her face.

Rose reached up and ran her hands through Jack's hair. "I love you so much, Jack," she whispered, "so much."

Jack kissed her forehead. "I love you, too," he whispered lovingly.

Rose smiled and then leaned to either side of her, blowing out the candles. She found Jack's cheek in the dark and placed her hand there. Jack leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips and then traced her low neckline with his fingers. Rose sighed happily as she placed her arms around Jack's neck.

"Make love to me, Jack," she whispered. She pulled his head down and moaned softly as her lips met with Jack's.

Early Morning

Rose lay in Jack's arms, her head in the crook of his neck. She was asleep, but Jack was not. He had been awake for some time, just watching Rose sleep. The bottle of champagne sat unopened in what was now a bucket of water and with the exception on one sheet, the bed covers were off. Jack heard Rose yawn and he looked over at her. Her eyes fluttered open and then closed again as she wrapped her arms around Jack's body and laid her head on his chest.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

"About six," Jack responded.

Rose sighed and then opened her eyes back up. "No, it can't be that late," she mumbled.

Jack nodded. "It is."

"What time is Scott coming to pick you up?" she asked.

"Eight," Jack replied quickly.

Scott was picking Jack up and driving him to the train station, as he had to leave the same day. Jennifer was going along simply to drive their car home. But Rose thought it best she didn't go. It would be too hard to say good-bye to Jack that way. Rose groaned and then moved to lie on top of Jack.

"I am not going to let you leave," she whispered, touching their foreheads together. "It’s not right. We've been through enough already."

Jack kissed her gently. "There is nothing we can do," he said, running his fingers through her hair.

Rose nodded and then sighed heavily. "I need a shower or something," she whispered. "I smell horrible."

Jack laughed. "You do not. You smell like roses, as always."

Rose smiled softly and closed her eyes. "Come on," she heard Jack say, and she opened her eyes back up.

"What?" she asked.

Jack was starting to get up. Rose rolled off of him and sat up, pulling the sheet up with her. "What are you doing?" she asked again.

"Come on," Jack repeated after getting his robe on. He reached for her hands and pulled her out of bed. Rose reached for her bathrobe and pulled it on. Jack took her hand again and pulled her into the bathroom. It was only when Jack started running the bath when Rose understood what he was doing. The bath quickly filled up with hot water and Rose smiled teasingly at Jack. She took off the robe and climbed in.

"Come on," she mocked to Jack, gesturing for him to get in with her index finger. Jack laughed and took off his own robe. He climbed in the tub and sat down on Rose's lap. Rose wrapped her arms around him from the back and rested her chin on his shoulder. "You snored," she said suddenly.

Jack laughed and retorted, "I do not snore! You've said so before!"

"Well, you did last night. You sounded like this." Rose began to make really horrible snoring noises that made them both laugh.

"So?" Jack said, laughing. "You talk in your sleep!"

"When I'm sick!" Rose shot back.

"So, I've only snored once in our five and a half years of marriage. That’s pretty good," Jack teased. "You've talked more than I have snored. You go 'Oh Jack, I love you so much, take me to the stars, Jack.'" He laughed. "You sound like you are actually talking to me."

Rose blushed as Jack looked back at her. Jack started laughing again. Rose pinched the side of his waist and he jumped. "Ow," he said, laughing, "that hurt."

"It didn't hurt, you big baby." Rose laughed at him. "If it did, you wouldn't be laughing."

Jack just laughed some more and settled back against Rose. He laid his head against her shoulder and looked up at her. "If I snore again, you can kick me, okay?"

Rose nodded. "I just might do that." They smiled at each other, and then Rose leaned down to kiss Jack gently. "Want me to shampoo your hair for you?" she asked, running her fingers through Jack's still dry hair.

Jack nodded. "You do mine and I'll do yours."

Rose nodded back and then reached out of the tub where a pitcher sat. She picked up the pitcher and dipped it in the water, filling it to the top. Whenever the children took baths in her room, she would have to wet their hair down by pouring water on top of their heads. "I am going to have to treat you like Michael," Rose said, as Jack moved away from her. He sat right in front of her with his back facing her. "Now, head back," Rose commanded. Jack arched his head back and Rose moved to dump the water over his hair. After this was done, Jack brought his head up and shook it. "No way Jack Dawson. You are going to get water on my floor. And you're not a dog," Rose said as she held his head in place. She reached over and picked up a tiny bottle of shampoo. After squeezing some in her hand, she lathered the soap into Jack's hair. After it was really soapy, she took another pail of water and started rinsing it out.

"You got soap in my eye," Jack said in a whining voice after a moment.

"Oh, poor baby," Rose cried teasingly. "Honestly Jack, you're worse then Michael." Jack laughed and then started to shake his head again. Rose laughed and tried to get him to stop. "Jack!" she cried before laughing again.

Jack turned about and smiled at her. "Turn around. It's your turn to be tortured," he said.

Rose rolled her eyes and then turned around. "You liked it and you know it," she said back. At that remark Jack poked her on the back, right on the bottom of her spine. Rose arched forward and twisted around. She started laughing. "Don't do that. You know I hate that," she said, splashing water at him.

Jack just laughed at her. "Head back," he said facing her head forward again. Rose did as she was told and arched her head back. Jack poured water over her hair and after a few times, it was wet. He repeated the process of lathering Rose's hair with shampoo and then rinsing it out. After this was done, Rose and Jack both got out of the bathtub and after drying off, put on their robes. Jack took a towel and started drying Rose's hair. After he was done with that, Rose turned around and started drying his hair. "You know Rose, your hair drying skills need a little work," Jack teased. Rose laughed and hit him with the towel. Jack laughed and then pinched her back.

"Ow, stop doing that." Rose laughed.

Jack laughed back and commanded, "Finish drying my hair."

"Yes, sir!" Rose said, saluting him like sailor. They both laughed for a few moments, and then Rose realized something. For ten or twelve blissful minutes, she had forgotten totally about Jack leaving. She sighed heavily, her heart suddenly sinking in her chest. Jack must have realized what she was thinking, because he turned around and held her as tight as he could.

*****

"Remind Mike and Jillian every day that I love them," Jack whispered as he held Rose tight. They were standing at the front door and the children had been sent into the other room to leave Jack and Rose a bit more time alone. Rose nodded and wiped a tear from her cheek.

"They know, Jack, but I will remind them," she promised.

Jack pulled Rose away and looked at her. He studied her face, arms, legs, and her whole body. "Always remember, I love you, Rose," he whispered gently.

"I love you, too," Rose said, before starting to cry.

Jack pulled her back into her arms and rocked her back and forth. Before long, there was a honk outside. Jack opened the door and looked out. The Langston's car was parked at the end of the driveway. He turned back to Rose. "I guess this is it," he whispered. "This is good-bye."

Rose's eyes filled with tears again. "Don't you do that," she said. "Don't you say your good-byes, Jack Dawson. It’s not good-bye. You're just going away for a little bit. And you're going to be back."

Jack's eyes were now clouded with tears. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to walk out of this house and get into that car. Who knew how long it would be until he saw Rose again? But she was right. It wasn't good-bye; it wasn't that night of the sinking and it wouldn’t be now. Jack nodded and cupped Rose's face in his hands. "It’s not good-bye," he agreed. Jack then pulled Rose's face toward his and kissed her. He kissed her with every ounce of strength he had left. Rose strongly kissed him back, not wanting this moment to end. How long would it be until Jack kissed her again? It could be months, years even. Too soon, there was another honk. They pulled away and looked at each other, pain flooding their faces.

"Write as soon as you can," Rose whispered.

Jack nodded. "I will," he promised.

Rose blinked back more tears and took Jack's hand in her own. "Not good-bye," she whispered.

Jack nodded strongly. "Not good-bye," he whispered back. They held each other for a moment longer. "I've gotta go now," Jack whispered, sighing. Rose nodded and pulled away after a second. She took a deep breath and squeezed Jack's hand. Nether of them could find words. "I guess I...I'll see you in a little while, Rose," Jack finally said.

Rose couldn't stand it. She threw her arms around Jack and kissed him again. "Be careful, okay?" she said after they pulled apart.

"I will. I promise," Jack said. With one more soft kiss, he slowly let go of Rose, except for her hand, picked up his bag, and started out the door. Rose held Jack's hand as long as she could before slowly letting go of it. She stood in the doorway and watched intently, through tear-filled eyes, as he walked toward the car. After putting his bags in the car, Jack turned around and called, "I love you!"

"I love you too, Jack Dawson," she called, her throat tightening. Jack's eyes filled with tears and he quickly climbed into the back seat of the car. Rose swallowed her tears and held her hand up, giving Jack a wave. Jack waved back and then placed his hand against the window glass. Before Rose knew it, the car had started moving away. Rose just stood there, watching it go. She watched it until it was out of sight, then that was it. He was gone. "It's not good-bye," she whispered to herself before turning to go inside.

*****

"Rose?" Dianna pushed open the Dawson's front door that night, Grace and Meaghan walking behind her. She had seen Jack leave earlier and was worried about her friend. Bryan had left a week and a half ago for the war, and so far, Dianna had been doing all right. But Rose and Jack had been through so much, and poor Rose was probably devastated now. Dianna wandered into the kitchen where dinner dishes still sat. She heard no sound of the Dawson children, something that was unusual for the house now days. After checking downstairs, Dianna decided that Rose was either upstairs or out. She picked up a very quiet Grace and started upstairs, Meaghan still behind her. Dianna found Michael and Jillian in Michael's room, playing with some wooden blocks.

"Hello Michael, hello Jillian," she said, coming in.

"Hi, Aunt Dianna," Michael said in his little two-year-old voice that Dianna loved.

"Hey, Michael," she said, putting Grace down. Her two children went over to the Dawson children and started playing with their blocks. After a minute of watching them, Dianna asked, "Where is Rose--your mother, Michael?"

"In her and Daddy's room," Michael answered, setting a block on top of Jillian's tower she was making with Grace. "You know where my Daddy is?" he asked.

Dianna sighed. Rose and Jack hadn't told him what was going on. "What did your Mommy tell you, hon?"

"Mommy said that Daddy was gonna be away for a little while," Michael answered, not pronouncing some of the words right.

Dianna nodded. "Well, she's right." She kneeled down to his level. "Your Daddy is not going to be back for a little while," she said.

"Oh," Michael said sadly.

Dianna tried to smile and ruffled his hair. "I am going to go check on your Mommy now, Michael. Will you and Jillian stay here and play with Grace and Meaghan for me?" she asked. Jillian looked up and nodded, as did Michael. Dianna mumbled thank you and then went to find Rose. Their bedroom door was open, so she gently poked her head through. Rose was standing by the closed balcony door, her back toward Dianna. "Rose?" she called quietly. Rose turned her head and in that second Dianna saw more hurt and pain in one person's face then she had ever seen in her life. "Oh, Rose. You okay, hon?" she asked, coming over.

Rose started to shake and shook her head. She could feel a lump rising her throat and could tell she was going to lose her control. Dianna must have known too because she walked over and put her arms around Rose. Rose started to cry hysterically. "It's not f-fair, Dianna!" she cried through her tears. "Jack and I have been through too much already. God can't do this to us!"

Dianna stroked Rose's hair. "It's all right, honey. You're going to get through this," she whispered. "You and Jack are two of the strongest people I know." At the sound of Jack's name, Rose started to cry harder. "Hey," Dianna said gently, pulling Rose away and forcing her to look at her. "You and Jack love each other more then anything. And with your love, you'll be able to get through anything. Even this. Now, I can't promise you nothing will happen. But I'll be here, if you want to talk, all right? I promise I'll listen. And let you cry and scream and swear as much as you want to." That got a little chuckle out of Rose as she wiped some tears away. "Okay?" Dianna asked gently. Rose took a deep breath and nodded. "All right," Dianna said, trying to smile for Rose.

Rose nodded her head and sighed shakily, a few tears still running down her face. "It's really hard, Dianna," she said.

"I know, Rose," Dianna said sincerely.

Rose started to cry again and Dianna held her close once more. Somehow they would make it through until Jack and Bryan came home, whenever that might be.

Chapter Sixty-Three
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