JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Sixty-Six

December 14th, 1918

Rose took a big sip of her coffee and took a look at the clock. It was only 6:30 AM. She had to last until twelve. Then Jack would be home.

Jack was finally coming home. A month ago, when she had found out Jack would be coming home, she had been in to much of a shock to do anything. She had just whispered Jack's promise over and over and had cried because she was so happy. Dianna had been there and had cried along with her.

Since that day, two letters had come from Jack. One had been postmarked right before the war ended and the other right after. The mail had been so slow that they had not gotten over to the United States until late November. In Jack's last letter, the one after the war had ended, he had sounded so excited; going on and on about what he and Rose were going to do when he got home. And about how much he missed everyone and about how thankful he was to have gotten through everything so safely.

After that, Rose had been busy tidying the house and making everything perfect for Jack. The children were most excited for their father's return and that's all they had been talking about for weeks. Rose, too, had returned to usual self, smiling and bright all the time. She often laughed when she thought of her and Dianna's conversations that morning before the telegram came. Maybe that's just what was keeping Jack away was the fact that Rose had all of her feelings locked inside.

Last night she hadn't been able to sleep at all. So she had spent her last night alone thinking about all the things to tell and show Jack. Finally, at five, she had gotten up and showered. Now, here she sat, giddily humming 'Come Josephine in My Flying Machine'. It brought to mind that night on the bow where she and Jack had first kissed. Rose smiled at the memory; she could still taste that kiss now. Fast forwarding in her mind, Rose thought about what had happened after that kiss on the bow. The drawing, and then the car. Rose smiled happily again.

"The car," she whispered to herself and the cup of coffee. Rose could still remember that too. "Mmm, hmm, mmm, hmm," Rose sang her herself as she got up and set the mug in the sink.

Despite the lack of sleep, Rose couldn't be more aware. She was awake as any day and as alert as she ever was. Suddenly, Rose felt something nudge her leg. She looked down and saw Addy standing at her feet. "Well, hey there, Addy," she whispered, crouching down. The dog licked Rose's hand and wagged its tail. "You excited for Jack to come home?" Rose asked Addy, as if she would answer. At the sound of Jack's name, Addy wagged her tail. Rose laughed as she gently petted Addy's soft head. "Yeah, you love Jack, don't you?" Addy started barking and running around the room. "Shh," Rose whispered harshly. "You'll wake Michael and Jillian up." Addy gave up her barking and instead sat down and wagged her tail against the floor. "I suppose you want breakfast, huh, girl?" Rose asked. "Come on," she said, going over to the cupboard.

Addy got up and stood by Rose as she got down a small bag of dog food. Addy started wagging her tail and immediately went to go stand by her bowl. Rose scooped a cup of food from the bag with a mug and then poured the food in Addy's bowl. The dog began to eat right away and Rose smiled as she set the mug in the sink.

"Mommy," came a voice from behind her.

Rose turned and saw Michael. His eyes were half closed and he still looked sleepy. "Good morning, Mike," Rose whispered as she walked over and picked him up. "You're up early," she said, brushing the hair away from his face. Michael nodded and laid his head on Rose's shoulder. Rose smiled and kissed Michael's cheek. "Do you want some breakfast?" she asked.

Michael shook his head. "Not now, Mommy. Daddy's coming home today, isn't he?" he asked groggily.

Rose smiled brightly at Michael, proud that he had remembered. "That's right, sweetheart. He is gonna be so happy to see you," she said excitedly.

Michael smiled and hugged his mother around the neck. "I wanna see Daddy!" he yelled, fully awake now.

"Shh," Rose cautioned. "Jillian is still asleep. You'll get to see Daddy at about lunch time."

"I wanna see him now," Michael said, rather loudly.

Rose started to walk downstairs, Michael still in her arms. "I am sorry, sweetie, but you'll have to wait just like me and Jillian."

Michael frowned and looked at his mother. "Oh, Michael, I am sorry, honey. But you are just going to have to wait," Rose said gently. She walked into the laundry room and put Michael down. She grabbed a clean outfit of Michael's out of a clean-clothes basket and managed to find two socks. "Here, come here," Rose said, pulling Michael over. She took off his pajamas and slipped the clean clothes over his head.

"Mommy?" Michael asked as she put some socks on his feet.

"Hmm?" Rose asked, somewhat distracted.

"Do you think Daddy will take me to go get a Christmas Tree?"

Rose looked up. She had been so excited about Jack that she had almost forgotten about Christmas. She smiled at Michael. "I am sure he will, honey. Maybe not today, but later he will. We'll all go. You, Jillian, Daddy, and me. How does that sound?"

Michael smiled excitedly. "Good!"

Rose laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Okay, go play. Just be quiet," she said after giving him a look over.

Michael nodded and ran out of the laundry room. Rose shook her head and smiled. Her heart was filled with love and hope. Something that had been missing for the past few months.

*****

Jack Dawson stood in front of his house, his eyes filling with happy tears. After being gone for over a year, the sight of his home made his heart fill with a welcome feeling. Jack shook his head; the war was over and he was never going to think about it again. No matter what. He was early, which explained why Rose hadn't been out the door and running down the pathway to meet him. He had caught a train in Denver that would take him home faster, and instead of arriving at about eleven, he had got in at nine. Jack checked his watch; it was just after ten. It had taken a half-hour to get out of that station and another half-hour to get home because the cab driver got lost. Jack took a deep breath and started walking up the front door. His heart fluttered excitedly as he gently pushed open the door and stepped inside. Looking around, Jack saw that the house was much the way he had left it. There were a few rearranged things, but that was it. Jack sat his bags down and then strained to hear voices.

"Mommy! When is Daddy gonna be here?" a voice yelled from upstairs.

"Soon, Jillian!" came Rose's voice from what sounded like the kitchen or the family room.

Jillian? That was Jillian's voice? Jack barely recognized it. And Rose's voice! It was exactly how he remembered it: cultured and elegant, loving and gentle.

"Hey, Jillian! Come here!" came another voice.

"What, Mike?"

Michael? He sounded different, too. He sounded much older than when Jack saw him last. Jack smiled; he could surprise Rose and greet her privately while the children were upstairs. He ran his hand through his hair and quietly made his way toward the kitchen. He peeked in and found Rose with her back toward him. He couldn't tell exactly what she was doing, but he didn't care.

Jack tried to calm his racing heart and then whispered, "Rose?"

Rose's body tensed and she gasped. She turned around quickly and dropped whatever she had been holding. Jack didn't notice what it was. "Jack?" Rose whispered, her eyes widening.

"Miss me?" Jack asked, starting to smile at her.

Rose screamed and ran into Jack's arms. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Oh, my God! Did I miss you?" she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "Miss is an understatement!"

Jack chuckled and crushed Rose against him. He ran his face through her hair and drank in her scent.

"Jack," Rose moaned softly. Jack immediately moved his lips to hers and fiercely kissed her. Rose eagerly kissed him back and moved even closer to him. This is how they stayed for minutes, not caring about anything. "Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God," Rose whispered as they pulled apart.

Jack held her head in his hands and looked into her tear filled eyes. "God, I have missed you," he whispered before pulling Rose's lips to his again.

Rose moaned softly and ran her fingers through Jack's hair. It was longer then it had been before he had left, but Rose didn't mind. She was just happy to have Jack back in her arms. "What are you doing home early?" she asked after they pulled away for a second time.

"I caught an early train," Jack whispered in her ear before moving his lips to her neck.

Rose smiled and sighed happily. The next thing she knew, Jack was kissing her eagerly on the lips again.

"Daddy!" Rose and Jack broke apart just in time to see Michael and Jillian running in.

Jack bent down and scooped Michael and Jillian up into his arms. "Look at you guys!" he whispered as he looked from Jillian to Michael.

Rose came around and stood in front of Jack. She ruffled Michael's hair. "They missed you, Jack," she said, smiling at him.

Jack smiled back at her and Rose melted. Seeing Jack now, she wondered just how she had gotten through the past year. Jack looked from Rose back to Jillian and Michael. They looked so much different from when he had last seen them. Jillian had a lot more hair and more teeth. She wasn't a shy little one-year-old anymore. Michael, too, had a lot more hair, which was darker then it had been. Both children seemed to have grown a foot to Jack, even though he knew that was not true.

"I missed you, Daddy," Michael said as he smiled at his father.

Jack's eyes filled with tears. "I missed you, too, Michael Andrew," he whispered before kissing Michael on the cheek. "You've gotten so big!"

"And you," he said toward Jillian. Jillian smiled as her eyes shone as she waited for Jack to speak. "You are getting to be a beautiful young lady. Just like your mother."

Jillian beamed and kissed Jack on the cheek. "I missed you," she whispered sweetly.

Jack smiled and kissed her back. "I missed you, too, Jellybean." He put both of the children down and then pulled Rose toward him. He didn't do anything but hug her, holding her close. "Rose," he whispered in her ear, out of sound of the children. "I love you."

"Oh, Jack," Rose sighed, no longer caring about the children. "I love you, too." Jack smiled and suddenly picked her up, spinning her around fast. "I love you!" Rose shouted as she threw her hands up. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Jack laughed and brought her back down, passionately kissing her. Michael and Jillian watched from a few feet away, both of them excited about Jack finally being home.

"Daddy, come here!" Jillian shouted after letting Jack and Rose kiss for a minute. Her parents broke apart and smiled. Jillian walked over and took Jack's hand. "Come here," she repeated, starting to pull him along. Jack took Rose's hand and then let Jillian pull him toward the stairs.

Michael started running ahead of everyone else and shouted, "Come see our new stuff, Dad!" Jack turned his head over his shoulder and smiled at Rose again before winking at her. Rose smiled back and strongly squeezed Jack's hand.

"I kept my promise," Jack mouthed.

"Me, too," Rose mouthed back.

Jack's eyes shone. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," Rose whispered gently.

Jack smiled and turned his head back around. Rose smiled inwardly and breathed a happy sigh. Jack had kept his promise. He was home.

*****

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Rose and Jack never left each other's side the whole time. When one had to use the bathroom, the other would wait right outside the door. If one wanted a drink, the other went along. They cooked dinner together, and for the first time in a year, sat down as a whole family to eat. Jillian and Michael had shown Jack every new or different thing they could find and had wanted to be around him every second. To Jack and Rose, this was understandable and they did not get mad at the children's constant talk or questions. Now, Jack lay against the backboard in their bed with Rose wrapped up in his arms. Michael and Jillian had been asleep for hours now, exhausted from the day. But neither Rose nor Jack had any intention of going to sleep any time soon. They had talked about everything and anything that had happened since the war. The one thing they did not talk about though was Jack's experience overseas. Neither of them wanted to at the moment. Maybe someday, after some time had gone by. But not tonight. Tonight was just for being together.

"I have every single one of your letters," Rose whispered as she ran her finger up and down Jack's arm. "I read them over and over."

Jack kissed the side of her head and closed his eyes for a moment. "I have yours, too," he whispered. "Every one. I must have read them a million times. I always had them with me. Everywhere I went, the letters would go."

Rose turned her head around and looked at Jack. She looked deep into his eyes and smiled. The lights were off, but she could see him clearly. "I made a diary," she whispered as she traced his mouth with her fingers. "Of thoughts toward you. I want you to read it."

Jack smiled and then leaned down and kissed Rose gently. "I will," he promised as he changed positions so that Rose was forced to lie down on the bed and he was leaning over her. "Tomorrow. Right now I just want to kiss you."

Rose wrapped her arms around Jack's neck as he leaned down and kissed her again. "I missed you so much," she whispered as he started to kiss her neck. "I have been waiting so long to have you here with me, like this, again."

Jack brought his head up and smiled at Rose. "Me, too," he whispered gently. "I've needed this since the day I left."

Rose smiled back at him and then brought his head toward hers. Slowly she began to kiss him. Caught up in the moment, their kisses became faster and more passionate. As they kissed, they fumbled with buttons and ties and finally managed to undress.

"Jack," Rose softly called as their mouths parted for a moment. Jack looked into Rose's eyes, his breathing heavy. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too," Jack whispered back before he yet again pressed is lips firmly again Rose's.

*****

Hours later, Jack and Rose's bodies began to tire, even if their minds did not agree. Rose sighed happily and rested her head gently on Jack's chest. She held onto his warm body and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. Jack slowly began to stroke her hair with one hand and held her close with his other hand.

It was silent for a moment before Rose whispered, "You're trembling."

Jack just sighed happily and pulled Rose closer to himself. "I love you so much. I am going to love you until I die. Beyond that, Rose," he whispered.

Rose picked her head up and looked at him, tears filling her eyes. "I love you, too, Jack Dawson. I will never get tired of telling you that. I am going to love you forever. No matter what." Jack smiled and kissed her forehead gently before Rose laid her head back on his chest. "I love you," she whispered, barely audible.

As Jack and Rose held each other, they knew that with each other they could survive anything. And no matter what, they would somehow be together. No matter where the road took them, they would always be together, at least in spirit. They would never let go of each other, or the promises they made. Jack and Rose were going to be together forever.

The End.

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