INTO THE LIGHT
Written by Jeanita Sheffey
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.

Rose felt his hand on hers, but her hand was numb, and despite her promise she had just made him, she wanted to die. Oh, it would be so easy just to close her eyes and drift away. Yes. She could do that. Jack wouldn't know until it was too late.

She breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes, then jerked awake to stare into a pair of fierce, bright blue eyes burning into hers.

"Don't, Rose. Don't do it." Jack's voice was firm and strong. "You promised me. Remember?"

"But you can't possibly expect me to follow through with it, Jack. Look at us. We're freezing to death. In fact, I'm surprised we've made it this long," Rose could hear herself answer.

"Oh, Rose." Jack's eyes held a touch of sadness. But the sadness was suddenly pushed back, and it was replaced with determination. "Don't talk like that. You just have to be determined to keep that promise. That's all. Rose, there will be a boat, and you will be on it. I know it."

"Oh, Jack. Don't you know by now that there is no boat coming back? If there was, it would've been here by now." Rose looked over the ocean that now seemed to be illuminated by a strange white light. In fact, both she and Jack were surrounded by this strange light. This must be a side effect of her dying brain. They weren't really surrounded by light. Her mind was just making it seem so as it died.

"One's going to come, Rose," Jack said, still determined. "And I want you to promise that you'll get on it. No matter what."

"Not another promise."

"Rose, please..."

"All right. All right. I promise." Rose sniffed. She'd promise him anything right then. Anything, just to take away the morbid reality of their situation.

"I know I didn't tell you this on the ship, Rose. But I want to tell you now...while I can." Jack seemed to float closer to her. "I love you, Rose. I'll love you forever," Jack whispered.

"I love you, too, Jack." Rose choked back a sob. Oh, this was so unfair. She had just found the love of her life, and they both were going to die before they could even enjoy it. Why was life so unkind to her?

"Rose, hang in there," Jack once again said. "Help is on the way."

"Right, Jack."

He smiled sweetly at her and brushed a red strand out of her eyes. She stared at him. His eyes were two shining blue globes, enveloping her in their warmth. For the first time in hours, she felt warm and safe, just staring at him. He was like her guardian angel, and he would never leave her.

"Rose..." he whispered, his voice full of love.

"Jack." Rose smiled. Then her smile disappeared. It was strange. His voice wasn't shaking anymore, and the white light had grown brighter. In fact, she was warmer, too, and her fear had faded away. Where were they? Suddenly, she was afraid. She was very afraid.

"Jack? What's going on? Where are we?" Rose asked, clutching his hand even harder.

"I think we're in heaven." Jack looked around, his blue eyes wide with wonder. Rose followed his gaze and gasped. The frozen people in the North Atlantic were now wide awake, and they were getting out of the water, floating in midair, clutching the hands of people dressed in white.

"Oh, my God, Jack. Do you see what I'm seeing?" Rose asked.

"Yes," was Jack's simple answer.

Rose's fear increased as she looked behind Jack. There, standing behind him, were a man and a woman. Both had soft, serene faces. The woman had Jack's blonde hair and smile. The man had Jack's piercing blue eyes.

"Who are you?" Rose stammered, fearing that she already knew.

"My parents," Jack answered, his voice full of wonder.

"But you told me your parents were dead." Rose stared at him in confusion. Then the confusion cleared. How long had Jack been in the water? Certainly not long enough to...no! They couldn't be here for him! Not yet!

"Jack, we've come for you." The woman held out her hand to him.

"Jack?" Rose turned to him, her eyes full of fear.

Jack just smiled at her, turned, and accepted his parents outstretched hands. He was now out of the water and was standing between his parents.

"Welcome home, son." The man grasped Jack's shoulder.

"Jack?" Rose asked, looking up at them.

Jack turned back to face Rose. His blue eyes were now full of sadness. "I have to go now, Rose."

"Now? Aren't you going to wait for me?"

"Of course I'll wait for you, but you have a promise to keep first. Remember?" Jack knelt down next to her. He was now surrounded by a beautiful white light. Rose could feel the warmth of the light emanating from him. He gently touched her face to wipe away her falling tears. "You have to go on first, Rose. Have all those babies I was telling ya about."

"No, Jack. No. I can't go on. Not without you." Rose shook her head, trying to get to her feet. Jack gently took her hands and held them tightly.

"You made me a promise, Rose. And if you truly love me, you'll keep it. You'll live the life we could've had together. Do everything we ever talked about and more."

"Without you?"

"With me, Rose. I made a promise that I'd be with you forever, and I will be. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean that I'm not there."

"Jack…" Rose tried to say.

"We have to go now, Jack." His mother lay a hand on his shoulder. "There's no more time."

Jack looked at his parents and then back at Rose. She had never once seen him look so sad as he did now. "This is good-bye for now, Rose. But I just want to remind you of your promise and tell you that I'll be watching." Jack smiled. "Making sure you keep that promise."

Rose began to sob. "But I love you so much, Jack."

"I love you, too, Rose. But it just wasn't meant to be. Just keep the memories of us in your heart. And when you're strong enough, and you're ready, perhaps share our story with someone. You'll know when it's time." Jack smiled and touched her cheek. "I'll send you a sign."

"Jack." Rose reached out to him as he returned to his parents’ sides. Looking back once, he waved to Rose. Then he turned away and followed his parents into the white light, disappearing out of her sight forever. If she listened hard enough, she could hear Jack with his parents, singing the song he had sung to her on the bow. That song was the only thing that kept her from going insane, the only thing that kept her connected to Jack.

*****

A bright light shone in her face and a distant voice called out. Rose immediately stopped singing the song that she woke up singing. She turned and sighed in relief when she saw not only a boat, but also Jack grasping her hand, also in what seemed to be a peaceful sleep. He hadn't left her after all.

"Jack." She shook his hand. "There's a boat, Jack." He didn't respond. "Jack. Jack!" She shook his hand harder, but still there was no response. "Jack!" Realization dawned on Rose. Jack wasn't going to wake up. He wasn't asleep. He was dead. She began to sob and shook his hand one more time. "Jack...there's a boat."

Sobbing, she lay her head down on his cold hand, losing the will to live. That was when a voice, strong and determined, a voice that would remain with her throughout her life when she had began to lose hope, spoke in her ear. "Don't even think about giving up, Rose. You promised."

"Jack?" Rose opened her eyes. She looked over at her beloved, but he still hadn't moved.

"Keep your promise, Rose. Get on that boat," the voice repeated.

"Come back!" Rose called, but her voice was so weak from the cold that it came out in a croak. Breaking loose from Jack's icy grip, she kissed his hand.

"Never let go, Rose," the voice whispered.

"I'll never let go! I promise." She let him go and watched him quickly disappear into the icy depths of the sea. Gathering up all her strength, she forced herself into the freezing water and swam over to a dead officer with a whistle in his mouth. Snatching the whistle out of the officer's mouth, she blew until she got the boat's attention.

"Come about!" the officer in the lifeboat hollered, flashing the light on Rose's determined face, reminding her of the dream she had just had of Jack. She could almost see Jack's smiling face mouthing the words, "I love you, and never let go."

*****

The Carpathia reached New York City, and Rose was about to disembark. She couldn't wait to get off the ship. She had no desire whatsoever to set foot on another ship. There were too many bad memories.

She jumped as she felt a gloved hand touch her shoulder. She whirled around, expecting to see Cal ready to drag her back to her old life, but instead came face to face with an officer.

"Your name, love?" the officer asked.

Rose looked up at the rainy night sky and immediately knew what her new identity should be. "Rose. Rose Dawson."

"Thank you, miss." The officer nodded, moving along to the next passenger.

Rose looked up at the statue with new meaning. For the first time, she understood the fascination the immigrants had with the statue. It was a symbol for them, like it was now for her. It not only symbolized freedom, but it was also a symbol of the gift Jack had given her...the symbol of love, trust, and of course, freedom.

"Thank you, Jack," Rose whispered. "I hope you're happy, wherever you are."

"I am, Rose." She could hear his voice in her mind. "I am."

Eighty-Four Years Later

Rose was now an old woman, and she had not only gotten through telling she and Jack's story, but she had returned the Heart of the Ocean to its rightful place with the Titanic.

She looked at her withered reflection in the porthole and smiled as she thought she could almost see Jack smiling back at her. But, of course, that was impossible. She couldn't have seen Jack smiling at her. He'd been dead for eighty-four years now. So he couldn't be smiling at her.

Yawning tiredly, she slipped under her covers and closed her eyes for the last time. Suddenly, she wasn’t on the Keldysh anymore. She was under the North Atlantic, heading for the wreck of the Titanic. Now she was a seventeen-year-old girl again, she was inside the wreck, and as she went further into the ship, the wreck disappeared and she was on the Titanic as it had been eighty-four years ago before it sank, and she somehow knew exactly where to go. The first class dining saloon.

And there he was, at the top of the steps by the clock, waiting for her. Nodding to all her long dead friends she had made aboard the ship, she ascended the stairs. Her heart leapt as Jack turned around and smiled at her, his eyes full of happiness and love. He held out his hand for her and she took it and allowed him to pull her up the rest of the way. He took her in his arms and they passionately kissed, losing all track of their surroundings.

"I missed you, Jack." Rose smiled once they came up for air.

"I missed you, too. Come on. My parents have been wanting to get to know you better. They only got to see you that one time, you know."

"All right." Rose took his arm, and he led her into a bright white light, where two figures awaited.

The End.

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