NOBODY SAID LOVE WAS GONNA BE EASY
Chapter One

Jack woke up at dawn and looked at his sleeping beauty. Rose lay on her side, facing Jack. She slept peacefully with a slight smile on her face. She felt safe and loved in his arms and his presence. Around ten AM, Rose woke up.

"Hey, sleepyhead. How did you sleep?"

"I slept perfectly. What time is it, anyway?"

"It’s ten o‘clock. I was going to go and get us some breakfast. What do you like?"

"I’ll just have a bagel and coffee, if it doesn’t cost too much."

"Okay. I’ll be right back," Jack said, quickly, as he went out the door to a café down the street. Rose watched him as he went in the door of the café. She noticed a black and white Renault car next door to the café. She didn’t give it much thought until a man in a black suit came out of the shop and headed towards the car. Rose didn’t have to look twice, and knew right then and there that it was Cal—but where was her mother? Rose backed away from the window in fear that he would look up, and sat on the bed. A few minutes later, she heard the key in the lock, and Jack walked through the door with two bagels and two cups of coffee. He looked at her and saw a hint of fear in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Rose?" he asked, concern in his voice. He walked up to her after he put the bagels and cups on the table.

"I’m fine. It was just a close call."

"Close call with what?"

"Cal."

"Was he here?"

"No, but his Renault car was right next to the café, and he came out while you were ordering. I was afraid he would look up and see me in the window and come after me, so I backed away from the window and sat on the bed."

"It’s gonna be okay. I won’t let him hurt you," he said. He wrapped his arms around her as she fell apart crying. "Shh. Everything’s fine. He’s not here. I won’t let him get you. I promise." Jack tried everything to comfort her, but she still kept on crying. Even though she had her name under Dawson, Cal could still find her if they weren’t careful.

*****

Later in the day, Jack and Rose left the boarding house and went to the train station to see when the next train to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin was leaving.

"Excuse me, but when is the next train to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin?" Jack asked, as they approached the ticket clerk.

"The next train isn’t until May fifth. Would you like to go ahead and buy your tickets?"

"Actually, we were on the Titanic. The White Star Line is paying for them."

"Oh, okay. Do you still want to get the tickets early, then?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"How many do you need, sir?"

"I need two. One for me, and one for my fiancée."

"All right. Here you go," he said, handing the tickets to Jack. Once they got out of the station, Rose stopped, and Jack turned and looked at her, puzzled.

"What is it, Rose?"

"Did you mean it when you said I was your fiancée, Jack?"

"Yes. Rose, I would be honored if you married me. I just haven’t had time to ask you today, so here it goes…Rose, will you marry me?"

"Yes, Jack, I will," she said, smiling up at him. He picked her up, swung her around, and ended in a deep, passionate kiss. Rose was the one to break it.

"Jack, what are we going to do about new clothes? We’ve been wearing these for days now."

"I’ll think of something. Maybe a shelter has some we can use until we have some money. I also have to find us a cheap place to stay until we get on the train."

"Yes, but what about in Chippewa Falls? We won’t have a place there, either."

"Yes, we will. My house is still standing, but we’ll have to fix it up a bit. Don’t worry. I told you I would take care of everything, didn’t I?"

"Yes, you did. It’s just that I’ve never been on the streets, and I’m scared of something happening."

"Like what?"

"Cal," Rose said, looking him straight in the eye. Jack gave her a hug, and they started searching for another place to stay and some new clothes.

*****

An hour later, Jack and Rose approached a Red Cross shelter and went inside. There they were given two sets of clothes each, a bag of food, and some blankets. They said a quick good-bye and started their search for a new place to stay.

It was getting dark, and Jack and Rose had found no place to stay. They had tried several boarding houses, but it cost too much and they didn’t have enough to stay even one night in them. Jack looked at Rose, who was barely able to walk now. He looked for a nearby bench for her to rest, but saw none at that time.

"Come on, Rose. It won’t be that much farther."

"That’s what you said hours ago, Jack. Face it. We can’t afford a place."

"I’ll carry you to the nearest bench, then. Okay?" Jack asked as he tried to pick her up, but she refused.

"No, Jack. It’ll cause too much unwanted attention, which at this time, we don’t need. Cal might still have doubts that we died. I’ll just walk slower. All right?" she asked as they entered Central Park.

"There’s bound to be one in here, Rose," he said as they walked around the path and finally came upon a wooden bench and sat down. Jack looked at Rose, who was falling asleep swiftly as she sat upright.

"Here, Rose. Why don’t you lie down on the bench? Here’s the blankets, too."

"If I take up the bench, you’ll end up on the grass. I’m fine."

"I’ve laid down on grass in much filthier places than Central Park, Rose. Please lie down and rest. You’ll need it. We have to walk to some other shelter that might be free so that we aren’t out in the open. Okay?" he asked, handing her both blankets and sitting up against the bench, watching over her.

"Don’t you need one, Jack?" she asked in an exhausted tone. Jack looked at her and just shook his head no.

"Go to sleep now, Rose."

"I love you, Jack."

"I love you, too, Rose," he said, pulling the blankets up to her neck. The park was quiet and peaceful at night, so it wasn’t long before the sound of her breathing evened for a good night’s rest. Not long after, Jack did the same and dozed off.

The next day, Jack and Rose found a nearby Red Cross shelter taking in Titanic survivors, and decided to stay there until it came time to leave New York City.

May 5, 1912
Grand Central Station

Jack and Rose arrived right on time as the last call for Chippewa Falls was being made. They handed their tickets to the officer and climbed aboard. The train wasn’t very crowded; some were headed to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. On the way there, the train had to make five stops in different areas. It would be about a week before they arrived in Chippewa Falls, and Rose was just glad that she could get a good rest on the way there. Rose slept for five hours, until Jack woke her up for dinner on the train.

"Hey, sweetheart. It’s time for dinner. Wake up."

"Really? How long have I been out of it?"

"Not long. I’d say about five hours."

"What?" Rose asked, shocked. Jack just shook his head and laughed.

"I’m guessing you’ve never done that before."

"I’ve never taken a long nap before. There was always some party to attend."

"Now you know what you were missing, huh?" Jack asked with a loving grin. He took her hand and went to the dining car. The food they served wasn’t what Rose was used to, but she had to make do. After all, she was no longer a society debutante. Later that night, they lay side by side, talking about their future and where their horizon was. They finally fell asleep in each other’s arms.

May 11, 1912
Day of Arrival

At dawn, the train reached its final destination of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Jack woke Rose up an hour early so she could see a bit of the countryside before they got off. Jack and Rose were about the only people getting off. Rose noticed almost immediately that the people were the most friendly she had seen in her whole life. They left the station and headed for his old house.

"It’s about a mile away, but it won’t take long to get there. Okay?"

"All right," she said as they headed north towards the house. It wasn’t long before several people started staring at them.

"Jack, I think they’re staring at us."

"They aren’t really staring to be rude. I think they recognize who I am, and are shocked that I’m back and in one piece."

"Well, well, well. Jack Dawson, is that you?" a voice asked from behind them. Jack knew that voice.

"Oh, no. Here we go," Jack said, annoyed.

"What is it, Jack?"

"His name is Matt O’Connor, my rival since I was in kindergarten. He’s a pain in the ass, so be careful if he comes around you. Okay?"

"All right," she said as they turned around and looked at Matt, who had his arms crossed and a smirk plastered across his face.

"I never thought I’d see your scrawny ass back here again after your parents died, but I was obviously wrong. Who’s this little lady?" Matt asked, reaching for Rose’s hand to try to kiss it, but she pulled it away and smacked him in the face.

"She’s my fiancée, Rose, so don’t even try to charm her," Jack said, pulling Rose behind him.

"Why would I need someone as feisty as her, anyway? I’m married and have my own girl to play with."

"We have to go, Matt, so just shut your trap for now. Come on, Rose. We have to get to the house," Jack said as he took her hand and left Matt standing in the street, puzzled as to how Jack had the nerve to stand up to him like that.

*****

Jack and Rose reached the house after an hour of walking.

"It doesn’t look too bad, Jack."

"I know. It looks like someone has been fixing it up already, but who?" he asked, leading her up the steps and into the parlor. They sat on a couch that was still there and put their bags on the floor for now. Jack left and headed for the market to see what he could provide for dinner. If nothing else, he could catch some fish in Lake Wissota. When he got to the market, he was welcomed back by everyone. He even saw several of his old school friends. One of his friends and his wife invited him to dinner. He told them yes and that he had to get his fiancée. He reached the house and told Rose everything. She was glad to get a cooked meal and was glad she might make a friend. They left about five and reached his friend’s home at six. It was perfect timing, too. They were led into the dining area, sat down in the chairs, and began eating.

"So, how did you two meet?" Robert, Jack’s friend, asked.

"We met on a ship. It was love at first sight."

"That sounds romantic. So, how old are you, Rose?" Christina, Robert’s wife, asked.

"I’m seventeen. I’ll be eighteen in October."

"I’m eighteen already, so we aren’t that far apart in age," she said, enthusiasm in her voice. The conversation lasted for hours. Jack and Robert caught up on the old days and what Jack had missed over the years, and Rose and Christina talked about whatever was on their minds and were fast becoming friends. It was getting late, and Jack and Rose had to leave and get a good night’s rest. They said their good-byes and headed home.

Chapter Two
Stories