Written by Craig
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.

Rose's gnarled fingers slowly unwrapped the small box that she had hidden in her nightstand in her room on board the Keldysh. Reaching inside the layers of tissue, she withdrew the necklace. Its brilliance was undimmed by the passage of time. The light reflecting off of it twinkled like the light of a thousand stars. Rose had always cherished this necklace, although the last time she had worn it had been a lifetime ago. It reminded her of Jack and the promise she had made to him. It was more than a reminder, though; it was the thing that linked their souls together. Rose never did tell anyone about the very vivid dreams she had had about Jack. He did not lie to her; Jack was always with her. In the times of her life when she felt despair, she could feel him encouraging her to go on. Now, it was time for her to part with the necklace. She would not need it any longer.

She put the necklace in her pocket and slowly made her way out the door of her room. The arthritis in her body had confined her to a wheelchair for the last few years now, but tonight it seemed like the pain had almost completely disappeared. Her body was withered with age, but the youthful spirit inside was still blazing brightly and urging her on. She began walking towards the back of the ship, and remembered a time when she had run to the back of another ship so long ago. After she had finally arrived, she climbed up on the railing and gazed for a moment at the water below. Withdrawing the necklace from her pocket, she looked at it one last time before dropping it into the water. She raised her eyes to the sky, and they dimmed with tears as she breathed a sigh of relief. The trip back to her room left Rose feeling more tired than usual. Before retiring to her bed, she scribbled a note, which she left sitting on the dresser. The note read:

Dear Lizzy,

By the time you read this, I will be gone. Do not feel sad. I have lived a very full and enjoyable life. I know the story that I told everyone is hard to believe, so it is time to rid myself of all of my secrets. Here is a key that will unlock a trunk that I keep in my bedroom back at the house. In the trunk you will find the chiffon dress I wore the night Titanic sank, and also a diary. The diary will confirm what I have told everyone today. Tell Brock that the Heart of the Ocean has gone back to where it belongs. Tell him that he has been looking for riches in all the wrong places, that money will never bring him happiness. I love you, Lizzy.

Nana

She then turned out the light and climbed into her bed. She fell asleep one last time.

Rose's spirit departed in her sleep. Her death was painless. Now she felt herself moving at an incredible speed towards the dark abyss where the ruins of the ship were resting. Slowly, she saw the ruins transform into the Titanic she remembered when she first boarded. Now she was again on the deck of the ship. She was surprised to see her husband, John Calvert, waiting there for her.

They embraced, and then he smiled at her and said, "I am releasing you from your vow. Go to him. He is waiting for you. I will not stand in the way of something that always was." Then he vanished.

Rose walked along the deck until she came to the entrance of the Grand Staircase. The gentleman at the door smiled and said, "Welcome, Rose. We have been expecting you." He opened the door and allowed her to pass.

Inside, Rose saw assembled all of the people she had befriended while she was on the Titanic. They smiled and nodded at her as she made her way up the stairs to the person who stood waiting with his back turned towards her. Rose's face lit up as Jack turned around to face her. He took her hand, and they embraced.

There were tears in his eyes as he held her, and said, smiling, "You kept your promise."

Rose looked into his eyes, and replied, "Have you been waiting for me here all this time?"

Jack chuckled, and said, "We have never been apart. Time has no meaning here." He pointed to the clock, which still read 2:20, the time that the Titanic had gone beneath the waves. Grasping her hand, he smiled and looked into her lovely face. "So, do you want to go to a real party?" he asked. They both laughed as they climbed the stairs leading to a brilliant light which eventually embraced them both. Rose was home.

The End.

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