Written by Jill Ayers
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.

Rose was running harder than she ever had in her life. She and Jack were breathless as they made their way towards the boat deck. She only hoped that Jack was right when he said they'd be all right.

Rose froze in her tracks when she reached the first class lounge. Standing in front of the fireplace was the man who had become like a father to her in the last several days--Thomas Andrews.

"Mr. Andrews!" she cried out, rushing to him.

"Rose? What are you doing here? You should get to a boat."

"Aren't you going to at least make a try for it?" She was pleading with him now.

He paused for a long moment. When he finally did speak, his voice sounded sad, sadder than anything Rose had ever heard. "I'm sorry I did not build you a stronger ship, young Rose."

She said nothing. It wasn't his fault those idiots had cut the number of lifeboats.

He handed her his life vest, which had been sitting uselessly on a nearby table. "Good luck to you, Rose."

She embraced him. "And to you."

Rose turned to rejoin Jack, who had been waiting impatiently throughout the entire exchange. She sent a silent prayer to heaven that Mr. Andrews would survive.

Jack was her entire focus now. He was going to get off this ship, one way or another. They raced to the boat deck. Rose prayed that they were in time. She couldn't see a boat. No! she thought. Don't let Jack die here. Not tonight. Colonel Gracie was standing nearby. Perhaps he knew if there were any boats remaining.

"Colonel, are there any boats on that side?"

"No, but there are two more all the way forward."

Thank God, she thought. There's still time. She and Jack sprinted up the deck. As Gracie had said, there were still two lifeboats. Two precious chances for she and Jack to be together.

"Rose, get in the boat," Jack said.

"No! Not without you!" Rose was stunned by the force of her own words. Until that moment, she wasn't sure how far she could go for love. Now, she knew.

"I'll be fine. I'm a survivor, remember? Now, go on. Get in."

Rose remained motionless.

"Yes, Rose. Get in the boat." Just hearing Cal's voice made Rose sick. Apparently noticing her haggard appearance, he tossed the steerage blanket aside and threw his own coat over her. "My God. You look a fright. Listen, Rose, I have an arrangement with an officer on the other side of the ship. Jack and I can get off safely. Both of us."

Rose wavered for a moment. She wanted to believe Cal; she wanted to believe that Jack would be okay. Yet, part of her knew that her monster of a fiancé was lying, and if she got in the boat, she would never see Jack again.

"See? I got my own boat to catch." Rose knew he was trying to reassure her, but she could detect a slight trace of fear in his voice.

"Hurry. They're almost full."

Rose grabbed Jack's hand, still trying to decide whether Cal was speaking the truth. She didn't have time to. A pair of rough hands grabbed her, pulling her into the lifeboat. She held on tighter to Jack's hand, not wanting to leave. But it wasn't enough. Their hands were ripped apart.

Time stopped for Rose. This was not happening to her. It was all a dream. No, a nightmare. She looked up into Jack's eyes, so full of love. And here she was, getting farther and farther away from him. She couldn't leave him. If he died, she died with him. She knew what she had to do.

She took a deep breath. She climbed over the woman next to her and jumped, nearly missing the A Deck Promenade. She ran until she came to the Grand Staircase. She was petrified that she'd missed him entirely, that he was somewhere else. But there he was, running towards her.

"Rose! Rose! You’re so stupid, Rose!" he said, between kisses. "Why'd you do that, huh?"

Rose was crying, she knew, but she didn't bother to wipe away her tears. She didn't care about her tears. It felt too good to be back in his arms. "You jump, I jump, right?"

"Right."

"Oh, God, Jack. I couldn't go. I just couldn't go."

"It's all right. We'll figure something out."

As Jack pulled Rose to him, everything else faded away. There was no sinking, no mother, no Cal, only the two of them.

The sound of a gun being fired, and a pull on her arm, brought Rose back to reality. She looked up. Cal was shooting at them! They ran down the staircase, the shots ringing in Rose's ears. She thanked God that Cal wasn't a very good marksman.

"I hope you enjoy your time together!" Cal ran back up the boat deck.

Jack and Rose also ran back up to the boat deck. The last lifeboat was still there, in the process of being loaded. Rose saw a man in dinner dress arguing with one of the officers, although she couldn't make out what was said. Then the officer fired, and the man fell over in a crumpled heap.

Caledon Hockley was dead.

Rose did not feel any emotion. She had no time. She and Jack had to get on that boat. "Excuse me, sir," she said. "Is there room for two more?"

Something in Rose's eyes must have softened the officer. He let them both onto the boat. This time, there would be no jumping.

Time passed. The cold nipped at Rose, but she did not notice. She was thinking about something else entirely. A black form was hanging onto a piece of driftwood near her. It was a man.

She motioned for Jack to help her pull him out of the water. Despite the shouts of the others, he did so. It was Thomas Andrews, barely alive, but alive nevertheless. "Mr. Andrews?" she managed to sputter out.

"Hello, Rose," he said weakly.

A few hours later, the Carpathia loomed into view. Cries of jubilation could be heard everywhere.

"Rose, there's something I have to ask you. I don't have a ring, but will you marry me?"

Rose was on the verge of tears. "Yes, Jack! Yes!" She leaned over and kissed him.

"I hope you don't think I'm being too forward, but since your father is dead, would you allow me to walk you down the aisle and give you away at the wedding?"

"It would be an honor."

"Hey, Rose, what are we gonna do after the wedding?"

She grinned coyly. "Well, Mr. Dawson, I believe you have a drawing to redo, seeing that it's at the bottom of the ocean."

"I guess I do. And after that?"

"To the stars."

The End.

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