TOMORROW'S APRIL
Chapter Nine

Flying

"I know we have each other now, Jack. But somehow I think.....I think that night will always be with us- all those people....." Rose turned to face him once more, her eyes deep in thought. Jack nodded, reaching out to her, placing one of his hands on her cheek. She smiled at his touch; covering his hand with her own. She moved closer, shivering in the late afternoon wind, and he pulled her tightly to him. His cheek close to hers, he gazed out into the water. During the day it seemed so peaceful. It was only at night- when the waves became dark and choppy, and the wind bitterly cold, that they were reminded - reminded of Titanic and the many lives the sea claimed. And for eight years, each had believed that the other had been one of those lost-

"I think so too, Rose. But we can finally move on now- together. I never thought we'd have this chance- to think.......that for eight years....." He bit his lip and hung his head, shaking it softly from side to side.

"Jack, don't." Rose lifted his head, and positioned her face so that it was mere inches from his. She placed her forefinger on his lips- silencing him. "There's nothing we can do about that, but...," she smiled brightly, "there is something we can do about the future. All that matters, is that we did find each other again."

He smiled and kissed her hand, raising his eyebrows humorously and pretending to think, rolling his eyes. She giggled - her cheeks flushed and radiant. Jack was invigorated seeing her like this again. Almost as if no time had passed- almost as if there had been no iceberg, no separation.

"And just look at how we found each other again, Rose. How ironic can you get?" he joked, still smiling, engrossed in watching her reaction. She seemed to ponder this for a moment, and then she brought her hands up, covering Jack's face tenderly with both of them. Behind her the wind lashed against the railing, running through his ears.

"I'll say." And then she paused for a moment, and her eyes lit up. "Jack, how about we make this trip just a little bit more ironic? What do you think?"

Jack chuckled. "Rose, how is that possible? Wait a minute......what do you mean?"

Rose smiled sweetly at him, stroking his face softly with her right hand. "I'll show you. Come on." She lifted her long blue skirt and stood up slowly, bringing Jack with her. He looked at her curiously, pulling her toward him once they were both standing. He wrapped his hands tightly around her waist. She paused for a moment, meeting his gaze, searching the oceans of blue. The eyes she'd dreamed about for the past eight years- and that were miraculously in front of her once more. It never failed- that every time she looked into them- she was lost. Lost in the love they shared, lost in the passion that surrounded them.

"What are you' thinking?" he asked playfully, leaning in to rub his nose against hers. Rose smiled and moved her face even closer to his. Her lips moved ever so slightly as she whispered to him, with every word, closing in even more.

"Hmmm...about you, Jack Dawson, about you...us. How much I love you."

Jack's face moved gently, as he closed his eyes, savoring this moment. "Oh, Rose....." He bridged the remaining distance between them, brushing his lips against hers softly. She smiled, deepening the kiss, holding on to Jack as joy flowed through her. His hand moved to the back of her head, running through her hair, and he could feel her fingertips on his neck.

She giggled a little as she pulled away. "Jack, I thought I was going to show you what I meant." She grabbed both of his hands, and he stared breathlessly at her. This was the Rose he liked to see. "Follow me, Jack." She started walking ahead, gripping his right hand, glancing back at him. The look on his face was one of contemplation-

"Jack, what is it?"

He smiled, catching up with her, and wrapped his free arm around her waist from the side. His lips were curved into an adorable expression- and his eyes were dancing beautifully.

"I'll always follow you Rose. Now, forever."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Ah....Rose- where exactly are we headed?" Jack looked on curiously as Rose led him up the first class decks. The scenery around them- the refined ladies in their afternoon suits, the men strolling along stiffly- reminded him so much of their first walk on deck, aboard Titanic. That brightly lit morning when Rose had come down to third class looking for him. Back on another ship- Rose beside him once more- that day seemed mere hours ago, not years-

"You'll see, Jack.....I can see you're still as impatient as ever." Rose smiled mischievously at him, as she began to walk more quickly, pulling him along. Jack laughed and shook his head.

"More impatient than ever, Rose," he chuckled softly, "which is why I wish you'd tell me where you're taking me!"

"Jack...." Rose stopped and pulled him to her, glancing quickly to her side. She smiled, kissed him once, and then brought her hands to his face. She pushed his eyelids down gently.

"Close your eyes, Jack." He obeyed, finally smiling with recognition, smelling the salty air mingled with the strong wind- he knew where they were. "Give me your hand," Rose continued, stepping forward and pushing against his back gently, so that he moved with her. Jack's face was lit up, and he raised his eyebrows, fighting the urge to open his eyes. Rose giggled at the expression on his face, still leading him forward.

"Rose, what in the world?"

Rose squeezed Jack's hand that she held, smiling as she recalled the experience she was going to attempt to reenact.

"Jack, do you trust me?" He smiled, pulling her close to him, blindly.

"Of course, Rose......can I open my eyes now?"

"Yes, Jack...." She laughed, pretending to appear exasperated. She turned around, facing the great ocean before her, and pulled Jack's arms around her waist. Jack's eyes opened to the same splendor, the same beauty that he'd always remembered. This was a different bow, but the same Rose. The same hazy gold sky, filled with wispy clouds, sprinkled with streaks of pink. The wind was cool and quick as before, causing Rose to snuggle her head into Jack's neck. Neither spoke for a moment, both mesmerized beyond words, it seemed. To think- that here they were, again, together, was beyond their wildest dreams. So many times had Rose longed for this, hoped for this, never believing it a possibility.

"So, I guess we better go all the way, huh?" Jack whispered tenderly, gently motioning for Rose to step up unto the railing as before. She smiled, placing her free hand on the top rung, and swung herself up, pulling Jack with her. He tightened his grip around her waist as her feet slid into the notches, burying his face in her soft, wind-blown curls. His hands ran over hers, sending chills up and down Rose's back. She closed her eyes for a moment, cherishing the touch she never thought she'd feel again.

Jack watched her intently, and when she reopened her eyes, he began to pull at her hands, lifting them to her sides slowly. Rose leaned back, facing the wind, and looking on, until her arms were even with each other. Jack brought his own hands to her shoulders, running them up and down the length of her arms, until he intertwined their fingers. He nestled his face next to hers, bringing his mouth to her ear. Rose smiled to herself, knowing already the next words, the tune.

"Come Josephine, in my flying machine, and it's up she goes.....up she goes.." Jack's smooth, deep voice paused for a moment, and he kissed her cheek softly.

"No, Jack....it's up they go. Up they go."

Jack smiled, staring ahead as the sun began to set, and the last of the bright rays fell beneath the horizon. The sun had never risen again over Titanic, after that night eight years earlier. But this time, Jack and Rose knew, it would be different. This moment symbolized a new beginning- for their life together. The chance that had been taken from them, but was now so wonderfully returned.

Rose leaned into Jack, thinking about all that had transpired in the last three days, since their reunion.

"You know Rose- when I went back to Paris last month, and saw all the Picassos, the Monets we talked about- they just couldn't compare. Not to this." He nodded toward the ocean and the setting sky. "Nature never fails. It's perfect, even through its imperfections. Do you understand what I mean?"

Rose nodded, a wistful smile on her lips. "I do Jack, yes. But you know what else I think?" She turned her head to look at him.

"And what's that?" Jack asked lovingly.

"I think some other things in this world- memories, hopes, dreams, Jack- they can hold a candle pretty well to that beauty."

Jack grinned, nodding his head affirmatively. "I'd say you were correct, Rose."

"You know Jack......I almost didn't get on this ship. I almost didn't have the courage. What if I hadn't?"

"Rose, no ifs, remember? No ifs- this is our time, and I don't want to waste any of it," he murmured into her hair, "fate acts in strange ways, doesn't it, Rose?"

Rose, breathless, simply nodded, awed by his words.

"And when we get off this ship tomorrow- it officially starts- our life together. Nothing's going to keep us apart again."

"Promise, Jack?" Rose's eyes were misting, and she pulled him tighter, savoring his scent, his warmth.

"I promise Rose, I promise..."

Rose smiled, leaning upwards to kiss Jack's cheek, and then turned to face the vast sea, her arms still outstretched.

"We're flying, Jack," she whispered softly to him.

Jack nodded silently, bringing her arms down slowly, and tangling his around her waist. She looked up at him, moving her face closer with every breath.

"Up to the stars, Rose," he murmured.

Chapter Ten
Stories