It was still snowing heavily as Jack stood on the back porch watching Byron cavorting around in the yard. There were huge drifts everywhere, and while the snow continued to fall, the wind had slowed considerably. It was only three in the afternoon, but Jack felt like he had lived through twenty years since Rose's water had broken in the kitchen at nine that morning.

Today like two other times in the past, the odds had been stacked against him. When his parents died, there had been the lamp, the wind and the fallen tree that had prevented their escape and made the fire even worse. On Titanic, of course, the cold and lack of lifeboats, were among the many things that had almost taken their lives. It had been too close a call. And now today, there had been the raging storm, no medical assistance at a multiple birth and his own fumbling ineptness that could have caused yet another tragedy. Yet a miracle had occurred. For in spite of his ignorance and sense of helplessness, he had somehow managed to deliver his precious Rose of two small, but healthy and beautiful baby girls.

That was just an hour ago. He had changed clothes and come down here to the kitchen. He was making himself a cup of hot chocolate, in an attempt to try and relax a little. Rose was resting comfortably upstairs and Ruth had taken great pleasure is shooing him out of the room so she could attend to Rose and clean up the babies. He had to admit that she had kept her promise. Ruth had helped him and had not turned squeamish. Though a couple of times, he thought that she looked a little pale. Now she had excitedly taken charge of Rose and the babies.

"Byron, come on in here. You're all wet. Come on, boy," called Jack. "I'll give you something to eat."

Byron looked up at Jack and heard the word "eat." He reluctantly left the branch he was chewing on and bounded up the stairs to Jack.

"Don't get me all wet, Byron," warned Jack. "I just changed clothes."

But Byron shook out his fur getting Jack slightly damp anyway.

"Oh, well, I'll sit down by the fire for a few minutes and this will dry," Jack thought to himself, resignedly.

Jack added the cocoa powder to the boiling milk and stirred it together. Then he got a mug out of the china cupboard and poured himself a cup. He opened the icebox and took out some cold chicken for Byron, who rewarded Jack with a nudge of his icy nose.

"Oh, this is hot," he muttered as he took a sip. "Go on Byron, eat your food. Then go lay down by the fire."

He wandered into the parlor and sat on the edge of the sofa. The fire in the fireplace that he had started a few minutes ago was sputtering from the wet wood. Jack sat quietly sipping his drink, still reflecting on the events of the day.

He never thought that he would have to bring his own children into the world, let alone have Ruth Dewitt-Bukater help him. What irony. She who had at first looked down on him and disdained him, had gratefully assisted him in the most delicate matter of childbirth.

"And I'll wager that she never dreamt that someone like me would be the father of her grandchildren," he thought half- smiling.

Jack put his cup down on the floor and stretched out on the couch. He rested his head against his hands and blew out a long breath. As long as he lived he would never forget the moment that he found out that he would be the father of twins.

He had just gotten the first baby out of Rose and had his back turned as he handed little Molly over to Ruth. There had been an almost blood curdling shriek from Rose.

"Jack," she screamed, "there's another baby. I can feel it."

He wheeled around and moved back to the bed. And she was right. Little Edy was already making her way into the world. That had been the moment when Jack himself had felt dizzy from disbelief. It was almost too much. But things had all turned out and now he had a great sense of relief and accomplishment.

The smell of the hot chocolate in the house brought to Jack's mind some memories of when he was growing up. He closed his eyes for a minute and he thought of how his mom always used to have some ready for him when he'd come home from school in the winter. Even when he was a teenager. He could almost see her eyes and gentle smile as she would push a cup in front of him as he put his schoolbooks down on the table.

"Mom, Dad," he whispered, "I hope you know that you have these two little granddaughters. And one is named for you, Mom," he said almost asleep.

Ruth came down the stairs. She smelled the cocoa that Jack had left warming on the stove. But Jack was no where to be seen. Then she looked to her left into the parlor, where she saw him, sound asleep on the sofa.

She went and stood over him for a minute. His face was relaxed and his hair hung over his face. He almost looked like a child himself, instead of the brave young man, who only a short time earlier had taken on the monumental task of delivering his own wife under difficult circumstances. Hesitantly she touched his cheek. He felt cold. Ruth looked around and saw a blanket hanging over the back of the side chair. She unfolded it and tucked it in around Jack.

Just looking at him and thinking of Rose and the babies upstairs, started a flurry of maternal stirrings within her. Feelings that she had never felt before. And it was very satisfying. Gently she reached down and smoothed Jack's hair off of his face. Then she bent over and kissed his forehead.

"You did well, Jack," she said softly.

Jack turned over against the back of the couch, instinctively drawing the blanket closer around him.

"Thanks, Mom," he murmured softly, from the dreamland his mind now occupied.

Ruth put her hand to her mouth and stepped back. She was shocked and thrilled at the same time, that her actions had made him think of his own mother. Her eyes filled with tears. She was determined that from this moment on, she would do everything she could to curb her tongue, even to be silent whenever some cutting remark came to her head. She would never, ever say anything to hurt Jack Dawson again. He was the one who had saved Rose and herself. Her misconstrued plans with Mr. Hockley would have given them money,that was true. But the love and peace and serenity that she and Rose now felt, could only have been made possible by knowing Jack.

She doubted very much that Cal would have soiled his hands by assisting his wife at childbirth. In fact she knew that. He would have ranted at Rose for causing such an inconvenience and left her in the care of a servant, with little regard to the outcome, of that she was sure. No, she really owed Jack everything. She owed him her happiness, and the lives of her daughter and the babies.

Jack eyes opened slowly and he blinked a couple of times as he adjusted to the dark room. He reached down around him and felt a blanket twisted around his legs. Where had that come from? When he had laid down for this nap, he was sure the blanket was folded and hanging on the chair. Who had put it there? Not Rose. Ruth?

"It could have been her, I suppose. It must have been. What a day for her today, too," thought Jack.

He sat up and stretched, before heading into the kitchen and almost tripping over Byron. When he reached the doorway, he stopped. Sitting at the table was Ruth, her head leaning on the table, using her hands for a pillow. It looked as if she too had taken a little nap.

Jack started to rinse out his cup, trying not to make too much noise. He didn't want to disturb Ruth. But she heard him anyway.

"Oh, Jack. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I guess we are all quite tired," she said, lifting her head.

"Yes, I feel a little better now. How's Rose doing and the girls?" he asked.

"When I left them a few minutes ago, she was nursing one of them. Things seem to be going alright."

"Well, I'm going up there now. I can hardly remember what the babies looked like. Things happened so fast. It's still kind of a blur."

She nodded her head.

"Yes I know what you mean. We will never forget this day."

Ruth felt her throat tighten. There were a few more things that she wanted to say to Jack. Had to say to him.

"Jack," she began. "I'm really no good at this. I have not had much chance at making apologies in my life," she said. "Up until now, at least."

Jack looked at her, waiting for her to say more, wondering what her next words would be.

"It's okay Ruth. You don't have to say anything," he said kindly.

"No, I want to. Without you today, I don't know what would have happened. And I thank you."

Jack had an understanding look on his face and she felt the courage to go on. Her palms were wet and her mouth was dry. If she could get the next words out, she felt that perhaps she would be taking the biggest step in her life.

"Jack, I am sorry. Sorry for doubting the kind of person you were. Sorry for letting Cal have you taken away that night. Just sorry for………"

But no more words would come. Her shoulders began to shake and tears began streaming down her face.

Jack moved forward to her and he gently put his arms around her to comfort her.

"Shhh. Ruth, stop. There is no more being sorry. You were a different person then. We were all different then. I think what happened today has humbled all of us. Rose needs you, I need you and those little girls need you. You are their only grandparent."

She bit her lips and took a deep breath, trying hard to stop her crying. Ruth looked up at Jack, grateful to this understanding young man.

"There is no more need to be sorry, Ruth. That part of our lives is over now. It's time to move on, okay? You're an important member of this family now. No more tears. Just happiness now," he said looking into her eyes and firmly grabbing her shoulders.

He slowly let go of her and watched as she took a hanky from her sleeve and wiped her eyes.

"Jack," she said, her words slightly muffled through the handkerchief, "you're a good person."

"And so are you Ruth. I mean that," he told her sincerely and without any hesitation.

The emotional level in the kitchen at that moment was so highly charged that Jack was afraid that Ruth would start crying again. He needed to lighten things up.

"Say, I am going to head up to Rose, before she thinks we all forgot about her," he said chuckling. "Why don't you come and join us in a few minutes?"

She smiled and nodded her head. Ruth watched as Jack moved back out into the hall and then listened to his footsteps on the staircase. She put her hand over her chest and sighed. She felt almost giddy now, lightheaded. For the first time in her life, she felt accepted, loved, secure and unbelievable as it seemed, totally happy. Whatever twists and turns her life took in the future, she knew that she had the strength from today to build on. She had a family to lean on and that meant more to her now, than all the money in the world.

Jack stood in the doorway of their bedroom looking at his family. Family. It was still so unreal that he was now a father of two babies. Life would certainly never be the same. He studied Rose who had her eyes closed. She held one small infant in the crook of her arm and had her hand on the other one that was tucked in next to her. In spite of what she had been through earlier, she still looked beautiful.

He walked quietly over to the bed and bent down and kissed Rose's forehead.

"That's all I get for what I did today?" said Rose, sounding a bit groggy.

Jack was startled. He had thought she was asleep.

"I guess I can do better than that," he laughed and then pressed his mouth intimately against hers.

"Mmm, that's more like it,"Rose replied. "Jack, help me sit up more. And here, take Edy. She needs to be held for awhile."

Jack propped up a few more pillows behind Rose and got her into a more comfortable position. Then he gently picked up the small bundle that Rose said was Edy.

Jack slowly sat down on the chair next to the bed. Almost gingerly, he folded back the receiving blanket that encased his daughter, Edy. As he did so, her tiny fists began waving and she made soft mewing sounds. He gently took her small hand in his and examined her miniature fingers.

"This is amazing. They are so tiny and so perfect," he said to Rose, barely able to speak.

Rose watched as Jack cradled his daughter in his arms. She had always known that she had made the right decision in marrying Jack. But today more than ever, she knew she had done the right thing. Only a person with Jack's sensitivity and appreciation for real beauty could be as awestruck by an infant as she saw him now. She smiled to herself, knowing that these girls would have the best father in the world.

"Rose, how are we going to tell them apart? They really look identical," commented Jack, as his eyes moved over the tiny little girl that he held.

"Mother found a maroon ribbon and tied it on Molly's wrist for now. M, maroon, Molly. But when I looked them both over, there are a couple of differences. Molly has more hair and Edy has a little birthmark on her left leg," said Rose, adjusting Molly in to a more comfortable place in her arms.

"I am still overwhelmed, Rose. Aren't you? And we are lucky. I was pretty frightened this morning," Jack confided.

"Jack, I could not have done it without you. You know that," she said, touching his arm.

"To me it's still a miracle. I didn't want to hurt you, Rose."

Rose looked into the eyes of her husband. He looked tired and a little older. The boy in him had really become a man today.

"Jack, who do you think they look like?" she asked, trying to be less serious. "They have a combination of our hair color. Reddish blond. But maybe your smile."

Yeah, but they'd be better off if they looked like you," teased Jack.

"Oh, Jack," she giggled.

Jack reached over and took one of Rose's hands in his.

"You know, Rose, I've loved you since I first saw you, but today, all those feelings got even stronger and more wonderful. What we have is so special," unable to take his eyes off of her.

"I know Jack. I can't even say all that I feel," she sighed.

"One more thing. I think that your mother and I really have come to an understanding with everything. She really is pretty amazing too, once you get to know the real Ruth," said Jack. "She helped and encouraged me so much today."

"Yes, I agree. It's funny though what it takes to really know a person," Rose reflected. "I just never pictured Mother like this. But I must admit that I love her much better this way," she said smiling.

Ruth cleared her throat before stepping into the room. Unintentionally she had heard the things that Rose and Jack had said about her. Once again, she started crying. Would she never be able to stop today? She was feeling emotions that she never knew she had.

"I thought I'd join you for a few minutes. I wanted to see how our babies are doing," said Ruth trying to hide her tears.

"Oh, Mother, don't cry. This is a happy day. You'll make me cry too," sniffled Rose. "We'll get the babies all wet."

Ruth laughed softly and she approached Rose and Jack.

"Come on, Ruth, sit here," said Jack, offering her his chair and the baby he held.

Just then Molly began to whimper, followed by her sister.

"Oh, oh dear. I' ve really started something, haven't I?" said Ruth, wiping her eyes with one hand.

"I think so, Mother. Now you've got me going," replied Rose, laughing through her tears and trying to comfort Molly at the same time.

Jack stood watching all this with a broad smile on his face. At last he spoke.

"I can see that my work is cut out for me, in the next few years."

Ruth and Rose looked up at him with a puzzled look on their faces.

"And what's that?" asked Rose, with a curious look on her face.

"I'll be spending all my time comforting three generations of Dawson ladies."

He put his arm on Ruth's shoulder and held Rose's hand, as he looked down with pride on his twin daughters. He felt a sense of awe as he realized that these four people were now his responsibility.

From an accident of fate in that card game so many months ago, had come situations that had once been beyond his wildest dreams. Having a beautiful wife like Rose, two perfect babies, a mother in law who had turned her own world around and his own desire to settle down. Their lives had taken such unexpected paths in the last nine months. Nothing would ever be the same, but it certainly would only get better. In so many ways, they were all truly, starting anew.