She still snickered as she thought about her encounter with Nathan Hockley. He was probably beating Cal right this very minute for the embarrassment and money he cost him. Serves him right for all the abuse he inflicted on her and Jack, she thought.

The joy she felt about starting a wonderful adventure with Brandon was marred with by the bittersweet sadness she felt about Jack. She felt as if she was swimming in quick sand. Rose had accepted the cruel hand that fate had dealt them that night on the sea, but only now did she understood the depth of the pain Jack had been experiencing over the past eighteen months. Of course, she too felt the pain, but now she realized how hard it had been for Jack to tell her to love again -- how incredibly unselfish his deed was. The whole thing was just so dreadfully exhausting. She hated to think about it.

"Are you nervous about the modeling job you were offered in Hollywood?" Brandon asked her, bringing her out of her own thoughts.

"No, not in the least. This is something I really want to do. If I am successful at it, wonderful; if I am not, at least I can say I took the risk," Rose answered him.

Thank God for Nathan Hockley telling her about her and Jack's picture taken in Santa Monica or she might have never thought to pursue a modeling/acting career. Even though no one else could see Jack in the picture, whenever Rose looked at it, she saw him. He was always seemed to be grinning with pride. Looking at the portrait always made her feel that Jack's sacrifice was worth it. She was keeping her promise and he did not die in vain.

"Besides, that photographer is making money from a picture of me. So why shouldn't I make some money? I sent him a telegram before we left New York telling him when we would arrive in California," Rose said continuing on.

"I think you would have been able to start a career without having to contact that bloody photographer. Any man that would profit from someone else's talent and not bother to even tell them is a low life that can't make it on is own merits," he replied.

"Obviously the picture is doing well so I know I have talent. I just needed the connections to get started. Besides, Brandon, he did take the picture. I couldn't have done that myself," Rose answered him a bit annoyed.

"Perhaps."

"Are you disappointed in me Brandon?" Rose asked with genuine concern.

"No, not in the least. I just think you have the beauty and the talent not to have to use the likes of him to help you start a career. Not to mention the fact that you have more courage than anyone I have ever known," he said with complete honesty.

Rose blushed upon seeing the look of total admiration in his eyes for her. She leaned her head against his warm and comforting shoulder and whispered, "I love you, Brandon Calvert." With that Rose fell into a peaceful sleep. Brandon put his arm protectively around her.

'Someday she will tell me where she finds this inner courage and where I can find some for myself,' he thought, smiling to himself. His large, strong hand reached into his trouser pocket and felt the diamond ring.

"It is going to happen soon," Jack said apprehensively.

"What is?" Fabrizio asked, relaxing in the deck chair and sipping a cheap beer. The boys now lived in first class, but they couldn't get over their love for cheap beer. Tommy even had JJ Astor drinking it during some of the poker games. "Rose is going to experience wonderful joy and a tremendous loss at the same time. There is nothing I can do to stop it," Jack answered. "I can only give her strength. I can't alter her fate," he finished sadly.

"Boyo, you really have to find other ways to spend your time in the afterlife," Tommy said. "Your doom and gloom scares me to death sometimes. Well, death being a figure of speech," he added grinning.

"I can't do that. I promised her I would always be with her," Jack said wearily.

"Oh yeah, that promise. Sorry, I forgot," Tommy answered, rolling his eyes.

"She kept her end of the bargain. I have to keep mine," Jack said, a bit angry at his friend's lack of understanding.

Tommy sensed Jack's anger and wanted to explain how he felt. He valued and respected Jack's friendship too much to ruin it. "All I am saying is that we are in paradise. We live in first class on the Titanic. For once in are lives we are all equal," Tommy began to say.

"Equally dead," Fabrizio interjected.

"Yeah right," Tommy said, laughing but continuing on, "There are no classes here, boyo, we live in eternal peace. Our work on earth is done. It's time to sit back and enjoy eternity. Jack, you spend all your time watching over Rose. I like the girl; I tell you, I do. I understand why you died for her. Rose is the exception to first class. She has my respect, not just for trying to get us justice at the hearings or for standing up to Nathan Hockley, but for the love and admiration she has for you -- or should I say all of us. Boyo, she is a lot stronger now. She is living and experiencing life just like you made her promise. Your job is done. All you have to do now is enjoy the afterlife and wait her to join you," Tommy said, hoping his friend would understand what he meant.

"No, you don't get it. My job will not be done until it's eighty-four years from when the Titanic sank," Jack said, frustrated over not being able to make them understand.

Thomas Andrews, overhearing the boys' spat, walked over to them and said, "I believe what young Jack is saying is that he still has unfinished business in the world of the living and his soul cannot rest until it is done. There seems to be quite a few poor souls on Titanic who are in the same predicament. Jack is just lucky enough to know what to do about it. The others, myself included, are doomed to wander around Titanic unable to complete their unfinished business," he explained sadly. "So you boys should be thankful to know that your friend will eventually have his eternal peace, while the others will continually search for theirs," he said as he quietly walked away.

"I am sorry. I think I understand," Tommy said to Jack. "I didn't realize your soul couldn't rest. I thought it was your choice, not unfinished business before death."

"It's all right. I understand you were just trying to help me. It's hard to explain if you're not in the situation," Jack said, accepting Tommy's apology

"Well, since your going to be at unrest for another eighty-three years, what can we do to help? It will help pass the time when we get bored," Tommy said.

"Somehow, I can't see that happening," Jack replied, laughing. "But really, there is nothing you can do to help. This is something only I can do. Just be my friends. That is help enough," he added, looking down at his sleeping Rose.