Eternal Destiny
Part 1


Jack Dawson looked around as the train gradually pulled into Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He looked around the depleted platform, searching for his good friend Michael.

Being neighbors as kids, Jack and Michael became great friends and had been friends ever since. But in 1907 when Jack's parents died, the pair split up- Jack heading out west and Michael moving to Iowa with his family. Of course they had kept in touch over the years, but it had only been through letters. After the sinking, Jack never had the courage to go back home and back to the ocean of memories that he knew would haunt him. But in 1919, Jack couldn't take it anymore. He just had to see his good friend Michael after all these years. So on April 30th 1919, Jack Dawson booked a one way ticket to Cedar Rapids Iowa. He figured that he could visit with Michael for a little while then head out to wherever he felt like going next.

"Jack! Hey Jack, over here!" Jack twisted his head around as he stepped onto the platform. "Jack!" That's when he saw him. Jack's face lit up as he practically ran over to his friend.

"Mike!" The men embraced quickly and patted each other on the back. Jack stood back to take his friend in. "Michael Calvert, well I'll be damned. Look at you! I guess we both grew up, huh?" Both men chuckled.

"It sure is great to see you Jack. I haven't seen you in what…10, 12 years?"

"God, has it really been that long?"

"It certainly has. But I did get all those letters you sent me!"

"You did? That's great!"

"Rome, Paris…London. You went all over the place Jack! Sure beats livin' in a small cow town like Chippewa Falls. Gosh, you really did something with your life Jack. You've traveled the world and done so much more than most people could even dream of."

"Yeah, but I can't exactly say it was living in paradise. I was penniless for most of the time, without food or shelter for days at a time. I wouldn't exactly say it was much of an accomplishment. I mean, I've done all those things and look where it's gotten me…nowhere." Jack chuckled nervously to himself and suddenly thought of Rose. He winced at her memory and closed his eyes tight to keep the tears from falling. She had died on the Titanic that night, or so he heard.

"Jack? You ok?" Mike looked at his friend with concern in his eyes. Jack seemed like he was in his own little world. He gently nudged his friend in the arm. "Jack?"

Jack finally snapped out of it. "Yeah…I'm fine. I was just thinking, that's all."

"Well I could see that. Come on. We'd better get home before my wife thinks I got a girlfriend or somethin'." Mike chuckled lightly.

Jack was confused. "Doesn’t she know you're down here to pick me up?"

"Well, yes and no. She knows I've gone down to the train station to pick up an old friend. That's all she knows. I didn't tell her anything about you though Jack…not one word. I thought I'd surprise her this time."

"Well are you sure Mike…I mean, I don't want to surprise her too much."

"Don't worry about it Jack. She's a doll. Just wait to you meet them!"

"Them?"

"Yeah my wife and my two little girls."

Jack was stunned. "Girls? I didn't know you had kids!"

"Yep…Sarah's 6 years old and then there's our little Laura who's 9 months."

"Wow I-" Jack stopped suddenly. This didn't sound right to him. "Wait, you haven't been married all that long…what about 2 years now?" Mike nodded his head, knowing what was coming next. "How can your daughter Sarah be 6 years old?"

"I knew you'd ask that. We get that all the time. I'm not Sarah's biological father. She's from my wife's previous marriage." Jack nodded his head in understanding. Both of the men hopped in the car and drove off towards the Calvert residence.

***

Mike opened the front door of his modest home to reveal a magnificent flow of heavenly scents coming from the kitchen. Mike walked in ahead of Jack, who stayed somewhat behind.

"I'm back!" Mike turned back to Jack and whispered, "Just wait right here. I'll go round everyone up for you." Just after saying that, Jack noticed a little girl run down the stairs. Jack couldn't help but smile as he watched her curly blond hair bounce up and down as she completed each step.

"Daddy!" The little girl bounced up into Mike's arms, throwing her arms tightly around his neck.

"Hey sweetheart! Hey guess what? I brought someone home for you. I'd like you to meet my friend Jack here." The little girl turned towards Jack and smiled. Jack couldn't help but notice her deep blue eyes as she shook his hand.

"Pleased to meet you Jack. My name's Sarah."

"Nice to meet you too Sarah. Your daddy was telling me all about you."

"Really? What did he say?"

"Well let's see now," Jack brought his hand up to his chin like he was in deep thought. "I think he said something about Sarah being about 20 years old…no, more like 23. And…that she had long, purple hair…yes that's about right. And he told me that she was taller than I am…about this high." Jack reached above his head showing Sarah how much taller she was supposed to be. Sarah threw her head back, a peel of giggles escaping her lips.

"No…no," she was laughing so much that she could barely talk. "No, silly. That's not true." She hopped down from her father's arms and came up to Jack with a wide grin on her face. "No you see… I'm about this tall. I don’t have purple hair and I'm not 23 years old…I'm six."

Jack smiled and lightly hit himself in the head like he didn't know any better. "Oh my! I guess I was wrong then." Jack leaned down to be eye level with her and whispered to her, "But are you sure you're not 23?" Jack received a smile and another set of giggles from Sarah.

"Yes…I'm sure."

"Well it seems like you two get along perfectly. I'm going to go get my wife. I'll be right back. Excuse me."

Jack nodded and turned back to Sarah. Michael went into the kitchen to find his wife. He smiled when he saw her leaning over the sink washing some dishes.

"Rose? I'm home." She turned around to face him, a strand of her curly auburn hair gently falling in her face. Michael came up and brushed it away and kissed her on the cheek.

"Well good evening dear. How are you doing?"

"Just fine. I have someone for you to meet."

"Is it that friend you were telling me about?"

"That's the one." Michael walked over and grabbed a carrot stick from a dish.

"I don't think you ever told me his name. What is it?"

"I wanted you to meet him for yourself. Come on. He's in the living room with Sarah. You know, those two get along so nicely already." Rose smiled.

"Well that's good to hear. Oh wait! Hold on while I fix myself up a bit. I must look a wreck after cleaning and cooking all day." Rose quickly took her apron off and pin her hair up again, catching the few stubborn strands that kept hanging in her face.

She let Michael lead her into the living room. She stopped suddenly when she saw him. His back was to her since he was turned towards Sarah, showing her a magic trick. Rose took a long, shuddering breath. She felt like she was in a dream. Nothing seemed real. She carefully took in his shaggy blond hair and his all too familiar lanky build.

Michael finally spoke. "Jack, I'd like you to meet my wife." Rose watched as he slowly turned around. She held her breath for what seemed like hours. "Rose, this is my best friend in the whole wide world, Jack Dawson." As Jack finally turned completely around, he brought his eyes up to Rose. He had to do a double take as he looked at the woman standing in front of him. His eyes were wide and he felt his skin go pale. He suddenly felt very faint as he tried to control the swaying image that he saw before him.

"Jack, what's wrong? It looks like you've just seen a ghost!" Michael said with a light chuckle. Jack just looked on with his mouth hanging in front of him.

He didn't think he could even speak. When he did, it was barely a whisper. "I think I have."

Rose was practically in tears. Her voice was cracked and hushed as she spoke. "Jack…is that really you?"

Jack was at loss for words. He just stared at Rose, not knowing what to do or say. But then he felt a light tug on the side of his pants. He looked down to see Sarah looking up at him. Oh my God, this is Rose's little girl. Wait a minute…"What's wrong Jack?"

Rose looked down at her daughter in horror. She looked back up at Jack and couldn't take it any longer. She burst into tears and quickly turned around, running back through the kitchen and onto the back porch. She sat down on the steps, wrapping her arms around her legs and rocking gently. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. Why, after all these years? Why…She couldn't think anymore. This was just too much.

Michael, completely dumbfounded as to what had just taken place, slowly followed his wife outside. He turned around to face Jack before going into the kitchen. "I take it you know each other." Jack just looked at him blankly. He slowly nodded and sat down on the nearest chair around. He felt extremely exhausted and completely overwhelmed at the present moment. He watched as Michael's extremely confused look came back and he was about to say something, but decided against it and turned around to follow his wife.

Wife…his wife. Rose Dewitt Bukator was now married…to his best friend of all people. She was now Rose Calvert, wife and…mother of two children. Jack thought to himself before burrowing his head into his hands. He looked down straight at the floor and let the tears flow freely. That's when a little head popped up into his face- a little blond, curly headed one.

"Jack…what's wrong?" Sarah's face was full of concern.

Jack looked down at her and tried to smile, wiping the tears away quickly. He watched as Sarah gently bent down to him, leaning on his knee. "Oh, nothing Sarah. It's just-" He suddenly stopped short. He looked at the little girl closely. Curly blond hair and deep blue eyes. There certainly were no blond hair and blue eyed Calverts and…wait, I remember Mike telling me about her. She was from his wife's previous marriage. Rose is his wife…Jack frowned as he thought to himself. Wait, Rose was never married before though. She was engaged to Cal but…even if Rose and he did…their child would never be blond and blue eyed. As the realization of the possibilities reeled through Jack's head, his mind began to spin uncontrollably. He looked back down at Sarah who was just smiling sweetly up at him. Jack felt the sudden urge to know more about this girl.

"Sarah, can you tell me when you were born?" He looked at her nervously, like he was almost afraid to know. She simply smiled at him.

"Sure! That's an easy one. I was born on January 16th, 1913. Why?"

Jack quickly did the math in his head. January 16th…that's nine months almost exactly since…since… "Oh my God…" Jack shot up from his chair and walked over to a nearby window, leaning his arms against the frame.

"Jack?" Rose came in from the doorway. She had been standing there long enough to hear Jack talking to her daughter. He quickly turned around to face the woman he had been mourning for seven years. He swallowed hard and looked right into her eyes- they were happy, yet completely confused and pained. "I-I think we need to talk."


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