Epilogue: One Year Later

Satine's POV

It had been exactly one year since the Titanic sank. A year that I had slowly survived, if only for Ethan and the sleeping children in my arms, one a carbon copy of Christian, but with my eyes, and the other one closely resembling me, but with her father's eyes. In the weeks after, each day had been a struggle to even attempt to live a normal life. Acting and singing was profoundly hard for me, and still was. My heart wasn't in it anymore, not without Christian next to me. As the weeks turned into my months, my hope of Christian ever coming back began to fade. I stopped turning, my hand flying to my mouth, when I saw someone that even remotely resembled him. But he was there, always, in the shadows of my mind, an omnipresent figure that watched me with love in his eyes.

I sighed and shook my head, rising to my feet in one fluid motion. "Time for bed." I crooned to James and Danielle. I smiled sadly down at them and walked to their room, placing them tenderly in their cribs. "Good night, my darlings, my loves." I whisper, shutting off the light and closing the door. "Good night, good bye, Christian…"

I blink back the tears and find my way back to the small sitting room. I collapse on the nearest chair, sinking into the deep velvet cushions. My eyes are slowly closing when I hear a knock on the front door.

~*~

Rose's POV

One year. One blasted year. Satine was sunk in a depression so deep, I couldn't see her ever coming out of it, unless by some miracle Christian was alive and well. Jack and I were living together, in a house not far from Satine's. We visited her and the babies often, trying to find ways to cheer Satine up. Our plans never succeeded, but at least the twins had some happiness in their lives. Ethan was glad for our visits, talking to us excitedly and hugging the cat close to him. He had also begun to notice my growing stomach, though he refrained from asking the obvious question: Was I pregnant? I was, with Jack's child, and I couldn't be happier.

~*~

Somebody's POV

I knock on the door and wait, hoping I was given the right address. The man I had asked hadn't seemed too sure, but I had prayed that he was correct. I had to see Satine again. Finally, after standing on her doorstep for several minutes, the door is opened and I see her face for the first time after a year of searching. Her face is sleepy, framed by wild red curls, but when she sees me, her eyes widen and her faces pales with shock. She mouths my name, once, twice, three times, and blinks rapidly.

"Is it really you?" She asks. "Is it?"

I nod, because it's the only thing I can trust myself to do. She almost smiles, and she reaches out towards me. Her palm hits my cheek in a resounding slap that sends me reeling. "Satine, what?"

"One year, Christian! I thought you were dead for an entire year! Do you have any idea how I felt?!" She backs away from me, stumbling through the door, and I follow her, feeling wretched.

"Satine, I'm sorry, I really am. After the wreck, I looked for you everywhere. No one knew where you were, or even who you were. I had almost given up hope when I found a man that knew you. He gave me your address, and I finally found you." I bit my lip and waited for her response.

"How did you survive?" She asked, her eyes on mine.

"I was on that door for ages, waiting for rescue, thinking only of you… I started singing 'Come What May', hoping you would hear me… But you didn't." I paused, trying to get my thoughts in order. "One of the lifeboats found me… I was pulled aboard and when the Carpathia came, I was left with the third class. They didn't believe me when they said I was first class, you see. It was hard, not being allowed to see if you were with the rest of the first class…" A tear slid down my cheek, but I didn't bother wiping it away. "The child? Is it okay?"

"You mean the children? We had twins. A boy and a girl… James and Danielle." She smiled at me, only a sliver of doubt in her eyes. Slowly, hesitantly, she walked towards me, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace.

"Twins?" I say at last, leaning into her embrace, inhaling her flowery scent. "It's good to be back."

"Christian, don't ever leave me again." She murmurs.

"I won't." I promise, burying my face in her hair. "I love you."

A/N: Yay, Christian lived! He was going to die originally, but I changed my mind. :D I don't think I'll have any new storied for a while… No ideas, you see. :D Anyways, please review one last time and let me know what you think! And for everyone who has stuck with me until the end, I couldn't have done it without your support. :D