Thank you SO much guys for all the great reviews and love I've gotten for this story. This is the end, and I am sad, but I will write more C/R stuff in the future. I just wanted to focus on some other stories right now. But again, thank you so much. :) You guys are the best reviewers a person could want! :)

"So you see…though life may bring you in the most odd directions…even ones you may be screaming with every fiber of your being not to…you just have to give them a chance. And you may find them to be the greatest gifts you will ever receive."

Rose stared around at her audience, eyes still intently on her. The early petty desire to find the diamond was, it seemed, all but forgotten. It seemed the tale of the sinking, and, later, her life with Cal, had been far too engrossing.

Smiling a little, Rose picked up her and Cal's wedding picture, and looking at it, she wasn't an old woman with white hair and wrinkles on her face anymore…she was back again, back in time, young, beautiful and seventeen again, and dancing with Cal as they had at the reception…she could still feel his warm embrace…

She could not help closing her eyes at the memory, smiling.

"I fell in love with Cal just as I did with Jack, and I will forever be in love with both of them, until the day I die. Both Jack and Cal…goodness. But, despite my first story…God only knows just how much I loved Cal, and still do."

Chuckling a little, she said, "I…goodness I was such a…. a witch to him in the beginning. I'm not saying he was perfect, but I hardly made it easy for him when we were engaged. Frankly I'm surprised he put up with me for as long as he did."

Everyone laughed. Smiling, biting her lip, she said, "But…goodness…once I finally gave him a chance and let him in…that's when I knew even I, Miss High And Mighty, wasn't as perfect as I'd always thought. And God knows I loved him. God knows."

Laughing, Lizzie said, "Oh Grandma that's so romantic! I remember even when I was little coming to visit how cute you two were!"

Rose laughed, smiling at her granddaughter, smirking a little. "I just am thankful you didn't walk in on us one time…you came close."

Lizzie's jaw dropped, yet she couldn't help laughing a little. "Grandma!"

Bodine let out a wolf-whistle, and others did as well.

Brock laughed. "That's naughty, Mrs. Hockley."

Smirking, Rose nodded. "What's naughty is what we did."

Lizzie laughed. "Gosh Grandma, watch your mouth!"

Looking at the picture, she took it from Rose. "Gosh you look so beautiful, and Grandpa looks so handsome. I wish we lived in 1913 right now…everything back then was so beautiful and proper."

Rose rolled her eyes, smiling. "Oh, it was nice at times, but you would hate the majority of it."

Finally, Brock spoke again. "Goodness, Rose…I can honestly say I did not expect to hear any of that. You've lived such a miraculous life…it's mind-boggling. Almost makes me believe I could still find the diamond."

Rose spoke. "I believe you missed the point of both of my stories, Mr. Lovett. Life is about more than just jewels. It's also about happiness and being true to yourself…and, in my case, second chances. Beautiful second chances."

Brock grinned. "Oh, no, I didn't, Rose. It's just…isn't life also about ambitions as well, and fulfilling your dreams?"

Rose rolled her eyes, smirking.

Grin growing, Brock said, "Well, it's one of my dreams to find the diamond."

"Oh, you're hopeless, Lovett," she said.

Everyone laughed, but suddenly, Bodine spoke.

"You know, Mrs. H., you're an amazing woman, and both of your stories were great, and the meanings were deep and all. But I just have been dying to say… I didn't want to say anything earlier, but…god you were hot when you were young," he said, looking at the wedding photo.

Brock cringed. "Oh that's not creepy and perverted at all, Bodine," he said.

Bodine shrugged. "Hockley was one lucky SOB too…rich, good-looking, and successful to boot. Whaddaya think, Mrs. H? If I would have lived back then with all of you…would I have been big with all the ladies in first-class?" He smoothed his beard.

Rose smirked again. "Oh, absolutely. My loins are aching for you now."

Suddenly, Brock spoke again. "Do you still act?"

Rose laughed. "Oh no…but it was fun while it lasted. I'm too old now…they don't want me on screen or in the theater anymore. But I do give lectures once and awhile to young people on acting at colleges. I love it."

The silence lulled again, and then, Bodine spoke again, face serious. "So…if you don't mind…what happened to Cal?"

Rose grew serious, the sorrow flooding her again. "Pancreatic cancer. He was ninety-four. He was diagnosed when he was ninety-two. It was one of the worst days of my life when he died."

Lizzie took her hand, her blue eyes beginning to fill with tears at the memory of her beloved grandfather's passing.

The room grew silent again, and Bodine even couldn't find words, though it was clear he was sorry he had asked.

Looking around at everyone, Rose spoke again, voice becoming violent. "Again, I will reiterate. Cherish every single moment you have with those you love. Do whatever you want in life. Just be happy. That is all that matters."

As her captive audience continued to look at her with sympathy, she felt heartened that at least they all had taken to heart her message.

Later that evening, she stepped out onto the deck, breathing in the cool air coming off the ocean.

On this lonely mournful night, as she so often did, she missed Cal. His passing had been one of the worst ordeals of her life.

Going over to the railing, she looked up at the stars, trying to quell the tears. Closing her eyes, she still saw Cal, all those many years ago, on the day of their wedding. How handsome he had been…she still could feel his kiss…feel his touch…

She would forever be in love with him, until the day she died, and she had no regrets.

But Rose knew that she also had not told her audience a lot of things…how she still smelled his shirts, and had a bottle of his cologne…still woke up crying in the morning when she realized he was not there, and would never be beside her again…

After all, a woman's heart was an ocean of deep secrets.

The breeze blew her hair back, as well as her nightgown. Instead, reaching into her pocket, she withdrew yellowed pages, worn and read many, many times, that, by now, she knew by heart, every word written in his script, alone in a hotel room in early 1913, professing his love for her.

Smiling, she simply took comfort in the fact that she was holding it…though she couldn't read it now in the dark…

Laughing a little, she carefully put the pages back in her pocket, making sure they were still attached.

Looking up at the stars, she said, "You're probably smirking at me from up there for being so hopelessly enamored with you, you old bastard."

Smiling slightly, she said, "I love you, Cal."

Breathing in deep again, she finally went back into her room, and prepared for sleep.

And, as sleep finally began to overcome her, she couldn't help smirking a bit as many, many happy memories played through her mind, of her and Cal.

"Arrogant, insufferable bastard…God help me, but I love you." She could practically see him beside her, smirking in answer.

She had no regrets about her life. None whatsoever.

Falling in love with Cal had been one of the most unexpected, and, eventually…wonderful things to ever happen to her. And she would not have traded any moment of their life together, or her life in general, for the world.

And so, Rose finally drifted off to sleep, though unknowing that it would be her last of this life.

THE END