A/N: Thank you for the great reviews. In this chapter Fabrizio makes an entrance and I suck at writing accents so I will let your imagination decide how he speaks because I didnt want to make him sound as though he talked with the wrong accent. I am really into writing this story I have wrote about ten chapters so far, anyway here is part two, hope you like it.

Chapter Two - The Proposal

The sun poured through the windows of the small studio where Jack Dawson and Fabrizio Di Rossi lived. It was just three rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a long living room where they both slept. Fabrizio was Italian and had met Jack during his time in Italy seven months before. He worked at Mr Burn's factory plucking chickens for very little each week. Jack was an artist and he sat everyday in a small park making charcoal drawings for tourists and people who had taken an interest in his work. Together they didn't make much money but enough to live on each week, to provide food and shelter and sometimes the occasional trip to a dance hall.

'Jack, you a were late last night, no?' Fabrizio spoke in his thick Italian accent.

'Yeah I took a walk. How was the party?' Jack rubbed his eyes in an attempt to remove any sleep before running his fingers through his overly long blonde hair.

'Was a good. Maria was asking about you.' Fabrizio smiled, knocking his elbow in Jack's who could do nothing but smile back. Maria was a dancer at Mr Burn's bar where Jack and Fabrizio occasionally visited; she was also a prostitute working at Mademoiselle Satine's, a brothel which proved very popular among the young men who went to Mr Burn's bar. Maria was around 23 years old; she was French with very long dark brown hair, big brown eyes and a large chest. She was very tall and slender and had taken an early interest in eighteen year old Jack from the moment she saw him.

'Fabri, you know I'm not interested in her.' Jack rolled his eyes. He wasn't interested in any girls. On the odd occasion he had drawn Maria and a few of the girls at Mademoiselle Satine's in the nude, but nothing would ever come of it.

'She's beautiful, no?'

'She is beautiful but I am just not interested.' Jack rummaged around in the kitchen for something, anything he could put together for breakfast but he found nothing.

'Well I'm going to work Jack, ciao.' Fabrizio pulled his hat on before heading out of the door. He worked from 8 in the morning until 6 at night for five days a week. Jack on the other hand worked the hours he wished in the park, if business was slow he could pack up for the day. Today, however seemed a lovely day, the sun shone and Jack felt cheery as usual. As he walked to the park, his mind fell on Rose, the girl he had met the night before. He hoped she had returned back to the school safely or that she had not returned and jumped from the rocks once she had known Jack had disappeared. She had seemed so lonely and fragile, in need of rescuing from the boundaries of society but it seemed so impossible to her to leave her life but to Jack it was simple, if she had said the word he would have allowed her to live with him and Fabrizio, maybe even get a job at the chicken factory, it wasn't the perfect life but it was a start away from upper class. Shaking his head, he set up his work for the day, laying out his leather portfolio in front of him and taking out a piece of paper and began to sharpen a piece of charcoal ready for his first customer. He knew his work was good, but not amazing. The reason he had come to Paris was because it was the art capital of the world and where his inspiration Monet lived. But to Jack's disappointment all the city was now interested in was dottism and cubism whereas Jack drew from life, from his heart and he wasn't about to change his style now. So here he was, just chasing his dream in a small park. The park wasn't very full, it never was. A young couple sat having a picnic and a child chased around a barking dog, other than that it was empty but there was yet time for it to get busy, it was only early morning. As the day grew, the sun beat down heavier on Jack's face and he wiped his brow with a small cloth he kept in his pocket. He wore navy shirt, and grey trousers with braces. By the time dinner came, he had made two Franc's. He felt his stomach rumble heavily reminding him he hadn't eaten all day, although he decided to wait before eating anything. A young lady entered the park dressed in an expensive looking day dress and a large yellow and red hat which shielded her face from the sun. Just by the way the lady walked she held the attention of everyone in the park and Jack found it almost impossible for him to take his eyes away from her although she was coming in his direction and he knew he would have to divert his eyes so he wasn't rudely staring. Picking up a small piece of charcoal, he began to sharpen it with a knife.

'Hello Mr Dawson.' A woman's voice came and Jack raised his head and his eyes met with...it was it?

'Rose? Is that you?' he asked in disbelief. In daylight her image was so much more different, her hair was pinned up and a huge hat sat on her head. He never imagined he would see her again, let alone in these parts of the city.

'Yes it is.' She laughed slightly. Immediately Jack stood unsure of what to do, he felt like a small boy. From the look of her attire to his, it was obvious they were classes apart. He wiped his sweaty and dirty hands down his pants before offering his hand to shake hers, she held out her gloved hand and slipped it in his almost in slow motion.

'But I thought you couldn't get out of the prison.' Jack questioned, in both shock and confusion. Rose took a seat on the bench beside Jack, and it was then he realised Rose had drawn a lot of attention in the park and now all eyes were on them as passersby whispered to each other.

'Jack, I want to thank you for last night. This morning I woke up feeling ever so foolish.' Rose lowered her voice, she too noticing the stares. 'Cal turned up at school this morning, he is tending to some business in Paris, and while he was out I decided I would get some air too. My tutor believes me to be attending business with Cal.'

Nodding his head, Jack took this information in. He could barely see under Rose's hat but in daylight she was so much more stunning so much it almost took his breath away. 'But what are you doing here in these parts.'

'I just walked Jack, I followed my heart and ended up here, it was like God was leading me to you to thank you.' She smiled.

'It's nothing Rose. I'm just glad you were back safely.' For a moment, they did nothing but gaze at the other. It was surreal how they were now both here sat in the same park. Diverting her eyes away from Jack, she noticed his equipment lay out before them.

'So, are you an artist?' She asked indicating to his stuff.

'Well, well, well, fancy finding you here Jack!' a French accent came, rudely interrupting Jack from his thoughts. Turning he found Maria sat next to him. She stood tall, her dark hair pinned up and she dressed in a laced corset dress with her breasts almost spilling out. She smoked a cigarette and touched Jack's arm, obviously flirting.

'Hey Maria. How are you?' he asked quietly, not wanting Rose to leave because Maria was here.

'Brilliant. The sun's just lovely.' She smiled, winking a little. 'So are you coming to the bar tonight Jack?'

'Um, maybe. If I don't feel so tired from the heat today.'

'Nonsense Jack. Come. It will be fun.' Standing she tilted her head to one side, smiling a little before biting her lip. 'Or are you scared the girls will be there?' she teased, talking about the other girls who Maria danced with knowing they all liked Jack and every time he went to the bar they ask him to dance and most of them try it on with him. But to Maria, he was like a little puppy, and she wished he wasn't so shy. 'Don't worry darling, it will just be me and you.' She winked.

Rose had never felt so uncomfortable and thought about leaving. The girl was so brazen and the way her breasts were showing was so unnatural but Rose couldn't help but glare at the woman before her and wonder what sort of relationship Jack had with her because it seemed as though it was intimate.

'See you tonight Jack.' She waved as she walked away and Jack couldn't help but blush. He knew Maria was slightly full on.

'I'm sorry about that; Maria is a little, well.' Jack did not know what to say. He knew she was a prostitute and erotic dancer but she was his friend and has been good to him during his time in Paris.

'It's perfectly all right.' Rose smiled, in fact I must be heading back now, and it's quite a walk.' Rose stood, but Jack wished she wouldn't go so soon.

'You want me to walk you some of the way back.' Jack offered anything to spend a little more time with the beauty.

'Oh no, thank you. Well goodbye Jack.' She nodded to him, and began to walk away leaving Jack wondering if he would ever see her again. Her appearance at the park had been more than a shock to him, but he couldn't live his life wondering if he would see a girl he barely knows again, he would go to the bar that evening.

'Where on Earth have you been?' The voice filled Rose with dread. She knew she was a little late but didn't think Cal would be there just yet. 'I have been looking for you everywhere, your tutor almost called the police.'

'I'm sorry; I took a little walk into town and ran a little late.' Rose smiled removing her hat to reveal her face. She saw the look on Caledon Hockley's face and inside she felt sickened. He came towards her and gently touched her face but she flinched at his touch.

'My dear, I have arranged a magnificent feast for us tonight.' He smiled. 'Why don't you change and meet me in the dining hall.'

Forcing a smile, Rose nodded. 'Of course Cal.'

'Now wear something beautiful.' He ordered, leaving the room with a smile on his face. It was times like now Rose wished she had jumped from the bridge because she knew what tonight would bring. She hoped dinner would go well and that she would be able to retreat to her room by nine o clock. Her mind wondered back to the afternoon when he had seen Jack. The fact that he was at the same park as she was headed seemed surreal, but something seemed to have guided her in the direction of him and she wondered what it is. For now though, she had to clear her mind and dress for dinner with Cal. She was not even hungry, not in the slightest, but she knew she had to continue her front and dine with him as he wished. After selecting a navy blue dinner dress, Rose called upon her three maids to dress for the occasion; she also selected sapphire jewellery to match. After seeing her reflection in the large oak mirror before she was to meet Cal for dinner, she felt tears prick in her eyes. Here she was faced with herself, she despised her life, she despised herself and most of all she despised Caledon Hockley. Taking a deep breath she felt the tightness of her corset and she placed her black gloved hand over her stomach, she felt as though she was slowly been suffocated.

The whole room seemed to whirl around as Rose closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to take in the evenings events. Marriage? She was far too young to even consider taking a husband. But Caledon Hockley was stood before her holding out a large diamond engagement ring in a black velvet box with that sly grin on his face. Shakily, Rose brought her hands to her face.

'Rose darling, just say yes.' Cal placed his hand on her left arm and a grin spread across his face. 'Marry me Rose. I will make you happy, you will never want for nothing.'

Rose felt like bursting out laughing. 'Want for nothing?' Was this all about money? But Rose didn't want him or his filthy money. 'Cal, I...I'm speechless.'

'It has been a surprise sweet pea.' Cal lowered his head and his eyes met Rose's.

'It has. But Cal, I believe I am too young for marriage.'

Raising his eyebrows, Cal didn't think he had heard correctly. Too young? This wasn't a matter of being too young. Cal knew Rose's family was in financial difficulty and one way or another Rose would have to marry him, she had very little choice. Smiling, he closed the box and sat himself on the dining chair. 'My dear Rose, but you know you have little choice in the matter.' Cal took a sip of the expensive wine. 'Your mother is counting on you to save the family name. You know I could change everything, either way.'

'Cal, I...' Rose was stunned; she played with the beads on her pearl necklace and felt like pulling them from her neck and throwing them at him in a fit. She didn't care for him or his money.

'So what will it be Rose? Would you like to see your mother suffer? For her to become a seamstress and for yourself to live in the gutters like some bohemian?' Cal stood and walked around her, she watched him for a few moments before squeezing her eyes closed and praying for everything to just disappear. She thought of Jack momentarily of how he lived and how happy he was in his life and he had next to nothing.

'Of course not. I just think we should marry when school is over, so I can concentrate on my studies here.' Rose improvised her words. All she wanted was for the evening to end. 'I will marry you Cal, when school is over. You have my word.' She smiled, and even leaned to him slightly and kissed his cheek, something she surprised herself with but she had to keep him sweet. As she pulled away, he appeared smug.

'Very well, but now Rose, remember I have your word.' Cal spoke and she knew he had authority. The hate she felt for him was indescribable.

'Of course. Mr Hockley tonight has been lovely.' She forced a smile, but inside she faltered. 'If you would excuse me I must retire, I am exhausted from the day's events.'

'Certainly. In two days I am to return to the States so maybe before then we could dine together once again.'

'Of course. Goodnight.' She gently slipped her hand into his and he kissed her gloved hand gently. Just the slightest contact caused her to flinch. Turning to walk away, she felt his eyes on her as she left the room; she speeded up her pace until she reached her room. Once inside, she forgot all what etiquette had taught her and she ripped the beads from her throat and then her earrings from her ears. She struggled to unhook her dress and she felt like screaming at the top of her lungs for someone to free her from this place. Inside, she knew she was slowly going insane but she couldn't escape once again, she had no money at all. Rummaging around in her small purse, she found some small change and she threw it onto her bed and something caught her eye as it fell from her purse, some paper. Her hands trembling, she read writing on the paper. 'Burn's Maisonette, top floor, Court Road.' It was Jack's address which he had given her the evening before. She knew then that this was her way out, she had to leave.