A/N: Thanks so much everyone for reviewing!

Ruth and Rose really found themselves at Mrs Dawson's flat at the approximate time. Having overheard everything, George had sent them away, telling them that he would unpack everything in the meantime. Both women had sensed that he wasn't about to argue with them so they had eventually agreed.

A young girl was opening the door to them.

"You must be Mrs Dewitt Bukater. Lauren told me about you coming too. I'm Caitlin," she girl spoke up in a rush ushering them inside.

At the table there were already two other woman seated, one of them the awful Mrs Brown, the other one some Mrs Oriana de Rossi, originally from some town in Italy as it turned out.

"Thanks, Caitlin," Lauren told the girl. "Maybe you could show Rose here some of your CDs?" she suggested figuring that it might be boring for them to stay here.

Rose noticed that she had remembered her name, but didn't give her credit for it. Before she knew it the girl named Caitlin had dragged her into another room. Rose was so polite to fake some interest.

Ruth meanwhile was omitted to sit down at the table with them.

"Your daughter?" she asked referring to Caitlin.

"No, she and her brother are from Ireland. They're about to study here in America and are now living with us," Lauren explained. "Her brother is up to some boxing career."

"I see," Ruth said faking interest. "Why aren't they staying at their own home?"

Everyone's jaw dropped, not knowing, if she really meant what she said. Did she have any idea about the prices for real estate's nowadays, especially in a city like New York?

"I mean your flat here surely isn't big enough for three people," Ruth sniffled.

"Four," Lauren corrected her. "My son Jack is also leaving with us."

"Dear god!" Ruth exclaimed. "I think I could never live in a flat that crowded. In Philadelphia we had a house all to ourselves. Eventually my husband decided to get rid of it for it was a little too big for us."

Molly was already fuming, clenching her fists under the table. She wasn't about to let that woman get away with this, belittling her friend and everything.

"I thought that you had to sell it, because of your debts?" Molly spoke up instantly silencing Ruth, who bit her lips in embarrassment.

Molly was about to continue, when Caitlin and Rose returned.

Rose shot her mother a knowing look. Caitlin had just told her that she planned for a music profession and how she was practising on playing the guitar, as well as taking singing lesson every week. When Rose had asked her, where she got the money from she had been told that Caitlin worked at a fashion store every Saturday.

"But now with the holidays approaching I hope that I get more shifts. I really need some cash," she had added.

Rose smiled not caring at all. She had never had to take a job herself. Luckily her parents had everything provided for her.

"Sit down you two," Lauren offered witj Rose taking the seat beside her mother.

"Is Tommy again with at his trainers?"

"Yes."

Lauren shook her head.

"He knows that I don't like this," she held up her hand as she saw Caitlin raising her hand in protest. "I know he isn't my son, but I feel responsible for him now that he's living here. After all your parents had enough trust in me to let you two live here."

Tommy and Caitlin both came from Dublin, but due to their professional plans in life they had figured that it would be easier to do in America. Lauren had taken them in at first only, because she really needed the extra money, but in the end she had come to love both like her own children. Jack, Caitlin and Tommy now were acting like some real siblings, the boys going out like brothers would.

"And I suppose that he took Jack with him?"

Caitlin nodded taking a bit of the cake Molly had made. She realized how Lauren hated what Tommy was doing, but what could she do to prevent him?

"Tommy loves it, Lauren."

"I know that he does. That doesn't mean however, that I've to approve of it. Really boxing is such a dangerous sport. I've read of people losing their eyesight."

"That's only bad propaganda I'm sure…," Caitlin told her.

"You're totally right, Mrs Dawson. I'd never allow my daughter to do such degrading, let alone such dangerous things," Ruth spoke up, but was ignored by everyone else.

Molly just shot her a look making her shrank back in her seat.

"I told Rose here that I'm working at a clothing store," Caitlin said wanting to chance the subject. "I thought that maybe she would want to join me."

Rose thought that she hadn't understood correctly.

She should get a job?

"That'll be wonderful. Don't you think so?" Molly asked towards Ruth knowing that she couldn't say No in front of everyone.

"It's my daughter's choice."

Great mother, where is your support when needed? – Rose thought angrily.

"Well I…why not?" she laughed uneasily.

She really could think of better things to do and just wished that it wouldn't be too exhausting. Caitlin smiled at her, telling Rose that she'd pick her up tomorrow.

Tommy and Jack meanwhile were returning from Tommy's boxing lessons. His trainer had told him that he had really got talent and should aim for a professional career.

'I do think that if you work hard, like you did until now and you're strict with yourself…you could really amount to something,' he had said. 'At least it would be great for my little studio here, if I could tell everybody that it was me, who taught the famous Thomas Ryan. There's nothing like well thought out propaganda.'

The three of them had laughed to this.

"I'm happy for you, Tommy," Jack told him.

"Yes, well, I'm not a star yet, you know," the other one answered almost embarrassed.

"But I'm sure that you're going to be one soon."

As they neared the door to their flat, they could already hear laughing ahead.

"I completely forgot, my mum had invited her friends today. Come on let's go I don't want to greet them all."

Indeed nothing was more annoying than having women questioning you about your future plans.

'Jack what are you doing now?'

'Do you make any money with your drawings?'

'Which university are you planning to go?'

Argh!

"Jack, is that you?" he heard his mother's voice coming from inside.

"Shit," Jack mumbled under his breath, getting punched by Tommy, who couldn't resist giggling.

"It's you too you know," Jack told him seriously causing Tommy to stop immediately.

"Jack! Tommy! Get here this instant," Lauren shouted from inside.

It looked like they really had to endure the stupid questions once more.

As it happened when Jack stepped into the room he bumped into Rose, who was just about to get herself some orange juice. Now everything was spilled over her dress.

"Use your eyes!" she hissed.

Didn't he know the cost of such a garment? Now it was all ruined.

Jack was about to answer with some other witty comment, putting her into her place again, when he looked up and really got a good sight of her.

"Woah," he gasped never having seen a prettier girl before.

Only when Tommy nudged him again in the side did Jack close his mouth, while Rose was furiously staring at him.