Rose yawned as she woke up alone in the cave that Jack had taken her to. She looked around, noticing that her savior was nowhere in sight that morning. He must have gone home sometime during the night. She still didn't know if she wanted to go to school this morning. Not going meant that Cal had really finally broken her, but going put her at risk of Cal and her former friends. They could reach her at school, but then Jack had promised to protect her. But what if he couldn't? she didn't know what to do.

Hungry, she grabbed the bag of food that Jack had left for her the night before and pulled out a ham sandwich and a can of mountain dew. Not a healthy breakfast, but it was good enough and would give her energy to get through the day. Speaking of getting through the day, should she go to school or just hide out? What could she handle?

"Rose?" Jack entered the cave with a shy smile. Rose couldn't help notice how the sunlight played with his blond hair, making it seem like it had a heavenly glow, as if he really was an angel here to guard her. "Hey you're awake. Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I had in a long time. I think the ocean air did me some good," she answered, opening the mountain dew.

"Good. Did it help you decide what you're going to do today? Your chariot awaits if you want to go to school."

Rose giggled and sighed wistfully. She would love to just spend the day with Jack. He was handsome, funny, kind, and he believed her about Cal. He was also helping her hide out. Hide out. Maybe a day of hiding out is what she needed. Get her head on straight before facing the world again. "Would you think less of me if I decide to just stay here for the day and get my head on straight before facing everyone again?"

"Of course I wouldn't think less of you," Jack shook his head, his blue eyes wide with sincerity. "It's fine if you want to spend the day here. I'll get your homework for you and come by once school is over. Maybe then you'll know what your next move will be."

She placed a hand on his, feeling thankful for all the help he was giving her. She knew that if it weren't for Jack, she definitely would be a bigger basket case than she already was. "Thank you for everything, Jack. I don't know how I'll ever repay you for all you're doing for me."

"No need for repayment. We're friends. This is what friends do," Jack winked. "Well, I better get going. I'll see you after school is out. If you need anything, just ring my cell."

"I will. Have a good day Jack."

He smiled in response and waved good-bye. She scooted to the opening of the cave and watched as he climbed back up the ravine and got into his car. She had to wonder what Madeline and Constance will think when she didn't show up? What would Cal think? Would he be scared? Probably not. Sighing, she went back into the cave and began thinking about what was to happen when Jack returned. Should she go see her father or just make this cave her home? It was a lot to ponder.

…..

JFK was as crowded as it was the day before. The only difference was that Rose would not be attending today and Jack had appointed himself as her guardian. A go between for her and the people in her old life, whether it was her old friends or her rapist boyfriend himself. Luckily for everyone involved, they didn't seem to know that. In fact, they paid Jack no mind. Jack on the other hand wanted to tear Hockey's cock off his body and make him eat it. Every time he saw him talking to some poor unsuspecting girl or near someone he knew, he wanted to kick his ass.

Jack's glares did not go unnoticed by his friend's though. It was Julie who approached him about it. "What's with you and Hockley? You look like you want to kick the guys butt from here to next month."

"Try from here to ten years from now," Jack nearly growled.

Julie stared. Her sweet, friendly cousin never ever spoke of such violent tendencies before, especially towards someone he never even spoke to. That was her job. "Okay, I'm the one always wanting to kick the swell's butts and you're always the one defending them. What's going on here?"

"I only defend the ones that need defending. That Hockley guy is an asshole and you stay away from him Julie. You too Helga."

They were sitting in the cafeteria for lunch. Helga looked up, surprised that Jack included her. "Um…okay," she chuckled. "Even though I'm sure that Fabrizio has it covered if he tried anything."

"You know I do, baby," Fabrizio grinned, leaning in to kiss his girlfriend.

"And I have Jules back of course, boy-o," Tommy smirked, ignoring the glare that his girlfriend gave him. "Does this have something to do with you crushing on the guy's girlfriend?" Julie asked.

Jack nearly snapped. "He's not her boyfriend. But speaking of Rose, she'll be sitting with us for now on when she returns to school."

"What?" Julie nearly snapped, glaring at her cousin, wondering what the redhead had to do with any of this. In fact, where was Jack last night? He didn't return until the wee hours of the morning and early this morning he had left early again. Why?

"Rose will be sitting with us. She's my friend. So I don't see the problem."

"She's a swell," Julie stared.

"You don't even know the lass, boy-o," Tommy shrugged. He really didn't have a problem, but he had a feeling it'd be a good idea to show solidarity with Julie.

"She's a swell," Julie again replied.

"I think Jack's in love," Fabrizio snorted.

"I think she's pretty and we do need another female in the group," Helga shrugged.

"I'm not in love, we're just friends and she really needs all the friends she can get right now. Real friends. And I have gotten to know her and I like her and I think she'll make a great addition to our group. And no, Julie. She's a swell is not a legit objection."

"Okay, well how about this. She has her own friends. Why can't she sit with them?"

Jack leaned over so only his friends could hear. "They are not her friends. Not her real ones anyway. That's why. I am her friend though and she should be welcomed where I am. Now if you don't want me to sit with you fine. I'm sure that Rose and I will be fine on our own."

"You can't be serious. You'd actually stop sitting with us if we don't accept your pet swell," Julie crossed her arms, angry with her cousin. She didn't like being forced to accept people.

"That's exactly what I'm saying, and she's not my pet. She's my friend. What do you guys say? Or you with me or Julie. All of those for Rose joining our group, raise your hand."

Everyone but Julie raised their hands, even Tommy did. He could see how important this was to his friend.

"I don't see the problem Julie. This will even out our numbers…plus Jack won't be a third wheel anymore. Fabri has me. Tommy has you, who does Jack have?" Helga decided to explain her reasoning for accepting a new girl into the group.

"That's Jack's own fault for being so picky. Funny how a JFK girl just isn't good enough for you, Jack. You had to pick a swell," Julie crossed her arms.

"It has nothing to do with that. Anyway, Julie, you've been overruled. Rose will be sitting with us for now on. And you will be civil if nothing else."

Julie huffed. "Fine. But don't expect me to start wanting to attend her fancy smancy parties or anything"

"I doubt that would be a problem," Jack chuckled, feeling somewhat relieved. He was expecting more of a fight from Julie. Jack frowned when he caught Fabrizio and Helga smiling at him. "What?"

"I am Italian Jack. I know amour when I see it," Fabrizio grinned.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Italian or French, I don't care what you are Fabri, you don't know what you're talking about. Rose and I are just friends." And that's all we'll probably ever be. He couldn't see her wanting anything more than that, not after what had happened to her.

"Keep telling yourself that, my friend," Fabrizio chuckled, feeling happy for his friend. He knew that Jack had been somewhat lonely in their group. Having a over protective cousin and being picky himself just hadn't helped Jack in the amour department. He can see though that the addition of the pretty redhead girl may be a change in that for Jack. He was deserving of such a change, he was such a great guy.

…..

Rose was sitting only a few feet from the cave, her shoes off, letting the water from the ocean wash over her toes. She just couldn't stay in there another second. She needed some fresh air, and with everyone in school and this place surrounded by rocks and sand dunes, she didn't see the harm. She sighed and looked at her watch and her eyes widened to see that school was out already. Jack should be coming by soon.

Jack. Just the thought of his name sent a thrill through her. A thrill that she had no longer thought possible. She wondered how his day went. Did anyone ask about her? Did anyone even notice that she wasn't there today? She was afraid of the answers, yet was in need of them at the same time.

"Rose?!" Jack called, peaking into the cave to find no one inside. He frowned, wondering if she had decided to go back home after all.

"Down here!" Rose called, waving to catch his attention.

Jack glanced in her direction and waved, heading in her direction. "I didn't think that you'd be down here." He laughed.

"I just had to get out of the cave for a while," Rose shrugged. "So how did it go today? Did anyone notice that I wasn't in?"

"I don't know. None of your old crowd approached me and I didn't hear anything. Hockley dropped out of English class though. Was probably hoping to be partnered with you and when that fell through…"

"God I hate him…"

"I talked to my friends though and everyone is cool with you sitting with us for now on."

Rose arched a brow, remembering how his cousin was less than friendly towards her. "Everyone?"

Jack sighed and looked embarrassed, heck he was embarrassed. "Well, Julie wasn't all for it, but she was overruled. Besides, I made it known, if you weren't welcomed to sit with us, neither was I."

"Jack, you didn't have to do that. They're your friends, you've known them a lot longer than you've known me."

"I want you to be welcomed wherever I am. Which means if I'm with my friend, I want you to be welcomed there as well. Besides, it wasn't much of an argument. Julie was the only one giving me a hard time," Jack chuckled. "Even though Fabrizio is convinced that I'm in love with you."

Rose laughed. The very idea of Jack being in love with someone as damaged and undeserving as her was absurd. Jack deserved perfection. Someone who wasn't so messed up. Maybe if she had met him before she had even talked to Caledon Hockley, maybe then she would have had a chance to have Jack's affection. But now, after her virtue had been torn from her, all she could hope for from Jack was friendship and fondness. Not love.

"I know, right? He claims that since he's Italian, he knows amour when he sees it," He couldn't help but smile himself. The idea really wasn't all that funny. In fact, he could very well fall in love with this girl. But even if he did, he couldn't tell her now. Not until she was ready to trust again. To know that he'd never hurt her,never abuse her. How he wished that he had met her sooner, gotten to her sooner. He would have made sure that Hockley wouldn't have laid a hand on her. But seeing her smile right now, hearing that laugh, something he had never really seen from her, it made him feel that he could indeed fall in love with her.

"So, have you thought about where you're going to go from here? I mean, the cave is all good and all, but it'll start getting cold sooner or later."

"Well,I guess that I can go talk to my father. The only thing is, he has this new life now and probably doesn't want any reminders of his old one," Rose looked at her hands, the hurt in her voice over the nonexistent relationship with her father evident.

"Has he said that he didn't want anything to do with you?"

"He doesn't need to Jack. Ever since he remarried, he hasn't called, hasn't visited. I only get a card at Christmas."

"Where does he live?"

"With her, not too far from JFK. In the Astor Wood development I think."

Jack whistled. That was the newest built development in town and the people there were pretty wealthy. It was the world that Rose had just ran away from, but maybe it'd be different with her father. "Maybe you should give him a chance, Rose. Divorces can be messy and sometimes, things aren't as they appear. Maybe you should tell your dad what's going on and ask to stay with him and if he says no, we'll think of something else."

"It's just the same world I just came from Jack. He's not going to believe me."

"But how do you know? Everyone is an individual and does he even know of Hockley?"

"He hates the Hockley's, actually. At least he did before he left us."

"See. Right there is a chance he'll believe you. Come on, Rose. What do you have to lose?"

Nothing. She had absolutely nothing to lose in asking her father for help and that's what made it so sad. Staying here on this beach, hidden away from the world, it was a easier option than having to go to her absentee father and beg to be taken in. She didn't even know if she could do it, not alone anyway.

She looked at Jack, wondering if she was out of line for asking this. "Will you come with me?"

Jack nodded. "Of course. If you want me to. I won't leave your side."

Rose took a deep breath, contemplating the option. Going to her father. Yeah, she could do that just as long as Jack was by her side. The one person that would back her up, that would stand by her side and if her father didn't believe her, if he chose Cal's side just like her mother had, well she would just leave with Jack and find something else to do. Simple, right? And if he turned her away at the door, not even giving her a chance to talk? Well she'll be okay if that happened too. At least then, she would really know where she stood with her estranged father.

"Okay, let's go. Now, before I lose my nerve," Rose nodded, taking Jack's hand. "Just don't leave me."

"Wild horses couldn't drag me away," Jack gave her an encouraging smile, feeling proud of her. Rose was a lot more courageous than she was giving herself credit for. He hoped someday, she'll see what he saw. Squeezing her hand in support, he led her to his waiting car. It was time to get some parental intervention, if there was any to be had.

…..

The home of William Dewitt Bukater was the nicest that both Jack and Rose had ever seen. Not even the home that Rose grew up in could compare. A well sized family could live there and make great use of the pool and tennis court in the back. Her father was very well off it seemed. He and his new family probably wanted for nothing, while Rose drowned in her mother's home wanting nothing more than to be free. Free to be herself, to explore her wants and desires, free to not feel broken. She was in need of a family, one that put her word over her friend's.

She sighed, pushing away all bitter thoughts. They wouldn't help her now, just like they didn't when her father had left her alone to her mother's mercy.

"Woah, I never saw a house so…fancy," Jack gave a low whistle.

"Mother would be outraged if she saw," Rose stared. She sighed, backing up towards the car. "Maybe this is a bad idea after all. He probably doesn't even know my name anymore."

"Of course he knows your name. What father wouldn't? No matter how long they've been out of contact?" Jack asked, holding her hand. "Come on Rose. What do you have to lose? I promise, I won't leave your side. I'll be right here."

Rose looked at Jack, thinking him adorably naive. He believed in the best in people it seemed. Looking into his eyes, she knew that he believed that her father would come through for her, and he also meant what he said by staying by her side, not leaving her for a second. It was that which made up her mind. "Okay. :et's go talk to my father."

Jack smiled and walked up to the front door with her and held her hand as she ranged the bell.

A expensively dressed woman answered the door. Rose instantly recognized her as the woman that her father had left them for. Katarina. Rose had to admit that she was surprised that she opened the door herself and not some maid. Her mother would never be caught dead answering the door herself.

Katarina's eyes grew big when she saw Rose on her doorstep. "Rose? What are you doing here?"

Well at least Katarina remembered who she was. "Is my father here? May I see him?" She tried to keep her composure. She tried to keep a cold distant air, but after all that had happened, plus Jack's warm presence, made it nearly impossible.

"He's in his office right now. Come in, come in," Katarina stepped aside and beckoned for them to enter.

Jack's eyes widened when he entered the house. It was the most fanciest house he's ever been. He looked around, his eyes just drinking everything in. Rose couldn't help but giggle, thinking that he looked adorable.

"I knew these places were big and fancy, but this is unbelievable," Jack whispered.

"William has expensive taste," Katarina sounded apologetic for having such a big, expensively decorated place to live.

"It must be a lot to get used to when you're not used to such a lifestyle," Rose looked around herself. She didn't necessarily feel jealous. Just miffed that her father hadn't saw fit to take her with him instead of leaving her with her cold-hearted mother.

"It is. I'll go tell William that you're here. Feel free to take a seat," Katarina motioned to the setting room.

Rose waited until Katarina was out of earshot before speaking again. "I still don't know about this Jack. Right now, all I want to do is yell at him. Ask why he left me with her when he has so much room here."

Jack squeezed her hand, wanting to hug her close, but not sure if such a move would be welcomed, despite the fact that she had let him hold her last night, when she told him about what Hockley did and her mother's reaction. "Give him a chance to explain, Rose. Maybe he had a reason. Maybe he doesn't. But you won't know if you don't give him a chance."

Rose nodded. Jack was right. She can't just jump to conclusions. She had to give her father a chance to explain first. Only then would she know where to go from there. She looked at Jack wonderingly. He was the most perfect thing in her life right now. He believed in her, looked out for her, he cared for her. Perhaps he was the only person who did. She was forever thankful for him. Without Jack, she was sure that she'd be dead right now, unable to handle all that's happened to her so far.

Feeling her gaze on him, Jack couldn't help but blush. "What?"

Rose opened her mouth to answer, but before anything could come out, her father appeared in the doorway, Katarina behind him. William Dewitt Bukater was a tall man with black hair and green eyes that drank Rose in like a man who had spent a couple of years in the desert.

"Rose," He gasped in disbelief, his tone full of surprise and wonder. "Are you really here?"

Jack squeezed her hand again as she faced her father. She didn't understand why he seemed so shocked to see her. Of course he hadn't expected her to show up at his door like this, but his tone seemed strange. "Yes, I am. I need to talk to you."

"Come, sit," William motioned towards the couch. "You must have so many questions. We have so much to talk about."

Rose was reluctant to sit, but she did so. Jack never let go of her hand as he followed her to the comfortable looking couch that the man motioned towards while he and his wife took the loveseat across from them.

"Actually, I do but…,"She looked at the surroundings again, noting how warm and welcoming things seemed when compared to the mansion she had shared with her mother. She couldn't help feeling hurt. "Why did you leave me with her?"

That wasn't the question that she had meant to ask. She had tried to push it to the back of her mind so she could concentrate on the reason that she was really here for, but something inside her, the scared little girl that had missed her daddy and was cruelly told that he didn't love her needed to know why before anything else could be discussed. "Why did you stop loving me?"

William Dewitt Bukater's eyes widened in shock and he swallowed down the bile and anger that had risen up against his former wife. "Is that what Ruth told you? That I left because I didn't love you anymore?"

Rose could only nod, now clinging to Jack's hand. "She said that you left us because I wasn't a boy. That you couldn't stand having a girl who wasn't the perfect little lady and I was lucky that I had her to take care of me. That you had found someone that would give you a new family of boys."

"That witch," William hissed.

"William…," Katarina placed a warning hand on her husband's arm. "Temper."

"Don't temper me, Kat! The only reason I didn't sue for custody when I divorced that vile woman was because she convinced me that Rose needed to be with her mother full time! That only she could fulfill the role of the kind of mother Rose needed! Instead, I find that the woman has not only kept my daughter from me, but slandered me the whole time, making it sound like I didn't want her when in truth she said any interference from me would damage Rose's well being!" William ranted, pacing the room, clear anger and indignation in his face and voice.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down and knelt down in front of Rose. He took her hand and looked at her with pleading eyes. "Rose, what your mother said was false. I did want you, very much so. She said that I didn't want you because you weren't a boy? Sweetie that is the furthest thing from the truth. You were my princess, I loved and wanted you so much. But I was young and naïve and I let your mother, a woman that I was forced into marrying and was older than me, I allowed her to convince me that leaving you with her and letting her have full control of your upbringing was for the best. It was stupid, I know, but I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn't leave you with her because I didn't want you, I left you because I thought it was the best for you."

"The best for me? Do you even know what growing up in that house was like? It was like growing up in a museum. I couldn't touch anything. I couldn't run and play, I couldn't act like a child. I always had to be the proper little lady and do what I was told or what she wanted. It was a miserable life. It still is especially after…," She took a deep breath, unable to go any further. Jack squeezed her hand, reminding her that she wasn't alone, that he was by her side.

"Rose, I'm so sorry. If I had known, I would have come for you. I would have sued for custody like I was first going to and brought you to live with us."

"But you didn't."

William bowed his head, ashamed of lack of foresight. Any other father would have fought for their child. Why did he let that woman talk him out of fighting for his?

Katarina hated interrupting, but she had a feeling that this wasn't the reason for Rose's visit. She was clinging to the boy's hand as if he was her life jacket on a sinking ship, and the look in her eyes, she saw that look at the women's center where she worked all the time and she hated that Rose had that look now. "Rose, I hate to interrupt, but why did you really come here? Surely, it wasn't just to confront your father on why he left you with your mother?" Her voice was gentle and nonjudgmental.

She wanted to pull William next to her so she could better control his actions, but she didn't dare move. She needed Rose to feel like she was in a safe place. That she could trust them.

Rose looked at Jack, who just gave a nod of encouragement. She then looked back at her father and sighed, her shoulders slumping, all energy to act strong leaving her.

"I'm surprised that you guys don't know yet. That she didn't call looking for me. Then again, why would she even think I'd come here after the lies she told."

"Rose?" William frowned. "What's going on, sweetie. It's okay. You can tell us."

"I…I ran away from home last night. Her and my so called friends ambushed me and she slapped me and I ran away and haven't been back since and Jack thought I should talk to you. See if I could stay here."

"Why did you run away Rose? What happened?" Katarina questioned. William turned around to ask her why the questions, but she just gave him a look that said be quiet and listen.

Rose looked at Jack again. He was the only one that knew her reasons. She didn't know if she could trust her father and his wife. What if they tried to send her away? What if they didn't believe her and demand that she apologize to Cal or tried to send her away?

"If they act they way your mother did, we'll leave," Jack whispered to her. "I won't let them send you away, Rose. I promise."

She didn't trust her father, nor her step-mother, but she did trust Jack. If he said to tell them, that he'd protect her, well she believed him.

"You know of the Hockley's right? Nathan and his son Cal?" Rose began, her voice shaking.

William frowned. He knew of the Hockley's alright and he couldn't stand any of them. A family of criminals in his opinion. "I know of them."

"Well, I dated Caledon Hockley, the youngest son. Everything was fine at first. He was charming and seemed nice, but the he started emotionally and physically abusing me. I was thinking of leaving him then, but everyone kept talking about how lucky I was to be dating him. They made me feel ungrateful for the attention he was paying me.

"Then last week, we went to a movie and dinner. Afterward, he took me to a secluded spot near his hunting lodge. He said that he took all of his girlfriends there. Well, I wanted to go home. I didn't want to be there and I told him so. He told me to stop whining and relax. He then started kissing me. At first it was okay, but it became too much and I told told him to stop. I said no, but he wouldn't listen. He slapped me, called me a little tease and a whore and he…he…," Rose sobbed, leaning against Jack, who wrapped a arm around her trembling shoulders. "He forced himself on me…he…took my virginity…"

"Oh my god, you poor dear ," Katarina was on the sofa on Rose's other side. "Please tell me you pressed charges."

"I couldn't…I was so ashamed and I knew it was my fault."

"Like hell it was," William growled, his voice full of repressed rage, much to Jack's relief. He had told Rose to trust her father. He was glad that his reaction was the same as his own father's when Lisa's rape was revealed.

"William, please. Let her finish," Katarina gently hushed.

"I went all week, feeling dirty and useless and like the whore he called me. I wanted to curl up and die. So the night the school had a formal between White Star academy and the public school that was taking in White Star Students, they were having it at a facility that had a balcony and I had the perfect plan to just end it all and just jump off it. End my suffering that way, because I knew no one would believe me. They would all side with Cal."

"My god, Rose, please tell me you didn't," William gasped.

"I almost did. if it weren't for Jack here .talking me back over I would have. He didn't even know me. He could have just walked away, but instead he approached me and told me not to jump and talked me back over. He didn't know anything about what happened to me or Cal, but he heard Cal's voice, he was looking for me and saw my reaction and he helped me leave without Cal even seeing me. He was my hero that night."

William looked at the young man by his daughter's side, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, Sir. I was glad I could help her."

"Well,when school began, my friends helped Cal ambush me in the hall. That was when I confronted him about the rape. My friends didn't believe me and Cal was so smug. He had raped his old girlfriend and instead of her parents pressing charges they sent her away so his reputation wouldn't be damaged and he threatened to have the same done to me. I managed to get away and bumped into Jack again and he helped me hide from Cal. Again. Then after school, Jack walked me to my car to make sure that Cal didn't bother me, then I went home and that's when things fell apart completely."

"What happened?" William asked, his rage now under control.

"My so called friends had told mother about my confrontation with Cal. I told her what he did to me, that he had raped me. I thought that surely my own mother would believe me. Instead, she slapped me and told me to apologize to Cal. That was when I ran away. I managed to call Jack and he came and took me somewhere safe to spend the night and think of what to do next. He was the only one that believed me about Cal. The only one that cared about what I was going through. Not my so called friends that I had known forever, but a new friend that I had only known for a few days. Anyway, he thought that I should tell you what was going on. See if I could stay here. I'll be eighteen soon, so it won't be that long. I just can't go back to mother's. She'll send me away like they did to Annabelle Watson. I know she will. Please, I'll be quiet, you won't know I'm here."

"Of course you can stay!" Katarina answered for both of them. She wouldn't dream of turning the girl away. Not after all she's been through.

"It's not even a question, sweetie. Of course you can stay, for however long you want. Don't you worry about a thing. Not about Ruth and certainly not about Hockley. No one is going to be sending you anywhere. I swear to it," William nodded. He then got to his feet and rang a bell. A middle aged woman in a maid's uniform appeared. "Gretchen. My daughter Rose will be staying with us indefinitely. Will you please prepare the room that is right across from ours. Make sure that everything is in order."

The maid just curtsied. "Yes sir."

Rose watched the maid go, feeling guilty for causing the woman even more work.

"I'm going to go call my lawyer. See if I can quietly get custody transferred over to me. If not, I'll go the courts route, but with all that's happened, I rather it be as painless as possible for all of us," William stroked his chin.

"Why? I mean, Rose will be eighteen soon, so custody will be a pretty much moot point. Just call Ruth, tell her that your daughter will be staying here for now on and that's that. It's time that woman stopped getting her way,"Katarina got to her feet. She turned to the teenagers, silently sitting on the couch. "You two must be starved. How about meeting me in the kitchen and I can whip you up something nice."

"That'd be great," Rose smiled, starting to feel relaxed for the first time in weeks. Maybe Jack was right. Maybe everything will turn out ok after all.

…..

Jack spent the rest of the afternoon with Rose, helping her get settled in at her fathers. He brought in the homework that he had gathered from the teachers and helped her with the work that they both had classes in. Jack had also shared some cookies and juice provided by Katarina. Finally, it was dinner time and it was time for Jack to head home. Katarina had invited Jack to stay for dinner, but he knew that his aunt and uncle would worry if he didn't get back.

Rose walked him to the door. "Must you go, Jack?"

"Time for me to go row with the other slaves," He smiled, squeezing her hand. "Hey, no need to feel blue. Mission accomplished. We got you somewhere safe to stay and now I'm not the only one that believes you about that scum Cal. Everything will be alright now. You'll see."

"You have been my guardian angel throughout all of this. I don't know how I will ever repay you, Jack."

"No need for repayment. Just be my friend and make each day count. That's all I ask," he smiled. He sighed and looked towards the car, reluctant to leave. He was really enjoying Rose's company. "Shall I pick you up tomorrow for school or do you want to stay home? Switch schools? Have your dad drive you?"

"A ride from you would be nice."

"I'll be here at seven-thirty sharp," Jack winked. "Sleep well, Rose."

"Good night, Jack. Drive safely."

She watched him walk to and get into his car. She stayed in the doorway until he had backed out of the driveway and was driving down the street, out of sight. She sighed, missing his presence already.

"What a nice young man," Katarina stood beside her. "He's a good guy for standing by your side like this."

Rose nodded. "He's like my guardian angel. I don't know who sent him to me, but I'm thankful."

Katarina just smiled as Rose closed the door. Jack Dawson brought out the strength in Rose. He was her rock. She hoped that the young man was a permanent fixture in Rose's life because she didn't know what the girl would do without him.