Anna stared at him in shock. "What?!" she gasped. "What do you mean? What's going on?"

"I know that I told you about a girl that I met… On the Titanic… And how I also crossed paths with Caledon Hockley and Ruth Dewitt Bukater. That's all I can tell you. I don't know what else to say to explain it."

"Try." She ordered. "We have the ball tonight, and I overheard Mr. Carson telling Mrs. Hughes that you have to be there, that the valet will have to attend. So there's no possible way you'll be able to get out of going. And you'll have to face Mrs. Hockley. I know that you don't want to, but you have to."

Jack looked at her. "You're serious? I actually have to go. They'll obviously know me. Anna, if I'm dead by tomorrow, or have resigned, please don't hold it against Mr. Carson, or Mrs. Hughes. It's not truly their fault."

"Why will you have resigned?"

"I'll have resigned because after tonight, the truth will be out, and no one will want me in the house. Or the village, or even in England. I'll likely end up going home to America."

"But Jack… why is all of this happening?"

"It's… I can't tell you, it wouldn't be right to do so."

"Jack, you owe it to me. You know my story. Tell me yours in return." She pleaded.

Jack reluctantly nodded, but then Mr. Carson ran in. "Mr. Dawson! You need to get upstairs, now! You too, Anna. The guests are arriving as we speak, and we have to be upstairs and greeting them. I assume you've recovered then?"

"Yes, Mr. Carson, that is correct. Let's go." He extended a hand to Anna, and together, they walked up the staircase, and through the green baize door.

xXxXx

Mrs. Bird and Mrs. Patmore truly outdid themselves that evening. The feast was spread out on a large table at the side of the ballroom. It was a buffet style, and surrounding the dance floor were small tables, where people could sit and eat. It was a grand affair, but looking around, Jack knew that Anna wasn't there. He had successfully escaped being noticed so far. But then Lord Grantham brought the music to a halt. "My ladies, lords and gentlemen, it is an honor to have you all come and stay. Now, for this next dance, the servants should start us off." He nodded to Mr. Carson, who swept onto the dance floor with Mrs. Hughes. Then Daniel dragged out Daisy, laughing. Mrs. Patmore started dancing with Moseley, and they all looked very dignified. Jack looked around the room, before noticing that Meaghan was standing at the edge of the dance floor. Jack walked over and said. "May I have this dance?"

She blushed, and nodded, then the two of them walked out onto the dance floor. But he had an eerie feeling that Cal was watching him. It was an awful feeling. Then he and Meaghan spun in a circle, and a shout could be heard in the ballroom. A shout…. Of "YOU!"

Jack spun around, terrified. Cal's voice was so loud, that the music stopped, leaving the room in stunned silence. Cal was standing up in outrage. "You!" he repeated. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here, Cal. You know, work, what real people do." He said recklessly. Then someone was flying at him, and he was knocked over by a blur of red and gold. "Jack!" screamed the voice.

He pulled away, and looked down at her in amazement. "Rose?" He said, unable to believe that he was holding her in his arms. In the stunned silence that followed, Anna slid in through the doors. Their eyes met, and hers hardened. She turned away, and fled. He didn't go after her, he was already causing enough of a scene.

"Lord Grantham, why is this man here?" asked Cal angrily, pointing an accusatory finger at Jack.

"He's my valet, and I'd rather you not shout at him." Said Lord Grantham calmly.

"What do you mean? Do you have any idea who he is? What he's done?" asked Cal in outrage.

"I am not aware he's done anything wrong."

"Oh? He hasn't told you about the fact that he once stole a diamond from me, aboard the greatest ship in the world?" he demanded.

"The diamond your valet slipped into my pocket!" Jack burst out angrily. "And you have neglected to tell him that you chased after me and Rose with a gun!"

Muttering broke out at his words. "That is enough." Lord Grantham ordered. "Let the band continue playing. And Cal, as a guest in my house, I ask that you not accuse my valet of crimes he has not committed. Not when we all have skeletons in our closet." Cal sat down again. Jack noticed that for the first time, Ruth Dewitt Bukater was speechless. He pulled away from Rose, feeling his heart break as soon as she was out of his arms. Then he turned, and fled the room.

XxXxX

Jack stopped in the dining room, covering his mouth as emotion overwhelmed him. He might dress up, and learn their game, but he wasn't one of them. He choked on a sob, trying to figure out what he had done to deserve this mess. Then suddenly, there was a soft, gloved hand on his shoulder. He turned, hastily wiping the tears away, to find Rose.

"Jack…?" She asked, tears in her eyes. "Is it really you, Jack?"

He looked at her, amazed at what he saw. She was right in front of him, although looking older, she was right there. He was staring at her, and she was staring right back. Then her arms were wrapped around him, and he was staring down into her green eyes, tears running down her cheeks. He leaned down, not caring what had happened in their seven years of separation. She moved closer, and then they were pressed together in an embrace. "I thought… I thought…" was all she was able to say.

"I know. I know. It's okay, I'm here now."

She pulled away. "Why didn't you come and find me?"

"I didn't think you'd want me back."

"I almost gave up on you, Jack. But I couldn't let go."

"No… I couldn't have died if you weren't right beside me. You jump, I jump, remember?" He asked her softly.

Then they were both crying, and he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. Then they were melting into one being, the saltiness of sadness, the bitterness of regret, and the sweetness of reunion all together in one spectacular kiss. Jack forgot what day it was. He forgot where he was, and he forgot his name. Everything else was insignificant now. And once they broke their kiss, they stood there, wrapped in an embrace, dreading the moment when they'd have to let go.

XxXxX

After, they sat in the empty dining room, talking as the music played on in the ballroom. But Jack knew that their time together would be brief. They talked about the past seven years, and didn't stop talking until Anna walked in.

"Mr. Dawson?"

He turned around, unsure if it was really Anna. After all, the tone was formal, and she had never addressed him as Mr. Dawson before. "Anna?" he asked, turning around.

"That's Mrs. Bates to you, Mr. Dawson." She said, tightly. But even from where he sat, he could see she wasn't angry, but betrayed and sad.

"What is it?"

"I just thought I should inform you that the ball is coming to an end. If I were you, I'd get back down to the servants' hall. You've caused enough people to talk." She turned and left, and Jack stood, watching her leave.

"That was Anna Smith, wasn't it?" asked Rose. "The housemaid?"

"Yes."

"Why do you look so devastated?"

"I'm upset, because I betrayed her. She's told me everything about her, and she expected me to tell her about you, but I never did."

"Why did she ask you call her Mrs. Bates?"

"Because she's married, and her husband is in prison, unjustly accused of murder."

"So… she's the wife of an accused murderer, and she's still living here? I thought married servants weren't allowed to stay in service?"

"She married his Lordships valet, who was arrested. And considering that Lord Grantham is very fond of Mr. Bates and Anna, and also Anna is good friends with Lady Mary, I'm not surprised they've been allowed to stay in service."

"I see." Said Rose. "And you're friends with Anna, are you?"

"I'm friends with both of them…"

"Resign." She blurted out. "Resign and come with me, we can hide, I've hidden the diamond, we can sell it somewhere-."

"Are you trying to ask me to run away with you?" asked Jack, shocked. "I can't resign! I love working here! And besides, times have changed, you're married now! I'm still classes below you!" he said desperately.

"Look, Jack, are you saying you don't want to?"

"I very much want to, Rose, you have to understand that! And what about our son?"

"You know about our son?" it was Rose's turn to be shocked. "But-how?"

"That mysterious letter-writer. It was me." He confessed.

"You scared me!" She said, irritated, but not really.

"I'm sorry, but I had to know the truth. And I learned the truth."

"You know about Chip… what he represented?"

"He was a symbol of our love. Oh Rose," he said, bringing her closer again. "That must have been so hard for you, so hard to go through."

"It was." She said, the tears evident in her voice. "I thought I'd lost you again. I wish you'd been there Jack, he looked so much like you."

"Really?" asked Jack, amused, and saddened. "Is there any chance of finding our son, and explaining?"

"There might be… I don't know. I know the names of the people who adopted him, and he- would he want us?"

"He might. If it was me-." Jack fell silent. He'd feel abandoned and alone if he knew his mother had given him up. But he knew at the same time, that Rose was protecting herself from further hurt. She had gone back to Cal, to protect the child. Jack shuddered to think of what Cal might have done. Would he have possibly killed the child? Jack wouldn't put it past him. He kissed Rose on the forehead, dreading the moment when he would have to leave her side, but he knew he had to make his way downstairs. So he left her, promising to find her later in the week. He walked downstairs, and into the servants' hall. Only Daisy was down there. "You okay, Mr. Dawson?" she asked.

"I'm fine. But if there's one thing they don't like around here, it's a scandal. And if Rose's relationship with me from seven years ago is anything, it's a scandal."

"There's a bit of cake left, do you want it?" she asked, smiling sympathetically. He knew it was an offering of friendship, and that she was on his side.

"That would be nice. Daisy, you know you can call me Jack, right?" He asked encouragingly.

"Okay… Jack." She rushed off, and came back in, carrying the piece of cake. He ate it slowly, savoring the rare sweetness.

He smiled at Daisy. "I better be off, so that Mr. Carson won't eat me when I get downstairs. Thank you for the cake. Good night." He said, standing up, and walking upstairs. Once he was in his room, his heart started beating faster, and the smile he had been suppressing all night returned with a vengeance. He suddenly couldn't fight the happiness inside of him. He was ecstatic. He was with his one true love again. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he would do what he could. He had told her "You jump, I jump, remember?" And he had meant it. He still meant it.