Rose sat on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed as she watched Jack inspect her injuries. Their trip to the park had not been her exact cup of tea. For a while it was nice just lying in the grass watching the clouds, but then she'd started to itch and quickly learned she was allergic to the park's grass. And not just a little. Her arms and legs were soon covered with little bright red dots similar to ones someone with the chicken pox might have. They were terribly itchy, and burned whenever she tried to scratch them.

But before the allergic reaction had occurred, she'd decided to indulge in a desire she'd had for years. Jack had warned her tree climbing could be difficult and dangerous, but she hadn't listened. Within minutes she'd managed to scramble up to one of the lowest branches on a large oak tree, about fifteen or so feet off the ground. She'd been quite proud of herself, and Jack had to admit that he'd been impressed. Even after all those years living in Wisconsin, he still couldn't climb trees.

Rose's glory hadn't lasted long though. Distracted as she was, she'd lost the hold she had on the tree and fallen out. Thankfully Jack had been there to catch her, but the force of her falling into his arms from that high level had knocked him over and they'd landed in a heap in the grass. It had been quite funny though and they'd both started laughing heartily…until Rose had realized she'd cut herself on the rough bark of the tree. So now she sat on the bed of the hotel room they'd recently gotten, trying to keep her tears back.

"Well Rose, you've really done it," Jack said as he gazed at the bloody gash on her leg. "Congratulations on reaching a new level of klutziness."

"Oh shut up," she snapped.

He laughed and shook his head. "I told you tree climbing was dangerous."

"How would you know, seeing as you've never climbed a tree in your life?!"

"But I've watched plenty of people fall out," he said with a chuckle.

Rose was being exceptionally bitter, but he knew he shouldn't take offense. When she was dejected or hurt, she always tried to make others feel the same. Jack shook his head. She was still just a spoiled little brat, just like he'd told her on the Titanic. But she was still the most amazing girl he had ever met, despite her flaws.

"So, I wasn't one of them," she said, biting on her bottom lip.

He laughed. "You are now."

She reached down and wrenched her shoe from her foot and hurled it at Jack. He continued laughing as it flew by and hit the wall behind him. Another one of Rose's many flaws; she had the worst aim possible. But it was hilarious to watch her.

"Jack!" she whined, as the effect of moving her gashed leg hit her. "Do something!"

"Why should I?" he asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. "You've certainly given me the impression that I'm annoying and in the way and should disappear." He smirked. "And you threw a shoe at me."

"I'm sorry! Just help me!"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh stop it. You're not dying."

"How do you know?" she snapped.

"Rose!" He sighed. "People don't die from cuts on their legs."

"Or allergic reactions?" she asked, examining the dots all over her arms as well as her legs.

"No," he said firmly. "You just need some lotion for your arms and you'll be fine."

"What about my legs!?" she moaned.

He let out frustrated growl. "Lotion for those too."

"And this?" She pointed to the cut on her left leg, where a fine line of scarlet blood was dappled.

"Just wash it and wrap it with some cloth."

"You wash it!" She demanded.

"Rose!"

"Please?" she asked now in a soft and pleading voice. She stared up at him with her large green eyes that were glossed over from her tears. Jack sighed as he gave in. He just couldn't resist her.

"Alright, alright."

She smiled. "Yay! Thank you!"

"But don't expect any favors."

She nodded and continued to smile as she watched him rise to his feet and disappear into the small bathroom attached to their room. A minute later he returned carrying a dripping washcloth and a piece of torn linen. She gritted her teeth as she prepared for the pain that would soon come.

Indeed, when he placed the cloth on her leg it instantly burned with stinging anger. She squeezed her eyes shut as a few tears leaked out of them. Jack noticed when he glanced up at her, and his heart softened. He shouldn't be so hard on her; she was just used to having her way. She'd grown up an only child that was given most anything she desired…mostly. She'd been a bird trapped in a cage though. A beautiful diamond and gold cage it had been, but it was still a prison and nothing could change that. He was glad that he could be the one to give her the freedom she yearned for, but he knew that there would be some issues along the way to paradise. He was willing to face them though. Anything he would do for a chance of a life with Rose. Anything.

A minute later, he'd finished cleaning her cut and had neatly wrapped it with the clean linen. "Okay Rose, you're finished."

She opened her eyes and gazed down at her leg. She couldn't see the cut, and she couldn't see any blood. She looked up at Jack and smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You want some lotion for your arms and legs?"

She nodded.

"Alright. I'll have to go get some up at the front desk."

She gave him a quizzical look.

He shrugged. "They said to go there for medical stuff."

She shrugged too. "Oh, okay."

"Do you want to come with me?"

She bit her lower lip and swallowed. "Do I have to?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, you don't have to."

"Okay." She jumped to her feet and grabbed his arm, beginning to pull him out of the room. "In that case I'll come."

Jack shook his head, but nonetheless let her drag him along. "You are so confusing."

She looked back at him and smiled. "And…?"

"And I'd never have it any other way."


(A/N:) Yay! Today's my birthday!! And it's also Keira Knightley's. Lol. It's about 8:30am in England right now...I wonder if she's waking up to a birthday breakfast. Hmmm...anyway...here's chapter 12. Finally! Sorry again it took so long. I feel kinda bad that I'm updating my pirates one like every four days and all the chapters are about 2000 words long. I'm sorry :( Please bear with me and please review.

-Elizabeth :)