(A/N: Thank you for the reviews favs/follows:) )
Morning found Rose on the porch, her arms crossed against her chest, staring off into space, her mind on the day before. She couldn't believe all that had happened. Her mother had arrived and they had fought. It wasn't that she didn't know that the confrontation would have to happen. She knew it would, she just hadn't been expecting it to be so soon or the amount of anger that her mother had shown towards her. She had never even dreamed that her mother would be so angry as to raise a hand to her. She was always going on about how unladylike hitting was and that a true lady would never raise a hand to anyone.
Maybe she had made a mistake in letting her mother think that she was dead for so long. Maybe she should have contacted her mother long before now. Maybe Ruth wouldn't have made her marry Cal after all. She had to ask herself, did she regret not letting her mother know of her survival right away? Would she really have done anything at all differently?
What would have happened if she had gone to her mother right away? Rose knew one thing for sure. She would have been separated from Jack. Ruth would have insisted on it. She would be right back where she had started from with no hope of escape. Then again, Nathan had found out about the debts, so maybe, if Cal hadn't stood up for them, she would have ended up penniless anyway, except she wouldn't have had Jack with her or had become a part of the Dawson family. Her life would be as empty as it had been when she had first boarded Titanic.
Thinking on it, she realized that she wouldn't have done anything differently at all. She leaned backwards against his chest as Jack came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"What are you thinking about, standing out here by your lonesome?" Jack asked, planting a light kiss on her neck.
Rose shrugged, not knowing how to talk about the thoughts running through her head. They felt so chaotic and disjointed at the moment, something she hadn't felt since she had tried to jump off the back of Titanic. "My mother. Us. My life and what it would have been life if I had made different choices. Would I do anything that I've done since stepping off the Carpathia differently."
"And?"
"I wouldn't change one thing. I would do it all over again, I don't care what my mother has gone through in the past couple of months," Rose sighed. She turned around and looked into Jack's eyes, searching for any sigh that this made him think of her differently. "Is that terribly selfish of me?"
"No. Of course not. You've been nothing but selfless throughout your relationship with your mother. It's time for you to start living your life for you, not for her. Besides, as far as I can see, your mother is just fine. There is no need for you to give up your life to keep her in the lap of luxury," Jack sighed, pulling her close. "You're not selfish Rose. You're the most unselfish person that I have ever met. The bravest."
She clung to Jack, struggling to push all the self doubting thoughts away. She hated this. Her mother always managed to make her feel like she's in the wrong somehow, even when she's in the right. She just wished that for once her mother would admit that she made the right decision. That she had done what was best instead of always insisting on having things her own way. "She always does this to me, Jack. Make me feel incompetent or guilty. That's how she got me to agree to marry Cal and almost got me to stay with him."
He tightened his embrace, as if just holding her close would protect her from her mother's judgmental gaze. "Don't Rose. Don't let her do that to you. You did the right thing. I know it, you know it, and somewhere inside, she knows it too."
"No matter what I do, she knows how to get to me. It's absurd!" Rose sniffed, rubbing away her tears. "And here I was judging Cecily for not going against her mother when the truth is that I once was Cecily."
"I don't think so Rose. You found the strength to walk away from your mother's manipulation and even push back against it and you're younger than Cecily. You're only 17 years old. Cecily is 20 and she's still her mother's puppet. Always doing what she wants her to do, never stepping out of line. Not even when it comes to Jake, who has suffered for it."
"Still...I wonder if I had been Cecily at age 15, would I have done what I did on Titanic and the Carpathia, or would I have made the same choice Cecily had? The possible answer to that scares me," Rose sighed. "Back then, I wanted my mother's approval so badly, I could taste it. I would have done anything for a kind word from her, some sign that she was proud of me, that she loved me. God, that wasn't even that long ago, only a few years."
"What changed for you, Rose?"
"Father's death and her insistence that I marry Cal, no matter how I felt about it. The way she hijacked everything from the wedding guest list to the bride maids gowns. How her and Cal would team up on me, the more they tried to steamroll over me, the more I rebelled," Rose pulled away a little and looked up at him. "And then I met you and everything changed."
"Well, I'm glad that everything had changed. That you're here with me and not stuck in some mansion with Hockley," Jack smiled, kissing her nose.
Rose laughed. "Believe me, so am I. Cecily's life is my worse nightmare Jack. To be stuck under my mother's thumb with no way out."
Jack opened his mouth to say something when Fabrizio came out, followed by Janie.
"We're going to the bakery," Janie explained, her blue eyes wide with excitement. "Do you guys want anything?"
Rose's heart melted at Jack's boyish grin. "Donuts! The kind with the jelly inside," He turned to Rose. "Have you had those before, or did Ruth think them too unladylike?"
"You know my mother too well it seems," Rose laughed. "Yes, I think jelly-filled donuts would do me nicely today. Maybe mother will stop by for a visit and be scandalized by my choice of pastries."
Rose and Jack both laughed, drawing confused looks from Janie and Fabrizio.
"Sometimes I think they speak their own language," Janie shook her head at the giggling couple.
"It's Amour. My mama and papa used to speak in a way only each other understood and they were together until he died," Fabrizio chuckled.
"If it weren't for Jack and Rose, I would probably feel that this amour you speak of was just a lie," Janie chuckled. When Fabrizio had arrived, she had thought that maybe there could be a love match there, but it was obvious after a while that nothing was going to happen. Fabrizio only saw her as a friend, sister of his amico Jack. And to be honest, even though Fabrizio was handsome and she loved his accent, she didn't feel the spark she had once felt with Thomas Bradshaw. Jack was disappointed, but if the feelings weren't there, they weren't there. She was just happy to have a new friend.
"I think I'll go help your mother with breakfast," Rose gave Jack a quick kiss. "Call me when the donuts arrive."
"I'll do that," Jack smiled watching Rose disappear into the house.
"Is she ok? She was rather quiet after that scene with her mother yesterday," Janie asked, concerned.
"She'll be fine. She just had to clear her head some. So you've met Ruth Dewitt Bukater. I sure know how to pick girls with mean mothers, don't I?" Jack chuckled.
"Yeah. It'd be too simple to date a girl whose mother actually likes you."
"Hey, I like a challenge," Jack laughed.
Fabrizio rolled his eyes. "A challenge? Pah! Court a girl that don't speak the same language as you. That is a challenge my friend."
"You're right Fabri," Jack gave a sad smile, thinking of the pretty Norwegian girl that Fabrizio had been fascinated with. He wondered if they would have worked out if she had survived. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Both he and Fabrizio had found love on Titanic, yet he was the only one that still had his by his side. It didn't seem fair. Fabrizio was a good man. He deserved happiness too. It was wrong for it to be snatched away just when he had found it.
Fabrizio must have seen something on Jack's face, because he also had a sad smile and placed a warm hand on Jack's shoulder. "Do not feel bad for me, Jack. Helga was a great woman, but some things just are not meant to be while other things are. Rose was brought to you because you belong together. Helga was brought to me so maybe I'll know how to react when my own soul mate arrives, yeah?"
"Yeah, maybe. I guess things happen for a reason. I just want the best for you Fabri. I want you to be happy."
"I am. I have made it to America and next I will become a millionaire and we'll all live in one of those mansions," Fabrizio grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He knew that the millionaire dream may never happen, but it was a nice dream to have.
"You can have your mansion," Jack laughed along with him. "Rose and I will take a nice cottage by the ocean. That's us. Even though that may be the only way to win her mother over."
"Like Rose cares about that. She's not Cecily Baker," Janie rolled her eyes. "Come on Fabrizio. Let's go before all the good stuff is picked over. Those jelly-filled donuts Rose requested go fast."
Fabrizio waved as Janie pulled him off the porch and down the path leading to town. Jack just watched them go with a calm smile on his face. With Fabrizio's return, so did Jack's optimism. He had good lawyers, he was young and married and had a family just waiting for Jake. He felt that he had a good chance of winning his son back. He just hoped that the arrival of Rose's mother didn't mean more storm clouds for his growing family.
The bakery was pretty crowded by the time Fabrizio and Janie had arrived. Fabrizio went inside and tried to patiently wait for their turn at the counter, but it was such a nice day and he wanted to explore the town. His eyes kept drifting to the window which gave a clear view of the park across the street.
Having enough of watching her friend gaze wistfully outside at the park, Janie sighed. "Go. I'll wait here and get everything. You go to the park and get some fresh air. I can tell that you want out of here."
Fabrizio blushed, embarrassed at being caught daydreaming about walking amongst the flowers and trees. He's always been an outdoors person and just couldn't help himself. "Are you sure? I can stay."
"Positive. There's no need for you to be inside any longer than you have to be. Go. Have fun. I'll meet you out there as soon as I'm done in here," Janie waved him away.
Ten minutes later, Fabrizio is in the park, walking down one of the dirt paths, looking at the flowers and trees, his mind on Helga. The conversation with Jack earlier had brought her to mind. He wished that sshe had listened and came with him. Maybe he could have found her something to float on, or maybe he could have gotten her on a lifeboat. She was so young and beautiful, her whole life ahead of her. It was sad that it was cut short and that any romance they could have had was not to be. He could imagine what he'd be doing now if she had survived. He would have wrote home to his mama about her and plan to marry her and find a way to support her.
But it wasn't meant to be. Helga was gone and Fabrizio had only regrets and dreams to write home to his mama about. Jack had said that someone's life was about to change when he had won those tickets. Well, Jack certainly hadn't been talking about him. His life was just the same as it had been in Italy.
He sighed, ready to turn around and go home when he heard the sound of someone sniffling. Curious, he turned back around and walked in the direction of the sniffling. He frowned to come upon Cecily and Jake. Both were sitting on the bench. Jake looked as if he had fallen into a pile of leaves and had a skinned knee, something that all normally active little boys had and Cecily looked worried and a littled terrified and at a loss on what to do.
"Really Jake, you should be more careful. Your grandmother is going to be livid when she sees the condition of the suit she had brought you. I told you not to run in it," the young woman scolded the crying little boy, who indeed looked like a mini version of Jack.
Fabrizio had to say something. He couldn't help himself. He hated seeing a child be scolded just for doing what children do, running and playing. "He is a little boy, yes? It is normal for little boys to run and play. Why should he be in trouble for that?"
Cecily looked up at him, with wide eyes that spoke of fear, guilt, and indignation. "Pardon me, who are you?"
"Fabrizio DeRossi," Fabrizio introduced himself. "I was here with Jack the other day."
"You are Jack's friend, now I remember. Well, Mr. DeRossi, you may know Jack but you don't know me, nor my son, nor of our situation. Not to be rude, but it's best that you mind your own business."
Fabrizio laughed. "I normally would, but I cannot stand by and let you scold the child for being a child. Plus Jack is his father, no? Jack is like a brother to me, which would make me a Uncle to the boy, which means that it is my place to be concerned and speak up for the boy."
"You have a lot of presumptions," Cecily frowned, only receiving a shrug from Fabrizio in response. "We have to go. Come along Jake before your grandmother gets even more furious than she will be when she sees the mess you're in."
"Wait," Fabrizio again intercepted. "The boy's knee, it needs cleaning. My mama always clean a cut or it'll get infected."
Cecily just looked at him, wondering what this strange Italian man expected her to do. She didn't have to wait long for an answer.
"Do you have a handkerchief?" Fabrizio asked, pulling out his own handkerchief from his pocket. He found a puddle of water from the rain from the night before and dipped the cloth into the water and began cleaning the blood from Jake's cut.
"Yes?" She brought out the handkerchief that her mother always had her carry, stating that it was the ladylike thing to do. She didn't really know why, but like always, she didn't bother to argue over the matter.
"May we use it on the boy's knee? He's going to need a clean bandage," Fabrizio held out his hand, his eyes warm and friendly.
Surprised that this friend of Jack's was actually being nice to her, she handed him the handkerchief and watched as he wrapped it around Jake's knee, covering the wound.
"There you go. It's just a scrape. Nothing bad. I've had worse myself," Fabrizio grinned, pulling the boy's pants leg down to cover the bandage.
Cecily felt a bit stupid. She should have known to do that herself, instead she had been worrying about what her mother would say. What kind of parent did that make her? To worry more about her mother's reaction than her son's well being? The boy really should be with Jack. Her first decision had been the right one, if only she could have found the strength to stand up to her mother.
"Thank you, Mr. DeRossi. From both myself and Jake. I don't know why I didn't think of doing that myself."
Fabrizio waved away her thanks. "Do not worry about it. It was my pleasure to help Jack's son."
"Still, you've done us both a great kindness," Cecily smiled, helping Jake to his feet. "My name is Cecily by the way. There must be some way that I can thank you..."
Fabrizio was about to again refuse any kind of payment, but then he looked at the little boy that resembled his friend so much and Jack's own sadness of not being able to be with his son. Maybe he can do something for Jack to take that sadness away for a little while.
"Well, there is, but I don't know if you'll do it..."
"I'll do anything to show my gratitude."
"Come with me. You and Jake to see Jack. Let him spend some time with the boy," Fabrizio quickly explained, feeling like he was overstepping some boundaries, but he had to do something for Jack.
Cecily's face fell. It wasn't that she didn't want Jake and Jack to see one another, it was what would happen if and when her mother found out. Dare she risk it? Plus Jack has been so angry with her, it hurt her that he couldn't even look at her anymore. But how could she blame him? At every turn she had done nothing but hurt him, from turning her back on him five years ago to doing nothing as her mother prevented him from being with their son. Maybe doing as Fabrizio asked, maybe it would build a bridge somehow. A shaky bridge, but a bridge to having Jack's forgiveness anyway. She looked at Fabrizio, his eyes warm, friendly, and inviting. He indeed reminded her of Jack before her mother had torn his life apart by forcing him to leave town. Fabrizio was warm, friendly, confident, and he was a true gentleman and made her feel like she could do anything, just by the strength of his smile.
"Only for a few hours? And you won't tell my mother?" Cecily asked, feeling brave, yet scared at the same time. This was the first time in a long time that she was going to disobey her mother's orders. Jack had implored her to do what was right for Jake, to stand up for him and this may be the only way she could.
"She will not hear it from me," Fabrizio grinned. He looked at Jake, who looked at both Fabrizio and Cecily curiously. "You will like to see your daddy again wouldn't you? Go for a visit? Jack would be very happy to see you."
"Okay," Cecily nodded, a smile of her own appearing as she felt a sense of freedom that she hadn't felt in a long time. "Yes, I'll take him for a visit to see his father. It's the right thing to do after all, no matter what mother thinks..."
Fabrizio smiled, happy to see this bullied girl take a step forward to doing something independent of her mother. Fabrizio could understand why Jack had been so determined not to walk away from the first class Rose, to climb over the barriers keeping them apart.
"Fabrizio, there you are. I have the donuts and stuff, let's...," Janie's voice trailed off when she saw him with Cecily and Jake. "Cecily, what are you doing here, talking to a poor guy like Fabrizio? I thought for sure your mother wouldn't let you out long enough to associate with anyone in the lower classes."
"Janie, Cecily is coming home with us so Jake can visit with Jack. But no telling her mother," Fabrizio quickly interjected before Janie said something to change the girl's mind. "This is our secret. Even the boy won't tell, will you Jake?"
Jake just innocently shook his head, clinging to Cecily's hand.
Janie looked at Cecily, then at Jake, then at Fabrizio again then back at Jake, who looked so much like her brother at that age. She sighed and looked up at the sky, wondering if this really was a good idea. She didn't want to sit her brother up for anymore heartache. Cecily Baker has hurt him enough. "Fine. But this is a visit between Jake and Jack. No grand ideas of being some strange happy family with my brother, Cecily. He's happy with Rose."
Cecily sighed herself, having enough of Janie's rudeness. "I know that he is happy with Rose Janie. Believe it or not, I am happy that he has moved on and I wish them the best. I know very well that this visit is for Jake and Jack, not Jake, Jack, and myself. Now can we go please before my mother shows up and any visitation would be out of the question?"
"Fine," Janie linked an arm through Fabrizio's and pulled him down the path leading back to the road.
Fabrizio looked back and gave Cecily an encouraging wink, knowing that this couldn't be easy for her and that there will at least be one friendly face on her side.
Taking a deep breath, Cecily gripped Jake's hand and followed, hoping that this day wouldn't end in disaster.
…..
It was Rose who realized that Janie and Fabrizio weren't returning alone. She felt a jolt of shock to see Cecily and Jake trailing along behind them. Cecily looked pale and a bit scared, taking small glances behind her, as if she was afraid that she was being followed. She continued to stare as they reached the porch.
"Janie?" She looked at her sister in law, her voice full of questions.
"Look at Fabrizio. This is his doing," Janie shrugged, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Cecily has brought Jake to visit Jack," Fabrizio explained. "Her mother doesn't know of course, so not a word, yeah?"
With Mabel Baker being behind her own mother's reappearance into her life, Rose wasn't quick to agree to keep any secrets for Cecily Baker, but this had to do with Jake and Jack. She wasn't going to get in the way of that.
"Fine. I won't say anything," She sighed and then looked at Cecily. "Best get inside just encase we have anymore uninvited visitors, meaning your mother."
"Of course," Cecily nodded, letting go of Jake's hand, who immediately ran over to Rose.
"Rose I hurt my knee!" Jake exclaimed. "But the nice man with the funny voice helped me!"
"He did? That was nice of him," Rose smiled, ruffling the boy's hair leading everyone inside, where Jack was sitting with Jolene and Richie. He froze when he saw Cecily and Jake.
"You have company Jack," Rose smiled, placing a gentle hand on Jake's shoulder. "Jake is here for a visit."
Jack got to his feet, his eyes just drinking Jake in. He forced his eyes away to look at Cecily who looked a little scared, as if she was doing something that she shouldn't. "Is this the court ordered visitation?"
Cecily shook her head no. "Fabrizio helped me with Jake and he thought it'd be a good idea to bring him to visit with you for a few hours since mother wasn't with us. I couldn't disagree..."
Rose couldn't help but be surprised by this little act of rebellion. Cecily indeed reminded her of herself before Titanic and definitely before Cal. She too had been too scared to do anything that would have displeased her mother.
"Just don't tell mother, okay? Both Jake and I would be in trouble."
"Jack, why don't we take Jake to meet your mother. She's in the kitchen, isn't she?" Rose suggested, not wanting to waste any time on questioning this sudden burst of bravery on Cecily's part.
Jack smiled as he walked over and scooped his son up into his arms. "That sounds like a plan. What do you say, Jake? Want to meet my mommy?"
The little boy eagerly nodded as Jack and Rose laughed.
"Let's go then," Jack turned to the kitchen then stopped and looked at Cecily, his expression unreadable. "Um...thank you for this. I know what trouble it'd cause if your mother found out and I appreciate it."
Cecily just looked at her hands and nodded. "I am sorry for all of this. I didn't want things to go like this...you have to know that..."
"I know. I know it was all your mother," Jack sighed, any signs of anger nonexistent. He had stopped being angry over the situation a long time ago, sensing that it wasn't only draining energy from himself but from his marriage and everyone around him as well. He had been trying to be more hopeful and Cecily going against her mother so he could spend time with Jake, it only strengthened that hope that everything will turn out okay.
Cecily just nervously smiled as Jack and Rose disappeared into the kitchen with Jake to introduce Jake to his other grandmother.
"So how long is this burst of rebellion going to last?" Janie asked, not trusting Cecily as far as she could throw her.
"It will last as long as Jake is happy, yes?" Fabrizio stepped in, not wanting Janie to remind Cecily of the threat of an angry mother. "Let's let Jack enjoy his visit with his son. Cecily will tell me about America and it's customs."
Janie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. You stay here and entertain her. I am going to go eat these donuts I brought."
Fabrizio watched Janie disappear in the direction Jack and Rose had gone and sighed, turning back to Cecily. "I am sorry. She is being rude."
"Janie has every right to be rude to me after how I had treated her brother and handled this entire situation. I had caused Jack more pain and misery than I had ever meant to," Cecily sighed. "As his twin, it's understandable that she hates me. You should probably hate me too."
"Why would I do that?" Fabrizio asked, confused why Janie's feelings towards this girl should affect his own.
"Because Jack is your best friend and I not only broke his heart...but I had kept his son away from him as well. I should have let the Dawsons know that I was pregnant, but I didn't and I didn't stop my mother for moving in on Jake when Jack was getting ready to claim him. I had let her almost destroy this family. Those reasons alone is enough for you to hate me," Cecily looked down at her feet, tears clear in her eyes. "I never meant for any of this to happen you know. I had loved Jack. He was my first love really, but mother she was so scary and I was afraid of what she would do if I didn't do what she said, but it was all devastating anyway..."
Fabrizio frowned and took the girl's gloved hands in his, his warm brown eyes staring at her intensely. There was something about her that touched his heart...that wanted to make all the pain in her pretty brown eyes disappear. "I do not hate you. I have no reason to hate you for the past. If you had not broken Jack's heart, I would not have met my friend. Rose would not have met her husband. It was all meant to be, our destiny. You are not at fault."
"I don't see how you can see it that way. I should have been like Rose. Rose would have stood up to her mother. She wouldn't have let her bully her into turning away from Jack."
Fabrizio sighed, remembering on Titanic, how Jack had brooded over the pretty first class girl that had closed the door on any possibility of a relationship. "That is not true. Rose did turn away from Jack. Once. You are not so different after all."
Cecily laughed. "Of course we are. I would never have dreamed of talking to my mother the way she had talked to hers yesterday. But thank you anyway, for trying to make me feel better. You are a good person. Jack is lucky to have you as a friend."
"You are a good person too Cecily. Being afraid does not make you bad," Fabrizio squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her. "If that was the case, then we all would be bad."
Cecily looked up away from her feet and into the warm brown eyes of the young man that was expressing the belief in her that another young man once had, but had paid for it.
Gently she pulled her hand away and tore her gaze away from his, pushing back against the fondness that she felt for him.
"You are much too kind, Mr. DeRossi."
"Call me Fabrizio," he smiled, not realizing that she was pulling away from him.
"I...I can't...it's not proper..."
"Calling your friend by his first name is not proper here in America?" Fabrizio teased, trying to get her to smile and relax some.
Cecily couldn't help but stare. This foreign boy was so much like Jack, yet so different. "We're friends?"
"Well of course! Why wouldn't we be?"
Jack and Rose returned then. Jake was in the kitchen with Irene, enjoying some milk and cookies and Jack was in search of his portfolio. They both came to a stop when they saw Cecily and Fabrizio and sensed the tension between them.
"Is everything okay in here?" Jack frowned, looking at Cecily and Fabrizio.
"Everything is fine," Fabrizio nodded, turning to his friend. "I am just making a new friend," he looked at Cecily, his eyes questioning. "Yes?"
She had no choice but to nod. Like Jack, Fabrizio seemed to be a force of nature. He was barreling into her world and rolling over all the fears and trepidations that her mother had so carefully set up.
"Cecily, my mother wants to know if you'd like to come into the kitchen and have some tea," Jack rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at his ex and then at Fabrizio and sighed. He recognized that sparkle in Fabrizio's eyes. It was the same sparkle that had been there when he had met Helga, a sparkle that Jack thought would never be there again. He didn't know how to feel about this. He was glad that Fabrizio wasn't going to drown in grief over losing Helga, but he wasn't too happy about Cecily being the reason the sparkle in Fabrizio's eyes returning. Fabrizio and Cecily was an idea bound for an even bigger disaster than he and Cecily five years ago. He just didn't want his friend to be hurt. He shook his head, clearing it. Hopefully he was just reading too much into things and there was nothing to worry about.
"Oh, that would be lovely," Cecily stepped away Fabrizio, a little too eager to get away from this man that was making her feel things that she hasn't felt for five long years.
"Follow Rose, she'll take you," Jack walked up to Fabrizio and pulled him outside, leaving Rose to lead Cecily into the kitchen.
"Jack?" Fabrizio frowned as Jack pulled him outside and then turned to give him a worried look, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Please tell me that there's nothing going on between you and Cecily, Fabri."
Fabrizio frowned. "Why would it concern you if there was, Jack? You have Rose. Shouldn't I have someone too?" Sure, Cecily touched something in his heart somehow, but he didn't think that it was anything romantic and if it was, it shouldn't bother Jack since he was well over the girl.
"Because, Cecily Baker is trouble. I learned that the hard way and I-I rather die than see you hurt."
"Trouble is my middle name now, Jack," Fabrizio teased but the laughter died when he saw the seriousness in his friend's eyes. "No worries, Jack. There is nothing between the girl and I. I was just talking to her."
Relief flooded through Jack, but then it was replaced by guilt. He knew that Fabrizio had been sad over Helga's death and now he was lonely. But there were other girls in Chippewa Falls that Fabrzio could pursue. Heck, he could pursue Janie if he wished. "Look, I'm sorry and I know that you've been lonely. I'm just looking out for you. I know from experience what happens to men that her mother doesn't like."
"Yes. They meet beautiful first class girl and run off with her," Fabrizio winked, wanting to lighten things up between them again.
Jack laughed. "The lucky few anyway."
"Don't you worry so much, Jack. Go back and enjoy your son while he is here. Don't worry so much about me. I will be fine," Fabrizio placed a hand on Jack's shoulders, giving him an affectionate squeeze. He couldn't help but be touched, knowing that Jack was saying what he did because he thought of him as a brother.
"You're right. I only have Jake here for a few hours and I'm here warning you away from his mother," Jack chuckled.
"Now go. Be with your son."
Jack just smiled and turned around and went back inside, leaving Fabrizio to his thoughts. He hadn't lied when he told Jack that there was nothing between himself and Cecily, but if feelings should develop he wasn't going to fight. He would pursue her and let the cards fall where they may. He knew that a relationship with his best friend's ex and mother of his child wasn't really logical, but like he had told Tommy Ryan on board Titanic, amour was never logical. It wasn't for Jack when he continued to pursue Rose when the way to her was seemingly blocked, it wasn't for him when he pursued Helga, despite the language barrier, and he knew it wouldn't be now with Cecily and her evil mother. If it was meant to be for him and Cecily, he'll fight tooth and nail for her. No matter what may happen.
…..
"Sit still. Keep your eyes on me," Jack again instructed, his voice calm and patient as he concentrated on sketching the scene before him. Rose and Jake in the back yard. Rose was sitting on a log with Jake cuddle in her arms, both looking the very picture of serenity and happiness.
Jake has been with them for hours now and still Jack and Rose couldn't get enough of spending time with the little boy. They had spent time feeding him, reading him stories, Jack telling funny tales of his travels before Titanic, Rose sharing funny stories from her time in finishing school, feeding him some more and now finally, Jack had decided he had to capture this day on paper, so he had the two most important people in his life pose for a drawing.
Cecily stood in the doorway, watching the three of them, feeling like an intruder, an outsider. It was obvious to her that Jake belonged with Jack and Rose. He would be loved, well cared for and happy. Never frightened and scared like he was with her. Jack and Rose would protect him in ways she couldn't. It hurt. She had to admit that it did and she knew that it was all her own fault for not being brave enough. She couldn't stand up for Jack, she couldn't stand up for Jake when he had been born, and even now she couldn't stand up for him. This was the first time she had ever gone against her mother's orders and a stranger had to encourage her to do so. What did that say about her? It was always going to be Rose's arms that Jake felt safe in, not hers. Of course, it had been Rose that had been the first to show him the affection that Cecily herself should have given him, if not for her mother's orders to stay away from the child. So of course I would be Rose Jake looked to.
"What are you thinking about?" Fabrizio walked up behind her, taking in the scene outside.
"That Jake belongs here with Jack and Rose," Cecily sighed, turning around to talk to her new friend, if that was what she could call him.
"If that is what you believe, then why the courts and lawyers? Why not let the boy be with Jack and Rose?"
Cecily sighed and leaned against the door frame, her eyes on her shoes. "It's my mother. She doesn't want Jack Dawson to raise her grandson."
"But she is not his mother. You are. The boy's care is between you and Jack. Not your mama," Fabrizio replied, keeping his voice warm and friendly, emphatic. He understood Cecily's plight, but he also wanted her to realize that she had the power to make her own decisions without her mother's input. That she was no longer a little girl and if she needed someone to stand behind her and be on her side, there were people who would that too. Like himself, and maybe even Jack and Rose. Jack had once loved her after all and would not turn his back on her if she chose to stand up to her mother.
"You wouldn't understand. I barely understand," Cecily sighed. She looked over at Rose and Jake as Jack finished his sketch. "I really should go now. Mother must be furious by now."
"Do you want to go? If not, stay. Jake is happy, Jack is happy, and if you let yourself, you can be happy too."
"I'm afraid that is impossible," Cecily's smile was sad as she pushed away from the door and walked up behind Jack and watched him finish the picture. She was amazed to see just how much more talented he had grown through the years. Jack had always had the talent of art, but it seemed to have matured over the five years. Twenty year old Jack's drawings were more expressive and emotional in the details. Hands and eyes weren't only hands and eyes. They were vessels of beauty that spoke of the soul inside the person.
"Jack is talented, no?" Fabrizio stepped up behind her.
"Yes he is. He always has been," Cecily sighed. "Jake has the talent too, even though it's not as honed as Jack's, it may never be if mother has her way. She's forbidden Jake to draw anything."
"He can't run and play? He can't draw? Why are you letting your mother do this?" Fabrizio asked. He was confused, but he really wanted to understand this girl. Why was she allowing her mother to run her life and rob Jack's son of his childhood joys?
"That's exactly what I've been wondering, Fabri," Finished with the drawing, Jack turned around to join the conversation. "Cecily, it was understandable when you were fifteen but not now. You're an adult and you're Jake's legal guardian at the moment. "
Jack handed the portfolio to Rose so she could show Jake the drawing while he spoke with Cecily. Looking at the girl he had once loved, he realized that he no longer hated her. He had never hated her, he had just been so angry with her and her inability to stand up to her mother. Now all he felt was pity. She was as much a prisoner as Rose had been. But Unlike Rose, her fear was keeping her a prisoner. No one could save her but herself and by the look of things, she'll never be free. He just hoped to save his son from such a life before it was too late.
"You don't know what it's like Jack," Cecily crossed her arms over her chest, as if that would protect her from the questions of why she just couldn't stand up to her mother.
"I think that I have a pretty good idea. Look, I'll tell you what I had once told Rose. If you don't break away soon, you'll die. You're already dying, right in front of me and there's nothing I or anyone else can do to help you because the only person that can save you is you. You just have to find the courage and motivation to do so. Hopefully you'll find that motivation before it's too late."
Cecily looked up at Jack, tears clear in her eyes. How could he stand there and be kind to her after all that she had allowed to happen. How she had let her mother tear his family and his life apart? "I thought you hated me Jack. I know that I deserve your hatred after all I've done, had allowed to be done..."
"I don't hate you. Yeah, for a while I was so angry with you. But the only people I was hurting with that anger was myself and the people I care about, so I forgave you. I just want you to do what's right for Jake, Cecily. If you can't free yourself, at least do the right thing by him," Jack explained.
Cecily opened her mouth to say something when there's the sound of a loud voice demanding entrance at the front door.
Janie came racing out the back door, her cheeks red with anger. "Your mother is here."
"Oh no, I knew she'd be furious," Cecily looked towards the front. "We better go. Come on Jake, let's go before your grandmother makes an even bigger scene..."
Jake raced into Jack's arms and clung to him. "No! I don't want to go with you! I want to stay with daddy and Rose!"
"Jake please," Cecily pleaded, tears in her eyes. She didn't know what she expected from the boy. She had hoped that he would see her as his mother. Accept her as seamlessly as he had accepted Jack. But of course, Jack wasn't the one putting him in this situation. Jack and Rose meant protection and love, where Cecily obviously meant more of the mean lady that was supposed to be his grandmother.
"No!"
"Why don't you go calm down your mother. She's obviously scaring him. I'll try to calm him down," Jack held the boy close in his arms, not wanting to let him go.
"You know that I can't."
"If you expect Jake to ever trust you, you'll do it," Jack's voice was firm. "My son is going nowhere with that woman until she behaves like a human being and not some fu...some banshee."
Cecily wringed her hands nervously, knowing that things could get very bad if she did nothing. But could she do what Jack requested her to do? Get her mother to calm down? Really, no one got Mabel Baker to calm down until she was good and ready and Cecily had no idea how she was to accomplish the impossible.
"I'll come with you. Maybe I can help," Fabrizio came to her rescue, taking her hand in his. "We will make her understand that she is scaring Jake."
"You're putting yourself in the line of fire?"
"I want to help," Fabrizio simply smiled, not taking no for an answer.
"Well what are you going to do?" Janie asked impatiently wishing that her brother had never gotten involved with Cecily in the first place and that Fabrizio would stop being so nice to her.
Cecily just nodded her head and let Fabrizio lead her out to the front where Mabel Baker was arguing with Richie, demanding to know where her daughter and grandson were and that she knew that they were at the Dawsons, because where else could they be?
Meanwhile, Jack had sat Jake on his feet and held the boy's hands.
"Daddy, don't make me go back to that mean lady's house. I want to stay here with you and Rose," Jake sobbed, causing Jack's heart to break.
"I want you to stay here with me and Rose as well, Jake. More than anything and I promise you that I'm working on making that happen, as soon as possible, but for now, you have to go back, but I promise it won't be for long and Daddy has people working on getting us days to visit each other more often until I can bring you home permanently. I promise, Jake..."
"But she'll be mean to me. She won't let me draw and she won't let me play."
"I' m so sorry Jake," He pulled the boy into his arms, hugging him tightly. He looked over at Rose, who had tears in her eyes. "I'm trying to bring you home and when I do, you'll never have to see that woman again. I promise you."
He pushed down the urge to just take Jake and Rose and run away. They could go to Santa Monica and change their name. No longer would they be Dawsons but something else. A whole new identity, a whole new life. Of course, it'd mean having to say goodbye to his family for good and keeping the past a secret and maintaining it, but it would be worth it. Right?
He looked at Rose, just about to voice the idea when his eyes rested on her barely swollen belly. What kind of life would that be for their children. They would be born into a lie. Their whole lives would be a big lie. Plus he couldn't ask Rose to live a life where her past was a giant secret. That all they've been through together, including how they had met, would be deeply buried and never spoken of again. It wasn't the kind of life that he had wanted for his family. Not to mention never seeing any of the people that he loved again.
Not to mention that Mabel Baker would probably find them anyway and send Jack to prison for kidnapping and then he would never see Jake again. No, he couldn't risk it. Running away was not the solution to this problem.
"Just be patient for a little longer, Jake," Jack kissed the boy's dark hair.
Jack knew that Jake didn't understand why he just couldn't stay here with him and Rose and frankly, he couldn't understand how this had happened either. The moment he had found out about Jake, he had done what he could to bring him home just to have Mabel Baker snatch him away. Even his lawyers were confused and had promised to look into the legalities of what had happened.
Hearing the yelling up front and realizing that nothing was going to calm Mabel Baker down, Jack decided to go ahead and get the inevitable over with. He would give anything to be able to keep his son with him and away from the yelling woman up front, but for now, he had no choice but to return Jake. He lifted Jake up into his arms once again and this time slowly walked to the front of the house, where Mabel was busy yelling at Cecily, who seemed to cower away from her, backing up into a frowning Fabrizio.
Rose placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's scaring him all over again..."
Jack could only nod in agreement and hold his son a little bit tighter, not that it would help.
It was Fabrizio who noticed them first. He turned his head and looked a little relieved, yet tense, not knowing what was going to happen next. "Jack!"
Mabel's glare went from Cecily to Jack. "Why am I not surprised! Bentley!" She yelled at her manservant that silently stood to the side, just watching the whole confrontation between the Baker women. "Please retrieve my grandson from Mr. Dawson so we can be on our way."
"I hate manservants," Jack grumbled as the tall, muscular Bentley approached.
"He's a lot cuter than Lovejoy, I'll give him that," Rose chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, just to receive an indignant look from Jack.
"Everyone's cuter than Lovejoy," was all he said then turned to face Bentley who had his arms out for Jake.
"Let's keep this civil, mate. The boy's scared enough don't you think?" Bentley looked Jack over, noting that the young man looked as if he was going to refuse to cooperate. "Or we can do this the hard way. Either way, the boy is coming with me."
Jack sighed, defeated. He hugged Jake for just a second, reassuring him. "Remember, I promised that this is only temporary. For now, go with the man. He'll take care of you." He looked at Bentley pointedly, charging him with the duty of standing up for his son. He didn't trust Cecily to do so. "He'll make sure that the mean lady calms down before even talking to you."
Bentley just nodded, understanding the look that he had received. "Yes, I will take care of the young man. No worries."
Repressing his own emotions, he handed Jake over and watched as Bentley headed for the waiting town car. He then turned his attention to Mabel and Cecily. Mabel was ordering Cecily back to the car immediately. It was clear to him that the woman wasn't through with her tirade.
Fabrizio was pushed aside as Mabel grabbed Cecily's arm and forced her to the waiting town car. They were soon gone, leaving the Dawsons staring after them in their wake.
"I can't do this anymore, Rose. There has to be a way to get Jake away from that woman," Jack turned to his wife, who pulled him into her arms and rubbed his back in gentle circular motion, trying to comfort him.
"We'll talk to the lawyers Jack. Surely they have some idea of what to do," Rose hugged him tight, her own eyes filled with tears. "At least we got to see him and spend time with him."
"Yeah, at least there was that. I only wish that we didn't have to let him go back to that house."
"Don't worry, Jack. Your son will be back with you soon and for good. I just know it," Fabrizio was more than optimistic. He had a feeling that he had reached Cecily somehow, that she won't just roll over and do what her mother wants anymore. He hoped that somehow, he gave her the strength that she needed to take control of her own life and do what's right for Jake and herself.
Jack could only smile at his friend, as if he agreed, but on the inside, he doubted it. He knew Cecily too well and the control that her mother had over her. Fabrizio could talk and encourage all he wanted, but at the end of the day, the only person Cecily Baker listened to was her mother. Her relationship with him hadn't changed that and he doubted that any fondness that she had for his friend would change it either.