Cal crept down the back stairs and into the kitchen. The house was dark. He had to feel his way. He held his breath for fear of being discovered. It was ridiculous. It was his house. What was there to be afraid of? He could do as he pleased. Still, he didn't want anyone to know what he was up to. He didn't know who he could trust, aside from Rose. His parents were probably sage, but after his last encounter with him, Cal wasn't so sure. If they weren't part of a plot before, they likely were now.

It began when Nathan was informed of his decision. "He wants us to what?"

"To leave," Angelica said. "I already had our things packed."

"Where is this coming from?"

"Caledon," she said. "Where else?"

"I'm not so sure of that," he replied. He slammed the desk drawer shut. "This sounds like her doing."

"No doubt it is, but what can we do?" Angelica sighed. "It's his house, and she's his wife."

"We don't have to accept this. There's plenty we can do." Nathan moved around the desk. "Come with me," he ordered. "We'll get this sorted out."

Angelica was only too grateful to follow him into the sitting room. Finally, some action was being taken. Cal might not listen to her, but he had never failed to obey his father. If anyone could sort out this mess, Nathan could.

They found Cal and Rose lounging on the sofa. His eyes were half-closed. Rose held a book and was reading aloud in a soft voice, German from the sound of it. They looked up as Nathan burst into the room. Cal raised his head. He glanced past Nathan, to Angelica, and back again. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"How can you have the audacity to ask us that?" Nathan said. "After throwing us out of this house so unceremoniously?"

"I didn't throw you out," Cal said. "I asked you to leave."

"Is there supposed to be a difference?"

"I didn't say to never come back," Cal replied mildly. He shifted so he was fully upright. Rose watched the exchange, her eyes on Nathan. "There's nothing more for you to do here," Cal went on.

"So, this is the thanks we get?" Angelica said.

"Mother, you know why I asked you to leave," Cal said. "I won't allow you to speak that way about my wife in our own home."

Nathan turned his gaze on Rose. She stiffened, lifting her chin. His eyes reminded her of Cal's. They had the same nose. The resemblance ended there. The way he looked now, he was more like the Cal of the past, fury bubbling up, sardonic smile, and hands itching to strike. It unnerved her more than she cared to admit.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cal saw Jack standing next to Rose, his hand on her shoulder. Jack's lips brushed her ear. "He can't hurt you," he whispered. "We won't let him, Rose." Jack looked at Cal for confirmation.

"I knew this had something to do with you," Nathan spat. His eyes narrowed. "Since the day you met my son, you've caused nothing but trouble. You've completely disrupted his life, twice now, and we-his family—are expected to just accept-"

Cal was on his feet. "That's enough!"

"No." Rose stood up next to him. "No, I want to hear what he has to say." She looked into Nathan's eyes. "They can say whatever they like. I'm not leaving. I'm not easy to get rid of."

"Until someone else comes along," Angelica said.

Rose's mouth twitched; she seemed to be holding back a laugh. "Do you want me to admit it?" she said. "I left Cal six years ago, but not just to be with another man."

"Oh, there was more than one," Angelica scoffed.

"No," Rose said calmly. "There was only one. I loved him." Jack took her hand. Her eyes held a faraway look. "I lost him in that same moment," she went on. "I could've gone back to Cal, made it work." She glanced at Cal. He took her other hand. "And we both would have been miserable," she said. "I never thought I'd see him again. When I did, I hated him. I avoided him. The things we did to one another back then-" Rose shook her head. "I considered him unforgivable."

"Well, that certainly explains how you can to be married," Nathan said drily.

"We didn't plan this," Rose said. "It just happened. Somehow, we were able to forgive each other; we aren't the same people we were back then. The man I despised, he's gone." She offered Cal a small smile. He squeezed her hand. Angelica made a sound akin to a snort.

"People don't change," Nathan said. "You're both exactly the same as you ever were. I should've known you'd be foolish over a girl," he added, tossing Cal a disgusted look. "You always did let them lead you around. And you-"

Cal and Jack stepped forward at the same time. They collided, and for a moment neither was sure what happened. Cal's eyes blinked. His head turned, and he looked at Rose. She eyed him with concern. "Cal, are you alright?"

"Me?" he said.

"Yes." She touched his arm.

"Of course he isn't," Nathan said. "He's ill. And worse off for listening to you."

Cal stared at him. The struggle going on inside his body was all but imperceptible. He frowned; his hands clenched. And then he gave a quick shrug, his features settling in place.

"Don't ever speak to her that way again." Cal's voice was even, but a threat lurked beneath his calm demeanor. "Otherwise, you may as well not come back. I'm alive because of Rose-" Nathan opened his mouth to interrupt. "I'm talking," Cal said sharply. "You've had quite enough to say already. Both of you. I don't want to hear any more."

"Caledon-"

"No." His dark eyes were like steel. "I think you should leave now." He reached back and found Rose's hand again. She gave him a curious look. There was a long silence before Nathan said, "Fine. If that's the way you feel."

"It is."

Cal pulled Rose closer as they left. His arm encircled her, resting on her hip. "Are you sure you're alright?" she asked.

"Absolutely. Don't I seem alright?"

"You-" She didn't know what to say. It was difficult to explain. There was something in his eyes, a kind of distance, as if his mind had gone away, leaving his body behind.

He kissed her. "I'm fine," he said reassuringly. He couldn't tell who was in control, him or Jack. After the initial struggle, they both seemed to exert some influence. Everything he'd said was something he intended to say. Jack hadn't changed that. But as he held Rose, Cal couldn't help wondering if this wasn't what Jack wanted. He searched his mind, but he couldn't find him. Was he gone?

That was hours ago. There was still no sign of Jack, though Cal assumed that's who woke him up and sent him down to the kitchen, hunting for the sugar bowl. In fact, Jack never left. He gave up the struggle, intending to leave Cal's body, but then something peculiar happened. He realized he could stay. All he had to do was stay in the back. If he just made himself small and quiet, Cal would never know he was there.

Jack felt everything Cal felt. He heard everything Cal thought. He looked out through his eyes. It was almost like being alive again. He couldn't give it up yet.

Cal found the sugar bowl easily. It was behind the bread box where Jack hid it. For a moment, he questioned how he knew before deciding Jack must have told him at some point. Possibly while he slept.

He hurried back upstairs. Cal took the bowl into the closet, burying it under a stack of shirts. Hiding it probably wasn't necessary, but he saw no need to take changes. In the morning, he'd deliver it to the proper authorities.

….

If things had been different Cal would have noticed Jack wasn't around, but as it was, he felt so good-so healthy, so full of life-he didn't give Jack's absence a thought. No doubt some part of him hoped Jack was invisible again, now that he was going to live.

He kissed Rose good morning, earning a bright smile. "You're in a good mood," she said.

"And why shouldn't I be? I have my strength back. My loving parents aren't here, watching us." He kissed her again. "And I have you, liebling."

"Cal, I'm glad you're feeling better. You don't know how glad I am to see you like this," Rose said. "But about your family-"

"Don't worry about them, liebling."

"As much as I enjoyed your defending me," she said. "I don't want to be the reason you lose them. You shouldn't have to choose between us, and I won't ask you to."

Cal put his hand under her chin. "I already chose you," he said. "If it comes to that. They're the ones trying to make me choose, not you. Don't worry about it."

"I know what it's like to give up your family," Rose said. "To give up one life for another. I've done it, remember? I don't want you to regret this."

"Did you ever regret your choice?"

"No," she said. "Not for a second. I'd do it again."

"Exactly," Cal said.

….

He told her he was going to the office, and he planned to, at some point, but first he had an appointed with a Detective Ryan. Cal held the sugar bowl tightly as he walked into the detective's office. He was sure the other man though he was crazy, but thanks to his name and position-not to mention his money-he couldn't refuse to help.

"This is what I called you about," Cal said, setting the bowl on the desk.

"And you believe there's poison in it?" Ryan said. He removed the lid and shifted the bowl's contnets.

"I have reason to believe that, yes,"

Ryan glanced at him. "You look pretty good for a guy being fed poison."

"It's nearly out of my system," Cal replied. "If it isn't already. I was lucky."

"And you don't know who'd do this? Or why?"

"I'm sure there's a list of people who want me dead or incapacitated," Cal said. He shook his head. "It could be almost anyone, as far as motive is concerned. I've crossed people in business. Had love affairs end badly. The problem is, I can't think of a way for anyone to get close enough to me," he explained. "Unless they're using one of the servants."

"It's possible," Ryan said. "People'll do a lot of crazy things for money."

"You don't have to tell me."

"I can look into this," Ryan said. "If there's something to find, me and my guys'll find it. I'll send this to be tested. Maybe we'll get lucky, and it'll be something that's hard to get. Narrow down our list of suspects."

"Be as discreet as possible," Cal said. "I don't want anyone knowing about this. And move as quickly as you can. I'm worried whoever this is has decided to involve my wife."

"Does she know what's going on?"

"She knows I've been ill," Cal said. "She's the reason I'm still alive. If she suspects poison, she hasn't told me."

"Do you think she could have done this?" Ryan asked. "You're a very wealthy man, after all. It's not unheard of."

"You aren't the first person to suggest that, but I assure you, Rose isn't involved. There's simply no way."

"Money makes people do crazy things," Ryan reminded him. "You said so yourself just now."

"Nor Rose," Cal said firmly. "If she wants my money, she can have it. She knows that. The funny thing is, she doesn't want it." Cal's features softened as he talked about Rose. Jack felt his love for her. It was strong and warm, like an embrace. He liked it. He let it envelope him. This wasn't so different from the way he felt about Rose, but at the same time, it was.

When he was alive, Jack sometimes wondered how other people saw the world. He'd never given much thought to how they felt, assuming everyone's feelings were pretty much the same. Now he knew they weren't; what they saw was as different as what they felt. His love was a deep blue, steady, reassuring, always there, ready to take her in. Cal's was red, with shades of scarlet and crimson. It was passionate and sometimes volatile. His emotions burned within him. It was intoxicating but also dangerous. Jack saw the changes in Cal, but he also saw the man he once was, and it worried him.

….

Rose laughed as Cal twirled her. "What's this about?" she asked. He pulled her close and dipped her low, kissing her.

"Nothing," he replied. "I'm just glad to be alive."

She wrapped her arms around him. "So am I."

"Liebling, have you had lunch yet?"

She shook her head. "I was waiting for you. You said you'd be back in time."

"Let's go out then," he suggested. "Anywhere you want."

"Are you sure? Cal, you know how extravagant I can be."

He grinned. "I hope you will be."

….

She wasn't. They ate sandwiches in the park. Cal didn't object. He just laughed. "Whatever you want, liebling," he said.

"I'll have to go back to New York soon," Rose said, as they ate. Cal looked at her, surprised. "You will?" he said.

"All my things are there. My life-Well, I don't have a job anymore, but I have friends. They probably think I'd dead. And the buildings," she added. "I can't just abandon everything."

"No, of course not."

"Were you planning to stay here permanently now?" she asked.

"It's my home," Cal said thoughtfully. "You don't want to stay, do you?"

"I want to be with you. If that means staying here, I will."

"With my parents right down the street," he said wryly.

"I'm sure they'll drop in often."

"There's no reason to stay here," he said. "At least, not forever. I can keep going back and forth. Most of my work is in New York now anyway."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Quite. And besides, I wanted to take you away somewhere after we were married."

"You didn't tell me that," Rose said.

"It was supposed to be a surprise. I had it planned out. I knew you didn't want an elaborate wedding, so I was making arrangements for something small. I was having a dress made for you."

"You were? Cal, you didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," he said. "It's not too presumptuous?"

"No. I'm sorry it had to be this way," she said.

He touched her hand. "I'm not."

….

Jack felt everything Cal felt. He felt when Cal touched Rose, when he kissed her. He felt him want her.

And he felt when Rose touched him. Her hands, her lips. She kissed Cal's neck, gently grazing the skin with her teeth. Cal sucked in his breath; he twisted her dress in his fingers. She moved down his throat, unbuttoning his shirt.

"Rose," he whispered.

Jack felt it all. His body was alive again. Blood coursed through him. It didn't matter that it was really Cal's body, that it was Cal's pleasure he felt, or that it was Cal Rose was kissing. Jack knew he should care, and in the past, he had, but not now. It was too intoxicating. Too real. Too much of what he'd wanted for so long.

Cal swept her up in his arms, and she laughed. His shirt was on the floor. Rose's dress was undone. "I love you," he said, laying her on the bed.

Rose moved her fingertips down his stomach. She smiled coyly. "I love you too."

…

Cal's arms were wrapped around her. Rose lay against him. She breathed slowly, nearly asleep. "How did I ever live without you?" he murmured.

"You don't have to."

"I refuse to," he said.

As he fell asleep, Cal found himself thinking of Cassandra. He pictured her, remembering the way she was when he knew her. She was so beautiful. He heard her laugh. When she looked at him, Cal felt like he was the only man in the room. He was certainly the only man who mattered.

Cassandra was the first woman he ever made love with. That was a detail he tended to overlook. After her, he always pursued younger, inexperienced women, but back then, he was the inexperienced one. He was nervous. He loved her even more than he wanted her. What if he failed in some way? What if he wasn't good enough?

"Don't be afraid," Cassandra said, taking his hand. "It comes naturally." And it had.

Long after the affair ended, Cal measured his lovers against her. No-one ever surpassed her or even came close, until Rose. With Rose, everything was different. It was all so much better.

Jack floated up. He lay on the ceiling, looking down at them. They were so natural together. Rose tucked right into Cal's arms. He could protect her easily. They made love gracefully. They anticipated the other's next move; they knew just how to touch one another. Jack thought it would never end. He wasn't sure he wanted it to end. As long as Rose didn't say Cal's name, he could pretend it was really him.

Except it wasn't, and now Jack felt worse than ever.

….

"There it is." Cal wiped a thick layer of dust from the trunk's lid. How long had it been since he came up here? Ten years, at least. There were clothes at the top. He pulled out each piece, hardly believing they were real. These weren't his suits. Another man wore them. Those months were part of a whole other life.

He kept digging until finally, at the bottom, he found what he wanted. Cal opened the box, half-expecting it to be empty. It would be just like his father to take it, even though he had packed it away willingly years ago. As far as Cal knew at the time, he was never going to touch it again. He never wanted to see it again, let alone play.

Cal ran a cloth over the violin's surface. He wanted to play now. He'd play for Rose.

AN: Thanks to everyone who's been reading and following my stories! I promise I will start posting regular updates soon! I've been incredibly busy the past month or so, moving, job hunting, and the like.