Boston was full of life and vivacity on this Tuesday afternoon, when Ruth Dewitt Bukater stepped of the train. Her eyes glanced around as she searched for someone to carry her belongings. Edith stood beside her.

Both had never been to Boston, but felt that it was quite similar to New York and Philadelphia. Some people rushed aside them, trying to catch their train.

"Sorry," they mumbled, when pumping in their baggage "wasn't deliberately," one panted, running away towards the train. They just hopped on it in time, just before it steered on.

Ruth's face was grim, while cleaning her dress. As if they hadn't gotten enough problems already, now she had to greet her friend with dirty clothes.

"What rude persons there are in the world," Edith commented sneering. "Now, madam, I do believe your friend seems to be a little late. It's past three," she added nodding to the huge clock hanging over the tickets office. "I believe be better move aside a little. Your friend is never going to find us, if we're standing here in the middle."

Ruth nodded.

Just as she was about to follow her maid, a young boy showed up.

Probably wanting to rob them?

Ruth had never trusted these people, neither did Edith.

"Saw you standing here, Mrs…names Freddie…you'll see, I want to…," he began.

Ruth watched him suspiciously. He must've been around ten, maybe twelve. Surely no age for a child to be out alone…his hair was hanging loosely around as he was moving his head around.

"Go, away, we don't have any money. Can't keep all of you…," Edith spoke up screwing herself in.

The boy wasn't about to give up so easily however.

"Excuse me, but I don' want charity. I'll carry your luggage all of them," he announced.

Ruth shook her head.

"Aren't you a little young for that?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

She had never been around normal people and didn't know anything going on within the lower classes. She didn't know how hard it was for them to make a living on their own and that every knew day was another struggle. Even more so, she had never cared much. Ruth Dewitt Bukater's life than been so pampered and cossetted that she wouldn't even laid eyes on these people, if it wasn't really necessary. Her mother had always scolded her for looking at them, telling her like they were nothing of theirs.

Ruth had had to accept this as true, having nothing to compare with and no direct contact.

'You've to be careful, Ruth. If you aren't they'll take a yard,' her mother had warned her.

"I'm very strong for my age," he said ruffling his feathers to emphasize his point.

"Madam, please, you shouldn't…"

"How much are you going to charge us?" Ruth wanted to know ignoring Edith.

"Normal price is one penny per luggage, but as you're such a nice lady I'll make it five for all," he told her smiling a very cocky smile.

"Now, that's far too…"

They had seven suitcases, so at least they were sparing two pennies. Ruth looked at the boy again, wondering, if she could rely on him. He was grinning at her, awaiting an answer. His clothes were dirty and ragged. He didn't seem to change them very often.

"Alright, I accept," Ruth finally told him.

The boy couldn't help it and hugged her happily nearly tripping her over. Edith shot him an angry stare, but Ruth had to smile, telling him where he should get them.

"Thank you, mam, you're not going to regret it," he laughed already grabbing one of her bags. "I guarantee you won't find anyone better."

Just as he was putting down the last of their suitcases, Lettice, Roger and Ella were arriving. They had been late, because Ella had somehow decided to spend the whole night up talking to Mr Dawson. So didn't get much sleep and was getting up late. Lettice was already furious.

"What are they going to think?"

Ella didn't even apologize, knowing it was better to keep her mouth shut. Her aunt finally spotted Ruth at the end of the corridor.

Was she talking to that poor boy?

Ruth was counting the coins in her hand, showing Freddie one by one.

"…five…six…seven…"

"But madam…"

"No, it's alright, buy yourself some new cap," she smiled.

Edith moved towards her, shaking her head in frustration. Ruth seemed to have changed a lot since the death of her daughter.

"Ruth, there you are. It has been such a long time," Lettice voice was cutting in the silence.

"Thanks so much, madam, be sure so call me again, when you're leaving," Freddie shouted, running off.

Ruth had to chuckle a little.

He surely was a nice boy. She felt a stab going through her heart, thinking how her husband had always wished for a son and never gotten one.

"Were you paying him?" Roger asked looking after him with disgust.

Ruth nodded.

"Good god, Ruth, don't you know how impertinent they're? Really, they're taking your last shirt of your back," Lettice spoke up patting her on her shoulder. "I even brought Roger here with me."

Roger on the other hand was quite relieved, not thinking that it was his job to carry one's bags, whether they were from a lady or not, but only Ella and Ruth noticed his bizarre expression.

Ruth smiled sternly, her mouth forming a dead laugh, while turning her attention back to her friend.

"Yes, indeed, they do," Roger added.

"Oh, Ruth, this is my soon to be son-in-law Roger Lindsay," she told her.

Roger of course was perfectly dressed up, his hair slicked back neatly and his clothes the latest fashion. The old Ruth, before the Titanic sinking would've jumped of joy and stared in awe, but the new Ruth understood that there were many ways to deceive a person. And one was by wearing fine clothing and acting like a gentleman.

"It's my pleasure, madam," he kissed the palm of her hand.

Somehow Ruth was feeling a déjà vu.

'So, you're the dearest mother, of this lovely young lady?'

Rose had always complained how Cal was such a jerk on the inside and actor on the outside and now as Ruth was looking straight into Roger's eyes, she realized that he was too.

"And that's my niece, Ella. They're going to be married at the end of the week. You see my niece seems to be so existed of the wedding that she completely forgot to go to bed last night, that's why she slept in and…"

Roger laughed wholeheartedly, obviously content with the joke, while Ella felt embarrassed. Ruth meanwhile gave her a comfortable smile.

"I'm so happy to finally meet you. I've heard so much of you already, I feel like I already know everything about you," Ruth said to her trying her best to ease the situation.

"I'm sure you don't know all about me," Ella shot out boldly.

"Ella!" her aunt scolded her.

"No, it's alright. She's bound to tell me everything, right?"

Ella nodded.

"And especially about your wedding," Ruth added. "I want to hear every detail."

"Of course…," Ella said this time her voice wasn't sounding as cheerful as before anymore.

Ruth sighed, remembering Rose and her reluctance to marry Cal.

Lettice was taking Ruth's hand, while Ella linked arms with Roger.

"I'm so glad to see my dear friend Ruth Dewitt Bukater again."

Behind them Ella had trouble to restrain herself, her eyes nearly bumping out of her head.

Ruth Dewitt Bukater? Holy…

Jack and Rose had decided to leave the shopping for today and were now walking through the streets, simply not wanting to return home.

Both exchanged glances, smiled at each other now and then, kissing even, but no one spoke. Rose thought how she didn't have the right to burden him with her problems once more, while Jack was trying to figure out the best way to tell her about Fabrizio.

After leaving the store, they had sat down on a park bench, Rose crying until there were no more tears left, Jack holding her, telling that everything would be alright. Then they had stood up again and walked, walked and…neither really knew where they were heading to.

For sure they had no idea themselves.

Rose felt Jack squeezing her hand, obviously to calm her down and to remind her of his presence. Rose wanted to pour out her questions at him, but her mouth was dry. She felt sick again.

How can he be together with me now? Doesn't he know what I've done?

They hadn't talked a bit about her profession since meeting again, no one knowing how to properly start the conversation.

Rose recognized her nausea was coming up again and she started to grab hold of Jack's arm. This immediately alerted him. He looked at her concernedly only now realizing how thin she had actually become. Her whole face was white and soon she was limp in his arms.

I can't believe I haven't grasped that before.

He was angry with himself, helping her sit down on the nearest bench.

Rose breathed in and out, patting heavily.

"Thank you," she stammered. "I don't what got into…"

Jack shook his head, moving a stray out of her forehead.

"Hey, listen, don't be sorry. There's no need to," he told her with worry in his tone.

"But I…"

Jack stopped her by putting a finger on her mouth.

"Rose, when was the last time you've eaten?" he asked her watching her from the side.

"I don't know," she choked out. "I hadn't got much time for, while…," she looked down again in shame.

Jack felt his heart break at this side.

I've wanted for her to live on, but not like this, not like this.

"Alright, Rose, listen, you've got to eat something, so either you wait here and I'll buy you a few or we'll go home and let the cook make you something. However in your state I would advise on the first," he got out in a rush and still gentle, touching her cheek while in did so.

"Now what do you say?"

"Fine, I'll wait here for you," she spoke up looking quite uncertain.

"Great," Jack jumped up grinning at her, "I'll be right back…"

He turned around only seconds later, stunning Rose.

"Oh sorry, I forgot," he added.

Rose looking at him wondering, before feeling his lips on hers…

"I love you, Rose Dewitt Bukater, never forget that."

While Rose was waiting for him to return, she was carefully watching the area. Hopefully no one would remember her here. But then again they were in less reputable parts of town – Rose grimaced thinking of her own words to Jack on the Titanic – so the chances were probably low they would.

One encounter was enough for Rose a day.

Luckily Jack really didn't take long.

"That was fast," Rose said smiling at him, her colour had returned some more.

"Of course, I couldn't keep my lady waiting," he told her grinning, handing her a sandwich. "Sorry that's all I could get for…," he felt committed to tell her, but Rose had already started eating it up in one swift motion.

As if she hasn't eaten for months.

"No, it's great," Rose told him while biting of one piece after the other.

"Not, so fast, take your time…," Jack looked at her worriedly again.

When she had finished she smiled up at Jack once more in gratitude.

Whatever would I do without him?

"I hope it's a little bit better now. Once we get home, you'll have to get some real meal," he said drawing her closer.

Now he very much felt her slenderness through her clothes, as Rose had led his head on his shoulder. Jack thought it better to rest some more for a few minutes, before walking on.

Rose was looking down, observing her own hand, her fingers playing around.

"Jack?" she asked her head drawn to the ground. "Why are you still here?" she burst out, before he had time to adjust.

"What?" Jack was drawing up her head.

"I've been whoring around and…and…," she stuttered. "How can you still look at me?"

He shuddered, when he heard her referring to herself as whore. Jack knew that a simple I love you and a hug wouldn't be enough this time.

"Rose, listen to me, whatever happened to you there's nothing, you hear me nothing you could do or say or that would draw me away from you," he told her trying his best, hoping to convince her.

Rose didn't answer, so he decided to give it a try and asked her something.

"Rose, what were they talking about…the woman in the store?"

Rose shot him a – Can't you guess – kind of stare, Jack instantly hugging her.

"Oh, Rose, I'm so sorry, for not listening to you instantly. But you've got to tell me the next time."

Rose smiled up at him weakly.

"I should've noticed," he added stroking her hair.

"Jack…I just…I'm so mixed up, I've never been in this situation and I…," her were coming out in a rush. "…I know I could've done something else, but…," her eyes were pleading with him and there were still tears in the corners of them.

"It's alright, I understand and it's no problem for me," he told her.

"Really?"

"Not at all," he added giving her a light kiss on her lips. "Come on now, it's getting dark. I don't want you to get a cold."

Rose smiled at his protectiveness, following him up.

They returned home half an hour later, hearing laughter coming from the dining room, but they were too tired and exhausted, not having the strength to talk with anyone.

So they simply made their way quietly up the stairs, not looking around.