Jack stepped outside and took a deep breath of the evening air. He had just walked Hannah home and was heading back to his own house. The night had gone even better than planned. Molly had seen that his feelings for Hannah were genuine and that Hannah was a good person and accepting of the situation. She was not standing in the way of a reunion. This relationship with her was what he wanted and it didn't mean that he was abandoning Rose.
Stuffing his hands in his pocket and keeping a leisurely pace, Jack walked home thinking about the past few days, from Rose's reappearance to Molly's words about Hannah. Despite how well things were going so far, he was still worried about Rose. He didn't like Molly's comment about Ruth and Rose. He hoped that Ruth wasn't bullying Rose again. He did not like the vibe that he had gotten from the woman the last time he had seen her. She barely spoke to Rose, but when she looked at her...he didn't like it. One thing was for sure. If Ruth began to behave as she had on Titanic towards Rose...well she could forget about being a part of Cora's life.
Not ready to go back to the house, he decided to make a stop at his favorite park, rather the park where he had met Rose earlier that week. It was a lovely night and he could always find inspiration there. Entering the park and admiring the way the flowers looked in the moonlight, Jack approached a park bench and was surprised to find Rose there with tears in her eyes. He frowned, reminded of the night that they had first met when she was going to jump off of the back of Titanic. He wondered what had brought on her tears this time. Last time it had been her mother and Cal. He had a feeling that her mother was again the reason this time as well.
"Rose?" He slowly approached, not sure if his presence was welcomed or not. "What are you doing out here and at this late hour? Why are you crying?"
Startled, Rose looked at him with wide eyes. She was mortified for Jack to see her in such a state. What must he think of her? "Jack?"
"That's my name," Jack chuckled, trying to lighten the mood some. He had always hated to see her cry. It had broken his heart the first time and it hurts now to see those tears. It didn't matter if they were together or not. He sat next to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Would you mind telling me what's wrong? What has you out here in tears, Rose? Was it another memory?"
Rose sniffed and rubbed the tears from her eyes, feeling embarrassed. Jack finding her like this was the last thing she had wanted. She was so tired of being a weeping mess in front of him. He probably thought that she was trying to guilt him into being with her or something else as horrible as that with the way she was always carrying on in his presence. "It's...it's nothing. Really..."
"It doesn't look like nothing. Not with you crying like this. Come on, Rose. You jump, I jump. Remember? We may not be...together like we were before anymore, but that'll always be true for us. I'm always going to be here for you. You can tell me anything. I'd never judge you for it."
Rose took a chance and met Jack's eyes to see the genuine sincerity that they held. He really meant it. He was concerned for her and wanted to help. It didn't matter what she had done. "How can you not hate me? My own mother obviously does, but you...someone who has every right to, doesn't."
"Your mother?" Jack frowned and shook his head, feeling annoyed. Of course, it was her mother. He had honestly thought that Ruth had mellowed out and was going to be a good person. It was the only reason he was willing to let her in Cora's life, but by the looks of it, he had been wrong. "What did she do?"
Rose tore her eyes away from his again and shook her head. "Nothing that I don't deserve. It's not important...I shouldn't even be here crying...forget it. I'm being melodramatic and..."
"Hey, don't do that. Don't dismiss your feelings, okay? She's upset you. That is important and knowing your mother and her past behavior with you...you're not melodramatic. She is."
Rose couldn't help but chuckle. "You're probably right about that. Everything is such a big...disaster with her."
"What happened? Molly hinted that you two weren't getting along, but she didn't go into detail."
"Where to begin?" Rose sniffed.
"Just tell me the jest of it...especially the parts that have you so upset."
Rose sighed and looked up at the sky. It was better than looking at Jack. Every time she did, she felt like she was going to cry because deep down, she agreed with her mother in a way. She did screw up her life, whether she had meant to or not. "She...she blames me for her life being messed up. She said that I had ruined her life, from the moment my father died up to now."
Jack was outraged! How dare Ruth blame Rose for the sad state that her life was in! Really, it was Ruth's own fault for placing the responsibility for her life on her daughter's shoulders! "That's horseshit, Rose!"
"She said that I had ruined everything by not marrying Caledon Hockley and I had even ruined any chance of a comfortable life by leaving you and now that you've found someone else to love, any chance for a decent life was over and we were doomed to live in poverty and it's all my fault. She's been on a tirade since we had left your place. Ranting and raving and blaming me for poor choices...saying that I was just like my father..."
Jack could only shake his head, unable to believe the absolute gall of that woman! "How dare she...Rose, she's wrong. None of what happened to her is your fault. It's hers. You told me all about how she had treated you from childhood up. How controlling and manipulative she was. How she had used your love for her to force you into a marriage that you did not want! A marriage that you were ready to jump off the back of a ship in order to get out of! You had to fake your own death, just to keep her from enforcing her will upon you! Ruth Dewitt Bukater is not and never was your victim Rose! No matter how hard she tries to claim to be!"
Rose was touched by his words. She couldn't understand how compassionate and kind he was being towards her! Compassion that her own mother didn't feel, even when he was her victim...him and their daughter! If anyone should berate her and rant and rave against her, it should be him! He would be within his rights! Instead, he was defending her! It was a kindness...a kindness that she couldn't accept.
"But she's right, Jack. I did ruin everything. Especially after Titanic...by leaving you, I had taken away even the possibility of a comfortable life. If you had taken me back as your wife...she was probably thinking that she would still have a home and male protection. But you've moved on...thanks to my disappearance and she's back at square one...thanks to something I did..."
"But you can't be blamed for that, Rose. You were sick and I didn't know what had happened to you. None of us did. You wouldn't have left if you hadn't lost your memory. You didn't leave on purpose. It wasn't like it was with Cal. It was of no fault of your own. It was just...fate. All of this was just fate. It's not your fault."
"But still..."
"And where she ends up is not your responsibility. Who's to say I would have allowed her to stay with us if we remained together? She had made it more than clear that she hated me from the start. I am still very much aware of how manipulative she is. Did she really think that I would allow that around Cora full time?"
"She probably didn't even consider that," Rose chewed on her bottom lip, feeling herself begin to calm down. Jack's words were reaching her and clearing away all of the guilt that she had been drowning in. Jack was right. Her mother was not her responsibility. Ruth Dewitt Bukater was a full-grown woman in charge of her own destiny! She could have done something for herself to get out of poverty, like remarry or do something to bring in her own income! Ruth's situation was not her fault! Rose's life and choices were her own and only affected two other people besides herself. Jack and Cora, who both have seemed to have forgiven her! They had nothing to do with Ruth!
"You're right. I am not responsible for her. I shouldn't let her make me feel so guilty like this!"
"Exactly! Don't let her do this to you Rose! Don't let her have so much control!"
Jack was right. She should not allow her mother to have this much control over her emotions. Maybe she once did, but not now...not ever again! She again met Jack's eyes, feeling grateful for his kindness. He had given her more than he would ever know. "Thank you, Jack. I don't deserve the kindness that you're giving me right now, but I'm thankful nonetheless."
"Hey, you do deserve it Rose and you have it. You always will. I'm always going to be here for you. That's what friends are for."
"We're friends…?"
Jack simply smiled and took her hand in his. "Of course we are."
"That's amazing to know, it really is."
"Well, believe it or not, you are an amazing woman, Rose. No matter what that woman has to say. Trust me."
"I trust you," Rose whispered. Those two words...they were so familiar to her and was the truest thing she's felt so far. She did trust him...she trusted him more than herself really.
Jack simply smiled and got to his feet. It really was late. They both should get home. He held out his hand to her. "Come on. Let me get you back to the boarding house before Molly comes searching for you herself."
"You're walking me back? Why you are a gentleman," Rose chuckled, accepting the offered hand as she got to her feet as well.
"Almost," Jack winked, remembering the first-class dinner, where Cal had said that he was almost a gentleman.
It didn't take too long to get to the boarding house. Five minutes at the most. Five minutes that was walked in comfortable silence. Rose felt...comfortable. She was more comfortable with Jack than anyone. Walking beside him, she knew that he was a part of her now, whether they were together or not. It was more than Cora that bound them together. She may no longer be a romantic partner to him, but she was still something and that was enough...at least it was for now, while her mind was still so messed up and her memories had yet to fully return to her.
Stepping upon the porch of the boarding house, Rose faced Jack, keeping her hand in his.
"Well...this is my stop. I must thank you, Jack. I was such a mess tonight...I don't even know how long I had been sitting there in that park."
Jack just shrugged, not really knowing what to say. During the short walk to the boarding house, he hadn't really dared to think much of anything. He was too afraid to think really. Seeing Rose in tears like that had brought back a strong need to protect her. He again felt ready to stand between her and whatever may threaten her. It was a feeling that was familiar to him. It was a feeling that scared him almost, because it was a feeling that one had only when you loved as he had loved Rose.
"You would have returned eventually. And you would have gotten over Ruth's shit eventually as well, Rose. She wouldn't have gotten away with it for long. That fire wouldn't have allowed it. It would have flared up sooner or later."
"Well, thanks to you it didn't have to. Thank you for being there for me."
Jack touched her cheek as he felt himself becoming lost in her eyes, not for the first time since her return to his life. Looking into those green orbs, it all flared up in his chest, his love and affection for her. He didn't trust her, he didn't know if he ever would again, but his love for her...at that moment, he simply couldn't deny it to himself...not at that moment anyway. Which is why he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a lingering kiss.
Rose was shocked, but she quickly returned the kiss, not knowing if there would ever be another. She had never felt anything so warm and perfect than Jack's lips against hers. She never wanted anything as badly as she wanted him. At that moment, she forgot about everything. Her mother's anger with her. Her lost memories. The reason why she had lost Jack in the first place, and the fact that Jack had supposedly moved on. The only thing that mattered...really, the only thing that existed was that kiss!
"Rose there you are...I...god almighty," Molly gasped as she opened the door to Jack and Rose in each other's arms, lost in what looked to be a passionate kiss.
The world came crashing in on both Jack and Rose at Molly's interruption. Rose remembered where she was and Jack remembered his own situation. Guilt filled him as he looked at a confused Rose and a compassionate Molly.
"I...I have to go," He stammered, before taking off into the night before either woman could respond.
Rose blinked and took a step forward as if she was going to go after him. "Jack, wait…"
It was Molly's gentle grip on her shoulder that stopped her.
"Let him go, darlin. He has a lot to think about right now. You following him will only make it worse. Trust me," Molly advised, guiding Rose back into the house, knowing just how confused the girl must feel right now.
"We kissed Molly...we kissed and it was...like it was meant to be..."
"I know and I think he knows it too," Molly nodded, knowing that Jack Dawson had a lot to think about. He had a decision to make and again, she could only hope that he'll make the right one.
