Jack quickly pulled out of the kiss when he heard Hannah's voice. He stared at her in a mixture of guilt and shock. Shock that she was there and guilt at being caught kissing another woman! He quickly stepped away from Rose, who was also looking rather guilty herself, even though she wasn't the one doing anything wrong. It was all him. Swallowing down the sick feeling coming from his stomach, he finally found his voice.
"Hannah? What are you doing here?" He managed to ask, feeling stupid for asking it. The answer was simple. She was here to see him.
"I thought I'd come and see you and visit with Cora, but I had no idea I'd find...this...I...I don't know...I...I have to get out of here," Hannah turned to leave.
Jack quickly grabbed her hand, preventing her from entering the house. He couldn't let her leave, not like this. He had to make some attempt to explain all of this, even though he didn't understand any of this himself, but she deserved some kind of explanation. They both did!
"Wait! Don't go...I can explain...it's..."
"What? What is it, Jack? I mean...we had discussed this when she arrived back in your life! I told you that if you wanted to get back with her, just tell me and I'll step aside! Not kiss her behind my back like this! Not introduce me to Molly and think that I actually have a chance of a future with you and Cora! I just wanted you to be truthful with me! I mean...I thought that we could always be honest with each other, but obviously I was wrong!" Hannah tried not to cry. She wanted to be strong and not show Jack and Rose how hurt she was by finding them like she had! But to her horror, tears were streaming from her eyes and the hurt was obvious in her voice. "I thought you loved me."
"I do. I do love you, you have to believe me and I meant everything I had said when we talked about it..."
"But it's different now? How have things changed? Just be honest with me!"
Jack felt awful. Hannah has been nothing but good to him. How could he have allowed this to happen? Why had he kissed Rose again and here, where Hannah could easily catch them? This was one big mess and he only had himself to blame. He didn't even know what to say to her? How could he even explain this when he didn't understand himself?
"It was my fault," Rose suddenly spoke up, feeling guilty and responsible. She hadn't meant for any of this to happen. When she came here this morning, it wasn't to tempt Jack into another kiss. It had hurt to find out that he had moved on, but she hadn't set out to try to steal him back from Hannah, who had been here for Jack when Rose had been lost on the street with no idea who she was. She didn't deserve this heartbreak and Jack didn't deserve the guilt that was written all over him. She'll take responsibility. She didn't mind. "I...I kissed Jack and...I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"No Rose. She wants the truth," Jack shook his head. It would be easy to let Rose take the blame, but it wouldn't be right. "I kissed you...both last night and just now. Both times were my fault."
"You kissed her twice?! Oh my god! Jack, what do you want? Who do you want? You can't have us both, you know that!" Hannah felt more exasperated than angry.
"I know. I do know that...but...the truth is...I don't know who I want. I love you and I love her..."
"But you are in love with one of us. You need to find out who that is and make a decision. Which one of us do you want more? Me or her?" Hannah wiped away her tears as she felt herself begin to calm down. When Jack had told her that Rose was back and had lost her memories, she had a feeling that she would lose him, so this situation really didn't surprise her. It just hurt like hell.
Inwardly, he knew who it was that he was in love with. There had never been a question of that. He knew who he loved more, but he also knew who he trusted more and sadly it wasn't the same girl. He just had to figure out what was more important to him. Love or trust. Right now, he just didn't know. "I...I think I need time and space. I can't make a decision like this, right now with both of you or even one of you here. I need to be by myself for a bit."
"I think that's a good idea. You need a clear head and I doubt that your head is very clear with us here," Hannah sighed, accepting the answer and the situation. "Call me when you make up your mind, Jack. I would very much like a future with you, I would, but only if you want it. I don't want to get in the way of you being happy. Even if it's with her."
"I'm sorry, Hannah. I know I made you think that this wouldn't happen and I thought it wouldn't...but...I guess I didn't think about the reality of my feelings for her. I thought...I don't know what I thought."
"You thought that you had a leash on that heart of yours. But you don't. You never did," Hannah chuckled. She looked at Jack and felt her heart again melt. Maybe she was wrong, but she was pretty sure that no man would ever make her feel what Jack did. She didn't know what she would do if he chose to go back to Rose.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to hurt either of you."
"I know. That's what makes this so sad. You don't want to hurt anyone, but we'll be hurt anyway, whether you choose us or not. I better go. Again, call me when you've made your decision," Hannah didn't even look at Rose as she turned around and left, leaving Jack alone with Rose, who had no idea what to expect now.
"Jack, I'm sorry. I know you say that it's not my fault, but it is. If I hadn't lost my memory..."
"You couldn't help that Rose. You were sick and your mind couldn't deal and it just happened. It's not your fault. It's mine, for not being honest with myself from the start. I knew I had feelings for you...I just didn't expect the intensity of those feelings and I should have. I should have at least warned her of the possibility and I didn't. Now I have to make a decision and...god I don't want to hurt you."
Rose hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder, unsure if such a move would be welcomed, but she did anyway. She wanted to have one last contact before she left. Besides, he looked like he could use some comfort. "Don't you worry about hurting me, Jack. Despite my tears last night, I'm a big girl. I can handle it. I'll live. I survived a sinking ship. I can survive you choosing someone else too. I just can't survive losing Cora."
"You won't have to. No matter what I decide, you're always going to be Cora's mother. You're always going to be a part of her life. I wouldn't take that away from you and neither would Hannah. She wouldn't want to replace you, even if I allowed it."
"I know. She seems like a good person and you're right. She doesn't deserve to be hurt. She's done nothing wrong but help you heal and love you and Cora. If anyone deserves your love, it's her."
Jack sighed, resisting the urge to touch her, which would lead to more kissing, something that had caused enough trouble. "You deserve it too, Rose."
"It's good of you to say that. Even though we both know why I lost your trust, and the crux of the problem. You don't trust me, not like you used to."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's reasonable. I did leave without a trace, abandoning you and Cora. You'd be a fool to trust me again after that."
"But I do...I trust you with Cora."
"But not with your heart, and that's what matters when it comes to being your wife. Don't feel bad about that, Jack. I understand and I'm grateful that you at least trust me with Cora."
"I do. In fact, I trust you so much with her...why don't you take her home with you for a few days. It'll give you time to really bond with her and me time to myself to think over this whole messed up situation?"
Rose's eyes widened in disbelief. Of all things Jack could offer her, she had never even dreamed of hoping to be able to keep Cora overnight! It was more than she could ever ask for. "Are you serious? Really? You're not afraid that I would take off with her or something?"
Jack couldn't help but laugh. "Rose, I know you would never do such a thing and besides, Molly wouldn't let you. I think you've proven yourself where Cora's concern. Plus, I do need time to myself and I won't be able to have that if you're stopping by to see Cora. I wouldn't dream of denying you access to her, just because I can't make up my mind on who I want to be with. It wouldn't be fair to either of you."
With tears in her eyes, Rose threw her arms around Jack in a tight hug, not thinking of how hard it would be on both of them. Just for a second longer, she clung to him, burying her face against his shoulder and breathing in his scent and committing it to memory. Finally, she released him, having the nerve to blush. "I'm sorry...I...I'm just so happy."
Jack's smile was sad as he reached over and softly touched her cheek. She was still as beautiful now as she was the first time he had set eyes on her onboard Titanic. Swallowing, he lowered his hand and again stepped away. "I'll go get Cora ready."
Seeing and feeling the bond between them awaken once again, Rose simply nodded and allowed his retreat. "Okay. I'll be in the sitting room with mother and Molly."
"That'd be a good idea. I'll go now," Jack turned to go into the house to prepare their daughter for her short trip.
"Jack!" Rose called out, just wanting to look into his eyes one last time, as if the next time she did, things were sure to be different.
"Yes?" He turned to look at her, curious about what she wanted.
"Thank you. For everything."
He simply smiled, feeling his heart beat a little faster. "Anything for you, Rose."
Watching him go, Rose had a feeling that he meant that anything. Yeah, he would do anything for her, but would he be with her again? She had no idea and was afraid to even find out.
