Not much later, Jack and Rose lay in Jack's bed together, the events of the day turning through their heads. Rose can see that something is messing with Jack and, after waiting a great deal of time for him to bring it up, she questions him on it, "There's something bothering you. Don't deny it, just tell me what it is."

Jack looks over at her, "I..."

Rose reaches out and takes his hand, "Come on, you can tell me everything and anything."

Jack sighs, "It's just so much all at once. I'm happy to be home, don't get me wrong, it's just...a lot. I mean, Alex is married, Julie wants to know about Titanic and now she's probably upset with me again, then my father is..."

The tears fall before he can stop them and he's in Rose's arms the moment they do. Rose holds him to her, "Let it out, Jack, let it out."

Jack continues to cry, stammering, "I just can't believe he's gone. I-I never thought it could happen, at least not this soon. And I wasn't there for him...what kind of son am I?"

"You are an incredible son, Jack. You had no way of knowing what happened, what would happen. There was nothing that could have been done."

Jack doesn't respond for a bit, but continues to cry into Rose, "Why did it have to be the same night? I didn't think that night could be any worse."

Rose pulls him tighter to her chest, "I wish I had an answer for you, I do."

They lay together silently, with Jack still crying quietly. Eventually, his breaths steady and Rose looks down to find Jack asleep in her arms. She gives a sad smile as she wipes the tears off his cheeks and eyelashes before resting him against her chest once more. Before drifting off to sleep herself, she whispers in his ear, "I love you, Jack. I love you more than life itself and I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I'll be with you through it all."

...

The next morning, Jack makes no mention of his breakdown, but he's not quite his happy-go-lucky self. The day begins fairly well, Rose has hit off incredibly well with the Dawsons. In less than a day, she's already treated as though she's been part of the family for years. Much to Jack's surprise, Julie appears to have let all her questions about Jack and Rose go and doesn't say a word about it.

After breakfast, Julie asks Jack if he'll accompany her to the store in town, to which he readily agrees, and Rose volunteers to go as well. The three set off for the store in a sort of silence. Jack is pondering what could happen if they encounter a Bradshaw, Rose is trying to figure out what Jack is thinking about, and Julie is thinking over what she heard last night.

Finally, Jack breaks the silence, "So, Julie, has any man stolen your heart even a little bit yet?"

Julie looks at him with a smirk, "You didn't think I was serious, did you?"

Jack looks at her, mocking innocence, "About what?"

With a laugh and roll of her eyes, Julie says, "You know very well. I told you, before you left, that no man would ever catch my eye, let alone my heart. I plan to prove to the world that a woman doesn't need a man to be successful."

Jack laughs, "You really did mean it then."

"Why the Hell would I say it if I didn't?"

Rose suppresses a smile and Jack says, "Because you were young. Anyway, I look forward to watching my sister get famous on her own. You're right. You sure as Hell don't need a man to do anything."

"Finally, you've said something with sense."

The three of them laugh and continue on there way, chatting aimlessly about whatever comes to mind. At one point, it crosses Rose's mind what Julie had said yesterday about Jack and Rose getting remarried for the sake of her being there, "Julie?"

"Yes?"

"Yesterday...you mentioned Jack and I getting married again. Did you mean it?"

Julie hesitates, "Well, I said it in good humor...but I wasn't completely joking."

Rose looks at Jack, "I still have the wedding dress. They didn't want it back, remember? It shouldn't be too hard for you to get a suit."

Jack thinks it over for a moment before nodding, "Sure, we could do it."

Julie stares at them, "Are you two serious? You'd do that for me?"

Rose laughs, "As well as your mother and brothers. I mean, it wouldn't be remarrying, it would be renewing our vows, but that's generally the same thing. And really, it's not like you'd be forcing me to renew my vows with Jack, my love for him grows stronger everyday."

The two share a look and Julie makes a gagging sound, "Cut it out, lovebirds."

They laugh and then Rose gives a little gasp, "We could surprise your mother, Jack!"

Jack raises an eyebrow, "That'd be really difficult, though it's a brilliant idea and she'd love it."

"Yes, difficult, but still possible. We don't need anything with big preparations. We can book the church without her knowing, I don't need to shop for a dress or anything, you can borrow a suit of your brothers, and we don't need a cake or anything. We can do all that's needed without her knowing and then, on the day of the wedding, someone takes her out until it's time and then we meet her at the church."

Jack smiles, "I think you're on to something. I say we bring it up with Alex, Danny, and Amanda back home."

Julie grins, "I can't believe you two are doing this."

Jack leans over and kisses her cheek, "Anything for my twin."

Soon enough they arrive in town and make their way to the store. People notice Jack, but no one says a word. Apparently word travels fast and the whole town knows of Jack's arrival, so it's no surprise to anyone.

Surprisingly enough, everything goes smoothly until the trio is on there way out of town, Julie holding one bag and Jack holding two. Rose had tried to take one, but Jack wouldn't let her, the walk was long enough in her condition. Just when they begin to let their guard down, a rather shrill call from behind stops them, "Mr. Dawson."

The three of them freeze and Julie immediately puts her hand out for Jack to give her the bags he's holding, which he does. Jack slowly turns around to find Charlotte Bradshaw standing just a few feet away, with Cecile just a bit behind her. Charlotte, looks clearly out of place, like an perfect ice queen in the middle of a dirty dessert. Cecile has a mix of emotions passing across her face, while her mother just looks condescending and mean, as always.

Somehow, not even Jack knows how, Jack manages to keep a perfectly emotionless expression, even when his eye lock meet with Cecile's for a brief moment. He gives a slow nod, "Mrs. Bradshaw."

The look she gives him is much like the one Ruth Dewitt-Bukater gave him when they first met. She says, as though to an speck of dirt on her fresh white gown, "You're back."

Jack nods, "Evidently."

Her voice raises slightly, "What gave you the idea that you would be welcomed back here?"

Jack swallows, "Look, I didn't come here to cause any trouble. I just wanted to see my family, is that such a crime? It's been five years. I've missed my father's death and my little brother's wedding, I couldn't stay away any longer, I'm sorry," murmurs of sympathy run through the crowd that had begun to gather at the scene, "And I swear on my life that I'll do everything in my power to stay away from your family and not cause any of you all trouble. You needn't worry about your daughter and I. She made her opinions quite clear that day, I no longer have feelings for her whatsoever."

Jack looks directly at Cecile as he says those last words and she averts her gaze. Mrs. Bradshaw narrows her eyes, "Am I supposed to believe that? There's nothing except me to keep you from going after her again, so how do I know you'll keep your word?"

Rose, seeing this as her time to make her presence known, steps up behind Jack and takes his hand, intertwining their fingers, "Actually, there is something else keeping him from going back to your daughter. At least two other things, actually."

Caroline looks at her, "Excuse me? Who might you be?"

Rose lifts her chin ever so slightly, "I am Mrs. Jack Dawson."

Both Cecile's and Caroline's eyes widen and Cecile can't help but blurt out, "You're married?!"

Caroline's head snaps towards Cecile, "Quiet, Cecile."

Rose narrows her eyes. Sure, she didn't like Cecile and resented her after all she'd done to Jack, but she knew all to well what it felt like to have your mother constantly reprimand you over the smallest things and force you to almost never speak unless spoken to. She wouldn't stand for that, not even with Cecile. Addressing Cecile directly, Rose says, "Yes, Cecile, Jack is married. He is married and we are expecting a child, so Jack has no reason to go after Cecile, and every reason not to."

Jack nods, "Yes, and I certainly won't. I am happily married to a woman who loves me just as much as I love her. Everything is over between Cecile and I, you needn't worry."

Cecile clenches her jaw and looks away once more, a slight glistening of what looks like could be tears in her eyes. Caroline, on the other hand, gives a slight smirk, "Well then, you do have no reason to go anywhere near Cecile, and you ought not to."

Jack nods and Caroline goes on, "You may stay in this town, but one. wrong. move. and both you and your family will regret having ever been here. I expect not a single toe out of line, have I made myself clear?"

"Quite."

Caroline nods and turns to Cecile, "Come now, Cecile, our business here is done. We have no further quarrel with the Dawsons, so long as they do as they say. Now, hurry along, I'm expecting a call from Nathan shortly, and it would look awful if I'm not there to answer."

With that, Caroline returns to the Renault, which is waiting not far away, but Cecile hangs back for a moment, her eyes locked with Jack's. His remain cold and hard, but hers look anything but. She hesitates, "Jack, I...I just wanted to say-"

Jack cuts her off, "Nothing more needs to be said, Miss Bradshaw. You made yourself very clear five years ago, I don't need to hear any of it again."

Jack begins to turn around, but Cecile tries again, "Jack, wait, please. I didn't mean what I said. I-"

Jack turns to face her, "Meant it or not, you said it. Your loyalty to your mother was stronger than your love for me. Now I'm happily married to someone who's love for me has proven far stronger than her fear of anything as well as stronger than her loyalty to her mother. It's best for the both of us if you listen to what your mother said and the two of us stay away from each other," Tears glisten in Cecile's eyes, but, without waiting for a response, Jack turns away, "Come on, Rose. Let's go."

Cecile's head snaps towards Rose in shock as something of a light bulb goes off in her head, "You..."

Rose looks at Cecile, confused, "I beg your pardon?"

Cecile looks confused as well, "But...how? Rose Dewitt-Bukater?"

Rose's eyes widen in recognition for just a moment before she acts confused again, "No, Rose Dewitt-Bukater was that famous girl who died on a ship. She is dead. I'm Rose Dawson, not Rose Dewitt-Bukater."

Jack looks between Rose and Cecile, "Just go back to your mother before there's any more trouble with her."

As if on cue, Charlotte's voice rises from the car, "Cecile Bradshaw!"

Cecile straightens up, "Coming, Mother! Jack, I really am-"

Jack raises his voice slightly, "Just go, Cecile!"

Cecile looks at him, hurt, but just nods, "As you wish," and walks back to the Renault.

Jack turns away and takes Rose's hand again, "Come on."

Julie joins them and the three walk away without glancing back.

As they walk, Rose mutters, "Shit," and Julie looks up at her in question.

Normally, this would have brought Jack straight to Rose, but right now his mind is far away. When Rose makes no move of explaining herself to Julie, she asks the question, "Is something wrong?"

Rose looks at Julie and bites her lip, "It's just, um, well, you know how I mentioned that I had an incredibly rich fiance?"

"Yes..."

"And you know that would make him a bit famous, at least?"

"Yes..."

"Well, Cecile recognized me. I don't know how I didn't recognize her sooner, or even by just her name."

Julie scrunches up her face, "How would you know her?"

"My fiance, he had of course considered more than one girl, but chose me. She was one of his top choices. So, naturally, we saw a bit of each other."

Julie's eyes widen, "You don't think he'll come back for you, do you? What if he comes for Cecile and finds you?"

"The odds aren't high, it's more likely she'd go to him. if he even presents interest in her again."

The talk had brought Jack back to reality and he looks to Rose, "If you think there's a chance that devil could come back, we have to get out of here. I'm not letting you or our child stay in any risk of him getting to you. Hell knows what he'd do, he's already shown he has no problem using a gun on either of us."

Julie's head whips towards Jack, "Excuse me? Did it slip your mind to mention that last night?"

Jack looks at her for a moment before responding, "We're both fine, there was no sense sending Ma into a fret. Anyway, Rose, do you think there's a chance? Would you suggest we leave?"

"N-No...I don't think we have to worry yet, but it's best to keep a look out for any sign of him coming."

Jack nods, "Of course."

After another silence, Jack says, "Rose...I'm sorry about back there. You shouldn't need to get involved in any of my drama and-"

"Jack. Have you forgotten our saying? You jump, I jump, remember? What's yours is mine, and I'll take it with you."

Jack gives a small smile, "But that doesn't make it fair to you."

"Life isn't fair, and I'll take this happily, you needn't apologize for what I gladly accept."

...

That night, Jack and Rose lay in bed together, a tangled mess in each other's arms, when Rose says, "You know, Jack, I can't help but think of how much Cecile reminds me of myself when I was younger."

Jack looks down at her laying on his chest, "Rose, she's older than you and looks nothing like you. What do you mean?"

Rose gives a light laugh, "Oh, I don't mean physically. When I was, oh, I don't know, fifteen or so, I did my mother's every bidding. I waited on her hand and foot, not physically of course, given our previous status. I was exactly as she wanted, seen but not heard and I spoke only when spoken to. It was awful, but I didn't mind because it pleased her. Then Cal came along and I began to mind. I had opinions and I wanted them to be heard. I had dreams and I wanted them acknowledged. I didn't like, let alone love, Cal, and I wanted that addressed. The thing is, until I met you, I didn't have the courage to stand up to her. I almost never let a toe slide out of line, no matter how hard I wanted to disobey. You showed me that my dreams and what I wanted mattered more than my loyalty to her. You showed me how to go against her, but, before I met you, I was just like Cecile."

"But she did have me, Rose, she still turned me away."

"I did too, the first time."

"But you came back, and you didn't tell me to my face how awful I was."

Rose nods, "And she was incredibly wrong to do that, she was, and you have every right to be mad at her and dislike her. All I'm saying is that, I do believe she is sorry and I don't believe she wants to do her mother's bidding, I just don't think she has the strength to stand up to it."

Jack sighs, "Well, there's not much I can do about it. I don't even know if I'd want to, she's done my heart enough damage and you've only just healed it, I don't need salt to reopen the wound."

Rose nods, "I know. I guess what I'm trying to say is that...maybe just...give her a chance at, dare I say,...friendship?" Jack tenses slightly and Rose adds, "I'm sorry if I overstepped."

Jack shakes his head, "No, no, you're probably right. Despite what she did, all she said, I guess it very well might not all be her fault, just that she didn't have the strength. I still need time. I don't trust her, I haven't forgiven her, and I still don't know if I will be able to."

Rose nods, "I know, I just wanted to say what I thought."

Jack lifts her hand to his lips, "And you may always say that, whether I agree or not, that is a right you will always have."

Rose smiles as Jack goes to kiss each finger. His kisses slowly move up her forearm, tickling her skin and making her shiver slightly as the hair on the back of her neck rises. The kisses move up to her shoulder, along her collarbone, up her neck, and then, finally, to her lips. Rose moves her hands to tangle in his hair. She turns herself so she's directly on top of him and kisses along his cheekbone, down to his neck, and makes her way back to his lips. Jack slides his hands down to lift her nightgown and Rose slides her hands under his shirt, pressing them against his warm skin.

Jack lifts Rose's nightgown over her head and kisses down between her breasts and pauses at her stomach to whisper, "I love you," and then again looking up at Rose this time, "And I love you."

Later, they both lay sweaty, but content in each other's arms, now fully clothed. Jack leans down to kiss Rose's slightly damp hair, "I love you"

Rose looks up at him with a smile, "I love you more."

Jack smiles as well, "I love you most"

"I love you more than most."

"I love you more than you love me."

Rose raises an eyebrow, "That's not possible."

"Then I love you just the same."