A/N: I forgot to mention this in the last chapter: From now on, any dates I write at the start of a scene are rather important. Reason being that the scenes involving the Hockleys and Ruth are not taking place at the same time as the scenes with the Dawsons just yet, though they will catch up. I just figured I'd mention :)
Also, while I'm here, I want to thank you all for the support this story has been receiving. I had not expected it to receive such a positive response, thank you all!

Hockley Mansion, Philadelphia, June 23rd, 1912

It is a rather rainy afternoon and Ruth Dewitt-Bukater sits in the Hockley living room, sipping a cup of tea and looking out the window at the gray sky. Cal and his father sit on the other side of the room, both smoking cigars and discussing business matters.

As of right now, Ruth's mind is on Rose. Even after almost three months, Ruth often finds her thoughts drifting to Rose, wondering where she had gone wrong. Hadn't she done everything in her power to ensure the girl would have a secure future? She'd found her a suitable husband who would provide for the both of them, she'd made sure they would both live in comfort for all their days and at such a small price: Rose birthing an heir. How could Rose not see the good in all that? What had she done wrong in attempting to show Rose that Cal was what they needed? Now, it is only a matter of time before Ruth is no longer welcome at the Hockley's. Then Ruth will be forced to make her own living. She shudders at the thought.

Ruth's thoughts are interrupted by a knock to the door, which causes everyone to look up. Cal sighs, annoyed that his conversation had been interrupted by something that could not possibly be as important, "Come in."

The door opens and Mr. Brodrick walks in, "Mr. Hockley, I have received information that I think you will find quite valuable...It's concerning your presumed deceased fiance."

Cal raises an eyebrow, "Presumed?"

Brodrick smirks, "Well, assuming the information I have is correct, then yes, presumed."

Cal puts out his cigar and stands up. He catches sight of Ruth, who is listening attentively. He moves his attention back to Brodrick, "Well? What is it?"

Brodrick takes a step closer and whispers into Cal's ear. Cal's eyes widen, "You can't be serious."

"I'm simply sharing what I heard. I can make no guarantees."

Cal gives a slow nod, and Ruth speaks up, "What is it? What is this concerning my daughter?"

Cal moves his hand up to his mouth, thinking, then looks at her for a moment, "According to what I've just heard, your daughter is...alive."

Ruth quickly stands up, "I beg your pardon?"

Cal sighs, "She's alive and with that damned Dawson gutter rat."

Brodrick nods, "And they left about two months back for here and then Santa Monica."

Cal looks to Ruth, "It's probably not true, likely just a rumor."

Ruth thinks for a moment before shaking her head, "Do you remember when someone broke into Rose's room? And the golden box disappeared? It's true, I'm certain."

Cal looks over to Nathan, who is watching the exchange with curiosity, "What would you suggest, Father?"

Nathan slowly stands, "I was planning on arranging for you to meet with the Bradshaw girl, Cecile, soon. We've business to attend the next two weeks...I suppose..say, early July, you could make the trip to Santa Monica just to see if the rumors are true. Despite the trouble this girl has caused, she's an even finer match than the Bradshaw girl. Rose is more well known. If this...rumor turns out false, you can simply head up to Wisconsin and meet with Cecile. There's no harm done, no matter the outcome."

Cal nods, "Very well."

Nathan holds up a finger, addressing both Ruth and Cal, "However, should she appear alive, you try your hardest to get her back, but don't risk anything. We don't need a ruined reputation on our hands."

Cal nods in agreement, "As you wish," then, addressing Brodrick, he adds, "Make our travel arrangements for the second week of July. Does that work for you, Ruth?"

Ruth looks at him, "Yes, yes. I just want my daughter back safe where she belongs."

Cal curtly nods, "Then go make the arrangements, Brodrick. We'll be leaving for Santa Monica the second Saturday of July."

...

Chippewa Falls, July 17th, 1912

Jack and Rose had decided to go forward with planning the vow renewal to surprise Caroline. Danny, Alex, and Amanda had all been informed of the plan and loved the idea. Over just the past few days, Alex has warmed up to Jack and Rose a bit, but he is quite clearly not as close as he had been with Jack and he makes no attempt to hide the fact that he isn't happy with Jack and doesn't believe he'll be staying.

Everyone decided on the twenty-ninth of July for the ceremony, as little preparation time was needed, and today finds Jack, Rose, Julie, and Danny in town to do the majority of what needs to be done in preparation whilst Alex and Amanda keep Caroline at home, ensuring that she is both busy and not suspicious. The group's cover for going to town was that Danny had run out of some things he needed to finish the shed being built in their back yard and Jack had wanted to invite Lily and her family over for dinner. As it turns out, Lily was right about her mother not believing Jack's return.

The date secured with the local church and now Julie and Rose are at the bakery, making plans with the owner as to what they want on the menu and Danny heads to the hardware store to get what everyone had said they left for. Meanwhile, Jack heads over to Lily's house on the outskirts of town so he can invite her and her mother over to dinner.

Jack's not too far away from his destination when footsteps and a girl's voice stop him cold in his tracks, making the subconscious smile resting on his face fall, "Jack!"

The hurried footsteps slow to a stop a few feet away. Jack turns his head sharply towards his shoulder as he says in a cold and unforgiving voice, "What do you want?"

The girl's confidence seems to falter at his tone, "I...I wanted to speak with you."

"I thought we established that you said enough five years ago, didn't we?"

The girl sighs, "Jack, look, what I said then, what I did...I'm sorry."

Jack scoffs, looking back ahead, still facing away from the girl. Almost sarcastically, he says "You're sorry? Are you kidding me? You're sorry for not defending me against your mother, when only you could? You're sorry for calling me a gutter rat? You're sorry for scoffing at our relationship, at everything we had? You're sorry for calling me a 'childhood fling?' You're sorry for walking out on me like that, without a backwards glance? You're sorry? Really?"

She swallows, "Y-Yes. I was wrong to do what I did and I regret it more than anything."

Jack clenches his jaw, "Sorry or not, Cecile, you said it. The damage has been done. You made your decision that day five years ago. Regret it or not, you made that decision and you're gonna have to live with it for the rest of your life."

"I-I know. I know that, but-"

Jack cuts her off, finally turning to face her, "No 'but,' Cecile, What's done is done. There's nothing either of us can do to change that...and, quite frankly,...I don't know if I would. After all, it brought me to Rose and, like it or not, she'll have my whole heart and full devotion for as long as there's air in my lungs, and even longer still. So if you came here with the intention of getting me back, you can leave. I don't even forgive you, and I don't know if I ever will."

Cecile sighs, "Well, you do have every right not to, I screwed up and I know that. However, I think you should know that, if I hadn't said what I s-"

Cecile gets cut off by a voice calling from the end of the road Jack had been walking towards, "Jack? Is that you?"

Jack turns around to see Lily walking towards them. She frowns and narrows her eyes on seeing Cecile, "What's this? What are you doing here, Cecile? You have no business here. What would your mother say if she knew of this? I'd suggest you go back to her. Go follow your shepherd, little lamb. Just like you always do."

Cecile opens her mouth to defend herself, but finds she is incapable of doing so. She has no defense, Lily is right. She can only swallow and whisper, "Fine," before turning around and briskly walking away, hoping that neither Jack nor Lily will see the tears in her eyes.

Watching her walk away, Jack remembers what Rose had told him. What would she say about this? He just completely shut Cecile out, didn't even attempt to forgive her or listen to her reasoning. Rose had told him that he should at least make an attempt to understand Cecile. How disappointed in him she will be when she finds out. Jack makes a promise to himself that, should he run into Cecile again, he'll hear her out, no matter how hard it is for him. He'll do it for Rose, if not to lay his own mind to rest and perhaps find some peace with the past.

Lost in his thoughts, Jack doesn't even hear what Lily says until she shouts his name, "Jack! Are you alright?"

Jack starts a little and looks at her, "Y-Yeah. Sorry, I was just...lost in thoughts I guess."

Lily nods, "So, what are you doing here? And where's your family? I mean, I haven't seen you since you got back. I heard that Charlotte confronted you in town," She adds with a laugh, "and, well, the whole town knows about you and Rose. Mama still thinks it's just crazy rumors."

Jack gives a crooked smile as he holds out his arm for her, "Well, shall we go prove to her otherwise?"

Lily laughs and throws her head back slightly to get a piece of flyaway hair out of her eyes before taking his hand, "You were planning to come to us?"

He nods, "Yeah, we all wanted to invite you and your mother over to dinner. I haven't seen your mother yet and my family said it's been a while since you all got together."

"It sure has been. Mama will be happy to see you all. Where is the rest of your family?"

"Oh, well, you see, since Julie and my entire family, as well as you, missed out on Rose and I getting married, we decided to renew our vows an-"

Lily cuts him off with a gasp, "Oh! That's so exciting!"

Jack smiles, "Well, what would you say to being a bridesmaid?"

She almost squeals, "Really? Yes! Yes, oh yes! I'll do it!"

Jack chuckles, "Alright. Now, mind you, it's going to be rather small, probably just my family and yours. Also, my mother doesn't know, we wanted to surprise her."

"Oooh, a secret. You can trust me, I won't tell her, I promise. Oh, by the way, how's Rose doing with the baby?"

Jack's face lights up even more as he smiles, a touch proudly, "She's doing great. I still can hardly grasp the fact that I'm going to be a father. It's so surreal."

Lily laughs, "Well you are, so get used to it."

Jack chuckles before adding, a bit more seriously, "However, she's been a little bit tired lately, but I expect it's just from the crazy month we had."

Lily nods, "I'm sure she'll be fine. I swear, my mother slept half a year when she was pregnant with me!"

Jack laughs, "Yeah, I'm sure you're right."

Just then, they stop in front of the last house on the street and walk up the steps. It's a rather small house. seeing as Lily's father died when she was young and she and her mother don't need a whole lot of space, the size works just fine.. Lily lets go of Jack's arm and steps down on stair, "You knock, I want to see her reaction when she opens the door to you."

With a laugh Jack knocks on the door. It doesn't take long for a stout woman, a bit on the plump side for the poor side of town, something people here valued because it meant you had made a good living for yourself. Before she looks to see who it is, the woman starts saying, "Hello, I'm Mrs. Mary Jackson how can I..." she trails off at the sight of Jack. After staring at him for a moment, she says, "Well I'll be God damned. You really are back..."

Jack nods with a nervous smile, "I am. Long time, no see, Mrs. Jackson."

The woman lets go of the door and holds her arms open with a smile, "Come here, you!"

Jack smiles with a laugh as she pulls him into a hug, "My God, you've grown so much! Lily told me you were back and that you were married and your wife was expecting, I didn't believe one word of it!"

Lily laughs and crosses her arms, "She has no faith in me!"

All three laugh as Mary lets go of Jack and he says, "Well, everything she says is true. I am married to the love of my life, Rose Elisabeth Dawson, and we are expecting a child."

Mary shakes her head in disbelief, "This is crazy? What brought you back, son?"

Jack bites his lip and shrugs, "Well, Rose wanted to have the baby here and she thought coming back would help me make peace with all that happened."

Mary raises an eyebrow, "And what about you? I know you. You didn't just come because she wanted to."

Jack swallows, "Well, that was part of the reason...I guess I came back because I missed my family and I'd have to face the consequences from ignoring them for three years eventually."

She nods, "That's better. Now, what brings you here?"

"Well, my family and I were wondering if you and Lily would like to join us. They said it's been a while since you all got together and I'm sure the two of you and I have quite a bit of catching up to do."

Lily jumps in, "You're damned right we do. I want the whole story."

Jack laughs, "Is that a yes?"

Mary nods and answers, "Yes."