You guys, thank you so so much for all the sweet reviews! I am having a few days off so I've been having much more time to write. Keep letting me know what you think of the story, it really inspires me to write as much as possible! xx

Denver, Colorado

The train stopped at exactly three O'clock in the afternoon. Jack looked outside his window where he saw the crowds of busy people rushing around. Men in suits holding newspapers and work cases, moving hurriedly pas mothers who were trying to keep their children together. He could suddenly see his own reflection. His hair was smoothly combed back and his own suit fit perfectly around his body. No one would even guess for him to be a young orphan who grew up on a farm for most of his life. He could pass for a real gentleman. Mrs. Brown had done everything possible for him to make the trip as easy and pleasant as it could be and so no one would ask questions.

Molly stood up from her seat, grabbed their belongings and was about to walk out. Waiting for Jack on the platform he quickly caught up with her and took some of the luggage out of her hands. She shook her head, reminding the young man of his injury, but he simply refused. Her chauffeur had been waiting for them patiently, ready to bring them home safe and sound.

It was a grand and luxurious house, looking at it from the outside. Yet somehow it still held something cozy and warm as if it wanted you to step inside it's glory. When Jack first arrived in Europe at the age of sixteen, he managed to get himself a job as assistant stableman in one of the grandest houses of France. Scrubbing and cleaning dirty floors, lifting heavy bags all day long. Whenever it was quiet around the property, he would sneak towards the windows and have a peak inside the house. Everything looked so clean and luxurious, but at the same time all it's glory did not seem to have a heart to it. There was almost no life inside the house. This one was different. The wooden details gave a feeling of calmness to it. Pictures were hanging everywhere and candles were burning. He could even hear sounds and voices coming out of the kitchen.

"Isn't it strange that after such a long time your own home can feel so alienated yet so familiar." Molly said as she entered the hallway. Two maids came rushing towards them and took their coats and hats. They were beyond relieved to see Mrs. Brown had returned safe and sound. The whole staff was in am uproar after having read about the disaster at sea. She smiled at the two girls, told them not to worry.

"This is Jack Dawson. He is a good friend of the family and he will be staying with us for a while. Lucy, could you please prepare a room for him?"

"Of course, ma'am." She nodded and headed straight upstairs.

They continued further into the sitting room and as Jack sat down he could feel the throbbing pain in his head again. He could not express his annoyance and frustration about why he couldn't remember what had happened to him. Everything was black. Being at the hotel in New York he had scanned through almost all the newspapers he could get his hands on. Reading everything about the sinking that was possible. Looking at the picture of the ship in the total glory it was in, he could only think about how beautiful it was and nothing else. Molly would take the papers out of his hands and tried to calm him down.

"You will get better, Jack. Trust me." She reassured him.

"I trust you."

As Molly took a seat next to him she could not only see, but also feel the pain and panic within him. It was not the pain of the injury alone. The agony of trying to remember a life you believe you never lived was written all over his face. It was unimaginable what he was going through. One of the maids came in and handed Jack a fresh glass of water. He thanked her, chucked the beverage down making it almost drop out of his hands.

"I think it's best for you to get some rest, Jack." Molly told him, "It's been a hell of a long journey."

He shook his head. "I believe I've had enough rest to last me a lifetime."

She chuckled slightly then her facial expression turned serious. "I can see your frustration, sonny. I just want you to know that you can stay here for as long as you'd like. You don't have to rush everything."

"I know." Jack sighed. "It's just that-" he tried to take a deep breath, feeling the tears burn in his eyes, "How is it possible for someone to only see blackness? I must at least remember how I got on that ship, but no. I suddenly opened my eyes and then I saw her and you."

"You mean, Rose?"

"Yes." He nodded, "I am sorry I didn't know her name. Why was she there exactly?"

It took a while for Molly to collect her thoughts and try to explain the situation to him. Slowly but surely, without upsetting him any further. "You befriended her onboard the Titanic. So when she found out you were alive she wanted to see if you were alright." It was all she was able to come up with.

Still nothing. He didn't even remember the friends he had made. "Where is she now?"

"In Philadelphia. At home with her family."

"I see."

They spoke for a bit longer until the young man wasn't able to keep his eyes open anymore. Molly gently put a pillow underneath his head and warmed him up with a blanket. Because of all the hectic events, she had totally forgotten why she came back to the States in the first place. She walked over to her telephone to call her eldest son about her safe arrival home and to ask about her grandson who had suddenly become very ill. Hearing the news whilst being in Paris, Molly Brown immediately decided to take the first available ship that would cross the Atlantic. Her son sighed in relief when hearing the sound of his mother's voice and reassured her that little Lawrence Jr. was doing much better.

"I'm visiting you first thing tomorrow." Was the last thing she said before hanging up the phone. Listening to the silence for a minute she came to the conclusion that perhaps she needed some rest as well and headed up the stairs.

April 13th 1912 morning.

Sunlight peaked through the window of Rose's bedroom. A slight beam landed on the right side of her face, leaving a feeling of comfortable warmth. Trudy was brushing her hair gently and humming to the lullaby that was coming from out of the music box on the dressing table. Despite the accident of the night before, Rose was feeling surprisingly calm. She was alone, Cal and Ruth having already left to attend their daily social meetings and gatherings. They would expect her to join them, but she couldn't care less. She was ashamed of her behaviour towards the man who had basically saved her life. As the two stewards came rushing towards them after having heard her dramatic screams, Jack quickly let her go.

"Fetch the master at arms!" one of them screamed.

Rose could see the dread in his eyes and felt a knot form in her stomach. He even wanted to help her up, but the other steward had already grabbed him by the collar and dragged him up. She was shaking heavily both from the cold as well as the shock she was in. They had all gathered around them, ready to take the boy with them to lock him up for the rest of the journey when Rose shot up from the deck chair. She begged him with her eyes to corroborate the story she was telling the other men and when he did, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. They now had a secret together. She never thanked him for it. Not only for helping her with her little lie but also for the way he spoke sense into her mind.

As she was completely dressed and ready for the day. Heading up to the decks the feeling of the sun became more intense as if she hadn't felt it in years. Standing at the gate of the third class entrance she quickly looked around her to see if no one was there. Only one fence and one staircase was needed to be guided into a completely different world. As Rose headed down into the main area of the steerage passengers everyone turned their heads to look at her. She was like a goddess, presenting a world they had never seen and most likely would never be a part of. As the princess walked further, an overwhelming feeling of awkwardness took over within her. She could not see him and was soon starting to reconsider her action. Until, a dark haired man presumably the same age, tapped someone on the shoulder. As that person turned around Rose was finally relieved. His eyes widened and he soon stood up, now standing rather close to her.

"Hello, Mr. Dawson." She said.

"Hello again." The tone of his voice sounded casual.

"May I speak with you?"

"Yeah sure." He pointed at the bench behind him thinking they could sit down. As his friends were watching them, she mentally shook her head heavily.

"In private?" She quickly asked.

"Yes of course." He lead her outside the room, up the stairs and onto the third class deck. Rose waited for him, watching as he marched up himself and stood next to her. He grabbed a pack of cigarettes and asked her if she would mind him lighting up one. She shook her head and as he took his first drag, they walked further. To her benefit, the wonderful conditions of the weather were a perfect starting point for a conversation. He chuckled slightly, not really knowing what to expect of the whole situation. As they continued on, now heading towards the upper class deck he could feel the eyes of people burning onto him, glancing at the mismatched couple.

"You're heading back home to America?"

Jack nodded. "It wasn't really planned to be honest. I was travelling with my friend Fabrizio throughout Europe and then one morning we met these two Swedish guys, challenging us for a game of poker. One of them bet their tickets and here we are. I always wanted to go back, but never had the money to do so."

"But you have enough money to travel in Europe."

"Only because I work my way from place to place. Board and lodging and such. I've been on my own since I was fifteen and I didn't have any family in that part of the country where I grew up, so I just headed out of there and I've never been back since. You could just call me a tumbleweed blowin' in the wind."

As they then stopped, it was his turn to ask the questions. Rose had never met a person that was so direct with his remarks. In her world he would be nothing but rude. Only it was the right way to get through her and how it surprised Rose that he listened. He actually listened to her pathetic little problems, she thought. A new friendship was blossoming between the two strangers. With only the thought of heading towards their homeland, they had never predicted what else this journey would bring.

Ruth stared at her daughter through the mirror and then turned her attention back to Meredith, watching as she prepared her daughter for the day. The new maid could feel her hands tremble slightly as she knew she was being watched and criticised. It didn't go unnoticed for Rose and she stood up from her dressing table, staring at her hair for as long as she could. She smiled brightly and turned towards Meredith.

Philadelphia

"I love it." She said happily, "You have a very soft touch, unlike many others who have done my hair. Don't you think it's beautiful mother?"

"Yes." She mumbled. "You can come with me downstairs to the kitchen miss Davis and want to see if your craftsmanship there is as well as in styling one's clothes and hair."

"Of course, ma'am." Meredith nodded and followed her obediently. Rose could feel the stress falling off of her shoulders as Ruth left her room. She hadn't left her out of her sight ever since they arrived back home. But what for? Rose would wonder. Was she afraid that she might run away or was it a form of control Mrs. DeWitt Bukater always liked to have. She couldn't control her sister, couldn't keep her with her despite the love she felt for her sibling. That form of control was something her mother now did have.

Rose moved towards her window and opened it to let the soft air of April ventilate her room. She would often sit here as a little girl, watching the world pass by. She could clearly remember the last time she was here in the exact same spot. It was over a half a year ago. Her mother burst through her door, a grin plastered from ear to ear and asked her beloved daughter to follow her into the garden. There he was with his clothes as smooth and clean as ever as he took her by the hand and kneeled down onto one knee. She just said yes, without moving a single muscle in both her face and body. Then he put his lips onto her hers for the first time, but definitely not the last.

A sudden shadow popped up from beneath her, moving faster and faster. As she looked down, two girls her age were waving dramatically at her. Rose squeezed her eyes slightly to block out the sun. Their contours became more visible and she soon saw the dark black hair of Elizabeth. Behind her was her other friend Louise, holding a basket in her hands. They called her a few times before someone opened the door for them. Their voices could now be heard inside. Rose walked out of her room and slowly headed down the stairs to greet them. She could see tears behind their eyes and a sigh escaped her lips.

"My dear, Rose." Louise cried out and embraced her tightly. Elizabeth came up behind them and also wrapped hr arms around her two friends.

"Let me look at you, darling." Elizabeth stared at Rose for a little while before finally backing up, "We have been so worried. Words can't even express it. When we heard the news we didn't know what to do."

"Well I am fine. Everyone is fine so there is nothing to worry about." Rose reassured them.

"But what about your belongings? Your dresses and other things, you must miss it immensely."

Stuff. Rose repeated the word a few times in her head. Almost everyone had lost a loved one, perhaps more than one. She couldn't care less about her dresses and jewellery and every other item she would carry around with her as the spoiled little rich girl she was. They didn't have any value to her.

"I have everything I need right here with me, guys." She repeated his words, feeling it burn in her chest, "I've got the air in my lungs. I have my family. And I have you guys." She took both their hands in hers. The laughed at her, but Rose could sense the awkwardness. Then Ruth's head popped up from around the corner. She smiled brightly and almost ran up to the girls.

"Ruth!" They almost screamed in unison.

"Dear girls. I thought I heard you. How glad I am to see you."

"We knew we had to give you time and space to get back home, but we simply couldn't wait anymore. We were sick with worry." Louise handed Ruth the basket. It was filled with fresh fruit and fashion magazines, exotic teas and soaps. "We brought you something."

"You shouldn't have darlings. Let's get ourselves settled into the drawing room, shall we? I'll ask the new maid to get us some tea."

Meredith was worried when she walked into the room with her tray. She stared at Rose for a while before pouring her a cup and placing it in front of her. As she did, it seemed as if her friend got shaken back into reality.

"It's lemon ginger tea, miss. It will give you some energy." Meredith reassured her.

"Thank you. That is very kind of you." Rose took a sip and let the warmth of the beverage fill her body. The other three were heavily engaged in their conversation. Ruth told them everything about the journey, but of course skipped the scandalous parts that must be kept a secret. She soon came to the part of the actual sinking. How, for most of the time, it didn't feel like something serious was happening.

"I guess the staff didn't even know what they were doing." Ruth said, "But eventually you could feel the ship tilting forward. Luckily for us we all got into a lifeboat safely. And for Cal. He heroically saved a little girl and therefor found himself a spot."

Louise and Elizabeth looked at her mother with widened eyes and full of interest. They couldn't comprehend the reality of the situation, despite it being extremely sugarcoated. Rose could burst through their conversation, talking about the cold of the water she had to go through to save Jack. The way the men had to burst open the gates because they were being locked up like animals. The screams, the cries and not to forget the silence.

"Only one lifeboat rowed back." Rose suddenly said, "The ship broke in two and within seconds it was gone. More than a thousand people had fallen into the water, screaming and crying for help, but no one did nothing. It didn't take more than fifteen minutes for silence to take over." She placed her cup onto the side table and stood up. "If you will excuse me."

Walking into the garden she could finally catch her breath. Meredith was standing in the distance, her back facing Rose. As she caught up with her she could see that she had been crying as well. Meredith had heard the whole conversation and couldn't help but burst out in tears. Rose took hold of her hand and squeezed it slightly.

"Look at us." She laughed, "two young women, with their lives ahead of them, bonded by trauma."

Finally a small smile appeared on the maid's face as well.

"And I wouldn't have had it any other way."