Rose stared up at the ceiling as she quietly laid next to Jack. She had spent the whole day in that small apartment with her soldier. They talked, laughed, and shared small details of their lives that they had not included in the letters. It had been one of the best days that she's had in a long time. Now, looking up at the plain white ceiling, her hand lightly gripped in his, Rose knew that the time to return back to the mansion she shared with her mother was drawing near. She dreaded it, if she was being honest. Her mother was going to be there and there was bound to be another argument about her refusal to be engaged to Cal. She really did hate arguing with her mother, but it couldn't be helped. The older woman insisted that Rose take up with Cal again and of course, Rose was determined to be free of the arrogant millionaire.

"What are you thinking about?" Jack asked, noticing Rose's silence and hoping that it wasn't about him, that she wasn't having regrets. He couldn't blame her if she was, but still...he hoped wasn't the case.

"It's about time for me to go home and have yet another argument with my mother, ruining what has been an absolutely marvelous day," Rose sighed, tearing her eyes away from the ceiling and meeting his gaze instead. "Needless to say, I am not looking forward to it."

"Well then, why go back?"

Rose gave a mirthless chuckle. "Because it's my home. Where else would I go?"

"You can stay here. I know that it's small, but we'd be together and you won't have to deal with fighting with your mother. Consider it a vacation of sorts," Jack grinned. He hoped that he wasn't being too forward, but he wanted to help her. He wanted to make sure that she was safe and happy, especially with him having to be away from her thanks to this stupid war.

"But you hardly have any room here as it is..."

"It's not too bad, really."

"We'd be living together. You'll see me every minute of every day. What if you get sick of me?"

"Me get sick of you?" Jack laughed. "That will never happen."

"You say that now."

"Because I am positive that I'd never get sick of you. Not with how I miss you when I have to be away. It's going to be a nightmare after this week, when I won't even know when I'll get to see you again..." Or even if, but he tried not to go there. Jack found that he did a lot better in hard situations when he was positive instead of negative. "Anyway, just think about it, alright?"

Rose didn't want to think about it. She wanted to say yes, but then she couldn't help but wonder what people would think once they found out that she was staying here alone with a man. People could be horrible gossips and the news of two young people of the opposite sex living together without the benefit of a wedding ring...it would cause a big scandal. Her mother would be horrified and who knows what such a scandal would do to Molly's business! Was it worth it?

Besides,was her mother really that horrible? Could it be possible that Rose was exaggerating? She really couldn't say at the moment.

"I'll give it some thought. That's all I really can say."

Jack simply nodded and kissed the back of her hand, his eyes warm and full of affection. "I understand."

"I love you, I just don't want people gossiping about us. It's none of their business."

"I understand. You don't have to explain it to me."

Rose smiled and leaned in to give him a deep, lingering kiss. She really wasn't ready to say goodbye. She may never be. "I'll see you first thing tomorrow."

Jack smiled as she pulled away and sat up in bed as she got to her feet. "I'll be here."

Rose smiled at him one last time, her heart constricting at the thought of leaving him. She couldn't believe how much she missed him already and she wasn't even out the door yet. "I'll see you soon."

Jack waved one last time as she walked out the door. He couldn't help but wonder if he should have gone with her, but then again, he was sure that she would be alright. With that fire burning inside of her, he was positive that no one could keep her trapped for long.

...

Rose returned to a quiet house. Despite the silence, she refused to feel any sense of relief. She was sure that her mother was skulking around somewhere, ready to ambush her with more questions about where she had been and why she kept refusing Cal's attempts to reconcile. Maybe she could avoid her mother, altogether, if she was quiet enough. Once she was up in her room, Ruth usually left her alone. If she could make it up to her room now, she could avoid the much dreaded argument that was inevitable these days.

Keeeping her footsteps soft and not even daring to breathe, Rose made for the stairs, hoping to make it to the safety of her room. Her plans were dashed when her mother's voice spoke up from the entrance of the sitting room.

"Rose! There you are! You have been gone all day! Where have you been all of this time?!"

Rose silently cursed herself and sighed in defeat. So much for a peaceful evening in her room. She turned around to face her mother and to her chagrin, Caledon Hockley, who stood behind Ruth with folded arms and a stern expression, as if he was her father, there to back up her mother's statements. How she hated him.

"I had even gone to that vulgar diner that you insist on spending time in. You were nowhere to be found. That Molly said that you hadn't shown up for your shift," Cal eyed Rose with a mixture of suspicion and desire.

Rose frowned, thankful for Molly, but not liking that Cal felt that he had the right to keep tabs on her, despite her calling off the engagement.

"Cal, why were you looking for me anyway? We are no longer together. My whereabouts are no longer any concern of yours."

Cal just gave a dismissive chuckle. "All couples have their rough patches, sweetpea."

"This is not just a rough patch Cal! I broke up with you! I had given you back your engagement ring and told you that I did not want to marry you! There is nothing that neither you or my mother can say to make me change my mind!"

"Now Rose, stop being so melodramatic," Ruth stepped forward, holding a familar stack of envelopes in her hands, a sight that made Rose's heart drop. "We have some serious matters to discuss. Suchas, who is this Jack Dawson and why is he writing letters to my daughter?"

Rose was outraged! Not only were those letters private, they had been carefully hiddened out of sight, which meant that her mother and Cal had gone through her private things! Invaded what she had assumed was her privacy! She should have known better! But really, how could they do this to her? She had never felt so...violated!

"Those are private! You have no right reading or even touching them!"

"We have every right, since this...person is writing to my fiancee!" Cal huffed.

"I am not your fiancee!"

"Who is this boy, Rose? Where did you meet him? Did you really think it appropriate to correspond with this strange man when you have someone like Cal?" Ruth questioned, her cold eyes burning through her daughter.

"That is none of your business, mother. Those letters are addressed to me! As for Cal, why don't you marry him since you want to keep him a part of our lives? I certainly don't want him,' Rose moved to snatch the letters away from her mother, but Ruth held them out of reach.

"Since this is my house, it most certainly is my business! You don't know this young man, but here you are, writing each other as if you were lovers! All the while, throwing your future away for a man who most likely will not survive this war! Have you completely lost your mind?!" Ruth gritted her teeth in frustration, struggling to keep a hold of her temper.

"No, I have not. I am doing what's right me for once. I love Jack and he loves me. I will wait for him forever if I have to. He is everything that Cal is not!"

"Your daughter has lost all semblance of common sense, Ruth," Cal gave a derisive snort.

"I can see that. I have been far too lenient, I am afraid. I am going to have to put my foot down."

Rose rolled her eyes, not intimidated in the least. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that things are going to change around here, for you. For one, those letters are to stop immediately. You will no longer be corresponding with this Mr. Dawson."

Rose glared at her mother, thankful that the older woman didn't know that Jack was in town for the week to see her.

"You can't stop me from writing to Jack."

"Oh I can and I will. I had already ordered that all mail addressed to you is to come to me first. I have already fired Trudy and Cal has loaned us his man Lovejoy to attend to our needs..."

"How dare you, mother! Trudy had nothing to do with this! There was no need to fire her!"

"You will also be quitting that infernal diner! It is not appropriate for a lady of your stature to hold such a...job."

"Mother, you are out of bounds! I will not be quitting my job at the diner and I will not stop writing to Jack! I don't care if I never get a letter back! Why is it so hard for you to accept that I have my own life and I do not want Caledon Hockley to be a part of it?!"

"I do not understand why you refuse to acknowledge that this is my house and as long as you live under it, you are to follow my rules! As long as you live here, you will do as I say, which means you will cease this inappropriate dalliance with this Jack Dawson, you stay away from that diner, and you will resume your engagement to Cal! He has spent enough money and time on you, it is time for you to show him your gratitude and stop being a selfish brat! It is time to be a grown up Rose and see that this is not just you," Ruth's voice was cold and hard and demanded to be obeyed. There was no room for argument.

"Well maybe I won't live here in your house anymore!"

Cal laughed at that. "Where would you go, sweetpea? Not only are you a woman, but you're only seventeen. How would you support yourself? You really have no skills."

"I know how to waitress! I know how to do a lot of things!" Rose glared at her former fiancee, hating him more and more. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?! She had been polite, she had been firm! She had been very very clear that she wanted nothing more to do with him, yet here he is, persisting that they resume their engagement, against her will! And her mother...why couldn't she see that she was no longer a child and allow her to lead her own life? This was all so unfair!"

"Rose, stop being difficult. Now you know what is expected of you and you will obey. Do I make myself clear?" Ruth interjected.

Rose stared at her mother with hurt and anger swirling together inside of her. It was very clear now. Hr mother cared little about her. She did not care that Rose was miserable with Cal! She did not care that Jack's letters and the job at Molly's diner were what was keeping her going these days. The only things that Ruth Dewitt Bukater cared about were money and prestige and how to keep a tight hold on both. Rose's happiness was an obstacle that got in the way of those goals, so it simply didn't matter. Not to Ruth.

"Am I clear, Rose?!" Ruth again questioned, eager to reach an understanding that was to her liking.

Rose simply nodded, knowing what she had to do. "Yes, you are very clear, mother."

"Good. Now come. The three of us can enjoy a nice...Rose? Where are you going?!" Ruth gasped as Rose turned around and headed for the door leading outside, not saying a word. "Rose!"

"Sweetpea!" Cal called out as well, just as alarmed by this turn of events. He was sure that Rose would see sense once Ruth put her foot down! He had not been expecting her to just...leave!

Rose turned around one last time as she reached the door. Her expression was hard and resolute in her decision. Yes, it was very clear on what she had to do if she was ever going to have her own life. "It is clear that I can no longer reside in this house. Good-bye mother."

Ruth's mouth dropped open in shock. She had not been expecting this at all! She had just assumed that Rose would crumple under the pressure like she normally had in the past! "Rose! Where are you going?! What do you mean good-bye?! Rose, come back here right now!"

All the yelling in the world was useless as Rose walked out the door and down the path leading to the sidewalk. She was gone and she was determined never to return. She had one life to live and she was determined to live it on her terms, not her mothers!