Rose yawned as she woke up. She frowned, at first confused about her surroundings. This wasn't her room. This wasn't even her house. What was going on here? She frowned as she felt the warm body next to her. The memory of the day before hit her as she looked to her right to see the sleeping Jack. That's right, she wasn't home at the mansion. In fact, the mansion wasn't home anymore. And Caledon Hockley was no longer her fiancee. Jack was!

Rose smiled as she looked upon the sleeping face of her lover. Her smile widened at just the thought of the word lover. She had never even dreamed of referring to the man she was going to marry as such a thing because she simply hadn't loved Cal. She especially didn't feel for him what she felt for the man sleeping next to her.

Blue eyes smiled as he woke up to find beautiful green eyes gazing upon him. Jack gently touched her face as if he couldn't believe that she was actually there with him. "Good morning Rosebud."

"Rosebud. I like that. So much better than sweet pea," Rose giggled leaning in for a morning kiss.

"Well, you're as beautiful as a Rosebud. The name fits," Jack winked before claiming her lips in a short, but almost lingering kiss. "What time is it?"

"Almost time for Molly to arrive to open up. I better get back downstairs," Rose reluctantly pulled away. She hated having to leave the nice warm bed with the nice warm Jack, but there was no choice. She and Jack were not married yet and she was not going to bring anymore scandal onto Molly's diner.

Jack's pout was adorable and tempting. "Do you have to go?"

"Yes. I do. Molly has done so much for me, it'd be mean to do anything to disgrace her business. Not that we have anything to be ashamed of," Rose's smile was apologetic. "How about you drag yourself out of bed too and we can just sit in the dining area and plan on what we're going to do today?"

"Hmm...I have a better idea. Let's go get your things and then go get married."

Rose blinked in surprise. "What? Now?"

"Why not? Surely, your mother is still asleep and that Cal fella is most likely gone and you need clothes. Not to mention, I want to marry you as soon as possible...before I have to go back. Why can't it be today?"

Jack had a point, but returning to that house in the wee hours of the morning...it made her incredibly nervous. What if her mother woke up? What if the locks had been changed? What if...ugh! Why can't she stop with the what if's?! Jack was right! She needed her clothes! Her mother can't stop her from taking what was hers! Besides, Jack would be with her! All of this newfound bravery came from him! With him by her side, she felt no fear of her mother's wrath!

"Well...alright. But we must go now and we must move quickly. I don't want another confrontation with my mother, especially if we plan to wed today. What a blemish an argument with my mother would be."

Jack happily grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "This is going to be an adventure!"

Rose wished that she could feel Jack's excitement, but all she could feel was butterflies battling it out in the pit of her stomach. She could only hope that they would be able to get her things and get out without detection. She didn't even want her mother to breathe the same air as Jack, much less be in the same room as him. "Let's go get this over with."

Seeing her nerves, Jack took her hand and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Hey, don't worry. We are going to be alright. I promise. You jump, I jump."

"You won't let go?" Rose gripped his hand tightly as if something could rip him away somehow.

"I won't let go. I promise," Jack pulled her close and held her tight.

"I promise too," Rose sighed, closing her eyes and breathing him in. Standing there in Jack's arms, at that moment, Rose allowed herself to believe that everything was going to be alright. Nothing in the world could ever break them apart. Especially not her mother.

…

The Dewitt Bukater house stood dark and silent in the early morning hours. Jack and Rose stood across from it, gripping their hands together, hoping to feel like one unit. Jack gave a low whistle at the sight of the house. He knew that Rose was well to do, but he hadn't even imagined the palace she lived in. The house was huge! He could never even hope to give her something like this!

"It's monstrous, isn't it Jack? Just like a museum," Rose spoke up, breaking into Jack's thoughts.

"It's a lot. I don't know why, but I never thought of your home like this."

"Probably because it was never a home for me. As I said, it was a museum, or as near as one as you can get. I was never ever allowed to run and play inside. I was never allowed to touch anything. I was always supposed to take off my shoes and wear gloves. Not even a spot of dust was to be seen."

"Doesn't sound like a very happy childhood."

"It wasn't. Especially after daddy died. I was always...terrified of her...of my own mother."

Jack's heart ached for Rose. He couldn't imagine growing up terrified of either of his parents. Albert and Irene Dawson had both been kind, compassionate, loving parents that had allowed him the freedom to be a child. It had been expected of him to run and play and get dirty and yes, even break things every now and then. It was sad that Rose hadn't been allowed that and that she seemed to be afraid of her mother's wrath, despite her flight into freedom the night before. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed her head.

"You don't have to be afraid of her anymore. I'm here now. I won't let her do anything to you."

"I know...and I'm not as terrified of her as much as I was and I'm becoming less terrified every day now...it's just...I rather not see her just yet."

"Well, that's understandable. I just wish that I could give you the childhood I had, Rose. One full of love, warmth, and security. The only thing to fear would have been monsters under the bed and random strangers."

Rose smiled, touched by the sentiment. Jack was so sweet. No one had ever treated her or felt for her the way he did. At least no man had. "You're so sweet. But maybe it was all for a reason. Maybe I had to have that childhood to have this new life with you. If that's the case, I wouldn't change a thing."

"Me either," Jack grinned, impressed by her theory. "Everything happens for a reason."

"Yes. Now we should go get my things. Time is ticking away," Rose kissed him one more time before taking his hand and leading the way up to the house. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she took her house keys out of the purse she was carrying and used it to open the door, ushering Jack inside before entering herself.

The house was dark and silent. If Rose didn't know any better, she would say it was empty. But she did know better. Her mother was upstairs, probably asleep as the servants went about their morning chores.

"Wow," Jack gave a low whistle as he took in the décor. Everything was white, marble, and shiny. Expensive pieces of art decorated the foyer and red carpet covered the floor and stairs. "You weren't kidding when you said that you lived in a museum."

"I told you," Rose gave a grim chuckle before pulling his hand as she headed for the stairs. "Follow me. My room is this way."

Being as silent as possible, the couple made their way up the stairs and to Rose's room which was at the end of the hall on the right. Again, Rose ushered Jack into the room and closed the door.

"Ok, that was easy enough," Rose sighed, relieved that so far, they had gone undetected.

"What now?"

Rose opened her closet and took out two suitcases. "We fill these as quickly as we can."

Rose quickly plopped the suitcases onto her bed. At first, she felt overwhelmed looking at the mass amount of clothes that she had over the years, but then she shook her head, took a deep breath and began grabbing some dresses. "Just some dresses, jeans, and shirts...I'll handle the things from my drawer."

"Yes mam," Jack grinned, beginning to grab clothes from the closet.

Ten minutes later, both suitcases were full of clothes and ready to go. Rose was about to close the closet door when she spotted the white party dress that she had worn to a recent party. She ran her hand over the pure white silky material and chewed on her bottom lip. The dress was beautiful. It wasn't too long and it wasn't too short. It would make a perfect wedding dress.

"Rose?" Jack frowned, wondering why she was pausing.

"It's okay. I had almost forgotten my wedding dress," Rose took the dress out of the closet and carefully folded it up. She opened up one of the suitcases and carefully placed the dress inside. Once that was finished, she closed the suitcase and picked it up, ready to go. "Okay. Let's get out of here. Remember, be as quiet as possible. I don't want to run into mother...not yet."

"Okay. Let's fly," Jack winked, picking up one of the suitcases and leading the way out the door and down the stairs.

At the front door leading to freedom, Rose took one last look around the foyer and at the staircase leading up to the top floor. This place had never really felt like a home to her. Not since her father had passed two years back. It had been more like a prison, with a work furlough because she still had to go to school and she at least had an escape to Molly's. Now it was time to say goodbye and she didn't even feel sad. Not even a little bit. This place was now indeed a museum. A museum of a life she once had and never wanted to live in again.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Jack once again asked, noticing her hesitation as she looked around.

"I've never been surer of anything in my life. I want my freedom. I want you."

Jack's smile was bright and happy. He took her hand with his free one. "Well, you have me. That will never be in question."

Rose's hand was on the doorknob when she remembered something. She sat down her suitcase and dug into her purse once again and pulled out the house keys. "I won't be needing these anymore," She placed them on the small table next to the door. She picked up her suitcase again and was again gripping the doorknob when there was a creak on the stairs. She looked up and froze to see her mother standing at the top of the stairs angrily glaring at her.

"Rose Dewitt Bukater! Where have you been?! Do you have any idea what you've put both Cal and myself through by walking out like that?! Now you sneak in like a thief in the night?! What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?!"

For a second, she was the old Rose again. The Rose who was cowed by her mother into doing anything the older woman wanted her to do. For one second, she was that terrified little girl that had just wanted her mother's approval and not her criticism, which had led her to Cal in the first place! But that scared Rose was pushed aside when she felt Jack's presence next to her. The fear dissipated, and in its place was courage that Rose had never thought she was capable of before!

"All I have to say mother is good-bye," Rose turned away and walked out the door, a silent Jack right behind her. She heard her mother's angry voice calling her name, but she didn't turn back. She couldn't. She felt more strength fill her as Jack's hand gripped hers once they were outside.

"Are you okay?"

Rose's face lit up with the sense of freedom that now filled her as they continued down the walkway, away from what had once been her home.

"I'm perfect. I'm free at last."