Philadelphia 1912

She almost didn't go. Or in fact was almost not allowed to go. It was simply impossible for Rose to take a single step without being followed or being asked something about the next day. It was the end of the morning. A little more than 24 hours before the ceremony. Meredith put on Rose's hat and gave her her handbag. Ruth came rushing out of the drawing room and tried to stop her daughter. "I don't think it is a wise idea to just leave in the middle of all this. There is still so much to do, Rose."

"I only want to get a little bit of fresh air."

"What about your luncheon this afternoon?"

"Jesus Christ, mother, it is only a walk." Rose was starting to lose her patience and groaned before rushing out of the door. Taking her seat inside the car she looked at her little golden watch she was once gifted by her grandfather. It was time to hurry. The journey couldn't get any slower, anxiety growing within her and getting stronger by the minute.

"I'll wait here for you, miss." Het chauffeur said calmly and grabbed the daily newspaper from the seat beside him. Rose thanked him and stepped out, straight in the middle of a puddle. Both her shoes and stockings had turned brown of the dirt. She took a deep breath and marched along the path until she was at the entrance of the park. It was the park behind the church from the other day where he would be waiting for her. It was a place she was less likely to encounter anyone she knew. One word of his presence in town and Cal would go on a hunting spree. But there he was, leaning with his back against an oak tree, watching her every move until she was right in front of him. Jack smiled at her with a certain sadness hidden behind his blue orbs.

"Thank you for calling yesterday." He said. After Molly had told Rose that Jack was in her company, she immediately handed the phone to him. He told her his amnesia had started to disappear. Him saying those words made her heart skip a beat. But before she could say anything back, the sound of her mother's footsteps came from the stairs and she only managed to tell him to meet her tomorrow. Now here they were, looking at one another like two old friends who had simply turned into strangers.

"Shall we go walk?" Jack asked. He placed his hand carefully onto her lower back and moved forward. Her heart skipped a beat.

"I do have to be back by 2, Jack." She said, "I'm having lunch with my bridesmaids."

He nodded. "All right, "Listen," Jack continued, "I am sorry if I scared you last night, Rose. I just had to see you and tell you."

"I appreciate that and I want to say sorry as well. I was simply too overwhelmed. Seeing you there after you told me you wanted me to leave you alone was, I believe, too much. The only thing I want to know is how? I've tried everything to make you remember something. I haven't seen you in weeks, even months and now all of a sudden you are here telling me you've gotten it all back."

He pointed at a bench on the other side of where they were standing. Sitting down he lit up a cigarette and spoke. She listened carefully, soaked up every single word he said. He had started a new life for himself, even met a girl he was going to marry until he got his memory back. It did not sound like him. The sinking had given him a full 180. But as she looked at, the way he told her the whole story, it was exactly as how it was the day they shared their conversation on the deck. She was in awe, but also realistic.

"Then there was this accident on the lake." He said.

"The lake you went ice fishing on with your father?"

"Yes?" He sounded totally surprised.

"You've told me." Rose gave him a smile of melancholy.

"There was a storm coming and a friend's little brother was still in a boat on that lake. The boat capsized and he couldn't swim, so it was me who got him out of the water. But when I swam towards him all I could hear was what sounded like hundreds of people just screaming. It was horrible. When we got out of there, this strange feeling washed over me. I was trembling and not only because of the cold."

"Oh, Jack." She sighed and took hold of his hand. Despite of the warm weather, they felt cold and shaking slightly.

"Every night after that I started having nightmares and during the day I could feel myself zone out. Slowly but surely everything that I have experienced started to come back to me. And you. All I saw was you. I could hear your voice clearly, see your smile, everything. It even felt as if I could touch you."

"You have no idea how long I've begged the world for you to regain your memory." Rose could feel she was starting to get angry with herself. All this time she wanted it mostly for herself, she thought. Not once did she think about what it would be like for him. How would she feel is she were to wake up one day and not remember a single thing about a part of her life. She indeed was a spoiled little brat, and would always be.

"Well here you have it. It might take some time before I can remember every small little detail, but I have this feeling it all will come back."

The two stood up and walked a little further down the path. He wanted to know everything she had been up to. As he watched her speak, he could sense her pain and sadness. The exact expressions she had when they first met. Rose was in agony, feeling as if her whole life had passed her by. As he looked down at his watch, he saw it was time for her to go. Stopping her in her track he gently took hold of her arm and turned her to face him.

"I am leaving tomorrow at noon," Jack said, " Come with me."

Now the old Jack, her love, was speaking to her. As straightforward and impulsive as he was. He looked at her with a form desperation and longing.

When the ship docks I'm getting off with you.

She could still feel the sensation the went through her body when she spoke those words to him. But the woman she had become back then had gone down with the ship and would possibly never make it back to the surface.

"Jack…it's too late. I am getting married in less than 24 hours." Rose then murmured. Her words were so soft, barely noticeable, but he heard every single one of them. There was a moment of silence before he managed to say something again. "So this is it?" He asked.

Rose stopped her tracks and nodded her head. A faint whisper saying yes broke the quietness between them. She was thinking a thousand things at the same time. Torn between the feeling of wanting this moment to last forever and wanting him to go, so things wouldn't become any more difficult. Saying their final goodbyes, she turned around and started heading towards the street.

"I'll always love you, you know that. And I'll always see the days we've had together as the best days of my life." She heard him say behind her. She squeezed her eyes for a moment, trying to hold back her tears. And as she heard the sound of his footsteps disappear into the distance, she allowed herself to step into the car. Turning his head, he watched as she disappeared from his life once more. It was now when he allowed his tears to come as well. This type of pain had stabbed him in the chest. He had to start all over again like he did six years ago, but the caterpillar that he was who had turned into a butterfly, he had to do it once more. Focus on the future, focus on himself even when it was without his Rose.

Arriving back home all the servants were rushing past her, putting the last finishing touches to the preparations. Meredith rushed down the stairs and took her hat and coat. Seeing the pain in her eyes she thought it was best to say nothing about him. The maid took her hand and led Rose towards her room where she had laid down a beautiful mint green dress made by Lucile Duff Gordon. Rose stared at it. Her stomach felt twisted and she had no idea how she was going to manage to have a whole lunch without being sick. As if Meredith could read her mind she spoke: "It will be good for you to get your mind off it, Rose. You'll be fine, trust me."

Rose turned her head toward her. "You think I am a fool, Meredith, for calling it quits?"

She didn't want to admit it for in a way Meredith kind of did. But this wasn't a romance novel she loved reading, where these kind of situations would make a sensational plot. An elopement perhaps, yet this was reality. Rose kept looking at her with a desperation spread all over her face. Was she hoping for a yes, Meredith thought to herself. Deciding to keep the tranquility of the situation she did give an answer.

"I think it is good you went to see him, Rose. Now let's get you dressed or you'll be late."

"The chapter is now really closed, Meredith. And tomorrow I will start a new one."

A knot formed in Meredith's stomach as she watched Rose leave the house to go to her luncheon. Like a mother gazing at her child whilst going to school for the very first time. Waiting until her mistress was completely out of her sight she made her way around the house to hang up the laundry. A soft breeze of August warmth brushed through her hair. She had never been a fan of the summer the heat always made her skin crawl and prevented her from doing her work properly. She wiped droplets of sweat off her face and imagined how America would be during the winter. Would she be walking in the snow just as she did with her siblings and head into the village for a hot cocoa. A smile appeared on her face thinking about those memories. A voice krept from behind her followed by the touch of a hand on her arm. As Meredith turned around the smile on her face grew even bigger.

"Tom?" She gasped in amazement, "What are you doing here?"

"I have come along as Mr. Hockley's valet as his own one has catched a cold." He sounded like a hyperactive child. He took her hand and pulled her behind the corner of the house where no one would see them. He kissed her deeply, "Ever since you left for Philadelphia I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, Meredith. And with the whole wedding coming up I just..."

"Just what?" She giggled, confused by his ramble of words.

"Will you marry me, Meredith?"

She just stared at him, but released herself from his embrace. Tom was anticipating a full hearted yes and was confused by her stillness. Meredith simply shook her head and told him she was sorry.

"I don't get it, Meredith?" He took hold of her hand once again and stroked it gently, "Don't you want to be with me?"

"It's not that, Tom. I want to marry you more than ever, but I can't. Rose needs me and I can't just leave her."

"We'll figure something out. I bet Rose will let you work for her, won't she?"

"With marriage come children and who is going to take care of them when we both work? It's expected of me, a woman, to raise her family. I am awfully sorry, Tom." I was with a heavy pain in her chest she had to tell him, but it was simply impossible. Meredith was the only person Rose trusted, her absence would be the death of her. Of course she would deny it, but Meredith could always see the pain lying in her eyes. Rose needed her and in fact, she needed Rose as well. Perhaps there would be a possibility for her to remain in her position, but she just knew Mr. Hockley wouldn't agree on it. Meredith placed a kiss on Tom's cheek and apologised once more before heading back inside. Her mind was quickly taking off of it as Mrs. DeWitt Bukater caming marching up to her hand handed the maid another list of tasks.

Night

Rose tiptoed through the servant's quarter on her way to her maid's room. It was late and Meredith would probably be asleep by now, but she felt like a child again who was afraid of the dark and longed for a warm and soft embrace. She knocked on the door and within seconds a light appeared from underneath the creak of it. She appeared and Rose smiled at her. Taking her hand, Meredith followed her mistress up to her room and the two crawled in the big king sized bed. They both stared at the ceiling, thoughts rushing through their heads, but both of different matters. Rose did sense something was the matter with her maid. Turning her head towards her, she looked at her for a moment.

"Is there something wrong, Meredith?" Rose then asked. She shook her head. "No there is not.'

"I can see that you are lying. You can tell me you know."

Sitting up straight, Meredith sighed and twisted the fabric of her nightgown to calm down her nerves. "Tom has come along as Mr. Hockley's valet." She said.

Rose laughed. "Well that is wonderful, isn't it."

"Kind of. It's only when you were out today, he surprised me. Rose he asked me to marry him."

Rose shot up as well and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Meredith, this is amazing. Congratulations."

"Don't you get it? I said no."

Nothing but confusion was written all over Rose's face. She didn't get it one bit because she had admitted to her she was head over heels in love with him. Tom was a kind man, someone you'd wish for any woman in the world. She knew he would make Meredith the happiest girl in the world. It was the way they acted around each other it even made Rose's stomach flutter. It was natural. It was real.

"I indeed do not get it. Why would you say no to such a man? "

"Because of you."

"Me?" Rose was taken by surprise hearing those words.

"Yes you. I can't work for you anymore if I marry Tom. And who is going to take care of you then?"

"I shouldn't be the reason for you to give up your own life," Rose took Meredith's hands in hers, "I am a survivor alright. I'll be fine, really." Her mind suddenly took her to the gymnasium. Jack had pulled her inside, confessed both his love to her as well as his concerns about her future.

They've got you trapped, Rose.
And you're gonna die if
you don't break free.

Maybe not right away.
Because you're strong but...
sooner or later that fire
that I love about you, Rose...
that fire is gonna burn out.

Jack's words echoed through her thoughts. She was a butterfly in a glass jar. But her misery shouldn't be the sacrifice Meredith has to make. She shouldn't be the one to protect her. Why did everything have to be so complicated, Rose thought to herself. Looking a her maid once more, she smiled gently.

"I have made my decision. And after tomorrow it's time to make yours. Follow your heart."

If she couldn't do that, at least she hoped her friend would.

Morning

"Mother, are you crying?" Rose was watching Ruth through the reflection of the mirror. Today was the big day. Rose was now fully dressed in her attire and within fifteen minutes a carriage would be waiting outside for her and take her to the church. Her mother waved it off and only responded with a smile. The moment was finally here, she thought. Months of despair were about to change only by the sound of one word. Her hard work and effort would finally be over, making her family saved from ruin. Ruth gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek and went downstairs to wait with the others. It was now only her and Meredith in the room. The maid took the veil out of the box and placed onto her head. The roaring of the crowds of people who had gathered around her house was penetrating through every fiber of her body. She peaked through the window and pushed her curtain slightly to the side so she could look down. Children started to wave drastically as her reflection appeared and Rose felt as if she was a member of a royal house. Flattening the fabric of her dress she sighed deeply.

"Are you ready?" Meredith asked the bride to be.

Rose could only shake her head.

"I'll never be ready, Meredith. But let's get it over with."