April 15, 1913

Santa Monica…

The house was anything but quiet on the first anniversary of the sinking. Rose woke up, realizing what day it was and what it meant, just to find an empty bed and a crying baby. Judging by how the sun shone through the window, she knew that Jack was already gone off to work, leaving her with Cora to deal with. Unfortunately, Cora wasn't the only thing on Rose's mind. The sinking...the memories were more intense than they usually were. The sounds of the ship coming apart, the screams, the cold.

She closed her eyes and pushed back against the memories. She couldn't let them get to her, not today, not now. Right now, she had a daughter to take care of, a house to clean, a husband to cook for...but the screams...they were enough to almost freeze her in place.

But she didn't freeze in place. She forced herself out of bed. She forced herself to make her way to the nursery and pick up Cora. The child's sobs stopped...but screams from her memory didn't, but Rose was determined. She was going to get through today...somehow...even if Jack wasn't with her.

For a while, diving into taking care of her baby daughter helped keep the memories at a manageable level. Giving Cora all of her attention, she didn't give herself time to dwell on the pain of the past. It was when she put Cora down for her nap and finished with the cleaning that things began to become overwhelming.

She had began to take things out of the icebox when she glanced out of the kitchen window to see it drive down the street. The same model of car that was in the cargo of Titanic that night. Sure, there was the beautiful memory of her first time with Jack connected to it, but there was also the memory of what had happened just a short time afterwards.

Leaving the door to the icebox open, she walked to the window and watched the car disappear down the lane, going to wherever it was heading. She closed her eyes tight as the memories fast forwarded to the moment that the world came to an end. She could feel the ground shudder, she could hear the sound of large chunks of ice hitting the deck. She could feel the biting cold on her skin. Gasping, she gripped the window ledge and squeezed her eyes shut even tighter as her senses became overwhelmed. She heard screams and the music from the band and the ice water covering her head...all of it was sensory overload and her mind just couldn't take it anymore. It was too much, too fast...she needed to escape...she needed it to all go away. She needed another reality...one where none of it had happened...where she was someone else other than herself, where her life was free from all of this.

Her head felt so heavy and a steady ache filled it as the memories crashed over her…

Then it was over. There was no memories. None at all. The only thing she remembered was her first name and that she lived in Philadelphia...which was why she was confused. What was she doing here? Where was here?

Looking around, she stumbled towards the door, not knowing where she was or where she was going...just that she had to get away...to find home...wherever that was…

….

Jack returned home, feeling wary. He knew what day it was and he had been tempted to take the day off, but rent was due soon and they needed the money that the day's work would bring. So he ignored his urge to call off and headed off to work, hoping that Rose was able to handle the day on her own. Of course she could. She was stronger than she gave herself credit for.

When he finally got off, he stopped by the market and brought some flowers and a small tin of her favorite cookies, hoping that it would bring her some cheer, despite the memories that must be accosting her, just as they had accosted him. It had been a long day of trying not to think of Fabrizio and Tommy and of the others that had lost their lives. He had thought that he would be overcome and not be able to finish the work day...but he made it and now the day was almost over and he looked forward to see it finished with his wife in his arms. He hoped to find that they both were mostly healed and could put it to rest once and for all until next year, when the memories would surely return.

When he returned home, he had expected to find Rose there waiting for him with Cora in her arms. What he found instead was most unexpected.

The door was wide open and Cora's cries could be heard from within the house. Frowning, he entered to find the kind lady that lived next door with the baby in her arms, trying to calm her as best she could. To Jack's surprise, the woman didn't look too pleased to see him. In fact, she looked rather angry.

"Mrs. Campbell? What's going on? Where's Rose?" Jack frowned, putting down the flowers and cookies and holding his arms out for his daughter.

Mrs. Campbell, an elderly lady with graying brown hair twisted up in a bun and stern eyes behind a pair of glasses glared at Jack accusingly. "Where is Rose? That is what I would like to know, Mr. Dawson. How she could just leave this poor baby alone in the house, with the door open and not even return yet is way beyond me. If this is her version of being a responsible parent!"

"What? She wasn't here? Where did she go?" Jack frowned, not understanding what he was being told at all.

"I don't know where she had gotten off to. I was just putting the tea kettle on for my afternoon tea when I heard the baby crying nonstop. At first, I ignored it. I thought that the girl would quiet the child down soon enough. But she never did and I just couldn't take it anymore. So I walked over here to tell Rose to do something about the crying, just to find the door wide open as well as the icebox door, poor Cora in bed crying and no Rose in sight. I did change the child and fixed her a bottle, and I waited and waited, thinking that perhaps Rose went to the market or the post office and would return...but she never did return. It had just been me and Cora up until now."

The woman's expression softened as she saw the clear worry in Jack's eyes. This was obviously taking the young man by surprise, and if the girl had indeed abandoned him and the child...well he was going to be in for a tough time indeed.

"Here is your daughter. She had just started crying. I'm taking that she misses one of her parents," She slipped the baby into Jack's arms and was satisfied when the cries indeed stopped. "I knew it. She just wanted her daddy."

Jack cradled the baby in his arms, cooing soft words to her as his mind went into turmoil. He was so confused. What had happened? Where was Rose? Why had she disappeared like this? How was he going to find her? Did she leave on her own? Had Hockley found her and kidnapped her? That was likely. Why else would she leave the icebox open, the door wide open, and Cora alone?

Hockley. That had to be the reason. Rose wouldn't just leave. Not on her own. Hockley had found them somehow and now he had to go save Rose from him. He was just thankful that he hadn't harmed Cora out of spite.

"I think I know what might have happened...Mrs. Campbell, I do want to thank you for coming over and taking care of Cora. I'll be sure to pay you when my check comes."

The woman sighed, exasperated by the whole situation. "If you see Rose, tell her that this is not responsible behavior."

"I'll be sure to tell her that."

"You just take care of that little girl. That is all the payment that I expect. Good night, Mr. Dawson."

Jack watched her go, glad to be alone with Cora at last. Now he could plan what to do. He had to help Rose somehow. Who knew what Hockley was doing to her. But where would Hockley take her? Where did the man live? How would Jack even get there? Who could he ask for help? Who would help him?

Sighing, he went into the kitchen, where the newspaper laid open where Rose had left it, opened to the society page. There he saw an announcement about Molly Brown returning to her home in Colorado.

Cradling the baby in one arm, he picked up the paper with his free hand and read the article. Molly Brown, of course! The woman had helped him once. Maybe she'll help him again! She knew how he had felt about Rose. She knew that Rose did not want to be with Cal. Surely she'd help him get Rose back.

He looked down at Cora, who was drifting off to sleep, unaware of how fractured that her family had just become. If Jack had his way, she'll never know. "Don't you worry, Cora girl. I'll get your mommy back and make Hockley pay for what he's done."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, a plan already forming. He'll go to Colorado and enlist Molly's help in finding Hockley's house. Then he'll rescue Rose and make sure that Hockley would never bother them again.

Unfortunately, he had yet to find out that Caledon Hockley had nothing to do with Rose's disappearance. For once the man was innocent.