(A/N: Due to the shortness of chapter, I'm posting chapter 17 as well)
Two days had passed since the visit to the Dawson house and Jack and Rose reconnected. The meeting had been all that Rose had been able to think about. During those missing two years, she had never given romance, or men for that matter, much thought. Oh she thought that certain men were handsome and all...but none of them had affected her the way Jack had. None of them drew her to them with just their presence alone. She never wanted to be close to a man like she did Jack...and to know that they had once been close enough to be husband and wife...to have a child together...it made her sad. She would love to have that with him again, but she had hurt him so badly that he had to rebuild the trust that she had destroyed. Yes she had been sick...but she had still hurt him. She closed her eyes, cursing her mind for not being strong enough to withstand whatever it was that had sent her over the edge. For ruining her life.
"Rose, darlin. Rise and shine! It is time for breakfast!" Molly's voice broke through her thoughts.
Sighing, Rose got out of bed and slipped on a plain blue dress that she had purchased the day before. It had started a small argument with her mother, who wanted her to buy something more lavish and expensive and elaborate.
"It's not like you're paying for this, yourself. Molly has plenty!" was Ruths exclamation.
Rose turned to Molly, feeling embarrassed. "I am so sorry."
Molly had just laughed and waved away the apology. "Do not apologize darlin. And Ruth is right, I have plenty and it's been a while since my own girl has let me buy something for her, so this is as much of a treat for me as it is for you. Buy whatever you'd like."
Rose had picked out some nice dresses to please both Molly and her mother, but she mostly picked out some simple clothing for herself, for her own happiness and peace of mind. Something told her that if she was expecting to get Jack back, she was going to have to be used to the simple way of life anyway. Maybe if he saw how simply she dressed, he'd know that she was serious about him.
Back in the present, she twisted her hair up into a bun, did her make up and admired her reflection. She was pleased to see that she no longer looked like the homeless girl that Ruth and Molly had found on the street. She looked...pretty. Someone that Jack may even find attractive. She blushed again at the thought of Jack, feeling younger than her age.
Finished getting dressed, she got to her feet and started down the stairs when suddenly, her mind began to fog up once again and sent her back in time….
A waltz was playing, the soft, lyrical chords drifted up to her as she walked down a grand staircase. She was dressed in a long sparkling gown with gloves. She walked down slow and precise, but she paused when she saw him at the bottom. Jack Dawson. He was handsome in a tuxedo he had gotten from someone and his blond hair was slicked back and gleaming in the overhead light. He was a picture of prince charming and she wasn't the only one who thought so, judging by the furtive glances that the young ladies in the room were giving him.
She walked the rest of the way down and smiled when he took her hand and kissed it.
"I saw that in a Nickelodeon once. I always wanted to do it," He smiled with laughing eyes, causing her to smile in amusement….
Rose sat down hard on the bottom step, the images fading away, but the memory remaining. Spotting Rose, Ruth and Molly rushed up, concern in their eyes.
"Rose?" Ruth came and stood over her, twisting her hands.
"Rose, darlin, what's wrong?" Molly frowned, sitting next to the dazed redhead.
Rose looked at Molly, a tear streaming from her eyes. "I...I had a memory. Of Jack..."
"Was it a good one?"
Rose simply nodded, looking at the hand that Jack had kissed in the vision. "We were dressed up. I was coming down the grand staircase and there he was, all dashing in a tuxedo. He kissed the back of my hand and smiled…and then I was back here…"
Molly grinned, recognizing the memory. "Ah, the first class dinner! He sure did shine up like a new penny!"
"You were there?"
Molly gave a hearty laugh. "Who do you think gave him that suit! He was full of confidence and optimism. He charmed everyone at that table that night….well everyone except your mother and Cal."
"Forgive me for not being amused that a young man was homeless and without work and found nothing wrong with it," Ruth huffed, feeling a bit awkward.
Molly just shook her head. "Your mother wasn't Jack's biggest fan at the time, unfortunately. Not that it mattered."
Rose's sigh was sad and hopeless. She really wanted what she had with Jack back. She wanted to remember every touch, every kiss, every moment...but it all felt so lost to her. The only things that were coming back were little snippits and scenes that didn't tell her anything of their story really. Just that she had been well off and he had been poor and they had somehow been surrounded by luxury...or at least she was.
"I am so confused."
Molly frowned, not getting Rose. What was there to be confused about? "What is it, darlin? What are you not getting?"
"It's not that I'm confused, I guess...it's just...Jack and I had agreed to be friends and that was fine. I thought anyway...but now...I'm not so sure because….I want more than friendship from him and I don't know if I should ask for that or if I even have a right to...and what if he doesn't want more than friendship...ever? What then? Will I have to go through life wanting someone that doesn't want me? How pathetic is that? Most of all, why did I have to lose my memory in the first place? Why did I have to forget the two most important people in my life? It doesn't make any kind of sense to me and it kind of makes me angry."
Feeling bad, Molly wrapped an arm around Rose's shoulder, trying to give some comfort. It must be hard indeed to find out that the life you can't remember contained a handsome loving husband and a beautiful baby, but thanks to your mental state, you had lost them and may not be able to get back. "Have you and Jack talked about your relationship?"
"He wants to concentrate on rebuilding my bond with Cora, which makes sense. After all, she doesn't remember me walking out like he does. It'll be easier with her. He did agree that we could be friends, though."
"Well that's a start...and it may be for the best. To be honest, you two got married too young and too quickly. You had only known each other for a few days and it was a tragedy that bound you together. This way...you'll have time to get to know each other more. Rebuild your bond on steadier ground. It won't be so rushed."
"So you agree? That we're better friends for now? Despite the feelings I'm have for him?"
Molly gave a somber nod, knowing that this probably wasn't what the girl expected to hear, not after all the pushing she had done to get them back together. "Friendship opens a door and it gives you a stepping stone to rebuild the trust that was lost in the relationship. It's a good sign that Jack is willing to open that door."
"So what are you going to do with this new information and how are we going to use it to our advantage?" Ruth crossed her arms, her mind working one thousand miles a minute. She had given it some thought after her last visit with Cora. She wanted a permanent part of the child's life and in order to do that, she needed Rose. Whether it was getting custody of the child somehow or reuniting her with the child's father, Ruth wanted some kind of action to be taken.
"What do you mean by that, mother?" Rose frowned, taken aback by the calculating tone in her mother's voice.
"Yes, Ruth. What do you mean by that?" Molly frowned.
"We need permanent access to my grandchild, that is what I mean. Now either Rose reunites with Jack, which I sense is what she wants...or we apply for custody..."
Molly got to her feet, her eyes flashing with anger. "Now you stop right there! You will not be applying for anything Ruth Dewitt Bukater! You want to be a part of that little girl's life, that will be up to her parents, Jack and Rose! Now obviously Rose wants to get back with Jack, but some damage that's been done has to be repaired...and it will. Now if you seriously want to be part of that child's life, you'll stand down and leave all decisions to her parents. Do you understand me?"
"Molly..."
"You go for custody of that child, you'll ruin things for Rose. Is that what you want? She'll lose both of them and it'll be your fault!"
Ruth winced and looked away. "I just...I just wanted a life with my daughter and granddaughter. Is that so wrong?"
Molly sighed and shook her head, her voice more gentle this time. "No, it's not wrong. But you have to think of Rose too, Ruth. She wants her family back, her full family, including Jack. Don't mess that up for her. You want to make up for your past mistakes? Start now, by letting her handle her own life and you take a supporting role, not a manipulative, controlling one. How about that?"
Ruth silently nodded, regretting her outburst already. What must Rose, who was just looking at her strangely be thinking?
"Were you always like this?" the former heiress questioned, not knowing what to think of the woman that was her mother.
"Rose, you must understand. As women, our position is always precarious. This is a man's world that we live in. We have to take certain things in consideration when it comes to survival. Right now...it'd be wise for you to reunite with Jack. He's a man that can offer us a home and protection and keep up with Cora. But if things with him fall apart...well he could always find a new wife and that will most likely be who Cora calls momma."
"Ruth!" Molly hissed, outraged that Ruth was even mentioning such a thing.
"I'm just warning her of the implications of not fixing her marriage, Molly."
"Jack wouldn't do that...I mean...even if we never get back together...he wants me in Cora's life….he would never let some other woman take my place," Rose frowned, becoming upset at Ruth's words. Was her mother right? Would Jack move on and let some strange woman raise the daughter that their love had made? Or rather the daughter she had abandoned?!
"Of course he wouldn't!" Molly quickly interjected, not wanting Ruth's words to marinate on Rose's brain. "Let's remember that Jack wants you in Cora's life. He could have walked away when he saw that you were back. He could have turned his back on you. But he didn't. He never would, even if he could never trust you again. If I know one thing about Jack is that...he'll never stop loving you. It's a part of him...that's why it had nearly destroyed him when you had disappeared without a trace."
Rose had enough. She was tired and hungry and she just wanted some space from both her mother and Molly. They both were driving her crazy, Ruth with her manipulative paranoia and Molly with her well meaning words of encouragement about Jack. Words that told her nothing about how to get the young artist back as her husband.
"I think that after breakfast, I'm going to take a walk...alone."
Both Molly and Ruth were alarmed, not at all sure if they should allow that.
"I don't know darlin…," Molly frowned, hating to sound like she didn't trust Rose...but she didn't trust Rose. Ruth didn't either, judging by the dark frown on her face.
"It's a small town. Where could I possibly disappear to?" Rose argued her point, knowing what the women were thinking. "I just need to clear my head some...away from outside influences."
"Rose," Ruth approached her daughter, clear worry in her voice. Had she ruined things between her and Rose already? She had only been trying to help.
"Mother, please….I just need some space right now. I'm not angry with you. Surprised and a little dismayed, but not angry. I know that you want to be in Cora's life and you're afraid to lose that chance, but you won't. Jack had offered you access to her before he even knew I was here, so that means something. You just have to trust him. I obviously did...and I guess that I still do."
"Let's go eat, and then we can all get started with our day," Molly nodded, placing a hand on Ruth's shoulder, guiding her to the dining room where breakfast was being served.
Rose sighed forlornly. She hoped that she hadn't insulted them by her request for space. She hadn't meant to. She just needed some time to process the memory she came across and get a hold on these quickly growing feelings for Jack.