For the first time in her seventeen years, Rose wished that she had listened to her mother. This party might as well be a gala or a polo match. It was the same boring people, the same mindless conversation. The only thing different was the location. She would have been better off staying home and reading a book or walking among the flowers in her garden. She had thought that the slumming party would be interesting. That she would be seeing new things, meeting different people. But there had been none of that. What she had seen held no interest to her really, and as for meeting different people…she wasn't allowed to speak with anyone outside her group.

She was tempted to ask Louise if they could just leave, but Louise was too busy giving all of her attention to Mr. Edward Henshaw. Plus, she was still upset with her for earlier. So there was no point in even asking. Really, it's been ages since Louise or anyone else had noticed her presence. It was like she wasn't even there. That was when Rose began to wonder. Would anyone notice if she should slip away from the group? Find her own entertainment or her own way home? Everyone was doing their own thing, involved in their own conversations. Not one person looked her way or addressed her. It was obvious, slipping away would not be a problem.

Picking up her purse, Rose made a decision right there and then. It wasn't her best decision, but if she wanted an adventure, if she wanted to break the boredom of her life, she had to take drastic measures. That was pretty much obvious. She had to break away and break away now while no one was paying attention.

Keeping her eyes on the small group she was with, she backed up to the door with her heart pounding in her chest. If someone decided to look up or to talk to her, her plan would be ruined. But no one did. It was like she had never even been there. They were so involved in their gossip and chatter, not one person in her group saw her slip out of the bar and head down the street, heading deeper and deeper into the poor neighborhood, not bothering to look back. No one even saw the two rough men slipping out of the shadows to follow her, having already marked her as a potential victim.

…..

Patrick's was near empty, which didn't surprise Jack. The pubs didn't start getting full until evening, when men would get off from work and were ready for a drink. It suited him fine, because he really wasn't in the mood for a crowd right now. His mind kept wandering back to that red haired girl back at the bar they had just left. As he stared at his poker cards, all he saw were her eyes. There had been an energy to them. An energy that no other first class girl he had ever met contained. He wanted to get to know her, to know exactly what that energy was. But how to do so without giving away who he really was? He wasn't yet ready to return to his life of privilege just yet. He may never be ready if he was being honest with himself.

"Okay, Jack. What do you have?" Tommy looked over the edge of his cards, hoping that Jack's hand wasn't as good as his own. He could tell nothing from the young man's perfected poker face.

"Well, Fabri has ninete and I am sure that you have squat," Jack answered, trying to keep his mind on the game and off of the girl from the other pub.

"Why don't you reveal your hand and find out, mate?"

Jack was just about to do that when he glanced out the window. He froze in his seat to see the girl from the other pub, pale and clutching her purse, as two rough looking men that he knew as Frank and Jones approached her. It was obvious that their intentions were less than good.

"What are you looking at?" Tommy frowned. He paused as he too saw the sight. "Fuck, why isn't she with her group?"

"I don't know...but we have to help her," Jack was out of his seat and heading for the door, not waiting for his friends to respond.

Tommy sighed and beckoned for Fabrizio to follow as he saw Jack immediately insert himself between the men and the girl. He knew then that there would be trouble if they didn't join him.

…..

Rose had gotten a block away when she realized that she was being followed. She tried to stay calm, but the more they followed her, the more scared she became. Finally, she had enough and turned around to face her pursuers, two overweight, poorly dressed, middle aged men with balding hair and unkempt facial hair. They were disgusting and by the look in their eyes, they meant her no good will.

"What do you want? I don't have any money!" Rose gripped her purse, backing up against a nearby wall.

"Now we know that's not true. A rich chick like you. Your purse is probably full of 100 dollar bills. Just hand it over and we won't hurt you much," the man with what looked to be black hair grinned.

"Right. It's been years since we had a proper woman," his partner leered at her.

The men came closer, reaching out for her. Rose shuddered and pressed back against the wall, as if doing so would make her disappear and protect her from the coming attack. "No, please...just leave me alone!"

"Now don't be that way. We just want a quick touch is all," one of the men laughed, her fear making them even more bold. They were just about upon her when suddenly their hands were knocked back.

"I believe the young lady said to leave her alone."

Rose's eyes widened as the boy from the other pub was now standing between herself and her attackers. She wasn't surprised to see the two other men that had been with him come out and join him.

"This doesn't concern you, kid. Just turn around and walk away and leave her to us."

"Not a chance. Get out of here now or you'll wish that we went for the police," Jack threatened. "There's three of us and two of you. Do you really like your chances?"

The man with the black hair looked at Rose, then looked at her rescuers. The three men may not be as heavy, but they were younger and in better shape. "She's not worth the trouble. Come on, Jones. Let's get out of here."

"But..."

"I said let's go!" Frank glare at the trio one last time,then turned around and left. He didn't even wait for his friend to follow.

"Wait for me!" Jones went stumbling after him, leaving the four young people relieved. No one really wanted a fight, even though the three young men were willing to take the two older ones on.

"Bloody cowards. Big and bad enough to pick on a lass, but when it comes to fighting lads, they run away like bitches," Tommy snorted.

Jack turned to Rose,who had definitely been shaken by the encounter. When she had left her group, she had never dreamed of being attacked. That kind of thing just didn't happen in her world.

"Are you okay, Miss?" Jack asked, noticing how pale she still was and how she seemed to tremble as she stood against the building. "Is there anything we can get you? Do you want to go to the police and report those men?"

Rose shook her head, feeling weak on her feet. She had never been so frightened, had felt so helpless in her life. She didn't even want to think what would have happened if these men hadn't stepped in. "No...I just need...to sit down I think..."

"Of course. Come, you can sit down in here. Jack motioned towards the door of the pub, afraid to move, not wanting to scare her more than she already was.

Rose just nodded her head and entered the bar. Jack followed behind and held out a chair at one of the tables for her to sit in.

"Here you go. Nice and sturdy," He smiled.

"Thank you," Rose sat down and took in her surroundings. She was in another bar, this one was smaller than the first, but was thankfully less crowded.

"Tommy, go get her some water, why don't you?" Jack looked at the Irishman, who just rolled his eyes and went to do what Jack directed as he took a seat across from the shaken red-head. "What were you doing away from your group?"

Rose was a little surprised that he had remembered her walking into the other bar. He had left so quickly, but she guessed one had to be alert when living in this area of town, or what had almost happened to her would happen to them. She blushed, now embarrassed by how bored she had felt. How careless she had been. There was no telling what this kind stranger thought of her.

"I...well...I had gotten bored and everyone was so busy in their own conversations...I thought I'd leave and take a look around on my own. I didn't think I'd be followed or even robbed," Rose shook her head, mad at herself for her own naivete. "I am so naive. My mother was right. I should never have attended that stupid slumming party. Instead I went and not only put myself in danger, but I probably have caused you trouble as well."

"Hey, don't worry about me. We're pretty used to men like that. It's like Tommy said. They're big and bad when they think someone is weaker than they are, but they run away when the odds are against them," Jack chuckled. He then turned serious, feeling sad that she thought of herself as naive...even if she was. "Look, we all are naive at first. But we all learn. It's part of growing up, my mom would say. No one is born street smart. And if I was at a party that I wasn't having any fun at, I would have left too."

"Really?" She sniffed, looking at him, taking in his looks for the first time. He was indeed young and handsome. Only a few years older than herself with longish blond hair and pretty blue eyes that sparkled when he smiled.

"Really. So, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Just for now on, be careful and don't go anywhere alone when you're in this part of town. Most people mind their business, but there are still creatures like Frank and Jones about."

"And not everyone is as stupid as us as to step in," Tommy winked, returning with the water.

"Stupid? I think that you were rather brave. I don't know how I'll ever begin to repay you for what you did," Rose accepted the water, looking at each one of her rescuers. "I don't even know your names..."

"These two fellas are my friends Tommy Ryan, he's from Ireland, and my friend Fabrizio DeRossi from Italy, and I'm Jack Dawson, from the good ole US of A," Jack introduced. He was also from Boston and not as poor as he seemed, but he didn't want to give his real identity away. Rose was indeed from his world and word could accidentally get back to his father where he could be found and have to deal with yet another argument about preparing to take over the family business. His father gave him more freedom than most fathers, but before Jack had left Boston, he had been hinting that it was time for Jack to take his proper spot in the family. Something that Jack just wasn't ready to do. Not yet.

Rose had to smile. Jack was rather friendly. She couldn't help but like him. "I'm Rose Dewitt Bukater."

"Wow, that's quite a name there. I'm going to have to get you to write that one down for me," Jack smiled, hoping the joke would put the girl at ease.

Rose had no choice but to laugh at the joke. Indeed, Jack's friendliness and open personality was indeed putting her at ease. She trusted him. Somehow she knew that as long as he was around, she was safe.

"Again, I thank all three of you for stepping in the way you did. There must be something I can do to repay your kindness...maybe some money," Rose reached for her purse, but Jack stopped her.

"There's no need to pay us for doing the right thing. We're good," he refused the offer.

"Are you sure?"

Tommy wanted to throttle Jack, but he understood Jack's reasoning. It wouldn't be right accepting money for saving a lady from theft and possibly worse. "We're sure, lass. It wouldn't be right to take money for saving ya. Enjoying a few minutes of your company is payment enough."

Especially for Jack, who was looking at the girl as if she was the most beautiful thing in the world...which Tommy had to agree. She probably was. But she was still a swell, so he wouldn't delude himself and he wished that he could stop Jack from doing so, but looking at the lad, he knew it was too late. Of course, he didn't know Jack's secret. Maybe if he did, he would be more encouraging about pursuing the girl.

"Well, I must be getting home. Everyone must have gone back already and if I don't show up, mother will have a search party out looking for me," Rose sighed, not really ready to go, yet knowing that it would be inappropriate to stay any longer.

"Wait, you shouldn't go alone. I'll walk you," Jack got to his feet, the earlier attempts at a poker game forgotten.

"Oh I couldn't possibly ask you to go out of your way like that."

"Oh it's okay. I don't mind the walk. I love walking. Besides, like we said, those two men aren't the only criminals out there. At least with me by your side, I can make sure that you get back to your home safely."

Rose couldn't argue with his reasoning. He was right. It wasn't safe walking home by herself. She may have started the day off naive, but she knew better now. She just hoped that no one who knew her or Cal would see them together. Not because she was ashamed, but because that would bring up questions and accusations that she really didn't want to deal with.

"Very well then, if you do insist," Rose smiled, getting to her feet as well. She turned to Tommy and Fabrizio, feeling sad that most likely she'll never see them again. "I do thank you for your help gentlemen. It's been a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is ours, lass," Tommy nodded his head, taking off his hat.

"Caio, bella Rosa," Fabrizio waved good-bye.

"I'll see you guys in a few," Jack waved, leading Rose to the door. "Point the way."

Rose began in the direction of the other pub, retracing her steps. "I am so embarrassed."

"There's no need to be really. I'm just glad that we were nearby to be of some help," Jack smiled, enjoying this little bit of time he got to spend in her presence.

The silence between them was comfortable. In a way, they felt as if nothing needed to be said. For the first time, Rose didn't feel the need to flirt or pretend to be dumb, or anything else. She felt safe and secure, and for the first time like she wasn't alone in the world. She felt comfortable, despite the fact that she had only just met Jack.

For his part, Jack felt the same way. He felt that he didn't need to be anyone else but who he was with Rose, which was strange, because with girls like her, it was best to pretend to be something higher than you were, but somehow he knew that wouldn't fly with her.

As they entered the better side of town, both dreaded for their time together to end. They knew that once they reached her home, that they wouldn't see each other again. It would be highly inappropriate even to be considered friends. This saddened Rose. She didn't really have any real friends and she felt that Jack could possibly be the only one if given the chance.

Finally, they did reach her mansion. Gladly, no one was out waiting for her. She turned to Jack and gave a sad smile, hating to say goodbye to her hero.

"Thank you for all that you've done for me Jack. I really appreciate it," Rose held out her hand.

Taking the opportunity, Jack took her hand and kissed the back of it, just like in the Nickelodeons he loved going to whenever he could. "The pleasure was mine, Rose. Take care."

"You too. Maybe we will see each other again someday."

Jack's smile was small and contemplative. There was a way to see Rose again, but he would have to stop pretending. He would have to go home and take his place. He did want to see Rose again, but he didn't know if it was bad enough to return to his life in first class.

"Good night, Rose," Jack backed away, knowing that he'll never forget her, even if he returned to Boston.

"Good night, Jack," Rose sighed, watching him go.

Inwardly, she wished that he was Cal. She wouldn't have dreaded the infernal engagement so much. But he wasn't Cal and the little excitement that had been in her life was now gone. Now it was time to return to reality.