Jack looked around the hotel suite that had been rented for Emilie and himself and inwardly cringed. This was a far cry from the small room that he had shared with Fabrizio not too long ago during his first stay in Philadelphia. That room had been cramped, poorly lit,and was barely enough room for the two men, but Jack had loved it. This suite was huge with a sitting room, two large bedrooms and two smaller rooms for a valet or lady's maid, and was brightly lit, and luxurious. It was a suite fit for royalty, but Jack preferred the small one on the poor side of town. The room where he was only known as Jack. Here, in this suite, he was Jack Dawson, heir to a fortune, Mr. Jack Dawson to people he didn't know.

Jack was now standing in the sitting room, waiting for Fabrizio to finish unpacking the luggage that he had brought. He was trying to keep the employer and employee vibe up between himself and Fabrizio, on Emilie's orders, but he was finding it difficult. Emilie felt that it would seem inappropriate in the eyes of the Philadelphia elite if Jack treated his valet like his best friend. His kindness may turn off any potential friendship with the gentlemen that his father would approve of. But Fabrizio was his best friend. That wasn't a fact that Jack could just forget.

"It is strange to be here and not at our flat, yes?" Fabrizio finally emerged, rubbing his tired hands together.

"It most definitely is. If it wasn't for Rose, I'd go back right now and forget all of this," Jack frowned, feeling too hot in the suit and tie he was wearing.

"But you can't go back. You're here to make new friends, rich friends. Not visit old, poor ones who are probably upset with you right now anyway," Emilie emerged from her room.

"So what now? Do we call on Rose?" Jack asked, all too eager to see the redhead again.

"Jack, I was wondering," Fabrizio cleared his throat, almost afraid to ask. It pained him that Jack had to act the part of the Dawson heir and wasn't free to visit their friends. It made him sad, but there was nothing he could do to help the situation. "Can I have the day off? To see Helga?"

Jack simply nodded, his eyes dimming a little as he realized that he wouldn't be visiting the friends he had made in the past year. "Yeah, sure. You go see your girl and I'll go see mine."

"I'll send my girl to the Dewitt Bukater house to announce our visit. It would be rude to just show up," Emilie chuckled, grabbing a pen and paper off of the desk.

...

Fabrizio stepped into the pub with a pounding heart. He couldn't help but be nervous. He was there to see Helga, who worked as a waitress, but Tommy Ryan, friend to both himself and Jack, was a bartender at the bar as well and was known for his Irish temper. Word had it that Tommy was rather angry when he found out who Jack really was. Fabrizio just hoped that his anger didn't extend towards him.

"Fabrizio!" Helga gasped, surprised to see the young Italian back from Boston. She hadn't expected to see him again for some time. "You're back!"

"Bella Helga, I could not stay away," Fabrizio grinned, forgetting all about Tommy and his anger at the sight of his girlfriend.

"I am glad to see you, despite your keeping secret from me," Helga pouted, playfully slapping Fabrizio's arm.

"He was keeping secrets from us all. Both him and Jack! Isn't that right, boy-o!" Tommy called over. By the look on his face, it was clear that he was less than pleased to see Fabrizio back in his bar.

Slowly, Fabrizio approached and cleared his throat. "Tommy, I know that you are mad that we were less than honest...but we never lied to you about who we were. Jack and I are best friends and he was and still is your friend too. We just didn't tell you that he was rich. Why would we? It was not important...at the time."

"You did not trust us. That is what hurt," Helga stepped up, wanting to mediate the situation. She didn't like arguments between friends.

"It was not that we did not trust you. It was that...well we didn't want to be treated like a first class gentleman and his valet. We wanted to be treated like normal people. You cannot say that you would have treated Jack like a regular person if he had told you."

"That does not matter. What matters is that you both had lied. You are welcomed in this pub, but tell Jack not to show his face here," Tommy began to angrily clean a empty glass, averting his eyes from Fabrizio, unwilling to listen to any attempts to sooth his anger. "I do not like being made fun of."

"He never made fun of you, amico. He would never."

"Oh really? He is no different from the lot that came here slumming that one time. I'm surprised that pretty redhead didn't recognize him. Hmph," Tommy ranted.

"He wasn't slumming...he wasn't here to check out how the lower class lived. He came here to make real friends...to be a part of a place that genuinely cared for one another. It's not like that in Boston...in his world. Everything is business deal. He wanted friends that were real. A life that was real. He loved all of you and he loved the life we had here."

"Loved it so much, he went running home to daddy. What happened? Things got a little too rough for him? What changed?"

Fabrizio wanted to defend Jack. Tell Tommy that the only reason Jack returned to his world of high society because he was on the mission to rescue that pretty redhead that the Irishman had mentioned. But instead, he sighed and shook his head, knowing that Tommy wouldn't accept any of it. He was just too angry.

"Come on, Fabrizio. It is time for my break. Let's sit and you can tell me all about Boston," Helga lead him to one of the booths.

Fabrizio just nodded and looked back at Tommy, who still refused to look at him. He hoped that someday, Tommy would forgive Jack and they could all go back to being the best of friends that they had been before the return to Boston.

"Let me tell you why Jack went back to Boston and then you can tell Tommy when he's not angry anymore, yes?"

Helga simply smiled and nodded her head, eager to hear the story. She had to admit, she was very curious about it all.

...

Rose sat in the garden, reading the telegram over and over again. Emilie and Jack were in Philadelphia and would be dropping by shortly for a visit. Her mother was inside now, giving the servants orders to make the house as presentable as possible for visitors, while Rose waited in the garden in one of her best dresses for company to arrive.

Normally, she'd dread visitors. Visitors meant a day full of pretending to be someone she wasn't and pretending to care about what the visitor cared about. But theses visitors were different. She actually liked Emilie and looked forward to spending more time with Jack. She was actually looking forward to the day ahead.

"Rose, there you are. I am glad to see you ready for our visitors," Ruth entered the garden, her hands clasped and her eyes roaming the surroundings, hoping to make sure that there was nothing out of place. "I will have Trudy bring out some tea once company arrives. Ruth's smile turned into a frown at the ring of the doorbell. "Oh, they're early! I must go find Trudy to..."

"Mrs. Dewitt Bukater, Caledon Hockley is here to see Miss. Rose," Trudy was suddenly behind Ruth.

"What?" Rose got to her feet, alarmed by this unexpected turn.

"Mr. Caledon Hockley is here for a visit, ma'am. Shall I show him out here to the garden?"

"No you must not," Rose couldn't help herself. Today was supposed to be her visit with Jack! She would not have Caledon Hockley ruin it!

"Rose! How rude! Cal is your suitor if not your outright fiancee. Anyway, this visit is quite unexpected, especially after that visit with Nathan. Hopefully, the young Mr. Hockley does not agree with his father and want to carry on with the engagement," Ruth scalded before turning to Trudy. "Show Mr. Hockley in and then bring out some tea, enough for four people. We are expecting the Dawsons soon. Show them out here when they arrive."

"Yes, Mrs," Trudy nodded before turning back into the house.

"Mother, I am to visit with Emilie and perhaps her cousin today. I don't have time for Cal," Rose faced her mother, hoping to convince Ruth to send Cal away.

"Of course you have time for Caledon, Rose. He is your fiancee...or he is close to being your fiancee anyway. I know that you hope that there will be a match with young Mister Dawson, but that family is in a higher station than ours and we must not get our hopes up and alienate the suitors that are a sure thing."

"According to Nathan Hockley he's not," Rose stated, resisting the urge to cross her arms and pout like a child that wasn't getting her way.

"Ugh, don't remind me and be on your best behavior. Do you understand me?"

"Mr. Hockley, Mrs," Trudy returned with Caledon Hockley behind her.

Rose frowned at the sight of him, unable to quickly hide her dislike. Ugh, what did he want? Why did he decide to show up today of all days? When she had hoped for a pleasant visit with Jack? Now that was all but ruined.

"Thank you, Trudy," Ruth gave a gracious smile as she turned to face Caledon, who seemed oblivious to Rose's displeasure of seeing him in the garden. "Caledon, what an unexpected surprise!"

"Hello, Ruth. Good afternoon, sweet pea. I was in the area and thought that I should stop by for a visit. I know it is unexpected, but with Father's...new attitude, I thought it would be wise to stop by and state that I am not in agreement with him. I do prefer Rose's company to most and I look forward to proving that," Cal put on his most charming smile.

"That is good to know, Caledon. I must say, your father's visit did have me concerned. I thought that maybe you had your eye on someone else," Ruth's smile did nothing to hide her pleasure at this news, while Rose had to fight against the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Even though, it is wise to keep your options open," Rose couldn't resist to add, not wanting her mother to forget that there was another option.

"Ah, Rose. How I have missed your company. May it be too forward to ask for a walk along the garden?" Cal's eyes fell on Rose. His smile reminded her of a hungry wolf's and Rose found herself wishing for Jack more than ever.

"Actually, I am expecting company. There really is no time for courting today."

"Rose! I am sure that there is enough time for a small stroll. After all, the Dawson's aren't here as of yet," Ruth gasped, giving Rose a slight nudge.

Rose resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She honestly didn't get her mother. She had presented her with a more tempting choice in Jack, a better choice, a much more richer choice, yet her mother was still insisting on making her spend time with Cal, a man that Rose simply couldn't stand.

"Sweet pea?" Cal offered his arm, just as Trudy again appeared, this time followed by Emilie and Jack.

''Emilie and Jack Dawson, Mrs," Trudy announced.

Rose felt a mixture of relief and trepidation at Jack's arrival. She had no idea what was to happen now. Of course, she knew that Jack and Cal would have a confrontation eventually, but she had no idea it would be so soon!

Rose felt all the muscles in her body tense as Cal and Jack eyed each other, measuring each other up. On some level, they knew that they were here for the same reason.

"Well well well, it looks like we're interrupting something," Emilie smiled, looking between Cal and Jack. Both men were extremely handsome, but only one was the preferred choice. Oh to be in Rose's shoes. "It looks like someone's a lucky girl."