(A/N: I apologize for the confusion about the name of Jack's father. I don't know how I got mixed up on his name. From now on, we'll go with his name being Albert. I'm really sorry for the confusion)

The next two days were not very happy ones for Rose. Depression had settled over her like a wet blanket, not allowing a happy thought through. Ever since Jack broke the news of Cal's latest move, she couldn't shake the feeling that once again her life wasn't her own. That someone else had the controls and they were going to move against her best interest, taking no consideration of what she may want or plan.

At the moment, she was in the library of the Dawson's summer estate, having spotted her favorite book, The Secret Garden, amongst the shelves. Unbeknownst to Rose, Jack stood silently in the doorway, watching her, a small frown on his face. He couldn't help but be concerned about the turn in Rose's demeanor. Gone was the happy and hopeful young lady that had arrived on their doorstep, ready for a summer of fun. Instead, Rose had returned to the sad debutante he had met in Philadelphia. A girl with dreams, but no real options to make them a reality. A girl doomed to a life that others had planned out for her. This was not what he had wanted out of this summer.

Irene Dawson was on her way downstairs to give directions for dinner to the staff when she came across the scene. She couldn't help but be worried to see how unhappy her son was at the moment as he watched the girl that he fancied in the library. She too had noticed the change in Rose and had also guessed it was because of her husband's decision to entertain the Hockley's gossip. She sighed as she stepped up behind her son and placed an understanding hand on his shoulder.

"Rose hasn't been too happy with us for the past two days, has she?"

Jack shook his head, feeling rather melancholy himself. "It's not fair. Since when has the Hockley's opinion meant more than mine?"

"Oh Jack, that's not why your father did what he did. He just feels that things are moving so fast. He just wants you to take your time and make sure that this is what you really want. He does want you to be happy. He does care about what you want."

"You can fool me," Jack sighed, turning to face his concerned mother. "She's back to being the sad caged girl she was when we first met."

Irene frowned as she looked past Jack to see Rose reading a book. Indeed, there seemed to be a cloud of gloom surrounding the girl. She indeed wasn't the same girl that had arrived at Coney Island. It made Irene sad to see such a lovely young lady so sad.

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"What can you possibly say that could make her happy again? I've tried everything," Jack shook his head, at a loss on how to help Rose through this recent hiccup.

"Some encouraging words from the matriarch of the family may be what the girl needs, and some motherly comfort. Goodness knows I doubt the girl's mother has it in her to be very comforting at all."

Jack couldn't help a snort of amusement. I take it that you don't like Rose's mother very much."

Irene gave her son a stern look and shook her head. "Jack Dawson, do not be disrespectful to your elders. But...let's just say that I think the woman can be a lot warmer towards her daughter and less entitled shall I say."

"See, that's why I need to get Rose into this family. She deserves a mother in law like you. A woman that can treat her in the way a daughter should be treated. Someone that's warm and loving. She deserves a husband that loves her for herself and wants to help her reach her dreams, not stomp them out like Hockley will. Someone that loves her because she's, fun, smart, funny, and adventurous. Not just because she'd look good on their arm at galas..."

Irene smiled as she saw the passion in Jack's eyes as he talked about what Rose deserved. Plus, his face lit up in a way that she had never seen it before. Her son was indeed head over heels in love with this girl. But did Rose really feel the same? Maybe it was time for her to discover that herself. If Rose lit up as Jack did...well she'll have to do what she always did when Albert needed to be nudged in the right direction.

"Darling, as always, you wear your heart on your sleeve. Let me talk to Rose. I know the girl's mother, but I want to know her and help give her some hope if I can."

"Mother?"

"Your father is a good man. He wants you to be happy, but he sometimes gets muddled up and needs my help. You just leave everything to me. If this Rose is as amazing as you say she is if her face lights up like yours just had, your father won't be a hard man to convince."

Jack sighed and looked over to Rose, who still had her nose buried in her favorite story. He smiled, feeling his heart beat a little faster. "I am so in love with her. She's everything I could ever want."

Irene smiled, seeing her son look at someone the way Albert looked at her, it did her heart good. "I can see that."

"Funny thing is...she's in love with me too. She fell in love with me when she thought I was penniless. I saw it in her eyes then...and I still see it now. I am going to marry her. No matter what he says."

"I can see that too. But let's give your father a chance. After all, I want to see my only son wed in a proper ceremony," Irene chuckled, wrapping her arms around her son in a reassuring hug. She didn't know what she was going to have to do, but she was going to make things right for Jack and Rose. She swore to it.

….

It was later in the day. Finished with her book, Rose was about to enter the garden when Irene approached her with a serene smile on her face, taking Rose off guard. Jack's mother had never approached her on her own before. This was new and Rose had no idea what to expect.

"Rose, dear. I am so glad that I have caught up with you. I was thinking about doing a bit of shopping, but Emilie is off visiting and Ruth is taking a day of rest from our usual activities. I was hoping that perhaps you would join me. It won't be too much. I just want to visit a few dress shops. See what you young girls find fashionable these days," the older woman chuckled, her eyes, the same shade as her son's sparkling happily.

Shopping was the last thing Rose wanted to do. She much rather be left alone in her state of melancholy. But she dared not refuse. After all, this was Jack's mother. This woman may be testing her to see if she was worthy of her son. Refusing a shopping trip would probably send a horrible impression.

"Why certainly, I'd love to go with you, Mrs. Dawson," Rose made herself smile, trying to must muster as much excitement as she could. To be honest, she hated dress shopping, but for Jack, she'll go.

Irene sent for the car and they were off.

Irene and Rose spent at least two hours going from dress shop to dress shop, picking out a dress from each and admiring what the shops had to offer. Irene found herself enjoying the time with Rose. Emilie was wonderful, but she never had the mother/daughter shopping experience with her. With Rose being a potential, or rather soon to be daughter in law, the experience was quite different. Irene had the sense of what it would have been like if she had a daughter of her own.

It was at the last shop where things changed. The shop was for more formal dresses like ball gowns and wedding dresses. Irene had wanted to stop there because she always enjoyed getting a sense of what was in that season, so she'd be in the know for when the family held and attended their own functions. She was examining an emerald green dress made of satin and lace when she spotted Rose over to the right, where the wedding dresses were displayed. The girl seemed to be staring a what looked to be one of the more simpler wedding gowns that the store had to offer. She walked over to get a better look at herself to find that she was right. There was not a jewel or sequin in sight on the dress. No beading to weigh the garment down. It was beautiful in its simplicity of satin and lace.

"It's a lovely dress. It doesn't need all the first-class glamour to be beautiful. I like it," Irene tilted her head, turning her attention to Rose, who seemed to be blushing all of a sudden.

"It's perfect. Too bad my mother would never allow me a dress like this. To her, the more adornments on a dress, the better. Something about showing off one's status," Rose sighed, running a gloved hand down the skirt of the dress.

"I take it that you don't care about such things?"

Rose simply shook her head. "No. If status meant anything, my father wouldn't have died the way he had."

"Hmm, you're right there. I suppose that in the scheme of things, when it all comes down to it, we are all the same. Money cannot save us from death."

"I would love this wedding dress. It'd be perfect for a wedding to...well the man I love..," Rose caught herself, not wanting to make assumptions, yet not able to help herself. She was so in love with Jack, she couldn't picture ever wanting to marry anyone else. In a way, it kind of scared her with how fast, how easily she had fallen in love with him. She didn't even know if it was normal. She just knew how she felt.

"It'd be perfect for a wedding to Jack, you mean?" Irene smiled, catching where Rose was going and also agreeing with her. The dress would be perfect. It somehow fit her son's personality and the personality of the woman he loved. Simplicity at its very core.

Rose's blush deepened. "I don't mean to assume..."

"You're not assuming anything, Rose. My son is in love with you. I am very much aware of that and I can only assume that those feelings are returned."

"They are. I know that it must seem sudden. That I was Emilie's friend, here by her invitation."

"You are. Emilie is very fond of you."

Rose's smile was so sweet and genuine. If Irene didn't already like the girl, she would have won her over by that smile alone. "Emilie is wonderful. I never had a close girl friend before and she's shown me how wonderful it could be. I mean...I suppose I had friends, but no one as fun as Emilie. She gets me in a way that no one else does, especially in Philadelphia circles."

"I'm glad that she is such a good friend to you, Rose. We all need a good girl friend. Someone to share our secrets and hopes with. Someone who can understand what growing up in this world is like for a woman. Such support is vital."

Rose nodded. "I adore her."

"And Jack?" This was it. The moment where Irene can rightfully judge if Rose's feelings for Jack were as deep as they should be.

"Jack...it's indescribable how he makes me feel. When I first met him, I thought he was a penniless artist who was kind, brave, and compassionate. He treated me better than any first-class gentleman ever had. He treated me like a person who had her own hopes and dreams, not as some decorative object. He listened and he never made fun of me and my ideas. He made me feel as if anything was possible, even the impossible. He still makes me feel like that.

"To be honest, I feel in love with Jack before I ever knew that he was a Boston Dawson and it grows deeper every day. I know that my mother is obsessed with money and staying a part of high society, but I don't feel the same. I can do without it all. All I'd ever need would be Jack and his way of making every day feel like something worth living. He's everything I have ever wanted to be. He's everything I've ever wanted."

Irene blinked back the tears in her eyes as she saw the obvious love for her son in Rose's face and heard it in her voice. This girl really did love her son in the way Irene hoped he would be loved. Rose and Jack had the same spirit and they deserved to be together.

Smiling, she placed a gentle hand on Rose's shoulder. "I can tell just by the expression on your face that the love that you have for my son is real. My husband is not a cruel man, Rose. He's a very good man and Jack loves and respects him. Really, our son is the most important thing to him and he just wants Jack to have the same thing we share. Show him what you had just shown me. Make him see that it's Jack you're here for. Not the payment of debts. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Hope again returning to her, Rose nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I understand."

Irene smiled, wrapping her arms around Rose in a warm hug. "Good. I can't wait to welcome you into the family dear."