Today was the day that Jack was going see the friends he had left behind when he had returned to high society. Emilie was beyond excited. Meeting Tommy Ryan the day before, even though it was a short and awkward meeting, had been the highlight of her week and she couldn't wait for more. Rose was looking forward to seeing little Cora and the people she had thought she'd never see again. They had been so open and welcoming to her at Cora's party and she had been grateful for that. It had shown her that there was real goodness and warmth in the world. She just had to leave her little bubble and find it.

"I am so excited. Back in Boston, when Jack was gone, I always wondered what his life was like out in the real world, away from all of the luxury and opulence...what he was up to, who he was with. What were his friends like? It was a big adventure that I would never be allowed to take. I was unbelievably jealous," Emilie confessed, pulling on her white traveling gloves.

"I still am," Rose confessed. "It's so unfair. We'd never be allowed such freedom and all because we're women."

"At least we can live vicariously through my cousin, I suppose. I am so glad he did it, though. It was how he found you."

Rose's smile was a little sad. Emilie was right. If Jack hadn't taken his break from high society, there was little chance that they would have met before her relationship with Cal had gone any further. "I'm glad he did it, too. Even though I still think it all unfair."

"What are you two girls down here grumbling about?" Jack came down the stairs with Fabrizio right behind him. Jack was dressed in a blue cashmere sweater and tan khakis while Fabrizio was dressed like he always had back when he and Jack lived on the poor side of town. Jack wanted to borrow some of Fabrizio's clothes, but the Italian thought it best that their friends saw him as he really was. Not a penniless artist, but the down-to-earth son of a business tycoon. It was time for honesty.

"We were just talking about how unfair it is that we don't get to take breaks from high society like men are allowed to," Emilie chuckled. "Slumming parties are the only way we women get to experience how the other half lives."

"And they're nowhere near close enough. Making friends at such things is unheard of," Rose scoffed, remembering her slumming party experience.

"It got you close enough to meet Jack."

"That was because Ms. Dewitt Bukater got herself into a bit of trouble," Jack snorted at the memory.

"What happened?"

"Jack just had to be my hero, that's all. A charming hero with a nice smile," Rose smiled at the memory. "He made me feel so safe…"

"I had help by the way. I probably would have gotten pounded if Tommy and Fabri hadn't followed."

"Yes, all three of you were my heroes," Rose giggled, spotting Fabrizio's blush.

"The more I hear about this Tommy, the more I want to know him," Emilie grinned.

Jack shrugged, wondering if Tommy would even want to meet his cousin. Then again, he had told Fabrizio to bring the girls when he came to visit, so obviously, he probably would want to meet her. It was just him that Tommy would have an issue with.

"We should get going. Lunch is over. Tommy's place should be near empty by now," Jack sighed, glancing over at the time, feeling a little guilty and very nervous at the same time. Guilty, because he could have joined his father at that meeting if he wanted to, and nervous because soon he'll be face to face with Tommy and will know whether they could still be friends or not. He had a horrible feeling that the answer to that question will be not.

"Hey," Rose walked over to wrap her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose against his in an Eskimo kiss. "It'll be alright. Whether he forgives you or not, you'll still be the man I love and if he's smart, which I think he is, he'll see that you had never lied about who you are. Not really."

Jack wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, the love in her eyes soothing his frazzled nerves. "You're right. Everything will be alright, just as long as I'll always have you…"

"That is not even a question."

Emilie sighed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Alright, lovebirds. Let's get going. You two can make out later."

"Emilie," Jack glared at his cousin and shook his head, a little amused. "I hope you behave."

"I always do," Emilie winked before following Fabrizio out the door.

"I love your cousin," Rose laughed, linking her arm with Jack.

"And people claim that I'm the bad influence," Jack snorted, giving her a wink before leading her out of the mansion and to the car where Fabrizio and Emilie were both waiting.

…..

Tommy's pub was almost empty. The last of the lunch crowd was just exiting as Fabrizio, Jack, Rose, and Emilie entered. Helga was the first to notice and happily squealed, running up to Fabrizio, and giving him a big hug and kiss.

"Finally, you come back!" She exclaimed, pulling him into a deep kiss, not yet noticing that he wasn't alone.

Hearing Helga's declaration Tommy looked up with a smile when he saw Fabrizio, but the smile faded as he spotted Jack. He sighed deeply, not knowing how to react. His anger wasn't as high as it had been earlier that year, but the hurt was still there and just as deep. To be honest, he didn't know whether he should kick his old friend out or let him explain himself.

Fabrizio smiled as the kiss ended and he pulled back to look into his girlfriend's eyes. "Of course, I came back. And look, I brought friends!"

Helga simply smiled at Jack. "Welcome back, Jack. It is nice of you to finally come back and see us."

"He shouldn't have bothered," Tommy huffed, feeling his anger build up once again. "We don't like liars around these parts. Especially slumming ones."

Jack winced, not surprised by Tommy's anger and assumptions. "I wasn't slumming…"

"Oh really? Well then, what was it, boy-o? I mean, you're obviously not one of us, you never were. You just came down here to see how the other half lived, entertained by our struggles."

Jack didn't know what to say to explain himself. What could he possibly say that would get Tommy to see the motivation of why he did what he did?

Rose warily glanced over at Tommy and then at Jack, her heart aching for both of them. There was so much hurt and distrust there and so little time to clear it all up. It was all so very sad. There had been a strong friendship there once. Now it was all but gone. She had to try to put it back together, after all, it was her fault that Jack had returned to his high society life. It was to help her. She owed it to him to help somehow.

Clearing her throat, Rose stepped forward. "Mr. Ryan...Tommy...I know that we barely know one another, but you've always been kind to me and I understand why you're angry and hurt with Jack. I do. I was angry and hurt as well when I found out the truth…"

Tommy blinked, clearly shocked. "You mean, you didn't know either?"

"Surprisingly, no I didn't. To me, Jack was just a penniless artist I found myself irresistibly drawn to. He was the most fascinating person I had ever known with his kindness and bravery and talent. I...I had fallen for him so hard. When I found out who he was, I had been so angry. I had thought that he had been laughing at me, the poor little rich girl, trapped in a gilded cage. I thought he found my problems a joke. But, I found that he never found my problems funny. The only thing he lied about was his status in society, but as a person...he was always himself. The guy that you and I knew upon meeting really is who Jack is. He just has more money than we thought he did. He never lied to you, Tommy. The man that you befriended all those months ago, really is who Jack is. Trust me, I've spent the whole summer getting to know him. He never lied to us, not really."

"But he went back. He didn't even say goodbye."

"He went back like he did because that was the only way he could help me escape a bad situation. I was to be married to a horrid man that I did not love. The only way Jack could help me was to return to his life in Boston. He went back to help me, Tommy, not because he felt life here with you and your friends distasteful. In fact, he preferred the life he led here. He has missed you all terribly and I feel awful that he gave his life up to help me."

"Rose," Jack frowned, taking her hand in his. "I don't regret it. I got you away from Hockley. I can't regret that…"

"But you had to return to a world that you never felt a part of. You had a life here...a life where you were accepted and loved. A life where you had friends you loved like Tommy and little Cora. You gave that up for me, Jack, and I'll never be able to repay that. It just shows the person that you are. A kind, compassionate man."

"That is all well and good for you, lassie. But the fact still remains that he lied to all of us. We believed him to be something that he obviously wasn't. Poor."

"Mr. Ryan, forgive me," Emilie stepped forward, beginning to feel frustrated and a little insulted. Right now, it seemed that this guy was just using any excuse to stay angry with Jack. "But Jack's monetary status has nothing to do with the person he is. If that was the case, well then Rose might as well have stayed engaged to that awful Caledon Hockley!"

"It has everything to do with it! Money keeps him from knowing what being born without that golden spoon is like!" Tommy argued.

"He has lived here with you, living life as you do! He does know what it's like to not have money! Yes, I admit, he did have a choice in the matter, but still, he's not as evil as you want to make him out to be!"

"You wouldn't understand it. None of you would! He had us all believe that he was one of us! He didn't deem us important enough to even tell us the truth in person!"

Rose opened her mouth to argue some more when the sound of little feet running into the pub interrupted. She was stunned to see little Cora run in, followed by Caledon Hockley and Gretchen Housley, Rose's former finishing school schoolmate, who in Rose's opinion was one of the most childish women alive.

Spotting Jack, Cora darted into his arms.

"Cora, what is this? What's going on?" Jack immediately scooped her up into his arms.

"Cal? What are you doing, chasing after a little girl?" Rose glared at her former fiancee, wondering just how deprived the man could be.

"Why hello, sweetpea. What a surprise to see you...in this place...but seeing who you decided to associate yourself with, I am not all that surprised," Cal sneered.

"Better company than yours will ever be," Rose shot back angrily. "What are you doing chasing after poor little Cora?"

"That little thief store my comb," Gretchen huffed, pointing at the little tiara comb that Rose and Jack had brought for the child ages ago. "I've had my eyes on it forever and then it had disappeared and now I see this...undeserving child wearing it, it's outrageous!"

Jack stared at this grown woman in disbelief. "That's bullshit! Cora didn't steal anything! Rose and I brought it for her ages ago!"

"What is going on here?" Bert Cortmell entered from the back, followed by his wife. They had seen Cora dart into the pub, followed by the well-dressed couple, and wanted to find out what was going on.

"That little thief there store my companion's hair ornament and Dawson here is covering for her it looks like," Cal snarled.

"You dumbass, she is not a thief. I told you, Rose and I brought it for her. If you like, I'll drag you to the store. The clerk will tell you herself!" Jack sat Cora down so she could run to her parents as he remained in place, putting himself between the child and the two overgrown bullies.

"I didn't steal anything papa!" Cora threw her arms around her father, who lifted her up into the safety of his arms.

"That little brat is lying! That tiara is mine!" Gretchen took a step as if she was going to go after the little girl to snatch the hair ornament away, but found her way blocked by a glaring Rose.

"You were always a bully, Gretchen, even in finishing school. But I never thought that you were this pathetic, trying to steal from a little girl!"

"No one asked you, Rose!"Gretchen glared. "Get out of my way!"

"No! I'm not letting you anywhere near her!"

Gretchen snorted. "And what are you going to do to stop me, huh? Scratch my eyes out? Move!"

Gretchen tried to push Rose aside, determined to take the hair ornament from Cora. She cried out as Rose's fist smashed into her nose, knocking her back.

"Ow! Cal, she hit me!"Gretchen howled in outrage, holding her bleeding nose.

"Why it is a little slut isn't it?!" Cal angrily reached out and slapped Rose, this time not only angering Jack but Fabrizio and Tommy too.

"Rose!" Jack balled his fists, ready to pummel Cal.

"You bastardo!" Fabrizio glared, grabbing hold of one of Cal's arms, glad to see an angry Tommy grabbing the other arm.

"We don't take kindly to woman beaters around these parts, arsehole!"Tommy twisted the arm he had behind Cal's back, smiling when the businessman cried out in pain.

"I've been wanting to do this for a long long time," Jack angrily growled, slamming his fist into Cal's midsection. "It's not too fun when you have to pick on someone your own size, is it, Hockley?" Jack punched him again."

"Oh my god, stop! Stop! You're hurting him!" Gretchen cried, looking around for anyone to stop Jack, Fabrizio, and Tommy, but no one moved a muscle. "You all are horrible bullies!"

"The only bully here is you," Emilie folded her arms across her chest, wanting to join in on beating up Cal. "Rose, what do you want to do with her? I think between the two of us, we can take her down."

Rose was about to reply but was suddenly cut off when Jack's father entered the pub and paused in horror to see his son pummeling Caledon Hockley.

"What is the meaning of this?! Jack Dawson what do you think you are doing?!" Ralph yelled, bringing everything to a standstill. Never in his life did he even think that his son would have a violent bone in his body. To see Jack beating up the son of a fellow businessman...well it was disconcerting

Jack paled when he saw his father standing in the doorway, staring at him in disbelief. "Father...I can explain….he deserves it! He not only attacked Rose, but he and his bi...lady friend was chasing after little Cora, trying to steal a gift that Rose and I had gotten her for her birthday!"

"It's true, Uncle Ralph! I saw it all!" Emilie backed Jack up. "Jack is only defending Rose and that little girl from these two bullies!"

Ralph didn't know what to think in this situation. He frowned as indeed, he saw a bruise forming on Rose's cheek from where she had obviously been struck. He looked over at where a crying little girl was clinging to her father. "Sir, is what my son says true?"

"Yes sir," Bert Cortmell approached the small group, feeling wary of the whole situation. "We were taking my daughter Cora to the park. She wanted to wear the tiara comb that Jack had brought her for her birthday. We thought nothing of it. We let her wear it. We are in the park watching our daughter play when this...woman here claimed it was hers and tried to snatch it out of our daughter's hair and this...gentleman backed her up and they chased her into here where Jack and his companions defended her. That man hit the young lady there…"

"After she assaulted my date!" Caledon growled.

"Rose is a girl and so is your witch there. It's nothing like a bloke hitting a lass!" Tommy growled, wanting to shake Cal some more, but restrained himself.

Ralph Dawson pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. He had to say, he was not surprised by any of this. "Caledon Hockley, your behavior is exactly what I expect from you and your father. It wasn't enough that you call me and tried to disparage the family of this young lady here, but you hitting her...after trying to steal from a child...that is indeed detestable! I am in the mind to let my son continue to pummel you!"

"Now see here…," Cal sputtered, struggling against the hold that Tommy and Fabrizio still had him in.

"But, we are all gentlemen here. I think you have learned your lesson today about picking on those weaker than you! You and your lady friend here are free to go and may I suggest that you never show your faces in this part of town again. And I will be letting Nathan know of your behavior. I am most certain that he won't be happy about his son trying to steal a comb from a child. Especially when he can afford to buy his own."

"Don't forget how he had hit Rose!" Jack pointed out.

"Of course," Ralph nodded.

"Why are you taking their side? She hit me and they beat Cal up! They're nothing but ruffians!" Gretchen sobbed.

"Your family name is Housley I do believe," Ralph frowned. "I do business with your father, he's a good man. He is going to be so embarrassed when I tell him about his daughter's actions today."

"Cal! I want to go home!" Gretchen cried out, terrified about what her father will do to her.

Fabrizio and Tommy release the bruised Caledon Hockley, who simply glared at Jack and Rose. "I hope you enjoy your time together!"

"Oh we certainly will," Jack smirked, wrapping an arm around Rose and watching as Cal and Gretchen fled the pub.

Jack stared at his father, sure that he was still in trouble, even though he was defending Rose and Cora. He didn't know what to say to smooth over the situation, not to mention this was not how he had wanted to introduce his father to the people he had spent a year with. "How mad are you?"

Ralph chuckled and placed a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder. "Now why would I be mad at my son for defending not only his fiancee but a little girl from bullies, huh? I have to say that I am so proud of you."

"And he still has yet to introduce me to his friends," Emilie chuckled, pleased that her cousin wasn't in trouble.

"Um, Father, Emilie...this is Bert Cortmell, his wife Sarah, and their daughter Cora," Jack introduced the Cortmell family first. "And this is Helga Dahl, she's Fabri's girl…."

Jack then turned to Tommy, not sure if Tommy considered him a friend or was still hanging on to his anger, but he decided that it didn't matter. In the end, he helped him defend Rose, once again. "And this is Tommy Ryan. He owns this place and he was one of the main people Fabri and I hung out with. I consider him one of my best friends…whether he's angry with me or not. I'll never stop being his friend. Maybe one day, he'll see me the same way again."

At that moment, Tommy felt his anger fade away. The hurt was there still, but the fact that Jack still considered him his best friend, no matter what...it lessened the hurt some and he began to see what Rose and Emilie had been saying since they had entered the pub. "I already do, boy-o."

With tears in their eyes, the boys hugged, signaling that what had been broken was already repairing itself.