That evening at dinner was a rather lively one. Rose found herself enjoying hearing stories of Jack's time as a penniless artist in Philadelphia. She couldn't get enough of the adventures that her fiancee had been on when he had taken a hiatus from high society. While Rose and the Dawsons laughed, Ruth just sat there looking not amused. Honestly, sometimes she missed the quiet pomp of the Hockley household.

"So what happened then?" Rose asked.

"Boy-o admitted that he had a full house and the other bloke was steaming mad, we all thought there was going to be a fight for sure, then the bloke's wife came out and pulled him out of his chair by his ear, arguing at him about gambling the whole time!" Tommy laughed.

"Oh my god, that was close!" Rose giggled, looking over at a chuckling Jack.

"Honestly, Ralph. You should never have taught that boy how to play that god-awful game," Irene tsked.

"Mother, don't fret. It was all in good fun and that was the only time I had almost gotten in trouble because of it," Jack reassured his mother, chuckling at the memory.

"What else did Jack get up to?" Emilie asked, scooting a little closer to the Irishman who sat right next to her thanks to Jack arranging the seating positions.

"I think that's enough about me," Jack quickly interrupted, not wanting to risk any of the more...risque stuff coming out.

"Is Fabrizio and Helga not joining us?" Rose questioned, noticing the couple's absence.

"They had dinner with Fabri's father tonight. Hopefully, things are going well for them so far," Jack explained.

"Speaking of family, everyone should be arriving tomorrow. They're all looking forward to the gala and seeing who my son has chosen to spend his life with," Ralph took a sip of his water. "Emilie's parents will be among them."

Jack and Tommy looked at each other before Jack turned to his father. "Uncle Jerry and Aunt Rebecca. I haven't seen them in ages."

"They're looking forward to seeing you, son and they're especially looking forward to checking on Emilie. Jerry is thinking that it may be time to find his own daughter a suitor now that you're getting married."

"What? Are you serious? I mean...I'm not ready to get married. In fact...I was kind of hoping that I could do some things before then...like joining Jack and Rose when they go on their world trip after they come back from the honeymoon."

"World trip? Is Jack not taking over the company after the marriage?" Ruth frowned. "Pardon me, but hasn't he been in training all of this time."

"He'll be taking over after I retire. There is plenty of time for him to do other things," Ralph explained. "And Emilie, it's best that you discuss that with your parents."

Emilie sighed, feeling disappointed. She really didn't feel like eating at all anymore. "Pardon me, I think I'll go take a walk in the garden. My appetite seems to have disappeared."

"Emilie?" Jack frowned, concerned. He knew that Emilie was like Rose. She wanted freedom from the confines of high society and he had hoped that he could help her in some kind of way, whether that was letting her accompany him and Rose or helping her and Tommy start something so she could have that freedom with Tommy. Right now though, it looked like Emilie would end up just as trapped as Rose had been if something wasn't done and soon.

"I just need some air. Don't worry about me," Emilie got up from the table and headed for the door that led out into the garden.

"Darling, I think I'll join her. She seems distressed. Maybe she'll talk to me," Rose placed a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"That'll be good. Maybe Tommy and I can join you two as soon as we're finished here," Jack nodded, also feeling like Emilie may need a friend. Who better to talk to about being trapped than Rose?

Rose smiled and kissed Jack's cheek before getting up and following Emilie outside.

Rose didn't have to walk far to find Emilie, sitting on one of the benches, looking up at the stars, her pretty mouth turned down in a frown as tears shimmered in her eyes. It was alarming to see the normally happy Dawson cousin in tears like this.

"Emilie, are you alright?" Rose sat next to her friend, not knowing if Emilie wanted to talk or not.

"No. Not really. I'm just...frustrated. You know...I try so hard not to be, but I am so jealous of Jack that I can't stand it! It's not fair! It's not fair that just because he's a man he can do whatever the hell he wants to, marry who he wants to, and live like he wants to, but because I'm a woman, I'm not afforded the same opportunity. I'm forced to live this….vapid life with these vapid people doing vapid things! I don't want to marry some filthy rich businessman and be his trophy wife and only have shopping sprees and charity work to look forward to! But because I'm a female, that's the only life I can get. Unless the man I marry is like Jack, but let's face it, Jack is an abnormality. No one is like him, at least not in our crowd," Emilie let it all come out, unable to keep her emotions back any longer.

"I'm sorry."

"You know, it wasn't so bad living here because Aunt Irene and Uncle Ralph weren't pushing the whole marriage thing and allowed me some freedoms...but now that my parents are coming and talking about finding me a suitor...I can feel the shackles coming back on again...locking me in place."

Rose understood Emilie all too well. It hadn't been that long ago when she had been in a similar, even more, dire situation because she had been betrothed to Cal, or at least thought to be. But then Jack came into her life and everything changed. How she wished that she could do something to make things change for Emilie as well. If only there were other men like Jack in their society. Wanting to comfort her soon-to-be cousin-in-law, Rose wrapped her arms around her in a hug.

"I understand all too well how you fell, Emilie. Our crowd traps girls like me and you. They don't care what we may want, especially if it's not to their standards."

"What am I going to do, Rose? I wanted to start seeing Tommy romantically...but I don't even know if my parents will allow it. There's a slight chance if it was just Uncle Ralph and Aunt Irene...but they're not my parents and...it's been so long since I've seen them...I don't even know how conservative they are. They may not want me to see Tommy at all! If that's the case, whether I have Jack's support or not, I'm screwed, and as for joining you and Jack on your adventures later on...if they marry me off I can kiss that goodbye."

"But maybe they're not conservative at all. Maybe they're more like Jack's parents than you think. After all, they've allowed you to live with Jack and his parents all of this time. They can't disagree with the way they are much. Maybe you're panicking over nothing. I mean...they're not anything like my mother are they?"

"God no," Emilie laughed. "My mother is pretty laid back and so is my father. They're not bad parents and they're not stuck up...but...they do follow a lot of social rules."

"All I can tell you to do is talk to them. Let them know about Tommy and your hopes for the future. Maybe they'll surprise you."

"I doubt it…"

"Well, as of now you have nothing to lose and you won't know if you don't let them know where you stand. If they're nothing like my mother, they'll at least hear you out. They'll at least give your wishes some consideration."

Emilie sighed as Rose's words sinked in. Rose was right, she was just assuming that her parents won't listen and would insist on their own plans for her. She wasn't giving them the benefit of the doubt and that was wrong. She was going to have to talk to them when they came and got settled. Maybe things weren't as dire as she felt them to be.

"You're right. I'm making a mountain out of a molehill."

"Well, I can't blame you. I mean, I was almost bulldozed into marriage by my mother. I understand why you would be thinking the way you were. More people think like my mother than those that think like Jack's parents."

"I wish I had Jack's parents," Emilie sighed, resting her head against Rose's shoulder.

"So do I. Maybe you can talk with Jack's parents and they can help you with yours. A united front. I mean...you have so much more than I had, Emilie. It was just me and my mother. No one else was on my side. Not a cousin or an aunt...but you have Jack and his parents and I'm pretty sure that they have some sway over your parents."

"You're right. I'll just talk to Uncle Ralph and Aunt Irene tonight and then tomorrow I'll talk to my parents. Tell them that I don't want to get married yet and that I want to spend more time with Jack and you. Explore the world some before making such a decision."

"What about Tommy Ryan?" Rose had to ask, curious if Emilie still had her sights on him.

"Well, don't get me wrong. I do like Tommy and I would love to have something with him...but I don't know if he sees me that way and at this point, I don't see the reason to drag him into this with my parents. I won't mention Tommy until I know if there's something there to fight for."

"That's a good plan, Emilie."

"It looks like all I needed was a friend to talk to. To help me sort through my emotions and see the situation more clearly. Thank you, Rose. I am so happy that Jack had found you and that you're going to be a part of our family soon. I really am."

Rose felt tears in her eyes. She had never thought she'd find a real kindred spirit in the world she lived in, but it seemed that she found two in Jack and Emilie. "You know, I wonder why we weren't friends in finishing school. We have so much in common and I really like you. You've become my closest friend. I wonder how much fun finishing school would have been if we had discovered each other there."

"Oh my god, yes. We would have gotten into so much trouble," Emilie laughed, also wishing that she had gotten to know Rose more when they were in school together. "I honestly don't know why we didn't talk to one another back then."

"Maybe it just wasn't meant to be until now for some reason. But I'm glad that we finally met and became friends. Truly."

"Is that giggling I hear out here?" Jack finally came out, followed by Tommy, who had his hands in his pocket and looked rather awkward without the derby hat he usually wore.

"Yes, Rose and I were just having a conversation, girl to girl. She helped me figure out a couple of things."

"So she was of some help?" Jack asked, arching a brow. He sure did hope that Rose could help Emilie. She probably had more of a chance to than he did. After all, they had similar problems.

"She sure did. She was a great help. You're marrying an amazing girl, Jack. You better take good care of her and show her all the respect and love," Emilie nodded.

"Don't worry, I intend to do all of that and more," Jack smiled. "Now you know why I was willing to do any and everything for her."

"Of course. You two fit together so perfectly. Don't they, Mr. Ryan," Emilie allowed her gaze to fall on Tommy not for the first time that night. He was so very handsome in the garden standing in the moonlight. She just wanted to run her fingers through his curls and gaze into his warm brown eyes.

"Of course," Tommy nodded.

"Rose….why don't we take a small walk around the garden...give Emi and Tommy a chance to talk," Jack offered his arm to Rose, wanting to give Tommy and Emilie time alone together and talk to make up their minds about what their relationship was and wasn't. It was best to do that tonight before her parents arrived.

"That is a grand idea, darling," Rose accepted the offer, then paused, wondering if she was about to leave Emilie in an awkward position. She turned to her friend, her green eyes worried. "Will that be okay with you, Emilie?"

"Of course. Mr. Ryan and I do need to have a discussion. Go. Enjoy this quiet time with Jack. Goodness knows, tomorrow will be chaos," Emilie nodded, motioning for them to go.

Jack led Rose over to the gazebo, leaving Emilie and Tommy alone to talk.

"How is she?" Jack asked, worried about his cousin's state of mind.

"Better. We had a talk and came up with a start of a solution. She's just beginning to feel...the way I was feeling before I met you. Trapped…"

"I was hoping that she would never have to feel that way. I mean...you must think we're just as bad as the Hockleys…"

"Oh god no, your family is nowhere near that bad," Rose chuckled. "Emilie just needed to be reminded of that. She had to realize that her parents may actually be reasonable people. She just has to talk to them. Was I wrong?" Rose frowned, beginning to worry that maybe she had just given Emilie bad advice. After all, she didn't know these people, whereas Jack did. He may know something she didn't

"No, you're not wrong. Her parents may be a bit more conservative than mine, but they're not unreasonable. They want Emilie to be happy. They don't want to control her. They just want her to be well taken care of as well. That's all."

"I have to admit, I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. I'm going to meet the rest of your family and I'm terrified that they'll find me inappropriate. That they won't approve," Rose sighed, coming to a standstill as they reach the gazebo. "I mean, I'm not the perfect bride. My family name is mired with debt. I was almost engaged already. I…"

"You're absolutely perfect. Don't let anyone tell you differently," Jack wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm hardly perfect," Rose gave a derisive snort, letting her head rest against Jack's chest.

"You're perfect to me."

"Tell me, who is the worse of them? Prepare me."

"Well, to be honest, everyone on my father's side is pretty laid back and friendly. Very kind. You'll find that in most Dawson households, the staff loves working for the family and are pretty loyal. You won't have to worry, Rose."

"How about your mother's side. I'm pretty sure that you have family from her side attending."

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes, wishing that he didn't have to talk about that side of the family, not that he knew much about them anyway because his father made it a point to rarely invite them to Dawson family functions, but the engagement gala and wedding were two of the events that he couldn't not invite them. "Well, my mother's sister is nothing like my mother at all. She's more like your mother...but worse. She looks down her nose at everyone. If your mother's debts are known, she will be unpleasant. I apologize now if she says anything rude to you, Rose."

"Oh Jack, you don't have to apologize for her…"

"I want to. I mean, you're right. I should prepare you. In fact, I should also prepare Tommy and the others. I wish we didn't have to invite her and her family at all. I really don't want them anywhere near the gala or the wedding."

"Well...don't worry about me, Jack. I've survived my mother. Once you survive Ruth Dewitt Bukater, you can survive anything," Rose made herself smile, trying not to worry about meeting this difficult aunt.

"Just know that no one agrees with her. That if there's a black sheep it's her. She's only here because of obligation and she won't be a staple at family events."

Rose simply nodded. "It's alright, Jack. Really. Just as long as I get to be your wife and spend my life with you, I'll face anything she may have to say."

Jack smiled, gently pressing a hand against her cheek. "I love you Rosie. I'd marry you right now if you wanted."

"Don't tempt me," Rose laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck as she stepped closer to him. "We could ask Tommy and Emilie to be our witnesses and take a quick trip to the justice of the peace in town first thing tomorrow."

"We could...just say the word."

Rose wanted to say the word, but she liked Jack's parents and didn't want to cheat them out of seeing their son wed. So she simply stepped in for a lingering kiss and then pulled away. "It's best if we do the wedding. For mother's sake. She was so looking forward to a big Philadelphia wedding. She'll die if she's cheated out of a big Boston one."

Jack just smiled, willing to do whatever Rose thought best. "Well, if it ever gets to be too much, just say the word."