Rose saw the legs of someone standing nearby. She wondered if whoever it was had heard her crying. Suddenly embarrassed, she kept her head low and her eyes down as she walked right past the person.
"Rose."
She froze mid step. It was impossible. The chances of ever seeing Jack again were too slim, if they even existed at all. Rose raised her head and eyes simultaneously but didn't turn around. She was hearing things; she was confident of it. But she didn't want to be hearing things. Call my name again. Please.
Rose strained her ears, listening as intently as she could. She heard voices of others on the decks and the sound of the ship cutting through the water. She didn't hear his voice call her name, but she did hear someone walking towards her slowly. Rose felt his presence draw closer. She sucked in a breath as a familiar hand gently laid itself upon her shoulder.
It happened in a blur. Jack's arms were around her and holding her tightly to his chest. Rose buried his face in his shirt, breathing in his scent of dirt and cigarettes. It was so oddly comforting and she didn't know why, but she knew that she didn't care. She couldn't speak, couldn't think. All she was able to do was just be.
Jack hadn't even made eye contact with her, for the moment he had touched her she spun herself into his arms. He felt her body shaking against his as he kissed her hair. She was trying to hold in her emotions as she clung to him. It felt as if she was afraid to let go, afraid that if she did he would vanish into thin air. Jack clutched her tighter, afraid of the same thing.
"Tell me you're real," he said quietly, nervous that even his voice would shatter the illusion.
Rose lifted her head and found his eyes with hers. "I'm only real if you're real," she replied softly. "Jack." She wanted to say his name a hundred times. She pulled away enough to reach up and touch his face. "Jack."
Jack felt himself lean into her touch. For a moment he closed his eyes. He turned his face slightly to nuzzle her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the heel of her hand. Rose let out the tiniest of moans and Jack's eyes opened.
"You're really here," he said, finally able to believe it. "I thought I'd never see you again." He pulled her close to him again and nuzzled her neck.
Rose chocked back a sob. There was something about the way he said those words that broke her heart. "I'm so sorry Jack." She sniffled. "I'm sorry. It happened so suddenly and –"
"Shhhh, it's okay," Jack assured her. He hugged her tighter. "It doesn't matter." Jack let out a sudden sigh of relief. "You're here now."
Rose felt a smile form on her lips. For the next few moments she let herself forget everything. She just let her body relax in Jack's arms. "I can't believe this is happening Jack." She pulled away just enough to look at Jack, but she kept her arms around his neck, afraid to stop touching him.
"I thought I was going crazy earlier, I really did," Jack said.
"What do you mean?"
Jack let a breath. "This afternoon I thought I saw you out on the boat deck." Rose's eyes widened. "I wanted to call out to you, but I was afraid that I was seeing things. Or that you weren't alone."
"I was, but not for long. Cal showed up to reprimand me for my behavior at lunch." Rose felt a sudden wave of nausea wash over her and she felt her legs shake. "I need to sit down Jack," she told him quickly. Without hesitation, Jack led her to the closet bench.
"Is everything alright? Are you ill?" Jack rubbed her arm to soothe her. Rose leaned forward and rested her head in her hands.
"Just give me a moment. Please," she replied. You need to tell him that you think you're pregnant. Rose focused on her breathing, waiting for the feeling to pass. Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of telling Jack that she may be carrying his child. It didn't make the nausea any easier to deal with. Jack's hand on her arm soothed her and with a few more deep breaths the feeling passed. Rose slowly lifted her head. "I'm alright."
Jack's eyes were full of concern. "Are you sure? You're awfully pale Rose."
"I've just been a little ill since we boarded the ship," she said.
"Seasick?"
"Possibly," Rose said. "I'm not entirely sure." She looked to her hands, willing the nausea to stay away. At least long enough for me to tell him. She took a few deep breathes, just to be sure.
"What else could be wrong?" Rose bit the inside of her lip, a nervous habit of hers.
"Jack," she began with a sigh. "I think that –"
"Rose?"
Rose snapped her mouth shut quickly and turned around to see Cal approaching the bench. "Shit," she muttered, just loud enough for Jack to hear.
"Rose, what the hell are you doing here?" His eyes moved to Jack. "And who is this?"
Rose stood quickly, taking a second or two to wipe her eyes carefully before turning to face him. "Cal," she said, flashing a smile. "This is Mr. Jack Dawson. He and I had met in Rome. I had come out here for some fresh cold air and we ran into each other." She turned to Jack. "Mr. Dawson, this is my husband," Rose walked to stand beside Cal, "Mr. Caledon Hockley."
"Mr. Hockley, it's a pleasure to meet you," Jack said, holding out his hand. He already didn't like Cal, but the dislike grew as Cal stood there looking smug, with his hand on Rose's lower back. Fortunately, Jack was great at small talk. "'Your wife has told me a great deal about you," Jack lied smoothly. Rose had spoken of Cal rarely, and it was never in a positive light. The rest Jack knew was because Cal was well known all over the world.
Cal barely hid a grimace as he took Jack's hand. "Likewise Mr. Dawson," he said politely. "Although I can't say my wife has told me anything about you." He turned his attention back to Rose. "Are you alright Sweetpea?"
Rose hid her nervousness with ease. "I'm fine Cal. I began to feel a bit dizzy, but I'm okay now."
"Well shall we return to the cabin? You look a bit pale." Cal removed his jacket and draped it over Rose's shoulders.
"Yes, I'm sure it's getting late. I'm just tired." No. I don't care if I ever return to that ridiculously oversized, over decorated and overpriced cabin. "Mr. Dawson, it was wonderful to see you again. I hope to see you before the ship docks."
Jack smiled at her, pushing the jealously that raged through him down. "That would be wonderful," he told her sincerely.
"Why don't you join us for dinner tomorrow evening?" Rose asked. She had no idea why she had said the words out loud. What are you thinking? "I'm sure everyone would enjoy your stories of traveling through Europe and your thoughts on art." Rose hoped she didn't sound too eager about inviting Jack to dinner, but she had to come up with a reason for asking him.
Jack concealed his surprise at Rose's request. He wanted to say yes, very badly. But he was also afraid of Cal's reaction. "Gosh I'd love too, but I don't want to impose," he claimed. He glanced to Cal, trying to silently tell Rose that he'd have a problem with it.
"No, I don't think you would be imposing Mr. Dawson," said Cal, much to Jack and Rose's disbelief. "We'll see you tomorrow evening." Cal held out his arm for Rose to take.
"Until tomorrow then," Rose said, smiling warmly at Jack. Relief flooded through her knowing that she'd be seeing Jack tomorrow. However at the same time, she struggled with understanding why Cal extended the invitation as well. Was he simply being polite or possibly felt like she had backed him into it? Or did he sense that there was more to her and Jack?
"Yeah, count me in," Jack replied. He grabbed his portfolio off the bench. "Good-night Mrs. Hockley." He nodded to Cal. "Mr. Hockley."
Cal nodded back. "Mr. Dawson." He looked to Rose. "Shall we Sweetpea?" Cal didn't wait for a response and began to lead Rose back to their cabin.
Rose was deep in thought. She was beyond happy to have found Jack in the most unlikely of places. She was scared though, not knowing how Jack would react to the possibility of her carrying his child, though Rose didn't find it hard to hope that he would be happy. But mostly, Rose thought about when she would tell him. She couldn't very well tell him at the dinner table.
They walked in silence back to the cabin. Once they reached it, Rose called for Trudy to draw a bath.
"I thought you said you were tired Rose," Cal commented as he removed his tie and began to unbutton his shirt.
"I am Cal, but I also have a headache and would like a few minutes in a hot bath to relax it." Rose began to pull the pins from her hair slowly, hoping Trudy would return and offer to undo her dress and corset. Rose didn't want Cal to touch her if she could avoid it. She also didn't want to give him any ideas. Just as Rose shook out her loose curls, Trudy appeared and helped Rose undress.
Rose laid her head back in the tub and closed her eyes. She hoped Cal would be asleep by the time she was done. The knock on the door told Rose she would have no such luck.
"Come in," she called. Cal stepped in and closed the door behind him. He had already traded in his expensive tuxedo for a pair of equally expensive silk pajamas. His soft cloth robe was tied tightly around his middle. A lit cigarette was between his fingers, the smoke floating into the air.
"Rose, I need to speak with you," he said brusquely.
"Oh Cal, can't this wait until I'm out of the bath?" She laid her head back again. "Or the morning even?" she added under her breath, not caring if –but hoping he didn't – hear her.
"I'd like to settle this now. I would like to know more about this Mr. Dawson." His voice was stern, serious. "And I would like to know what you were doing in that area of the ship."
Rose kept her head back and her eyes closed. "I already told you Cal. I wanted some fresh cool air. More than that, I wasn't in the mood to make small talk with anyone."
"So you went for a stroll among the lower classes because you didn't want to make small talk with people who you actually know?" Rose found herself biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from grimacing. She hated when Cal's voice took on this belittling tone. It was like a knife being scraped against china. It made her want to shiver. "Did it ever occur to you how easily something could have happened to you? You're lucky you made it back with all of your jewelry!"
Rose raised her head to look at him. "Cal, I was fine. There was no one on the deck until Jack showed up. And like I had told you, I met him in Rome. He happens to be very polite and a gentleman." Which is more than I can say for you. "I had had a dizzy spell like I told you. He escorted me to a bench until it passed. We started talking and I lost track of time."
"Jack? You're on a first name basis with him?"
Dammit. "He's not fond of formalities," Rose said quickly. It was the truth, but Rose hadn't meant to give that away.
"That's a surprise," Cal snapped sarcastically. "Rose, I do not appreciate this. You were out of place inviting him to dinner. I only agreed to the invitation because I'm sure he won't dare show up." Cal finished his cigarette and put it out before opening the door. He paused, considering forbidding her to see him again but thought better of it. He could always send his valet Lovejoy to follow her if he felt the need to. "Do not do anything that will embarrass me," Cal warned. With that, he left closing the door behind him.
Rose felt heat flare up in her body. It was a mixture of emotions, but mostly fear and anger. Without thinking about it, she began to stroke her stomach softly. Jack's baby was in there and Jack was on the ship. Cal may have ruined her chance to tell him tonight, but Rose vowed that tomorrow he wouldn't.