"Keep heading aft! Next stop will be the engine room." Thomas Andrews' voice barely registered in Rose's head. Immediately following mass, Cal had announced that he had arranged a private tour of the ship. It hadn't taken Rose more than a minute to realize that her mother had spoken with him about whatever truths they hid. She assumed they had one of two plans. Either they were biding their time until they came up with a cover up, or they ignorantly thought she would forget about it through various distractions. Rose vowed to herself that neither would work.

Rose saw Ruth take Cal's offered arm with a look of admiration. Sometimes Rose wondered if her mother was in love with her husband. Before she could ponder the thought further, she felt a hand tug on her arm. She turned and saw Jack in a hat and trench coat. Taken by surprise she looked back to see if anyone had seen them and seeing they had already disappeared around the corner followed Jack into the empty gym.

"Jack, I –" Jack cut her off with a passionate kiss on the lips. Rose moaned into his mouth and felt her body relax.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Jack said, breaking the kiss. "I missed you. I had to see that you were alright."

Rose smiled and pushed her earlier thoughts aside. "I missed you too." She noticed the dark circles under his eyes. "You look terrible Jack. Didn't you sleep well?"

"I barely slept a wink. I spent most of the night worrying about you. The rest of the time I spent kicking the top bunk to try and stop Fabri's snoring."

Rose chuckled. "He's that awful?"

"Only when he drinks." Jack wrapped his arms around her waist. "So how are you? Did you sleep okay? Did Cal give you the third degree again?" Jack noticed Rose's face darken. "What is it? What did he do?"

Rose sighed. "We had an argument this morning. About you." She wished she had time to tell Jack everything that had happened since she opened her eyes. "Actually Jack, I have to go before he comes looking for me." She reluctantly stepped out of his arms. Remembering what Cal had down with the breakfast table, fear traveled down her spine at the thought of what Cal might do to Jack if he saw them together. "Actually, it might be better if we don't see each other until the ship docks."

"Rose, no. I can't just let you go back to him and hope that you're okay." Jack placed his hand on her cheek.

"Jack, I'm sorry." She heard footsteps outside the frosted glass windows. "We'll figure out a way to find each other," she said in a lowered voice.

"Rose? Sweetpea?" They both froze at the sound of Cal. Jack saw fear in Rose's eyes, a fear that wasn't there before.

"Quick," Rose whispered, "behind that cabinet," she said, pointing. Jack didn't argue and quickly did as she asked. Rose overheard Cal calling her again and went to the door.

"I'm right here Cal," she called. When the door closed Jack practically ran to it and listened.

"What in God's name were you doing in there?" Cal demanded.

"I felt as though I was going to be sick. I stepped in there to sit for a few minutes." Cal stood there silently. "I'm sorry," she said meekly. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Jack heard nothing else but the sound of them walking away, the very thought of which made his stomach churn. He sighed with defeat and then kicked the wall in frustration. Rose was as stubborn as a mule and Cal had said or done something to scare her badly enough that she would avoid him. After a few moments, Jack swung the door open and headed back to third class.

…

"Rose, are you ready to meet the ladies for tea?" Ruth asked. Rose took a deep breath and opened her bedroom door.

"No Mother, I am not. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what exactly you and Cal were talking about." Rose stared harshly at Ruth.

Ruth sighed with irritation. "Rose, it doesn't really matter what we were speaking of. It's in the past and talking about it won't change things. What's done is done." Ruth narrowed her eyes. "And you should have known better than to eavesdrop."

Rose crossed her arms. "Regardless, I still have a right to know. It was about me, about my father and about my marriage to Cal."

"Rose –"

"Do you want me to stay away from Jack or not?" Rose threatened.

Ruth's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare jeopardize this family with gossip of a scandal!" Rose said nothing, just continued to stare at Ruth through narrowed eyes, silently daring Ruth to try her. Ruth thought frantically, wishing Caledon was here and not in the smoking room; he would easily put an end to this. Without him, Ruth felt backed into a corner. "Fine," Ruth conceded. "Sit down."

…

Jack stared at the water below as the giant ship cut through it. The wind whipped his hair around and his face felt cold. He inhaled the salty air and sighed. He couldn't stop worrying about Rose. If he could just know that she was safe and alright, he'd feel better. But until she was with him, he'd have to carry that weight on his shoulders.

"Hello Jack." Jack turned at the sound of her soft voice, half expecting to realize he was hearing things. He smiled when he saw her standing there. She wore a soft smile, yet she looked as though she had been crying. "I changed my mind." Jack smiled. "Fabri said you might be up here."

Jack held her his hand out to her. He wanted to know what Cal had done to upset her this time, but for the moment he wanted to make her feel free and happy. "Come here." Rose took his hand. "And close your eyes." Rose laughed slightly but did as he asked. She kept her eyes closed as Jack navigated her way.

"Jack, what are you –"

"Shhh," Jack said. "Just step up onto the rail. I've got you." Rose did as he asked, with him helping her keep her balance. "You trust me right?"

Rose had to smile. "Of course I do Jack." Jack smiled and spread her arms out. Rose felt the wind rushing against her face and over her body. She would have shivered from the chilly air if it wasn't for Jack's arms wrapped around her waist and his chest pressed against her back.

"Alright. Open your eyes." Rose gasped as she did. All she could see was the ocean and the sky in the fading light. The sky, already beautiful with shades of pink mixing with hues of orange, became even more stunning from this view. She felt as though she was a bird, flying toward the horizon.

"I'm flying! Jack!" Rose cried. Jack reached out and took her outstretched hands, intertwining their fingers.

"Come Josephine in my flying machine," Jack began to sing softly in her ear making her laugh. He let her Rose turned and gazed at him for a moment before leaning in to kiss him. "I love you Rose."

"I love you too," she replied. "I love you so much." Jack stepped down off the railing and helped her do the same. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"What made you change your mind?"

A disheartened look came across Rose's face. "It's a long story Jack."

"I'm not planning to go anywhere. Unless you're planning to…." Jack said.

"No Jack. I'm not going anywhere either," Rose said firmly. "I'm done with him. With both of them."

Rose immediately began to tell Jack of her argument with Cal that morning, about how Cal yelled at her and flipped the table. She confessed to Jack that for the first time, she had been afraid of Cal and that was why she had told Jack that they shouldn't see each other until the ship docked. Rose went on to tell him of how she overheard Cal and Ruth speaking after Cal's outburst.

"Did you find out what they were talking about?" Jack asked.

"Eventually. They tried to avoid it, probably to come up with a lie to cover it up. I cornered my mother just a little while ago. She's puts on a brave face, but she cowers under pressure."

"So she told you everything?"

Rose looked at the sun disappear below the horizon and sighed; the sun had finally set on her life with Cal. Rose reached for Jack's hand and together they walked along the boat deck. "My father, Harold, worked as the treasurer for Hockley Steel for years. My mother actually met him while he was working for Nathan Hockley. She wasn't the first class lady she is today though. She was more in the middle class. But she wanted this life badly. She practically chased after my father, knowing that his good name and fortune would take her to where she wanted to be." Rose chuckled. "Remember me telling you that my father always called me Rosalie?"

"Yes I do."

"That was his mother's name. My grandmother and my mother absolutely despised each other. My grandmother believed until her dying day that my mother was just after my father's name and money, which was not exactly false. She also didn't like that her son married a middle class woman when dozens of first class women fawned over him. And because of that, my mother barely tolerated my grandmother." Rose looked at Jack and smiled. "I'm digressing."

Jack shrugged. "I don't mind. I rather like it in fact."

Rose laughed softly. "Anyways, my father was always a bit of a gambler and a drinker, but my mother never knew how bad of a gambler he was until he died." Rose cleared her throat, thinking back to the conversation with her mother. "When he died, my mother discovered that all of his money was gone and had been for years. She arranged the marriage between Cal and I to pay for his debts. But see, that I always knew."

"I'm assuming it was more complicated than that," Jack stated.

"Far more," Rose agreed. She began to tell Jack of the conversation with her mother.

Earlier…

"Your father didn't die of a heart attack Rose. He killed himself," Ruth said bluntly.

Rose felt as if a rug had been pulled out from underneath her. She sank to the chair, grateful that it was behind her. "That's a lie," she said.

Ruth shook her head. "Believe me Rose, I wish it was. However, he hung himself." Rose stared at Ruth in silence, so she went on. "You know that your father enjoyed drinking and gambling. Despite my protests, he never let up. In fact, his habits grew worse over the years."

"I can't imagine why," Rose muttered. She was full of anger and didn't care about respect.

"Don't you dare sass me," Ruth spat. "Your father and I loved each, despite what his mother believed. I was devastated by his death."

Rose bit her tongue, forcing herself to hold back a half a dozen retorts. "I apologize" Rose lied.

"When I discovered Harold, I myself fainted. It was Nathan who found me. He had come over to discuss business with him, business that I would have never imagined." Ruth's throat suddenly felt dry. Fortunately, a container full of brandy was nearby and she poured two. She handed one to Rose before taking a sip herself. Rose merely placed her glass on the table in front of her, nauseated by the smell alone.

"What business was discussed? It has something to do with my marriage to Cal, doesn't it?"

Ruth took another, bigger gulp of her brandy and set the glass down. "For years Harold stole from Hockley Steel unnoticed. He always managed to cover it up, falsify the financial records. I don't know the details, but he was eventually caught. By the time it was discovered, he had stolen well over two hundred thousand dollars, always to pay gambling debts."

Rose felt her eyes widen. Even she knew that was a lot of money to be stolen before being discovered missing. She also knew that despite her father's death, Nathan would have still expected to be paid back what was taken from him. "Nathan demanded to be repaid?"

"No, not exactly." Ruth took a deep breath. "If you remember correctly, he retired only a few months after your father died. Since Caledon would be taking over, he left the decision to him." Ruth picked up her glass, needing another gulp or two. "Caledon gave me two choices. He told me that he could take everything we own, force me to sell our home, our clothes, all of our fine art, everything. Or, in exchange for your hand in marriage, he would forgive the theft and remain silent, leaving our way of life and good name in peace."

The rage that Rose had felt bubbling inside of her veins began to boil over. She stood from her chair so quickly that she knocked it over. "How dare you mother! How dare you use me like that?"

"Now Rose, please lower your voice. There's no need for the world to know about it."

Rose took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Despite the nauseous feeling the scent of the brandy had given her earlier, Rose picked up the glass and took a long sip. She looked at the glass. "You know what mother? I don't care who knows about it. You sold me!"

"I did it with the best of intentions Rose."

"For yourself! You don't give a damn about me and I wonder if you ever did. You couldn't wait to send me to boarding school and then finishing school. Father was the one who ever actually listened to me describe my day or wrote to me while I was across the globe in a school full of spoiled brats!"

"You're the one acting like a spoiled brat Rose," Ruth retorted calmly. "I didn't have a choice. Do you think I would have us living on the streets, begging for money?"

Rose forced herself to lower her voice and calm down a bit. "You had a choice moth -… no, I can't even call you that. No self-respecting mother would allow this to happen. You had the choice to tell me the truth about father. You had the choice to tell me about Cal's so-called compromise. You had plenty of choices and plenty of opportunities to tell me the truth." Rose felt her head begin to pound and she suddenly felt as though she was suffocating. "I need some air," she said. Rose turned the toppled chair upright and grabbed her shawl that had fallen on the floor.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ruth demanded.

"I told you, I'm going for some fresh air. I need to clear my head." She wrapped the shawl around herself. "Excuse me," she said, brushing past Ruth.

Present…

"And that's when I went down to third class to find you. Your friend Tommy said you were probably up here at the bow."

"It's a good place to think," Jack said, agreeing. "Oh Rose, I'm so sorry that they put you through that. Where were you when you father died?"

"Finishing school. My mother didn't even notify me until the following afternoon." Rose thought for a moment. "It kind of makes sense now why she did that." She sighed heavily and Jack squeezed her hand gently.

"Do they know you've left for good?" Jack asked.

Rose shook her head. "No. But I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough, if they haven't already." Rose shivered suddenly in the darkening evening.

"Come on," said Jack. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her to the third class stairway.