A/N: I must apologize; I forgot a rather important author's note at the end of the last chapter. As you may have noticed, there are a couple mentions of Rose drinking alcohol. I ask you to please remember that this takes place in 1912. The dangers of drinking and smoking while pregnant were not known back then. Keep that in mind should it come up again. And thanks for the awesome reviews!
"Jack, wait." Jack's hand stopped midair as he reached for the gate. He turned to look at Rose. "What's wrong?" he asked, nervous at her sudden command.
Rose stood back and motioned to her dress. "I'd rather not wear something so elaborate. I've much simpler and somewhat comfortable dresses in Cal's suite."
Jack cocked an eyebrow. "Are you saying that you wanna go back? For clothes?"
Rose smiled weakly. "Never mind," she said, shaking her head. "I'm just being silly."
"Rose," Jack said. He cupped her chin with one hand. "You're not being silly. I didn't mean to insinuate that. I'm just worried about who else might be there."
"Come with me," Rose said. "I doubt that Cal or my mother would be there. Dinner is being served right now. It would be easier for them to go and act as if everything is fine, make an excuse for me, and carry about their evening."
"Alright, let's go," Jack said. He took Rose's hand and squeezed it tightly. "I won't let anything happen to you," he promised.
"I know Jack," she said, smiling gratefully at him.
…
"Monet!" Jack cried in excitement. "You never told me you owned any of his work!" Rose laughed.
"I'm sorry Jack. It just never came to mind. I have some Picassco as well," she said as she went into the wardrobe. Jack was too busy admiring the paintings to see Rose working on the combination of the safe. She appeared at his side suddenly, holding a necklace with a large blue gem.
"Wow," Jack said. "What is it, a sapphire?" he asked, holding it up and admiring it.
"A diamond actually. A very rare diamond."
"A very expensive diamond," Jack quipped. Rose smiled.
"Jack, I want you to draw me like one of your French girls. Wearing this."
"Okay."
"Wearing only this," she specified.
Jack turned and looked at her in shock. "What?! I thought we came here so you could change your dress."
Rose took the necklace from Jack and put it on. "Don't worry Jack, I'll still be changing my dress," she said with a chuckle. "I was rather intrigued by your nude drawings the very first time I saw them." Rose turned so her back was facing Jack. "Can you unbutton this please?" Jack hesitated. "We don't have a lot of time Jack," she said, stressing impatience. Jack began to undo the buttons on her dress.
"What are you doing Rose?"
Rose turned and smiled when Jack finished. "I thought about it from time to time." She began to pull the sleeves of her dress down her arms. "Your drawings, whether they are of children playing, an old man fishing, or a nude woman, are amazing works of art." Rose let the dress fall to the floor and stepped out of it and her shoes as well. With a smile, she turned again. "Think you can help me with this?" she asked, indicating her corset.
Jack swallowed hard, unsure if the adrenaline pumping through his body was excitement at the idea of drawing her, nervousness at the idea of being walked in on, or a mixture of the two. He reached up to unlace her corset, allowing his fingers to graze her skin as he did so. Rose shivered once, twice and then sighed softly. She turned to face Jack and her mouth curled into a grin.
"You're smiling like that cat that ate the canary," Jack teased her.
Rose laughed softly. "I know." She stepped closer to Jack. "Why don't you go ahead and arrange that couch over there for me to lie on," she instructed. Without hesitation, Jack turned to see the couch and quickly went over to it. He tossed off his jacket and yanked his suspenders down before pulling the couch into better light. As he arranged the pillows to his liking, Rose quickly pulled off her camisole and bloomers. Jack turned back to Rose and froze in place. With another coy smile, Rose pulled the butterfly comb from her hair and shook out her curls.
He couldn't help himself. Jack crossed the space between them and kissed her. Rose briefly returned the kiss before pulling out of his arms. "I asked you to draw me Jack. I said nothing about kissing me," she scolded playfully. "Now," she said walking over to the couch and lying down, "tell me when it looks right."
Twenty minutes later Rose, back in her camisole and bloomers, stood behind Jack as he dated and initialed the drawing. He blew away the dust from the pencil, closed the folder and handed it to Rose. "Thank you," she whispered, leaning into kiss him. Jack was reluctant to let go of the folder and Rose giggled before finally snatching it from his hands. She walked to the wardrobe and pulled out a piece of stationary. She wrote quickly, finishing the note as Jack walked in.
"What 'cha doing?" Jack asked.
Rose handed him the box with the necklace in it. "Can you put this back in the safe for me?" she asked instead of answering.
"Sure," he answered with a smile. He slid it back into place and whistled at the stack of bills.
"I'll be right back." Rose said from the doorway. "I'm going to get dressed." Jack nodded and Rose rushed to her room and found her favorite dress. It was simple yet elegant. It was white and lilac, and tied together with a pink sash. She smiled. Rose loved this dress, not just for its simplicity, but also because it was soft and comfortable. Rose slipped it over her head, grateful that all she had to do was reach behind her and tie that sash.
Jack walked to the promenade deck and leaned out the open window. It was getting cold, and he was sure it would only get colder. "Jack," Rose called.
"In here." Rose walked to the deck and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"It's getting cold out there," she said.
"I was just thinking that," Jack replied turning around. He stood back and looked at her. "Wow."
"What?"
"You look really beautiful in that."
Rose began to smile and suddenly felt dizzy. She wobbled slightly causing Jack to tighten his arms around her.
"Whoa. You okay?"
Rose took a few deep breaths of the cold air. "I'm fine. I just haven't eaten much today."
Jack looked at her with concern. "Why not?"
"With everything that's gone on today, I just haven't thought about it. I'll be fine as soon as I get something in my stomach," she assured him.
"You're sure? I mean you are eating for two, ya know." Rose smiled.
"I know."
Jack wrapped his arm around Rose. "Come on. They'll still be serving dinner in third class by the time we get there."
Rose opened the door as quietly and as slowly as she could, hoping she could catch a peek of who was in the hallway. Fortunately, there were only a couple stewards walking away from the direction they would be heading. They walked out of the room and quickly made their way to the lifts. Jack glanced behind them every few seconds, making sure they weren't being followed.
"E Deck," Jack said as he and Rose stepped into the lift. He slipped his hand into Rose's. "You feeling okay?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.
"I'm fine Jack. I'm just hungry." Jack didn't look satisfied. "I promise Jack," she said firmly.
A half grin slid onto Jack's face. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so…so…"
"Overbearing?" Rose offered.
Jack sighed loudly. "Yeah."
Rose laughed softly as the lift doors opened. "I'll make you a deal. If you become too overbearing, I'll let you know and you can stop."
Jack laughed and pulled Rose to him. He kissed her forehead. "I love you Rose. Deal."
…
"I'll see you at tea tomorrow Ruth?" Molly asked loudly.
Ruth rolled her eyes before turning to face Molly with a very fake smile. "Yes Mrs. Brown. I shall see you tomorrow." Molly nodded.
"Oh and Ruth! Please give Rose my best."
"I will," Ruth promised. Despite Rose's disappearance, Cal had decided to not call attention to themselves. He and Ruth made excuses for her, saying that she was ill. It had been easily believed since she had been ill most of the voyage. Ruth began to ascend the grand staircase and felt her heart catch in her throat. Though Cal had left an hour ago to go to the smoking room, he now waited for her at the top of the stairs.
Cal had been livid when Ruth confessed to telling Rose the truth. They both knew that when she left, she went to find Jack. Cal had sent Lovejoy to find her earlier in the evening, and Ruth wondered if perhaps she had been located.
"Have you found her Caledon?" Ruth asked the moment she reached him.
Cal glared at her for a moment. "No Ruth, I have not. Lovejoy is searching for them as we speak." He offered her his arm. "Come. I have an idea."
Ruth took his arm and allowed him to lead her to the cabin. They remained silent, speaking only when someone else spoke to them. To Ruth, it seemed like an eternity before they reached the cabin. Lovejoy was outside waiting for them and followed them inside. He waited silently, assuming Cal would dismiss Ruth.
"Any sign of them?" Cal asked instead.
"She's in the third class dining room," Lovejoy announced. "With him of course."
Cal nodded as he removed his jacket. "Good. Have you contacted the Master-at-Arms?" Lovejoy nodded and Cal tossed his jacket over a chair and crossed the sitting room to the wardrobe.
"The Master-at-Arms?" Ruth asked, alarmed. "Why are you contacting him?"
Cal didn't answer right away. Instead he calmly unlocked the safe and grabbed the note and drawing. He didn't look at it; he had no desire to see it again. Yet Cal sneered at the sheets of paper as he handed them to Ruth. "You should be ashamed of your daughter Ruth." Ruth took the papers and Cal poured himself a brandy.
"Darling, now you can keep us both locked in your safe," Ruth read aloud. Confused, she looked at the paper underneath and gasped loudly. Cal watched as he face turned white. "My God Rose! What have you done?" Ruth cried out.
Cal handed her a glass of brandy. She took it with trembling hands. Before taking a sip, she slowly lowered herself to the sofa beside her. "How could she do this to me?"
"Do this to you?" Cal snapped. "She did nothing to you; she didn't commit this infidelity against you." Cal sipped his drink. "You brought this on yourself woman! You told her the truth about our marriage and now she's run off with that…rat!" Cal downed the remainder of his brandy. For a moment he stood there gazing at the empty glass. Then he hurled it against the fireplace, startling both Ruth and Lovejoy. "God only knows what else he's done to her!"
"Caledon –"
"No!" Cal yelled. He cornered Ruth in her chair just as he had done to Rose that morning. "I do not want to hear a word from you. You are going to do exactly as I say. You've already made enough of a mess. I'll be the one to clean it up. Do you understand me?"
Ruth nodded silently and looked down at her hands. The air filled with tension and Ruth saw the world spin. She couldn't even begin to fathom what Cal had planned, but she hoped it worked. The sooner Jack was gone, the better off they would all be.
There was a knock at the door and Cal answered. Ruth stood to greet the Master-at-Arms. "Thank God you're here," Cal said, suddenly seeming anxious and worried. "My wife has been kidnapped by a man in third class." He motioned to Ruth. "Her mother and I are worried sick."
"When did this occur?"
"She left with him something this evening. He somehow managed to convince her that she belongs with him instead of with her husband," Cal said. "She'll probably resist being brought back here." Cal reached into his pocket and handed the Master-at-Arms a wad of bills. "Make sure she is brought here unharmed and that he is locked up."
He looked at the bills before putting them in his pocket. "Aye. Do you have a description of your wife and this man?"
"My valet Lovejoy will go with you to ensure that there is no mistake in identifying her," Cal said. "And I would like this done as quickly and as quietly as possible," he stated, looking at Lovejoy who nodded in response.
The men left the room and Cal closed the door. "I told you that I would handle this. Jack will be out the picture soon enough and we can get back to our lives."
Ruth opened her mouth to speak but was suddenly cut off by a shudder that rippled throughout the ship.
"What the hell was that?"
…
Rose leaned back against Jack. He tightened his arms – one around her waist, the other around her shoulders – ever so slightly. "Are you warm enough?"
"Yes." Rose answered. Jack had offered her the jacket he had taken earlier, confessing to the action as well. Rose had laughed, not at all angry. Now they stood along the deck, taking in the still and cold night air. Together they sighed, surprising themselves. They giggled happily.
"This is all so crazy," Jack said. He kissed her temple, enjoying the way one of her curls tickled his mouth.
"I know." smiled Rose. "That's why I trust it."
Jack turned her in his arms. Her arms encircled his neck as he leaned down to kiss her. Rose kissed him fiercely and pressed her body to his. Jack began to think about asking her to go to his cabin. Their cabin.
Suddenly the ship began to shake violently. They broke their kiss and looked around, at their feet, to the sides and at each other. Their eyes were wide with fear. Suddenly a gigantic field of white burst out from the darkness
Jack clenched Rose to him and she shook as the iceberg passed by, scraping against the ship as it went.