Ready to Make Nice

Written by: adpi24

Disclaimer: Sorry still don't own them

Pairing: Cal/Rose

AN: Thank you to justplainLilly, Bohemian Anne and EnglishRose17 for reviewing chapter one. I really appreciate it.

The movie never outright states why Rose, Cal and Ruth were in England in the first place, the only thing the official movie site states is that Rose was born in Philadelphia and that Cal, being heir to a Pittsburgh steel fortune, was probably also born in the states. So I'm taking creative license as to why they were in Southampton, England in the first place.

Mansbridge is a district (suburb) of Southampton.

I did find a calendar from 1912 at So the dates I'm choosing are accurate on whether they are a Friday, Saturday, etc…

Finally, this is where the story definitely goes Alternative Universe. I will try to keep it in as much character as I can, but I have very specific goals. Historically with the time period, I will try to keep it as accurate as I can.

Friday March 1st, 1912

Even through the cool Mansbridge air the mansion at the Hockley estate was abuzz with activity. Servants were rushing around the house and yards attempting to prepare for the nights festivities, the engagement party for Caledon Hockley and Rose DeWitt-Bukater. Tables were being set up; chairs were being put into place. Vases with extraordinary flowers were being placed on every available surface. In the kitchen, the entire culinary staff was busy at work preparing the night's o'rderves, main course and deserts.

While all this was going on Rose was upstairs, in the room given to her during her stay, looking out the window. She was fiddling with her engagement ring and had a smile on her face. This was what she wanted; she wanted to be married to Cal. Yes, she was young, but most of her friends were already engaged or married. Yes, she was a bit scared, but a part of her was ready to settle down and to have a family.

A knock on the door brought Rose out of her revere and her two hand maidens walked in, they would be helping her get ready for tonight's festivities.

Caledon Hockley, at the same time Rose was preparing herself, was in his own room down at the other end of the house from her, also getting ready. Tonight was the night that he would show Rose off to all of Southampton, and even London, high society. Many eligible women in not only Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but England as well, had endeavored to become his fiancée. But the moment he met Rose, he was lost.

They had met in January, back in Philadelphia. The Hockley family was celebrating the wedding of Cal's younger sister, Margaret. Rose and her mother, Ruth, had been invited to the wedding and the reception. Cal saw her walk into the reception hall, wearing a pale blue dress and her red ringlets trailing down her back and he knew that she would be his wife. As soon as time dictated, he approached her for a dance. Rose had been quite shy at first, but agreed. From that moment on they were inseparable. He showered her with gifts and his affection. He knew in his heart that he loved her fiercely, but showing it was incredibly difficult for him. He hadn't been raised to show his emotions. Emotions were a sign of weakness according to his father.

Cal returned his thoughts to his present task and finished getting ready, so that he could make his way downstairs and greet the guests who were now beginning to arrive.

"Thank you" Rose said to her servants as they left her to look at the finished product in the mirror. She had to admit that she looked stunning. She smiled at the thought of what Cal's face would look like when he saw her.

"Where is Rose?" Ruth DeWitt Bukater asked her future son in law.

"Probably finishing getting ready, you know Rose, she has to look perfect." Cal replied nonchalantly.

Before Ruth could reply, Rose appeared at the top of the stairs, Cal's mouth opened slightly as he took in the sight of her.

She looked absolutely breathtaking!

She was wearing a royal blue dress with a full skirt. A layer of beaded black lace overlaid the dress. Her flowing hair was left mostly down with part of it pinned up out of her face.

"Mother, Cal" Rose said as she appeared before them.

"Rose. You look beautiful" Ruth stated

"Thank you"

Ruth took it as her cue to leave the couple alone, "Well, I will leave you alone for a moment. Cal, your father will be making the announcement soon, so both of you should be ready to go outside."

They nodded at Ruth, who left them alone.

"Rose, you look absolutely stunning"

She smiled, "Thank you, you look quite handsome yourself"

Cal looked around quickly and saw they were completely alone; he leaned down and gently placed a kiss on her lips. Rose brought her hands to his face, they pulled apart moments later. Cal pulled Rose into his arms and she let herself be hugged by him.

Cal heard his father begin to make his toast for them, "you ready to head outside?"

Rose looked up and smiled, she took his hand and they headed out to the waiting guests.

Rose was tired by the time the last guest left. She and Cal had spent quite a bit of the evening accepting everyone's "congratulations". Only when dinner was served and when the band was playing did they get any alone time, which is what she was desperately craving. After everyone had gone, they (Cal, his parents, her mother) made their way to their rooms. Cal's parents and Ruth were in rooms at the complete opposite end of the mansion from Rose and Cal.

Once in her room, the servants helped Rose get out of her dress and corset and she changed into her nightgown. As she was changing into her nightgown she made up her mind, she wanted to spend the night with Cal. She waited for about thirty minutes before getting up from her bed.

She quietly opened up the door to her room and peaked out. She didn't hear a sound. She silently exited the room and ever so quietly closed the door behind her. She made her way, soundlessly, down to Cal's room. She got a bit nervous as she approached his room; she had never done anything like this before. She had told herself she would lose her virginity when she married, but she was definitely feeling the pressure. She was feeling it from Cal, who wanted to be with her. She was even feeling it from her mom, who was insisting that she make "Cal happy". She reasoned with herself by saying "we're engaged, we're to be married, and so it's okay".

She saw that his light was off; she hoped that he wasn't already asleep. She opened the door and stepped into the room, quickly closing the door behind her. The problem was, he wasn't there. She was about to worry until she heard the water in the washroom to the right run. She walked over and sat down on the bed, waiting for him to come out.

Cal turned off the faucet and dried his hands. He opened the door and turned off the light, but was shocked to see Rose sitting on his bed.

"Rose what are you doing here?" He said walking over to her.

"I hope you don't mind. I" Rose paused, "I wanted to be with you tonight."

Cal smiled, "of course I don't mind" he said sitting down next to her and cupping her face with his hands, "are you sure?"

Rose smiled, "yes, more than anything."

Cal leaned in and kissed her, Rose responded to the kiss. He gently pushed her back onto the bed, covering her body with his. Rose let herself be swept away with the kiss and felt passion ignite into her body.

After they made love, Rose felt a pang of guilt for having sex before she was married, but the other part of her felt very content and pleased with what had transpired. She decided to not worry about it at that moment. She snuggled herself into Cal's body. She placed her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. The sound of his heartbeat and even breathing lulled her into a dream filled sleep.

Sunday June 23, 1912

Rose was beyond relieved that it was a Sunday, which meant she didn't have to go in to the factory. She was exhausted. The ten hour days were dragging her down.

She decided that she needed to get out, just walk around. As much as the high society, socialite lifestyle sometimes wore on her, now that she was barely surviving she was starting to contemplate her decisions much more. She put on the dress she wore when the Titanic sank, as much as the dress brought back many memories; she had no other "nice" dress to wear out. She also put on Cal's coat (which went everywhere with her) and got some money out of the safety deposit box she kept in the closet.

About a week after she got to the brownstone she approached Mrs. O'Rielly. She explained that she had some pricey items and she wanted them to be secure. Mrs. O'Rielly understood and didn't pressure Rose for more details, she agreed to purchase the box for Rose (with Cal's money).

She locked the box back up and hid it back into the closet. She grabbed a purse she had bought and put the money and her keys in it and left the room, making sure to lock up behind her.

As she was leaving the Brownstone, she ran into Elizabeth, who was just coming in from rehearsal at the new playhouse she was a member of.

"Hello Rose, where are you off too?"

"I am going to go uptown; I need to get out for a while"

Elizabeth peered at her, something wasn't quite right and she was determined to find out what.

"Mind if I join you?" Elizabeth asked

Rose smiled, "no, I'd love the company."

The two women headed out and began walking north. Rose walked silently lost in her own thoughts. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was internally debating how to approach Rose with her concerns. Finally, she just decided to bite the bullet and ask her.

"Rose, are you okay?"

Rose turned and looked at her, "what?"

"Are you okay? I can tell that something isn't right with you."

Rose sighed; she really did want to tell someone what she was dealing with. She spotted a little park across the street with some benches.

"Let's go sit down over there" she said pointing.

Elizabeth nodded and they crossed the street. Rose led them to some benches away from the street, in a private area.

"So what is going on?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know where to start."

"Start at the beginning."

Rose nodded, "okay". She reached down and pulled something out of the coat pocket, opened her hand and showed Elizabeth, who gasped.

"My goodness, it's beautiful"

"This was my engagement ring. I became engaged in February. When I first met Cal" Rose said, conveniently leaving off his last name, since the name Hockley was well known in even New York City. "I was so taken with him. My father had just died a year previous. It was my mother and I. I met him at a wedding in January. He…he was so different. He showered me with love and affection and gifts. But that changed. He started to show a controlling side. He demanded that I behave a certain way. He told me what to wear, where to go, at some times who I could even speak too. He stopped talking to me the way he used to. Then Titanic happened."

"It's okay Rose, you can trust me" Elizabeth said.

"I met a man, Jack, while on the Titanic. I became enamored with him. He began to show me a world that I wasn't used to. I was used to rules and people telling me what to do, when to do it and even how to do it. Even though Cal had been horrible to me, I was horrible to him during that voyage. And now I'm just lost."

"Rose, you still love him don't you?"

"Cal?"

"Yeah."

"It's so much more complicated than that though."

"Why?"

"Because Jack showed me a life that I would like to live, but I do miss the way Cal and I were before April. Everything changed in April. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't know if I can do this by myself."

"How far along are you?" Elizabeth asked

Rose looked up completely surprised, "how did you…?"

"Rose, you've been throwing up. You've gained weight, your appetites changed."

Rose sighed, "Almost four months. I knew I was pregnant when I was on the Titanic. I slept with him, for the first time, at our engagement party. I was feeling pressure from him and my mom and even a little from myself. I justified my actions because we were engaged. I was going to tell him when we got to the states. I knew we would keep it quiet until we married."

"What do you want to do Rose?"

"Honestly, our child doesn't deserve to live like this. I can barely afford food. But how do I go back. Everyone thinks I'm dead."

"What?"

"That's the other part; I stayed on the ship with Jack. The water was like knives stabbing at my body. We swam to a piece of floating wood; I think it was a table. I laid on it, Jack stayed in the water. I don't know how long I laid there. I saw lights. I tried to wake Jack, but was dead. I told him I would never forget and I swam over to a man who had a whistle in his mouth. I blew it and the lifeboat came and rescued me. Because mostly steerage were still on the ship, the Carpathia staff assumed I was steerage. Cal came looking for me, but I couldn't see him then. When the ship landed at the port, I told them my name was Rose Dawson. So Cal and my mother think I'm dead. How do I come back from the dead?"

Elizabeth sat thinking for a moment and suddenly blurted out, "amnesia"

Rose laughed, "What?"

"Look, you want to do what's best for the baby right?"

"Yeah"

"So you find him. You go to him. You tell him all of your feelings. You lay down some ground rules. But you tell the public, his family, your mom, that you had amnesia and you recently got your memory back."

"Where did you come up with this?"

"I read a play on it" Elizabeth stated.

"So Miss Elizabeth, how do you propose I find him?"

"Let's continue our way uptown. You're dressed like high society, I'll just pretend to be your maid and you just casually ask around. If he's here, I'm sure someone would know."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely" Elizabeth said standing up. "Let's go, Miss Dawson"

Rose laughed and got up, thinking "what have I just gotten myself into".

AN: I wanted to express why I wrote Cal the way I did in the Flashback sequence. I did it mainly because I'm sure Rose was pressured by her mother to marry him, but I'm also sure that Cal probably wooed her. He probably showered her with gifts and affection to what she wasn't used too. Since I made her go to him, I'm also taking the liberty that he would have shown some affection for their first time together.

I did do some research online regarding safety deposit boxes. From what I can tell, they were around in the 1912's. They were probably expensive though, so that is why I had Rose approach Mrs. O'Rielly.