A/N: Hello, sup? Anywho it's Talia here. I figured I should do this authors note not only because this chapter was written by me (kind of) but also because I like never write these things. Sorry for the delay on the last chapter we hope to be more regular with our updates (please G-d). I hope you are all enjoying the summer, we are, Alessia went to Cornwall for a lil trip coz she just loves the UK (she hates it). I'm going to Wales (yes I did say Wales) on Wednesday, the 25th, to look after some spoilt rich kids who would prefer to spend two weeks in sunny (rainy) Wales than at their ski resorts in France.
Hope you enjoy the chapter
Talia&Alessia
Xxxxx
Thanks to:
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A Whole New Life
Chapter 15
"Right, let's get Graham on the show, ladies and gentlemen."
-Jeremy Kyle Show (UK)
They had just entered the house when there was a knock at the door. The husband and wife both looked up from where they had just decided to have a group effort at lifting their cases into their room so that they could unpack. Jack looked over at his wife, who looked absolutely shattered. He sighed and said
"Rose, why don't you go upstairs and lay down. Read a book. You look exhausted." Rose gave a tiny yawn, which she smothered with her hand and smiled
"Thank you, darling." He kissed her forehead softly and watched as she slowly trailed up the stairs. He dragged the case away from the door, and once he heard the door shut, opened the door.
He froze. Every drop of blood in his body froze. Shit.
The woman at the door gave an evil grin, and held out her hand. Jack reluctantly kissed it as he would have all those years ago. The woman was heavily made up, her dark hair in ringlets round her ears. Her shining blue eyes were piercing into his, and it felt like she was staring into his soul. She looked more like a doll than a woman. In a heavily accented voice, she said
"Bonjour, Jack."
-AWNL-
"Jack, who's at the door?" Jack heard Rose shout from upstairs. His heart began to race and he struggled to find a suitable response, but to no avail. His mind was screaming questions, and left no room for responses,
"Er… just someone trying to sell something, sweetheart. Don't worry. I'll be up in a sec." Jack called back, even though he knew that he probably sounded as false as the woman that he was looking at. After a few moments of incredibly awkward of silence, Irene Chevalier finally spoke up again; her heavily made up eyes flashing, and her eyelashes flapping against her pale skin, which made her look like a china doll. For a moment, Jack wondered what he had ever found attractive about the native French woman.
"Who's upstairs, Jacques?" Irene said, trying to look over his shoulder and stepping into the house. Fury filled him. How dare she try to enter his life once again? She was being audacious by even daring to step over his threshold. Before she could get past him, he shifted so that his strong torso was in her way, and she looked up in surprise, and half amusement
"You are NOT going in there! You want to know who's up there? Well, I'll tell you. Up those stairs; is the love of my life and the reason I am standing here today and you are just a mistake that never should have happened!" Jack warned as quietly as he could, making sure his Rose didn't hear. Irene didn't look fazed; in fact she looked as if she was used to this reaction; something that Jack wouldn't put past her. She ran one perfectly manicured finger down his arm, which sent a shiver down his spine.
"Oh, Jack, you know you don't mean that. What we had was great, non? We both know that you cannot deny it" Irene said matter of factly whilst trying to pull Jack into an embrace. She whispered the last few words, flipping her hair over her shoulder and placing a hand on his shoulder. Jack pushed her away from him, sending her half tumbling backward back onto the curb. However, the nation of France was well known for its elegant women-and somehow; Irene managed to pull off the rejected look.
"Don't touch me! Don't talk to me. Don't...Don't even look at me. Okay?" even though Jack was being totally serious he saw what he thought was the beginning of a hurt expression on her face; however he quickly covered it, and he almost snorted in derision. Irene's number one rule was never let anyone see your emotions. It was that way that she was able to be as toxic as she was. Not that he cared; he didn't-but maybe; just maybe, he had been a little harsh. He took a deep breath in to calm himself down, and forced himself to think of Rose- and how disappointed she would be if she heard him arguing with an ex-lover on her front doorstep. How her instincts would kick in and she would come downstairs. Irene wouldn't hold back against her rival if she thought that it would help her to win. She loved to win more than anything else: more than the rich men she flirted with, the beautiful clothes she wore while she was with him, the luxurious food she ate and the strong wines she drank. It was the reason that Fabri had pointed out that she couldn't possibly have been using him, as Jack was not rich, nor did he have anything to offer her possession wise. He wished that his best friend was still around so that he could tell him how wrong he had been. Irene could be a gold digger in more ways than one. Irene didn't meet his gaze until he finally felt calm enough to sigh and ask desperately
"Look can you just please tell me what you're doing here? Then leave?" she looked at him strangely, for a moment resembling a child who had been caught with their hand in a cookie jar, then managed to control herself and masked her emotions, making her look even more like a doll then before, inanimate and emotionless. Slowly, Irene took a deep breath
"Jack, you have a daughter. Well…we have a daughter." whatever he had been expecting, her to ask for money, to blackmail him, he certainly hadn't been expecting that. His stomach plummeted, and he felt as if his throat had been cut. A daughter? No...It couldn't be. He thought back to his many liaisons with the French woman, and how she had been adamant that she had been kicked in the stomach by a horse as a child and was unable to have children. He should have been more careful, he should have taken her to the doctor to get it confirmed, the way that her parents never did. They had assumed her infertility due to a lack of monthly bleeding or 'The Visitor' as Irene had explained. He felt like the woman had pushed him back, as he faltered, and had to hold onto the bannister for support. His knees were week and he stuttered, trying to form words. He looked at her, begging her to take it back, for it to be a joke; but she didn't. She continued to torture him with information on their illegitimate child.
"She is one, and her name is Amèlie Chevalier" Jack stood, completely gob smacked. He didn't want a child with this woman! He wanted to start a real family with Rose, one that had him as Father, Rose as Mother and their children happy and together; but Irene claimed to have ruined that.
Rose.
Oh God. What would she say when she found out? Would she cry with humiliation and pain, or scream in anger? Would she stand by him, be helpful with his bastard child or leave? The thought made him physically sick. He had only been married a week, and already there was a force which would possibly cause the collapse of the very reason of his being. Without even realizing how much time had passed, he found himself being poked by an amused Irene, who was smirking, her eyes flashing in a cold manner. It was like lighting was striking inside of the woman's eyes.
"Jack? Hello? Are you alright? Do you wish to meet her?" snapping out of his trance he slapped away the offending prodding finger, and said coldly
"No. Not right now. I need to speak to Rose." after a few moments of thinking, he decided it would be best to make inquiries as to this child's appearance... Her demeanor…her characteristics
If she's like me…
"How do you even know that she's mine? Does she look like me or something?" Irene looked defiant, as if insulted by Jack insinuating that she had been sleeping around; although he knew for a fact that she in had been; for example- one day he returned to their shared room in a shelter (she moved in because she had moved to the city to 'make her fortune' from Bordeaux, which hadn't turned out too well) and found her their bed with their landlord, Pierre.
"Yes! She does!" Jack felt slightly disappointed
"Oh, she does, really? Well do you have a picture?" her expression suddenly clouded and her eyes narrowed, as she became furious
"Do you really think that I have the money to have a picture taken? I'm poor, Jack! As you well know!"
"How am I supposed to believe you then? You've travelled all the way from Paris to tell a lie? You're pathetic! Go home, Irene!" Jack replied in anger. He knew that Irene was low; but he didn't ever imagine she'd sink to the level of using her own daughter to manipulate him! He pitied the poor child as it grew up. It would be seriously screwed up if it had a mother like Irene. As he watched the woman become more desperate; Jack became increasingly disgusted. How had he ever found her attractive? She dulled in comparison to his Rosie. To be honest; he hadn't given her a thought since he had left Paris.
"Out of all the men I slept with around the time Amelie was conceived; Jack, you were the nicest, kindest one of them all." she desperately tried to fondle his cheek, but he moved away quickly, causing her hand to drop to her side.
"You mean to tell me that this is some make believe game on yours? That you're here because you hope that your daughter is mine? Sorry to hurt your feelings, but the real world doesn't work that way! While my wife and future mother of my children is up stairs wondering, and excuse my French, what the fuck is going on? Get out. Go back to Paris and don't ever come back!" Irene was becoming increasingly worried for her goal, as it seemed to fade further and further into the distance as Jack began to understand her true motive. Luckily, her mother had taught her never to give up if she truly wanted something. She really, truly, with every fiber of her being wanted this.
"Jack! Just... give me some money. That's all I want. In fact- I don't even want the money all I want is you. You know you feel the same! You always have done- don't deny it! I remember what you said to me back in Paris! As for the money-call it your postdated child support, oui?" Irene said whilst trying to grab him by the hips and pull him toward her. Jack, luckily; got there before she managed to, moving her hands away. He sensed that not only was she trying to seduce him, but she was also guilt tripping him. Like that would work; for him to feel guilty about not providing for Amelie, he first had to believe she was his-and that was not happening.
"Irene, I'm going to give you some advice, and I need you to listen; not just for my sake and yours, but for your daughters too. So keep your voice down, keep your legs closed and get out!" He knew that she wouldn't react to anything but blunt responses, and sure enough; she visibly flinched, and said nothing. For a moment, Jack felt almost sorry for the pathetic woman standing in front of him.
Only for a moment.
"Look, I don't owe you anything. That kid isn't mine, and I refuse to listen to this anymore. Just leave- and don't come back. Goodbye Irene." And with that he shut the door her face for what he hoped would be the last time, and took a deep breath before heading back upstairs to his Rose. His wife. His world.
When he got back upstairs, Jack made his way to the bedroom-wondering if he should tell Rose what had just happened. Surely telling her would only upset her… but on the other hand; not telling her would only devastate her more once she eventually found out-a fact of which he had no doubt. These things always came back to haunt you, even if they were the best kept secret in the world. Standing at the door of their bedroom, he saw Rose lain on the bed reading a book that she had bought on their honeymoon, 'A Princess of Mars', which Rose assured him was better than the title implied; a clear indication that you really cannot judge a book by its cover, or in this case, it's title.
"Hi, sweetheart. S...Sorry it took so long...they... They just wouldn't go away. " he said nervously with a slight chuckle as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, placing a small kiss on her cheek.
"That's alright. What were they trying to sell us?" Rose asked, closing her book and turning her attention to her husband, her expression patient and loving.
Crap, Crap...Shit!
"Oh… You know... Just... the usual stuff... Horse feed... hooves. All that"
Great excuse Dawson (!) She'll never see through that (!)
He was right. She definitely knew that something wasn't quite right and he rashly decided to change the subject, very aware that he was stuttering-and that sooner or later; his wife would realize that he was lying. He knew that she was a highly intelligent woman, thanks to her years of rigorous schooling in the effort to make her a desired wife
"You know I love you right?" Jack asked pulling Rose onto his lap, and she smiled knowingly at him once she had put her arms round his waist for balance.
"Yes, Jack, and I love you too, so much. I'm not stupid, and I know that whoever was at the door had absolutely no interest in selling us anything" Rose admitted while looking into her lap trying to avoid eye contact with him. Jack felt his cheeks burning. He had seriously underestimated his wife, whose powers of deduction were beyond his. He was foolish to believe that she might just miss his nervous tone and stuttering. Of course she would know, he realised. She had been brought up with liars so much the truth was more difficult to believe than the poison that had been fed to her as often as a child is read a bedtime story.
"Who was it, Jack?" she said after a few moments and finally mustering up the courage to look into his eyes. Taking a deep breath, Jack took his wife's hands and, without saying a word, he led her down stairs and sat her down on the sofa. He had a hard time meeting her gaze, but finally; did. Except that when he did, he saw the trust and love in them, and felt so ashamed.
Rose was sat facing Jack who had his head in his hands. She was quickly becoming worried about this unknown visitor. Had the threatened him?
"Jack? Darling, what's going on? You can tell me anything-you do know that, right?" Rose comforted Jack whilst stroking her hand along his thigh. Jack took both of her hands and held them in his, shaking his head in desperate disbelief
"Rose... Oh Rose. God, you're right. The person at the door didn't want to sell us anything.. it was.. A woman. A woman that I knew when I lived in Paris. Remember when I told you about that? On the Titanic that afternoon?" she nodded slowly, quickly becoming more nervous than she had when she thought that someone may have threatened him.
"What do you mean you 'knew' her?" Rose asked looking very confused, but by her tone; Jack could tell that she was almost warning him. He should have known that she wouldn't be as easily taken in by his lies.
"I'll get to that, just give me time okay?" she nodded again.
"When I lived in Paris, I was... Erm...let's just say different than I am now. I didn't have an easy life and although I'm not using that as an excuse- that was the way we all behaved. What I mean is I slept… had sex with... With a few women," Rose's mouth fell open and she gasped, clapping her hand across her mouth to try and smother the offending sound. Jack felt desperate suddenly and gripped her hand and said quickly
"None of them compare to you! Of course they didn't! Not at all. Anyway, the woman at the door was one of the women from Paris. I don't know how she found me, but she did. Now, I always knew that the women I...knew were bad news, but this one claimed that her child is…. Well, mine." he said the last word with his eyes closed not wanting to see Rose's reaction. Even if he had, he wouldn't have seen anything. All that she did was gulp and then compose herself. She was a lady, despite the fact that she had alienated herself from that life so she would act like one. Slowly and quietly, as if afraid that the answer would jump up and attack her, she asked, removing her hands from his grasp.
"Well, is it? The child, is it yours?" Jack regarded her steadily for a moment
"No." he simply said but seeing the look on Rose's face he knew that he needed to say more. He expected her to scream, to be furious; but instead she was calm. He didn't know which one was worse.
"She said that her daughter looks like me, but a lot of the men she knew were blond and blue eyed! She probably has no idea who the real dad is. She just wants money and well, me" finally meeting Rose's gaze for the first time-properly, in a while. It worried him how completely calm she looked.
"I'm guessing, because you're here, you didn't go with the idea of being a Father." Rose said in a timid voice. Jack then knew that because she didn't even mention Irene or the illegitimate child that came with her that Rose didn't care about Jack's past all she cared about was the fact that he was there, right then, with her. However, he could tell that she was holding something back. He knew that his wife guarded her feelings and wasn't going to be telling him what was wrong. Pulling Rose into a right embrace, Jack said in slight relief
"No! No, I could never. You are the one, Rose, the only one. Always and forever. Do you understand me?" she smiled slightly, but still looked slightly apprehensive
"Yes, Jack. I understand."
"I love you," Rose buried her head in his chest, and he had to crane his neck to hear her whisper
"Say it again" he placed his finger under her chin and pulled her face to look straight at him, and saw that her eyes were brimming with tears
"You don't believe me do you?" Jack said in a whisper with a pained look on his face. Rose sat up quickly, as if the words had electrocuted her
"It's not that I don't believe you, Jack-I'm just...a bit shocked that's all. It is a lot to get my head around- you need to understand that." he nodded, and opened his mouth to agree with her, as he thought that doing so might put the matter to rest, but Rose gestured at him to stay quiet and interrupted him.
"Jack... I'm going to be completely honest with you, okay?" Jack nodded, as that was all he ever wanted. That and for him to live out his life with her. His Rosie.
"I've always been... well.. Worried about your past, and what went on. I don't mind that you've been... intimate with other women-I really don't, because I know that it was what was done in the world you've had to live in, and it seemed acceptable at the time. I was scared, though-to find out more about it. I guess I am slightly naïve in that way. I had expected the past to be left in the past and for us to be able to forget about Now, I am not using this an excuse but I only have my previous life to blame for that naivety and I absolutely hate feeling so helpless, like I can't help you. Now that I've found all of this out... I…well.. I think that I need either some time to wrap my head around all of it...or some reassurance." She said quietly, looking into his ocean blue eyes. Jack now understood what she was going through, and felt so awful that he had allowed himself to not tell her more how much she meant to him.
"I love you, Rose. Only you. You are not just in my life, like those women were; because you are my life. If I had any idea that I would have any chance of meeting you ever I would have never done anything with anyone else. Like I said when I had dinner with you I lived my life from one day to the next, and I didn't think-I was stupid and immature and I regret every second. I had no idea what the future held, and I didn't have time to consider it- but now things have all changed for both of us. This is a whole new life for us. We both left things behind on that ship and we both know that it was for the better." Jacks words were so sincere that he himself, had tears running down his face, as did Rose. There was only one thing that needed to be said, and as she placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled her lips onto his, mid kiss, she whispered
"I love you, Jack"
Jack pulled Rose in for a tender kiss, that very soon became heated; and led them both, of course- to the stars. Soon enough both forget what had been troubling them in the first place.
As morning broke, Rose awoke to sunlight streaming through the bedroom window, creeping through the curtains and throwing beams onto her husband's beautiful, youthful sleeping face; and unfortunately, her own; much to her annoyance. Forgetting what day of the week it was, how she got into bed and not even knowing the time; Rose turned back around and buried her face in Jack's neck to go back to sleep. Slowly, though- she began to put the pieces of the puzzle from last night back together. They had had a very… eventful night to say the least. From the anger, humiliation and fear she felt, to making love multiple times after the ordeal (which Rose had, mentally, named 'Irene Gate') probably explained how uncharacteristically, tired she was. Remembering that the day before must have been Sunday because they had arrived home from their honeymoon, on which they had left on a Saturday...and had therefore been eight days...So that meant that today had to be Monday.
Oh no! Jack's going to be late for work again!
Rose thought to herself desperately and sat up and poked his arm
"Jack, sweetheart. You need to wake up" she said as she gently, as she tried to shake her husband awake. In response Jack mumbled something that not even Rose could understand- even though she had been witness to many of his 'morning mumbles'.
"Come on. Jaaack" Rose said with a chuckle and prolonging the last word.
"Nooo. Can't we just stay here?" Jack whined into his pillow, throwing his arm over his wife's hip and pulling her toward him. Deciding that drastic measures had to be taken, Rose managed to untangle herself, got out of bed slipped on a robe, then quickly, pulled the covers off the bed; fully exposing Jack in allhis glory. Much to Rose's amusement, Jack got out of bed quick as a flash and wrapped himself up in the quilt whilst almost falling, flat, on the floor. While he stood there red faced, Rose was just laughing and laughing; with tears streaming down her face.
"You see, Rose," Jack started in a stern tone that she could see he was longing to break, by the corners of his mouth twitching, forming a slight smile
"You're laughing now, sweetheart; but believe me- later on you will be the one embarrassed-and I will be the one laughing so hard I almost have a heart attack." Giving Jack a sweet yet smug smile Rose walked up to him until her lips were mere millimeters away from his. In Jack's mind, there was only one thing she was going to do- and that was kiss him, so naturally that's what he anticipated. However, Rose did not kiss him- she simply, albeit smugly said
"I'm sure you will." and as Jack was about to place his lips on hers, Rose walked away down stairs leaving Jack chuckling as he searched for his underwear.
-AWNL-
Rose was busy downstairs making oatmeal porridge when Jack finally came down dressed for work. Wrapping his arms around Rose from behind, mimicking the positions they took on the night of April 14th that year, at the bow of the Titanic and placed a small kiss on the back of her neck. Looking straight ahead of him out of the window that overlooked the street they lived on Jack softly commented
"The views a bit different from last time we did this, huh?" turning around to face her husband she embraced him and spoke in a muffled tone into his chest
"I prefer it this way. We don't have to worry about anything anymore." Looking up at Jack they locked gazes in a way only they knew how. It was if everything froze inside them whenever their gazes locked like that-like they could see inside each other. As if Jack could see her heart thumping at a million miles an hour. Drawing Rose into a passionate kiss, he lifted her onto the kitchen counter with him standing between her legs, still locked in a passionate kiss. This would have continued to, and the moment would have continued to heat up if they hadn't been interrupted by bubbling porridge, and although it made them giggle- it was not Jack or Rose's ideal way to end a kiss; but it was a reminder to them that this was their life now. That this was all so real.
"I love you" Rose whispered.
"And I love you too but if we don't salvage this mess which could also be our breakfast I may have to love you on an empty stomach and you don't wanna hear what that sounds like" Jack said, chuckling as he helped Rose off the counter and pointing to the pan full of, what looked like cement, but was actually porridge. The two lovers spent around 15 minutes sorting out and eating their breakfast when Jack realised he had to go to work. His heart began to ache as he watched her smile at him over a steaming mug of coffee
Leaving Rose doesn't get any easier
"Rose, sweetheart, do you wanna go get dressed quickly and walk with me to work?" Jack asked hopefully as he pulled on his jacket to his wife, who was busy drying the dishes from breakfast. Rose looked up from what she was doing and gave Jack a loving smile, and one of slight relief as she dropped the rag she was using.
"I would love to! Just give me a few minutes to get ready" and with that she ran upstairs, leaving Jack to sigh, roll up his sleeves and complete the washing up.
Who says husbands don't do anything?
A few minutes later Rose emerged from upstairs wearing a simple light brown dress with a cream top under it. Her hair was done up at the back only by two small pieces that would have gotten in the way of her face. Her face was, of course, plain albeit some lipstick. Nice and simple. When she lived amongst first class people wearing makeup would have been a must at all times. It was Rose's dream, and her mother's nightmare; to just be able to leave the house without having to look like a porcelain doll. Just one of many of Rose's dreams that had become reality in recent weeks.
"Beautiful, as always" Jack said when she reached the bottom of the stairs bringing her into a hug. This comment, of course caused Rose to blush but she now knew better than to object because it would just send Jack into a, what seemed like, never ending spiel about her looks.
God, she loved her husband.
But perhaps if they'd turned round then, they would have noticed the man watching them.
-AWNL-
They walked hand in hand along their street occasionally Jack would lean down and place a small kiss on Rose's cheek. Looking ahead of him Jack saw a woman, but not just any woman-it was Irene with her daughter, who he had to admit, was remarkably sweet.
Come on! Really? It was all going so well!
He thought to himself furiously. Trust her to leave wherever she was staying just as he was happily walking to work with his wife.
They had been walking for about ten minutes when Rose felt Jack's hand tighten the hold it had on hers. Then she felt him stop walking. As she looked at him she saw that his nostrils were flared in fury and his face had paled. She immediately began to panic
"Jack, is there something wrong?" she asked, growing more concerned by the second.
"Rose, that woman over there? That's Irene. I don't know she's is gonna' do, but whatever it is know that it doesn't matter, right?" nodding her head she took Jack by the hand again and carried on their way to work. She felt herself start, however as she realised she had seen this woman before. She had seen that child before. She gave a tiny gasp as she realised from where. The train! Irene had run away when she saw Jack, and had followed them home!
"Bonjour, Jack. Amelie, Il s'agit de votre papa. Dire bonjour." Irene spoke to her child in French so quickly that even the fluent Rose didn't catch it. Completely ignoring her competition she walked up to the couple, Irene smiled at Jack warmly.
"Now really isn't the time, Irene." He said, trying to walk away and interrupting the woman as she began to speak. She smiled and said calmly
"You don't even know what I want from you, if anything." Jack snorted derisively and shook his head whilst saying in faux amusement
"I think I have a pretty good idea" Rose mumbled under her breath
"What was that?" Irene snapped, and the redhead looked up nervously. Jack interrupted quickly, trying to defend his wife before Irene began to attack in the only way she knew how.
"It doesn't matter what she said! What does matter is that you stay away from my family and me- for good. Come on, Rose." Jack said as he took Rose by the hand once again and began to walk away.
"No." Rose said firmly, as she stood her ground and refused to walk away. Jack stared at her as if she had lost her mind
"We need to listen to what Irene has to say or this will never end". Realizing that Rose had a point, Jack stopped walking and went back to join Rose and Irene, who was smiling in triumph and held Amelie, who was smiling shyly in her arms.
"Fine, I guess I'll be late for work. I'll say I wasn't feeling good. Let's go back to the house and we can all talk this through like adults, okay?" Jack gave Irene a stern look for the last bit of his statement, but the woman had already started walking back down the street, leaving Rose to flounce after her without saying another word, and Jack looking helplessly at them as he followed with his head bowed, like a child who had been ordered to the headmaster's office.
When they got back to the house, Rose made them all tea, and gave Amelie a glass of milk; and told Irene she was welcome to let her play on the floor, before they all sat down the kitchen table to discuss the situation. Jack himself sat as close to Rose as was humanly possible, as if to show what side he was on; whereas Irene was sat opposite them with a, forced, smug look on her face trying to hide that she knew she had a very slim chance of winning this. Rose was the first to speak up.
"Miss..?" Irene rolled her eyes and Jack quickly supplied
"Chevalier. Rose, just call her-"
"Miss Chevalier, would you like to tell your side of the story?" Rose said, cutting into her husband's words as she took his hand in hers under the table, as if to assure him that she was alright. Nodding, Irene started to speak.
"I have not always lived in Paris. I moved there when I was 14 from Marseille. Until now I have never left, but now I am determined to get Jack, the father of my child." The possibility of this made Rose wince, and caused her husband to narrow his eyes "To come back to Paris with me and our daughter." Irene finished smugly
"What... makes you think that the child is Jack's?" Rose asked in a timid voice, not wanting to meet the woman's eyes-which were sparkling evilly, as if causing pain was her favourite hobby. A pastime. A game.
"You see Rose, Jack hasn't always been this nice, sweet and charming man. In fact he was quite the opposite. I remember vividly your darling husband throwing himself at me on more than one occasion. I'm sure I don't need to spell it out for you, Rose,; because I know you're not stupid but I will anyway- Jack and I were intimate on many more than one occasion. I slept with him more times than I did with any other man. Not that he paid well, but he was the best. So it is most likely that he is Amelie's father, non? You can already see that Amelie is identical to him-so why deny it any longer? Jack belongs with me and our child."
Jack was now boiling with rage. There was noway he was going to take this, and with all his anger Jack didn't even notice Rose was quietly crying until her heard her hiccup.
"Now, you see what you've done?" he angrily snapped at Irene as he wrapped his arms around Rose and whispered that he loved her in her ear. After she had sufficiently calmed down, Rose wriggled out of Jack's embrace, and smiled reassuringly at him, encouraging him to remain strong.
"I'd like to hear your side of the story now, Jack." he nodded and turned to scowl at his ex.
"Okay, I have to commend you, Irene-on your incredibly vivid imagination. Really, I do; because everything you've said has been a distortion of the truth. First of all, yes, I was different to how I am now but I was nowhere near as bad as you've made me out to be. I'll admit that you and I… Well…Uh... Knew each other well," he mentally kicked himself as he saw his wife wince
Great choice of words there, Dawson.
"But I can assure you, Rose-that Irene and I only 'knew' each other twice; and I'm not even going to address the subject of what I paid you. I would never ever pay someone for sex! As for the child looking like me- how far does the resemblance go? Amelie is blonde and blue eyed, but that's it! You think I was the only blonde haired man around? Please! You couldn't move for them! The only thing I can say on the subject is that for some reason that I don't understand, you have some kind of obsession with me, or my money,"
Or lack of
"Look, Irene. I know you- and I know that you like- sorry, love money but since I am convinced that your child isn't mine, well I have nothing else to say." Jack finished his speech by placing a protective arm around Rose and shooting a warning glance at Irene. The awkward silence spanned for about five minutes before Rose finally spoke up.
"I think you should go, Irene." Rose said as she stood up walking towards the front door. Not really knowing what to do- Jack also stood up and made his way to the door; once again placing his arm around Rose's waist. An embrace that she quickly wriggled out of, leaving Jack very confused.
"Well goodbye, Irene, despite the inconvenience you have caused my husband and I- I wish you and your daughter every success" Rose said as she opened the door and gestured for the woman to leave, which she looked prepared to do, her daughter on her hip, sucking her thumb and looking at Rose curiously.
"Thank you and goodbye" Irene said, the same smug look on her face that she kept on for the entire ordeal finally gone; now replaced with what looked like livid fury-and slight disappointment. She looked longingly over at Rose's purse, which Jack quickly scooped up, giving her an evil look. He knew better than anyone how sticky her fingers were. He had been a 'helper' of a man named Henderson, who had sold whatever he and Irene stole in exchange for money and occasionally food. The Frenchwoman rolled her eyes sarcastically once more, before finally stepped daintily out of the house for the final time. Closing the door, Rose turned to her husband with a frustrated look on her face.
"What was that, Jack?" his mind suddenly clouded with confusion and he carefully asked
"What was what?" Rose gestured to him, her eyes furious, but as he took a step forward to attempt to calm her down, she backed up-her back thumping against the door-trapped. She still glared at him
"All the... the touching. Were you trying to make her feel uncomfortable intentionally?"
Wait, what?
Rose cared if Irene was uncomfortable? How could she feel anything but hatred for the woman who had tried to wreck their marriage?
"What? No not at all! Look, I think we both need to clear our heads okay?" He said as he walked up to her and placed his hands on her upper arms, meeting her gaze and feeling relieved as her anger bean to die, and he felt her relax against his hold
"Yes, okay. I'm sorry" Rose looked slightly ashamed at her behavior, but Jack smiled at her reassuringly.
"Don't be, sweetheart. Why don't you go and read your book?" Rose nodded and smiled at her husband
"I think that's a good idea." Jack kissed her forehead before she made her way upstairs. He watched her leave, and with a sigh, leaned against the door where she had just been and then moaned in relief.
-AWNL-
Irene had often wondered why she always went for the bad guy. Her dear Father had always taught her morals and given her high standards, which she swore to uphold-but now here she was; barely 20 and evicted from her home and living with her Mother; who despised the ground she walked on. The only good thing she had was Amelie-and she had failed her. All she needed was $100 dollars and she could begin her life with her daughter again-and she thought; Jack being as sweet as he was, would fall for it and either give her money- or at least take the child off of her hands. It wasn't that she didn't love Amelie, she did. She was the one thing that got her up in the morning, but she couldn't help but feel nostalgic for her old life. The baby just held her back, and she had begun to resent her. She thought that was what scared her most.
She took one final look at the Dawson's house, before sighing and pulling her bag more comfortably over her shoulder. When she had been thrown out earlier, she had taken Amelie home. Their tickets for their journey home were booked, but she couldn't resist coming back one last time. Now she felt her heart breaking into a million pieces, and she knew it was her own fault. She began to walk away, but was stopped by a handsome, muscular brunette man who had been watching her from a bench, who wandered over as he saw her looking sadly at the house. He spoke clearly, calmly, albeit curiously with an accent different to the one of the kindly owner of the hotel she was staying in and of the rest of the civilians of Rancho Santa Margherita.
"Hi. Sorry if I'm disturbing you, but did you just come from the Dawson's house?" she watched him nervously, trying to stop her mouth from dropping open at his attractiveness
"Oui. Why do you ask, kind sir?" she kept to the manners which her mother had taught her, and the man smiled more broadly once he heard her speak.
"My...employer hired me to gain some information on them. Would you be interested?" she regarded him, and began to shake her head when the man butted in again
"He would obviously pay for any information you choose to disclose." Irene's ears suddenly were alert, and she was sure that if she had been an animal, they would have perked; similar to the manner in which they did whenever a car approached. Although she felt slightly 'deer in the headlights' like, the offer of payment was too much for her to refuse, especially as the man was looking expectantly at her. Without another thought, she nodded. The man grinned and grabbed her arm, and started to pull her toward an expensive looking car. Irene suddenly realised that she may have made a mistake.
-AWNL-
The man wasn't speaking anymore. He wasn't even smiling in the kind manner that he had previously. He was staring with a blank expression that even her persistent, desperate begging to tell him where he was taking her couldn't break. Occasionally, he would smirk; which she thought made him look more sinister. What had she gotten herself in to? She continued to beg him to tell her something, to tell her anything that would indicate that she hadn't made the biggest mistake of her life, but all he said was
"We're nearly there. Now, shut up." she immediately had, and had started to pray to God. She always kept a crucifix safely round her neck, and had always been the taught the importance of regular prayer. She felt sick knowing that after this, she may never be able to attend church again. Her mouth dropped open again, however; as the man pulled up to a mansion, and spoke to a guard
"I've got someone who might help. Yeah? Well tell Mr Hockley, that if he doesn't let me in; I let her go, and our deal is off." Irene gulped and started to pray again as the car roared through the gates and pulled up outside of a large porch, and the marble columns that held up the roof over the door was covered in ivy, giving it a country look, which she thought resembled a story her Papa had told her as a child, about an adventurous, albeit nosy child who discovered an abandoned house. The child had been killed by a wicked witch. She started to feel sicker as she was led through corridors to a large set of white doors, where her captor knocked once, then threw them open before they were ordered in. The man strode in, and after looking round to try and find an escape route, Irene gulped and followed. Two dark haired men stood up as she walked in, and her captor sat on a window seat, and lit up a cigarette, despite the disapproving looks of the obviously older man. The younger one stepped forward with a warm smile and held out his hand
"Hello, Mrs..?"
"Miss Chevalier." he nodded and shook her hand warmly, then gestured to a servant to pull forward a red chair, to which he nodded at her
"Please, sit. I trust that Mr. Martin didn't harm you in any way." her captor, Mr. Martin snorted in derision and the older man frowned at him, and Martin rolled his eyes, and then shook his head whilst taking another drag from his cigarette. The younger man, the one who was being polite ignored this, and Irene shook her head, still fearful
"Non. I am simply afraid of why I am here. I do not know where I am, yes?" The man nodded and sat on the edge of a large desk, his eyes full of concern. Irene started to relax a little, but still wouldn't meet the gaze of Martin. She swallowed and said quietly, nervously
"Please, Monsieur, but who are you?" the man chuckled slightly, and the older man finally sat down in his chair again and poured what looked like whisky, lifting up the glass in an offer to her as she looked over. She shook her head politely, then met the younger's gaze again
"I'm sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Caledon Hockley, and this is my Father, Nathan."
-AWNL-
Jack and Rose didn't speak much for the rest of that day, aware of the fact that if they did, the unrelieved tension in the air would shift to a fully-fledged argument, and neither wanted that. They ate their dinner, exchanging polite conversation, but neither could ignore the fact that there was something different about the relationship now. How could Rose forget now that Jack had indeed been with other women before her, and that there might be a whole legion of illegitimate children that he had sired? Would more 'Irenes' show up, demanding payment? She hoped not, because she didn't know how many more days like today she could physically handle.
Also, she couldn't help but feel that this wasn't over.
-AWNL-
"I'm still yet to see why you were brought here, Miss Chevalier." Nathan said calmly, and Irene finally looked at him properly. Nathan couldn't have been more than in his mid-fifties, but he looked like he had seen it all, done it all. His eyes were tired and full of experience, the shade of brown they had once been now greying like his hair, but his hair was still a shocking black, with mere tiny hairs of grey. That shocked Irene, as even though her child was barely one, she already had more grey hairs than her Mother. He was looking over expectantly at Martin, as was Caledon; and with one final exhalation of smoke, he threw his cigarette out of the window and stood up angrily
"She's been with them a couple of days. I thought she might be able to tell us when he's at work. What the hell is your problem? At least I actually did something other than drinking brandy all day and complaining about how unfair life is." Caledon looked over with a smile
"I apologize, Miss Chevalier. Mr. Martin has a rather quick temper. He inherited it from his Mother." although the last part was a joke, and even Nathan half smiled at it, Martin went crazy and strode toward the younger man
"What did you just say, Caledon?" Martin's expression was low and dangerous. Even in France, Irene knew it was the highest level of disrespect to insult one's mother, and she knew that Caledon was stomping on dangerous ground. Nathan stood up slowly, and Martin immediately looked up, and Irene noticed his angry expression starting to fade as the older man spoke quietly
"I will not tolerate fighting in my home, Daniel." Daniel glared at him
"So you're just going to let him say that about my Mom? Come on, Nathan." There seemed to be some significance in this particular use of Nathan's given name, but Irene just couldn't figure it out; and she had previously thought of herself as reasonably began to feel very awkward, and tried to stand up, saying quietly
"This is a bad time-"
"Sit down, if you please; Miss Chevalier." Caledon said loudly. She could hear that this wasn't to be argued with so she did what she knew she had to, and Irene immediately sat down again, watching worriedly as Nathan and Daniel regarded each other, then Daniel looked at her, and smiled
"I don't think we've been introduced properly. Dan Martin. Used to be Hockley, before Nathan here decided he was going to give up on me." Irene's jaw dropped. Dan was Nathan's son? That meant that Cal was his brother, and that this was a family thing. The stakes were higher. Although she couldn't help but feel confused and slightly awkward that Dan had told her that. Why? She was nothing to neither Cal nor his Father, so she wasn't a weapon. Nathan's expression was thunderous as he glared at his illegitimate middle child. His oldest, a girl named Francesca had never behaved like his sons. Caledon was immature and irresponsible, whereas Dan was angry and violent. Franny was like the middle ground, the peacemaker. That made her death all the more shocking. They had said it was influenza, but everyone knew that she died carrying the child that had been forced upon her by a complete stranger. Franny's death changed Nathan, and made him darker, angrier. Less inclined to put up with his sons' constant bickering.
"You know full well that your Mother decided that she wanted to raise you." Dan chuckled
"Yeah, and lucky she did. I'd hate to be anything like you." Nathan rolled his eyes
"You're unlucky that you're my son, then; are you not?" Dan glared at him, and Nathan smirked triumphantly, before turning and nodding at Irene
"Miss Chevalier. Caledon. Daniel. I'm going to excuse myself." Caledon nodded, and Dan shook his head in disbelief, but as his eyes met Irene's, he suddenly seemed a lot calmer, and went back to sit on his seat. Nathan bowed his head to her, and quietly, flanked by a servant left the room. Caledon took a drag on a cigarette that she had not noticed was perched on an ashtray, and then put it back down again
"Miss Chevalier. I believe you have some...information on the Dawsons' which might prove useful to me." Irene instantly felt her heart begin to thump as she realised that she still wasn't safe. If this man knew Rose and Jack, surely he wouldn't need to drag complete strangers off of the street. Dan was watching her, and then coughed; making his brother look over at him in annoyance
"I...uh...I think Irene would like...payment, in exchange for her information." Caledon looked back at Irene, then nodded calmly and got out a leather wallet from a drawer, and it almost made Irene's mouth drop open. The thing was as thick as a book! This man had more money in his wallet than she would ever have in her life! He got out three ten dollar bills and held them out, but she stared at him incredulously, and then looked back at Dan, who chuckled and took a drag on his own cigarette, which he had lit as Nathan left. Irene thought for a moment how unattractive chain smoking was.
"More than thirty bucks, Cal. Why don't you ask her how much she wants? Or are you afraid of catching poor?" Cal opened his mouth to make a snide retort, but to interrupt him, the French woman held out her hand expectantly. The younger man looked at her, his expression confused as he handed her the thirty dollars, and in French she began to count it, then looked up
"Not enough." Dan laughed, but smothered it quickly. Nonetheless, Irene smiled at him
"How much do you want?" Cal asked in slight irritation.
"Four hundred." Dan couldn't control himself anymore, and spluttered in laughter, having to hold his sides as he laughed for about three minutes. In that time, Cal had given Irene what she thought was the longest glare she had ever received, but she adopted a smug smile, and blinked innocently as the man cursed under his breath and dug in his wallet again, then stopped
"How do I know the information is worth four hundred dollars? I don't need to know what they have for breakfast, Miss Chevalier." Irene could only mentally answer that Jack had croissants with fresh strawberries every day in France for breakfast, but she pretended to look irritated, despite the fact she wanted to laugh as hard as Dan had. Well, if she wasn't getting money from Jack, she might as well from a man who had it as loose change.
"I know more than that, Mr. Hockley. My money, si'vous plait." Cal regarded her, and then slowly drew out four fifty dollar bills, and again; she looked at him incredulously, but smiling smugly, Cal answered calmly
"Half now, half after. I think you'll find, Miss Chevalier-that expecting Mr. Martin to come to your rescue is unreliable as he works for me." Dan stared at Cal with the oddest expression, and Irene felt oddly worried that she had lost the one person who had even a slither of compassion, but when she saw Dan look defeated, bowed her head and began to speak.
-AWNL-
Don't do it. Don't do it.
Dan was mentally begging Cal not to give him the order to throw out Irene, as she looked so frail, so small. He hadn't mentioned that he had been following her wherever she went, and heard her speak to her small child about her Dad, stating that she would soon find him. Judging on how she looked when she left the Dawson's today, it didn't go well.
He still didn't want her alone on the streets though
Odd, as normally; he wouldn't have cared.
-AWNL-
As she spoke, Irene watched Cal's interest heighten and peak as she told him when Jack was at work, and therefore; Rose was home alone. She really couldn't care less why Cal wanted to know-because the way she saw it; that redheaded bitch was the only thing standing between her, Jack and Amelie being a happy family. If only he had never left Paris, then he would have believed her, supported her. How she wanted that. Then she had to come along. She knew as soon as she'd seen Rose on the train that she hated her, as she cooed patronizingly at her daughter then implied she didn't give her enough love! The nerve of some women! Rose probably had a governess to raise her, so she didn't know what a Mother was, and therefore; all of her children would hate her. That was Irene's wish, anyway. As her disdain grew, the more detail she put into her story and the happier Cal became. It was like she could hear coins being dropped every breath he took. She finished with a flourish, gesturing to a clock and saying
"Jack is at home right now, but will be at work in thirteen hours and leave for home in eighteen hours." Cal smiled at her darkly, and for a moment she felt de-ja-vú, and then realised it was similar to her own smiles that she saved just for Rose. The woman had everything, right? Why not give her a signature glare? Cal got out his wallet again and gave her the rest of her notes. Slowly and carefully, Irene counted; and grinned as she realised he gave her twenty extra, and look up gratefully.
"Merci, Monsieur Hockley." Cal shook his head, still donning that same dark smile, but now his eyes sparkled with thought, something deep and underlying. Irene then turned and nodded with a smile to Dan, to which he stood up and smiled awkwardly too
"Monsieurs Hockley. It has been a pleasure doing business with you." and with that, the French woman turned and walked coolly through the doors, concealing her excitement until she was round the corner, at which part she exploded with joy and cried out rapturously.
-AWNL-
Dan watched as Irene left, feeling slightly disappointed in himself for not saying anything; but with a sigh, turned to his brother; who looked oddly excited
"Happy now?" Cal grinned and nodded
"Now we can move. Tomorrow, at midday; do it." Dan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, for the first time feeling slightly uncomfortable with an assignment, but nodded and got out his gun, placing into the table. Cal shook his head vigorously, and said furiously whilst putting the gun firmly in a locked drawer
"No weapons." Dan shrugged indifferently. What did he care? The Dawson's were just another job. Cal however was beside himself with excitement, like a child at Christmas. His mind however was not focused on getting coal or toys, no. Well, perhaps toys. One particular toy. He would have it soon.
And she wouldn't even expect it.
A/N: Oh no! Rose is in danger! Review to keep her safe! Remember to tell us about face claims! Unfortunately, our beta let us down and didn't ever reply so now we're back to doing all of the work ourselves. This was originally written way back in July-we're ahead of you guys now and we're trying to keep it that way. See you soon
Il s'agit de votre papa. Dire bonjour- This is your Daddy. Say hello.
Merci-Thank you
Bonjour-Hello
Si'vous plait-Please
Non- No
Oui-Yes
Talia&Alessia
(The2DawsonGirls)
Xxxx