A/N: Alright, so as far as I know there are no suburbs on Manhattan Island, but I took a little liberty here in putting one in. If, by chance, there is one, that's even better! Also, in reference to the title... my friends and I were listening to this song a while back and I was just dying to put it in this story. It seems to really fit them (even though it's talking about a country- I think we can just put that aside for a little while), plus I love it! Does anybody else think it's a little ironic, though, that if you take of the 'ia' it says Caledon? Just a random observation.

Again, thanks so much for those who review. It keeps me motivated. And special thanks to the people who told me the last chapter was not suckish. I was in a frazzled mood yesterday, and looking back, it's not nearly as bad as I thought it. So thank you. :)

101Twilight fan – Still being in school and realizing what a risk that was, that means a lot. LOL Thanks.

This one is dedicated to the twins' dad, because you just sing it so much better!

Chapter Nine

74th and 3rd

For a September night, the air was surprisingly warm as Rose made her way to the corner of 76th and 3rd. She had no idea why she was going there or what sort plan Jack had in store- only that she was going to see him again, and that she couldn't wait. It had been only about forty minute since he'd left the party, but to Rose, it felt like an eternity.

As soon as she'd read the note Jack had slipped into her hand, she excused herself to restroom and never came back. It was such a relief to get out of that torture chamber. Never in a million years had she imagined her mother embarrassing her like that. Cal had been in their apartment to make the official proposal when she arrived home from school that afternoon, and she had no choice but to accept. As her mother so often reminded her, their future was depending on it. There had been a reason she hadn't told Jack though; while she knew it was pretty much impossible, Rose had this grand fantasy of running away with Jack and living the rest of her life with him in Santa Monica or Paris or really anywhere that wasn't New York City. She hadn't wanted him to know she was engaged because she wanted him to pursue her. Now what was he going to do? There was no point in vying for a girl who was already engaged! As stupid as it was, especially since she'd only known him a day, Rose felt that she may possible be in love with Jack, if love was what she thought it was. She didn't think she could bear to watch him walk away.

And yet walk away he most certainly wasn't doing. Wherever he was going tonight, he wanted her to go, too. He hadn't given up on her yet, and hopefully he never would.

Just as he had said he'd be, Jack was waiting for her at the street corner. He was facing the opposite direction, but he must have heard Rose's heels against the ground because he turned around to look at her as she approached him.

Smiling coyly, as though he knew a beautiful and magical secret that she didn't, he asked, "Want to go to a real party?"

"What?" she asked, totally confused. "Jack, where are we going?"

Ignoring her question, Jack grabbed Rose by the hand and started to walk down the street towards a suburb. Rose had never seen a suburb in her life, but they were exactly like movies made them seem- quaint, picturesque, with little kids playing on lawns and their parents sitting on the front porch, watching them intently. It was so heartwarming that she almost forgot her frustration with Jack for dragging her around without telling her what was going on.

"Jack!" she squealed, trying her hardest not to burst out in girlish laughter. "Jack! You tell me where you're taking me right now or I'm going back!"

As if. She would follow him wherever he went, even if she was blindfolded and handcuffed and shoved into a tiny box in the trunk of a car... as long as Jack was driving!

"Shhh, Rose!" Jack exclaimed. "I know the concept seems foreign to you, but this is a suburb. Here, people actually like peace and quiet." His tone sounded serious, but he couldn't hide the adorable grin that spread across his face, letting Rose know that he was only joking. "And I already told you; we're going to a party."

Rose rolled her eyes and continued to follow Jack. As the turned corner after corner, they were going deeper into a world that Rose had always dreamed of being a part of. All around them, children rode their bikes, dogs chased their tales and not one single person wore a fake smile. They were all genuine. Her desire to live like that was so strong that her eyes welled up with tears, surprising even herself. She had to swallow the lump that was developing in her throat, though, because she knew that if she started crying now, it would just ruin whatever Jack had planned.

Finally, Jack stopped running in front of a long driveway that was full of cars. The house they were in front of was quite large, standing probably three storeys high, with a garden and big bay windows. The owners obviously had money, but it was also obvious that they had better things to spend it only than expensive dresses and expensive parties and expensive limousines. Rose wondered who it belonged to, and how Jack knew them, whoever they were.

"Well, we're here," Jack said, ringing the doorbell. "I think you're gonna have fun."

"Of course I am," Rose said, smiling. She was with him, after all.

Momentarily, somebody answered the door. It was the man from earlier that day... the man Jack had introduced as Tommy Ryan. Things were slowly beginning to make sense. Maybe he was the one giving this party. That seemed alright to Rose- Tommy had seemed very nice, and not uptight in the least. Maybe she really was going to a real party.

"Jack!" he exclaimed. "Ye made it! Cora's gonna be thrilled. But tell me, what's with the clothes?" he asked once he realized what Jack was wearing.

Jack shook his head and laughed. "I'll explain later. You remember Rose, right, Tommy?"

"Of course I do. Pretty hard to forget, if I do say so myself." Tommy winked at her before turning around and calling out into the house, "Cora! Jack's here!"

Right on cue, tiny footsteps bounded down the stairs and into the foyer. Rose recognized Cora's brilliant head of curly hair, a lot like hers had been at that age, only darker. She really was one of the cutest kids she'd ever seen, and the way she idolized Jack was absolutely adorable.

"Jack!" she squealed, jumping into his waiting arms. "I've been waiting for you all day! Daddy told me you were gonna be here later, and I said that was okay because I was just going to wait in my room until you got here! So I did, and then everybody came, and they started playing music, and I wanted to go down but I stayed in my room because I said I was going to, and now you finally came! And you brought Rose!"

Rose wondered how long Jack had known Cora. They were so close that it seemed as though they must have known each other her entire life. That wasn't possible, though, because she was no more than six or seven, if even that, and Jack would have been off traveling the world when she was a toddler. The bond their shared melted her heart- she wished she could have had someone like that to love when she was younger. Everything about this new world that Jack was showing her seemed thrilling and exotic. Everybody loved each other so much. Before meeting Jack, Rose didn't even know it was possible to love anyone that much, let alone a whole bunch of people.

"You didn't think I was gonna forget ya, did you Cora?" Jack asked, messing with her hair a little bit.

Cora shrugged. "I'm just glad you came. C'mon guys, let's go outside!"

Tommy led the group through a living room and kitchen and out into a huge backyard. To Rose's surprise, it was filled with people who were chatting, eating, even swimming- in a pool! Rose had swam in hotel pools before, but she'd never met a person that had a pool in their backyard before! Ironically, given her upbringing and all, Rose felt that she had stepped into the lap of luxury. These people, friends and relations of Cora and her family- they were real people! Real, happy, genuine people, just relaxing and having a good time.

In the far corner of the perfectly groomed yard was a two-man band playing what sounded to Rose like Irish folk songs. A couple of people were dancing to the music on a large patio. She felt an instant longing to get up there and dance with them- with Jack- but she would never have the guts to actually do it.

"Well, guys," Tommy said to Jack and Rose, "this is it. The big soiree. There's a cooler over there," he said, gesturing a red ice box next to the band, "and there's food on the tables. Ye can help yourself, I s'pose. I've gotta go and help Cora's parents inside, but I'm sure she'll show you around, right Cora?"

Cora nodded happily, if not a little bit impatiently. Whatever her plans were, her uncle's presence was clearly destroying them. Once he was well out of ear shot, she turned to Jack and said, "I love this song! Will you dance with me?"

Rose couldn't help but smile at her innocence. She would have liked to have thought that there was a time when she herself had been like Cora, but the truth was that there wasn't. As far back as she could remember, Rose had been groomed for the role of a high society debutante. She never really had fun- not like this, anyway.

Jack looked at Rose apologetically. "Is that okay, Rose? I don't want to leave you standing there all-"

"It's, fine, Jack," she said with a smile. "Really. Go on, go have fun! I'm gonna go get something to drink."

"Alright then, kiddo," Jack said, returning his gaze to Cora's tiny face, "let's dance!"

For a minute, Rose watched the man twirl the little girl around, in awe of the beautiful display in front of her. Jack's heart must have been six times bigger than any normal person's, because he was amazingly capable of love. The most amazing part was that Jack had no idea how wonderful he was. He didn't even know that he's saved her life- he truly believed that she wouldn't have jumped last night on the Brooklyn Bridge. And maybe, given the opportunity, she wouldn't have, but now they never had to find out, all thanks to Jack. Everything good in her life was thanks to Jack.

Not wanting to become too emotional in front of all these people she didn't even know, Rose turned around to get something to drink. Maybe because it was all she knew, she was expecting the cooler to be filled with bottled water, she was pleasantly surprised to find it full of pop- 7Up, root beer, Coke... all of that stuff that she'd never been allowed to drink. It was too fattening, her mother would say. Bad for her teeth. Bad for her stomach lining, whatever that meant. Well, her mother wasn't here to stop her now! Rose grabbed a can of 7Up, having absolutely no idea what it tasted like but knowing that a lot of her friends loved it, and sat down at a table in front of the patio.

Pulling the tap off the can, she took her first sip, and found it to b e surprisingly disgusting. It sort of tickled her tongue, only not in good way, and it burned her throat going down. Rose had never tasted toxic waste before, but she imagined it might be a little something like that. Okay, maybe her mother had been right about one thing. Pop was definitely not a good thing.

Reaching behind her and placing the can as far away as possible, Rose continued to watch Jack spin Cora around the makeshift dance floor, swaying back and forth to the music. The song was one she was pretty sure she recognized- Whiskey in the Jar, it might have been called- although she didn't remember where from. The whole vibe was so lively that Rose couldn't help but laugh and clap along to the beat. For the first time that she could remember, she felt really and truly alive.

When the song ended, Jack knelt down in front of Cora and said, rather loudly because the band hand already started playing another song, "I'm gonna dance with Rose now, okay?"

Cora nodded obligingly, but the look on her face told Rose that she was less than thrilled. God, that girl was cute.

"C'mon Rose," Jack encouraged, "it'll be fun."

Of course it would be fun. It was be absolutely lovely and amazing and beautiful and everything she'd ever hope for in her wildest dreams. But she was going to make herself look like a complete idiot. Rose knew how to dance- she'd done ballet from the age of four until she was thirteen, and all types of ballroom dancing were part of the weekly cotillion lessons that her mother insisted on putting her through. Still, that wasn't the same as what these people were doing. She had no idea how to dance like that.

"No, Jack!" she protested as he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her onto the patio. "I don't know the steps!"

"Neither do I," Jack said with a laugh. "Just go with it!"

Rose continued to protest. "No, Jack! This is ridiculous!"

That, however, did not stop Jack from putting his other hand around her waist and leading her into the group of dancing people. Cora just stood there, unmoving, looking somewhat resentful.

Jack must have noticed, because he said, "Don't worry, Cora. You're still my best girl."

With that, he led Rose deeper into the crowd of dancing people. At first they were a little bit awkward- neither one of them knew what they were doing, and they appeared to be equally uncoordinated. Soon, though, Rose felt herself growing comfortable in Jack's arms. His hand felt warm and strong around her waist, and his smile was contagious. The music filled her up completely, and before she knew it she was throwing her head back in laughter like everybody else. She wasn't ready for what Jack came up with next, though.

He let go of her waist and grabbed her other hand so that they arms were crossed over. Without warning, he began to spin her around like a top. It was so exhilarating, so exciting... but so dangerous.

"Jack!" she squealed. "Jack, stop it! We're going to get hurt!"

Jack, it seemed, would have no part of it. He didn't say a word; just continued to spin them around in an ever-faster circle.

"Jack!" Rose cried again, but this time she doubted that he even heard her over the music, which seemed to be getting louder and louder. She decided not to bother with it any longer, just enjoying the sensation of going around and around and around, not having a care in the world, holding the hands of the man she believed she was beginning to fall in love with.

The song ended much too quickly for Rose's liking, and Jack, still holding her hand, escorted her back to where Cora was now sitting patiently, waiting for her knight in shining armour to return. Jack went over to talk with Cora's father, leaving her and Rose alone together. Rose was still evidently dizzy and not fully back down to earth, but that didn't stop Cora from jumping on here immediately with questions.

"How come Jack likes you so much?" asked the little girl, eyeing Rose suspiciously.

For her part, Rose had no idea how to respond. First of all, she didn't really know what Cora had meant by the question, and even if she did, she didn't know how to explain the situation to a six-year-old. What was she supposed to say? That her mother was making her marry a man twice her age so she was going to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge but Jack saved her now she wished that she could spend the rest of her life with him? Yeah right!

"What do you mean, Cora?" she asked, dancing around the root of the question. "Me and Jack are friends. He likes you, doesn't he? And your uncle? Jack's just a nice person."

Cora rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips, looking exasperated. "Not like you," she explained, as though she was the adult talking to a six-year-old rather than the other way around. "He stares at you all the time. How come? Is it because you're so pretty?"

Oh, right. That kind of like. It had even occurred to Rose that Cora might notice such a thing, especially since she herself hadn't. She had suspected- or rather hoped- that Jack might see her as more than a teenager who was in way over her head, but she'd never noticed him staring at her before. The thing inside of her that had been floating gently since she'd first laid eyes on Jack started to turn somersaults.

"Well, Cora," Rose whispered, trying to make the girl feel very important, "Can I tell you a secret?"

Cora nodded enthusiastically and moved a little bit closer to Rose.

"I just met Jack last night. I was looking over the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge- you know what that is, right?- so, I was looking over the edge and I almost fell in. Jack saved my life. So that's why he stares at me- he's thinking that if it wasn't for him, I could have died."

God, that was an awful lie. Looking down at Cora's little face, so completely immersed in awe, she felt a piece of her soul turn black. Lying to children was not a very nice thing to do.

"Oh," Cora said quietly, as though it all made sense now. Rose's haphazard explanation seemed to have brought her back to her usual cheerful demeanour. Kids could bounce back so fast. "Well, whatever you say, Rose. I still think he likes you."

I hope so, Rose thought, but she didn't say it out loud. She sat in silence for a long time, Cora cuddled up beside her. She didn't remember when she had stopped being like Cora, if she had ever been at all- so trusting, so loving. Everyone she met was like her best friend. How fortunate she was to be growing up in a world where it was safe to trust people with your secrets and hopes and dreams. Rose hoped that Cora would never have to leave that place; that she would never know anything but comfort and happiness.

The sun was almost fully set now, but the party was still going strong. The lively music was surely part of what kept people going, along with refreshing dips in the pool. Rose really wanted to jump in it and just stay there for the rest of the night, but her attire was hardly appropriate. Someday, she told herself, she and Jack might visit Cora and her family again, and then they could go swimming. Already, she couldn't wait for that day to come.

Jack finished his conversation with Mr Cartmell and made his way over to Rose and Cora, who's eyes where slowly closing as she tried to stifle a yawn.

"Gettin tired, Cora?" Jack asked, lifting her up and sitting her down in his lap. He took her place next to Rose and let her rest her tired little head on his shoulder. He was so good with her that Rose couldn't help but think that he would make an excellent father someday to some lucky woman's children.

"You know, Jack," Rose said, unable to hide her smile, "I really did have a lot of fun tonight- way more than I would have had waiting around for Mother to talk to every single one of her guests. So thank you. For everything."

Jack didn't say anything for a long time- he just looked deep into Rose's green eyes, and she, in turn, gazed into his bright blue ones. For a moment, it was like there was only them, the sky, and the music. The tone of the music had changed now, and the band was singing a soft, slow song that Rose didn't recognize. She tried to listen, really listen, to the words.

I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away

Jack appeared to be listening to them to, because he whispered in Rose's ear, "Would you like to dance?"

This time there were no excuses. Any thirteen-year-old at their eighth grade graduation knew how to slow dance. Still, she tried her hardest to find one.

"What about Cora?" she asked quietly, indicating the girl who was now sleeping in Jack's arms. "Are you just gonna leave her here?"

"Trust me, Rose," he explained. "She can stay right where she is. It'll be fine." Still holding Cora with one arm, he stood up and extended the other one out to Rose. There was nothing for her to say now, no way out. Not that she wanted there to be. It was just that all her life, decisions had been made for her, and while she didn't like it, it made things a lot easier. She never had to take responsibility for her actions. What if she made a mistake? She'd never had to face that before.

She didn't really get to think too hard about it, because she was standing up, wrapped in Jack's arms before she knew it. In one of his strong arms he held Cora, now fast asleep, and the other was resting on Rose's waist. Following his lead, she placed on hand on Jack's shoulder and rested the other on Cora's head of curly hair. They said nothing... there was nothing to say. Rose still listened to the words of the song as she laid her head down on Jack's shoulder.

I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I've come from
That's the reason why I seem
So far away today.

There were a lot of other couples dancing as well, some of them even on the grass, but to Rose, Jack was the only other person in the universe. Everything about such a picture-perfect moment filled her entire existence with a joy that she'd never felt before. The rustling wind that danced in and out of the trees, the cool stillness of the night air, the warmth of Jack's body pressed against hers...

Against her better judgement, she allowed herself to picture this very image ten years down the road, only with their own daughter perched between them instead of Cora. Neither her mother nor Cal were there to stop her from imagining. Even if it could never be true, she could always, always imagine.

Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

"You're beautiful," Jack whispered in her ear. His voice sent shivers down her spine and that thing inside of her floated up towards her chest. She was absolutely speechless. Jack Dawson thought she was beautiful. Nothing else in the world mattered. For what felt like the millionth time in the last twenty-four hours, she felt tears beginning to develop behind her eyes.

Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way

Rose decided then and there that from that day on, she wasn't going to let anything get in the way of the life that she wanted to lead- the life with a job and a house and a family and a man who loved her. The life that she wanted to lead with Jack beside her.

She didn't have to marry Cal if she didn't want to. It was the 21st century, for goodness sake! She could do whatever she wanted to. She was going to wake up first thing tomorrow morning and tell her mother that the engagement was off, that she was going to apply to university and that she was in love with Jack. That was just way it was and if her mother didn't like it, then that was her problem.

Rose was in love with Jack. If she hadn't known it earlier that night, she knew it now. It seemed so crazy- loving someone you'd only just met. But at the same time, it felt right.

Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Jack really was her reason for living. She couldn't wait to be with him- not that morning, sitting in her stupid English class; not that afternoon, as she got ready for her mother's dinner party; not that night as she made her way to the corner of 76th and 3rd.

Rose had grown up in a world where people controlled everything she did, and for a lot of years she thought that was the way the entire world worked. She never liked it, not since she could remember, but she tolerated it anyway. Since meeting Jack, it was as though she'd met a long-lost relative or something. Finally, someone in her life made her feel like she was at home, in the place where she was meant to be.

Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When hands have shaken, the kisses float
Then I will disappear

As they continued to move around in a little circle, it was as though the whole world had stopped. The breeze was calming down and there was no noise from the pool behind them. Even Cora, who still slept in Jack's arm, was beginning to breath more and more quietly. Never in her life had Rose felt more appreciated, more needed, more loved, then she did now.

Just as all little girls did, Rose used to dream of being a princess locked up in a tower and a knight in shining armour coming to save her from the dragon in the dungeon below. Earlier, she'd thought about Jack as being Cora's knight, but maybe he was hers, too. Maybe she was finally getting the fairytale she'd always dreamed of.

Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had