Thursday, August 8th, 1912

It was Thursday evening, the night before the local theater's production of Romeo and Juliet. Rose, who had the lead role of Juliet, was becoming extremely nervous about her acting debut. The theater had rehearsal's everyday this week, and the theater's director, Mrs. Barnes, seemed incredibly impressed with Rose's performance. However, Rose was still panic-stricken. Sure, things had gone well when nobody was watching, but with what was likely to be a full house Friday night, who knows how she would perform? She knew her lines like the back of her hand, but what if she saw the huge crowd and suddenly went blank? These thoughts were roaming through her head during dinner, making her stay quiet while everyone else talked about their day. Add her nerves on top of her raging pregnancy hormones, and Rose felt like she was a mess.

"Rose," Charlie started to say. "You've been really quiet this whole time."

Lilly nodded, agreeing with her husband. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, I'm just nervous for tomorrow night, is all. I've always wanted to act, and I just want my first performance to go well."

Jack took his wife's hand lovingly, dreading what he had to tell her later on in the evening. "Sweetheart, you know your lines perfectly, and Mrs. Barnes loves your acting. You're going to do wonderful."

"But every time I've performed, it's just been in front of Mrs. Barnes and the other actors. What if I get stage fright tomorrow night? The theater will be packed," Rose said nervously.

"You're going to do great!" Lilly exclaimed. "Plus, we're all going to be there to support you. Right?"

Charlie and Jack both nodded. "Maybe we'll even make a sign and cheer during your performance," Charlie suggested, only half-joking.

Rose laughed. "I don't think that will be necessary, but I'm glad you guys are all coming. I could use the support."

Jack leaned over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek, nervous about how she'd react when she realized he wasn't going to be able to make it her performance tomorrow night.

Later that night, when Jack and Rose were getting ready for bed, Jack knew he needed to tell Rose that he wasn't going to be able to make it the play tomorrow night. Earlier that day, Jack's boss has informed him that he was going to have to work overtime on Friday evening. Since the play started at six, Jack wasn't sure if he would get off work in time to be there. He had tried to get out of working, but since he was the factory's newest worker, he was the one who got stuck with overtime when there was extra work that needed to be done. Jack didn't want to lose his job, so he reluctantly agreed, knowing in his heart how disappointed Rose was going to be. He couldn't bear to see the hurt in her eyes when she found out he wouldn't be able to see her acting debut, especially with how nervous she already was, but he knew he had to tell her. "Rose..." Jack started to say.

"What is it, Jack?" Rose asked as she climbed into bed.

"I don't think I can make it to your play tomorrow..." Jack responded nervously.

"What?! Why not?" Rose was shocked. Jack was always so supportive of her. In fact, he was the one who had encouraged her to audition for a part in the play and pursue her dream of acting.

"The owner of the factory needed someone to work overtime tomorrow night, and since I'm the newest worker, he's making me do it. I tried to get out of it, Rose, but I can't lose this job. We need it to support ourselves and the baby..."

The look in Rose's eyes was a mixture of anger, disappointment, and just plain sadness. She couldn't believe Jack was doing this to her. She needed him and his support. How could she face a theater full of people knowing that her husband wasn't in the crowd? "I can't believe this, Jack! How could you?" Rose yelled as she stood up from their bed with tears in her eyes.

Jack walked to the other side of the bed where she was standing and put his arms around her. "Rose, I'm so sorry.. but you'll have Charlie and Lilly there, and Anna and Paul.. you're going to do great. And hopefully I'll be off work in time to catch the end of the play."

"I can't believe you would do this to me, Jack!" Rose exclaimed. She knew in her heart that she was being irrational, but she was hormonal, upset, and incapable of seeing past her emotions at the moment. She grabbed a pillow off the bed and started to walk towards the door.

"Rose, what are you doing?" Jack asked. He had never seen her act like this in the entire time he had known her. Couldn't she see that he couldn't help it? He was hurt that he couldn't be there, too. He wanted to see her acting debut more than anything in the world, but he needed to keep his job, especially with a baby on the way.

"I'm going to sleep on the couch downstairs. I don't want to be around you right now."

Jack was shocked. She was that angry with him? He knew she would be disappointed, but he had hoped she could see that he truly couldn't help it. And with any luck, he could catch the second half of the play. "Rose, please, wait.." Jack begged as he reached for her to prevent her from walking out the door.

"Jack, I don't want to be around you right now. You've hurt me enough," Rose said as tears started to flow down her face. She slammed the bedroom door and quietly walked downstairs, thankful that Lilly and Charlie had already gone to bed. She didn't want to have to explain anything right now.

Jack slumped against the closed door of his and Rose's bedroom and buried his head in his hands. He couldn't believe the things that Rose had said to him. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but he should've known how much him being at her acting debut meant to her. "I can't believe I hurt my wife like that.." Jack thought to himself. "Please let Rose forgive me.."

Rose laid on the couch, softly crying to herself. She couldn't believe the things that she had said to Jack. Why was she being so selfish? She let her emotions get the best of her, and now she couldn't take back the words that she had said. Jack worked so hard to provide for them and the coming baby. He didn't deserve to have her yell at him like that. All she wanted to do was run back upstairs and apologize for everything, but it was too late. Jack would never forgive her.. at least not now. She finally fell into a restless sleep, worrying about her and Jack's future.

The next morning, Rose woke up to the sound of Lilly cooking breakfast. Hoping Jack hadn't left for work yet so that she could apologize for her words, she ran into the kitchen. "Lilly! Is Jack still home?"

Lilly gave Rose a worried look. Did she not hear him leave their bed this morning? "No, he just left about a half an hour ago to go to the factory. Why?"

Rose sighed. Apparently Lilly hadn't gone into the living room and seen Rose sleeping on the couch. "Oh, Lilly.. we got in a fight last night. It was bad. He said he had to work and couldn't come to the play tonight, and I was so hurt that I couldn't see past my emotions.. I said the most hurtful things to him, Lil. It's not his fault he has to work.. I was being so selfish.." Rose started to cry, regretting her words from the night before.

Lilly put a plate of food down in front of Rose and wrapped her arms around friend. "Rose, it'll be okay. You and Jack love each other more than any couple I've ever seen. You guys will work through this. I bet he's going to apologize as soon as he sees you tonight."

"You really think so?" Rose asked between her tears.

"I know so, sweetie. He knows that you're pregnant, and hormonal right now. Add that to how nervous you are for tonight, and you're bound to say things you don't mean. Jack will understand," Lilly said soothingly.

"I hope you're right. Jack and I have never had a fight before.. I'm just such a mess right now, not knowing if he's angry with me for what I said."

"I promise, Jack loves you. You guys are meant for each other, and you'll work through this little argument. How about you eat some breakfast, go take a bath, and get ready to go down to the theater? What time do you have to be there today?"

"Two o'clock," Rose mumbled. Those who were acting in the play had to get there early for one last rehearsal before tonight's performance.

"See, you have a few hours. Just relax for awhile and try to get your mind off of everything," Lilly suggested.

Rose nodded. Lilly was right, if she was going to do well tonight, she couldn't be a crying mess. She started to eat her breakfast, hoping that Lilly was right about Jack. She couldn't lose him.

Caledon Hockley arrived in Eau Claire at two o'clock in the afternoon, plenty of time to catch a carriage ride to Chippewa Falls before dark. Two weeks ago, he had heard from a business partner in Eau Claire that a woman that looked exactly like the Rose Dewitt-Bukater in the newspaper after the Titanic sinking was residing in Chippewa Falls, at none other than the Dawson residence. Cal was furious when he found out this information. He hadn't told Ruth or his father yet, because he wanted to see for himself if Rose really was alive. Not only had Rose left him on the Titanic, but she let him and her own mother believe she was dead just so she could run off with some steerage trash? "Rose's fun is about to be over soon," Cal thought to himself. "I always win, and she will be my wife."

Cal took a carriage ride to the Dawson residence, arriving there at about three o'clock. He walked up the stairs, suddenly nervous. Would Rose even be there? He pushed his nerves aside as he loudly knocked on the front door. He was shocked when a woman with blonde hair and an apron swung open the door. Who was this? It clearly wasn't Rose.

"Excuse me," Cal started before the woman could say anything. "Does Rose live here?"

"Why, yes she does. She lives here with her husband. I'm Jack's cousin-in-law. Who are you?" Lilly had no idea who this man was, or why he was looking for Rose. He looked older, maybe in his late twenties. Maybe he was part of Rose's family? Rose still hadn't talked much about her past or the people in it, so Lilly wasn't sure who this man could be.

Cal, realizing that this woman had no idea who he was, decided to make up a lie that might convince this woman to direct him to Rose. "I'm her cousin, actually. We lost touch a few years ago, and my mother tracked her down, hoping we could catch up. I thought I'd drop by and maybe surprise her."

"Oh," Lilly said. Something seemed off about this man, but she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. "She's actually performing at the theater uptown tonight at six o'clock. They're doing Shakespeare's play, Romeo & Juliet. Rose has the lead role. I suppose you could come with me and my husband, if you'd like."

"No, no thank you. I'll just drop by tomorrow," Cal responded.

"Oh, alright. Well, have a nice day," Lilly said before shutting the front door. There was something strange about this man who was claiming to be a cousin of Rose's, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Rose had said very few things about her life before she met Jack, which made Lilly suspicious of this man. She could only hope he wasn't here to start trouble. Lilly tried to forget about it as she went upstairs to get ready for the play.

Cal left the Dawson residence, deciding to go to a local restaurant and grab some dinner while he decided his next move. Should he show up at the theater during Rose's performance? Or maybe, he could try to find her after the play and grab her when Jack wasn't around. Either way, he knew he would get Rose back. After all, he would not be made a fool of.

A/N: Oooooh, another cliffhanger. I wonder what Cal is going to do? And Rose and Jack are fighting.. will they make up in time for him to protect her from Cal? We'll see!