A/N: Hey everyone I wish you a nice belated Christmas. I hope you got everything you wished for. I certainly did. Oh and by the way I saw "Revolutionary Road" yesterday for the first time and have to say that I liked Kate and Leo in this one better than I did in Titanic.

Anyways I would love to see more reviews for this story. It really means a lot to me. But still I hope you enjoy it.

"Want some?" his voice rang out.

Fabrizio's head shot up at Cal, who was carrying a plate. He hadn't heard him coming.

"It's from Rose's obsequies…yet another one…," he added not sounding very much exited.

It was more like as if he wanted to ask – when will this ever stop?

He must've had a hell of a time playing the mourning fiancé. God knows what he really thought. Most likely he's angry, because he never got his chance in bed with Rose and now he's clearly annoyed.

Fabrizio's mouth formed into a smile, while Cal made his way over to the table.

Well, well, Mr. Hockley, a dead fiancée is probably even worse than a living one, can't say something against her.

Fabrizio watched him as he placed the leaving's of the food on the table, not awaiting an answer. It was some meat with rice. Again without asking Cal drew out a cigarette lightning it and puffing the smoke into the room.

He doesn't even care to ask me, if that's alright with me.

"Phew…," he blew out the fume. "What…aren't you going to eat?" Cal wondered once he had realized that Fabrizio hadn't grabbed anything.

"I'm not hungry," Fabrizio said though it was only partly true. He was looking at Cal, who had turned his back to him.

He's nervous.

He can't hide it.

Fabrizio had to smile.

Am I making him nervous?

"It's not poisoned or something, if you think that…," Cal laughed slightly trying to hide his emotions though he must've known that he had already been better.

"Of course it's not. You're far too…devious to get rid of me in such a common ridiculous way. Doesn't serve you right…," Fabrizio told him not having any real intention of a chitchat with Caledon Hockley.

As he had suspected Cal's face turned into a proud smile.

"You think me slyly?" he repeated as if he hadn't heard.

Everyone else would've been shocked to be described with such a word, but not Caledon Hockley. He was indeed different than most people Fabrizio had ever met in his life. Who else, if not he, would've been pleased to be called sneakily?

"I take this as a compliment," he added waving his hand with the cigarette in it.

Fabrizio didn't like this kind of talk, but he was better in it then Jack. His old country, the old Italy place of anarchists and adventurers, were everyone had its secret, had taught him how to hide his emotions. In fact he had been in quite a lot of situation that…

But still nothing compared to this one.

The Italian Police was nothing compared to Caledon Hockley, for they at least had some rules one could rely to, unlike this man standing before him, who seemed to be four man in one.

Kind of schizophrenia…

Cal took another blew from his cigarette, causing Fabrizio to cough. Unlike Jack he had never smoked and never gotten used to other's smoking around him. His eyes hurt already and he was whistling away the fume with his arms. It didn't help much.

"Sorry," Cal told not him really meaning it.

To emphasize the point that it was his home, where he could do what he wanted and not giving a damn thought to other people's feelings he just lit another one.

He made a long move and threw the old one into the basket, though the ashes spread out on the floor.

Great, now I'll have the scent of it in my room for another week.

"Sorry," Cal mumbled following his gaze to the floor. "But you know such things can't be avoided…"

It was a lame excuse and both knew that he didn't mean it. Fabrizio just wondered, who would clear up the mess. Cal slowly walked over to the table picking up the dust with his index finger looking at it disgustedly.

"Have to tell the servants to do their job better, haven't I?" he laughed "Well…well…I believe it's still better than living on the streets. Right?"

There was another snort, but no answer from Fabrizio. Cal seemed to be a little bit offended rolling his eyes.

"I appreciate that you seem to be more…mmh…amenable than your little friend."

Fabrizio looked at him somehow dumbfounded.

Now what else could he do?

"Do I have another choice, but come to terms with the circumstances? I'm just doing my best to adjust," he spoke up calmly.

"Indeed," Cal said. "You're right. And I'm doing my best to make it as comfortable for you as possible. Your friend surely portrayed me to you as some horrible, evil rich jerk, but I'm not like that you know. I just don't like being betrayed."

In fact Jack didn't have to illustrate anything, for the first encounter with him had pretty much shown Fabrizio what Caledon Hockley was like.

Not knowing at the moment what to answer to that nonsense Fabrizio simply held his breathe, waiting for Cal to continue.

Another blow and now Cal started coughing himself.

"A damn habit I know…should've given it up by now. But I'm sure you understood how hard this is…," he stopped. "Now…what have we been talking about…?"

Fabrizio seeing no purpose at all in this senseless talk simply hoped that Cal would leave him alone. But for whatever reason Cal somehow wanted to have a word with him.

So why not making the best out of it? Maybe he could gain some advantage…

"You know, Fabrizio…," Cal started aware of the other one's surprised look at the mentioning of his name. "You're wondering how come that I haven't forgotten your name, right? Now for sure I made my homework…I even know that you're from Italy originally…born some place near Milano, right?"

Fabrizio's white face gave Cal all the answer he needed.

"Ha, ha…," he placed his hands on his chest as if finding out these things was the most normal stuff on earth. "Don't worry; I won't hold it against you. Aren't you amazed? Aren't you wondering about how come that I know all this?"

Should I admire him now for his spying skills? Now Cal seemed to be getting a bit too narcissistic.

Again not waiting for Fabrizio to even open his mouth, Cal continued.

He obviously likes to hear his own voice. No wonder that Rose turned to Jack for comfort.

"The only thing important is to know the right people," Cal gave the answer to himself.

It seems to be.

Now maybe some food wouldn't be…

"At least you seem to know where your place in the world is, Fabrizio. Unlike your friend, you don't go around seducing other people's fiancées. I hope you know that I give you high credit for it, Fabrizio. Really I do."

The other one didn't like how Cal stretched out his name.

What a ghastly man Caledon Hockley was drawing comfort from the misery of others. The room was covered with his smoke already and Fabrizio was feeling a little bit dizzy. He had never gotten Jack to stop smoking and surely he won't do so with Cal either.

Cal slowly made his way to the door; seemingly about to leave the room, but Fabrizio was pleased too quickly.

"You see…" Cal turned around sharply tossing that cigarette into the basket as well just so to immediately light another one. "Ah…," he absorbed the smoke, "…you see, I believe that we two will have to spend some more time together…"

Sadly yes, Fabrizio rolled his eyes. He could imagine a better company.

Thinking about it now Jack could've never described him the way he really was.

"Oh come on…you've to admit that I'm not such a bad kidnapper…I'm providing well for you…I mean some totally cruel captor wouldn't bring to all this food and let you live in his nice and decent home. I could as well have you thrown in some not so cosy cellar. Now should I do that?"

Fabrizio slightly shook his head.

"I thought so. Well then, don't you think that we two should find a way to get along?"

When his question once more remained unanswered, Cal seemed to be somehow sad about it. His face was turning gloomy. It was almost laughable.

He has extorted me, told me to kill my friend and me, if we don't do what he said and now he's pissed off, because I'm not grateful enough?

Somehow Fabrizio expected Cal to come over and shake him, demand him to say something along the lines of I'm doing everything for you despite you wanting to rob me and steal my fiancée, but instead he seemed to be unsure.

Caledon Hockley…unsure of himself…Fabrizio wanted to tease him, but decided against it. If Cal already knew his birthplace surely it would be better not to match with him. Fabrizio didn't want his family in any danger.

Of course even Cal's long arm didn't reach that far, but Fabrizio was too shocked too think clearly.

"Tell me something more about you. It's so boring with just me talking" Cal's voice cut the silence. "Where did you go to school for instance?"

What, something your sources haven't already told you? – Fabrizio wanted to snap at him.

"I though you already knew everything," Fabrizio almost insulting answered back, ignoring Cal's question. "I mean truly what else is there for me to tell you other than I'm Jack's friend," he added knowing that this would anger Cal.

Cal sneered at the name, a fact that didn't escape Fabrizio. Surely Jack hadn't done right with starting his love affair with Rose, but…certainly she would've never accepted it and told Jack to leave her alone, if Cal had been a more loving man to her.

Yes, that was it. It was his fault, not Jack's. Jack had saved her. If anyone needed to be punished it was Cal. Someone should put him into place.

"Jack didn't steal her from you," Fabrizio courageously demanded.

This brought the other part of Caledon Hockley to the outside. For a quick second he seemed to be taken aback and his body winced at the sudden surprise, before he was back at his old self.

"Careful…," Cal hissed back his face coming close to his, causing Fabrizio to draw back onto the bed he was sitting on. Not that he was afraid…"Careful…you're not the position…," he went on restraining himself.

Though it wouldn't have astonished him, Fabrizio was happy that he had avoided a beating.

But of course Cal still needed him.

I'm his pawn to Jack. He won't do anything to me, until he has returned.

Cal's back turned to him again; Fabrizio hoped that now finally it would be over and that he would leave.

"Let me know, Fabrizio, what you really think. I realize that for you, Italians, family is everything," his head shot back at him.

Shocked Fabrizio bit his lip. He hadn't seen that coming.

What did he want to hear now?

Does he think every Italian belongs to the mafia having the right to kill his enemy or what?

"Wouldn't you be angry as well, if someone just came along demanding what is rightly yours?"

Rightly yours? As if Rose had been some porcelain doll being sold…

God, how he hated this man…

Don't I have a right to be furious?" he stopped again looking him deeply in his eye, smiling somehow devilry. "You think that it wasn't right what your friend did. I can see it in your eyes."

"I don't think that Rose belonged to anyone," Fabrizio spat out.

At his response Fabrizio could see Cal balling his fists about to hit him, his face turning red from anger.

Surely he hasn't awaited such an answer.

"Rose was a fool…as is your little friend…you're all left to my mercy and yet you still believe that you can match with me…Caledon Hockley…I've made deals with people while you were still playing in the sandbox…you're a little nothing…you and your…this little…rat…," he spat out the last word putting all the hatred he felt for Jack into it.

He didn't seem to care at all about Ruth or the servants hearing them.

But then again maybe they already knew and were just too cowardly to do anything. Hadn't Cal told him lately how Ruth had practically begged him to take her in after the sinking? Maybe she wouldn't do anything, even if she knew.

"You're wondering right about Ruth?"

Fabrizio nodded now amazed at Cal's skill. His family surely hadn't built up a whole company for nothing.

"I tell you, Fabrizio, the old woman is just as much depending on me as are you and the little rat," he began and seeing the other's one still confused look. "The money's gone…her dead husband's, Rose's father's…gambling you know…oh a dreadful habit once more even more so than smoking…anyways I was lucky enough to have met her and to convince that I'm the only one to help them. Rose was really pretty, of course otherwise I would've never sacrificed myself…"

So this was the reason why Ruth was still living here. This explained a lot. He didn't want to admit it, but Cal was right, they were really depending on his sympathy.

"A pity she's dead…surely she would've made a great wife…"

"…even if just as a companion in bed…," he added literally blowing a raspberry.

Fabrizio was disgusted not knowing at this moment, if it was more about Cal or Ruth or these stupid servants, who seemed to walk around with deaf ears and blind eyes.

Who did this man think he was calling his friend a rat and himself a little nothing? Were these the manners of a gentleman?

And what had he been saying about his dead fiancée?

Fabrizio didn't believe that Ruth would be really that forgiving, if she had heard his words.

But as it turned out, Cal was just about to begin. He was burning with rage.

"Your friend should see to it that he returns in time or he can pick up your pieces," he snorted evilly his voice composed again. "I'm surprised that you're still so calm. How can you be so sure that he'll even return?"

I mean, I wouldn't – Cal thought.

He wants to see you wavering, but I'm not giving him that satisfaction.

"He will. He's my friend."

Cal just laughed again.

"A fine one, leaving you here with me…," he said seemingly forgetting about the fact that he had been him, who had gotten them into this situation. "Well…I hope he isn't too late…you know I don't really like you kill people…the whole mess with the blood and everything…but don't worry I'm going to make it short and simply…painless so to say…"

Now Fabrizio's face didn't turn white from fear, but red from anger.

"You know killing me, won't bring Rose back," he simply said, somehow knowing that this was the real problem here.

Fabrizio sensed that in his own demanding way Cal had indeed loved Rose and now was missing her gratefully probably even more after he had known that she was dead.

Like people said – someone dead can't make anything bad.

And Cal now seemed to have set her on a pedestal.

"Now, who's talking about her?" his voice was harsh. "This little whore, who took the first chance to show her real nature…I don't care at all what happened to her. Indeed the only thing she would've been good at was fucking."

Fabrizio couldn't believe how he was speaking about his so called beloved fiancée. What if Ruth Dewitt Bukater would've heard this? Surely she would've finally understood the true character of Caledon Hockley She wouldn't have been pleased. But then again what Cal had said before, she probably wouldn't.

If Cal's action aboard and after the Titanic hadn't already changed her mind about Cal, then nothing could.

"…and you…you could get out of this so easily by showing a little bit more understanding for me…take a step in my direction and I will help you…," he took out his hand. "Come on, you and I…I'm offering you a new life…one without hunger and misery. All you've to do, is say yes," he held out his hand and seemed another different man once more.

"And just forget, Jack, my friend?" Fabrizio calmly stated knowing that it would make Cal angry.

"Your friend will be dead once he'll come back whether he has got the diamond with him or not!" he shouted slamming his fist on the table. "Damn it, how can anyone be so senseless!"

The cigarette, the forth one already, was lying on the floor, making the whole room even more of a mess.

Now he had spoken out himself what everyone already knew that his so called word of a gentleman to Jack was in fact null and void.

Caledon Hockley was nothing, but a liar…a liar and a hostage taker, anything, but a gentleman. A fine man Ruth had selected for her daughter. But surely she wouldn't know that.. At least Fabrizio wanted to believe himself that she didn't know.

Cal could be quite nice, if he wanted to.

Even around me.

"Here take my hand. I'm offering it to you one last time, take it and we can be friends. I'll make you rich and powerful. You never have to feel hungry again…," Cal said now in a nice and friendly tone once more.

Fabrizio just stared at his hand rolling his eyes.

"No," he firmly stated shaking his head. "I'm not going to betray my friend."

This one drew Cal over the edge. Obviously he hadn't seen that coming.

"Your friend? Your friend?" he shouted his voice growing and louder with every word. "You'll both be dead once he returns. How can you be so stupid to still stick with your foolish friend?" Cal hissed on further.

Calmly, now really hungry Fabrizio took a bit from the meat, before answering his voice sound and stern standing up and looking Cal deeply in his eyes. "At least I have one."