The ride home was too long, much too long; every moment Rose felt as though she were going to faint. The only things she could register were the steady glaze of tears waiting just behind her eyelids, just waiting to fall, and how cold she felt. She could somehow sense Cal stealing glances at her, but she could not allow herself to look over at him. She didn't think she could without starting to sob.

Thankfully, at last, at long last, they were back, and it was all she could do not to run into the mansion and then out into the expansive grounds, into the swirling darkness and cold, and find some place and claw herself even until she bled in a nervous fit, she was so terrified. She waited while Cal hurriedly talked to the driver, and then, finally, they were walking in.

He spoke as he opened the door, discarding his suit jacket on a chair. "Rose…what's wrong?"

Shaking and trembling, she didn't want to turn around and face him…show him she was terrified…

But then the visions were back, taunting her, and then, in a rush, she blurted out, "I…I…I c-can't go back to my room tonight, alone. I just can't. I…I have n-nightmares…horrible, horrible nightmares…about the sinking and they…they…they're just going to come get me and kill me!"

She looked at him and he was just staring at her. Knowing, just innately knowing that he thought she was crazy, her tears finally falling, she ran upstairs.

But what she did not expect was to hear him speak…much less do what he did.

"Rose…wait!"

In what seemed barely milliseconds, he was behind her, gently catching her arm.

She still could not turn around.

"Rose…look at me, please. I…I'll stay with you if you like. We can…we can talk," he said softly.

Finally, she did, and she nodded.

Cal took her hand and gently led the way into her bedroom, leaving the light off. His hand was warm and soothing to her, the heat expertly warming her cold one…but she did not even care, for once, that she was feeling pleasant at contact from him in her state, this cold winter's night.

Cal led her to her bed, as if she were made of glass. Even she felt like she was tonight. And she utterly despised it.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in deep shakily and could still feel as though she were going to have a nervous breakdown. They were still coming for her; she could feel it…

He went and gently closed the door. The steady click resounded throughout the room

Rose just wanted him beside her, now…for once in her life, she honestly, completely did…and then, finally, he was.

He sat down beside her and put a soothing hand on her back.

"Now…Rose…what…what's wrong? Whatever's troubling you? You…You don't need to be embarrassed to tell me," he said softly. "I want to make you feel better."

Rose listened, still breathing shakily, unsure what to tell him. She knew that she was not going to bring up how she had seen a man that she had, for one brief moment, mistaken for Jack. No. It would simply bring up far too many bitter memories for the both of them, and certainly be uncomfortable and, she was sure, upsetting for him. And strangely, for some odd, unknown reasons, she honestly truly did like this…this friendship they had. She did not want to ruin it…for reasons she could not understand, did not want to give it up.

Finally, she spoke, more tears falling. "I…I…when I first arrived, I…I had really dreadful…flashbacks about the sinking…leading to nightmares. I…I…I see… victims…almost all of the people who died. They…they are all monsters and coming for me because I survived and they didn't! And I…I…I just simply feel like when I'm alone, they will get me, and I…I won't wake up one day…. It…I just feel so terrified," she sobbed, and then, finally, the floods of tears arrived. She couldn't seem to stop sobbing, and then, suddenly, Cal was embracing her.

Then she felt herself practically fall forward, almost like a ragdoll, and lean her head, and then partially her face, into his chest, sobbing all the while. It was warm and comforting, and she could feel his heart beating steadily… And then he was gently rubbing her arms, and then, suddenly, she felt him stroking her hair. She did not know how long she cried. It certainly felt like what seemed years. His chest was warm, and soft, yet strong and hard at the same time. He smelled good, and it was…it was almost heaven being held by him…She didn't want him to leave. She didn't ever want him to leave to leave her alone to face the monsters that were haunting and plaguing her… With him there, strangely, she felt as though she were safe. As if nothing could ever get her or harm her…

Her eyes opening finally, when she finally felt calmer, she gently let herself pull back, almost embarrassed. Her nails had been digging into his shirt as well.

She was thankful it was dark. "I…I'm sorry about your shirt," she said softly, wiping her eyes. "I'm sure I must have soiled it…"

He was still holding onto her, and she never would have admitted it, but she was grateful.

He snorted a little, and she could see him smiling faintly in the patch of moonlight creeping in through her window.

"Rose actually apologizing for something involving me? What is this world coming to?"

She laughed a little, despite herself, and he said, touching her cheek, "It's fine, darling. I only have a million of these."

Silence fell, and then Cal said, seriously, "And…Rose…your nightmares are nothing to be embarrassed about. I…I sometimes have flashbacks, too. It…It was especially terrible for me in the early months after it. I…sometimes I had no choice but to drink them all away before I could sleep at night. I…I saw some terrible things, some things no man should ever have to see…You…you are not alone. If ever you need to talk to somebody about it, I will stop whatever I'm doing and listen. I…I understand completely," he said.

Blinking, she looked up at him and was almost touched by his words. Of course…she had been so stupid. He would not think she was crazy…But of course, she had never even put precedence on the fact that maybe, just maybe, it had affected him too…

"Th…thank you," she said, feeling more comforted still. "That truly means a lot."

He stroked her cheek now, his fingers almost ghosting, before his hand pulled back.

More silence, and still he was holding her…And then, she was surprised even more when she could feel his body tense. She could even see his jaw clenching a bit, for some odd reason.

"Rose…when…when you were on your…forgive me," he said, breaking off.

She said, "N…No. You can ask whatever it was you were going to."

Finally, Cal took his hands off of her and simply turned to face her more. It struck her, dimly, how cold she felt without his arms around her…strangely enough…

"When…when you were on your own, were you…were you ever…raped?" he asked, the words almost coming out strangled. Yet his voice was soft as he did so, and it struck her how hard it must have been for him to be so calm when he was clearly on edge.

She blinked, startled by the question. "Oh…oh." Strangely it had not been difficult to just simply forget her horrible prostitution days, short-lived though they had been. They had been horrible days, horrible minutes and weeks she had just wanted to forget, and days that she never wanted to relive.

More silence, and then he said, quickly, "I…I realize that you…you obviously did not, and could not have, enjoyed it…and every man you did see was practically rape…but…I…I mean…did any man ever…rape you in that way…like that…that bastard I saved you from tried to?"

She blinked again, unsure how to answer. What had brought this up?

And then it hit her: he probably had maybe, just maybe, thought that she had been crying because she had been having flashbacks and nightmares of a different traumatic event at first.

Touched, she said, "Ah…no…no. I was…I was never raped…not, at least, in the literal way."

Cal spoke again. "I…I just want to know…what…what was it like, being on your own like that? I…I'm sorry if I am being rude, I just…"

Rose said, "N…No. It is very understandable. I…well…it…it was horrible. Terrible. I…the girls I roomed with were nice, and the boss was rather nice, I suppose, but…oh…it was…it was hell. I…I…I just tried to get through every customer as quickly as I could. I…some of them just…just wanted to talk to you. Those were the easy ones. And then some of them just wanted you to touch yourself as they watched…maybe have you undress for them so they could…see you. And then maybe you would dance or…or some idiotic thing. And then…well…there were also the ones who wanted…wanted you to do…favors… for them… and please them and kiss them…And then when obviously most wanted intercourse, you just had to do it. I…I was always very careful and learned tricks and used lots of protection and precautions in order to not become pregnant…And then, finally…when I could, which was a lot, I just managed to play innocent games with them, or tell them stories, and get them drunk enough so I could just pick their pockets when they passed out…I…I did that probably more than everything else, honestly," she said.

"The other girls didn't…probably didn't know how…but I did…and that's…that's basically all."

She looked at him, and he was still looking at her, silent.

She said, "I was foolish and stupid…and too stubborn. I just couldn't find work and I…I wanted money; I needed it. I needed food. I needed a warm bed at night. Looking back, I regret it, yes. But…it…it was my only way out."

Then Cal spoke. "Honestly…I…Rose…I honestly admire you for all of that…being on your own for all that time…outsmarting men like that…the whole bit. You…you are very brave and intelligent…Most first-class girls your age wouldn't have lasted a day before getting killed," he said softly.

She stared at him, stunned. "Th…thank you," she whispered, and then she closed her eyes and opened them.

"And…Cal…I…I never said it…I've never said it…but…thank…thank you for saving my life that night," she said. "You really did save it…if it weren't for you, I'd…I'd probably be dead…or worse. And I…I really do truly appreciate you taking me in and rescuing me from that. I…I…first-class is not as bad as that. Truly. I may not seem grateful, but I really am."

She touched his cheek, then, and then lightly kissed him on the cheek, face burning a little afterwards.

He leaned forward and she could see he was smiling a little. "You…you don't need to thank me," he said. "I…I thank God every day that you…you didn't get killed or worse," he said.

She looked at him again, feeling more touched. Their eyes locked as best they could in the dark.

"And I promise: no more parties for awhile."

She smiled a little. "Oh thank goodness," she said. He laughed.

Before changing the subject, he said, "And Rose…we…we don't need to talk about that ever again…I just have always wondered what it was like for you…"

She smiled a little, again. "It's fine. Truly."

Then, he said, "Do you want me to call a maid for help with your corset? I can't imagine you wanting to sleep with that on."

She shook her head. "I don't want to bother them. I…I can just sleep in it tonight, I suppose…"

Cal surprised her, then. "Or if you want, I can help you."

Her eyes widened, shock flooding her, but then she thought about it. She was tired, and not looking forward to sleeping in it…and he had already seen her once that day in it. At least the light would be off this time…

"Ah…alright," she said. "Thank you."

And then he was unbuttoning her dress, and then, finally, laying it on a chair. She could feel her heart pounding and her cheeks flushing even in the dark, grateful for it.

His fingers were warm, and she was newly surprised, again, how expert and fast he was at this. Goodness…even maids had trouble with these sometimes, and even she had at times when she had had to help dress her mother in the past. And he was a man…obviously, she thought, rolling her eyes a little at how foolish that last thought had been.

But as he worked, her mind wandered. He obviously had had relationships or, at the very least, flings, with women when he was younger, and before they were engaged…This was way he was so experienced. It was obvious. There could have been no other way to gain this experience…

And she had always quite simply known he was experienced. That he obviously was not a virgin…

But she felt, strangely, curiosity, and even small pangs of…of…something…she was not sure what…at the thought of him with other girls and women. She wondered how many he had been with…

When her corset was all unlaced, she held it to her body and turned around. "Th…thank you," she said.

He laughed a little. "I believe I should be thanking you, after that," he said. She rolled her eyes a little at the joke.

"And, Rose…if you need anything…I am just down the hall," he said, as he reached the door and opened it. "Sweet dreams."

She smiled, and then he was gone.

Quickly changing into her nightgown, and then taking her braid out and brushing her hair out afterward, she got in her bed and strangely still wished he were still there with her…

And then, closing her eyes, she drifted off to sleep, not even bothered by any nightmares as she had thought.