The rain was nonstop as the Titanic survivors disembarked the Carpathia, ready to resume their lives that were now forever changed. Rose held Lily close as she too found herself amongst the crowd of steerage passengers, making their way to what could be considered dry land, despite the rain.

"Miss," a crewmember stopped her, handing her a bag and an envelope. "Here are some clothes donated by the Carpathia passengers and a voucher for a week at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel."

Rose winced at the name of the hotel. The name brought up memories of JJ Astor. She wondered what had happened to JJ and Madeline. Something told her that JJ had not survived, which meant that Madeline was now not only pregnant but widowed as well. She felt awful for the woman and in a way could relate. She may not have been married to Jack, but she had loved him dearly and Lily may not be hers by blood, but she was still in Rose's care and she felt a responsibility towards her.

"Where are we going to go now?" Little Lily asked, looking at the new woman in her life with big scared eyes. She still wanted her mommy and daddy back, but somehow knew that they were never going to come for her. Somehow, this strange lady was her new mommy now and she had to trust that she knew what she was doing.

Rose frowned, staring at the voucher in her hand. She was reluctant to go to the Waldorf-Astoria. Surely her mother and Cal would be there and she hoped never to set eyes on them again for as long as she lived...or at least not anytime soon. She wanted to be steady in her new life before even allowing her mother to know of her survival. If she stayed at the same hotel where they most likely were, the greater the chance of discovery. But what else could she do? She had nowhere else to go. She had never been on her own to New York before and had no idea where else they could stay! Besides, the Waldorf was offering a free room. Maybe if she had been on her own, she could avoid staying anywhere near her old life...but she wasn't on her own. She had Lily and the child was depending on her to find somewhere safe, warm, and dry.

"I think we have no choice but to go to the Waldorf-Astoria. Not to worry. I've been there before. We'll be nice, warm, and dry there. I promise," Rose reassured the little girl, hugging her close.

Lily didn't say anything else. She just sucked on her thumb as she rested her head against Rose's shoulder.

With her mind made up to stay at the Waldorf-Asteria, Rose made her way off the ship and was looking for someone to ask directions when she was suddenly spotted.

"Rose?! Rose Dewitt Bukater, god almighty, is that you darlin'?!"

Rose's heart sank as she spotted Molly Brown waving at her as she headed in her direction. Well, there went her quiet escape from her former life, or so it seemed. She put on a fake smile and tightened her hold on little Lily, daring Molly to question her custody of the girl.

"Hello, Molly."

Molly rushed up and was about to pull Rose into a crushing hug when she noticed that Rose wasn't alone. "And you have a child!"

"Yes. This is Lily. We both have survived the Titanic and I've decided to adopt her. "

"I see," Molly stared, not knowing what to think of the situation. She had not been expecting to see Rose again, much less Rose with a child. "Your mother thinks you're dead, Darlin. So does that fiancee of yours."

"Ex-fiancee. I have no intention of marrying Caledon Hockley. As for my mother...I do think that it's best that she continues to believe me dead, Molly."

"Oh Rose, you can't mean that. She's your mother!"

"No, she's my jailer. She's had me locked in that gilded cage for far too long, but now I'm freed to be who I want to be and do whatever I want to do. No more being forced to play the well brought up fiancee. I'm embarking on a new life, Molly. One that I want. Please don't take that away from me."

"Rose, if you just talk to Ruth….I'm sure that she'd understand..."

"She won't and you know she won't! Ruth Dewitt Bukater could care less about what I want. It's all about her remaining in the lap of luxury. If I tell her that I'm alive...she'll force me to marry Cal. She'll force me to live by her rules and I can't do that Molly. Not anymore. I'd die if I did. You know I would..."

Molly sighed and nodded her head in reluctant acceptance. She knew that Rose was right, even though she still worried about Ruth, but Rose was no longer a child and she had her own life to live. She wouldn't be able to live that life under Ruth's rule. "Alright. Fine, I won't tell your mother about your survival. But Darlin, what are you planning to do? Surely you're not planning to stay out here on the streets with the child?"

"Of course not. We were just heading to the Waldorf-Astoria to take advantage of this voucher. We really have nowhere else to go."

Molly shook her head, knowing that going to the Waldorf-Astoria would be a bad idea if Rose planned to remain dead to her mother. Ruth and Cal were heading there and it'd be next to impossible for Rose "That's not a good idea, Darlin. Your mother and Cal are heading there and they'll be sure to spot you."

"What else can I do, Molly? There's nowhere else that I can go. I can't afford a hotel or a room and I really can't keep Lily out here on the street and in this rain. We need somewhere to go!"

"Now, don't you worry about a thing, Rose. I'm gonna help you and I won't take no for an answer, so don't bother objecting. There's a hotel not too far from here that is a lot nicer than the Waldorf. I'll set you up there for three weeks instead of just the measly two weeks that the Waldorf is offering. That way, you and the girl can have a safe, warm, place to stay until you decide what to do and you'll remain hidden from that mother and ex-fiancee of yours."

Rose's eyes widened in disbelief at the offer. Was Molly serious? Was she really going to help her out so generously? Surely she must want something in return! No one was this kind-hearted! "Molly, I don't know what to say...what can I do to repay you?"

"You don't need to be worrying about that, now Darlin. Just take care of yourself and that little one there and make something of your life. That's all that I ask."

"But this is so much...it's too much..."

"It's not enough. Not when there's a child involved. Just looking at the little one there, she's depending on you, Rose. You're all she has now and I want to do all I can to help you care for the little princess."

"Molly, I...I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Molly just smiled and placed a gentle hand against the child's cheek. "You're very welcome, Darlin. Now come. Let's get this angel out of the rain and you both settled."

Rose gave one last glance at the towering Carpathia that had carried them to safety. How she wished that Jack was coming with them, that he wasn't laying at the bottom of the frozen Atlantic. But he was gone and she had a child to raise and a promise to keep. She could only hope that he was proud of her, wherever he was.