Tommy came into the living room, carrying a case with him. Jack and Rose looked at him curiously as Rose finished braiding Lily's hair.

"What is that you have there?" Jack asked, watching as Tommy sat the case down on the table.

"It is something I picked up in town. I thought that you guys and especially Lily would get a kick out of it," Tommy explained, opening the case to reveal a victrola, with a small platform that had two wooden figures on it.

Rose frowned, looking at the contraption. "What is that?"

"It's a victrola of course, but it's more than that. Watch," Tommy took out a record and put it on play. As soon as the music began, the small figures on the platform began to move like they were dancing.

Lily's eyes widened in delight as Jack and Rose laughed at the sight.

"Tommy, that's awesome!" Jack grinned, looking the contraption over. "Where did you find it?"

"It was at that new music shop on main. I saw it in the window and thought of little Lassie there. I knew she'd get a kick out of the dancing figures," Tommy chuckled.

"What are you doing in my kitchen?" Fabrizio was suddenly in the doorway, looking hurried. "Go! Out, out! My student will be here soon!"

"Your student?" Rose frowned, not getting what Fabrizio was getting at.

"Your friend Sarah. She comes to learn to cook Italian! She'll be here soon!"

"Oh that's right, Sarah's coming over," Rose smiled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Are you looking forward to it Fabrizio?"

"It is only a cooking lesson, but yes. It is good to make a new friend," Fabrizio frowned, hoping that his friends weren't trying to make this cooking lesson into something that it most certainly wasn't.

"Jack, you should teach me how to cook," Rose turned to her husband with a teasing pout.

"Rosie, I think that you are doing just fine on your own. There is nothing that I know how to make that you don't," Jack laughed, picking Lily up into his arms and kissing her cheek. "Isn't that right, Lily Pad?"

"Lily pad?" Rose frowned. "You've given her a nickname?"

"Yes, of course. She calls me Papa Jack in the box," Jack happily smiled, his eyes so bright and happy that Rose couldn't help but be filled with happiness herself. He was such a ray of sunshine. How had she gone so long without him in her life?

"Papa Jack in the box, can I play the music box and puppets in my room?" Lily asked her eyes on the victrola.

"You sure can….if it's alright with Uncle Tommy," Jack quickly remembered that it was not up to him but to his friend.

"Of course. Anything the lassie wants, I am happy to provide. I brought it for the little lass anyway," Tommy chuckled, closing the case up so they could carry it up to Lily's bedroom.

"You guys are spoiling her," Rose laughed, feeling happy. She did it. She had given Lily a stable home with people that loved her to bits! It had been her main goal when she had taken custody of the little girl on the Carpathia.

"What good are two uncles and a papa if we can't spoil her, huh?" Jack winked, following Tommy up the stairs.

"Do not worry, Rose. Lily is a good girl. She won't be spoiled too much," Fabrizio gave her some reassurance as he began sitting some pots and bowls out.

"Thank you, Fabrizio. Um, I am really happy that you and Sarah are becoming friends by the way. In our world, real friends are hard to come by. It's good to see that she's making some here," Rose smiled, not wanting to place any pressure on Fabrizio, but wanting to give him a little encouragement all the same.

Fabrizio just smiled. "She needs help. I don't mind giving it to her. It's nice to have female company sometimes anyway."

"Of course. Well, she'll probably be here soon. I'll go on up and make sure the boys have Lily all settled," Rose smiled, leaving Fabrizio to his own thoughts.

Now alone, Fabrizio continued to get the kitchen ready for his lessons. He hoped that his friends weren't thinking that this new friendship with Sarah Hockley was going to turn into something more because that was not going to happen. He was in the firm belief that he was incapable of loving anyone else now since the love of his life was now gone. There was no way he could move on.

No matter how pretty Sarah was, or how her perfume reminded him of the ocean on a breezy yet sunny day.

A slight knock at the door signaled her arrival. Giving the kitchen one last glance over, Fabrizio went to open it to a smiling Sarah, who was now wearing a royal purple day dress, and her black hair was tied up in a bun. She wore no gloves this time, but there was a white wrap encasing her shoulders.

"Hello, Mr. DiRossi. I am here for my cooking lesson," Sarah happily greeted. She had been looking forward to the lesson all week. Her main goal was to get Fabrizio to open up a little bit more to her. She wanted to hear more about his life in Italy and more about him as a person overall.

"Miss. Hockley, hello. Come in, come in. The kitchen is ready for your lesson," Fabrizio waved her into the house. He took her wrap and hung it on the nearby coat tree and then lead the way into the kitchen.

"It is such a pleasant day out. Not one that I would deem worthy enough to spend in the kitchen, but I am looking forward to learning how to make something. What am I going to learn to put together today?" Sarah questioned, looking around the small room that was a lot different from the huge industrial kitchen back home. Not that she was even used to that kitchen. She had only been inside it once. After that, she had not even had the urge to stick her head inside to give an order.

"Spaghetti. It is easy and quick," Fabrizio explained, rubbing his hands together. "It was the first dish I had made when I was a boy."

"So you had learned to cook as a child?" Sarah asked, surprised.

"Little by little," Fabrzio chuckled at her reaction. "When you are poor, you keep children preoccupied with giving them chores and teaching them necessary tasks. Such as cooking."

"Interesting. Tell me more, Mr. DiRossi."

"About cooking?"

"Yes. And your childhood. What was life like for little Mr. DiRossi."

"Call me Fabrizio."

Sarah smiled, feeling triumphant. "Okay, Fabrizio. But only if you call me Sarah. No more Miss. Hockley."

Fabrizio dared to blush and then shrugged. "Sarah."

…..

Sarah looked at the finished product, chewing on her bottom lip worryingly. "Are you sure that the sauce is ok? It's still red…"

Fabrizio chuckled. "Bella, it is supposed to be red. That is the color of fresh tomato sauce."

"And the spaghetti? Is it supposed to be so...limp?"

"It's perfect. Do not worry. Worry more about bread. It's still in the oven."

"Oh yes," Sarah went to check on the bread. "How long do we let it cook?"

"It should be ready," Fabrizio winked.

It had been a fun couple of hours teaching Sarah Hockley, first the basics, like measuring the ingredients, and then on to the more complicated things like mixing everything together, putting pots on to boil, making bread, and other tasks that made a delicious Italian spaghetti dinner. It had been slow going at first, but after a few false starts and a few mistakes, Sarah caught on and now, dinner was nearly finished.

"I had so much fun, Fabrizio! I do look forward to my next lesson," Sarah giggled. She had been happy with the day's results. Not only had she learned to cook spaghetti and how to make garlic bread, but she had also gotten to know Fabrizio a little better. He had told her a few funny stories about his childhood in Italy and a few of his adventures when he began to travel with Jack. By the time the lesson was done, she felt that they had grown as friends instead of mere acquaintances.

Sarah grabbed a towel and opened the oven. Using the towel, just as Fabrizio had directed, she removed the loaf of garlic bread and sat it on the counter to cool.

"There...is that it? Are we finished?"

"We call them down to dinner and let them enjoy," Fabrizio winked, feeling light and happy for the first time...well in months really. He couldn't explain it, but something inside him had relaxed the longer he remained in Sarah Hockley's company. She had woken something in him. He didn't know what any of this meant, but he was sure that he'll find out.

…..

As everyone sat around the dinner table and enjoyed the food prepared mostly by Sarah with the help of Fabrizio, Jack, and Tommy couldn't help but notice the change in their friend. Fabrizio seemed to be paying more attention to Sarah. He laughed more and told more stories about his life in Italy. There was a sparkle in his eyes that hadn't been there since the sinking and Jack was glad to see its return. It was evident to both Jack and Tommy that Fabrizio was on his way to healing from the pain that losing Helga had caused. It was just a matter of time before the Italian realized it himself.

Rose on the other had watched Sarah, noting that her old friend seemed to be enamored by Fabrizio. There was not a moment when Sarah wasn't looking at Fabrizio or touching his hand. There wasn't a moment that the smile she wore faded. She saw a spark there and it made her both happy and concerned. Happy that her friends found love, but concerned, because Caledon Hockley was an issue that only she and Jack had thought about. She hoped that Cal would never find Sarah. That he remained where he was and never grace their doorstep with his oppressive presence.

It was a wish that would go ignored.

(A/N: Not really satisfied with this chapter. I am trying to ignore threatening writer's block. I'm hoping if I can just keep working my way through it, it'll go away)