Two weeks have gone by since the arrival and Enid Dawson and since then, she had daily visits to share memories of Jack's father with Jack, growing closer to the young man. Rose watched warily as Jack went to visit his aunt at her hotel, knowing that the woman didn't like her. She was a little dismayed to see Jack softening even more towards the woman. It wasn't that she didn't want Jack to know his family. She did...but it was the fact that the woman still looked at her and her mother like they were dirt on the bottom of her shoe that got her concerned and Jack seemed to be spending more time with Enid and less time with her...or at least that's how it seemed.

It was at the Flowers when the floodgates opened and in front of the person she didn't want to break down in front of when it came to Jack.

She had just gotten finished Violet's French lessons that they usually had in the garden. Violet had gone in for the day and Rose was gathering up her things to head for home, where she and Sarah were to prepare dinner for the boys...that is if Jack was even home. He's been spending most of his evenings with his Aunt, going over memories of his father. He would often return late at night, exhausted, and fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. There wasn't even a kiss good night.

That was what was really bothering Rose. Her usually attentive husband wasn't so attentive anymore. She missed their nightly talks, their reading of Anne of Green Gables together, their sessions of making love at a time when it was only them. That time had been stolen from her and she couldn't help but feel sad about it.

She was just placing her folder into her bag when she spotted the book that one of the maids had left out on the bench. Anne of Green Gables. She picked up the book and sighed, remembering what chapter she and Jack had last read together.

Tears sprang to her eyes as she sank back down onto the bench. How she missed reading this book with Jack. She missed the sound of his voice, his opinions, how good his arms felt around her, and how he seemed to love her red hair and compared it to Anne's. She wanted it all back, but she didn't know what to do to get it!

She was so lost in her miserable thoughts, she didn't hear someone approach until they were sitting right next to her.

"Rose? What are you still doing here? You are usually gone home by now?" Harold Flowers questioned, taking out a handkerchief to give to the crying woman.

"Harold? Oh, please forgive me...I was on my way...but I saw this book and...I began thinking and...I'm afraid I had lost track of time," Rose sniffed, accepting the handkerchief. "Thank you. You are very kind."

"You're welcome. What's wrong, dear? Did something happen? Did Hockley do something? I know that he's still in town on business...but he's supposed to be leaving you and Jack alone."

"It's not Cal this time. It's...it's Jack…"

"Jack? What did he do?" Harold frowned. He couldn't picture Jack being the reason for Rose's tears. He loved the woman to pieces. When they were together, all he would talk about was Rose and their future together.

"You know his Aunt Enid is here visiting...getting to know him and that's fine and all, but...she hates me and...for the past two weeks, when he's not working he's with her...and it's been so long since we've had any time alone together," Rose picked up the Anne of Green Gables book. "We were reading this book together at home. It's part of our alone time...but we haven't read it in the past two weeks! And I'm afraid that his Aunt is poisoning him against me and we haven't even made love for a good while…"

Harold cleared his throat at the bit of too much information, but he stayed seated with a listening ear. "Oh Rose, I am sure that woman can't poison Jack against you! No way! Have you talked to Jack about any of this? I know he's been quite excited to learn more about his father. Maybe it hasn't occurred to him just how neglected you are feeling…"

"There's been no time. He falls asleep the minute he gets home and sees Lily for a bit," Rose dabbed at her tears. "I don't know what to do. I just know that I miss him terribly. At this point, I'm more of a housemate than his wife."

"That's not good. Hmm...I know. I'll be seeing Jack tomorrow. He's supposed to be thinking about doing a sketch of my mother for me. How about I talk to him. See where his mind's at. Perhaps remind him that women are like flowers and need attention, yeah?"

Rose couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I guess it helps that my name is a flower. He'd definitely take the hint."

"Leave it to me, Rose. You'll get your alone time with Jack back. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to shine a light on things."

"Thank you, Harold. You are a true friend," Rose placed a hand over his and smiled.

…..

Jack entered the gentleman's club feeling like a fish out of water. Harold had asked him to meet him there for a quick early evening dinner. He had wanted to refuse, but Harold had insisted it was important. So he had dug out one of his father's better suits and pretended like he was again attending that first-class dinner on Titanic as he entered the club. It didn't take him long to find Harold, who was already seated near the entrance.

"Jack, there you are! It's good of you to meet me here," Harold motioned for Jack to join him at the table.

"I'm not really used to being in places like this," Jack chuckled. "The last place was first class dining saloon on the Titanic. There was nothing more nerve-racking than sitting amongst the masters of the universe."

"However did you handle it?" Harold asked, curious.

"Well, the Unsinkable Molly Brown loaned me a suit and told me what utensil to use and the rest of it was just blind luck," Jack laughed.

"Of course," Harold chuckled. "I am not surprised, Jack. You can charm the worse of us, really."

"Almost. My charms had no effect on Caledon Hockley," Jack snorted.

"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that," Harold returned the snort, remembering the outrage in Cal's eyes when Harold had noted that Rose hadn't been the reason for Cal's violent reaction on Titanic. He had just been poking at Cal then, but it wouldn't surprise him if there was some sort of attraction towards Jack. Cal liked women, Harold was sure of that, but he was also sure that Cal enjoyed men as well. Especially pretty ones like Jack. Unfortunately for both Cal and himself, Jack loved women, one woman in particular and she was the reason that Harold had asked Jack to meet him here.

"But they did have an effect on his fiancee...speaking of which...how is Rose? The last time I saw her...which was yesterday afternoon...she wasn't too happy."

Jack frowned as he looked up from the menu. "Is everything ok with Violet? She loves working with her. If your ma's not satisfied, just let Rose know, she'll think of something I'm sure."

"Everything is great with Violet. Mother is very satisfied and is always singing Rose's high praises. The problem is not my family, Jack. I'm afraid that the problem is...you."

"What?" Jack's frown deepened.

"I found her sobbing in the garden. I...I don't know why I was moved to sit and talk to her…"

"Rose's tears are like that. They grab you and you want to make it better. They were partly how we met…"

"Yeah...well then I fell victim I suppose. I sat down, handed her a handkerchief, and told her to tell me what was ailing her. Well...she opened up to me. You two haven't really been communicating much in the past few weeks, have you?"

Jack looked guilty as he sat his menu down and sighed. "I suppose we haven't. I...with Aunt Enid here...she's just full of these stories about my pa...but she hates Rose and I've been wanting to keep them separate, so I've been going to Aunt Enid instead of her coming to me. I was thinking that I was sparing Rose. That she wouldn't have to deal with Aunt Enid at all. I was trying to protect her. This way, I can find out about my father and at the same time, shield Rose from my Aunt's judgmental side eyes…"

"And in trying to do that...you've been neglecting the very woman you were wanting to protect," Harold sighed, getting it. "Oh, Jack…"

"I didn't mean to neglect Rose. I love her more than anything! I'll stop going to talk to Aunt Enid if that's what she wants...I'll do anything to make her happy…"

"I know you would. But I don't think she'd want you to stop seeing your Aunt. She just misses you terribly. She misses the moments when it's just you and her and the rest of the world is forgotten. She misses her husband's love, hugs, kisses, and late-night conversations."

"Well if she doesn't want me to stop seeing Aunt Enid...what can I do?"

Harold smiled. He had thought it through all day and he had come up with an idea. He just didn't know if Jack would go for it, but he might as well try. What did he have to lose? If anything, he was giving his friends a belated wedding gift.

"I know what you can do. You two didn't have a real honeymoon, did you?"

Jack shrugged and then shook his head. "No, we haven't. There was no money and no time…"

"Well...I have an idea. Make time. Don't worry about the money. I have it covered," Harold took a fat envelope out of his jacket pocket and slid it over to Jack.

Jack looked at the envelope as if it was a snake that was about to bite him. "What is this?"

Harold rolled his eyes. "I didn't get to give you two a wedding gift. I didn't even know what to get two newlyweds, so I did the sensible thing. Gave you the money to get yourselves what you like. May I suggest you use the money to take your Rose somewhere that you always wanted to go...just the two of you. No Tommy and Fabrizio...no Lily...especially no Aunt Enid. Just you and Rose at least for a week or two. Take her somewhere and give her your full attention."

Jack had to admit that he liked Harold's idea...but dare he accept what was in the envelope? He picked the envelope up, opened it, and gasped at the stack of money that was inside. "Harold...this is far too much...I can't even repay you…"

"I don't want you to. It's a wedding gift, my good man."

"But this is too much…"

"After all you've done for me when we were kids...it's not nearly enough. You saved my life, my self-esteem, and my sanity, Jack. You were my hero, just as much as you were Rose's. Now, I can't give you my hand in marriage as Rose did...but I can help you make your marriage better...keep it on the right track. And I think this is the way and I won't take no for an answer, sir."

Jack just chuckled. "You are insane."

"That's what they all say. They're probably right. So...where are you going to take her?"

Jack's smile was bright as he remembered an afternoon spent on the deck of the Titanic, leaning against the rail and talking about all they wanted to do in Santa Monica California. There really was only one answer to Harold's question.

"Santa Monica, California," Jack gave a satisfied smile.