Jack and Rose couldn't believe their eyes when they were shown to their suite of rooms. There was the master bedroom, which was to be their personal bedroom with a queen size bed, two large closets, a writing desk, two bureaus, and a floor-length mirror. To the left of the bed was a private bath. Then there was an office just to the left of the master bedroom and what looked to be an artist's studio to the right and just across the hall from the master bedroom was a bedroom with a twin bed, with the room made up in white and yellow, obviously meant for a child. The master bedroom was all reds and blacks, reminding Rose of her suite on Titanic.
Jack and Rose immediately put an exhausted Lily to bed, knowing that the little girl was probably relieved to be sleeping somewhere that wasn't a train. Then they disappeared into their own room, wanting to take a nap before dinner.
"So...what do you think?" Rose asked as she watched Jack take off the jacket that went with the suit he wore.
"They're nice. All of them. They're a lot better than I thought they'd be anyway. They remind me of my pa...which makes me wonder why he ran away like he had...what do you think of them? I mean, they pretty much kicked Aunt Enid out of the room for being so rude to you," Jack chuckled, walking up to Rose and taking her hand in his.
"I like them. Especially Charlotte. They all remind me of you. I didn't think that they would have accepted me the way they did."
"I think telling them about Titanic helped. Knowing the details of a piece of gossip or why a scandal happens always helps."
"I just hope that I don't do anything to mess it up. I don't want to bring shame onto the family or prove Enid right."
"You won't. Just continue being yourself, Rose. That's all anyone wants. They want to know the real Rose Dewitt Bukater. Not some made-up version of her. She's a pretty amazing woman if you ask me."
"You're biased," Rose smiled, giving his cheek a quick peck.
"Nah, I don't think so. Tommy and Fabri think you're awesome too. You know...maybe we should have invited your mother along too."
"No thank you. Things are better between us now, but she's still Ruth Dewitt Bukater. They'd end up hating me for sure just for exposing good people to her."
Jack couldn't help but laugh. "That's not nice Rose."
Rose simply smiled as she sat on the edge of the bed. "You're right. That wasn't very nice of me to say...or fair. Which is probably the difference between us, Jack. It takes a while for you to see the bad in anyone. Me...it doesn't take me that long and I seem to always be eager to call it out. Which is not a very polite thing to do…"
"It's honest, though. That's what I love about you, Rose. You're honest. You don't put on airs."
"I used to. Back before Titanic...before Cal. I was the very model of a well-brought-up daughter, raised by Ruth Dewitt Bukater. Prim and proper. Never spoke out of turn. If I had an opinion, I knew better than to really state it. Then daddy died...and...things changed. Mother began taking over my life and I knew that if I didn't speak up...didn't act out, I'd have no life. It'd be hers and that just seemed awful," Rose sighed, thinking back to those dark days after her father had died and the months before she had met Cal.
"I'm so sorry, Rose. I promise it won't be like that here. I won't let it."
"I know," Rose smiled, leaning forward to kiss him. She sighed and smiled as she gazed into blue eyes that were full of love and adoration. "You truly are the best thing that's ever happened to me, Jack. I don't regret a thing that happened on Titanic or after."
"Even our separation?"
"Well...I do regret that. I rather have had you in my life at the time. Having you only in my dreams...it was pure torture, Jack."
"Oh, Rose…"
"I never want to be without you again."
Jack reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "You won't be. I promise. From here on out, it's you and me, kid."
Rose giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling herself just sink against him. This was probably the most relaxed she's been in a long time. "And Lily too."
"And Lily too. I'm sorry about what Enid said about her. Tommy would have had a fit if he knew…"
"I'm glad that you and the others spoke against, her Jack. I don't think I would have been able to stay if they hadn't."
"I know. I wouldn't have been able to stay either. She really has become my daughter, Rose. It's funny how I never really thought about fatherhood until Lily, and now...I can't picture my life without her."
"Really? I feel the same way! I was so afraid when I took her in, Jack. I was so afraid that I'd turn into my mother and I wouldn't know how to love and take care of her properly...but she taught me how Jack! She showed me what she needed and how to love her just by wrapping her small arms around me and...I love her so much it almost scares me, you know?"
"I do. I feel the same way. I feel guilty for wanting it because I knew her parents but...it'd mean the world to me if she called me Papa instead of Papa Jack, you know?" Jack looked away at the confession of feelings that he's been having for a long time.
"Oh, Jack…"
"I know...I'm horrible. It's just that I love her so much...she feels like she's mine…"
"I feel the same way...but...for now she remembers her parents. She grieved for them and she just doesn't feel like bestowing those titles on us yet. But...maybe someday she will. When she's comfortable. We can't push her…"
"I know."
Rose sighed and shook her head. "You and I are finally alone together and what are we doing? Talking about Lily and how we want her to call us momma and papa. Is there something wrong with this picture?"
Jack laughed. "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe we're supposed to talk about that. Maybe...it's supposed to lead to other things…"
"Such as?" Rose arched a brow then gasped when Jack grabbed her head and pulled her into a kiss that curled her toes and took her breath away. She felt dizzy and half-drunk when he pulled away. "Wow…"
"Want to christen this bed?" Jack arched a brow, his voice low and deep, hinting at what he wanted.
"Take me to Venus Jack…," Rose whispered.
"What the lady wants...the lady gets," Jack grinned before claiming her lips in another passionate kiss that lead to a trip past the stars, where they landed on Venus in bursts of ecstasy.
…..
A small tingling of a bell that rang throughout the halls signaled that it was nearly time for dinner. Sore from certain activities, Rose made herself get up, just as there was a knock at the door.
"I wonder who that can be?" Rose frowned, disturbed by the interruption.
"What's the bell about?" Jack rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"It's almost dinner time," Rose explained. "Cal had one of those bells as well."
"Do we have to dress up like on Titanic?" Jack asked, hoping that the answer was no. He just couldn't see dressing in his Sunday finest just for a family dinner.
"Unfortunately yes. Us rich people are all for dressing our best for the evening meal," Rose rolled her eyes just as there was a soft knock at the door. A young girl a few years younger than her poked her head inside the door.
"Pardon me, Miss. My name is Sally. I am to be your lady's maid during your stay here," the girl explained. "I also have Richie here as well, to be the young Mr. Dawson's valet."
Jack and Rose looked at each other horrified. They certainly had not been expecting to be supplied with personal servants during their visit! Especially Jack, who had a disdain for valets now.
"I really don't want a valet," Jack frowned. "Is it required?"
"I am afraid so, sir. I can vouch for Richie. He may be new, but he has been trained by the best," Sally gushed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink.
"Someone has a crush," Rose giggled, nudging Jack's arm.
Jack sighed. "Very well then. I'm not really used to having a valet, so he'll have to tell me what I'm supposed to have him do."
"He'll help you get dressed, for one," Rose couldn't help but be amused. Jack was so not used to this life and it was obvious. "Come in, Sally. I'm afraid that I don't have many fancy dresses, but you may help me the best you can, I suppose."
"Oh not to worry, Mrs. Miss. Charlotte and Mr. Charlie have both sent us with clothes for you to wear," Sally, a young woman with bright red hair and bright blue eyes smiled as she had the young man, who had brunette hair and warm brown eyes, enter carrying a suit for Jack and a fancy beaded gown for Rose.
"How splendid. They've thought of everything," Rose sighed, not looking forward to a ritual that she had thought she was done with.
"Chin up, Rosebud. It's time to dress like a penguin," Jack winked, following Richie the valet into a separate changing room.
"Sally. Beware of young men with charming smiles. They can get you in all kinds of trouble,' Rose wistfully sighed.
Sally just smiled and gave a little nod. "Yes, Mrs."