(I know most people hate chapters where Jack and Rose fight, but I'm struggling at the minute and thought an argument might switch it up…)
Rose sighed as she sat on the bed, still holding Sophia. She felt bad that James had been left by Jessica, and bad that she wasn't thrilled he was here, but she knew that Jessica was taking advantage of Jack.
—
Jack took James in to the kitchen and sat down at the table with him after getting him a glass of juice. "How are you?" Jack gave a weak smile "I'm OK" James nodded. The 2 of them sat there in an awkward silence, not knowing what to talk about- Jack wasn't sure if James would even remember him. "Do you remember me?" He asked. James nodded a little "yeah, a little bit" "good…" Jack said, unsure what else to say. "Who's that lady?" He asked about Rose "that's Rose… my girlfriend, and the baby she had hold of is her little girl, she's got another daughter too, she's called Tilly. She's in the living room" Jack but was interrupted by the kitchen timer going off. "That'll be dinner… you hungry?" He asked, getting a nod in response. "Tilly! dinners ready!" Jack shouted through to the living room. Tilly stopped as she noticed James sat at the table. "Who's that?" She looked up at Jack, confused. "That's James darling, I'll explain more later. Your dinner is on the table, I'm going to go and get Mummy, OK?" "OK" Tilly looked a little confused and sat down at the table.
—
Jack knocked on the bedroom door and entered to see Rose sat on the bed with Sophia. "Hey" he said awkwardly, getting no response. "Look, I'm sorry Rose, but what was I meant to do? Leave him out there on his own?" "Call the police Jack! She's abandoned her kid! It's nothing against him, I know he's a child and blameless in all of this, but she's leaving him with you because she can't be bothered… You're not his Dad, it's not your responsibility to take care of him!" She said "It's OK when it comes to Tilly and Sophia though, isn't it?" He said harshly "that's different and you know it. I didn't abandon them!" "But you're happy to have me help?" He said. Rose laughed in disbelief "not anymore I'm not" she said as she stood up from the bed "move out of my way" she said walking towards the door that he was stood in front of "I didn't mean it like that Rose" he sighed "you know I love the girls as my own" "I won't ask again, get out of my way" Jack sighed again, moving aside.
Rose walked downstairs and in to the kitchen where Tilly was eating her tea. "Tilly, get your coat on" "but I'm eating my tea?" She said confused "please Tilly, I will get you some tea when we're out of here" Rose sighed, as she put Sophia's coat on. "But-" Tilly went to protest again. "MATILDA! I won't tell you again!" Rose shouted, making her jump. Seeing Tilly was about to cry and not wanting the situation to escalate, Jack snatched Tilly's coat from Rose and walked over to her, bending down to her level "Come on, let's put your coat on. You, Sophia and Mummy are going to go out for a while, but I'm sure you'll be back soon" he tried to reassure her. "You're not coming?" Tilly asked sadly, a few tears coming from her eyes. "No sweetheart, not this time" he said as he did the buttons of her coat up and wiped her eyes "run upstairs and get Cuddles and Arthur" he nodded towards the stairs, watching as she ran off. James just sat there awkwardly, watching everything going on around him. "You're being ridiculous and you know it. You know I didn't mean it how it sounded, I love those girls more than anything, but hey, if you want to put them through this then you do that" he glared at her "as their mother, I know what's best… thank you" she replied "really? Because this isn't it" he raised an eyebrow as Tilly came back in with her two teddies "I brought Sophia's teddy too" she said nervously "good girl" Jack smiled and stroked her cheek. "Let's go" Rose looked at Tilly "bye Jack" Tilly hugged his legs tightly "bye darling, I'll see you soon" he hated the fact that he and Rose were fighting, but he knew they'd sort it once they'd both cooled off, so wasn't concerned about saying goodbye to the girls. "Bye sweetheart" he stroked Sophia's cheek as Rose walked past him, watching as she slammed the door behind her.
—
"She doesn't seem very nice" James said, referring to Rose. Jack sighed "she's just a bit overwhelmed" Jack forced a small smile and sat at the table with James. "Come on, eat your dinner" he nodded to the plate in front of him.
