8.45pm
Rose arrived and Jack's and knocked on the front door, grateful that he answered quickly.
"Hey" he smiled confused "hi" she forced a small smile back. "What's wrong? I thought I was bringing Emilia back?" He frowned as he stepped aside to let her in. "I know, but I thought I'd save you a job" she smiled weakly again "where is she?" She asked. "In the living room, asleep. Don't avoid the question… I know you Rose, I know when something is bothering you. What's the matter?" Jack raised an eyebrow and gently grabbed her arm as she walked towards the living room. She looked at him and held back tears, but it was no use as a few fell from her eyes. "Hey… hey" Jack pulled her in to a hug and suddenly Rose clung on to the back of his shirt, taking him by surprise as she hadn't shown him any type of affection since she found out he was alive, not so much as a hug. Jack leant over to the living room door to close it so Emilia wouldn't wake and hear Rose's quiet sobs. "Shhh… shhh, you're OK" he said before the hug ended a few minutes later. "Do you want a cup of tea?" He offered "yes please" she nodded weakly as she wiped her eyes.
—
"What's happened?" Jack asked as he handed her the mug with tea in whilst she leant against the kitchen counter top, getting a sigh in response. "Things sort of blew up once you and Emilia left" she said. "How so?" Jack frowned confused. "Betty thought it was improper that Emilia walked to your house in her pyjamas" she rolled her eyes "and in broad daylight I might agree. But in the dark on Christmas Day night, it wasn't going to hurt… she got very defensive of Henry, said all of this was happening because I had 'slept around' and then wouldn't give me Alfie when he began to cry and reach for me" Rose sighed "so I may have accidentally told her I would 'drag her out of my house if she didn't give him to me'" she said with another sigh. "You're joking?" Jack said, trying to stop himself from laughing. "No… and I don't regret it. She implied that Emilia was less than because she's not their biological grandchild, she would be heartbroken if she knew that… she worships Betty and Theodore, and until today I always believed Betty felt the same way" Rose looked at him sadly, her heart getting caught in her throat as he stroked her cheek with an equally sad smile. "Well thankfully she didn't… she doesn't need to know" he shook his head "what has Henry said about it all?" Jack asked "he defended me in front of his Mother, but we had an argument before I left the house. He told me I shouldn't have spoken to his Mother like that, and maybe I shouldn't, but I would do it again if it meant defending my children" she said seriously but still sadly. "You came here after an argument with Henry?" Jack asked, his heart feeling a little full over the fact it was his house that Rose had ran to when something had upset her. "Yes" she nodded. "Sorry… it's probably not the most respectful thing I've ever done" she gave him an awkward look. "Don't be silly, it's fine" he smiled gently and wiped the tears from her eyes as she began to cry again. "Come here" he pulled her to him and held her close, resting one of his hands against the back of her hair. Rose sighed to herself a little, taking in Jack's warmth and scent before kissing his neck, her kisses quickly travelling to his cheeks then his lips before he pulled away ever so slightly yet reluctantly. "Rose… you're married" he whispered "honestly, right now, I don't care" she said as she leant forward and kissed him again. The kiss quickly turned passionate as he lifted her on to the kitchen counter, as his lips travelled from her face to her neck and back up to her face again as his hands grabbed her thighs, making her groan, but Jack moved away from her as he heard the living room door open. Rose quickly jumped off the counter before hearing the small footsteps of Emilia's walk towards the kitchen "I forgot she was here" Rose whispered "me too…" Jack replied but smiled at Emilia as she walked in to the room.
"Hey sleepy head!" Rose smiled at her, looking away from Jack "hi" Emilia smiled sleepily. "Have you had a nice time?" She asked "yes" Emilia nodded. "Good… go and grab your coat darling" Rose said and watched as Emilia left the room.
"So… that…?" Jack said to Rose quietly. "Not now, Emmy might hear. I'll come round on Monday… I'll tell Henry I'm meeting Marie or something" she nodded quickly before Emilia walked in. Rose smiled to herself as she watched her daughter do a huge yawn- Emilia was fairly small for her age, but when she was tired she looked much younger than 7. "Let's get you home sweetheart" she said as she held her hand out for Emilia, but before she took hold of it she walked over to Jack and hugged him "thank you for my presents Dad" she said, taking Jack and Rose by surprise. Jack leant down and kissed the top of her head as he hugged her back. "You're welcome darling. I'll see you soon" he said as he held back a few tears, over the moon that Emilia had finally called him 'Dad'. Rose just smiled at Jack, her heart melting at how thrilled he clearly was, before Emilia walked over to her and took her hand. "I'll see you soon" Rose gave a knowing look, getting a small nod back in response as she and Emilia left.