"Hello?" Jack said in a surprised tone when he opened the door to find Rose on the doorstep, before frowning when he noticed her eyes were red and puffy.
"Hey? Hey, what's wrong?" He frowned "can I come in?" She sniffed "course" Jack nodded and step aside. "Rose, what's happened?" Jack asked again. "Henry knows…" she sighed. "Knows what?" He asked "that we kissed… he thought we'd slept together, he saw the mark on my neck…" she continued. "What mark?" Jack frowned and moved Rose's hair from her shoulder to reveal the dark circle that had appeared. "Shit…" he muttered "Rose, I'm so sorry" Jack sighed, feeling guilty that it was his fault that Henry had found out about the events from the night before.
"Don't be" Rose shook her head. "I don't know what to do anymore" she sighed "it feels like we can't even have a conversation without arguing nowadays" she said as she followed him in to the living room and sat down. "Why?" Jack asked. "He more or less agreed with his Mother, about me essentially being a whore" Rose said "he said that?!" Jack asked through gritted teeth. "Not exactly… but he didn't object when I put the suggestion forward" she shrugged. "Bastard" Jack muttered. "I'm guessing he's at home?" He asked. "Yes" Rose nodded "we put the kids to bed before the argument and I left quickly, he didn't really have a choice but to stay there" "did they hear?" Jack asked "us arguing? I don't think so. I think they were asleep thankfully" she said as she looked at him. "How long have things been bad?" He asked. "Since… since-" Rose stopped herself. "Since I arrived, right?" Jack asked, realising Rose's marriage was on the rocks because of him. Rose nodded ever so slightly. "I can take a step back if you'd like? Only see Emilia at school and maybe occasionally on weekends. We don't have to speak. I'll stay away from your marriage and home… just please don't keep Emilia from me" Jack pleaded, heartbroken at the possibility of not seeing Rose anymore. "What?!" Rose frowned confused "I'm not giving him the satisfaction of that! We're Emilia's parents for goodness sake, of course we have to have some sort of relationship! I'm not having our 7 year old play the middle man, she she's a child! She deserves more than that!" Jack sighed, relieved that Rose hadn't taken him up on his offer "I don't want to be the reason your marriage ends, Rose" he sighed with a shake of his head. "If my marriage does come to an end… and I'm not saying it will… it won't be your fault. Maybe last night was a mistake… I don't know…" she sighed sadly and looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. "I think you should go home and speak to him. I can't help you figure this one out Rose… I can't help you make a decision here, because if I do and you ever come to regret it, I will never be able to forgive myself. This is something you and Henry have to do alone" he said as he leant against the arm of the sofa. "But the kids…" Rose sighed. "Will be OK no matter what the two of you decide. They will always have parents who care about them, but I'm sure they'd rather have two happy homes over one miserable home" Jack said "please Rose, go home, clear your head, and talk to Henry" he continued. "I can't tell him I was here" she shook her head quickly. "Then don't. Tell him you went to see Marie, or that you went for a walk… whatever you think is best, and you're always welcome here… you and the kids, if you need it" he smiled weakly as she looked at him. "Thank you…" she replied quietly before beginning to leave, squeezing his arm gently on her way out.
Jack sighed to himself and rubbed his face as he heard the front door shut as Rose left. He had wanted nothing more than to take Rose in to his arms. To tell her he loved her, and that he would take care of her, but he knew that Rose would grow to hate him if she left Henry and regretted it. He knew that Henry had more to offer her. That she had more to loose by leaving Henry, than to gain by leaving him for Jack… that Emilia had lived without Jack for 7 years and had been OK regardless… that she and Charlie would be devastated if Rose and Henry divorced. He slumped in to the sofa more, suddenly regretting the night before, knowing he may have just ruined 4 people's lives, 5 if you included Alfie. All Rose was meant to be doing last night was collecting Emilia, but instead she and Jack had almost slept together… it's likely they would have, had Emilia not (thankfully) interrupted them…