I cannot believe I forgot I saved this old piece in my file for so long. I'm so sorry I have been suffering with a little writer's block. I am so glad you guys like this. Forgive me for not being able to respond to your PMS. I am not very consistent with that because of my schedule.

Rose returned to the dock alone when it fell dark. She curled into a ball on the bench. The tears streaming down from her cheeks are fresh as the first drops that fell earlier.

The cold wind was strong on the Titanic. It blew strong and changed the exhalation of air into gushes of white fog.

With her eyes still, she rested her cheek on the top of her knees. She craved to smoke a cigarette. But it was too windy to light anything without preventing it to go out within seconds. The contemplation on whether to recover inside or outside wasn't so hard to decide on. It felt too warm and closed in inside. She needed air and space all to herself.

All the things that had happened just a few hours ago were imprisoned in her mind. They continued to play back in her head that led her to another indecisive contemplation: does she regret on her decision and instead make the selfish choice to be with Jack, or was it the right thing for her to reject him for the sake of his family?

She lifted her head up and laid both her hands on her cheeks. Jack's warm touch still lingered on her skin. Just the thought of what he did turned her cold cheeks to warm.

I've only known this man for three days. Is it really possible to feel this way about someone this early? Or am I crazy?

~ No matter how cold or hot, nothing bothered Rose when sleep is needed. Quietly, her body was still in the same position as before. Sound asleep and unmoving.

There were groups of passengers outside, resting the best they can. There is not enough room for everyone inside.

Rose was alone in her corner on the bench. Until, she wasn't any more.

Cal quietly approached her and checked to see if she was asleep. He waved his hand over her closed eyes without touching her skin. She made no movement. Carefully, he scooped her half frozen body in his arms.

Rose stirred and angrily knitted her brows together. But she did not wake. The warmth from Cal's body caused her to lean closer. Cal blinked quickly in surprise when he felt her cheek on his warm neck.

He was quickly calm to see her still asleep. A smirk curved on his mouth.

"You shouldn't had been alone at this late hour. I'll make certain you will never be alone again."

His words were spoken in a whisper; warm breath of his mouth from every letter blew down to her cold cheeks. He walked on inside the Titanic

~ Rose awoke. It was the best rest she ever had in years. The bed she was lying on was soft and inviting. The sheets that hid her body from neck to feet kept her warm throughout the cold evening. But it was no time to be celebratory; this bed was not hers neither was this room she was in.

Footsteps started. It was soft and gentle; the ground was carpet other than hard wood like her cabin. She quickly sat up from the bed and lifted the sheet high to her lips.

Cal appeared. He was in his silk pajamas over his red robe. Even inside he wore the best shoes – morning slippers. His hair was loose and untamed, apart on both sides near his ears.

He looked down at her with a smile. "Good morning. Slept well?"

"W-What am I doing here?"

He raised his hand to stop her. "If you want any questions answered, you'd have to join me for breakfast to find out."

"Cal, this isn't funny. I'm not going to do anything with you. So just say everything now."

"Unfortunately, I keep my word, Rose. So if you want to get what you want, you'd have to cooperate with my instructions."

~ A light continental breakfast was served. Cal was expected for tea with a few of his father's business partners; his first impression on them will determine their reliance on him as the future inheritor of his father's steel company.

Cal and Rose did not share a word. She glared at him across the table with her arms crossed her chest. His eyes were low to his plate and ate what was left of his plate.

There were a few strawberries and a fresh cinnamon apple pastry on Rose's plate. She took a few bites of strawberries and left the stem askew near the uneaten pastry.

Her patience grew thin.

"Cal."

He finally lifted his head, chewing slowly. "Yes? What is it, Rose?"

"Well, I'm here. I ate. Thank you for everything you did. But now can we go straight to the talking?"

"You haven't finished your food. Finish before I do."

Rose huffed a sigh and a humorless smirk curved on her mouth. She pushed her chair out and stood to her feet. Cal's eyes watched her. She leaned over the middle of the table and reached for the bread knife that was stabbed through the heart of the warm bread. She removed it and planted the blade hard on to the side of the table that made her plate jump.

Her eyes glared at Cal directly across the table. "I do not want play any games with you, Cal. Spit it out."

Cal dabbed his lips with a cloth napkin and smiled widely. "I wanted to share a meal with you as friends. Do you have to treat me as an enemy?"

"It's a little early to chit chat with your fancy cakes. I was perfectly fine sleeping outside alone. I don't like people picking me up and leaving me into their rooms without my permission."

"I did it out of concern, Rose. Forgive me if you thought improper."

"Yeah about that. That was all that happened right? You brought me here and left me asleep on a bed?"

"Yes, that is all I did."

"Well, thanks. But next time, I prefer to be left alone. We can play nice if it's business, Cal. But we're too early to be friends."

Cal took his tea and took a slow sip. "Too early than the short amount of time you got close with Jack?"

So that's what this is all about? Oh brother…

Rose dropped her head and snorted a laugh. Her hand went to her lips to fight the laughter back. Cal looked at her confused. For a moment, she returned her eyes at him.

"Cal, let's not play games. I'm not that stupid like all the other girls you've been with. God forbid they've been cleaned after and watched over by hawk-like people for so long they have judgment about men like you."

Rose left the knife and walked around the table slowly. Her hand touched the table as she came closer to Cal. Her fingertips traced the dust on the table.

"I knew the night I saw you, you were interested in me more than my drawing. Honestly, Cal, I don't brag often that I have a pretty face. But I'm not surprised you went for me."

"Excuse me?"

"Come on, Cal. A third-class passenger. Got a few bucks in her pocket. No family holding her back. On her own. I was the perfect girl to make this cruise worthwhile before landing to America."

He looked uneasy for a split moment. But she saw his mouth curve to a smirk. She clearly has won the battle here. But there is still a war, and the victor of this war is still uncertain.

"You catch on fast."

Rose laughed softly. "Cal, I have little interest to share your bed. Well..if I'm going to be completely blunt here, I have NO interest whatsoever. I'm not a girl who was pampered over and watched over in a cage. You haven't seen the real world of women just yet, Cal."

"I have my share of experience with women, Rose."

"A share is appropriate to say because you only go after same type of woman. The desirable, vulnerable, eager to please you kinda gal. I fall in none of those categories. And also, Cal…"

She paused when she was a step away from him. She grabbed both sides of the arm rests of his chair and lowered her back to look closely at him. His smirk was widening, practically waiting for what this flaming red head is ready to say next.

"I have my share experience with men. And it is only appropriate for me to say that because I don't have to tell my lover that I have money in my pocket. That I'm not some son of some big company..Believe it or not, Cal. This is a secret between me and God but men aren't the only ones who go after me."

God I will get back to you hands ready for prayer when I land. Lying is a sin yes. But it's too much fun not to do it. Let me play with this rich creep, Father.

"The French women have interesting ways to make me…feel."

Cal's cool was what made his character. Rose didn't know Cal for too long but seeing him break was something she never imagined the man to allow her to see. His smile was gone and the look on his face is an expression she can easily describe in one pure easy word: disgust.

Rose placed a finger before her lips. "Seal those lips, Cal. God has His eyes on you. He'll get you if you blurt it to anybody."

"You're lying…"

"Do I seem the type to lie?"

He nodded. His expression hardened to steel cold.

"Well, the way I think of you Cal, the only judge you give a damn about is yourself. So you better be the best judge if I am a liar as you say in your own words."

An idea came to her. She playfully twirled her curls around with her finger and rolled her eyes to one corner to make the time to figure out the idea. Blindly without looking, she snatched the pastry from his plate and held it between her teeth.

Cal watched her as she turned around and feasted her eyes down on the set table. She grabbed the baskets of pastries and oiled it with treats that she can share with the third-class, or perhaps make a few dimes off of it if she was lucky. Cal did not stop her. It came to a point he is being aware of these sudden burst of surprises she throws at the man, at everyone.

By the time, she emptied the table of what was left. She slowly headed to the door. Cal did not stop her and she could not fight back the big grin curved so widely on her chaste lips.

"I forgot what I was thinking. Come find me if you're curious. Thank you for the food."

Without another exchange of words from Cal, Rose proudly left with her hands filled with almost warm food that the first person from third-class will drool over with delight.