Intentions by Sarah 6 April 2004

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, James Cameron does. No connections with him or any other for that matter.

Rose was blushing and she accepted the rose with a soft smile.
   - Thank you Mr Hockley…
   - You're welcome…
She looked at the single red rose and then looked at Mr Hockley. He looked charming in his brown suit with his hair in the right place.
   - Aren't you going to let me in? She awoke from her dream and remembered that she was blocking the front door. She stepped aside and let him in. The maid Trudy came and took his coat and hat and disappeared into the house. Mr Hockley smiled once again at her, and looked at her with his brown eyes.
   - I was hoping to see you father, is he in?
Rose nodded.
   - In his study I presume?
She nodded again and he walked away, looking over his shoulder twice as he left. Rose did not move. She did not even try to move.
   - Rose dear, what is that?
Her mother sneaked up behind her and took the rose from her.
   - Mr Hockley gave it to me.
Her mothers face brightened.
   - Oh, did he?
She nodded for herself and handed over the rose to her daughter.
   - Well, we must invite him to your birthday party next weak!
   - But mother…
   - I was going to invite him anyway! This party is not for your birthday; it is for your reputation dear! How would it look it we did not invite Mr Hockley, such a brilliant match indeed…
Her mother looked into the ceiling and then sighed.
   - I did not say we were not going to invite him…
   - Well then, the case is settled then!
Her mother kissed her cheep and rushed away, probably to visit the kitchen to give Mrs Woods orders about the dinner. Rose took hold of her flower and started to walk the stairs to her room.

She sat on her bed and looked at the rose. What did he really mean with it? It sounded on her mother like Mr Hockley wanted to marry her. Marry her? She laughed for herself. She was not even seventeen, and he… twenty something? And she had only met him two or three times before. Once at the garden party at Hoydens when he had passed her a cup of coffee. And then there was a dance and a small chat over at another party. But she could not remember any other meeting between them, at least a meeting that gave a reason to give her a rose. And why did he haft give her a Rose? She guessed it was because of her name, everyone did. But a rose was a symbol of love and romance… She looked at the rose one more time before she placed it on a small table and did not touch it again.

Rose walked arm in arm with Susie, her best friend, on her way home. Together they had watched The Courting of Mary at the moving pictures.
   - I liked the part where she fainted!
   - It looked just like my mother when she doesn't get her ways with father.
Susie laughed.
   - I would say she was lovesick during the entire movie.
   - I would like to be just like Mary Pickford!
   - Lovesick?
Rose laughed and shook her head.
   - No, an actress!
Susie looked chocked at her friend.
   - Don't tell that to your mother and she'll faint and never wake!
   - Well isn't it awful that we can't do anything for our self, that others control our lives?
   - You are talking like a suffragette.
Rose stopped.
   - Would you like to do nothing with your life?
   - I am going to marry Arthur and I don't consider that nothing.
   - No that is not what I meant…
   - Well what do you mean Rose?
   - I don't know.

Mary Pickford. A moving picture actress with all the power over her own life, with the power over her own destiny. She could quit making movies and go on doing something else if she wanted, become a secretary or just someone else than Rose! She pulled of her hat that looked like a fruitcake that her mother had forced her to get and threw it on her bed. Sometimes she wished that she weren't the only child, so that her mother could complain about not only with her. She could study. She could go to a university and get an education. But books… She shook her head. The stages, Broadway, New York! That was where her life waited for her. Not here. Not in Philadelphia and not with… Caledon Hockley.

Her father kissed her cheek and smiled at her. His brown hair was not touched by age not was his face. It was his eyes that told the world his age. They always looked tired, heaved by business and affairs.
   - How are you father?
   - Tired, Rosie. Did you get your dress for the party?
   - Mother said she should pick it up while she bought flowers.
   - Oh yes… Was there something special on you mind my dear?
Rose bit her lip.
   - Yes it was, what was Mr Hockley's business here the other day?
Her father laughed.
   - I did not know you were this nosy! Well, he talked business as usual.
   - He didn't say anything… about me?
Her father continued to laugh and took her hand.
   - Yes in a matter of fact, he did.
Rose froze.
   - But you don't have to be concerned Rosie dear, I would not dream of letting you marry someone like Caledon Hockley. He is a fine man yes, someone your mother would like. But, I think he is more interested in his business that women actually…

Trudy stood and finished of her hair while Rose stroked the pearls on the necklace that her father had bought her for this day. She was seventeen today, and in her prime.
   - You look wonderful Miss.
   - Thank you.
   - Would you like anything else?
   - No thank you.
Trudy disappeared out of the room and Rose sat alone by her dresser and watched her reflection in the mirror. She seamed so distant, like it was another person sitting there. Not Rose. That Rose was far away. Not here. That Rose was in New York performing a play. Not sitting here and making herself ready for her birthday party.

He had been standing by the stairs waiting for her, dressed in his best suit and diamond cufflinks. She had walked slowly down the stairs while he was watching every step she took. When she came close enough, he grabbed her hand and kissed it, as she blushed and walked away to welcome her guests. Just like her mother had thought her when she was a child. He followed her during the night, waiting for an opportunity to speak to her. She knew he was. Susie was telling her a joke when he suddenly walked over to her.
   - Would you like to dance Miss DeWitt Bukater?
   - I would love to.
She gave Susie a confused look and then walked to the dance floor with Mr Hockley. The band her mother had hired started playing a waltz. His arm rested on her waist with a steady grip as he begun to dance with her.
   - You look lovely tonight Miss DeWitt Bukater.
   - Thank you Mr Hockley.
Rose did not make an attempt to speak with him, and just followed along with the dance. He was a good dancer, no doubt there.
   - Are you going to Thompson's garden party tomorrow?
   - Oh yes, I mean, I think so.
   - Then we might see each other there.
   - I do hope so Mr Hockley.
Why did she say that? Was she just being polite? What on earth was she doing?! The waltz ended and ragtime started playing. People moved away from the dancing floor and sat down in small sofas along the walls. She could not see Susie anywhere and not her fiancé Arthur for that matter. Had they gone home? She looked around but when she turned, Caledon stood behind her with two glasses of champagne in his hands. What was she supposed to do?

He peaked under her large hat and smiled.
   - I'm glad you made it.
   - What?
   - I'm glad you were able to come here, today.
   - Oh…
Rose locked around but did not know where to put her eyes on. He seemed to be everywhere. Her mother had left her here, knowing that he could come and talk to her.
   - May I call you Rose?
   - Sure…
He smiled and offered her his arm. She took it and together begun walk around the garden.
   - I heard from my father that you are in the mining business.
   - Well, we make steel.
   - Oh, fascinating subject that is…
   - Steel?
   - Oh yes.
He laughed.
   - You are not serious.
   - No I am not.
   - Why did you say it was fascinating then?
   - It slipped.
   - Well, keep that lovely mouth shut it doesn't speak anything good then.
Who did he think he was? He could not come here and pretend he was someone and…
    She spotted her mother walking alongside her friend Mrs Morrison towards them. They were both dressed in the latest fashion, and so was Rose, with hobble skirts and large hats. Her mother was wearing a creamy dress with lace and was covered in pearls. Her friend, Mrs Morrison was dressed in light blue and wore only a sapphire broach to match her dress.
   - Mr Hockley!
Her mother sounded like a happy bird when she saw Caledon standing by her side, and holding her arm.
   - Oh please Mrs DeWitt Bukater, call me Caledon if you please.
Caledon turned to share a few words with Mrs Morrison when her mother took the opportunity of leaning towards Rose.
   - Be mindful of you cards now Rose and play them right!
Then she headed off with Mrs Morrison towards a group of people that were admiring the roses in the lovely garden. Caledon turned to her.
   - You mother is charming.
   - She is?
Cards? What cards? Did her really imagine that her only daughter would marry Caledon Hockley, a man that her father did not want to see as her daughters husband? Her mother was a hard woman, but she would never oppose her husband in this question.
   - So, now go and speak some with my family…
He grabbed her harder and pulled her away over the lawn against a group of people, all dressed properly and expensive, the Hockley's. Rose felt that she was being dragged towards them. Why did she want to see them? Why did he want to show her up like a price?
   - Mother, said Caledon.
A tall slim woman with dark hair turned and looked surprised at her son. And then she looked at Rose. No, she did not look at her. She examined her.
   - Mother, this is Miss Rose DeWitt Bukater.
   - Oh your father is Robert DeWitt Bukater?
   - Yes.
   - My late husband used to do business with him.
   - Well, your son continues to.
   - I'm pleased to hear it; your father is a good man. I don't interfere with the company; it's not a woman's place doing so.
The woman looked at her once again, and then at her son before she continued talking to another man. Both looked at Rose with the same examined look. Rose only felt that she wanted to shrink through the ground.

   - Marry me Rose!
Caledon held her little hand hard in his, pressing it between his fingers. She tried to pull away but he only held it harder.
   - Marry me!
   - I don't know…

   - You got what you wanted mother, he asked me to marry him.
Her mother stopped with her sewing and looked at her with a content smile.
   - Oh that is the most wonderful news darling, we must at once tell your father.
   - He doesn't want me to marry him. And neither do I.
   - Nonsense, he is a fine match. You would not find another one quite like him.
   - I wont marry him.
   - Oh, yes you will. You just don't know it yet.
Rose rushed out of the room towards her fathers study, but he was not there. She had the urge to smash something, break one of her mother precious porcelain dogs. Hear the sound of destruction. Fell the loss of control. She lifted one of the ugly dogs into the air, but she could not do it. She replaced the dog and gave it a small pat on its porcelain head and rushed towards the front door. There was only one thing that could bring peace to her mind now, Mary Pickford and the moving pictures.

Rose heard the raised voices coming from the study and she could recognise phrases as No I wont allow it, Not as long I walk this earth and She deserves better. Her father was still on her side and it pleased her. But then it became ghostly quiet. Her heart started beating faster. Had he given her away? He had said… Then a scream that made Rose jumps five feet in the air. It came from the study. Father! Rose ran down the hall and opened the door.
    On the floor, laid her father with Caledon leaning over him. He turned towards her and looked at her.
   - He just fell down to the floor; it must have been a heart attack.
   - Is he… Is he…
He nodded slightly. Rose began to scream. Soon came her mother rushing down into the study. And at the first sight of her husband's dead body, she fainted.

Her mother did not leave her room, eat or do anything that had been her life. Clothes did not matter to her. Neither did gossip or rumours. She had lost a husband, Rose a father. A loving father that had understood her and accepted her for the one she was. He had never wanted her to be someone else than his Rosie. No one would ever call her Rosie again.

   - The will of Robert Andrew DeWitt Bukater is hear by as follows…
Rose did not want to listen. But she could not hear anything since her mother was crying loudly. All she wanted to do was to touch her, reach out in her sorrow. But her mother did not like to be touched, and not in front of the man that read her fathers will. She pulled together and managed somehow to keep her eyes dry during the reading.

Rose was standing by the curtain, overlooking the garden that was drowned in water. It had been raining all day. She had watched their gardener, Tom, running all over the place to take furniture under roof. How simple life must be. That it still could carry on… And carry furniture like that. She would gladly take his place.
   - I'm so sorry Rose…
She turned. Caledon stood there in his black suit looking with his normal smirk on his face. How could he look like that now? How could he look so damn normal?
   - For what?
   - For the loss of your father.
   - Well, you could not have done anything to change it.
That sounded awful in her ears but he just smiled and stepped closer to her. He pulled out a small black box out of his pocket and handed it. She took it and opened it. It contained a ring, a big diamond ring. She gasped.
   - Think of a life with me Rose. You would not have any troubles. Live careless…
But I would have you, was her first thought.
   - Marry me Rose. I know I always get what I want, and I want you and I will get you sooner or later. Say yes… And think of your mother Rose.
Think of your mother Rose. Think of your mother Rose. Think of your mother Rose.
- Yes Caledon, I will marry you.

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