Something super short for me, but I always write happy endings and love scenes so I wanted to do something a bit different just to explore writing a breakup type of scenario.

People always do think that Rose and Jack would have lived so happily and beautifully but in reality, does a love last forever? Even if it does then there are severe obstacles of everyday life. I read a theory that Rose would have wound up resenting Jack, and wanted to explore that a bit.

Completely inspired by Fleetwood Mac, as well. :)

Go Your Own Way

''Loving you isn't the right thing to do.'' Jack held Rose's gaze; their eyes unwavering. The words should have pierced right to both their hearts. Perhaps in a way it did. When the realisation had come some months prior, it had shattered them; their beautiful illusion and the life which Jack had tried so hard to create for them both. A world in which they would exist free and alive.

''I know.'' Rose agreed, her hands upon a small duffle bag which had come to be in her possession during the three years that she and Jack had been together, wondering the far corners of America together and then they had taken the decision to explore France. ''I need to settle, somehow, somewhere.''

''I know.'' Whilst he had come to resent it at first, now, there was an acceptance.

''You came into my life at a time when I needed you the most, this brilliant beacon of light.''

He offered his hand to her and helped her over the grassy verge wordlessly. She stood a few feet in front of him both of them lost for words in one way or another. His eyes searched her face and he recognised that far away, lost look which she had worn for a week or so. Even longer than that now that he recalled. ''And you were happy for some time.''

''So were you.''

Their eyes met, recalling a time when their happiness was untouchable. Now, they awoke separately and spend their days taking part in different activities.

''How did you find your way?''

Rose pressed her lips together. ''I asked for a carriage to bring me. Monet's house isn't a place where people ask to visit but then I saw you laid down here.''

Jack thrust his hands into his pocket. Rose glanced around; she hadn't seen just how beautiful the countryside was until she had taken to moment to stop panicking. Stop, to think of anything else but the new course which her life was about to take.

For Jack, he had never seen anything so beautiful. Until her. The house and garden were dull in comparison to her beauty. He needed to speak to her and to know what was on her mind. She could feel his eyes on him and didn't know when to start talking.

''You hurt me, Jack.'' She whispered. ''But I had no reason to feel that in any way. I knew who you were from the start and somehow, I started to resent that over time, without a right.''

Jack glanced to the floor. Her words pierced his heart. ''Rose, they were my friends. I know they were so... open and I appreciate that. But I never loved them, I only wanted you.'' He stepped closer to her but she seemed to flinch. ''I draw them, Rose. I have always simply been that person.''

Tears brimmed in her eyes, Rose knew why she came here and she focused on that matter alone. He knew too, he was sure of it, but it still wasn't less emotional to face it. To face any of it.

''I am leaving.'' She spoke confidently, swallowing the lump in her throat. ''I am not leaving for you but for myself.''

Jack nodded as he watched her play with the flowery stitching upon her dress.

''I know that.'' Jack cocked his head, watching as she was summoned into some deep, dark, emotional place but he kept on. ''Where will you go?''

''I plan to go to London.'' She nodded her head as though she was convincing herself that this was the right thing to do. ''I need to make some arrangements.''

Rose hadn't the faintest idea of what to do or how to even make such plans but she needed to learn. Jack knew he couldn't change her mind no matter how much he pleaded nor could he offer to go with her knowing full well she wouldn't want him there. Truth was, he wasn't sure what he could offer her anymore, nor her to him. Jack was never to settle; happiest when racing about the world in a way that he had always known. Rose, after three years of travel, needed to settle. She needed a steady job, needing a home, perhaps children. He feared that was what she wished for the most and it was fear which was instilled within him which made him allow her to go.

''Well, you'd need to take a steam train from the Gare du Nord and wait for a steamship from Calais to Dover in England. Then you'll take a train to Victoria station in London.''

''How do you know all of this?''

Jack stepped back for a moment; he leant back on his heels as he casually shrugged his shoulders. He avoided her gaze for a few seconds before speaking. ''I had planned for us to go to London together.''

Her stomach sank. Her eyes finding anything to look at and focus on so that the pain wasn't so bad. ''Jack...I...'' She had so much to say but yet she didn't know how to express herself. How could she even begin to tell him how much he had changed her life, how he had made her the happiest that she had ever been and then the hurt had started. The ache. That had shaped her. Jack Dawson had shaped her entire life in three short years.

''Rose, this was never about me and you. This was about you. I wanted us to leave town for you. I know how much you wanted to see the world and I wanted to be the one who was by your side as you experienced everything which life had to offer.'' He pointed to the red brick house where Monet lived. ''I wanted you to see this. It took my breath away but I know how much you wanted to be here, too. But then I know that you need stability.''

''Jack, I know. You have...'' She placed her trembling hands over her face and concentrated on breathing.

''I just want you to be free, Rose. To be the woman that you want to be.'' He came closer to her. This time she didn't flinch. His eyes were shades lighter than she remembered as tears shone in them. ''I know that you need to settle down. Children. A family.''

Her stomach ached from been torn in so many different directions. ''I want that, too.'' She managed to speak, ignoring the tormented pain within her stomach.

Rose squeezed her eyes closed. He could hear her heart break into a thousand pieces. He reached to take her right hand in his left he placed it to his mouth and grazed his lips against her knuckles. ''Rose, I know what you need to do.''

Sh opened her eyes to find he had shed a tear, a single one which streamed down his cheek. ''You were the only thing I have cared about since my parent's death. You had given me a reason to have hope and a damn good reason to live. Before I met you I had very little existence and then you came to me, you lit everything up...''

Rose placed her hand to her lips, stifling another heart-breaking sob. His honesty was beautiful, her heart in a million pieces and her head was telling her to walk the other way and yet she was still glued to the spot. He had hurt her. She knew that. she had hurt him. He knew that.

Pain. Love. it had started with nothing more than an infatuation aboard a ship...

'''You made my life everything I hoped it would be.'' She whispered. ''You gave me so much strength.''

''Then take the strength and do what you have to do.''

Rose removed her hand from his. It slipped away so easily and yet it killed her so badly. ''I didn't want this to end, Jack. I just know that it has to.''

He didn't disagree with her words. He remained silent and allowed her to speak freely, to do what she thought was the best thing for herself. He wasn't keeping her for himself, he was letting her go. He was being the most unselfish he had been in his life. As much as he wanted to never let her go, he knew that he had to. He had nothing to offer her after all. Yes, he loved her but, that had turned out to not be enough.

Rose was sensitive and yet so strong. She had fought against her feelings for him which was something which Jack knew he couldn't do.

She took a deep breath. ''I never truly allowed my heart to open to anything else because I fell in love with you.''

Jack stepped back from Rose. ''Was it love, just an affinity?'' Rose paused, knowing in her heart the true answer. Love. True, earth tilting love. ''You should forget about me, Rose. I never existed.''

Jack bent down to grab his portfolio which he had left laid on the floor. He stuffed it into his rucksack not caring what condition it ended up in. He grabbed his rucksack and ragged it onto his back. She watched him intently with bleared vision.

''That is not something I can do, Jack.''

''Nor me.'' He wiped his face. ''But I have to do it for you, Rose. I do not expect you to ever forget our time, either, but I have to do the right thing by you, somehow. I cannot be selfish. Not with you.''

''What do you suggest?''

Jack shrugged. ''I will never be sorry that I intervened in your engagement, nor will I ever be sorry that I had taken you away from that existence but somehow, something changed along the way.

Rose wrung her hands. Now, she was...she couldn't even think.

''Jack...I...''

''Don't worry Rose. It will be all right.''

Those last five words she clung to as she saw the man, she loved walk away from her life. He continued down the trail towards Monet's house and she stood, watching as he disappeared entirely from her sight. She turned the opposite way.

It was a long walk back to Paris.

Her mind was thinking over memories of her and Jack.

She was heavily broken.

Was it more than an infatuation?

Yes.

But she had to go her own way, even if she was lonely.