Midnight on the Ship of Dreams

Chapter One

AN-

I don't know what the officers would truly have said to anyone that wanted to change classes. Thus, I don't know if they would give a flying leap if Rose went to live with Jack down below, I took a stab at it and used her connections to Andrews to my benefit.

Her skin was so bright and pale in the moonlight and her green eyes were shining with the stars above them, Jack was captivated by her beauty. There was something about the way she was looking at him as they danced around the boat deck, and it made his heart thud oddly in his chest. "When the ship docks," She said softly. "I'm getting off with you."

He stared at her when she said that, and his mouth turned up into the biggest grin she had seen. "This is crazy."

"I know," She laughed with him. "It doesn't make any sense, that's why I trust it."

Staring at her, he was suddenly overcome. He bent to kiss her, capturing her mouth with his. In the distance he could hear people remarking about them, people that didn't know them or care that he had his hands all over someone else's fiancee. But none of that mattered with her in his arms and her promise close to his heart. They were going to be together. He inwardly wished Tommy was there so he could ask him to describe the angels that must be flying out of his 'arse'.

They stayed like that for a while and Jack broke the kiss when he needed a good lung-full of breath. But he kept his forehead pressed to hers. "They're looking for you, what do we do now? All your things are in your room."

"I don't really need them," She shrugged. "Remember? Just the clothes on your back and a few blank sheets of paper. I'll be fine."

"As noble as that is," And he kissed her lips to emphasize his humor. "It's really not that simple. You'll want clean underwear, probably a coat if you have one. True, I can get us into a place pretty cheap, but we'll need stuff to put into it."

She grimaced a little but nodded. "Well if the search continued I'll probably have some time to put a bag together." She paused. "But then, my art. Cal will probably burn it."

"You grab your essentials, I'll grab your art?"

She nodded with a smile and he kissed her hand before leading her into the First Class Entrance. After sneaking in momentarily, just long enough to glance around the room, Rose hurried him inside and quickly began assembling her essential things. Jack re-packed her art into the crate it had come on board in, pausing briefly to admire each piece. By the time he was done, she emerged in a violet coat that matched her gown.

"I'm ready." She approached him and kissed him, and Jack noted that her sparkler was missing from her hand. She saw his eyes direction and glanced at her hand before releasing his mouth. "I thought perhaps…well in gentile society normally when the lady leaves, she doesn't take the ring."

"I get it, just…it sort of makes this…" She was watching intently and he didn't want to say the wrong thing, he fumbled a moment before saying. "It makes it real. It's really happening."

"…I haven't the foggiest, Mr. Hockley, I haven't seen the young lady at all this evening…"

Rose motioned for him to follow her quickly out the second door of the room once again and thankfully, they evaded Cal, Lovejoy and Mr. Guggenheim, but found themselves running right into Mr. Thomas Andrews. Rose muttered under her breath, steadying herself against Jack. "Mr. Andrews, I'm so sorry!"

"Quite all right, young Rose." He smiled at the blonde man with her. "Hello, Jack."

"Hello," He replied nervously, managing a smile of his own.

Andrews glanced down at the bag and crate they were carrying and quickly glanced away. He had heard whispers about Mr. Hockley's teenaged fiancee and how she had been gallivanting about with a man from steerage, but it wasn't any of his business. Personally, he felt like the girl seemed much more lively and happy when she was with the young man, and that was all the better for anyone. But he knew polite society expected otherwise from her.

Rose saw him glance at her bag and she looked panicked at first, glanced over her shoulder to make sure Mr. Lovejoy wasn't sneaking up on them. "Mr. Andrews, may I ask you…?"

"Anything Rose, come, come along." He knew she must be trying to avoid someone, and that her room was close, so he guided them to the First Class promenade. It was chilly tonight, Rose was glad she had brought the coat after all. "Now what was it you wanted to ask?"

Glancing over the black sea around them, she was temporarily distracted, wondering how they managed to steer at night. She had to hand it to the crew, they were some very brave men, she couldn't imagine having that sort of stress on her. "Er, I'm sorry. I was going to ask, if I…I don't want to leave the ship with Cal and my mother," Andrews took a deep breath but did not comment. "I want to leave with Jack and that will be nearly impossible if I stay in my suite on B deck until we dock.."

"I understand. Jack, are all the bunks in your room occupied?"

Jack nodded hesitantly, having a feeling this would complicate things. He tightened his grip on Rose's hand. "I can sleep on the floor, though, and give the bunk to her."

Andrews shook his head, frowning at the thought. "That won't be necessary. I tell you what, I'll speak to the stewards for third and inform them that a first class lady will be coming to stay in your room. Then you ought not to have any trouble." He pulled a pad from his jacket to make himself a note. "Jack, what room are you in?"

"G60."

Andrews scribbled his note and nodded, smiling at the two. Then he paused, glancing at Rose with a kind, but serious smile. "Now Miss Rose, is there…anything I can do for you as far as Mr. Hockley is concerned? Anything…that the Master at Arms might need to be informed about?"

She hesitated. "He has a tendency to be very near to violent when he loses his temper, and he does, he does lose it but…he hasn't harmed me. He has sent Lovejoy chasing me all about the decks though."

Andrews scribbled some more and then smiled at them one last time. "You're good to go, Miss. But I must warn you that as a third class passenger, you won't have the same freedom that you previously had."

"I understand," She reached to touch his arm ever so lightly. "Thank you, for not thinking the worst of us."

He smiled gently, shrugging. "You know it's not my place to say this, so forgive me. I have a wife, and a daughter. And I love them so. I hope one day she will be brave enough to marry for love rather than status. And I'm happy to see you do so yourself. You never seemed very happy with Mr. Hockley."

They all shared a brief smile and he said goodbye, heading forward toward the Bridge. Rose looked at Jack and smiled up into his face. "Well Mr. Dawson, show me the way home."

His heart pounded at the idea, and the way her voice smoothed over the words. He nodded and picked the crate back up, and lead her to the 3rd Class entrance. Down the stairs and a few hallways and finally, they came across the short stretch of rooms that held Jack and Frabrizio's quarters with their Swedish roommates. He paused outside of his door and dropped the paintings, making her face shift from calm to alarm, and moreso when he swooped down to lift her into his arms. "I believe this is what proper gentlemen do.."

She laughed as he carried her across the threshold and shook her head, catching the other three men in the room's attention. Jack smiled sheepishly at them and set her on her feet before retrieving the wooden crate from the hall. "Guys, Fabri, this is Rose. She's gonna be staying with us the rest of the trip."

Glancing between them Rose smiled softly, and only Fabrizio hopped down from his bunk and shook her hand. "Jack has said many good things about you!"

Jack passed him an annoyed glance and Rose smiled brightly, patting Fabrizio's upper arm before she slipped down onto the bottom bunk. "Now if you don't mind, it's been a very, very long day."

With a sigh, Jack slapped the light off and slid to lie next to her, his arms encircling her waist gently. He was still inwardly shocked at the turn of events, that night. She had given herself to him in a way he never would have imagined she would. She continued to shock the hell out of them, the present situation very much included. But Jack had always hoped to find love at some point in his wild escapades across the globe, what better way to do that than aboard the largest moving object known to man? This voyage was making history. He didn't mind being a part of it at all.

Coming down the staircase on his way to bed, Thomas Andrews was rather surprised, and disheartened when he was spotted by Caledon Hockley, who had just been sucking on a cigarette while muttering in a sharp tone to his manservant. Cal wasted no time, and hurried over to flag the ship's designer down. "Mr. Andrews. Thank God. You know this ship better than anyone. If someone were to hide out somewhere on it, where would be best place be?"

Ah, well, this left Andrews with a very easy situation. It could have been a lot more sticky. He rubbed at the back of his neck. "Oh well. If I had to say, I'd say cargo. Not a lot of foot traffic thereabouts."

"Damn! Lovejoy!" Cal was gone as fast as he came, and Andrews was glad. That was one confrontation he did not want to have.

Having dropped a note with the stewards responsible for the third class, he was done with his duties for the day, and rather exhausted after the tour he had given the Hockley party before. Arriving in his room, he quickly poured a glass of brandy and sat at the fire with a plan in his lap. His way of unwinding after a long day. There were a few things that would need to be adjusted before the ship sailed with passengers again and he knew they would need to buy binoculars for the lookout before they left New York, but all in all, things seemed to be going rather well. If he could only lobby for more lifeboats aboard, then it would really be complete.

Ah well. As he sipped his drink, he thought. At least the ice hasn't been a problem.

The shots rang out like thunder and woke several of the nearby rooms immediately. It wasn't long at all before an officer had the door down, and several passengers and crewmen alike were lumped in the doorway, staring at Caledon Hockley where he stood in his stateroom as he towered over his manservant, who was lying on the carpet, and bleeding profusely.

By morning, everyone was atwitter over something or other, and as The Countess of Rothes went to sit at her place in the Café, she felt strangely out of sync with everyone else. The Molly Brown soon joined her with Madeleine Astor, who was discussing whatever had happened with the older American woman. "I just saw it coming, Maggie, I knew the moment I laid eyes on him that this sort of thing would happen."

"What on earth happened?" The Countess asked, certain the Captain had died or something.

"Oh that Cal Hockley shot someone last night." Molly replied, shaking her head.

"Is that so?"

"Mmmhmm, shot him right dead, and no sooner than after Ruth's daughter took off."

They all froze when Ruth paused by the table, having contemplated sitting and pretending her life was not falling apart around her. She looked at all of them, studied them, and wondered if any of them could save her from the disaster, but realized no one could. Trying to keep a hold of what little dignity she had left, she walked away and opted to skip breakfast that morning in favor of a quiet drink in her stateroom.