A.N- So Ive been wanting to do a Titanic fanfic ever since I first watched the movie and now I have a pretty decent plot line.. So just tell me what you think :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Titanic or any recognizable characters.
Prologue
June 26th 1990
I'm 94 years old and I can't remember my 5th grade teacher's name. I can't remember my mothers maiden name and I can't remember my childhood friend's face. I can't remember a lot of things. Its funny how we remember some things and don't with other things. Ever since they stuck me in this hospital after my massive heart attack, I've been reflecting on my life. The things I've seen and the people I've met. I try and remember everything that happened in chronological order.
There's this one event in my life that I keep coming back too. It was a huge event for everyone who survived it, but for me it changed my life. This particular event that killed so many had saved me. Your probably wondering what this old bat is talking about, but you've probably heard of it. Its quite famous you know. The Titanic disaster is probably the most famous maritime disaster in history. It's hard to believe I that I survived that tragedy.
Nobody knows that I was on that ship, not even my children. My husband knew but only because he was on it too. Oh how I miss my darling husband. I shifted in my uncomfortable hospital bed. I would much rather be at home, but my eldest daughter insisted that I stay here. The rest of my children followed along with her.
"Hey Miss Victoria, you have some visitor's." The nurse told me. Speaking of my children here they come. I smile knowing that only one of my kids is coming to see me, since the other four were all in nursing homes. My eldest daughter, Rose is 78 years old. My twins Tommy and Evelyn are 70, and my youngest girl,Maddie is 65. The only one healthy enough to come see me is Patrick my youngest son who's 58. Patrick comes and sees me every day and sometimes he brings his grand children. I have 15 grand children and 7 great grand children. I love them very much.
"Hey Gran Gran." I hear my grandchild's voice say. I smile at the sound. The tall blonde sat in the chair right next to the bed. She took after her mother, blonde hair, green eyes, and tall, but everything else came from Patrick.
"Darlene its so good to see you honey. How's that son of yours?" I ask as she takes my hand. She smiles at me.
"Oh Hunter is doing just fine Gran Gran. He's starting school soon. Daddy's going to be here soon, he just needed to pick up some things." Darlene told me. She seemed sad and tears began to well up in her eyes.
"What is it darlin?" I ask concerned. She looked at all of the wires hooked up to me and the machines. I'm hooked up to an array of medical machines that I couldn't even begin to explain what they were.
"I hate seeing you like this." She said pitifully. I squeezed her hand.
"Its okay. This old bat has been through worst than this." I said with a short laugh since I could barley speak let alone laugh properly.
"Aren't you scared Gran Gran?" She asked fear in her own eyes.
"Of what?"I asked. She looked surprised.
"Of dying." She said looking down at her lap.
"I'm not afraid. Heck, I'm at the jumping off place and I don't have an ounce of fear in me." I told her. She lifted her eyes up to mine.
"Your so brave. I'm terrified of it." Darlene told me.
"Well when you've seen as much as I have, lived as long as I have. You'll find yourself surprisingly ready to go. I'm ready and I think that's what scares you and your daddy so much." I said. She opened her mouth to say something but that's when Patrick walked in.
"Hey Mama." He said walking over to my bed.
"Hey sweetie." I said as he bent down to give me a kiss.
"How are you feeling?" He asked with concerned eyes.
"I'm feeling just fine, but I would feel even better if you'd let me come home." I told him, hopefully he'll give in today. Darlene's cell phone began to ring, and she quietly excused herself. Patrick sat down in the chair.
"I don't think so Mama. You know Rose would kill me if she found out I let you come home. Plus the doctors want to keep a close eye on you. You know we just all want you to get better." He told me taking my hand. I sighed and nodded. I know its a lost cause every time I ask, but I have to try.
Maybe I should tell him about the Titanic. I want my family to know the truth before I die. I know I'm dying. God is going to take me soon, and I want to leave my family with my real story. I look over at the clock. It was five minutes until visiting hours were over. There was no way I can tell him the whole story in five minutes. Then an idea popped into my head.
"Patrick I want you to get a piece of paper and something to write with." I told him sternly. Confusion flashed in his eyes, but he got up and found a piece of paper and a pencil. He even got a clipboard. He sat back down.
"Now what?" He asked.
"I want you to write down this name." I waited for him to nod. " Now there's this lady named Rose Calvert she lives in a small town called Ceder Rapids if it still exists. You must promise me that even if you don't find her there, that you'll search until you find her." He nodded as he finished writing down what I had said. "Now once you've found her you tell her that Victoria Dewitt Bukater says she wants Lizzy back." I told him.
"What does that mean?" He asked. I shook my head.
"She'll know what it means. Then you ask her to tell you about my life. All of it. I want you to record it all and then tell everyone else about it. You promise you'll do that for me?" I ask.
"I swear I'll do it, but I don't understand." He said. I smiled.
"You will." I said before Darlene came in with my nurse, who was shooing them out. Darlene gave me a kiss on the cheek and left.
"I love you Mama." Patrick said leaning down and kissing my forehead. I smiled.
"I love you too baby. You remember what I said alright?" He nodded before reluctantly leaving.
Hours past and I stare up at the ceiling. The nurse comes and give me my medicine and give me dinner. I only finish half of it. Then later they turn out the lights. I lay and think over everything one last time, before drifting into a slumber that will last forever.
Chapter One
April 10th 1912
Rose and I have been best friends since we were 2 years old. We're as close as first cousins can be. Since we were both only children we connected to each other even further. We try and do everything together. When we were children we both got the same kind of doll and the same dresses. We went to the same finishing school and now we're both engaged.
Caledon Hockley proposed to Rose first. Rose seemed happy but I believe she's hiding some doubt about the arrangement. Cal is older than Rose and he's really arrogant. I don't like him very much.
Cal introduced me to my fiance Arthur Carnegie. Yes Carnegie as in Carnegie steel. You see Arthur is the grandchild of Andrew Carnegie and is the heir to a huge fortune. Cal is also a wealthy steel tycoon. They do business so Cal thought he would introduce us since we're both single. My parents were very pleased when Arthur asked for my hand, and like that I was locked into an engagement, with a man I barley knew. The money was enough for my parents.
Money is all the Dewitt Bukater family can think about right now. You see Rose's father and my father are brothers and gambling buddies. I didn't think anything of it. Then my uncle died and it exposed how much debt he and my father were in. Aunt Ruth and Rose had to auction all of their things away just to make it by. My parents couldn't help them, we're in really bad shape too. Rose and I are the only way out of this mess. We have to marry very rich men who can pay off the huge debt. I didn't mind the responsibility. I've always known I would be forced into a loveless marriage with some rich heir, and I've accepted it. Rose on the other hand has fought it, but has finally given in due to our family's current financial situation.
Well, after my Uncle's death Cal thought it would be a good idea to take a tour of Europe. He invited all of us, but my parents declined. I've wanted to go to Europe so badly, so I begged them and they let me go. I later realized that is was a set up. My parents knew that Arthur was in Paris doing business. So they sent him a telegram asking if he would join our group, and he said yes. So I've been stuck with my fiance since Paris, and I'm ready to get away from him.
This journey hasn't been all bad though. I got to see Europe and we're sailing back on the Titanic! Titanic is the largest ship ever built and I hear that she's unsinkable. I'm so excited to be sailing on her maiden voyage. Even know sitting here beside Rose in the car heading to the Titanic, I'm excited.
We're running a bit late because Aunt Ruth didn't agree with Rose's outfit. Rose came downstairs this morning in a black mourning dress. Aunt Ruth had a fit and sent her and me upstairs to change. She ended up making us wear matching traveling suits and hats. I swear Ruth should have had twins with the way she likes to dress me and Rose.
Rose and I don't look a lot alike. Rose took after her mother, with fiery red hair, pale skin and blue eyes. I took more after my mother. I had dark chocolate brown hair, and bright green eyes. Rose is about three inches taller than me, and I'm about four skin shades darker than her. Rose is a real beauty and I feel less pretty around her. Not that I'm not attractive, its just she's so gorgeous.
We're in Cal's automobile heading to South Hampton docks to board. Rose and I were on one side of the auto mobile and Cal and aunt Ruth were across from us. A trail of other cars were behind us carrying our things. Arthur was in his car. Arthur wanted me to ride with him in his car, but Rose insisted I ride with them. Rose nudged me.
"Tori look." she said quietly looking out the window. I peered out of my window and gaped in amazement. There were an overwhelming amount of people around the docks. The R.M.S Titanic stood proudly above the massive crowd. I smiled and looked at Rose who was still looking out the window.
"She's quite impressive isn't she?" Cal asked with a crooked smile. Rose ignored the comment and I just nodded. A few more minutes later and the car slowed to a stop. Rose got out first and than I did. Cal and aunt Ruth followed behind. I stared up in awe of the huge leviathan.
"I don't see what all of the fuss is about. It doesn't look any bigger than the Mauretania." Rose said to Cal unimpressed.
"You can be blase about some things but not about Titanic. It's over a hundred feet longer than the Mauretania, and far more luxurious." Call answered back. He helped Aunt Ruth out of the car.
"Your daughter is much too hard to impress, Ruth." I heard Cal tell Ruth.
"So this is the ship they say is unsinkable." She said.
"It is unsinkable. God himself could not sink this ship."He said before dealing with an baggage official.
"Here comes you fiance Victoria." I hear Ruth say. I looked over to see Arthur coming this way. Arthur was 6'2 and had muscles. His blond hair and hazel eyes made him very handsome. He was only a few years older than me, and he wasn't too arrogant either. Any women would be happy to marry him. There's just one problem with him. I don't love him. I looked down at the huge diamond perched on my finger. I hated the huge heavy thing, but Aunt Ruth makes me wear it.
Cal and Arthur greet each other, before he comes and gives me a kiss on the cheek. I give him a fake smile.
"I hope your ride was enjoyable." I stated politely. He grinned down at me.
"Yes it was fine, but it would have been much better if you would have been there." He told me. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I hated when he flirted so openly.
"We better hurry." Cal stated as he led us to the boarding gangway. Three maids trail behind us, along with Spicer Lovejoy, Cals valet. Ruth led the way up the gangplank followed by Cal and Rose. Then Arthur and me. He offered me his arm which I took. When we stepped inside the Titanic, Aunt Ruth was asking a officer where our suites were. The officer finally decided to just take us there. So we followed the man through a labyrinth of beautiful hallways. We finally reached the suite that I, Ruth, Rose, and Cal would be sharing. Arthur told me goodbye and walked to his suite down the hall.
We all entered the room and I smiled at the ornate designs. We had a sitting room that adjoined all of the rooms. I went into my room and took off my huge hat. I hate this hat. I don't know why I wear it. I walk to find Rose and Cal conversing quietly.
"Rose, I'm going up to the deck to see the ship leave the dock. Would you like to join me?"I ask Rose, but before Rose could answer back Cal had already opened his big mouth.
"Rose needs to stay here, Victoria but you go and have fun." Rose looked pretty angry, but quickly masked it. I nod and I'm out the door. I can't stand being in the same room as him. I wonder up to the 1st class deck and squeezed into a spot by the railing. Everyone is waving goodbye. I started to wave too. I feel like a fool but I don't care. We pulled away from the dock and people begin to disperse. I stayed.
I turn my head and see that we're about to hit another ship. My heart stated to race as we got closer. Then we turned and barely missed the ship.
'I have to go tell Rose about this' I think to myself. I quickly began to walk to the 1st class entrance. I wasn't paying attention, when I run into something hard and fall to the ground.
A.N- I know its not a very good stopping point but I had to rush the last bit because my Dad's getting my computer fixed soo yeah. I hope enjoyed the first chapter :) Please review and I'll update as soon as I can.. Oh and I can't decide between Murdoch, Lowe, and Moody. So leave me a review and Tell me your favorite.
