Note: This is a Titanic AU. I use dialogue from the movie and try to interchange/create new dialogue when I can. I do not own anything :)
Belle sat beside Jack and Fabrizio with her hands tightly clutched underneath the table. She had no idea how her brother had gotten them into such a high-stake poker game. All of their money—including hers—lay vulnerable on the tabletop along with three tickets to board the RMS Titanic. Two of the tickets belonged to Sven and Olaf, while the other belonged to Sven's girl. Belle thought her name was Ida, but she wasn't sure.
She had arrived half-way through, tugging her small bag of luggage and violin case, to find her brother and their Italian friend steeped in the game. Rough-looking men had wolf-whistled at her and had attempted to flirt with her, but Jack had easily told them to shove off. Now she sat nervously watching the clock. They had eight minutes until the "Ship of Dreams" set sail. Jack and Fabrizio were speaking softly.
Belle swallowed, forcing herself to be brave. Her heart was pounding. "Jack...there's nothing left..."
"Shh, Belle. When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose." He turned to see Olaf and Sven criticize each other in Swedish before winking at her. "Sven?" Sven dropped one of his cards on the table and exchanged it for another. Jack did the same. There was a pause, and Belle was sure they could hear her pounding heartbeat. "Alright," Jack murmured around the cigarette wedged between his lips, "the moment of truth. Somebody's life's about to change...Fabrizio?" Fabrizio placed down his cards, scowling slightly at him before nodding sadly to Belle. "Niente."
"Niente," Fabrizio repeated desolately.
"Olaf?" Jack pressed. Belle held her breath as Olaf put down his cards. Once, Jack had taught her the basics of poker, but she'd long since forgotten the rules. Olaf's cards did not make sense to her. But they did to Jack. "Nothing. Sven?" Belle leaned over to view the cards and knew it wasn't good; he had two pair. That had to mean something bad. "Uah oh...two pair," Jack admitted. He shifted to stare at Belle and Fabrizio. "I'm sorry Fabrizio...Belle."
"Sorry?" Fabrizio complained. He rambled on angrily in Italian but Jack interrupted him.
"I'm sorry! You're not going to see your mom again for a long time. And Belle, we're not gonna be coming back for a while...cause we're going to America!" Belle gasped as her brother slammed down his cards. "Full house, boys!"
Belle grinned as he drew her in for a hug and Fabrizio kissed her cheek. "You did it!" she crowed, reaching out to grab their won money. Fabrizio did the same and shook the tickets in his hands. "Hey!" Olaf had fisted his hand in Jack's shirt; he lifted his fist and instead of punching Jack, he decked Sven. Ida cried out and fell out of her chair to help him.
Jack laughed along with the men in the pub. "Come on, Belle. We're going home!"
"I go to America!" Fabrizio yelled.
"No mate! Titanic goes to America. In five minutes," the bartender announced.
Belle's heart stopped. "Shit," Jack hissed. He dove for his bag and picked up her violin case with the same hand. "We gotta go, Belle! Grab the money!" She did as he ordered and Fabrizio helped her once more. Then she hauled her bag over her shoulder, forgetting about propriety, and sprinted after her brother. At first, she was scared that she'd be left behind, but Jack struck out and snatched her hand, dragging her through the crowd and underneath the shadow of the RMS Titanic. Fabrizio was right behind them, yelling with Jack.
The sheer mass of the vessel was enough to overwhelm Belle. She peered up at it as her brother towed her. Sleek and powerful—the unsinkable ship definitely looked as if God himself had created it. It was massive and everything in it was new and at the height of fashion—that is, everything on the first class level. Discovering its secrets was sure to be an adventure.
They dodged numerous people and maneuvered their way through the crowd. At one point, they avoided reigned horses. "Wait! Wait! Passengers, passengers!" Jack shouted when they reached a landing. They pounded their way up the boarding strip. A man in uniform held out his hands for their tickets.
"Have you been through the inspection cue?" he asked, peering at their tickets.
"Of course! Anyway, we don't have lice. We're Americans. All three of us." It was at that moment Belle thanked God for her brother's wit. Still, she decided to help him.
"We are, sir," she murmured, blinking delicately. She put on her best look of innocence. The man started at her beauty and appeared dazed. He shook his head as if to rid himself of a spell.
"Right. Come aboard."
Jack jumped through the entrance, followed by Fabrizio. The ship's officer took Belle's bag and her hand to ease her through. The second all of them were inside, they ran off through the hallways. "Luckiest sons of bitches in the world, you know that!"
"Watch your mouth," Belle chided, giggling along with them. Her brother was so happy. "I'm just glad you won." He smirked, and then handed over her violin. "Are we going onto the deck?" she asked.
"Absolutely, sis."
It took them less than a minute to navigate the plush, white halls and reach the deck. Hundreds of people had massed together to wave goodbye to those cheering on the dock. Men, women, and children were jumping up and down, trying to catch attention. "Come on, Belle!" Fabrizio called, grabbing her violin case to relieve her of its weight.
They flung themselves to the railing and waved. "Who are we waving to? We don't know anyone!" she pointed out above the roar.
"It doesn't matter!" Jack responded, laughing with glee. "We did it! We're on the Titanic!"
Belle grinned. This was going to be a splendid adventure! They were going home.
A/N: I don't want to put this as a crossover because the overall focus of the story will be on Belle and Gold (in the future). This was just a set-up chapter. Gold will be in the next chapter along with Rose and Cal. So...what do you guys think so far?
And the lovely cover for this fic is credited to 'resonatethroughtime' on Tumblr :)