(A/N: This is not the first time this story has been written and posted. It's a story I wrote when I first got into the Titanic fandom. You can find the original work at Anne's story Page. I've decided, in honor of the anniversary of the sinking to rewrite and repost the story here. I am also planning to continue the story way past the sinking and make it longer than it originally was. But for now, I'm only rewriting what had been written and will continue it at a slower pace once we reach the aftermath of the sinking. If you read this story before, I hope you decide to join us again, because I'm planning to change and add onto the chapters as we go:) Btw, this is the anniversary of the start of Titanic's maiden and final voyage. This story is also dedicated to all those who had died that fateful night. May you rest in peace.)

April 10, 1912

Rose Dewitt Bukater stared up at the towering ship that was going to carry herself, her mother, and her Aunt Molly all the way back to America. It was magnificent. The most magnificent vessel she had ever seen in her life and she…Rose Dewitt Bukater seventeen-year-old debutante was going to be among the first to sail on her.

"Rose! Don't just stand there and gawk at the ship, get moving!" Ruth scolded her daughter.

"Now Ruth, let the girl take it all in. This is Titanic, the grandest ship in the world," Molly Brown chuckled placing a supportive hand on her niece's shoulder. She didn't understand Ruth at all. The woman had a lovely daughter like Rose and all she could do was belittle her and treat her like she was dirt. Molly had to wonder what affect did Ruth's carelessness have on Rose. Especially during this European vacation. Molly had caught her niece a number of times staring out into space, the saddest expression in her clear green eyes. "Come Rose darlin'. We'll be late."

Rose nodded and took a last look at her surroundings, secretly knowing that this will be the last time she'll see land again. If things went as planned that is. If she accomplished the task she was going to sit out to do, she wouldn't have to worry about her future as an old maid, nor would she have to deal with her mother's hatred any longer. Sighing one last time, she followed her aunt into the ship, unaware that she was about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

…..

Caroline Simmons sighed irritably as she sat in a Southampton pub, watching her fiancée Jack Dawson and his friend Fabrizio DeRossi play poker with a couple of Swedish men. She didn't want to be in this stuffy old bar watching a game of poker. She wanted to be outside waving to the Titanic as it sat off on its maiden voyage. Or rather, she wanted to be on Titanic as it sat off on it's maiden voyage. She wanted to be aboard the grandest ship in history, waving good-bye and perhaps joining the famous names of society for tea. Women such as Ida Strauss and Madeleine Astor. Make some impressions on the big names of society. But instead, she was in this filthy pub, watching her fiancee play poker with a couple of sweaty men.

"Sven, I can't believe you bet our tickets," a blond woman slapped one of the Swedes on the back of the head, her blue eyes matching the annoyance in her voice.

"Yeah Jack," Caroline glared at her handsome fiancée. "I can not believe that you've bet everything we have. What are we going to do for food and shelter? I had worked hard to get that ten dollars. It would have given us food and shelter."

"Well, when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose. Don't worry, Carly. I'm a pro at poker. Besides, we stand to gain a lot more than we stand to lose," Jack smiled up at her, his blue eyes shining with excitement. Caroline just rolled her eyes and continued to stare out at the Titanic, imagining herself boarding the great ship. Oh to be one of the passenger's. Dressed to impress, sailing in the lap of luxery. Being the first to use all the ships facilities. What a life that would be...

"What do you mean you're sorry?!" Fabrizio's angry voice interrupted her daydream, dragging her back to reality. "My mamma's expecting me in.."

"I'm sorry. You're not gonna see your ma again for a very long time. Because we're going to America! Full house boys!" Jack laughed, slamming his cards down on the table.

"What do you mean?" Caroline frowned. She never did understand or like the game of poker. To her, it was just another way to lose money that one didn't have in the first place. "Did we win? How much?"

"Three third class tickets aboard Titanic!" Jack laughs scooping Caroline up in his arms and swinging her around. Her attention to the new ship had not slipped his attention. He knew that she had wanted to not only sail on the ship, but to return home as well. At least, that's what her moans of home and America, and reminding anyone in England that would listen that she was American had told him. "We're going home!"

"Look at me! I'm going to L'America!" Fabrizio laughed excitedly, visions of dollar bills filling his vision as he thought about his lifelong goal.

Home? On Titanic? Caroline couldn't believe her ears. True, they were steerage tickets, but they were tickets on Titanic. Not to mention, she was finally going home! Back to America! Hopefully back to Chippewa Falls where Jack could finally get a job doing something and they could finally wed.

"No mates!" The bartender yelled. "Titanic's going to America in five minutes!"

"Oh shit!"Jack yelled scooping up their meager belongings plus the three tickets. "Come on! We gotta get out of here!"

All three of them dashed out the door and rans as fast as they could towards the ship, pushing their way through the crowd. Two minutes later, they were running up the gangplank with Jack shouting for the officer, who was about to close the door to wait.

"We're passengers!" Jack yelled, out of breath as they made their way up the gangplank.

"Have you been through the inspection Que?" The officer asked, looking Jack squarely in the eye.

Caroline's face fell as bitter disappointment set in. No they have not been through any inspection Que. There had been no time. They hadn't even expected this opportunity. There would be no way that they were gonna get on that ship. Her dreams, so in reach has slipped away from her once again.

"Of course we have," Jack lied. "Besides, we don't have any lice, we're Americans. All of us!"

"Okay. Come on in," The officer stepped aside, assuming that being American meant that the three young people were inherently free of lice.

"Jack you genius," Fabrizio slapped his friend on the back as they dart into the interior of Titanic.

…..

Caroline sighed irritably as she watched Jack and Fabrizio at the bow of Titanic, watching some dolphins try to outrace the ship.

"Hey Carly!" Jack called her by her nickname, something he's called her since they had been children back in Chippewa Falls. She hated the name. It seemed so childish to her now. She was a young woman and rather go by her full name of Caroline, but Jack refused to grant her that wish. Sometimes, she wondered if he called her that just to annoy her. "You ought to come see this!"

"I'll pass," Caroline called back. Third class. That's all they were and all they ever would be. She could still remember earlier when she had tried to go up to first class and was blocked by a snotty steward.

"You can't go up there. First class only and that's not you," The steward nastily denied her entrance.

"But…" She had tried to protest.

"Captains orders! Now I suggest you go back down there where you belong!" The steward pointed a stiff finger back down to the third class area of the ship.

Caroline sniffed again. She had been so excited, so looking forward to having a conversation with Madeleine Astor, or even that one woman...Molly Brown. Now that was never going to happen. All because the stupid Swedes were not smart enough to get first class tickets. All of a sudden, her thoughts were interrupted by a joyful Jack.

"I'm the king of the world!" Jack yelled happily, a big smile on his face as he stood upon the railing, a big smile on his face as he hooted and howled along with Fabrizio.

"No you're not," Caroline grumpily mumbled. "If you were, we'd be in first class instead of down here."

How could Jack be so happy being down here in third class? Then again, he was happy anywhere. He was even happy to be under that bridge they had slept under the other night. That was one of the things she hated about him. He didn't have any worthwhile aspirations. All he cared about was his art and making each day count. She was hoping that the millionaires on board this ship would be a good influence on her young fiancée. That they would give him some goals. Maybe they would have even help him get into the stock market.

But now, that wasn't going to happen either. The absurd class laws made sure of that. Oh very well then. Caroline was patient. Maybe her raise to greatness wasn't meant to happen here on Titanic, but it was going to happen and in the very near future. She was sure of it.