Decided to have a go at writing a FanFic. I was inspired by The Titanic Theory (s/8333214/1/The-Titanic-Theory) and wanted to have a go at writing a Titanic/Big Bang story.

Basically, this will share similarities with the movie, but will be different. Basically, this is how I think Titanic would have happened if it had featured the cast of TBBT. I have tried to keep everyone as in character as possible, but I also tried to stay true to the time period. Also, I am a Shenny fan - this will contain Shenny.

Hopefully someone likes this :)

It was 1912, and Wilhelm Wien had only the previous year been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for his discoveries concerning the laws of heat radiation.

This had bothered Dr. Sheldon Cooper for weeks for a number of reasons, none of which he felt compelled to explain to anyone.
It niggled at his brain even as he woke and dressed on the morning of April 10th. The date itself was of no real significance to Sheldon, under normal circumstances. His eidetic memory would remind him that, on April 10th the previous year he had spilt ink all over his good white shirt while making some hurried notes about his latest experiment. On April 10th, in his thirteenth year, he had been called a 'dunce' by his (ironically quite dense) classmate Timothy.

This April 10th, however, he awoke with the knowledge that he would soon be away on his long-dreaded journey across the Atlantic Ocean; a trip he felt compelled to make only as his elderly and widowed mother, Mary Cooper, had taken ill. He did love his mother dearly, of course, but the world of science had nothing to offer him in Galveston, Texas. His work was here, in Winchester; as were the fruits of his labor. Long hours of researching, experimenting and recording his findings in impossibly neat print had bought him a modern-day mansion, substantial grounds and a shiny black motorcar; among other things.

They had also found him Amelia Farrah Fowler.

A lady in every sense of the word, Amelia was the daughter of a London diplomat; her English was polished, her clothes were paired and fastened by a small army of ladies maids, and her disposition, while arguably dull, was as refined as you would expect from the soon-to-be-wife of a renowned (although, painfully, not quite a Nobelist) man of science.

And so it bothered Sheldon Cooper, that he had achieved so much yet was still not able to grasp the thing he had wanted above all else since he was a boy.
It bothered him as he ate his breakfast that cold April morning, it bothered him as he helped Amelia into the motorcar, her gloved hand firm in his. It bothered him even as his driver slowed, the docks a harried chaos around them, a towering shadow on the horizon.

The RMS Titanic.

A ship of dreams, of noble men and dainty women - and of (Sheldon thought quietly) unnecessary hype.
An unsinkable ship was, by all logical calculations, a completely plausible idea, so the fuss surrounding the creation of such a vessel seemed absurd.
Even so, he felt Amelia gasp as the masts loomed into sight, her eyes wide with wonder.

"It's incredible!" she breathed, pressing her face close to the window, "I can hardly believe a ship so large could be unable to sink!"

"Well, it does all come down to a very complex system of watertight compartments and electronic watertight doors," Sheldon explained, sighing, "frankly, I'm surprised this design wasn't implemented in a ship years ago. It's quite pedestrian, really"

"Well," Amelia sat back, her voice measured and formal, "I find it quite fascinating, all the same"

The car pulled to a stop; Amelia sat with hands folded as Sheldon stepped around the car to open her door.
A strange tradition, he had always thought, considering that she has functioning arms of her own; but his mother had raised a gentleman, and gentlemen did not question such things.

"Dr. Cooper!" a voice rang out over the hissing of steam and endless shouting, "I've had the bags sent to the parlor suites, and the car will be loaded as soon as we're on-board. Will there be anything else, sir?"

Leonard Hofstadter, Cooper's right hand man, squinted up at the Doctor, his usual grinning, humble self.

Hofstadter had been chosen (although hard to believe) for his intelligence.
As his affairs and commitments grew, Sheldon found less and less time to work on his beloved research – his time constantly filled with menial tasks. The idea of relinquishing control made him shudder; but, he argued with himself, it would be unfair to expect one to make any meaningful scientific discoveries while they were organizing home repairs and meetings. It has also become glaringly obvious that, if he ever planned on becoming a Nobelist, he would need a second pair of hands and a mind to bounce his ideas off.

He advertised for a strong, relatively young man with a keen wit, able to interpret theories and assist with experiments. A simple enough request, he believed. Unfortunately, it seemed that all those highly educated enough to be of use were otherwise employed, and every applicant whose name passed his desk was barely qualified to change the tire on his automobile.

Then, there came Leonard.

Short, insecure and of above average intelligence, Leonard Hofstadter had also dreamed of winning a Nobel Prize as a child; however, a lack of money and the death of his father saw him without formal schooling and working at a lumber yard in the outskirts of Winchester. He was desperate to work in the sciences, and Sheldon was desperate for an assistant.
Not only could Leonard help with experiments, but he could take charge of Sheldon's affairs, ensuring that the house was kept in good condition and the car kept running. Sheldon could always count on Leonard to remind him about important meetings and birthdays. It was the best outcome that Sheldon could have hoped for.

Now, as the crowds seethed around him, Sheldon was particularly glad not to be organizing the journey himself. Travel was not something he enjoyed, and dealing with incompetent crew members would have left him with a headache.

"That will be all, thank you Leonard," he smiled curtly and gave a short nod, "Amelia and I will see you on board"

Leonard gave a short two fingered salute before turning to shout at the crewmen as they fumbled with Amelia's trunks and suitcases.

"Darling, shall we?" Amelia smiled politely, holding her arm out

Sheldon linked his arm with hers, leading her toward the boarding ramps for First Class passengers.

Amelia did not talk as they strolled, although her head could barely stay still as she tried to take everything in. She was a true debutante, well trained by her parents and society, and rarely spoke unless spoken to; her childish excitement buried under a heavy blanket of rules and expectations.

Sheldon looked up at the clear blue sky, breathing deeply. He had money, a moderate amount of acclaim, and a charming young woman to share it with. There could not be more to life, he told himself. He was one of the lucky ones.

Sometimes (more often than he cared to admit), when he wasn't so sure about his happiness, when the idea (even, dare he say, the feeling) that something could be missing seeped into his mind; he would resort to his trusted method of finding answers.

He recited the facts of his life until logic made it inarguably clear that he was happy.