"...and our master shipbuilder, Mr. Andrews here, designed her from the keel plates up." Ismay introduced the gentleman on his right.
'He's handsome,' Rose thought immediately. If she remembered correctly he was 39 years old, with silver streaked through his dark hair. 'Not much older than Cal. Much more handsome though.'
They were all seated in the sunny Palm Court, Rose, her mother, and Cal, Molly Brown, Mr. Ismay, and Mr. Thomas Andrews.
"Well, I may have knocked her together, but the idea was Mr. Ismay's. He envisioned a steamer so grand in scale, and so luxurious in its appointments, that its supremacy would never be challenged. And here she is…" Andrews slapped the table in front if him, "...willed into solid reality."
Rose found amusement in how excited the Irishman was over his creation, regardless of who's idea Titanic was. 'That voice…' her thoughts were interrupted by the ever comical Molly Brown.
"Why're ships always bein' called 'she'? Is it because men think half the women around have big stearns and should be weighed in tonnage?" she said, eliciting a laugh from all gathered. "Just another example of the men settin' the rules their way."
Rose lit a cigarette just as the waiter made it to their table, earning an admonishing stare from her mother. "You know I don't like that, Rose." She blew smoke right into Ruth's face.
"She knows." Cal says, reached for the cigarette and snubbed it out. The waiter reached the pair and asked for their order "We'll both have the lamb. Rare, with a little mint sauce."
Rose mentally rolled her eyes at the sheer arrogance Cal possesed. As if she couldn't think for herself. He'd prefer that probably.
"You like lamb, don't you sweetpea?"
'Oh now he asks my opinion!' She glanced up and found Mr. Andrews looking on curiously, albeit quietly. Molly however was much more outspoken on her observation.
"So, you gonna cut her meat for her too there, Cal?" she asked. Rose took her eyes away from Andrews to see the slight tick of Cal's jaw, the only outward sign of his brooding frustration. Molly did not notice as her attention turned to Ismay. "Hey, who came up with the name Titanic? You, Bruce?"
Quite haughtily he answered "Yes, actually. I wanted to convey sheer size. And size means stability, luxury... and safety-"
Rose could not help herself. "Do you know of Dr. Freud? His ideas about the male preoccupation with size might be of particular interest to you, Mr. Ismay." She could tell the jab at his ego completely flew over his head, obviously he was not interested in anything that wasn't making him money. Mr. Andrews however clearly caught on to her intended insult, for he attempted to suppress laughter and nearly choked on the grape he just took into his mouth. 'That mouth…' she'd been watching him eat the grapes the whole course. He did so delicately, his soft looking lips caressing each one. She was sure he wasn't aware of his effect on her, probably wasn't even aware how deliciously captivating he was, how much she was starting to want him. 'What is wrong with me?'
Her mother looked as if she could faint from embarrassment "My God, Rose, what's gotten into-"
Rose cut her off by pushing away from the table "Excuse me." She needed to get out and clear her head a moment. She noticed all the men had stood but Andrews held her gaze a bit longer than the rest. 'Air, I need some air' she thought and stalked away and out onto the deck.
She stood in the sunshine a few blissful moments before Cal joined her. He took her arm and she could tell he was barely suppressing his rage. 'That temper will be the end of one of us one day.' she thought.
"What was all that about?" he seethed. "You need to grow up, Rose, it's time you start acting like an adult instead of the spoiled brat you've become!"
Rose huffed and ripped her arm from his grasped and stalked back inside. She took a long breath and composed herself before she returned to the table.
"And where is Helen, Thomas?" Molly asked Mr. Andrews as Rose rejoined the table.
'Helen, who is Helen?' she thought then looked to his hand at the ring in residence. 'Damn, married…. Why does that matter?' she questioned herself as Cal retook his seat.
He cleared his throat and Rose thought he seemed a little uncomfortable. "She and Elizabeth are dining in the cabin. This is Lissie's first open ocean voyage and Helen wasn't sure she was adjusted enough just yet to be around everyone." He focused on his food once more.
'I bet he's a wonderful father.' she looked to Cal but could not picture him with a child.
"Since you know Titanic from top to bottom, Mr. Andrews," Cal spoke, "Would you be interested in giving us a tour of her?"
"Certainly." Rose thought she might just melt at his accent. "How about tomorrow morning at ten o'clock? Meet me in the foyer and we shall go from there."
When they all gathered to dine that night Rose noticed that Thomas Andrews, seated next to her, was writing in his notebook, completely ignoring the conversation.
Intrigued by this Rose asked "Mr. Andrews, what are you doing? I see you everywhere writing in this
little book." she slipped the book from his hands and read it aloud. "'Increase number of screws in hat hooks from 2 to 3.' You build the biggest ship in the world and this preoccupies you?!"
Mr. Andrews smiles sheepishly at her as Rose returns his book.
Ismay butts in as he no longer is the center of attention, "He knows every rivet in her, don't you Thomas?"
With a faint hint of pride, Mr. Andrews answered "All three million of them."
"His blood and soul are in the ship. She may be mine on paper, but in the eyes of God she belongs to Thomas Andrews." Rose could not tell if Ismay was resentful or not at that fact.
She turned her attention back to the shipbuilder "Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Andrews. Truly."
"Thank you, Rose." He smiled and Rose noticed a hint of a blush creep onto his cheeks. She had entranced him somehow and wanted so much to get to know him. His smile was a ray of light in the dark, churning inner turmoil that was starting to overwhelm her.
She ran through the halls as fast as she could in the ridiculous heels. 'I can't take anymore!' she was set on reaching the end of the ship and consequently the end of her life. Rose was ready to feel nothing, to shut out the people around her completely, to finally be free of her mother and Cal and everything those two held over her. When the men left for the smoking room and her mother retired, she ran for it, her mind made up.
She pushed passed a well dressed couple. She looked a fright with her hair flying and tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.
She made it out on to one of the decks and kept moving forward, intent on her destination.
She pushed passed a strong body and stumbled a few steps, sobbed and kept going.
"Rose?" A bewildered voice called behind her. She ignored it and hoped they didn't try and stop her.
She hardly heard the footfalls gaining on her or the the calls to stop. A hand grasped her arm and pulled her back towards them, the momentum built up from her speed spun her around and slammed her into a solid form. The form stumbled backwards a few steps but never let her go.
"Rose, tell me what's wrong. What's happened?" It was Mr. Andrews, slightly winded from chasing after her.
"Nothing, please, let me go!" Rose tried and failed to pull away from him.
"No! I know where you were headed and I cannot let you go on! Why, young Rose?" he had her by the shoulders now, not tight enough to hurt her but enough that she wasn't going anywhere, certainly not over the end of his ship.
"I can't take it anymore! The falseness, the double meanings, the gossip, the tiptoeing through high society trying not to offend anyone! Pretending Mother and I aren't destitute is exhausting, and I believe marrying Cal to please her and save 'our good name' will kill me, so why prolong the inevitable?!" She collapsed into sobs on his chest and felt his strong arms enclose her in a tight embrace.
"Oh sweetling, you bear a terrible burden for one so young." he kissed the top of her head and when her sobbing subsided he offered her a handkerchief to dry her eyes. "Walk with me, Rose?" Mr. Andrews offered his arm to her which she took without hesitation.
The pair walked in silence for a few minutes before Rose spoke. "Mr. Andrews, may I ask you something?"
"Thomas, please Rose, if you don't mind."
"Thomas," she spoke. She liked the way his name felt leaving her lips and from the looks of it, he enjoyed hearing it. "You look rather sad and I don't think it's entirely to do with me. Is something the matter?" She looked up to him as they walked along the deck in the quiet night.
Thomas sighed and gestured to a bench for them to sit. After they settled he took a moment to collect his thoughts and she could see him struggling to voice his troubles. "It's Helen, my… my wife. She just told me she was leaving." He looked to the ocean, not meeting Rose's gaze. "She feels unsuited to the life of a shipbuilders wife as well as motherhood…"
"Oh, Thomas. I'm so sorry." She put a hand of comfort on his knee.
He patted her hand, "Thank you, Rose. No one else knows, and I'd rather the scandal not get out on Titanic's maiden voyage."
"You can trust me, I've just told you mother and I are destitute so you have more on me." She laughed sadly. "What will you do? When is she leaving?"
"When we dock she plans to say her goodbyes and go live with her aunt in Philadelphia. Lissie and I will return to Belfast and I'll raise her on my own. I'll need a governess at some point, I know nothing of turning a young girl into a lady."
Rose's heart broke at the pain in his eyes. She wanted so badly to take it away. "It won't be too bad. I know I loved my father very much, I'm sure she will love you regardless."
"You're very wise, young Rose." they resumed strolling the deck once more until they reached the entrance to the first class cabins. Thomas paused and turned to Rose. "I can't say I'm entirely ready to leave you alone, I'm still terribly worried." he searched her eyes.
"I promise I will not take my life if you leave me alone. I see now that was not the answer to my problems." She smiled up at him. "I can't express how grateful I am for you. I wish I could do something for you in return."
"Just smile for me, Rose. Be happy and live." Thomas squeezed her hand.
Rose smiled broadly, stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Good night, Thomas. I'll see you tomorrow for our tour." Though really she wanted him to stay.
"Yes tomorrow, goodnight Rose." He dropped her by her cabin and headed off to his own.
Rose thought about the interaction between herself and Thomas and about how fast two people can become close.
A/N: I came across a Rose/Thomas fic a while back and after reading it I don't see how I never shipped it to begin with. I had an idea for a story where Thomas survives and Rose takes comfort in him after losing Jack and then I thought, well why does Jack have to exist? So then I also decided to include Thomas's wife and daughter because I think most people leave them out. Anyway this story was born! I know I have a few unfinished fics to complete but I'm currently suffering writer's block with them whereas this story is nearly finished. I'm breaking it into chapters and will post one a week until its complete! I hope you all love this pairing as much as I do! Please read and review!
Much Love,
Nanahbelle