Chapter 2

Rose let out a piercing scream but the Doctor held her hands tighter by the minute. Meanwhile up on the docking bridge Quartermaster Rowe and a few others heard her screams and they took off running.

"Help me please! Help!" Rose screamed.

"It's alright, I've got you. I won't let go. Now pull yourself up," the Doctor said to Rose.

Rose put her legs up onto the railings and the Doctor pulled her up. They both fell over as he got her back safely onto the ship, what the Doctor didn't notice at first was how he had landed on Rose in a slightly awkward position.

Rowe slid down the ladder and went running up to the two.

"Here, whats all this?" he asked.

The Doctor moved back slightly and then the Quartermaster saw Rose in complete distress, a stocking torn and her face streaked with tears. He at once made a conclusion and the Doctor knew what it was.

"You stand back! And don't move an inch!" Rowe yelled at the Doctor.

"Fetch the master at arms," said Rowe to the other seamen.

A few minutes later the master at arms had showed up and he was putting hand cuffs on the Doctor. Right now he knew the best thing to do was to just wait until Jack wondered where his mate had gotten to and went looking for him. Along with the master at arms three men had showed up as well. One the Doctor knew to be Archibald Gracie, he had seen a photo of him in a book once. He was currently offering Rose a glass of brandy while Rose sat under a blanket trying to get warm. The Doctor would soon find out that the man standing in front of him was Mickey.

" What made you think you could put your hands on my fiancee?! Look at me! What did you think you were doing?!" Mickey shouted.

The Doctor looked from Mickey to Rose who was now rushing over.

"Mickey, stop! It was an accident," she said.

"An accident?!" Mickey asked.

"It was... stupid really. I was leaning over and I slipped," she said as if just that would solve the problem.

Rose looked at the Doctor, making eye contact.

"I was leaning way over, to see the... ah... propellers. And I slipped and I would have gone overboard... and the Doctor here saved me and he almost went over himself," Rose lied.

"She...she wanted to see the propellers," Mikey said with a laugh.

The Doctor noticed Colonel Gracie shaking his head.

"Like I said, women and machinery do not mix," he said.

"Was that the way of it?" the master at arms asked the Doctor.

The Doctor studied Rose's face and eyes before answering.

"Yea, that was pretty much it," the Doctor said.

He looked at Rose for a moment longer then looked away.

"Well! The boy's a hero then. Good for you son, well done!" Colonel Gracie said, he then turned to Mickey; "So it's all's well and back to our brandy, eh?"

The Doctor was uncuffed and Mickey began to walk away with Rose.

"Lets get you inside, you must be freezing," Mickey said.

Colonel Gracie stopped Cal and said in a low voice, "Uh perhaps a little something for the boy?"

"Oh, right. Mr. Lovejoy. A twenty should do it," Mickey said to his manservant.

Rose almost scoffed, "Is that the going rate for saving the woman you love?" she asked.

"Rose is displeased. Mmm... what to do?" Mickey said as he thought.

"I know," he said a moment later.

"Perhaps you could join us for dinner tomorrow, to regale our group with your heroic tale?" Mickey said to the Doctor.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow at this man, he could tell he wasn't all that bright. He then looked at Rose and fought the urge to smile.

"Yea, it's a tad domestic but sure. Count me in," he said.

"Good. Settled then," Cal said as he took Rose by the arm again and began to walk, he then leaned in towards Gracie, "This should be amusing," he muttered.

Before Mickey's man servant walked off he looked down at the Doctor's feet.

"You'll want to tie those," he said.

The Doctor looked down at his hightops.

"Interesting that the young lady slipped all of a sudden and you still had time to take off your jacket and shoes. Mmmm?" he said, he then turned back and followed Mickey, Rose, and Gracie.

The Doctor sighed, he may be dressed smart but they thought he was an idiot. Oh he would proove them wrong the next night, he smiled slightly as he thought about Rose. The beautiful human that she was. He had the smile on his face all the way back to the TARDIS.
xx
When Rose got back into the suite Trudy helped her get the corset off and then she put her night gown on. She sat down at her vanity and brushed her hair as she listened to the old familar tune that her music box was playing.

As she shined her little hand mirror she saw the door open and in came Mickey.

"I know you've been melancholy, and I don't pretend to know why," he said.

" I intended to save this till the engagement gala next week. But I thought tonight..." Mickey paused what he was saying as he opened a black velvet box. Inside the box was a beautiful blue diamond, the heart of the ocean.

"...perhaps as a reminder of my feelings for you," he finished.

"Is it a-"

"Diamond? Yes, 56 carats to be exact," as he is speaking he placed the necklace around Rose's neck.

"It was once worn by Louis the Sixteenth. They call it Le Coeur de la Mer, the--"

"The heart of the ocean," Rose said.

"Yes," Mickey said as he smiled.

"It's overwelming," Rose said.

"It's for royalty. We are royalty Rose," he contuined.

He paused for a moment, then he contuined on.

"There's nothing I couldn't give you. There's nothing I'd deny you if you would not deny me. Open your heart to me, Rose," Mickey said.

Rose looked at Mickey and then looked back to the reflection that was looking back at her in the mirror.
xx
The next day the Doctor and Jack decided to take a gander down to the steerage to see it all. The Doctor had told Jack just a little about the first class beauty he had rescued.
xx
Rose woke up the next morning, early enough. She dressed in a beautiful yellow and white dress, had breakfast and then went off in search of the Doctor. She decided that since she had never seen him in the first class and there were no Doctor's on the second class list she decided to head off for the third class.
xx
The steerage was a tad dark, but it was fine and comfertable. The place was filled with so much life, currently Jack was chatting up some norwegian girl and the Doctor was reading an art book.

He smiled at the old women yelling, the men playing chess, the mothers with babies, the children running about and yelling at each other in differant languages but the Doctor understood it all since the TARDIS was translating for him.

The woman that Jack was talking to stopped as she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Jack followed and the Doctor's gaze followed to see what they were gaping at.

It was Rose and she was walking towards the Doctor.

The activity in the room stopped, the steerage passengers were staring openly at this princess, some with resentment, others with awe.

Rose smiled at the Doctor as she got closer.

"Hello Doctor," she said.

Jack and Tommy looked on in amazement.

"Hello again," he said.

"Could I speak to you in private?" asked Rose.

"Oh, yes. Of course. After you," he said as he stood and motioned for Rose to go ahead.

The Doctor and Rose walk side by side. They passed people reading and talking in steamer chairs, some of whom glance curiously at the strange couple. He felt a bit out of place in his modern clothes. For once the Doctor is silent and Rose is in her usual state of not knowing exactally what to say.

Finally Rose thought of what to say.

"Doctor... I feel like such an idiot. It took me all morning to get up the nerve to face you," she said.

"Well, here you are," he said with a grin.

"Here I am. I... I want to thank you for what you did. Not just for... for pulling me back. But for your discretion," Rose said.

Your welcome, Rose," he said.

"Look, I know what you must be thinking! Poor little rich girl. What does she know about misery?" Rose said.

The Doctor stopped and so did Rose.

"No. No, that's not what I was thinking at all. What I was thinking was... what could have happened to this girl so much that she thought she had no way out," the Doctor responded.

"I don't... it wasn't just one thing. It was everything. It was them, it was their whole world. And I was trapped in it, like an insect in amber." She then paused and rushed on; I just had to get away... just run and run and run... and then I was at the back rail and there was no more ship... even the Titanic wasn't big enough. Not enough to get away from them. And before I'd really though about it, I was over the rail. I was so furious. I'll show them. They'll be sorry!" she explained.

"Well yea, sure. They'll be sorry. I mean as long as you relise that you would of been dead so you would not of even been able to soak up their pain," the Doctor said.

Rose lowered her head.

"Oh I am such an utter fool," she said.

"That dumb penguin last night, is he one of them?" the Doctor asked.

"Penguin? Oh you mean Mickey! He is them," Rose answered.

"Is he your boyfriend or what?" the Doctor asked.

"Worse I'm afraid," Rose said. She then held up her hand and showed the Doctor the huge diamond that was on her finger.

"Oh my God! You would have gone straight to the bottom," the Doctor said.

Rose and the Doctor both laughed.

They both sat down and the Doctor studied her face.

"I just have this feeling about you. You always study my face? Why?" Rose asked.

"I see you," he said.

"And...?" Rose asked.

"You wouldn't of jumped," he answered.

xx

Meanwhile in the dining saloon Jackie, Noel Lucy Martha Dyer-Ed Wardes, and the countess of Rothes were sitting and enjoying tea.

"Oh look it's that vulgar Brown woman," Noel said.

"Quickly before she sits with us," Jackie said.

Molly Brown walked up just as the three women were rising.

"Hello girls, I was hoping I'd catch you at tea," Molly said.

"We're awfully sorry you missed it. The Countess and I are just off to take the air on the boat deck," Jackie said.

"What a great idea! I need to catch up on my gossip," Molly said with a contageous smile.

The women left the room, as they walked they passed a table where Captain Smith and Bruce Ismay were sitting and talking.

"So you've not lit the last four boilers then?" he asked.

"No, but we are making excellant time," the Captain answered.

Bruce seemed to be getting impatient.

"Captain, the press knows the size of Titanic, let them marvel at her speed too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of Titnaic must make headlines!" Bruce said.

"I would prefer not to push the engines until they've been properly run in," the Captain replied.

"Of course I leave it to your good offices to decide what's best, but what a glorious end to your last crossing if we get into New York Tuesday night and surprise them all. Retire with a bang? Eh EJ?" Bruce asked.

There was a pause and then the Captain nodded.

"Good man," Bruce said.

xx
Rose and the Doctor began to stroll aft up the deck, passing people who were laughing and the stewards who were rushing to serve the passengars their tea or hot cocco.

"You know, my dream has always been to just chuck it all and become an artist... living in a garret, poor but free!" Rose said in a girlish excited tone.

The Doctor laughed.

"You wouldn't last two days. There's no hot water, and hardly ever any caviar."

"Listen, buster... I hate caviar! And I'm tired of people dismissing my dreams with a chuckle and a pat on the head," Rose snapped angrily.

"I'm sorry. Really... I am," he said.

"Well, alright. There's something in me, Doctor. I feel it. I don't know what it is, whether I should be an artist, or, I don't know... a dancer. Like Isadora Duncan... a wild pagan spirit..."

Rose paused and leapt forward, landed deftly and whirled like a dervish. Then she saw something ahead and her face lit up.

"...or a moving picture actress!"

Rose grabbed the Doctor's hand and ran up the deck, pulling him along.

Daniel and Mary Marvin are working the camera. Daniel is cranking the big wodden camera while Mary poses stifly at the railing.

"You're sad. Sad, sad, sad. You've left your lover on the shore. You may never see him agian. Try to be sadder, darling," Daniel said.

Sudenly Rose shot into the scene and took a theatrical pose at the rail next to Mary. Mary bursted out laughing. Rose pulled the Doctor into the picture and made him pose.
Marvin grined and began to yell and gesture.
Rose began to pose tragically at the rail, she moved the back of her hand to her forehead.
Then the Doctor took a pose on a deck chair, pretending to be a Pasha, the two girls were pantoming fanning him like slave girls.
Then the Doctor fell to his knees, pleading with his hands clasped while Rose, standing, turned her head in bored disdain.

Later the Doctor and Rose stood, leaning against the railing, painted with the orange sunlight.

"So then what, Mr. Doctor with no name?" Rose asked.

"Well I went to Santa Monica to the pier for a short while. Took off running later on, but the place was amazing. They had a roller coaster there and everything," he said.

"Why can't I be like you Doctor? Just head out for the horizon whenever I feel like it," she paused and then looked at him.

"Say we'll go there, sometime... to that pier... even if we only ever just talk about it," she contuined.

"No, we'll do it. We'll drink cheap beer, I mean mind you I don't get drunk, but then we'll go on the rollercoaster until we throw up and we'll ride horses on the beach... right in the surf... but you have to ride like a man, none of that side-saddle stuff."

"You mean one leg on each side? Can you show me?" she asked.

"Sure. If you like," he said.

Rose and the Doctor contuined to walk, laughing along at each others jokes, loosing all track of time.

They paused at a railing and were talking, Rose looked away a moment and then looked back at the Doctor with a sad expression.

He then turned and saw Jackie, Molly Brown, and the Countess of Rothes.

"Mother, may I introduce the Doctor," Rose said.

"Charmed, I'm sure," Jackie said with a sour expression on her face.

Rose began to explain how she knew the Doctor.

"Well son it sounds like your a good person to have around in a sticky situation," Molly said.

Just then they jumped slightly at the sound of the bugle announcing dinner rang through their ears.

"Why do they always insist on announcing dinner like a damn cavalry charge?" Molly asked.

Rose laughed politely.

"Shall we go dress mother?" Rose asked, she then turned to the Doctor and said ; "See you at dinnner Doctor."

"Rose, look at you... out in the sun with no hat. Honestly!" Jackie fussed as they walked away.

The Doctor stood alone on the deck with Molly.

"Son, do you have the slightest comprehension of what you're doing?" Molly asked.

The Doctor smiled, "Not really," he answered.

"Well your about to go into the snake pit. What were you planning to wear?" Jackie asked.

"Oh I have a suit I was going to change into, I know how these formal things can be," he answered.

"All right then, see you in a bit," Molly said.

She smiled and the Doctor smiled back and then she walked off towards the first class entrance. The Doctor watched her go and then headed towards the TARDIS. When he walked in Jack was laying under the control panel tinkering about.

"Hey stranger," Jack said.

"Hello," the Doctor said.

He then walked off towards his bedroom and came out a few minutes later wearing a smart black tux, he had managed to comb his hair down a bit and headed for the door.

"Where you off to?" Jack asked.

"Dinner," the Doctor answered.

"Oh thats right, dinner with the rich folk. Well don't forget, I want to check out that party tonight," Jack said.

"I won't forget," the Doctor replied.

He then opened the doors and walked out, the cool breeze that came off of the ocean calmed his nerves a bit. As he walked towards the first class entrance he thought of what he would say that night at dinner.

When he got to the door a steward opened the doors for him, assuming he was some sort of rich passenger. The Doctor after all, looked the part.

"Good evening sir," the steward said.

The Doctor nodded with just the right degree of disdain.

The Doctor steped in and his breath was taken away by the splendor spread out before him. Overhead was the enormous glass dome, with a crystal chandelier at its center. Sweeping down six stories was the First Class Grand Staircase, the epitome of the opulent naval architecture of the time.

The Doctor descended to A deck. Several men noded a perfunctory greeting. He noded back, keeping it simple. He feelt like a spy almost, he had been on the ship before when he traveled with a mate, but that was years back. It had been so long since he had been on the ship he had forgotten how beautiful the ship was.

Mickey came down the stairs, with Jackie on his arm, covered in jewelry. They both walk right past the Doctor, neither one recognizeing him. Mickey noded at him, one gent to another. But the Doctor barely had time to be amused. Because just behind Mickey and Jackie on the stairs was Rose, a vision in red and black, her low-cut dress showing off her neck and shoulders, her arms seathed in white gloves that came well above the elbow. The Doctor was hypnotized by her beauty.

As Rose approached the Doctor. He imitated the gentlemen's stance, hand behind his back. She extended her gloved hand and he took it, kissing the back of her fingers. Rose flushed, beaming noticeably. She couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"I saw that in a nickelodean once, and I always wanted to do it," the Doctor whispered.

Rose smiled, she stepped off of the stairs and took the Doctor's arm.

As they walked he held his head up high, pretending to be high and all powerful, this caused Rose to giggle.

As they caught up with Mickey and Jackie Rose pulled slightly on Mickey's coat.

"Mickey, surely you remember the Doctor," Rose said.

Mickey was caught off guard, when he had seen the Doctor the night before the Doctor was a tad messy. But now Mickey was amazed by how well the Doctor could clean up.

"Thats amazing! I didn't recognize you," Mickey paused and studied him.

"Amazing! You could almost pass for a gentlemen."

As the party began to descend to dinner. They encountered Molly Brown, looking good in a beaded dress, in her own busty broad-shouldered way. Molly grined when she saw the Doctor. As they were going into the dining saloon she walked next to him, speaking low:

"Ain't nothing to it is there?" she asked.

"Remember, the only thing they respect is money, so just act like you've got a lot of it and you're in the club," she contuined.

As they entered the swirling throng, Rose leaned close to him, pointing out several notables. He knew who the people were from reading, but he let her point them out anyways.

"There's the Countess Rothes," she began as she pointed to one of the women Jackie was talking to. "And that's John Jacob Astor... the richest man on the ship. His little wifey there, Madeleine, is my age and in a delicate condition. See how she's trying to hide it. Quite the scandal," she paused and nodded toward a couple.

"And over there, that's Sir Cosmo and Lucile, Lady Duff-Gordon. She designs naughty lingerie, among her many talents. Very popular with the royals." Rose said.

Mickey became engrossed in a conversation with Cosmo Duff-Gordon and Colonel Gracie, while Jackie, the Countess and Lucille discuss fashion. Rose picoted the Doctor smoothly, to show him another couple, dressed impeccably.

"And that's Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress, Madame Aubert. Mrs. Guggenheim is at home with the children, of course," Rose said.

Meanwhile Cal's discussion with Cosmo Duff-Gordon was moving to talking about Rose.

"Congragulations Smith, she's splendid," he said.

"Why thank you," Mickey replied.

The entourage strolled toward the dining saloon, where they ran into the Astor's going through the ornate double doors.

"J.J., Madeleine, I'd like you to meet the Doctor," Rose said as she introduced him.

"Good to meet you, but what is your actual name? Doctor Who?" J.J asked.

"Oh I'm just the Doctor. Thats all anyone calls me," the Doctor answered.

"Ah yes," J.J replied.

He nodded as if that made all the sense in the world, Madeleine Astor appraised the Doctor and whisperd girlishly to Rose:

"It's a pity we're both spoken for, isn't it?"

Like a ballroom at the palace, alive and lit by a constellation of chandeliers, full of elegantly dressed people and beautiful music from Band Leader Wallace Hartley's small orchestra. As Rose and the Doctor entered and moved across the room to their table, Mickey and Jackie beside them.

" Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Doctor. I hear they're quite good on this ship," Jackie said.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow towards Jackie, he assumed Mickey had told her he was steearge. Well, he couldn't get out of it now, so he decided to go along with what she was saying.

" The best I've seen, m'am. Hardly any rats," he answered.

Everyone at the table laughed politely.

Rose motioned surreptitiously for the Doctor to take his napkin off his plate.

"The Doctor here, is joining us from third class. He was of some assistance to my fiancee last night," Mickey said.

"How do you take your caviar, sir?" a waiter asked the Doctor when he got to their table.

"No caviar for me thanks, I never did care for it much," the Doctor answered truthfully.

He looked at Rose, pokerfaced, and she smiled.

"And where exactly do you live, Doctor?" Jackie asked.

He was silent for a moment, so he decided to tell the truth.

"TARDIS," he answered.

"And where exactally is that?" Bruce Ismay asked.

"Oh it's near Manchester," he lied.

The salad was served, the Doctor reached for the fish fork. Rose gave him a look and picked up the salad fork, prompting him with her eyes. He changed forks.

"So what do you do? You know to make a living?" Jackie asked.

"Oh I just travel around a bit, I'm hardly ever at my home," he answered.

"You find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?" Jackie asked.

The Doctor thought for a moment and then contuined.

"Well it's a big world, and I want to see it all before I go. My father was always talking about going to see something amazing. He died where he was born. But you can't wait around to see your dreams, because you never know what hand you're going to get dealt next. My dad got to see what he wanted and then died, I mean he died fighting in this war but...he made his dreams come true, and I learned a bit from him. I've been on the road since. Something like war or your dreams teaches you to take life as it comes at you. To make each day count," the Doctor said.

Molly Brown raised her glass in a salute.

"Well said, Doctor," she said.

Rose raised her glass, looking at the Doctor.

"To making it count," she spoke.

Everyone repeated the words and sipped some of their champagne.

Jackie was annoyed that the Doctor had scored a point, so she pressed him further.

"How is it you have the means to travel, Doctor?" Jackie asked.

"Honestly ma'am? You would not believe me if I told you," he answered.

Jackie left it at that and ate her cracker with caviar.

Rose noticed that Thomas Andrews was writing in his notebook, completely ignoring the conversation.

"Mr. Andrews, what are you doing? I see you everywhere writing in this little book," she stopped talking and grabbed the book, she then began to read it out loud.

"Increase number of screws in hat hooks from 2 to 3. You build the biggest ship in the world and this preoccupies you?!" Rose asked.

Thomas smiled sheepishley.

"He knows every rivet in her, don't you Thomas?" Ismay asked.

"All three million of them," Thomas answered.

"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," Bruce said.

"Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Andrews. Truly," Rose said.

"Thankyou Rose," Thomas said.
xx
A few hours later everyone is finishing up their dessert. Rose leaned slightly across the table to whisper to the Doctor.

"Next it'll be brandies in the Smoking Room," she said.

The Colonel then began to rise.

"Well, join me for a brandy, gentlemen?" he asked.

"Now they retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe," she contuined on.

"Joining us, Doctor? You don't want to stay out here with the women, do you?" Gracie asked.

"No thanks. I'm heading back," he said.

"Probably best. It'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Wouldn't interest you. Good of you to come," Mickey said, then he and the other men disapeered.

"Doctor, must you go?" Rose asked.

"Yea, my mate that I'm traveling with will be worried," he answered.

"Good night Rose," he whispered.

He leaned over and took her hand.

He slipped a tiny folded piece of paper into her hand.

Jackie, scowling, watched him walk away across the enormous room.

Rose discreetly opened the note below the table . It read: "Make it count. Meet me at the clock".
xx
Rose crossed the A-Deck foyer, sighting the Doctor at the landing above. The Doctor had his back to her, studying the ornate clock with its carved figures of Honor and Glory. It softly strikes the hour as she goes up the sweeping staircase toward him.

He turned, saw her... and smiled.

"So want to go to a real party?" he asked...

xx
Please R&R!