A/N-As always thank you so much for the reviews! Again I thank moonbeam for alerting me of the mistakes in the last chapter! Ok so, enough of my rambaling!
XX
Chapter 3
Rose smiled and took the Doctor's hand. He led her down to the steerage where the party was in full swing. At a table he found Jack talking to the pretty norwegan girl from earlier that day and sitting beside them was Tommy Ryan.
"It's about time you decided to show up," Jack said.
"Yes well, it was dinner. Anyways, Jack, Tommy, this is Rose Tyler. Rose this is Jack, and Tommy," the Doctor said.
"Nice to meet you," Jack said.
"Very nice to meet you too," Rose said with a polite smile.
People of all ages were dancing, drinking beer and wine, smoking, laughing, even brawling.
Tommy handed Rose a pint of stout and she hoistws it. The Doctor meanwhile began to dance with 5 year old Cora Cartmell, or tries to, with her standing on his feet. As the tune ended, Rose leaned down to the little girl.
"May I cut in, miss?" she asked.
"You're still my best girl, Cora," the Doctor said to the girl.
Cora smiled and then ran off.
Rose and the Doctor faced each other. She was trembling as he took her right hand in his left. His other hand slid to the small of her back. It was an electrifying moment.
"I don't know the steps," Rose said.
"Just move with me. Don't think," the Doctor replied.
The music started and they were off. A little awkward at first, she started to get into it. She grined at the Doctor as she started to get the rhythm of the music.
"Wait... stop!" Rose cried.
She bended down, pulled off her high heeled shoes, and flung them to Tommy. Then she grabed the Doctor and they plunged back into the fray, dancing faster as the music sped up.
The scene began to get more rowdy and rollicking. A table got knocked over as a drunk crashed into it. And in the middle of it... Rose is dancing with the Doctor in her stocking feet. The steps wre fast and she shined with sweat. A space opend around them, and people watched them, clapping as the band played faster and faster.
Jack and Helga were also dancing. He whirled her, then she responded by whirling him. Jack's eyes went wide as he realized she is as strong as he is.
The tune ended in a mad rush. The Doctor steped away from Rose with a flourish, allowing her to take a bow. Exhilarated and slightly tipsy, she did a graceful ballet ployer, with her feet turned out perfectly. Everyone laughed and applauded. Rose was a hit with the steerage folks, who've never had a lady party with them.
They moved to a table, flushed and sweaty. Rose grabed Tommy's cigarette and takes a big drag. She's felt cocky. Jack was grinning, while he held hands with Helga.
"How you two doing?" the Doctor whispered into Jack's ear.
"Great, the TARDIS is translating everything she's saying and it's great," Jack answered.
Tommy walked up with a pint of beer for each of them. Rose chuged hers, showing off.
The Doctor looked at her surprised.
"What? You think a first class girl can't drink?" she asked.
Everybody else began to dance again, and Bjorn Gundersen crashed into Rose, who sloshed her beer over her dress. She laughed, not caring.
"Hey get out of here!" the Doctor yelled as he shoved Bjorn out of the way.
"Are you alright?" he contuined.
Rose laughed and nodded.
"I haven't had this much in such a long time ," she said.
At the table Tommy and someone else were buisy, arm wrestling.
Tommy slammed the man's arm down in triumph.
"So, you think you're big tough men? Let's see you do this," Rose said as she set her glass down.
"Here hold this up for me Doctor. Hold it up," she said as she held the trane of her dress up.
The Doctor took the dress and smiled at her.
In her stocking feet she assumed a ballet stance, arms raised, and went up on point, taking her entire weight on the tips of her toes. The guys gaped at her incredible muscle control. She came back down, then her face screwed up in pain. She grabed one foot, and began to hop around.
"Oooowww! I haven't done that in years!" she cried.
The Doctor caught her as she lost her balance, and everyone cracked up.
The door to the well deck is opened a few inches as Lovejoy watched through the gap. He saw the Doctor holding Rose, both of them laughing.
Lovejoy closed the door.
A little while later the Doctor and Rose were walking up the boat deck as he walked her towards the first class entrance.
The stars blazed overhead, so bright and clear they could see the Milky Way. Rose and the Doctor contuine walk along the row of lifeboats. Still giddy from the party, they were singing a popular song "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine".
"Come Josephine in my flying machine
And it's up she goes! Up she goes!
In the air she goes. Where? There she goes!" they both sang.
They fumbled with the words and broke down laughing. They reached the First Class Entrance, but didn't go straight in, not wanting the evening to end. Through the doors the sound of the ship's orchestra wafted gently. Rose grabed a davit and leaned back, staring at the cosmos.
"Isn't it magnificent? So grand and endless," she said as she stared up at the stars.
She went to the rail and leaned on it.
"They're such small people, my crowd. They think they're giants on the earth, but they're not even dust in God's eye. They live inside this little tiny champagne bubble... and someday the bubble's going to burst," she explained.
He leaned at the rail next to her, his hand just touching hers. It was the slightest contact imaginable, and all either one of them can feel is that square inch of skin where their hands were touching.
"You're not one of them. There's been a mistake," he said.
"A mistake?" Rose asked.
"Yep, You got mailed to the wrong address," the Doctor answered with a smile.
"I did, didn't I?" she said as she laughed.
Sudenly Rose pointed to something in the sky.
"Look! A shooting star!" she cried.
"That was a long one. One of my mates used to say that whenever you saw one, it was a soul going to heaven," the Doctor said.
"I like that. Aren't we supposed to wish on it?" she asked.
The Doctor looked at her, and found that they were suddenly very close together. It would of been so easy to move another couple of inches, to kiss her. Rose seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"What would you wish for?" he asked.
After a beat, Rose pulled back.
"Something I can't have," she answered.
She smiled sadly.
"Goodnight, Doctor. And thank you," she said.
She left the rail and hurried through the First Class Entrance.
"Rose!!"
But the door banged shut, and she wad gone. Back to her world.
The Doctor sighed and then began to walk towards the TARDIS.
xx
The next morning Rose and Mickey were sitting on the private promenade deck, eating breakfast before dressing for church.
"I had hoped you would come to me last night," Mickey said.
"I was tired," Rose replied.
"Yes. Your exertions below decks were no doubt exausting," Mickey stated.
Rose stiffened
"I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me," she said as she set her tea cup down.
"You will never behave like that again! Do you understand?" Mickey asked, very calmly.
"I'm not some foreman in your mills than you can command! I am your fiancee--" she snapped.
Mickey looked at her and kept as calm as he could.
"Yes! You are! And my wife... in practice, if not yet by law. So you will honor me, as a wife is required to honor her husband! I will not be made out a fool! Is this in any way unclear?" he asked.
Rose shook her head, she could see the anger and even hurt in Mickey's eyes.
"Good, excuse me," he said as he then stood up and left the room.
Rose stood up a moment later and then went to her bedroom, she saw the dress on her bed laying out for her and she sat on the bed next to the gown. These people she was surrounded with, they were wearing her down. Soon she would just die with these people, she just wished she could get away. She wished she could get away with the one man that she seemed to be falling in love with, the Doctor.
She was pulled from her thoughts as the door opened and Trudy walked in.
"Excuse me miss but your mother sent me to help you get your corset on," Trudy said.
Rose nodded as she blinked away a tear and then stood up.
Trudy helped her get her nightgown off and began to tie the corset. She was almost done with Jackie came in.
"Tea Trudy," she said,
"Yes ma'am," Trudy replied, and then curtsied and walked out of the room.
Jackie took up the corset strings and began to tie the corset, even tighter than it was before.
"You are not to see that man again, do you understand me Rose? I forbid it!" Jackie said, calmly.
"Oh stop it mother, you'll give yourself a nose bleed," Rose stated.
Jackie spun Rose around so that they were face to face.
"Rose, this is not a game! Our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone!," Jackie said.
"Of course I know it's gone. You remind me everyday," Rose replied.
"Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name. And that name is the only card we have to play. I don't understand you. It is a fine match with Smith, and it will insure our survival," Jackie said.
"How can you put this on my shoulders?" Rose asked.
"Do you want to se me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want? Do you want to see our fine things sold at an auction, our memories scattered to the winds? My God, Rose, how can you be so selfish?" Jackie replied.
"It's so unfair," Rose said softly.
"Of course it's unfair. Were women, our choices are never easy," Jackie said.
Jackie placed a kiss on her daughter's cheek and then turned her back around and finished tying the corset.
XX
The Doctor had awoken with the need to see and talk to Rose. He hadn't even considered that it was now April the 14th, and in just a few hours later the ship would hit an iceberg.
He dressed in his regular pin striped suit, put on his brown trenchcoat and left for the first class dining saloon, knowing that they should be around there.
As he walked down the grand staircase he saw Thomas Andrews', the shipbuilder who he had met the night before.
"Hello Mr. Andrews'," the Doctor said politely.
"Hello Doctor," Thomas replied back.
At the divine church service, Captain Smith was leading a group in the hymn "Almighty Father Strong To Save." Rose and Jackie are singing in the middle of the group.
Lovejoy stood well back, keeping an eye on Rose. He noticed a commotion at the entry doors. The Doctor had been halted there by two stewards. He was dressed in his normal atire but to the stewards the dress was odd.
"Look, you, you're not supposed to be in here," the steward said.
"I was just here last night... don't you remember?" the Doctor asked.
"No I'm afraid I don't, now you are going to have to leave," the steward answered.
It was right about now the Doctor found himself wishing he hadn't left the physic papers on his nightstand.
"Look, he'll tell you," the Doctor said, as he pointed to Lovejoy who was walking towards them.
"Mr. Smith and Mrs. Tyler continue to be most appreciative of your assistance. They asked me to give you this in gratitude--"
He helds out two twenty dollar bills, which the Doctor refused to take.
"I don't want money, I--"
"--and also to remind you that you hold a third class ticket and your presence here is no longer appropriate," Lovejoy contuined.
The Doctor spoted Rose but she didn't see him.
"I just need to talk to Rose for a--"
"Gentlemen, please see that the Doctor gets back where he belongs," Lovejoy said as he handed the twenties to the stewards.
"And that he stays there,"
"Yes sir!" the man said as he took the money and then looked at the Doctor.
"Come along you."
The men took the Doctor by the arms and began to lead him to where they thought he belonged.
Lovejoy went back into the service where Rose was still singing, not seeing the Doctor hustled out.
"O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea," she finished singing the hymm and looked up at the Captain.
XX
After the service the group met with Thomas Andrews' who was going to give them a tour of the ship.
He first took them to the Edwardian nautilus room. There were machines they recognized, and some they didn't. A woman pedaled a stationary bicycle in a long dress, looking rediculous. Thomas Andrews was leading the small tour group arounf the room.
Mickey was working the oars of a stationary rowing machine with a well trained stroke.
"Thats just amazing," Mickey said with a smile.
T.W. McCAULEY, the gym instructor, was a bouncy little man in white flannels, eager to show off his modern equipment, like his present-day counterpart on an "Abflex" infomercial. He hit a switch and a machine with a saddle on it starts to undulate. Rose put her hand on it, curious.
"The electric horse is very popular. We even have an electric camel," he stopped and then turned to Jackie.
"Care to try your hand at the rowing, m'am?" he asked.
"Don't be absurd. I can't think of a skill I should likely need less," Jackie answered.
"The next stop on our tour will be the bridge. This way, please," Thomas said.
The group turned and followed Thomas to the bridge.
XX
The Doctor had left the steerage after the stewards were gone and he went and found Jack and Tommy.
He quickly climbed the steps to B-Deck and steped over the gate separating 3rd from 2nd class.
"She's a goddess amongst mortal men, there's no denyin'. But she's in another world, Doctor, forget her. She's closed the door," Tommy said.
"Tommy, the Doctor doesn't forget anything or anyone. So don't bother trying to change his mind," Jack said.
The Doctor moved furtively to the wall below the A-Deck promenade, aft.
"It was them, not her," the Doctor said.
He took a quick glance around the deck.
"Ready... go," he contuined.
Tommy shook his head resignedly and put his hands together, crouching down. The Doctor steped into Tommy's hands and was boosted up to the next deck, where he scrambled nimbly over the railing, onto the First Class deck.
"He's not bein' logical, I tell ya," Tommy said.
"The Doctor is not really logical, not when theres a girl at stake. Mind you...since I started traveling with him this is the first girl he's fallen in love with," Jack replied.
The Doctor walked down the deck, in a desperate search for Rose.
XX
Inside the bridge Thomas was in the middle of explaining something about the steering wheels when Harold Bride came into the room and handed a piece of paper to the Captain.
"Another ice warning, sir. This one from the "Baltic"," Harold said.
"Thankyou, Sparks," the Captain said.
Smith glanced at the message then nonchalantly puts it in his pocket. He noded reassuringly to Rose and the group.
"Not to worry, it's quite normal for this time of year. In fact, we're speeding up. I've just ordered the last boilers lit," the Captain said with a kind smile.
Andrews scowled slightly before motioning the group toward the door. They exited just as Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller came out of the chartroom, stopping next to First Officer Murdoch.
"Did we ever find those binoculars for the lookouts?" Lightoller asked.
"Haven't seen them since Southampton," Murdoch answered.
XX
Andrews' lead the group back from the bridge along the boat deck.
"Mr. Andrews, I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned... forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard" Rose said.
"About half, actually. Rose, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here," he stopped and gestured along the deck.
"But it was thought... by some... that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was over-ruled" Thomas contuined.
Mickey slapped the side of the boat.
"Waste of deck space as it is, on an unsinkable ship!" he said.
"Sleep soundly, young Rose. I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She's all the lifeboat you need," said Thomas.
As they were passing Boat 7, a gentlemen turned from the rail and walked up behind the group. It is the Doctor. He tapped Rose on the arm and she turned, gasping. He motioned and she cut away from the group toward a door which the Doctor held open. They duck into the room.
The Doctor closed the door behind her, and glanced out through the ripple-glass window to the starboard rail, where the gym instructor was chatting up the woman who was riding the bike. Rose and the Doctor were alone in the room.
"This is impossible. I can't see you," she said.
He took her by the shoulders.
"Rose, you're no picnic... you're a spoiled little brat even, but under that you're a strong, pure heart, and you're the most amazingly astounding girl I've ever known and--"
"I--"
"No wait. Let me try to get this out. You're amazing... and I know I have very little to offer you, Rose. I know that. But I'm involved now. You jump, I jump, remember? I can't turn away without knowing that you're going to be alright," he said.
Rose felt the tears coming to her eyes. The Doctor was so open and real... not like anyone she had ever known.
"You're making this very hard. I'll be fine. Really," she said, trying to assure him.
"I don't think so. They've got you in a glass jar like some butterfly, and you're goin' to die if you don't break out. Maybe not right away, 'cause you're strong. But sooner or later the fire in you is going to go out," he replied.
"It's not up to you to save me," she said.
"You're right. Only you can do that," he replied.
"I have to get back, they'll miss me. Please, for both our sakes, leave me alone," she said.
Rose pushed past the Doctor and left the room, she walked up the deck and caught up with the group.
The Doctor sighed and then went to the deck, he sat down and then just stood at the bow of the ship, looking down at the water.
XX
Rose and Ruth caught up with Lady-Duff Gordon and the Countess of Rothes, they all walked into the first class lounge area and sat down to have some tea.
Rose sat in her seat, as still as a porcelin doll. The conversation just washed right over her.
"Of course the invitations had to be sent back to the printers twice. And the bridesmaids dresses! Let me tell you what an odyssey that has been..." Jackie contuined on about the wedding, not noticing her daughter was not even paying attention to the conversation.
Rose looked over at a table where a mother and her little girl were sitting. The four year old girl, wearing white gloves, daintily picking up a cookie. The mother was correcting her on her posture, and the way she holds the teacup. The little girl was trying so hard to please, her expression serious. A glimpse of Rose when she was that age, Rose relised that she doesn't care anymore. The Doctor was offering her something that she really wanted and neede.
She then calmly and deliberately turned her teacup over, spilling tea all over her dress.
"Oh, look what I've done," she said.
Rose then excused herself and stood up to go and find the Doctor.
XX
The Titanic steamed towards it's destination, in the dusk light, as if lit by the embers of a giant fire. The Doctor was still there, right at the apex of the bow railing, his favorite spot. He closed his eyes, letting the chill wind clear his head.
The Doctor heard her voice, behind him...
"Hello Doctor," she said.
He turned and looked at Rose.
"I changed my mind," she contuined with a smile.
He smiled at her, his eyes drinking her in. Her cheeks were red with the chill wind, and her eyes sparkled. Her hair was blowing wildly about her face.
"Jack said you might be up here-"
"Shhh, come here," he said.
Rose smiled and walked towards him, he put his hands on her waist as if he was going to kiss her.
"Close your eyes," he whispered.
She does, and he turned her to face forward, the way the ship is going. He pressed her gently to the rail, standing right behind her. Then he took her two hands and raised them until she is standing with her arms outstetched on each side. Rose is going along with him. When he lowered his hands, her arms stayed up... like wings.
"Okay. Open them," he said into her ear.
Rose gasped. There was nothing in her field of vision but water. It's like there is no ship under them at all, just the two of them soaring. The Atlantic unrolled towards her, a hammered copper shield under a dusk sky. There is only the wind, and the hiss of the water 50 feet below.
"I'm flying!" she cried.
Rose leaned forward, arching her back. He put his hands on her waist to steady her.
The Doctor began to sing softly; "Come Josephine in my flying machine.."
Rose closed her eyes, feeling herself floating weightless far above the sea. She smiled dreamily, then leaned back, gently pressing her back against his chest. He pushed forward slightly against her.
Slowly he raised his hands, arms outstretched, and they meet hers... fingertips gently touching. Then their fingers intertwined. Moving slowly, their fingers caress through and around each other like the bodies of two lovers.
The Doctor tipped his face forward into her blowing hair, letting the scent of her wash over him, until his cheek is agianst her ear.
Rose turned her head until her lips were near his. She lowered her arms, turning further, until she finds his mouth with hers. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, and they kissed like this with her head turned and tilted back, surrendering to him, to the emotion, to the inevitable. They kissed, slowly and tremulously, and then with building passion.
The Doctor and the ship seem to merge into one force of power and optimism, lifting her, buoying her forward on a magical journey, soaring onward into a night without fear.
In the Crow's nest, high above and behind them, lookout Frederick Fleet nudged his mate, Regonald Lee, pointing down at the figures in the bow.
"Wish I had those bleedin' binoculars," Fleet muttered.
The Doctor and Rose were still standing at the bow, still in the loving embrace of each other's arms...
XX
A/N- Please review, love ya!