Thank you to "mauretania08" for your reviews since the beginning, and to any other reviewers who reviewed and I have not checked, lol! I hope the story gets better as the chapters go on, but it is quite hard for me! There is a lot of dialogue in this chapter too, but I mainly emphasize dialogue between Alistair and Annabelle because it is probably the most important of the whole story. Also, I have looked across the internet trying to find EXACT dates of the day the ship set sail, but with so many out there, it's quite hard. I am going with: set sail on April 11th, 1912; ran into the iceberg April 14th, and sank in the wee hours of the morning between the 14th and 15th

-Emma


Three loud knocks sounded on my bedroom door. I looked over to the clock on the wall. It read nine thirty. I felt so embarrassed for sleeping in so late, but I couldn't fall asleep last night. Not with Alistair in my mind. Managing somehow to get to my feet, I walked slowly, but upright towards the door.

"Miss Hanglo, your parents await you in the sitting room" Marie said kindly, while walking in. She went towards my closet, and pulled out a corset, I told her to put it back, because I didn't feel I needed to wear it now. Actually, I didn't feel I needed to wear it ever. I had a naturally flat stomach, and the dresses and gowns I owned lifted my breasts and covered them appropriately. While I washed up, I wondered what it was they needed to ask me. I pulled a soft yellow dress from my closet and slipped into it. I tidied my hair into a comb, and put light make up on.

In the sitting room, my parents were seated on the same couch. My mother held a cup of tea in her hand, and my father held a glass, with some sort of alcoholic drink, I presumed. They didn't look very happy, but I didn't want to assume the worst.

"Annabelle, have a seat" My mother said

I sat in a chair opposite them and made sure my posture was perfect. I could see trouble in their eyes and I ran through a list of relatives in my mind that may have passed away.

My father put his glass down on the table beside him "You were with Hockley's fiancé last night, yes?" He asked

I nodded.

"Well, we heard she was out gallivanting in steerage last night. She was found by Hockley's wing man, and we do hope you were not down there" He said, picking up his glass for a sip of his drink.

She had been found. I failed my duty, I was supposed to keep watch for her, and I felt unbelievably guilty "No, father, I wasn't down there"

"Then where were you? Because you left the dinner table right after the men went for brandy and you were not here when I came in last night" He put his glass back down, and used his hands to emphasize his words.

I flipped through different options in my head. I had managed to make up the best lies to cover my back end my whole life, but today I stumbled on my words "You see, I was with her at first, and then he…Mr. Dawson found us…on the top deck. She felt, obliged to go to his silly party because he saved her life, yes. But me, I knew it was a bad idea…so I stayed wandering the boat to cover her because I feared she'd get in trouble. I really didn't mean to cause any fear or embarrassment to you or anyone else" I felt I had done a good job. I hoped my flattery helped.

"I hope you are telling us the truth" My mother sighed

I nodded.

My father took yet another sip from his glass, and put it down "In that case, go enjoy the day. It is beautiful outside" He smiled, but my mother looked uncertain.


This morning's air was greatly different from last night's. It was cold, but not to a point where I needed a coat. The sun was high in the sky, and everyone was walking about the deck sipping Mimosas. I searched for Rose, but I saw her nowhere. I saw a young officer making a group of girls about my age laugh, one almost spilling her drink. The sight of him made me think of Alistair. I walked over to the bridge and wheelhouse in hopes of finding him, but he was not there. I sat close, though. I looked around and spotted Mr. Andrews. He was entertaining a family I had seen around a few times, and I'm sure he was talking about the ship. And for a split second, I was jealous; because he does exactly what I wish I could, but never will.

Feeling upset, I got up, and began walking towards the reading room. I saw Rose walking alone, and I changed my course to her direction.

"Rose, we need to speak, I am so sorry for what happened and I feel it is my fault" I began, with my hands together, as if praying to her for forgiveness.

She smiled "It isn't your fault. I don't expect you to know who all of Cal's ruthless men are. I don't even know. But, forget about that, let us update each other."

"Yes! Let's walk over to a quieter place" I was excited to both hear about her night, and tell about mine too.

We walked over to the fine café-like tables and chairs and sat. Rose cleared her throat, and began to tell me about her night. I saw the twinkle in her eyes, and for the second time today I was jealous of someone for having something I did not, and as she talked about their adventure, her smile was constant. It was almost as if the trouble she got in this morning could not amount to the good time she had last night. As she looked at me to my story, I felt like it was insignificant compared to hers. But then I remembered how Alistair made me feel. And I tried describing it to her in words…but it was difficult.

"I feel utterly foolish for saying this" I began "but he made me feel different, he made me feel like the only woman on this Earth, and it made me feel good…I don't think a word for such a feeling exists. "

She smiled "Yes, it does…its called love"

"It can't be. It was my first time speaking to him for more that five minutes!" I laughed at the thought of love. There was no way someone could fall in love in just one day "It is a mere fancy. Plus, once we dock in New York, he returns to Southampton. Fate prevents us from being together"

"And when the ship gets to New York, I am to go Philadelphia and marry Cal. Fate prevents me from being with Jack, but I won't deny the fact that I love him…"

I sighed. I suppose the twinkle in Rose's eyes wouldn't stay for long. And if there was one in mine, it wouldn't last too long either. Rose left to join her family on a tour of the boat, and I left in search of Alistair once more. I took a trip to the stern, and looked around. I did not see him, so I went back towards the bow so I could make my way to the reading room. Observing the people around me, every one spoke of the same nonsense, and I wondered if this was how the rest of my life would be. If only I could change fate, and do what I wanted.

"For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
of the beautiful Annabelle Lee;
and the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
of the beautiful Annabelle Lee" I heard from behind me.

I turned around, and Alistair was smiling.

"Sometimes, someone's name brings a song or poem to mind…" he laughed

"I see…" I smiled. The fact that he knew poetry made me feel even more for him. I had never once met a man who had, or admitted to, a knowledge or love for poetry. That was always a woman's thing, according to my father. But I have reason to believe he disliked poetry because he was no good at it.

Alistair looked up into the sky, and took in a deep breath "It is a lovely day. I'm glad to see you enjoying it!" He smiled once more, and I felt like I could melt.

He grabbed my arm, and linked it with his, as if we were walking as a couple. I blushed slightly, but I didn't let it get to me.

"Yes, but I've spent most of the morning looking for you!" I couldn't believe I had actually admitted that to him. In the distance, I saw Rose, Cal, her mother and Margaret Brown walking with Mr. Andrews. Again, I felt jealous of him.

"Poor fellow, all he does is walk about and entertain people. He doesn't have time to enjoy the ship himself" Alistair sighed "It's not what you think it is"

Somehow, he read my mind, but I changed the subject.

"How long will the Titanic stay in New York?" I asked. I hoped he didn't know why I asked.

"About two hours after everyone is off…by that time you'll be sipping tea with your finishing school ladies, talking about the ship…and possibly the handsome officer you became acquainted with."

I laughed "Oh, I can't tell them that bit. They'll tell anyone with ears…word goes about quite fast."

"Such a shame…in just three days, it'll be like we never met." He laughed

"No, it won't. I just won't let anyone know. It will be as if we had our own little secret." I didn't feel like explaining the fact that Rose knew as well.

"Maybe I can be the Captain of the ship you design" He said, looking out to the sea, again.

Nobody had ever known about the career I really wanted to pursue. Everyone had generally assumed that I wanted to be a wife and mother. And Alistair was the first to ever speak of my dream to me, and he was the first to think of it as an actual happening, because even I didn't.

"If that were to ever happen, I will write to White Star and request they hand you over"

We both laughed. The call for lunch rang, but I didn't want to go.

"Shouldn't you be off to enjoy your lunch?" He looked over to the crowd of people walking inside.

"I think I'll pass on it today…it is such a lovely day." I smiled, and we made eye contact, and I managed to be the last one to look away, rather than the first.

"Would you like to see where a crew member dines?" He asked

I smiled, and once again we linked arms as we walked. We went through the doors, and down the lift. I found myself in steerage once again, and I felt stares as I did yesterday. I hoped no one got the wrong impression of seeing a young officer and a young first class girl walking towards a desolate area twice in a row. Although I am sure they are used to the scandal because of Rose and Jack. Alistair took a ring of keys from his pocket and unlocked a set of black gates. Above them, hung a "crew only" sign, and inside, I questioned whether my presence was allowed here or not, but I didn't ask Alistair. I trusted him, and I rarely trusted anyone. He unlocked another door and we walked inside. This one was quite different from Mr. Andrews' office. It had all wood walls, and had high quality wood furniture. A potted tree with large leaves was in the corner, and there was a mahogany desk with charts stuck to the top of it. A list of officers hung on the wall, along with their duties. Most of it was in code, so there were few things I could understand. Alistair had disappeared through a door opposite the entrance one, but I stayed behind. I walked over to the table in the corner and looked at the box holding file folders. They appeared to be information on each officer on the ship, and I quickly browsed through them for Alistair's. Officer Roderick, Alistair. I pulled it out and opened it on the table. The very first page listed his information. It gave a brief summary…"Alistair Roderick, born January 10th, 1880 in London, never married, no previous voyages and no criminal record." I was happy to see he was never been wed, and had no prior criminal past. I heard footsteps, so I quickly put everything back in its place.

"Everyone else who reports to this office is in the wheelhouse. We'll be dining alone."

The way he said it made me feel the same unfamiliar feeling from last night.

"I'm not hungry, but, you must be starving" I said

"I'm not hungry either" He smiled. I wondered why he asked me to see how the crew ate if there was no one else, and he was not going to be eating. I guessed he just wanted me to see how there were no tables and chairs for them like the ones in the dining hall for us. But then there was also the possibility that he wanted to say something politically correct and indirect to me while we were still in front of other people. He walked over to the other side of the room towards the desk and sat in the chair. Grabbing a pen, and one of the charts he began scribbling some words into a small box. I walked over to him, but he put the pen down, and the chart back in a pile. He stood from his seat in the chair, and came around the desk to where I stood. I felt butterflies in my stomach, and my heart beat increased. I felt nervous, but I didn't know why. Alistair put his hands around my waist, and pulled me closer for a kiss.


I slipped back in to my dress, as Alistair buttoned his uniform's coat. I felt different, and more mature. I now had a special bond with Alistair that nothing and no one could break. I had no idea what sparked my spontaneity. I would have never before thought of creating such a bond with a man I had known only a day or so. And the more I thought of it, the more I thought Rose was correct about the love at first sight bit. But then the thought of not seeing Alistair after April 17th put a damper on my happiness. He would return to Southampton with the ship to live his dream of being on the sea. And I would return to the life I lead when not running off with officers on ships, and have to accept one rich man's calling for my hand in marriage with Alistair always on mind.

"Alistair" I said softly

"Yes?" He asked, now at the desk working on his chart again

"Kidnap me"

He looked up from his work, and raised an eyebrow "You are mad. I'll go to jail. Plus, there is no place for me to kidnap you too. I have no home, job or relatives in the United States and that is the next place we'll see land. There's no way for you to sneak back to Southampton with me anyhow. Plus, I am living a life on the sea, and the only way we can make it work is if you do too. And I don't think you'd enjoy being a maid."

I became insanely upset. The man who had turned my world around in just one and a half days by saying the sweetest things to me had said the worst thing a woman could ever hear.

"If that is how you feel, then never mind. I'll have plenty of callers back in New York" I walked towards the door, but he grabbed my wrist.

He pulled me closer "I don't mean it like that. I want to be with you, I'd love to be with you. But I've signed my life to the sea for the next four years. And unless you want to live in my apartment in London alone, or become a ship maid, we will have to separate for that amount of time."

He had a valid point "I think I can blow off any callers for the next four years"

Alistair laughed "And then we can have our own ship"

"And I'll design it…a yacht, yes?"

He smiled "Yes of course, I'll be the captain"

"It will be just the two of us" I walked over to the window

He followed "And the master suite will have windows for sunrise and sunset"

"And we'll have a closet for my dresses and gowns…and your uniforms, of course"

"You'll be allowed in the wheelhouse whenever you want"

"Yes! And since we'll be sailing in the Caribbean, we will have to wear tropical clothing."

"I'll wear those linen pants they wear in the United States"

"I'll wear those swimsuits the girls in magazines wear…the small ones"

"And I'll enjoy it"

We laughed. The thought of sailing on a yacht in the Caribbean with Alistair made my heart feel warm. But the chances of that happening are very slim to none. My trust fund is not given to me until I'm married to a man approved by my father, and he'd never approve of an Officer.


I left Alistair at two to meet with my parents before dinner. We sat on the top deck to talk about our day, and how glamorous the Titanic was.