Thanks for the reviews! SURPRISE! It's the 10th chapter! hands out slices of virtual cake and cups of virtual soda

Now... here we go with the shoutouts--

My reviewers that totally rock my world: (Anonymous reviewers are not in bold, registered reviewers are)

Meg, SWAC FAN 9546, Anastaysha Marie Sue, hannahpie45, SWAC4Life- my collaborator, and good FF friend :D this story wouldn't have been the story it is right now, without her helpful tips, and suggestions :D This one's for you, Rebecca :D, Sonny days, Demi-Fan-Channy, Rachel, TrinityFlower of Memories, ChelseaBaby, MSSWriter, Titanic101, xxHeadintheStarsxx, k. Deonarine34746, Enchantresselle, purplenpeace4evaaa, Sonnygirl100, yellowminiipod, channyloverforever, Sonny at Twilight, Change4Good, mindless_scribbles, cirque-du-freak-OWNS-twilight, Al76259, IheartCDC, Aurora528, laughterr is contagiousxx, Music-Freak-Sonny, Spunkalovely, klcthenerd, twiSWACfan, sawyer105, -Battlefield-, Can't Tell, HP DIVA, Selenarockstar1, beb100000, hermione2772, IloveSwac, JesicaJinx, Sincerely Kalie, ohhhskyler, SterlingStar, JateLexieJit, glamourous830, StarLit86, Sania00011, SelAlexme, tinydancr011, awesometastic9, obsessedwithbooks, westcott999, alexxxpac3, D0ntxGiVexUpx0nxYoUrxDrEaMs, inkheart4evr, Victoria's Twisted Angel, 4eva1, lauren, RockGirl28, BellaOldani, warriorlover10, HarryFan94, Stemi4ever123, slytherinprincess

WOW! That took a full 21 minutes! But it was all worth it for you guys :D Thanks again!!!

Luv, Bhavana

Now, on with the story!

Chad's POV

I finished washing my hands with the weird 1900s soap, and I sighed when I saw Sonny. She was out on the deck of the stateroom (A/N: yeah, the staterooms each had their own cute little deck- cute right? :D), and she was staring up at the sky, smiling.

I walked out and stood next to her, and she looked up at me with those big brown eyes and smiled, then a look of confusion crossed her face. "Chad? You okay? you seem tense..." she asked, cocking her head to the side a little.

"I... uh... no. I'm not okay," I told her, sighing in defeat. I tightened my grip on the railing, my knuckles nearly turning white.

Sonny looked kind of scared, then she pulled my hands away from the railing, and held them in her own. "Please tell me, what's wrong? I'm scared..." I swear I saw a few tears well up in her eyes.

I pulled her into a tight hug, and she seemed a little confused, then wrapped her arms around me, too.

"Chad... please?" She asked, in an almost whisper.

"I'm scared... for you," I told her, still holding Sonny.

"Wh-what do you mean?" She asked.

"I found Cornelius talking to some third-class passenger, and... well, they're plotting to kill you so Corneli-butt can inherit the Hartman family riches..."

"Really?" She asked, a couple tears rolling down her face.

"I'm sorry..." I held her as she cried in my shirt. "But I'm not going to let anything happen..."

She pulled away a little and looked me in the eyes. "But I thought you said you weren't going to get involved..." she trailed off.

"Forget what I said before... I'm going to help you- I don't want to lose you,"

"But Chad... I don't want to lose you either!"

"Forget about me, okay?! This is about you! Sonny, I care about you! I don't want anything to ever harm you," I practically shouted. By now we'd pulled away from the hug, and I was pacing around the deck.

"You care about me?" Sonny asked, and there was a trace of a smile on her face.

I grabbed her hand. "Yes, Sonny- I care about you," I whispered.

She pulled me into a hug again. "I guess I... care about you too," She said, her voice cracking. I put my arms around her and held her close. "I feel so much safer around you," she giggled, burying her face in my chest.

I couldn't help but smile at that. She looked up at me, and I looked down at her. Our faces inched closer and closer together, and suddenly someone knocked at our door, ruining the moment.

"Oh, what now!" I loudly whispered, causing Sonny to shake her head and laugh, and she pulled me back into the state room.

I went ahead and opened the door, revealing a guy in a uniform and a silly hat. "Good Evening- I have a delivery of chocolate truffles for an... Isabella Hartman, from a... Cornelius Hawkins,"

"Not interested," I said, abruptly, and shut the door in his face.

"Well done, Cooper," Sonny giggled, and hugged me from behind.

"Well, that's CDC, for you," I smirked, and turned around, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Now where were we?" I said, slyly, leaning down to kiss her again.

Our lips barely grazed each other's when I heard another knock at the door.

"Dang! Every time!" I groaned, as Sonny pulled away and walked over to the door.

Sonny opened the door and revealed Cornelius, who pulled her into him and slammed his lips into hers.

Sonny kicked him in the place guys don't want to be kicked, and ran behind me.

"What's this scum bag doing here?" Cornelius asked, his gaze going back and forth from Sonny to me.

"Protecting her from people like you," I glared at him.

He frowned, then chuckled, turning to walk out of the room. "Fine, you two can stay together... but wait until I get involved," he smiled evilly, and strutted away.

So there you have it! Chapter 10 :D

Sorry if it's a little short :| Now it's only 3 more days until the sinking... :D I'm going to have fun with the sinking :)

You know what to do! Read and Review!

~ Bhavana :D