The ship hit the iceburg, and just like before, the Captain calls me to the bridge with all my blueprints. When I get to the bridge, I see Gabby is already there waiting for me, which is slightly relieving because that means I don't have to go searching for her. As I roll out the blueprints, I hear the ruffian trying to lighten the mood. I actually have to refrain from laughing "Ok guys! We got good news and bad news! Which do you want to hear first?" she asks. Officer Murdoch says he wants to hear the good news first and she very cheerfully tells them "We'll get eleven Oscars!".
I roll my eyes and try to relay the information as best I can. Water, coming into the ship and flooding 5 compartments. And then of course, the million dollar question, how much time until the ship sinks? I tell Captain Smith, confindently, 2 hours and 40 minutes! Because I remember from the first time doing all this, that the ship sank at 2:20, and we hit the iceburg at 11:40! So, that's 2 hours and 40 minutes!
Now they begin preparing the lifeboats. So far, so good. Gabby seems rather calm at this point, but I can see it in her eyes, with each minute that passes, she's growing more and more afraid of the inevitable. Once the boats are ready, we begin loading them. Just like before, I convince as many women and children into the boats as I can. The ruffian is screaming her head off at people, scaring them into the boats. That works too I suppose, as long as she doesn't tell them the ship is sinking and starts a panic.
An hour passes, and people are beginning to realize the tilt of the ship. One gentlemen asks the delinquent how far it is to shore, she tells them two miles. "Which direction miss?" he asks her, she looks him in the eye, and very seriously tells him "Down". I once again have to attempt to control myself. I'm not going to laugh at her silly little jokes! This is no time for jokes! These people are going to die! Again!
People begin to grow panicked the more the ship tilts, the ruffian and I are making our way down the boat deck when she stops in front of the band. They're playing the most cheerful music they know. Mr. Hartley stops and the girl offers him a small smile "One more song Mr. Hartley?" she asks, he looks at the people running around on the deck before nodding to her, asking her what she'd like. She answers him quickly, Pieta Signore. Mr. Hartley smiles weakly "Nice choice" he tells her before he gets the band playing. While she sings her final song with the group, I decide I can't stand there and merely listen, there's not enough time! I begin throwing nearby deck chairs off, with the exception of two, which are occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Straus who are listening to the orchestra and the delinquent while drinking champange.
When she finishes her song, the old couple claps politely and the ruffian shakes hands with all the band members. She gives Hartley a final goodbye before saying "God bless you sir". He nods to her "Good Luck Miss Gabby, it's been an honor to accompany you" he tells her, and she smiles "It was an honor to get to sing with you" she replies. With that, we continue on our way down the boat deck to try and assist more people. I convince as many people as I can to get into the boats, the girl just stands around telling really lame jokes to once again, lighten the mood. "Hey everybody! Have you heard the one about the guy who went into the bar and asked for a drink on the rocks?" she calls out, good grief!
Two hours pass, and everybody is in a panic. Gabby sings over the crowd to further the panic "This ship is gonna sink! This ship is gonna sink! We really f-ed up now this ship is gonna sink!". Alright, it's time now to bring Gabby into the smoking room with me, to wait for our fate. Before I drag her off the deck though she manages to yell above the crowd "2:00 swimming lessons will be held in the ballroom!". Finally I manage to get her into the ship and into the smoking room. She stands for a moment, before the ship creaks and causes her to jump. She hugs herself and looks around nervously. I think it's finally occuring to her, that this really is the end.
She comes and stands beside me in front of the fireplace. Watching her tremble, I can't help but feel incredibly, guilty. She shouldn't have to go through this, what if it scars her for life? I take her hand and squeeze it, to try and reassure her. She doesn't look at me, she's still scanning the room frantically. The more the floor tilts, the louder the ship moans, the more she trembles. Suddenly she looks up at me, her eyes brimming with tears "Oh God Mr. Andrews! I'm so scared!" she tells me.
I pull her into my arms and hold her close, this might be the last few moment I have the girl in my arms. Once the water comes in, once this ship sinks. Whether she dies, or goes back to her own time period, I'll never see her again. Never be able to talk to her again, or comfort her in her brief moments of fear and anxiety. She begins to sob, and I hush her "Mr. Andrews, I don't want to die! I don't want to go back in time!" she tells me. She has to go back in time, doesn't she? What would happen if she didn't?
The delinquent sniffles, looking up at me "Mr. Andrews, who cares if we change history? Please, come off this ship with me! I'll behave like an angel! I really mean it this time! I'll behave just like a proper girl in this time is supposed to! I promise I will! Please" she sobs "Please!". Her pleas break my heart, because I can tell from the way she looks at me, that these are not just the empty promises she usually makes to convince me. No, this are genuine, heartfelt promises, promises that mean life or death. But no matter how much she begs, I know that no matter what, even if it were Nellie or Elba begging me to go, I wouldn't change a thing about what happens to me.
Once again, the ship creaks and she pulls away from our hug "I'm sorry Mr. Andrews, I'm going to feel guilty for the rest of my life, no doubt. But I can't stay here and wait to die with you! I have to go! I have to find Jack, and I'm going to get on a boat! I'm sorry". I pull her back into my arms again, only this time, I know it really will be the last time I hold her "You behave for Jack like you just promised you'd bahave for me. Alright?" I ask her. I'm not going to tell her she has to stay anymore, she's too strong. If she wants to go out there and try to change history, then who am I to stop her? She already has changed history after all.
She takes a few deep breaths but finally nods, I wipe away her tears "You're a strong girl, don't let this, or anything else, ruin you". She once again manages to nod, before telling me "You remember that book, about you, that you found in the future? I hadn't finished reading it yet. I was almost to the end. If I was going to return to my own time period, it would have been to finish that book" she laughs through her tears "But I know it doesn't matter now, because I've lived the last chapter with you!".
I take her hand and kiss it "It's has been a priviledge, and an honor, to have known you Miss Gabby" I say. She breaks down into fresh tears and wraps her arms around my neck, kissing my cheek "I love you Mr. Andrews!" she tells me. I give her a light peck on the cheek before gently prying her off "Now get going, or you're going to run out of time!" I tell her. Time, she should know what time it is! So she can keep track! She knows when the ship sinks! I reach into my pocket and pull out my gold pocket watch, it's not like I'll need it anymore "You take this, so you can keep track of how long you have until the ship goes down. And, keep it, to remember me by". She smiles and takes the watch, shoving it into her jacket pocket "I'll never forget you Mr. Andrews, I promise".
Before I allow her to leave I grab my lifejacket off the nearby table and throw it over her head, tying it into place. Once that's done, our eyes meet one last time and she swallows "I love you Mr. Andrews" she tells me. I hate to admit it to her, but, I believe deep down in my heart, after all the destruction and chaos she has caused, I love her to! And I let her know. With that, she gives me one final hug goodbye, and then she's gone! Back out onto the deck to look for that boy of hers! I hope she finds him, I hope she gets to stay in this time period like she wants to and live a happy life with him. Does he even make it off this ship? Well, it's not like it matters, she's going out there to change history. And she just might succeed. I just hope, above all, that she doesn't feel guilty for leaving me alone here.
There's one piece of history, that no matter what, will always stay the same. And that is, my fate. Even if I had to relive this voyage, a million times over, I'd never change a single thing. My place is on my ship, I created her, therefore I should be destroyed with her. If there were one thing to change, and it's highly unlikely I would, it would be, well, to stop the sinking from happening! I would make sure we avoided that iceburg, and went slowly through the ice field to avoid colliding with any other iceburgs. Then I wouldn't even have to worry about death, we'd all be saved!
I'm drawn from my thoughts by the sound of water crashing in through the windows. Is it that time already? Before I have time to think much about it, I'm smashed against the wall. None of it is a surprise, I fully expected it to happen. I just didn't know when it would, since I gave my pocket watch to my little delinquent. What I don't know to expect, is what happens this time when I die. Will I die? Or will I end up in the future again? I surely hope I don't end up in the future again, I don't think I could handle another trip to that bizarre world!
My lungs burn and all the feelings I had during the first time I experienced this, are the same. The only difference is, instead of falling, I feel as though I'm rising up, floating on air! I open my eyes to find I'm not in the future, or even in my own body! I'm looking down at the Titanic while she sinks! So that was it then? I died? And this is was heaven is like? Front row seats to watch my creation vanish into the ocean? How charming!
Wait a moment! Is that Gabby? I see her! She's standing on an overturned lifeboat with Jack and Harold and several other men! Oh the poor girl, she looks terrified, even more scared than when she was standing with me in the smoking room, trying to await the inevitable. Oh she's absolutely terrified, but she isn't crying! She's standing close to Jack, her fingers interlocked with his as they balance on top of the lifeboat.
Everyone on that overturned lifeboat seems to be trying not to panic, and Officer Lightoller is making sure things stay as calm as they are. Hours pass, I wonder if Gabby might really end up staying in the past after all. I know she told me she didn't really want to go back to the future, but I didn't think she'd actually stay! I thought fate would catch up to her, and drag her down with the ship. As dawn begins to come on the little lifeboat, things take a sudden change for the worst.
Poor Jack Phillips, he'd worked all afternoon, and all night, and he just couldn't take anymore. He slips into the water, not even strong enough to hold onto the side of the overturned boat. Gabby is in the water hardly a second after he goes down, pulling his right arm around her shoulder in order to help hold him up out of the water. She takes her left arm and wraps it around his waist, holding his hand under the water and pulling him against her, as though she could keep him warm in the frigid ocean. With her free arm she clings to the overturned boat, with all she's worth.
The sight is heartbreaking to say the least. I remember her, hardly a day ago, telling me of his proposal like the giddy little school girl she is, showing me the engagement ring he'd given to her. I remember her telling me so seriously, that she did not want to return to the future, that she wanted to stay here in the past, with me and Jack. She and I both knew what would become of me when the ship went down, but what makes this all so tragic in my eyes, is that I do not believe she knew what happened to Jack Phillips. I don't believe she had the slightest hint of his fate. Now the terrible truth is revealed to her, but it's too late.
Suddenly she begins singing to him, her voice is so quiet all the men on the lifeboat have to strain to hear her, but I can hear her clear as crystal. Her voice is weak, yet still so full of heart. I believe it is rather difficult for her to sing, due to the cold water and her strength being quickly drained from holding up her fiance and from the freezing water. I recognize the song she's singing almost immediately, it's from that Titanic musical she had me listen to in the future! The one she loved so much! This was one of her favorite parts! Before the disaster, the character who sang it was proposing over the telegraph! Oh to hear it now makes my heart break for her even more than it already has!
"Be thee well, may the lord who watches all watch over thee. May God's heaven be your blanket as you softly sleep. Marry me! When you're fin'ly in my arms you'll plainly see, this devoted sailor's heart and soul are yours to keep!", his voice shakes and is hardly audible as he echoes her last phrase "Y... Yours to keep". His head is resting on her shoulder, and she rests her cheek on the top of his head. There is nothing but silence now, long painful silence. The men standing on the lifeboat all watch, in silence, with the exception of Harold, who is trying to coax Gabby back up onto the overturned boat. He's telling her that Jack's gone, but she doesn't respond to him at all. She merely gazes out to the rising sun, deaf and blind to everything else.
She begins to close her eyes after a while, Jack is already gone, with his parting words to her being the echo of her own heartfelt vow, that his heart and soul were hers to keep. I'm sure she is going to follow him. The other men are waving over another nearby lifeboat. Harold and Officer Lightoller try to make one last attempt at convincing the poor girl to come with them. Lightoller even presses to bring Jack on the other lifeboat with them, to see if maybe there's a little bit of life left in him. But Gabby, along with everyone else knows, it's too late. Poor Harold takes Gabby's pale hand, still holding onto the overturned lifeboat "Please don't close your eyes" he begs "Please! You got your whole life ahead of you!" he tells her. She looks up at him with such a sad expression, like that of a young child who has just been abandoned, before giving his hand a light kiss. With that, she nestles her cheek back against Jack's head and closes her eyes.
The others are incredibily reluctant to leave her, especially Harold. The poor boy has to be dragged into the other lifeboat by the others. He is calling for my little rufian, but she does not answer him. All her focus, whatever life is left in her, is completely devoted to her fiance. She kisses the top of his head, telling him she loves him more than she's ever loved anyone else. She tells him how she was willing to give up everything she ever knew, just to be with him. Once again, she rests her cheek on the top of his head, gazing up at the sky, she begins speaking, but not to Jack, she speaks to me!
"You were right Mr. Andrews" she says softly "I couldn't change history, nothing can change history" she murmers softly. She smiles slightly "But you lied, you said that it wouldn't hurt to die! Well guess what? It's cold, and painful, and I'm so scared, being out here in the ocean all alone". Keep talking Gabby! Please, there's a boat coming to save you! Just hang on, a little longer! Oh foolish girl, you should have gone with Mr. Lightoller, and Bride! But there's another chance for you my little ruffian, my dear delinquent! She closes her eyes, and my heart wrenches, oh please don't die! Not this way, it wasn't supposed to be this way!
I can hear Officer Lowe calling out, asking if anyone is alive out there. The delinquent opens her eyes for a moment and lifts her head slightly at the sound of his voice. She has to make her final decision now, she can either call out and stay in this time period, or die. I can practically see the gears turning in her head, she has lost everything by coming here, and now she has lost everything here. She looks at Jack, who has grown stiff in her arms, for a moment before looking down at the water, tears brimming in her eyes, I don't think she wants to leave him, I think in her mind she is determined to die by his side.
When the boat approaches her she decides to play dead by closing her eyes and holding her breath. "Keep checking them!" Lowe orders as they come by, one of the men grabs Jack and Gabby lets out a weak little cry "NO! Don't take him!". Officer Lowe orders the boat to stop and he and his men look down at the girl in surprise "Miss Gabby?" Lowe asks. She nods "T... Tha... That's me" she manages to get out. The poor thing is trembling horribly from the cold! Lowe bends down and begins reaching for her "Come here, I'll pull you up to safety!" he says, she shakes her head "No! I can't... can't leave... Jack" she replies. There's a long bit of silence, and the men exchange looks between each other, nobody wants to leave her.
"Please, come into the boat" Lowe says quietly "Jack wouldn't want you to die out here". Please go with him Gabby, my little ruffian! She looks up sharply, as though she heard me. Suddenly she turns and cranes her neck, kissing Jack's cold cheek, telling him as long as she's in this time period she'll never love anyone else, before letting him go. There are tears in her eyes as he disappears from her sight, even if she changes her mind back and wishes to die with him, it's too late now!
She lets the men grab her arms and haul her out of the water and into the boat. She looks up at Lowe, as if to say 'Well, I'm here, you happy?'. He smiles gently at her and wraps her in a blanket before shining the light into the water again and continuing the search. The delinquent sits quietly, although I know she's exhausted, she stares at the floor of the boat deep in thought. I wonder what she's thinking about, is she thinking about her siblings and friends in the future that she'll never see again? Is she thinking about me and Jack? Perhaps she's, in the very back of her mind, thinking of what chaos she might cause when she reaches New York City.
I may not know what she's thinking, but I know what I'm thinking! I'm thinking, that I'm going to watch over her. I want to see her start a new life in this time period. I want to see if she really does keep her promises, behaving like a little angel. Can she really change and become an upstanding first class girl? Especially without Me and Jack there to help and support her? Yes, I'm going to watch and see. Knowing Gabby, I know the show won't be a bore at all.
If you are wondering how I got this out so fast, I'll tell you! I had this written out already, I've been working on this chapter for weeks! Because it needed to be PERFECT! I think it's practically perfect. You know, like how the Titanic was practically perfect?
Well anyway, there's going to be an epilogue after this. If any of you have read my 'Rags to Riches' fic, it's going to be kinda the same as that. It's basically just gonna be a summary of what Gabby does after all this. Of course, it'll be from Mr. Andrews' point of view. Why? Because in this story, I didn't want Gabby to have any POV. Part of the fun of her character is you don't know what she's thinking! I liked doing other people's povs because they all thought and reacted to Gabby's craziness in different ways.
So you'll never know what goes through that crazy girl's mind. And trust me, it's definately better that way! As the saying goes, sometimes it's better not to know!
Today, there is no review menu. Instead, we have the ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET OF SUPER AWESOME AMAZING WONDERNESS! So if you want to enjoy that, then review! Also, there is a complimentary box of tissues with the buffet, for all you softies who cried after you read this chapter ;) Thanks for Reading!