Charmed © Constance M. Burge and The Vampire Diaries © L. J. Smith. I don't own or have any affiliation with either TV shows.

I also claim no ownership of the movie Titanic. That belongs solely to director James Cameron.

Please review constructively and respectfully. Flames will NOT be tolerated.

DAMON'S PRIDE

"Mary Mary, wanna be with you.
And this is what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna put a call to you.
'Cause I feel good tonight.
And everything's gonna be right, right, right..."
~Jimmy Barnes (feat. INXS): 'Good Times' (Barnestorming [1988])

The Boat Deck
Sunset

Stefan and I escorted Rose around the ship, laughing and having a generally good time. Our little discussion about vampires, Katherine and learning about Rose's 'destiny' had certainly created an understanding between us. And while it went off at a rocky start at first, Rose's non-judgemental attitude and acceptance helped us all to relax a little. It certainly opened up my eyes about her, and how she was able to figure out that Stefan's bloodlust and consequential selfishness gambled with our futures.

We came upon one of the passengers and his wife with their wooden movie camera. He was trying to film his very reluctant wife, but at the same time were laughing and having fun and Rose broke away from my arm for a closer inspection.

"I'm pleased that Rose is making you happy, brother." Stefan piped up, "But please be careful." He warned me and I turned and gave him a critical look.

"What makes you think that I've formed any kind of affection for Rose? I love Katherine, remember?" I retorted back to him, stubbornly as I turned back and immediately sought out Rose.

Stefan snorted disbelievingly.

"Have you seen yourself recently, Damon? You've barely even mentioned Katherine and the fact that she is trapped in that tomb under Fell's Church." Stefan had a smirk in his tone that I did not like. "Face it, the moment Rose entered the picture and paid the slightest attention towards you; Katherine was history."

I snapped.

I turned and casually grabbed Stefan and led over him to the wall where I roughly shoved him up against it and leaned in close.

"The only reason why I haven't shoved a stake through your gut right now, Stefan, is because there are witnesses. Rose is a nice girl, but the likelihood of us ever seeing her again after this voyage is very slim. Katherine is still on the cards, so don't ever doubt my feelings for Katherine, and don't ever cross me! Am I in any way unclear?" I snarled quiet enough for only Stefan to hear.

His face was sober and blank, but I could've sworn I could see defiance hidden in there as well. He nodded slowly, and grunted when I finally let him go. I turned back to see Rose looking over at us curiously and I smiled back and came over to her with a very quiet Stefan at my heels.

Suddenly, Rose went ashen and immediately fixed her posture.

"Oh, mother!"

I turned and saw an older woman dressed in a conservative bottle green embroidered deck dress and a large flowered hat walking over to us with two other first class ladies flanking her. The same brown eyes that Rose had narrowed cautiously at both me and Stefan. Rose stepped to her side, and I felt a twinge of loss that I immediately forced down.

I realised that while I had turned and ripped Stefan a new asshole over the situation with Katherine, that he was actually quite correct: I could scarcely remember when I last gave a second thought about her. But I wasn't about to turn around and apologise to Stefan just yet.

"May I introduce Damon Salvatore," I nodded respectfully. "And his younger brother, Stefan Salvatore." Stefan smiled politely, but otherwise said nothing. Rose's mother smiled back but it was painfully tight and the smile never reached her eyes.

Uh, oh. I smell another witch, and this one isn't as welcoming as Rose is.

"Charmed, I'm sure." Rose looked nervous and stressed out around this woman, and I frowned.

"The Messrs Salvatore were the ones who saved me from going overboard the other night." She hastened to explain, but she needn't have bothered; it was clear her mother had tuned out any mention of my brother and I. However, a portly well-dressed older woman whom I had heard along the grapevine was called 'Molly' suddenly spoke up.

"Well, boys, it sounds like you're both good men to have around in a sticky spot." She said in a rough southern accent that I immediately smirked at.

So she was one of us, huh? Good for her!

The bugler began to announce dinner amongst the crowd, and everybody jumped. Molly frowned with distaste.

"Why do they always insist on announcing dinner like a damn Calvary charge?" I chuckled, and noticed Rose starting to panic again.

She immediately turned towards her mother.

"Shall we go dress, mother?" Rose suggested and took her mother by the arm, turning and leading her away. She looked over her shoulder at both Stefan and I. "I'll see you both at dinner."

I smiled and nodded at her, and waved. The other woman that had accompanied Rose's mother left with them. But Molly suddenly stepped into my line of sight.

"Uh, boys?" Stefan and I looked at her enquiringly. "Do you even have the slightest comprehension of what you are doing?" She asked, a serious look on her face.

"A fairly good idea, yes." I replied smoothly. Molly looked over my shoulder at Stefan who nodded vehemently.

"Well regardless, you're about to enter the snake pit. I sure hope you're ready. What are you planning to wear?" Molly asked with concern.

But Stefan kindly but firmly explained.

"I think we've got that covered. But thank you for your concern." He explained politely. Molly looked unconvinced but nevertheless nodded.

"I guess I'll see you there. Good luck, boys!"

And off she went. I groaned.

"Why did we agree to this again?" I muttered. Stefan raised an eyebrow at me.

"Because you wanted to see Rose again, Damon. That was obvious." He replied, and sauntered off to our cabin to get ready for the dreaded dinner. I stayed behind long enough to question my sanity, and the lengths I was willing to go to win this girl's heart.

The Salvatore's Cabin
Early Evening

I stood at the tiny, impractical mirror trying to shave my face; while at the same time Stefan was already dressed in white-tie except for his tie and jacket. I noticed that he was struggling to do up his tie.

Rolling my eyes, I placed down my razor and turned to face him.

"Stop! Stop! Let me do it!" Stefan sighed in frustration and dropped his hands as I expertly flipped and flicked the tie around. "It amazes me that you haven't mastered this yet, Stefan. I recall Father had to show you a grand total of five times before you finally got it right on your own, and he wasn't exactly a patient man." I finished tying and straightened up the white tie.

"Thanks." Stefan mumbled as I turned back and resumed raking the bristles on my neck and chin.

"Damon, I'd like to apologise for what I said before. I was not my place to question your feelings." Stefan said, as he shrugged on his black dinner jacket and straightened his lapels in the mirror over my shoulder.

I shrugged. "What for? You were right."

He looked at me, stunned and I immediately pointed at him through the mirror narrowing my eyes.

"But just this once." Stefan smiled.

"I'll take that." I finished removing the last part of my beard and splashed some water on my face to remove the rest of the shaving cream. "Are you sure you know what you're doing tonight, brother? You do realise they're going to try and make us slip up and humiliate us."

Don't remind me. We grew up amongst the same like-minded people back in Virginia, and I had hated it with every fibre of my being.

"You got to know how to handle men like Rose's fiancé. They're all talk and let other people handle the action." I explained, as I combed back my hair out of my face and did up my tie.

Stefan said nothing.

I shrugged on my black dinner jacket and buttoned up my cufflinks.

"Ready?" I asked and Stefan nodded, standing up. We headed out of the cabin, ignoring the astonished looks from the other steerage passengers, and headed up to the boat deck.

Boat Deck and First Class Entrance
Dusk

We followed the drifting strains of classical music towards the First Class Entrance. A steward bowed and smartly opened the door.

"Good evening, sirs." He greets us.

Both of us nod politely and stepped in.

Stefan's eyes widened as he takes in the splendour before us. I took it in nonchalantly, not particularly interested in the grandeur; but I admitted that it was fairly impressive. Over our heads was an enormous glass dome, with a crystal chandelier at its centre. Sweeping down six stories was the First Class Grand Staircase, which we were currently stepping down.

This entire foyer was the epitome of the opulent naval architecture.

"Well, this is quite impressive." Stefan approved.

I nodded, saying nothing. Feeling mostly nervous about meeting up with Rose and her snobbish family. All around us, the First Class travelled towards the First Class saloon for their evening meal. Women in their floor length dresses, elaborate hairstyles and abundant jewellery; and the gentlemen in evening dress, standing with one hand at the small of their back, talking quietly.

"Shall we?" I asked Stefan, who nodded and together we descend to A-deck.

Several of the gentlemen nod towards us in a perfunctory greeting, and Stefan and I fell back on our well-brought upbringing and nodded back. Stefan nudged me, and pointed to the top of the staircase. Cornelius was coming down the stairs, with Rose's mother on his arm. She was dripping in jewellery. Both of them walked right past Stefan and me, neither one of them recognising us.

Okay, Cornelius did nod at us – one gent to another – and it was amusing as hell.

Oh yeah, I'm going to enjoy knocking him off his pedestal… I thought. Then something attracted my attention out of the corner of my eye. This time it was my turn to nudge Stefan, and he turned and smiled warmly. Descending the staircase was Rose, a vision in a stunning deep wine red and pale pink beaded dress with a long train. Her low-cut dress showed off her neck and shoulders, and her arms were sheathed in white gloves that came well above the elbow. I couldn't take my eyes off her, I even ignored the amused chuckle from Stefan standing beside me.

He stepped forward to greet Rose.

"Good evening, Rose. You look beautiful." He complemented her, and kissed her hand respectfully. I bristled when Rose blushed at his words.

"Thank you, Stefan. You look very dashing yourself."

I was amused to notice a weak blush developing on Stefan's cheeks. I filed that away for future blackmail purposes. He was still holding on to Rose's hand, so I gave him a warning growl to step away. Stefan rolled his eyes and stepped aside. I hungrily drank her in as I approached her and looked her straight in her eyes. Fluidly, I grasped her hand delicately and kissed the back of her fingers. This time, Rose had gone so red a lobster would've been jealous. I smirked and offered her my arm as I helped her down the rest of the stairs.

Rose led us towards Cornelius and gently shook his shoulder to gain his attention.

"Cornelius? Mother? Surely you remember the Messrs Salvatore?" Rose gestured to us. The man had the gall to look surprised to see us.

"My God, I didn't recognise you." He did a casual eye sweep over the both of us, before he smiled smugly. "Amazing! Both of you could pass for gentlemen."

My eyes flashed and both Stefan and Rose flinched.

However, I smiled politely and glowered at the back of his head when he turned to escort Rose's mother into the First Class saloon.

D-Deck Reception Room
Evening

As we continued in to dinner, Molly noticed us and grinned. While this woman wasn't like the others and actually had the respect and decency others were severely lacking; she still annoyed me. I threw her a false warm smile, and Stefan and I greeted her.

"Okay boys, there's nothin' to it…"

"Thank you, Molly, but we've got it under control." I interrupted her smoothly.

Molly looked a little taken aback, but shrugged and gave me a look that told me to be careful before she went and walked with Stefan. I leaned over to Rose and whispered into her ear.

"We'll show up that smug bastard, if it's the last thing we ever do." I admit that I half expected Rose to admonish me for my language, but instead she giggled and I threw her a bemused smile.

"Yes, it would be refreshing to see somebody put Cornelius back into his box for once." I heard her whisper back, and flash me a devilish smile.

I chuckled. Rose was my kind of girl. I had made the correct decision.

Rose, Stefan, Molly and I followed our little motley crew to our table, and I casually took in the atmosphere all around us. It was then that I realised Rose was just as nervous as I had been before I clapped eyes on her, and felt all my fears melt away. She barely said a word, and only waved at well-wishers in greeting. An impeccably dressed couple immediately brightened the moment they saw Rose, and they nodded to her.

"You know them?" I asked her curiously, as Rose waved back. Rose looked at me and hesitated.

"I'm not sure. I believe that is Sir Cosmo and Lucille, with Lady Duff-Gordon." I raised an eyebrow. I was surprised to see these people I had heard too much about back in Southampton and days before. "If I recall, she designs naughty lingerie, and is very popular with royalty."

I grinned with delight.

"Really now?" I leered playfully. She lightly slapped me on the arm.

"Behave yourself." I pretended to be chastised, before noticing Stefan frowning furiously over at a group of gentlemen who were standing with Cornelius, having a deep and meaningful conversation with him.

By the looks they were casting Rose, the topic of conversation wasn't too hard to figure out.

"Oh, really that is deplorable." He muttered with disgust. I snapped my head over to Stefan and saw the horrified and outraged expression on his face, as Rose's face flushed in embarrassment. I wanted to tear them limb from limb, but Stefan reached out and grabbed my shoulder. "Damon." He warned me.

I glared back at him, but he shook his head more insistently.

"Mind your own business, brother." I growled before turning to a visibly upset Rose. "Are you okay?" I asked her gently.

She nodded, but made no additional comment before we walked into the dining saloon. The moment we pass through the threshold, Rose had spotted an older gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair, who was dressed in expensive white-tie. Molly identified him as John Jacob Astor; the richest man on the ship. The woman attached to his arm, whom Rose called Madeleine, was standing modestly and clutching onto a small decorative fan.

"J.J, Madeleine, I'd like you to meet Damon and Stefan Salvatore."

Astor immediately takes and warmly shakes my hand and Stefan's.

"Good to meet you. Are you both of the Chicago Salvatores?" He inquired curiously, and Stefan and I had to bite back laughter.

Giuseppe Salvatore would no more live or do business in Chicago than fly through the air backwards. I managed to clear my throat as I responded.

"No, the Mystic Falls Salvatores, actually." Rose made a tiny giggle, and I smirked as Astor nods as though he knew of our family, and I made to hastily walk away with Rose before he could be none the wiser.

We were almost home free, when Astor's wife unexpectedly leaned in to whisper in Rose's ear.

"Pity that we're both spoken for, isn't it?"

The smirk dropped from my face, and cold hard reality sets in. One glance at Rose's face, told me that she had realised this too. I tightened my grip on Rose's arm a beat after Madeleine burst the proverbial bubble.

First Class Dining Saloon
Evening

I ignored the concerned expression on Stefan's face as we finally made it into the dining saloon. All I wanted to do was get this infernal dinner over and done with so I could drown away my sorrows on cheap booze. However, I was going to be taking Rose with me, hell or high water. The dining saloon itself was a gaudy monstrosity: alive and lit by a constellation of chandeliers, and mobbed by elegantly dressed people. Beautiful orchestral music surrounded us. We were swiftly escorted to our table where Cornelius and Rose's mother were already seated, waiting for us. They were already absorbed in private conversations with one another that ceased the moment Stefan and I made our appearances.

As the food was being served by white gloved waiters, the conversation suddenly was directed towards Stefan and me.

"Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Messrs Salvatore. I hear they're quite good on this ship." Cornelius asked, sounding both smug and sarcastic. Rose scowled at him.

I smiled pityingly at him.

"The best I've seen…" I turned towards Stefan, who raised an eyebrow at me. "Hardly any rats." He glowered at me, and I smiled innocently back.

I casually grabbed my napkin and placed it in my lap, and ignored the scathing looks Stefan was shooting at me as he mimicked my actions. Cornelius nodded before he turned to address the highly interested guests at the table. Great! Stef and I were sideshow attractions. If only they knew that we were already members of this 'highly exclusive' club of theirs.

"Our guests are joining us from Third Class. They were of some assistance to my fiancée last night."

The emphasis on the fact that Rose was his, really grated on my nerves and I unknowingly bent the gold plated napkin ring out of whack in my anger. Some goose liver was served and I smiled, looking forward to eating properly for once. The steerage passengers were served like pigs in a trough with very simple peasant meals.

"This is foie gras." Cornelius explained unnecessarily, using slow words like Stefan and I were simpletons. My smile tightened. "Goose liver."

"Excellent. One of my favourites." I responded, enjoying the astonishment on his face as I turned to Stefan, a cheerful smile was on his face too. "Don't you agree, Stefan?" My brother nodded.

One of the other guests immediately spoke out.

"You've had this before?" He asked incredulously. Remembering that I was supposed to be pretending to be from Steerage, I fabricated some believable answer.

"Yes, I was fortunate to sample this delicacy when I was living in France." I explained, giving half-truths. Rose gave me a surprised look and mouthed to me if that was factual. I shook my head.

Whispers developed from around the table, and we earned furtive glances.

"How do you take your caviar, sir?" I looked up and saw an ancient looking waiter, looking at me politely and indicating a small dish of black caviar, and the condiments that went with the fish eggs. I opened my mouth to reply, but Cornelius answered for me.

I bristled.

"Just a soupçon of lemon."

I hate lemon. I glanced over at the slimy bastard with a raised eyebrow.

He smirked back. "It improves the flavour with champagne." He translated.

I was aware of this, having indulged on caviar with our frequent meals with Father. I glanced over to see what Stefan had ordered with his. Sour cream. I agreed with his choice, and smiled back at the waiter who had wisely ignored Cornelius's suggestion.

He correctly guessed that I was a seasoned pro at eating caviar.

"Actually, change that to a soupçon of sour cream. Thank you." I requested from the waiter. The man looked surprised, but smiled and followed my directions. As he moved on to Molly, I happened to glance at her and she smiled approvingly at me.

"Where do you and your brother hail from, Mr. Salvatore?" Rose's mother spoke up for the first time since sitting down.

"Presently, the RMS Titanic." I replied back, matter-of-factly.

Stefan hastily jumped in.

"But when we dock in New York, my brother and I will be travelling home to Mystic Falls in Virginia." I wasn't surprised to see the look of fear and anxiety in her eyes, the second our hometown was mentioned.

However, Cornelius snorted sounding amused.

"Really? So you're both southern?" He rudely inquired. I narrowed my eyes, wondering where he was going with that question.

He better watch what he says…

"Yes, we are. Is that a problem?" I demanded, feeling slightly hostile. Cornelius's smile shrunk a bit, and his eyes widened subtly.

"No, of course not. It was just a question." He replied innocently. I absently reached up to scratch my nose and realised that I had, in my anger, started to bare my fangs. I breathed in and out and willed them back in. Stefan, thankfully, gave me a reprieve so I could completely calm down.

"My brother and I had always lived by the phrase 'life is short'." Yeah, well that doesn't apply to us anymore… "And we both want to see it all before we die."

Rose looked uncomfortable.

"You can't wait around, because you never know what hand you're going to be dealt next. Our father was always too busy to spend time with us because he was always working, and our mother died too young. It taught both Damon and I to take life as it comes to you."

Stefan looked meaningfully at me, as though trying to translate a specific point across to me regarding the confused feelings I had for Rose.

"To make each day count."

My brother's words were surprisingly insightful. Rose's untimely arrival into my life was like an unplanned gift that life apparently felt was owed to me. And after what I had already gone through ... I should fucking hope so! It felt like life was trying to give me a reality check in terms of Katherine and her indecisive ways when it came to both Stefan and I. Meaning that, if she was incapable of making a final decision then and there when she had first met us; then she never will.

I glanced up at Stefan and saw the approving smile on his face. Molly raised her champagne glass in a salute.

"Well said, Stefan." And she took a sip from the glass. The other guests (except for Cornelius and Rose's mother) followed suit.

"But how is it you have the means to travel?" Cornelius asked curiously. I sighed, and humoured the bastard.

"We saved up for the chance to travel on the ship we had heard was dubbed 'unsinkable'." I replied evenly. Like hell was I going to admit that we got the means to travel through a lucky hand at poker!

Luckily, the incessant questioning ended the moment the waiters all finished and it was time to eat. But by then, the rest of the guests had lost interest and dissolved into their own private conversations. When dessert was being served, Molly was regaling us with a story involving her husband, a large sum of money and lighting up a stove. By the time it was over, a waiter was going around with cigars in a humidor. Cornelius and the other men choose a cigar and start clipping off ends and lighting up.

I hated the smell of cigars, a fact that also amused Cornelius when Stefan and I declined one. More and more was Cornelius reminding me of our Father, and I was getting fed up.

Rose leaned over and muttered loud enough that only we could hear her with our supernatural hearing.

"Next it'll be brandies in the Smoking Room." I raised an eyebrow, and nearly laughed when the portly gentleman we had met from Rose's failed suicide attempt (whom we learned was called Colonel Gracie) suddenly rose to his feet.

"Well, join me for a brandy, gentlemen?"

I nearly swallowed my tongue.

Rose rolled her eyes, a 'told you so' smile on her face.

"Now they retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe." Gracie turns towards Stefan and me, as we stood up and smooth out the wrinkles from our dinner jackets.

"Joining us, gentlemen? You don't want to stay out here with the women, do you?" We smiled politely, before shaking our heads no.

"No thanks, I think we've overstayed our welcome." I was amused by this life I did not miss at all, and I was pretty sure Stefan agreed with me. If the distasteful look on his face meant anything at all.

Cornelius walked by.

"Shame. But it's probably best; it'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Good of you to come." He clapped what he probably assumed to be a friendly hand on my shoulder twice before making a hasty exit. I snarled at his back, and was grateful Stefan was holding me back from killing him where he stood.

"He's lucky there are witnesses, otherwise I'd have ripped out his throat." I seconded the grisly picture Stefan had just painted, and smirked; proud of my baby brother.

"There's still time if you want to go after him and follow through with your plan…" I teased.

He threw me an unimpressed look and I shrugged before we both approached Rose to make our goodbyes… for now.

"Wish you two didn't have to go."

I was delighted that Rose seemed miserable that we needed to leave. Which made part 2 of my next plan all the simpler, and greatly anticipated. Stefan smiled regretfully, as he raised Rose's hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

Then it was my turn.

"Time for us to go row with the other slaves." I joked around, and reached into my pocket to retrieve a small note I had hastily written before coming down for dinner. Stefan rolled his eyes as Rose smiled as she raised her hand for me to take. I accepted it and placed a tender kiss on her fingers, deliberately pushing the scrap of paper into her hand.

"Goodnight, Rose." I reluctantly let go, meaningfully looking at her hand before Stefan and I made our hasty retreat.

A-Deck Foyer: The Grand Staircase
9pm (A/N: Sorry, guys for the correction. But I saw the movie recently, and the clock behind Jack read 9pm)

Stefan stopped me just as we reached the clock on the Grand Staircase. I looked at him curiously, wondering what was up.

"I'm going to turn in. Let you two have some time to yourselves." Stefan explained. I looked at him in surprise. "Please Damon, I saw you writing that note earlier before you left the cabin tonight. It's okay, I don't mind." He tried to reassure me.

I smiled genuinely and clapped a hand on my brother's shoulder.

"Thanks, brother." I replied sincerely.

Stefan saluted me and disappeared out of the First Class Entrance doors. Grinning in anticipation of what was hopefully to come, I turned and casually examined the clock. The sound of high heeled shoes rising and falling on the staircase alerted me to her arrival. I turned and smiled coyly as I reached out for her hand, and pulled her in to whisper in her ear.

"Want to go to a real party?" I grinned at her.

"Sure." She replied without hesitation, but then started looking around in confusion. I immediately realised who she was searching for and filled in the blanks.

"Stefan went to bed early." I lied, mentally thanking Stefan again for being his usual flaky self. "He wanted to document his day in that stupid journal of his." I scoffed for good measure.

Rose smirked, calling me out on my lie. But she seemed to let it go, as excitement blossomed on her face.

"Oh, well! More fun for us!"

Third Class General Room
9:30pm

I led a giggling Rose towards the First Class Entrance and we both ran towards the Third Class General Room, where a late night party was in full swing.

An ad hoc band was gathered near the upright piano and was playing some lively Irish stomping music. I loved to dance, and turned to look at Rose longingly. She refused, promising to dance with me later on. I reluctantly agreed and led her to a nearby vacant table with some empty pint glasses laying on top. I felt someone tugging on my pants leg and I glanced down to see innocent little Cora smiling sweetly up at me.

"Hello there, sweetie. Where's your father?" I asked and she pointed towards her father who was watching us, and drinking from some strong stout beer. He raised his hand in welcome, and I returned the gesture.

"Do you want to dance?" Cora asked shyly and Rose 'awwed' in delight. I pretended to seriously think about my answer before I grinned playfully at Cora.

"Of course! Let's go!" I crowed and she beamed and led me towards the dancefloor not too far away from where Rose was sitting.

I watched as Rose accepted a tall pint of warm stout beer from a friendly Irishman and took a generous sip. Placing down the glass, she then started clapping along with the Irish music. All around us there was laughter and raucous carrying on, and people of all ages were dancing. Nearly everyone legal (and not) were drinking the same stout beer that Rose was offered only moments before; and they were also smoking and even brawling. The dance continues for several minutes before the music fades, and a faster song started up.

I playfully bowed to Cora, who giggled and hugged my legs. I stroked her hair, and glanced up at Rose who looked charmed. I kneeled down to Cora's level.

"I'm going to ask her to dance now." I pointed towards Rose and Cora immediately started to pout, tears forming behind her eyes. I smiled at her indulgently and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"You're still my best girl, Cora." I promised.

Cora brightened up and hugged me again before she turned and scampered off towards her father who scooped her up and praised her for her dancing. I turned and smirked at Rose and pulled her to her feet.

She started to panic.

"Wait! I don't know the steps to this dance." I chuckled and pulled her impossibly close.

"Neither do I. Just don't think about it." My lips caressed her ear, and I grinned when I felt her shiver in my arms. The music picks up and suddenly they are off. Their steps are a little awkward, at first. But then Rose suddenly gets into it. We dance for several seconds before she suddenly stops.

"Hang on!"

She takes off her expensive high-heels and chucks them towards a nearby woman who catches them and puts them to one side. Rose then turns towards me and grins with anticipation that I am nervous about for a split second. She grabs my hand and plunges back into the dance which gets faster and faster.

Before long the party has made no signs of stopping anytime soon and gets more rowdy and rollicking. A very drunk man crashes into a table, but is helped to his feet and brushed down by his friends as they laugh it off. Rose and I were still dancing, and both of us were flushed and sweaty from exertion. This was the most fun I had had in nearly a decade, and I could tell that it was the same way for Rose as well. The song finishes and like I had done with Cora, I bow dramatically to Rose who curtseys to enthusiastic applause.

"How you going?" I asked Rose, passing her a large pint. Her cheeks were flushed, and I could tell that the strong alcohol was starting to get to her.

"Pretty damn good!" She replies cheerfully, before she starts to chug down her strong beer.

I am speechless. Does she even know how much alcohol is in that? She sees my expression and gives me a smirk worthy of one of my own.

"What? You think a first class girl can't drink?"

I smirked back, but then snarled angrily when a drunken idiot stumbles pass Rose and caused her to spill her drink upon herself and probably ruining her dress. But by the way she started to laugh drunkenly, it appeared she didn't care very much.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" I grabbed the drunk and pushed him towards his equally drunken friends. They stumble away, and I turned and assessed Rose.

"Are you okay?" I asked with concern.

Rose cups my face.

"It's just beer." She shrugs it off, "Don't worry about it."

The Boat Deck
Very late

Tonight had turned out to be the best night of my 73 years on this earth. I would literally be, eternally grateful that I had rescued Rose from plunging to her death of the end of the ship.

I was amused and slightly concerned to see that Rose was drunk; but coherent enough to be able to remember what transpired and what will transpire tonight. I had a pleasant buzz, but thanks to my vampire metabolism it would take a lot more than a few pints of very strong stout beer to get me drunk. It would keep me tame, and less likely to pounce on some helpless bystander and bleed them dry, but not make me intoxicated.

Both of us started sing a popular folk song that the ad hoc band had started playing down in the third class general room:

"Come Josephine in my flying machine. And it's up she goes! Up she goes…" We break off laughing.

Spinning about on the deck, I glanced up at the sky and saw the same beautiful, colourful display of stars I had seen the night before. I glanced back at Rose who looked sad for some reason. But before I could question why she was upset, we both realised that we had reached the First Class Entrance. We groaned unhappily. Rose grabs a davit and swings out to stare up at the stars.

I smiled and came over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her towards me and I rested my head on her shoulder.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Rose was looking up at the stars. "So grand and endless."

She turned around in my arms and leaned against my chest. Without thinking, and acting on instinct (or maybe it was based on how I felt), I kissed her head. Almost immediately, Rose pulls away and I react like she had slapped me. Rose looks guilty, but doesn't return to my arms.

"They all think that they're giants on the earth, but they don't realise that they are not even a speck of dust in God's eye." Rose sounded so sad, and I smiled at her understanding what she was saying. "They live inside a tiny champagne bubble, and what they don't understand is one day…"

"…the bubble will burst." I finished.

That was always the catch. What goes up must eventually come down. I leaned up against the railing, deep in thought. I was amazed about how Rose could just take what life she had and just embrace it – flaws and all – and learn from whatever outcome came from it.

I smiled admiringly at her.

"You are an extraordinary woman, Primrose Baxter." I told her, but then frowned at her. "But I do believe that there's been a mistake."

Rose looked confused. "A mistake?"

I nodded at her forcing myself not to break character and laugh, ruining the suspense. "You got sent to the wrong life." We both broke down with laughter, and then suddenly Rose gasps in wonder at something in the sky.

"Look, Damon! A shooting star." I looked up at the sky with a lack of interest, but just as quickly turned away focusing on Rose. "My Grams once told me that whenever you saw one, it was a soul going to heaven."

And you believed her?

"Is that a fact?" I asked sardonically, then grinned getting a sneaky idea. "Aren't we supposed to wish on it?"

I quickly and silently went to her side, so that if she turned round – which she did – she'd be almost pressed up to me. I smirked, knowing exactly how close we were to kissing each other.

"What would you wish for?" She whispers to me, looking deep into my eyes.

My smirk softened to what I hoped was a tender smile, and I reached up to smooth a stray piece of her hair around her ear. Then I cupped her cheek, and stroked it slowly with my thumb as I leaned in.

"Something that I can't have." I replied, absently remembering that she was already promised to another – undeserving – man. I silently hoped that she would forget this and would allow me to kiss her just this once.

But alas, and I later kicked myself for reacting too slow, Rose pulled away and smiled sadly at me. My eyes widened when I realised what she intended to do … and I could feel my undead heart skip a lethargic beat.

"Goodnight, Damon. Thank you for a lovely night." I cursed as she then turns and makes a break for it through the First Class Entrance.

"Rose, wait!" I called out desperately for her.

But the door had already swung shut, eliminating any chances of her actually hearing me. I roared in anguish and nearly punched a hole in the ship's wall in my fury. Admitting defeat, I strode sullenly towards the entrance leading to the Steerage deck. As I curled up shirtless on my bed, with the two swedes Stefan and I were sharing the cabin with snoring loudly beside us, I found myself unable to sleep.

But I knew why … I was making plans to help persuade Rose to forget her life here on the Titanic with her mother and that moron Cornelius, and run away with Stefan and I back to Mystic Falls.

I was not going to give up my chance of being happy and loved without a fight!

A/N: I am on a roll! Thank you for sticking around for as long as you have, if you've been reading this from the beginning of the story. I apologise if this seems repetitive to the first few chapters, but this recount on the Titanic is from Damon's perspective. So sorry if it seems a little boring for you atm. But please be patient. And please, review!

TTFN xx