I don't own Titanic, I just thought this would be fun to write, and more angst for us all!

Second of all, you guys rock -- please don't kill me.

Chapter 25- The Line Is Blurred

She ran blindly from the dining hall, devastation filling her heart.

Could she do anything about where she was, really?

Her father was dead, her mother and fiancé Andrew didn't even seem to notice her – Paige was sick of the so-called luxurious life she was trapped in

She wanted out – if that meant jumping off the Titanic, so be it. Paige didn't think no one would notice, but she had no idea that at the moment she was running toward the nearest end of the ship, a man was lying on a bench, having a smoke and enjoying the night air.

Unaware that she had been noticed, Paige began her climb over the railing. She was about to let go when she heard a voice behind her telling her not to do it. Paige turned around to see a man standing there.

"Stay back! Don't come any closer!" said Paige.

"Just gimme your hand, I'll pull you back over," said Don.

"If you come any closer I'll let go!" said Paige.

The man held out his cigarette then proceeded to get closer so he could toss it overboard.

"No you won't," said Don.

"You don't know me!" said Paige.

"You woulda done it already," said Don.

"You're distracting me go away!" said Paige.

"I can't, I'm involved now," said Don. "You let go and I'm gonna have to jump in after ya."

"That's absurd!" said Paige. "The fall would kill you."

"I'm more concerned about the water being cold," said Don. "Give me your hand."

Paige gave Don her hand. As he helped her over the boat, he introduced himself.

"I'm Don Flack," said Don.

"Paige Anderson," said Paige.

Paige took another step, then she slipped.

"Hold on, I got ya," said Don.

He got her back onto the boat and they wound up collapsing onto the deck – some sailors nearby misunderstood the situation and tried to arrest Don. Andrew came out and was reading Don the riot act until Paige corrected him – well, partially. She told Andrew she had been trying to see the propellers, fell, and if not for Don she would've gone over.

"Perhaps a little something for Mr. Flack?" said Mathew Tanner, Andrew's bodyguard.

"Twenty should do it," said Andrew.

"Twenty… is that the going rate for saving the woman you love?" said Paige.

"You're displeased… what to do?" said Andrew.

Andrew went up to Don and decided that inviting him to dinner with the rest of the upper class passengers would appease Paige – of all the women to be matched with it had to be the one he couldn't please by any means whatsoever.

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Back in her room, Paige saw Andrew come inside through her mirror. He had something in his hand.

"I've been meaning to save this until the engagement gala next week," said Andrew. "Tonight seemed better as a reminder of my feelings for you."

It was a huge diamond necklace. Paige thought it was too big.

"That a diamond?" said Paige.

"56 carats to be exact," said Andrew as he put it around her neck. "La Cur de la Mer."

"The heart of the ocean," said Andrew and Paige.

"There's nothing I'd deny you, if you wouldn't deny me," said Andrew.

The next day Don and Paige were walking around on the top deck. She wanted to thank him for saving her life. They wound up talking about their lives – Don's parents had died when he was growing up in Dublin, and having no close ties there he took off and had been traveling ever since.

"Don, I want to thank you for what you did," said Paige. "Not just for pulling me back but for your discretion.

"Your welcome," said Don.

"I know what you must be thinking – poor little rich girl, what does she know about misery?" said Paige.

"No, what I was thinking was what could've possibly happened to this girl to make her think she had no way out?" said Don.

"It was everything," said Paige. "All the people in my life."

Don caught site of Paige's engagement ring.

"Phew! You woulda gone straight to the bottom," said Don.

"500 invitations have gone out, all of New England society will be there," said Paige. "All the while I feel like I'm in a crowded room screaming at the top of my lungs and no one looks up!"

"Do you love him?" said Don.

Paige didn't answer, and instead grabbed the thin book under Don's arm. She was startled to see it wasn't even a book but a folder filled with drawings – they were beautiful. Don muttered something about being in Paris when he had done them.

"Paris?" said Paige.

Don nodded.

"You do get around," said Paige.

She flipped through the drawings. They fascinated her. She loved creativity, what people could do when they wanted to write, paint, or draw. It always came out beautiful.

"You have a gift, Don," said Paige. "You see people."

"I see you," said Don.

"And?" said Paige.

"You wouldn't of jumped," said Don.

As the day wore on he told her of the other places he'd been, like the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles.

"Why can't I be like you Don?" said Paige. "Just head out for the horizon whenever I feel like it? I say we go to that pier, even if we only just talk about it."

"No, we'll do it. We'll drink cheap beer, ride on the roller coaster till we throw up, and ride horses on the beach right in the surf," said Don. "You gotta do it like a real cowboy, none of that sidesaddle stuff."

"You mean one leg over each side? Can you show me?" said Paige.

"Sure," said Don.

"Teach me to ride like a man," said Paige.

"And chew tobacco like a man," said Don.

"And… spit like a man!" said Paige.

"They didn't teach you that in finishing school?" said Don.

"No," said Paige, laughing as she said it.

"C'mon, I'll show ya," said Don.

He took a protesting Paige to another area of the deck and showed her how.

"You gotta get some body into it, use your arms," said Don.

She got better at it, but then her mother showed up, a friend on each side. While the two friends were interested in Don's heroism the other night, Paige could see her mother was going to look down on him regardless.

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Later that night, Paige met up with Don by the stairway leading to the dining room. She thought he looked quite handsome in the tuxedo he wore, which she would later learn he got from Stella Bonasera, a woman who had recently come into new money. Her mother didn't like Stella too much – Paige wasn't surprised, although she thought Stella was great. They walked into the dining room with Vivian and Andrew. Paige pointed out several other people to Don as they made their way to their table. Needless to say, Vivian tried ruining everything as usual, but Don used his sense of humor to wangle his way out of her attempts at being condescending.

"Now they're gonna go for brandies in the smoking room to congratulate each other with being masters of the universe!" Paige whispered to Don, referring to the other men with them.

Soon everyone left. Don did as well, but not before slipping a piece of paper into Paige's hand. She read it.

"Make it count. Meet me at the clock tower."

Paige stood up and walked toward the clock tower. Don was waiting.

"So you wanna go to a real party?" said Don.

They made their way down to third class, where Irish music played and people danced everywhere. Paige drank some Guinness and watched Don dance with a little girl on the small stage in the center of the room. A guy who had had too many stumbled around and accepted another glass of Guinness.

The music changed and Don led Paige onto the dance floor.

"I don't know this dance!" said Paige.

"Neither do I just go for it," said Don.

They danced then they went back for more beer. Paige drank most of hers in one swallow.

"What, you don't think a first-class girl can't drink?" said Paige.

They laughed, but the drunk from before bumped into Don, causing him to spill his beer all over the front of Paige's dress.

"Hey, get outta here!" said Don. "Paige, you alright?"

Paige's response was to laugh. She was having so much fun. She didn't want the night to end.

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The next day was disaster. Andrew had found out where she went last night and blew up at her. He overturned their breakfast table and stormed off – and to make matters worse, her mother had said she couldn't see Don again. That depressed Paige to no end. No one else in her life had made her feel more alive, and now she had to say goodbye. She could care less that her father had gotten the family into debt before he died and that the money was gone – she wanted her own life. She couldn't have it.

Later that day while she was talking with one of the ship's builders, Mac Taylor, Don pulled Paige aside.

"Don, this is impossible – I can't see you," said Paige.

"Paige, wait," said Don. "I need to talk to you."

"No Don – I'm marrying Andrew," said Paige. "I'm engaged, I love Andrew."

"Paige, you're no picnic – but underneath alla that you're the most amazing woman I've ever known," said Don. "I know how this world works, I don't even have ten cents to rub together – but I'm too involved now. You jump I jump remember?"

"I'll be fine," said Paige.

"I don't think so," said Don. "They've got you trapped, Paige, and you're gonna die if you don't break free – maybe not right away because you're strong, but sooner or later that fire I love about you is gonna burn out."

"It's not up to you to save me Don," said Paige.

"You're right – it's up to you," said Don.

"I'm going back," said Paige.

She left him, feeling numb inside. She joined her mother for tea and barely made it through half the ceremony before she excused herself – a combination of wedding talk and watching a little girl participate in the tea ceremony had been the straws to break the camel's back.

So she went on deck, knowing Don would be there – she had made the worst decision in saying she didn't want to see him anymore, because she did.

"I changed my mind," said Paige. "Your friend Danny said you might be up here."

"Give me your hand," said Don.

He helped her up, and she was standing on the railing of the ship with Don holding her so she wouldn't fall.

"I'm flying! Don…" said Paige.

They shared a passionate kiss.

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Paige turned the lock on the nasty-looking safe that Andrew always carted around to get the necklace he'd given her then walked back over to Don, reassuring him that Andrew wouldn't be back for a long time.

"I want you to draw me wearing this – only this," said Paige.

She put on the necklace and took off everything else while Don dragged a couch into an area of the sitting room in Paige's suite that he knew had good light. When they were both ready, Don helped Paige get into a good position, then he started drawing. At one point, Paige giggled, despite Don telling her to stay still.

"You're blushing," said Paige.

"Shh," said Don.

"Okay," said Paige.

After they were finished, they left Paige's suite when Mathew Tanner showed up looking for Paige. He spotted them, and the couple was forced to run. They eventually wound up where all the cargo was stored and hid in the Anderson family car. Don helped Paige into the back and he got into the driver's seat.

"Where to miss?" said Don.

"To the stars," said Paige.

Paige pulled Don into the back of the car, where they made love for the first time. When more people came to look for them, they ran off and found themselves on deck.

"When the ship docks I'm getting off with you," said Paige.

They made out right there for the stars and the moon to see. Suddenly a huge crash shook the ship. The couple broke apart, startled. What had happened? They then saw the iceberg.

"Get back!" said Don.

He jumped in front of Paige as huge chunks of ice fell where they had previously been standing. They both looked up at the iceberg, shocked. They then overheard one of the ship's mates say the ship had already taken on water.

"This is bad," said Don.

"We must tell my mother and Andrew," said Paige.

They went back to her room, never noticing Mathew Tanner plating her necklace in Don's coat pocket. She would later learn he took the coat as well. Paige watched as they arrested a protesting Don, who kept telling her not to believe them.

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Paige saw Mac Taylor walking up the stairs of the dining hall, so she caught his attention.

"I saw the iceberg, and I see it in your eyes," said Paige. "Tell me the truth."

Mac pulled her aside, Andrew following their every move.

"The ship will sink," said Mac.

"You sure?" said Paige.

"In an hour or so," said Mac. "This'll all be at the bottom of the Atlantic. Paige, tell only who you must, I don't want to start a panic. Get to a boat quickly – you remember what I told you about the boats."

Paige did remember – she had done the math in her head that for the amount of people on board, there wouldn't be enough lifeboats if disaster struck – and it had struck in the form of that iceberg.

"Yes, I understand," said Paige.

************************************************************************

Later, both Andrew and Vivian said stuff to annoy Paige enough to stay onboard. Andrew's comment hadn't been too bad, only wondering if there would be room for him, but right now only women and children were boarding the lifeboats.

"Will the lifeboats be seated according to class?" said Vivian. "I hope they're not too crowded."

Paige was angry. How dare her mother say something like that!

"Oh mother!" said Paige. "Shut up! Don't you understand? There aren't enough boats! Half the people on this ship are going to die!"

"Not the better half," said Andrew.

Paige threw a glare in his direction. Now he was on her bad side. Then, as Vivian boarded, her anger turned vile with Andrew's next words.

"I should've kept that drawing – would've been worth more by morning," said Andrew.

He had set Don up – she had known deep down, but hadn't listened to her gut instincts. Now Don was possibly doing the dead man's float somewhere because of Andrew and because she hadn't spoken up.

"You bastard," said Paige.

Stella, who was sitting near Vivian, tried convincing Paige to board – it was a futile effort.

"Goodbye mother," said Paige.

"You're going to him?! To be his whore?!" said Andrew.

"I'd rather be his whore than your wife!" said Paige.

She spat in his face and ran off. Her heart almost sang when she found Mac Taylor. He could help her.

"Mr. Taylor! Where would they take someone under arrest?" said Paige.

"You have to get to a boat, now," said Mac.

"I'm doing this with or without your help, but without it'll take longer," said Paige.

Mac gave her directions and Paige ran off, not caring how she acted as she yelled at the guy operating the lifts to take her to the bottom deck. She would find Don no matter what she had to do.

"Don!" Paige called his name over and over. Soon she heard him call her name and knew she was close.

"Paige! I'm in here!" said Don.

Paige went inside a room to find Don handcuffed to a pipe.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" said Paige, pulling him into a kiss.

"Tanner put it in my pocket," said Don.

"I know, I know," said Paige.

"You're gonna have to find a spare key Paige," said Don. "How didja find out I didn't do it?"

"I didn't, I realized I knew all along," said Paige.

She never found a spare, and wound up leaving the room to find help – no one would help her, but she did find an ax in a box on the wall, so she brought it back with her.

"Great," said Don. "Try a couple practice rounds on the table over there."

After a couple tries, she used it to free Don – it worked. The happy couple then left to find a way to the top of the ship and were joined by Don's friends Danny and Adam along the way. Eventually, they made their way to the top.

"I'm not going without you," said Paige.

"No, you have to now," said Don.

"No Don," said Paige.

"Get in the boat Paige," said Don.

"Yes, get in the boat," said Andrew.

He had come up behind them. Paige kept protesting until Andrew told her that he had an arrangement with an officer on the other side of the ship, and that Don would be going too – it was a lie, only Andrew would be getting off. However, that was one fact that Paige would never know.

"You're a nasty liar," said Don.

"I always win," said Andrew.

Paige never heard them, but she jumped from the lifeboat nonetheless and back onto the ship. Don and Paige ran to each other, finding one another in front of the staircase in the first class dining room.

"Why did you do that Paige?" said Don.

"You jump I jump right?" said Paige.

"Right," said Don.

They held on to each other as if they were the only two people in the world. Suddenly, Andrew opened fire on them. Don and Paige scrambled to get out of the way, going deeper and deeper into the bowels of the sinking ship in the process. They managed to get back up to the top deck again, but to their sheer horror discovered that the lifeboats were gone.

"We have to stay on this ship as long as possible, c'mon!" said Don.

They ran hand in hand to the part of the deck that wasn't underwater yet – Titanic was now tipping up towards the sky. When they got the deck railing, they held on with all their might.

"Don! This is where we first met!" said Paige.

He held her closer to him so she wouldn't fall, like so many others had. Suddenly, the ship went into darkness then split in two within seconds of that fact. The first half went under immediately. The second half with Don and Paige stayed up a little longer then proceeded to sink.

Long enough for Don and Paige to switch their hold on the railing so they were on the other side, then it started to sink.

"The ship is gonna suck us down," said Don. "Take a deep breath when I say! Kick for the surface, don't let go of my hand! We're gonna make it Paige! Do you trust me?"

"I trust you!" said Paige.

"Now!" said Don.

Paige took a deep breath and they were both under the surface. She did as Don had told her, but the current of the water forced them apart. When she got to the surface, she didn't him anywhere.

"Don!" Paige yelled. "Don?! DON!!!"

Paige woke up, tears streaming down her face.

"Don," Paige whispered.

She looked at her cell phone – she had left it on all night. It was four am. She had only gone to sleep two hours ago.

More than anything, Paige wished that Josie was alive. Without a second thought, Josie would've dropped everything and stayed in the city as long as Paige needed her. They had always done that for each other, as well as give each other a good kick in the ass when they needed it.

Knowing Lindsay wasn't awake, Paige cried herself to sleep.

The next day, Paige and Lindsay went to the hospital. Don was having tests done, so Paige went with the Flack family for breakfast in the hospital cafeteria. Not much of a word was uttered, but that didn't keep Jimmy from causing problems – he grabbed Paige's behind in full view of Melanie and Samantha, who Gavin had called.

"Jerk!" Paige hissed.

She ran off, Melanie and Samantha in hot pursuit.

"She's fast," said Samantha.

"Let her go, she's upset," said Melanie.

The sisters walked back to the table. Caroline was giving Jimmy a look that clearly stated he was toast.

"Well, we're lucky Britney wasn't here," said Donald.

"Yo!" said Samantha.

Jimmy looked up. Melanie and Sam both belted him across the face.

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Paige made it back to ICU and was about to sit down when Lindsay approached her.

"They brought Don back to ICU," said Lindsay.

Paige nodded and wasted no time going to his room. She wished he would open his eyes. She wanted that more than anything.

"Don," Paige whispered. "I'm here. I forgot to tell you yesterday you weren't kidding when you said Britney was a snob."

Paige found herself speechless again.

"I… jeez! I'm usually such a chatterbox, you're always pointing it out! Course, unlike most people you think it's one of my better qualities," said Paige.

She heard a noise and saw a nurse coming in. Paige noticed the nurse was about thirty, with fiery curly red hair in a ponytail, freckles, and big brown eyes.

"Just checking vitals," said the nurse. "I'm Jersey Patterson. Girlfriend?"

"How did you guess?" said Paige. "I'm Paige, by the way."

"Well, you don't look like his sister and I didn't see any rings," said Jersey. "I work in ICU during the day, so you'll be seeing a lot of me…"

Paige saw Jersey frown. She didn't like it. She had seen her mother frown like that around patients enough to know it was never good.

"Lose your train of thought Jersey?" said Paige.

"His blood pressure's dropping," said Jersey. "I don't like it."

Jersey went and yelled for a doctor.

"Don?" said Paige. "Don't do this."

Paige heard a noise above her head.

When she found the source, she almost died right there on the spot.

It was Don's heart monitor – and the line was flat…

Cliffie time! What to do, what to do... I'm so evil, but you already know that. Now review! Or you won't find out at all!