A/N: Yes, as an answer to all your burning questions, I'm still alive. I'm terribly sorry for the long update. After Canada, my family and I headed back to the city, celebrated my birthday, travelled to NJ as a last minute plan, and we just finally returned home on Monday. But then, I developed an eye infection and didn't regain my vision again till early this morning. SO, you can probably see how busy I've been, haha.

And a HUGE hug to all those who greeted me a happy birthday and a safe trip! Canada was an absolute blast. We rode a Whirlpool Jetboat into Devil's Hole. Sounds exciting? Give it a look on YouTube. Believe me, it's something that should definitely be on all your bucket lists!

***Now just to provide you folks with a brief recap: Jamie and Mr. Andrews are making their way up to deck. Cora and Joe are still stuck in steerage (or that's what Jamie thinks at least). And the marvelous Jimmy Moody and Harry Lowe are up on deck working with all the other officers.

Marie Delacour's POV (For those who have forgotten the character of little Marie, she had her own POV narrative in Chapter 21…does that ring any bells?)

Chapter 50

"Mummy! Mummy, we have to go back. I forgot Elizabeth!"

We were hurrying up to the first class deck, and I was very, very sleepy. I was also in a bad mood, because mummy refused to go back to get my dear doll. Daddy had given Elizabeth to me when I was very little, and I never went anywhere without her.

"Marie, we've wasted enough time as it is."

"But-but, she's going to be scared all by herself!"

A man ran past me, shoving us to the side. How rude! Humph! I don't why everyone was rushing to deck with these funny-looking white jackets on...perhaps it was a game or something? Maybe the first one to get there would receive a prize!

"Oh nonsense, sweetie," mummy laughed, "Elizabeth is a brave one. Don't you worry about her. We locked up the room, so she'll be safe and sound."

I guess she was right...

Just as I was about to ask her why people were getting into the lifeboats, I saw Jamie!

She was being carried by Mr. Andrews, and rested her head against his shoulder. Oh, when I grow up, I wish to become exactly like her! Jamie was so beautiful and nice, and she didn't need fancy dresses to make her look pretty. All she needed to do was smile, and she could win any boy's heart! But now, when I saw her, I knew something had to be wrong. She was smiling a little, but seemed awfully sad, and kept staring at Mr. Andrews. He was staring at her too, and used one of his fingers to wipe away a tear coursing down her pale face.

I tugged on my mummy's dress, pointing to them excitedly. It was good to see some familiar faces.

"Look! It's Miss Jamie and that kind Irish man, Mr. Andrews!"

"Oh, excellent eyes darling...Mr. Andrews!" my mummy shouted over the crowd. "Sir!"

Hearing her cry, he turned and pushed his way past a few passengers to meet us. Now that he was closer, I could see he looked very similar to Jamie. He wasn't crying, but very much appeared as if he were about to.

"Mrs. Delacour! What are you and Marie still doing here? You both should've been aboard a lifeboat ages ago!"

"Well, you see," mummy continued, "We were terribly confused about what was going on! Everyone was ordered to come out, but as we waited for a rather long time without being told anything more, and didn't see any danger, we went back to our rooms."

His eyes widened as he cradled Jamie closer to him absentmindedly.

"What? Did many return?"

"Oh yes, I'd say a good fifty or more! They all went back for a night's rest. It's very cold outside, sir. Why did they choose such an inopportune time to perform a drill? Everyone's starting to get into a panic over it too-"

Poor Mr. Andrews...he seemed so frustrated.

"Damnit!" he cursed quietly, "Madame, I swore to myself I wouldn't start a panic, but bleeding hell...this isn't a drill. In less than an hour, Titanic will have sunk to the bottom o' thee Atlantic!"

Huh? Oh no! In that case, I REALLY need to get Elizabeth!

Mummy squeezed my hand hard, doing her best to not cry out.

"And there's at least seven hundred more stuck in steerage," Jamie whispered faintly.

He took out a fancy pocket watch, and whispered, "Nearly half past one."

I could tell Mr. Andrews felt scared, just like the rest of us, but he did a very good job at not showing it.

With a tiny smile, he looked over at Jamie. "My dear, do you think you can manage to walk, despite the ankle?"

She immediately nodded and motioned for him to set her down.

"I'm absolutely fine, sir. Y'see?"

Slightly leaning on her other foot, she managed to limp her way to my side.

"Hello, little Marie," she smiled.

"Hi, Jamie."

"Very good, very good," Mr. Andrews grinned sadly. "Alright, ladies...I'm afraid we'll have to part our ways-"

"What! Sir, aren't you coming?" mummy cried.

"Yeah!" I shouted, "The ship is sinking, Mr. Andrews, sir!"

Jamie only remained quiet, gazing at the floor.

Perhaps that's why she had been crying earlier?

"I must go down to steerage and order the gates to be opened," he breathed. "Hopefully it isn't too late already..."

Open the gates? I didn't really understand what he meant by that.

"Mr. Andrews," I questioned, "Why would they lock the passengers up if the ship is sinking? Shouldn't they be helping them instead?"

Looking down at me, he bent forward and tousled my hair.

"Oh Marie, I should've hired children to work on Titanic! Yer absolutely right. Adults can act so peculiar at times. If only everyone thought like you."

Oh, he was such a kind man! I hope he'd be able to get off the ship safely.

Suddenly, I saw my mummy take a step forward, her head raised high.

"I shall come with you, sir."

What?!

"NO! Mummy, no, you can't-you can't! We have to get to a boat!"

Mr. Andrews frowned, nodding in agreement to my outburst.

"Mrs. Delacour, I won't allow such absurdity! You must go with Jamie and yer daughter."

He pushed her back to us, firmly refusing such assistance.

But again, she grasped his arm tightly. "Mr. Andrews, don't be ridiculous. A man can't save seven hundred souls all by himself. You're a marvelous person, sir, but surely, you must understand that you aren't superman!"

"Mummy, you can't leave me! Let me come with you!"

I felt tears streaming down my face. My mummy would leave me, and then I'd be all alone!

She swooped down and wrapped me in a tight hug. I closed my eyes as she ran her fingers through my hair.

"Sweet Marie, my dearest Marie, you must understand that I need to help those people. I have to go. Jamie will take you to the lifeboats. Oh, I love you so much. So very much. Never forget that. I'm only sorry for how I've been acting recently. It's still your old mummy. She's always been here, and she always will."

I'd never heard such sweeter words.

"I-I love you toooo mummy!"

Kissing me on both cheeks, she straightened back up and walked over to Mr. Andrews.

I prayed that this wouldn't be the last time I saw her. Oh papa! Please watch over her, wherever you are up there.

Glancing to my right, I saw that Mr. Andrews and Jamie were saying their farewells too.

After placing a kiss on her forehead, he stood up, but she refused to let go of the embrace.

"My young Jamie, it's time for me to leave."

"I know, sir," she sobbed.

"And it's time for you to let go," he whispered softly.

"It's so hard," she mumbled into his shoulder.

As she said this, he finally began to cry. A single tear rolled down his cheek. It reminded me of earlier tonight when Harry proposed. Why, Mr. Andrews couldn't stop sobbing! The tears he shed could've filled the entire Atlantic.

"Just remember what I told you earlier. Always remember."

She stared into his eyes for a brief moment, and then slowly brought his hand to her lips.

"Thank you, Mr. Andrews. I never thought I'd see my papa again. But in these past four days, I've met him once more...through you."

It was perhaps the saddest thing I've ever heard.

Titanic was supposed to be the ship of dreams, but tonight, it had turned into a nightmare. A terrible, terrible nightmare.

"Take-take care of yerself," he whispered tearfully, "And give Harry my regards too. You have so much to look forward to in yer life. I wish you nothing but happiness for years to come. Don't forget to tell yer children of how amazing a singer I was! I...I love you, Jamie."

After hugging her tightly once again, he turned quickly away and left with my beloved mummy, never taking another glance back.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Anderson," she shouted.

As Jamie nodded, covering her mouth with a trembling hand, I blew her a kiss goodbye.

She smiled and returned the greeting, and then, they turned around a corner, disappearing from our sight.

Jamie took hold of my fist, and did her best to smile.

"Come on, Marie. Let's head outside, shall we?"

After tightening a large black overcoat around her shoulders, she bent down to fasten my little white life jacket, tears still flowing down her face.

"Miss Jamie, please don't cry. We have to stay strong for them."

Gently holding either side of my face, she burst into a soft peal of laughter, a flood of pink coloring her cheeks.

"Yes, sweetie. You're absolutely right."

As we hurried out into the chilly evening air, I couldn't help but think about Mr. Andrews and my mummy as they rushed to rescue the people trapped below.

Even though I felt very sad, I felt a teeny bit happy too.

Because I was proud. Incredibly proud.

Just like Mr. Andrews, my mummy was a hero.