"I can't help but love you
Even though I try not to
I can't help but want you
I know that I'd die without you

I can't help but be wrong in the dark
Cause I'm overcome in this war of hearts
I can't help but want oceans to part
Cause I'm overcome in this war of hearts!"

-Ruelle, War of Hearts

April 14, 1912

Sammy wasn't at breakfast the next morning, and Tommy was worried for the girl he wanted for his sweetheart. He hoped she had just overslept and wasn't avoiding him. Jack and Fabrizio got into the buffet line behind him and the trio grabbed a plate apiece. "Have ya seen Sammy?" Tommy asked the two other men. "Not since the dance last night," Jack. "What're you searchin' her down for?"

"I...well, I said some things to her that I shouldn't have. I expressed an...interest...in her, and well, it didn't go well," he said. "I was thinkin' of takin' her somethin' to eat since she's not here for breakfast."

Jack smiled, understanding. "I think she said she was supposed to be in cabin G58. You might want to check in there," he told his Irishman friend.

So Tommy went back over to the line and fetched a plate for her, being sure to pile it high with fruit, bread, and eggs.

12 noon

The next day, Sammy and Helga woke up feeling about as lively and chipper as the fifth circle of hell. Then she sat up in bed, quick as a flash, hit her head hard, and swore loudly. Frak me, this is it. This is the day the ship will sink.

"Ugh. I've got a hangover!" said Sammy. She still felt awful about her fight with Tommy, and the way she had hurt him.

Someone knocked at the door. Sammy opened it and was met by Tommy. "How did you find me?" she asked, guarded. "Jack told me where yer cabin was," said Tommy. "Got somethin' fer ya." He handed her a plate of food.

Hesitantly, Sammy took it and passed a roll to her friend. Helga slipped out, presumably to go and find Fabrizio, leaving Sammy and Tommy alone together. "Just so's you know, bringing me food isn't going to change my mind. I'm really sorry that I hurt you, but as I said, we have to think about this from a logical standpoint. No one can just fall in love in two days."

"I know. I'm sorry," said Tommy. "I just don't understand why the idea of us scares ya so, is all."

"I don't doubt you meant every word you said last night. But the last time someone said things like that to me, it didn't end well," said Sammy, shuddering at the memory.

"This other fella musta hurt ya. But I wouldn't do a thing like that," said Tommy. "Oh, Sammy, open yer heart to me."

She looked at him then, green eyes full of tears and sadness. She could tell he loved her by now, and she loved him right on back. But she was still scarred by the last time she had let someone love her. She couldn't possibly chance her own personal history repeating itself. She let herself look at the handsome Irishman one last time and uttered:

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The sad and confused look on Tommy's face was too much for her to bear, and she bolted.

Heartbroken, Tommy stared after the quickly retreating back of the girl he loved, wondering what he had done to put her off him.

Jack went in search of Rose and got as far as the second class promenade deck before the stewards there called his bluff. He knew he was falling in love with Rose, and he would never make it into first-class without some help. He had tried earlier that morning and seen for himself.

Jack made his way down the Grand Staircase and saw Mr. Andrews.

"Hello, Mr. Andrews."

"Hello, Jack!"

He heard music and followed the sound, where the first-class people were holding a church service in what normally functioned as the dining room.

"Sir," said the steward at the doorway. "Sir, you're not supposed to be here!"

"I just need to talk to somebody for a second!" Jack protested.

"You're not supposed to be in here!"

Jack tried again. "I was just in here last night. You don't remember me?"

"No sir, I'm afraid I don't. Now you're going to have to turn around!"

"He'll tell you!" Jack said, pointing to Lovejoy, who had just emerged. "Please, I need to speak to Rose for a second."

"Mr. Hockley and Mrs. DeWitt Bukater continue to be appreciative of your assistance," said Lovejoy, who pulled out a ten-dollar bill. "They asked me to, uh, give you this."

"I don't want your money, please-"

"And also to remind you that you hold a third-class ticket and that your presence here is no longer appropriate," Lovejoy continued.

"Please, I just need to speak to Rose for one second. Please!" Jack begged.

"Will you please see that Mr. Dawson gets back where he belongs and that he stays there?" Lovejoy said, handing the ten-dollar bill to the steward, who gladly accepted it. "Yes sir," he said, taking hold of Jack and leading him away. "Come along, you!"

So he went down to steerage and saw Tommy in the dining saloon. "Hey, Jack-o! What's doin'?" the Irishman greeted, trying to mask his own sadness from his American friend. "I need your help. Have you seen Fabrizio and Sammy?"

"Why, what's the problem?" asked Tommy. "I'll explain later," said Jack. "Right now let's go find the others."

So Tommy and Jack split up to go find their friends. Tommy was glad of the opportunity.

He needed to try to understand why Sammy was so afraid of loving him.

As Sammy sat at the Steinway in the third class general room, she began to play the opening chords of The Chairman's Waltz from the film Memoirs of a Geisha. She started with her right hand, playing the main melody softly. Then she got into the accompaniments, this time with a bit more gusto.

She felt at peace when she played. All her fears over the sinking and Tommy simply melted away. Her polished-purple nails lightly brushed the keys, and the icons on her charm bracelet gently clattered against the ivory.

Tommy Ryan was a good man, there was no denying that. He was never anything but polite and gentlemanly to her. Despite declaring his intentions, he never laid a hand on her unless she was okay with it.

Handsome bastard that he is, he must have had a lot of girlfriends in Ireland. I know I love him back. What I don't know is if he, or I for that matter, will survive tonight, she thought.

But the only way out of the sinking was through it. So Sammy squared her shoulders and took a breath, preparing herself for the trauma that was sure to come before long.

Tommy found her at the piano, playing a haunting tune with a sense of urgency. She had a steely determined look in her eyes, and she was angry, her jaw clenched.

"Sammy," he said. Sammy nearly jumped a mile out of her skin. "Jeez, Tommy, you scared the crap out of me!" she yelped.

"Look, I'm sorry. Jack says he needs you and Fabrizio. Won't say why, though," said Tommy.

Sammy gave it a moment's thought. "Fine. But I'm doing this for Jack."

"So let me get this straight. You're gonna try to sneak into first class to see this girl who's like to shatter your heart, who's worth more than the whole steerage class altogether?" Sammy asked Jack.

"This isn't just some crush, Sammy! I'm in love with her!"

"After what, three days? Two? You're out of your mind!" she said, throwing her hands up, frustrated.

Jack gave his friends a pleading look. "Will you guys seriously just help me?" he asked.

Tommy rolled his eyes. "Fine." They followed him up to the gate. "She's a goddess among mortal men, there's no denyin', but she's in another world, Jacky! She's closin' the door! Just forget her!" Tommy argued as they walked through the gate. "Just forget her!"

"He's right, Jack. Like I said that first day, you don't have a chance in hell," said Sammy.

Jack ignored them and sprinted over to the wall separating the swells from the steerage rats. He was going to have them give him a boost over the rail.

Tommy looked at Fabrizio. "He's not bein' logical, I tell ya!"

"Not being logical? He's out of his mother flippin' mind, is what he is!" Sammy said again.

"Amore isn't a-logical," said Fabrizio patiently. He was right. Tommy looked at Sammy expectantly. "Yer the logical one. You talk some sense into this...this madman!"

Sammy felt three sets of eyes drilling holes into her soul and flushed hotly. She hated being under pressure. Ah, frak it, maybe Jack's got the right idea after all.

"I think Jack should follow his heart," she blurted out, surprising herself as well as the others. "I could learn a thing or two from him."

An officer noticed the three of them in first class. "Hey you three, get back where you belong!"

Fabrizio put his hands up defensively. "We go, we go!"

"You've changed yer tune," said Tommy darkly as they made their way back down to steerage. Sammy sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, Tommy, about everything. I was cruel to you. I never should have said any of that. I was out of line, way out of line," she apologized. "Can you forgive me?"

His expression softened to one of love.

"Actually it's me that should be sayin' sorry. I was an idiot. I never should have pushed ya. I do love ya but if you aren't ready for me, I won't pressure ya, I promise," said Tommy.

"But that's the thing, Tommy, I do want this. I just didn't think you would want a girl like me. Relationships need trust, after all," replied Sammy.

"That's bloody mad! Every woman has secrets," he protested. Hesitantly, he slipped his hand into hers and sat down at a table in the general room.

Tommy gently caressed her loose brown waves. His expression softened to one of love, and the duo had their first kiss, and it was soft, passionate, and loving all at one time. She felt so safe in the strong arms of her sweet and loving boyfriend. He won't hurt me or scare me. He loves me.

Instinctively, he wrapped his strong arms around the American girl, raking his hands through her hair and holding her to him.

"Oh, mo ghaol," he murmured in a husky, gruff voice that made her melt inside.

Sammy leaned in, desperate to get closer to him. She loved being held like she was something precious, and to him, she was. His kiss was soft and warm, and he was so gentle and kind to her. She trailed kisses down the soft skin on the back of his neck, inhaling his scent. He shuddered in pleasure, and a low growl escaped his throat.

He smelled wonderful, like soap and smoke and sweat and a few other things that shouldn't have gone together but they did. It was a scent that screamed Tommy.

He kissed her again, this time even slower and gentler than before.

"I love ya, my sweet Sammy."

Sammy sighed in pleasure as she held one of his hands and kissed it. "I love you too, Tommy."

This time she was the one to kiss him, and it was perfect, like fire singing through their souls.

"And why do you have two steering wheels?" Rose asked the captain, who had given her and Ruth a tour of the bridge after the service.

"We really only use this near shore," Mr. Andrews said.

A young ship's officer came up to Captain Smith. "Excuse me, sir, another ice warning. This one's from the Nordam."

Seeing Rose's worried expression, Captain Smith smiled cheerfully. "Oh, not to worry. Quite normal for this time of year. In fact, we're speeding up. I've just ordered the last four boilers lit."

Tommy and Fabrizio gave Jack a boost, and he climbed the rails onto the first-class deck. He swiped a hat and jacket from one of the deck chairs and slicked his hair back a little.

He heard voices and recognized them. He ducked behind a lifeboat.

"Mr. Andrews, I did the sum in my head," Rose observed. "And with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned...forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard."

Mr. Andrews smiled, impressed at Rose's intelligence. "'Bout half, actually. Rose, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type of davits, which can take an extra row of boats inside this one. But it was thought by some that the deck would look too cluttered, so I was overruled," he explained.

Cal scoffed. "Waste of deck space as it is on an unsinkable ship," he said and poked one of the boats with his walking stick.

"Sleep soundly, young Rose. I have built ya a good ship, strong and true. She's all the lifeboat ya need. Just keep heading aft! The next stop will be the engine room!" Mr. Andrews said, nodding for everyone to follow him.

Rose felt someone brush against her and whirled. It was Jack. He pulled her into the gym.

"Jack, this is impossible. I can't see you," Rose said, starting towards the door.

Earlier that morning

Ruth moved swiftly across the room towards Rose, who turned to face her four poster bed and held onto a bedpost, as Ruth began to roughly tighten the corset, making Rose wince in pain. "You are not to see that boy again. Do you understand me?" Ruth asked coldly. "Rose? I forbid it."

"Oh stop it, Mother. You'll give yourself a nosebleed," Rose said tiredly.

Ruth spun her around harshly. "This is not a game! Our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone," Ruth explained.

"Of course I know it's gone. You remind me every day," Rose replied.

"Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name. That name is the only card we have to play," said Ruth. "I don't understand you! It is a fine match with Hockley. It will ensure our survival!"

"How can you put this on my shoulders?" Rose asked her mother in disgust.

"Why are you being so selfish?!" Ruth snapped.

"I'M being selfish?!" Rose snapped back.

Ruth was quiet for a second."Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want?" she whispered, eyes welling with tears. "To see our fine things sold at auction? Our memories scattered to the wind?" she cried, turning and clasping her hand to her mouth.

Rose sighed with a shrug. "It's so unfair..." she remarked.

Ruth turned back to face her daughter. "Of course it's unfair. We're women. Our choices are never easy," she replied, gently kissing Rose's cheek.

"I need to talk to you," Jack begged, grabbing her arm.

"No Jack, no. Jack, I'm engaged. I'm marrying Cal. I love Cal," she told him. Liar!

"Rose, you're no picnic," he told her. "You're a spoiled little brat, even...but under that, you're the most amazingly astounding, wonderful girl...woman... that I've ever known, and..." he admitted.

"Jack I-" Rose cut him off.

"No! Let me try and get this out," Jack pleaded. "You're...you're ama-"

He stopped speaking and looked at her.

"I'm not an idiot. I know how the world works. I've got ten bucks in my pocket, I have nothing to offer you, and I know that. I understand. But I'm too involved now. You jump I jump remember? I can't turn away without knowing you'll be alright," he explained. "That's all that I want."

"Well I'm fine, I'll be fine. Really," Rose reassured him. Liar liar liar!

"Really?" Jack asked. "I don't think so. They've got you trapped, Rose! 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 that I love about you, Rose...that fire is gonna go out," he whispered, caressing her face.

"It's not up to you to save me, Jack," she told him.

"You're right, only you can do that," Jack replied, his expression sad.

Rose brushes his hand away. "I'm going back. Leave me alone," she said and rushed out the door.

Jack swore and went to the bow to think.

I'm an idiot, Rose thought to herself. I didn't mean what I said, any of it.

Once again, she made her way down to third class, where she ran into Tommy and Sammy.

The brown-haired girl looked at her red-headed friend in concern. "Rose? What's wrong?" Sammy asked.

"It's Jack," Rose confessed. Understanding flooded Sammy's face. "He told you he's in love with you, didn't he?"

Rose nodded. "Something to that effect, yes. And I said some truly idiotic things."

Sammy smiled at Rose, determined to comfort her friend. "Rose, for what it's worth, I haven't known Jack much longer than you have. But he's a good guy. He told me about that fiancé of yours, Cal. May I be frank?"

Rose nodded.

"The guy sounds like a total douchebag," she continued. She looked at her more refined friend. "Do you love him?" Sammy asked gently. The other girl nodded again.

"What do I do?" Rose said in desperation.

This time it was Tommy who spoke up. "Sammy and I both thought he was mad, pursuin' a girl so high up on the social ladder. Ya have influence that folk like Sammy and I don't have, Rosie. I think ya should use it to go to him."

"Jack is a good guy. Hell, if I didn't already have Tommy, I'd consider Jack boyfriend goals," said Sammy. Rose wasn't sure what that meant, but she knew Sammy was only trying to help.

"Do you know where I might find Jack?" Rose asked. "Check by the bow," cautioned Sammy. As Rose turned to leave, Sammy whistled. "Hey, Rose?" Sammy called to her, and she turned back. "Follow your heart," Sammy said. She glanced at Tommy and smiled, taking his hand. "I did."

Jack was exactly where Sammy had said he'd be. It was nearly evening, and the sun was setting. "Hello Jack," she said quietly, and Jack turned to face her.

"I changed my mind," she added, walking towards him. "They said you might be up here..." she began.

"Shh. Give me your hand," he said. Rose did so, and he led her closer to the bow.

"Now close your eyes. Go on," Jack instructed. "Now step up," he told her, taking her hand and helping her up onto the platform. "Now hold onto the railing," he said in a voice full of love. "Keep your eyes closed. Don't peek."

"I'm not!"

"Step up onto the rail," he instructed. Rose stepped up onto the bottom rung of the railing, and Jack held her from behind. "Hold on, hold on," he told her, stepping up onto the rail behind her. "Keep your eyes closed! Do you trust me?" Jack asked.

"I trust you."

Jack took both of her arms and spread them out, tenderly holding her hands.

"Open your eyes!" Jack whispered. Rose slowly opened her eyes out to look upon the vast ocean.

"I'm flying!" she gasped. "Jack!"

He hugged Rose tighter and half-whispered, half-sang in her ear.

"Come Josephine in my flying machine going up she goes, up she goes..."

They faced each other then and when Rose saw the love for her in Jack's eyes, she kissed him passionately.

It was the best first kiss of all time.

Author's Note: I really hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it because this is what I already imagined was going through Jack and Rose's heads during the flying at the bow scene.