Chapter Two.Mr Andrews is saved

Dedicated to Victor Garber, who is the real reason Titanic was the ship of dreams.

Thomas Andrews had just finished getting dresses in his suit and tails for dinner.He was dining as usual in first class, but he was trying to make sure he looked his best tonight for Rose.He hardly knew the girl, he didn't know why he was spending all his time thinking about her.He couldn't concentrate even when he sat down to work on his design of the next grand ship he was designing, The Olympic.With the success of the Titanic, he had been made the official designer of the White Star Line, something of an achievement.He had dedicated his whole life to ships, had never married, had no real family, and truthfully, had never missed it.But this girl, this amazing girl came stroming into his life, and he couldn't understand why his thoughts kept on flowing back to her like the river to the sea.He wasn't quite sure how old she was, but she surely must be younger than twenty.He was not a fool.He knew the way the world worked.She was engaged to a very rich, handsome man nine years his junior.All he had to offer Rose was a life spent on the water, but what she could offer him.

He opened the door of his stateroom, and strted off towards the dinner room.There was, at least, no chance of him losing his way on this ship, he had designed her, and knew every one of her passages and halls as well as those in his own house back in England.He nodded to the young steward, Jones at the door, and walked slowly down the stairs to the foot, and was waiting for only a short time, making polite conversation with some of the richer passengers, Bruce Isamy and John Jacob Astor, when he saw Caledon, Rose and her mother walking down the stairs together.

Rose looked up, and there was Mr Andrews.She felt very grateful toward this kindly gentleman for keeping her secret safe. "Rose."He said, bending down to kiss her hand. "Good evening Mr Andrews, I trust I find you well?"Rose couldn't believe she was talikng so formally to a man, treating him as a complete stranger, when just last night, he had saved her life, but this was the way girls of her class were brought up. "Rose, I need to say that I-" "Sweetpea?"Cal interupted Thomas. "Are you coming or not?" "See you at the table". Said Rose, leaving Thomas.

Rose had left, leaving Thomas cursing under his breath. He had nearly told her his feelings for her!What the devil was he thinking? He shook his head, and walked over to the table.Alas, there was no empty seat next to Rose, but their was one directly across from her.A waiter came over and he ordered fillet mignon, and Cal ordered lamb for himself and Rose.His meal arrived, but his fork kept missing his plate.He could not take his eyes of Rose.She was so beautiful.

Ismay stood up. "Gentlemen, care to join me in the somoking room for a brandy?" The men all stood up, except Thomas who was watching Rose laugh into her napkin. "Mr Andrews?Thomas?"J.J called. "Are you coming with us?You're not staying out here with the women are you?"

Them and their blasted brandies. "No, thankyou, gentlemen, I have work to do." "Ahh, yes." Agreed Ismay heartily. "He is designing another little boat of mine at present, one perhaps just as grand as this fine handiwork of his. "You are too kind, Bruce.It was your idea for the Titanic in the first place."Thomas tried to deflect the attention away from him so he could say goodbye to Rose.It worked. "Ah, yes, it was my idea, wasn't it?"Ismay said pompously.The gentlemen left, leaving Thomas and the ladies. "Goodbye, ladies.I was honoured to have your company this evening."He tried to avoid Rose's gaze.Her eyes were just too beautiful and painful to him.

The walk back to his room seemed to take longer than when he was leaving for dinner with Rose.He sat down, and continued work, but after a short time there was a knock on his door.He opened it. "Rose?"