*Six*
A Rushed Proposal
Morning of Saturday, April 13
Lowe looked over the bridge, when he saw Zipper approaching. He held up a finger telling her he'd only be a minute. She smiled, walking over to the railing.
The sun was so bright she had to squint her eyes against it. But she didn't want to turn away. The water was so beautiful. The sunbeams shining like little diamonds on the surface. She fell into deep thought.
A deep sadness overcame her. If she didn't get off this ship, and back to her own time. She'd never see her family and friends again. But if by some miracle Jack and her found the passage back. She would lose Officer Lowe forever. She knew she loved him. But, this wasn't her life.
Footsteps behind her roused her from her daydreams. "What are you thinking about?" She closed her eyes and smiled when she heard that familiar accent. Slowly she turned to the man she loved.
"Harold. Good morning." She smiled.
"God, I love your smile." He laughed a bit. Sometimes he acted so shy. As if he couldn't find the words. Or was afraid of rejection. When there was no way she could ever reject this man.
She leaned back to the rail. Almost giving him the cold shoulder. She fought back the tears. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, and the other on the rail. He could see the little teardrops forming in the brims of her eyelids.
"Michaela? What's wrong?" He instantly braced himself for a brush off, which he was sure would come.
"It's nothing, Mr. Lowe." She tried to smile. But couldn't. The Ship of Dreams had been everything she expected. And more. When she first arrived here, all she felt was fear. And now, knowing the real Officer Harold Lowe. She felt she loved him. She hadn't hoped for love here. But she had in the future. Her dreams were coming true, but she knew they'd end in a nightmare.
"Michaela, you have to talk to me. You were upset last night also." He said. He thought he had done something wrong. As if their attraction to each other wasn't wrong already. Which it was. He knew her family would probably be angry. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked. Sadness consuming his strong voice.
She quickly turned to him. "No! Harold. No. It's just- it's just. My God. You'll think I'm crazy." She began to laugh. "Maybe I am."
He looked at her, a look of uncertainty crossed his handsome features.
"What is it?" He asked in the most soothing voice she had ever heard.
She looked him right in the eyes. "I-I think I love you, Harold. I mean it. I really do."
He was a bit shocked. Had he heard her right? He knew she cared for him, but love? He thought he was the only one who had felt love.
"Then, where is the problem? I think I love you as well, Michaela. I was just too confused and-" He was cut off by her fingertips on his lips.
"No, you can't." She said. Tears spilling over her cheeks again.
He nodded. She knew he meant it.
"That's what I was afraid of…Harold, when I go home, we'll be separated forever." She spoke sadly. She laid her head down on his chest. Crying, unable to hide her emotions. She had broke down with Jack. And now with officer Lowe. She thought she was losing her mind.
"Why do you say this? I'll come to America. I'll move there. Michaela, I just want to be with you. Or why not come to Wales with me?" He asked.
She sobbed out again. Knowing she couldn't tell him the truth. She wanted to so bad that it would hurt. But, not everyone was as optimistic about miracles as Jack was. She knew Lowe would never understand.
"I can't- my family- they'll-" She tried to piece a sentence together to excuse not being able to be with him. She was unable to. She didn't want to lie to him. She had done so enough already.
"Then marry me, Michaela. They can't take you away then." He said.
Her tears stopped at the sound of these words. Had she heard them right? Marriage. Slowly she lifted her head to look into his eyes. They were full of love, seriousness, and understanding. But he didn't understand. When she said she'd have to leave him. She would literally be leaving his world altogether.
They stared at each other a moment longer. He lifted his hand and wiped away a tear from her cheek.
"Will you?" He looked down at her, hopefully.
She pushed away from him. And leaned on the rail again. "This is crazy." She said. She forced a laugh.
He stepped up behind her. "Why so crazy?" He whispered. "I love you."
She knew these words were true. In her mind she thought of Levi. His proposal, he was so nervous. But with Lowe, he was serious and straightforward. He meant it and had no regrets in asking her.
"We've only known each other for twenty-four hours, sir." She said.
"Love knows no time." He said wrapping his arms around her waist. He was thankful Lightoller had said that to him. Because they truly made sense in this instance.
Her hands left the rail to rest on his hands. Which were gently placed on her stomach. "Michaela, will you marry me?" He asked again. This time whispering it in her ear.
Right then and there. She decided this was where she belonged. Her former life was gone. And she had been given this new one. She could accept the changes, as long as Harold Lowe was at her side.
After only a few days of witnessing this splendor, this dream come true. She was ready to forget her other life. And begin a new one. One in which things would be better for her.
She slowly turned her head to him. She pressed her lips to his in the most passion and love filled gesture of her entire life.
When the kiss finally ended she only smiled at him. Telling him with her eyes, that she loved him, and would spend her life with him.
"I take that as a yes?" He asked jokingly.
"You better. Or I'll throw you right over this railing, sir." She teased. She yanked on his arm, as if she would throw him over. His strength over-powered hers, and he pulled her to him.
"You still tease to much." He laughed a little. Then kissed her again.
Their kiss was rudely interrupted by clapping behind them. They both turned still in each other's arms. There was Sixth Officer James Moody, clapping his hands and walking closer.
"Moody? I thought you were asleep." Lowe said, almost embarrassed.
"What? And miss all this? Congratulations, Lowe." He said, extending his hand.
Officer Lowe took his hand in a firm shake. "How did you know so soon?"
"Ah, I've been listening." Moody laughed. "And you miss, I don't believe we've been introduced." He kissed Zipper's hand.
"I'm Michaela Rosenberg." She still wanted to use the name Zipper.
"Pleasure to meet you." He said. Then he turned back to Lowe. "Where have you been hiding this one, Lowe, she's splendid."
Zipper blushed a little, and looked away. She still couldn't believe any of this was happening.
"We only met, just yesterday." Lowe said, almost sheepishly. He didn't know how his friends would react to such a rushed engagement.
Moody laughed a bit. "Wasting no time, eh? So when's the ceremony?"
Lowe thought about it a moment. He wanted to be married at sea, of course, but wasn't sure what Michaela would think of that. She was of upper society and probably wanted a very extravagant wedding.
"Well I was thinking about it being on a ship…" He started. He looked over to Zipper. She turned to him. "How about a ship? Maybe this fall?" He asked pleading with his eyes, that she'd agree.
"A ship would be great! I love the ocean!" She exclaimed.
Well that's good news to hear, Lowe thought to himself.
"Well then it's settled. Be married on Titanic." Moody said. "It's the grandest ship ever. What could possibly be better?"
Again Lowe turned to Zipper. She alone new this ship's fate. But she didn't say anything. She figured if she survived the sinking, they would merely find another ship. She nodded her head. "Well the Titanic is lovely."
They both looked at Officer Moody. He only laughed. "Well why wait? What about this Sunday evening? Captain Smith and perform it. The saloon will already be done up from Sunday morning services."
Zipper jerked her head to Moody then to Lowe then to the bow. Sunday was the 14th. Titanic would sink she was certain. Unless of course she could stop it. But that would be messing with history. She couldn't do that.
"Oh, Miss. It was only a suggestion." Moody said, thinking he had upset her.
She turned back to him, shaking her head. "No. No. It's not that. I just have a lot on my mind. Sunday sounds absolutely wonderful. If that's alright with you, of course, sir." She said looking into Lowe's eyes again.
"It's perfect." He said.
Moody laughed as he stared at the two love-birds. Then he yawned and stretched his arms out. "Well I'm off. Might I suggest you get some rest too, we have watch again tonight, you know." Moody said.
Lowe nodded, watching him walk away, towards his cabin.
Zipper looked at Lowe again. He did look tired. He had been up all night, and had stayed up this morning just to see her. It was the nicest gesture anyone had done for her. Well besides of course Jack listening to her story last night.
Why was it, everything good that had happened in her life was back in time in 1912? She secretly asked herself.
"Go on, you need some sleep." She laughed a little.
He smiled, then kissed her again. He hugged her tightly to him.
"See you tonight?" He asked. He wanted to spend all his time with her. He wished Sunday would come quickly. Then he realized something he had almost forgotten.
"Oh my God." He said in his strong accent.
"What?" She asked puzzled.
"It's Saturday. Tomorrow, you'll be my wife." He looked so happy as he said this to her.
She laughed out, almost rudely. "Yes, you're right." She reached up to kiss him again.
"It will be the best day of our lives." He kissed her again, this time lightly on the cheek.
She watched him leave to go to his room. He needed sleep. If he could sleep from the excitement.
Zipper turned back to the rails. "Yeah, Sunday may be the best day of our lives, but what about everyone else on board?" She asked aloud. Of course she knew she was alone.
This was crazy, she was marrying a man she had only know twenty-four hours. But, of course she felt as though she knew him her whole life. She knew his legends of course. But this was the real man. And she was going to marry him.
What could be wrong with marrying the man you love? You ask. Well it's only a problem, when an iceberg decides to prove everyone wrong. It's only wrong if you know your anniversary would be the anniversary of the greatest tragedy at sea.
