*Eight*

The Real Caledon Hockley

Zipper slammed the suite door closed behind her. She leaned against the cool, polished wood. Immediately Frank stood in front of her.

"What's wrong, Miss. Michaela?" He asked. Ready to fight for her. Ready to do anything for her.

"Nothing, just that DeWitt Bukater woman. God, she is so- Argh! I don't even know. I just hate her!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, I feel the same way about her." He said so seriously.

His stern expression made Zipper laugh out. "I guess I acted a bit childish. Chewing her out like that. But, she was making fun of Officer Lowe and Jack."

"Well, I'm sure she deserved it." He laughed.

She hugged him. Thankful that he was some comfort. She was growing to like him. He was probably around fifty years of age, and he was so strict looking. But she knew his kindness.

She inwardly hoped her family would still keep him on, even after she moved out. Of wherever she lived, she thought to herself.

"Well, I'm going for some coffee. Can I bring you anything back?" He asked.

"No, thank you. I'm just going to do some reading I think." She said.

He nodded, "Well in that case, I think I'll also have a cigar in the smoking room. I'll be back later." He quietly departed the room.

She sighed and walked over to the divan, flopping down on it. Grateful she could drop the lady act for a moment. She stared at the mantle for a long while. Just thinking. Thinking about everything.

She started to miss her friends back in 2003. Especially Amber. She may have been mean to her. Wanting her to drop the Titanic obsession. But truly they were like sisters. And they always would be. Even if Amber doesn't remember her or, Zipper never makes it home.

A knock at the door woke her from her daydreams. She rolled her eyes, and put the lady act back on. She politely stood. And slowly made her way to the door.

Cal waited patiently until he was greeted by Zipper. "Hello, Michaela. I just wanted to apologize for Ruth's questioning, and ill remarks."

She believed him right away. He had a way of making things believable.

"It's fine, Mr. Hockley. I reacted bad as well." She said. She opened the door full. "Won't you come in?"

He smiled, and stepped forward.

"Have a seat." She offered.

He sat down on the divan. She picked up two wine glasses and the chilled bottle of champagne from the side table.

She sat down next to him. She started to pour the champagne.

"Allow me." He smiled, and took the bottle from her. "I also want to apologize for my remarks to Mr. Dawson. They were uncalled for really."

She was a bit shocked to hear this apology, but again she believed him. In her old life, everyone hated this man. She always tried to be fair with him. Try to know the real Caledon Hockley. Even when he seemed so arrogant and conceited.

"It's fine, Mr. Hockley. I don't think Jack minded anyway." She said, taking the glass as he handed it to her.

"Well, just the same. I was being rude." He took a drink of the champagne. "You like him don't you?"

"Jack?" She questioned.

He nodded.

"Well, I actually only met him yesterday. But he's been the nicest to me. Well except Rose and Officer Lowe of course. So we've become fast friends." She replied.

He was a bit angry and hurt that she hadn't thought he was being nice. Of course he had been rude to her in the hall earlier that evening.

"I'm also sorry for my rude behavior in the corridor, earlier." He said seriously.

She shook her head. "No, Mr. Hockley. It's fine. It was just a bit unexpected is all." She lied. She had hated the kiss. But he was being kind to her now. So she wanted to be kind to him. She trusted him. Even though in her memory of the movie, she knew how angry and possessive he could get.

"So. Anyway, you are still coming to my wedding, right?" She asked. She wanted him to. She wanted them to be friends.

"Michaela, about that…" He trailed off. He glanced at the wall clock. Though, Zipper didn't see him do this. "I think you should think about this."

"What's there to think about, Mr. Hockley?" She asked politely. "I love Harold."

He nodded. "Oh, I know. But I wonder-" He paused.

"Wonder what, Mr. Hockley?" She thought he was starting to act strange. But she figured it was still the fact that she was marrying an officer. When she should be marrying a rich man. Like Cal.

"I only wonder if he really loves you." He stared into her eyes.

She squinted in confusion. "Excuse me, Sir. But what would make you think of a thing like that?"

"Listen, I didn't want to be the one to tell you this. But I would hate to see you get hurt." He said, his voice a caring tone.

"Why would I get hurt? Mr. Hockley? What are you trying to say?" She asked.

He sat his glass down. Then leaned back on the divan. As if he was thinking of whether or not he should tell her what he knew.

"Mr. Hockley?" She asked again.

He politely cleared his throat. "It's just something I happened to see…" He trailed off again.

"Which was?" Her voice becoming nervous. Why was he acting like this? And why did he care so much about her future marriage.

"Come on." He motioned for her to follow him. He led the way to the first-class promenade deck.

He took her by the hand, leading the way outside. They walked together over to the rail. He glanced up and down the lower deck.

"There." He pointed towards the bow.

Zipper slowly approached the rail. Her breath caught in her throat.

"I'm sorry, Michaela." He whispered. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

She stared at Officer Lowe. Only he wasn't alone. A woman, appearing to be from third-class, was beside him. They were leaning over the rail together. His arm wrapped tightly around her. Then it looked like she jumped, possibly from fright or something. Lowe looked to be laughing as he hugged her.

Zipper felt a knot rising in her throat. How could he be doing this to her? She asked herself. She felt the warmth of Cal's hand rubbing her shoulder. Though, nothing could warm the cold that had just swept her heart.

She turned to Cal, unable to hold in the tears any longer. "Why?" She asked, still trying to fight back the tears. But she couldn't. Cal looked at her sympathetically.

"It'll be alright." He whispered.

"No, it won't." She continued to cry. She clenched Cal's jacket lapel in her fist. Crying into the collar of his shirt.

"Michaela, listen to me." He made her lift her head, holding onto her shoulders. "You can do better than him. Look at you. You're beautiful, smart, wealthy. You'd make any man happy by being his wife. Officer Lowe doesn't deserve you."

She shook her head, trying to understand him. And see that he was right. But she couldn't, she loved Lowe. "But, I love him, Mr. Hockley."

"I know." He said sadly, trying to sound as caring as possible. "But that'll pass."

He wrapped an arm around her and began to lead her back inside. The night air was extremely chilly. And neither of them wore over coats.

"Let's get you back inside." He said in a soft voice.

She nodded, calming down some. She looked towards the bow again. The two still stood together. Very close.

She felt the tears rising again. At least she hadn't had to witness this alone. She silently said to herself.

Cal also looked towards the couple. He smiled to himself. And hugged Zipper tighter to him.

When they made it back to the cabin, Frank still hadn't returned.

"You can still come in, Mr. Hockley." She spoke softly when she saw he waited in the doorway. Not knowing whether or not she wanted him to stay.

"Please, won't you call me Cal?" He asked smiling.

"Alright, Cal." She forced a smile. But of course it was fake.

They sat on the divan again. She wanted to just down the entire bottle of champagne, maybe that would numb the pain. But she decided against it. She still needed to talk to Rose and Jack at the party, if she could. At that moment, she only felt alone.

Then she looked over to Cal, who sat very close to her. Still trying to comfort her.

"What are my parents going to think? First I write them telling them I need their permission to marry the man I love. Then that same man, does something like this. What am I supposed to do? What are they going to think?" She asked.

Cal thought about it a long moment. "Well, I'm sure they wanted better for you anyway."

She moved closer to him. "I guess I should thank you for bringing this to my attention." She cleared her throat. And wiped the tears from her eyes, with a lace handkerchief.

"Like I said, I don't want to see you get hurt. I'm sorry it had to be so close to the wedding day…"

"Well, when you've only been engaged nine hours, I guess it shouldn't be so bad, right?" She asked.

"Right. There's the spirit. Forget about it, and remember, there are plenty other men out there, who would kill to have you." He said, he wrapped his arm around her comfortingly again.

"Yeah, but it hurts so much." She said, she laid her head down on his chest. Feeling the tears rising again.

He held her to him tighter now. Smiling to himself. At least he was gaining her trust and friendship.

"I know it hurts. But it can only get better." He looked down at her. When finally she raised her eyes to his.

She knew she was rebounding. But something felt right with Cal. She raised up and kissed him lightly on the lips. Then she pulled away. "I'm sorry, Rose… would. She's… my friend." She said, knowing she didn't want Rose with Cal anyway. Rose loved Jack. And that's who she should be with. "You're engaged. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He whispered. And kissed her. She welcomed his kiss.

Their kisses quickly became that of passion. And she, for the moment, forgot about Officer Lowe's escapades with that steerage woman.

Cal trailed his hand down her back to the strings of her gown. She stood pulling him up with her, not breaking the kiss. She started to push him backwards, towards her room. Her hands went under his tuxedo jacket. Slipping it from his shoulders. Finally the kiss broke. She looked at him, not knowing she was going to actually fall for him. But, she was. Just like her obsession in her other life, another dream coming true.

She took his hand, and led him to her bedroom. Frank would surely be angry if caught them. So it only seemed suitable for their actions to be behind closed doors.

Cal closed the bedroom door behind him. Taking her in his arms again. Kissing her deeply, and fighting with the strings of her dress. She still wore the evening gown, as she had to dinner. Which had complex lacing up the spine of it.

Finally she reached behind her and helped him with the laces. Once they were free of the burden of clothes, he sat her on the bed. Still kissing her. She laid back welcoming his weight on top of her.

She knew it was wrong. She knew how this was bound to end. In another heartbreak. He was engaged, and she was in love with Officer Lowe. She also knew she was changing the history books, and the movie. But it felt right to her. So that night, she got to know the real Caledon Hockley, or so she thought.