Chapter three: Coming Closer
Once they got out of the dining room, Rosalyn, Ripley and Thomas laughed
out loud.
"Did you see his face?" Ripley asked.
"Yeah!" Rosalyn replied. "He looked at us as if we committed the worst
sin in the world."
Thomas laughed. In his mind, he knew he would later hear it from Ismay,
but he didn't care anymore. If he had to choose between Rosalyn and his
job, he would choose Rosalyn. Then again, there was the problem with
time. He knew they only had two days left. And he would make sure Rosalyn
got off the ship before it sank.
Within minutes, they reached the third class dining hall. The music was
Irish classics, complete with bagpipes and spoons. Most of the chairs and
tables had been moved to the side, save for a few that were used to hold
the drinks.
Thomas, forever being the gentleman, got the drinks. He handed one to
Ripley, one to Rosalyn, and kept one for himself. They raised their
glasses in a toast.
"To the Titanic!" Thomas said.
"To its designer." Rosalyn said, making Thomas blush.
"To the shocked faces of all the assholes back there!" Ripley cried,
making everyone laugh.
They clicked glasses and took a gulp. Rosalyn and Ripley took much longer
gulps than Thomas. He stared at the girls.
"Interesting..." he said.
They all laughed at his comment. A quick tune started up, and Thomas
looked to Rosalyn to dance. She smiled and he took her hand. Swinging her
into his arms, he held her close to him. They went with the flow of the
room as he pulled her around in a quick Irish dance. Ripley just sat
there laughing as she watched Rosalyn stumble.
As the song ended, Rosalyn and Thomas just stood there, waiting for the
next song. As "Danny Boy" started up, Thomas pulled Rosalyn even closer.
They slowly moved around the dance floor. As the song ended, Rosalyn
passed out.
"Rosalyn?!" Thomas asked, panicked.
Ripley ran over to Rosalyn and patted her forehead with a cloth she
grabbed along the way.
"She's just passed out." She told Thomas.
He picked up Rosalyn and took her up to her room. Ripley followed, and
helped him put her in the bed. Thomas turned his back as Ripley took off
her dress and put her into her nightgown. Thomas sat down next to her and
took her hand and stayed with her for the rest of the night.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The next morning Rosalyn woke up to find her hand still in Thomas'. She
slipped it out gently and tiptoed over to the dresser. Her back to
Thomas, she got dressed and walked out of her stateroom and headed to his
room.
She sneaked in with the key he gave her and pulled out the deck plans.
Silently looking over them, she was trying to figure out a way to change
the events to come. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't
notice Ismay come up behind her until it was too late and he had her by
the neck and the waist.
"You don't belong here, Missy." He said, deviously.
"Screw yourself, Ismay." Rosalyn hissed back, quickly angered.
"Ah," Ismay started. "Why screw myself when I can easily get you to do
that?"
As his hands wandered down from her neck to the neckline of her dress,
she kicked his shins. No one would touch her like that. Not without her
permission. As he grabbed at his leg, she got away and hid against the
wall.
"You little whore." Ismay cursed as he ran towards Rosalyn.
Before she could get a scream out, Ismay was upon her and had covered her
mouth with his handkerchief and pulled out another one and tied her hands
behind her back. As she struggled, Ismay kept talking and tying, tying
and talking. About how the fool Andrews didn't deserve a beautiful flower
like this only to let it get wasted.
"Mmmph. MMMM!!!" Rosalyn muffled.
"A bastard am I now? You might want to save your energy, Missy, because
no one can hear you. Not even your precious Thomas."
As he held her eyes with a fierce hunger, he took his hands to her
neckline again and pulled down swiftly. It was at a moment like that when
Rosalyn was glad that she was wearing a corset. More work, and more time
for help to come.
As he teared at her corset, Rosalyn had her hands behind her back trying
to hit the bell for the steward. It was only a few inches away. If she
could just get Ismay to push her a little bit more...
"You aren't the only one who can have third-class pleasures... I used to be
one of them... In some ways I still am... GODDAMN THESE CORSETS!"
Rosalyn pushed forward, and to her expectance, Ismay pushed her back
harder and further, just far enough to hit the call button. Now all she
had to do was keep Ismay's greasy palms off of her. She squirmed and
jerked, but he held fast. She hoped her corset could hold just a little
longer...
Then, to her horror, Ismay pulled out a pocketknife. Snapping it open, he
sliced up the corset just as the doors burst open and Will Murdoch ran
in.
"Rosalyn!!" he cried.
Will ran to Ismay and pulled him off. They wrestled to try and gain
control of the knife. Will, with his sailor's brawn, won and held it to
Ismay's throat.
"You slimy bastard..." He gasped.
The next people to run in were Thomas, Ripley and Captain Smith. Thomas
immediately ran to Rosalyn and ungagged her and untied her hands and
slipped his coat about her arms.
"Are you alright?" He asked concernedly.
Rosalyn did nothing but nod and stare down at Ismay with immense hatred.
But not as much hatred as Ripley showed. She was murderous. She lunged at
Ismay and began punching him and taking him by the throat and slamming
his head against the floor.
"Miss... You really should stop..." Will said without making a move towards
the two.
Ripley did let up, but sat on his chest so he couldn't move. They waited
until the Master-at-arms came and put Ismay in handcuffs.
"Miss, are you alright?" a concerned Smith asked Rosalyn.
Rosalyn managed a feeble smile and replied, "Yes, thank you captain. If
Will hadn't come..."
Rosalyn looked over to a beat-up Will and smiled and looked at him with
the deepest gratitude. She then walked out of Thomas' grip and hugged
Will.
"Thank you, Will..." She whispered into his ear.
He hugged her back and kissed her cheek. Then him and Smith and the
master-at-arms walked out. Once they were out, panic filled both Ripley
and Thomas.
"Why did you leave without telling me??" Ripley exclaimed.
"Or me! I was right there. You should have told me you were leaving. Or
Ripley. Or both of us! Can't you think what would have happened if Will
didn't come when he did?" Thomas cried.
Rosalyn looked Thomas in the eyes and noticed they were watered over.
He's crying because of me...She thought. He was worried...
"I'm sorry..." She whispered. "I wanted to prevent the ship from sinking,
so I came here to look at the plans. You both don't understand... I love
this ship... And being on it makes that love only fiercer. Nothing could
tear me away from this ship. Or you Thomas. I love you both."
Thomas could do nothing but hug her tightly. Ripley left the room to get
her a new dress and corset. While walking out the door, she noticed Will
standing in the hall next to the doorway. He was openly crying, and
Ripley guessed it wasn't just from worry.
"Will..." Ripley started.
"No..." He said, wiping away the tears. "I know you guys told me that she
came here for him. But I thought... I thought if I just proved myself to
her, if I showed her that I could take care of her, that she would love
me. But she came here loving him. She loved him before she even knew
him..."
Shaking his head, he turned and walked away. Ripley stared after him,
feeling not only sorry for him, but also something else. Something she
wouldn't admit to anyone. Not yet.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Later, at dinner, Rosalyn had to deal with everyone asking her about what
happened. She quickly learned that news quickly spreads through a small
ocean liner. Trying to avoid most people, she ate and excused herself
early. As she stood up, Thomas took her hand.
"You want me to come with you?" He asked.
Rosalyn shook her head. "I'll be fine. I'm heading to the bow."
As she walked out to the bow, she stared up at the stars. She imagined
that this was what it looked like, back then...Or now... Whenever...She walked
up to the very bow and placed her hands gently on the railing. To imagine
this at the bottom of the Atlantic was horrifying. She couldn't believe
that something like this would sink.
Quickly tired of the bow, she walked inside. Deciding to take her anger
about the ship sinking, she walked to the master-at-arms office.
"Can I help you, Miss?" the master asked.
"I'm here to see Ismay. In handcuffs please. And tied to something."
Rosalyn replied.
The master-at-arms nodded and walked into the next room. Rosalyn could
hear him talking to Ismay. Moments later, he came out and nodded,
signaling that she could go in. Cautiously she walked in.
Tied to a pipe was Ismay. He looked pretty beaten up, courtesy of Ripley
and Will. His greasy hair was tousled and his shirt was bloody. He looked
at Rosalyn with a look full of lust.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in..." he snickered.
Rosalyn simply looked at him. "Mr. Ismay, have you ever seen Les
Miserables?"
"Of course I have!" Ismay said. "Who hasn't?"
Rosalyn ignored his comment and continued. "So you would be familiar with
the character Javert. You should remember him... Royal pain in the
ass...Never leaves people alone...ends up losing in the end... Remind you of
anyone?"
Ismay spat at her feet. She simply smirked. Then her expression went
solemn.
"Why did you do it?" She simply asked.
"Why not?" He said. "You were there. You entice me. You shouldn't have
flirted with me."
"Flirted?! I never flirted with scum like you." Rosalyn replied,
disgusted.
Ismay smirked. "Oh yes, you did. You smiled and gave me your full name. I
could even see Andrews was jealous. And that's hard to do."
"He needn't be jealous. The only one who should be jealous is you."
"Ah," He started. "That I am. I am insanely jealous. But I tell you this.
I will have you. No matter when or where, I will have you. That I swear
on this ship."
Rosalyn looked at him with sincere disdain. "That's were you're wrong
Ismay. The only one who will ever have me is Thomas. That I swear."
The door opened and Rosalyn turned around. Rushing in was Thomas.
"I thought you said you were going to be at the bow?" He asked
concernedly.
She looked at him solemnly. "I had business to finish. I'm sorry..."
Thomas took her hand and led her out of the room. They walked without a
word until they got to his stateroom. He pulled his key out and unlocked
the door, motioning for her to go in first.
"Thomas..." Rosalyn started.
"Look," Thomas said. "I love you. More than anything else. I know I had
my wife and my daughter.... But I also know I will never see them again. I
had accepted that, and I got on with this so-called life. I was content
with living without anyone else. Then you came. You turned my life upside
down. And made me fall in love again. I don't know how long it will last,
but I want to make it last forever. Or as long as we're allotted. I don't
want to lose you too soon to Ismay. That's why I seem to get so angry. I
get worried when I don't find you where you said you'd be. When I woke up
that morning... I just figured that you went for a walk. Then I got the
call saying someone was in my stateroom, and put two and two together,
and guessed you'd be in trouble. After that... I didn't, and still don't,
want you left alone. Whenever I see you elsewhere, I think 'Oh my god,
does Ismay have her again?'. I don't want to risk you."
He looked down, trying to hide his tears. She lifted his chin and wiped
them away.
"I love you Thomas. Nothing can stop that. I promise I won't go off
again. I promise."
He looked down at her with lovingness in his eyes. He pulled her slightly
closer until their lips touched ever so slightly.
"I love you." Thomas whispered against her lips.
Rosalyn placed her hand on the nape of his neck and pulled him closer. He
pressed his lips against hers, wanting to drink her in. After a moment,
he changed the angle of the kiss. Before they got in too deep, he
separated from her, leaving his forehead against hers.
Rosalyn touched her fingers to her lips, which were still tingling. She
had never kissed a guy and actually meant it. Not like that.
"We should get some sleep..." Thomas whispered, a breath away from her
lips.
"Yeah... I'd better go, before Ripley starts to get into the 'Mother
mode'." She replied regretfully.
"Or...you could spend the night here..." Thomas suggested.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" Rosalyn asked teasingly.
"No..." Thomas replied. "Just because we are sleeping in the same bed
doesn't mean we're sleeping together. They are totally different..."
Rosalyn laughed. "I guess that should be alright."
He took her hand and led her to the bed and pulled back the covers. He
laid down, her following. He laid his hand over her waist and pulled her
closely. His head was placed gently against her head, so she could hear
him breathing. It was that sound of the man she loved that she fell
asleep to.
Once they got out of the dining room, Rosalyn, Ripley and Thomas laughed
out loud.
"Did you see his face?" Ripley asked.
"Yeah!" Rosalyn replied. "He looked at us as if we committed the worst
sin in the world."
Thomas laughed. In his mind, he knew he would later hear it from Ismay,
but he didn't care anymore. If he had to choose between Rosalyn and his
job, he would choose Rosalyn. Then again, there was the problem with
time. He knew they only had two days left. And he would make sure Rosalyn
got off the ship before it sank.
Within minutes, they reached the third class dining hall. The music was
Irish classics, complete with bagpipes and spoons. Most of the chairs and
tables had been moved to the side, save for a few that were used to hold
the drinks.
Thomas, forever being the gentleman, got the drinks. He handed one to
Ripley, one to Rosalyn, and kept one for himself. They raised their
glasses in a toast.
"To the Titanic!" Thomas said.
"To its designer." Rosalyn said, making Thomas blush.
"To the shocked faces of all the assholes back there!" Ripley cried,
making everyone laugh.
They clicked glasses and took a gulp. Rosalyn and Ripley took much longer
gulps than Thomas. He stared at the girls.
"Interesting..." he said.
They all laughed at his comment. A quick tune started up, and Thomas
looked to Rosalyn to dance. She smiled and he took her hand. Swinging her
into his arms, he held her close to him. They went with the flow of the
room as he pulled her around in a quick Irish dance. Ripley just sat
there laughing as she watched Rosalyn stumble.
As the song ended, Rosalyn and Thomas just stood there, waiting for the
next song. As "Danny Boy" started up, Thomas pulled Rosalyn even closer.
They slowly moved around the dance floor. As the song ended, Rosalyn
passed out.
"Rosalyn?!" Thomas asked, panicked.
Ripley ran over to Rosalyn and patted her forehead with a cloth she
grabbed along the way.
"She's just passed out." She told Thomas.
He picked up Rosalyn and took her up to her room. Ripley followed, and
helped him put her in the bed. Thomas turned his back as Ripley took off
her dress and put her into her nightgown. Thomas sat down next to her and
took her hand and stayed with her for the rest of the night.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The next morning Rosalyn woke up to find her hand still in Thomas'. She
slipped it out gently and tiptoed over to the dresser. Her back to
Thomas, she got dressed and walked out of her stateroom and headed to his
room.
She sneaked in with the key he gave her and pulled out the deck plans.
Silently looking over them, she was trying to figure out a way to change
the events to come. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't
notice Ismay come up behind her until it was too late and he had her by
the neck and the waist.
"You don't belong here, Missy." He said, deviously.
"Screw yourself, Ismay." Rosalyn hissed back, quickly angered.
"Ah," Ismay started. "Why screw myself when I can easily get you to do
that?"
As his hands wandered down from her neck to the neckline of her dress,
she kicked his shins. No one would touch her like that. Not without her
permission. As he grabbed at his leg, she got away and hid against the
wall.
"You little whore." Ismay cursed as he ran towards Rosalyn.
Before she could get a scream out, Ismay was upon her and had covered her
mouth with his handkerchief and pulled out another one and tied her hands
behind her back. As she struggled, Ismay kept talking and tying, tying
and talking. About how the fool Andrews didn't deserve a beautiful flower
like this only to let it get wasted.
"Mmmph. MMMM!!!" Rosalyn muffled.
"A bastard am I now? You might want to save your energy, Missy, because
no one can hear you. Not even your precious Thomas."
As he held her eyes with a fierce hunger, he took his hands to her
neckline again and pulled down swiftly. It was at a moment like that when
Rosalyn was glad that she was wearing a corset. More work, and more time
for help to come.
As he teared at her corset, Rosalyn had her hands behind her back trying
to hit the bell for the steward. It was only a few inches away. If she
could just get Ismay to push her a little bit more...
"You aren't the only one who can have third-class pleasures... I used to be
one of them... In some ways I still am... GODDAMN THESE CORSETS!"
Rosalyn pushed forward, and to her expectance, Ismay pushed her back
harder and further, just far enough to hit the call button. Now all she
had to do was keep Ismay's greasy palms off of her. She squirmed and
jerked, but he held fast. She hoped her corset could hold just a little
longer...
Then, to her horror, Ismay pulled out a pocketknife. Snapping it open, he
sliced up the corset just as the doors burst open and Will Murdoch ran
in.
"Rosalyn!!" he cried.
Will ran to Ismay and pulled him off. They wrestled to try and gain
control of the knife. Will, with his sailor's brawn, won and held it to
Ismay's throat.
"You slimy bastard..." He gasped.
The next people to run in were Thomas, Ripley and Captain Smith. Thomas
immediately ran to Rosalyn and ungagged her and untied her hands and
slipped his coat about her arms.
"Are you alright?" He asked concernedly.
Rosalyn did nothing but nod and stare down at Ismay with immense hatred.
But not as much hatred as Ripley showed. She was murderous. She lunged at
Ismay and began punching him and taking him by the throat and slamming
his head against the floor.
"Miss... You really should stop..." Will said without making a move towards
the two.
Ripley did let up, but sat on his chest so he couldn't move. They waited
until the Master-at-arms came and put Ismay in handcuffs.
"Miss, are you alright?" a concerned Smith asked Rosalyn.
Rosalyn managed a feeble smile and replied, "Yes, thank you captain. If
Will hadn't come..."
Rosalyn looked over to a beat-up Will and smiled and looked at him with
the deepest gratitude. She then walked out of Thomas' grip and hugged
Will.
"Thank you, Will..." She whispered into his ear.
He hugged her back and kissed her cheek. Then him and Smith and the
master-at-arms walked out. Once they were out, panic filled both Ripley
and Thomas.
"Why did you leave without telling me??" Ripley exclaimed.
"Or me! I was right there. You should have told me you were leaving. Or
Ripley. Or both of us! Can't you think what would have happened if Will
didn't come when he did?" Thomas cried.
Rosalyn looked Thomas in the eyes and noticed they were watered over.
He's crying because of me...She thought. He was worried...
"I'm sorry..." She whispered. "I wanted to prevent the ship from sinking,
so I came here to look at the plans. You both don't understand... I love
this ship... And being on it makes that love only fiercer. Nothing could
tear me away from this ship. Or you Thomas. I love you both."
Thomas could do nothing but hug her tightly. Ripley left the room to get
her a new dress and corset. While walking out the door, she noticed Will
standing in the hall next to the doorway. He was openly crying, and
Ripley guessed it wasn't just from worry.
"Will..." Ripley started.
"No..." He said, wiping away the tears. "I know you guys told me that she
came here for him. But I thought... I thought if I just proved myself to
her, if I showed her that I could take care of her, that she would love
me. But she came here loving him. She loved him before she even knew
him..."
Shaking his head, he turned and walked away. Ripley stared after him,
feeling not only sorry for him, but also something else. Something she
wouldn't admit to anyone. Not yet.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Later, at dinner, Rosalyn had to deal with everyone asking her about what
happened. She quickly learned that news quickly spreads through a small
ocean liner. Trying to avoid most people, she ate and excused herself
early. As she stood up, Thomas took her hand.
"You want me to come with you?" He asked.
Rosalyn shook her head. "I'll be fine. I'm heading to the bow."
As she walked out to the bow, she stared up at the stars. She imagined
that this was what it looked like, back then...Or now... Whenever...She walked
up to the very bow and placed her hands gently on the railing. To imagine
this at the bottom of the Atlantic was horrifying. She couldn't believe
that something like this would sink.
Quickly tired of the bow, she walked inside. Deciding to take her anger
about the ship sinking, she walked to the master-at-arms office.
"Can I help you, Miss?" the master asked.
"I'm here to see Ismay. In handcuffs please. And tied to something."
Rosalyn replied.
The master-at-arms nodded and walked into the next room. Rosalyn could
hear him talking to Ismay. Moments later, he came out and nodded,
signaling that she could go in. Cautiously she walked in.
Tied to a pipe was Ismay. He looked pretty beaten up, courtesy of Ripley
and Will. His greasy hair was tousled and his shirt was bloody. He looked
at Rosalyn with a look full of lust.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in..." he snickered.
Rosalyn simply looked at him. "Mr. Ismay, have you ever seen Les
Miserables?"
"Of course I have!" Ismay said. "Who hasn't?"
Rosalyn ignored his comment and continued. "So you would be familiar with
the character Javert. You should remember him... Royal pain in the
ass...Never leaves people alone...ends up losing in the end... Remind you of
anyone?"
Ismay spat at her feet. She simply smirked. Then her expression went
solemn.
"Why did you do it?" She simply asked.
"Why not?" He said. "You were there. You entice me. You shouldn't have
flirted with me."
"Flirted?! I never flirted with scum like you." Rosalyn replied,
disgusted.
Ismay smirked. "Oh yes, you did. You smiled and gave me your full name. I
could even see Andrews was jealous. And that's hard to do."
"He needn't be jealous. The only one who should be jealous is you."
"Ah," He started. "That I am. I am insanely jealous. But I tell you this.
I will have you. No matter when or where, I will have you. That I swear
on this ship."
Rosalyn looked at him with sincere disdain. "That's were you're wrong
Ismay. The only one who will ever have me is Thomas. That I swear."
The door opened and Rosalyn turned around. Rushing in was Thomas.
"I thought you said you were going to be at the bow?" He asked
concernedly.
She looked at him solemnly. "I had business to finish. I'm sorry..."
Thomas took her hand and led her out of the room. They walked without a
word until they got to his stateroom. He pulled his key out and unlocked
the door, motioning for her to go in first.
"Thomas..." Rosalyn started.
"Look," Thomas said. "I love you. More than anything else. I know I had
my wife and my daughter.... But I also know I will never see them again. I
had accepted that, and I got on with this so-called life. I was content
with living without anyone else. Then you came. You turned my life upside
down. And made me fall in love again. I don't know how long it will last,
but I want to make it last forever. Or as long as we're allotted. I don't
want to lose you too soon to Ismay. That's why I seem to get so angry. I
get worried when I don't find you where you said you'd be. When I woke up
that morning... I just figured that you went for a walk. Then I got the
call saying someone was in my stateroom, and put two and two together,
and guessed you'd be in trouble. After that... I didn't, and still don't,
want you left alone. Whenever I see you elsewhere, I think 'Oh my god,
does Ismay have her again?'. I don't want to risk you."
He looked down, trying to hide his tears. She lifted his chin and wiped
them away.
"I love you Thomas. Nothing can stop that. I promise I won't go off
again. I promise."
He looked down at her with lovingness in his eyes. He pulled her slightly
closer until their lips touched ever so slightly.
"I love you." Thomas whispered against her lips.
Rosalyn placed her hand on the nape of his neck and pulled him closer. He
pressed his lips against hers, wanting to drink her in. After a moment,
he changed the angle of the kiss. Before they got in too deep, he
separated from her, leaving his forehead against hers.
Rosalyn touched her fingers to her lips, which were still tingling. She
had never kissed a guy and actually meant it. Not like that.
"We should get some sleep..." Thomas whispered, a breath away from her
lips.
"Yeah... I'd better go, before Ripley starts to get into the 'Mother
mode'." She replied regretfully.
"Or...you could spend the night here..." Thomas suggested.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" Rosalyn asked teasingly.
"No..." Thomas replied. "Just because we are sleeping in the same bed
doesn't mean we're sleeping together. They are totally different..."
Rosalyn laughed. "I guess that should be alright."
He took her hand and led her to the bed and pulled back the covers. He
laid down, her following. He laid his hand over her waist and pulled her
closely. His head was placed gently against her head, so she could hear
him breathing. It was that sound of the man she loved that she fell
asleep to.