Whew! I've got two chapters for you guys…TA DA!

Thanks for all your reviews, I loved each and everyone of them, as I always do!

I decided to call this Chapter 36 since technically Chapter 35 was the family tree. Originally 36 and 37 were one chapter but with the hearings it got to be too long so I separated them. I'm putting the finishing touches on 37 right now and hope to have it up soon : )

Chapter 36

April 20, 1912

I woke up the next morning in an uncomfortable position on the sofa in my room; a blanket was tied in a knot around my left leg and there was a dull cramp in my neck. I got up and stretched and wiped the sleep out of my eyes and looked over to the bed and saw that Rose was still fast asleep.

I couldn't bring myself to turn her away last night knowing that she could end up on some park bench, so I was a gentleman and graciously gave her my bed while I took the sofa. It was around midnight, well after she had gone to sleep that I seriously regretted my decision, the sofa was too narrow and too short to offer me any kind of rest and I nearly thought "To hell with it" and got into the bed anyway, but I held myself back. This only went to show that my mother had done her job well when raising me.

"Rose." I shook her softly, trying my best not to startle her awake. It took a moment but her eyes finally opened and she looked around the room looking lost for a moment and then to me where she remembered where she was.

"What time is it?" she asked yawning.

"Around 6."

"Oh God, I'm so sorry." she got up and swung her feet off the bed, "You probably have to go to those hearings today don't you?"

I sat down next to her on the bed, "I'm not going until this afternoon. Where are you going to go?"

She rubbed her eyes and replied that she was heading to the train station. "I think I'll just see where the wind carries me. I had a dream about California last night…have you ever been there?"

I shook my head, "No, I haven't."

She sighed, "This time yesterday I felt so lost and alone but after talking with you I feel so much better. I feel as if I could take on the world…just me, no one else."

"The world has no idea what it's in for."

She laughed, her face lighting up and washing away the pallor that had covered it the night before. She began to resemble the girl I had met on the Titanic and it was a welcome change.

"So what are you going to do, Mr. Lowe? Wisk my cousin off to some far away country and marry her in secret and have lots of babies?'

I laughed nervously, "Let's not get carried away, I still haven't met this Nan of hers yet."

She smiled, "I'd forgotten she called her that."

"Didn't you?"

"No," she replied shaking her head, "Only Sarah. She's always been 'Grandmother' to me. If you treat her as if she's the queen of the universe she'll love you."

"Queen of the universe? I think I can do that. It's her grandfather I'm really worried about though."

She frowned, "I don't know what to tell you about that." she paused and then placed her hand on top of mine, "Don't worry."

I sneered at her comment, "That's not something I expected to here from you. You're the one who's been telling me I should be concerned about everything."

"Please let's not dwell on that. As long as Sarah doesn't know about me you two will be fine, granted the road isn't going to be easy, but you'll eventually get there."

I wanted to ask if she thought it would have been the same for her and Jack, but thought it to be soon to bring up something like that.

She left a few minutes later; with my well wishes and parents address in Wales and White Star Lines, just in case she ever needed to get in touch with me.

"Won't people get suspicious if you get letters from an unknown woman?"

"People should learn to mind their own business."

"What about Sarah?"

I hesitated then answered, "Don't worry about that."

It killed me to say that. I had never given Sarah a reason not to trust me, but here I was doing the most untrustworthy thing I could do to her; harboring her 'dead' cousins secret.

God, forgive me. I thought as I watched Rose put the scarf back over her head to hide her identity and then bid her good-bye. I shut the door and then went about getting ready for the day, pushing down the bad feeling I had about Sarah and hoping that if she ever did find out she would be able to forgive me.

Meanwhile…

The hearings being held in the hotel were closed off to the public, only senate members and other influential government officials were allowed in and of course my Grandfather being the man he is was part of that group.

At breakfast the next morning he greeted me with his usual grim greeting, but as soon as I sat down he put down his paper and looked me over, "I'm not sure I like your choice in attire this morning, Sarah."

I looked down at the dress I was wearing; black of course with a high white color, "Grandfather, what's wrong with it?"

"Nothing if you were just planning on spending the day at home, but I plan on attending the hearings this afternoon and you will there beside me and I want you looking your best."

"I'm not sure I understand." I replied as Nora came around and poured some tea into my cup.

He folded up his paper and sighed heavily, "I was once a senator myself of this great state and I have a reputation to hold up. You are my granddaughter and are expected to be well bred young woman; this includes your choice in fashion." he lifted his coffee cup to take a sip and quickly added, "And I'm sure Hailey would agree with me."

"She would not agree with my being in a setting like that."

He swallowed the hot coffee and put the cup back onto the saucer, "There is nothing wrong with you learning the reality of what happened. You're old enough to handle it and besides if I were you I would like to know exactly what transpired that night. What you're going to read in the papers is going to be what the reporters want you to believe and you are smart girl, you deserve to know the whole truth."

I was touched that he thought of me as intelligent and almost forgot what he was trying to do, but all too quickly I remembered.

"Grandfather, I…"

"Nora, will you please escort my granddaughter upstairs and find her something more suitable to wear."

Something more 'suitable' turned out to be a dark blue dress that could have past for black if you looked at it quickly, but to me it was most clearly blue and that just didn't seem appropriate. I would admit that it was a very nice dress. It was made from a lovely satin material and had a velvet fitted bodice jacket to go with it. Nora left my hair as it was, done up just like yesterday but added some pearl combs to it.

"There, your grandfather will have a hard time arguing with this." she replied and led me back down to the dining room where my grandfather did in fact approve and I was allowed to eat breakfast. I kept my mouth pursed tightly shut during the meal, when I wasn't eating that is. I felt like I was betraying Rose's death by dressing like this, but my Grandfather obviously didn't think of it that way.

When we done he sent for his car and I gathered my coat, gloves and hat and joined him in the back seat of the car and we were driven to the Waldorf. It was just as crowded as yesterday but I felt no remorse about not staying there. It would have been nice to be near Harry, but having Cal around spoiled that thought quickly.

I followed close behind my Grandfather who was strolling ahead with his cane as more of an accessory than a walking aid. He looked so regal as he walked through the lobby that the crowd around us parted as if he were Moses and they were the Red Sea, allowing him to pass through swiftly and without detour.

"Sarah."

"Yes?" I moved up to his side quickly as he turned the corner towards the lifts.

"We'll be going to your Grandmother's suite first, tell this young man which floor." he instructed as we stopped at the lifts.

I looked over to operator, thankful it wasn't the same one I had seen yesterday and told him the 5th. He nodded and I followed Grandfather onto the lift and the doors were shut. We rose up to the 2nd, the 3rd where my heart almost stopped knowing that I was so close to Harry, but couldn't see him. I hated that feeling. Finally we reached the 5th and got off.

I led the way to Nan's suite, but allowed him to knock on the door. George opened it and greeted me with a handsome smile. He was wearing black dress pants and a crisp white shirt, over which he wore some black suspenders.

"Good Morning, Sarah, Grandfather." he kissed me on the cheek and let us into the room. Nan was sitting on the sofa and looked up when I came into the room. She closed the book in her hand and looked me over.

"Darling, what are you wearing?"

I looked down at my dress and opened my mouth to answer, but Grandfather cut me off,

"A very nice dress, Hailey. She will be my guest at the hearings this afternoon."

"Jared, I hardly think that's an appropriate place for a young girl to be." she replied without missing a beat.

George came up behind me and I looked back at him, my eyes full of worry. He looked sympathetic and put his arm around me.

"Hailey, she is my granddaughter and White Star Line needs to know that I won't stand for the endangerment they put her in. I want her to understand that as well and she won't unless she hears the whole truth."

Nan rose from her seat and her and Grandfather faced off, "I will not allow it, I am her guardian and I decide what's best for her."

"She is nearly an adult; she is old enough to know the truth!"

"Yes, I agree but you cannot subject her to that…

"Alright, I don't think this is the time or the place for this." George spoke up, he moved from behind me and went towards the two of them, "You both agree that Sarah is old enough to make her own decisions so why not let her decide whether she wants to go or not."

The three of them looked over at me and I shifted uncomfortably. The truth was I was curious and did want to go, but I didn't want to go against Nan. Yet, at the same time I was beginning to see my Grandfather in a new light. He seemed sincere in his intentions to make sure that I knew the truth about what had happened.

"Sarah?" George asked, "Would you like to go or would you rather stay with Grandmother?"

I cleared my throat, trying to avoid the subject for as long as I possibly could and then finally answered, "I would like to go."

Grandfather looked at me with pride in his eyes, something he had never done before and it made me feel good about myself, but one look at Nan and I felt just about as low as dirt. Her face went a bright pink color and she stalked from the room and into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. I almost rushed in after her and took back what I had said but George distracted me.

"Whew, you're a brave girl."

"No, she's a smart one who knows what's best for her." Grandfather replied.

Somehow I didn't think that defying Nan was smart, but I had made my choice and hoped she would understand that.