3rd Class Common Room:

Her jaw dropped, this couldn't be possible… or could it? Then, she remembered how Eva always looked at Leopold and told Regina how lucky she was that she got to marry someone like Leopold, she could get everything she wanted, and how love was hard to come by, for a handmaiden like Eva, so Regina should be happy with having someone to care for her at all… the bitch… she'd been lusting after Leopold all along, then.

But what about Leopold? Did he always look at Eva like Eva looked at him? With love? He was always unnecessarily kind towards Eva, yes, but did that make him love her? And was that why it always seemed that Regina herself wasn't good enough? Had she made a mistake by telling him that she wanted to keep Eva around?

Did he only propose to Regina, so he could sleep around with Eva when she wasn't looking? Was Regina only the trophy wife, so that he could show off his rich girl, while he was actually sleeping with his wife's handmaiden? If that came out, it would be a public shame to his name. He couldn't marry below his station, so had he chosen Regina, so he could hold her up to the public? To keep his good name?

That seemed like something a man like Leopold would do… Would he keep Regina around as well, so she could give him a highborn son, maybe? As an heir to the company? Yeah, he would. And it made her blood boil. Earlier, Emma had referred to her as an 'evil queen', and angry she was. She was totally done with this. But under her anger, she was also secretly grateful. This was her chance to escape… For a moment, she contemplated telling her mother, but she decided not to. Her mother wouldn't believe her anyway. No, she'd have to do this by herself. But now she had friends that could help her. They may not be rich, but that was just what she needed. Poor people were more resourceful because they had to work for every penny… Oh, she'd make Leopold pay. Absolutely.

She smirked, wickedly, "Come, Rose, let me introduce you to my new friends." Rose nodded, not knowing what her friend was up to. And together they made their way toward the group. Regina grinned at the boy, "Henry, what did you say this operation was called again?"

B53:

Eva suddenly got very anxious, she'd just betrayed the very woman she was working for… what if she, or worse, Mrs. Mills found out? She'd definitely get fired then. And not only that, she had come to see Regina as a friend. Her only friend. And now she had betrayed her, in the worst way possible. She had known how Regina was treated, and how she sometimes had bruises on the strangest places possible. Eva would always tell her that she'd be okay, that Leopold had probably never meant to bruise her so much, and then she'd cover them up.

They had made some kind of agreement, Eva and Leopold. It was just a few months after he had met Regina, a pretty upper-class girl. It was expected of him, that he'd marry an upper-class girl, he had told her. But it wasn't Regina that he loved. No, he had fallen for her, for a servant like Eva. And he had told her how glad he was that it was she that was Regina's servant, for Regina would never suspect anything. She wouldn't even find out; he had assured her.

They'd been screwing around ever-since. Only when Regina wasn't looking of course. The thing was, she could never tell anyone, and it bothered her to no end. Of course, he was expected to marry a rich girl, he had told her as much. But she wanted to scream it off the roofs, how lucky she was. And she couldn't, because he couldn't choose between his reputation and the love they shared.

Now he was going to marry Regina, and she'd be on the background. He'd be screwing her behind Regina's back, and it made her feel sick. She should've told Regina what was actually going on. But she had been afraid, scared, of losing her job. Now she realized that had been a mistake. Perhaps Regina would've understood. But it was too late for that now. Too late she had realized this was unfair to the both of them. For Regina, because she'd be married to someone who not only didn't love her, but also screwed her servant behind her back, and for Eva, because she'd be trapped between them.

She could try to have Leopold make a choice, but then he'd show his power, and do anything to make sure she wouldn't tell Regina. And Mrs. Mills. Both were not to find out what was going on. Perhaps she should take a leap of faith, and tell Regina anyway before Leopold could threaten her…

First Class Library:

Cora Mills was sat in the first-class library, together with Rose's mother Ruth, and they were having a very interesting conversation. They seemed to be a lot alike, as well. Both had arranged their girls' marriage. The only thing that they didn't have in common was the fact that Ruth was widowed. She had been forced to marry her daughter off, despite not actually wanting to. Her husband had left her penniless, and to keep her life, she had to make sure her daughter, and with that, herself, were accounted for.

Cora didn't for the life of her understand why Ruth hadn't initially wanted to marry her daughter off. Every girl needed a man, love was merely a weakness, it wouldn't get you a good life, after all… "So, Ruth, why did you initially not want to make sure your daughter marries a rich man? Isn't that just what you want? Your daughter accounted for? Making sure she has everything she could ever want?"

Ruth sighed, knowing the question would come eventually. "Because the same happened to me, my own mother married me off to Clarence, my late husband. He was a loving father to Rose, but not a very loving husband. Of course, I would never want to get Rose to see her father from that perspective, so I never told her. He and I, we didn't love each other, he was pushy, made me do a lot of things I didn't want. I don't want that for Rose, it's why, when Clarence passed away, I decided not to push my daughter that way. But then, I found out that Clarence had left us with bad debts, making us as poor as those steerage people. All we had were our clothes and our good name. To survive, I had no choice but to find my daughter a husband, but one that would actually care for her. So that she'd get the treatment she deserves. And so that I wouldn't end up working as a seamstress or anything just as bad. My mother would turn in her grave, and not only that, I'd never worked before. No experience… so, this was the best way to go. And what about you, Cora, why do you want to marry your daughter off so badly?"

Now, it was Cora's turn to sigh, "Regina has always been a bit of a rebel, and her father only ever made it worse, he coddles her. She needs to learn some discipline, someone to guide her. And a man will do just that. And love, well, it's not like it gets you anything…" Ruth glared, "It gives you happiness." That angered Cora a bit, "well, if that were true, you wouldn't be marrying your daughter off. Then you'd accept being poor, and work for every penny."

3rd Class Common Room:

"Rose, darling, may I introduce you to my new friends, that there, is Henry. The brain behind this whole operation, he's Miss… eh, Emma's son, and there are Robin and Jack, remember our two admirers from yesterday? They won their way aboard with a lucky hand at poker."

Robin snickered as he heard Regina speak with her rich accent, and stood her rich posture as she introduced Rose to them. He'd never expected to get so close to her. Not for a second, yesterday he'd have bet all his last pennies on it that he'd never get to speak a word to her. A rich, upper-class girl. And here she was, standing so close to him, in steerage of all places. He had already decided that she was the woman of his dreams. But now, she was so close, yet so far away…

Rose spoke up awkwardly, "hi, I'm Rose. Rose DeWitt Bukater." Jack immediately spoke up at that, "I'm gonna have to get you to write that one down…"

Rose chuckled, "no need, you can just call me Rose."

She didn't speak richly, but also not like the poor blokes they were. That was what drew Jack in, she wasn't a stuck-up, demanding girl. In fact, she was quite the opposite…

Then Regina suddenly spoke up, reminding them what this was all about.

"So, it's been brought to my attention, by my dear friend Rose, that my dear fiancé has been screwing my handmaiden behind my back. I'd long since given up on trying to find happiness, for it would never happen anyway. I let my fire die out, but now, thanks to Rose that fire has been reignited. I'll marry that old man over my dead body. He thinks he can fool me? Well, I'll fool him right back. You called me an 'Evil Queen', didn't you Em-ma?" Emma frowned, but nodded, "Well, then evil I shall be. Not to you, you're my friends… but to Leopold and Cora? I most certainly will. Trying to marry me off to some rich businessman who screws my handmaiden behind my back… oh, they shall pay… Henry, do you have an operation name for me?"

Henry grinned, nodding, "why yes I do. Actually, I have two. Which one do you prefer? Operation Evil Queen? Or would you rather Operation Firebird?"

She chuckled, "Operation Firebird?" He nods, "yes, you see, you explained how you let your 'fire' die out, and now it's rising up again. Firebirds rise from the ashes… I thought it'd be cool…" She grins, "Alright then, Operation Firebird it is."

B53:

"Leo, please, this is torture… we have to tell her. I don't care, you can still marry her if you want. But she deserves to know…"

He towered above her as he barked, "and you think she'll still marry me then, do you?! You think she'd still obey me?! And keep away from other men?! Because I don't think so. I'll tell her over my dead body. And you won't speak a word about it to her either!"

She tried to appear brave, "No, I don't think I'll keep quiet. I think she deserves to know…" He growled, "Fine, you want her to know? Alright, but it is your fault if she leaves me." She bowed her head, nodding, "okay… but one day you're going to have to make a choice. Your reputation, or me.".

He pulled her closer, and breathed, "maybe. But not today."

And then he claimed her lips with his own. She couldn't find it in herself to resist him. But, what Eva did not expect was that Regina would turn up in the middle of their make-out session.

"Well, when I heard of what you did, I thought it must be a lie, but it's true..." she pretended to be broken-hearted.

"From you, Leopold, my dear, I had expected it. You're a man and can't stop yourself from making sure your manly needs are satisfied. But from you, Eva, I'd expected better. You were my friend, my confidante. Your act of betrayal, I cannot understand. Whatever did I do to you, that you would betray me so?"

Eva blushed, "I-I… I was going to tell you… really, I was…"

Regina raised an eyebrow, "oh you were, were you? Well, I don't believe a word you say. And you, Leopold, dear, should really make up your mind about which one of us you want…I think I'll go pay a visit to the library, Mother said she'd be there…" And with those words, she turned on her heel and left the room.

First Class Library:

Regina had met with Rose on the way to the first-class library, and together they walked inside, both going to meet their mothers. Rose hoped that Ruth would be more understanding than Cora. Because Ruth may be a bit cruel, but Cora was worse. Regina nodded and went to sit in a chair next to Cora, while Rose took a seat beside her mother.

Regina smiled sadly at her mother, knowing Cora either wouldn't understand or would condone Leopold's behavior. "Mother, there's something I need to tell you…" Cora's eyes lit up as if she thought good news was coming, so she cooed, "what is it, Regina dear? You know you can tell me anything…" Regina frowned, and continued, "Mother, Leopold has been cheating on me with Eva…"

Cora scowled, threw an accusatory look at her daughter, and sneered, "such lies! You foolish girl! I raised you better than that! I will speak with Leopold about this. If it were true, I would find you another man to marry. But it's not. And for good measure, I'll fire that… peasant, you call your friend. You'll only use her to paint Leopold as a bad man anyway. Now, you're going to marry Leopold when we dock in New York, and I don't want to hear another word about this from you, young girl."

With those words, Cora got up and left the library to find Leopold and Eva.

Regina sighed and looked down, throwing an apologetic look Rose's and Ruth's way. "I'm sorry… but it really is true, Mrs. DeWitt-Bukater, I caught them kissing before I came here. Please, you have to believe me…" Ruth nodded, "I actually do believe you, Ms. Mills. Your mother would see it's the truth if she wouldn't be so stubborn…"

Regina and Rose's eyes almost bulged out of their heads at that statement. "You… you believe me? Why?" Ruth nodded, "why don't you both keep seated, and listen to what I have to say, hm? Not everything is exactly as it seems. It's time Rose learns the truth as well."

The girls nodded, and both faced Ruth, prepared to listen to what she has to say.

B-Deck:

Cora strode through the B-deck hallways on her way to their rooms. She just couldn't believe Regina's words. It just wasn't true. That girl would think of anything to shame Leopold's name, and theirs, just to 'break free' and marry a lowlife gutter rat. Cora wouldn't stand for it. She herself had started out poor and knew that that life wasn't easy. She had more than counted herself lucky when Henry Mills took an interest to her and asked her to marry him. Of course, she hadn't said no. He was a rich man, after all. Weak, for sure, with the same idiotic notions as her daughter, but Cora had been willing to bear that, for she had found a way up the social ladder, and she would not let her daughter fall down that same social ladder simply for some foolish notions. And she definitely wouldn't indulge in finding her daughter another husband. Regina was already difficult enough as it was, and Leopold Blanchard had been the only one interested in even courting her daughter. Cora knew that love was weakness, and Blanchard's money would make sure her daughter was taken care of. Leopold wasn't an easy man, and he would also very easily be able to keep Regina in check. Regina may not like it, but that's not what this was for. Regina would have a good future; with anything she could ever wish for. Why her daughter indulged in silly romances and notions of love, she couldn't understand. How many times did she still need to tell Regina that it just wasn't real? That life didn't work that way, that it was hard, and that you needed to be tough, and a proper lady. That you needed to have class and fit in with the rest of them so that you could take your advantages? It would seem Regina would never learn that without a man like Leopold. She had been too stubborn to listen to Cora, after all. Cora would do anything to get what she wanted, even now. This was the last straw. She would tell Leopold to keep Regina on a bit more of a leash, keep a closer eye on her than before because right now, things were about to get ugly, and Cora didn't do ugly. She never would. She wouldn't tolerate any more of her daughter's ridiculousness. The time of being a child was over. Regina was a lady now, and she would have to deal with that. It wouldn't be easy for Regina, but nothing ever was. Her daughter was more taken to horses than to 'lady lessons', but perhaps Cora could use that particular flaw in her daughter's character to her advantage. Let Regina know that if she even entertained the notion of going behind hers and Leopold's back, or if she insisted to stand by her childish notions of love and kindness, that her beloved, coddling daddy and her favorite horse would suffer dearly for it. For her insolence. Yes, Cora had a plan, and it was time to finally put it into action. Regina's rebellious times would come to an end soon. She was sure of it.

Author's Note:

So there you have it. An update, finally after nine months of my absence.
I have no excuse, I can only say that life got in the way. Sorry guys, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter and leave your reviews!