The next morning, Elizabeth was bright and early. She left her room and was headed to the suite of her eldest daughter. She knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer it.

"Good morning, Mrs. Badour." it was Betty. "How can I help you?"

"Are they up?" Elizabeth's voice was stern.

The girl nodded her head. "They are in the sitting area." she said, but kept standing in the doorway as if hesitating to let Elizabeth in or not.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at her and the young girl immediately stepped aside. She passed through; her head held high. When she appeared in the sitting area, there were Estella and Edward with Philip. The first one to notice her was Edward. As he went to acknowledge her presence, she quickly signed for him to keep quiet and motioned her head towards the promenade.

"Excuse me for a sec," Edward said, standing up.

He was followed by Estella's curious look, but Elizabeth was long gone out of sight for her to see her.

"What's the matter?" Edward said once he joined Elizabeth.

"Have you talked to her?" she cut right to the case.

"Yes." he nodded. "Yes, I have. She said she's planning a surprise for my birthday." he laughed.

"And you believed her?" Elizabeth asked as if she was ready to mock him if he did.

"I wish I did." he answered, looking out in the distance. "It was just strange, you know? Her behavior. She was frightened. Would someone planning some innocent event be that frightened?" he asked rhetorically.

"I'll ask her about it—"

"Mother!" Estella shouted, standing in the door frame. "What are you two whispering about?" she stood beside Edward, taking his arm.

Estella caught Elizabeth by surprise that at first, she looked like she forgot how to speak.

"Well, I-we, uh… Well, I was recommending if we could have breakfast here, as a family?" she came up with the stupidest lie she could ever think of.

"That is a lovely idea, mother! I'll inform Betty. And Alfred to inform others!"

"Well, well, well, it's a party out here," Philip said stepping out. "And yet, no one cared to invite me."

"We were just about to, brother. Mother came up with this lovely idea to have breakfast here." Estella exclaimed.

"Is that so?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, just us." Elizabeth confirmed smiling at him.

"Then we better tell father and Elaine."

"I'm on it!" Estella shouted and wandered off.

Elizabeth looked at Edward saying that was close with her eyes.


"Miss Badour. Miss Badour." Amelia was whisper-shouting trying to wake Elaine up. She already overslept.

"Go away, Amelia." she tried to wave the other girl off in her sleep.

"Miss, Mr. Davies was here to let you know you'll be having breakfast on your sister's promenade."

Elaine groaned. She came late last night and didn't get much sleep during the night.

"Miss!"

Elaine shot her eyes open and rose up. She went her hand through her hair and looked around. Finally, her eyes laid on Amelia.

"Were you shouting at me?"

"Yes!" Amelia shot back, but now thinking about it, maybe she should have apologized instead.

"Very bold of you." Elaine shook her head taking off the covers and sat on the edge of the bed to stretch.

"Are you all right, miss?" seeing grimaces Elaine was making while stretching, Amelia felt obliged to ask.

"I feel… a little bit sore." she answered holding onto her neck.

"You came pretty late last night…" Amelia sing sang.

"Shut up, Amelia." Elaine shushed her, but couldn't help and crack a smile remembering the last night. "You are using my tiredness to overpower me." she yawned.

"I would never, miss. I simply want to help you get dressed for today." Amelia couldn't help but notice that her relationship with Elaine improved since she met Harold. "And you can tell me everything about last night. If you please, of course."

"Oh, Amelia, where do I even start…"


"Sorry, we are late to the party since no one cared to inform us in advance." Kenneth joked once he arrived with Elaine's arm in arm.

"Nonsense, dear, you're right on time." Elizabeth was quick to reassure him.

"And it was a last-minute call." Estella added.

"Well, it's nice." Elaine smiled at all of them trying to hide how tired she really was. "I hope for a little quality time with my family. For a change." she added the last part under her breath.

In the first half, they were chit chatting nonsense and as the thing started to quiet down Elizabeth asked.

"So, Estella, tell us. What kept you so busy last night?" she raised an eyebrow.

Estella sat frozen, clearly not expecting this.

"I can't tell you." she finally mustered and continued to eat.

Elizabeth faked a laugh. "And why not?" she asked as if she was surprised.

"Oh, mother, why can't you torment Elaine again?" she placed down her knife and fork and looked at her.

"Excuse me?" Elaine narrowed her eyes at her sister, offended.

"I will." Elizabeth declared. "She looks like she's going to fall asleep on this table." Elaine opened her mouth to protest, but Elizabeth continued. "But that's after I finish with you."

Estella pressed her lips. She knew there was no getting out of this unless she gives her something. And the only thing she could say now was the same story she told Edward.

"Well," she swallowed, "since Edward already knows, I guess I could tell you as well. I'm making him a surprise for his birthday."

"A surprise party, cool." Philip said.

"I didn't say it was a party." she said annoyingly.

"Really?" Elizabeth faked the amusement. "Can we help?"

"What?" Estella blinked.

"Perhaps you should take Elaine for today, otherwise she will really start snoring on the table." Elaine wanted to protest again but was cut off. "Which leads us to your interrogation, missy."

"I really just had a bad night, that's all. Weird dreams, really. Couldn't sleep properly." Elaine rambled on to explain herself.

"I wonder what caused that…" Elizabeth half-whispered, but talking to no one in particular.

"Give them kids a break, Beth. Lots of things are going to change once we arrive, let them be." Kenneth said.

Elizabeth made a displeased sound but didn't press on. After the breakfast was over and they all went their separate ways, she caught up with Elaine.

"Walk with me." it wasn't a question; it was an order.

Elaine got curious from her mother's tone and decided to follow her knowing something big is hiding behind this.

"I meant what I said." Elizabeth started. "You are going to assist your sister on this task of hers." she wrinkled her nose as if she was disgusted.

"Mother, if this is some sort of punishment—"

"Cut it! I don't care if you were out partying all night," on which Elaine curiously raised her eyebrows thinking would her mother really approve of that, "our main priority is your sister. I feel there's more to the story."

"Well, what do you want me to do?"

"You're a smart girl, Elaine. You'll know what to do." she smiled and touched her cheek before leaving.


Harold could barely keep his eyes open that morning as well. He didn't get much sleep when he finished his night rounds and it was already time for morning ones. All he could think about was her. His colleagues would often find him staring at one spot just smiling and they would mess with him. Nearly at the end of his shift, third officer Pitman approached him.

"Capitan wants to see you in his quarters."

Harold was taken aback. "Do you know what about?" he frowned.

"No, but he said it was urgent."

"Okay, thanks, mate." he patted him on the shoulder and headed.

He knocked on the door and after a muffled come in he opened the door.

"Ah, officer Lowe," the Capitan exclaimed once he spotted Harold in the doorway "come on in and close the door, please."

Harold gulped and did what he was told. They stood in silence for a couple of moments, Harold waiting for him to stop looking through some papers.

"You wanted to see me, sir—" he coughed.

"Yes, I did, Mr. Lowe." Edward J. Smith looked back at him. "It was quite a dinner last night, wasn't it?"

Not knowing where this was going, Harold answered "Yes, it was nice. Very kind of Mrs. Badour to invite me as well."

"Yeah, yeah," Capitan Smith leaned back in his chair, "they are a nice company, aren't they?"

"I can't complain, sir." refusing to meet his eyes, Harold answered.

"Now, I have some reports here," searching through the papers again, Smith started "saying you were late on duty last night. Is that correct?"

"You gave me an extra hour to rest, if needed, sir."

"Right, right." he confirmed after Harold refreshed his memory. "And you used it well, boy."

"Well, yeah, I did…" Harold answered almost smiling, but then suppressed it.

"Can you elaborate more?"

"Well, sir, I… I went to my room and I—"

"Alone?"

"Well, yes, sir." he lied. "I was sleeping until Mr. Lightoller summoned me."

Captain looked at the paper once again.

"My reports seem to tell a different story. You were seen leaving your quarters in a company of a lady. Now, tell me, do you know that mingling with passengers is strictly forbidden?"

"Yes, sir." he kept staring down.

"Then what the hell were you doing with Elaine Badour, for Christ's sake?!"

He cursed himself under his breath. It happened exactly what was he afraid of. At least he hoped he wouldn't know who the girl was.

"I-I-She got lost and then I—" he tried to explain himself as best as he could.

"Enough! She was seen leaving your quarters, Mr. Lowe! Do you want me to go into any more details?"

Remembering holding her hand and kissing her goodbye, he shook his head.

"I should suspend you for a day." Harold shot his head back up after hearing this. "Yes, and I will! For lying to your captain and breaking one of the grand rules. Your actions have consequences and it's about time you learn that. You are not allowed to leave your quarters until your rounds tomorrow morning. You may leave now." Capitan Smith motioned with his hand towards the door.

Harold left without saying anything. He was only thinking about how this is going to ruin everything.


Later that afternoon Elaine knocked on the door of her sister's room. It took Estella awhile to answer, but Elaine was persistent.

"Hey, sister." she smiled at her. "Would you like to go for an afternoon walk with me?"

Estella seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally, she said "Sure." staling as much as she could. "Let me just grab my hat."

Elaine nodded and patiently waited in the hallway. Shortly after, Estella stepped out, closing the door behind her. She kept staring down, refusing to look at her sister.

"We can go now." she said, walking down a little bit faster than usual. She kept struggling to pull up on her gloves.

"Is someone chasing you?" Elaine asked, trying to keep up behind her.

"Huh?" Estella rose her head up and stopped in track, making Elaine almost collide with her.

"Jesus." Elaine hissed. "Estella, is everything alright?"

"No, yes, I don't know." she let her shoulders fall.

Elaine walked up to her and rubbed her hands up and down her sister's upper-arms in a comforting manner.

"You know you can talk to me?" she held her gaze on her sister.

Estella nodded her head, keeping it down.

"Come," Elaine nudged her, "let's go outside so we can talk."

Once they we're strolling down the 1st class deck, Estella opened up.

"I just feel a lot of pressure, Elaine." she admitted. "With the wedding and, you know, the rest…" she trailed off. "Everything has to be perfect, but honestly it's beyond my powers. Our mother is pulling all the strings, I had no much say in this." she sniffed.

"Oh, Stella…" Elaine placed a comforting arm around her sister's shoulders. "I didn't know you were feeling this way. I thought you wanted this."

They reached the end of the deck and stood beside the railing looking down at the passengers.

"Well, yeah, you can say that pretending everything's great runs in the family."

"You didn't have to keep this from me for so long. You should've told me." Elaine placed a comforting hand on her back. "Is that why you're planning something special for Edward? To blow off some steam?" she continued.

Estella shrugged. "I don't know, maybe." seeing that she didn't satisfy Elaine with that answer, she continued. "I'd like to be in charge of something for once. To see what it is like. To have no one tell me how to sit or speak or behave." she paused for a second. "I envy you, Elaine." she looked at her.

Elaine was slightly taken aback. "M-me? Why?"

"Please, you would never let this happen. You are so carefree. Mother is afraid of you."

"Goodness, Estella, shut up. What are you saying?" Elaine turned away not wanting to believe her ears.

"Yes, she's frightened." Estella chuckled, being amused by the sudden reaction from her sister. "She says you're either going to make or break this family."

"Oh, wow, thanks a lot mother." Elaine blinked in surprise looking at the distance. "Can't she pick on Philip for once?" she smirked, giving Estella the side-eye.

"Oh, no, he's the perfect son." Estella breathed. "Speaking of which…" she nodded her head in the direction of the deck below them, where Philip and Edward were talking with Lightoller.

"Elaine, I want you to know that I love Edward." she said all of a sudden in a more serious tone. "I really do. And I want to marry him."

Elaine studied her sister for a while to see what made her take a sudden turn of the conversation.

"I know that." she said at last. "I-I can see it in you, and when you two are together. You two have a great dynamic, you are the perfect match." she smiled, but it was more like trying to convince herself of all of those things.

"Good." Estella answered, satisfied. "Should we go now? Rest before dinner?"

Elaine nodded her head in agreement. She walked Estella to her room before making her way alone to hers when a thought hit her. She didn't see Harold not even once the whole day. She did the calculation in her head and concluded that he should not be on his rounds now, but instead in his room.

She quickly turned around, making her way back and sneakily getting into the officer's quarters without anyone seeing her. Once she was in front of his door, she knocked. Instead of seeing the joy on Harold's face like when he usually saw her, she saw how horrified he actually was.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed, looking left and right before harshly pulling her into his room before anyone could see them. "You shouldn't be here." he crossed his arms, making the obvious distance between them.

Elaine leaned on the desk behind her, gripping at the end of it. She was surprised by his sudden change of behavior.

"I-I didn't see you the whole day. I-I got worried something might've happened—"

He laughed out loud although nothing was funny.

"Oh, yeah? Well, something did happen. I got suspended!" he shouted.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. What happened?" she started making her way over to him, evidently worried.

"What happened, my God…" he chuckled. "You happened, Elaine!"

"Me?!" she placed a hand on her chest. "You want to say you got suspended because of me?" she frowned.

"Who else? Now my promotion and everything I worked hard for are in question. And all because of a stupid one-night stand!"

"Well, maybe you should've thought about it before you arranged our little date!" she shot back.

"I should've stayed away from you. You are a walking trouble!"

"Don't pretend you know so much about me when you know nothing!"

"I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one who actually reported me." he said in a calmer tone.

"What?! What could I possibly gain from that?!" she was astonished by his accusations.

"I don't know, you rich snobs love attention." he said making a half-disgusted face.

She stared in disbelief at him. "So, all of this meant absolutely nothing to you?" she lowered her voice not wanting to fight anymore.

"What, did you think I was going to marry you or something?" he said it like it was funny.

"Like I would want to marry you." she both looked and said in disgust.

"Listen, you're not the first girl I've been with and you're certainly not the last." he stated to her. "I can't let any girl get in the way of me and my true love and that is sea. But you were a good distraction, though." he added at last.

"You make me sick. Avoid me at all costs." she made her way past him and out of the door.

Once she was no longer around him, she realized how upset she actually got. Her heart was pounding and her legs and hands were shaking like crazy. She was on the verge of tears and had to make a stop to lean against the wall before her legs gave out. Shortly after she managed to steady her breath and get herself to thinking properly again, she heard a commotion down the hallway. She quickly turned a corner before anyone could see her.

She heard muffled voices, but couldn't really make out what they were saying due to distance, due to excitement. But once she concentrated more, she recognized one of the voices. It was her own sister. Her eyes went wide in surprise. She peeked around the corner and saw Estella standing in the hallway speaking to no other than second officer Charles Lightoller, who was standing in the doorway of, supposedly, his room.

Elaine quickly ducked back before they noticed her, pressing her back against the wall as if she wanted blend in. Before long, she heard footsteps approaching and soon enough she was facing her sister's back walking past her. Luckily for her, Estella just kept walking. Elaine waited until she no longer heard any footsteps and was only surrounded by silence when she checked if the coast was clear before she walked as fast as she could out of there.