Rose feels as though she's been punched in the stomach. What is the purpose of this? Is she to be forced through everything again? All the pain and the loss? Then Rose remembers the old lady, what had she said again? Something like, "I hope you meant your wish cause wishes often come true." Well Rose had thought that ridiculous but here she was, a year ago is now today.

Rose struggles to hide her shock and smiles, "Thank you, Trudy. Forgive me, please, I was just feeling a tad foggy."

Rose gets out of bed and walks over to the closet. The last time she had picked out a black dress but been forced to change, today she needed all the time she could get, that would not do. Rose picks out the pin striped and purple accented woman's suit that she had worn the last time she boarded the trip. She rather doesn't feel like black anyway, after all, she has just been given a chance to save the love of her life and so many others. Also, she knows that, no matter what shall happen, she will not end up tied to Caledon Hockley for the rest of her lifetime.

Trudy helps her with the corset and gets Rose dressed in the suit. Luckily, Rose has not forgotten over the past year how to get dressed in first class clothes. She selects the same golden dove earrings with a purple gem in the center. On the tie she puts on a pin with a purple gem and gold trim. Trudy fixes her hair and Rose walks to meet her mother and Cal at breakfast in the hotel lobby.

On her way down, she quickly reviews the proper ways to sit, walk, talk, eat, and such, to make sure she hasn't forgotten in her past year of freedom.

Rose finds Cal and her mother at a table that had been designated to them. She greets Cal and her mother then they sit down to eat. Cal looks at Rose and says, "You know, I was expecting you to come down in black or some other thing that would not be suitable for boarding the greatest ship on earth."

Rose narrows her eyes, remembering completely how much she despised this man. She shoots back, "I felt like black. You're lucky Trudy made me choose otherwise. Now that you've made me think about it, I rather wish I'd refused."

Ruth's head snaps towards her daughter, "Rose!"

"What? I don't see the problem with black."

Cal scoffs, "It's bad luck on sailing day. With all your witty remarks and knowledge I'd think you would at least know that."

"I do know that, but if this ship is so great and 'unsinkable' then one person not following a superstition shouldn't matter, should it?"

Cal sighs, "It's simply a society rule, Sweetpea. Anyway, you followed it, thank God."

Rose huffs and finishes eating, ignoring her mother's reproachful looks. Living a year out of the clutches of this man, and mother, only to have to come back, even if only for a few days, is like figuring out how to breath only to be told you are to hold your breath a few minutes longer.

Once breakfast is over Rose and Ruth go back to their rooms to get ready while Cal oversees the luggage being loaded. The woman come back down and they get on their way.

In the car, Rose looks out the window and thinks over what she is to do. As of now, she only has two options. First, to stop Jack, somehow, from boarding the ill-fated liner, and second, to board and go from there. Should she board she could attempt to talk with Captain Smith and stop the whole thing from happening, saving 1,500 lives. Though he is unlikely to listen to a "silly little rich girl."

Should the ship still sink, Rose would know Jack didn't take the diamond and, as a matter of fact, could spot Lovejoy putting it in Jack's pocket and therefore get him in trouble. Then they wouldn't have to worry about the gates, though Jack might want to get Fabrizio and Tommy. In that case, Rose could use her status to scare the man into opening the gates. That leaves getting Jack on a boat. Rose had read in a newspaper that there had been an officer who had misinterpreted the order, "Women and children first," as, "Women and children only." That resulted in a lot less people on the lifeboats then their should have been. It also was the reason that Jack had not been allowed on.

If only she could remember which officer. Then she could talk to him prior to the collision and put some thought in his head that would convince him to, when the time comes, let some men on. That would be the most ideal option that has a probability of working. Then again, it would be so much easier to simply keep Jack on solid ground. Anyway, she can't remember the officer's name so she can't talk to him.

Rose discreetly takes off her glove and slips of her engagement ring. She then tucks it safely in the purple band around her waist. She then slips the glove back on and looks at her mother and Cal to make sure neither noticed. Luckily, they were both deep in a conversation and, as usual, paying no mind to her. Rose inwardly scolds herself,"As usual! Rose you're acting as though you haven't just spent the year away from them. You can't get sucked back into being the old Rose. Not completely. This time you have a mission and you can't forget that."

Just then, their caravan of three cars comes to a stop. The driver opens the door for her and she holds out her hand, which he takes to help her down. She looks up at the ship and waits till he hears Cal get out before saying, "I don't see what all the fuss is about," she turns to Cal, "It doesn't look any bigger than the Mauretania."

Cal leans on his walking staff, "You can be blase about some things, Rose, but not about Titanic," He motions towards the ship and Rose starts walking, "It's over a hundred feet longer than Mauretania, and far more luxurious." She mouths the words along with him so that he can't see.

Cal turns to help Ruth out while Rose continues to look in the ship. Ruth passes her and she follows Ruth to make sure Trudy has their things. Cal walks over to them saying, "Ladies, we better hurry."

Ruth immediately takes his arm and they start on their way. Rose turns to Trudy and gasps, looking at her hand, "Good Gracious, Trudy! I've lost my engagement ring! Could I have left it at the hotel? It's so valuable I can't have lost it? Perhaps it fell. Whatever shall I do?"

Trudy looks at Rose's hand with wide eyes, "Well I can assure you, Miss. It's not at the hotel. I checked the rooms myself. Perhaps the car?"

"Oh that's a brilliant idea! Allow me to check. Tell mother and Cal I'll be back in a moment. If I'm late it's my own fault, don't let them blame you."

"Yes, Miss."

Trudy hurries to Ruth and Cal so Rose turns away and begins her search for the bar where Jack must have won the tickets. She comes across a man holding his little girl while they admiring the ship. She walks up to them, "Good-day, Sir. Could I trouble you for a moment?"

The man turns to her and the little girl's mouth drops open. The man says, "Of course, Miss. My name's Bert Cartmell and this is my daughter, Cora. How can I help you?"

"I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of a nearby bar. I need to find someone."

"I don't think you'll find any of your folks in the nearest one, so-"

"Forgive me, but I'm not looking for one of 'my' people."

The man raises his eyebrows, "Very well then, I'd check the one just there," He points to a building not far away.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Cartmell. It's been a pleasure to meet you and Cora." She nods to them and sets off for the pub.

Rose walks up to the glass window and peers inside. She sees Jack through the glass. His shaggy hair falling slightly in one eye, his blue eyes sparkling, his cigarette in his hand as he looks at his cards. He is very much alive. Rose feels the wind knocked out of her and it's all she can do to keep from fainting. She places a hand on the building to steady herself.

Rose composes herself and reaches for the door handle. She steals one look up at the ship before she opens the door. She sees the captain talking with another officer on a promenade deck. With the officer. She doesn't quite know how she is so certain, she just knows it's him. The sight is enough to bring back the name, Second Officer Charles Lightoller. Rose hesitates and looks back at Jack as he puts the last of his and Fabrizio's coins in the center of the table, her time is running out.

Selfish as it may be, Rose doesn't really want to lose all her memories with Jack from Titanic. Could things be the same between them should she choose to keep him here? Then again, going on the ship would give her the chance to save hundreds of lives rather than just one. Wouldn't that make more sense? Yes.

Rose looks away from Jack and back to the ship. Can she let Jack walk into something the could possibly lead to his death for the chance to save others along with him? Could she live with herself if she chose him over hundreds of lives?

Rose looks through the glass at the clock in the pub. She has ten minutes before the ship leaves, just enough time to get back. She looks back at the ship before taking one more look at Jack, only to find him staring directly at her. Their eyes meet for only a second before Fabrizio grabs his arm and whispers something to him, drawing his attention away. She jerks her hand away from the door handle, making her final decision. She must be gone before he looks back.

Without looking back, Rose starts walking briskly back towards the ship and takes the ring out of where it had been tucked in her dress. She slips the ring back on under her glove and arrives just in time. The officer seems very surprised to see a unaccompanied first-class lady hurrying up the gangplank just as he was preparing to close off the ship. He says to her, "M-Miss? Do you have tickets?"

"Yes I do. You see, my fiancé and mother are already on board. I'd lost something and had to return for it."

Just then, Cal appears in the hallway beyond the officer, "Rose! Dear God, what's the matter with you? You should've sent Trudy back. What would we have done if you hadn't made it?!" He turns to the officer and adds, "Let her on board, Sir. I can assure you, she's paid for and with me."

"Of course, Sir," the officer moves aside, letting Rose on board.

Cal escorts her to their rooms saying, "That was very foolish of you, Rose. Do tell me what in heaven's name was going through your head? Had you missed the boat it would have been a enormous scandal. I would've had to book passage for you alone on some other liner or make the trip back for you. It would have been a mess!"

Rose sighs and plays the same card she did the night she almost jumped off, the "silly little girl" card, "I know, I know. I wasn't thinking. I did get the ring though, It must have somehow came off when I'd taken my gloves off in the car. I can't believe I didn't notice."

Cal sighs, "Very well. Trudy is in your stateroom beginning to unpack. You should go oversee it. I'm going to have a look at our rooms."

Rose gives a small nod and quietly says, "Of course."

She thinks to herself, "Just two days, Rose. Two more days and Jack will save you. You can do this...for his sake."

...

Jack looks up from his cards, distracted by a flash of red and purple. He looks up to see a girl with flaming red hair wearing a wide-brimmed purple hat looking up at the ship docked. From the looks of her, she is most definitively high-society. What is she doing at a poor-man's pub? This is certainly no place for someone of her likes, unless she wants to get kidnapped or robbed. She seems to be lost in thought about something, trying to make some big decision. The way she seems torn between the ship and the pub...but that doesn't make sense.

Jack takes his cigarette out of his mouth, he wants to say something to Fabrizio about her but something about her is keeping him frozen in place. He can't take his eyes off of the girl. Maybe it's her beauty, or perhaps what an interesting drawing this out-of-place girl would make. Something about her freezes him in place. Just then her gaze shifts to...him? Yes, to him. He eyes seem to be full of pain...longing? And...and something that seems almost like...like...love? What the hell? She doesn't even know him.

As soon as her eyes meet his they grow wide with alarm. Before Jack can do anything Fabrizio leans over to him, "Jack, you are pazzo. You bet everything we have."

Jack looks at him, he takes a puff of his cigarette and leans over to Fabrizio, "When you got nothin', you got nothin' to lose."

Fabrizio leans back and Jack looks back over to the strange girl, only to find her gone. He sees a flash of something that could have been her hat but he can't tell through the crowd. He sighs and devotes his attention back to the game. He can't afford to lose everything, and to lose free passage on a ship home, over some girl he doesn't know.

Finally, it's time for everyone to show their cards. They all eye the large pile of money, trinkets, and, most importantly, the two tickets for Titanic. Jack says, "Alright, the moment of truth. Somebody's life's about to change," He nods towards Fabrizio, "Fabrizio?"

Fabrizio gives him an annoyed look and puts down a hand of nothing. Jack looks down at it and raises his eyebrows, "Niente."

Fabrizio nods, "Niente."

Jack looks towards Olaf, "Olaf?"

He lays down his hand and Jack says, "Nothing. Sven?"

Sven lays down a two-pair and looks at Jack with a challenging expression. Jack sucks in his breath, "Uh-oh," he breathes out, "Two-pair," he lookes at his cards then at Fabrizio, "I'm sorry, Fabrizio."

Fabrizio starts yelling in Italian and Jack puts a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry, you're not gonna see your mom again for a long time."

Fabrizio looks confused and Jack smiles, Cause we're going to America!"

Jack slams his cards down on the table, "Full house boys! Wohohoo!"

Fabrizio grabs the tickets and starts showing everyone, laughing. Jack leans over the table to take all the things in the center. As he does so, Olaf grabs his shirt and says something in Swedish, lifting his fist. Jack scrunches his face to take the blow but Olaf ends up punching Sven. Jack laughs and turns to Fabrizio who holds up the tickets. He grabs them and kisses them, "I'm goin' home!"

Fabrizio turns around, "I go to L'America!"

The bartender interrupts their little party, "No, mate. Titanic goes to America. In five minutes."

Jack and Fabrizio look at each other, "Shit, Fabri! Come on."

They quickly grab their things and run out into the streets. They push through the crowds and swerve around horse-drawn wagons. They make up the gag-plank just as it's being detached. Jack convinces the officer to let them on and they jump on-board. The pair quickly makes their way up on deck to the railing. Jack waves over the edge and shouts goodbye's to the people below. Fabrizio looks at him, "You know someone?"

Jack stops for a second, "No, but that's not the point."

Fabrizio shrugs and joins in. Jack can't help but thinking, that, yes, he doesn't know anyone down there but there's someone he wishes he did. Maybe winning those tickets wasn't the best thing after all. Still, he couldn't pass something like this up for some girl he didn't know. It's not like he'll ever see her again now, he's already missed that chance. No sense dwelling on something that can't be changed.

...

The next day, the ship docks at Cherbourg and picks up many more passengers. At tea, Rose decides it best not to waste time any longer and she excuses herself, saying that she is feeling a bit ill and would like to rest a bit before dinner. She finds out that the captains quarters are located on the boat deck and, after quickly searching through first class for him, she heads there to speak with him.

It doesn't take long for her to find his office but she hesitates outside. She runs through what she's going to say before realizing, he wouldn't have gotten the iceberg warnings yet, or, if he had, she shouldn't know. She mentally kicks herself, what an idiot she is.

She's about to go back to her staterooms when she hears voices in the office and she can't help but eavesdrop. She clearly hears Captain Smith, "Yes, the bergs have been around longer this year due to the cold. I don't think it's a matter we need to worry much about. Of course, should we recieve especially bad reports we can always shift to a more southern course. That wouldn't effect our time much, would it Officer Murdoch?"

"No, Captain. No more than a few hours."

"How much can this ship take, Mr. Andrews? A small hit to her wouldn't do much of anything, right?"

"Well, given the watertight compartments, it would take a great deal to sink her. She can stay afloat with up through three compartments breached. A small hit wouldn't do much, but don't let the people's chatter fool you. She can sink, I assure you. Nothing is unsinkable."

"What would you suggest then, Murdoch. I have in mind what I would do."

"Well, Capitan. That would depend on how much a few hours means to you. The lives of the people matter more to me so I would rather be safe. If you were to ask me, I would switch course as of now. It can't do much harm and, with the rate we're moving, we're already well ahead of schedule."

"My thoughts exactly. Give the order to switch course immediately. Are you in agreement, Mr. Andrews?"

"I think it is a smart decision. The only problem could be Mr. Ismay. We both know how much the timing means to him. He might want...compensation. Something such as a faster pace. I would discuss with him. I would also advise against giving into such requests. The ship ought to be broken in properly."

"Very well. I shall speak with him when I receive the chance. Oh, and Murdoch?"

"Yes, Captain?"

"Inform Chief Officer Wilde of my decision and tell him to come to me with any complaints."

"Yes, Captain."

A million thoughts spin through Rose's head, so they took a southern route to avoid ice only to be sunk by an iceberg? Could going the northern route be at all helpful? Probably not, it's most likely to still hit ice that way, should they make the same reckless decisions. As a matter of fact, it's even more likely. Rose hears footsteps and quickly straightens up, just as Officer Murdoch exits the room. Murdoch sees her and his eyebrows raise in surprise, "Miss..."

"Rose Dewitt-Bukater.'

"Miss Dewitt-Bukater, what are you doing down here?"

Rose stammers and attempts to come up with some sort of cover, "I-I-I took a wrong turn somewhere a-and I ended up here."

Murdoch seems satisfied by her answer, "Very well, would you like me to show you to where you wanted to go?"

"That's alright, I know where I am now. The boat deck, correct?"

Murdoch nods, "Precisely. Now, if you'l excuse me, I ought to carry out the orders I just received."

"Of course, my apologies for bothering you."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Ms. DeWitt-Bukater. Good day."

Murdoch excuses himself and Rose walks back to her rooms lost in thought. Was this ship doomed no matter what? If a southern route couldn't help at all then what could?

...

Jack spent the first day on board drawing, doing leisurely things, and trying to keep the red-headed girl from his mind. He'd gotten to know a very kind little family, the Cartmells. Their little girl, Cora, was incredibly kind and took great interest in his drawings. At one point, Cora had brought up some sort of "princess" from when they were boarding and she said that the princess had been a red head. Jack couldn't help but wonder if this was the mysterious girl from the pub. Either way, it doesn't much matter because she's wouldn't be on board.

Now, Jack is up on deck with Fabrizio. They had gone up to the bow of the ship and are looking down at the front wake of the ship. Jack sees a flash of something in the water and looks at it. A moment later, he can make out a dolphin. He taps Fabrizio and points, "Hey! Look, look, look!"

Fabrizio looks at the dolphins and Jack asks, "See it?"

Another dorsal fin pokes out of the water, "There's another one! See them?"

The friends watch, grinning, as a whole pod of dolphins appears. Jack points at one as it makes a huge jump out of he water, "Look at that one. Look at it jump!"

Jack hops up on the rail, holding onto the rope connected to the smokestacks, and lets out a hoot of joy. Fabrizio points to the horizon, "I can see za statue of Liberty already."

Jack looks at the horizon skeptically and Fabrizio adds, "Very small, of course."

Jack laughs. Jack lets go of the rope and spreads out his arms. He shouts, "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!"

He and Fabrizio begin hollering into the wind. Jack leans his head back and feels the wind through his hair and on his face.

A bit later, Jack is drawing Cora and her father while Fabrizio chats away with an Irish man. Jack finishes his drawing and looks up as a crewman walks some dogs by to hear the Irish man say, "Well that's typical. First class dogs come down here to take a shite."

He takes a puff of his cigarette Jack smirks, "Ah, it let's us know where we rank in the scheme of things."

The man laughs, "Like we could forget?"

He sticks the cigarette in his mouth and extends his hand, "I'm Tommy Ryan."

Jack returns the handshake, "Jack Dawson."

Tommy shakes Fabrizio's hand and Fabri says, "Fabrizio."

Tommy's gaze lands on Jack's drawings and he asks, "Do ya make any money with yer drawings?"

Jack is about to answer when he sees something, someone, on the first class promenade deck and it makes his heart stop. A girl. The girl. The girl who has haunted his thoughts for the past two days. The girl with the flaming red hair from the bar.

...

Rose makes the decision to change the lunch conversation in her favor, now that she knows what every person will say. She lights her cigarette and her mother leans over to her to say, "You know I don't like that, Rose."

Rose looks at her and blows out the smoke. However, this time, when Cal reaches to take the cigarette, she moves her hand out of his reach and puts in out herself, earning a disapproving glare from her mother. Cal just gives her a look and shakes his head. The waiter comes over and Cal says, "We'll both have lamb. Rare with a little mint sauce."

The waiter nods but Rose says, "I'll take it medium and no mint sauce, please."

Cal whips his head around as if to scold her but seems to change his mind and just sighs. Rose says, "What? I don't like mint sauce and I like my lamb medium."

Cal just shakes his head and Mr. Andrews chuckles softly. Molly Brown quickly moves to change the subject away from the two by saying, "Hey, who thought of the name Titanic? Was it you Bruce?"

Bruce Ismay smiles, "Well, yes actually. I wanted to convey sheer size...and size means stability, luxury, and, above all, strength."

Rose suppresses a smile, "Do you know of Dr. Freud, Mr. Ismay? His ideas about the male preoccupation with size might be of particular interest to you."

Molly smiles and slowly nods her head, Mr. Andrews chocks on his food and suppresses a laugh. Ruth turns to her, "What has gotten into you?"

Rose stands up, "Excuse me."

She turns to leave and ignores Mr. Ismay as he stands up as if to confront her. Rose's mind is no longer on the happenings of lunch but has turned completely to a certain third class man with whom she wants nothing more than to be with. She walks out to the promenade deck all the way to the railing. Her eyes swiftly scan the steerage crowd below her until her eyes lock with his. This time, she does not look away. She doesn't want to, she can't. Rose just wants to get lost in his ocean blue eyes.

Jack seems to be at a loss. His mouth opens and then closes. Of course, his confusion makes sense. He's seen her before, at the pub. He wouldn't have expected to see her on the ship yet here she is. Rose's body wants to run down to him and be embraced in his arms. She want's nothing more than to be in his embrace, to feel his strong arms wrapped around her, to hear his soothing voice, to feel his warm lips on hers. This man owns her heart. He owns every part of her. No one else could ever have her heart, not in this way. Not even her promise to him could change that. She is his and she won't lose him ever again.

...

Jack is at a loss. His heart is fluttering but his brain almost refuses to believe it's her. It has to be though, doesn't it? Not many people have that distinguishing red hair and porcelain skin. Jack puts down his drawings and leans forward. It's definitely her. There's no question. The way her blue eye pierce straight to his soul just as they did the other day. He opens his mouth and closes it, speechless. Tommy, noticing his distraction, follows his gaze to the girl and says something about angels and how he wont get next to the likes of her.

Jack doesn't hear it, his attention is completely on this girl. Could he be falling in love? He's seen her twice and doesn't even know her name but there is something about her that captivates him. Captivates his soul and his heart. If only he could get to know her. It was unlikely given their obvious class seperation but Jack would not give up. He is falling in love, and he's falling hard.

The girl doesn't avert her eyes but keeps them unwavering trained on him. She must recognize him too. Though she seemed to at the pub too though that's unlikely. Jack tries to read her eyes. He can tell she's trying to keep her expression and empty but isn't fully succeeding. She wants to do something but knows she can't. She's trying to resist an urge. Then her eyes soften and her expression becomes one he has only seen once directed at him...by this girl. An expression of...longing? Just like before. Her expression then hardends to determination just as a man appears behind her.

Jack's beginning to question his ability of reading people. That would make this a whole lot clearer. He watches the exchange between her and this man. It's a cold and unhappy one. That ends with the girl touching the mans arm and walking away, throwing one last glance at Jack. In her motion of touching the man's arm Jack sees something that makes his heart plummet and the color drain from his face. On her finger. A large diamond ring that can mean only one thing. This girl is engaged.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry this has taken so long to get up. I've had a physically and mentally hard past few weeks. As a result I haven't had much time or inspiration to write. Long story short, I have JRA(you can look it up if you want.) and it will flare, resulting in, what can be extreme, physical limitation. It has been flaring worse than ever and I haven't been able to walk, let alone dance, ride horses, or any of the other things that really keep me happy. On the bright side, yesterday I got steroid injections in the flaring joints and started acupuncture. I was able to walk a bit yesterday and will hopefully be back to myself soon, meaning more frequent updates.