Part 3

"…well that's what we think she can do. The mathematics conclude she could sink but it is highly unlikely" Thomas finished as he spoke to the group at the table. Elizabeth had yet to arrive and of course with Mr Ismay here the subject of Titanic and her unsinkable nature had come up.

"Yes highly unlikely and with Mr Smith here at her helm it is most impossible" Bruce Ismay finished his pride and stuck up nature shining through and through.

Thomas sighed and prayed to god that Elizabeth would be here soon. Seeing her today had shocked him to no end, of course he had been delighted to see her as he had not in many months but the fact soon struck him that she was leaving. Leaving England. He could not fathom it, no longer would he be able to call upon her for a quiet chat or just merely see her walking across a street. She was leaving for America and he would most likely never see her again.

Closing his eyes Thomas rubbed his forehead, somehow trying to relieve the headache he could feel starting.

"Are you quite alright Thomas?"

Elizabeth's kind voice made his head snap up and the vision that greeted him was like no other. She was beautiful; her dress fit her like a glove looking as if it had been made especially for her and her dark curls settled gently over her shoulder. He could not describe her elegance, it seemed whatever she wore she wore it just right, never ever overdressed yet never underdressed either, just, perfect "I, uh I yes. I mean I'm fine thank you" he said as he stood up quickly, all the other mean including Mr Hockley standing as well in politeness.

Elizabeth had noticed his stunned expression and couldn't help but remember Cathleen's words but as he stumbled to his feet she did not say anything just smiled a smile that Thomas knew too well.

Finally tearing his gaze away from her Thomas turned to the group and spoke "Everyone this is my dear friend Miss Elizabeth Harlington, I asked her to join us this evening, I hope you don't mind" he said.

"Not at all, the more the merrier as they say" Mr Hockley said who was sat next to Rose.

Elizabeth smiled "Thank you and if that is the case I hope you don't mind but I met a friend on the way and asked her to join us. Everyone this is Margret Brown" Elizabeth introduced.

Molly stepped forward and smiled "How you all doing. But please as I told Miss Harlington here Please call me Molly" she said her outspoken and brazen attitude raising a few eyebrows from the table.

A smile crept its way onto Elizabeth's mouth as she looked at Thomas who himself was trying not to laugh.

Thomas cleared his throat and pulled out a chair for Elizabeth. He motioned for her to sit down as Mr Smith pulled one out for Molly but just as Elizabeth went to sit Thomas leant forward and whispered in her ear "You look beautiful" he said sincerely.

A blush crept up her cheeks as she looked back at him smiling "Thank you" she said quietly before sitting down.

After seating Elizabeth Thomas sat back down and tried to calm the racing pulse beneath his skin. He could not even start to comprehend the emotions she provoked inside of him just by merely sitting to next to him and though he did not know it it seemed Elizabeth was having the same problem.

Shrugging off her shawl Elizabeth smiled and looked around the table, anything to divert her attention from Thomas "So what were you all talking about before I so rudely interrupted?" she asked politely.

Thomas sighed as Bruce Ismay smiled in delight "We were talking of the beautiful creation we are dining inside of" he said, the conversation taking off again.

Thomas leaned over and once again whispered into her ear "Here we ago, this whole night we will talk of nothing but Titanic and tomorrow and the next night and the next, all because of you my dear" he teased and Elizabeth had to supress a laugh.

"Forgive me but how was I supposed to know of what you were discussing before I arrived" she whispered back quickly, both pretending to pay attention to the conversation around the table but instead completely trapped in their own little world.

"It's Bruce Ismay" he said simply.

Elizabeth chuckled lightly "True" she whispered back her lips almost grazing his ear as they were so close.

Molly, though occasionally entering the conversation with a small joke or two, watched the couple out of the corner of her eye. She had not known these people five minutes and she could already see the love and forbidden glances they stole at each other. Molly was new to the whole first class society thing, whatever you like to call it she thought but that did not make her blind or stupid. She knew Mr Andrews was married, it was a well-known fact as was the topic of Miss Harlington's un married status. Question was, why? People whispered rumours, women like Mrs Bukater or Ruth as she was known to her friends loving to spread rumours that she had had an affair or had her heart crushed, forever stamping her as ruined goods. And they were right, well at least to some degree she thought as she watched Elizabeth laugh at something Thomas said.

Molly brown had seen a many things in her time and love and broken hearts were certainly on the agenda. People of this society would whisper cruel and hurtful things, some almost close to the truth but what they would never see or ever know, not even Molly, was the heart-breaking oh so complicated layers, the pages and tragic scenes behind the cleverly covered up façades which women and men like Elizabeth and Thomas held up so well.

-TITANIC-

Elizabeth and Thomas laughed as they walked down the corridor Elizabeth clutching her stomach as she tried to overcome the fits of giggles she was in.

"She's quite the character isn't she" Elizabeth laughed as she looked at him.

Thomas nodded reflecting back on the night "I think Mrs Bukater was most distraught" he said which sent Elizabeth back into another fit of giggles as she leant against his shoulder as they walked.

"When Molly started talking about the time she had found her husband naked and drunk outside I thought Ruth was going to die of embarrassment. Oh and Mr Ismay, he was so pale. And we just sat there trying not to burst into laughter" she laughed, stopping to catch her breath.

"Not just us, I think Rose was having a hard time not laughing too" he replied.

"True, but I think we were quite obviously worse"

Thomas laughed as he looked at her admiring her joyful face, so many times in recent years he had found the spark that made her glow, the one he loved, gone. But looking at her now he was pleased to see it had returned.

She could see how he looked at her, his eyes dark but she ignored it "You were of no help at all!" she protested with a smile as she walked towards him "If anything you encouraged Molly to go on"

He chuckled as they carried on down the corridor "But it was so amusing and it was nice to see you smile" he said sincerely.

Elizabeth's lips twitched upwards as she looked at him "Are you saying that I don't smile enough?" she teased.

Thomas slowed and Elizabeth looked at him curiously "No of course not but…" he stopped. How could he tell her that just seeing her smile, just one smile, made his day? That it made his heart flutter, that he had missed it ever so much and that he would miss it still once she was firmly in America? He could not. He was married to a beautiful woman and had his beautiful daughter. How his heart was torn.

"But?" she prompted lightly, curious to his unfinished sentence.

He smiled and shook his head as they started walking again "But nothing, it does not matter" he said pushing it aside.

Elizabeth frowned and clutched his arm gently "Thomas please tell me" she said searching his face, wanting to know desperately what he was thinking, what was inside his head, his heart, everything.

Thomas sighed and looked at her gently "There is nothing to tell" he said, his sweet Irish accent washing over her.

"Thomas I am your friend and it matters to me" she said desperately.

He moved to the wall and lent against it. He couldn't tell her, couldn't put that type of strain on their friendship. But here she stood persisting and being oh so patient it made his heart want to cry out in anguish so making his choice he looked at her and exhaled "Elizabeth, I didn't mean anything by it I just thought…"

Elizabeth who admittedly was a little tipsy stepped forward and interrupted him "No, no no no! We aren't doing this, not now, not again. No more secrets, we used to be able to tell each other everything, I won't have us not knowing would could have been said, not now" she pleaded, obviously hinting to her departure to America.

"What do you want Elizabeth... Fine you want the truth then here it is. I said what I said because I will miss you. You, your smile, those things keep me going throughout a day, throughout a week, and now because you decide to leave for America it suddenly seems like my world is crashing down!" he admitted his heart hanging by his sleeve.

Standing there, looking at him her heart stopped, her whole body stopped, everything, including time, freezing. She looked over his pained face and the heart breaking truth he had subtly admitted. If possible Elizabeth would have sworn the whole ship had stopped, only them two existing in that one moment as his sensually dark brown eyes engulfed her, taking her away to a world so foreign yet familiar. Reluctantly turning away she closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at him with pain yet laced with determination "You're right, I should not have asked" she said before walking off down the corridors, her hair sweeping past her shoulder.

"Elizabeth wait!"

Ignoring him she carried on when she felt his hand grab her arm pulling her to a stop.

Looking at her he could see the tears gathering in her eyes and his heart broke "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything I didn't mean to…"

Elizabeth shook her head wiping at the forming tears "No don't be" she whispered "You didn't want to tell me and I forced you, I'm sorry" she said looking away from him. She could not stand here looking at him when she knew that he at least felt something for her. Oh why did she have to come on this ship she thought. But slowly, almost as if he were a magnet her gaze was drawn back to his.

For minutes they just stood there, watching as emotions and years of wasted time passed them. The occasional person passing them by, but it did not move them. It was only when Molly who had been watching the scene from afar for the past few minutes came waltzing through, breaking their intense gaze.

"Well what are you two kids still doing up? I swear you left at least half an hour ago. Sharing a midnight kiss were we?" she teased.

Elizabeth blushed and looked down as Thomas cleared his throat both still unable to speak.

Molly looked over them with knowing eye but quickly went back to her old teasing self "Oh I was only joking. Mr Andrews would you be a doll and escort a lady back to her room?" she said almost knowing that both needed time apart to think.

Thomas who was still watching Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye looked at Molly fully and nodded "Of course, it would be a pleasure but will you be alright Elizabeth?" he asked, concern blatant in his voice.

She nodded and waved him off "I will be fine, please escort Mrs Brown back to her room and I will see you tomorrow" she said before turning away.

"Elizabeth!"

Sighing she turned back around and looked back at him "Was there something you wanted Mr Andrews?"

"Will you join me for lunch tomorrow?"

Chewing her lip slightly she nodded "I will"

Thomas smiled "Then I will come for you at 12.00?"

Elizabeth smiled weakly and nodded "Goodnight Mr Andrews, Mrs Brown" and with that she was gone, quickly rushing back to the sweet confines of her room.

Authors note: I didn't really like this chapter and it took me ages to get into it but I hope you enjoyed it none the less. PLeaseee pleaseeee review! I love to hear what you think and it encourages me to continue! :D Thank you! :D