Sorry for such a delay between chapters, life has been very hectic this year with study and whatnot. From what a lot of you might have already gathered, Molly Brown is going to be a lot more of a main character in this fanfic as she is, in my opinion, such a loveable character in the movie. Anyway I hope you're all enjoying the story, please feel free to leave feedback, and thank you for reading!

The two of them wandered around the first class deck happily, and Rose quickly felt more comfortable being a commoner amongst the riches. Jack knew that he was destined to marry Catherine, but there was something about Rose that made him want to start anew like she had. They sat on a bench together and laughed about the time Rose went to clean a room in the inn and found a couple making love. Through laughter, she told Jack that it wouldn't have been so bad had the man's wife not been right behind her. The two of them were in hysterics and Jack found himself laughing purely because of her infectious laugh.

Suddenly a shadow loomed over the two of them as Ruth and Catherine and Molly stood there. Molly grinned and instantly assumed that she was the girl Jack was talking about, whilst Ruth and Catherine looked unimpressed.

"With all the lunacy coming from this part of the deck, we assumed we were with the madmen in steerage" smirked Ruth. Catherine eyed Rose off as she avoided eye contact. Her dress was rather common; Catherine knew that there was something untruthful about this girl's character. "Catherine, Ruth, surely you've met my daughter Rose before?" said Molly, indicating a gloved hand to Rose.

"Can't say I have" said Catherine suspiciously.
"Pleased to meet you dear" said Ruth, who was keeping her distance. She was wondering why the two of them been alone together. She hadn't seen Jack like this in years. Ruth decided she'd have to speak to him later, she wasn't about to let that vulgar Brown woman's daughter break up her and Hockley's arrangement.

The dinner horn sounded and Rose jumped in fright. Catherine looked over at her smugly, as if trying to draw out the truth about Rose. Ruth had found the Countess of Rothes and the two of them walked back towards the staterooms. Catherine waved a hand. "Come on Jack" she ordered, like she was training a disobedient dog. Catherine gave her best fake smile and waved goodbye to Molly, who had rolled her eyes as soon as Catherine turned her back.

"Do you two have the slightest comprehension of what you're doing?" she said to them with doubt in her tone. Jack gave her an uncertain nod before hearing Catherine call out for him to follow. "I'll see you at dinner Rose" he said before turning a corner.

Rose stood awkwardly besides Molly feeling out of place now that Jack had left. "What are you planning to wear?" asked Molly curiously. Rose indicated to her own attire, blushing with embarrassment. "I figured" Molly nodded and instructed Rose to follow her back to her state room. A first class makeover was in order, thought Molly as she and Rose exchanged information.

Jack paced the lobby impatiently, his shiny black shoes catching the light of the chandeliers of the Grand Staircase area. Catherine was deep in discussion with Ruth about colours of her bridesmaids' dresses and Nathan was in the next room bragging about his latest achievement in the steel business. Jack adjusted his cuff links and glanced to see Molly coming down the stairs. Jack smiled, happy to see someone he could converse with and then suddenly his smile gave way as his mouth opened in awe. Behind Molly was Rose, in a black and red dress with long white gloves and extravagant jewellery on. She was the most beautiful woman in the room, she was the most beautiful girl in any room thought Jack. He met her at the end of the stairs and kissed her hand, not taking his eyes off her. She met his gaze and wanted to stare into his eyes for an eternity. In unison they both laughed at the seriousness of the moment.

Molly interrupted the two by calling out to Rose. Jack offered his arm and Rose put her arm through his, feeling nervous about the exchange that was about to take place. "Ruth, Catherine, you remember meeting my daughter earlier this evening?" Ruth turned and gave her a quick look over before complimenting her necklace. Catherine mustered the sweetest smile she could and greeted Rose once more. "Rose, is it? Tell me Molly, why is it I didn't meet your daughter last night at the welcoming dinner?"
"I was feeling a bout of seasickness coming on, so I stayed in the stateroom last night" Rose answered quickly, not batting an eyelid.
Catherine half smiled and half frowned, defeated but only for now. She and Ruth made their way towards the dining room to join Nathan.

Jack offered his arm to Molly as well and the three of them entered the dining area. The band was playing in the corner as all of the glamorous people exchanged pleasantries. "Remember, they love money so we're in the club" Molly said, smiling at Rose. They had just entered the snake pit, as Molly had earlier described it.

Present

"But she never faltered" smiled Jack as he described the scene to Lovett, Bodine, his nurse and the other workers from the lab who had gathered to hear his story. Lovett held onto his tape recorder, spellbound by the old man's tale. His nurse looked at him in wonder, not once had she even heard Jack mention the Titanic. Bodine had appeared to have lost all scepticism and was waiting in anticipation for Jack to continue. "They assumed she was one of them. Mother and Catherine of course, could always be counted upon…"

1912

"So Rose, I understand you're eighteen and yet to be married?" asked Ruth as she sipped on champagne from the crystal glass. Rose nodded, finishing her mouthful and setting her own glass down.
"I was to be wed" she confessed honestly, "however I didn't really love the man so I called it off."
"You find existence without a husband appealing, do you?"
"Why yes ma'am I do. I mean, I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, my family and my passions in life. I believe that if someone should marry is should be for love. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it being with someone I'm unhappy with. You learn to take life as it come at you… to make each day count".
Jack raised his glass "to make each day count", and the rest of them toasted to that mantra as well. Ruth sat back in her seat and glanced at Catherine who was alternating her frosty glare between Jack and Rose. Molly placed her hand on Rose's and grinned.

Several courses later and the men had finally decided it was time to adjourn to the smoking room for brandy, cigars and politics. Jack insisted that he was much too tired to join them as they shuffled out of the room. Nathan gave Jack another curious look, aware of how suddenly Rose had become a part of their lives. He'd have a word with him later, he decided as he gathered his coat and headed out onto the deck.

"I might go too" smiled Rose, "still not feeling well from this nautical journey." She handed Molly back the pen she had borrowed as Jack offered to walk her to the door. Molly had left to go to the next table to socialise with John Jacob Astor, the richest man on the ship. Catherine and Ruth sat at the table, their accusing gazes burning into Rose as she and Jack headed towards the doorway.

"I had a very nice time" said Rose honestly, who was enjoying the company of Jack much more than she could have imagined.
"Yeah, me too."
He went to kiss Rose's hand again as she pushed a note into his. She looked at him once more and then exited into the Grand Staircase. He started to head back to the table and caught Molly leaving too. "Thank you Molly" he said sincerely, "I owe you."
She laughed and patted Jack on the back. "She's a diamond in the rough Jack. You two have something special, anyone can see that. Catherine included." Her expression had dropped now and she was speaking in a whisper. "I hope you know what will happen if they catch you with Rose again." He nodded, but thought that whilst the charade was going, he could continue to see Rose.

Jack sat back down at the table and read the note: "Make it count, meet me at the clock." He got up, gave a dismissive wave to his mother and Catherine and left the room. Standing atop the stairs was Rose who was admiring the hand carved clock. He grabbed her hand, slipping the note back into it and she turned around to explain. "Want to go to a real party?" she asked as the clock chimed its hourly song.