A/N: Okay so I lied. Apparently, I am able to get in an update or two before I go back to school xD Thanks to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes, and NO I am not forty-three years old, I swear. :P aha. Love you guys; enjoy the chapter.

Esme smiled, smugly satisfied. "Very well, then," she said, nodding her approval. "I'll see you later, Alice."

She managed a not-so-subtle nudge to Alice's ribs as she walked by. Alice noticed there was a slight spring in her step.

"So what exactly are tonight's plans, then?" Alice asked Jasper. "I hope you're not planning on taking me to that steerage party."

Jasper chuckled. "Nope," he said. "Parties aren't really my scene, if that makes any sense."

"No, no, I get it," Alice said truthfully. "Parties aren't exactly my, er, scene either." She was a bit unfamiliar with the American slang. The awkward way she'd said it set Jasper's face alight with amusement.

"Glad to hear we have that in common, then," he said. "No, I was hoping you'd help me care for Scarlett tonight; remember? Charlotte and Peter's little girl?"

Alice's smile reached far beyond her eyes. "I would love to. Let me guess; they're going to the party?"

Jasper chuckled. "Indeed, they are. Scarlett isn't feeling so well, otherwise she'd be going with them."

"What happened?" Alice asked, stopping in her tracks and wheeling in front of Jasper, her dress swinging around her ankles. "Is she sick? Have they taken her to see the ship doctor yet?"

Jasper shook his head. "No," he said. "Scarlett's a strong kid. Her system will fight it off."

Alice's lips pursed as he took her arm to keep them walking. "You shouldn't count on that," she said.

"I don't," Jasper said. The crease between his eyebrows was about as deep as the ocean they were sailing on. "But Charlotte and Peter do, so there isn't much I can do for her."

Alice was slightly horrified. "She's their daughter!" she squeaked. "Don't they care at all about her wellbeing?"

"Of course they do," said Jasper. "But do you know how much a visit to the ship's doctor would cost them? It's a miracle they were able to afford even a steerage ticket; there's no way in hell they can dig even deeper into their bank to get her a checkup."

"Carlisle's a doctor!" Alice insisted. "He wouldn't mind taking a look at her! He wouldn't ask for any sort of payment."

"Look, Alice," Jasper said, stopping and putting two reassuring hands on her shoulders. "It's not that serious, anyway. It's just a bug. She's had worse when she was even younger. Besides, Peter's too proud to accept help like that." Jasper sighed. "I try not to worry. If you worry, it'll make it harder for me not to worry, and that will frighten Scarlett. We don't want that."

Alice grimaced. "I don't want to scare her," she said, "but I still think you should at least bring up to Peter that Carlisle would be more than happy to help them, free of charge."

Jasper sighed as he started taking strides so long, Alice had to take five steps to match one of his.

They were in the first class corridor now. It was mostly empty, except for a few men and women heading back to their cabins to retire for the night. Alice and Jasper nodded politely to those they passed.

"You cannot be serious!"

Alice stopped in her tracks as she heard glass shatter. Her hand reached out to stop Jasper, and her head turned to the left, towards where she heard the voice.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"Let's go this way," Alice said, pulling him down the left corridor. He didn't question her.

"Mr. Andrews, just imagine!" said a voice Alice didn't recognize. "We could make headlines! She'll be even more famous than she already is!"

Alice and Jasper halted to a stop in front of a large door that was open just a crack. Alice was able to peek inside the room and see that it appeared to be another dining room. Inside were Mr. Andrews, and two other men she did not recognize. From the attire of one of them, however, she drew the conclusion he must be Edward J. Smith, the ship's captain.

"Mr. Ismay," Thomas Andrew's strong voice said, "you already limited the number of lifeboats to twenty - "

"As opposed to sixty-four! That would have made the passengers feel unsafe."

" - which means that, should she sink, not even half of the people on the Titanic could be saved."

Mr. Ismay scoffed. "Sink?" he laughed. "The Titanic will not sink."

"You axed the plan for a double skin of steel - "

"It would have added weight, slowing the ship!"

"You omitted the larger rudder - "

"Also due to excess weight."

" - that would have made turning far easier, and you didn't allow the better watertight compartments to be built - "

"Mr. Andrews, that would have intruded on first-class space!"

" - but I will not allow you to jeopardize the lives of each and every passenger on this ship by sailing at full speed through the ice field! Captain, you simply cannot allow him to convince you of this!"

Alice's gaze flicked from Mr. Andrews' red face to the captain. Captain Smith slowly put down his tea cup. The calm look on his face made Alice's stomach lurch; he couldn't really be considering going at full speed through an ice field, could he? Alice had read about them in a book Carlisle had let her borrow. They'd caused the demise of countless ships in the past. The mere thought of it made her go green with unease. She subconsciously took hold on Jasper's hand.

"Bruce," Captain Smith said, "be reasonable. We can't risk it. I do not want to endanger these fine people's lives. That would be immoral and just downright wrong. The Titanic will make headlines regardless of how soon her maiden voyage is over."

Bruce Ismay's eyes narrowed, not at the captain, but at Mr. Andrews.

"Very well, then," he muttered angrily. "Why don't you go play virtuous elsewhere, Tom?"

Mr. Andrews grinned smugly. "As you wish, good sir," he said, bowing dramatically. "Captain Smith, Mr. Ismay." He nodded toward the pair of them, but as he turned so that Alice could see his face, she noticed he still looked less than at ease.

"Alice, we should go," Jasper said, tugging at her arm.

"No, wait," she hissed at him, standing back so that the door didn't hit her as it swung open.

"Oh, Alice," Mr. Andrews said, obviously startled, as he near bumped into her. "Good evening. Did you and your family have a nice dinner?"

"Yes, sir," said Alice. "Very nice."

"And who might this be?" he said, eyeing Jasper.

"Jasper Hale, sir," said Jasper, shaking Mr. Andrews' hand. "You've built a wonderful ship."

"Pleasure," said Mr. Andrews, smiling a strained smile in thanks.

"We heard what went on in there," Alice said, nodding toward the door. "I thought you said the ship wouldn't sink."

"She won't," he said automatically. "Not so long as Bruce Ismay keeps his foul mouth closed and his large ego at bay."

Alice twisted her mouth. Neither she, nor Jasper, nor even Mr. Andrews truly believed Bruce Ismay would rest unless he got his headline, at any expense.

"What about the lifeboats?" Jasper asked. "You said there were twenty. That can't be enough to hold the passengers on the ship; you said so yourself."

Thomas Andrews went pale; every bit of color drained out of his face. "No," he said bitterly. "It's not; not by half." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "The Titanic is strong, of course, but once she's on the waters, there's no telling just how strong she'll prove to be. I don't believe the captain will agree to fulfill Ismay's wishes; not willingly, anyhow."

Alice looked at Jasper anxiously. His hand locked with hers for a brief second before, as though realizing what he'd just done, he released her. She craved to have their hands entwined again, but made no motion to take his back.

"Please, don't worry, either of you," Mr. Andrews said. "Young Alice, I stand by what I said to you at the staircase." He placed his hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "Now, if you'll both excuse me, I have a few things to attend to."

"Yes, of course, Mr. Andrews," Alice said, moving to let him pass.

"We won't speak of it to anyone," Jasper assured before Mr. Andrews could ask. "We don't want to cause a panic."

"That's right," Mr. Andrews said faintly, with a forced sort of smile.

He excused himself and hurried past them, looking even more frazzled than he had to begin with.

"Alice, we should go," Jasper said. "Charlotte and Peter will be waiting."

"Give me a second," Alice said once she was sure Mr. Andrews was out of earshot. "You can go on without me. I can find my way there."

Jasper sighed. "I'll wait," he decided.

Alice crept back toward the door. She'd heard the hushed, dark voice while Mr. Andrews was leaving. She knew what the conversation was about before she heard it.

"Captain, I am the owner of this ship," Ismay was saying, "and you're under every obligation to do what I say."

Captain Smith was sitting squarely in his chair, while Bruce Ismay was leaning over the table toward him with a cruel sneer on his face. The captain didn't look phased at all.

"Not when what you say interferes with the safety of over two thousand people, Bruce," said the captain. Ismay went red as a smile that made him look scarily like a wolf spread across his face.

"Captain Smith," he said, almost jauntily, "I happen to know this job is the only reason your family isn't going hungry, and that you haven't enough saved up to feed your wife and child for even a week without it."

It was only when his family was brought into question that Smith's face betrayed any emotion; he went positively pale.

"Smith, I can assure you that a single word of mine is worth six dozen of yours, and I can make sure that you never work again."

Ismay stood and paced around Smith. Alice held her breath.

"I want my headlines, Captain Smith," Mr. Ismay growled. "And I'm sure your family would like food to eat and a roof to sleep under."

Alice knew what was going to happen the second the captain put his head in his hands. She closed the door as quietly as she could.

Captain Smith was to risk the lives of two thousand people so his family wouldn't starve. Alice couldn't bring herself to think any less of him; it's what she would have done, after all.

"That bastard," she gasped softly, looking up at Jasper through wide, distressed eyes. "Doesn't he know what could happen if the ship sails through all that ice?"

"I'm sure he does," Jasper said grimly. "But he wants his bloody headlines."

"So I heard," Alice groaned. "Let's get going, then. I'm sure your friends are tired of waiting.

"Do you think we should tell Mr. Andrews?" she continued as they started walking. Jasper grimaced and shook his head.

"No," he said decidedly. "He'll find out in due time, and it wouldn't do to worry him before then. You saw his face. He knows he's utterly powerless against Ismay."

Alice didn't like any of it. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the right side of the ship scraping an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic; people jumping off the Titanic and into the water below. She tried to convince herself that it was just her imagination responding to what she'd heard, but that was a difficult task because the short visions were so real.

Jasper placed one hand on her shoulder, and in that single moment, everything was alright again. Alice felt as though her worries were literally being washed away. Her eyes flickered to Jasper, then back to the hall in front of her. She was imagining things again.

"I wish you wouldn't be so tense, Alice," he said to her as they went down the last set of stairs. "Everything will be fine."

"How can you be so sure?" she huffed. He stopped and wheeled her around to face him, smirking.

"How can you?" he challenged.

Alice didn't know how to answer. That was something she wasn't sure she wanted to tell him.

He stared at her, like he knew she had an answer she was keeping to herself, but said nothing. Instead, he smiled a smile that made everything seem as though it were okay and lead her down the remaining stairs.

Charlotte and Peter's cabin was the first on the right. As Jasper knocked on the door, Alice drifted backward. She wasn't shy, of course; Alice was never shy. No, it was a nagging wonder of whether or not they would like her that kept her hiding behind Jasper.

"There you are, Jasper! We thought you'd forgotten about us!"

Alice found it hard to look over Jasper's shoulder because he was so tall and she was… well, not. She did, however, take a peak around his arm to see the woman who the voice belonged to.

Charlotte's voice and laughter were much fuller than her body. Alice found that they appeared to be about the same height, though Charlotte had to have been at least Esme's age, and were just as thin as one another. It appeared that she had tried to pull back her yellow hair, but most of it still hung in loose ringlets around her lit up face.

"I hope you don't mind," Jasper said, a joking grin in his voice, "I brought some emergency aid with me in case Scarlett gets out of hand."

He stepped aside, chuckling slightly, to reveal Alice, who tried her best not to look as nervous as she felt.

She held her breath at the appraising look Charlotte gave her. Alice had never felt more overdressed and ridiculous than she did then. She wanted to shrink into a brown ensemble that matched Charlotte's and get as far away from the purple gown she felt was sparkling much too brightly.

Charlotte's following smile eased Alice considerably.

"This is her, then, Jasper?" she said. "Alice?"

Charlotte took two steps toward Jasper and made a movement as though she was going to whisper in his ear, but spoke loudly enough for both Alice and Jasper to hear.

"She's just as beautiful as you said," said Charlotte. Alice took a few deep breaths to keep the color from rushing to hear cheeks.

Jasper merely grinned; he didn't seem at all phased by Charlotte's attempt to embarrass him. "Where's Scarlett? And Peter?"

"Scarlett's inside. She just finished the tea I made her to help with the… well, you know," Charlotte fussed, quickly turning away from them and hurrying into the cabin. "She's probably fallen asleep by now. One of Peter's friends came by; needed his help with something. He said he'd meet me there."

Jasper chuckled. "He's leaving you without an escort?" he teased.

"Wouldn't be the first time in the last ten years," Charlotte laughed.

Alice was quiet, barely even listening. Her stomach knotted as she took in the inside of the cabin. It was small; very small. The ceiling wasn't too far above Jasper's head. The two beds, one a bunk bed, one a single bed with covers bundled on top of it, took up the majority of the space. Alice had move sideways to fit through the opening made by the two beds. There was a chair in the corner of the room, several suitcases and bags, a safe much smaller than the one in her common room, and a sink.

It wasn't bad, Alice supposed; if she remembered correctly, the apartment she, Bella, and her parents had shared before they died had been about the same size, if not smaller. At least this one was clean.

"Where's Scarl - ?" Alice started quietly, looking up at Jasper. She was interrupted by Charlotte who hurried over to the bundle of blankets on the single bed, nudging at them.

"Scarlett," Charlotte said softly. "Scarlett, honey, wake up. Jasper's here, and he's brought a friend."

The bundle of blankets moved, and Alice was surprised to find that, under them, was a small girl with Charlotte's blonde hair and tired, grass green eyes. Her curls stuck to her forehead, which must have been the product of a fever since the room was quite fresh.

"Jasper?" said Scarlett groggily. Her voice was clear, for which Alice was grateful. She must not have had a sore throat.

"Yes, honey," Charlotte said, continuing to shake her daughter lightly. "And he has a friend with him. They're going to take care of you while I go with your father, alright?"

"All… right…" Scarlett yawned. "Jasper?" she said again.

Jasper hurried over to her. Alice stayed where she was, her heart clenching at the worried look Jasper threw at Charlotte when he touched Scarlett's hand. It must have been just as hot, if not hotter, than Alice suspected.

"Hey, kiddo," Jasper said softly. Alice admired the calming edge to his voice. She didn't know anyone could be so reassuring. "How are you feeling?"

Scarlett shrugged as though nothing was wrong. "Fine, I suppose," she said. "I'm tired all the time, though. I wish I could see more of the boat."

"It's not a boat, honey," Charlotte corrected halfheartedly. "It's a ship."

Scarlett seemed as though she hadn't heard her mother at all. Her eyes scanned the room, finally locking on Alice.

"Jasper, who's she?" Scarlett asked.

"Her name is Alice," Jasper said. "She's my friend. She came to help me take care of you."

"I thought it was just going to be you and me," Scarlett pouted. Jasper grinned and ruffled her hair.

"You don't mind, do you?" he said. Alice nearly smiled at how he seemed to hold a power over the little girl.

"I suppose not," Scarlett muttered. She looked back up at Alice. "Does she talk?"

"Of course she does," said Jasper. "Alice?" He looked expectantly at her.

A smile spread across Alice's face. "Hi, Scarlett," she said. "Jasper's told me so much about you."

Scarlett turned her entire body toward Alice, her eyes lighting up like fireworks. "Like what?" she said excitedly.

"I have to go," Charlotte said before Alice could answer. She pressed a kiss to Scarlett's forehead. Alice saw the worried look in her eyes the second her lips connected with her daughter's flesh. "Don't stay up too late, lovely. Your father and I will be back before you know it."

"Kay," Scarlett said, smiling in a way that made Alice's eyes shine. "Have fun, Mother."

Charlotte hurried out with parting thanks to both Alice and Jasper, closing the door behind her.

"Come sit, Alice," Scarlett said, patting the seat next to her. She no longer seemed to mind that it wasn't just her and Jasper.

Alice's mouth had formed into, what felt like, a permanent grin. Scarlett's presence was like a radiation of happiness.

Alice sat on the far end of the bed, shooting a surprised look at Jasper when Scarlett crawled onto her lap. Jasper merely smiled and moved to the bunk bed across from them.

"So what has Jasper said about me?" Scarlett said, pressing herself into Alice.

For a moment, Alice was stunned silent. Scarlett's skin was like fire; no wonder she was sweating. And, yet, she managed to speak and move around as though nothing were wrong. There were slightly dark circles under her eyes. Alice remembered how she'd mentioned she was always tired; the marks were most likely from trying to stay awake.

"All good things," Alice said, catching Jasper's eye. Don't worry, Alice could feel him saying silently. "Don't worry. He tells me you're an absolutely wonderful girl. Strong, too."

Scarlett pursed her lips. "I can't even carry my own suitcase," she said. "Father has to do it for me. I'm not strong."

Alice laughed, pressing Scarlett's warm head against her slightly colder neck in an attempt to cool her down.

"You are strong," Alice whispered. "Believe me."

Alice did nothing for the next few minutes but stare down at Scarlett, the little girl's eyes opening and closing like that of a doll being tilted back and forth as she tried to stay awake.

Jasper was quiet, leaning forward on his hands and smiling bemusedly with his hair in his eyes as he watched them.

"Go to sleep, Scarlett," Alice said, gently running her hand through Scarlett's sweaty hair. "You need your rest."

Scarlett yawned. "But I'm not tired," she managed to say.

"Of course you're not, love," Alice said, chuckling softly. "How about you just close your eyes, then? That way, you can trick your body into thinking it's asleep."

Scarlett's eyes drifted closed. "Oh… kay…"

Alice could feel her fighting to stay awake in her arms, but it wasn't long before her breathing became steadier and all the tension in her body relaxed. Even in sleep, her skin was still hot as a red poker.

"Jasper," Alice said, not taking her eyes off of Scarlet, "can you find a towel or something and run it under some cold water for me, please?"

Alice heard Jasper's soft, "Of course," and the sound of the bed shifting as he stood. He rummaged through a few bags until he found a rag; it wasn't small, but it would do. He ran it under the cold water faucet at the sink and wrung out the excess.

Alice held her hand out for it when she heard him approaching, sighing contentedly when she felt the cold of it press into her palm. She laid it on Scarlett's forehead. The young girl shifted slightly in her sleep, but did not wake up. Alice continued to watch until the redness in her face went down a shade, at which point she finally looked up at Jasper.

"How did I do?" she asked him.

His face was happily surprised. "You're a natural," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you certain you haven't done this before?"

Alice laughed softly, trying not to jostle Scarlett too badly. Jasper sat down across from her.

"You're going to make a wonderful mother someday, Alice," said Jasper.

"Thank you," she said. "I like to think so."

Alice was silent, thinking for a moment.

"Jazz, do you ever wonder how much time we have left?"

The question caught Jasper by surprise, and not just because she used his sister's embarrassing nickname for him. He tried to think about it, but he couldn't come up with a competent answer.

"I've never thought about it," he said, shaking his head. "Why do you ask?"

Alice held up her hand to the light as though she were studying it. Slowly, she put down two of her fingers.

"Three days," she whispered. "I feel like there's a significance in that. I'm not saying our time is up in three days… I don't know what I'm saying, actually. But I feel like… like there's a connection between them."

"Alice, is this about what we overheard in the corridor?" asked Jasper. "The ship isn't going to sink - "

"That's not what I'm saying," whispered Alice, even though she felt as though Jasper knew exactly what she meant. And he did, in a way.

The feeling silently frightened both of them.

"You confuse me, Alice," Jasper said. "I… can't seem to understand you."

Alice stared directly at him, but he was looking down. Minutes that felt like hours passed before he looked up abruptly, staring into her eyes with a frightening passion.

"But I like you," he said. "I do, Alice. And I can't quite understand that, either."

And for once, Alice was at a loss for words. She tried to stammer something out, but only a few, soft, incoherent murmurs came out of her mouth. Instead of speaking, she removed the rag from Scarlett's forehead. It was as hot as her face had once been, and dry. Scarlett, however, was cooler to the touch.

"Can you run it under the cold water for me again, Jasper?" she asked him softly. "It's gone dry."

One side of Jasper's mouth tilted upward in a lopsided smile as he took the rag from her hand. "Sure."

He returned from the sink moments later with three more cold, wet rags. Alice smiled sadly at him and placed the rags on Scarlett's forehead, neck, and arms.

"I'm scared," said Alice so quietly, she barely even noticed the words escaping her lips.

Jasper didn't return to the bunk bed; instead, he maneuvered himself to sit on her right side, wrapping his arm securely around her shoulders.

"Don't be," he said. "You have nothing to be afraid of."

But the words were empty, no matter how much they willed them to be true.

Alice had no idea when it was that she'd fallen asleep, but when she forced her eyes to flutter open again, Scarlett was curled into a sleeping ball in the far corner of the bed with freshly watered rags placed on her overheated body, and Jasper was shaking her awake.

"Alice," he said. "Alice, it's time to go."

"Hmm?"

Jasper was the closest to her. Charlotte stood just a little ways off from him, closely entwined with a tall, grey-eyed man with silvery blonde hair that was, obviously, Peter.

Jasper offered her his hand to help her up, but, convinced she could do it on her own, Alice pulled herself up. He put on hand on her arm to steady her when she staggered.

"Thank you so much for taking care of her for us," Charlotte said to them, taking Jasper's hand in her own, and then Alice's, in thanks. "In all the stress of her being sick, we never thought about wet towels. It was an ingenious idea, really."

"Alice thought of it," said Jasper, a slight smile in his voice.

"Well, thank goodness for that," said Peter. "We're very grateful to you both."

Jasper and Peter shook hands, and Alice waved politely goodbye to the couple. Just before she and Jasper exited out the door, Alice turned and blew a kiss at Scarlett. The door nearly closed on her dress.

"Please tell me you remember how to get back upstairs," Alice laughed. "I'm half asleep. I can't quite remember anything."

Jasper chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll get you back to your family safely."

They went up the empty stairwell, subconsciously trying to make as little noise as possible so as to not wake any of the sleeping passengers.

Alice hadn't noticed that she was walking with Jasper's arm around her and her body pressed closely to his until Jasper stopped to gently push her in front of him in the narrow hallway.

"It was almost surreal watching you with Scarlett tonight," he said as they neared the elevator that lead from second to first class. "Even when you were asleep, you kept her hair out of her face if she started to sweat and rubbed her back if she stirred. You always seemed to know what to do before she needed you to do it. You're a natural."

"That's the second time you've said that," giggled Alice. "Thank you."

"I only speak the truth," he said.

When they reached the elevator, Alice's hand flew to cover her mouth and stifle a laugh. The attendant was sprawled across the chair in the corner, his mouth hanging open, fast asleep.

"Let's take the stairs," Alice mouthed at Jasper. "I don't want to wake him."

"As you wish." He motioned exaggeratedly for her to continue in front of him. She sighed happily, twisting a lock of his hair around her finger as she passed.

Alice slipped up the steps in her groggy state, Jasper having to hold her up every now and then to keep her from falling back on him.

"It's just down there," Alice said, pointing toward the middle of the first class corridor.

"I know," said Jasper. "The one with the double doors."

"How'd you know?" Alice asked. Her hand touched his, and instead of a shocking bolt running up her arm, there was only a comforting warmth which was, in every possible way, a thousand times better.

"Your family occupies one of the two millionaire suites on the entire ship," he said. "My sister does her research."

They were standing in front of the doors now. Alice leaned against the wall, her hands locking behind her back as Jasper towered over her. She grinned up at him.

"Where's your cabin?" she asked.

"All the way at the end," he answered. "Don't worry; I can find my way without getting lost."

Alice laughed slightly. "I'm sure you can."

It was silent for a moment; the only sound in the corridor was that of their breathing.

"I had fun tonight," Alice confessed. "More fun than I've had in a long time, and much more fun than I would have had if we'd gone to that party."

"I'm glad you did," said Jasper. "Maybe… we can see each other again tomorrow? I still have that book to let you borrow, remember."

Alice smiled. "I look forward to seeing your personal library," she said, feeling strange and giddy like a young girl. "I'll… see you tomorrow, then, Jasper."

She put one hand on the doorknob, and the other was captured by Jasper's. She froze as he bent down to kiss her hand.

Her hand was still in his when he pulled back, both of them grinning, relishing in the moment.

With a single moment's hesitation, Jasper leaned forward to press his lips to her forehead.

"Goodnight, Alice," he said, releasing her hand. She turned the knob of the door, her heart hammering away in her chest.

She'd just turned away when Jasper stopped her again.

"Wait," he said suddenly. Alice looked over her shoulder at him.

"You look beautiful," said Jasper. "In case you'd forgotten. And, please, Alice, try not to worry. About anything."

A/N: Alright, guys. I hope this one wasn't too confusing for any of you. It made perfect sense to me, but I'm the writer, so that's understandable, and I get how someone could find it hard to comprehend… I really did like this chapter, though, despite how much I ranted to my friend, Rose, that it was going to just be a filler. I don't think it was much of a filler, actually… I find that a lot of crucial development happened here :3 But I'll leave that up to you guys.

A few notes - the whole ordeal with Bruce Ismay, Mr. Andrews, and the captain are based on factual information. I don't know if it actually went down like that (hell, it probably didn't) but the whole point of that was to show that Bruce Ismay's ignorance and hunger for publicity caused many key parts of the ship that could have prevented the sinking (or saved far more lives in the event of the sinking). Not only that, but, yes, it was his idea to plow through the ice field at full speed, the asshole.

Reviews are love, don't you forget (: