Chapter 11

"Holly, are you dressed warmly? We need to go!" Harlean cried as she came rushing into the Suite.

Holly came out of Harlean's bedroom, "No miss, what is the matter?" she asked.

"Get your coat and," all of a sudden there was a knock on the door, Harlean turned and opened it, there was a Steward on the other side, "Yes?" she asked.

"Miss Carpenter we've been asked to get everyone up on deck, dressed warmly and in their life jackets," he said.

"And get your life jacket," Harlean called to Holly.

The maid nodded and rushed into Harlean's bedroom.

"Thank you sir, I was in the process of getting Holly ready for that, I just was thinking about getting the Life Jacket, thank you very much," she said to the Steward, trying to smile.

The Steward nodded, turned and left the room, going next door to the people in the next suite.

Harlean closed the door and walked into her bedroom, she then opened a drawer in her Vanity and pulled out a small purse which she then began to shove some of her jewels into, they were things that had been given to her by her Uncle or parents and they were not something she wanted to loose, "Grab one of my coats as well, I'm not totally sure your coat will keep you warm, alright?" Harlean said as Holly pulled two life jackets out of the wardrobe.

"Yes miss," Holly said as she pulled out Harlean's other coat.

Harlean then closed the bag and shoved it into the pocket of her coat, she took the first coat off and Holly helped her put the life jacket over her dress, she then returned the gesture with Holly and once both women were tied tightly into the jackets Holly assisted Harlean in putting on her coats. The young maid then rushed to her room, grabbed her coat and some things and shoved them into her pocket. She then put on Harlean's other coat.

"Here, also put on these. If something happens…if we get separated…stay safe and I will find you again," Harlean said as she handed Holly some gloves and they began to head for the door of the Suite.

"Miss…what is the matter? What is going to happen to us?" she asked.

Harlean closed the door and looked back at her maid, and her friend, "The ship is sinking," she whispered.

Holly gasped, "I was there when my Uncle gave Harold and Jack the word to send out for help."

Holly said nothing but nodded, Harlean took her hand the two girls left the Suite for the last time.

XX

On the deck men were shouting orders and then Charles Lightoller spotted the Captain he rushed over, "We are swung out and ready sir! Should we start with the women and children first sir?" he asked.

The Captain nodded and murmured an un-audible word.

"Sir?" Charles asked.

"Yes, Women and Children first…yes," The Captain answered.

Charles and Henry Wilde exchanged looks then nodded, "Yes sir."

They then rushed off and began to get the boats loaded up.

The doors to the outside opened and Harlean and Holly pushed through the crowd, "We need one more woman!" an Officer called.

"Miss Harlean you best go," Holly said.

"No Holly you go, I need to say goodbye to Harold and my Uncle…and guarantee that he gets off the ship, now go."

Before Holly could protest Harlean pushed her towards the Officers, "Goodbye Holly!" she called.

Harlean stood there and watched as the boat then prepared to lower, "Goodbye Miss Harlean," Holly called sadly.

Once the boat was out of sight Harlean looked around and began to walk towards the Messaging room, but she was stopped en route by Thomas Andrews, "Harlean why are you not on a boat yet?" he asked.

"Well I was going to the messaging room to see Harold," she answered.

"Harlean this is no time for Social Calls, you need to get on a boat. I'm sure your Uncle wants you on one too," Thomas said.

"Well this is more than a Social Call," Harlean paused, "When you can get my Uncle on a boat I will get on one," she said.

Thomas sighed, "I'll do my best, just promise me you will get off this ship," he replied.

"Of course sir," she said.

Thomas nodded and then turned and rushed off to the First Class Entrance.

A moment later Harlean then walked into the Messaging room, Jack was at the table sending out the SOS calls and Harold was sitting next to him. He saw Harlean and stood up, "You need to get on a boat, its bad Harlean," he said.

"Yes I know it is, the ship is sinking, but I do not want to leave without you," she replied.

"It's going to be awhile yet before I can get away, you need to be on a boat, where I know your safe," Harold said

"But I," Harold cut her off, "Harlean…please don't argue with me," he begged.

"I will leave this ship, but I want to leave with you and my Uncle," she replied.

Harold sighed and then pulled Harlean into his arms, they held onto each other tightly. Over the last few days, they both had changed as people, and they both discovered the person they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with, but both were worried that now that the ship was sinking, it might not happen.

A moment later they pulled apart, "I'm going to go find my Uncle," she said.

"Alright, that's for the best," Harold kissed her on the cheek and smiled.

"I'll be back soon," she said, Harlean then turned and left the room.

"You really love her don't you Sparks?" Jack asked while replying to some messages from ships.

Harold looked at Jack, "I do…she is like no other girl I have ever met before," he replied.

"Well here's hoping we survive this and you two spending a long life together," Jack said, trying to make light of their current situation.

XX

"Uncle!" Harlean called.

She spotted him overlooking the deck, where water was already beginning to cover the deck, a flare went off and for a moment the girl stopped to look. But then she walked over to the Captain, "We should get on a boat and go," she said, glancing briefly at the water.

"Harlean I can not go until I have gotten as many passengers as possible off of this ship, and that includes you," he replied.

"I have already had this argument with Harold, I am not leaving without the pair of you," Harlean said simply.

"I wish you wouldn't do this, you are not safe here, and I need you to be safe."

"I need you to be safe too, which is why I want to get on a lifeboat with you."

He sighed then took his niece by the arm and took her into the bridge, "Harlean…I will not be leaving this ship tonight," he said somberly.

"Don't joke like that," she replied, softly.

"Harlean…you more than anyone understands what a ship is to her Captain, and the Captain always goes down with his ship. You knew when you were a little girl that was I ever a part of a disaster on a ship; I would go down with her as her Captain. Your Aunt and mother all understand that, and you need to as well," he explained.

Harlean looked down at her hands, tears forming in her eyes; she remembered these talks very well. The tales of Captains before her Uncle going down with the ship, and she always knew that he would go down with the ship, should that be an issue.

"You understand don't you?" he asked.

Harlean nodded and then threw her arms around his neck, the Captain wrapped his arms around his niece and she began to cry into his coat.

"I can't have this be your death," she sobbed.

"Harlean…this is what God has intended for me, and this is what shall happen. I know in my heart though, that this is not your time to go. You have a long life a head of you, which is why I want you on a lifeboat," he whispered.

She nodded and pulled away, Harlean wiped at her eyes and tried to smile, "I wish you were not one for tradition," she said softly.

He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling, "I have always been this way, and you knew that."

"May I at least help a little bit before getting on a boat?"

Her Uncle thought about it then nodded, "Yes you may help people get to the boats, but you better get off this ship," he answered.

Harlean nodded, "Yes sir," she then kissed him on the cheek and left the room, she then walked to the Messaging room to check in on Harold and Jack.

"Did you find the Captain?" Harold asked.

She nodded, "Yes…he's going down with the ship."

Harold looked up from a message he was writing down with alarm, he noticed Harlean had been crying and pulled her to him.

But she at once pulled away, "I'm fine Harold…I'm just going to help get women and children on the boats."

"Jack I'll be right back," Harold then took Harlean by the hand. He said nothing as they walked up the crowded deck; he seemed to be looking for someone.

"Lowe!" he called.

A young Officer with dark brown hair whipped around, "What is it Bride?" he asked.

"This is Harlean Carpenter, the Captain's niece. She is going to help get boats loaded, if you get off this ship make sure she is on the boat with you, alright?" he said.

Harold nodded, "Yeah, I'll make sure of it."

"Thank you," Harold then looked to Harlean, "I'll check on you in a bit, if you leave this ship I'll see you on the rescue ship," he said.

Harlean nodded, "You better."

Harold kissed her then ran back up the deck to the Messaging room.

"So you and Bride are an item?" Harold Lowe asked as they began to get women on the boats.

"I suppose you could call us that," she answered.

"Not to be rude Miss Carpenter, but I have heard rumors about you seeing an Officer, I just didn't think it would be Bride," Harold said.

"Sparks is a diamond in the rough Mr. Lowe" Harlean commented as she pulled some women towards the boats.

Harold merely smiled, the night wore on but at one fifteen, Harlean saw Officer Lowe and Officer Moody discuss who would go down with boat fourteen and they decided Harold would. She sighed, helping the people escape had made time fly by, and she realized now how much of the ship was now under water. She stood there looking at the water, the music of the band just then wafting past her ears.

Through this whole thing she hadn't seen Bruce Ismay, he had probably escaped, and he seemed like the type to do that.

"Miss Carpenter?"

She turned to Harold Lowe, "Yes?"

"I'm going down with this next one," he told her.

"May I go say goodbye to my Uncle and Sparks?"

Harold nodded, "Be fast."

Harlean ran up the deck, pushing past people, it was far from ladylike, but she had to find her Uncle. But the Messaging room came first, "Sparks, Harold's boat away from the ship has arrived…" she said softly.

He turned to her and nodded, "Let's go find your Uncle and we'll see you off," he said. Harold looked at Jack, "I'll be right back."

Jack barely nodded, he was still sending messages. It seemed to Harlean he hadn't stopped, and for that she loved him.

"Jack I hope to see you in one of the lifeboats or on what ever ship comes to our aid," she said.

Harlean then went over and hugged him from the neck, "Thank you…" she kissed him on the cheek and took Harold's hand. The couple left the room and found her Uncle a moment later. By the time they got back to boat fourteen, Harlean was crying silently.

She welcomed her Uncle's loving yet sad embrace and heaved back a sob, "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," her Uncle said softly.

He kissed her on the forehead and went to hand her over to Harold Lowe so he could assist her into the boat but she reached over to Bride and she pulled him to her. This was definitely not proper behaviour but if this were to be the last time she would ever see Harold Bride, she would let him know how much she loved him.

When they pulled away she knew her Uncle and others were staring, "I love you Harold, more than you might ever know, and I am so grateful to you for how you have treated me these last few days, and I love you so much I," she bit back a sob, tears falling from her eyes, "And I just want you to know that," but before she could finish Harold kissed her again, "I love you too…Harlean Carpenter," he whispered as he pulled away.

Harlean had tears pouring out of her eyes as she was put into boat fourteen, by this time it was very crowded and Harold Lowe had to stand up in the boat. She looked up at the fifth officer and when she looked back her dear Uncle was gone and she cursed herself for not keeping her eyes on him. But Sparks was still there, she tried to smile but her face could not be twisted into that.

"Get back! The lot of you!" Officer Lowe had a gun out and Harlean couldn't help but think where he got the gun from, it was not standard issue for the Officers. At this point he then shot down the side of the boat, "Get back!" he shouted again.

At this point Sparks had disappeared, that or they had gotten so far down that she couldn't even tell which of the faces high above belonged to the man she loved, but in that moment Harlean Carpenter had never felt so alone in her life…

XX

A/N- Alright…that chapter was really….really….really bad….I truly think I hate this chapter…Gina is to credit for the scenes with Thomas Andrews….sadly that is the last of his random appearances…I iz saddened by this revelation

Anywhos…I'm going away for the weekend, I will be back on Sunday, send me some love and I will try to update ASAP!!!