Chapter 6! Thankyou once again for reading and commenting on my stories it is most appreciated!
Lets begin...
I don't own Titanic...
24th April 1912 - 12.17pm
Walking arm in arm with Annie down a busy London street Paolo gazed in awe at the ginormous city before him, having lived in a small cottage for most of his childhood on the outskirts of Venice and later Napoli. Therefore Paolo had never witnessed a sight measuring up to the hussle and bussle of midday London.
Annie smiled as she noticed his eyes sparkle at the sight of her hometown, though the thought of her parents only yards away made her stomache slightly queezy. She sighed. It was not as if she had had a hard upbringing in anyway shape or form, her Mother and Father were two very loving people, but with their came restrictions, never in her life had she brought home a suitor, she did not know how her parents would react to the sudden appearence of their daughter plus a tall italian man slinging to her arm.
Though, she had brought up thr fact that they could stay with as a act of curiosity, to see if all the three people whom she loved most in the world could tolerate eachtother so, in that sense, Annie was rather excited.
She heard Paolo gasp beside her as they reached the monumental Clock Tower, he smiled is amazement at the beautiful structure, Paolo smiled down at Annie and kissed her sweetly on the cheek. ''How beautiful is it!'' He grinned dragging Annie a little closer. She rolled her dark eyes.
''It is beautiful, but the orthentisity sort of runs out when you pass it everyday.'' Paolo laughed
''That must have been such a horrible task for you. I do sympathize.'' They laughed and continued walking towards Annie's childhood home.
Within minutes Annie and Paolo stood together outside 13 Lambeth Road the home which Annie had not seen in over a year.
She knocked without hesitation suprisingly excited about seeing her parents for the first time in a long while.
The couple waited for a moments before the door opened and there stood Annies rather plump father, thin lines etched his features and the man looked quizzingly at the young couple.
''Whatcha selling?'' He grunted in a strong accent. Annie laughed slightly.
''Father'' Annie smiled letting go of Paolo's arm and embracing her father into a hug, at first the man seemed taken aback by the gesture but soon realised whom it was. His once disheveled face turned into a hearty and cheerful smile.
''My darling Annie!'' He chimed looking her up and down. ''What a suprise!'' He rubbed his daughters arm lovingly before turning to face Paolo.
''Thankyou for bringing my daughter home kind sir, has she paid you?'' Annie's rather asked not quite grasping the situation. Paolo laughed kindly before relaying the actual reason for his presence.
''aaah no Sir, you see, I am, I mean we are...'' Paolo trailed of as Annie took his hand.
''Father this is Paolo Sandrini.'' The greying man furrowed his bushy brows. ''We are to be married.'' Paolo nodded as she spoke the words.
However, to both of their suprise Mr Desmond laughed heartily at the comment. ''Always one for jokes my girl.'' Her father chuckled patting his daughters shoulder. ''This is no joke sir.'' Paolo spoke a little offended by his manner.
Annie's father stopped laughing instantaniously and his eyes began to rage. ''What?'' It was a whisper.
''This is my fiance'' Annie grinned staring up at Paolo unaware of her fathers blank expression.
Mr Desmond stood stationary upon his front door step. ''ah.'' he murmured after several moments. The couple laughed of her fathers strange behaviour and persisted into the house.
Paolo smiled as he entered her home, taking in it quaint surrroundings. ''Mother!'' Annie shouted. Moments later a petite women came bussling into the hall way. Paolo could see their similarites instantly, Annie shared her mothers eyes and mouth.
''Annie dearest!'' The women beamed drawing her daughter into a long hug. ''And whom is this man?'' She asked refering to Paolo.
Annie grinned and answered, ''This is my fiance, Paolo Sandrini.''
''How do you do madam.'' Paolo asked nodding towards his lovers mother.
The aging women coughed slightly surveying Paolo with searching eyes. ''hmmm'' she finally spoke ''Lunch will be served soon.'' and with that she retreated back towards the kitchen.
Annie led Paolo by the hand into the family dining room, it was small but seemed neat and pleasant, they sat facing the small window. ''I am so sorry about them.'' She looked into his eyes, clearly embarrased at the parents behaviour. Paolo smiled, ''Don't worry my love, anyone would be a little startled at seeing their daughter turn up at the door announcing that she is engaged to a man neither of them have ever met.''
Annie laughed, ''Well if you put it like that.''
Her father entered the room, he took a seat at the far left of the table. After a few moments of silence Mr Desmond spoke, ''So, Mr Sardini, have you been working with White Star Line long?'' The elder man placed his napkin upon his knee awaiting Paolo's answer.
''No Sir, infact it was my maiden voyage with the company, my brother worked in the boiler rooms and he secured a place for me to work as a waiter in the first class dining hall.'' Paolo smiled at Annie's dull looking father.
''Oh I see'' He answered dimly. Mrs Desmond arrived with 3 plates of sandwiches balancing upon her hands. She laid the first plate down for her husband, then placed one down for herself - she had chosen to be seated at the far right on the table directly across from her husband. The last plate was placed infront of Annie, whom stared dumbfounded at Paolo's empty space.
The italian removed his neatly placed napkin from his knee and folded it back up upon the table, neither of her parents gave any explaination for his food absence.
Her father instigated the conversation, ''My Dear, Paolo was just telling me that he was making his first trip with White Star Line upon the Titanic.'' His wife nodded slightly, ''and that his brother managed to secure the job for him.'' Mr Desmond almost snickered at his last remark causing Annie to take Paolo's hand under the table.
''That must have been exciting Paolo, did your brother buy your ticket to?'' She asked mockingly. Paolo undetered by their bitterness answered confidently, ''No Ma'am, I paid for my own ticket.'' Paolo squeezed Annie's hand under the table, comfortingly.
A few minutes passed, the only noises heard were the clinking of cutlery.
It was Mrs Desmond whom began the conversation this time, ''Our Annie worked hard to secure her place with White Star Line, didn't you dearest.'' Annie, under pressure, shrugged not wanting to become involved in her parents demoralisng games. She let go on Paolo hand rubbing his arm soothingly. She could see her parents sharing nasty glances towards Paolo from across the table.
''So where is you brother now Pavlo?'' Annie's mother snorted at the deliberate misprenunciation, Paolo no wishing to be intimidated by Annie's parents once again answered their snide question with confidence, ''My brother perished upon the sinking of titanic.'' Annie gripped at his hand and kissed it lovingly.
Her parents however raised there eyebrows in curiosity, ''So I suppose he'd have trouble buying you a ticket back to italy now wouldn't he.'' Mr Desmond scoffed.
Annie's ears were surely defying her, how could her father say such a horrendous thing. She was just beginning to yell at them in gisgrace when Paolo shot up bellowed at Mr Desmond is fiery italian,''Come osi prendere in giro mio fratello bastardo insolente!'' ''How dare you mock my brother you insolent bastard!'' Annie's father flung from his chair and came face to face with the italian.
''You think you can come into my country and take our jobs, you selfish vermin!'' ''Who cares if a selfish, dirty immigrant like your brother dies, it's hardly a loss to the world?'' Mr Desmond spat at Paolo through gritted teeth.
Without warning Paolo launched onto Mr Desmond punching is square in the face, causing him to stamper back but remained in balance.
Annie watched as her father elbowed Paolo in the nose causing it to bleed profusely. She shot up from the dining table and attempted to restrain Paolo whom was know punching her father menacingly in the head, through the blows she could here her father continuing to fling insults at her raging fiance. ''Dirty immigrant!'' He bellowed as Paolo launched another blow in his direction. After minutes of fighting Annie finally managed to restrain Paolo as her father - rightfully - lay bleeding upon the floor.
Annie gripped Paolo's hands behind his back and led him ioutside. She could still here her mother quietly whimpering back inside the dining room.
After letting go of his hands Annie launched herself at Paolo engaging in a deep and loving kiss, Annie, overwhelmed with emotion, rested her head against Paolo's bloodstained shirt and began to sob, ''I'm so sorry!'' She cried hugging him closer. ''I'm so sorry!'' She repeated.
Paolo, still shaking with rage kissed Annie's head lovingly. ''I am sorry!'' He whispered moaning in pain as his nose throbbed.
''Annie.'' He said plainly. She withdrew from the hug and stared up at his tearfilled eyes. ''I love you so much.'' Her heart skipped a beat at his words. ''but, I don't think I am right for you.''
His words hit her like a tonne of bricks, she burst into fresh tears, ''Don't be stupid!'' She cried tears streaming down her face. Paolo looked away from her torn features, and quickly wiped away a stray tear which had escaped him.
''We are from two different worlds.'' He continued. Annie instantly protested, ''I don't care!'' she howled, ''I wouldn't care if you were from another planet, I love you and that will never change.''
Paolo cupped her face into his bruising hands. ''Mia cara, bella Annie*, I will forever love you.'' and with that he began to walk away.
Will he turn back? - Will she run after him? - Were you expecting that? Well, anyway I hope you enjoyed it and the answer to those questions will be up very soon! Don't forget to review and you better becasue I stayed up until 3.40am finishing this off ahahha you don't have to really, ehehehe. Thankyou for reading and once again I hope you enjoyed it! :D