NOTE: Yeahhh, Catie is on a roll! Two chapters in one day! Go me :) Enjoy them

P.S. Cal is a meanie!!

Chapter 6

Rose slowly glided up the Grand Staircase, still wondering why Mr. Andrews wanted her to meet him. She stopped at the A-deck foyer, seeing Andrews awaiting her arrival at the next landing. He was staring wondrously at the ornate clock. Taking a deep breath, Rose began to climb the stairs.

Andrews, hearing her footsteps, turned around. He smiled upon seeing her.

"Why did you have me meet you here?" Rose interrogated as she stood beside Andrews.

"There's something I wanted to show you," he replied. "Come." He held out his hand, and Rose firmly gripped it. He led her down the hall, all the way to the door that led to the outside deck.

"Mr. Andrews, where are you taking me?"

Andrews didn't reply. He opened a gate and they moved down a flight of stairs, up another, and then walked all the way to the very tip of the bow.

"I come here in the morning to watch the sun rise and in the evening to see it set," Andrews revealed. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Rose held onto the railing, looking out at the scenery before her. The sky was painted with splashes of orange, yellow and red, much like a fire. It was the most mesmerizing sight she had ever seen. She closed her eyes, feeling the wind sweep her hair and hearing the water splash some fifty feet blow. "It's almost like I'm flying!" she exclaimed. "I feel like a bird, flying high above the sea."

"It's amazing where one's mind can take you," Andrews said. He stood behind Rose and grasped onto her hands. "Rose, I don't know how, but you have captivated me."

She turned her head, not believing the words he had just spoken; nor could she believe they were standing on the bow together. Everything felt so perfect. He had captivated her, too. They had each other wrapped around their fingers, bound together like some spell had been cast upon them.

Before either of them knew it, their lips were locked together. It started out sweet, comfortable and gentle, then turned more and more passionate. He placed a hand around her waist while Rose had a hand on his neck.

When their lips finally unlocked, they looked into each others' eyes. "This is insane! It doesn't make any sense!" Rose exclaimed with a laugh.

"It doesn't, does it?" Mr. Andrews spoke as he looked deeply into her soft blue eyes. He got lost in them.

Rose stared back, just wanting to stay there forever. They seemed to fit together like a puzzle. Then she spoke those three words: "I love you."

Mr. Andrews ran his fingers through her soft, strawberry blond hair. Still lost in feeling, he kissed her again. Rose closed her eyes, waiting to wake from her dream. Things were just too perfect to be real. But to her surprise, she never woke up.

As she sat out on her private promenade, Rose just couldn't keep herself from smiling. She had just returned from the most wonderful time with Andrews. After kissing in the sunset, they headed off to his stateroom, where they enjoyed a glass of wine and a little "fun."

Rose could still feel the touch of his shipbuilder's hands on her body. They were rough, but warm and gentle at the same time. She suddenly got goosebumps, swearing she could still feel those hands caressing her skin once again. Then, she could sense his warm, tender lips pressing against hers. They moved down her neck as Andrews' hands began to feel her. His body was pressed against hers as they lay atop the bed. She was spellbound by his scent; a captivating smell of sweat and cologne. Rose could sense his hand as it moved up her leg and toward her thigh. The wondrous, miraculous deed was then performed.

Unexpectedly, Cal walked onto the promenade, still dressed in his dinner attire. He had just returned from the usual post dinner smoke, brandy, and card game. He seemed betrayed as he stood in front of his fiancée, staring her down with extreme anger.

Rose instantly snapped back to reality. "Is something wrong, darling?" she asked, seeming innocent as she looked up at Cal.

"Did you have a good time with Mr. Andrews?" he asked.

Rose looked up at him, her eyes soft and unafraid. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't play games with me, Rose," he said, his voice seeming dark and cold. "I know you went into his stateroom."

"Yes, I went into his stateroom," Rose said. "I don't see a problem with that."

Cal gave a small, dark laugh. "One can only imagine what happens beyond closed doors."

Seeming taken aback, Rose said, "You think we did something together? Cal, that is absurd! This is all just a big misunderstanding."

"Oh? So I'm guessing the exchange of saliva on the boat deck was just a big misunderstanding too, wasn't it?"

Rose's eyes turned cold. "I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me."

"You will never behave like that again." Cal tried to keep his anger hidden. His voice was calm. "Do you understand?"

"I'm not some foreman in one of your mills that you can command," Rose replied sharply." I am your fiancée!"

"Yes! You are!" Cal shouted, his voice starting to rise. "You are my wife in practice, if not yet by law. So you will honor me, as a wife is required to honor her husband!"

Rose had risen to her feet. "I am free to act however I wish, Cal. I am not some dog who will sit at your command."

Cal's eyes narrowed. "You...WHORE!" he slapped her clear across the face. She turned her head away, not able to feel her numbed cheek. Cal then gripped onto her arms. "You are my fiancée. You belong to me and no one else. You are bound to me and only me. Is this in anyway unclear?"

Tears welled in her eyes as Rose softly shook her head.

"Good," Cal replied. He let her go, then walked off the promenade. Rose held the back of her hand to her mouth, then fell into the chair and began to sob. She began sobbing so violently that she did not even notice the slight shutter of the ship that occurred at 11:40 P.M.

"Not to worry, miss, I'm sure it's just a precaution," a steward had informed Rose when he saw her tear-stained cheeks. Of course she wasn't crying because they had just struck an iceberg, but because of that bastard fiancé of hers.

"This is ridiculous," Cal muttered as they stood in the middle of the sitting room. He looked out the door, watching as frustrated stewards and confused passengers walked up and down the hallway.

Stewards were going about telling everyone to put their life jackets on and to head to the boat deck immediately. Once Ruth had finished dressing, she, Cal, Rose, and their servants began to head for the deck.

"I honestly do not see the need to do this in the middle of the night," Ruth stated as she slipped on a glove.

"Just the God damned English doing everything by the book," Cal replied as they moved through the A-deck foyer

"There's no need for language, Mr. Hockley," Ruth said nonchalantly. She stopped and turned toward Trudy. "Go back to my room and turn on the heater so it won't be cold when I return." Trudy obeyed orders.

Rose, who moved much like a zombie, saw Mr. Andrews as he entered the room. He looked around at all the people, seeming in a trance of his own as he moved up the stairs. Rose walked after him while Cal followed after her.

"Mr. Andrews," Rose called as she grabbed onto his arm. "I hear the talk of an iceberg, and I see it in your eyes. Please tell me the truth."

Andrews looked down at her, a look of doom on his face. He steped down a stair to be level with Rose, then quietly informed, "The ship will sink."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes," Mr. Andrews replied. "In an hour or so, all this will be at the bottom of the Atlantic."

Cal, who seemed stunned by the thought of the ship sinking, muttered, "My God. But this ship can't sink."

"She's made of iron, Mr. Hockley. I assure you, she can," Andrews replied. "Please, tell only who you must, I don't want to be responsible for a panic. And get to a boat quickly. Don't wait. You remember what I told you about the boats."

Rose couldn't believe this. She didn't want to. Instantly, she remembered what he had said. About half, actually. "Yes, I understand."

Andrews gave a curt nod, then turned and continued to make way to the boat deck.

Rose remained where she was on the steps. Titanic sink? But he said it was safe! It had to be a mistake. Truly, something as small as an iceberg could never be able to sink the unsinkable ship. Or could it?