Author's Note: Hello all, just to let you know, we're back on Scarlett's POV now. Also, I've put in something that is purely fictional, that a boat was sent from the Carpathia back to Ireland, containing some of the Irish passengers. Of course, I realised this is not true or factual, but it is a necessary part of the story. Robyn x
I sat with Jack, our arms around each other; still feeling slightly numb with shock. It still didn't exactly feel real that we were alive. I seemed so unreal that we had survived such a horrific disaster, after spending several hours in the freezing water, it just didn't feel possible. So many people had died, I felt so lucky to be one of the survivors. I also felt extremely lucky to have Jack by my side, I had been so sure that we would not have made it together.
Jack had thanked me over and over again for saving his life, each time I insister I hadn't done anything, and insister that it was him that had saved my life. Jack said he couldn't really remember anything from after we had reached the chiffarobe, and that the next thing he knew, he was waking up on a lifeboat.
Stewards on the Carpathia had made us comfortable in a small room together, and told us to get some sleep. But, every time I closed my eyes, I felt myself sinking into a horrible nightmare of drowning in the black, icy cold sea... I would awake with a start, look across at Jack, and find him staring up at the ceiling; he wasn't sleeping either.
We soon gave up and just found ourselves sitting closely together, not saying anything, but finding each other's company enough. I didn't want to talk about what had happened. Although I normally found silence frustrating and irritating, there was something extremely comforting sitting there with Jack, feeling the rise and fall of his chest, listening to his heart beat alongside mine. The steady rhythm was very calming, and Jack gently rubbed his thumb up and down my arm.
After a while, the porters must have decided we had had enough rest, for there was a knock at our door, and a maid entered carrying tea on a tray.
"Afternoon Sir, Miss." She said, placing the tray down on the table, and curtseying much more successfully than I had ever done. "And how are we feeling now?"
"We're just fine thanks," said Jack, his voice sounding like he hadn't used it for days.
The maid smiled kindly at us. "Is there anyone you'd like to look for on the survivors list? Family? Friends? Officer Clinch has the list."
I very much wanted to find Freddie's name. I wanted to know he was safe, and I wanted to know where he was. Jack seemed to read my thoughts.
"Yeah," he said "I'd like to see the list, please."
"Certainly, if you'd like to come with me, I'll happily take you to Officer Clinch."
"Thank you".
Jack turned to me, "Stay here, Scarlett. It's alright I'll go and find his name, I won't be long, I promise."
I opened my mouth to protest, but then decided that my legs probably wouldn't make the walk anyway. I nodded.
"Okay."
Jack kissed the top of my head before leaving the room with the maid.
I huddled on the bed, bringing my knees up to my chin. A horrible thought kept coming into my head, one I hadn't really thought of before. Was Freddie okay? Had he survived? I thought that he would be surely safe in a lifeboat, but now I was having doubts. I wasn't sure I would be able to bear it if I never saw Freddie again. He must be safe, he must be.
At that moment, Jack burst back into the room. I sprang up off the bed, fearing the worst. But then I saw that Jack was grinning.
"He's okay, he's fine!" he said, lifting me up off my feet. Relief flooded my body, and I hugged Jack close.
"Well," I said "Where is he? Can we go and get him now?"
Jack loosened his grip on me, and placed me gently back on the floor.
"Well, see, there's a small problem..." he said. I froze.
"What?" I demanded.
"Well, see, they've already shipped a boat back to Ireland from the Carpathia, and well, Freddie went with the family you gave him to. But, I've got the address of the family he is staying with. They left it so that you could find him."
I sank back onto the bed, my brain slowly digesting this news. Yes, Freddie was alive and well, but he was in...Ireland? Whilst me and Jack were speeding along the seas to America? What was I going to do? I had to get to him, I couldn't just leave him. But, then again, I had no money, no means in which to travel to Ireland. And then there was Jack. What would he do? We hadn't really discussed what would happen to us once we docked in New York.
Jack seemed to sense my thoughts. He crouched down in front of me, taking my hand in his,
"Scarlett" he said "I know you want to go and find Freddie, but, listen, it would make sense for us to stay in New York for a while, get some money, plan things out a little. Otherwise we would be going on a mad chase across Ireland."
"We? You mean..."
"Yes, Scarlett. I want to be with you."
"I want to be with you too. And ... I think you're right." I said, eventually "I think I need to get together some money, and sort things out properly. And then, when I've done that, I'll travel to Ireland to find Freddie, and..."
"And I will come with you." Jack finished my sentence. "Besides," he continued "There's some things in America I'd like to show you."
And without waiting for me to give a reply, Jack swept me up into his arms, and kissed me. Kissed me like never before, wrapped up in his arms. And I wanted to stay like it forever.