The group of women went their separate ways as Cynthia headed for her cabin, as she kept looking back to Rose and her mother. Lillian like always was waiting for her and quickly guided Cynthia to her room.

Lillian helped her undress as she began to retighten Cynthia's corset, to which while doing so Cynthia held onto the the dressing table for support. It took about 20 minutes, but once it was done, Lillian helped Cynthia into her dress; an orange silk gown that had a large stretch of red tulle which was attached to one sleeve and then wrapped around the other arm.

Cynthia put her black gloves on as Lillian took out her braids and began to pull her hair half up and half down, securing it with a gold comb with red jewels, as well as some gold earrings. Lillian left her alone for a bit as Cynthia stared in the mirror, at her reflection, feeling about her earrings before she got up, putting on some black pumps as she did, and headed out of her room, through the sitting room, and towards the door.

"Have a good night Lillian," Cynthia said before she left.

"You too Mrs."

Cynthia made her way into the hallway and began to make her way down. But she didn't go straight to the grand staircase. Instead, she headed in the direction of Rose's cabin.

Once at the door, she gave a hard knock.

There was a brief silence.

"Who is it?" Someone from inside called.

"Cynthia!"

A few more seconds went by before she heard the approach of footsteps came and the door swung open.

It wasn't Rose who opened the door, but rather to Cynthia's surprise, Trudy was standing there.

"Oh, Mrs Cornell," Trudy said, surprised as she opened the door and moved aside so Cynthia could step in.

"Hi," Cynthia said, smiling, surprised as well as she walked more into the room, She looked over and could see Rose standing a bit in the doorway of her room, she was wearing her corset, and her hair was slightly out.

"Cynthia," Rose said warmly as Trudy made her way into Rose's room and began to tighten her corset.

"Hey, just thought I'd see how you were doing," Cynthia said, sort of approaching Rose's room, to which she could see Rose holding to the banister of her bed as support.

"Might be a while before I'm ready, just gotta get this tightened," Rose said, she then looked over at Trudy and Cynthia. "I didn't know you met each other."

"Yeah, I met her the first day, my.. Maid and her met before."

Rose nodded as Trudy continued tightening her corsets Cynthia walked around a bit outside of Rose's room, everything was lavish just like how her cabin had been. She was just looking around a bit when she noticed something.

One of the doors to one of the rooms was open, and in it stretched a short walkway to a green safe at the end.

Cynthia's eyes felt almost fixated on it as she found herself asking, not even meaning to aloud, "What's in the safe?"

"Huh?"

Rose then came out of the room, and Cynthia noticed she had put the dress on,well sort of, it sort of hung on her waist with the top still not on. Rose looked to where Cynthia was looking at and understood.

"Oh the safe, it's mostly Cal's stuff," Rose explained and then she stared at the safe for a bit. "Except for the necklace."

She then wandered over to the safe and Cynthia could hear her putting some combination into the safe. Cynthia just looked around a bit, waiting as she heard Rose coming back, as she looked at her she carrying some kind of case and opened it up, pulling something out and presenting it to Cynthia.

Her eyes widened at what was in Rose's hands; A deep blue heart necklace strung in Rose's hands as she sort of put the heart-shaped piece in Cynthia's hands. It felt like even a crime just to hold it in her hands as Rose let her hold it, staring at the heart jewel. This has to be expensive, she thought, This has to be worth more than expensive than the ship, it's got to.

And then there is something else,

Why do I feel like I've seen this before?

"It's an engagement gift from Cal," Rose explained, "It's a diamond."

Cal.

His name soured in Cynthia's mind and she curled her lip. Of course, he got her this. It's nice, but.

And then some funny thought came into her mind, and she felt herself smiling a bit as she kept looking back at Rose and then the diamond, chuckling slightly.

"You know, you could really hit someone with this."

She then held at the chain, and much to Rose's surprise, began to swing it slightly. Rose's eyes sort of widened as she started laughing as well.

"Stop, you're breaking the way you're going," Rose said, no real arm in her voice as she took the necklace out from Cynthia's hands and back in its case as she headed back towards the safe.

"So how much longer are you gonna be?" Cynthia asked.

"Give or take 10 minutes, you can go ahead, I'll meet you up at dinner."

"You sure?" Cynthia asked as Rose came out from the safe room.

"I'll be alright." Rose nods.

Cynthia smiles a bit.

"Alright, I'll see you at dinner."

"See ya."

Cynthia then made her way out of the cabin and made her way towards the Grand staircase. It was just as glamorous as it usually did, and there were plenty of people standing around chatting with each other. She looked down belong from the banister and she saw him.

Jack was currently standing at the bottom of the staircase, not doing very much of anything. But she almost didn't recognize him, gone were his red button-up and brown suspenders, and now wore a black tuxedo with his hair slicked back.

He looked so... different.

She felt her face grow hot as she tried to hide it by rubbing her cheeks. Woah, why am I feeling like that huh?

She took a deep breath and began to descend the stairs. Jack still hadn't noticed her until she was on the last few and he caught sight of her. She felt all of a sudden like everything had gone still as he stared at her with wide eyes, they left hers as he made her way to the ground floor and glided over to him.

"Hey," She smiled with her teeth, a slight giggle escaping her lips as Jack seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in.

"Evening, fancy seeing you here."

Cynthia let out a chuckle, "I could say the same about you."

"So how was getting ready?" She asked, crossing her arms slightly.

"Fine, you guys have a lot of luxury at your disposal."

Jack was smiling but Cynthia knew what he was referring to and frowned. He seemed to notice as well as his smile fade

"Look, I'm just... I'm sorry that I lied before about... not being third class."

"No it's fine," Jack was saying genuinely, "really, it's just... surprised me a bit. You just didn't give off being...upper class."

Cynthia stared at him, he was smiling and yet Cynthia could only think of was telling him the truth. That she was just like him, that she wasn't first class, that Maybelle was, that she was actually from 96 years in the future.

But how could she even explain it? And right now no less.

So she just smiled, looking at him up and down approvingly.

"You look pretty good in a suit."

"The same can go to you," Jack replied and Cynthia, looking down at her dress and Cynthia let out a slight chuckle.

Then they just stared at each other as Cynthia flicked a look back to the Grand staircase and then back to Jack.

"Yeah, so Rose should be down sometime soon," She then sort of moved to pass Jack a bit whilst still looking at him, "See you at dinner, Jack."

He nodded, yet just as she was passing him, she felt him grab her hand, or rather her fingertips, and of turned her back around to face him. He then gently brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her gloved hand, keeping direct eye contact with Cynthia as he did.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she smiled before Jack loosened his grip on Cynthia's hand and she walked up. She was smiling up until that point and when her back was turned, she could feel a flush of red cross her cheeks. She put her hand on her mouth gently, trying hard to hide how flustered he had just made her.

And now she was just by herself again, looking around as partners were already making their way together down to the dining saloon, and she had no one to take her.

I mean I can just go by myself, she thought, I mean there's no one gonna police me with coming down with no one, hell I walked with Rose the other night and the only one to

"Cynthia?"

A familiar voice sort of called from behind her as she turned around. Her mouth opened agape slightly as Thomas Andrews was walking up to her. He wore a suit, just like he had the day she had run into him. She straightened up at the sight of him and he smiled as he approached.

"Ah, I thought it was you," He said warmly.

"Mr Andrews," Cynthia breathed, some part of her surprise that he had remembered her, "Pleasure to see you again."

"Likewise, I hope you're trip has been pleasant so far."

"Yeah, yes, it's been great so far, really enjoyed myself so far."

"Well that's very good to hear, And I'm to presume that the same goes for below decks?" He asked.

Cynthia looked at him, almost alarmed a bit, her mouth agape to say something, but then she remembered the first time she had met him. And she let out an almost relaxed smile.

"I might say that they're better in some regards," She admitted.

"Really? That is surprising," He said chuckling. Cynthia let out a giggle.

"So then, I presume that you have someone to escort you to dinner then?"

"No actually, I'm having dinner with the Dewitt-Bukaters."

"Ah, that's also who is having dinner with."

"Then I guess that were gonna be at the same table huh?"

"Indeed it does." He then looked down at her feet and then back up to her, "Then perhaps I could escort you to dinner then."

Cynthia smiled, "Certainly," And Thomas Andrew held his arm out and Cynthia took it, the two of them gracefully making their way downstairs with the other partners down to the dining saloon.

There was some excitement deep inside Cynthia, she couldn't believe she was currently being escorted to dinner by the Thomas Andrews, she would have wanted to pinch herself, just to be sure she wasn't dreaming.

As they made their way into the dining saloon, Cynthia could see in the distance Pearl and Marie, chatting with Lawrence near one of the tables. Lawrence's eyes looked up and she and him made eye contact, she gave a small wave to him, to which he did the same smiling.

"Who is that?" Mr Andrews asked.

"Someone I had dinner with the first night."

"I see."

They continued along, as they did they would periodically talk to some of the other passengers, to which Thomas Andrews made it a point to introduce Cynthia to them and they would talk about the ship and how great it was. Cynthia couldn't help but smile a bit at that, it was true, this ship really was a marvel.

As they made their way closer to the table Cynthia caught sight of them. Further along ahead, was Jack and Rose, arm in arm with each other as Rose seemed to be introducing him to some of the passengers. She couldn't keep her eyes off them as she had the goofiest sort of smile, like sum stricken puppy looking at them. It was like there was no one else there but them, just the two of them, her gaze on them softened as a sort of blush came across her face.

"Do you know her?"

"Huh?"

Cynthia felt herself be snapped back to reality as she turned and saw Thomas Andrews was staring at her, and then back to Jack and Rose.

"Miss Rose I mean," He said.

"Oh yeah, yeah I know her of course," Cynthia stumbled, looking back at Jack and Rose again, and then her mind started to fade again, that same look came back to her.

She couldn't believe it, her two favorite people were gonna have dinner with her, right here on this ship. Her gaze didn't leave as her heart sort of fluttered a bit.

It was a look of adoration, of genuine joy, and unbeknownst to even her, love.

"Well then, shall we go then?" Mr. Andrews asked.

"Oh yes, yes."

The two then made their way towards the table, where to there were a couple of seats left next to each other, to which Cyntia took the left one, which was next to Molly Brown, whilst Mr Andrews took the right one, next to Rose.

Cynthia peeled her gloves off and put them next to her plate as chatter continued around the table, Cynthia glanced over to Jack who was chatting to Molly, but then glanced over at Cynthia and smiled at her, she smiled too and took a glace of the champagne which was next to her an took a sip. It was still bitter as it had been the first night, but now it didn't seem as bad as before.

I think I'm building up a tolerance, She thought as she looked over at the table, and recognized some of the faces, one of which was J. Bruce Ismay. Her eyes sort of went wide at the sight of him as he was chatting with someone next to him. Ismay, the head Chairmen of the White Star Line, the man whose career was put into ruin and who was falsely villanized by the American media which still 96 years in the future characterized him as the man who had doomed the ship.

A wave of feelings comes over her, and briefly, just briefly she remembered where she was, what she was doing there, and what was going to happen.

It goes away quite quickly though, as the chatter soon dies down as Ruth takes over the conversation.

"Tell us of the accommodations in Steerage Mr Dawson. I hear they are quite good on this ship."

No, you haven't you just wanna point out how he's poor, Cynthia thought, taking a sip of her champagne as her eyes looked over at Jack.

"The best I've seen mam, hardly any rats."

The whole abrupts into small laughter as more champagne is being poured as Cal speaks, almost a smirk on his face.

"Mr Dawson is joining us from Third Class. He was of some assistance to my fiance last night."

Rise then leaned in a bit, her gaze finding itself on Jack as she smiled, "It turns out that Mr Dawson is quite a fine artist, he was kind enough to show me some of his work today."

Rose's smile was enough to tell Cynthia that she had probably seen the nude drawings in Jack's sketchbook and that thought alone and that no one got what she had struggled with the urge not to giggle.

"Rose and I differ somewhat in our opinion of art," Cal says, picking some food up from the platters.

Of course, you would, she thought irritable as she absent-mindedly started stabbing her bread with her fork.

"Not to impugn on your work sir," Cal ads rather hastily, Cynthia looked at Jack, who shook his hand out

More food came out and Cynthia watched as Jack's eyebrows furrowed as he had only now noticed the multiple knives and forks near his plate.

"Is this all for me?" Jack whispered to Molly.

"Just start from the outside and work your way in" Molly whispered back. Cynthia smiled, she had known all too well what he was thinking, for she had been exactly in his position just a few days before.

It was here that Cynthia had turned her head to look at Rose who was looking at Thomas Andrews, who at the moment wasn't saying anything and is writing something in his book.

" Mr. Andrews, what are you doing? I see you everywhere writing in this little book."

She then took the notebook out of Mr Andrews hands, rather easily and began to skim through the pages.

"Increase the number of screws in hat hooks from 2 to 3. You build the biggest ship in the world and this preoccupies you?"

Mr Andrews then gives a sheepish smile."

"He knows every rivet in her, don't you Thomas?" Mr Ismay Comments smiling, holding his glass of champagne in his hands.

"A 3 Million of them."

Ismay took a sip from his champagne and continued.

"His blood and soul are in the ship. She may be mine on paper, but in the eyes of God she belongs to Thomas Andrews."

"You're ship is a wonder, Mr Andrews, truely" Rose said, handing the notebook back to him.

"Thank you, Rose."

Cynthia smiled warmly as she took another sip of her champagne, her eyes glancing over to Jack who was talking to the waiter.

"And do you take Caviar, sir?" The waiter asked him.

"No caviar for me thanks, never did like it much."

His eyes then glanced over to Rose who smiled.

Cynthia lets out a slight giggle at the exchange as he looks back from him to her.

"And where exactly do you live Mr Dawson?" Ruth asked, taking a bit out of one of the nibbles.

"Well right now my address is the RMS Titanic," Jack answered, "after that, I'm on God's good humour."

"And how is it that you have the means to travel?"

Jack took a breath as he spoke.

"I work my way from place to place, you know tramp steamers and such, but I won my ticket on Titanic here at a lucky hand of poker."

Everyone seems to nod a bit as Jack adds on, glancing over between Rose and Cynthia, "A very lucky hand."

Rose who was taking a sip from her champagne gave him a smile which Cynthia did the same, letting a slight chuckle escape her lips, her eyes glancing over at Jack and Rose.

"All life is a game of luck," Cornol Gracie who was at the table said.

Cal let out a slight scoff, "Hmm, a real man makes his own money, right Dawson?"

"Hmm," Jack hummed, nodding slightly.

"And you find this sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?" Ruth asked coldly, taking a sip from her glass.

Cynthia tilted her head at Ruth, not even trying to mask this displeasure of her words as she glared over at her. Some part of her hoped she would choke on her drink, or something of that nature, anything to get that smug look on her face.

She held held her hands out in front of her, clenching at her fingers as she breathed in through her nose, trying to calm down.

Jack took a bit, but he spoke again.

"Well yes Mam I do, I mean I have everything I have right here with me. Got the air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. Man, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's going to happen, who I'm going to meet, or where I'm going to wind up."

"The other night I was sleeping under a bridge, and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people."

Jack then had his glass refilled as he continued, as he did Cynthia could see from the corner of her eyes that Cal was pulling out a cigarette.

"I figured life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You never know what hand you're gonna get dealt with next. You learn to take life as it comes out you."

He then pulled something out of his pocket and threw it to Cal who just caught it.

"Here you go Cal," He said as he threw and Cynthia quickly caught on to what it was; a lighter.

"To make each day count," Jack finished.

That was a good speech, Cynthia thought.

"Well said Jack," Said Molly.

"Here, here."

Cynthia looked at Jack and smiled as Rose raised her glass.

"To making it count," She proposed.

Cynthia quickly grabbed her glass and raised it as well as the others did the same.

"To making it count," The whole table said as they all took a sip from their drinks. Cynthia smiled, glancing over at Jack and Rose. This night is gonna be just fine.

Dinner continued on, with chatter and laughter as they went through their different courses, Molly was just finishing telling a story about an incident with her husband when Rose leaned in a bit so that Jack could hear her.

"Next it will be cigars in the smoking rooms."

Sure enough, Colonel Gracie stood up.

"Well, join me for a brandy, gentlemen?"

Cynthia let out a slight laugh which Rose did also as she continued,

"Now they're going to retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe."

"Ladies thank you for the pleasure of you're company," Ismay said to the table.

Cynthia looked over at Rose who had Cal just standing over her behind her seat. Mr Andrews had already gotten up as well so she could quite clearly see and hear what was happening.

"Rose, do you want me to escort you back to your cabin?" Cal asked her.

"No I'll stay here," Rose said as she waved him off.

Cynthia looked up at Cal with slight irritation as she stretched her arms a bit.

Jack was giving something to Molly as he stood up, with Gracie approaching him.

"Joining us Dawson? You don't want to be staying here with the women do you?"

He let out a biosous laugh as he finished as Cynthia watched some of the women get up and leave the table.

"Nah, thanks I gotta be heading back."

"Probably for the better," Cal said, stopping in front of Jack and doing something with his jacket, "Probably best. It'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Wouldn't interest you."

He then gently pushes past Jack and begins to walk away.

"Oh and Dawson" Cal said, turning around and throwing the lighter back to Jack, "Good of you to come."

Jack caught it with relative ease as he and Cynthia stared as Cal walked away, rolling her eyes irritably as Jack put the lighter back in his pocket and moved towards Rose who turned her body to face him.

"Jack, must you go?"

"Time for me to go row with the other slaves."

Rose let out a slight laugh as Cynthia watched, as She noticed there was something in bus hands, though what exactly she couldn't make quite out, but it looked sort of like paper.

"Goodnight Jack."

"Goodnight Rose."

Jack then took Rose's hand and then kissed it, making direct eye contact as he did. He held her hand a few more seconds before letting go, with Rose still holding the piece of paper still in her hand, Cynthia looked away at this, trying g to make whatever secrecy that two shared less apparent as she absent-mindedly fixed up her plate and forks.

As she did she felt a pair on hands on her seat and she looked up to see Jack standing behind her.

"Goodnight Cynthia," He said rather warmly.

"Night Jack."

He nodded and then walked away from the table, as he did she could see him looking back at her, then to Rose before disappearing from view.

I wonder what the note was, Cynthia thought as she turned her head back to the table, glancing over at Rose who had already unfolded the piece of paper and had read it.

She looked up a bit in the direction of where Jack had gone. She stared at it for a bit longer before she folded the paper up and put it next to her seat. Cynthia glanced over to Rose 2ho was also looking at her, there was some kind of glint in her eyes, though what it meant, Cynthia didn't know, but something g told her that whatever it was it was on that paper.

Rose continued to sit at the table for another 5 minutes before she spoke up.

"I think I'm gonna head off to bed now."

All of the ladies still at the table gave her a nod of sorts, except Ruth, who leaned in to say something to Rose. Cynthia couldn't make it out but whatever Rose had said had made Ruth roll her eyes as she took another sip of her champagne.

Cynthia watched as Rose sat up, as she did, she somehow managed to figure out what some part of the paper had said.

Guess they're gonna meet up and do something, she thought and then she frowned, Wonder what they're gonna do together, it's probably interesting.

She then looked over at the table, she knew whatever it was that they were going to do, she wasn't going to go, she didn't even know why it bothered her as much as it was, maybe it was because she too wouldn't mind going with them to whatever activity they were going to do, maybe because she didn't want the night to end just yet. Or maybe, just maybe it was reminding her of them again.

This is my problem, she thought, he thoughts getting dark as they often did when she overthought things, they don't owe you anything, they don't owe you their company or invitations to go with them everywhere. I can figure out something I can do.

And she began to think of what plans she could do.

I guess I could go for a walk along the decks, take some more photos, and maybe get more of my writings to-

"Cynthia."

Cynthia jumped out Of her thoughts as she saw that Rose was now standing right above her as she looked up at her.

"Yes?" She said, still a bit startled.

"I'll be heading off now."

"OK, that's-"

It was then that Cynthia saw in Rose's left hand was something scrunched up; the piece of paper that Jack had given her.

And then it sort of clicked for her, and it showed on her face.

Her mouth went slightly agape before she switched it to a smile as she held out her hand, "Hope you have a good night Rose."

"Night Cynthia."

"Night Rose."

Rose took Cynthia's hand with her left which Cynthia shook, feeling Rose gently pushing the note into Cynthia's palm. Cynthia smiled at Rose and before Rose even knew what was happening, Cynthia pulled Rose's hand up to her lips and kissed it.

Rose's mouth opened slightly agape as Cynthia maintained eye contact with her, a flush of ree spreading on her cheeks.

Ruth, who had just seen the exchange occur stares on in utter disgust as Cynthia lets go of Rose's hand, before taking another sip of her champagne, as her eyes kept glancing at the two of them.

Rose sort of stood there almost at a loss for words of what had just occurred, but then she smiled, nodding before turning around and leaving the table.

As she leaves, hundreds Of thoughts are going through Cynthia's head.

Why did i do that? That was not needed, you could have just taken the note like that, you didn't need to kiss her hand like that. Oh my god, you look like such a dork.

She watched As Rose left her sight of view, and once she was gone, she unscrambled the piece of paper and read what it said.

It was written in scribble sort of writing:

"Make it count. Meet me at the clock, Bring Cynthia."

Bring Cynthia, she felt a smile come on her face as she let out a sigh of relief. I guess this night isn't over yet.

She waited another 5 minutes before she stood up and excused herself from the table.

"Alright ladies, I think it's about time I called it a night."

"Really? You're not staying longer Darl?" Molly asked.

Cynthia smiled, internally she was giddy with excitement at Molly's words,

"Nah, I think I need to get some rest. Lovely night though. Thanks."

"Alright, see ya darling."

"Night Molly."

And so Cynthia stood up from her chair, put her black gloves on again, and headed away from the table. She made her way out of the dining saloon and back up the stairs towards the grand staircase.

It didn't take long to find who she was looking for.

Jack and Rose stood closeby to the clock on the Grand staircase. They seemed to be chatting about something, perhaps whatever it was that Jack had invited them there for.

Cynthia stood at the bottom of the steps, looking at them for a second before she began to ascend the stairs.

As she got closer, Rose noticed her and smiled and Jack quickly joined it too as Cynthia stood at the last few steps away from them.

"So you ready?" Jacked asked.

"For what?"

"To go to a real party."