Max was an absolute wreck. He had spent the better part of the day trying to find Anna Marie, to plead with her, to tell her the truth. He hated the idea of her being so upset, over a lie.

Okay, a half lie, but a lie nonetheless.

He searched everywhere. The promenade where she had sat with him, the stern where they first met. He had even tried to go down to third class, despite knowing Kurt was likely furious with him.

But when he got down there, it seemed that word had spread. None of the passengers would let him near Anna Marie's cabin.

He was distraught. He needed her to hear the truth from him. He needed to see her smile again, like he needed to breathe.

Kurt didn't know what to do. Everything in him was telling him to stay in the cabin with his sister, to keep an eye on her. But he knew he needed to give her space, just as she had asked him.

He hated seeing her so heartbroken, and he was not happy about LeBeau's role in that. The man had broken her heart once before, and had now been the messenger to deliver the second blow.

He let her be, knowing she needed time and space to be alone, to cope with how devastating this new revelation was.

He took a stroll on the upper deck as the sun was setting to clear his mind.

He almost didn't see Max walking towards him until he was almost right in front of him.

"I have nothing to say to you-"

"Kurt, please, there's been a misunderstanding-"

"A misunderstanding? You led my sister on! She cared about you-"

"Kurt, I am not engaged."

That made him pause.

"But….why would-"

"As of this moment right now, I am not engaged. It's a complicated explanation, but that is the truth. Just as the fact that I care deeply for your sister is also the truth."

Kurt sighed. "And if she didn't care for you, she wouldn't be down below crying."

Max's face was of sorrow and anguish.

"Please…I need to see her. To explain. She deserves at least that."

Kurt rubbed his temple. "Not today. She is too upset now, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is Sunday. She had spoke of wanting to go to church service, but I…I do not know."

"Try. That's all I ask. I need to make this right with her."

April 14, 1912

Kurt had convinced her to come with him to church, even if she didn't feel like it.

God sees your pain, sister. He will not judge you for bringing your sadness to him.

She had gone, and had sang, and listened to a sermon about forgiveness.

If only forgivin' was that easy….

When they exited the dining hall, Kurt suggested they get some fresh air and head up to the top deck.

"It will do you some good, sister. The sea air will help you feel better."

And so, now, she was walking arm and arm with her brother, unusually quiet with her thoughts.

"Sister…" Kurt got her attention as Max Eisenhardt was walking towards them, concern on his face.

She froze. "Kurt, we gotta go back down."

"Sister, please, just-"

"No. Ah don't wanna talk to him."

She slipped out of Kurt's grip and turned around, briskly heading the other direction.

"Anna Marie, wait!" Max called to her, not taking long to catch up to her with his long strides.

"Ah have nothin' to say to you, Mister Eisenhardt."

Ouch. He deserved that.

"Anna Marie, please slow down-" He managed to reach for her arm, and gently pulled her aside into the small gym on the upper deck.

She struggled against his hold, and finally got free, just as he pulled them into the room.

"Take your hands off of me!"

"Please….Anna Marie, I am begging you to listen-"

"Ah am done listenin'! You're engaged Max! How could you-"

"I'm not."

"Oh horseshit! Xavier said-"

"Xavier lied."

She paused. "Wha…"

"Do you remember the morning after we met? When I told you why I am going to America?"

"Yeah…you said it was a business deal."

"What I told you was the truth. Charles and I were going to America to pursue a merger with Johnathan Michaels."

"The millionaire?"

"Yes. What I didn't tell you was that this merger involved merging his business with mine….in a matrimonial sense. With his daughter."

"So you're not engaged, but you're goin' to America to marry an heiress. Great. Have a nice time with that." She tried to move away from him, but he didn't let her.

"I said I was going to America to accomplish the merger. Now I am not."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I can no longer do so. Not when things have changed."

"And what could have possibly made you change your mind?" She shot at him.

"You, Anna Marie."

That made her step back a little. "M-Max, don't…."

"Don't you see, my darling girl?" He pleaded softly, following her movements. "How can I marry someone I do not love? Not when you plague my every waking thought."

She felt her back connect with the wall, nowhere to go. "Don't toy with me, Max." She tried to sound firm, but the emotions came through in a way of shakiness as tears sprung to her eyes as she avoided looking at him.

"Anna Marie…." He softly whispered as his hands gently framed her face, tilting her face to look at him as he saw the tears in her eyes, tears of hurt that were his fault.

"I could never toy with you….never you….you have brought light into my life where there was none…." His thumbs brushed her cheeks, catching the tears that ran down.
"I should have told you the truth, and that is my fault, for allowing someone else to make you doubt how I feel about you."
She looked up at him, her green eyes watery with tears, and she swallowed against the burn in her throat so she could speak.
"Tell me….ah want to hear it from you…"
His next words were almost a whisper.
"I am madly in love with you, Anna Marie…."
The tears flowed again, and her breath hitched as she tried to keep from breaking down completely.
"Schatzi….please don't cry…." He softly coaxed.
"Well what am ah supposed to do when you just told me you love me?" She asked tearily, which made him smile.
He pulled her into his arms, intending on doing all he could to soothe her. One arm he kept around her waist, and the other ran through her hair as he cradled her head under his chin. He felt her arms wrap around his middle as she calmed her tears, his lips leaving a chaste kiss on the top of her head, swaying slightly as he held her.
Once she was calmer, he whispered to her.
"Come with me…."
"Where are we goin' now?"
"I want to show you something. Do you trust me?"
"Ah trust you."
He brought her to the stern, to the very front of the ship, leading her by the hand as the sun was high in the sky. She had confusion in her eyes, and she had no idea what he was doing.
"Max? What are we doin'?"
"Trust me. Close your eyes…."
She did as he instructed. She closed her eyes as he took her by the hand and led her to the railing of the ship. He helped her climb up the railing, so that now she was almost as tall as he was. He held her by the waist, and spoke in her ear.
"Spread out your arms….like this…."
Her arms he guided, so that they were parallel out to the sides, and she balanced herself against him, feeling the ocean wind blowing through her hair.
"Open your eyes…."
When she opened them, all she could see was the ocean as the Titanic sailed across the water. She let out a gasp, the butterflies in her stomach.
"Ah'm flyin', Max!" She exclaimed.
He grinned as he was watching her, watching the joy on her face.
"You have caused my heart to soar, Anna Marie. When you are near, I am free."
She turned her head to look at him, her smile and her eyes so vibrant and beautiful as her hair danced in the wind. Her expression was one he wanted to memorize, one of tender joy.

His hands were resting atop hers as her arms were spread out, and she intertwined her fingers with his, the most tender of gestures as she brought her arms down, wrapping her arms, and by doing so, his, around her waist.

It was like a magnetic pull, the way she looked at him now, the way she looked so beautiful to him as they stood on the rail.

The world faded away in that moment, and all he could see and feel was her.

Gently, he leaned forward, her lips parting slightly as they both realized what was happening.

He kissed her soft lips, gentle with her, like she was a precious treasure. Her response to him sent a thrill down his spine, how she arched slightly against him and weaved a hand into his short hair. The kiss was everything he dreamt of and more, all because it was her.

When they finally parted, and she opened her eyes, he vowed to never make her sad again, to always strive to have her look at him the way she was now, with love and joy in her eyes.

"Do you forgive me, schatzi?" He whispered.

She nodded. "Thank you….for tellin' me the truth."

"You have my word….there shall be nothing I keep from you, ever again." He thought of something, and she could see the wheels turning in his mind. "Which…means I have something else to show you."

She raised a brow. "You're just full of surprises today, Max."

He chuckled heartily. "That's the effect you have on me, my love. Will you come with me?"

He took her hand and helped her down off the railing, pleased with the fact that she would not let go of his hand, and how right it felt for her hand to be in his.