April 14, 1912
11:38pm
Max had never felt such joy in his life. He hoped that this was not a cruel dream, that he wouldn't wake up in his stateroom alone, having dreamt of this entire day. Just twenty four hours prior, he had been sick with anguish and sorrow over the woman in his arms, and now, here she was, embracing him with a kiss as he promised her the rest of their lives together.
Some might call him rash, impulsive even. But he knew without a shadow of doubt that this was right, that she was his everything. He would give up the entirety of his wealth, everything he owned, if it meant a lifetime with her.
Her warmth, her smile, her-
He felt the ship start to shake beneath them, and he pulled away slightly from the kiss they were sharing, both of them confused and concerned as he instinctively held her by the waist against him.
She clung to his shirt as the ship shook and rattled, their footing unsteady.
"Max?!"
He looked up just in time to see the massive iceberg that was scraping against the ship, pieces of the ice falling onto the deck.
"Get back!" He pivoted, shielding her and pushing them both away from the falling ice.
The shock on her face was mirroring his own.
He looked up and over his shoulder to see the chunks of ice covering the deck, knowing that if he hadn't moved, they could have been injured.
The enormous chunk of ice moved past, and he felt dread as he hoped the damage wasn't severe.
Without thinking, he moved through the ice chunks, climbing up on the railing of the ship to see the iceberg moving past the ship, his eyes searching for any damage to the hull.
The lack of light this time of night made it hard to see, but he knew that if they came that close to the iceberg, there was likely damage.
He prayed to whatever God was listening that tonight wouldn't end in disaster.
She could see the way his eyes and face set into concentration as she stood back, watching him as he looked over the rail.
"Max?" Her voice called to him.
He turned at the sound of her voice, hearing the concern. She was smart, his dear Anna Marie. She knew that what had happened was not good.
He climbed off the railing and took her hand.
"Come. We need to find the Captain."
"We were hit?"
"I believe so. Now it's just a matter of how badly."
They made their way up the stairs, and caught sight of the Captain, members of his crew, and the architect of the ship, all conversing in hushed tones. They walked past, and Max opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. He was listening.
Anna Marie could only pick out a few words, but when she turned and saw Max's face, she saw a grim expression.
"It's bad, isn't it?" She asked.
"We're taking on water." He turned to face her. "The ship is sinking."
Worry and fear set over her face. "We gotta find Kurt."
He didn't let go of her hand. They made their way back to the stateroom, and Max grabbed his coat out of his room, wrapping it around her.
"Max, ah have my own-"
"For the time being, you're borrowing mine. I would rather you not catch cold."
They were on their way out of the room, intending to go down to D Deck to find Kurt, and Max had just shut the door when they were met with Charles Xavier and the Master at Arms.
"Ah. I thought this would be a good place to start."
Max's face set into a tense expression. "Charles, whatever quarrel you have, this is not the time."
"Oh, it is precisely the time. Miss D'Ancanto is onboard this ship unlawfully."
"What? You're lyin'. Ah have every right to be on this ship-"
"That will be for the authorities to decide when we dock." Charles turned a disapproving look towards her.
"Madam, please, if you will come with me-" The Master at Arms reached for her, grabbing her wrist, and several things happened at once.
Anna Marie resisted his grab, and Max tried to get between the Master at Arms and her. His irritation was directed at Xavier.
"Enough of this, Charles. The ship is sinking and you are wasting time!"
"And you are wasting mine." Charles pulled out a pistol, clicking back the hammer, and aiming it right at Max.
Anna Marie gasped as she realized what Charles was doing.
"Mr. Xavier, please….don't hurt him. Ah swear to you, ah'm on this ship legally. Please-"
"Let go of her, Max. Now." Charles spoke calmly and coldly, waiting.
Max released Anna Marie, cold fury in his eyes as he stared at the man he had once called his business partner.
She watched, worry and desperation starting to take hold. "Max?"
"Go, Anna Marie. I do not wish for him to escalate this further." He cast a glance at her, his eyes conveying his apologies, his sorrow…his anguish at being away from her.
The Master at Arms carried her away, and tears were running down her face, not concerned for herself, but for Max, and for what Charles would do.
Once she was out of earshot, Max's fury was focused solely on Charles.
"Are you truly so selfish and greedy that you would detain an innocent woman?"
"She is far from innocent, Max. After all, I can only guess why you were in your state room with her for hours."
White hot anger coursed through his veins at that comment.
"Make such comments about her again, and I will toss you overboard myself."
Charles pressed the gun against his chest.
"Go on and try."
Max stared at him.
"When we get to New York, you and I are done."
Charles gestured down the wall. "We're going to go on a little walk."