April 15, 1912

1:17am

The top deck of the Titanic was in an uproar, mayhem and panic beginning to set in, the crew trying to keep everyone calm even as women and children cried as they were placed into the boats. It was becoming clear to all onboard that not everyone would be able to get off the ship safely.

Charles Xavier intended to be one of those who made it onto the boats, even if it meant buying a seat.

"Mister Murdoch?" He approached one of the crew, the captain's right hand man.

"Mister Xavier." He acknowledged.

"I am a business man as you know. I have a proposition for you."

One of the port doors opened onto the deck, and Max held Anna Marie's hand as they led Kurt, Ororo, and others that had come up from D Deck. The five children were clinging to Kurt and Ororo, and Max looked around the deck, searching for a boat.

"They're all gone, Max…." Anna Marie commented.

Max found Sebastian Shaw standing nearby, smoking a cigar, looking almost resigned.

"Shaw…are there any boats left?"

He took a moment to see the group assembled next to Max, taking pity on these children.

"Near the stern. Head that way."

He nodded, and they all ran for the front of the ship, needing to get off this vessel as fast as possible.

"I'm sorry, sir. Only women and children are allowed on the boats at this time." The man in charge of filling the boat was sympathetic, but had his orders.

The group looked at each other, worry and fear the major consensus. "Please….these children are without parents." Kurt begged. "Allow us to go with them."

The man considered it for a moment, and nodded.

"Get on. But only one of you men will be allowed on with the women and children."

Max looked at Kurt, and they came to a silent agreement. Only one of them would be able to get on, and Max knew who it would be.

"Kurt, get on." Max stated.

Anna Marie's eyes widened as he spoke. "Max, no."

The five children were lifted into the boat, and Ororo followed them, her hand out for Kurt, who got into the boat and sat next to her.

"Anna Marie, come on…." He reached for his sister's hand.

She shook her head and looked up at Max, tears beginning to form.

"Ah can't….ah won't leave you, Max-"

"Schatzi, you must. I promise you, I will find a way. I will find you again. I swear it." He framed her face with his hands, sincerity and love tinged with sorrow at the thought of leaving her again.

"Ah can't…." She tried to say through tears. "Ah love you…."

He was overcome with the desire to kiss her right then and there, expressing what words never could, how desperately he wanted to never leave her side, not even for a moment. The kiss they shared, he hoped it would not be their last. She was his anchor, the siren of his heart that would guide him home.

Anna Marie kissed him as if her very life depended on it, because it did. She never wanted to let go, never wanted to be apart from him ever again.

Kurt felt empathy for his sister at that moment, how difficult it was for her to leave Max behind, the man who clearly loved her enough to sacrifice himself so that the rest of them could get off the ship safely.

Ororo squeezed his hand, tears in her eyes at the farewell they were witness to.

Charles was standing on the deck, waiting for his turn on the ship, when he heard a man's voice, a voice he knew well.

Max?

There, stood not far from him, was Max Eisenhardt, and-

Her. She had escaped?!

His rage boiled over, the sight of her overriding all rational thought. The world was tinged in red, and he moved towards them, drawing the pistol he had, and pointing it straight at Anna Marie's back.

Max happened to look up as he heard the click of the hammer, and within an instant, pushed Anna Marie away from the boat as a shot rang out. There were screams, among them was Kurt.

"Anna Marie!" The boat began to descend, and all Kurt could do was watch in horror as his sister and Max ran from the madman who had drawn his gun, intending to kill her.

They ran back the way they had came, heading for the staircase as the shots continued. Max dragged Anna Marie down the stairs, Charles making chase.

He couldn't get a clear shot, and chased them all the way to C Deck, which was now flooding.

As he raised his pistol to shoot, knowing he had a chance now that they were wading through the water, he was knocked to the ground by an unknown assailant.

The gun flew out of his hand, and he crawled towards it.

"You not killin' nobody, couyon." Remy LeBeau's proclamation was right in his ear as the Cajun tried to restrain him, to keep him from trying to kill Anna Marie.

Charles elbowed him in the ribs, hard, knocking Remy off of him as he crawled towards the gun. Just as he reached it, Remy made a grab for it, and both men rolled and struggled for control. One man motivated by greed, and the other motivated by the desire for redemption.

A shot rang out, the gun firing.

Remy's eyes widened, realizing that the blood that was seeping onto his clothes was from the other man's stomach. Remy rolled Charles off of him, watching as he gasped for breath, the marble and his white shirt stained red from the gunshot wound that would now be his demise.

Remy watched in shock as Charles Xavier, the man who had been so overcome with anger and greed, had met his end at his own hand.