Rose’s POV
My mother droned on about the wedding at tea. The mistakes, the mishaps, everything. Her friends listened in avid silence, their teacups held unnoticed in their hands. I paid no attention, my gaze drifting from table to table of finely dressed people with similar expressions of disdain on each pale face. This life was so dull compared to the excitement of steerage.
A child at the table next to us was eating a sugar cookie, her shoulders slumped and her legs tucked up on the seat. The girl's mother started correcting her posture, her cheeks flushed red at her daughter's improper behavior. I found it suddenly ridiculous—why couldn't she sit the way she wanted? I pushed away from the table and walked out of the first class lounge. I had to find Jack.
*****
Jack was leaning on the bow of the ship, his form silhouetted by the last rose-red rays of the setting sun. The sea was shot with gold streaks, mirroring the sky above. It was a beautiful vista, made even more perfect by Jack's presence.
"Hello, Jack," I said. He turned to face me, disbelief etched onto his young face. "I changed my mind," I added unnecessarily. He smiled at me, a smile so bright it competed with the sun. His eyes gazed hungrily at me, drinking me in. Elated, I stepped forward. "Christian said you might be up here," I began to say. But he interrupted me.
"Shh…come here." I stepped towards him, my heels clacking against the deck of the ship. He reached forward and placed his hands on my waist. I shivered in pleasure, my smile widening. "Close your eyes," he told me, and I obliged, shutting them. Jack turned me around and pushed me forward until the railing was pressing against my body. He raised my arms up like wings and slowly lowered his own hands to my waist. I kept my hands up, enjoying the cool breeze that played across my face. "Okay. Open them," Jack murmured into my ear. I shivered and opened my eyes, gasping at the sight.
Water. Water was all that I could see. Water and a golden horizon. The water stretched endlessly towards the still setting sun, and it was just Jack and I flying above the water. The moment was magical, and, more than anything, I wished that I could freeze time so I could stay at this spot forever.
"I'm flying!" I exclaimed, leaning forward. His hands tightened around my waist, steadying me, and I flashed a grin at him.
"Come Josephine in my flying machine…" Jack sang softly, entwining my hands with his. His face was buried in my hair, and, hardly believing what I was doing, I turned my face to meet his. Our lips met in a hesitant kiss, which slowly grew in passion. I lowered my arms and turned to kiss him more eagerly. I didn't care that people could see us. It was only the two of us that mattered at the moment.
*****
"Will this light do? Don't artists need good light?" I asked Jack, turning on the lights in my suite. Jack looked slightly awestruck at the obvious grandeur, and I had to remind myself that he hadn't seen anything this grand before.
"Zat is true. I am not used to working in such 'orreeble conditions," he said airily in a horribly fake French accent. I couldn't help but giggle. "Hey…Monet!" He lost the fake accent and dashed to the paintings stacked against the wall. He crouched low, admiring them. "Isn't he great…the use of colors? I saw him once…through a hole in this garden fence in Giverny." I laughed along with him, laughed until it felt like our sides were going to split. Gradually, the laughter stopped and I was reminded of why I brought Jack here.
I got up slowly and walked to the small closet that housed the bulky green safe Cal insisted on lugging everywhere.
"Cal insists on lugging this thing everywhere," I told Jack, turning the combination.
"Should I be expecting him anytime soon?" he asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Not as long as the cigars and brandy hold out," I said dryly, opening the safe and handing Jack the Heart of the Ocean. He took it cautiously, almost reverently, handling it as if it would break easily.
"What is it? A sapphire?"
"A diamond. A very rare diamond, called the Heart of the Ocean." I paused, mentally steeling myself. "I want you to draw me like one of your French girls, Jack. Wearing this." He nodded absently, still admiring the necklace. "Wearing only this." I smiled at him and my innocent expression met his shocked one.
*****
Jack was arranging his pencils when I entered the room, wearing only a kimono and the necklace. He looked up, mouth slightly agape.
"The last thing I need is another picture of me looking like a porcelain doll. As a paying customer, I expect to get what I want." I dropped a dime on the table and stepped back, my heart pounding. I parted the kimono and dropped it to the floor. Swallowing nervously, I stepped towards the couch and arranged myself on it, feeling strangely awkward.
"Tell me when it looks right to you," I said, feeling the weight of the large diamond around my neck.
"Uh…just bend your left leg a little and…lower your head. Eyes to me. That's it," Jack said, his cheeks turning slightly red.
"I believe you are blushing, Monsieur Big Artiste. I can't imagine Monsieur Monet blushing," I teased, gradually relaxing.
"He does landscapes!" Jack retorted, sweating visibly. I smiled in reply as he began to draw; the nervous look gradually replaced with a more serious and confident one.
*****
I was standing over Jack's shoulder, looking at the drawing. It was amazing, of course, and it showed the real me, almost as if Jack had x-rayed my soul. I pulled the kimono tighter around me and leaned in to whisper in Jack's ear.
"Date it, Jack. I want to always remember this night." He obliged, scribbling a date next to his signature—April 14, 1912. I took the picture and a note I had written to Cal and locked it in the safe before turning back to my room to get dressed.
Once dressed in a loose white dress, I reentered the sitting room. The doorknob rattled ominously. Worried, I took Jack's outstretched hand and led him through the bedrooms to a door hidden there.
We walked purposely down the hallway, breaking into a run when Lovejoy opened the door.
"Come on!" I said, dashing through the corridors and pushing past people. I dashed into an open elevator and ordered the surprised man to take us down. He obliged, and Lovejoy slowly disappeared above us. And then, surprising even myself, I gave him the finger, laughing boisterously.
"Jack? Rose?" I turned slowly. I hadn't noticed that the elevator was occupied.
"Satine?" I asked, noticing that Christian was with her, and that the redhead was holding a gorgeous sleeping kitten in her arms.
"What on earth are you doing?" Satine asked, smiling slightly, a questioning look in her blue eyes.
"Running from Rose's crazy valet," Jack said, leaning forward to shake Christian's hand. "I swear, never a dull day with him on board. Where'd you get a fellow like him, Rose?"
"He's an ex-Pinkerton. Cal's father hired him to keep Cal out of trouble…to make sure he always got back to the hotel with his wallet and watch after some crawl through the less reputable parts of town," I explained. The lift doors opened and I dashed through them, Jack, Christian, and Satine following after me. I entered a nearby door and shut it quickly after everyone was inside.
Jack stood guard by the door, talking to Christian. I started talking to Satine, learning about her past at the Moulin Rouge and how she met Christian.
"Lovejoy!" Jack warned. And just like that, we were running again, through a door marked Crew Only that Jack had flung open. We all dashed inside and Jack locked it, pushing the deadbolt into place.
Christian was examining a ladder that led down. He stood up a few seconds later and looked at us, an adventurous glint in his eyes. "After you, ladies."
"Why, thank you!" Satine said. She handed her kitten to Christian and descended the ladder. I followed after her, taking the kitten and handing her to Satine.
Once off the ladder, I looked around at the roaring fires and sweaty figures outlined in smoke. The ladder had taken us to the boiler room. Jack and Christian appeared by our sides and we took off running, shocking the men working.
"Carry on! Don't mind us!" Jack called, smiling. His hand slipped into my hand and he pulled me along, faster and faster, dodging people and supplies until we barged through a door marked Cargo Hold.
We were laughing uproariously, staggering around the large room like drunkards. We leaned against large cargo boxes, all of us shivering from the sudden chill. I spotted a car and headed towards it, pulling Jack with me. Satine and Christian had disappeared somewhere a few minutes ago, saying something about exploring the cargo hold.
I sat in the backseat of the car, watching Jack climb into the front seat as if he were my driver.
"Where to, Miss?" he asked, the perfect imitation of a well-trained driver.
"To the stars," I whispered, pulling Jack over the seat.
Satine’s POV
It was unbelievable! Aureole was still asleep in my arms, even after the noise and heat of the boiler room. I giggled softly and stroked her soft fur, meeting Christian's eyes. Jack and Rose had taken over the new Renault, and we were keeping watch in case her crazy guard came in here.
The door opened and I saw two stewards enter, thanking a stoker for his help. I placed an ivory finger against Christian's lips and pulled him silently towards the car, knocking on it twice to alert the couple. I saw Rose's disheveled head rise up and she nodded briefly, her face sinking below the window again.
"Let's go. They'll catch up," I told Christian, walking towards the deck door.
I heard the soft slap of bare feet against the cold floor. I whirled around, my red dress swirling against my feet. I relaxed when I saw Jack and Rose, hands pressed over their mouths to cover their laughter.
I pushed open the door and let Jack and Rose out, who dropped their hands and collapsed on the deck, laughing.
"I think they're enjoying themselves," I said to Christian. In answer, he pulled me in for a kiss, wrapping strong arms around me. I melted into his touch, feeling happy and whole.
I could dimly hear the noise of the ship and Rose's words, but I blocked it out, savoring the moment.
"When this ship docks, I'm getting off with you," I heard Rose say, sounding sure of herself.
"This is crazy," Jack answered.
"I know! It doesn't make any sense. That's why I trust it," Rose said with a tiny laugh.
I broke away from Christian and rubbed my stomach. "What do you want to name our baby?" I asked Christian.
He mused over names, his arms wrapped around me, giving me warmth.
"If it's a girl, how about we name her Danielle?"
"I love it!" I said. "Danielle…"
"And if he's a boy?" Christian asked.
"James," I answered instantly, imagining a baby boy with Christian's dark hair and my pale skin and wide blue eyes. Another image appeared next to baby James. His sister, with my fiery red hair and Christian's eyes…Danielle. Both of them were perfect in every way imaginable, and I wanted both of them.
"James and Danielle. I love them both," Christian said. I was about to reply when the ship shuddered violently and the sound of screeching metal reverberated in the air. Beside us, Jack and Rose staggered apart, unsteady on their feet. We all looked up in disbelief at a gigantic iceberg that blacked out the sky, a monstrous block of ice taller than anything imaginable. It sailed past and I ducked into Christian's embrace, stumbling backwards to avoid the falling chunks of ice.
"Bloody Christ…" I whispered. "It's massive." The berg disappeared from view and I ran to the side of the ship, peering down to see if any damage had been done.
"Looks okay. I don't see anything," Jack said. I agreed with him, seeing only the starlit black water gliding serenely beneath us.
"Could it have damaged the ship?" Rose asked, worried.
"It didn't seem like much of a bump. I'm sure we're okay," Jack comforted her, wrapping one arm around her waist.
She nodded and we turned away from the rail. A few people were playing with the chunks of ice, kicking them around and tossing them to one another. We climbed over the rails just as the captain and Mr. Andrews shoved past us, talking to one another in concerned voices, clearly scared.
"It's bad," Christian said, his tone betraying his bewilderment.
"We have to tell Mother and Cal," Rose said. I'm proud that she can overcome her hatred for them to warn them.
"Now it's even worse," Jack joked.
"Come with me, Jack. You jump, I jump…right?" Rose asked, looking up at Jack.
"Right." Jack followed Rose through a nearby door and we followed after for moral support.