(A/N: This story is dedicated to Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche. He was the only black passenger on board Titanic. He was a Haitian engineer and was in second class. He was the only passenger of known African ancestry. He was traveling with his French wife and their children. Like other male passengers, he had gotten his wife and children onto a boat but went down with the ship. I'm dedicating this story to him because, judging from the comments on a certain, horrible Titanic Parody, no one knew about him. Even though all they had to do was google. May he and the other victims of the sinking rest in peace.

Face Claim for Juliette Thompson: Nichole Behrie. She plays Abigail Mills on Sleepy Hollow.)

April 10, 1912

Southampton England

Tommy Ryan had just gone through the inspection cue and was now boarding the ship that would take him to his new life in America. It wasn't easy leaving Ireland. He came from a poor family in the town of Donegal. He had done all he could to try to rise his family, consisting of a father, mother, and a baby sister, out of poverty, but it wasn't going to happen in Donegal Ireland. The Ryans had never been wealthy and if they remained in Donegal, they never would be. So after a lot of soul searching and hearing news of a new ship being built down in Belfast, a ship that was sure to go to America, Tommy saved his money and by time tickets for the new ship went on sail, he was able to afford one third class ticket to America.

The good bye had been hard on Tommy. His father was the picture of stoicism, proud that his son was taking the initiative to leave their poor life and attempt for something better. But his mother and sister had been all tears. He had spent his final night in Ireland comforting them and promising to write and to someday send for all of them to come join him in America, where he would be sure to make more money than they would have ever seen if he stayed in Donegal.

Now, he was in Southampton, England. Donegal Ireland and the family he had there were a lifetime away, or so he felt. He gripped his duffel bag once he was declared lice free and made his way on board the Titanic. She sure did live up to the name in Tommy's opinion. He hadn't really seen many ships, but he reckoned that none was as large as this one, and she was unsinkable to boot, or rather, that's what the press claimed.

As Tommy boarded the ship, he glanced down onto the dock and spotted a black girl about his age standing with a white woman who seemed to be giving her a stern lecture. The poor lass didn't look at all happy as she stood there with her bags, ready to board the ship. He wondered what was going on. There weren't many blacks in Donegal, that he knew of anyway, and he had nothing against them. They were people too, their skin just happened to be different from his own. To him, skin color was like an accent. He was from Ireland and he knew that to an American, his voice would say so. That did not make him any less of a person. The same went with black folk. They were of African descent and their skin color said that. Again, it did not make them any less a person. He knew that there were some who disagreed with his beliefs, but he did not associate with anyone like that. Anyway, the lass was rather pretty and Tommy wondered why the woman was lecturing her. As he entered the ship, the girl left his mind as he took in the interior of third class. He had to admit, he was impressed.

…..

Juliette Thompson couldn't believe that this was happening to her. Her folks had been so proud that she had gotten a job with the prestigious Adams family. That she was going to get to go and live in England with them and take care of their young children. She had expected to be treated and paid well and see things that the folks back home would never have the chance to see.

What she hadn't expected to happen was to fall in love with the Adam's eldest son Micheal. She hadn't expected that love to be returned. She hadn't expected the forbidden romance that had risen up from it. She hadn't expected them to be caught. She hadn't expected Mr. Adams to berate her and call her every filthy name from the n word to whore. She hadn't expected for Michael to just stand there and allow her to be attacked like that. He hadn't even defended her. He hadn't admitted his love for her or that she was more than just a hot body to sleep with. A play thing. She hadn't expected to be fired immediately.

At least the lady of the house, Mrs. Gina…at least she was kind of enough to see that Juliette got back to New York safely by purchasing her a second class ticket on board the new ship Titanic. At least that was something. The woman had always been kind to her and she seemed to understand that to Juliette…what had gone on with Micheal…it had been real. To Juliette, it hadn't just been a roll in the hay. But there were reputations to be kept. Places in society to be maintained. So the firing stood, but at least she wasn't going to be kicked out and left destitute in a strange country. At least she was going home.

"Now remember, Juliette. Not a word to anyone from white society. No one is to know that you and Micheal were anything but employer and employee. As far as they are to know, you were homesick and decided to return to your dear momma," Gina again went over the story that she had come up with to explain Juliette's return to anyone from high society. No one was going to know of her son's dalliance with a pretty colored girl.

"Yes ma'am," Juliette nodded, not having the strength or will to argue. She just wanted to get on the ship and go home.

Gina Adams gave a deep sigh, as if she regretted how things had turned out. As if she wished that things could have been different. "You were a good nanny, Juliette. The children will miss you. It is unfortunate how things had turned out and that I can't give you a reference. Good luck in the future I guess."

Juliette simply nodded and picked up her bags, ready to board the ship and start the voyage home. She wanted to put the whole mess behind her and forget that Micheal Adams had ever existed. As far as she was concerned, everything he had ever said to her was a lie.

"Good bye Juliette," Gina Adams stepped back and watched as her former nanny turned and boarded what was known as the ship of dreams. Her husband had wanted to book a less expensive ship and stick the girl in third class, but Gina wouldn't hear of it. They had always treated their current and former employees well. She wasn't going to allow Micheal's libido to change that.

Juliette didn't even bother to stand at the rail to wave good-bye. She was in no mood to do so. She was going back home in disgrace. A telegraph had been sent to her parents, telling them to expect her. She didn't even want to think of the questions waiting for her back in the states.

Walking along the corridors, Juliette looked for her room number and found it at the end of the long corridor. She opened it and whistled at what she found. It was a single birth room, with one twin bed on the left and a settee on the right. The Adams didn't want her to have roommates. Less chance of her to talk about what had happened, most likely. There was a wardrobe and a mirror on the opposite wall from the entrance of the room. There was also a sink for her to wash up in. There was also a writing desk to send telegraphs to her family if she chose to do so.

She may be going home in disgrace, but she was going home in style. The second class on the Mauritania was not as luxurious. But luxury didn't heal the ache in her heart, or the lost of trust. She had loved Micheal. She had thought that he loved her too. But he stood by and allowed his father to bash her. When you love someone, you stand up for them. You don't just stand there and allow someone to do what Arthur Adams did to her. But that's what Micheal had done and that was all that she could think about. Her stylish surroundings meant nothing.

She was going home a broken woman, certain of only one thing. She will never love again.