Disclaimer: All Titanic characters belong to their respective owners and to history. I make no claims to them. All non-Titanic characters are mine and made by me. I make no money off this work of fiction. It is written for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter One
It was in Southampton that we were given what we were told was a "treat for our fine service."
By "treat" we thought an extra helping of good food or perhaps a raise in pay.
But no, we got a fruitcake...
...That I believe was forged in the lake of fire...next to the Colonial house.
Normally I could eat such things but this one I immediately retched upon trying. Even Pitman who would eat things that would kill a snake turned green after trying it.
Will Murdoch and I stood with our backs against the nearest counter staring at our arch nemesis as it sat on the table in the officer's mess. I still say it stared back at us with its invisible beady little eyes.
Instead of saying what we were to do for our duties today we argued how to get rid of the desert.
Sherlock Holmes had a collection of villains and crimes to solve...
...We had a fruitcake.
I sighed, "Will, what are we going to do with this?"
"We could leave it out for the passengers."
I waved my hand as if to dismiss Will's idea, "Why would we want to punish them?"
"Have you got a better idea Lights?"
"I can't say that I do."
"Maybe the rats will eat it."
"We should put it closer to steerage then."
"Right. You go do it."
"No, you do it!"
"I rank you!"
"It was your idea!"
In the end we ordered Mister Moody to remove it from our sight. While muttering something under his breath about our mothers the dreaded deed was done.
Will leaned against the counter as I climbed on top of it to sit on it and stretch my long legs.
"I've seen you watching that pretty second class girl," Will said.
"Josephine?" I asked.
"That's her name?"
I felt my face blush as I admitted that it was indeed her.
Will grinned at me. I frowned at him upon seeing it was an evil smirk he had when he was planning something. The man was often by-the-book but possessed a wicked sense of humor that he would occasionally release.
"What are you planning Will?" I asked.
"What made you think I was planning anything?"
"We've been best friends for too long. I know when you're up to something...Don't you dare tell Josie how I feel about her!"
Will's head swiveled towards mine, "Oh, so you do like her!"
"Well..."
"Lights, it's obvious to any man who's ever been in love how you feel about her. Do you even know her?"
"Yes, I do!"
"Lost love?"
"You have no idea."
"She broke off your relationship?"
"Worse. Her father threatened to have me dismissed from White Star Line if I didn't stop seeing her. I was almost accused of something I didn't do."
"Oh," Will's voice was saddened by my revelation. "Do you know what's happened to her since then?"
"No idea."
"Do you want to know?"
I hesitated. My mind thought up thousands of lies to tell Will until my mouth opened and the truth came out, "Yes."
"You!" Mister Moody's voice snapped. He leaned heavily against the doorframe. One shaking arm was stretched out at us as his finger moved from Will to myself.
His face and uniform was rumpled and covered in soot making it look like someone dragged him screaming backwards through the boiler room by his ankles.
His finger pointed from me, to Will, and then back to me. "Both of yooou..."
