Disclaimer: I do not own anything about Titanic, except the few characters I invented on my own. The others are owned by James Cameron or by themselves.

I also apology for wrong spelling and poor grammar, but English is not my native language. So please, don´t be too harsh with me.

Summary:
William Murdoch has accepted his fate as a lonely bachelor and is utterly devoted to his job as an Officer if White Star Line. A few months before Titanic´s maiden voyage, the newly found Chief Officer has returned to Southampton prepare for the giant event, not knowing that a far greater adventure lies ahead of him. One that will change his whole life forever.

December 4th, 1911

It was just around 6 o´clock in the morning, when William McMaster Murdoch found himself already awake. This was awfully strange due to the circumstance that he had just returned from his last voyage. Southampton – New York and back with White Star Line´s newest, grandest and finest ship, the Olympic.

Murdoch stretched his limbs like a giant cat after a long desired night of good sleep in his own bed at home. Not that he disliked being (and sleeping) on a vessel. Quite the contrary. Like his father and all his grandfathers and grandgrandfathers Will Murdoch was a fine Scottish sailor, loving the world´s oceans with heart and soul.
But he couldn´t also deny, that after weeks and months on duty returning home was an appreciated value.

He optioned for a moment if he should get up already, but decided to stay a little while longer in the warm sanctuary of his bed. His double-bed to be precise. Somewhat melancholy he touched the soft pillow next to his own, his eyes lingering on the unoccupied space.

His devotion for the sea and seafaring was a truly deep one, was his true home and his companions a second and beloved family. But truth to be told he sometimes missed having a loving girl or woman in his life, especially in those moments when he returned home.

However, there had never been someone who wanted to be with him. When he was younger and nothing but a mere sailor constantly travelling to press ahead with his career, girls thought him too poor, too often away and just too unstable to marry, let alone to build a family with.

Now he was proud to be First Officer and Chief Officer to become, to have gained a small asset due to a good payment and living a humble life and to own a fine little house of his own in Southampton, but he had nobody to share. With his thirtyeight years, soon to be thirtynine, most young women found him too old. He on the other side was not overly fond about the idea of courting a widow or an old maid. He had always dreamed about having children of his own, not about raising those of another man together with a mourning wife.

No, Will Murdoch had accepted that he would live and certainly die as a lonely bachelor on sea and although he was not entirely happy about it, he didn´t regret it either.

He yawned, realizing that he could use an hour or two more, cuffed his pillow in a comfortable position and went to sleep once more.

A gentle knock on the door stirred him anew and his bedside clock told him that it was now ´bout nine o´clock. "Bloody Hell" he swore, having slept far longer than he intended to.

He got out of bed and quickly put on his uniform-shirt, having slept in the trousers all night long. He had been just too tired to change into his pajamas when he had reached his bed last night.

A second knock followed and a cheerful voice reached his ears, causing him to smile. "Come on Willie darling, a nice hot coffee is waiting for you boy, as well as a bath and some clean clothes."

Murdoch opened the door to find an elderly woman waiting outside, a tray with a cup of coffee in her hands.

"My apologies Mrs. Cummings, I forgot time this morning", he replied sheepishly, "and thank you very much for always being around every time I come home".

Mrs. Cummings handed him his coffee and shook her head disapprovingly. "It´s nothing pup, how often do I have to tell you? I know you need me, need someone to be around and look after you. And the house you know. I would love to see you trying to dust and clean it on your own after all the weeks it´s unoccupied. " Mrs. Cummings continued her rambling as she headed for the stairs. When she noticed that Murdoch wasn´t right on her heels, she turned around and put her hands on her hips. "Young man, come on now. Look at you, you would make a fine gangster with that awful stubble in your face and your wrinkled clothes. You do not want to stay that way, do ya? Keeps all the nice lasses away, you know?"

Murdoch smiled at the matron in front of him and started to follow her down the stairs. "You know that I am not a young man anymore, Mrs. Cummings. And about the lasses…"

"William McMaster Murdoch!" There it was. That glare that could turn a fire into ice. "I will hear nothing of it. It is about time that you got yourself a nice woman to have around you. This house needs a female touch, as do you. So stop that fussing about yourself being old and such."

"Aye Ma´am", Murdoch shouted with a mock salute. He knew Mrs. Cummings just wanted his best. She was an old widow and had lost her only son several years ago in a terrible accident at work. So when Murdoch bought the house next to her own seven years ago, she was overly happy to have someone to attend to again. She had nearly adopted him the day they met and now looked after his house when he was at work and after himself when he returned home. And to say the least, he was more than happy to have her around.

After a hot bath, a good shave and clean fresh clothes they sat together in Murdochs kitchen by the window, sharing a breakfast Mrs. Cummings had prepared.

"So son, tell me. What is your schedule for the next weeks? How long do you plan to stay?" Mrs. Cummings finally asked.

Murdoch took a hearty bite off his buttered slice of bread and mumbled: "I´m actually staying quite a time now. See, in April the Titanic will be send on her maiden voyage and I am to be Chief Officer this time."

"My Will…congratulations darling, there´s no one to deserve this more. I´m proud of you dear boy".

Murdoch beamed with pride when Mrs. Cummings had to dry her eyes from some happy tears that slid down her wrinkled cheeks. He didn´t mind that she treated him most of the time as if he were a mere schoolboy, in fact it amused him to no end.

"Thanks Mrs. Cummings. I have to admit, I´m quite proud myself. Being Chief Officer means a lot responsibility and since Titanic is world´s grandest ship, there´s still a mass of things to do before she will sail in April. Due to that I am commanded to be around and watch over the preparations. The White Star Line is desperate to make it a flawless event with all those celebrities attending. It´s the Titanic after all. I have a few days off now and then work starts all over again but I shall stay on shore until April."

Mrs. Cummings frowned slightly. Murdoch laughed at that. "You seem not too happy about that".

This only earned him another glare. "Don´t be ridiculous, Will. I love every day you are home, boy and you do know that. It´s just that ship. Titanic. Do not get me wrong, I am not superstitious or something. But…they call the Titanic unsinkable and I do not like it. It´s like challenging fate or you know… HIM."

Murdoch smiled at her and patted the old womans arm reassuringly. "Don´t worry Mrs. Cummings. Truth to be told, no ship in the world is unsinkable. But the Titanic is as unsinkable as a ship can be. And I assure you, I will make it to New York and back safe and sound. I promise."

By the looks she gave him he could see that she was not entirely convinced. But who could have hard feelings against her? After losing husband and son she had become overly protective about everyone she loved in her life and Will Murdoch called himself a happy and deeply honored man to be one of those.