"For whatever we lose (like a you or me),
it's always we ourselves we find in the sea."
ee cummings

The car approaches the docks and already, Lady Sybil Crawley can feel her heart racing as she looks out the window and can see the Titanic waiting alongside the land. It's magnificent, a feat of metal and labour, and as the driver presses at the horn, she can barely hear anything over the loud crowd that has gathered around the ship.

They find themselves stuck, waiting for a group of people to move, so Sybil sticks her head out of the window, breathing in the salty fresh air. The weather is perfect with the sun shining fiercely in and no sight of any threatening clouds.

"Sybil darling, what are you doing?" Mary, her older sister, asks, fanning herself as they begin to move again.

"I'm just looking. It's splendid, Mary."

"Darling, if Grandmamma were to see you, she'd have a heart attack."

"Honestly," Matthew, Mary's husband, says, "I wouldn't be surprised if Cousin Violet were doing the same, Mary." He takes her hands in his and she rolls her eyes, even though Sybil can tell that her sister is amused.

Mary finally looks out the window and doesn't show any expression, merely shrugging her shoulders. "Won't it be a bit cramped?"

Sybil laughs, but stops quickly as Mary raises an eyebrow. Matthew smirks from his seat.

When the driver makes it through the crowd and stops near an entrance, Sybil is first to leave the car and as her feet touch the wooden boardwalk, she is enthralled. The ship looks never-ending along the dock, and as it towers over everyone she is certain that if she were on it, she could touch the heavens.

The rest of her family arrive in their cars, her sister, Edith, and their parents in one, and her grandmamma and Cousin Isobel in other, and soon they are all together, gazing at the wondrous sight.

"It's spectacular, isn't it?" Robert Crawley exclaims proudly. "A fine English ship to take us to New York."

"I thought it was made in Ireland," Sybil says and her father looks at her like she has grown another head. "I read about it," Sybil clarifies, and her mother chortles.

"Oh, Sybil, I forgot you haven't been on a ship before," Cora says, patting her daughter's shoulder. "You'll love it."

"Yes, you will, darling Sybil," Mary says from behind them, "The insides are absolutely grand although nothing compares to Downton."

"I detest ships. If there were another way to travel, then I would," Edith, Sybil's other sister, remarks. "I remember when we travelled to France, I was sick the entire voyage."

Sybil frowns. "At least, you got to travel. I was sick with the measles, and the time before that, I had bronchitis. It wasn't fair."

"Well, now you're here, my darling," Cora says and Sybil shows a satisfied smile. "Come along, we must board the ship before we are left behind." The family walks off to find an official who will direct them to their quarters but Sybil stays behind, her eyes on the ship. She has read that it is called the 'Ship of Dreams' and she truly believes that is.

She remembers when her father had surprised them one night, telling them that they were going to New York to visit their other Grandmamma on the unsinkable ship. They had all been ecstatic, but none more than herself. For seventeen years of her life, she had been cooped inside the house, taught impractical things by their governess, but as she stands before the Titanic, she can feel it in her bones that her life is going to change. Things will be different in America, she thinks to herself. Even though they will only be there for one month to celebrate her Grandmamma's birthday, her mother's stories have filled her with many dreams about life in New York.

"Yes," she says to herself, "I am ready for the world."

Tom Branson looks at his watch and shakes his head. The Titanic is set to sail in half an hour and still his brother, Kieran is still nowhere in sight. Truth be told, he isn't surprised. His brother always had the habit of arriving late to events, but if he would stop them from travelling back home to Ireland, then Tom knows he would have no problem strangling him.

He whacks the tickets against his palm and looks out over the crowd, trying to spot his brother's familiar curls. It's Kieran's idea to travel on the Titanic and as reluctant as Tom had been, he had agreed only because it meant that he they disembark in Ireland before the ship travelled to New York. They had bought the tickets with the last of their money and celebrated over the last few nights at the pub, but as Tom anxiously watches the hands on his watch move, he begins to think that wasn't such a good idea. Ever since they were children, even though their mother had consistently called Tom a mischief-maker, it was always his brother who was considered the handful.

As Tom finally gives in, deciding that he should find Kieran, he lets out a relieved sigh, as the devil himself is running towards him, his jacket over his shoulders and his face red.

"Christ, Kieran. I thought you were lying in a ditch," Tom scowls as his brother stops in front of him, huffing and puffing.

"Don't swear, Tommy. Ma would whip you," Kieran pants, taking in a deep breath. "Bloody Christ, you are a sight for sore eyes. Anyone would think that you weren't happy to go home."

"I am happy. What happened to you? You said to meet at eleven."

"I met a bird last night after you left," Kieran says, winking, "A very bold bird."

Tom shakes his head, but isn't surprised. "Come on, we better board before the ship leaves." Tom begins to walk off, heading to the third-class entry through the mass that has come to observe the Titanic. As he looks behind to make sure his brother is following him, he suddenly finds himself bumping into someone and both of them fall to the floor.

"Watch it," Tom snaps as his bag flies out of his hand and onto the ground. He grabs it quickly and when he turns to berate the rude person, he finds his breathing has stopped and he's sure his heart has as well.

"I'm terribly sorry. That was my fault," the young woman says as she gets to her feet and gives her hand to him as he is still on the floor, his mouth open and his eyes fixed on her like she is a star. She stares at him confused, as he makes no attempt to stand up and as she recoils her hand slowly, he realizes that he is still on the floor.

"No," Tom says finally, standing on his feet and the young woman looks at him curiously. "It was mine."

The young woman smiles and it's a glorious smile. One that makes him think that Titanic was definitely worth the money. His brother comes running towards them and he too stops when he sees the young woman with Tom.

"My, my, good day, my lady," Kieran says, tipping his head at the young woman. Already, Tom can tell that what is running through his brother's head and he does not like it one bit.

"I seemed to have knocked over your friend," the woman says to Kieran and Tom can feel the jealousy running through his body as she addresses his brother.

"Oh, my lady. It is no trouble at all. My brother can barely run, let alone walk," Kieran jokes and Tom wants to his kill brother, right there on the spot.

The young woman nods, but doesn't laugh and Tom is grateful for that. "I'm afraid, I must find my family. They're probably wondering where I've gotten to," she says. "Please accept my apology again, Mr-"

"Branson," Tom says clearly, so that he hopes somehow she will always remember his name, " Tom Branson."

"Branson," she says and he has never heard his simple last name sound so melodic, "I am sorry for the third time, Mr Branson. Good day to you both." She tilts her head politely and turns around, proceeding to find her family, when Tom's confidence finally decides to make an appearance and he yells out abruptly, "I didn't catch your name."

She stops and looks back at him, a surprised look on her face, but nonetheless, she says keenly, "Lady Sybil Crawley." A soft laugh escapes her lips and then she continues on, as she did before.

"Well, well, Tommy," Kieran says jovially, slapping his brother on the back. "A lady."

Lady Sybil Crawley, he replays her voice in his head as he watches her join a group of well-dressed people standing at the first-class entrance. Part of him wishes that the can continue their trip all the way to New York just so that he may get the chance to see her again, but he knows that he doesn't belong in fancy America when he can hear the call of Ireland in the wind every night since he has lived in England.

"Lady Sybil Crawley," he says softly under his breath, and he smirks when he realizes he'll be on the Titanic for a whole day until it arrives in Cork Harbour the following morning. After all, he thinks to himself, a lot could happen in a day.

AN: Sybil's age is obviously a bit older, so at the moment she is 17, whilst Tom is 22. Yes, Mary is married to Matthew. Let's just pretend that Patrick and his father died of other causes and despite all the drama with the entail, Mary and Matthew eventually did wed. Any more questions, feel free to message me. I don't bite. Promise. :)