It wasn't until a few days later that Gavin and Tim made their way down to the dock and asked about vacancies on the ships returning to England. Amidst the sniggering, they were directed to a glossy white ship called The Star of Whitbury.

Gavin didn't understand the reactions from people, but on the off chance that they could gain passage, the men approached the captain to make their inquiries. Captain Brittas had been thrilled to hear that they wanted to join 'the team'; he had smiled warmly and invited them aboard, where everything was just as tidy and organised as the outside.

Having signed all the forms Brittas had produced, filled them out a second time, then taken a sheet with 'Whitbury Rules' written at the top in neat block writing and the long, long list underneath it; Brittas took them to meet the rest of the crew.

"This is Linda. She's a lively member of the crew, but she does her best." He gave a strangely forced smile to the blonde haired woman, who gave him a nervous smile in return.

Next they headed to the mess, where a dark haired woman was trying to get a baby to sleep.

"This is Carole. Carole, this is Gavin and Timothy. They're joining us for the journey back."

"Oh, hello." She smiled distractedly at them, before looking down at her child. "I just don't think he likes it out here, Mr Brittas."

"You can't keep him locked away here, Carole. You know I'm trying to promote equality and personally, I think it'll be good for young Benjamin to see it in action."

"Yes, sir." She didn't look reassured at all, but she stood up and headed out the room anyway.

"If you have any problems, just tell Carole and she'll find one of us. First port of call, you might say." He grinned expectantly at them, waiting for a laugh. Gavin managed a weak smile, but Tim didn't react at all.

"Captain Brittas!" called out a man, hurrying over. "I wondered what you wanted to do about the mice."

"Mice?" Brittas's smile froze on his face as he looked at the man. He was scruffy, and looked like he could do with a good clean; Gavin was even more concerned as he observed something oozing out his left ear.

"Well, they aren't as much of a problem as the rats were before they killed the cats and set sail on their own, but they keep nibbling through stuff."

"Now, Colin…" Brittas was frowning. "Have you checked the files? I think you'll find I've put together of things to do when we have mice on board."

"Yes sir." The man straightened up, saluted and hurried away.

"That was Colin Weatherby. He's useful, in his own capacity." Brittas gave them his large, forced smile again before hurrying on. "Now, you two young men are going to need somewhere to sleep."

He led them through the corridors and towards a plain door. Inside there were two small beds and a table and a chair. It was small, but Gavin and Tim slipped inside, taking the offered book filled with rules and instructions of the Captain.

"Now, I'll get you some uniforms sorted out, and before we head out I'll get some slacks and shirts sorts out for you." Brittas smiled at them. "No worries, I'll take it out of you pay so you won't owe me anything."

It was Tim he was looking at. Gavin's father had been in the city to meet them anyway, so he hadn't had to travel far. The man had purchased clothing for Gavin, as well as a few bits and pieces to make his journey home more comfortable. All Tim had received was a glare, then his father had proceeded to ignore his lover entirely.

Brittas backed out and shut the door. Gavin turned to Tim and sat on one of the beds, beside him.

"Timmy?"

"When did he say we are setting off?" Tim asked, his voice level as he stared at the floor.

"In the morning. Supper is at 7 tonight, and then we have to catch up on rest." Gavin waited for a response as Tim smiled slightly, slowly raising his eyes to look at the older man.

"Sounds good."

"Shall we have a lie down for a bit?" Gavin leaned down and began to unfasten his shoes. Tim smirked and copied his actions.

"Was it sleep you were thinking of?" Whispered Tim in a low voice, as Gavin began to press kisses along his jawline, pushing him down onto the bed.

"Of a sort, Timmy. But being back on the water… well, maybe we should tire ourselves out first."

"Gavin?" Tim held his shoulders, pushing him back slightly with a frown on his face. "Are you alright?"

"Sure." Gavin replied, his voice higher than normal as he pressed back down, trying to take his mind off the water.

"Gavin… Are you… afraid of the ocean?" Tim's voice was soft and hesitant. "Because, well, I don't know what I'm supposed to do about that."

"Let me kiss you." Whispered Gavin, and Tim relaxed. He pulled Gavin's head down to meet his lips and his legs spread to wrap around his hips. "You're all I need."


"So you guys are planning to stay, are you?" Julie was another woman on Brittas's staff. She was startlingly blunt about everything, especially where the Captain was involved, but otherwise she was friendly.

"Yes. We want to head back to England." Gavin tried to smile at her, but now they were settled, he could feel the bobbing of the ship on the water; it was turning his stomach.

"And you picked… this ship?" Julie looked perplexed.

"It was the only one with 2 spare spaces." Tim replied, leaning slightly against Gavin's arm.

"I'd come separately than on this one." She muttered, raising her brow as she looked at them.

"Is it that bad?" asked Tim, as Gavin stared at him. Tim was the only reason he was travelling over to England, so coming separately was never going to happen. His excuses to his mother about England being his homes, and their estates over there had been just that – excuses. The fact remained that in the short time he had known Tim, the young man made him feel more alive than anything else he had experienced, and he would do anything to hold onto that.

"Well, most of us aren't too bad. Laura got a good head on her, Colin's good at fixing things and Linda's nice to talk to in same doses… I suppose the same could be said of Carole, you know? The Reverend Horatio Brittas is on board, but he's… a bit much."

"A lot of women, aren't there?" Gavin said, absent-mindedly.

"Yeah. Brittas was won over by the rights of women, he wants to show he's behind them." She sounded almost enthusiastic, but sarcasm leaked into her voice.

"Any other new staff?"

"There's Samantha, who goes by Sam. She's helping out with the children on board."

"There are children?"

"Only Carole's, and they tend to be locked away in a cupboard. Oh, don't ask about that." Julie pulled a face. "Then there's Danny, who's helping to keep the engine running, and Patrick, who's doing the same thing."

"Patrick?" Tim sat up, looking over at her.

"Yeah. You know him?" she shifted closer, leaning on the table. "He said he was on the Titanic when she sank."

Tim and Gavin both flinched, and Julie's eyes narrowed.

"You two were on her as well." She stated as Tim shivered and Gavin wrapped an arm around him. "That's why you're here together."

He nodded and she returned the gesture, but sat back in her seat, not saying anything.

"Ahh, it's excellent to see you, boys." Julie groaned as Brittas trotted over to them. "Settling in, are we?"

"Captain." Gavin looked over at him.

"I am glad to see that. Because, you see, this crew is a family. I want everyone to get along with each other, keeping our little world aboard this ship running smoothly." He smiled at them, even as Julie stood up and took her bowl away. "I have a dream, you see; that we can rely on each other; that we can keep each other buoyant, as it were; you see, we need to keep each other afloat in life, to have that trust, and that love that keeps us from drowning and- Tim?"

Tim had stood up and walked rapidly from the room.

"I'd better see if he's alright." Gavin said, standing up and worry welled up inside him.

"I think that's a very good idea. You do that and I'll take these bowls back for you."

But Gavin wasn't listening to him as he ran from the room. He saw the door leading to the gymnasium swing shut, and followed.

It was in a squash court that he found Tim, on the floor with his leg splayed as he gasped, trying to keep his tears from falling.

"Timmy?" He approached slowly, kneeling before him and trying to meet his eyes. "Here."

"I don't know why I can't stop crying." Whispered Tim, reaching out to his lover.

"She changed us." He replied. "I can't sleep through the night and the thought of being on the water makes me feel sick."

"You?" Tim looked up at him, confusion clear on his face.

"Of course me." He cupped Tim's jaw for a moment before pressing his cheek against his lover's. "I don't think anyone was unaffected, not even Mother."

"I love you." Tim murmured, shifting into Gavin's lap, keeping their faces pressed together.

"I love you." Gavin took a deep breath, indulging in the comforting scent of Tim's neck. "You aren't alone."

"No. And I have something to look forward to." Tim grinned, tears drying on his face as he put their foreheads together.

"You do?" Gavin breathed back, sliding his hands down to grasp Tim's backside through his slacks.

"I recall you saying something about taking me home, giving me a hot bath…"

"Then finding some oil, tasting you and taking you." Groaned Gavin and their lips met in a deep kiss.

"I can't wait for this journey to be over then." Tim gasped in between kisses, and Gavin wholeheartedly agreed.