"Follow me ladies," the captain said, leading them down a narrow set of stairs and into the boat's hull where the crew's quarters were located.
The captain led them down long, winding corridors; the air was musky as voices coming from the deck echoed all around.
The lights started to flicker, dimming in some places as the captain continued to lead them somewhere in the ship.
Jenny was walking with her head held high as she followed the captain with no problem. Sinead and Aisling were walking a few steps behind her, trying to memorise the route they were taking to get to their room.
After ten minutes of walking the captain finally stopped outside a rusting door. "This is where you will be staying. Please do not leave your room as my crew doesn't need to know we have stowaways on board. Dinner will be brought down to you later on tonight," he said, opening the door to the room.
Jenny walked inside and looked around the small room. There were a set of bunk beds in the corner, bolted to the floor and wall of the ship, off to the side there was a door leading to a single bathroom with a toilet and sink. In the last corner of the room was a pile of twenty or so blankets.
"It's lovely Captain, thank you for all you are doing for us," Jenny said, smiling at the man, lightly touching his arm.
"It's no problem Miss," he replied, ushering Sinead and Aisling into the room before he closed the door and left.
"So," Jenny said, facing the two Irish girls.
"So, now we wait until we hit the coastline of Germany," Aisling said, walking over to the pile of blankets and spreading a few out on the floor before sitting down.
Jenny and Sinead joined her, picking at the non-existent fluff on the blankets.
The sounds of loud clanging hit up against the side of the boat, rocking it slightly. The engine rattled to life as all three brunettes looked at each other.
"We seem to be heading off," Jenny said, moving so her back was against the wall. The rocking of the ship was greater than it was before.
"I hope this rocking will stop soon," Sinead said, placing her hand on her stomach.
"I find it soothing and relaxing," Jenny responded, leaning her head back, breathing in deeply.
"I find it sickening," Sinead said, with a sour expression on her face.
"Do you get seasick?" Jenny asked her, curiosity getting the best of her.
"I have never been on a boat before, so I have no idea," she responded honestly.
"You have no problem with the movement of the car, so this is like that. I think you just need to get used to the motion of the ship then you'll be fine," Aisling said, moving closer to Sinead.
They sat and talked about random topics of conversation for a few hours. They brought out a pack of cards and played UNO with Jenny wining more than half of the games. Sinead backed out of the cards game, her motion sickness only got worse the more the ship moved and crashed into the waves.
"Try lying down, Emma doesn't do well on boats either and it always helps her," Jenny suggested, noticing how pale the girl was.
Sinead shook her head and drew her knees up to her body, wrapping her arms around her legs, moaning in discomfort.
"Sinead, sweetie, come here," Aisling said, looking at her.
Sinead shook her head once more.
"You're most likely going to throw up if you stay like that," Jenny said, raising an eyebrow.
Aisling moved in front of Sinead, softly taking her hands from around her knees and getting her to lie down on her back.
"Try closing your eyes, it should help your senses stabilise and the feeling of wanting to throw up go away," Jenny stated, matter-of-factly.
Aisling sat near Sinead's head and brushed the hair off her face, resting her hand on her shoulder.
"Well, I don't see boating as part of your criminal life," Jenny said, smirking.
"haha," Sinead replied, trying to get up, not getting very far, Aisling's hand pushing her back down.
-
"Emma," Sammy whined as she changed the channel on the television.
"Sammy, you have seen that episode of the Simpson's plenty of times, why do we have to watch it again?"
"Because there is nothing better to watch or to do," he replied, trying to look serious.
"We do have an unopened box of muffin mix if you want to help me make them," Emma told him, getting up off the couch.
"What flavour?"
"Chocolate."
Sammy jumped up and followed Emma, "I get to lick the bowl," he said, running to the pantry to retrieve the mix.
"What does it say we need to add, Sammy?" Emma asked.
"We need three eggs, ¾ a cup of milk and 10ml of oil," he replied, handing the box to Emma.
"Can you please go get the mixer?" Emma asked him. Opening the door to the cupboard, she pulled out a big container to mix the batter in.
"You need to pre-heat the oven, Mum says I'm not allowed to," Sammy told her, returning with the beater. "I'll prepare the tray for the muffins."
They got everything ready and lined up the ingredients, ready to make their muffins.
Emma let Sammy crack the eggs, add the milk and the oil into the mix and then helped him to beat it all together.
"I think it needs to be beaten for one more minute, Emma."
"I think it's good like that, do you want to place it onto the tray now?"
"Yes, I do," Sammy said, retrieving the muffin tray.
Sammy started to place the mix into the indents in the tray for the muffins, concentrating on what he was doing.
"Emma, when's Jenny coming back?"
"Jenny should be home very soon, within the next two days hopefully and before you say it, yes, we are going to take you to the park," she replied, smiling at her little brother.
"I can't wait. Pass me a spoon Emma, I need to eat the rest of the mix, the tray is full."
Emma retrieved a spoon for her brother, passing it to him she asked, "Are you going to share?"
"No," he replied, running off, leaving Emma to place the tray in the oven and clean up.
-
A loud booming sound echoed through the whole of the ship, jolting it sharply to one side as Jenny, Sinead and Aisling went flying across the room hitting the wall near the bunk beds.
Sirens started to blare as the sound of voices yelling could be heard from up above. The boat kept sharply tilting, making Sinead feel even worse than before.
"We need to get onto the bed and sit between the wall and ladder to the top bunk, the space is small enough to fit us so we won't go flying," Aisling said loudly, grabbing hold of Sinead, trying to make her way to the bed.
Jenny was first one to reach the bunk beds, grabbing hold of the metal framework, pulling herself onto it. Aisling helped Sinead up as she followed behind her. Jenny sat next to the ladder with her back against the wall. Aisling sat next to her, with the wall on the other side.
"Come here Sinead," Aisling said, pulling the girl to her. Sinead sat between her legs and wrapped her arms around her waist, resting her head on Aisling's chest.
"Just please don't be sick," Aisling said, noting the sour expression on her girlfriend's face.
The boat sharply turned again, their bags went sliding across the floor as they stayed still in their tight spot on the bed.
"The alarms are so loud, I think the ship is under attack," Jenny said, looking at the two girls.
"I think so too," Aisling replied, holding Sinead closer to her.
The ship rocked, shook, sharply turned and vibrated for almost an hour before it started to even out and the sounds became quieter and quieter. Shortly after, the alarm claxons turned off, allowing Jenny, Sinead and Aisling to clearly hear their thoughts once more.
"I'm tired," Sinead said, yawning as she nuzzled into Aisling's chest.
"I am too," Jenny replied, "I'm going to head up to the top bunk and leave you two down here," she added, getting up and climbing the ladder.
All three girls fell asleep quickly. Jenny was lying on her stomach with one leg kicked out from under the blanket. Down below Aisling was asleep on her back with Sinead cuddled into her side.
-
Emma walked into the kitchen for the third time in the last ten minutes to get Sammy away from the muffins.
"Don't touch them yet, they still need to cool down," she said, placing the muffin tray up higher.
"But I want one now," Sammy whinged.
"What smells so good?" Melanie Muller asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Muffins do, Mum, and Emma won't let me have one!" Sammy stated, pouting.
"Give your brother a muffin Emma, they don't have to be totally cool," she said, picking up the rack with the muffins, allowing Sammy to take one.
Biting into her own, she faced Emma, who had her arms crossed and was glaring at her.
"Wipe that look off your face, Emma. Jenny will be back in a few days, stop being the Grinch."
"What? How do you know about Jenny?" Emma asked, scared to know how much about Jenny leaving Cologne the older woman knew.
"Sammy told me last night. He said that when Jenny gets back in two days you promised to take him to the park. Is there anything else I should know about which you aren't telling me?" Melanie inquired.
"Oh, no, no, no, she just had to go back home to sort out some of her parent's affairs, she's probably packing to return home, here, right now," Emma said, picking up a muffin and heading out of the kitchen.
-
Eight hours had gone by before any of the sleeping girls started to stir. Jenny was the first one awake, making her way down the bunk bed ladder she saw Aisling and Sinead cuddled up together. 'They are too cute, just like Em. I can't wait till I can cuddle Emma like that again; I will never take it for granted like I have before.'
Jenny cleaned up the room a bit, placing everything back in semi-neat piles before making her way into the bathroom to wash her face.
Aisling woke up next followed by Sinead shortly after; the three brunettes ate some of the snacks they brought along, Aisling opening a packet of Tayto's sharing them around.
They had been on the boat for roughly twenty four hours before they heard the signal that they were going to dock soon. They packed away all of the belongings they had brought with them and waited by the door for the captain to give them the "all clear" to leave.
They waited for twenty minutes before he came back. Leading them through the corridors and up to the main deck; he sneaked them off the ship.
They took their first steps on German soil, reading the sign, in English, which said 'Welcome to Bremerhaven."
"So how long will it take us to get to Cologne?" Sinead asked.
"About four hours according to Google maps," Aisling replied, "Now to find a car hire place."
"There should be one this way," Jenny said, walking east.
"How do you know that?"
"The sign over there in German, which I figure both of you cannot read," Jenny replied, smirking.
They walked in the direction of the car hire place, taking seven minutes to reach it. Jenny hired a car which Sinead paid for. Getting into the car they headed for Cologne so Jenny and Emma could be reunited once more.