Title: A Sailor's Love

Author: Me

Language: English

Fandom: Titanic

Characters: W. Murdoch, C. Lightoller, OC

Pairing: OC/W. Murdoch, OC/C. Lightoller

Genres: Drama, Romance

Warnings: Abuse, Violence

Words: 2,110

« It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others »

Chapter 11

April 14th, 1912 - Bridge

My heart jumped in my chest, and I froze where I was standing outside of the wheelhouse. A large black mass was approaching the Titanic dangerously. My legs were heavy. I couldn't have moved them even if I'd tried. Was the ship going to hit or avoid a collision?

''Iceberg right ahead!'' Mr. Moody said just as Will pushed me aside and appeared in the doorway of the wheelhouse.

''Hard a' starboard!'' both officers shouted.

Images of my nightmare rushed back to me. They involved this ship hitting an iceberg and sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. A chill ran down my spine, and my heart pounded in my chest at the thought of all this coming true.

Without wasting a second, the quartermaster who was on duty turned the wheel to the left. My husband then rushed over to the telegraphs, almost knocking Mr. Moody over. As he sent the order to the engine room, I could hear the younger officer urge the man at the wheel to turn it quickly.

''Hard over!''

''Helm is hard over, sir!''

Will positioned himself beside me to watch the ship turn. My body shook as I looked up at him. There were 2,224 souls on board, and a little bit more than half of them would survive if the ship collided with the iceberg. People would die. With the number of lifeboats, there was no way to save them all. Silently, my husband offered me his hand, and I took it.

Slow.

Too slow.

''Is it hard over?'' Will asked desperately over his shoulder.

''It is, yes, sir, hard over!'' Mr. Moody confirmed loudly.

''Come on... come on... turn...''

The Titanic was approaching the iceberg at a high speed, and I knew at that moment that we wouldn't avoid it. The metallic structure shuddered and creaked when the ice entered in contact with it. My husband wrapped his arms around my trembling body as we watched the mountain of ice pass beside us.

''You need to turn right,'' I said, knowing that if they didn't the damage would be worse.

''Hard to port!'' he shouted.

Mr. Moody's voice echoed at the back as he repeated the order.

When the iceberg arrived midsection, Will let go of me and went inside of the wheelhouse. I followed him, not knowing what to do and not wanting to be alone. Should I go tell Mother and Jonathan that we had struck an iceberg?

The captain rushed in the wheelhouse, his tie hanging loosely around his neck.

''What was that, Mr. Murdoch?'' he asked, turning around to look at the first officer.

''An iceberg, sir.'' I could tell every word pained him. ''I put her hard a' starboard and ran the engine full astern, but it was too close. I tried to port around it, but she hit, and I...''

''Close the watertight doors.'' Captain Smith cut Will off, making his way outside of the wheelhouse.

''The doors are closed, sir,'' Will replied, following him.

We had struck an iceberg.

Somehow, I felt I'd known all along that the Titanic would eventually meet a tragic fate, and that scared me.

''Alison.''

I jumped at the sound of Will's voice and looked up to see him standing in front of me, cupping my face in his hands.

''My love, I need you and your family to go put your lifebelts on.''

''Do you... do you think the ship is going to sink?''

''At the speed we were going...'' He trailed off.

A lump formed in my throat, and I took a deep, shaky breath.

He grabbed my shoulders tightly and stared into my eyes. ''Please, my sweet Alison.''

He was trying not to panic, but judging by the way he was trembling, I could tell that he was scared. Was he afraid of losing me or did he fear for the safety of the passengers? Maybe both?

''Come find me after you've put your lifebelt on.''

''Will...''

My family wouldn't believe me if I told them the Titanic was going to sink. They were convinced that it was the safest ship in the world.

''Alison, promise me you will. I beg you.''

''Yes. Yes, I'll do it.''

He pulled me into a quick, soft kiss before running off. I then ran to go find my family.


On my way to the first class decks, I ran into Jack and Rose. What were they doing here? I knew that she had been with Jack all evening, but it relieved me to see her safe.

Safe for now.

''Jack and Rose! Did you see the iceberg?'' I asked, stopping in front of them.

''Yes, we were there during the collision,'' Jack answered, and Rose nodded.

''Do you know if the ship is going to sink?'' she asked me, and I could tell that she was confused.

''I was at the bridge when it happened. Will told me that at the speed we were going the ship will sink.''

''How is it possible?'' Jack asked in disbelief.

''If there's one thing my father taught me, it is that no ship is unsinkable,'' I whispered, feeling my heart squeeze painfully at the realization that we were going to lose the greatest ship in the world and a thousand lives in the process. ''Go find Mr. Andrews. I'm sure he'll be of more help. Also go put your lifebelts on. You'll need them.''

''Be safe Alison!'' Jack said as I ran to go find my family.

''You too!'' I replied over my shoulder.

I didn't want to see Mother and Jonathan again, but I knew I had to tell them the gravity of the situation. They had to know what was going on. I didn't care if Jonathan died or not. I just didn't want him in my life anymore. As for my mother... I still loved her. I wanted her to live, I really did. She only wanted what was best for me, and I understood that, but right now I could not forgive her.

I knocked on my mother's stateroom door, and she greeted me with a scowl when she opened it.

''What are you doing here at this hour of the night?'' she asked, narrowing her eyes. ''I'm sure you prefer to be with your sailor of a husband.''

''Now's not the time, Mother,'' I cut her off, pushing her aside and stepping inside of her room. I then went to go get a lifebelt and handed it to her. ''We hit an iceberg. Dress warmly and put your lifebelt on.''

''What is going on, Alison?'' she asked, standing there and staring at me incredulously.

''The ship is going to sink, Mother!'' I replied, shoving the lifebelt in her hands.

''Oh please! The Titanic cannot sink. It is unsinkable, remember?''

''You and I both know that no ship is unsinkable! Father taught us that. Please, do as I said.''

Slowly, reluctantly, she began to dress warmly and put on the lifebelt that I gave her.

''We should go see Jonathan.''

Saying his name made me want to vomit. What was he going to do when he saw me again? Hit me and insult me, perhaps?

We then left her stateroom and went to go find him. On our way, I could feel knots form in my stomach. My heart was beating fast, and my hands were becoming sweaty.

''There you are. You finally decided to come back to me.'' He smirked when he opened the door. ''Tell me, your sailor wasn't who you thought he was.''

''Will is everything I've ever wanted. I was never yours to begin with, Jonathan,'' I replied coldly.

Without warning, his large, strong hand collided with my cheek, and I fell on the floor. Tears threatened to spill, and I raised my hand to my stinging cheek.

''JONATHAN ANDERSON!''

Through blurry eyes, I saw my mother walking quickly over to the blond haired man who was standing there ready to strike me again.

''You will not touch my daughter again!''

She slapped him across the face then went over to me and helped me stand up.

''Are you alright, Alison? Did he hurt you?'' She sounded concerned about me, and I was grateful for that. It didn't change the fact that I was still hurt, angry and frustrated that she had continuously denied his abuse.

''More times than you can count, Mother,'' I snorted bitterly, taking my arm back and standing up.

''I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Alison... Please, forgive me.''

''I can't do that, Mother.''

She covered her mouth with her hand and bit back a sob.

''I could place a lawsuit on the both of you.''

''Why would you do that?'' Mother asked, horrified.

''Your daughter here is obviously married to a man that isn't me,'' he hissed. ''Don't tell me you didn't know! She was promised to me and went behind my back.''

''Can you blame me? You're so disrespectful to me!''

''You were still promised to me. Your reputation will be tarnished for that.''

''I will not let you!'' I yelled.

''Oh, really? How? You don't even have people who believe you!''

''Trust me, I do.''

''We'll see.'' He smirked.

Well, that escalated quickly.

''As for you,'' I added, glaring at him for having hit me and insulted me once more. ''We came to tell you that the ship is going to sink. Dress warmly and put your lifebelt on.''

''I highly doubt that the ship is going to sink.'' He snorted and laughed.

''Don't say I didn't tell you.'' I spat at him, dragging my mother with me outside on the boat deck.


April 14th, 1912 – Port side

When we arrived outside, our skin entered in contact with the cold air, and we pulled our coats tighter around our bodies. I heard a loud familiar voice and immediately recognized Charles. From the looks of it, he was giving instructions to confused and scared passengers who had no idea what was going on.

''Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!''

The officer was shouting above the noise the tunnels made to make himself heard. Men, women and children gathered around him. They were mostly first class passengers.

''Step this way, please! That's right, come towards me! Thank you.''

I followed the other passengers to wait for our turn to get in a lifeboat. I couldn't do it. Other people deserved a place too. I had to stay and help them.

''Good. For the time being, I shall require only women and children. Gentlemen, please, stay exactly where you are.''

Slowly but surely, women and children began to fill the first lifeboat on the port side. Some women protested, saying that they wanted their men to come with them, and Charles had to intervene.

Stupid protocol. Men deserved places too.

When our turn came, I helped my mother into a lifeboat, but didn't take a seat.

''Alison, get into the boat.''

''No, Mother.'' I shook my head.

''Please, Alison, there's plenty of room for you.''

''I said no,'' I hissed through gritted teeth, stepping back from the lifeboat.

''Yes, Alison,'' Charles said shakily.

I looked up at him, and we stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Despite that he was trying to stay calm, I could tell that he was scared. Tears threatened to spill, and I swallowed hard. I wanted to see this charming and kind sailor again. He had been a source of strength, hope and support for me. I needed him in my life.

Tonight, he had to stay to help passengers find safety in the lifeboats. The sea could claim him and offer him the eternal rest he deserved.

My lips on his one last time was the best goodbye that I could offer him. Without thinking twice, I crashed my lips to his. People gasped, and I ignored them. At that moment, my reputation was the last thing on my mind. The world faded away around us as we stayed that way for a while, lips sealed into a deep, tender kiss. Remembering that we were in the middle of an emergency and that he had duties to attend to, I pulled away and cupped his face in my hands.

''Thank you,'' I whispered, lowering my hands.

''Alison...'' he said breathlessly.

''Where is Will?''

''On the starboard side.''

''Goodbye, Lights,'' I said, running off to go find my husband.