Summary: Even tragedy can't stop the world from turning. And it shouldn't.

It seems strange, Yuuri thinks distantly, that the world should be so quiet now. Even before the Titanic began to sink, every still moment was filled with the noise of engines or the distant chatter of the other passengers.

No one is speaking now.

Victor's arms tighten around him, and Yuuri curls weakly into the embrace. Yurio makes a small, soft sound in his sleep.

Yuuri isn't sure how long it's been. An hour, he thinks. Maybe more. Above him the stars are growing brighter as the thin fog lifts. He wants to think they're beautiful, but can't quite muster the energy. Then his gaze flickers to Victor, eyes closed, wet hair a mess across his forehead, cheeks just starting to regain their flush.

He trails his fingers across that faint bloom of pink. Find the color, he thinks.

Yuuri smiles.

Help is slow in coming but, inevitably, it comes. The RMS Carapathia is a much smaller ship than her drowned cousin, but she's been at full steam for three and a half hours trying to reach them. Soon ladders are being thrown down and the Titanic's bedraggled survivors are pulled aboard by warm hands.

When it's their turn, Yuuri can barely grip the ladder. Victor lurches forward to help, but Chris pushes him back with a firm but gentle hand. "No," he says, his tone brooking no argument. "You're almost as bad off. I'll help him."

It's slow and it's awkward, but worth it when-a handful of agonizing minutes later-Victor joins him on deck with Yurio slung across his shoulders. Phichit and Chris fuss over them a bit more, soon joined by Lilia. She's towing a listless Sara Crispino, and Yuuri's heart sinks when he realizes that her brother isn't accompanying them.

No one asks after Michele. They don't need to. Sara's silence is answer enough.

It takes three days for them to reach New York, and accommodations are awkward. Still, the crew is friendly and there are one or two happy reunions. Yuuri catches Victor grinning when he sees Ez, the girl they'd passed belowdecks who'd been so worried about being seen in her lifebelt, running full-tilt into the arms of a young man who can't be anyone but Jason.

Admittedly, Yuuri is smiling too. Especially when Jason grabs his chance and proposes to Ez on the spot.

Mostly though, the days are spent quietly. There's a kind of peace to this, and Yuuri treasures it. He tries very hard not to let New York eat away at this little happiness.

After all, New York will be heavy with goodbyes. Chris will be off to reclaim his title as the most sought-after socialite of the season, Phichit will be looking for employment in the field of photography. And Victor will leave to take on his parents' estate.

It's not exactly a surprise. Yuuri has known from the beginning that this can't last, that Victor lives in a different world. Yuuri knows that he can't keep him. All he can do is love him, and oh God he does, but it isn't enough. Soon New York will sweep him away, and Yuuri will be alone again.

Not alone, he reasons. He'll have Mari. And maybe… maybe Victor will visit. Once in a while. That would be… That would be nice.

He pulls in a deep breath. Lets it out. Chuckles when Victor makes a rather weak joke about the captain's hat.

They're standing by the rail, watching the horizon for Lady Liberty. The crew is running a census, taking down the names of all the survivors so that their relatives can be notified when they reach port. Victor has one arm around Yuuri's waist, the other hand resting easily on Yurio's shoulder.

It's perfect. Or, it's perfect until a crewman coughs behind them. Yuuri turns, and sees the clipboard in the man's hands.

"Pardon the interruption," he says, smiling pleasantly. "May I just have your names, please?"

"Oh," Yuuri exclaims. Right. The census. "Of course. Yuuri Katsuki."

"Right." The man takes down his name, fumbling a little over the spelling. Yuuri corrects him helpfully, then the man turns to Victor.

"And your name, sir?"

Victor hesitates, and when Yuuri looks up Victor is staring straight at him. He doesn't look away as he says, "Victor Katsuki."

Yuuri's face goes slack. He can't have just… He must have misspoken, and Yuuri almost corrects him but-

"The same spelling as this gentleman, I presume?"

"Of course."

"Right. Relation?"

Then Victor is looking at him, and there's a question in his eyes. This is insane, Yuuri thinks, Victor doesn't know what he's doing, can't possibly mean this, but his eyes are as sure as they were when they'd waded into that flooded corridor to find Yurio. As sure as they were when they'd jumped together into the freezing water, and Yuuri thinks, I trust this man with my life.

He tangles his fingers with Victor's and says, "Husband."

"Of course," the crewman says, then smiles down at Yurio. The boy is ignoring them completely, eyes fixed on the horizon he's been promised will soon boast New York's impressive skyline. "And this is your son?"

"Yes," Yuuri answers easily. "Yuri Katsuki."

Victor fails to suppress a smile, his eyes never leaving Yuuri's. "Junior," he adds.

The man nods, jotting the name down and thanking them for their time. Then he's gone.

"You do realize," Yuuri say, a hesitant smile growing on his own lips, "That you've just married me."

Victor's smile turns into a full-blown grin. He leans forward and murmurs, sweet and low in Yuuri's ear,

"I do."

Yuuri can't help himself. He drags Victor into a kiss so clumsy it has both of them laughing against each other's lips. It's not a conventional wedding, Yuuri thinks distantly, but he wouldn't trade it for anything.

Then Yurio is tugging at their sleeves. "Look!" he shouts. "Look, there!"

Yuuri turns obediently to see what Yurio is pointing at.

"Oh," he whispers. Beside him, Victor hums in agreement.

Because there she is. Lady Liberty, torch held high. And behind her, New York City sprawls like a fairytale castle of glass and steel. A new world.

Victor wraps his arm around Yuuri's shoulders, and Yuuri glances up to meet his gaze. Between them, Yurio bounces slightly on the balls of his feet.

Yes, Yuuri thinks. A new world.

Notes: The RMS Carapathia arrived at the wreck site at 4:00 AM, having received a distress call some hours earlier and turned at full speed to come to the Titanic's aid. They brought 705 survivors onboard in a rescue that took five hours, the crew working tirelessly until every lifeboat was empty. For their valor, the survivors later awarded their rescuers medals: bronze for the crew, silver for the officers, and a silver cup and gold medal for Captain Arthur Henry Rostron.