CH 24

BEGS AND PLEADS

Lightholler and Lowe looked at each other with weird looks then back at Amanda and William. Amanda wanted nothing more than to be swallowed by the floor beneath them. If she was looking at herself from afar, she would see that her body language and the guilt-stricken look was a dead giveaway. She had nothing; no elaborate lie, no convincing story or explanation of what her father declared to everyone around her. She was left to her own devices at that point. She sighed in defeat and turned her attention to William.

"It's true. My name is Amanda Morgan-Spencer, that in its self is my identity, but I am not who you have truly come to know Will." She felt hot tears stream down her cheeks.

"My love for you is true, my heart and my soul." She felt pathetic as she started to cry. The other officers were staring at her in shock as Will glared at her. She couldn't really tell, but she thought she could see tears forming in his eyes.

"So all this time?" Will's voice cracked.

Amanda walked over to him and took his hands into hers. "I was in an accident, my father too. Somehow we both ended up here when we perished." She tried to look into his eyes.

"My god please look at me!" She cried.

Will snatched both his hands away from her and turned away. "You are a liar." He whispered.

Her nostrils flared and she walked around him. "Yes, I did lie, but if I was honest from the start, I would have been locked away! I would have been called crazy or mad. My love for you is true. My heart belongs to you and only you."

Lightholler walked over to her. "So you knew about the fate of the ship the entire time?"

She closed her eyes and nodded. "I tried to warn Will but it was in vain."

Lightholler laughed in disbelief. "This is madness." He shook his head. "So many people died and maybe, just maybe if you would have stepped in and said to us what you knew all along, this shit wouldn't have happened!"

"Did you not hear me a moment ago Lights? I tried my fucking best to get you all to understand. Please stop making this more painful than it already is! Ismay pressured the Captain to get to America faster than expected to make his headlines and the Captain didn't have the backbone to say no!" Her body started to shake.

Lowe cleared his throat. "Men, do not put this all on her. She is completely right." He said softly.

Amanda whipped her head over in Lowe's direction. "Thank you, at least someone understands."

"I don't want to lose you Will. I want to stay with you forever, you are my first in every way and that is the truth. The only thing that is clear is yes, I came here, a hundred years back under strange circumstances. My father as well. He wants me to go back with him and I don't want to be without you. Knowing you, you would want to stay, and if that means my having your heart, then I would do so, no questions asked." She got on her knees, looking up at him, her eyes red from the tears and mental exhaustion.

Will wouldn't say a word back but instead walked away briskly without warning. Lights chased after him while Amanda continued to sit on her knee and cry.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you Will?" Lights asked while walking behind him.

Will ignored him as he turned the corridor and walked into the officer's mess. "Bartender, a scotch please."

"Murdy, look at me God damnit!" Lights yanked Will's arm. Making Will nearly fall off the stool. "You are about to lose the best thing that ever happened to you!"

Will's face contorted into confusion. "Wait a minute, wasn't you who didn't want me to be with her? Wanting her all to yourself?" Will asked sarcastically.

The bartender placed a glass of scotch down in front of him. Will didn't hesitate to gulp down the entire glass.

"I do admit that yes, I am a dog. Sylvia can do better than me, yes, but in the last few days I have seen this wonderful change in you, just think-"

"I don't know who she is!" Will yelled. He slammed the glass down. "She lied about her coming from England and going back to New York, she lied about her father when he was on the ship the entire time, God knows what else."

Lights took a seat beside the distraught man. "She couldn't tell you the truth without you possibly dismissing her. Amanda has brought you life, joy, and complete bliss. I can look in her eyes and see her pain and at the same time relief of you finally knowing. She may be more advanced and come from some place more developed than now but one thing will never change. What love is. Doesn't matter if she was from the 1700s or 2200s, love will always be constant."

Will closed his eyes and let tears fall. Lights put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't let the best thing that happened to you go because she drives a car and you don't." Lights couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"Talk to her, ask her some things, man.." Lights continued on. "Tell you what, tonight, let's all get together, and we all ask her what the future is like. We sit around some brandy and scotch and we throw a party." Lights smiled. "Come on Will..."

Will rolled his eyes and nodded. "I need some fun in my life. The last day and a half have nearly killed me."

"That's the spirit! Let's go get Amanda, you and her make up, yes, Lowe and I will give you both some much needed privacy and then-"

Lowe rushed in, out of breath, interrupting the two men. "It's Amanda, she is not well." He breathed.

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Amanda sat on the edge of the ship's bow, her legs dangling off, hands in her lap. She looked at the ocean, remembering what Jack had told Rose when she was contemplating jumping into the frigid water. Her father turned into a monster, the cat was out of the bag, and in her mind, Will was gone. Whatever way her father had known of them going back to 2013 wouldn't work. She would be stuck with him and without Will. Staying in 1912 would leave her to her own devices in a world she knew nothing about. At that moment, she took a piece of gum out of her mouth and threw it into the sea.

The three officers slowly walked up to her, stopping about ten feet behind her. Will took his coat off and slowly walked up beside her. She could see him from the corner of her eye but didn't turn to acknowledge.

"Mandy." Will whispered. "I am sorry my love."

She shook her head. "It's too late...my father is gone, now you."

"No, no, I was an arse. I am shouldn't of reacted the way I did. You had every right to keep silent about yourself." He carefully moved closer to her.

She looked away for a moment and then over in at him. "I gave you my virginity, my heart, my body, everything. Should that mean something to you?" Every word emphatic.

Will nodded. "Mandy, you gave those gifts to me because you love me, I will love you to my dying breath." His voice cracked. "Come down baby doll. Please." He pleaded.

She continued to sit a moment longer then turned around and noticed Lowe and Lights. "Is this a family affair?" She quipped.

Lights grinned and winked. "It is, I love you like a sister. Get off that damn ledge and come drink with us."

Amanda smiled weakly and then slowly turned her body. Will gently took her into his coat and into his arms. Holding her to him.

"Never do that again." He whispered to her. "I will go with you wherever." He stroked her hair and followed the other officers into the interior of the ship.