Lavinia laid quietly on her bed nestled beneath layers of blankets and quilts, watching her brother move around. Twelve hours after her arrival and a short nap, they waited for the numbness in her legs to subside enough for her to move. She ate very little, her stomach upset over the trauma she endured and the overall exhaustion she felt.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" Leonard asked, coming towards the bed.

He placed an extra blanket over the many others, before resting his hand against her forehead. While she was alert and able to move every joint of her body, Leonard still worried about the potential for pneumonia. He was worried to the point that he checked her temperature and listened to her breathing every hour on the hour.

Lavinia nodded, "Please," she whispered.

Chucking off his shoes, Leonard crawled into the vacant spot next to her and wrapped his arm around her. Lavinia shifted closer and rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Leonard gripped her tightly and kissed the top of her head.

"I missed you so much," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "Didn't know what to do without you."

She knew how bad her disappearance was on Leonard, just by looking at him. It didn't help that he reeked of booze, stronger than what her father would drink after long stressful days at the office. Leonard aged if were possible, in the time she ran out of the station and back to Titanic. Everyone did. The boys looked haggard and wasted away, as if they avoided meals and showers. Their razors were most likely catching dust on the shelves in their bathrooms instead of hair.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled quietly. "Did mean to leave."

Leonard shushed her, "I know."

Lavinia let out a small whimper as she flexed her leg, her knee stinging with pain. She couldn't remember exactly how she managed to bruise her entire knee, but she was sure it happened during her fight for survival as the ship went down. She had yet to explain to the others what exactly happened to her, only saying that she was in the water and it was cold.

"I love you," she said quietly, as her body eased her into sleep.

"I love you too, Vina."

…..

The next day, Lavinia was moved to the rec room, and spent most of the day on the couch watching television. Leonard fussed over her, brining her hot drinks and bowls of soup, before she told him to take a bath and shave. He protested and continued to do so until Chris made his way down the hall to smoke on the balcony. When he heard her weak voice, begging for Leonard to clean up, he poked his head into the room and said he would watch her. With many grumblings, Leonard finally gave in and told Chris to make sure she ate enough soup and to monitor her temperature.

"Do you want another blanket?" Chris asked, a half an hour later.

Lavinia shook her head, "Too many. I can't breathe."

Chris pulled a few off and set them over the back of the couch, before sitting down on the edge of the cushion she laid on.

"Do you want more soup?" he asked.

Lavinia shook her head, "No," her voice scratchy. "I just want to lay here and not think of anything."

"I could leave if you want to be alone."

He stood up to move away, when her hand shot out from under the mass of blankets, her fingers wrapping around his wrist. Chris flinched at how cold she was against his warm skin, and quickly knelt down next to her.

"Your fingers are ice cold!" he exclaimed, rubbing her hand between his. "Why didn't you say anything?"

She shrugged, "I thought it was normal, considering I was in the water for so long."

Chris sighed and continued rubbing some warmth back into her hands, "Why do you look so much older than the last time I saw you?" she asked.

He paused his actions and looked at her, "What do you mean older?" he asked, taking her other hand into his.

"All of you do," she corrected herself. "And you all reek of booze. I can smell it in the hallways and on your clothes."

"Things have been really tough around here," he shook his head. "We thought you were dead."

Lavinia nodded, "I know." She glanced down at the ugly plaid blanket, which made her nose itch with intensity. "But I didn't. I came back, how I don't know, and I wish you would all take care of yourselves."

Chris shook his head, "That's not our top priority, Lavinia. Especially when you disappear without a trace and come back soaking wet and shivering to the point that your teeth were rattling in your head!" he yelled.

She flinched at his tone and his face softened, "I'm sorry," he shook his head. "I didn't mean to yell."

"It's alright," she shifted against the pillow. "I understand."

"It's just.." he started, looking down at her hand in his. "We watched you die."

Lavinia's eyes went wide, "What?" she asked.

He nodded, "Len implanted a tiny tracker on you, which only showed us your stats," he sighed. "We watched your heart rate increase and then your body temperature dropped so low. Then your heart started slowing down until eventually.." he trailed off. "It stopped."

"How-" she cleared her throat. "How long have I been gone for?" she asked, almost bracing herself for the truth to hit her. Men didn't grow that much facial hair and pick up drinking habits in a day or two. Lavinia knew something was off about the entire thing.

Chris looked at her, quietly pondering if he should tell her the exact truth. "You've been gone for six months."

…..

When night fell and the moon and stars shined brightly in the sky, Lavinia was filled with dread. Sleeping was the worst part of her day, other than the constant watchful eyes that followed her around. Three days after her return, Lavinia felt like a prisoner in her own room. Leonard had put her on mandatory bed rest, only allowing her out a few times a day. But even so, she wasn't allowed to be alone in a room. Leonard didn't want Hikaru around her, making sure the younger man was out on missions with someone else or working on his reports.

"After what he said to you, he has no goddamn right to be near you! I'm your brother an your doctor and this is the end of the discussion!"

Finally, after much annoyance that took over her, Lavinia managed to have the evenings to herself. She pointed out that mostly everyone would be sleeping in the late evening hours and that she could always lock her door. While being alone for the first time in nearly four days, it had its severe consequences. With no one to talk to for almost nine hours, Lavinia's mind began to churn, making her think of the events that happened. Falling asleep was difficult, her body taking forever to relax under the sheets. When she finally did fall asleep, all she dreamed about was Titanic.

Sloping decks and the screams. Running towards the stern and the cold air stabbing her all over, the railings like ice. Watching the bodies sliding down the promenades, hitting the water and the submerged bow. People jumping overboard, taking the long fall to the icy waters below. Gripping onto the railing and climbing over as the ship broke in half and fell to it's side, before being pulled up. The water growing closer and closer as the stern sank faster and faster. The water enveloping her into darkness and bitterness. Bringing her into death.

Lavinia woke up with a gasp, her chest heaving under the weight of blankets and of fear. Her skin was covered in goose bumps, as her body trembled with the mixture of fear and the chill that sank into her bones again. Throwing off the blankets, Lavinia climbed out of bed and picked up her dressing gown. Once she tied it firming around her body, she unlocked the bedroom door and quietly slipped out into the hallway.

Taking the stairs, Lavinia made her way down to the next floor of dorms, and silently moved towards the end of the hall. Knocking lightly against the aged wood of the bedroom, Lavinia waited quietly, peering over her shoulder. When she heard the soft "come in", she quickly turned the knob and pushed the door open slowly.

Chris looked up from his spot in bed, reading glasses perched on his nose and a book in his hands. When Lavinia appeared around the door, she paused and looked at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, setting the book down in his lap.

She looked down at her feet, "I-I couldn't sleep," she blushed slightly. "Could I stay here with you?"

Chris nodded, "Come," he pulled the blankets down. "You'll catch a chill from the draft outside."

Lavinia shut the door behind her and quickly made her way across the room, untying her robe as she went. Once she pulled it off and placed it over the footboard of the bed, Lavinia climbed in and curled up into a ball next to him. Chris covered her up and watched as she shifted against the mattress, bouncing her head a few times against the pillow.

"Comfortable?" he asked, once she laid still.

Lavinia nodded, "Very," she yawned. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he picked up the book again, turning his attention to it. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"Nightmares," she sighed, glancing around the room.

Chris' room was much more different than Hikaru's or Leonard's, opting for older furniture rather than the newer and sleeker stuff that the other rooms had. The walls were painted in a deep maroon and he hardly had any photographs on them, save for a few pieces of artwork. The bedspread was a deep green, blending well with the dark oak bed and tables. The design of the room reminded her of the woods, picturing a cabin nestled between pine trees.

"What were they about?" he asked, placing the book down again.

Lavinia looked up at him, catching the look of concern he gave her. Sharing a bed with a man wasn't something that Lavinia was hardly new to. For a while, she shared a bed with Hikaru and Leonard stayed with her a few days earlier while she napped. But this was Chris. Her former fiancé and a man who she cared deeply for. Had she lived in 1912, they would've been married and sharing a bed on a daily basis. But that never happened, and now here she was, back from the dead and laying curled up into a tense ball of nerves in his bed.

She blinked and cleared her throat, "How I died," she said softly, hearing the intake of breath from him. "Do you want to know how it happened?" she asked.

She didn't wait for him to answer when she went into the details, the need to get it off her chest was too great. "I was coming to New York for our wedding on the Titanic. It was just me and my maid Lucy, alone for the voyage…" she started off.

Re-telling the story to him was difficult, yet it felt good to get it out. She told him about leaving Lucy to take her spot on the lifeboat. The running and screaming as the ship rose higher and higher against the sky, covered in a mass of twinkling lights. The aftermath and listening to the screams and cries of those who died around her.

"I watched so many people die," she said quietly. "I can still see them. Hear them. Begging for the boats to come back," she shook her head.

By then, Chris had abandoned his book and moved to lay on his side. He knew the story about Titanic. Even though it happened over a hundred years ago, countries and the history channels on the television made sure to keep the memory of the disaster alive come every April 14th. He knew that one boat came back, only picking up a few survivors- most who died later on. A few years ago, long before Starfleet caused him to flee underground- he went to an exhibit in Manhattan that showcased artifacts of the luxury liner. Place settings and personal mementoes, the copy of the Grand Staircase and the rooms for each social class. A deck chair that survived the years of decay and utter darkness.

Now, many years later, he began to wonder if Lavinia had used any of the items he saw. He tried to picture her all done up for dinner, making her way down that lovely staircase with the dome lighting above her. How she spent four days at sea, walking up and down those stairs everyday, getting closer and closer to New York and to him.

"I gave her my ring.."

Chris shook himself out of his thoughts and looked back at her, "Who?"

"Lucy," she looked down at her hand, bare from any diamond ring. "I told her that I would be okay and that I'd see her in New York. I gave her the ring just in case we didn't end up on the same rescue ship and to give to you if she reached New York first."

Chris watched as a range of emotions flashed across her face, "Then I told her that if anything should happen to me," she let out a shaky sigh. "That she was to tell you that I was sorry and that I loved you very much."

"Oh Vinia," he said softly, as she started to cry.

He scooted closer and pulled her into his arms, "I could've gotten onto that boat with her! There was plenty of room and I could've made it to New York and we could've gotten married like we were supposed to!"

Chris kissed her forehead, "But you're here now," he said.

She looked up at him, "I don't want you to think that I didn't get onto the boat because I didn't want to marry you.." she shook her head.

"I know," he assured her. "I know that wasn't the reason."

"I was so afraid of leaving her behind," she whimpered. "Lucy was always there for me when my mother wasn't. She's my best friend and I left her alone in a city that she never been too."

Chris rubbed her back; "If she made it to New York then she probably went back to Europe. Or maybe she waited until your parents came home."

"Can we look for her?" she asked. "I know I can't travel until Len says it's okay, but can we find out what happened to her?"

Chris nodded, "Of course we can," he watched as her eyes drifted shut. "Try to get some sleep. You need your rest," he said, pulling the blanket up a bit higher.

"I do love you.." she said quietly, traces of exhaustion filling her voice. "Despite all of my bad choices, I love you."

He knew that she spoke of Hikaru, among many other things, and he made a mental note to himself to talk to her about it at another time. Instead, he kissed her on the forehead and turned around to shut the lamp off. Once the room filled with darkness, Chris settled back against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. The sound of Lavinia breathing lightly next to him slowly lulled him into sleep. But as soon as he closed his eyes, all he could see was Lavinia sinking into the abyss of the ocean.