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-If I hear one more time that you say that I'm small I'll make sure that every sharp object in this ship pins to our bedroom wall.

-I didn't mean it like that. All I wanted to say was that you are short, and that makes you cute.

-Poison comes in small bottles Mr. Carson, and knifes in boxes.

-Oh Elsie. I love you, and I would love you even if you were taller than me.

-Try to make it right now.

Charles rolled his eyes and looked down at his sleeping son that was lying peacefully in his stroller. They were walking along the Promenade Deck, enjoying the light breeze and the sun, the memories deep in her mind but not bothering her much. In the fourth day of the journey Elsie and Cora had spent all day walking up and down that ship, tense, and didn't sleep that night at all, they both listened from their private promenade, waiting for the sun to come out. Around two o'clock Michael started crying, hungry, so Elsie run to her bedroom, picked him up and started feeding him.

-Do you hear anything Cora?

-No. But it's early yet. We must wait.

-Until four.

-Yes, until four.

-It's unusually quiet.

-Not really. You can hear the sudden laughs and people who can't sleep walking around.

-Are we really waiting for these two hours to pass?

-Yes. Once they pass we will be able to enjoy this few days before we reach home.

-So it's not just me. You've been feeling that it's the same.

-Yes, but we can make new memories once we reach four o'clock.

-It's like waiting for a sentence. You are guilty you die, you are not guilty you still die. – Michael started fussing in her arms. – What is it darling? - She looked down to see that Michael had accidentally let the nipple go. -  Alright, let's go for the other one, okay my lad? It will take a minute don't worry. – She quickly covered her left breast and helped him latch on her nipple, after which he started sucking happily.

-He's a very good baby.

-He is. I want to do better this time.

-You did great the first time.

-I was away. I did not. Yes I was there, but my mind was somewhere else. I felt so overwhelmed by everything.

-That was for a few months. They are almost three, and you've been there always. I remember how excited Carson was the day Jane said her first word.

-I was in my Sitting Room, Jane was sitting on my lap, and Richard was playing on the floor. We were writing, and suddenly she called for Charles. Da she screamed when she saw him on the corridor. He was so happy he polished the silver twice that day.

-And when they started walking?

-Oh God. If Charles had been given the chance he would have cushioned the whole abbey. But I must admit we were both so proud. Seeing Richard walking from my arms to Charles' in his nappy, laughing. I think if we both could've stopped time we would have done it right there. Everything was so happy, nothing to worry about, nothing to think about, it was just us.

-Do you regret it?

-Regret what?

-Having gotten pregnant and marrying Carson.

-Not a bit. Of course I've thought about how it would have been if the twins were Charles', but some things don't come right away. – She looked down at her son, who was falling asleep, closing his little eyes and no longer sucking hard enough to bring milk out.

-You said you both had everything planned. How was Michael's birth going to be?

-We studied all the possibilities: my water breaking at home, in the middle of the night; at the abbey, in the kitchen, in my Sitting Room… we even thought about how we would do it if my water broke in the middle of the street. It was going to be calm, relaxed, at home, with Anna taking care of the twins.

-Will you ever have children in a normal way? – Cora sat down in a deck chair with a few pillows.

-I think three is a nice number. Besides, I'm fifty already, my child bearing years are gone.

-No more Baby Carson's?

-I highly doubt it. If they come they come, but I don't think they will.

-It's nice to have a pregnant woman in the house. It brings life.

-Well, I'm sure Lady Mary or Lady Edith will be the next ones, I've covered that part of my life.

-It's ten minutes past four.

-Really? – Elsie looked up to the clock as she covered her breast and placed Michael on her shoulder. – Nothing happened

-No. I think we can now to sleep.

-It feels odd.

-What feels odd? – Cora had stood up and was walking to the door of her room.

-We are alive, but we feel guilty. We don't look at our lives like we used to, we worry now more, much more. Not about us, about our loved ones, the ones that came to our minds when we were mere minutes away from dying. How they must be feeling? Are they scared? Are they worried? Have they slept since the accident happened? It makes you think how odd everything is now that you are back in the sea, a few weeks after she sunk, and still… we get up every morning, we think about it, we get dressed, and that's it. Life is a funny business.

-Mrs. Carson, go to bed. You must be tired.

-Yes. I think we both need the sleep. Goodnight My Lady.

-You will never stop calling me My Lady, will you?

-We must never forget our positions My Lady, and I think we've done it lately. Goodnight.

Elsie closed the door of her bedroom, placed sleeping Michael on his crib and climbed onto bed. She rested against the pillows and covered herself with the blanket. She felt to strong arms around her waist, pulling her to the stranger.

-I heard you talking with her Ladyship.

-I'm sorry if I woke you.

-You didn't. When you left the bed was when I woke up. Michael had his very late dinner or very early breakfast like always?

-Yes. He fell asleep while nursing, but he burped just alright.

-I thought of you.

-What?- She turned to place her head on his chest.

-When she sunk I thought of you. I was so sacred for you and Michael. I would have given my life so you could have lived.

-Well, my dear lad, we were lucky, and now that part of our lives is gone.

-I also heard that of the children.

-It was all true. I saw you polishing the silver twice.

-I wasn't talking about that.

-Oh?

-I think that if we try hard enough we have a fourth child.

-Well, then you get pregnant.

-Elsie, would you try to get rid of the baby if accidentally you fell pregnant again?

-Of course not. I would carry it and give birth to it. I would never do that Charles. Not to your children.  Now let's go to sleep, I'm tired.

-No wonder, you've been up since nine.

-I've slept much less than four hours, I can survive, but I would prefer to sleep.

-I love you.

-I love you too.

Elsie listened to Charles' heartbeat, as she slowly fell asleep against Charlie's warm chest with his arms around her. Charles' looked down at the top of his wife's head and watched her as she slept.

-I would stop time right now. Never stop holding you. Never.

Charles closed his eyes.