Hephzibah turned around and saw Stanford's father. It looked like he was out for an evening walk and had not seen them yet, but he would soon. "Shit!" Hephzibah hissed. She grabbed Stanford's hand and started to run with him the other way. "C'mon!"

Stanford squeezed her hand as they ran for their lives, darting in between people and praying they could get away from Pa undetected, but the sudden movement must have caught his eye and he must have sworn he recognized them, because he started to quickly follow them.

"Go, go, go!" Stanford yelled and ran side-by-side with Hephzibah, still holding her hand, into the boat.

They ran into the first-class only section and into the lobby where the grand staircase sat. They ran to the elevators, begging the elevator operator to wait on them as people were leaving the birdcage, and they closed the two doors behind them quickly.

"Down, down, down!"

"Quickly!"

Pa made it just in time to see them go down slowly and slammed his hands on the metal railed doors in frustration. "Stanford PINES!" He growled as he watched his son go down with the black-skinned woman.

Stanford turned pale and, unknowingly, held Hephzibah's hand tighter. She, however, was not afraid and showed Pa her middle finger on her free hand. Stanford started to laugh but held his breath and covered his mouth with his hand, his worry gone for a moment and then Pa was out of sight as the elevator took the teenagers in love down a floor below.

Hephzibah and Stanford laughed as they went down and pushed the doors open before the elevator completely landed, reveling about the look on Pa's face when Hephzibah flipped him off. Down at Deck E, the two held hands and ran for the nearest stairwell down. They ran so hard they both crashed into a trolley full of kettles and hot towels, but they quickly picked themselves back up and yelled their apologies to the worker as they ran away. Stanford and Hephzibah bursted into a hallway and leaned on the wall opposite to the door to breathe and laugh freely, a difficult task for their lungs, but they didn't care.

"Is your father an ex-bounty hunter or somethang?" Hephzibah panted for oxygen.

Stanford huffed a laugh and lifted his glasses up to his eyes, for they were sliding down his sweaty nose. "If I don't make millions, he certainly could as a bounty hunter." He joked and Hephzibah laughed.

They grabbed each other's hands and relaxed for a moment, but then, through the little window on the door the young couple had just been through, they saw someone coming down the staircase.

"RUN!" Stanford yelled and led the way down the hall with Hephzibah in his hand.

Just as Pa ran into the hall, they darted around the corner. They ran to the end of the hall only to find a dead end. Panicking, they ran back a little to a door, and ran in before Pa could catch them. Pa tried to open the door, but he kicked it with rage as it was locked. The teenagers had escaped from him.

Stanford had locked the door and now found himself in a loud room with Hephzibah. They both covered their ears and winced at the high-pitched whistle and the loud noise coming from the engine below them. They looked down at a staircase that seemed to glow with fire like a furnace.

"NOW WHAT?!" Stanford yelled.

"WHAT?!" Hephzibah screamed.

"I SAID 'NOW WHAT'?!"

"WHAT?!"

"I SAID…" Stanford stopped when he saw the gleam in Hephzibah's eye and knew she was joking with him. Stanford grinned and got an idea. He started to climb down the stairwell to the engine of the Titanic, and Hephzibah followed him.

They kept on running, not putting it past Pa to somehow break the door down and follow them through the engine of the RMS Titanic. Stanford led the way and Hephzibah followed, Stanford's trenchcoat flapping by their legs and Hephzibah's puffy white shirt and dreadlocks bouncing in the quick movement. They ran past lines of workers shoveling coal into the fire and working hard.

"KEEP WORKIN'!"

"EXCUSE US!"

"YOU'RE DOIN' A GREAT JOB!"

"SORRY, GENTLEMEN!"

They ran past a field of steam, saw a door that resembled the gates of heaven to the runaways, and Stanford wrenched it open and they went inside.

He and Hephzibah awed at the crates covered in thick nets that filled the giant room. They walked in after closing the door behind them. Stanford felt a wave of nostalgia, thinking of the pawn shop his family owned back home and the many times he went exploring with his brother. He was reminded of a cave with a wrecked sailboat they once found, that feeling in the gut of excitement, wonder, and amazement. Stanford found that he was happy to share a moment like this with Hephzibah.

"It looks like this is where they keep the cargo and other less personal luggage." Stanford observed as they explored the storage room.

"Wow, look!" Hephzibah ran ahead and Stanford looked to see that she had spotted a car, a really nice, luxurious black car with it's wheel on the right, it being a European model. Hephzibah reached to open the car door to look inside, but Stanford quickly beat her to it.

"Ah, ah!" Stanford opened the door for her and smiled slyly at her. "As long as I am around, you'll never touch another door handle."

Hephzibah chuckled, took his offered hand, and stepped into the car. "Thanks."

Stanford closed the door behind her and she sat, admiring the beautiful interior of the car. She had never been inside a car and admired completing a first. Stanford flicked his trenchcoat up as he sat in the driver's seat. Hephzibah saw that she could lower the window separating the passengers from the driver, so she did so. Stanford honked the horn playfully and Hephzibah chuckled.

"Where to, Ms. Cece?" Stanford asked in a pretend snobbish tone.

Hephzibah sat back in her seat and dug around the pocket of her pants. "Wherever you'll be, that's where I wanna go."

Stanford chuckled under his breath and looked down at his six-fingered hands as they curled around the thin steering wheel. His train of thought hardly left the station when music graced his ears. He turned to find that Hephzibah had pulled out a harmonica and was playing it softly, her eyes closed and her legs stretched across the seat, sitting comfortably in the car.

"You play the harmonica." Stanford stated.

Hephzibah stopped and opened her eyes. She nodded with a smile. "Grandpa gave it to me. It's the only thing I really own aside from the clothes on my back."

"May I see it?"

Hephzibah handed it over to him and Stanford gently took the instrument. This was clearly one that had been loved and used tenderly. He could tell that it was very old, probably as old as the old man had been, and it appeared to be gold that was in need of polishing.

Stanford took a closer look at it and concluded, "Hephzibah, this is pure gold."

"I know."

"You certainly play it well." Stanford complimented as he handed the harmonica back to Hephzibah.

"Thanks." Hephzibah placed the instrument on her lips, closed her eyes, and began to play again.

Stanford sat back in his seat, facing forward, and listened with shut eyes. For awhile, Hephzibah played a soothing lullaby that almost sent Stanford to sleep, but he pulled himself from his daze and opened his eyes. He didn't want to fall asleep like this. While Hephzibah sang through her harmonica, Stanford turned in his seat, his arm on the back of the seat and his cleft chin resting on his limb, his brown eyes sparkling at her. They had never really gotten to finish their discussion at the library, but what Stanford said was true. He knew it wasn't logical and he knew it wasn't allowed, but he had somehow fallen in love with Hephzibah in the little amount of time he knew her. And she loved him, too. And he wanted to do something about it.

"Hephzibah?"

The dark-skinned woman removed the golden instrument from her lips. "Stanford."

"You've asked me many times what I want."

"I seem to be the only one that bothers to do so."

Stanford gave a solemn nod. Stanley might be an exception, but Stanford always gave the same answer so Stanley had stopped asking a long time ago. "I know for certain what I want."

Hephzibah smiled at that, but Stanford could have sworn on his life that her eyes didn't match her lips. While her mouth curled upward and her white teeth showed a little, her eyes didn't sparkle. They looked worrisome that, whatever Stanford wanted, had nothing to do with Hephzibah and meant that she had to disappear. Stanford could have also sworn that she would be willing to do so, even if it hurt her, if it meant he was happy. That made him even more sure that his decision was right.

"And?" Hephzibah led on.

"When this ship docks in New York, I'm getting off with you." Stanford said firmly. He reached over and took Hephzibah's free hand, while her other held her one family heirloom. "I have a little money saved up from working, but most of my earnings as gone to my family. They can keep it, as my last contribution to the household. Stan will be more than willing to come with us, and he's a hard worker and a good man. We'll build a boat - like the one we made as children, the one I told you about? - but it won't be made of scraps of wood or debri we would find on the shore. We will work - I will even get two jobs, or three! - and we will buy material for a real boat, and we'll build it ourselves, small enough to travel easily, but big enough to raise our children on if we want to. We will travel the world, fish for food and extra money, hunt for treasure, make discoveries, and while I'm sure I can do all of that with Stan, I want you by my side… as my wife."

Hephzibah's jaw dropped. "Stanford…"

"Please," He begged and gave her hand a squeeze. "Will you marry me?"

"Stanford, are ya… are ya sure ya want me?"

"More sure than I've been about anything in my life."

Hephzibah smiled with shining eyes, almost like there were tears. Stanford had a hunch that, while no one has ever asked Stanford what he wanted, no one has ever told Hephzibah that she was wanted. "Yes, I'll marry ya."

Stanford grinned as the happiest man in the whole world, leaned forward, and Hephzibah met him in the middle, letting her harmonica fall to the floor of the car. They kissed passionately, a little fiercer than in the library, and when they separated for oxygen, Hephzibah giggled mischievously and pulled Stanford into the car by his underarms. Stanford chuckled, climbed over the seat, and sat on her left side. He held her around the waist and her hands cups either side of his handsome face as the newly engaged couple kissed.

Perhaps spending all day searching for Hephzibah, helping to deliver a baby (who was he kidding, he didn't do anything to help deliver that baby), running from his father, seeing the grand engine of the largest ship in the world, and getting engaged was all a little too much for Stanford, that and the fact that he didn't sleep as well as he should have the night before, for he was suddenly extremely tired. Hephzibah was leaning against the right wall of the car seat, so Stanford leaned on her left side, hugging her like a giant stuffed teddy bear. Hephzibah smiled at that and gentle put a hand on the back of his head, gently urging him to lay on her chest. Stanford did so and could hear her beating heart. He sighed peacefully, the only discomfort coming from having his glasses pushed to his face, but that was solved when Hephzibah slowly removed his glasses, folded them, and let them fall next to the harmonica.

Half-blinded, Stanford got a better idea. He got off of Hephzibah and had her lay her legs on the seat so he could lay on top of her. Stanford also took off his trenchcoat and Hephzibah helped lay it on top of them both, like a blanket, while Stanford laid on top of her, his head over her heart again. Hephzibah put one hand on top of his head and the other on his shoulder. She petted his fluffy brown hair softly, combing her fingers through his hair, and she kissed the top of his head. Stanford had never been held like this, or comforted like this, or loved like this before. He smiled, grabbed the hand that was on his shoulder, kissed it, and soon fell asleep.

It was April 14th. The Titanic was scheduled to dock in New York on the morning of the 17th. If they could just keep their engagement a secret for three days, then they could run away together. Stanford's plan was to go home with his family when Ma and Shermie came to pick himself, Stanley, and Pa up from the harbor, but while everyone was asleep, the twins would leave New Jersey and go back to New York, where Hephzibah would be waiting. If they could just keep their heads down until then…

Stanford woke up, according to his watch, a little before seven o'clock. He kindly woke Hephzibah up with a kiss so they could sneak back to where they belonged before they were caught in the car. Stanford took Hephzibah to the A La Carte Restaurant and they ignored the glances given to them, a white man with a black woman, a first-class passenger escorting a third-class to breakfast, but they were used to these looks - Stanford for his hands, Hephzibah for her skin - and so they ignored them easily and sipped coffee and munched on sweet muffins. There, they talked of their future and what they could do if they wanted. They were having the necessary conversation of children over their second cup of coffee.

"I've always wanted a big family." Hephzibah shared.

"Really?" Stanford said with a small smile into his china cup full of caffeine.

"I've never had one before. Back on the farm, all the slaves treated each other like family, n' despite the hardships, there was always this great sense of family. I loved my Grandpa, but it got lonely travelin' with just him. I used to dream of havin' brothers n' sisters."

"Siblings are alright, I suppose." Stanford joked as he lowered his cup.

Hephzibah chuckled and munched on a blueberry muffin. "What 'bout ya?"

"To be perfectly honest, I had pushed the idea of children away to make room for my studies, so sure I would never marry, but, as you can see, I was very wrong." Hephzibah gave a sheepish smile and a small shrug before Stanford continued. "The idea of children still… startles me, but I think four is a good number."

"I was thinkin' eight."

"Eight?!"

"Not right now." Hephzibah laughed.

"I did tell you twins run in my family, didn't I?"

"Ya might have mentioned it."

"Oi, Poindexter!" Stanford and Hephzibah both looked at the entrance of the A La Carte Restaurant and Stanley was heading in their direction. He pulled out a chair, sat between them in the circle table, and growled as he pointed to his brother, "You owe me big time."

"How so?"

"Pa's been on my case since he saw you running around the Titanic with Hephzie." Stanley pinched his thumb and pointer finger close together, giving a cenimenter of distance, and added, "He's this close to having the crew make a search party for you both. I've had to lie and say you were in the smoking room, then getting a tour of the engine, then back in our room, then at the bar, then…"

"Alright, I understand." Stanford said. "I'm sorry, Stan, but it'll all be worth it once we dock this ship."

Stanley leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, yeah? How?"

Stanford grabbed Hephzibah's hand and grinned at his twin. "We're getting married."

"WHAT?!" Hephzibah and Stanford both shushed him and Stanley actually slapped a hand over his mouth. He leaned forward on the table and hissed with a huge shit-eating grin on his face, "Are you serious?! You're gettin' married?!"

"Yes." Stanford hissed. "Remember our plans to sail around the world on a boat? Let's do it. We can all get jobs in New York and work for material, or maybe even buy our own boat. However we obtain it, let's work for a new Stan O' War and sail around the world. We'll treat each day like it's our last and make new discoveries every day. We won't ever be rich and we'll probably never even touch second-class again, but we will all be free. What do you say?"

"I say I'm all in!" Stanley cheered and punched Stanford's shoulder. "Wherever we go, we go together! I can get a job hauling boxes at the docks or something. It won't pay much, but if we all work together…"

"I can wait tables at an inn." Hephzibah said. "If I do that, we can get a room until we get our boat n' the money I can earn can go to food n' such so your money can go to the boat. It'll be hard, but it'll be worth it."

"What about your wedding?" Stanley asked in a quieter voice.

"We'll just go to the courthouse and get married when we can afford the licence and the rings." Stanford explained. "There's no way we can have a real wedding, but we've both agreed that it hardly matters, as long as we're together."

"Wait, Ma has some rings saved up from our grandparents, remember? She said she was waiting to give them to us."

"Ma will never support…"

"She's not Pa."

Stanford nodded in agreement, but decided not to count his chickens before they hatch. "We'll see what happens. For now we just need to keep Pa off our coattails until the ship lands."

"Hell, I've been doing that for two days, I can do it for three more." Stanley said, his voice dripping with determination.

"The second we dock I'll get a job." Hephzibah vowed. "I'll find us a place to stay, n' right before y'all leave, we'll find a place to meet. I'll even see how much my harmonica's worth n' sell it if it's…"

"No, Hephzibah. That harmonica is yours." Stanford said and squeezed her hand. "Don't you ever sell it. We can do it without selling your harmonica. I want you to play it for our family."

"If we're gonna sell stuff, we've got some junk in our room we could sell for a few bucks." Stanley said.

"No, we'll hardly have enough room to pack what we need. Besides, I don't want a cent from our father. If we're going to do this, we'll do this on our own."

Stanley nodded. "I love it, Sixer. We'll do it. We won't be rich, but at least we can eat and be out of that hellhole we call home."

"We will be free." Stanford sighed, full of peace. "We just have to wait three days."