a\n: hey guys! Hope you enjoy this new chapter of Good Ship. Oh, and speaking of good...i changed my penname, for those of you wondering where PaintMeIntrigued ran off to! My new name is thegoodgirldoll. :)

.I.

It didn't take long for the crew members to lower the rescue boats. They began quickly, helping women and children out first, seating 7 people to a boat. Tonks was in the back of the woman's line, right near where the men's line started. Remus was first in line for his group, he he stood, vacant, expressionless, near his wife. He held his arms tight around her, and her hands clenched his wrists.

"Move forward, please! Quickly!" the captain called; removing his blue and gold trimmed hat, and wiping the sweat off his forehead with a mint-green tinted handkerchief. Tonks turned to her husband then, her lips forming an, 'O,' shape.

"Remus," she grabbed his hand and rested it on her slightly pregnant belly. "the baby's kicking." she wondered sadly is it was not only the first, but last time she'd feel her child's movement in her womb.

Remus was reverted to a state of awe, and only regained the serious air of severity around him when the ship lunged forward, whip-lashed against the waves, and knocked Tonks to the ground, throwing Remus on top of her. He jumped up immediately, grabbed one of her wrists, and slipped an arm behind her back, helping her to help her to her feet quickly.

"Darling, are you alright? Are you in any pain? My love, I'm so sorry." he cupped her face in his large, warm hands. She shook her head and assured him with a smile.

"I'm fine, Remus. I promise I'm fine."

He stood frigid for a moment, looking deeply at her, then smiled generously back.

The line began moving quicker and Tonks felt water teasing her shin.

"It's rising," she spoke softly to Remus. She stood up on tip-toe and glanced over the crowd. "Do you think we'll get out in enough time?"

"I believe so; as long as the water doesn't rise anymore abruptly. It's keeping a steady pace; slow. We'll make it." he squeezed her shoulders and she rested her head against his arm.

Sirius and Fred did their best to keep Molly calm, but she couldn't gain control of her emotions. What if she never saw her husband again? What if she lost her Freddy? She gripped the railing tight, and shivered as cold water rushed up her leg. There was only one more woman in front of her. Fred gave her a long hug.

"Mum, I'll be okay. You be safe; get to shore, and I'll get on soon enough."

Tears stung at her eyes and the assistant captain grabbed her hand.

"We must hurry, Madam. The ship is likely to crack soon."

She nodded, fear etched into her chocolate brown eyes, and glanced back at her son as she was helped into the boat.

"READY!" the captain yelled to the smaller boat's assistant captain. He nodded, and started the motor. Just then, as Tonks was about to step into the next boat, the ship split violently in half. The ones on the right side of the ship were flung backwards harshly, smacking the sides of the walls, or colliding with the floor. Glass smashed around them, as did the ones on the left side. Those who had been positioned in the middle, fell through massive cracks; some were caught on sharp pieces of metal or plastic, and others died on impact. Remus, holding onto the edge of the broken railing metal, climbed over it, and jumped into Tonks's boat; holding onto his wife as she cried...the boat she was setting foot on's captain dead after being struck with a piece of metal from above the first landing. Remus looked over the right side of the ship as it floated up, the bottom beginning to sink along with the un-lucky men left at the end of the line. Then, Remus spotted Fred and Sirius.

"SIRIUS! SIRIUS, JUMP! FRED, COME, ON, JUMP! THERE'S ROOM! JUMP, NOW!"

Fred and Sirius glanced at each other, then began to run, flinging themselves onto the top of the boat which was almost completely standing up-right. The hung on for a few moments, and then, with a deep breath; spotting Tonks's flaring red hair, jumped.

Everything went black for Sirius. He was plunged, as though it felt, into a bucket of ice; though still felt the dripping of his clothes, like he was floating. He was being lifted up, in all actuality, but he could hardly feel his body; and the hands of others on him. He was numb, dizzy, and couldn't help his slipping in and out of consciousness.

Fred had just made it to the boat, but his legs throbbed with pain, and blood pooled around him and in the water. He gasped from the chilly liquid, then asked anxiously as he was helped climbing into the boat: "Remus, please, go to my Mum's boat. Meet up with hers, and help me onto it. I promised her I'd keep her safe. Remus, please."

Remus took pity on the young man, and nodded, starting the motor and following after Molly's boat. Molly yelled for the co-captain of her small boat to stop, and Remus pulled along-side them, reached out to grab the side of their boat, and helped Fred onto it.

"Freddy! My boy!" Molly cried as she hugged her son close. "I saw the ship snap, and I was so worried. So, so worried!"

Fred soothed his mother and rubbed her back. "It's okay, Mum, I'm here now."

Both boats started their motors again and kept going, now, looking out onto all the deep, black, open water. For hours; all of sunset until late night, they moved across the water, watching the last few sparks of electricity shoot off what looked like a small log of a ship now. Little pieces of it scattered throughout the water, like a 1,000 piece puzzle the ocean would never see fit to put together. Tonks lay her head against Remus's lap, sprawled over the little boat, and her legs atop the dead man's. She had been sound asleep for an hour now. The water was un-eventful thus far,presenting to complications in their labor of working their way to land. Land itself, was no where to be seen at this distance. The ship sinking has discombobulated everyone's perception and surroundings; the current carrying them far into the pits of blackened, eerie water. Remus was becoming disheartened. He thought sadly about what he'd been thinking of for 10 hours now...where was his bestfriend? He knew in his gut he'd never see him again. He was emotionally torn to pieces, but he had to keep his wife safe. He glanced down at Tonks, who was holding her stomach as she slept; cradling their un-born baby. He had to protect his child.

His only concern, had to be them.

Lingering in the cold air of night, was the soft sound of singing, and Remus recognized he low words of an old gospel song. Molly was lying down in a boat ahead of him still, looking up at the star clusters against their pitch black backdrop. The stars was beautiful tonight as ever, as though God had finger-painted the sky with glitter. Remus sang along with her, though softer, and rested a hand on his wife's belly.

"Though, I walk through the valley, I'll fear no ev-il."

Remus's son or daughter kicked joyfully when they heard his voice. They recognized him! They kicked for him, not of their own accord, and Remus was filled with happiness in an instant. His child was safe, warm, and happy.

For all he, or she knew, they were home asleep, and it was time to wake-up Mommy.