Sunlight streaming in from the port hole is what awakens her. Feeling the warmth against her face, she cracks an eyelid and quickly rolls over to shield her face. As consciousness slowly fills her senses, she finds herself alone in their bed. When she entered their cabin last night, she didn't even take the time to clean up before she angrily threw herself onto the bed. Since neither her husband nor Elizabeth were around to prevent it, she broke down completely, releasing heavy sobs into the pillow.

Completely exhausted and a maybe a little sea sick too, she fell asleep in the dress she wore to dinner. She groans and buries her face in the pillow when she feels her head beginning to throb. Her hair is still made up, the bobby pins tight against her scalp.

It's early, George's side of the bed is cold and unrumpled. He was with her again.

She shifts onto her back and throws her forearm over her eyes for a few minutes. With her head pounding, she knows she won't get back to sleep so she throws her legs over the side, drops her chin to her chest. The throbbing intensifies so she presses her fingertips against her temples to massage them for a bit. Maybe Elizabeth will have some peppermint oil for her? It usually helps her headaches.

Moments later, she briskly gets up to wash her face and pull out her hair pins. After finishing her morning routine, she changes into something more comfortable. She fingers through her hair but doesn't put much effort into it because Elizabeth will fix it when she comes in a little later.

As hard as it is sometimes, she always manages to keep herself calm and collected. She can deal with the nasty looks and rude comments that they think she is oblivious to, she can live with George's rude demeanor and even his lovers but sometimes, all of this combines together and the slightest nudge will push her over the edge. Last night, the impulse, the nudge was a nice looking, polite young officer. He seemed genuinely concerned but after everything, she simply couldn't handle it.

How dare he remind her that there are real and genuine men in the world when all she gets to experience are lies and pretense? How dare he get in her way, offering companionship and kindness when she's choking on her own bitterness and feelings of uselessness? He looked at her as a person, she could see it in those hypnotic ocean blue eyes of his. She can't think about that or him, she's supposed to be a perfect wife of a Wall Street banker, one who never looks past the polite smiles and made up compliments and is completely oblivious to everything good and bereft of human emotions.

Standing in the front of large mirror, she gingerly touches her naked arms, examining the large bruises George left behind when they got into a fight yesterday morning. She stares at the ugly black and blue discolorations. She's lucky she didn't cut herself when she knocked down a vase as she was trying to escape George's punishing squeeze. Raising her chin to look at her face in the mirror, she pictures his face in her mind. She can't help but wonder if maybe Officer Salvatore, she remembers his name, might have noticed something when he caught her last night on deck. She hopes he didn't.

Her parents, no one as a matter of fact ever warned her that love was meaningless, nothing but a made up sentiment that arose from fairytales. Nor did they tell her that a marriage to George Lockwood IV could and likely would break her spirit. They didn't even ask for her opinion, they simply decided that she would be the perfect match for the heir to the Lockwood banking fortune. She had barely reached puberty when she was promised to the bastard, a man she despises with a visceral intensity.

She wasn't allowed to grow up, no, instead she was groomed to be the dutiful wife of a titan. She had the name and the money to offer and at first she didn't think that it was a bad thing. George was a bit older but not much, charming and funny, he took her to places and brought her flowers, she thought he would love her. He told her he loved her. Soon after the wedding the air between them changed.

He was charming only when someone saw them. He stopped bringing her flowers and many times he left her alone all night. When she finally swallowed back her nerves, she confronted him, asking him where he goes at night. Although she already knew the answer, he didn't even try to lie, he was very forthright about his lady friends. Why did she ever expect that he'd be satisfied with just her, his wife? It's normal behavior he proclaimed before stepping out of the door to disappear for another night.

At first, she didn't want to accept his boorish behavior but he refused to change his ways. She tried to fight but she was soon in for a rude awakening. Having confided in her parents, she was aghast at their response. Rather than support her and help her to divorce him, she was told to play her role and make arrangements for herself. She was horrified, refusing adamantly to participate in a life like this but she was given no other option. She was not to disgrace the family name...

If all that wasn't enough, George took her last snippet of freedom. He needed an heir. And she was there to deliver it.

Damon feels even more confused in the morning. He has a few minutes before he has to get up so he lays still, staring at the ceiling. Mrs. Lockwood is an enigma. Listening to her words and watching her rude behavior, he would have to agree with Enzo. But looking into her eyes last night, he was stunned by what he saw. Gone were the anger and arrogance, instead he saw something completely different. Fear. Bitterness. Heartbreak. Emotions that have no place in a such a young woman's eyes. He knows Mrs. Lockwood is young. Perhaps much younger than he considered before last evening.

What bothers him even more was her reaction when he caught her. He held her firmly, yes, but he wasn't thuggish or brutal. His touch shouldn't have elicited a painful response and yet it did. Shifting slightly, he thinks back to yesterday. What did her husband say about the vase?

Even more than Mrs. Lockwood herself, his own reactions to her are confusing as hell. Why does he feel like protecting her from everyone and everything bad in the world, even if it should be her own husband? With these thoughts swimming in his head, he gets out of bed, dresses and then hurries to the dining room to wait for his VIPs. He shudders to think what the Captain would not only say but do if he's caught unprepared yet again. It's still early yet so he makes a detour to the wireless room to see if there's any correspondence for Mr. Mikaelson.

James welcomes him with a friendly smile, handing him a few pages before he even asks. "Don't tell me.. the Captain's biting at your heels with the VIP's."

Damon nods with a sigh. "Thanks. Anything important?"

"Actually...," James finds another report, "this came across early this morning."

Damon studies the dispatch and frowns. "How many nautical miles are we away from this area?"

"Actually Damon, we're heading right into the middle of it." He leans back in his seat but his eyes never leave Damon's.

"Did the Captain see this?" Alarmed, Damon drops his back to the paper to read it over a second time.

"Yes, I did question him. He wasn't too pleased.. He decided that we're safe and ordered we continue on our current course."

Damon turns and looks out over the water. The waves are choppy, churning up huge white caps. Normally he would smile when he sees a pod of dolphins flying alongside the ship but not today. "Can I have a copy?" James nods and hands it to him. Damon leaves, the warning in his hands and a heavy heart beating against his chest wall.

The maid has already left after helping with her hair and wardrobe, leaving Elena by herself. When she hears the door creek, she doesn't bother to turn around when George closes the door. She finishes her make up, dabbing her pale cheeks with a little rouge. Disgust brews inside of her when she shifts in her chair just as he falls on the bed heavily.

"You're up already?" he asks sarcastically as he turns his head towards her. Elena doesn't bother to return his stare.

"You clearly didn't sleep at all," she responds even though she knows George won't like her attitude.

"You better tone it down," he mutters, "a woman that can't even have children has no right to whine."

No matter how often he reminds her, it always feels like a slap.

Damon contemplates confronting Captain Forbes-Turner himself but he's certain that the man would do the opposite of what Damon suggests just to spite him. He reaches the dining room, it's slowly starting to fill with the first guests. The only Mikaelson he can see is their First Officer Niklaus sitting alone at the family table, finishing his coffee. Right, just the man I need to see.

He looks up when Damon approaches and gives him a small smile. They've always gotten along together.

"Officer Mikaelson," Damon starts respectfully, taking his hat off as a show of respect.

Niklaus points at a chair. "No need for formalities, I'm not on duty yet."

Damon sits down and hands him the report. Niklaus flies over the lines, then looks at Damon. "This looks serious. Did the Captain see it?"

Damon nods. "James said he did.. He specifically left instructions not to change our course. His opinion is that we're safe to continue and that he would rather not risk an even later arrival. We're already many hours behind schedule."

Niklaus shakes his head and gets up. "Alright, I think my shift is starting. Thanks Damon, I'll do my best to talk to him." He leaves right before the Mikaelson clan starts filling the room.

Elena's waits till 10:30 but it appears that George won't be awakening anytime soon. Sucking her lower lip between her teeth, she wonders how angry he'll be if she goes by herself? Hungry, she steps out of the cabin, quietly closing the door behind her. Fortunately she sees a crew member carrying breakfast leftovers from the cabin next to theirs.

"Excuse me, can you bring us breakfast as well? Mr. Lockwood doesn't feel well this morning..."

The young seaman nods with a respectful bow and hurries away. Elena breathes a sigh of relief and goes back inside. George hasn't moved an inch. Shaking her head, Elena looks at him with disgust. If the whole sordid affair wasn't so humiliating, she wouldn't mind in the least if he'd stay with his mistress every night. If he didn't return in the morning or ever, even better.

Less than 20 minutes later there's short knock at the door. "Come in," Elena says standing up so she can close the door behind the service man. She's just about to tell them where to put the tray when she stops in her track seeing it's officer Salvatore delivering.

"Good morning, madam." He eyes her keenly as he lays the tray on the table. Surprised that he's here, Elena tries to find her voice.

"Is this your job?" she finally gets out.

"No madam, but I was on the way here so I told the steward that I would bring it," he explains, smiling tightly. I also have a message for you. "Mr. and Mrs. Mikaelson are asking you to have lunch with them."

Elena feels her mouth go dry. His surprise appearance has knocked her off of her game. She should just thank him and send him on his way, specifically out of her cabin. From her life to be exact.

"Al... right, officer Salvatore, you can tell them it's an honor to be included, we'll be there at 13:00 if it suits them."

"Of course," Damon nods, "Mr. MIkaelson suggested the same hour." He bows his head and is out of her state room before Elena can form a response. She sits at the table, suddenly not hungry anymore.

She needs to try harder.

Damon leaves her cabin and for some reason his mood suddenly improves. If he's being honest with himself, it has everything to do with the fact she remembers his name. She looks beautiful this morning. Her gold and teal dress tastefully revealing her soft curves. Her shimmering chestnut hair was perfect in a soft up do. Her lips and cheeks were red as an apple. But it's the dark shadows under her eyes that betray her fatigue.

He caught a glimpse of her husband but he didn't really want to think about him. If he did, he might go back there and gives him one unforgettable awakening. Sighing, he walks down the corridor on his way back to deliver Mrs. Lockwood's message to the Mikaelson's. He turns the corner and is immediately stopped by Niklaus Mikaelson.

"Can I have a word with you?"

Damon nods and steps to the side of the corridor with him. "I did talk to him," he starts to say, his voice trailing slightly. Shaking his head, he looks at Damon again. "I'm sorry, I didn't achieve much. The Captain thinks it's their usual warning when a ship is sailing in this area. He believes there's no need to change anything."

Damon nods but the gnawing feeling sticks inside of his gut. He follows Nick back to the dining room to pass on the message, then he goes to take care of his routine duties.

The lunch reminds Elena of a well choreographed Broadway show. Mr. Mikaelson and George are engaged in an ardent business conversation. She can see that George is very pleased by this new and very profitable connection. Occasionally he'll look at her, silently warning her to play along.

She's sitting next to Sage, Mr. Finn Mikaelson's wife, who happens to be an entertaining companion. Elena finds herself quite fascinated by her free spirit and independence. She even finds herself laughing at some of her tales. Mr. Mikaelson adds to the conversation once in awhile but his wife clearly doesn't need nor want his opinions.

Across from her, the youngest Mikaelson, Kol, is clearly enjoying himself. He drops small comments, witty innuendos at the just the right moment which earns him many disapproving looks from his mother. Elena finds herself liking this family, hopefully she can spend more time with them during the voyage so she's not condemned to wait till George is in the mood to keep her company, although the less time she has to spend with him the better she likes it.

"Officer Salvatore," Sage tilts her head closer to hers. "That man is good looking."

Elena's pulse quickens at hearing his name but she shakes it off immediately, this is not her game. Instead she focuses on Sage again and finds it rather inappropriate, the way she follows him with her eyes. To distract herself, she turns to Kol and asks him about his studies in England. Kol gives her a curious gaze.

There must be something wrong with her. His look unnerves her... even he can see right through her.

By the time they leave the dining room Elena feels exhausted. It's so tiring to have a conversation where no one is honest, the soul purpose of which is to keep up appearances. George excuses himself once they leave the room and she knows she probably won't see him till dinner. As things are, she'd happily spend another night alone. She slips on her shawl and then walks around the promenade deck. She stops at the railing and looks down at the water where the ship is cutting through it. The sight is mesmerizing really.

After watching for a few minutes, she continues on her way past the long rolls of deck chairs and the life boats that are secured. She shivers, hoping that they'll never need them. Her shoes clap against the polished wood of the floor. She looks around sighing with relief that for once she avoids running into Officer Salvatore. She returns to her room to change for dinner later. She must have spent more time outside because to her great surprise George is already there.

"Where have you been? It's been hours since we left the dining room."

Elena looks at him shortly. "I could ask you the same thing."

George stands up towering above her and for a second she feels like running from the cabin. She won't, I'm not his servant to shudder up like a canary in a gilded cage.

"You... better learn to keep your mouth shut, as any well-bred wife knows to do." He glowers at her for several minutes before losing interest. He takes a step to their door. "Hurry up, I hope to catch up with Mr. Mikaelson before they leave."

They join the Mikaelson's again. The older man talks about the importance of family and goes into detail about raising children and how they should be groomed to take over the family business. He also stresses that it's important that they learn about all of the different fields and angles and how to keep the business successful. Finn agrees, adding to the already boring conversation.

He personally is quite sure that his line-age will continue. The boys, Nicklaus, Finn and Kol are not his only children but they're also the future of the Mikaelson empire. He wants his name to carry on for generations to come. His wife looks disinterested but Elena says nothing, only nods and smiles at the right time.

Sage fights the urge to roll her eyes, Finn takes everything as God's word, although he's probably heard it more than once. Kol is clearly amused. George however... she doesn't like his contemplative face. She takes a look around discreetly to see if Miss Pierce is around but her seat remained empty the entire evening. When they say goodnight it's already dark. Elena would like to stay outside for a bit, but George is two steps ahead of her, heading straight for their cabin. Elena goes to the bathroom, her mind swirling as to why George hasn't left yet to spend the night with her. Knowing she'll find out soon enough, she changes into her night gown and steps out of the bathroom. Her breath hitches when she finds he's staring right at her.

"Aren't you leaving for the night?" she can't stop herself from asking.

"No," George's lip twitches in amusement. "You see, Elena, I don't believe you're entirely useless. We have a goal. I need an heir. And you're going to give it to me. All that's left is just to keep trying, so I think I can give my wife a night every now and then.. when I see it fit."

Elena almost doesn't breathe as he holds her captive with his eyes. They're slits like that of a snake. She won't be a victim. Her spirit may be damaged but she's not broken. "As you wish, husband." She holds her chin high and lets him yank her on the bed never letting out a sound.

Damon's looking at the midnight sky and feels like the stars are shining much duller today. He follows his normal routine, that of taking a walk to breathe in the fresh air before he retires for the night. Usually it helps him sleep. It's later than usual though tonight. The ship is mostly quiet, the majority of the passengers having already retired. The noises he hears are coming from the crew members' cabins. He passes a few seamen on the deck, answering their informal goodnight. Yesterday, she was standing right over there when he came by. Yesterday, for a shortest moment they stood next to each other.

Almost like a lightning strike, fire starts to burn through his veins making his heart thunder inside of his chest. He's at a loss for words, realizing that he was hoping that she would be there again, just the two of them.

Huge thanks to Eva. I love you dearly my friend.

Huge, massive thanks to all of you. I would truly close up shop if not for all of you. Thank you Sirine for reviewing. And also the rest of the other anonymous people that I can't respond to personally.

Please check out my other stories. "Edge of Thorns" is winding down and "Tomorrow" which is still in its infancy.

I did post a picture of Elena's teal dress on my scarlett2112 fb page.

I've made so many wonderful friends on here. DE being the vehicle for them. You are ALL such great people. We really have so many talented people in the DE fandom. Delenasmut has a fabulous story "Until Death do They Part" and just today posted another "Love Me Again." Mariah April May's "The Scandal" is very good. VitsAsh has a cute little one shot, 'Remembering Birthdays'. Deepwater1978 current one is her version of 'The Princess Diaries" as well a new crime story, 'Kiss Me or Kill Me'. Salvatoreboys4ever is working on the third book of her series. TheLittle MissVixen has the fantastic story 'Some By Virtue Fall' and lastly, I just started reading one of MovingOnIsNeverEasy stories. I'm sure these wonderful people would love to hear from some of you.

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Have a wonderful day. Thank you all again.