Nine months later, my thoughts that things would be better have come true. Not too long ago I finished my training at Harland and Wolff. I could not be happier with the way things are going there, and I'm in the process of designing a ship that will put the largest ships in the world to shame! Jack seems to be very happy with his new job as well, he works for the Titanic Museum here in Belfast and loves telling everybody all about his thoughts on my ship. Unfortunately Jack was forced to go to Liverpool about 2 days ago in order to be interviewed on how he thought the ship went down, so it could be put on record. I was interviewed a few months ago, it was a terribly painful experience.
So Jack went away, and left me to care for his heavily pregnant wife. For the most part, I haven't minded, she's not herself by any means. She sits quietly, yes quietly, on the couch watching television with Killian lying across her lap obediently. She is much easier to look after than Nellie was when she was pregnant with Elba. No cravings, no sickness, she doesn't even seem to be emotionally changed at all. The only thing about her that's different is that she's much quieter than the talkative delinquent I usually know.
Tonight she went to bed with a simple 'Goodnight Tommie' and disappeared into her bedroom. I wasn't tired, so I sat myself here in the living room with a glass of wine to watch Cupcake Wars on the food network. I've been listening to the thunderstorm outside more than I have been listening to the show though, it is beginning to lull me to sleep and I welcome it!
Suddenly the peace is broken by my little ruffian screaming in the other room. I don't even remember how I got there but suddenly I'm standing in the doorway of her bedroom "What happened?" I ask her. She looks up at me, her eyes frantic "Oh my God Thomas! My water broke!" she tells me, choking up. She looks scared, I'm not sure why! We knew to expect the baby at any time! But why did it have to be now? I practically fly to her side, trying to remember what it was like when Nellie went into labor. Of course, times have changed, I need to get her to the hospital. But how?
I don't have a drivers license yet, and the hospital is on the other side of Belfast! As I try to think of something she looks over at me "Call the ambulance you idiot!" she orders me. Yes of course! I quickly pick up the phone, but to my horror the line is dead. The storms must have taken out the phone lines! My poor ruffian begins to cry and I take her hand, squeezing it "Take some deep breaths, it'll be alright" I tell her gently. She doesn't seem to be listening, I don't think she expected the pain to be as bad as it is. I run a hand through her hair before a thought occurs to me, Rocky! I kiss her forehead, anything to sooth her I'll do, I just don't want her to cry anymore "I'll be right back, I'm going to the hospital. Just take some deep breath, and uh" I look around and spot her old stuffed bunny sitting on her dresser, I hand it to her "Hug this until I get back" I tell her.
She lets out another cry, telling me not to go as I leave the room and practically fly out the back door of the house to the shed where the old pony is being kept. I can only hope he's strong enough to carry me at a gallop to the hospital. His ears prick as I turn on the barn lights. I grab his bridle off the hook and put it on his head as quick as I can. He tries to throw his head up out of my reach, unhappy to be bothered at such a late hour in the pouring rain. "Rocky! You must do this! Your owner's life depends on it! You need to run faster than you ever have" I tell him as I quickly throw on his saddle and lead him outside. The rain beats down hard and a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky. I stroke his neck and tie him before running into the house.
The girl is panting and I run my hand through her hair "We're going now" I tell her gently. If I thought Rocky could hold the two of us I would take her, but he can't. Besides, I can't just take her out in the rain in only her pajamas, she'll get sick! She tells me she's frightened and I hush her "It'll be alright, you have to trust me, and Rocky" I tell her. She sniffles "Rocky?" she asks, I pull the blanket around her tighter to make her comfortable. I hush her "Don't talk anymore" I tell her softly. She whimpers "What if I have the baby while you're not here? Please don't leave!" she tells me. I swallow "You'll be alright, I promise" I assure her. I can only hope that I'm right about this, for once let me be right in a crisis! I give her a final reassuring kiss on the top of the head before returning to the pony outside.
Rocky shifts uneasily as I hoist myself into the saddle. At first I'm not sure he will handle my weight and height, but with a quick kick he's off into a trot down the road. Please get me there safely Rocky, godspeed you little pony! When we're on the road I urge him on, faster and faster. He breaks into a canter, and then into a gallop. The devoted little pony moves faster and faster, and we soon are entering the heart of Belfast. I look around, but the rain and darkness makes it difficult to see anything, let alone road signs that show which way the hospital is. I used to know Belfast like the back of my hand, but now? I'm still learning!
Finally I recognize where we are, we're just outside Harland and Wolff! I urge the little pony onward, now I know where we're going! He thunders down the pavement, and I continue to urge him on faster and faster still. I worry about him slipping on the road, re-injuring his already damaged legs. The delinquent would never forgive me if I let something like that happen to her precious little pony! I slow him down ever so slightly, we are making alright time, the hospital is only 10 minutes away from the shipyard by car. I remember from when the delinquent dragged me along with her to an ultrasound appointment. On the pony, at the rate we're going, we should be there in less than half an hour!
The rain feels as though it's coming down harder! It's soaking into my coat and I worry for the little pony even more. What if he catches a horrible chill from this rain? He's so old, would he be able to recover? We cross the bridge and I make a left, heading onto the highway. Luckily at this hour and in this weather there isn't much traffic, which will make it easier to navigate.
We're almost there! Rocky is huffing and puffing, I can hear his wheezy breathing over the pouring rain. Just hold on little pony, we're almost there! With a final burst of speed we gallop into the parking lot of the hospital, I pull the chestnut pony to a halt and leap off him, running into the hospital emergency room "Ambulance! I need an ambulance!" I say loudly to the nurse at the front desk. She remains civil with me "What's the matter sir?" she asks calmly, how can she be so calm? "My friend! My friend is having a baby! But I couldn't drive her here and our phone lines are dead!" I tell her. She picks up her phone and sighs, their line must be dead too! She stands up "Wait here for a moment sir" she tells me before disappearing.
Finally she returns with two men "These are the ambulance drivers" she tells me. The three of us walk outside to where I left Rocky. As I leave the hospital, I'm relieved to find the rain has eased tremendously. The chestnut pony stands where I left him, trembling and soaked to the skin. I rest my head on his side and stroke his neck "You haven't saved her life just yet Rocky" I tell him. He merely stands, wheezing and puffing. I need to get him home! I mount him "Follow me, I'll lead you back!" I tell them. They both jump into a nearby ambulance and turn it on, I turn Rocky "Come on boy!" I call. He starts off slowly, does he have enough energy to get us home?
He must! I kick him on and he breaks once again into a gallop! We're on our way once again! Please let us not take too long! The ride back to the house feels so much longer than the one going to the hospital, but finally we make it and I point them to the door "She's in the bedroom, the door is unlocked!" I inform them. As they go get my ruffian I bring Rocky back into his stall. His sides are heaving and he's soaked to the skin, I'm going to have to rub him down! But I don't have time for that, I have to go with the delinquent! I untack the pony and run next door, banging on our neighbor's door. Their teenage son opens the door "What do you want Mr. Andrews? Do you know what time it is?" he asks me. I roll my eyes "Richard, I need you to do me a favor". I explain to him my situation and he looks over to where the men are getting the delinquent into the ambulance. I instruct him on how to take care of Rocky and I hand him about 20 euros before running over to the ambulance and hopping in.
The delinquent looks over at me "Oh my God Thomas what took you so long?" she asks me hoarsely. I hush her "Rocky has short legs you know" I tell her, trying to make her smile. I am successful! Within a few minutes we're at the hospital and they roll her through the emergency room "Thomas! You need to tell Jack!" she tells me. I nod to her "I'll tell him!" I assure her, with that she is taken through a set of doors and out of my sight. Now for the hard part, to find a phone that works! I ask around, the phone at the front desk is still dead, but one of the people sitting in the waiting room hands me their cellular telephone "Here, I have a few bars of service here" they tell me. I thank them and walk outside for some privacy, quickly dialing Jack's number. I thank God that he finally got a cell phone, it makes life so much easier!
He picks up with a casual "Hey what's up?", but then becomes incredibly frantic when I tell him the news "NOW? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE BABY'S COMING NOW? I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF MY INTERVIEW IN LIVERPOOL! BLOODY CHRIST!". He goes on further to snap at me and tells me not to leave her side, not one minute, and I promise him if only to calm him slightly. It doesn't seem to be working though, I can hear him shouting at the people he's with that he has to leave right now. Finally he tells me he has to go catch the next plane to Belfast but he'll be home as soon as he can.
Once that's all taken care of, I return to the waiting room and return the cellular telephone. My next problem is, well, the bloody nurse won't let me go to the delinquent's side! She tells me I'll just have to wait until the baby is born. But I just promised Jack! I'm the one who rode through a torrential downpour to bring her here! I should be allowed to see her, she probably wants me there! It's no use arguing with the nurse though, I'll just have to wait. But I can't wait! I wish I had my glass of wine with me here! I begin pacing the floor of the waiting room nervously. I'm overreacting though, it's not like she's the only woman in history to have a baby!
I'm not sure how long I paced, maybe a few minutes, maybe a few hours, but suddenly a nurse comes out with a bright smile on her face "Would you like to see Mrs. Phillips now? She's been asking for you". I nod and follow her and she quickly and quietly leads me down whitewash corridors to where the girl is. When we get to her room she leaves and I stand in the door, almost unsure of what to do. Should I just stroll in? I decide to step into the doorway and test the waters.
The poor girl looks exhausted, weak and fragile like a china doll. Seeing her in this condition frightens me, she's such a strong girl! I thought she'd be alright! She looks up at me and smiles, beckoning me to join her. I pull a chair up to her bedside and sit down, taking her hand "Are you alright?" I ask her tentatively, she nods and I swallow "And the baby?". Before I can answer one of the doctors comes in, carrying a bundle in his arms. He brings it to her and places it in her arms "Congratulations on a healthy baby girl" he tells us before leaving us alone again.
The way she looks at that child, with a smile so bright it could light up the whole Titanic, it warms my heart. Tears begin trickling down her face as she looks at her daughter, and I wonder briefly if she'll be able to tear her eyes away from the little bundle. After a few minutes she insists I take the little girl and I do, sitting back down in the chair by her bedside. She closes her eyes and rests, the ordeal really beginning to take it's toll. She tries to say something to me but I hush her "Just rest now, and when you wake up Jack will be here, and you'll name her won't you?" I ask. She nods weakly before drifting off to sleep.
I look down at the bundle in my arms, a daughter, I suppose this makes her my niece. I begin examining every detail of her face, starting with her eyes. They're big bright eyes, blue like her father's. Even just a newborn I can tell by the way she looks at me, she's going to share her mother's devious spirit. She studies me in an almost calculating sort of way, as though she's deciding whether or not she is going to like me. Her little mouth curves into a smile and she makes a little noise up at me, I'll take that as her way of saying she likes me.
Other things I can pick out by studying her face is that she has her mother's chubby cheeks. The poor delinquent has always told me she was embarrassed about that, but I find it endearing. She has Jack's nose too, although I'd say it's a little young to be able to tell for sure about that. To me all babies have the same looking little nose. After a little while of holding her one of the nurses comes and takes her from me, placing her in a little crib in the hospital room.
The delinquent wakes up not long after this, even though she slept for a while she still looks utterly exhausted and emotionally strained. I take her hand and coo to her as she cries, telling me she wants Jack. I promise her that he's on his way, she nods and I wipe away her tears before running my hand through her hair. I just continue to stroke her this way, and it eventually lulls her to sleep. Finally I hear footsteps by the door and I turn to see Jack standing there in his business suit. He looks as though he's gone through hell and I stand, walking up to him and putting my hand on his shoulder "Congratulations Jack" I tell him.
His face lights up much like his wife's did "You have a daughter" I tell him. Tears begin welling in his eyes and he hugs me briefly "Oh thank God! Thank you!" he tells me, his voice hitching slightly. I chuckle at him softly "Well would you like to see your daughter?" I ask him, he nods like an excited little boy and I lead him over to the crib where the baby is sleeping. He peers down at her and I can just see the excitement and pride on his face, is practically radiates off him in waves! He looks at me and smiles "I never thought I'd get to have a family" he tells me softly. The moment is indeed bittersweet, neither of us are really supposed to be here. We're here because our ruffian loved us so strongly, she wished on a shooting star and made us alive again. We were never supposed to have family again, never.
Jack walks over to his wife's bedside, taking my place in the chair and taking her hand in his "Sweetheart?" he calls gently. She stirs and opens her eyes, looking at him "Jack?" she asks. He nods "Yes it's me, I'm here!" he tells her, leaning over and kissing her gently "How are you feeling?" he asks her. She smiles at him "Kinda like I got hit by a truck" she says. The reunion is broken by a nurse coming in "Ah, Mr. Phillips! How nice of you to join us! Well now that your husband is here Mrs. Phillips, I suppose you'll be wanting to name her?" she asks. My ruffian nods and the nurse tells them she'll have them fill out the birth certificate forms right away.
Gabby smiles and glances over at me before focusing her gaze on Jack "Darling, I know what I want to name her. So, I'll pick the first name, and you can pick the middle name" she tells him. Jack looks ready to protest when she huffs at him "She's already going to share your last name!". At this her husband is defeated and he kisses her hand affectionately "Anything you want sweetheart. So what's her name?" he asks curiously. She glances over at me again before looking back at her husband "Elizabeth" she replies very seriously. My heart stops beating for a moment and I have to sit down, she didn't just say the name I thought she did, did she? Jack asks her why she picked that name, and she looks at me affectionately "Because Thomas' daughter was named Elizabeth, and I know he misses her terribly. I know our daughter can never replace his Elba, but I thought..." she trails off when she sees me become hysterical.
She frowns "Mr. Andrews? I won't name her that if you don't wan..." I cut her off "No! I love you!" I tell her, it's all I can manage to blurt out. Oh she'd name her daughter after my Elba? For me? I've never sobbed so hard in my life, Elizabeth "Can I... Can I call her Elba?" I ask through my tears. The couple both smile and nod at me "Of course, we're naming her after your daughter. You can call her whatever nickname you like" Jack tells me. Gabby calls for me and she lets me rest my head on her lap while she strokes my hair, trying to calm me as I calmed her "You know Tommie, I love you too. That's why I'm naming my daughter after your daughter. Because you've done so much for me, my little girl wouldn't even be here if not for you, and I know you loved Elba and you've missed her ever since you came into the modern day. So, this is my way of saying thank you". I shake my head, I should be thanking her! But she hushes me "Thomas I think you need to go to sleep now" she tells me.
Jack nods "I'll get him home. And I've decided on a middle name. What about Margaret?" he asks. She rolls her eyes "Should have known her name would end up being Titanic related. Alright then, Elizabeth Margaret Phillips. That's a mouthful" she chuckles. The nurse comes back and her name becomes official, Elizabeth. My little Elba all over again. As Jack leads me out of the hospital and into his car I can't help but think of all the things I'm going to do with this little girl that I never got to with my own daughter. I promise, to Nellie and Elba, that I'm going to devote all my attention to this baby. My work won't get in the way this time, it won't get me killed. Yes I promise!
On the ride home Jack tells me about how they tortured him with questions in Liverpool. He smiles and chuckles "You know, I think they were quite upset with me. The only version of Titanic I remember is the apparent 'second time'. They wanted to know what happened without Gabby there, but unlike you I don't know what it was like without her. I must imagine it was incredibly boring" he explains to me. I can't help but laugh myself "It was certainly a, classier voyage without her". There's a quiet moment before he says something I don't expect "Thomas, I have been keeping a secret from you" he tells me suddenly. I raise an eyebrow "What kind of secret?" I ask him.
He takes a deep breath "I have been receiving letters that are addressed to you, every week or so. They look like they've been written by a kindergartener" he explains to me. A kindergartener? What child would be writing to me? "There's something else about the letters that you should probably know" he says after a long moment. We pull into the driveway and he turns off the car, looking at me "I don't get them at the post office, I find them in the house" he pauses "By the portal door". The portal door? Wait, there's only 1 child who would push letters under that door for me. My daughter!
Serious stuff OVER! I can't take it anymore! It's all so... SERIOUS! Goodness, maybe it's school affecting my brain or something. Anyway, next chapter will be completely off this, serious stuff.
The wild ride through the storm is actually based on something I did on Saturday. All day there'd been warning of tornadoes and severe storms, but I decided it's be a cool idea to ride Rocky into town and check out all the stuff going on in town (yes, where I live is so rural I can walk my horse on the sidewalk down mainstreet during a festival and the cop drives by without saying anything!). Anyway, I decided it was getting cloudy so I started riding home. Well I was about halfway there when the wind picked up, and I mean like, SUPER wind! Wind that nearly blew me off my horse! And then came the rain! And it rained so unbelievably hard, I was completely soaked to the skin within a minute, and I could hardly see in front of me. So, I decided to gallop Rocky down the street to get home.
I galloped him down the road, turned onto my street, and then actually had to WAIT IN TRAFFIC during this storm because there was traffic going over the bridge next to my house. Finally I got over the bridge though and I took a shortcut through some bushes before finally making it home. When I did I had to spend 40 minutes in the barn picking burdock out of Rocky's mane and tail from the little shortcut we took. In the end though, we were both ok. It's actually kinda funny thinking about it now!
Today in the review store, we have another video for you! I need something incredibly funny after that mess of a chapter! I guarantee to you this is the single greatest parody of the movie Titanic in existence! On youtube, just look up 'French and Saunders Titanic'. You'll find it. I swear, I've never laughed so hard in my life. For example, instead of Leonardo di Caprio, it's Leonardo Di Vinchi. And instead of James Cameron, it's James Macaroon. So yea, for that fact alone you should really go check it out!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for the continued support and review! They have helped me so much in updating this fic. This might actually be the first sequel I EVER finish! That is amazing! And I couldn't have done it without you! So, THANKS EVERYBODY!