Hey-O! To all my readers, I have chosen an actress to play Muriel if she was real. Amy Yasbeck, and if you're curious there is a link in my profile that leads to the banner I made for this fic. Enjoy!

Muriel walked back to her stateroom in silence. Tommy sure had a colorful language when he spoke and it made her blush whenever he used that language. She had to admit he was charming. She hoped to see him again soon.

"Where have you been, young lady?"

Muriel gasped and looked up to see Cormick looking at her with his arms crossed.

"Papa", she sighed relieved. "You scared me. I was just up on the deck looking around, making some new friends."

Cormick looked at her and smelled her. He knew the scent of cigarette smoke and he could smell it on her clothes.

"Have you been smoking, lass?" he asked with a stern frown.

"Smoking?" Muriel asked. "No, of course not. I never smoke, Papa."

She had forgotten about how Tommy smoked around her. Cormick must've smelled that. She hoped he wouldn't get mad if she told him where she had been all morning and most of the afternoon.

"Papa, I made a new friend who happens to smoke", Muriel said. "His name is Tommy Ryan, he's a very nice person."

"A man?" Cormick asked.

"Yes", she answered. "A very nice man that I like."

This was not something he wanted for his daughter. He was hoping once they got to America, Muriel would meet a middle class man she could someday marry. Cormick wanted more for his children and he saw Muriel was accepting less than the best. He did not want his daughter or any of his children to end up like him and Ita, poor and struggling to take care of a family. He had to stop this before it got serious.

"I don't want you to see him again", Cormick said.

"Not see him?" Muriel asked. "What are you talking about?"

"You heard me, young lady", he said. "I don't want you seeing this Tommy Ryan anymore."

"Papa, we're just friends. Why are you saying this?"

"It's what's best for you", he said. "Now, go to your room. Your brother and sister have been waiting for you."

Muriel looked at Cormick feeling hurt. He turned and walked down the corridor with no other words to say to her, leaving her hurt and confused. He wanted her to understand he was looking out for her best interest. She didn't understand. She liked Tommy and wanted to see him again. Muriel walked to her room where Thomas, Margaret and Edith were playing.

"Where have you been, lass?" Thomas asked. "We've been waiting all day."

She said nothing and just collapsed onto her bunk and held onto her pillow. She wanted to see Tommy again. Muriel let a tear roll down her cheek.

"Muriel, can we go play up on the deck now?" the twins asked jumping onto the bed.

Muriel turned over, facing away from them. The girls looked at her confused and started shaking her.

"Muriel? Come on, get up. We want to go play."

"Just leave me alone", she said in a quiet voice.

The children looked at her surprised. It was not like her to refuse a request from them. What was wrong with her?