The older man looked beside him to see his small son happily talking with that oh so beautiful woman he had bumped into while boarding the ship. The breeze was soft, causing her hair to be swiftly pushed behind her shoulders, the dark tendrils splayed along the bright sleeves of her dress. Her perfume made it's way to his nose and the hairs on the back of his neck immediately stood on end.

Lavender.

He smiled to himself. That made her even more beautiful in his eyes.

Emily turned her head to the older man, her eyes smiling as she touched his shoulder. "Are you alright, Aaron? You seem quiet."

Aaron nodded, more to himself than to her, and smiled to the brunette woman, his hand grasping his son's. "It's just such a beautiful evening. I'm trying to soak all of it in."

The woman smiled softly and nodded before looking over the railing to the sea as they slowed their walk, the calming pinks and oranges of the sky seeping into her system. "It truly is beautiful. I remember a sky just like this when it was my ninth birthday. Everyone was applauding as I danced with my father, but I was no longer paying attention to the party. My eyes were on the window as the colors of the sky pulled me into their spell; their arms capturing me in an embrace."

Aaron looked down to the woman as her voice entered an almost dreamlike state.

"My father's lips then touched my hair, and I slowly returned back to reality. Not that my reality was not beautiful, but I so wanted to stay in that place of perfect harmony. The place where my eyes could see such natural and untouched beauty. Where my mind could wander and dream for hours on end." Her dark eyes looked up to his and she let a blush spread across her cheeks. "I'm sorry."

"For?"

Emily shrugged as they made their way inside to the lobby of the ship. "Drawing out my explanation on why I thought it was beautiful."

Jack looked up to the woman beside him and tugged on her hand. "Miss Em'ly?"

The brunette grinned down to the small boy and nodded. "What is it Mr. Jack?"

"I think it was real nice too!"

Emily laughed before bending down, crouching just in front of the grand staircase to get eye level with the blond. "You know what I think is nice?"

Jack shook his head.

Her slim finger touched his nose before moving his hair from his face. "You."

The small boy smiled wide before flinging his arms around the woman's neck. "Can you pick me ups, Emmy?"

Emily nodded against the boy's hair before standing and lifting him into her arms and setting him carefully on her hip. She smiled before tickling his side. "Better?"

"Yeah!"

Aaron smiled at the pair before laying his hand on the brunette's back, leading them through the halls and into the dining area, the soft music hitting them just as they walked through the doors.

"Oh Aaron, this is lovely."

He immediately nodded in agreement before sitting them down at the nearest table. After making sure his son was safe in the seat between him and Emily, he began adjusting the lapels of his jacket. "Is this alright?"

Emily looked to the man across from her with shocked eyes. "How could this not be? It's beautiful."

Aaron smiled before leaning over and fixing his son's hair.

Emily's eyes slowly traveled around the room, taking in every tux and dress, every plate of china that was set at different tables and every small scent that slowly wafted to her nose. But then she noticed… almost everyone was staring her way.

Her eyes scrunched as she looked from table to table, all eyes slowly turning and looking her way.

Her breath caught in her throat.

They were sizing her up.

Aaron looked back up to the brunette in front of him, his smile slowly fading as he saw her shoulders tense and her eyes flutter furiously around the room. He followed the trail her eyes were creating, and he noticed the same thing she had a moment ago. At least ten of the thirty people in that dining room were looking their way, their eyes looking Emily up and down.

"Aaron…"

The older man looked to her and saw her worried eyes. "Emily, ignore them. They are none of our business and we are none of theirs."

Emily shook her head as a shiver ran down her spine. "Maybe I should go and change."

Before he could get a sentence out, Aaron's eyes hardened on an older man that stormed up to their table. "Can we help you?"

The man's steel eyes landed on Emily and her sneered her way when she deflated under his gaze. "I'm sorry miss, but to be in this dining room you need to have the right wardrobe and class." He made no effort to hide the fact that his eyes began to roam her chest. "Go and change if needed. But if you have nothing better than that, I suggest you leave now."

Aaron immediately stood from his seat, gaining the attention of most of the room. "Now you listen here-"

"Aaron, stop." Emily slowly stood from her seat before giving a shy smile. "I'll be happy to go and change. I wasn't aware of the dress code and I do apologize."

Aaron turned and looked to the younger brunette, feeling the gaze of his young son on him at the moment. "Emily don't you listen to him. He has no right coming over here and speaking to you in such a manner."

Emily fixed the hem of her dress and shook her head. "Aaron it's alright, I promise. I'll be no more than ten minutes."

As quick as she could, Emily made her way out of the dining room and up the staircase, holding her tears back as she walked swiftly down all hallways. Her gaze was down sighted, her pupils staring at her feet before her shoulder was roughly shoved by another.

"Watch it!"

Her scared eyes looked up to the man's, her heart beating rapidly as his gaze softened on her. "Jack?"

The blonde shook his head before kissing Emily's cheek. "Em, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you."

Emily shrugged, her curls bouncing as she shook her head. "It's alright." Her hands went to her arms as slowly raked her fingers over her cold skin. "Is everything ok? You seem…"

"Angry?" He nodded before softly taking her hand and walking her down the hallway. "Yeah, but I'll be fine."

Once they made it to Emily's room, the brunette turned to her friend with anxious eyes. "Will you help me with something?"

Jack smiled. "Anything. What is it?"

Emily's cheeks reddened as her fingers crumpled the material of her dress. "Could you, maybe…help me dress? I need help with a corset and my father's not in."

Jack's face immediately flushed and it took him a moment before he nodded, his eyes wide. "Y-Yeah. Sure."