When Wendy first awoke that morning, she thought that she surely had to be dreaming because she was laying in a downy bed with silken sheets and quilted covers, in the center of an elegant bedroom with decor inspired by the French Empire. Having been a starving orphan since she was an infant, she believed that the chances of her waking up in a room like this were impossible. It seemed so unreal to her, that she had to sit up and pinch herself to make sure that she wasn't dreaming.
"Ouch!"
Nope, she was awake. Awake and staying in the first class suite of the Titanic. Just then a knock came from the bedroom door.
"Um...Come in?" Wendy said, not sure how else to respond.
The door opened and in walked Erza carrying a dress, stockings, undergarments, and boots.
"Good morning Wendy." She greeted her happily. "Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I ever have in my entire life. Thank you for letting me sleep here."
"You're welcome. Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"Good because we're just about to go to breakfast, so let's hurry and get you dressed."
"Okay."
"Now I've brought you some new clothes to wear...Well they're not exactly new, I wore these when I was a girl but they've been so well kept that you can't really tell that it's been worn."
The dress was small, small enough to be worn by a girl Wendy's age. A simple yet charming, lilac colored tea dress with lace material. The stockings and bloomers were stainless white, and the boots were button up. This was a typical outfit for a child in a wealthy family.
"Do you like the dress?" Erza asked her. "I can get you something else to wear, if you'd like?"
Wendy answered the question by jumping from the bed, grabbing the dress, and running over to the tall mirror, holding the garment up against her body. She smiled and turned, imagining what she would look like with it on.
"It's so pretty." She said. "It's just like all the dresses in the window shops. I've always wanted to wear one of them."
Erza smiled, pleased with the girl's reaction.
"Here, I'll help you try it on. Hopefully it fits."
The dress was a perfect fit, same applied to the bloomers, stockings and boots. Wendy was the exact same size Erza was when she was her age. This was good, Erza and Jellal didn't have to worry about finding new clothes for Wendy because she could just wear Erza's old ones. Once Wendy was fully clothed, Erza sat her down at a vanity, grabbed a hairbrush, and proceeded to comb out the girl's indigo locks.
As she did this, Wendy could not help but look over the dressing table objects that were in front of her. There was makeup, perfume, jewelry, crystals, mirrors, things that Wendy had never seen up close before and she marveled at them. It was almost like how a girl would react to seeing her mother's beauty necessities for the first time. Study the appearance of each item and taking in the knowledge that each one was a tool to enhance a woman's loveliness. That it was something she might use one day when she matured properly.
Taking ribbons from the vanity drawer, Erza then tied Wendy's hair into pigtails which completed the style. Next she led Wendy into the bathroom where she washed her face with a bath cloth soaked in warm water, and cleaned her teeth with a rough cloth and salt water. She was all ready to go now.
"What do you think Jellal?" She asked her husband when she presented the child to him. "She could pass for a proper little lady, can't she?"
For a moment Jellal was completely speechless, staring at Wendy in utter amazement yet blinking rapidly at the same time, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Then he started looking back and forth between her and Erza, his mind and memory making comparisons.
"What's wrong dear?" Erza asked him.
"You don't like how I look?" Wendy asked feeling self conscious.
"No it's not that it's just...It's quite remarkable really." He finally spoke.
"What is?" Erza asked.
"Well don't you see it? She looks almost exactly like you did when you were young. Same height, same facial shape, you two even have the same eyes. Only thing missing is the red hair."
Erza took another look at Wendy to see if Jellal's observations were correct. But she couldn't help but notice physical similarities between Wendy and Jellal. Her nose and her smile were just like his and something about her posture reminded her of him too.
All the staring made Wendy feel a little uncomfortable. It gave her the feeling that maybe the couple had just now noticed they had brought in a kid from the streets and had changed their minds. That at this moment they were contemplating throwing her off the ship.However the moment was interrupted when Wendy's stomach let out a small growling noise. Erza and Jellal started to laugh.
"Wow Wendy, you weren't kidding when you said you were starving." Erza said. "I guess that means we better get going."
With that said, the three of them put on some nice coats and headed for the dinning hall. Upon arrival, Captain Makarov politely approached them and asked Jellal if he could pull him aside for a quick conversation. Jellal agreed and Erza decided to sit down and have tea with the ladies in the reception room. She saw Mirajane and other blue-blooded women just chatting back and forth, gossiping as most women like them would. But once they saw Erza walking across the room, all of them except for Mira, decided that they didn't want her company.
"Oh no, that vulgar Fernandes woman is coming this way." One of them whispered. "Get up, quickly before she sits with us."
Mirajane immediately shot them a look of disapproval and then raised her hand up.
"Erza over here!" She called out, much to the horror of her associates.
Erza smiled when she saw Mirajane waving to them and went over to greet them cheerfully.
"Hello girls, I was hoping I'd catch you at tea." Erza said.
All the other ladies smiled through grit teeth, forcing themselves to be courtesy.
"And who is this little angel?" Mirajane asked, smiling at Wendy who shyly hid behind Erza.
"Everyone this is Wendy, she's going to be staying with us during the trip. Wendy this is my best friend Mirajane. Would you like to say hello?"
Wendy was a little afraid to speak. Her encounters with the rich and high class had never been particularly warm. In fact when wealthy people would walk on the street and see her all dirty and ragged, they give her nasty looks and sometimes even yell at her to get as far away from them as possible. Mirajane was wearing a dress that she had once seen on a very cruel woman of high society who actually kicked Wendy away when she came up to her asking for just a little money that would be enough to buy one roll from the bakery. But Mirajane's eyes were nothing like that woman's. They were practically radiant with compassion and goodness. It made Wendy's fear fade.
She came out from behind Erza and made a little curtsy.
"Bonjour Madame."
"What wonderful manners you have." Mirajane said. "And you speak French?"
"No I am French." Wendy said. "I was born in France, but the orphanage I lived in was in England. That's how I can speak both languages."
Mirajane's gaze turned soft upon learning that this girl was an orphan. She decided right then and there to be especially nice to her.
"I've never been to a tea party before." Wendy said marveling at the pretty white china tea set with images of flowers painted on. "But I used to pretend that I would go to ones held at the Palace of Versailles."
"Well then this is a very special occasion." Mirajane said. "One I'd say calls for sponge cake with cream and strawberries. A special tea treat that I know is somebody's favorite."
Mirajane smirked at Erza who willed herself not to look more excited about the cake then Wendy.
"I'll have the waiter give a request to the cook and while we wait, I'd love to hear more about what you like to do Wendy."
"Me too." Erza said.
"Really?" Wendy asked, surprised that anyone would take an interest in her.
"Yes. Tells us everything." Erza said.
"Okay."
So while the ladies enjoy a delightful morning of tea, cake, and chit-chat, Jellal and Makarov were going over how the ship was functioning so far with Precht and Laxus. Making sure that everything was in perfect working order.
"Are the boilers at an even temperature?" Jellal asked. "If they get too hot, they may blow the ship sky high."
"Worry not Mr. Fernandes, every down below has assured me that they we are no where near over the boiling point." Makarov said. "We haven't even lit the last four boilers."
"Excellent, and we're not going too fast correct?"
"We're going at just the right speed."
"Good. I'm very pleased to see that everything in my design has worked out just as I planned. Though I must say, I'm a little concerned about the life boat count. My design called for sixty, but there are only twenty on board."
"Oh come on Jellal." Laxus brushed off with a chuckle. "Like this ship would even need a lifeboat. God himself couldn't sink this ship."
"With all due respect Laxus, I find it very unwise to assume what the lord can and can't do. There are 2,240 people on this ship. Sixty would have been more than enough to ensure the safe evacuation of everyone on board. If something should happen-"
"You worry too much." Laxus said. "You're on your honeymoon Jellal, you should be enjoying yourself and pleasing your wife. Why I bet you're so tense you didn't have a wedding night yesterday."
Jellal blushed.
"You're in good hands, so just relax and go be your wife, before some other man tries to steal her from you. I know I would if I wasn't happily married to Mira."
"Yes I suppose you're right." Jellal said. "But still, keep me updated on the ship."
"We will." Makarov said.
"Good day gentlemen."
Jellal then went join Erza and Wendy. As soon as he was gone, Precht decided to have a chat with the captain and his grandson.
"So you've not lit the last four boilers then?" Precht asked Makarov.
"No, but we're making excellent time." Makarov answered.
But Precht looked impatient.
"Captain, the press knows the size of Titanic, let them marvel at her speed too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines!"
"I prefer not to push the engines until they've been properly run in."
"Of course I leave it to your good offices to decide what's best, but what a glorious end to your last crossing if we get into New York Tuesday night and surprise them all. Retire with a bang, eh?"
"That would be quite a spectacle Grandfather." Laxus said. "And it would make an even greater bang to announce my taking over as the new captain."
"Perhaps." Makarov said. "Let me discuss it with Jellal. Hedesigned the ship, he knows all her limits. Before I make nay change, I'll speak to him first."
"Fine." Precht said. "Call him back over."
"Not now." Makarov said. "The man is on his honeymoon for God's sake. We'll talk to him tonight, in the lounge, after dinner."
With that plan made, the gentlemen went their separate ways until to proper time to meet again. Unaware of the terrible mistake that they were on the verge of making.