Wendy had spent that entire first day down in the boiler room, working herself like a dog and keeping herself in the dark so no one could get a good look at her face and figure out that she was a little girl. It was strenuous and exhausting, but it took her mind off of how hungry she was. The girl was starving yet she was too afraid of getting caught to eat when the other workers ate. However come the time for her and the group of workers she was with to put down the shovels and rest, in which she was lying alone in a corner, unable to do anything except feel how empty her belly was, she couldn't take it anymore. She had to eat something despite the risk.
"Excuse me govnor!" She spoke to one worker in her faux cockney accent. "Are they still serving anything to eat?"
"Sorry lad but no one except the first class are being served now." The worker said. "You should have eaten your fill when you had the chance."
Wendy cursed herself for being so stupid and cowardly. Then she tried to ignore her hunger and go to sleep but it was no use. The emptiness, the discomfort, the aching of starvation. Until she ate something, sleep would be impossible and there was only one place she could get food from at this time.
"In retrospect it would've been safer for me to eat when the crew did instead of this." Wendy scolded herself internally as she looked up the stairway that would lead out of the third class level and to wherever food was. There were no crew members around and she was very quick and quiet, so it wouldn't be too hard for her to just sneak into the kitchen and grab a quick roll.
The kitchen was where she had intended to go, but had never been on a ship before and she didn't know how to read, so of course she had no idea where she was going. She went up one stairway and down one corridor after the next, dodging the vigilant gazes of the crew and following her nose. When she smelled the mouth-watering aroma of ham, potatoes, and herring, she followed the scent hoping that it would lead her right to the kitchen. But that's not where she ended up. Instead she was lured right to the entrance of the first class dining hall.
Realizing this, Wendy hid herself behind some thick, velvet curtains and at first she tried to figure out to get out of here without being caught. Then her stomach growled and she noticed the buffet table set with so many hot, well-seasoned, choices. She also noticed that the table was completely unoccupied and that all the guests were busy chatting as the staff served them.
"If I'm quick." Wendy thought. "No one will notice."
Wendy dashed over to the buffet table and grabbed some celery and an oyster.
"Thief!" One guest cried out. "Help! There's a thief on board! A pick pocket! A dirty little scavenger!"
Now Jellal and Erza happened to have been dining at the exact moment when the guest cried out, and with their curiosity peeked, they looked over toward the buffet table to see what all the fuss was about. They watched as a seemingly ash and soot covered boy from third class, tried to run away while shoving the celery and the oyster into his mouth. He ended up spitting both out when he almost choked on it. Two waiters chased after him, Erza followed before her husband could say anything.
She followed the commotion all the way outside and on to the deck where the two waiters had managed to grab the boy. Except when they ripped off the boy's cap, exposing g her king indigo hair, Erza realized that little boy was really a little girl.
"How dare you steal you nasty little urchin!" One waiter scolded. "And how dare you come up here in the first class level! You don't belong here!"
Their conversation also caught the attention of Officer Cobra, who quickly went to investigate.
"We'll teach you not to steal!" The waiter continued in his rant, shaking Wendy roughly by her shoulders.
He raised a hand to strike the child, but Erik was quick to grab his arm.
"Is there a problem here gentlemen?" He asked.
"This no-good thief from third class sneaked up here and tried to steal food!" The second waiter explained.
"Fellows I can understand your anger over the subject but there's no cause for violence." Erik said "Especially toward a lost child. Poor thing probably got separated from her family and just didn't know what to do."
Erik then looked down at Wendy who was trembling with fear.
"Young lady who do you belong to?" He asked her.
"What?" She responded.
"Your family. Your mother and father, what are their names?"
Wendy didn't know how to answer.
"You're not in any trouble. Just tell me who your parents are and I can take you back to them."
"I...I...I." She was no breathing heavily. "I don't know!"
It didn't take long for Erik and Erza to figure out what that meant.
"Young lady who did you board this ship with?" The officer asked her. "Did you come here alone?"
This was it. They were going to figure out that she was a stowaway and then they were going to throw her over board. In that moment she was so frightened of what was to come that she couldn't stop herself from breaking down and crying.
"I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" She sobbed. "I know I shouldn't have snuck onboard! I know I shouldn't steal! But after the orphanage closed I didn't know where else to go and I haven't eaten in so long! Please don't throw me overboard!"
Wendy just balled and cried like a baby. How could Erza not feel compassion for her? Especially upon seeing her unhealthily thin body and dirt covered skin, her blue lips and shivering form. She was cold, hungry, and lost. Erza didn't have it in her to just do nothing, go back inside, and pretend that she didn't see anything.
"Officer!" She called, pulling a few dollar bills from her pouch. "Officer please, I'll pay for this child to ride on board. I'll also pay for all her meals."
"Mrs. Fernandes we couldn't possibly-" Erik started.
"I insist." Erza paid both the Officer and the two waiters. "Inform the captain that she is now a first class passenger and I should like an extra chair to be brought to my table for her."
Wendy looked at Erza completely astonished. She was first amazed by her instant kindness and generosity, this was then followed by her awe over the woman's beauty and how magnificently she was dressed. In Wendy's eyes, Erza was an Angel of mercy who had come to shelter and protect her in her time of need.
"There now, don't be afraid." Erza said in a gentle voice as she slowly approached the girl. "No one's going to hurt you. But if you're still hungry, you can eat with me and my husband."
Wendy was speechless with shock and fear. She just didn't know what to say. Nevertheless, she allowed Erza to guide her back into the dining room and sit her down in a chair that another waiter brought.
"What would you like to eat?" Erza asked.
Wendy still couldn't speak, and she didn't really know what she was craving for supper that evening. Being an orphan on the streets, she could never afford to be a picky eater. So she just answered with a shrug.
"Then I'll just fix you a plate and we'll see if you like it. Okay?"
Wendy nodded. Erza ordered sauté of chicken lyonnaise with parmentier and boiled new potatoes for her. She waited before eating, trying to see if she was really being permitted to partake of such a wonderful meal. After five minutes of silence, she started to dig in. She didn't mean to act like such a glutton, but she couldn't remember the last time she had eaten anything so delicious. The meat, the potatoes, the spices, it was tasty and filling. A proper meal for someone like her.
"Feel better?" Erza asked her when the plate was halfway clean.
"Yes." She finally spoke with her mouthful. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome." She smiled.
Jellal was sitting across from them and just causally sipping his drink. He didn't know what exactly his wife was up to, but for the sake of the child, he chose to remain polite and courteous, then question Erza later.
"What's your name?" Erza asked her. "That is if you want to tell us."
"My name is Wendy."
"What's your last name?" Jellal asked.
"Don't have one."
"Where are your parents?"
"Don't have those either."
"She's an orphan Jellal." Erza said before turning to Wendy. "Is that right? I thought I heard you say that you came from an orphanage."
"I did, but it closed down."
"So where do you live now?" Jellal asked.
"I don't know. I'm hoping to find a nice place in America."
"Are you here alone?"
"Yes."
"Is someone going to meet you at America? Are you traveling to meet a distant relative perhaps?"
"No. I don't have any relatives. It's just me."
Erza looked at her husband concerned. Jellal could read his wife's emotions perfectly and knew what she was thinking right now.
"Excuse us Wendy." Jellal said standing up. "We need to talk about something. You stay right here."
Wendy nodded, and the couple moved a little ways from the table in order to have a private conversation.
"Jellal we can't just let her leave with nowhere to go." Erza said with a very quiet tone.
"I know honey." He responded with the same tone of voice. "But what can we do?"
"Well maybe she should stay with us until the ship docks."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Jellal look at her. She's tired, filthy, and most likely suffering from malnutrition. She needs food, a warm bath, some proper clothes, and a nice place to sleep. We have plenty of room in the suite and I'm sure she can wear my old clothes. We just have to let her stay with us, please dear."
"Well I suppose there's no harm in letting her stay. It's only for a few days, and when we reach New York we'll have the authorities find her a suitable home."
Erza kissed him on the mouth gratefully.
"You're so wonderful Jellal."
Once Wendy had finished her meal, the Fernandes couple took her back to their suite where a hot bath was ran for her. Erza washed Wendy's hair and helped her bathe while the maids made up the extra bed for her. Then Wendy was given one of Erza's old nightgowns to change into and some extra blankets to keep her warm.
"Do you need anything else?" Erza asked Wendy as she watched her crawl into bed.
"No." Wendy yawned. "But I don't understand. Why are you letting me sleep here?"
"I'll tell you in the morning. Right now you need to get some sleep. If you need anything else, just call."
"Alright."
"Goodnight Wendy."
"Goodnight Miss...Miss uh...What was your name?"
"Erza. Call me Erza."
"Goodnight Erza."
Erza dimmed the lights in the room and closed the door with care. Wendy pulled the blankets over herself and nuzzled down deep into the pillows and mattress. She fell asleep that night believing that today's events were all just a dream and that tomorrow morning she would wake up in an alleyway. She just never expected anything like this to happen to her. It all seemed too good to be true. But sometimes our fondest wishes and dreams really can come true.