A/N: Happy Holidays everyone! One more chapter before the new year, hope you like it.

And Ava, thank you for the correction on my German. Google translate can only take me so far ; )


Oscar and Cora's New York Brownstone was much larger than Caledon's and could comfortably house two extra guests for a month. So, to reduce the need of uprooting two household staffs, Cal decided not to open his second home. By staying with Cora's family, Evelyn would have constant entertainment playing with her cousins, allowing Cal more freedom to unwind or focus on the type of work that could only be conducted here in the City.

It was a funny thing, calling a trip to New York a calming vacation. But not long after arriving, Cal was pleased to find that his sister had been right; in a metropolis of this size, he could wander and escape. He could go to bars and clubs where no one knew him, where he wouldn't be bothered. And after a solid week, free of harassment, Cal started to relax.

He still insisted that a small security team accompany his family when they went out -to fend off the occasional reporter who popped up now and then- but as their numbers dwindled, these stragglers became more of a nuisance than a threat and once again everyone started to feel…safe.

Ten nights after their arrival, Cal was lounging in the bricked-in courtyard. His eyes were closed, one hand propped behind his head as the music from the victrola softly played from the ballroom's open doorway. The children were fast asleep, exhausted from another day of endless play, and Cal was enjoying a new sensation: being comfortably aware of his daughter's whereabouts without overt concern.

Haydn's Cello Concert No.2 was providing the perfect serenade when Cora stepped out to join him. Cal cracked an eye open when he heard her sit, his gaze falling to the two glasses of sherry in her hands. He smiled in his signature way, one corner of his mouth lifting riley, and sitting up, he accepted her offering.

"It's okay to admit it, you know." Cora said before taking the daintiest sip.

Her obvious setup was charming, and Cal liked to indulge her. "Admit what?"

"That you're happier." Her prompt was somewhere between a jest and a heartfelt remark, and in her deft way it stifled any instinct Cal might have to deny it.

He smirked, "A very tactful choice of words."

"I know you." She said with a sad smile. "And I don't expect you to be 'Happy,' not yet. But I'm very glad to see that you're doing better."

Cal took his sister's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I am happier, Cora. Thanks in large part to you."

She smiled genuinely, squeezing his hand in return. "Good…though my intention of bringing it up wasn't a barter for praise."

"What was your intention then?" Cal asked, taking a sip of his own.

"To let you know that I've noticed and I care. And to say that if there's anything else I can do to…further your progress, I won't hesitate to do so."

"I know that, Cora. Thank you, but you've already done enough. I just need time and peace, that's all."

Cora paused then, hesitant with her next words. "Don't you think, though, that perhaps, in some situations, there's such a thing as too much time, and too much peace?"

Cal sighed, the edge of impatience in his voice, "What are you getting at?"

"It's just that…we've been here a little over a week, and with Oscar's position, it's expected that we would host a gathering. That, and the summer social season is almost over, and if we don't act now, we might miss some crucial opportunities-"

"Cora," Cal interrupted, "it's fine. This is your house, you don't need to put off your plans because of me. Of course you should host. Evelyn and I can get out of your hair and-"

"But that's just it, Caledon. I don't think you should leave. It's important for Evelyn to socialize, and the same goes for you. If she sees you avoiding other people, what sort of a message does that send her?"

"Evelyn doesn't need to see me suffering through an evening of mindless small talk to develop her social aptitude."

"Oh Caledon, that's not what I meant and you know it. She's been doing wonderfully with Percy and Albert, but she's still so shy when it comes to meeting other people outside of the family. You are her role model in all things, and frankly, Mother and I are concerned that if Evelyn doesn't learn that it's safe to step outside of her comfort zone soon, it may blemish her confidence in the long run."

"And a party is going to fix that?" His tone was somewhat harsh, but Cal couldn't help his frustration. Their conversation was sucking all the relaxation from his evening and he had really been enjoying himself until now.

"No. But it's a start." Cora's response was kind and shared the same hopefulness that reflected in her eyes.

Cal sighed. "And I suppose, certain eligible women will be in attendance at this event?"

"Of course, they will." Cora said with a light laugh. "Mother offered to make the guest list."

The Hockley siblings shared a knowing look that melted the tension between them. Cal shook his head and took another drink as Cora's hand rested on his arm.

"She means well. And so do I. No one expects you to fall in love and forget everything that happened. But…in my experience, sorrow is easier to bear when there's someone beside you to lighten the load. I'm your sister, I can only do so much. And this might be hard to hear, Caledon, but Evelyn can't be that for you either." His gaze snapped up to hers. "You two have experienced unimaginable loss. But she's a child, and she needs you to be as strong and happy as you can be, so you can help her do the same."

Cal's eyes stung suddenly with tears that came out of nowhere. Squaring his jaw, he gave a firm nod and turned away, silently acknowledging the truth in his sister's words.

Scooting to the edge of her chair, Cora took his glass, set it down, and firmly held both of his hands in hers. "It won't be like it was in Pittsburgh. I promise. There'll be no talk of past disasters, the only conversation allowed will be on the promise of what's to come."

Cal scoffed through his tears, laughing at Cora's indominable optimism. "And how will you manage that?"

"A prominent woman in society has her ways." Cora said with a rye smile of her own. "That, and I'll set a theme: A Bright. New. Tomorrow" Each word was punctuated with her hand raised to the heavens, laying out the imaginary marquee that would shine above such a magnificent gathering. "What do you say?"

A wave of embarrassment rose up inside him. Her kindness wasn't meant to come across as coddling, but Cal felt it all the same. Here he was, neglecting his role as the older sibling and forcing Cora to step up and say the sensible things he needed to hear. Cal was usually very comfortable being vulnerable around the women in his family, but now he worried he might have gone too far. He saw the worry in his sister's eyes and if attending this party would make that go away, he'd do it. For her.

"We'll be there." Cal said in a quiet, firm voice.

Cora's face brightened instantly. "You will?" He nodded. "Wonderful! Oh, Mother will be so pleased! I'm determined that you'll have a good time, Cal. There will be music and dancing and we can set up card games in the library, so there'll be plenty of distractions. Oscar and I were thinking next Saturday, if that's alright with you?"

Cal laughed, shaking his head. "Am I the guest of honor?"

"No, of course not. I just wanted to confirm that you hadn't made other plans yet."

"My schedule is free."

Cora's grin went from ear to ear. "Perfect. If there's anyone you'd like me to invite, just let me know."

Cal gave a shrug before picking up his glass and finishing its contents. Standing, Cora held out her hand for the empty crystal. Cal took her hand instead and rose, interlocking their arms as they made their way back to the ballroom.


The day of the party set the household in a state of frenzy. Large tapestries of white canvas covered the freshly cleaned carpets as electricians balancing on A-frame ladders installed newer, grander light fixtures overhead. A congress of maids gathered around the dinning table, watching as Cora crafted a master flower bouquet that they were all expected to do their best to replicate. The butler navigated through every room of the house seeing that the musicians had everything they needed in the ballroom, that the kitchen staff was on schedule with their preparations and that the carriage house understood which stalls were for horses and which were for automobiles. As Cal came downstairs, a gentleman had just arrived with the paperwork for a temporary gambling license that would allow them to set up roulette and blackjack tables. Mistaking Cal for Oscar, the man was quickly corrected and told where the actual Master of the House could be found.

With all the commotion of preparing the house, the children had been sent out with Albert and Percy's Nanny -it being Ms. Kruger's day off. Without his daughter to entertain, and no way of usefully contributing to the party preparations, Cal felt it was best to step out for a while until things settled down. So, grabbing a newspaper and his derby, he prepared to depart.

The front doors were wide open to accommodate the coming and going of delivery men and staff. As Cal stepped into the golden light of the vestibule he swerved suddenly to avoid the head-on trajectory of his eldest nephew.

"Slow down, Albert! And watch where you're going!" Cal called after the boy.

Percy wasn't too far behind, always chasing after his brother but not yet fast enough to keep up. Clambering up the front steps, Percy stopped to cling to his uncle's pant leg, clearly out of breath.

"Easy there, Scout. What's the hurry?" Cal asked calmly, tousling his light brown hair.

Percy looked up, his face red from exertion. "Evelyn's missing."

Cal's heart plummeted into the pit of his stomach, sweat prickled the back of his neck and he felt as if all the air had been suddenly sucked from his lungs. "Percy, what do you mean, she's missing?"

"We were in the park playing hide and seek but we couldn't seek her even though we looked for hours until Misses Anna started getting really upset and called for Evelyn to come out because the game was over but she didn't come and then Misses Anna started crying and said we should come home because maybe Evelyn came here and I said I wanted to tell Mama what happened but Albert said he wanted to tell her first so we raced home even though he knows that's cheating because he's faster-"

Percy's words faded away, replaced with the sickening ringing in Cal's ears that overcame him back on the Carpathia. Dazed yet buzzing with panic, Cal looked up to see Ms. Anna Barker as she arrived at the foot of the stairs. She had been chasing after the children, her hat barely hanging on to her hair by the edge of its pin, and when Cal saw her tear-stained face he knew with sheer terror that what Percy told him was true. Evelyn wasn't with her. She was gone.