Chapter XXXII: I Like Life

A/N: Finally at Christmas 1912. A most fun chapter, I think! Cowgirlbookworm, thank you for your help! Happy Titanic month everyone! SSD

December 23rd, 1912

Albert hadn't felt in this good a mood around Christmas in ages. Well, he knew exactly when the last time he was in this good a mood around Christmas.

The Christmas decorations from before his beloved Maeve passed had been disposed of in his grief. He hadn't even wanted to look at them. Cecily and Roland had wanted little to do with them as well.

They'd needed to buy everything new, and he'd roped his children into it. When Albert had told them of his plans, they'd looked at him like lobsters were crawling out of his ears.

The house was fully decorated, with greenery on anything that would stay still. Including obscene amounts of mistletoe. Which was inviting mischief to happen.

Erik and Lucy were going to be staying for a few days. They'd intended to go to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to see Erik's family for the holiday, but had been warned away of horrible snowstorms both on land and on sea.

Ghislaine and her parents would be staying at the house as well. He'd had a long chat with Roland about sneaking around, that Albert figured his son ignored most of.

As for Cecily, Albert knew she would appreciate his Christmas present.

Hopefully she didn't misuse it!

Christmas Eve, 1912 near midnight

"Quickly come on! They'll be home any minute," Malcolm hissed at a certain Welsh sailor as they rushed into the house.

Rafaela and Priscilla grabbed Harry's bags and coat.

"Move! They're here and Mr. Lethbridge is going to be surprising Cecily soon," Rafaela shooed them down the hall.

"She doesn't know I'm coming," the Welshman spluttered.

"You're her Christmas present. And meant to be a surprise. So shush!"

They heard Albert say, "You know Cecily, in some places, there's a tradition of being allowed to receive one gift and open it on Christmas Eve. I've taken the liberty of picking one for you. Though please don't open it!'

Malcolm snorted.

"Why not? I need to unwrap it to see what it is," Cecily replied curiously.

"Because if you do, Roland might faint from embarrassment. Malcolm, please come in," his boss called to him.

No sooner did he and his charge enter the room did Cecily let out a high pitch yell of "HARRY!" She ran as fast as her high heeled shoes allowed her and launched herself into her suitor's arms.

Who swung her around in his own joyful hug.

"Nadolig Llawen, fy enaid," Harry whispered once he set Cecily back on her feet.

"Frohe Weihnachten, mein schatz," she replied hands resting lightly on his chest.

"When did you get in," Cecily asked now in English.

"Not too long ago. There were train delays," Harry replied, eying her pine green dress with clear appreciation.

"You two are going to have to kiss sooner rather than later," Erik's voice rang out.

"Why's that," she asked. Cecily defintely wanted to kiss him, but not in front of everyone.

"I suggest you look up," Lucy sounded far too pleased with herself.

Her and Harry looked up, then groaned in tandem. It was one of Rafaela's infernal sprigs of mistletoe and they were right under it!

"If I kiss you, do you think he'll shoot me," Harry murmured, nodding at Roland but still moving closer to her, almost standing on her toes.

Cecily moved her hands over his shoulders, across his chest, to his tie answering, "No. But I will if you don't!" Then tugged him down to her mouth.

They'd both gotten better at this since April. Having long since learned what the other liked, it was easy to drive the other mad with the slightest touch.

She knew Harry was driven wild by the way she bit at his lips. He knew full well that she could not be held responsible for her actions when he touched her neck that particular way...

"Unless you two have figured out a way to breath through your ears; I suggest you come up for air," Roland drawled.

Harry disengaged noisily and made a quite rude suggestion in Welsh that made her father snort and her brother choke on his whiskey.

Ghislaine asked, "What did he say?"

"Trust me, you do *not* want to know," Cecily replied as she sat down next to her favorite sailor. She and Ghislaine had bonded over their shared love of floriography.

He couldn't sleep. Harry was too keyed up, even after a long, hot shower.

Cecily had given him a good kiss goodnight, before heading off to bed. Lucy's smile worried him. He had a feeling that she may have given Cecily the idea to have those pictures taken back in October.

Harry kept those well hidden, but he just couldn't stop himself from digging them out again and again.

He was considering taking them out again when noise came from the wall. There would be no need for those pictures tonight, as the real thing crept out of the passage.

Cecily was lust personified in the green gown she was wearing. Mina and/or Lucy had likely gotten it for her.

"Am I allowed to touch you," Harry ground out.

"I rather hope you will," she kicked off her slippers.

"Oh, I plan to plenty," he stalked around her, a lion with his prey.

"Would you like to unwrap me? I am your Christmas gift after all," Cecily held her arms out, letting him look his fill.

"I bloody well would," he flicked a glance at the door, "Everyone else down for the night?"

"Of course."

"Well knowing you, there's still the possibility of you waking them up!" His eyes gleamed, "Here, I have an idea!"

Cecily's eyes went wide at the belt in his hand then asked, "You aren't going to hit me with that are you?"

"No. It's for you to bite on, instead of biting me!" Harry handed it to her.

"But I like biting you to keep myself quiet," she pouted.

"Next time luv, next time. Now how do I go about unwrapping you," he scanned over the tempting green nightgown.

"Like this," Cecily guided his hands to a bow in the middle of the bust, but under the bustline.

"Think you can do it," she drawled.

With a quick tug, her generous breasts were on display for him at last. They sent him into a frenzy, sucking and squeezing them alternatively, all the while maneuvering Cecily towards the bed.

She was not idle either. Cecily was making it hard for him to focus on her as her hands were wandering.

Grabbing them, Harry pinned them on either side of her to the bed, "Any more of that and this will be over too soon."

He wanted this to be a good long night. And to look at the marks on his belt and remember what caused them.

That reminded him. "Put this in your mouth and bite on it. Don't remove it till I tell you," Harry ordered.

Cecily's eyes went wide, but she did as she was told. Neither of them wanted to get caught.

"I've wanted to thank you for your delightful birthday present," Harry began dragging his fingers up her legs, taking the skirt with them, "But I couldn't figure out how to say it, because what if your father or worse Roland read it? There would be shotguns involved and a quick wedding." The skirt was up around Cecily's waist now, she was squirming in anticipation. "I suppose it's too much to ask you to keep still," he drawled.

She glared at him, grabbed his hair to shove him exactly where she wanted him. Clearly, she wanted him to shut up.

Grinning, Harry dove right in attacking Cecily's cunt with a fervor that set her squealing through the belt. Though it was quite muffled.

He remembered the spots from the time before that made her writhe with his fingers and tongue. Harry could tell from her noises she was pleased with the use of his fingers and mouth.

It seemed Cecily was quite sensitive tonight for she soon flooded over his tongue and lower face.

"So I take it you enjoyed that," he couldn't help but ask silkily as he wiped his face.

"I don't think I can move just yet," she replied, eyes still closed, chest heaving.

"I did a good job then."

"You won't be able to move later, when I'm through with you," Cecily's eyes slitted at him.

The night was quiet. Too quiet. Especially with one newlywed couple, one engaged couple, and one (if Albert wasn't kidding himself) soon to be engaged couple.

Not able to sleep, Albert just *knew* his children were up to no good. And yet he couldn't hear a thing! He'd always had a sixth sense for nonsense.

Considering going for a look (starting with Roland), he heard a voice: "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The familiar voice made Albert jump out of his skin. Turning around his saw Maeve in his favorite indigo dress of hers, surrounded by an emanating glow.

"I must be dreaming or I am far more drunk that I thought," he blinked at the vision of loveliness.

"Sit down at your desk so we can talk," his wife ordered.

Once he sat down Maeve said, "You don't want to go poking around the house tonight."

"And why not? It is my house you know," Albert asked petulantly.

Sitting down on the chair across from his desk Maeve began, "Unless you want to see Roland and Cecily in varying levels of undress of course..."

Covering his ears at her words, he muttered, "I don't want to think about that!"

"Then leave them be! They aren't doing anything permanent," his wife giggled.

"Christ Maeve," he reached for the whiskey.

"You and I were much the same, if not worse. It took me quite a bit longer to figure out how to keep you quiet," his spectral wife snickered.

"I feel so bad for your father right now," Albert laughed at a memory.

"He's laughing at you now, you know," Maeve cackled.

"As is his daughter," Albert paused to drink then asked, "How well have I done with them?" He knew he had a pleading tone to his voice.

"You've done well. And even kept your promise about taking their happiness into consideration for when they're getting married. You did well with helping Lucy and Erik this summer. One last thing: Don't get too mad about Erik's gift to Roland or Lightoller's gift to Harold." Maeve gave him a ghostly kiss.

What had the two pranksters give Harry and Roland?

Well, he'd find out in the morning, and Albert was going to try and get some sleep!

Christmas Day, 1912

Roland watched as Cecily and Ghislaine were being entirely too nice to each other. Something had happened, but he didn't know what. He hoped Ghislaine didn't run into Cecily early in the morning. Gifts had gone excellently there were only a few more left.

"Roland, you haven't opened Erik's gift to you," Lucy suggested, cuddling next to her husband. Cecily had just handed Lightoller's gift to Harry.

He went to Erik's gift. It looked innocent enough; wrapped in brown paper. His friend was smirking and his father was watching Erik with narrowed eyes.

Roland then noticed Harry hadn't spoken for a bit so asked, "What did Lights get you?"

Harry was twirling Cecily's hair deliberately ignoring the tin from Lightoller, he only answered, "Trouble."

"He won't tell or show me what it is," Cecily groused but still cuddled closer to Harry.

"You and Harry have the same thing," Erik snickered.

Roland now attacked the paper which revealed a nondescript rectangular tin container.

Judging by Harry's reaction it was something he found embarrassing.

He peered at the tin closely, opened it, then slammed it shut before flinging it across the room to Erik's uproarious laughter. It clattered to the floor near Cecily's feet he shouted: "Don't you dare look in it!"

The last thing Roland wanted to do right now was explain to his sister what a condom was.

That was for Harry to do now!

"Erik, you've got 5 seconds before I beat you to a pulp," Roland growled taking steps towards his friend.

"You're so bottled up, now you can- Yipe!"

He now chased Erik around the house determined to make him regret the gift. Somehow.

Christmas Day, 1912, Southampton England

The boys now soundly occupied with their new toys and Sylvie putting the final touches on the Christmas goose, Charles made a beeline for a Christmas present that was clearly meant for him, and not meant for children.

It had arrived in early December and felt like a wooden box of good size and weight. Upon unwrapping, it was indeed a wooden box. There were keys with it on a ring. There was a note.

So you won't have to deal with the Master at Arms on any of the ships you're on ever again. Merry Christmas. Cecily and Roland.

Using the keys, Charles opened the box. Grinning, he knew he'd have to send them a thank you.

It was a new mark V Webley revolver. With several boxes of ammunition next to it!

A/N 2: And I am finally done with 1912! It only took me 32 chapters. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! Next up, Roland and Ghislaine's wedding in March 1913.

Translations:

"Nadolig Llawen, fy enaid,"- Merry Christmas, my soul.

"Frohe Weihnachten, mein schatz,"- Merry Christmas, my treasure.

Casting:

Maeve Lethbridge: Sian Brooke with red hair.