Rigel twisted around his legs as Will crushed her to him. A dam broke in him, relief flooding through him as he felt her put her arms around his shoulders. His throat felt tight, and when he ran his hand down her back, he almost shivered. Her clothing still felt cold, and he rubbed her back a bit faster to try and warm her. She pulled back, looking up at him with wide eyes and he let out a sob at seeing those wonderful brown eyes that gazed up at him with nothing but love. "You're safe, thank God."

"Yes," She sniffed, a few tears escaping. "It seems I have terrible luck with liners."

Will didn't laugh, she was clearly trying to make light of it and put him at ease. He took a breath, steadying himself. "I don't want you leaving, not until the war is done."

Ana nodded, then stepped back into his arms as she wrapped herself around him. "I want to go home."

He drew in a breath, trying to breathe in her scent. But all he could smell was the stink of low tide. "Then let's get you there." He brought a hand up, curling it around her head. "A hot bath, a good dinner, and I'll brush out your hair. Doesn't that sound nice?" She nodded into his chest, and he kept an arm around her as he leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to her lips. While the rest of her may have been cold, her lips were warm and moved against his softly.

Will groaned at that, pressing his forehead to hers. "I love you, Ana."

"I love you, Will." She muttered, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Rigel seemed to take their affection as a lack of attention that he was due, jumping up to paw at Will's side. Will ruffled his ears, noting that the dog's hair was still cool as if he had been soaked and not fully dried. He tucked his arm around her, taking Rigel's leash and tugging the panting dog after them.

Rigel stopped dead after a few steps though, his hackles raised and a growl in his throat. Will turned, nothing a fine-boned young man in a Lieutenant's jacket, his trousers perfectly pressed and his collar freshly starched, watching the both of them. He stepped forward, doffing his cap but not saluting. "Captain Murdoch, my felicitations on the miraculous survival of your wife."

Ana pressed herself to Will's side. "Lieutenant Campbell, I already spoke you on the train."

"And our arrival cut our conversation short." The Lieutenant pursed his lips as Rigel growled louder. "As did your beast."

"I'm sorry sir, but I'll have to ask you to leave my wife alone." Will tugged on the leash, "Come Rigel."

"I'm afraid I have orders sir," Campbell leaned in, although he recoiled slightly when Rigel snapped at him. "Intelligence, you know. Very important, what with a war on and all."

The man's posh accent was grating on Will's ears. "I fail to see how my wife is important to Naval Intelligence."

"Oh, but she is. After all, there's to be an inquiry soon." Campbell grinned, raising a brow. "You're familiar with how quickly an inquiry happens, although we won't be proceeding quite as quick as Titanic. Unlike you, your wife won't be subpoenaed for a short time. But I do need her full statement."

Will so dearly wished to let Rigel loose. "She can speak to you another time."

"Indeed, I'll be by tomorrow at noon sharp." Campbell donned his cap again. "Don't worry about providing directions, I know your house."

He turned back for the train, whistling as he went. Will stared after the man, "I'm going to lock every door and window." He muttered further to himself as Ana leaned further onto him, hoping that she didn't notice the curses he was using.

He wasn't the only one cursing, the cabbie barely stopped himself when Rigel was loaded in but a few bills from Will were enough to make him quiet. Ana leaned on his shoulder as the car set off, and Will glanced down to her. Her face was drawn, there were circles beneath her eyes and she was feverishly pale.

She was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

Will almost carried her inside, drawing the curtains after locking the door. Ana stood there, almost weaving on her feet as Rigel gave her hand one last kiss before collapsing on the parlor floor. Will went to her, lifting her hand. "Ana, love, you need to rest."

She shook her head, her fingers curling around his. "I need something more." She lunged forward at that, her lips finding his with a fierceness that he hadn't expected with her exhaustion. He groaned into it, especially when she opened her mouth and she slipped her tongue around his. Will let his hands wander over his wife, happily cupping her bum and pulling her tight to himself. She pulled away slightly at that, breathless. "Will, I want to forget what happened."

"I can do that." He grinned, lifting her into his arms. "We just need to head upstairs." He cuddled her to him as he climbed the stairs, pressing kisses to her neck. Upon reaching the landing, she returned the favor and began to unbutton his jacket. He helped her, not caring that he threw it onto the ground or that his waistcoat, shirt and trousers shortly joined it. She was a bit more hesitant when he unbuttoned her shirtwaist though, so he took his time kissing her and letting his hands wander her body.

Soon enough her shirt was gone, her skirt a pile on the floor and he was facing his greatest enemy; his wife's corset. It was tied tight, and he used every bit of skill to get the knot loose. He thought he heard something else clatter to the ground when the corset came off, but then Ana was wrapped around him and he hardly cared about anything.

Only she pulled back with a giggle, "Your hat?"

Will reached up, swatting the damn thing aside. "Come here." He guided her into the bedroom, laying her down. He ran his hands over the soft skin of her thighs, feeling the warmth of her body. Her clothes might have been cold, but Ana was warm and soft and alive and he buried his head in her shoulder when she opened her legs to allow him entrance into her.

He didn't even need to touch her, she was so wet that he slid home with little effort. Her hand came up, a gasp in her throat. "Will, God, I've missed you."

"Fuck, Ana." He cursed, already thrusting into her shallowly. "I've missed you," He dropped his head to hers, "Your lips, your breasts, your voice." His hips thudded home again and again, and she quickly joined the movement. The sound of their flesh striking each other seemed almost obscene in the silence of the room. "Your cunny, I think about having you all the time. Every night." He reached down, pulling one of her legs up and placing her foot over his shoulder.

She cried out, he was deeper in her now and the feeling of it was driving him mad as he thrust harder. Her voice was hoarse, "I've thought about you too, your fingers, your mouth." He was leaning over her now, his breathing fast as he kept thrusting. She leaned up, "Your cock."

Will lifted her other leg then, and he couldn't help but grin as his wife couldn't even form a sentence, only the occasional curse escaping her lips. He still could though, "God I love when you talk like that."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." Will could feel her release coming, and she was panting even harder as he kept his relentless pace up. Her walls fluttered around him, and he cursed low in his throat as she drew his own end out of him. He barely stopped himself from collapsing on her, catching himself on his elbows even as he tried to catch his breath.

Ana's eyes fluttered, her fingers coming up to trace his cheeks. She brushed them through his whiskers, "I didn't even notice these."

He gasped out a laugh, "I thought to send you a picture, you said you always wanted me in whiskers like this."

"They're a bit different in person." She pressed a kiss to his nose, "Sillier." She then ruined the mood by yawning, and Will hastily got off of her. He came back with a warm cloth to clean between her thighs, pressing a kiss to each one after. Her eyes were closed, her breathing deep. Will fumbled for his trousers on the landing, pulling them on but leaving the suspenders dangling.

He pulled the sheets over Ana, then the blanket and drew the blackout curtains. Kate had seen them installed, a part of the war efforts, and they made the room dark as pitch even in the afternoon. He slid into bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her as he pressed a kiss to her hair.

She turned in his arms, her fingers finding his chest. Her brow furrowed as she brushed a finger along the thin line of scar tissue, "What's this?"

Will traced the scar with her, "We took a shell, from the U-boat. Some glass sliced me, but it healed clean." He shivered as she kissed it, her fingers still stroking it. Will let his own hands wander her chest. "No scars on you though."

He almost jumped when she laid her head on his chest, "I'm so tired."

"Then sleep." He held her close, "And when you wake up, I'll run you a bath and we'll have a wonderful dinner."

"You won't leave?"

"Never again."

It was several hours before Ana stirred in his arms, slipping out of them to pad across to the bathroom. Will waited until he heard the toilet flush before knocking lightly and cracking the door. "Ready for your bath?"

She was standing in front of the mirror over the sink, her hands curled up in her hair. "Oh, yes." Her fingers twisted out of her hair, catching on the knots and tangles that marred it. "Maybe you should bring some scissors, I'm going to have to cut all this off."

Will snorted as he started the tap, only stopping up the tub once the water was warm. "You cut your hair and I'll divorce you." She gave a chuckle at that, although her eyes were wide. Will came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Besides, there is some benefit to having a sailor for a husband. We have clever fingers and know our way around knots." He pressed a kiss her temple. "So you just lay back and relax, I'll have you set to rights soon enough."

He let his eyes linger as she stepped into the tub, her skin pinkening as she sat in the hot water. A few bruises marred her though, across her shoulder and arms. He pursed his lips at that, fetching his own comb and brush as he sat beside the tub. He gently lifted Ana's hair so that it draped over the edge towards him. It was slow going, gently picking apart every twisted knot with his fingers and the comb. He grimaced at the feeling of salt on his fingers, Ana's hair still covered in it from whatever had happened when the Lusitania had sunk.

Ana's eyes were closed, although she would wince if he pulled too harshly. He did his best to be gentle, to unknot her hair without hurting, but he couldn't avoid the occasional yank. She kept most of her hair though, only a few blonde strands littering the floor by the time he was finished. The bathwater had turned tepid as he drew his brush through her hair over and over, her hair shining and soft.

Ana's eyes fluttered as he pressed a kiss to her cheek, "There, see? Perfectly fine."

She smiled, "Would you really divorce me if I cut it off?"

He helped her stand, wrapping a towel around her. "Never, but you needed a laugh." He toweled her off, glancing back to the bedroom. "Give me a minute, I'll grab my pajamas."

"Actually," Ana pointed to the hallway, "Could I wear your shirt?"

He fetched it, unbuttoning the collar and cuffs and tossing them on the bed. "Of course."

She smiled as she drew it on. "I kept one under my pillow while you were gone." Will watched as her hand went to a pendant that had escaped his notice, the pendant he had given her. Ana glanced up shyly at him, "I haven't taken it off."

Will's heart gave a lurch, "Ana, you are too wonderful by far." He was slightly disappointed as she buttoned it up, but was rewarded when he realized that the shirt only fell to midthigh on her so he had a rather pleasing view as Ana went down the stairs ahead of him.

He reminded himself to thank Kate for purchasing some of those new dog biscuits, Rigel was quite pleased with his dinner when Will set a pile of them down in front of him. Ana was still sleepy as he set the stew to warming, her chin on her hand and her eyes sliding shut. But when he put the bowl of warm stew in front of her, she practically inhaled it. He smirked, "Hungry?"

"Starving." She mumbled, "All I had was a sandwich on the train from Liverpool."

"I'll have to fatten you up." He joked, putting a spoonful from his bowl into hers. "Can't have you wasting away on me."

She blushed a bit at that, "You sound like Mother." Will snorted, reminding himself to ask her about that later. But then she yawned widely, and he set about collecting the dishes and hustling her back upstairs. Rigel padded after them, taking a spot on the floor at the foot of the bed.

Will collected the clothes off the floor, doing his best to fold his trousers and Ana's shirtwaist and skirt. But when he lifted her corset, something tumbled out. Will reached down, picking up the water-stained silk purse. It was heavy, far heavier than if it just contained bills. When he set it down on the dresser, it made a thump. He looked to Ana, already under the blankets, "What's in there?"

Ana paled, "Will, I-"

"Some jewels you brought?"

"No, no."

"Ana," He sat on the bed, reaching for her hand. "What is it?"

She shook her head, "Just open it."

He did so, shaking out some damp bills and a golden money clip, a few silver medallions falling onto the sheets when he shook the bills out. He lifted the money clip up, the light catching on the engraving. A. . He set it down on the bed, "Who owned this?"

Ana looked away, "Alfred. It, it was all I could grab." Will knew another man would have immediately been suspicious that his wife was having an affair and had taken a token from her lover, a notorious womanizer, but from the way Ana's hands were shaking, he knew better. He also knew Ana would never do that to him. She reached for the money clip, brushing her finger across the engraving. "I want to send it back to his family, it's all they'll have of him."

Will looked down, Alfred was dead then. "I'm sure they'll be grateful."

"I wanted to grab him, but he was so heavy." Ana sniffed, rubbing a hand over her face. "I tried Will, I did, but Rigel was tugging on me and the ship was listing."

Will pulled her to him, "Shhh, shhh, it's all done. No need to talk about it."

"But tomorrow-"

"I'll be there, and I'll set Rigel on him if he says anything." Will gently pried the money clip from her hands, setting it on the dresser. He clasped his hands around Ana's face, pressing his forehead to her. "But I don't want you thinking about any of that. That's tomorrow, tonight I'm just glad to have you here with me."

She sniffed, shifting so that he held her tight. "I'm glad too, Will. You have no idea how glad I am to be with you."

He scooped up the little silver pieces, turning them in his palm. "Saint's medallions?"

"A gift, from a priest in Ireland." She smiled at that, her fingers reaching over to trace them and brush against his own skin in a way that made him want to bed her again. "The family I stayed with for the night, the father escorted me to the train station the next morning and we stopped at his church to light a candle for, for Alfred."

"Any particular saints?" Will tossed them in his palm, "I don't think I see Saint Andrew."

"He gave me Saint Nicholas for you, Saint Francis for Rigel and Saint Christopher for me." Ana pointed out each as she named them. "The patron saints of sailors, animals and travel. I mean to put Rigel's on his collar and add mine to the necklace."

"I'm sure I can find something to carry mine in." Will slid them back into her purse, "That was very kind of him."

"It was." Ana watched as he set the purse on the dresser, her brow furrowing. "Will, could you hang my skirt and shirtwaist up? I'm going to have to wear them tomorrow."

He dropped back onto the bed, arms pulling her close to cuddle. "You are never wearing those again. You can wear part of my uniform tomorrow, and if Lieutenant Campbell has an issue with it, I'll gladly show him the door."

She giggled, rather sleepily as she settled herself onto his shoulder. Will fell asleep with a smile on his face, and his wife in his arms.

But of course, his happy mood couldn't last.

When Will woke in the middle of the night, he had to stop himself from starting. His sleep hadn't been pleasant, he'd been dreaming that Ana was gone, trapped in a sunken ship where he couldn't reach her, but when he looked down, she was there. Her blonde hair curled over her shoulder, her head resting on his chest as she breathed slowly in her sleep. He curled his arms a little tighter around her, doing his best to calm himself.

He'd come so close to losing her, to his nightmare being reality and he couldn't stand the thought that she could have been lost because of him. She had been just fine in New York, but he had been so desperate to see her that he had brought her right to the edge of dying. How could he have been so foolish? He could have made it through the war without risking her, but he had been selfish and greedy and wanted his wife. His actions had almost killed her.

He drew in a shaky breath, feeling tears creep down his cheeks. If he had lost her, he didn't know what he would have done. Mutinied, run the Unicorn into a battle that he knew he wouldn't win, let a wave pull him off the deck one night, there were so many options. He must have trembled trying to hold in a sob, for Ana's eyes fluttered. Her voice was thick and sleepy, "Will, what is it?"

He sniffed, pulling a hand up to wipe at his face so she wouldn't see his tears. "Nothing, nothing. Go back to sleep."

"You're crying." She sat up, looking him in the eye. "Why?"

"You!" He snapped, drawing in a breath to temper his voice. "Why would you risk yourself for me? I'm not worth you losing your life." Saying it seemed to have unleashed a flood, "I'm a horrible man, I left you when I could have stayed! I could have stayed; we'd have been safe and it's not as if the entire outcome of the war depends on me. I was wrong Ana; I was so wrong and I am hardly worth the breath in my lungs."

She reached out, "Will-"

"It's true." He drew away, "You would have been better off if you had never met me, you could have lived a happy life and never had to worry about your husband dying or have him leave you. I never should have left you, never. Not for me, I'm not worth anything, let alone your life."

"William," Her hand came up to cup his cheek, staying with him even as he pulled away. "Will, you are the most precious thing to me. I wish you had stayed, but we have to live with what we've done. I'm here, you're here, and I don't ever want to hear you say you're worthless."

"But I am," He leaned into her hand, relishing in the soft feel of it against his skin. But it felt slightly cool, as if she still wasn't warm all the way through. "I know I'm your husband, but compared to you? I'm an old sailor, dogged with tragedies that seem to crop up where ever I go." His voice was bitter, because he knew it was true. Losing Ada, Titanic, Ma, even his time on the Peterel, part of him could easily see losing Ana as one more step on that path that would only end with his death. It would have been better for everyone in his life if he ended it early. "You deserve a better life than what you've had shackled to me."

"Will, Will, stop. I am not shackled to you." And had shifted so that she was laying on him, pulling his hands away from his face. "I love you, Will. I've had such a wonderful life with you, I don't want it to end. Not until we're old and gray, surrounded by grandchildren."

He was sobbing openly now. "You asked me once if I would choose you or Ada. It's you, Ana. It's always been you. When Ada died I was miserable, when I thought you were dead, I wanted to die. I didn't want to go on without you."

She shuddered, "Will, don't you ever say that. I never want to hear that from you again. I want you to live a long life, even if I'm gone."

"But-"

"Would you ask the same of me?" Ana gripped his hands tightly, "Would you want me to throw myself off a bridge if you were gone?"

"No!"

"Then don't do that to me." Ana leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. "Will, you're exhausted and so am I. We're both not thinking straight. You are everything to me," She lifted his left hand, tracing over his ring with a thumb. "My jolly sailor bold."

He grabbed her left hand, pulling it up to kiss her ring. "A sailor is nothing without a harbor to return to."

"And I'll do my best to make sure you always have one." Another kiss, and Will held her there for a moment. She stirred, pressing another kiss to him. "And Will, I'm serious. I don't ever want to hear you say that you wanted to die ever again. I couldn't stand for there to be a world without you." To have her in his arms, in his bed, it made him remember that one tragedy hadn't happened. Ana was still here, sighing into the kiss and shifting herself even more on top of him. He pulled back, taking in the sight of her in the dark. Her eyes flashed; the white cotton of his shirt she'd taken for a nightgown the only thing visible with the blackout curtains drawn. He watched as she unbuttoned it, shrugging out of it and returning to his arms. He pulled her tight to him, and he let out a laugh. Ana snorted into his shoulder, "What?"

Will's hand found the small of her back, tracing over her soft skin. "Now you're the one who showed up on my doorstep with nothing, rather fitting if you think about it."

She gave a giggle at that, settling against him again. "You need to sleep, and so do I."

"We could do something besides sleep."

"We already did that, but I wouldn't say no." Her hand was already moving towards his pajama bottoms when he caught it. He could almost see her head tilt. "Will?"

God, he wanted her again. He wanted to lose himself in her, to chase these thoughts from his head with the pleasure of her flesh. Her hand soothing his fevered skin, yielding to him and moving with him. He wanted to caress her, to possess her, to worship at her feet like the unworthy man he was. Will wanted all of that, he wanted to bring her to her peak again and again until she couldn't move and then do it again the next day and the next. He wanted to take her, to see her belly growing with his child and hold her when it was born.

But Ana didn't need that right now.

She didn't need him wild eyed and crazed, possessive and angry that she would risk herself for him. She needed him to comfort her, she needed to be held in the night when, he had no doubt, nightmares would plague her. She needed someone to help her get used to living under wartime conditions. Ana didn't need a maddened lover, she needed someone to support her. To keep her warm and safe and remind her that everything that had happened was in the past, over and done.

He pressed a kiss to her hair, sighing into it. "Sleep, love. It's what you need, and I'll be right here." She snuggled up against him, and Will pulled her even closer. In the darkness provided for the blackout curtains, he stared up and pondered the mysteries of his life. He had known such sorrow, such tragedy, but was that the cost of finding a woman like Ana? Like Ada had been? To be the shadow following their footsteps, convincing these bright women to tie themselves to him even though he brought them nothing but pain?

But then Ana pressed her lips to his neck, her voice a whisper. "Will, stop thinking and sleep. I can feel you worrying yourself."

"I'll try." He murmured, "But Ana-"

"Will, I love you." She pressed herself closer to him. "Nothing will ever change that, and I would have done anything to get back to you. I'm so much happier here."