Chapter X
A/N: He's baack! I hope everyone likes this! I certainly had fun typing this up! Thanks go out to cowgirlbookworm for her help!
Air. He was breathing air. And he still had his clothes on, which Will was quite thankful for. Knowing Lights, he expected to be naked. It seemed that he was in the Keldysh's cafeteria. Soon he heard a familiar tail thumping. Turning around, Will saw Orion tilting his head at him, curiosity clear in his eyes.
Taking off his gloves, he asked, holding his hand for the dog to sniff, "Remember me boy?"
Orion sniffed the air, nose twitching. Then the animal started running to jump into Will's arms. Knocking him to the floor in the process, licking Will all the while.
"Yes, yes. You're happy you can finally give me kisses. Now where's Olivia," Will asked between licks.
The dog ignored him, rolling onto his back to present his belly for scratching. The husky gave him an expectant look.
"Oh fine, I'll give you scratches. But I need to find Olivia and apologize. She's likely quite upset with me, and I don't want it to get worse," Will said as he scratched.
Olivia was nursing her glass of Macallan. She'd finished her doctoral thesis, so she'd cracked the bottle. But the victory felt hollow. Drinking alone was unwise, given her emotional state.
Desiring Orion's presence for cuddles, Olivia left her room. She wanted cuddling. And plenty of kisses from her husky to distract her from losing Will.
After looking in several different places, she headed towards the cafeteria. Orion sometimes liked to sniff around the food smells there. Whilst getting closer, Olvia heard an indistinct voice in the cafeteria. Orion's snuffling was also audible. So her dog knew this person and liked them. She kept walking.
Olivia was well within hearing range when her heart skipped. She knew that voice. But it couldn't be.
She ran to the door of the cafeteria. Olivia fumbled with the doorknob and cursed. Once she finally got the door to cooperate, it was flung open.
Her eyes had to be deceiving her. For in front of her, in delicious White Star company dress, giving Orion scratches, was Will.
In the flesh.
"I must be dreaming," she murmured.
It must have been loud enough for Will to hear her, so he turned around saying, "I thought that myself."
Slowly walking towards him Olivia said, "If this is a dream, I'll kill whoever wakes me up!"
Standing right in front of her tilting her face up Will gave her a roguish smirk, "Don't worry I won't."
This kiss was even better than the last one. Olivia had to put her arms around Will's shoulders as he turned her legs into water.
Coming up for air Will said, "Thank God, it's not a dream." Orion was twining around their legs smiling.
"I don't think I can use my legs," Olivia muttered.
"Perhaps I should carry you to your room," Will replied lowly.
However, their flirting was interrupted by, "Olivia, who is this?"
It was her uncle Brock.
About 30 minutes ago, Lizzie Calvert had given Brock something he did not expect. Apparently for the past 80 plus years, her grandmother had had the necklace in her possession all along. It made him wonder if the Hockleys had committed insurance fraud.
With the necklace in his hands, Brock went looking for Olivia. It was time for her to come clean on their bet.
He went to the cafeteria to get a decent glass for himself. In there Brock saw his niece making out with someone in what looked like a Royal Navy uniform.
Stammering he asked, "Ah Olivia. Is this the ghost?"
Ungluing herself from the man's mouth, she said, "Yes."
"I thought he was dead."
"I got better," the former ghost said in a distinctive Scottish accent.
Given that the man was in an officer's uniform, Brock had a pretty good idea who this was.
"How did you find William Murdoch?" He shook his head, "Nevermind, it's late you can explain in the morning. I will bring him pajamas. We're full up on rooms, so no monkey business in your room."
When he got back to his room, Brock muttered, "I need a drink" as he rummaged for a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. After grabbing them without looking, he made way to his niece's room.
By the time Brock arrived, Olivia was already in bed, in her pj's, and out cold. Murdoch was still awake waiting for his sleeping clothes, but he had taken off his hat, gloves, and greatcoat.
"Hear are your clothes for you to sleep in," Brock handed them over to the waiting Scotsman.
"And you thought this shirt was the best one for me," the man drawled as he held up the black "Titanic Swim Team" t-shirt.
"I did not mean to give you that one. I just grabbed and hurried here. Try and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day!"
As he became aware the following morning, Will's first thought was that Olivia was a snuggler.
The ship was also moving. Whether to Halifax or somewhere on the Eastern seaboard of the US, he didn't know yet.
That being said, Olivia's rather nice arse was pressed into his crotch. Will didn't mind that exactly. It was just that he was finding out that everything was in full working order.
And Will meant everything!
Scrambling out of bed and feeling like a pig, he made his way to the shower. For a cold shower and to get his anatomy under control.
When Will got out of the shower and back into his clothes, he heard an all too familiar chuckle.
"You couldn't even control yourself for a full day," Lights cackled, force glow and all.
"Bugger off Lights, I didn't do anything," Will growled.
"You should have. She's definitely more than up for it!"
Shaking his head at his old friend, Will got back into bed with Olivia. She just curled back into him with a hum. Orion dragged his bed next to the single and got back into it.
Olivia was facing him now, nose into his neck, and clinging to him like an octopus.
As his eyes closed, Will thought, I could get used to this.
A few days later...
Dorian's drive to Portland Maine was fast. His granddaughter was going to owe him drinks for quite for quite some time.
Octavian's boss, Chief Inspector Bishop was smooth talking the port officials. Olivia and her former ghost suitor were sneaking onto the docks. He was wearing jeans and a blue shirt. And his greatcoat, though the shoulder insignia had been removed.
Shopping would need to be done as Brock was sharing his wardrobe.
Clasping his hands behind his back, Dorian said, "Now that everyone is off the ship, we need to eat and in private. This place is even dog friendly."
After getting into two cars with Will, Olivia and Orion with him, it was only a short ride to Boone's.
They're holding hands. How cute!
Once they were seated in one of the private rooms overlooking the harbors there wasn't much talking at first as everyone was hungry. The appetizers were sourdough rolls, calamari, and roasted bone marrow. For the main meal everyone had the baked stuffed lobster. Will devoured his food like he wasn't going to see it again. Being able to eat was still a novelty for him. He had a Smithwick's beer. Oliva had a cocktail called Demeter's Demise. Brock and Octavian had Guiness. He himself had a white wine from New Zealand.
Once the meal was mostly finished Dorian began, "Now that we've all been fed and watered, business can be attended to. Mr. Murdoch, currently you are here legally in the US. However, there are some strings attached."
"What are those strings," Olivia asked.
Dorian took a belt of whiskey. This wasn't going to be easy.
"My dear granddaughter, this is going to sound blunt, but there is no way of getting around this: William here has no papers beyond what's being arranged for him. If a new name just pops up out of nowhere in the system, people we don't want to will start to sniff around. But if it is merely for a wedding it'll be ignored. If later you two decide you don't suit, there are ways to dissolve it. But right now, a quick wedding is the only way he can stay."
What Will wanted was time. He wasn't objecting to the idea, but wouldn't push for anything further till they both wanted it.
Oh how he hoped Olivia wanted it!
Olivia seemed to be thinking it over before saying, "I'm willing if he is. Can it be in Arizona?"
"I'm willing."
"The wedding can definitely be in Arizona."
A/N 2: Will has his body back! And everything works! I giggled at that part! Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD