AN: God, this thing just keeps going and going. Be sure to check our Sparky-She-Demon's new Titanic fic Down in History, she's been a great help and sounding board for me while I've been writing.

The tickets had been booked, the trunks packed and already taken to the ship, and Will and I were curled up in bed together in the early morning light on the day of our departure. Kate was more than happy to know that she was not going to have a heavy set of duties for awhile, simply handling Will's mail until it could get sent off to New York and cleaning. Will was trailing his fingers through my hair while I looked around, finding I would miss this plain bedroom quite a bit. The brass bed frame that squeaked when you moved to quickly, the lace runner on the dresser. I'd even miss the wardrobe filled with Will's uniforms, which I had made him model for me last night.

He really did look a fool in his bicorne hat, even as he had fussed with it in the mirror to try and find an angle where it didn't look ridiculous. The rest of his Reserves formal uniform did look well on him though, similar to the frock coat I had seen him in before. The only changes were the elaborate epaulettes that had fringe curling over his shoulders as opposed to his plain ones, and the trim on the cuffs. Instead of the plain gold lace simply circling the cuff, this gold wire wound its way around almost in a chain, a star replacing the loop. With the straight sword against his leg and the white cotton gloves on his hands, he had looked extremely handsome and I gladly told him so. "Except for the hat, my love. I'm afraid it's hopeless."

He had chuckled as I had lifted it off his head, looking down. "And that is quite becoming on you."

While he had been changing I had slipped out, finding the greatcoat he had worn the night of the sinking and slipping into it. There had been a cold snap, and I had wanted something warmer than my nightgown and my dressing gown had already been packed. The black silk lining had been slick against my skin, and the weight comforting. Will had been looking even further down though, to where my bare leg had slipped through the skirt of it. I had pointed my toe, tracing a pattern on the floor. "Well, perhaps we should get these off so they can be packed then. If that would please you?"

"Seeing you wearing nothing but my coat is already quite pleasing," Will had gripped me through the coat, the brass buttons digging into his palms. "But I would gladly see you in it again." All of his uniforms had been packed into an extra valise, even the poor hat which Will had roughly shoved to the bottom of it before tumbling me into the bed and moving on top of me. Our last night in his bed had been spent in furtive moments in the dark, crying out our pleasure before slinking off into slumber, only to wake and find the the other awake as well, and the whole cycle would repeat.

I looked over to Will, his face slightly gray in the morning light. His eyes were bright though as he turned to me, "We should get moving."

"I suppose," I stretched out, laying across his chest and propping my head up. "Although you'll have to help me get dressed." He snorted at that, and we slowly began moving about the room. I had left out my traveling suit to wear, and Will was already dressed when I turned to him with my corset in hand. "You're going to need to tie it tight." I quickly hooked the busk around the front of me, pulling my hair up and out of the way of the laces.

Will tugged it a bit, his hands strong. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's fine. Just tie it when I tell you." I smirked, feeling him begin to pull the laces tighter.

"Now?"

"Tighter."

"Ana, I can't even slip my finger under it." He did flick his finger against the edge of the corset, tight on my skin. "How can you even breathe in this?"

"It's really not bad," I felt him tug it a bit more, "There, that's good. Tie it off."

I could hear the laces being quickly knotted, and he came around. His brow was furrowed, and he tipped my chin up. "That's too tight Ana, it can't be healthy. Why do you insist on lacing it so tight?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes slightly, "I don't, usually. This suit is a few years old, I was slightly smaller then. You can loosen my corset all you want tonight, but for today I need it like this." I walked up to him, playfully tugging at his tie and letting my fingers dance along his collar. "Besides, at least I don't have to worry about choking if I let my head hang."

Will actually looked affronted, "I'll have you know, I do not have my collars starched that much." But he chuckled, kissed my fingers, and lifted the valise into his arms. A cab had been arranged to meet us, and we were shortly driving down the slightly crowded streets to the docks. It was a little odd to see the crowd heading for the White Star docks, and some of them holding cameras and having the overly alert look of reporters. Will slunk back into his seat, "They must think they have to photograph every ship as she leaves, just in case something happens."

I leaned back with him, "I told you Will, vultures, all of them." The cab dropped us off somewhat far from the dock, and we made our way through the crowd. The elevated gangplanks of the Oceanic were nothing compared to what I had used the last time I had left Southampton, but it was still a relief to get out of the crowd. The first class passengers were lesser as well, the line to board rather short. I couldn't help but smile seeing the small gap between the gangplank and the ship. "Will you catch me if I trip again?"

Will wormed his hand around mine, "I'll always catch you." Together we made our way up to the steward, Will handing over our tickets.

The steward had a smirk as he glanced at the ticket, "B-4, right up the stairs. You shouldn't be able to miss it Mr. Murdoch, Miss Dalian." I couldn't help but blanch as he said our names, even as Will swept me up the stairs. The Oceanic was not as luxurious as the Titanic had been, but our cabin was still comfortable, with a large bed and a private lavatory attached.

Will set the valise aside, sitting on the bed. "Well, we're on our way. I thought you might prefer a cabin higher up, this is the best I could get. Did you get that wire off to your mother yesterday?"

"Yes, I did." I looked out the porthole, seeing the crowds on the dock. "Did you give them our actual names?"

"No, I booked us as Mr. and Mrs. Green." Will came over to the porthole, leaning over and kissing my cheek. "Why?"

"You didn't notice the steward called us by our actual names?"

He drew back, "Damn, I didn't. Perhaps he just served on a ship I was on and knew me from there. The passenger manifest won't identify us, we should be fine." I drew my hands up to my face, trying to breathe in and calm myself. The odds of reporters being on was low, very low. And even if it got out that Will and I were traveling as a couple before being married, well, it wasn't as if an engaged couple hadn't traveled that way before. But they had chaperones with them, and oh God. Will pulled me back to him, "Ana, relax. It's nothing. And think, we could just stay in the cabin the whole trip. No one would be able to identify us then."

I chuckled, "As if Charles wouldn't have you dragged out on deck if he doesn't see you today."

"Charles might drag me into the bridge for all I know." Will pressed a kiss to my hair, "Have you calmed down?"

"Yes, yes." I shook my head, "Now, what should I wear with the suit to dinner? I was thinking my pearls."

"Ana, you didn't bring any jewelry with you." He took my hand, placing it in the crook of his arm. "Besides, that hat is more than enough. Now, let's go up and watch." I had worn what I had taken to calling my forget-me-not hat, with Ada's hatpin, and the feather danced in the breeze as Will and I gained the boat deck.

I looked to him as the tugs pulled the Oceanic away from the pier, the sea breeze ruffling his short hair. "Does it feel different, to not be working when we're leaving the dock?"

He inhaled, taking a moment to think. "It does, I miss it."

"Well, you'll be back to it soon enough." I squeezed his arm, "Just think of this as a holiday."

"Haven't had one of those in a long time," He slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. "Years even."

"Well, we've got a few months long one practically, coming up." I felt the slight kick of the engines engage, more noticeable on a smaller ship. "A summer at Newport is not very taxing."

"I'll be interested to see how much you think that after I start you sailing." He chuckled, whatever he had planned to say drowned out by the loud blast of the steam whistle announcing our departure. The ship may have been smaller than the latest ships of the White Star Line, but she did not lack for speed as it seemed only moments before the Isle of Wight had faded behind us and we were moving through the Atlantic. Will hardly seemed to want to leave the deck, even as the rest of the passengers made teir way inside. I could have cared less, the July air was warm and the sun was shining on a clear, but slightly choppy, sea. I watched from a deck chair as Will disdained the long promenades that were usually preferred by passengers, instead falling back into what seemed like a routine. He'd stand for a few moments at the rail, looking out, before turning and gazing down the length of the ship. Then he would pace, his gait rolling against the motion of the ship and his hands clasped behind his back, looking forward and back before returning to the rail again.

I must have watched him do the same motion five times when a voice sang out. "Christ Will, you're not on duty you know. Shouldn't you be with the other passengers, playing bridge or whatever it is they do?" Charles, back in his uniform, had come around a corner.

Will shrugged, "Old habits." But he held out his hand to Charles, and smiled when he took it. "Haven't been on a ship where I haven't been working in ages."

"Well, Mr. Green probably has, so you had better get inside and stop looking like so much of a sailor." Charles chuckled, actually laughing when he saw the bewildered look on Will's face. "If you didn't think everyone at White Star knew you when you bought those tickets, well, I'd be a lot sadder."

"Why?" I spoke up from my chair, grinning to see Will clearly trying to connect the two points.

"Because then they wouldn't have passed the word on to every crewman onboard, and I wouldn't know you'd be here." Charles clapped an arm around Will's shoulder, "Cheer up, it's just the crew that knows its you. All the other passengers will see is William Green and his wife Anne, headed back to New York after a holiday in London."

"Charles, you're horrible." Will shook his arm off, "We were trying to not get noticed."

"Will, you were in the papers for an awfully long time. Now, granted, they only had the one picture to run, but it's not as if you aren't known. At least somewhat. And Anastasia here has been in the papers practically since she was born."

I shook my head, "They at least waited for my debut, Charles."

"Well, poor Will here never had his debut." He snorted, "But I am serious, you should head inside. We've got some rough weather heading our way, shouldn't last too long but we are requesting passengers head inside for their safety."

"As if I haven't been in storms rough enough to throw me over," Will shook his head, but offered me his arm and pulled me to my feet.

I gave his arm a squeeze, "You'll have to stop by and see us sometime Charles, I'm afraid Will is probably going to get bored quite quickly. Laying about, playing cards, smoking, there's only so much for us to do."

"He never has been good at stopping to smell the roses," Charles chuckled, and nodded to the both of us as he headed towards the bridge. We wound up having to go down a few decks to reach the first class lounge, currently set for a late luncheon. The sparse first class booking meant that there were quite a few empty tables, and we quickly availed ourselves of one and ordered lunch. The seas were growing rougher though, and our waiter had to use the wall to keep his balance as he brought our plates over.

I watched my lemonade slide to the slide of my glass, "He wasn't joking, there's quite a roll to it."

"I've been in worse," Will hardly looked up from his meal. "Should be over in an hour or two." He swallowed, looking up. "If you want to head back to the cabin though, if it's too rough."

"I went through a stronger storm on my way over," I sipped my drink, "And on a much smaller ship."

"More than likely you were standing on the bow, cursing the sea to try you."

"I could hardly leave the bridge, I was terrified."

His plate clean, Will leaned back but stretched his hand out to take mine. "Well, I can see you through this one." I wrapped my fingers through his, simply enjoying the concern in his blue eyes. I could hear the other passengers speaking quietly, and a woman gave a slight shriek as the ship rolled farther than she had before. Will simply chuckled as the ship heeled back over, the woman crying out that she would faint. His voice was strong though as he called out to her. "She's been through much worse, not to worry."

"How could you know?" The woman's, I assumed, husband asked as he tried to stand. The motion of the ship sent him thudding back into his chair, and I could see the waiters moving quickly around to collect the plates before they started flying off the tables.

Will stood, walking over to lend a hand to the waiter currently struggling to stand against the motion. "I've been on plenty of ships, this is nothing but a slight squall." The waiter quickly scrambled upright, bearing his stack of plates away to the kitchen.

"Oh, are you sure?" The woman glanced to her husband, then looked to Will. I could see her eyes narrow slightly, "Don't I know you from somewhere?"

Will blanched, "Probably not, William Green, of New York." I stood, letting my stride roll with the motion of the ship as I made my way to him. He gave a smile, "My wife, Anne."

"I'm sure she may have just seen you while we were boarding," Her husband held out his hand to shake, still not standing as the ship continued to roll. "Evan Perry, my wife Constance."

"It's a pleasure, Mrs. Perry." I smiled at Constance, who was currently turning a light shade of green.

She visibly swallowed, "Likewise, Mrs. Green. Although perhaps not at the moment. Darling, perhaps we could return to the cabin until things settle?"

"Of course, my dear." Evan stood, using his chair for balance and helping his wife to her feet. I tried to keep my laugh in as I watched them stagger their way through the lounge, quickly followed by many of the other passengers. The whole crowd almost looked like a pack of drunks making their way down the street, sliding from side to side and using the walls to keep themselves upright as they stumbled.

I had no problem keeping my balance, my sea legs having made a much appreciated reappearance. Neither did Will, who offered me his arm, but I slid my hand down to clasp his as we made our way through the now deserted hall of the ship. "What ever shall we do now?"

"Cards?" He shook his head, "Perhaps read? I apologize, Charles was not lying when he said I have little idea what to do for leisure."

"We could walk," I looked down the richly paneled hallway, thinking it might be nice to stretch my legs. "After all, we seem to be the only two able to stay upright." Will seemed to know the exact way to go, bringing us to an enclosed promenade. We made our way slowly down it, taking time to look through the sealed windows. The sky was dark, and when I pressed my hand to the glass it was cold. Some of that had to do with the rain lashing against it, some from the waves that managed to send their crests up against the very bottom of the window. I listened to them pound the hull, rumbling enough to distinguish from the vibration of the engine. "I don't think this is just a squall."

"It does seem rather harsh." Will looked out, "Perhaps I should send a steward to ask the bridge." He glanced around the deserted promenade, "Or maybe I should go myself."

"It will be fine," I tried to sound confident, "Although some reading does sound good. Do you think you could find your way to the library?" Will almost rolled his eyes, but his feet seemed the know the exact path to bring us to the small library. The shelves were stocked full though, and we both perused them carefully. I slipped a volume out, smiling at the title, it was a favorite. "What do you think, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?"

"I was looking at this." Will held up a collection of Edgar Allan Poe's poems. He stepped closer to me, his eyes flashing. "Perhaps you could read them to me? I'm sure you could do a fantastic rendition of Annabel Lee."

"Poetry?" I snorted, holding my book up. "I'd rather read adventure, science! Submarines were nothing but a dream when Verne thought this up, and now they exist. We could go for a trip on an actual Nautilus sometime soon." I turned back to the shelves, "I'd rather read a history than poetry."

"You could not pay me to travel underneath the waves." Will shook his head, "And there really is nothing like poetry on, what looks to be, a dark stormy night. The only thing that could make it better would be a fire." I heard a slight thump as he set the book down, the sound of his feet on the wooden floor as he came up behind me.

"It appears we are at an impasse, my dear Mr. Green." I smiled, stepping into his arms. "Perhaps we could each read to the other?"

His arms went to my waist, "I can deal with Verne, but only for you my dear Mrs. Green." Our cabin sounded very desirable at the moment, and we set off with our books in our arms. The roll of the ship was not as severe as before, but the storm still hadn't let up as we made our way upstairs and a very unbalanced steward let us know that, due to the weather, dinner would not be served. I hardly cared, lunch had been filling enough. Will found the electric heater in the cabin as I unpinned my hat, shaking my hair loose.

I pulled the strands in front of my eyes away, brushing them back. "Ah, that is nice. Although you are right, a fire would be better."

"A fire outside of the furnaces," He shook his head, coming to sit by me on the bed. "We'd burn to the waterline in an instant, coal dust gets everywhere on here." I laid back on the plush red blanket, feeling the bed sink as he laid next to me. He held out his poetry, "Would you care to start?"

I wrinkled my nose, "You first, if you're going to make me read poetry."

"Hmph," Will handled the book as if it was covered in mud, "A chapter of a novel is not nearly as long as a single poem. Perhaps you could read three?"

"Three poems?" I considered the slim volume I had taken from him. "But Poe writes such long poems." I had just turned to him to argue the point, but he had already started in on the first chapter. Clever man, not giving me a chance to bargain him down. I burrowed against his side, enjoying his warmth far more than that of the heater. He read slowly, his fingers tracing their way down my sides and across my back as he did.

I had almost dozed off against him when he shifted, switching our positions so that he curled around me. "Your turn. Start with The Raven, and The Bells, then Annabel Lee."

His head had made its way to my breast, and I curled my fingers in his short hair, brushing back and forth. "This seems hardly fair, I didn't make you skip around."

"Yours is longer."

"But I'm going to have to go slow in order to get everything right," I pressed a kiss to his head, "Once upon a midnight dreary, as I pondered weak and weary." I let my tongue wander over the rhymes, my fingers still in his hair. I was halfway through The Bells when I felt his hand find my leg, trailing fingers up my calf. I stuttered to a stop as he reached my knee, "Will, what-"

"Don't stop," His eyes opened lazily, a smirk on his face. "Keep reading."

"Leaping higher, higher, higher, with a desperate desire." My voice rose with it, as his hand found its way to my thigh. If I took my eyes off of the book I could see his hand moving underneath my skirt, the petticoat and chemise no obstacle to him. By the time I finished The Bells I was panting, clutching his head to my breast with my free hand. "Will, God, you can't expect me to continue."

I felt his knuckle brush over me, his head heavy on my breast. "It's one of my favorites Ana, please."

"Fuck," I wished I had a pillow beneath my head as I lifted the book up to where I could see it, my neck arching as Will continued stroking me. That reading of Annabel Lee would not win any poetry contests, not with the way I moaned my way through it, curses stealing from my lips as Will moved a finger inside me. I was hot, wishing I could shed my clothes and fall naked into Will's arms, but he seemed content to lay there with his arms around me, pulling me closer and closer to the edge.

He wound up having to read part of it as I shuddered in my release, his voice rolling through me like the pleasure he had brought me to. "But our love it was stronger by far than the love, Of those who were older than we— Of many far wiser than we." I let myself sag in his arms, the book falling to the blanket as my arms fell slack. I must have been in his arms for only a few moments before I felt his lips on my ear, "You're not finished Ana."

"Will, you are horrible." I could barely lift the book, my eyes barely opened. "And neither the angels in Heaven above, nor the demons down under the sea, can ever dissever my soul from the soul, of the beautiful Annabel Lee."