AN: So sorry for the late update, I do a pet sitting business on the side and it really pick up during the summer. Also I have a small dating life now, which is weird but I am not going to focus on it and leave the fic alone. Things just kind of became a perfect storm to keep me busy this week. Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Also, go check out Sparky-She-Demon's fic, Down in History. She's been a huge help with all of this and is a great friend to bounce ideas for this fic off oc.

By the time Will had to leave I could at least speak again, although he threatened to stay and miss the next trip unless I had promised to stay home from the offices until I had regained my strength. I had been huddled over a hearty potato soup, greedily breathing in the smell. "Will, I can barely make it all the way down the stairs. Believe me, I'll be staying."

"I'd hate to have to ask Captain Fraser to turn us around because you weren't taking care of yourself." He had grumbled, but he had smiled as he had said it. I had at least been able to go down and bid him farewell when he was about to set out, and he had held me close for longer than he usually did. His voice was soft when he spoke into my ear, "Ana, please take care of yourself. I want you healthy. I don't want to find you like that again."

"I will." I had nodded into his shoulder, squeezing him a little tighter than I should have. It was a sight more difficult to see him leave this time, and I wound up spending most of the day in the parlor, close to the fire and trying to distract myself with a book. Anything that would give me a chance to look out the windows and hope that he had forgotten something and had to return. Instead, when I looked out one time, I saw Mother's car chugging into the snowy yard. I was already on my feet and moving to the door when she came in, removing her coat and gloves and handing them off. "Mother, what ever are you doing out in this kind of weather?"

"Coming to check on you." She replied, stopping in front of me and feeling my forehead. "Your fever is gone."

"Yes, it has been for a few days now." I stepped into the parlor, pulling her to sit on the settee with me. "Will was quite a wonderful nurse, although I am still getting my strength back."

Mother nodded to a maid who brought in a tea service and some cookies. "I'm glad, although I hope you won't be making him play that role again anytime soon." She picked up a cookie from the tray, delicately nibbling at it. "Do you think you would be well enough by next week to attend a luncheon?"

"A luncheon?" I looked up from mixing the cream and sugar into my tea. "I suppose so, why are you throwing a luncheon though?"

"To assist with your wedding." Mother smirked, "I know you haven't accomplished much beyond deciding on a date. Although you did at least reserve the church." She sighed, "I am going to do my best to assist with it, but it is only a few months away. We need to arrange the wedding portraits, the seating arrangements for the reception, deciding on the new decorations for your new bedroom here, the invitations, the menu, the music. I mean, for God's sake Anastasia, you haven't even selected your bridesmaids yet. Let alone their dresses."

I grimaced. I hadn't, truth be told I hadn't even thought much about it. "I'm sorry Mother, things have just been so busy."

"Well, I am bringing together some ladies and we will help you muddle your way through." She did smile at me, "Hopefully we can handle most of the issues tomorrow, or at least make some basic decisions to have carried out." She must have seen the chagrined look on my face for she reached over and patted my hand. "Not all brides have to deal with what you have had to, I am not upset. It's just something that we need to get done."

"I know, Mother." I nodded, sipping at my tea. "Although I have arranged something for the wedding."

"Oh?"

I smiled, "Will has told me that he wants to wear his uniform when we get married, but his current one is, well, rather cheap." I pursed my lips, remembering the way the wool had itched slightly when I had pulled it on to tease him. "I managed to get the tailor we use for the company to make him a new one, of much finer materials." It had been rather easy, all things considered. Most naval uniforms seemed to have the same design it seemed, the only thing he had needed was the correct buttons.

And the lining.

"I even arranged for him to use some of the clan tartan for Will's family for the lining, a surprise for him."

"I wasn't aware that he had one."

"When I mentioned his name to the tailor he brought up the fact that many Scottish families did, even if they no longer walk around in kilts every day." I set my empty cup down. "He arranged to bring over enough of it to line the coat, I think Will is going to like it." I snorted, "Although I am currently looking for ideas for his birthday. What did you usually get Father?"

She didn't pale, although her eyes grew shiny. "Oh, he was always so practical. Shirts, a new pen, he never wanted anything fancy. And then he would always buy me something overly expensive for mine."

"He has a new pipe." I screwed my face up, thinking. "And I've already bought all of his clothes. I'll think on it." Mother smiled as she shook her head, and we spoke for a little while about the wedding items that I had decided on. She thought Janie's idea of peach roses with forget-me-nots was brilliant, and that I should try to arrange for it to be reflected in the bridesmaids dresses. After about an hour of talking though, I could feel my throat getting strained. I pressed my fingers to it, my voice a whisper. "I'm sorry, Mother, but I think I need to go lay down." She fluttered over me for a moment, and saw me upstairs and into my bed before she left.

After seeing me in that state Peggy forbade me from going downstairs again, everything I needed could be brought up and I shouldn't even be receiving visitors until I was completely recovered. Under her supervision, and large helpings of her whiskey laden tea that she swore by, I was hale and hearty by the date of Mother's luncheon. It would actually be my first time seeing others since Christmas, so I took care with my appearance.

A lacy dress of a soft pink, matching the delicate copper of the earrings I wore. My hair was pulled back and pinned into the latest style, curling elegantly around my ears. My skin had at least gotten away from the corpse pale that it had been, and now had a healthy flush to it. The only thing left was a hat to be pinned to my head, decorated with silk flowers. The carriage was waiting and the familiar drive to Fifth Avenue seemed to take little time.

Mr. Rigby opened the door and handed me out himself. "Miss Dalian, we are all so pleased to see you healthy again."

"You didn't see me sick." I smirked, "Really, I wasn't that bad off."

"Your mother was quite concerned." He sighed, "But when I mentioned to her that I was unaware of your wedding plans she decided to distract herself with them."

"So I have you to blame for this then."

"Hardly Miss, I made a suggestion, you mother derived the whole plan." He chuckled, leading me into the house. The signs of mourning were slowly being removed, pictures of Father returning and mourning flowers being replaced by brighter colors. Mother, waiting in a parlor with Liz and her mother already in attendance, was even wearing a bright green bolero over her black gown.

"And here she is!" Mrs. Vanderbilt cried as Mother rose to embrace me. Mrs. Vanderbilt gave me a grin, "Oscar was quite upset to hear of your illness, did you get the flowers?"

"Yes, I just haven't had the time to write him a card to thank him for it." I replied as I sat down. "Is this Mother's whole wedding committee then?"

"I believe she said we were waiting for a Mrs. Fields." Liz spoke up, "I think I met her at your engagement party, black hair?"

I swallowed, remembering that I had forgotten to see her during the party. "Yes, yes. She's a dear friend of the family."

"I'm practically your second mother." Morgan chuckled as she swanned in, looking far too at ease among the Vanderbilts and pressed a kiss to Mother's cheek. "And shame on you for leaving all this on your poor mother, look at her, pale as a ghost."

Mother actually snorted at that, "Morgan, I am always pale. Please, sit." The five of us were clustered around a table and it was quickly filled with delicious looking tea sandwiches and delicate soups by the servants. Mother gestured, "Everyone, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Eat."

"Not until your daughter tells us what she's actually planned." Morgan spoke up, turning to me. "Have you even come up with a list of guests? Picked your bridesmaids?"

I shifted in my seat, cutting my eyes over to Liz. She had a hand up to hide the laughter that was coming out. I looked back to Morgan. "I've reserved the church, and I know who I would like to invite. And well," I looked back to Liz, "I was hoping that Elizabeth here would be my maid of honor."

"Of course!" Liz almost shouted, leaning over to quickly hug me. "I would be honored."

Morgan shook her head. "Well, that's two things done. Really Anastasia, you have responsibilities with this. You need to attend to them."

"Now, Morgan." Mother reached over, placing a calming hand on her. "I have found that working on things for the wedding has been a big help during my mourning. I did not press her on it for that reason."

"Actually, Morgan." I drew in a breath, trying to sit up straighter. "I was hoping to ask you something." At the raise of her eyebrows I continued. "Well, I suppose I would be asking you to ask Abraham something. Ezekiel mentioned it when I first told him about my engagement, and it was in jest but the more I have thought about it, I have wanted it. Would Abraham be willing to walk me down the aisle?"

She snorted. "He's been waiting for you to ask that for months. Of course he will." I felt a tightness in my throat, and could only nod my thanks to her. Her face softened, and she reached across the table to grasp my fingers. "He loves you like a daughter, all of us do. You know that whatever you need, we'll do our best to help you. Now, flowers. Your mother mentioned peach roses, are you sure you don't want a true pink?"

"Or red." Mrs. Vanderbilt spoke up, "For true love and passion."

"Mother, it's her wedding." Liz shook her head, smiling. "I think peach is a lovely choice, sincerity is always something you should take into a wedding with you." She nibbled at a sandwich on her plate, "And with the forget-me-nots the colors will be quite nice. Will you want them in the bridesmaids dresses?"

"I suppose so, perhaps a peach dress with a blue sash?" I let her draw me into a discussion about the dresses, since the other bridesmaids would be her responsibility to deal with. In the end we settled on a peach silk, draped in a light white chiffon and bound at the waist with a light blue silk sash. I sighed after we had finished, "I just don't know who to ask for the other maids. What do you think, should I have four more?"

"That would be good." Mother nodded, "And there is always an Astor or a Fish who wants to get noticed. We might even be able to get some of the old Dutch families to send us a daughter."

"As long as you're not thinking about Her Highness," Liz laughed, "I won't mind."

Morgan gave a derisive snort. "As if we couldn't plan a better wedding than her."

"You've heard she's heading over for her final fitting in March?" Mrs. Vanderbilt spoke up, her eyes alight at the opportunity to gossip. "I've heard her dress is going to be worth a fortune by itself, and that her brother is going to be bringing over her late mother's jewels. They've been in the family for two hundred years."

"So she's going to be wearing a golden collar, fitting given that she follows that family like a dog." Morgan grinned, "I saw them walking along, her following all three of them. They didn't even include her in whatever they were discussing."

I felt a smirk break out. "The two of them came upon Will and I while we were picnicking in the park. He spilled wine all over her skirt." All of them gasped at that, "And he said just awful things about Will. I really can't stand that man."

"Well, I can assure you that she does not have friends as you do." Mother replied, smiling happily at me. "Now, for the music?" The four of us discussed practically every aspect that could be covered, enough that I asked a maid for a pen and paper to take notes. By the end of it my hand was cramping, and the stack of paper seemed almost an inch high.

I sighed, clenching and unclenching my hand to relieve the pain. "Well, with you ladies helping nothing should go wrong." They all nodded along happily, no doubt aided by the fact that Mother had arranged for wine to be brought out. "I'd like to ask your help on another matter, Will's birthday at the end of the month. I just can't think of anything."

"A pocket watch?" Liz suggested, "A nice one, gold?"

"I got him one for Christmas."

"A jacket then, Abraham is always losing his." Morgan shrugged her shoulders, "I always have to sew him a new one by winter, so I just get it done for his birthday in March."

"I bought all Will's clothes, they're all the latest fashions and highest quality."

Mrs. Vanderbilt had a strange look on her face. "I have an idea, but you may not like it."

"At this point, I would take anything." I turned to her, hoping that my need was writ plain on my face. "What is it?"

"It's an old tradition in our family," She looked to Liz. "To have the ladies give the men something made out of their hair. So that they always have a part of us with them, even if they're away. Perhaps a chain for the pocket watch?" At my nod, she continued. "I could take a lock of your hair to a fellow we know who could weave it into a chain. He would have it finished by the end of the month."

Liz nodded, "I could come by and get it tomorrow."

"No, let's do it now." I stood, pulling my hatpin out and setting both it and the hat on the table. "I would rather get it done, before I lose my nerve."

"It's just hair." Liz shrugged, rising and bring a plate over to collect the pins she began to pull out of my hair. "It's not like it will hurt."

"I know, but still." I ran my fingers through my long hair, which I rarely cut. "It takes so long to grow."

"Take it from the bottom of her scalp, to hide it." Mother said, rising to come and lift my hair to expose the spot she was talking about. "It won't affect the hairstyle for the wedding this way." I felt Liz trail her fingers along my hair, twisting it around them. I shivered as I felt the cold steel of a pair of scissors, no doubt brought in by a maid, slide along the back of my neck. She snipped slowly, but evenly and when Mother let my hair back down I knew it was done.

I looked at the golden lock of hair in her hands, darker than what was on top of my head but still that dark gold that Will loved. It would look good as a watch chain, as long as it shone like that. "Thank you, Liz."

"Don't forget, Anastasia." Morgan had a knowing grin on her face, "You could always consult the book that I gave you to find a decent present for him. I think the hair will go over well, but something additional wouldn't hurt."

Mother raised an eyebrow at Morgan. "You gave her a book? On what?"

"Household management." Morgan smoothly lied, "All the things that a young soon to be bride should know."

Liz chuckled, "Oh, now you've woken the envious beast of my mother."

"Oh hush, you." Mrs. Vanderbilt gently swatted at her daughter. She did look to me though, "What was the book? Household management is something I deeply enjoy learning. Even as wealthy as we are, economy is not a vice. Do you happen to remember the title?"

I blanched. "Um, well, I can't remember it right off the top of my head. It was older, I know that."

"Actually it was a collection of older volumes, you probably have them in your library." Morgan seemed to take pity on me, distracting Mrs. Vanderbilt. "I know Anastasia was trained very well in that by her mother, but I thought providing some old advice could not hurt." I felt as if my face was on fire.

"Perhaps I can take a look at it sometime." Mother was smiling far too wide. "It's always nice to read the advice of our ancestors." Oh God, that was the last thing that I wanted. She turned to me, "Have you read much of it so far?"

"Some." I muttered.

Morgan laughed, "How far have you gotten? I assure you that it contains some great nuggets of wisdom. I've used some of the advice in it myself." I began to very closely study the pattern on the plates, curling waves and dancing mermaids within them. The last thing I needed to think about was Morgan and Abraham doing the things Will and I had done after reading it. The chatter continued for awhile, and I kept my eyes on the mermaids and my mouth shut.

It took Mother touching my shoulder to draw me out of it. "Our guests are leaving, you should thank them." I nodded, giving each of them a hug and thanking them for their help today and in the future. Morgan's hug lasted a little bit too long, and she gave me a smirk as she pulled away. The Vanderbilts headed off, and it was only Mother. She gestured for me to sit again. I was already twisting my hands in my skirt when she spoke. "Why did you clam up?"

"I," I stammered for a moment. "I was just ashamed of what I hadn't done, the book went on about all the responsibilities of a bride and I hadn't done anything it listed. That's all."

"Surprisingly, I don't believe you." Mother laughed, "Has Morgan been teasing you about William? You know her, it's how she shows that she's happy."

"Yes, she has been teasing me." I seized on it like a lifeline, and kept babbling. "Sometimes she comes over for tea while Will is gone and talks about how I must miss him, and she keeps saying that it will only get worse once we're married. She included some of that in the margins of the book, her little tips for me." I stood, brushing my skirt down and putting my hat back on. "In fact, I should head home and get things ready for when he gets back in a few days. Oh Lord, and I have to arrange for his Valentine's present."

"What are you getting him?" Mother came over, helping pin the hat to my loosened hair and collecting the pins to place in my pocket. "If you had such a hard time for his birthday."

"Oh, red roses, a card, chocolates." I smiled, hugging her briefly. "It's so easy when you have traditional gifts to fall back on."

"Then you should have no trouble on your anniversaries." Mother returned my hug, and walked me down to the carriage. I had a few days of peace, which I spent actually doing things for the wedding. I visited the Astors and the Fishes, securing myself two more bridesmaids. My overtures to the old families were going to take time, although I was going to try and smooth my way with flowers. Nothing extravagant, tasteful bouquets that would compliment their houses. Those families had a tendency to overreact to any displays of extreme wealth. In fact, I was just addressing a card to one of them when a maid came in.

"Miss, Morgan Fields is here for you in the parlor. She says she has a present." The maid waited for my nod before heading downstairs, and I stood up from the desk, sighing. More than likely Morgan had brought some other filthy book to taunt me with, it was highly unlikely she was actually going to apologize. That wasn't her style, and if she actually did feel bad about something she was more likely to offer her help with something rather than admit it.

"Hello Morgan, what have you got today?" I couldn't help the bite in my voice as the maid left us in the parlor. "Another book on household management?"

She laughed at that. "Hardly, although if you would like another volume I might be able to find something." She held out a box, grinning. "Here, my birthday gift for William. Go on, open it." I took it from her, pulling the lid off. Shining at me was a teardrop shaped pendant of polished lapis lazuli, dangled from a silver chain. Morgan tapped it, "Don't think I spent too much on this, someone gave it to me to celebrate something Abe did and blue is not my color. It is yours though, so look underneath." Placing the necklace on a side table, I lifted the paper to reveal a pile of folded blue silk. I lifted it, silver lace spilling out as I shook it out to see what it actually was.

It was utterly obscene.

I had never seen a nightgown that was so revealing, the neckline low enough to reveal almost all of my breast and the sleeves tacked on like they were an afterthought. Silver lace frothed around the neck, the cuffs of the sleeves and the hem. Lace was ran along the seams, and would clearly reveal the flesh beneath it when worn. I dropped it back into its box like it was on fire. "Morgan, forgive my language, but what the hell are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that you need to give him something besides a pile of your hair for his birthday." She chuckled, reaching over to fold it back up. "I saw the way he looked at you in your dress at the engagement party and your birthday, he definitely has a color that he likes on you." She tucked the necklace back on top of it, placing the lid over everything. "So I made this up for your wedding, I thought you could wear it on your wedding night. But, well, you should use it sooner." Morgan reached over and chucked my chin, and for a brief moment I saw Father, back at our hotel in Southampton, doing the same thing. "Wear this, grab the book, and go to his room on his birthday. Hell, do it for Valentine's Day, he's going to love it. He probably won't let you leave for an entire day. And it's a gift you could give him again for his birthday." She didn't give me a chance to respond, briefly kissing my cheek before she left.

I stared down at the box in my lap, my feelings all muddled as I wrapped my hands around it.