AN: And with this chapter, we are over 200,000 words. Or roughly 2/3 of Anna Karenina. And I've made it to July of 1912, when this will eventually go through the end of WW1. Oh boy.

Newport was a delightful retreat from the city, but the gossip never ceased. I swear that a dozen papers must have filled a train car and sent it up during the night, for every morning we had our choice of papers to read with breakfast. They were all complimentary of Mrs. Astor's party, and Will's presence. What drew my eye though was one of the trashier rags, which I was only reading because I was desperate to have something to tell Liz. I couldn't help but gasp as I read the society page of the rag, feeling it almost drop from my fingers. Will glanced up from his plate, "What is it?"

"Listen; Henry and Samantha Reichster are proud to welcome their son Zachary back from his sojurn in Berlin. He returns with his fiancée, Duchess Sophia Metternich who was delayed from accompanying her fiancé to Mrs. Astor's party in Newport by inclement weather. One can only hope that this leads to a more refined and noble element of the upper class, that has grown distinctly maritime of late."

"Zachary Reichster is marrying a duchess." He shook his head, "She must know nothing about him."

"I think they're actually related." I folded the paper back up, returning to my food. "Some degree of cousin, I think. But that maritime line? Will, that's directed at you and me."

Mother sniffed over her grapefruit. "That must be what he was speaking of the other night." She had been awake when we had returned, and had immediately demanded a report from us. I could tell her mourning was weighing on her, it would be October until she could at least show herself at parties, and April of next year before she could introduce some color into her wardrobe. She had at least left it off mostly when it was at home, although she stuck to dark, plain clothes. I watched her delicately scoop around the seeds, "Really, a duchess. And German at that. I guess he had little luck among the American ladies here."

"Or he's trying to gather some clout." I muttered, crunching into a pice of bacon. "After the charity ball I can only imagine he wasn't received by very many." Breakfast was being held late today, for truth be told, there was little to do. The business was being handled by Mr. Keller, we weren't open for callers today, and we had simply decided to do what we wanted. Which meant that after breakfast I immediately raced upstairs and changed into my swimming costume, it really was a lovely little thing with its navy color and sailor collar. I pulled on a pair of black stockings to keep myself decent, although when I came down to head out I freely let my eyes rove over Will. His suit covered his chest and the top of his thighs, but left his calves deliciously bare. They were pale, and had a slight covering of brown hair. I had never focused on them when we were alone, more concerned with his face, his chest, and well, other things. I raised my eyes as he offered his arm, "And here I thought sailors didn't know how to swim."

"I think your advice is a few hundred years out of date." Will chuckled, both of us stepping out onto the back porch.

Mother, not in a swimming costume, sat in a chair, sewing on her quilt. She looked up at the two of us, "Ana, I expect you to stay in the shade. The last thing we need is a sunburn."

"Mother, the ocean has no shade." I couldn't help the snide reply, "It's not like I can wear a hat out there."

"You can't swim forever," She shot back, a small smile on her face. "You will be under the umbrella when you come in."

Will gave a short cough, "Actually, I was going to begin her lessons on the yacht after our swim."

"Wonderful, I'll have one of the maids leave a hat for you." Mother smirked, shooing us away. "Go on now, and I'll be watching." She cast a look out over the brief yard before the sand of the beach began, the view taking in the whole of the cove. She would be able to see everything from here, with hardly any strain.

I didn't mind much, the most I was planning with Will was a few brief kisses. I did hold his hand tightly as we stepped into the surf, the waves foaming around us as they broke on the shore. I gently tugged on it, anxious to get in, but he hung back. I looked over my shoulder, "Will?"

He shook his head, his eyes distant. "I'm sorry Ana, it's just the last time I was in the water..." He trailed off, staring out past the lighthouse. I knew what he meant, even if he could not say it. He hadn't been in the ocean since the sinking, when he almost drowned, or froze to death. Even I had a brief moment of remembrance, the water around my ankles suddenly chilling before I shook it away.

I stepped closer, brushing my lips across his. That seemed to get him to focus for a moment, resting his forehead against mine. I placed my fingers along his cheek, "Will, come along. The water's nice and warm, you're not wearing all that wool, and I'm with you. You're fine, as am I." He gave a hum at that, and when I began to walk backward while tugging on his hand, he slowly followed. Soon enough we were knee deep, then waist deep, and then we were treading water. His eyes had focused on me, and I couldn't help the little smirk breaking out on my face. "Besides Will, you have to catch me."

"Catch you?" He furrowed his brow, looking down at our clasped hands.

"Yes, the dashing sailor has to catch the beautiful mermaid." I slipped my hand out of his, pushing myself away from him. "Otherwise, he won't get a kiss." With that I took a gulp of air, ducking underwater and swimming down. The cove was as familiar to me as the house, the currents sending my hair out around me as I swam with them. I briefly looked back, seeing Will only a few feet under the waves. I opened my mouth, letting a bubble of laughter out before swimming for the surface. I broke into the air, shaking my eyes clear of water. Will was only a few feet from me, close enough to hear me laugh. "Come on, my dashing sailor. You won't catch me like that."

"Ana, I can't." He shook his head, lifted slightly by a wave. "I can't go under like that."

"Come on Will, it's fine."

"I can't." His voice was firm, and when I saw his hands moving across the top of the water I could see them shaking slightly. "Ana, I can't."

I ducked my head, giving a slight kick to slide down the wave and closer to him. "Will, I was just playing."

"I know." I felt his hand reach out, gently dragging through my hair where it floated in the water. "And I wish I could forget it and just join you."

I tangled my fingers in his, pulling myself closer to him. "You don't have to, we can just swim like this." I started up the next wave, tugging him along with me. He was a strong swimmer, and kept up with me even when I rolled onto my back to look up at the sky as I swam. I looked over, smiling at him. "See? Nothing wrong with this."

"No," Will was staring at where my body broke the surface, the swell of my breasts only briefly hidden when a wave sent me into its trough. "I don't suppose there is." He cast a look back at the house, still visible but the porch was rather indistinct. He swam closer, his arms twining around my waist and pulling me to him. I set my hands on his shoulders, looking up to him. His eyes were a little far away still, "Ana, I'm sorry about this."

"Shh," I shook my head, lifting myself up a bit to clasp him to me. "There's nothing to be sorry about."

"I should be able to swim without thinking about it."

"It hasn't been that long." I muttered, "This was just the first time."

I felt him sigh against me, clutching me a bit tighter. "I guess I did catch you."

"You did." I whispered against his ear, "Which means you do get a kiss." He shifted, pressing his mouth to mine. I sighed into it, enjoying the feeling of floating while kissing him, our legs twining around each other as we gently kicked to stay above the surface. It felt good to have him pressed to me, and he crushed me to him as he deepened the kiss. It wasn't uncomfortable, and I eagerly sucked on his tongue as he slipped it into my mouth. I moaned as he crushed my breasts to his chest, "Will, ah, this is lovely."

"Ana," He almost growled, dropping his hands to my legs. I eagerly followed his lead, wrapping one leg around his legs as he kicked to keep us afloat. It was quite the act we had to do, to kiss like this while staying above the waves. It could only last so long before we wound up tumbled beneath a large wave, briefly separated before we both kicked back to the surface. I watched Will shake his head, "Perhaps that was for the best."

It took everything I had not to pout, "Perhaps. Race to the yacht?" He immediately began to plow through the water, his arms strong as he pulled himself along. I preferred to be under the surface, kicking my legs and occasionally looking up to see him. He was faster than me, hanging onto one of the mooring lines on the yacht as I came up underneath him. He must not have noticed, for when I broke the surface he ducked back a bit. I smiled, "You win."

"Come on then, cabin girl Dalian." Will hauled himself up the line, reaching down to help me from the dock. "You're due to start your training." I was grateful for his help as I scrambled up to the dock and made the quick jump to the yacht. Will smirked as he held out a straw hat to me, evidence of my Mother. I pulled it on, securing a tie under my shin. He had the mooring lines off quickly, and used a punt to push us away from the dock. We floated for only a minute before Will had a line in his hand, pulling quickly and sending the canvas fluttering up the mast. It was about halfway up when he called to me, "Alright Ana, take it the rest of the way."

I had barely grabbed the line when he stepped away, "Will! What do I do to secure it?"

"Just wrap it around that cleat." He said from the wheel, spinning smoothly under his hand as he brought us about to catch the wind. I was not able to pull it as fast as him, and my arms were burning by the time I had the rope secured around a cleat. We were scudding across the cove, the Dependable's bow slicing cleanly through the small waves. Will grinned, "Come, take the wheel."

I came up behind him and hesitated. "Will, I can't take it."

"Yes, you can. Just hold it like I am." He stepped back, still holding the wheel but making it clear that I was to take his place. He pulled his hands away as I brought mine up, the wood smooth under my hands. Will nodded, "Just like that. Hold her steady." It was rather nerve-racking to do so, with every wave she shifted slightly and I had to adjust the wheel against it. I was so focused on the bow that I jumped a bit when Will's hands covered mine, and I could feel him standing right behind me. "We're going to tack a bit to head out past the lighthouse, so we'll go with the wind and then against it."

"That's a bit advanced." I mumbled, feeling the wheel shift under my hands as he began to turn it. "I haven't even got my knots down, let alone steering."

"You'll do fine." I could feel him speak against my back, and the ship moved smoothly under his hands. It took time for us to make it past the lighthouse, the wind constantly wanting to push us back in. But Will was a marvel, using the momentum of the wind to work against it, to send us cleanly breaking through a wave and slipping further and further out. He didn't even notice when I slipped out from in front of him, letting him have full control. It was quite something to see him in his element, his feet firm on the deck even as it shifted underneath him as we came into the rougher surf. He was smiling, truly smiling as we set off along the outside edge of the cove, speeding along under the wind. He laughed, loudly. "My God Ana, I would have proposed sooner if I knew you had a ship like this!"

I shook my head, feeling myself grin. "I told you about it soon after we met."

"But you never mentioned how smooth she goes!" He spun the wheel, sending the yacht heeling over as he reversed our course. It made me glad that our yacht was small and could be handled by only a few crew, a larger ship might have rolled. "Ah, here she comes back. She handles like a dream, who designed her?"

"I couldn't tell you," I moved closer, wanting to be near him when he was like this. "Grandfather had her commissioned, then promptly lost the plans he had been given."

"Well, your shipwright knew his stuff." Will almost hooted as we came back into the cove past the lighthouse. "It's been a long time since I've handled one like her." His eyes flashed over, alight with joy. His voice was deep though, the Scots in it rising and sending a thrill through me. "Exceptin' you, lass. Nothing compares to you."

"Oh Will," I whispered, hoping the wind would snatch my words away before he heard them. "You're so happy out here, aren't you?" He gave no indication that he had heard as we approached the pier, simply ordering me to slack off the sail and be ready with the lines as we approached. It took me several tries to toss a looped line around a mooring cleat, and the rope grew heavier each time it fell, shedding salt water every time I hauled it back up. I looked over my shoulder, "You could help you know."

"You can do it." Will chuckled, leaning against the mast. "I believe in you." It was another two tries before the loop was secure, and Will took up the line to haul us closer to the dock. I sighed with relief as he secured it, glad to be done. It had been fun to sail with him, to see him enjoy the ship and the waves, but it was rather exhausting. A nap on the beach sounded delightful at this point, especially if he was with me. Or perhaps we could retire to the hammock, where we could resume our previous activities. I was just about to suggest that when I looked over, noting that a rather elaborate area had been erected.

I could see a sitting area had been set up on the beach, Mother perusing a book under an umbrella in a wicker chair brought down from the porch. We were clearly expected, a pair was set up across from her with a table between, food and drink laid out. She had even had a plain rug set down over the sand, and she glanced up from her book as we approached. "Very well done Mr. Murdoch, we'll make a good showing this year with you at the helm."

"I can't take all the credit," Will ducked his head, "The designer should at least get some." He snaked his hand out, wrapping it around mine as I sat down. "And my faithful deckhand."

I shook my head, "Oh, I've received a promotion from cabin girl, then?"

"Soon you might even make officer." Will smirked, "You'll need to brush up on your navigation."

"Thank you for your advice, Captain Murdoch." I chuckled, reaching out and grabbing a small plate of fruit. "I shall endeavor to improve myself for you."

Mother actually snorted at that, "The day I see you willingly do math to find your position by the sun is the day that I start walking on my hands." Her book was quickly discarded, and she leaned back in her chair, considering us. "And don't think that I missed you two kissing out there. Honestly, Mr. Murdoch, you're almost forty. Haven't you got some restraint?"

He blanched, "Mrs. Dalian, it was just a kiss. I, I just-" He cut his eyes over to me, "I just enjoy being around Ana so much."

"I can understand that, but I can guarantee you that if anyone else sees you kissing like that then the wedding will be moved up." She glared at me a bit, "At least within a month of someone seeing." Her voice was firm, "And I would dearly hate for that to happen."

"Of course Mother," I nodded, "We act completely respectable around others. It's only here that we act like that."

"It's only here that you have to be dashed by a wave to be separated because you were so caught up in kissing each other?" Her eyebrow quirked up as I blushed, "If you didn't think I'd have a pair of opera glasses on you the entire time, Anastasia, really."

"Mother, I'm sure that you and Father kissed." I shot back, thoroughly embarrassed by this point. "In fact I saw it."

"You saw us acting appropriately for our relationship, not so wrapped up in each other that we forgot everything around us." She sniffed, "As you two are not yet married, well, you should control yourselves a bit better." She nibbled on a sandwich before continuing. "Have you come up with a date yet?"

Will, after gulping down some lemonade to try and combat the flush that was threatening to rise on his cheeks, spoke up. "I was told by Ana that she was considering June first, on the advice of Miss Vanderbilt."

"It would be a good date." I shrugged, "We could have it in the city and then meet up with you here, after the honeymoon."

She nodded, "Almost a full year from now, that should work fine. Your dress will hopefully be ready by then."

"Mother!" I almost started out of my chair, "What kind of dress are you planning that it would take almost a year to sew? And you haven't even consulted me on it!"

"You will have the best dress that I can buy." She grinned, "Especially if my daughter is going to be facing down a duchess who was not held up by inclement weather but," She paused, clearly relishing the fact that I was leaning forward and completely focused on her. "Getting a fitting done at Worth's in Paris for her wedding gown."

"No," I breathed, my eyes wide. "How did you learn that?"

"Oh, Mrs. Vanderbilt managed to get it from a friend, who heard it from Samantha Reichster herself." She rolled her eyes, "That woman loves nothing more than to brag about the cost of everything. And the ring? Apparently it's the same one that Zachary tried to foist on you, from Cartier."

"My God." Will muttered, his brow furrowed. "They're going to spend themselves into a pit if they keep going on like this." Worth and Cartier, he was right. I had no doubt that we'd be seeing articles soon about the ring and the gown, crumbs let out by them to the papers to drive up interest in their wedding. It would be all anyone would be talking about by then.

"Let them." Mother leaned back, a smile on her face. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that no matter how much they spend, the two of you will outshine them. Your first fitting will be next week Anastasia, the day before we attend the launch." She turned to Will, "You will be more than welcome at the launch, Mr. Murdoch, but I am afraid the dress fitting will be a ladies only event."

Will nodded, "Of course, Mrs. Dalian. I look forward to seeing the dress when it is fully finished." His hand slipped around mine again, squeezing it tightly. "On our wedding day."

Mother snorted at that, "Oh Mr. Murdoch, that is so quaint. You will see it when the wedding portrait is taken, and when one is painted. Unless you would like to delay your honeymoon to have those done after the wedding?" Will turned red, and I could see the flush traveling down his neck and onto his chest as Mother began to laugh. I couldn't help but smile, squeezing his hand in return. Even if it was at his expense, it was good to see Mother laugh again. It was good to see her gossiping and planning, to see her come back to herself.

Will seemed to find his voice again, "Yes, well, I would certainly hate to delay it."

"Wonderful, wonderful. Now, what do you think our chances are in the races this year?" She had a very triumphant smirk on her face as she turned to Will, listening to him go on about how the Dependable could fare. Even when he got technical she nodded along, as did I. I recognized some terms that he used, and he was very good about using his hands to illustrate certain points. She gave a nod when he finished, "I would so dearly love to make a good showing this year, in Gareth's honor."

"That would be nice." I mused, thinking about it. "He never could get to the finish line when he sailed."

"If he was here, he would want Mr. Murdoch at the helm." Mother sighed, looking past us and out to the ocean. "He would want to make as much of a splash as he could. I can see him now," Her voice grew soft, and I reached over for her hand. "He'd do everything to make sure that all eyes were on you, Anastasia. Winning the races at Newport, the most extravagant wedding gifts, the wedding itself. He wouldn't want any paper to ignore you."

I gave her a squeeze, trying to keep my voice steady. "I know. And I know that you'll do everything just as he would have done."

"It would have been easier with him here, I wouldn't have had to do this all alone." She pressed my hands between hers, her smile rather sad.

Will's hand reached out, grasping Mother's other hand. "Mrs. Dalian, I shall do everything that I can to assist in this." He glanced aside at me, "As will Ana. You are not alone, we will help with anything."

Mother sniffed, looking to him. "Thank you Mr. Murdoch, I can see why she loves you."