"Did you hear anything unusual yesterday, ma'am?" Louise asked as she adjusted the plaid around my shoulders, making sure that it lay right over my white dress. "I heard something that sounded like a lady screaming at one point." I kept my lips squeezed shut, unwilling to talk about what Will had been doing to make me scream like that. The last thing I was going to tell my lady's maid was that my husband was blessed with a skilled tongue and made use of it fairly often. Or that he had left me with small bruises on my collarbone, and that I had returned the favor. Louise lifted the brooch, the pin awfully sharp. "Ma'am?"

"No, I'm afraid I didn't." I looked away, feeling my cheeks begin to flush. "Will and I were quite exhausted when we returned." Truth be told, when Will had been between my thighs, I really hadn't been aware of how loud I was being. My entire focus had been on his mouth, and there was little in me at that moment that cared about annoying the people around me.

"I'm sure you were." The smirk she wore made me want to ducky my head, but she had come around behind me and begun to thread ribbons through the braids she had put my hair into. "Perhaps it was just the wind, although it was so loud. It scared Reggie and I out of our wits."

I held still as she pinned the braids to my head. "Hopefully it doesn't storm today then. Are you quite sure it was the wind though? Perhaps it was a ghost, Scotland is so old there's bound to be some around here."

"I thoughts ghosts were all moans and groans." Louise came around to the front, considering me for a moment. "Not screams, perhaps I should ask Mr. Murdoch though. I'm sure he'd know if there were any local spirits." I clamped my lips shut as she continued. "Although I could have sworn I heard a male voice yell out too, Reggie said he would ask Mr. Murdoch and report back."

"Well, it hardly matters." I murmured, brushing down the dark skirt I was wearing and adjusting my shirtwaist underneath the plaid. "We're leaving tomorrow, I'm quite sure that whatever ghost made those noises won't be following."

"One would think so, but I heard something similar during the crossing." Louise reached out and adjusted my hair, but she smiled. "You know ma'am, I'm only teasing. It's good that you and Mr. Murdoch are so caring towards each other. I've heard of far too many marriages between your set that are unhappy, and I'm glad that is not the case here. I would just simply caution you to be a bit quieter when there are others around. Reggie and I had to spin quite a tale yesterday for the innkeeper."

I was quite sure my cheeks were flaming red. "Ah, yes, thank you Louise. I'll keep that in mind. Are you and Reggie going to be able to handle getting everything ready to head down to London tomorrow?"

"Of course, ma'am. Now, will there be anything else?" Louise stepped back, and at the shake of my head, bobbed and stayed behind as I stepped out into the inn. Will was already dressed in his full regalia. His kilt swirled around his knees, crisp white socks outlined his calves and his oxfords were freshly polished. I smiled as I took in the sight of him, his starched shirt and black tie, the dark vest and short jacket with their shining brass buttons. He really was a handsome man, and he gave a bow as he saw me.

"Ana, you look just lovely like that." He offered me an arm, leading us out of the inn.

I kept glancing out him out the side of my eye. "And you look absolutely marvelous. Are you sure I can't get you to wear that at home?" He only gave me a chuckle at that, holding me a bit closer as we arrived outside the photographer's store. It was rather small, but it seemed well kept. Jeanie, in her own plaid, was sitting on a chair inside while Samuel was looking at some of the pictures displayed on the wall. He was dressed the same as Will, except with one small difference. I looked to my husband. "Will, should you have a hat for this?"

"Aye, he should." Samuel turned, raking his eyes over his son. "Ye've forgotten yer Glengarry, son."

"Damn it." Will cursed under his breath. "I must have left it at home, Da. I'll be alright for the picture, though."

"But ye don't match." A man, I'm assuming the photographer, spoke up as he came in from the back. "I have some spares though, I can lend ye one."

Will furrowed his brow. "I don't need to match me Da, it's not like I'm a boy anymore."

"But ye're not fully dressed without it." Jeanie spoke up, "And ye promised yer wife ye would be."

I looked from her, to Samuel, and then to Will. "I'm afraid I'm rather confused, do we really all have to match?"

"Yes!" The photographer almost shouted, "We should have symmetry in the picture, to show the family as one."

I could see Will and Samuel preparing for another bout when I held up my hand. "Then we simply take multiple pictures, one with the hats and one without. And one with just Will and I and one with you two."

Samuel pursed his lips, "But the cost lass, it won't be much but still-"

"I will pay." I stated firmly, pulling my purse from my pocket. "Consider it a gift from me, to the both of you for letting me join such a loving family."

Will fairly rolled his eyes at that. "Ana, you don't have to do that."

"But I want to." I smiled, turning to the photographer. "Please, let's begin." Despite Samuel's grousing as we made our way into the studio, the session started. Jeanie and I were given chairs while the men stood, our plaids curling around our feet and being arranged by the photographer's assistant. Our men moved behind us, hands on our shoulders and eyes turned towards the camera. Samuel's cap was taken for the first picture, and then it and a cap for Will were brought out for the second.

I felt Will's hand clench, "God I hate this thing."

"Would ye rather it be a bonnet?" Samuel grunted, but Will's reply was cut off as the photographer broke us off into pairs. We cycled through every conceivable pair, and by the end of it, we were all rather tired of posing and posturing. I had just handed over the payment for the session, with the understanding that framed copies of every picture was to be delivered to Samuel and Jeanie, and to our house in Southampton. Samuel glanced over when I stepped out, "Thank ye fer this, Anastasia. 'Tis a kindness."

"Think nothing of it," I replied, tucking my purse away. "I'll be glad to have pictures to remember the trip, although I may have to get myself a camera back home. I would love to be able to send you pictures from New York."

"'Twould be a fine thing." Jeanie, leaning on her cane, smiled. Her expression fell though, as she looked over to Will. "Ye are leavin' tomorrow though, right?"

Will pursed his lips. "Aye, which means an early night."

"Are ye sure ye can't stay longer?" She placed a hand on Will's arm.

He covered it with his own hand, giving it a squeeze. "Not if we're to make the ship back. And ye know I'll write Ma, and we can arrange a phone for the house. Wouldn't it be grand to have me call every time I come in?"

"Aye, it would." Jeanie smiled again, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Samuel, we should let them head off. I'm sure they hae much ta tend ta before they leave."

"I dinnae want ye ta leave like this, Ma." Will said, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her. "Ye'll hear from us soon, I can promise ye that." He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "And ye know I love ye."

"I love ye too, Will." I heard her muffled reply from his arms, and when she emerged she wrapped me in a frail embrace. "And I love ye, Anastasia. Take care o' Will, he needs it."

"I will, Jeanie. I promise." I held her gently, "And you have my love as well."

"Ye're fussin' too much, my dear." Samuel placed his hands on Jeanie's shoulders, prying her away. "We will see them soon, I just know it. Now, ye two head off and do what ye need to. I'll give yer love to Peg."

"And to the others," Will spoke up, slipping his hand around mine. "We may have fought, but I still love them."

"Aye lad, I will." Samuel kept his arm around Jeanie as he led her off, leaving Will and I alone. I didn't say much when Will started off, his eyes distant. I was far too concerned with my own thoughts, for an idea had wormed its way into my mind. I was stealing Will from his family, from his ill mother and his father who needed his support. I was leaving them here to live in this small town while I swanned around with their son in the bright city. But, then again, I wasn't. Will had already been living in Southampton when we met, not Dalbeattie. Even after Ada had passed, he hadn't returned. Maybe it had been easier to be out working, rather than be up here and have his siblings around.

I didn't speak my thoughts though, simply squeezing Will's hand. "Would you mind if we stopped at a store before we start packing? I'd like to pick some things up for the Lightollers."

"So long as you aren't going to give Charles anything that might make him even worse." Will chuckled, "What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking some toys and books for the boys, and maybe something for the baby?"

"And for Sylvie?"

"Oh, of course. Is there a toy store here?"

"A few blocks away, and I'll help you with figuring out presents for Roger and Trevor. We should pray that Sylvie is having a girl, I can't imagine three Lightoller boys running around that house." Will smiled, his feet quickly finding the way to the store. It was a rather small one, and looking around the rather dingy interior, I briefly wondered if we should wait to go shopping until we reached London. Surely there would be newer toys than what was offered here? Brightly painted toy soldiers, stuffed bears and the like. I voiced my concerns to Will as we pondered over what was offered. He snorted, "Those boys will tear those up in a day, while the things here are sturdy. They might even be able to pass them on to their own children."

I considered the wooden toys in front of me. "What do you think, perhaps a couple of the boats?" They really were darling little things, with striped sails and carved little sailors glued onto them.

"I think that would be perfect." Will collected them, and picked up a few wooden cannons to go with the boats. "And I know just what to add to them, I just hope they have a copy." He gave me a grin, "Why don't you see what you can find for Sylvie and the baby while I look?"

"Of course." I gave his hand a squeeze as he set off to the other side of the store, filled with shelves tightly crammed with children's books. I felt much more confident when I looked at the items for babies. There was hardly any difference in what was for boy and girls here, so I found I could focus on the quality of the items as opposed to whether or not they would like it. These gifts were for a baby, it only mattered that Sylvie would like them. I knew she would love the small pile of clothes I had picked out, the little bonnets and shoes, and the soft plaid blanket.

Will, coming back with a couple of books in his arms, nodded. "Oh, she'll love all of that."

"And what else did you get the boys?" We made our way to the register, the shopkeeper quickly tallying up the cost.

"Treasure Island and Peter Pan, boys always love pirate stories." He chuckled, taking the wrapped up package and putting it under his arm as we headed out. The package of toys was quickly packed into a trunk, and Reggie and Louise were quite adept at getting us ready for an early night. In fact, we were going to have to wake up so early to make the train that we even agreed to forgo our nightly pleasures.

Well, some of them. Somehow Will still managed to get me out of my nightgown and have my legs wrapped around his waist as he stroked me to release. I had my revenge on him in the early gray hours of the morning, wrapping my hand around his length and whispering into his ear as I finished him off. Even after indulging ourselves, we still managed to be up early enough to catch the train. What wound up being the biggest issue was getting the trunks transferred between trains, Will and Reggie had to get a cart at each station and haul them to the next platform before we boarded.

"I don't think I've ever been so relieved to see this ugly sky." Will grumbled as we pulled into London. "At least the bulk of the trunks can head down to Southampton, only a couple of days here." I squeezed his arm with a grin as we gained the platform. Fortunately London had a much greater supply of porters who could handle the two trunks we needed and Reggie could see the rest down to Southampton. The porters even stayed with us until we reached the hotel.

Being exhausted from traveling meant that yet again, all I was able to do that night was curl up in Will's arms. I was so tired that I slept through breakfast the next morning, although Louise was kind enough to wake me before we had to arrive at the Savile Row tailor that I had hired to see to Will. To be quite honest, even after all of Reggie's efforts, the state of Will's wardrobe was abysmal to say the least. While he had uniforms and shirts aplenty, he lacked summer suits, dinner jackets, winter coats and all the various pieces that went with those items. I'd sent a clerk around with Will's measurements, promising the tailor that we'd come around during our honeymoon for a fitting.

Which meant that Will was now standing stiffly before a trio of mirrors while the tailor puttered around him, adjusting the length of his trousers and the ends of his sleeves. He caught my eye in the mirror, "Ana, this is entirely unnecessary."

"Actually, it really is." I took a turn around him, considering the sight before me. "I know you're still going to be working, but you'll have to come to more parties and events. If you show up in the wrong suit, well, it will reflect badly on the both of us."

That seemed to give him pause. "They would really speak badly about you if I wore the wrong tie?"

"Oh yes, after all, it's a wife's duty to see to her husband's wardrobe." I shook my head, grinning. "And I aim to be a good wife to you, Will. So, stand still and let him finish." In the end, the tailor had worked quite well off of the measurements I had sent him and in the end he only needed to adjust very small bits of the suit Will was wearing. With his word that he would transfer these adjustments to the other items I had commissioned, and that he would ship them to New York, we headed back to our hotel.

To say that Will was quite put out with me for dragging him to a high end tailor was an understatement, for he almost refused to come up, choosing to smoke a pipe beforehand. Which meant that when I greeted him with a large hug and a kiss when he came back up, I jerked away after slipping my tongue into his mouth. "Will, you know I don't like that taste."

He rolled his eyes, but his hands were around my waist quick enough. "And you know I hate being prodded at."

"So you decided to punish me with that taste?"

"I can think of a good many other ways to punish you." He grinned, lifting me just slightly off my feet and carrying me to the bed. "For example, perhaps you shouldn't wear anything tomorrow."

"I'm sure all the other people on the train would love that." I chuckled, drawing him down to me. "I know you don't like people fussing over you, but I hope you can see why I arranged for it."

He sighed, settling next to me. "I can understand it, it doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Well," I rose, straddling him. "Do you like it when I fuss over you?" I began to rock my hips against his. "When all I want to do is see to you and make sure that you're enjoying yourself."

His head hit the pillows, a smile on his face. "You know that I do, and that I enjoy fussing over you."

"Ah, so it's only people who aren't your wife that you have a problem with." I mused, enjoying the way that my husband leaned upward to kiss me and pull me down to the bed. I found I never tired of the way he would stroke his hands over my skin, how he would press kisses to any patch he could reach. He seemed to feel the same when I returned the favor, and when I suggested that we forgo the theater the next day and instead return to Southampton to enjoy his squeaky brass bed a bit more, he enthusiastically agreed.

But first, we had to see to our obligations. Which meant that while Louise saw to setting out our clothes in Will's house, we wound up taking the package of toys over to the Lightollers. I knew Charles had shipped out again, and so I wasn't surprised when it wound up taking awhile for the door to be answered after Will had knocked on it. It was Roger's small face that appeared in the crack of the door. "Uncle Will?"

"And Aunt Anna." Will knelt down, his brow furrowed. "What's wrong Roger?"

"It's Mother." The boy glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide. "There's something wrong and she says it's the baby."