When Will saw me come downstairs in my sailor dress, he groaned and shut his eyes. "Don't you have anything else to wear?"

"Of course I do," I chuckled, coming over to sit beside him. "But nothing as fun, and you said Brighton is fun. Is it anything like Coney Island?" I had to admit, I was anxious to see Brighton. I had remembered Will saying that his original plan to propose, before he had asked me to stay at his house, had been to take me to a day at Brighton and propose there. I was hoping that it would be a beautiful spot.

One of his eyes flicked open, "I haven't been to Coney Island, so I can't compare it."

"Well, are there roller coasters?"

"I think one or two."

"What about a steeplechase?"

"Yes."

"Games?"

"Far too many."

I grinned, sidling up to him. "Then it sounds like we'll be having a very fun day."

He sighed and opened his eyes. "I just don't want you to get your hopes up, most people go to Brighton to swim."

"Well, I didn't bring a swimming costume and I doubt I could get away with wearing nothing like the last time we went swimming." I watched as he flushed, and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Unless you would want to stay there until late and see if we could do that."

"Oh God no," He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, "If Lights ever learns about that we'll be doomed." I giggled at that, and Will and I collected a bit of breakfast on our way out, simply some fruit. I was looking forward to Brighton, not only for the rides and the games and the fun, but also because hopefully they would have frankfurters. It had been ages since I had had one, they were perfect for days on the boardwalk and I hadn't been to the boardwalk since I was a child.

I had been dreaming of the food so much that when we reached the station, I stumbled back as something barreled into my legs. Will chuckled, reaching down for my attacker. "Roger, let your aunt go."

The boy resolutely refused, "You didn't say she was coming!"

"I wanted to keep it a surprise." Will replied, "Don't you like your surprise?"

"It's a surprise to all of us." I looked up to see Sylvie, dressed in a light summer dress and carrying Mavis, on her husband's arm. "It's very kind of you to come over to surprise the boys, Anastasia."

Lights snorted at that. "It's a surprise to all of us, I wasn't aware you smuggled her over!" He leaned forward to embrace me while disentangling his son from my skirt, whispering into my ear. "And you must have been a surprise to him because last night he was complaining about missing you."

I blushed a bit, whispering back. "Well, everyone deserves a surprise every now and then."

He rolled his eyes, "Come on now Rog, let your Aunt go. We've got to catch the train after all." The only way to get his son to let me go was for him to lift Roger up and set him down away from me. Roger and Trevor were both wearing clothes that wouldn't show dirt and straw hats to keep the sun off. I brushed my fingers up against my forget-me-not hat, glad for it as we boarded the train. Everyone boarding with us seemed to be have the same thought on their minds, and it was a holiday crowd that exited the train.

I had been expecting a crush of people rushing to the piers, like the amusement parks on Coney Island, but everything seemed much more sedate. Lights and Sylvie strolled along, Roger and Trevor in front of them, and Will took my arm. I glanced to him, "Don't we want to get to the pier?"

"There's plenty of time." Will smiled, leaning his head back to feel the sun on his face. "It's a nice walk to the shore." He wasn't wrong, after being cooped up in my cabin for the crossing it was pleasant to get out. The crowd heading towards the pier was quite a mix, I could see fashionable ladies with their parasols and Paris fashions mixed with families who had obviously taken the day off of work to go have fun. Most of them were carrying bags, no doubt their swimming costumes were inside.

The beaches, separated by breakwaters that extended out into the surf, were already populated and the bright striped changing huts were doing good business as people swarmed them. But the main goal was the piers extending out into the deeper water, and I was already smiling as I saw them. Theaters and show halls reared up, I could see staircases to climb to board steeplechases and other rides and everything was brightly painted.

Will must have noticed, for he gave my hand a squeeze. "I don't know who's more excited about this, you or the boys."

"The boys." I shot back, nodding to where Lights had just had to dart forward to grab the boys before they crossed a street while a car was driving. "But I must admit, I can't wait to get there."

"I take it you prefer this to the opera?"

"Obviously." I rolled my eyes, glad to feel the boards of the pier under my shoes. "Now, what shall we do first?" That led to a pair of shouting voices as the boys each demanded something different. Roger wanted to go play games on the midway and see the shows, while Trevor demanded that we ride every ride.

Lights interposed himself between the boys. "Now, now, let's calm down you two." The boys quieted, but each had a pout on. Charles looked out, considering the pier that was already fairly busy. "I think that we start with rides, then games, then shows and then we can get some food."

"And the aquarium." Sylvie raised a brow, "You know it's my favorite."

"Of course, love." Lights leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Should we head to the aquarium first?" The boys loudly disagreed, and we joined the crowd heading towards the various rides.

I gripped Will's arm tightly as I pointed with my other hand, "Look, a steeplechase! We should do that first."

Will considered the wooden horses racing down their metal tracks, the hills and valleys of the track making the horses look like they were jumping. The riders whooped and hollered as they came down, each horse on a single track and side by side so at the end there was one winner. He rocked his head back and forth, "I don't know, I'd hate for the boys to lose to you."

Roger, who had hung back with us while Trevor held his father's hand, looked up at me. "Aunt Anna is good at the horses?"

"She's one of the very best." Will leaned down and picked the boy up, "They have a huge amusement park in New York and she went to it all the time when she was your age."

I blushed and looked away, "He's teasing Roger, I only went once."

"Then it's time to see if you still have your skill." Charles smirked, stepping forward to hand over some change to the attendant. He looked to Sylvie, "Would you mind staying with Mavis and I'll take her when I come down?" She nodded, bouncing the little girl who appeared delighted with the bright colors and the strains of music coming from a nearby carousel.

The five of us climbed the stairs together, the boys getting more excited the higher we got. The ride attendants at the top were glad to get the boys situated on their horses, and I drew a few hoots and whistles when I mounted mine astride and caused my skirt to rise up a bit. Will, next to me, glowered at the men in the line who were eyeing me. "Christ, it isn't like you lifted your skirt all the way up."

I smirked, and reached down and drew the side of my skirt facing him up a little more. "Well, no whistles from you?" He blushed, and Lights looked over and began laughing uproariously at his reaction. His laughter continued the entire way down, although I was too focused on the way my stomach rose into my throat and back down as my horse went over the hills and valleys of the track. Trevor wound up winning, and Will was immediately by my side to help me down.

He was still rather red, "You shouldn't encourage him like that."

"That wasn't my initial goal." I teased, letting my skirt fall back down around my ankles. I twined my arm around his, "Now, why don't we go get Mavis so Sylvie can go down with everyone?" Sylvie was more than glad to hand me Mavis, not even noticing when I staggered a bit at the weight of the child. She was already getting so big, and found the feathers on my hat entertaining to the point of trying to grab them. I did my best to keep my hat craned away from her while watching the Lightollers come down the steeplechase.

Charles won the next race, and refused to be quiet as we continued our way down the pier. "Don't worry Roger, you'll win the next time."

I shifted Mavis, having kept her while we walked. "I can also arrange for you to learn to ride in a real steeplechase, you know, on a horse." Roger gasped at that, and immediately stuck by my side as we found yet another ride. I grinned at Will, "Care to ride the Witching Waves?"

He cracked a grin, "I do that far too often."

"As do I," Lights looked aside at the little cars speeding along as the floor underneath them lifted in a wave and sent them reeling away. "Although I would be up for a challenge."

I moved to stand by Sylvie as the boys settled how this ride would go. Will and Roger would board one car, Charles and Trevor another and they would see who could complete a lap the fastest. I passed Mavis back over to her mother, she was starting to fuss, as they boarded their cars and set off. Sylvie and I laughed as the race quickly turned into seeing who could hit the other the most.

Will was a bit dizzy as he came back, Trevor having sent their car spinning around just before the ride ended. Sylvie smirked as he held onto a railing for a moment to regain his composure, "I think we might need a break from the rides."

"Didn't you say there was an aquarium?" I held out a hand to Will as it was clear we would be setting off again, and he staggered into me. The aquarium was only a short ways from the rides, and by the time we got there Will had recovered from his dizziness, but he still held onto my hand tightly as Lights was buying our ticker. I looked over, "Will?"

He blinked at the stairs leading down to the aquarium itself, "I'm sorry, still a bit dizzy." But the way he held my hand so tight that it almost hurt as we approached the tanks made it clear that there was something else entirely. I looked over to Sylvie, seeing Charles had taken Mavis and was clutching his wife's hand almost as tightly as Will was. But the boys were happily running from tank to tank, chattering about the fish that swam around and the plants waving.

Sylvie it turned out was quite knowledgeable about the various fish, and she helped answer some questions but even she didn't know everything. When the boys looked to me, I had to shrug. I was as clueless about fish as I was about digging a garden, but I kept up a happy tone for Will. He still didn't soften his grip until the boys had gotten bored and we reemerged onto the pier.

Lights seemed to be much happier to be back in the sea air, and pasted a wide smile on his face. "Well, now that that's done with, I'd say it's time for some food."

"Frankfurters?" I piped up, giving Will a smile. "They have to have them somewhere."

Sylvie raised an eyebrow, "I believe they do, but I thought you'd prefer a restaurant."

"What fun is a restaurant on such a lovely day?" I sighed, looking out to the sea. "It would be much funner to find what we can out here."

"It certainly would." Lights had a smile on his face that instantly made me suspicious. "In fat, I'll go track something down. We'll meet under those trees." He gestured to a set of potted palm surrounding a few tables, and then he was gone. It was rather fun to wander the boardwalk, and I gladly bought lunch for everyone. Frankfurters were indeed easy to find, and I even managed to get bottles of Coca-Cola for everyone. Sylvie appeared rather unsure of the sausages in my hands, and bought a few helpings of fish and chips.

Roger and Trevor were gazing at me in amazement as I started on my second frankfurter when Lights showed up, his arms full. He wrinkled his nose, "Well, that looks elegant to eat."

I barely swallowed before speaking, "They're wonderful, Will even had one." He indeed had, although it had taken a few bites for him to admit that it was tasty. "I brought one for you."

"Well thank you," He reached over for the sausage and bun in its paper, but kept his arms around the bounty he had set down on the table. "I've managed to find something for all of us."

"Papa?" Trevor's eyes were glued to a bag Lights had brought. "Is that taffy?"

"Uh-huh." Lights nodded, already halfway through his frankfurter. "Taffy, and fairy floss and peanut brittle."

Trevor's hand inched forward, "Can I have some?"

"Manners."

"May I have some?"

Lights, his frankfurter gone, picked a piece of taffy from the bag and began to unwrap it. "Once you've finished your fish you may." Both boys began to eat voraciously, tearing into the fried fish. Sylvie gave a giggle at that, and reached over for a piece of peanut brittle. Lights moved the bag away, "Manners?"

"Give your bloody wife some sweets." She shot back, snagging a piece. "I've already finished my food." Lights chuckled and handed over another piece, then leaned over and kissed her cheek. I noticed that he continued kissing her, and gave Trevor a little shove to move for the taffy. I knew his father could see him sneaking pieces into his pockets, and his brother grabbing a box of popcorn, but he pretended not to notice.

Will and I shared a laugh as he loudly complimented his boys for finishing their lunch and let them at the sweets. I leaned against Will, "You know what I'm craving?"

"Fairy floss?" Will had taken one of the wooden sticks of spun sugar from Charles and was pulling bits off to eat. "Have some."

I wrinkled my nose, "Fudge, I want some disgustingly sweet fudge."

"Take the boys with you," Lights, moved closer to Sylvie, gestured towards them. "And Will, take your niece. I'd like to take my wife on a walk along the pier." Will groaned as Mavis was settled into his arms, and I collected the boys. Finding fudge was much harder than finding frankfurters, and it took a while before I had my, rather melty, chocolate in my hands.

Will shifted Mavis to his other hip, away from where she was reaching over to try and grab some. "That's not for you love, your mother would have a fit if I let you at it." Mavis gave a whine at that, and he began to bounce her. "Shhh, shhh, don't cry. There's no need for that." But Mavis's face was screwing up, and Roger and Trevor began to walk a bit quicker.

I reached over, brushing my hand over Mavis's head. "It's alright dear, there will be plenty of fudge later." But she was beginning to tear up, and I held out fudge. "Here, Will, trace me." The trade was quickly completed, and I held Mavis close to me. "Quiet, dear, quiet. It's all fine." She was sniffing, and buried her head against my shoulder. I glanced over to Will, "She feels warm."

"Sick?" Will reached over and felt her forehead. "I think she's just been in the sun for too long."

"Let's go find a vaudeville show then," I held the baby closer to me, doing my best to use my hat to shade her.

Will handed over the fudge, calling Roger and Trevor back over. "I'll go track down Lights and Sylvie, you take the boys and head in there." He gestured to a nearby theater, advertising a family friendly show of songs and dance. Mavis was at least quieting as we took our seats, and the boys were quickly wrapped up in the story of a pirate in love with a mermaid.

I rocked Mavis back and forth, feeling eyes on me when she gave a little cry. When I looked down her face was rather red, and I took off my hat to gently fan her with it. That seemed to help, although I heard some grumbles behind me about not being able to see the show. But Mavis was settling, and I cooed at her as she did. She really was a lovely baby, what with her dark hair having grown in more.

I was still immensely glad to pass her over to Sylvie when she pushed her way to our seats. "We just got a little hot."

"Of course we did," She whispered, taking Mavis back into her arms. "She's probably hungry too, I'll go get her fed." She was waiting for us after the show in the lobby, Mavis sleepily resting against her breast.

Lights took her hand when he approached, "You didn't miss much, the mermaid grew legs and sailed off with the pirate."

"Well this one was absolutely starving." She shifted Mavis, "Now, what do you say to a few games before we head home?" Roger was very excited about that, and I couldn't help but smile at the way he began to list off every game he wanted to play. We found quite a few of them, ring tosses, darts, and he was bouncing on his feet at the last stall.

Will, weighted down with the number of prizes the boy had won, blanched at the sight of the air rifles at the booth. "Target shooting? I'm not sure about that Roger. You're awfully young."

"I want you to shoot, Uncle Will." Roger had a pout on his face, "Papa said you two came here once and you hit almost every target."

Will set his load of toys down, "That was a long time ago, I probably can't do it again."

"But Uncle Will, please?"

I had been about to intercede, thinking to offer to shoot and have him make fun of me to spare Will something he obviously didn't want to do, when Lights stepped in. "How about if Uncle Will and I shoot together?" He took one of the rifles, holding the other to Will. "Just one round."

Will was clearly trying to smile, "No complaining when I beat you." The man running the game stepped back and hit a switch, making the targets move. It had obviously been designed with the seaside in mind, the targets were all pirates and sea monsters. Of course there were targets you weren't supposed to hit, like a lady being menaced by a pirate, with the skill being to take out one target and spare the other.

Lights was not a bad shot, he managed to take out a shark and four pirates, but he had nothing on Will. He pinged a leaping shark, shifted to a pirate, and took down a kraken before switching solely to the pirates. I gasped as he took out the one holding the lady hostage, and then my eyes grew wide as he moved to the seabirds. They were the smallest targets and moved quickly back and forth. He didn't manage every one, but still took down several before the rifles were returned.

Roger was quite happy with his toy, a wooden airplane that he flew down the docks while Trevor chased him with a zeppelin he had won at ring toss. I took Will's hand, giving it a squeeze. "I didn't know you were such a good shot."

"Well, it's the Reserves training really." He shrugged, "They have much harder targets."

"You know, we can get you a rifle and you could go target shooting with Oscar sometime."

He shook his head, "I don't want to do it anymore Ana, that was just for the boys." I gave his hand another squeeze, smiling when he returned it. The boys were quickly fading after the target shoot, and I had to stifle a yawn or two as well. We'd been out all day, in the sun and I was quite looking forward to my bed. But before we got on the train home, Roger and Trevor demanded we at least stick our feet in the ocean.

Sylvie and I held out husbands tight as we dipped our toes in, and I didn't comment on how Will's fingers were wrapped tightly around mine. The train back to Southampton was quick, and we wound up having to take the Lightollers home first. Roger had fallen asleep on the train, Trevor nodded off not long after and Lights could only manage one of them. So Will carried Roger and we made sure that all of them got safely home before heading back to our house.

Will groaned as he collapsed into a chair in the parlor, setting his hat down on a table. "We were outside for too long."

"I was jealous of the boys, a nap on the train sounded divine." I sighed as I sat down next to him. "But at least we had fun."

"Not as much fun as Lights." He snorted, leaning back into the chair. "You would not believe where I found him and Sylvie."

"Where?"

"He had her pressed up against a wall in an alley, kissing her!" He snorted, "I had to throw one of those papers from the frankfurters at him to get him to notice me."

I laughed at that, "And you wish that was us?"

"Of course," One of his hands snaked over to find mine. "We'll have to repay the favor someday."

"Sylvie would at least know what to do with a baby." I pursed my lips, "I have to admit I had hardly any idea what to do with Mavis." I gave his fingers a squeeze, "I was very glad that you did."

He brought my hand up to kiss it, "It comes from taking care of my siblings, you didn't have that luxury. It will come with time." We sat there happily for a while, listening to the clock chime and the occasional car pass by outside. Will stirred when he hear one that chugged past, "Did I tell you that car showed up? I got the salesman to teach me how to drive it."

I rolled my head over to look at him, his blue eyes bright. "Teach me?"

"Not tomorrow, I don't want to leave the house tomorrow."

I snorted, "More than likely we'll barely leave the bed."

"I'm holding you to that."