I was back in my office, the anniversary having passed without any major incident. I had still drunk myself into a stupor the night of, much to Mother's displeasure. But the nights leading up to it had been filled with such nightmares that I couldn't help it. They were still the ones that had dogged me since the night, Father freezing before my very eyes, but more had been added to them. Instead of simply an iceberg, my constant worry about Will had added in a new element. A German ship, a sleek cruiser that cut its way through the water, pounded Titanic with shells and torpedoes, tearing her sides to shreds. The water around the ship grew white with foam as it rushed in, and I knew in my heart that Will was trapped there, his coat caught and his hands unable to free himself.

In my dreams I had thrown myself into the water, desperately trying to reach him before another shell had turned everything into a mass of fire and metal.

Fortunately it was done, and I had plenty to distract myself with at the offices. Mother had not only invested heavily in that shipyard, she had commissioned new ships. The plans were spread in front of me, and I was tracing over the lines of them with a finger. They were beautiful, clean and with a larger passenger allotment than most of our other ships. With their turbine engines, they could easily deal with anything the Atlantic could throw at them, and I couldn't help the little thrill that raced through me. These ships spoke to me of a world where the war was done, where our ships could run things beyond the necessities. Luxuries, foolish things that made people happy, oh it would be heaven. I grabbed a pen to note down a few changes, some new innovations I would like to see on them. I had heard great things about fuel oil being used instead of coal, perhaps their boilers could run on that.

I was smiling when I heard the light knock at my door, although Adam's face quickly wiped it away.

He was pale, and his voice was shaky. "Mrs. Murdoch, an officer from the Royal Navy is here." The pen I had been using clattered to the floor.

No, no. This wasn't happening. This was a dream. I was back in a nightmare, it wasn't real.

The older man in uniform coming through into my office, a telegram in his hand, was a hallucination. He was simply my mind conjuring my worst fears, a way to torture myself.

I stood; my feet unsteady. I threw my hands across my desk to try and steady myself, feeling a shaking all through my body. My voice was faint, and I desperately tried to blink away a black ring that was beginning to obscure my vision. "No, no this can't be. No. No. Get out! Get out, damn you!" I felt my knees give out, and I collapsed to the floor. There was only one reason this man could be here. Will was dead. He was dead and not coming home. Lost at sea, just like Father and I was alone.

And then everything was black, although I could still hear even though my limbs would not obey me.

But I didn't want to, I didn't want to hear anything. I wanted to weep and scream, I wanted to jump out of the window and throw myself into the bay. I wanted to be with Will, with Father. But I couldn't move, I couldn't even bring myself to open my eyes.

I could hear Adam curse, "Damn it, what did you do?"

It sounded like there was a scuffle, but eventually they separated. "I didn't even speak, sir." The other man replied, and I felt myself shift as someone lifted my head onto their lap.

Judging by the closeness of the voice, it was Mr. Keller. "Her husband, he's-"

"Alive, sir. And promoted, I was coming to bring the good news in person." I wanted to cry at his words, and I tried desperately to open my eyes. "Sir, does she keep some smelling salts around?"

Adam shifted me on his lap, shoving a foul smelling vial beneath my noise. I recoiled from it, control of myself returning, if only to get me away from the vial that Adam was almost shoving up my nostrils. And then the tears in my eyes were those of relief, as I wept into my hands. Will was safe, he was safe and alive and everything was alright.

"Mrs. Murdoch, please calm yourself." The officer had come over behind my desk, holding out a handkerchief that I took. He looked at me, and I could see his mustache moving but it took a minute for his words to reach me. "Your husband is alive. It's alright."

I drew in a shuddering breath, feeling a great rush of relief every time someone said Will was alive. I blinked, shaking my head. "I'm terribly sorry, sir. I was just so overcome."

"It's quite understandable, I suppose I should have called ahead." He sat back on the floor, looking around. "Well, this wasn't quite how I pictured it would go, but you should be proud of your husband. He's been promoted to command of a battlecruiser, I came to tell you the happy news." He held out the telegram. I took it, opening it with my still shaking hands.

Mrs. Murdoch.

Your husband has sunk a German submarine at great risk to his own ship and himself, saving a ship of much needed medical cargo. In recognition he has been promoted for his service. His own message has been attached.

Kindest regards, Admiral Bryant.

"How, how wonderful," I tried to calm my breathing, "Please, I'm sorry for what happened."

"It's alright, ma'am."

Mr. Keller moved aside as I sat up, glaring at the man. "You could have called, or sent another wire, or anything that didn't involve you distressing her!"

"You have my deepest apologies, sir, ma'am." The officer bowed, deeply. "I have another wire for Mrs. Murdoch, from her husband."

"I'll take it," I held out my hand, although it was still shaking. "Thank you for coming."

I couldn't tell if it was shame over my reaction or fear that Mr. Keller would do something more drastic, but the man quickly shoved the paper into my hand and left with a nod. Mr. Keller still sat on the floor with me, watching as I opened it.

My Dearest Ana,

By now you've heard the news. Of course, I'm happy about it, but I'd be happier with you here. I need to see you, this promotion means nothing without you by my side. Come to Britain, even if it's only for a few weeks. I can't be apart from you any longer. We could spend our anniversary together, I need you here.

Your Jolly Sailor Bold,

Captain William Murdoch, of HMS Unicorn

I let out a deep, shaky breath as I pressed the paper to my breast, a warmth building in me. Will wanted me there, he wanted to see me. I would go, I would go to him, to my husband and the world would be right, if only for a few weeks.

Mr. Keller looked closely at me, "What did he say?"

"He wants me to come over." I stood, steadying myself with my desk until I sat down again. "Our anniversary is soon; he wants to spend it together. I can't wait to see him!"

His hand landed on my desk with a loud thump, "Ma'am, you cannot be considering going!"

"Why not?" I furrowed my brow, "He wants me there, I want to be there."

"It's a war zone! I cannot allow you to willingly waltz in there." He shook his head, "Your mother would kill me."

I pursed my lips, "Adam, I am a fully grown, married woman. I can make my own decisions. I am going to see my husband."

"Ma'am, you've seen the warnings the German embassy has put in the papers."

"And you really think they'd sink a ship full of passengers? It's against the rules for naval warfare everyone agreed to, and they've been respecting them so far, stopping ships and letting the crews off before sinking them."

"Anastasia," He sighed, "Please, I know you want to see your husband. I want him to come home just as much as you do, but I don't want you throwing yourself into danger."

"What if I did everything as safe as I could?" I cocked my head, a plan forming. "I've read those naval books I got for Will, speed is the safest guard against a submarine. I will find the fastest ship to get me to Britain, it should be safe then. Otherwise, I'd take one of ours, but faster would be better."

"You cannot do this."

"The fastest ship, that would be the Lusitania. Thank God Cunard is still running her, I think I have a paper here with the timetables." I tore through the papers on my desk, "Ah, here. She sails on the first. Well, that gives me a little less than a week to get packed."

Mr. Keller was quite clearly fuming. "I won't approve this expense."

"Then I will use my own funds, I have plenty to see me across." I stood, feeling that everything was light and wonderful. "Adam, please, will you at least come with me to buy the tickets?"

He glowered while collecting his jacket, and grumbled the entire walk to the Cunard offices. "I've known you since you were a girl, and now you expect me to cheer you on while you do this."

"Adam, wouldn't you want to go see your wife? I haven't seen my husband for eight months, I can't let this go on any longer."

"But you're safe here, and it will be safer for him to come see you."

"He can't, and you know he can't." I nodded my thanks when he opened the door for me, "Plenty of people have made the trip over and come back since the war started, I'll just be one more traveler." I smiled at the Cunard clerk that had come up, "Hello, I need to book a ticket on the Lusitania for her next crossing."

He nodded, "Of course, ma'am. Let me fetch a register."

It was Adam who spoke first when he returned. "Can you guarantee the safety of the passengers in the war zone?"

"Of course, sir." The clerk happily chirped. "The Royal Navy has escorted Lusy through the war zone, and they'll do it again. The safety of our passengers is of the utmost importance to the Cunard Line. Now, ma'am, how many tickets?"

Mr. Keller loomed over me the entire time while I settled the details with the clerk, giving him my name and telling him that I needed a saloon class cabin on the boat deck. He seemed a bit surprised when I requested that, and even Adam mentioned it on our walk back. "Why the boat deck?"

"Spending too much time below decks when I'm alone makes me skittish now." I admitted, "I prefer to be able to look out. And in this case, that's safer too." I smiled, a new thought entering my mind. "I'll need to wire Will what ship I'll be on, he's going to be so happy!"

He snorted, "You be sure to mention that to your mother, because she's going to be furious."

Will knew that becoming a captain would have some perks, but it still took some adjustment. It wasn't as bad as when he had first begun living with Ana, no one had mentioned a valet to him, but it was far different that what he had become used to under Bligh. Men saluted when they walked past him in the train station and two aides from Admiral Huntington were waiting to carry his trunk and drive him to the naval base in Portsmouth.

Of course, rank came with some drawbacks. The aides left him to his own devices in the back of the car instead of talking to him, so he busied himself with reviewing some of the papers Bryant had sent him with. He'd traced over the Unicorn's plans a dozen times already, so he turned to a report. Bryant had slipped it into his hands just before he had left his office, "We interrogated the survivors from the U-boat, see if you can make anything of it."

Will tried to, but it was hard reading. The men didn't speak English, and some German words couldn't be translated in a clean way. But he blundered through, reading about how the submarine had operated under their captain, one Wilhelm Werner. The descriptions of the cramped spaces, days under the water and stale air made Will swear he'd never set foot in one of the damn things. Although at least he wouldn't have run the risk of dealing with Werner since he'd gone down with his ship, by the men's descriptions the man sounded cruel and insane. He cut rations for the most minor offense, and had tied one man to the conning tower when he had dropped a torpedo in order to flog him with his belt.

If anything, this report gave Will ideas on exactly what not to do with his own command.

He straightened his uniform when one of the aides opened the door, directing him to the offices where he was to meet with Admiral Huntington. The man gave him a salute after, "We'll see your belongings to your ship, sir. Is there anything else you need?"

"Ah, no." Will shook his head, remembering to salute to allow the other man to relax. "Thank you, I'll let the admiral know you've been very helpful."

Both men nodded, the car driving off through the docks towards Will's ship.

If he had though Rosyth had been a maze of buildings and docks, then Portsmouth was a rabbit warren of workshops and yards. But now he had his rank to see him through, no one would think less of a captain for not knowing his way through all of this, he had more important things to think about. When he entered he was seen right up to Admiral Huntington, a slim man with a mustache that rivaled Kitchener's. "Captain Murdoch, a pleasure to meet you at last."

"Admiral Huntington." Will saluted, relaxing once it had been returned. "I'm glad to get down here and see to my new command."

"I'm glad to have someone take her." Huntington chuckled, "We've had a terrible time finding someone for her, and Beatty wants her ready and with him by the winter."

Will started at that, "Beatty, sir?"

"Oh yes, your ship is highly needed in the First Battle Squadron. Beatty loves his Cats, and yours was the first." Huntington raised an eyebrow, seeming to consider his own words as he rocked his head back and forth. "Well, perhaps not."

He nodded to a chair across from him, and Will gladly took it. "Sir?"

"Some of the men might heckle you about taking on a cursed ship. I have to admit, she's had a run of bad luck. She threw a screw during a patrol, and then her next trip out a boiler blew. Burned ten men, and laid her up again. When she was finally prepared the captain ordered her to engage in some target practice, and a gun barrel blew. He was glad to get out, but we need her."

Will kept his face neutral, "It won't bother me in the slightest sir, I've worked on ships that have had those reputations before."

"I'm aware of your past, Captain. It doesn't matter here. All I need from you is to get the Unicorn up and running, and to follow Beatty's orders. That's all anyone will care about with the war on." He stood, holding out his hand. "I'll let you get going, and your man Nettles arrived yesterday. Send for anything you need, Captain."

"Thank you, sir." Will shook his hand, and another aide was dispatched to escort him through the base to his ship. He followed the man, marveling at how many ships were in and being worked on. Refits, repairs, it seemed that everything could be done here in Portsmouth. Including housing a much bemoaned battlecruiser. Will kept his face neutral as he observed his new ship when the aide pointed it out. She bristled with guns, two large turrets fore and aft for a total of four, and featured a raked bow that wasn't all that dissimilar from the liners he had once sailed.

A familiar face waited for him by the gangplank though, his new rank markings bright. Nettles grinned as he saluted, "Welcome to the Unicorn, Captain Murdoch."

"Lieutenant Commander Nettles," Will saluted back after thank the aide. "I'm sure I gave you quite a shock." Will had thought briefly of asking for Lights instead of Nettles, which had lasted for all of five seconds. He loved Lights, dearly, but knew that he would never hear the end of it from his friend if he had to serve under him. It had been different when they were both senior officers, more working together than anything, but the rank would have made things sour quickly and he did not want that to affect their friendship. Not to mention in his letters Lights complained endlessly of the Navy men he sailed with, Will wouldn't want to curse him with being around even more of those.

"Like I told you before sir, I've always wanted to sail with you." He shrugged as they started up the gangplank. "Can't say the wife was too pleased, I was home quite a bit on the minesweeper but I hated the work."

"Hopefully this will be more to your liking." Will chuckled, taking in the deck as they gained it. A line of officers waited for him, one of them piping him aboard with a pennywhistle.

One man, older than Quigley and with a full mustache, stepped forward and saluted. "Captain Murdoch, I've assembled the officers for your inspection, sir."

Will saluted him back, finding that he was quickly growing tired of raising his hand so much. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Your name?"

"Tyne, sir."

"Ah, from Liverpool then?"

He nodded, "Yes, sir." Tyne turned to the line of officers, quickly summing up their duties. Much like the Peterel, every department and turret had their own officers so the complement was fairly large. Gunnery, navigation, torpedoes, engineering, intelligence, communication, all of them saluted Will when they were brought forward.

His hand was hurting by the end of it, and they all looked at him expectantly. He shifted, gesturing for Nettles to come up. "Well, I'm sure you all know me. William Murdoch, I'm to be your new captain." He nodded to Nettles, "And this is my chief officer, Lieutenant Commander Phillip Nettles. We're from the reserves, as you can tell." Will shook his cuff, the four chains of gold lace shining the late afternoon light. "But don't let that fool you, we've both sailed every kind of ship you can think of. I started off on barques and cargo ships, I've even handled liners, going all across the world. We're here to serve our country, just like you, and we'll be working with everyone to get the Unicorn shipshape and ready for our assignment."

That brought nods from all the officers, and Tyne coughed slightly. "We're at your command, sir. Anything you ask of us, we'll do it."

Will nodded, giving him a small smile. "Now, don't think I'll have you removed if you make a mistake, we all have room to grow here. I've been through a bit of a trial by fire recently, but I won't pretend that there's still a lot of things I need to improve on."

Tyne shifted, "We've got the cook laying out a dinner for you, sir. We can head down to the wardroom, if you like."

Wil glanced up to the sun, "Well, we've got a bit of time until dinner. You're free to do as you like until then, we'll get started on the real work tomorrow. I'll want a tour of the ship first thing after breakfast, Mr. Tyne." Will leaned forward, smirking at the man. "But for now, perhaps you could show me to my quarters? I'm afraid I don't quite know where there are."

Tyne chuckled, "Right this way, sir." Tyne led him into the ship, the corridors twisting away as they moved forward. Will did his best to keep track of the turns they took, it wouldn't do for a captain to get lost on his ship. They weren't the only one in the halls, and more men saluted as he went past. Fortunately they were moving too quickly for it to be practicable to return them, and Will briefly thought about telling the officers they would be welcome to simply nod when they saw him.

But Tyne stopping jerked him out of his thoughts, "Here you are, sir. Your personal steward is already seeing to your things, he should finish up shortly."

"Personal steward?" Will had his hand on the door, "I don't remember being assigned one."

"You had a volunteer sir, man by the name of Sharpe." Tyne shrugged, "Seems a decent sort, if a bit gamey on one leg."

"Ah," Will twisted the knob, "Thank you, Mr. Tyne. If you wouldn't mind showing up to guide me to the wardroom when it's time?" Tyne nodded, Nettles trailing him as he was taken to his own room. Will opened the door, revealing that his room was actually rooms. Before him was a well appointed, if cramped, office. Then again, everything was cramped onboard a ship, but he still had a fine desk, some shelves and a chair that was bolted to the floor. Another door was set in a corner, which led to his cabin.

And the man in his cabin.

Sharpe had regained his color, his cheeks flushing slightly when Will entered. He saluted, "Sir."

Will sighed as he returned it. "Mr. Sharpe, what ever are you doing here?"

"Unpacking for you, sir." Sharpe gestured to Will's trunk, open in the corner. "Hanging up your uniforms and the like." Sure enough there was a wardrobe jammed against one wall, Will's clothes already hung inside. "I'm going to give all of your shoes a polish tomorrow."

"You don't have to do that." Will shook his head, "Why are you doing this?" Will glanced down to his trunk, seeing the packets of letters from Ana had been left alone. "You're barely past getting injured, I'm surprised the surgeon let you out." He pursed his lips. "You could have been invalided out and gone home."

Sharpe jerked his head from side to side. "No sir, I wouldn't let myself off like that. I'm still able to fight."

"You're using a cane." Will could see it now, clutched tightly in the man's hand even as he tried to hide it behind his leg. "I insist you go home."

"I can't, sir." Sharpe sounded pained, and Will gestured for him to sit on the bed. The last thing the man needed was to aggravate that leg any further. He hissed as he sat, "I have to do something for you, sir. I need to repay you in some way."

"You don't." Will leaned against a wall, "I've done nothing you need to repay."

"Surgeon said if you hadn't thrown that belt around my leg I would have died." Sharpe snapped, "Making your bed and pressing your clothes isn't much, but it's all I can do now, so it will have to suffice."

"And if I order you to leave the ship?"

"I'll refuse those orders and you can court-martial me."

"Christ," Will rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine, fine, just don't touch those envelopes. They can stay where they are in the trunk."

Sharpe nodded, then reached into his pocket. "Of course, sir. This came for you earlier."

Will took the telegram that Sharpe held out, opening it. A smile bloomed across his face as he read.

Will,

Or would you prefer Captain Murdoch, now? I am so happy for you, my love, and will be on my way as soon as I can be. I've book passage on the Lusitania, leaving on the first. I should be in Liverpool on the eighth. We can figure out a time to see each other once I'm there.

I cannot wait to see you.

Your Ana