The voyage

2–Captain Rogers

The course was set, and now as The Liberty pulled out from where it had been docked for the last couple of days, Captain James Rogers felt satisfied and confident that they could make the return journey home in just over a week.

The Liberty itself was part of a fleet of luxury passenger liners, constructed by Stark Industries. The ships were considered faster than that of a regular passenger liner and had navigational technology that could be considered revolutionary. For a start, they could detect signals from another of their ships on the radar from a larger radius.

The man was a genius, it had to be said, and with this job, James had been able to buy a larger home in Brooklyn so it would provide comfort for his mother but would eventually be the marital home for him and the woman who he was set to propose to upon his return.

Margaret Walker.

James hand went to his trouser pocket where the ring box was safely nestled. He'd chosen it especially while he'd been in England. Now he flipped his compass open, seeing the picture of her inside that she had given to him before he'd left. "So as you always find your way back to me". Her words echoed, and now a smile crossed his lips. Flipping the compass shut, he turned to his chief officer, Edward Barnes.

"Well, homeward bound". He said, letting the first officer, jimmy Quincy, take the helm and crossed the room to where the maps were laid out, charting their course for home. "This time next week we'll be back in New York".

"Can't wait, and I guess that you'll be sharing some happy news with us all soon enough?" Edward now eyed him knowingly. Although James hadn't directly told him that he would be proposing to the walker girl, he knew his best friend as well as this ship. Something in his demeanour had changed over the last couple of days and he was sure it was because he was safe in the knowledge that they would be back on American soil soon.

James stared at the maps from where he was braced over them, eyes scanning their course. "That's for me to know and you to just wait to hear". There was that smallest of smirks tugging at the corners of his lips again.

Edward chuckled. "I'm guessing that your mom approves".

"If she didn't then I'm sure she would have told me by now". James replied, pushing himself from the table and now walking to the windows to look out at the waters that lay ahead. "Miles of ocean we have to cross just to get home...feels like a lifetime..." He trailed off.

His friend clapped him on the back. "It'll go quick - we've made good time coming out of port so we can do just the same for the rest of the journey. The passengers are comfortable, the crew are hard at work, it's gonna be good".

James wished he had the same enthusiasm as his friend, but in reality, he was simply impatient.

Home.

It was where he just wanted to be. There would be a few weeks that he'd have to recuperate before the next journey, which would mean he'd be able to spend time with both his mother and Peggy before being out on the water once more. That was the life, his mother was used to it and Peggy? Well, she understood his duty.

James had the sea in his blood, his father also being a well learned Captain just like he was. Joseph Rogers had been the one to drum the life into him at an early age. James had set sail on his first voyage when he was just a babe in arms, his mother not wanting to be alone whilst her husband was away.

As he grew, James became more familiar with ships, more intrigued as to how they operated as well as the places they could go to. His dream had been to be just like his father and to travel.

It was Joseph's untimely death that had spurned him on.

He'd been captaining a passenger liner when it had collided with another ship. Both had sunk, Joseph being amongst the victims of both passengers and crew.

His mother had never recovered and had been beside herself when James had announced that this was the path he'd wanted to take. She'd had to accept his choice but still worried before every journey he'd make from New York. Regardless, James had risen through the ranks, making Captain and now having a comfortable wage to live on. His mother had taken care of him, and now it was his turn to do the same for her.

"How's it looking jimmy?" He glanced to the first officer who had taken control of the ship for now.

"It's calm which is helping us to pick up some speed".

"How many knots?"

"Aiming to get her up to fifteen once we're a little more out, fastest is twenty-six but you already know that". Jimmy smirked.

James nodded. "Maintain her at fifteen once we're on more open water, I'll be in my office if you need me". He told him. "Send word over the radio that we're making good time". He told the two operators, and then headed for the room just off of the wheelhouse that was his office.

Setting himself down in his chair, he sat there for a while, the desire to be off the ship and back in the comfort of his own home at its peak. Usually he'd feel settled, but his patience wasn't doing him any favours this time around.

No. It was time to stop pining and get on with some work. The more he'd distract himself, the quicker the time would go.

Had his father ever felt this way? Being away from his mother and him for so long? James liked to think so, but the thought of having someone waiting at home for him? And for him to go home to was something that he never thought he'd feel.

And it felt very good indeed.