The voyage

8–Brooklyn

They hadn't said a word since waking up the next morning, remembering exactly what had happened the night before. Well, Kate hadn't, but James had before he'd had to head to the wheelhouse. "It was a mistake..." He told her, "I'm sorry, it shouldn't have happened".

"Well it did...now do you see why we cannot see one another again after we dock?" She didn't look at him, still feeling ashamed.

"Well you can't stay with Anna now..." He told her, "You're going to have to stay with me until..."

"Until you're sure you haven't impregnated me" She finished his sentence bluntly. "Why are you treating this as though it's my fault?".

"The blame lies with me, ok? I shouldn't have done what I did, not when I'm about to ask Peggy to marry me".

Peggy. So that was her name.

"Well I am sorry to have complicated matters further for you. Just let me go with Anna and..."

"No". He stated firmly. "You're coming with me. The least I can do is see that you're taken care of and are able to find somewhere to settle". He had morals...at least, most of the time. Those had flown right out of the window last night. "I need to get up to the wheelhouse, make sure your things are packed".

Kate stared at him. "You forget that these aren't mine".

James pondered for a moment. "Well then once we're sorted I'll have some new clothes brought for you".

"You really do not need..."

"YES..." He stopped her adamantly and then realised that perhaps that had come out a little too harshly. "Yes, I do..." He said no more and walked out, making his way up to the wheelhouse.

Edward noted his mood. "You alright pal? About another hour and we'll be back home".

"I'm fine - the sooner we get to New York the better, I just wanna be off this damn boat".

His friend smirked. "Missing your girl that much eh?"

James didn't reply and instead went to look at the daily report. Edward and Jimmy now looking at one another. "He doesn't look ok..." The latter noted as he watched James literally storm away.

"Because he's not..." Edward replied, "Take the helm, I'll be back soon", and now headed into James office. His friend was glaring at some papers but not actually reading them. "You wanna tell me what's going on?"

James was silent and then the glaring gaze fell to his best friend. "I screwed up, that's what's wrong, and now I need to make things right".

Edward frowned. "How so? Everything with the ship is fine..."

"It's not about the ship Eddie...I let my emotions take over last night" He sighed in defeat. "I can't marry Peg now, not after what happened".

Immediately, Edward realized just what he was talking about. "Ah crap..." he muttered and then looked to James. "You're a man who's always done the right thing..."

"And last night I messed up. I did the wrong thing and now it's going to result in hurting Peg and instead I'll have to marry a girl I don't love, just because I couldn't control myself". He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. "It's my fault, but I need to do the right thing and take the responsibility".

"James, we can easily find her somewhere and..."

He shook his head. "I couldn't do that to her. I might not love or her want to marry her, but I'm not going to see her out on the street, because that's where she'll end up eventually, even if she does stay with rose and Anna".

"What will you tell Peggy?"

"The truth. No point in lying". He shrugged, "I've made some mistakes in my time but this? It's the biggest one".

Edward smiled weakly. "It might not be so bad once it's all blown over...she's a nice girl, you could easily just hand her over to the authorities and..."

"The only way she can be protected is if she stays here, and with me. I've got no choice Eddie, not only am I marrying her to right a wrong, but I'm doing it because I feel that she won't be protected by anyone else".

"Marriage out of duty...it's something other guys have been through and others will. You may grow to love her, you never know".

James shrugged. "I can tolerate her so that's a good sign. I just wish it hadn't have ended up this way".

Edward nodded. "Well, if I ask you whether you wished it had in a year's time, maybe you'll give me a different answer to that", and with a small nod, left the office so as they could prepare to dock.

Would he have done the same if he hadn't have bedded her? Married to protect her instead? James head was pounding as thoughts swirled around, the speech forming in his head as to what he'd say to Peggy.

Marriage out of duty. There was no other way than that.

**

The Liberty docked in New York at 10am on a rather sunny Wednesday morning. James satisfied with the journey and seeing the passengers off before the crew were the last to leave.

Kate had been waiting patiently in their cabin as he returned to join her.

"Come on". He said, leading her off the boat to where their names were checked off of the passenger list.

She looked around at the city that was to now really become her home.

The trunks were put into the automobile that was to take them to James home, and they climbed in, James watching as the woman who was now to be his wife (although that was yet to be discussed with her) looked out in awe at her new surroundings.

"Wow..." She said quietly, more to herself than to him. The car taking them under a rather large bridge.

"The Brooklyn bridge" he confirmed to her as she looked up at it towering above them.

The car came to a stop outside a town house that was located down a street of similar looking homes. It looked like a respectable neighbourhood in her opinion. James got out and helped her from the car. "Welcome to your new home..." He told her as she now gave him a look. "I'll explain more when we're inside, but for now, let's have you meet my mother".

She followed him up the steps of the three story building and into the hallway, looking around as James now called out for his mother. Almost immediately an elder woman appeared from one of the rooms and looked relieved.

"Jameson! Oh..." She stopped, doing a double take as she saw Kate standing there. "I didn't realise you were bringing company, I'd have had someone prepare coffee..."

He brushed it off. "It doesn't matter. Mother this Catherine, Kate, this is my mother Sarah".

Sarah Rogers smiled warmly as she approached Kate a little more. Her hair was lined with the silver strands of ageing amongst her natural hair colour, her attire rather presentable. Kate was sure that when she was younger, she'd have certainly been considered a beauty, and still was. "Catherine, it's wonderful to meet you".

"Please, call me Kate - everyone else does".

Sarah now looked from her to her son, sensing that something wasn't right and that there was a lot that she needed to be informed of. "Come and get yourselves rested and then perhaps you can tell me what is going on here?"

Showing Kate into the parlour, she stopped James as he went to pass. "Why do I get the feeling that this is a situation that cannot easily be rectified?"

He just looked at her. "Because that's exactly what it is mom".