<3<3Chapter One<3<3

Where was that blasted woman? Tabitha Lenox wasn’t happy that she had lost the beautiful blond she was meant to keep tabs on. If she lost sight of her for too long…well the repercussions would be devastating for her and the rest of the dark side. Oh, this job did have its perks, but sometimes, just sometimes, it had too many downfalls.

Finishing her third walk of the halls and decks surrounding the first class section of the ship, Tabby sighed. Neither hide nor hair of Susan Crane had been seen since the blond disappeared into the halls leading to her room some hours before. “Where is she?”

“Tabitha, Timothy thinks that Susan isn’t around. Timothy would like to rest now!” Timmy cried, moving his neck from side to side in attempt to stretch the sore muscles.

Tabby sighed. “Timmy, please cut the propriety act,” Tabby rolled her eyes. Of all the dumb luck she had to create a doll that talked in the third person! “Remind me next time to create you without that annoying habit. If I hear you speak in the third person one more time…”

“Timothy is only as intelligent as his creator.”

Tabby glared at him. Just what she needed with the dark forces breathing down her neck: a smart aleck doll! “This coming from a walking pin cushion!”

Timmy smirked. “Well, Timothy thinks…”

“Don’t even finish that statement, stuffing for brains. Whatever you’re thinking doesn’t matter. We *must* find Susan Crane!” With that, she lifted Timmy from his feet and again headed down the halls towards Susan’s room. Tabby wanted nothing more than to hurt the Cranes, but this time around she didn’t have a choice. Susan couldn’t have her heart’s desire (her soul mate) and the Cranes would get what they wanted…another perfect family match.

Susan scanned her luxurious bedroom and closed her eyes. There was something oddly familiar about this room, something that haunted her dreams. She had seen similar rooms before, but not aboard ships and not in this lifetime. Shaking her head, Susan grabbed a nearby shawl and draped it over her shoulders. She could still hear the men and woman that were on the deck, watching as the land disappeared. For nearly two hours this blasted monstrosity had been sailing and Susan still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was to go wrong. Something that would change her life and destroy her chance at happiness…

“Seven days, Susan, the trip will only take seven days!” she groaned. This trip was going to be a long one, even if it was supposed to be the shortest voyage across the Atlantic done by a ship…and an unsinkable one at that! She sighed, leaving the room to find something more entertaining to do. Stepping into the well-lit hall, Susan attempted to get away without incident. It was amazing just how many people recognized Aaron Crane’s darling daughter, Susan. It was even more amazing how many of her father’s “friends” wanted her to “get to know” their sons better! Like she wanted to marry one of those rich, snobby…

“Susan! Darling!” Christine De Winters rushed down the hall towards Susan. The tall brunette was smiling merrily as she neared the blond, her deep brown eyes filled with greed. That overwhelming power, that need to expand their family’s hold on the world: Susan had seen it before. Her father’s own eyes were often filled with such emotions.

Susan knew what was coming and she was determined to cut it off before it happened. She would not fall victim to another scheme to set her up with some eligible man. “Mrs. De Winters,” Susan forced a pleasant smile. What was that name…Teddy…Thorton? THOMAS! “If this is about Thomas…”

Christine laughed and clasped her hands together in glee. Susan knew her son’s name! This would be easier than she thought! “Oh dear, Thomas can not wait to meet you! If you’ll follow me I can…”

Susan attempted to pull away from the woman, stepping back into the wall of the hall and becoming trapped by the size of the woman before her. “With all due respect…”

“I knew you’d come!” Christine grabbed Susan’s arm and began dragging her to the sun decks, pulling her along as if she were a rag doll. This was going to be sweet and Aaron Crane would be so proud! “A nice cup of tea while you and my Thomas meet is just right for the chilly afternoon, isn’t it Susie…do you mind if I call you Sue?”

“Actually…” Susan tried to protest. Susie wasn’t her name in any way, shape or form. She was Susan…always had been, always would be.

“I didn’t think you would!” Christine giggled, causing Susan to roll her eyes.

Lord was this woman annoying! This was simply unbelievable! How was she ever going to get herself out of meeting Thomas De Winter? She just *had* to leave her London home for this stupidity! She hated her father! “Mrs…”

“Call me Christine, dear, we’ll be family one day!” Christine grinned merrily.

Sheridan groaned. They would be family over her dead body! “Christine…”

“Yes, dear?” the older woman continued to pull Susan along the deck despite the young woman’s struggles. Lord this old bat was strong!

“I cannot meet Thomas today!” she pulled away, bringing the elder woman to a stop and causing herself to fall to the floor, landing on her backside. Of all the rotten luck! Pushing herself up, Susan dusted herself off.

Christine spun to face Susan, here eyes filled with confusing. “Why not, Susie?”

What was with that blasted name!? “My name is SUSAN and I cannot meet Thomas because I don’t want to!” Susan huffed. “I have no want to meet any young gentleman, Mrs. De Winter!”

“But Susie…”

“Susan!” she screamed.

“Susan, Thomas has been dying to see you for so very long! Couldn’t you at least stop by his table and greet him?”

Susan couldn’t believe how dense this woman was! “I’m sorry, Mrs. De Winters, but I do not want to meet Thomas.”

“You’re father assured me you would!” Christine glared at the girl.

“Well he was wrong!” Susan shot back. “Mrs. De Winters, my father and I rarely, if ever, speak about anything. I have no desire to meet any bachelors on this voyage. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

“Ms. Crane, with all due respect, I was promised that you would indeed see my son and that you would be escorted by him to dinner!” she was irate now.

“Well, you were misinformed, madam,” Susan smiled weakly, inside laughing at how flushed the woman before her was. Yes, Susan Crane had spunk and it was time the world learned that. “Excuse me,” she turned and stalked away. How could her father do this to her again? How could he promise her to another man? To any man? How dare he!

But it didn’t matter because in no time Aaron would realize what Susan and done and she would pay dearly for crossing him. “Seven days, Susan, seven days,” she whispered to herself, rushing down the hall towards the other decks. She needed to hide away and the best place would be the stern where she could view where they had been. Susan just needed to get away.

“Did you see that Timmy? Susan Crane is just as stubborn as ever,” Tabby laughed, enjoying the antics of the young woman. She couldn’t remember Sheridan’s soul being like that ever before! Sure, she had made a job of making her father angry and expressing her opinions, but none of her past personas had EVER been so wonderful before. Oh, Sheridan was going to have a hard topping this one.

“Timothy wouldn’t know. Timothy was only created yesterday!” he replied, giggling lightly. Oh he was a wild one…right!

Tabby rolled her eyes. “I asked you to cut that out. We have these other pronouns you know! Try saying *I* for once, would you please? It’s amazingly easy!”

“I for once,” Timmy laughed at his own joke, causing Tabby to groan and drop him to the floor. “Ouch!”

“Wonderful, just wonderful…you’re hysterical, Timmy!” she glared at him. “Just go find Liam and make sure he stays away from Susan, would you please?”

“Timmy would do anything for his princess,” he smiled and then ran off for the lower decks. This would be a piece of cake. After all, how could these two possibly meet?

<3<3 Chapter Two <3<3

Timmy did exactly what he was told, immediately heading towards the decks where the steerage passengers were allowed to roam freely. He found Liam there, a few of his fellow travelers gathered together to talk about their homeland. This was too easy. Liam was nowhere near the main deck and Tabby was keeping close watch over Miss Crane. The two would never meet now!

Smiling, he snuck away from Liam and the crowd so that he could make himself a drink. This concoction, which turned pink when completely blended, would be known as a Martimmy, the first of many the Timmy dolls would drink.

“Better than ale,” Timmy laughed, mixing the drink while settling in the room of some rich upper class family. So, he wasn’t exactly doing his job, but he didn’t plan on doing it often either. Who did Tabby think she was making him do all the work while she sat on the sun decks?

With that, Timmy leaned back on the dark brown couch and sighed. This was the life: large spacious rooms, cool drinks and best of all, no one to tell you what to do.

Meantime, Liam was a rather large hit with the steerage girls, most of which have never met a man quite like him. As gentle as he was strong, Liam Fitzgerald was a good-looking man with a heart of pure gold. He was untainted and untouched, a man that knew somewhere out there was one woman for him and he’d know her by one thing: her eyes.

Settled around him were some very fawning females, all batting their doe eyes at him. He just smiled politely, trying his best not to give them the wrong idea as he listened to Stewart Bennett discuss what he had heard about America and the land that waited for him. It sounded so wonderful there and Liam couldn’t wait for the boat to dock.

“What time is it, Liam?” Stewart asked, checking his watch.

“Nearly five,” Liam checked the silver pocket watch that had belonged to his great grandfather.

“Is that all? I could talk all night,” Stew smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

“We know,” Eliza Wallace groaned, pushing some of her brown, wavy hair over her shoulder. “We’ve been listenin’ to you since this blasted boat set sale, Steward, let Liam talk now!”

“Yes, Liam!” Hope Standish agreed gleefully. She already had fallen for the tall, dark, handsome Liam Fitzgerald and his friend Stewart Bennett.

“My dear ladies, I am but a wee Irishman without a thing to say. But thank ye much,” he winked at Eliza, watching her feign a swoon. He wanted to laugh. She was so obvious.

“Oh but Liam! Ireland is such a magnificent place! All the stories you could tell us,” Eliza smiled. “I’ve never been to Ireland.”

“And you never will be,” Stew laughed. “You’re sailing to America, my dear. You might as well forget the homeland. You’ll never return.”

“You don’t plan on returning to England ever, Stew?” Hope asked, aghast, her red hair falling into her eyes. “How could you wish to stay away?”

“My dear, none of us will ever be able to afford to go home. The streets are filled with gold, but we’ll always be guttersnipes.”

“Never!” Eliza stood and glared at him. “Never again will we be below the likes of them!” she motioned to the upper decks.

Liam sighed, looking up at the decks above where the first class passengers were sipping their drinks and holding parasols over their ladies. He always believed that one day he would be up there among them, his Irish eyes laughing merrily as he and his bride enjoyed themselves as one of the privileged…not now though and something told him not ever. Scanning the above deck, he spotted a woman that made his heart leap into his throat. Her blond hair shimmered in the sunlight and her twinkling blue eyes were visible from even here. She was beautiful. But who was she?

“Liam? Liam!” Eliza screeched.

“What? Bloody ‘ell, Liza! What is wrong with you?”

“I was tryin’ to get your attention!” she pouted.

He groaned “What did you want?”

“To know if you’d accompany me to the below decks dance tonight,” she blushed.

“I’ll be there, lass, but I won’t be with a soul,” he grinned at Hope. “I ‘ope you’ll all save a dance for the likes of me.”

“Of course,” Hope sighed, batting her eyes. Eliza groaned and dragged Hope away.

Liam laughed, turning his attention to the above decks again. But she was gone.

“Looking for the blond angel?” Stew asked, looking up as well.

“You’ve seen her?” Liam asked.

“Who hasn’t? She’s Susan Crane, Liam, everyone in England knows the American Princess…”

“She’s really royalty?” Liam asked, sighing again as his brown eyes saddened.

“No,” Stew laughed. “But she is rich, and very much so. Her father owns the largest business in America with operations spanning some fifteen nations! He has more money in a ring on one finger than you shall ever have in your life.”

Liam looked away. “Well, then may she ‘ave the best life possible.”

“Oh, don’t mope. You’ve got Eliza fawning over you. Who needs a Princess?” Stew chuckled, clapping his new friend on the back before walking away.

“Yea, who needs a Princess,” Liam glanced back at the decks. “Susan…”

Tabby wondered where her little doll was as she walked the halls following Susan. Mrs. De Winters had managed to capture poor Susan again, dragging her along the deck to meet her son Thomas. She would feel bad for her, if it wasn’t keeping her away from Liam.

Now she just had to find that blasted doll!

HICCUP!

That’s where he was!

Pushing open the door that led to the source of the hiccups, Tabby huffed. Here she was following that scrawny blond along while he was living up the good life and drinking the day away. What about following Liam? Wasn’t he SUPPOSED to be making sure that Irish charmer stayed away from the Princess?

“Timothy!” she bellowed.

“Oh no, Timothy is in trouble now!” the doll dropped the glass onto the floor, the remaining liquid splashing onto the Persian rug and the glass landing with a crash before shattering.

“Do you ever use your head, Timmy, or are you enjoying this torment?” Tabby entered the room, grabbing his stuffed arm and pulling him towards the door.

“Timothy would like you to kindly unhand him! Timothy didn’t wish to upset his princess!”

“Too late!” she lifted him and left the room.

“Sorry?”

“Too late for that as well, boy! Susan is occupied, but that’s more than I can say for Liam! Thanks to you they have a chance to meet!”

“Naa,” he hiccupped again. “Cake of piece…”

“Wonderful. Just the kind of incompetence I needed! A drunken doll!” she groaned, leaving the room in a huff. Now she had three times the work to do. Of all the blasted luck!

<3<3Chapter Three<3<3

She thought she had heard her name float in the air that afternoon, but she had to have been hearing things. Sighing, she leaned against the cold metal of the quiet balcony, so far away from the everyone else that even the music couldn’t reach her here, and looked across the vast expanse of the ocean. Somewhere out there was American, the land she was born on…the land her family owned most of. She groaned. “Everyone wants a piece of the American Princess, Susan Crane.”

Shaking her head, she focused her eyes on Polaris, the North Star. When she was a child, Kristen, Susan’s mother, would often bring her outside to wish upon the stars for her fairytale love. Kristen often read to her from books of fairytales, telling her that the stories were true; True love conquered all and there was a man out in the world that would be the man she longed for. Yet he hadn’t come.

“And never will,” she stated ruefully, the words turning to ice smoke as they hit the air. She only wished she could get the soft, strong voice out of her head; the voice that had floated along on the breeze saying her name so softly she barely heard it. Somewhere on this ship was the owner of that voice and he was the man she had been waiting for. Susan just hoped she found him soon because she felt that time was running out.

The party in the lower decks was in full swing, but Liam just didn’t feel like dancing and singing or drinking the night away. His first day aboard the SS Titanic had been, well, depressing. All his friends hadn’t exactly made him feel as complete as being surrounded with family. And of those he met few, if any, believed they would ever return home, which was his intent. He never planned on remaining in America for too long, at least not alone. His intent was to make some money before returning to Ireland or sending for his parents and siblings. But to never see the pasturelands again, the rolling hills of green where he had been raised, well that was just unsuitable!

And then there was the amazing woman from this afternoon, the one from the first class decks. Susan, Stewart had called her Susan Crane. After spending the afternoon talking to as many people as he could, he had managed to find some old newspapers on the woman. She was young, only twenty-six, and the heiress to a fortune no one man knew the exact amount of. Susan had lived in London for the last ten years, avoiding America after her mother passed away. Her father was a cruel businessman that attempted to sell her off to the highest bidder…and Liam knew he stood no chance with her.

He sighed, listening to the music coming from both the first class dining room and the lower deck’s party as they mingled into the most cacophonous sound he had ever had the displeasure to hear. Interesting how different both worlds were: classical music for Susan’s world and lively folk music from his. Shaking his head, he watched the puffs of smoke that left his mouth as his warm breath hit the cold night air, blocking his view for a brief moment before it fanned out.

He heard her footsteps on the staircase before she even spoke, immediately sensing it was Ms. Wallace. Who else would follow him up here? “What are you doin’ out ‘ere, Liam? It’s cold,” Eliza’s voice called to him from the doorway.

“I’m thinking, Liza, why?” he turned to her, seeing her standing there in the light from below. She almost looked heavenly with the bright white light behind her and her hair flowing down around her. She was a beautiful girl and any man would be honored to have her on his arm, but Liam felt emptier with her than any other woman before. She just wasn’t the one. But the woman for him was on this very ship, his soul told him that.

“You promised me a dance,” she grinned, reminding him of his promise from nearly an hour before. “You said right after you dance with Shannon that you would dance with me.”

“I didn’t dance with Shannon yet. I barely finished dancing with Hope,” he returned to gazing at Polaris, hoping that would put an end to this conversation. It didn’t.

“So the stars are more entertainin’ than the women?” she teased.

“Sometimes,” he shrugged, especially when something inside him said that this star was very special to his soul mate, his other half. “Liza, have you ever wondered what else was out there?” He never wondered what, but rather *who* else was out there.

She looked shocked, nearing him in the place where he leaned against the metal banister of the boat. “Liam, ‘eavy thoughts tonight.”

“Heavy thoughts many a night, Liza,” he sighed. “I miss my family…my homeland.”

“Me too,” she looked up at the stars. “I have a little sister you know?”

“No, I didn’t know that.” He didn’t care about it either.

“Come back downstairs, Liam. Celebrate while you ‘ave the chance,” she tugged on his arm. “Let’s dance.”

“I’ll be right down, Eliza. Save me a drink,” he flashed her his million-dollar grin.

She giggled. “Of course!” she pecked his cheek out of impulse, blushed and then disappeared down the staircase to the party below.

But Liam didn’t move. “I ask for but one thing tonight, please let me find the other half…my promised love.”

As if the star understood, it twinkled twice as bright. Sighing, Liam turned and headed for the same stairs that Eliza had just used. Just a little longer and he could go to bed. Something told him tomorrow would change his life forever.

“Hell bells, Timmy, he knows she’s on this ship thanks to you!” Tabby dug through her bags for her spell book. “If they actually meet tomorrow…”

“Oh, please, Tabby, Timothy is sure they will not meet. After all, Liam and Susan aren’t in the same class of people…”

“Which means what to me?” Tabby cut him off. “Liam has been a lowly peasant and still managed to get that blasted princess out of her castle and almost into his bed. Once…all they need to do is make love once and I’ll lose the better part of my powers!”

“Timothy is confident they won’t make love…Susan’s rich!” he replied, heading for the bar to make himself another drink

“So was Cleopatra’s princess pal that slept with Caesar’s general! And that was Liam and Susan eons ago!”

“Oh dear…” he pouted.

“What is it now, Timmy?”

“Timothy has nothing with which to make another drink.”

Wonderful, Tabby sighed. Here she was on the verge of losing the one thing she held dear and her blasted doll was worried about making a drink. What was this world coming to that even her blasted doll was willing to sacrifice her powers so he could drink? Perhaps he was a Crane in disguise. The only other person in history that ever drank like that was James Crane, who would later be known as Julian.

Perusing her book, Tabby asked the spirits of the dark side to aid her in her duty of keeping Susan Crane and Liam Fitzgerald away from each other for now and for always. The world wasn’t ready for their romance to be consummated physically or with marriage. In fact, their love would destroy all that was evil and Tabby just couldn’t let that happen. Ever!

Chapter Four

Susan pulled at her coat, trying her best to cover as much as her shivering body with the warm, fluffy material as possible. The night was bitter cold; the icy air biting into her sensitive flesh as she walked along the main deck. The salt in the air was almost tangible as the frosty wind blew, causing goose flesh to appear wherever the air’s icy fingers touched. What was she doing out here at this time of night?

Oh, she knew what she was doing. She was freezing, that’s what she was doing! But besides that, she was trying her best to ease the butterflies in her stomach, the annoying tingling that dragged her out of bed in the middle of the night to walk the decks. Something was pulling her towards the steerage section of the ship, as it had all day, and she hadn’t a clue why. So, instead of taking this cross-class walk during the day when others would point and laugh, Susan decided to do it now, following the bright, twinkling light from the stars above.

And that was the other reason she was out at the ungodly hour in this biting cold air. She loved the stars. They were her friends in the darkest of moments, singing a song that only she could hear. When she looked at them, she knew that someone out there was also seeing those stars, making some wishes and, in a way, talking to her. Somewhere was the man she was looking for and he had to be seeing those stars.

Sighing, she continued along in the cold night air, watching the smoke from her breath slowly fade. Sure, this wasn’t the smartest idea she ever had, but something begged her to do it. So she did. Walking along, she managed to cross over the grate to the lower class decks. It was lonely out at this time of night, even with the stars. Or so she thought. Suddenly, she heard someone call out.

“’ello?” a deep, warming voice called, his greeting floating along in the air and filling Susan with a comfort that warmed her aching bones.

“Who, might I ask, is there?” Susan inquired, looking around for the owner of the voice. She couldn’t find one and was about to move on, assuming she was hearing things, when he spoke again.

“Liam, lass! I’m down here.”

Susan crouched down beside the grate, peering down into the darkness. A match was lit, shedding some light in the dim halls, and she met the most gorgeous pair of brown eyes she had ever seen. Immediately she knew this was a man that would forever change her life and she wished instantly to be in his arms. Her soul seemed to call too him…call him a name that belonged to another place and time…

Luis…

He smiled through the grate, the match burning out and being dropped to the floor when the heat bit into his fingers. Another was lit and she could see that same beautiful smile. “’ello, lass,” he laughed. “Me name’s Liam Fitzgerald.”

She smiled, giggling when that match too burned out and was dropped to the floor. “Hello, sir,” she smiled. “What are you doing down there?”

“Lookin’ at you,” he grinned, his eyes twinkling even in the darkness.

She laughed. Obviously he was looking at her. “Would you kindly come up here and speak with me instead of making me lean over this grate? I would much rather get to see your entire face.”

He shrugged. “’ow can I deny such an innocent request?” he grinned. “Be right there, lass.” And with that, he was gone.

Susan stood and rubbed her hands up and down against the material of her coat, attempting to warm herself further. What had possessed her to ask some unknown man to join her on deck? Not just any man, of course, a steerage class passenger! Oh her father would just love this, truly he would. Then again, what her father didn’t know wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Sorry it took me so long. I had to find me shoes,” he laughed, coming up behind her. He felt the need to slide his arms around her waist, but chose not to. What was with him today? First he was eying women from a distance and now he felt like pulling one into his arms and holding her! Forget the fact that he had just *met* this woman!

“Quite all right,” she turned to smile at him.

That’s when he remembered her as his angel, the beautiful blond from the first class deck that turned his world inside out. His soul immediately took control of his every movement and called out to her…another name for another time…

Sheridan…

“You’re Susan Crane,” he looked her over, his eyes glancing once at her clothing before meeting her gaze again. “The American Princess.”

“Are they still calling me that?” she sighed, wishing for once she could just be Susan. “Please, I’m simply a woman that happens to be related to the richest man on earth.”

“So then I may call you Susan?”

“If I may call you Liam,” she smiled.

“Then lassie, it’s a deal.” He took her hand in his and gave it a shake, eliciting a laugh from her. He loved to hear her laugh!

“Would you care to join me for a walk, Liam? I’m not in the mood to freeze to the deck,” she sighed, forming a large puff of smoke above her head. Her lips began to chatter and she again rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself.

He laughed. “Aye lass, we can walk,” he offered her his arm and she gladly accepted. “Might I ask you how you came about this end of the deck, lassie? It isn’t often we get many of your type down ‘ere.”

She patted his arm with her hand, leaning into his body seeking warmth. “Something pulled me here, Liam. It was like there were these butterflies in my stomach that were pulling me towards that metal grate back there. Perhaps I was supposed to meet you,” she smiled, her eyes twinkling merrily.

He grinned back. “Funny, lass, ‘cause I felt this pull to the grate tonight. I guess we were destined to meet.”

“I don’t believe in destiny,” she replied, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Neither do I, Susan, but I can’t deny that something wanted us to be there tonight. Can you?”

She shook her head no. “So tell me, Liam. What made you board the SS Titanic?”

“I’m tryin’ to earn some money for me family. Me parents are back in Ireland and they are tryin’ to raise me siblings. I ‘eard America’s the land of opportunity, the place to make a fresh start. I want that.” He sighed. “What about you, Susan? What makes you cross the Atlantic?”

“My father requested that I be present on the Titanic’s maiden voyage and then visit home for a while. I suppose I could have said no, but then I wouldn’t have met this mysterious gentleman with the sincere brown eyes,” she smiled at him. Something about him was so familiar, so undeniably wonderful. The last few minutes with him had made her feel more alive than anything in her entire life. What was going on?

“I guess even the cold of night can’t ruin our walk.”

“No, not even the cold,” she turned to him, ceasing their slow pace when they reached the stern of the ship. “So you’re Irish, Liam?”

“Yes, lassie.”

“Never been to America?”

“No.”

“I’m American by birth, but my family is originally from England,” she looked out across the dark, deep blue ocean.

“Is that where you live now, lass?”

“Yes. London.”

“Why?”

“Long, dreadfully boring story,” she sighed. “It’s getting cold, Liam.”

He wrapped his arms around her, trying to warm her. “Is it?”

“Yes,” she whispered, feeling entirely too comfortable in his embrace. “I should return to my room.”

“If that’s what the lady wishes,” he started to move away.

“She doesn’t,” she looked deep into his eyes. “She wishes it was summer and she could forever remain on deck with you.”

He smirked. “Why don’t you meet me here, tomorrow, when the sun is up and the boat is warmer, Susan?”

“I’d like that,” she smiled. “Liam?”

“Yes, Susan?”

“Would you think me forward if I asked permission to kiss you?” she blushed.

“No, lass. I would think you were readin’ me mind,” he whispered before leaning in and kissing her lips softly. “Like that, lass?”

“Perfect,” she sighed. Grinning she added, “Ten tomorrow, Liam. Be here!” And then she scurried away, her hand held to her lips.

He chuckled. Oh he’d be here all right. With bells on in fact!

“Blast it all Timmy! They’ve met thanks to you and those blasted martimmies! You and that drink!” she grumbled, throwing one of the glasses across the room. “I told you that even the dead of night wouldn’t keep the Princess from her stooge! Now what am I to do?”

“But Princess…” Timmy lifted his glass to take a sip, watching as she took the now empty pitcher and threw it against the wall.

“No, buts, Timmy! Now we’ll need to work twice as hard to get Liam and Susan apart before they make love…or else I’ll lose some of my powers!” She whined, slumping into a nearby chair. Why did she end up with all the impossible cases and the useless sidekicks? If Batman had this trouble with Robin, Gotham city would have been…well a hole in the face of the earth!

“Yes, Princess,” Timmy sighed, gulping down a huge sip of his martimmy. So much for an uneventful voyage! Now it was back to working. What was he, a slave or a doll? Oh well, c’est la vie. What choice did he have but to listen to his Princess? But it could all wait until tomorrow. Right now he had some drinking to do!

Chapter Five

“Susan, the last week on the ship has been wonderful. ‘asn’t it?” he asked, holding her hand as they stood on the main deck, the upper class women ogling him in his new suit. The men and ladies passing behind them would cast looks their way, mumbling things about the couple as they moved by. Men and women alike were jealous of the loving pair, knowing no one would have a chance to tear them apart.

“Wonderful,” she whispered, leaning against him, his hands resting snuggly on her belly. She could feel his breath hitting her left ear as he rested his head on her shoulder. “Look, Liam, the Statue of Liberty. We’re in New York Harbor!”

He arms tightened around her in a hug as he took in the magnificence of the giant statue before him. “What does she stand for, me love?”

“Freedom, freedom and liberty for all men, darling,” she tilted her head to kiss him and he replied eagerly. His lips caressed hers so lovingly that it stole her breath away. She would never tire of kissing him. Slowly they parted and she smiled. “You’ll return with me to Harmony, Liam?”

“If that’s what me lady wishes, that’s what me lady shall receive,” he held her close, reveling in the feel of her against him. “I love you, Susan.”

“I love you too, Liam, with all my heart,” she turned in his arms. “Never leave me…”

“Never,” he whispered before pressing his lips to hers again…

“Susie? Susie” Christine De Winters interrupted her daydream, waving her hand in front of Susan’s face in attempt to rouse her from her daydream. Had the girl heard a word she said about Paris or Thomas?

“Yes?” Susan shook her head to clear away the final thoughts of Liam, wishing she could have been alone that morning. Ten o’clock couldn’t come soon enough for her, especially when she had been forced to deal with Mrs. De Winters and her son! Of course she would have that kind of luck on what should be the best morning of her life, a morning she planned to spend daydreaming about Liam. Well, nothing really stopped her from actually losing herself in those daydreams now.

Sighing, she listened, or pretended to listen, as Mrs. De Winters continued her rant on some flower show she had attended back in Paris where the roses were green with yellow dots? Wait, green with yellow dots? Oh yes, she was really paying attention.

In all honesty, she wasn’t and anyone with half a brain would have realized that. She had been thinking about Liam. His smile…his laugh…his deep brown eyes that were a window into his soul…the way his soft lips felt against hers when he gently pressed them to hers. Oh! And his kind heart and compassionate nature that she had witnessed the night before! She was in love and she had only just met the man.

But she would be meeting him again and soon and with any luck she would learn that he loved her as well.

“Susie, I asked you if you’ve ever been to Paris,” Christine’s annoying voice interrupted her thoughts once again. What did this woman want from her? Susan only wanted to sip some tea and dream of her Liam while she waited for the ten o’clock bell to ring from the hall. That was she could see him…touch him…kiss him!

Sighing, Susan decided she might as well humor Christine; she didn’t have much of a choice at the moment. “Yes, I’ve been to Paris twice,” Susan replied, ignoring Christine’s use of that annoying nickname. Thomas smiled at her from across the table, causing her to roll her eyes. He wasn’t the least bit handsome, being far too thin for her liking and rather odd looking. His face was long and his teeth were so large, she swore he looked like a horse! She half expected him to neigh!

“Don’t you just love Paris in spring?” Thomas asked, sipping his coffee, prompting yet another roll of Susan’s eyes. What she would really love was for this blasted breakfast to be brought to a close!

“Gorgeous,” she sighed, leaning back in her chair and casually glancing at her pocket watch. Only nine-thirty. Was there a chance he could be early?

“You’re quite beautiful as well, Ms. Crane,” Thomas smiled, adding a not so subtle wink as well.

Susan had to bite her lip from laughing; the look on her face making her itch to laugh. She hadn’t believed for a moment that this man could have possibly been odder looking, but he had proven her wrong. “Thank you,” she forced out. “I really should be going. I have things to do,” she stood, causing Thomas to rise to his feet as well. At least he was a gentleman.

“Are you sure you can’t have one more cup of tea, Susie?” Christine asked. “We were having such a lovely chat!”

Susan groaned. A lovely chat? Is that what that was? “I’m afraid not. Please excuse me,” she grinned slightly and left the table, rushing away before she began laughing. She had to find Liam; he would love to hear this tale! If she remembered to tell him when she saw his handsome face!

Liam stood on the spot he agreed to meet Susan some time before she was due. He was hoping that this mysterious and beautiful woman would arrive early so he could spend the extra time with her, but it didn’t seem like it was to be. Now it was nearly nine-thirty or so he assumed by the position of the sun. After all, he had never been able to afford a pocket watch; not that he had learned to tell time anyway.

He had dreamed about her all night, seeing her beautiful face as they walked along the hills of Ireland, their hands linked. She was smiling, one hand rubbing her swollen belly gently and her blue eyes sparkling. They were married and starting a family on the land that had been so good to him, the land that was his home for as long as he could remember.

How he wanted to be her husband…the father of her children!

Sighing, he looked out across the ocean, the blue waves barely breaking the nearly perfect calm of the sea. It was so hypnotizing to watch the rise and fall of the water as they moved along, the only disturbance being the boat, which caused trails of white foam to form. It was breathtaking but not quite as lovely as his Susan.

Yes! His Susan! The woman he loved!

Speaking of Susan…

“Liam!!” she called, dashing across the deck to where he stood. “Liam!” she waved.

He turned to face her, smiling as he noticed her dashing across the deck. Opening his arms to her, he called back, “Susan!”

She rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck hugging him close. He lifted her from the ground, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. “’ello love,” he chuckled as he slowly pulled away from her.

“Hello, darling,” she smiled, her eyes bright with love.

He smiled as well, his feelings mirroring hers. Liam had never been so open with his feelings before, but he had also never felt the same things for another woman, or for another person at all. He loved her and something inside him made every action he made, forward or otherwise, feel right. Something told him that this situation was familiar and that somehow he would feel this way again in the future. But it wouldn’t be another woman, it would still be his Susan.

“Anythin’ for me beautiful Susan,” he said seriously. “You’re stunnin’ this mornin’. The sunlight reflects off your ‘air and makes you look like an angel.” He brought a gentle hand up to her silky hair and ran his fingers through it, watching the strands blow in the wind and glisten in the sunlight. “You should leave it down oft, me lassie.”

She blushed demurely, looking away. “I didn’t have time to put it up before Mrs. De Winters insisted I come to breakfast. I’ve never left my hair so unruly before. Do you mind?”

“Not at all, Susan, I love it…”

‘I love you,’ she thought, sighing instead of actually saying it. “Shall we walk, Liam?”

He nodded, placing a kiss to her forehead. “We shall, love,” he left an arm around her waist and began leading her away. “I was thinkin’, if t’is all right with you lassie, that we could have supper under the stars tonight…”

“I’d like that very much, Liam,” she leaned into him. “I want to spend every moment with you,” she gasped, covering her mouth. It was terribly improper of her to be so forward with Liam, but something inside her made her say it. After all, it was the truth.

“Don’t be shy, lassie. I want to spend every moment with you too,” he tightened his hold on her. “Would I be too forward to speak me mind, lassie? To tell you how I feel?”

“No, Liam, I would like to know how you feel,” she looked up into his eyes. “Very much so.”

“I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout you last night, Susan. I dreamed ‘bout you too,” he looked into her hypnotic blue eyes. “Nothin’ and no one has ever made me feel this way before. I love you, Susan Crane.”

Susan turned to him, putting her arms around his neck. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears and love, utter and complete love. “Funny, Liam, I love you as well. You’ve consumed my thought since I met you last night.”

“Guess we’re in love then,” he laughed, bringing his face close to hers. “Completely in love,” he whispered before closing the distance and kissing her again, feeling himself drawn to her...bound to her heart and soul.

Susan leaned in, placing her lips against his in another gentle kiss. Their lips caressed each other gently and softly, meshing together lovingly. She didn’t want to pull away, but her lungs begged for air and she needed to leave his warm, kissable lips for the time being.

Slowly they parted, their eyes meeting immediately as their foreheads rested together. He held her close, his arms fitting around her perfectly. This was one feeling he would never grow tired of. She was so perfect for him and it had nothing to do with who she was, but everything to do with her heart and more specifically her soul.

“Liam! There you…oh!” Eliza stopped dead in her tracks looking at the pair that were oblivious to the other people around them. “Liam?” she tried again.

“Oh, Eliza,” he turned to her only briefly before his eyes immediately returned to his true love’s face. “Liza, this is Susan Crane. Susan, this is me friend Liza. She and her friend Hope are goin’ to New York to work in a factory.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Susan smiled, leaning her head against Liam’s shoulder, her face pink with a blush from being caught.

“The American Princess?” Liza gasped, looking at Liam. “I thought ya…nice to meet ya Miss Crane.” She was in shock that Liam could not only meet but fall in love with the Princess of the Crane Empire.

Susan nodded. “Where are you from, Eliza, I don’t recognize your accent.”

“You wouldn’t know the area,” Eliza replied, her eyes never leaving Liam, who was busy watching Susan. Sighing, she added, “Will ya be at the party tonight, Liam?”

“If Susan will join me, Liza,” he kissed the tip of Susan’s nose. “Will you?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she replied, hugging him, her head resting over his heart.

Liza stamped her foot and stormed away, grumbling something under her breath. This was not exactly what she had planned for herself and Liam. Susan would have to be put in her place and soon!

Susan laughed. “I don’t think she likes me, Liam.”

“That’s just fine,” Liam whispered in her ear, “because I love you, Susan Crane. Forever.”

She lifted her head from his chest and smiled. “I love you too,” she whispered sweetly before engaging him in another kiss; this one passionate and deep, their mouths slightly open. They continued to kiss each other while other passengers looked on, obviously displeased by the rich Ms. Crane displaying her emotions so publicly with a guttersnipe.

From the upper deck of the Titanic, Tabby glared at the romantically entwined couple below. How dare Susan be so darn sneaky and meet with Liam this morning! She had tried everything she could to get Susan away from him, which obviously wasn’t working. Every spell in her one tomb of spells had been a complete and utter waste. She was running low on patience and time!

“Oh Princess,” Timmy sighed. “Timothy thinks that Susan and Liam look so happy together…so in love,” he leaned against her leg, grinning like a fool as he sipped from his martimmy. He wished for love like that as well.

“Intelligent, Timmy,” Tabby swept her companion into her arms. “Draw more attention to us why don’t you, stuffing for brains?”

“Timothy needed a libation, Princess. It is the only way for Timothy to watch the lovers,” he giggled like a schoolgirl. What a frustrating doll!

Tabby rolled her eyes. Why didn’t that surprise her? “Tim-Tim, would you kindly cease speaking of their romance,” she groaned. “Those two have to be torn asunder or else I will lose my powers!”

Timmy laughed. “So?”

She dropped him to the floor, causing him to land on his rear.

“Ouch!” Timmy cried, rubbing his backside.

She simply glared at him, daring him to fight her. “Keep an eye on them, Timmy,” she demanded. “I have a spell book to go through,” she left him there, heading back to her room. Someone in her basement had some serious problems with her to torture her this way. What had she done to deserve such treatment was beyond her. But if it was the last thing she did, which it could very well be, she was going to keep Susan and Liam (or Sheridan and Luis) apart for good!

Part Two