A/N: I'm SOO excited for this story! Alright, just by my my nature this story will be as accurate as possible. I will use every bit of knowledge that I know of Titanic... except one painfully obvious bit of information... but that will relieve itself rather shortly! Anyway... enjoy!
Don't Make Me Leave
Chapter 1 - Don't Make Me Leave
"Ashley… Ashley! There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you!" a middle aged exclaimed panting a bit.
"Why? What is the matter?" Ashley asked putting her book on the nearby table and standing up. The woman just smiled, an odd smile, that slightly worried Ashley. "Aunt Mary, what is so important that you ran about the house in search of me?" Ashley continued, approaching her.
"Someone's here to see you." she stated simply.
"For me?" Ashley thought out loud. She nodded and motioned for her to go into the sitting room. 'For me? Who could be here for me? I mean, it couldn't be… Oh my goodness!'… "James!" Ashley ran to him as he stood there in his White Star Line uniform. I knew it wasn't proper to run and hug him, they weren't child anymore, but she couldn't help it. She hadn't seen him in what felt like years!
"Miss me?" he inquired smiling down at her. He laughed and motioned for he to sit down, she complied and he followed.
"Oh, James. It feels like ages since you left." Ashley laughed.
"Yes, it has, and, by the way the you reacted at me being here this evening, I assume you forgot the date because I told you I would be back today in my last letter."
"You're right! It did slip my mind." she paused, unsure of what to say. 'He's my best friend, I haven't seen him in weeks, and here I am at a lose for words!' "So, you're done with all of this seafaring business, right? I mean, you've learned what you had to learn, and served unimaginably well, I imagine." she joked looking at James hopefully.
He smiled and shook his head, "No, Ashley, sorry to say. And, boy are you going to hate me when I tell you…" he began.
"Tell me what?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Tell you that… I'm leaving for Liverpool tomorrow."
"You're leaving tomorrow… so soon?" she muttered. "James Paul Moody, how dare you? How dare you leave me here again! I never see you anymore!" Ashley raised her voice, the loss of contact with her friend was slowing eating away at her.
"Ashley calm down, please. Listen to me. There's no reason to be sad, or angry with me." he argued.
"Oh, really? And why might that be?" she mock scoffed turning away from him.
"Because… you're coming with me!" he stated a smile growing on his face as she slowly turned to face him. Ashley's eyes grew wide and a look of shear joy spread across her features. "And… and you've heard about the new luxury liner, Titanic?" she nodded, "Well, I've been chosen to be 6th Officer on it!"
"James, that's fantastic!" she exclaimed once again hugging her friend. "But I don't understand, why am I coming with you?"
"Well, your aunt--" he was cut off by the sudden appearance of Ashley's Aunt Mary.
"Aunt Mary?" she began turning to face her aunt who was now sitting in the chair across from her and James, "Why am I going with James on Titanic? What is he talking about? And what does it have to do with you?"
Aunt Marie sighed like she always did before she spoke for a long period of time, "Ashley, as I am sure you are well aware, you are twenty years old and not getting younger. The fact that you do not have a suitor worries me greatly and-- don't you roll your eyes at me!-- anyway, you not having a suitor concerns me because I raised you, and my whole life my greatest dream was to see you off and married to a suitable man.
"You are letting your youth slip away, passing up any and every chance at a suitor that has ever come your way. I have even given you and James permission to marry, but neither of you seem willing to commit to each other in such a way. As such, as your guardian, I have taken the initiative. Yes, I have taken the matter into my own hands and have chosen a suitable husband for you. I saw, and still see, no other way to resolve this issue, therefore, I stand by what I did and nothing you can do can change what has been done."
Ashley's eyes grew wide. She hoped her aunt was joking, toying with her. Using this guise as a way to scare her into finding a suitor. Unfortunately, she knew that her aunt was not of the joking sort, "What?! Are you serious?! What do you expect me to say to all of this? 'Oh yes, thank you Aunt! All I needed was you to find the right man for me! How could I have thought I could find love on my own!?' No! I would never say such a thing. I am no brainless, mindless whore that you can just give to the first agreeable man that happens upon your path! I would object to such a heinous action, but obviously I have no say in the matter even when it concerns my life!" Ashley stood and shouted not believing what was happening to her.
She looked at her aunt who sat there as calm as she had been when she ruined Ashley's life. She turned to James who looked at her shocked, "James, James, please tell me you only just found out about this. If I should find out that you've been keeping something like this from me, I shall never forgive you…" Ashley whispered despair woven into her tone.
He grasped her hand in his and looked up at her, "Believe me, your aunt only just told when I arrived here today. Never, never would I keep something from you." She smiled glad to have someone on her side.
"Who is it?"
"Pardon?" Aunt Marie replied.
"Who is it? This man I am to marry. I demand to know his name and why I am being forced to leave my home in such a hurry. Is he American? Is that why I must sail on Titanic?" She had to ask, she needed to know. She dreaded the question, dreaded the answer, but it needed to be asked. She wasn't about to go into this blindly.
"Murdoch, William McMaster Murdoch…"
"Titanic's Chief Officer." Moody finished. A heavy, empty silence filled the room in the moments it took Ashley to compose herself and reply.
"So, we leave tomorrow, then?" James nodded, "I shall be heading off to bed, Aunt Mary, don't bother to have dinner made for me. Good night Aunt, good night James." Ashley acknowledged before walking toward the staircase.
"Excuse me, Ma'am." James stood himself up and walked after Ashley to accompany her to her room. "Ashley," he whispered, "Give him a chance, what do you say?"
"I have no choice, but if you're going to be there, then I just might reconsider jumping overboard."
"Ah, see now that's the spirit!" James laughed which convinced Ashley to smile.