1. The Misery of a Place Called Home

It was dark. All around me was a faint darkness and silence. Well except for the steady waves of the sea, rocking the boat. But I hardly cared.

He's gone. I thought, head resting on something hard. It wasn't him though. I faced the sky, only to see nothing but clouds. The storm had passed briefly yet I had a feeling that it would occur at any given time.

He's gone. I thought again and then I closed my eyes. Bad move. His face appeared in my mind's eye, each feature clear and concise. Why? Why did the earth have to separate us like that? I couldn't tell which direction we were going in, but it hardly mattered.

How does one look for a man overboard? I thought. I wondered if I should ask someone onboard this little boat. But I didn't feel like getting up. I didn't feel like opening my mouth. C'mon Lilly! Get up! You're going to have to at some point or another! Stop being such a lazy lump of flesh and bone! I tried. I honestly tried getting up. I just couldn't. It was harder than I thought. I'll just stick around here and continue being a lazy lump. What am I supposed to do when I got up anyway?

After a long while of arguing with myself, the little boat bumped onto the shore. My eyes flew open, startled. Would I be able to get up now? I tried yet again. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, I lifted myself up to face the world and few people around me.

"Come along Miss. We've come ashore."

"Are we back in England?" I asked uncertainly.

"Indeed we are. This lady here... Er.. Your name Miss..?"

"Lady Timberlake." she said with a smile.

"Right. Lady Timberlake will escort you to her home. Unless..."

"I would actually prefer," I interrupted. "To go back to my own house. If," I turned towards Lady Timberlake. "That is alright with you." I don't know where my energy came from. Just two minutes ago was I weak and tired. But now...

"But the young man said for me to take care of you dear. Did he not?" Lady Timberlake asked, confused. I winced a little but replied.

"Indeed he did. But I assure you that I will be able to take care of myself as soon as I am home."

"Oh. Alright then dear." She looked pointedly at the boatman who straightened himself and started leading us away from the sea. I looked back at the empty, and now calm sea. I will find him. I vowed to myself. And I will not falter or stop until I have.

* * *

It was only half an hour until we reached St. James' Square. Already was I fearing what I was going to go through once I stepped into the threshold of Aunt Brank and Uncle Bufford's home after so long. Maybe...

I was settled on a short yet clever plan. I got out of the chaise and thanked the boatman, reassured Lady Timberlake and curtsied towards them both before turning and making my way down the street. I shifted my thoughts to him and I started feeling slightly apprehensive. I wanted to go back! I wanted to turn around and go back to the Channel, look for that blasted man and give him a piece of my mind! But I resisted every urge.

As I neared Uncle Bufford's house, the thoughts of him and his face intensified tenfold. A sob escaped my lips. How? How could this have happened!? We were supposed to be victorious! We had gotten the file and escaped...

The file.

What happened to it!? If the ship had really sunk...

No! It can't have. It's just not right! He must've gotten out beforehand...

If he had and he swam ashore...

But I would've seen him! Maybe he's still out there, swimming. At that thought I froze, hand covering my mouth. I could almost imagine it. Rikkard swimming back to England in the cold Mediterranean sea. I turned and was walking back. I have to go back. I stopped short and looked around. I was so far from him. So far. Miles away probably.

Another sob left my mouth. He's gone. For the moment. I am going to go back tomorrow and find him, even if Aunt Brank tries to stop me. I won't hear it. Reluctantly, I turned back towards Uncle Bufford's home.

As I was finally reaching the house, a new thought popped into my head. What if he hasn't gone overboard?! What if he sunk with the ship!?

That broke me.

It shouldn't have. I reached the front door of the house, tears cascading in rivulets. Why? Why was I crying over him? He's nothing to me! I tried the door. Locked. Rattling the doorknob, more tears fell from my eyes.

Stop! Stop this innecessant crying! He was nothing to you and he never will be! All he is, is your ticket to freedom! To adventure! Nothing more, nothing less, do you hear me?

"Maria! Go check who is calling forth at this hour." It was Aunt Brank. There were footsteps and the sound of the front door unlocking and I was still crying. The door opened a crack and from my blurred vision I saw Maria.

"L-Lilly?" She stuttered. "Aunt Brank! Aunt Brank!"

"What, what?" More footsteps and then the door opened wider. I wiped my eyes to see Aunt Brank, Ella, Maria and Anne all in front of me. Gertrude and Lisbeth were nowhere in sight.

"Lilly? Is that you?" Aunt Brank asked in a hushed voice. I nodded, shaking. "What in the Lord's name happened!? Where have you been young lady? You've been gone for two whole days you hear me? Two! I can't believe how..." She continued, but I wasn't listening anymore. All I could think of was him. Tomorrow. I have to go back. I have to. I will look for that man, and I will not stop until I have found him. That was all I knew.

Ignoring my dear, dear aunt, I pushed passed them all, and started up the stairs.

"Lilly! Lilly come back here! I am not finished with you yet!" A third sob came out and it silenced my aunt. And then I slammed the door shut, collapsing onto my bed, burying my face into a pillow, and crying like a newborn babe.

I shouldn't be crying! I am a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man! He is the only exception because... Because.. He...

Alright, I admit it. I didn't exactly know why I needed that blasted miser. All he did was order me around and give me looks that made it all too obvious for what he wanted to do with me - wrap my body up in a bundle and ship me of to some unknown country. Or worse, to Antarctica. But then.. Earlier today... He had said he wanted to dismiss me... Yet it wouldn't be the same as getting rid of me.

That he didn't want to let me go.

And I didn't want to leave him but he forced me. He made sure that my life was saved.

As if his didn't matter in the slightest.

Rubbish. Completely ridiculous as well, but there it was.

Somewhere in the middle of my thoughts, the door of my bedroom opened and then closed. Someone sat on my bed as I lay there, crying. A hand, two hands lifted up my sobbing head and put it on their lap. I knew then who it was. Mainly because she started speaking softly, cooing a little as well, and whispering words of comfort. Only Ella, sweet, angelic and wonderful Ella would treat me with love in this family. Only her. And I knew not how to repay her.

Tomorrow. I thought. Tomorrow I will find Mr. Rikkard Ambrose. I know I will. With that last thought, and Ella stroking my hair, I fell asleep, knowing that I had much to do tomorrow. I will not stop.

____________________________________________________________________________________

YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

WHAT A HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!! YOU KNOW WHY?! I'LL TELL YOOOOUUUUUU :D

1. The first chapter of In The Eye of the Storm was published yesterday!!!2. Storm and Silence Fanfiction part two was updated today!!!3. It's December 31st!!! Final day of the year!!!

And the happiest news of all?

4. SIR ROBERT THIER HAS ACTUALLY SEEN THIS FANFICTION AND ADDED IT TO HIS FANFICTION READING LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-screams and jumps around in joy-

HUZZAH HUZZAH HUZZAH!!!

TRULY THIS DAY IS SPIFFING! XD

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter!!! C:

Thanks for reading!

Please comment!!! :D

See you later!