Written by Amanda Brown
Based on some situations originated by Ellen Emerson White.

Margaret walked the deck of the Carpathia, wanting to cry, but she couldn't. She felt so numb, like she couldn't control anything. She didn't even know where she was going, why she was going. But this tragedy had torn her from Robert, the one she knew she loved. She had never experienced this feeling before, and it was magnificent. And when they kissed...Margaret semi-smiled. It had been the most wonderful thing she had ever done. Even though she had never kissed a boy before, she knew that she would never have another kiss like that.

Then, within all this joy, the most terrible thing in her whole life had happened. The Titanic had sank. She and Robert had kissed, shared their feelings for each other in the midst of a horrible tragedy. But if Margaret could've changed anything, that she wouldn't have been picked, or that they would've chosen a different orphanage, she wouldn't have. Robert was the best thing that had happened to her. Ever. Not even the Titanic could wreck that. Even though the ship had killed Robert when it died. Margaret kept walking aimlessly. She didn't know anyone. Mrs. Carstairs had abandoned her, as well as Florence. But when the Carpathia docked, Margaret was hoping and praying that William would be there, waiting for her. After everything, she needed her brother. If she didn't have him, she didn't have anyone. And Margaret needed a rock.

As Margaret rounded the corner, she saw a familiar face. She smiled a little and walked over to her.

"Why, hello there, Florence," said Margaret, kneeling down to pat the little dog.

"Margie J!" exclaimed Mrs. Carstairs.

"Hello, Mrs. Carstairs," Margaret responded, not really caring what she was called anymore.

"Margie, I'm sorry. I know how close you were to the bellboy," said Mrs. Carstairs, trying to be sympathetic.

"Robert," she muttered.

"Yes, Robert. I'm sorry, Margie, but it was his time to go," the older woman said.

"I know. I wish you well, Mrs. Carstairs, but I must be off. I want to be able to find William when we dock," said Margaret, for she could see the dock and all of the photographers awaiting the Titanic passengers.

"I wish you well, too, Margie J. Here is my address. Keep in touch. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me," said Mrs. Carstairs, hugging Margaret.

Margaret hugged her back, then kissed Florence on the head, walking towards the bow and looking toward where they would dock. She saw all the newspapers, everything. The one newspaper headline that made her crack was one a boy of about ten years old was carrying.

Titanic Disaster Great Loss of Life

Margaret felt a single tear leak out as she got to the end of the line getting ready to exit the ship.

They docked, and Margaret wove her way through the crowd, avoiding all of the reporters.

She got to the end of the reporter mass and saw the relatives. She looked around and saw a familiar head.

"William..." she whispered. He heard her. He turned around, his eyes glistening with tears.

"Margaret!" he exclaimed. He ran towards his sister and engulfed her in a big bear hug. He held her tightly to his body. She cried into her big brother's chest, shaking violently. She hadn't stopped shaking since she had left the Titanic.

"Margaret...I was so scared that I had lost you…" William confessed, crying a little bit.

"I love you, William," said Margaret.

"I love you, too, Margaret," said William.

"Will, I lost someone on that ship. It was horrible, William. Horrible. He was our room-attendant, and his name was Robert. Robert…he was amazing, William…and…he kissed me before he made me promise to get into a lifeboat. He said he wanted to kiss a pretty girl tonight. Oh, William! I loved him! Now he's gone," Margaret said as they sat on a bench.

"Oh, Margaret, I'm sorry. But Robert wouldn't want you to be miserable because of his death. He would want you to be happy, not sad. Be happy that you ever got to meet him, sweets," said William. Margaret leaned her head on his shoulder.

"But…I miss him so much! William, he's always going to be on my mind. I don't know how I'm going to get through it. I know that I only knew him for four days, but those were four of the best days of my life," whispered Margaret.

William felt his heart break at the sight and sound of his baby sister in so much distress. He was delighted to see her. He just wished that her journey to him hadn’t been so distressful. He would do anything to spare his sister from that pain.

"William...I loved him! I really did! Why'd he have to make me get in the lifeboat! I should have just stayed with him. We could've made it out together." Margaret began to sob, and she buried her face in William's chest and cried.

William felt a few tears well up in his eyes, but he had to be strong. He rubbed his sister's back and whispered soothing things in her ear.

William saw a man begin to sit down on the end where Margaret was.

"Excuse me, sir. Could you please find another bench?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry," the man responded.

Margaret froze. William looked down at her, and she shot up, catching a glimpse of the man. He had short blond hair and green eyes.

Margaret gasped.

"No…it can't be.." she whispered. She got up and jogged to follow the man. William looked questioningly at her and got up, walking to follow her.

Margaret got to his back and tapped him. He turned around and Margaret gasped.

His green eyes shone, and his blond hair was a little messed up from the wind.

Margaret just stared, her eyes wide, as were his.

"It can't be..." Margaret whispered, reaching up to touch the sixteen-year-old's face to make sure he was real.

"Margaret…" he whispered.

"Robert…is it really you?" she asked tearfully.

"It's really me, Margaret." Robert smiled.

"Robert!" Margaret shouted, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.

She began to sob, and she felt his tears on her neck. The couple was standing there, hugging and crying, while William looked on, a smile on his face. His sister was happy.

When they pulled away, Margaret looked at Robert.

"You're really here," said Margaret. "How? You never got on the lifeboat with men, Robert, like you told me you would."

"Margaret, I was going to be loyal and go down with my ship…but my crewmate, Andrew, saw you leave after we'd said good-bye, and he wouldn't let me die. He made me get in a lifeboat and go find you. I thank him for it now. Margaret, you're alive!" Robert exclaimed, smiling.

Margaret smiled, too, and stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

When they had been kissing for about fifteen seconds, William had to step in.

"Okay! Protective older brother is stepping in!" said William, wrapping his arm around his sister.

Margaret beamed at William, hugging him tightly.

"I got Robert back, Will. He's here!" she said into his chest.

"I'm glad. Now, why don't you introduce me to this boy?" asked William, kissing Margaret's forehead. She smiled and turned away from him.

"Robert, this is my older brother, William. William, this is Robert," introduced Margaret as the two men shook hands.

"How old are you, William?" asked Robert.

"Eighteen. You?"

"Three weeks from seventeen," said Robert.

"Seventeen! Margaret! He's old enough to be your brother!" William exclaimed.

"Oh, William, stop being so protective of me. I'm nearly fourteen!" exclaimed Margaret.

"It's okay, Margaret. William is just being careful," said Robert.

"Well, Will, can you go be careful and get me a hot dog? I'm starving," said Margaret.

"I’d better not come back and have a niece or nephew!" William said. Robert and Margaret blushed.

"I'm so happy you're safe, Margaret," said Robert.

"You watched me go, Robert. You knew I would be okay," said Margaret. "I'm happy you're safe, Robert."

"You make me so happy, Margaret. I love you," said Robert, looking Margaret in the eye.

"I love you, too," she responded, smiling.

She leaned up and they sealed it with a loving kiss.

The End.

Stories