The ocean called to her. With all the time she spent on the ship travelling between her two beloved continents she wondered why she didn't just become a sailor. She was never a big sea-person but over the years the ocean had become synonymous with many things. Love. Heartache. Excitement. Death. Family. Guilt. Friends.

Eilis walked across the port in America with her beloved husband, Tony, who was holding her small suitcase. Rosie, their daughter, held her hand and Eilis kept moving her hand to the pram with their son Frankie. She would miss these two but she would only be gone for a few weeks. They made promises to each other to write letters as often as possible and Mrs. Fiorello and everyone else would be helping out with the kids.

Was it bad that she still felt homesick for Enniscorthy when New York had been her home for years now? She sometimes mentioned it to Tony but not as often as she wished. She didn't want him to think that she was on the verge of running off for her green hills. She loved Tony, her family and her new home with all her heart. But there was always a piece of her that stayed in Ireland and she didn't know how to bring it back with her.

"It's okay Eilis." Tony said gently rubbing her back.

"Hm?" Ellis looked at him.

"It's where you grew up. You need this. I understand." He said as if he had read her mind. She grinned.

"Young fellow, you know me too well...I just feel bad for leaving you here. You know that this is my home right?"

He smiled as if he knew she would say that.

"I know. Plus, you've still got some things to clean up out there. You're selling the house, and your mothers things as well. It will give you closure for when you come back. Don't you worry about the kids. My mom raised me, no reason why she couldn't do well with these two. And I think it's fair to say I'm not a bad father." He grins. "That you aren't. Come here." She pulls him in gently and places her lips on his. It's a quick peck but one full of the future they still have together. She crouches down to her two lovelies. First she picks up her five-year old and puts her face in her hair near her ear. "Ma will be home soon, okay honey? I will be back before you know it with stories of the never-ending green hills. I love you so so much!" "I will miss you mummy!" Rosie replies throwing her thin arms around Eilis' head. "I know." Ellis says and gently places her daughter back on the ground. Ellis then picks up the half-awake Frankie and rocks him as she smothers him with kisses. "I will be home soon Frankie. I love you very much!" Eilis says. "Ma, ma." He replies and the two proud parents smile. "Now hurry to the ship, you wouldn't want it to leave without you." Eilis takes the suitcase and having done this a few times before walks confidently to the docking station and boards the ship.