This chapter is dedicated to all the people who reviewed and/or asked after this story. I've had a very hectic and (at times) difficult year, and I'm glad to have gotten back to a familiar rhythm, in which I can relax and write. I hope to have this finished by Christmas; I have many other projects that are cramming up my brain cells and I feel that I owe some readers a finished story.

I've grown to appreciate many things while writing this story; the music of Michael Bublé, Supernatural, Phantom of the Opera, Avatar and, of course, the movie Titanic. Without these beloved obsessions of mine, this chapter wouldn't have been created. All of these are great remedies to writer's block when suffering from insomnia in those long summer nights.

Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this chapter, and I hope it leaves you wanting more. It's easily been the most difficult to write (so far) after having had such a long break with so much other stuff to focus on. Thank you all for sharing an interest in my work, and I hope it lives up to your expectations. If you like it or don't, please leave me a review. They really do make my day. –Love BB xxx

Disclaimer: I, in no way, shape or form, own Titanic. I own a few characters in this fanfiction, but that's about it!

Chapter Seven

Lily stared after her mother, speeding further away from her in a frenzy of red curls, and felt the hole in her stomach start to expand. Her mommy never went anywhere without her, and neither did Grandma. Where was she going that was so important? Lily felt a hand gently guide her further into the apartment as the door slowly closed in front of her. The creaky hinges of the closing door was the only sound to break the heavy silence that lingered in the room. She clutched her doll to her chest and felt Auntie Olivia tenderly led her to the old sofa that squeaked as she sat down. She watched Auntie Olivia bustle into the kitchen and resume cooking supper for the family, determined to carry on as normal. James and Steven hovered in the hallway, peering in on the scene. James coughed and gathered up the courage to break the tense atmosphere.

"Lily? Steven and me are playing cops and robbers? Do you wanna come play?" he asked nervously. Lily remained sitting, perched on the edge of the sofa, staring at an old painting of a carnival that hung above the mantelpiece. She didn't respond, so James approached his friend anxiously.

"Lily, are you OK? Is something wrong with your Mom? Grandma?"

"Jimmy, sweetheart, Lily's fine. Auntie Rose is fine, everyone is fine," Olivia called from the nearby kitchen, "Her Mom just had to go away for a while, so Lily'll be staying here. Just give her a few moments to get settled in, OK?" James nodded, and beckoned for his younger brother to follow him through to their room. "Lily, you can come and play with us whenever you're ready." The sound of the boys' footsteps echoed throughout the otherwise silent room.

Olivia looked on at Lily's dejected form and sighed wearily. She hadn't left her mother's side for more than five minutes since she'd been born, and she was taking the sudden separation pretty badly. She shuffled into the sitting room, gently sat down next to Lily and placed a tender arm around her shoulders. The little girl shrugged the arm of as her face scrunched up into a scowl, obviously preventing a flow of tears.

"Lily, sweetheart, are you sure you're OK?" Lily could feel the tears fighting to break free, so she concentrated hard on the picture before her. It was your typical carnival scene, a huge red and white tent, the elephant with the tear dropped shaped eyes, the clown with the funny shoes and happy expression. And the lady, the lady with the soft pale face and wavy red hair. The woman who always reminded Lily of her mother. It was one of the reasons why it was her most favourite picture in the entire world. It reminded her of the same mother who she loved, cherished even, and the mother who'd abandoned her, who'd left her alone, just like her Daddy did all those years ago. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her jacket and hugged her doll a little closer to her chest. She tried her best to compose herself before replying in a tiny, broken voice.

"Yes, Auntie Olivia, I'm OK. Just a little sad, that's all."

"Awww, sweetie, I'm so sorry that your Mommy had to leave like she did," Olivia exclaimed, pulling Lily close to her chest, "But she must have had her reasons. And she'll be back before you know it. I wouldn't be surprised if she was waiting for you when you wake up tomorrow morning." She stroked the back of Lily's strawberry blonde head. "You know, Jimmy and Stevie really need some help with that game of theirs. They'd really appreciate it if you'd go and tell them what to do. They've said nobody plays cops and robbers like you do."

Lily pulled away from the embrace, and discreetly rubbed at her eyes again. "I will, Auntie Olivia, but if it's OK, I just want to sit here by myself for a while. I don't feel like playing right now."

"Of course, honey, whenever you're ready." Olivia stood up and started towards the kitchen again. "Do you want anything to drink? We've got water, and milk, and the boys might even have left you some orange juice. I know how much you love oranges."

"No, thank you, I'm OK, really. I just want to sit here in the quiet for a while."

"OK, then. I'll be through here in the kitchen if you need me." Olivia turned towards the door satisfied, and then turned around slowly, stopping abruptly.

"Lily, you know that your Mommy loves you more than anything in the world. She'll be back soon to get you, your Grandma too. She's coming back." The little girl nodded half-heartedly, and Olivia exhaled. No denying she was her mother's daughter, she thought, they were as stubborn as each other.

Lily felt extremely small in the huge sitting room by herself. The only sound in the room was the dull, droning tick of a grandfather clock that stood in a distant corner. Nothing to distract her from her thoughts. Lily thought back on her mother with an almost religious fervour. She missed how her Mommy used to hum quietly to herself as she practised for her latest song. The smell of her perfume that lingered in the air, or when they'd cuddle up in bed during a thunderstorm. Lily would bury her head in her mother's shoulder every time another peal of thunder or lightning erupted and tore through the night sky. Or when she'd sit on her Mommy's knee, as Rose would recall stories from her childhood, and when she was a young lady, before Lily was born. When she and Grandma were rich and lived in a huge house in the countryside, when she had fancy clothes and jewels that Lily could only dream of. And when her Mommy had met her Dad, which was her favourite story. Nobody could ever tell a story better than when her Mommy told that story. It was always the one story that would be guaranteed to stop Lily bouncing off the walls and settle down for bedtime after a long, exciting day. And now, Mommy had gone, and she was never coming back. Auntie Olivia had tried to make her feel better, but Lily knew those promises were empty, nothing more than a tool to comfort her. Lily knew the truth.

Suddenly, Lily felt a surge of anger bubbling in her stomach, replacing the gaping hole. Why did everyone have to lie to her, didn't they think she could cope with the truth? She wasn't a little baby; she was a big girl, nearly six years old. She could choose her own clothes and brush her own hair now. She didn't need anyone to look after her. She'd never had a Daddy, and now she didn't have a Mommy either. She didn't need Auntie Olivia or James or Steven to look after her now. She didn't need anybody. Lily silently stood up, holding her doll loosely by the hand now. She wasn't hungry, so she didn't need food. And there was a water fountain in the park for if she got thirsty. It was warm, and she had a coat, so she wouldn't freeze. She was going to show everyone how much of a big girl she was. She could live by herself if her Mommy and Grandma didn't want her around anymore.

Lily buttoned her coat up to the chin and quietly crept over to a side table by the window. Auntie Olivia always kept some money in the middle drawer, for emergencies. Well, Lily thought, this is definitely an emergency. If Auntie Olivia knew the truth, she'd understand why Lily needed to do this. She lifted the lid of the sparkly jewelled trinket box where Olivia always kept her valuables, and grabbed a handful of coins, which she shoved into the top pocket of her skirt. Now that she had some money, she could buy food whenever she was hungry. Lily had everything she could possibly need.

She tucked her doll into the neck of her coat to keep warm, and tiptoed towards the door. If she didn't hurry up, it would be dark soon and then she'd never be able to get away. She turned the rusty old key that Auntie Olivia always kept in the lock for safekeeping, and it unlocked silently. The door opened slowly, and creaked. Lily held her breath; had anybody heard her in her bid to escape? After twenty seconds with her heart pounding furiously against her ribcage, Lily squeezed through the gap, and carefully shut her door with a click. When she was sure that nobody had heard her, she started running, sprinting as fast as her legs could carry her. She knew these hallways like the back of her hand; she'd grown up here, so it didn't take long to reach the foyer. It was empty. As the huge oak doors with the coloured glass and huge gold handles came into view, Lily felt a surge of disappointment. With every twist and turn as she flew down that staircase, Lily had hoped and prayed that her Mommy would be there. This would have been a trick, Lily had beaten the challenge, and Mommy and Grandma would be there. She'd be swept up into a hug, and Rose would call her "her clever little baby" and everything would be fine again.

But, no. Nobody was there to greet her, not even Mr. Jones, who operated the elevators. He must have gone home, thought Lily. She approached the doors and gripped tightly onto the handles. She pulled with all her might. Auntie Olivia or James or Steven would know by now that she'd gone, and they'd be coming to find her. She tugged and tugged and tugged, half expecting one of them to hurry around the corner and drag her back to a life without her family, full of hurt and those false promises. She strained her ears and heard footsteps on the stairs, faint but still audible. She hid under the stairs, where the porter usually kept the brooms that he used. Lily held her breath and crouched down noiselessly, like a dormouse. She prayed that it wasn't anyone looking for her, anyone familiar with the foyer, who knew the only place to hide in this empty foyer was under the stairs...

Luckily, as the footsteps drew nearer and nearer, Lily found that she could distinguish two separate treads, and the tap of a cane. She breathed a silent sigh of relief as tried to calm her thumping heart as Mr Willis rounded the corner, tapping the white cane that he used instead of his eyes, Mommy once told her. His daughter, a pretty brown haired lady with twinkly blue eyes and a very pretty beautiful blue hat, was holding onto his arm. They were too deep in conversation to notice the little girl squatting under the stairs, the little girl who looking after in longing. Longing for a relationship like that, wanting a Daddy to go on walks with like everybody else. However, she squashed the lump that was growing in her throat, and quickly grabbed the door that Marie was holding for her father. She darted under the woman's arm, and started running again down the lamp, leaf strewn street, running to the only place where she felt safe, where she'd be able to begin her new life, alone.

TO BE CONTINUED...

So, whaddya think? It's been a very hard chapter for me to write, as I needed to get back into the swing of things. Thanks to all the people who have stuck by this story. And all the new readers who'll discover it. I really love writing this fic, and without you guys, it wouldn't be half as much fun! So, tell me what you liked, loved and didn't so much, and please, LEAVE ME A REVIEW!

Thank you again! - Love from BB xxx