"My favorite city? I can't pick one, Mama," Gaia said. "We're getting married at St. Patrick's Cathedral on June 21st. I wanted to let you know now that the priest has approved, and the banns are officially read."

Harry sat on the bed, cuddled under her arm, as she spoke on the telephone. The long distance call was a gift. Far better than a telegram which would have frightened her parents before they could read it.

"You want to send your wedding dress to me? No mama keep it safe for my daughters. I want them to know our family. I promise I will bring them to see you."

Harry's arm snuck around behind her back. He rested his head against her breasts and hugged her hard. His support through this difficult conversation was all she needed.

"Yes, I'll have someone take pictures. I'll send the negatives to you as soon as they are developed. I intend to take a camera and several rolls of film with me. Harry is interested in photography. We bought one in Berlin at the Voigtlander store by the zoo. I'll never forget the bombed out cathedral. They say they will never rebuild it. It's a memorial to all the innocent people who perished here during the war."

"Hmmm, Paris was beautiful. Spring and all the flowering trees. And the Eiffel tower. A masterpiece of structural metal engineering. Papa would have loved it. Maybe we will take you there someday," Gaia said.

Harry pointed at his watch. They agreed on a ten minute time limit.

"Mama, I have to go. It's long distance after all. Harry met Rogan O'Dell. They have decided on telegrams to keep their business moving. Oh, our ship will leave Dublin Port the day after we're married. It will be our honeymoon trip. I'll write you a letter with the details as soon as we get off the telephone."

She rolled her eyes as her mother continued to talk.

"Mama, I really have to go."

Harry put his ear next to the receiver and shook his head.

"I love you too and tell Papa I wish he could be here to walk me down the aisle. Istak and Esther Goldberg will act as our parents. They are Rogan O'Dell's parents. They adopted him when his parents passed away."

Harry flashed his open hand at her with all five fingers wiggling. Gaia mouthed her thank you, as she listened to her mother's gushing spate of words.

"Thank you for telling me the story. I'll let Esther know. She'll be even happier she's playing Mama for me now. Now there's no more time. I have to go. I love you. I promise, we will see each other again. I'll bring my children to visit," Gaia reached toward the receiver cradle to depress it.

"Goodbye, Mama. Till we see each other once more." She turned to Harry and buried her face in his shoulder where he knelt beside her.

"What was that about Esther at the end?" Harry asked.

"They made Mama and Papa's wedding bands. It must have been fate which guided us to them. Don't let me forget to let Esther know Mama remembers her fondly."

She let her tears flow. "It's harder than I thought to say goodbye."

"Aye, mo gra. My father says we will be back. Take his word for it," Harry said.

"Ronan has never been wrong yet, has he?"

"Never," Harry declared.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"If I knew where we were going to end up, we wouldn't have to lug all this with us." Harry was pushing a baggage cart up the pier toward the ship they would board.

"At least when we come to visit, you can do the instant transfer for us," Gaia said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around yesterday. Father Adolf was," she paused, trying to find an appropriate comparison.

"A horse's ass?" Harry inquired.

"For a lack of anything worse, that will do. Trying to keep Istak from walking me down the aisle because he's Jewish was beyond hateful."

"We can thank Father Patrick for saving the day. He volunteered to do the ceremony, keeping the vows as Father Adolf insisted. Confessionals are handy in more than one way."

Gaia stifled her giggles. "He certainly was horrified when we shoved in."

"With his attitude, he needs to ask for forgiveness. A thousand Hail Marys wouldn't be enough penance," Harry growled.

"But it's all done now. And the luncheon afterward? Esther really shouldn't have."

"There was no stopping her once she found out who your parents were. Archibald was another surprise. And with his new fiancé. So special, to see Elena with him. Her son is giving miracles to many, with his work transplanting kidneys."

Gaia watched the crew load their luggage onto a swinging platform and it disappeared over the rail of the ship. At least they didn't have a whole household of goods to move with them like some of the other passengers waiting to board.

"It ended up being a beautiful day. And thank you for last night. If your Papa hadn't warned us, this would have been a total surprise." Gaia pressed her fist just under her breastbone.

"We are never truly alone anymore. Mine beats with your heart beside it and I wouldn't have it any other way. The blessing and the curse; we take our leap to the stars at the same moment."

"Then we'll keep it our secret, unless we have to explain."

"And we'll remember it every time we make love until then."

Gaia bent down to drop a kiss on Harry's forehead.

"Oh, I thought he was your servant." The man standing at the bottom of the gangway leading up the side of the ship looked disappointed. His eyes scanned her like she was crazy. "Everything is in order here. Someone at the top will give you a cabin number and your baggage should be there when you find it."

"Thank you." Gaia smiled brilliantly. "Harry and I are on our honeymoon trip." She put her hand on the railing of the ramp and headed up.

At the top, the Captain greeted them. "Captain Ian Kelly, sir." He reached for Harry's had and shook it. "I've been waiting for you. Ronan told me you would be on my ship. Welcome aboard. He saved our lives time and again while we were imprisoned. And in the end, we were able to send many a message across the channel to help the war effort. It's an honor to have his son as a passenger."

"My wife, Gaia."

The Captain bowed taking her hand and kissing the back of it in a courtly gesture.

Harry continued, "I'm Harold O'Connor. Call me Harry. Papa never told us about this!" Harry exclaimed.

"Like many of us, he doesn't like to think about the war years. I've put you in a luxury stateroom, above the main deck. We can see the windows to your accommodations up there. I'll have Johnny take you to it. He'll be your personal purser for the duration of our voyage. Let him know if there is anything you need."

The Captain gestured to a dark haired man in a white uniform. Unlike his superior, his was plain white with a single gold bar on the epaulet.

"If you're ready, ma'am, I'll take you up. You will be at the Captain's table for dinner service tonight. We should be well under way by then." Johnny gestured at them to follow him.

Gaia kept her shock under control. It wouldn't do to let anyone know exactly how unsettled she was. Would Harry know what the correct apparel was? Did she even have anything she could wear? This sounded like an adventure she wasn't at all prepared for, and Harry's enigmatic smile didn't help one bit.