A cold shower of rain took over the town of Crawley, and everyone rushed back to their homes. The rain slapped hard against the roof of the Tuckers, streams of water rolling down the rooftop to the ground, the smell of petrichor in the air. The home was filled with honey light and the cheers of the victors could be heard from outside.

Deep inside the house, everyone had taken their seats in the living room, Howard walking to each person and filling their class cups with wine. Ella watched the entire sight with a smile on her face. They had finally done it and deserved a drink.

"Ouch," the Captain winced as Ella placed the soaked towel on his swollen forehead.

"Don't take it off," she said. "Tomorrow we'll try to get you some drugs to prevent the pain from increasing."

"Captain," the twins babbled and walked to him, their tiny hands aiding them to climb the chaise lounge. Even in his state, the Captain still managed to carry both of them as he lay in the seat. Ella had never seen a man who was so much in love with children. Not even her father treated her this way when she was young.

"Cheers, to a successful night," Robert said, standing in the middle of the room, his wine-filled cup raised.

"Cheers," Everyone echoed before they took a sip from their cups.

Mrs Tucker cleared her throat and raised her cane slightly off the ground. "A few days ago, when you all came here, I didn't know you would be the one to save my life." After the match, Robert had given the prize money to her. Money that big was good enough to pay for Dorice's dowry and give Campbell a good chance at establishing a good business. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. Ella, you've been so supportive and helped me prepare the meals the Captain needed."

Ella smiled softly and the lady continued, "And Your Lordship, you did everything to ensure the finances for this short journey was a success. I also thank you." Robert raised his glass to that.

"And Howard, my goodness, you went through the trouble of creating an extensive training schedule and making sure the Captain abided by it. You're a well-disciplined man." Howard did a bow and everyone laughed. "And you," Mrs Tucker said, locking eyes with the Captain. "I was wrong about you from the start. You truly deserve to be a father. I mean, look at the way the twins have taken a liking to you. You didn't know this, but ever since their father left, they've been crying at night asking for him. But since they saw you, they've not cried nor asked for him."

"I'm glad you feel that way about me, Mrs Tucker," The Captain answered, his brown eyes carrying a heavy boulder of emotions Ella was sure he could barely carry. He truly wanted to find his children. This all started as a deal, but as they got closer to him, Ella felt obligated that he needed his children in his life. And that way, he could finally have inner peace and joy.

He didn't know this but two days ago, she had caught him looking at a locket and kissing it. And then he muttered a silent prayer telling his wife that he'll make sure he found their children. Upon, seeing that, Ella's heart thawed with concern for him. But now it was over, he was finally going to find out who they were.

"And I know all of you are waiting for me to fulfil my part of the deal," Mrs Tucker sighed, "which I would. But that will be tomorrow. For now, you all should have a good night's rest and enjoy the night. You deserve it."

Robert locked eyes with Ella and their eyes both held the same information. We did it. They smiled affectionately at each other. What would Ella not give to spend the rest of the night with him? The both of them would laugh over all the hurdles they all had to face to get here. Gerrard couldn't stop them.

"Miss Featherington," Captain Asher called her attention. He showed her a brown voluminous textbook so heavy that when she took it almost dropped her to the floor. She caught Howard laughing at her alongside Robert and rolled her eyes at them.

Her heart beat paced when she saw the text in the book. It was the; Physices Elementa Mathematica, Experimentis Confirmata sive Introductio ad Philosophiam Newtonianam. It was written by Willem Jacob Storm van's Gravesande, a Dutch mathematician and lawyer.

This was one of the rarest physics books in the world and she had one, right there in her hand.

"Do you like it?" Robert asked, looking down at her. Next to him was Howard smirking his arm crossed. Ella couldn't speak but only gape at the rare textbook before her.

"You've been such a huge help to us and we wanted to surprise you with something good," Captain Asher said, sitting up, joy in his eyes. "Howard found this book was going to be auctioned, so we all put our money together and bought it for you."

"Even Howard?" Ella asked, looking at Howard with tear-filled eyes as she chuckled. She couldn't believe this. Even Howard Lithstone got her a gift.

"You hurt my hand Miss Featherington, you didn't kill my mother," Howard said, humour in his voice.

Ella laughed, feeling her stomach churn with excitement. "I-I don't know what to say. Thank you all, very much. I mean it."

"You deserve it, Ella," Captain Asher said. "You're the smartest girl I've ever met."

Robert smiled.

Howard nodded. What was happening?

"If you guys continue I might end up flooding this room with tears," Ella said, her tears flowing down her face.

"Well that's a good thing since we have canoes," Robert said, looking at Howard. "We do have canoes, don't we?"

Howard nodded, grinning. "Aye, very big ones that could contain everyone."

"You both should stop being silly," Ella said chuckling. "Truthfully, I appreciate this. This is one of the best things anyone has done for me."

They had become her family. She could trust them without looking back twice. And that was the best thing their journey had given birth to.

******

Robert's bedroom was furnished with a four-poster bed that faced a fireplace that reflected hues of red and yellow against the other side of the room it faced. Who knew he would've gotten this far? He could still remember when he had doubts, especially when Gerrard became a friggin pain in the arse.

But they beat him to Mrs Tucker and finally, he was going to get his moon lamp. He sighed softly and reclined in an armchair that faced the window which overlooked the night sky. The streams of rain fell outside the house, pouring in a straight line down to the ground outside. His body was ridiculed with goosebumps as the sweet smell of petrichor hit his nostrils.

A lot had changed in the past month. He no longer slept around like a fool. After reading the first hundred pages of pride and prejudice, he realise how stupid he had been. He had been after lust, mistaken it for love. Ella showed him what love truly meant. She supported him emotionally, even financially-he couldn't think of any woman except his mother who bought him something. They all wanted to get the chance to spend the night with him since a lot of London women were talking about how good he was in bed.

He ran his fingers over a page of the novel in his hold. The gas lamp by the corner of the room was spilling warm orange light onto the brown pages. He had found love where he least expected him. This journey was about fulfilling his part of the deal so he could get his metal and make the moon lamp. And here he was always daydreaming about a young lady he had first met on a balcony.

He couldn't deny it. The first day he met her, he was completely impressed by her smart mind. That difference in her mentality was what had caught his interest. And from that day onward, he didn't know his life would never be the same.

Lightning crackled in the sky and a rumble of thunder boomed through the town. Robert wasn't usually scared of lightning. But this one seemed deadly and kept coming every minute. It got too much that he had to shut his window for fear that it may strike him to death.

It was then a knock came. He settled the novel on his bedside drawer and walked over to the door. Opening it, Ella stood before him, her arms wrapped around a white pillow. He gulped when he looked down at her dress. The silk chemise was loose and short, stopping right below her groin. But what made blood flow down south was the lace stockings she wore which ended above her knees. He had a thing for women in stockings. And right now, Ella was turning him on in the hottest way possible. They fit her thick thighs perfectly.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

Robert knew that if she did, they may end up having sex. And he wasn't sure she was ready for that.

"Why don't you want to sleep in your room?"

"I'm scared of thunder." Her innocent brown eyes made him want to pull her closer to him and do all sorts of naughty things to her body. Things she never knew were possible. "I don't want to spend tonight alone."

"So, can I come in?"

Robert was silent for a while before he gave in. Oh, fuck it. "Come in."

******