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The smell of the harbor wafted through the streets of London, and its scent mingled with the excited chatter of hundreds of people. The huge ship which dominated the scene cast much of the dock into shadow. On the said dock, two gangly young men stood with their family, as they wished them goodbye.

"For heavens' sake, you two, be safe." Their mother said tearfully. "Of course we will, mother." Soothed Matthew. He looked over at his twin. "Won't we, Al?"

Alfred, who had been staring up at the ship with a distant, dreamy look on his face, quickly looked around, and said. "Yes, of course we will. Don't worry, mother."

Their father shook his head. "Alfred, you know your mother. She won't sleep until she knows you are safe." Alfred grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. Their mother planted kisses to their foreheads, their father clapped them on the shoulder, and the two set off onto the ship. They joined a pair of twins who were already on board. One of them waved and smiled, and said cheerfully, "Ciao! Are-a you coming on-a this-a voyage to-a? My name-a is Feliciano Vargas, and this is mi fratello, Lovino Vargas!" He spoke quickly, with a bright Italian accent.

Quite unlike his brother, Lovino sneered unpleasantly. Matthew shrank away, but Alfred, unfazed, grinned and started babbling away with Feliciano. Matthew looked around, observing the crew. A few he recognized as some of the boys he and Alfred had grown up with, and he greeted them with smiles. He didn't see any more familiar faces until, "Francis!?"

The Frenchmen whirled around at the sound off Matthew's voice. "Matthew!? It is really you? And Alfred?" He asks, his tone disbelieving.

"Yes, it is us, Francis." Matthew grinned at his cousin. Alfred, who had watched the exchange with a slowly spreading grin on his face clapped a hand to Francis' shoulder, laughing. "How've you been? You 'n Artie still haven't killed each other?"

"Actually..." Francis trails away, looking pointedly over Alfred's shoulder and smirking. Matthew turns around, and stifles his own upcoming giggles with much difficulty. Arthur, Francis' brother is storming toward them across the deck. He still hasn't noticed Alfred or Matthew yet, but Alfred cuts of any other thoughts of Matthew's by saying very loudly, "Iggy!"

At the look on Arthur's face, neither Matthew nor Francis can contain his laughter anymore. They burst out laughing, and so did many of the onlookers, including the Vargas twins. Arthur looks like he wants to either sink through the wooden planks or throw Alfred overboard.

But the ruckus died at once when Governor Radcliff arrived. The tall, pudgy man stared balefully around at them all, nodded, and headed for his quarters. His servant, Wiggins, smiled jovially as he followed.

Alfred frowned, and glanced at Matthew. Matthew shrugged. They went to the bow of the ship, and Alfred leaned against a mast. After a pause, Matthew ventured, "Al, what do you think this New World's going to be like?"

Alfred shrugged. "How should I know? But it can't be that different from the other ones that we've found, can it?" Matthew shook his head. He had no idea.