OT: Although it is a rather slow start, I do promise adventures are in store. One thing to notice in this story is the color of the main character's clothing... which symbolizes their emotions or disposition.

Color Guide:

Black- sacrifice, Cream - intuition, white- purity, dark green - politeness, lt pink-originality, lt blue - excitement, dark blue-solitude, lavender -sexy, lime green- incredibility

Two man servants followed the mother and son as they trotted to the docks while lugging a voluminous chest containing apparel the Turners would require. Captain Jack Sparrow greeted them with affability and gestured to the ships nearby as he spoke to Elizabeth.

"I could not help in noticing your ship, the Empress, is rather preponderant to my own sloop." Jack gazed at the woman's full length black coat for a moment, his eyes trailing the navy blue lining, and becoming quite curious as to what it was concealing.

Elizabeth looked over the man's shoulder, and cast a glance at Jack's speedy, but small vessel. "I assume you still haven't recovered the Black Pearl then." she simply stated. She watched her son ignore the adults and scamper toward the captain's ship in high spirits.

"My dear, it took me nearly a decade to retrieve the Pearl last time..."

"Then your ploys have not improved much, have they?" Elizabeth interrupted with sleight ability.

"Can we employ your vessel or not, Mrs. Turner?" he asked anxiously, smiling genially.

"Of course, Jack, but I hope your track record of retaining ships has progressed."

Ignoring her snarky remark, Jack stepped onto Empress and ordered his crew, "All hands on deck! Make sail!"

Elizabeth's head swiveled from side to side as she saw men emerge from the lower level of the Empress and begin to pull lines tautly and reel in the anchor. William hopped up on the docks with a perplexed expression, pointing to the sloop.

"Mama, no one is on Jack's ship." he proclaimed, boarding their ship as he spoke.

Elizabeth replied incredulously, "He never intended on taking no for an answer." The woman waved for the servants to load the trunk into her chamber, and as soon as her feet touched the wooden planks she flung off the long coat, revealing garments fit for pirating; her wardrobe consisted of a shining white v-neck blouse with feminine ruffles at the cuffs, a crème colored vest that extended to her hips, and ebony pants and boots. She pulled a black tricorne hat from the coat's inner pocket and flipped it on her head, enjoying the liberating clothes.

Now at the helm, Jack caught the twenty-five year old as she descended into a hatch. "Miss Elizabeth, good to have you and young William on board. Would you care to check my cabin for a gown instead? Only a dress can truly captivate your exceedingly lovely appearance."

She smiled, recognizing the comment as she left Jack to steer the ship and entered her chamber below deck. The room included two hammocks, a vanity table, and a single wash bucket for hygiene services. William had already staked out his area, claiming the farthest hammock in the corner and situating his toys as a border. Elizabeth creaked open the trunk and gently drew back layers of clothes to view the thumping chest. She tenderly placed her hand against it, feeling the outlines, and half-smiled in remembrance as the beating heart of Will Turner pounded against the sides in rhythm with her own heart. After swathing the chest, Elizabeth slung a black baldric over her shoulder and attached a pistol to her belt.

"I want one!" William enthusiastically cried, nearly diving into the trunk as he rummaged through the contents. "What do I get?"

"My love, you are far too young to have weapons on your belt."

"Please..." the three year old insisted, tugging on his mother's sleeve and whimpering in dismay.

"No, William, you will not sway my opinion so easily." Elizabeth slammed shut the chest as her son scurried into his hammock and curled in a ball, pouting for his own armament. Elizabeth sighed and exited the room, initiating a thorough re-acquaintance with the vessel, and letting her son cool off. As she passed through a narrow corridor leading to the kitchen, she met with an old friend. "Mr. Gibbs," said Elizabeth, "I wasn't aware of your presence."

"Pleasure seeing you, Miss Elizabeth."

"Are you remaining on board?"

"Only until we dock in Tortuga again."

With an idea springing to mind, Elizabeth replied, "Would you be so kind as to enchant my son, William with your stories? I am sure he would love to hear of Jack's many adventures and your own. I will care for you duties." Although puzzled by the proposition, the man complied and handed over his obligations to Elizabeth and turned for the boy's solitary confinement. Elizabeth pitched in whenever need be and relished in the fresh salty air and savored the freedom.