A Love to Transcend

Prologue: A Child

The white sand of the beach was flying in every direction as the little girl dug as fast as she could. She had found something. Could it be her first treasure? Oh her daddy would be so proud of her. Wait she was not suppose to be here, mom would get angry with her. How could she tell her dad without her mom hearing her. Would her dad get mad at her for disobeying her mom? Still her little hands kept digging. Faster now, she could hear her mother calling for her. She could see it!

The light wind was starting to pick up now. The palms were moving faster with it, she didn't care. The sun was no longer shining as brightly as it was earlier that morning, dark, ominous clouds blotted out the sun. The little girl had only enough light to see the chest and it was almost free. She needed to lift with all her might. With her little hand griping around one of the handles on the side of the chest, she stood up and pulled as hard as she could. The treasure chest came free and the little girl fell on her bottom. The tide was coming in now and she was soaking wet, still she didn't notice.

The chest was really dirty and old. It didn't look like much at all. It was her first treasure chest though. She needed to hide it. Her moms voice was getting louder now, that meant she was close. Her bright little green eyes searched the area for someplace to hide it. There in the brush by the rocks would work, at least until she had more time.

Running quickly over to what she spotted, she hid the chest in a crevice between two large boulders and pulled at some of the brush to further conceal it. Once satisfied she took off in a dead run for her mother. She didn't want her to find her hiding spot. Once she was in eyesight of her mom she shouted to her.

The little girl could see the relief on her mothers face. Why was she relieved, she played out on the beach all the time. Well maybe not that far down the beach, but still, her mom didn't know that. It was then the little girl realized that a storm had moved in. The sky was dark, and the wind was slapping her blond hair into her eyes. She could see the waves crashing higher up on the shore and what looked like a sheet of rain heading straight for them.

Her mother came running at her and picked her up in one move, and continued running for the house. Once inside the entryway, her mother set her down on the white marble floor and hugged her tight. Why was she so upset? "Mommy you are hugging to tight." she squeaked.

Her mother let go and looked at her, "Goodness Alexandra, you had me scared to death, I thought the waves took you. What have you been doing? You have sand all over you and you are soaking wet?" Alexandra looked down at her favorite pair of clothes. It was a pair of shorts and a shirt her daddy got her, they were wet and stained.

It was then Alexandra started to cry. She was scared now. Before she didn't even notice the weather. She could have been carried out to sea! Where did that storm come from? More importantly where was her daddy? Did he make it home before the storm? She wanted her daddy.

"Shh shh.. Everything is okay.." Her mom started trying to comfort her. But she wanted daddy! Her mom picked her up again and started carrying her to someplace in the house. Then she heard her daddy's voice!

"What be the matter with me little Lexie?" Alexandra squeaked and ran to her fathers open arms. He held her tight and she smelled his unique scent of the sea and that stuff she wasn't allowed to drink. How she loved it when he was home. "What have you been doing? Digging for treasure." Alexandra smiled at him and nodded. Her father gave her that grin she loved so much and knew he approved, even if her mom didn't. She didn't care. Her dad was home!

"Do you have any stories to tell me daddy?" Alexandra asked, her tears nearly forgotten.

"That I do Lexie."

&&&&&

The flying Dutchmen rose to the surface of the sea heading the call of Calypso. Captain William Turner is at the helm smiling ruefully at the storm brewing overhead. The crew was working the rigging like it was nothing more than a slight breeze blowing by, when in fact it was nearly a hurricane. They were a vary seasoned lot, the bilge rats.

Will wondered what the goddess wanted with him now. The years of service to her were weighing sorely with him. He wanted his service to end, if only he could find his heart…

Calypso appeared then before him and the crew as Tia Dalma, really nothing different about her than the last time he seen her. Maybe some more trinkets.

"You have only fifteen more years to serve me Turner." the witch said in her heavily accented voice.

"Then?" Will asked, his face blank and emotionless, much like him. He was blank and emotionless, cold. What was a man without a heart?

"Times have changed. People are not as seafaring." Tia said looking around the ship. The Dutchmen was in decent shape. Better than Jones took care of it. The changes were beginning though. She could see it in the ship, the crew, and even more so, the Captain himself. Him needs him heart.

"You have not answered my question. What of my crew?" Will asked, still cold and emotionless. What of me?

Tia turned her head and narrowed her eyes at him, "Your crew gets a second chance at life in a new world." Tia walked to Will and put her arms around his neck. Will removed them and placed them back at her sides. "You William Turner will live an eternity doing as you wish. The ship is yours should you want it."

"I do not want this cursed ship." Will spat at her.

Tia Glared at him, "Then live eternity without it William Turner. Maybe you can find your heart and become the man you were meant to be." Tia said and vanished just as quickly as she appeared. Will glared at the area she was standing in. Find his heart? It would take him eternity.

&&&&&

Alexandra went back to her hiding spot three days later. It took three days for her parents to let her leave the house again. The storm left a mess, they said. Finally she found the spot she put her treasure chest in. The brush was washed away, but the chest itself was still between the boulders.

Sitting down in the sand Alexandra began to examine the chest. It had a rounded lid and looked like it was decorated in tentacles. But what interested Alexandra was that the lock looked like a heart. It needed a key. Where was the key? Alexandra became frustrated. How could she find out what was in it? Maybe daddy could open the chest? Would he want to keep it? That wouldn't be fair! She needed to figure this out on her own.

As her small hands traced the lines of the chest, particularly the heart around the lock, it felt as if short thumps vibrated the box. Curious Alexandra put her ear to the chest. It did make noise! She wondered what was inside making the noise. Her young mind finally decided that this would be her secret and her secret alone. All she needed was a secret place to put it.

"Would you like that? For me to take care of you and no one to know?" her little voice whispered into the lock. The steady thump paused a little.