Preface: 1 month after Elizabeth leaves Will in World's End.
"This can't be" I gasp. "I can't be pregnant, can I?"
I run my fingers through my knotted hair and begin to pace about the room. My thoughts started to swirl around in my head like a tornado. What am I going to do? I can't be a pirate queen and be pregnant! It's not like there's a manual on what to do in these situations, plus I'm back in Port Royal gathering my belongings and my father's inheritance in the Governor's house and I already have to pretend I have nothing to do with pirates anymore.
"Mrs. Turner" a woman's voice called from a closed door and interrupted my thought tornado.
"Yes come in please" I murmured back.
"Your house has been finally furnished with all of your belongings and Mr. Turner's belongings. You can move in whenever you please" my handmaiden informed and left the room. Lucy had been my handmaiden and friend for as long as I could remember. I was very fortunate enough to be able to bring her with me to my new residence on the other side of town.
Thankfully since I was married to Will, even if it wasn't the most traditional of ceremonies, he was able to take in my father's inheritance which left me with plenty of money to purchase a little house in Port Royal. There were many questions to where Will actually was and I had to come up with lies to say he turned a new leaf and went back to being a blacksmith who was out traveling to find newer and better materials.
Since my father's death, my cousin Trent and his wife Charlotte had taken governorship in Port Royal and they were gracious enough to let me stay in my old room until I had purchased and furnished a place of my own. Today was the day everything was completed and instead of being overly joyous I was preoccupied about the thought of becoming a mother.
This can't be right. Maybe I'm just stressed? But all the signs are here; I'm sick, certain smells make me nauseous, and don't even get me started on the cravings. I decided I could worry later in my own house and in seclusion. I was just glad I could go back to my own house and confide in Lucy about my problems.
8 months later:
"Mrs. Turner, you have twins! One boy and one girl!" Lucy exclaims as she hands me two babies wrapped in blankets.
I felt exhausted and out of breath from pushing all morning. I was not expecting twins; I was prepared for one baby but not two. How could I do this? I couldn't be a mother to two fragile beings. I looked at Lucy and started to cry.
"What's wrong Elizabeth? Aren't you happy?" Lucy says as she wipes away my tears and motions for the other ladies to leave the room.
"I can't do this Lucy. I can't be a single mother to two babies" I sobbed "You know my life. You know I can't bring two babies into this lifestyle!"
"What would you like me to do?" Lucy looked at me with sad eyes.
"Call Charlotte and Trent, I need their help" I plead.
After an hour of waiting and resting, Lucy knocks on the door and leads Trent and Charlotte into the room. Trent and Charlotte were having issues with conceiving children and we came to a conclusion that they would adopt my little girl and raise her as their own. I told them very little of why I couldn't raise two children and lied about money issues. Trent convinced me that I had to keep the boy in order for him to inherit the entire Turner name. As much as I didn't want to part with one of my children, I knew I couldn't be a mother to both of them, especially as a pirate queen.
"Elizabeth, what would you like us to name her?" Charlotte asked as she cradled her new daughter.
"I had the name Lillian picked out just in case I had a girl" I smiled.
"Lillian Swan it is" Trent smiled and nodded. "This will be our secret; Will will never need to know about this". He kissed my forehead and he and Charlotte left my room with my baby girl.
"Goodbye Lilly" I whispered into the empty room.