Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's all Disney's. *pout*, though as I've said before, Johnny and Orlie would be mine in a perfect world ;) . And the title comes from Semisonic's "Closing Time", it's not mine either and I couldn't fit it all in the summary outside so it will also be known as "Every New Beginning…"
A/N: This is the sequel to "Meet Virginia". I suggest you read it first, though you can probably follow it without the other. No flames please, though constructive criticism is welcome!
Summary: Gin's daughter has been away at boarding school since she was seven years old, communicating with her parents only through letters. Now at age 17, she is to be brought home before attending finishing school the next year. A trip back to Port Royal to visit the Turners stirs up memories for Gin and trouble for her daughter as she slowly discovers where she truly comes from.
"Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End"
Chapter 1
"Richard!"
Virginia Harold-Weiss bustled about, gathering her belongings and glancing around, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
"What is it?" her husband questioned, stepping into the common area of their quarters, his own suitcase in hand.
"Have you seen my lace shawl?" Virginia demanded. She made her way into the bedroom, looking frantically under pillows, practically unmaking the bed in the process.
"Virginia," Richard began, watching her progress in interest. "I think perhaps you should calm down."
"Calm down," she scoffed, lifting the blanket and continuing her search. "Calm down. I'm picking up a daughter I haven't seen in ten years and I can't find my shawl, I-"
"Virginia." Richard reached forward and grabbed her hands to stop her movement and let her focus on him. "It will be fine."
"How do you know that?" She shifted out of his grasp, grabbed his bag and began looking through his things. "She's seventeen Richard, seventeen. The last time we saw her she was seven years old. Do you realize how much we've missed?"
"It's perfectly natural to send a child away to boarding school," he reminded her. "We had agreed, Katherine understood, and her letters since have been nothing but cheerful. I'm sure there's no resentment."
Virginia sighed. That child had never been meant to be caged. Not with Sparrow in her blood. And yet, Richard was right. They had agreed, Virginia herself included.
But none of that mattered now. Katherine was coming home. That was all that was important.
"Sir?" a voice interrupted their argument and Virginia's thoughts. They both turned to the doorway to find a steward leaning in to the room, careful not to disrupt their conversation. "The ship is docking."
* * * * *
"Now remember," Richard began, crossing the yard of the university where dozens of young ladies were milling around. "It may be strange at first. She may not be comfortable around us-"
"Where is she?" Virginia cut him off, already searching each of the women's features for anything remotely familiar.
Richard looked up as well, looking at each girl. "I don't see-"
"Mother?"
Virginia turned, as did her husband to find, what she could only assume was her daughter standing behind them, one of the few students to actually have her hair down. Her long dark, almost black hair. Virginia stared at her, marveling at how Katherine had grown. High cheek bones, her mother's nose. And her eyes…deep brown, much like-
Virginia shook the thought from her head, gazing at her and still unable to speak, still taking in the similarities.
Katherine, heedless of her parents' silence, stepped forward and embraced them both. "I was beginning to wonder what was keeping you two," she said, as if they had spoken everyday since she had been sent away, as opposed to the usual one-a-month letter. Virginia immediately welcomed the hug while Richard, unaccustomed to such public displays of affection, simply patted Katherine's shoulder fondly.
Pulling back, Katherine smiled warmly at the both of them. "I must admit, I'm anxious to return to London. New York has grown rather tiresome over the years."
Virginia almost laughed at this, still familiarizing herself with her daughter's proper speech and began to wonder what Captain Jack Sparrow would say if twenty years ago, someone had tried to tell him that his only daughter would grow up to become such a lady.
"Well," Richard began, glancing at Virginia for her approval of telling their surprise, then turning back to Katherine. "We actually made other arrangements than to return immediately to England. Though I believe you will enjoy them."
"Well, what did you have in mind?" Katherine asked.
"Some of your mother's old friends reside in the Caribbean islands, in Port Royal," he explained. "We thought a trip to visit them might be in order. A small vacation before heading to finishing school back home, yes?"
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!" She threw her arms around her 'father's neck, oblivious to the fact that this seemed to make him uncomfortable.
"We thought that might be your reaction," Virginia said as Katherine pulled away from Richard. "What with London being covered in snow this time of year and all."
"Yes," Katherine agreed, still grinning. "When do we leave?"
* * * * *
"You know, this is a rather ridiculous arrangement," Will Turner began, leading his wife down the streets of Port Royal by a hand on the small of her back.
"What is?" Elizabeth prompted, already searching the vast nearby ocean for signs of her friend's ship.
"We're this girl's godparents, am I right?"
"Yes."
"And yet we live two thousand miles away and haven't seen her since her christening."
"Something to that effect, yes." She pulled him to a stop when they reached the crowded docks, full of other spectators no doubt awaiting their own acquaintances. "There it is." She pointed to the large English-style ship approaching.
"How old is Katherine now?" Will asked, his eyes transfixed on the navy ship.
"Seventeen, if my math is correct."
The ship was docking now, its anchor being lowered and a ramp being placed on its starboard side. A few passengers were beginning to descend it. In turn with each of them, the harbormaster would approach and ask for their names, writing them down in his booklet.
It was then that Elizabeth saw Virginia step off the ramp, Richard not far behind her with a few bags, though the porter followed with the majority of them. They all three reached the bottom before another porter appeared, escorting, no doubt by his own suggestion by the looks of her, a young dark-haired woman.
Will stared openly at her. There was no doubt in his mind who she was, and he found himself wondering how Virginia had managed to keep the girl's true lineage a secret so long. "Elizabeth…" he trailed off, his eyes transfixed on his goddaughter.
"I know," she agreed. "That's her."
"Elizabeth!" she heard Virginia declare suddenly. She turned to find her rushing over to them while her husband argued with the first porter. Virginia immediately embraced her friend upon reaching her, then turned and pulled Will into a hug as well. They both managed to smile warmly at her, though Will couldn't keep himself from glancing up at Virginia's daughter who was nodding her thanks to her escort and making her way over to them as well.
"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Turner," she greeted them politely. It was evident that she had been trained for such meetings and situations, most likely thanks to Richard, who was now approaching.
Elizabeth was the first to recover from her shock, employing her own carefully learned manners. "Katherine," she said, wrapping her arms around her in a polite embrace. She pulled back and took the opportunity to examine her. "The last time we saw you, you were still a baby. And now you're a lady!" While she was sure Katherine took that exclamation as pure surprise that she had grown, Elizabeth glanced at Virginia pointedly. Not that she had expected the girl to be completely uncouth, but this level of breeding was still surprising.
Richard came up from behind, slipping an arm around Katherine's shoulders. "Shall we go?" he asked. Elizabeth nodded and gestured toward the street in the direction of the Turner's home.
* * * * *
More soon, but I need comments!!!! And don't worry, Jack enters soon!