A Father's Reassurance.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

"Dad! No! Ahh!" William bolted up in bed. He was breathing heavily. He put a hand on his chest, trying to slow his racing heartbeat. "It was a dream?" William asked himself. "Dad's still here then", he said. "He didn't leave. Well at least not yet anyway."

William lied down, and tried to go back to sleep. But he couldn't. Thoughts of the nightmare plagued his mind. So he just lay there, occasionally tossing and turning.

Then William heard a knock on his door. "Come in", he said quietly. The door opened, and his father was standing there.

"Are you all right, son?" asked Will. "I thought I heard screaming." "I'm fine", William said shakily. "May I come in?" asked Will. "Sure", said William. Will walked in , and sat on the foot of William's bed.

"What happened?" asked Will. "I-I had a nightmare", said William. He was bravely trying to hold back tears. "What was your nightmare about?" asked Will.

"It was about you", said William. "About me?" asked Will. William nodded. "In the nightmare, you had to go back to the Dutchman", said William. He was now clearly crying.

Will hugged his son. "Come here", he said. "It was just a bad dream. Don't let it scare you. I'm here now. Doesn't that make you happy?"

"Yes", said William. "It makes me very happy." "Good", said Will. "Seeing you happy makes me happy too." William dried his tears.

Both father and son said nothing for a few moments. Then William asked, "Do you love me, dad?" "Of course I do", said Will. "What would make you say that?" "In my dream, you left without saying goodbye to me", said William. "Only fathers who don't love their children leave without saying goodbye to them."

"If I do leave, I WILL say goodbye to you", said Will. "Because I DO love you." "But I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

"What do you mean?" asked William. "I thought you were bound to the Flying Dutchman forever." "Close your eyes", said Will. "Now forget what you see." He placed William ear near his chest. "What do you feel?" he asked.

William was confused at first. What was his father doing? Then he heard it. Thump, thump. William's eyes widened, and he gasped. "Dad!" he exclaimed. "I can hear your heart beating!"

"That's right", said Will. "But how is that possible?" asked William. "If your mother stayed faithful to me, then I was free after the first ten years", Will explained.

"Does mum know about this?" asked William. "Yes, I do", came a voice from the doorway. It was William's mother, Elizabeth.

"Oh, hello mother", said William. "Did I wake you? If I did, I'm sorry." It's fine, William", said Elizabeth. "I overheard you father telling you he was free."

"Yes, he was", said William. "Is it true, mother?" he asked. Elizabeth nodded. William smiled a big grin. "I guess that means we're a real family now, huh?" asked William.

"It does", said Will. "But now I think it's time that you went back to bed, William Orlando Turner III", said Elizabeth. "Okay", said William. "Goodnight, mum. Goodnight, dad."

Then Will and Elizabeth left the room. William went back to sleep. He didn't have anymore nightmares.

The next day was normal for the Turner family. Will and William got to know each other more. In the short time since they had first met, they formed a strong bond. Now father and son were practically inseparable.

Evening came. But Will didn't have to leave. William felt like the happiest little boy in the world. His father could stay. His family was now complete.

The End.

A/N: 1.) The heartbeat thing was based on a scene from Disney's Tarzan®. It's the scene that takes place just before the song "Son of Man", where Kala teaches Tarzan, that although they look different on the outside, on the inside, they are exactly the same.

2.) I did NOT PURPOSLY make William's middle name Orlando! I actually went through many names, all of which are too numerous to name. But when I said William Orlando Turner III, it just felt so right. That's why I used it as his middle name.