Disclaimer: Will, Jack, Elizabeth, and Barbossa don't belong to me. They are the property of Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted, and Terry.
A/N: I'm so glad so many of you liked Sammi and William's antics last chapter! I'm going to be including plenty of their adventures in this story as well. Just so you know, I'm on vacation right now, and I probably won't update until I get back. Hope you understand.
Also, I've changed the time jump from five years to eight years. Many people said that the conversation between the children in the last chapter would be more believable if they were seven or eight instead of four, so I changed it. William and Sammi are now both seven years old. If you're confused, you could try re-reading the updated chapter nine.
Enjoy the next installment - it's longer than the last one! And it has Will in it. :)
Ch. 10: The Long Night
Having just put her son to bed, Elizabeth Turner climbed into her own large bed, determined not to cry herself to sleep. She tried not to think about how much she missed Will, focusing instead on their son. Thanks to their talk, she knew that she had done right by telling William more about his father. She would've done it sooner, but she hadn't thought of a way to explain Will's absence that William would understand. But he did understand tonight, Elizabeth though with relief. That had been one of her biggest fears - that William wouldn't forgive his father for being away for ten years. But thanks to their talk, her fear had been assuaged.
Elizabeth had been happy to reassure her son that his father loved him very much. It wasn't a lie - Elizabeth had learned several years ago due to an unusual circumstance, that Will knew about his son. If she hadn't been there in the market at the right time, she never would have found that out. Stretching out on her back, Elizabeth gazed up at the dark ceiling as she remembered eavesdropping on two very silly high-society girls.
333
Three years ago
Elizabeth had just finished all of her shopping, and was about to head home to Ana and their four-year old children when something caught her attention. Two obviously high-society young ladies in corseted dresses had just walked past her gossiping and giggling . Not really knowing why, Elizabeth followed them. She kept her distance, as not to look suspicious, but stayed close enough to hear exactly what it was they were giggling about.
"We were caught in a terrible storm, Priscilla. I was thrown off the ship and since I don't know how to swim, I almost drowned!"
"Oh, Cecelia, were you scared?" asked Priscilla, hanging on to her friend's every word.
"I was terrified!" the girl simpered. Elizabeth couldn't help but roll her eyes. She was sure she hadn't been this dim-witted when she'd been living as in wealth as the governor's daughter. Cecelia was gushing again. "Luckily the captain spotted me before I went under, and dove in after me. He brought me up to the surface, and the men threw him a rope and hauled us aboard. I don't remember any of this, of course. My father says that I wasn't breathing by the time I reached the deck."
"How did you survive?" Her friend pressed her for details. Cecelia shrugged.
"I got lucky I guess. Father said that they thought I was dead for sure, but one of the officers had an idea. He said he'd heard that it worked before on a drowning lady. He cut through my dress with his sword, and ripped my corset off."
Elizabeth gasped, and then turned around in hopes that she wouldn't be discovered. This was just what Jack had done to save her from drowning so many years ago. The particulars of her rescue must have spread throughout the Caribbean. Elizabeth was glad that information had saved the young woman's life.
"He didn't!" Priscilla gasped in horror. "How indecent."
"He did," confirmed Cecelia. "And good thing too, because once my corset was off, I started coughing up water. That officer saved my life." Elizabeth relaxed, and turned back around to the duo, confident they hadn't noticed her gasp.
"Oh," said Priscilla. "Well, it's all over now. You can forget about it and we can go-"
"But I don't want to forget about it," Cecelia said dreamily. "I haven't told you the best part yet."
"There's a best part to drowning?" The other girl asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Yes," sighed Cecelia. "I had a near death experience." Her friend raised her eyebrows.
"Are you sure you weren't just dreaming?"
"I don't think so," said Cecelia. "Just hear me out - this is what happened. I woke up and I was laying down on the deck of this ship, only it wasn't the ship that I had sailed on. I rubbed my eyes and I saw a group of unfamiliar men clustered around me. One of them helped me up into a sitting position. When I looked into his dark eyes I saw that he was the most handsome man I've ever seen. I asked him where I was and he said that I was on his ship, the Flying Dutchman." Elizabeth almost fainted in surprise. She kept quiet only because she knew she had to be to hear the rest of the story.
"The Flying Dutchman?" squeaked Priscilla. "Isn't that the ghost ship captained by Davy Jones? Oh, how horrible! It must've been Jones that said you were on his ship."
"That's what I thought too," Cecelia admitted. "I shrunk back from the handsome man, asking if he was the fabled Davy Jones. The question seemed to annoy him at first, but then he told me his name was William something, and that he was the new captain. I relaxed, sensing that he wasn't evil as his predecessor. Then realizing why I was on his ship, I asked him if I was dead. He gently confirmed my suspicions that I was in fact dead. I started to cry and he took my hands in his. Then he asked "Do you fear- ".
"Do you fear what?" Priscilla asked eagerly.
"I think he was asking if I feared death, but he never finished his question," Cecelia answered grimly. "I asked him why he didn't finish and he said in an odd voice that I was glowing. When I asked what that meant, he said that this was an extremely rare occurence, and that it was a sign I was being sent back to the mortal world. Then he asked me to do him a favor. I said I would, and he asked that I tell as many people as I could that they don't have to fear dying at sea. And then - this is the best part Pris - he asked me to find his wife Elizabeth and tell her that he loved her and their son."
Elizabeth felt a tug on her heartstrings as she he processed Will's message. Will knows about William! But how? She didn't really care how he knew, she was just overjoyed that he did know. Now Will had the thought of his son to help get him through the rest of their years apart. Tears gathered in Elizabeth's eyes as she thought how lucky she'd been that this girl had been to see Will, and had been sent back with a message for her. It was a heartfelt message that had almost no chance of getting to her. But it had. Elizabeth took this as yet another sign that she and Will were meant for each other. He had managed to communicate with her from the underworld, a task that was supposed to be impossible. Yes, she and Will were destined to be together. She would wait for him, and then when his ten years were up she would be there to set him free. And then they would have all the time in the world to spend together.
"What happened next?" Her friend begged. Cecelia sighed regretfully.
"I don't really remember much else, other than I floated away from the ship before I could answer him. And then I fell asleep and woke up on my ship." Elizabeth had heard enough. Her Will still loved her. And that knowledge would be enough to get her through the next five years.
333
Present Day
Elizabeth smiled at the memory, but inside she still ached for Will. As she turned over in bed for the tenth time, she knew she would get little sleep this night.
333
Elizabeth Turner was not the only one who was having trouble falling asleep that night. Back at the Sparrow home, Jack was just sliding into bed next to Ana.
"What a day," Jack sighed. "First I had to meet with Gibbs about the Pearl's next journey this morning. Then I had to watch Sammi and William when I got back so that you could have some time to spend with Elizabeth. Finally, I had to give Sammi a bath, and I had send her to bed with a pirate story. So how was your day, Ana? I barely got to talk to you at all." The only answer he received was silence. "Ana?" Jack frowned as he saw her facing away from him. "What's wrong, love? Is this about Tortuga? I swear, we only stopped there to get supplies. I didn't take up with any pleasurable company. Are you upset because we went there?" Jack gently pulled Ana to him, and turned her over so she was facing him. Jack saw to his dismay that she'd been crying.
"Ana?" he whispered. "You're scaring me, love. Please tell me what's going on." Ana looked up at him, into her partner's eyes and she couldn't ignore him any longer.
"I'm pregnant, Jack," she said softly. They just stared at one another for a moment, each feeling the other's pain.
"Oh no," he said sadly. Ana's eyes welled up with tears, and Jack kissed her forehead. "C'mere." Ana cried softly into his chest as his arms encircled her body.
"I can't take another miscarriage, Jack," Ana sobbed. She had already suffered through two miscarriages, one when Sammi was two, the other when Sammi was five. Both times Ana had lost the baby before its fourth month. Thankfully, Sammi hadn't been aware of the miscarriages. Ana would've been devastated if she had to tell her daughter that she wasn't going to have a sibling after all. Those two times had been the only black spots on her and Jack's relatively smooth relationship.
"I'm so sorry," Jack whispered, rubbing her back as she shook against him. "I shouldn't have done this to you." She sniffled.
"It's not your fault," she insisted. "It's just so unfair, Jack, that two lives that we created were snuffed out before they had the chance to live." Jack didn't know how to answer that. She was right, it was totally unfair. They should have a whole brood of Sparrows by now. But instead they just had their one beautiful daughter.
"At least we have Sammi, love," Jack reminded her. "Some couples don't even get to have one child of their own." Ana sighed.
"I know. I love her more than anything. But every once and a while, she'll ask me if she'll ever have a brother or a sister. I just tell her that it's a possibility, and then she gives me this disappointed look."
"She doesn't know about the miscarriages," Jack pointed out. "She doesn't know that asking that question hurts you."
"But I want another child just as much as she does," Ana said softly. "I want to bear you a son that I know you so desperately want."
"Oh, Ana," Jack sighed. "I know I said I wanted a son before, but believe me when I say I am perfectly content living with just you and Sammi. I'm not going to sail now that I know you're pregnant. I will be here to support you and if you miscarry, we will get through it together."
"Thank you," she whispered. "But I can't help but think that this child has no chance. Why do these miscarriages keep happening to us, Jack?"
"I don't know," Jack replied honestly. "But things could be much worse, love."
"How?" Jack sighed.
"We could be in Will and Elizabeth's situation." Ana shivered, and Jack held her tighter.
"You're right, Jack," she whispered. "That would be much worse. I couldn't have made it through these last years without you. I don't see how Elizabeth and Will do it. I don't think I could be that strong." Jack kissed her neck.
"Let's hope you don't have to be." They lay like that until sleep claimed them.
333
Meanwhile, on the Flying Dutchman Captain Turner tried to keep his mind on the task at hand as he navigated the Dutchman through the rough seas. But his thoughts tended to stray to his lovely wife. Eight years it's been since I've been with her. That means I only have two more years to go before we're reunited. Two more years before I get to meet my son. Two more years before I get my life back. Those thoughts should've given him a bit of happiness, but Will just couldn't see an end to this cursed duty that had been thrust upon him. He craved Elizabeth's touch more than anything in the world. He would give anything to hold her in his arms right now. And there was also the matter of his son. Will hated the fact that his son was in the same position that he'd been in, growing up without a father. What if he came home to a son that resented him for not being there? How he wished he could make up for lost time with Elizabeth and young William.
He'd had glimpses of his family, of course, thanks to Calypso. The sea goddess would visit him twice a year or so, and each time she would grant him one favor. Will would always ask to see his wife and child. She would always oblige him, and Will enjoyed watching their lives from afar. However, Will was starting to dread Calypso's visits as much as he looked forward to them. It had become increasingly clear to him that his father had indeed been correct - Calypso was very much interested in him. She'd been subtly flirtatious at first, but over the last two years, the sea goddess had become bolder in her affections. And recently, she had been visiting him more often. Perhaps Calypso thought that Will would give in to her temptations. If that was what she believed, Will continued to disappoint her wholeheartedly. He was surprised that she hadn't given up on him - didn't she know that he loved Elizabeth and her alone? Will knew Calypso would visit him this night - she always did on the night of his anniversary.
A light rain began to fall, which quickly turned into a stinging downpour, much to Will's dismay. Lightening flashed and thunder crashed as the mighty ship was tossed in the angry sea. Captain Turner called for all hands on deck, but his voice was carried away by the howling wind. His crew came automatically, helping secure loose cargo and following orders as they were relayed from first mate to deckhand. Seawater splashed up on the deck causing several crew members to slip and lose their balance. The storm raged ever on. Then, almost as suddenly as the storm began, it stopped. Will was instantly on his guard, for no storm he'd ever lived through had behaved like that - save the one he'd been married and murdered in. Could it be coincidence? Will didn't think so.
The black clouds parted to reveal the goddess of the sea before him, floating on nothing but air. She wore a fiery red gown that sparkled, its lengthy train billowing in the wind. Will couldn't help noticing that the rain had caused it to cling to Calypso's curvaceous body, accentuating her womanly attributes. He wondered if the goddess had planned it that way. The dark-skinned goddess made eye-contact with Will, smiling mysteriously.
"William Turnah, I come visit so ya don't be lonely on dis dark night."
"Calypso," Will greeted the goddess as she hovered closer, coming to a stop at his side. She held out her hand and Will kissed it politely. Will ordered Clanker to take the helm, and they headed towards the stern where they could talk undisturbed.
"Any particular reason why you caused it to storm?" Will asked, not bothering with pleasantries. She smiled cryptically at him.
"I wanted ta remind ya of my powers over de seas. Dat power could be yers someday, if ya wanted it." Will laughed nervously.
"What would I want with power like that?" He kept his voice light, as if they were discussing something trivial. Calypso raised her eyebrows.
"Don't dat kinda power interest ya?"
"Not really," Will confessed. As Captain of the Dutchman, Will held power over all on the ship but he didn't find any joy in it.
"Den what it is dat ya desire, if not power?" she asked. "Wealth? Status? Perhaps I may be able ta help ya acquire it."
"You can't," Will said flatly, not wishing to play her game this night. "I must wait two more years before I can be with Elizabeth."
To be honest, Calypso wasn't too surprised by his answer. None of the men she had sought after had managed to resist her for eight years. And yet Will's devotion would not be swayed. Even when she tried to mislead him with images of his wife and Jack Sparrow together, Will had not seriously doubted his wife's faithfulness. Will's devotion had been one of the qualities that Calyspo admired, but now it was getting in the way of her plans. She was done with playing fair; tonight she was willing to use her powers to sway Will's feelings.
"William, ya look exhausted," the mistress of the sea remarked, sliding behind him to rest her hands on his shoulders. "Was my storm too much for ya and yer crew ta handle?"
"No," he said. "Although it was a bit heavier than-" Will trailed off, feeling unwelcome hands rub his back. He never let anyone but Elizabeth touch his back, even through his shirt. The scars that Bootstrap had been forced to give him were visible to the touch, and Will didn't want anyone to know he'd been whipped. "What are you doing?" Will asked with trepidation.
"What does it feel like I be doing?" Calypso answered as her nimble fingers kneaded Will's sore flesh. She helped him to sit down on a crate. "Ya seem so tense; I thought I can make ya feel better. Do it hurt?" Will was going to say yes, and he was going to ask her to stop but the breath caught in his throat. Will sighed with pleasure - it felt so good. Calypso truly knew how to massage the tension out of his aching muscles.
"It doesn't hurt," Will heard himself say. "Don't stop."
"I know how hard ya work everyday," Calypso murmured soothingly, her hands never ceasing their massage. "Even immortals feel de strain of their labors. Just relax, William, and let me do all the work."
Will nodded - that sounded good to him. He closed his eyes, letting his head fall back just a tad. Then he felt a strange matter oozing throught his muscles. They tingled for a moment, and then, as if by magic, all the annoying aches were gone! Will's back had never felt so healthy and healed before. He thought about getting up and testing his strength but then decided against it. Why would he want to get up? He was so relaxed and safe right here. Whoever was touching him meant something to him, didn't they? Vaguely, Will remembered that he had been missing someone else that night. But who was it? Will drew a blank. He knew he should be worried about it. He had been missing someone he deeply loved, and they loved him back. Elizabeth!
"Calypso, that's enough," he breathed, his mind returning when he broke contact with the goddess. "I want you to grant me something other than my usual favor." The sea goddess's lips curved into a seductive smile. Was this it? Could her persistance have finally paid off? Was he going to ask for the ultimate favor, one which she had been craving to grant him for so long?
"And what favor might dat be?" She asked coyly, caressing his cheek. Will swallowed hard.
"I want you to go to Elizabeth tonight. I need you to show me to her, just as you have shown her to me. I also want you to give her a message - please tell her that I love her and William, and that I think of her and our son every day." Disappointed, Calypso pulled away from him, much to his relief.
"Very well - I must honor ya favor. Until next time, William Turnah." She nodded to him, and then disappeared into a whirlwind of wind and fog. Will stared at the spot where the goddess had vanished, still shaken by his encounter. Would she contact Elizabeth as promised? Will had no way of knowing.
"William!" A deep voice called out. Once Calypso had gone, Bootstrap Bill ventured outside his cabin to find his son. "We need to talk." Will nodded, and followed him into the privacy of his cabin.
"Son, what are you thinking letting that... being touch you?" Bill Turner exploded. "Elizabeth isn't the only one who must remain faithful for the curse to be lifted."
"I assure you, I wouldn't dream of being unfaithful to Elizabeth," Will growled, beginning to pace the length of the cabin.
"Then why don't you just tell Calypso to leave you be?"
"You know why," sighed Will. Must they go over this everytime the goddess visited? "If I reject her outright, then she could release her fury upon us. Or worse, she could release her fury on Elizabeth and my son. I won't let that happen."
"And what do you think she'll do when your ten years are up and you return to your wife? Do you honestly think she'll let you go so easily?"
"What would you have me do?" Will hissed. "When my ten years are up and Elizabeth frees me, my binding contract to the Dutchman is forfeit. At least then I could be there to protect my family if indeed Calypso wants revenge on us." He took a seat on the bed, putting his head in his hands.
"You must do what you think is right," said Bootstrap. "But the crew and I would hate for you to fall victim to one of her tricks. Some of us remember very well how she fooled Davy Jones into thinking she loved him. He fell for the same stupid routine - hook, line, and sinker. She has hidden powers that even you may not be able to resist. What would you do if she ensnared you before your time was up?"
"I won't be let that happen!" Will exclaimed, looking up at his father. Then in a much calmer voice he continued, "Although I'll admit that she did something unnatural to me today. That was no ordinary massage she gave me. My mind went blissfully blank for a moment, and when I could barely remember Elizabeth, I realized something was horribly wrong. I was then that I asked for her to go visit Elizabeth so she would leave me."
"I doubt that barely even scratched the surface of her powers," Will's father cautioned.
"I know," Will said softly. "That's what scares me."
333
Elizabeth Turner was in the middle of a very strange dream. It was one of those dreams where she was aware that she was dreaming while it happened. She was being visited in her bedroom by none other than Calypso herself!
"Tia Dalma?" Elizabeth asked groggily, sitting up in bed. "Why are you here?"
"I come on an errand from ya husband," Calypso answered. "Him want me ta show him ta ya."
"What?" Elizabeth breathed. "I thought we were forbidden contact from each other."
"I'm not lettin ya contact him," said the goddess. "Here, let me show ya." She muttered her spell and within moments, an image of Will's body emerged in thin air. Elizabeth could see that was arguing with his father Bootstrap aboard the Dutchman. Her heart caught in her throat as she looked upon the face of her husband for the first time in eight years. At last, she saw that he was alright. From what she could tell, he hasn't seemed to have aged at all. How she wished to speak with him...
Elizabeth watched Will for awhile, and then a thought occured to her.
"Has Will seen me like this, then?" Calypso nodded.
"Many times. Every time I go visit him I use my powers ta show ya ta him." Calypso gave Elizabeth a chilling smile. "But I wouldn't be too sure dat yer husband will return ta ya once him ten years be up. Him may very well choose ta remain with me forever, as an immortal. We've been spending a good amount of time together these past eight years."
"Oh really?" Mrs. Turner asked coolly, her blood boiling inside at the thought of the goddess flirting with her Will. "Tell me, does he return your advances?" The goddess frowned.
"Why do ya ask?" Elizabeth smirked.
"Because I know your best-kept secret - you cannot tell a lie." Calypso just stared at the young woman in disbelief. How could she have known that? "I see you are surprised," said Elizabeth. "I've read possibly every book on pirates published - and your legend was mentioned in about half of them. I have a very good memory, Calypso." The goddess glared at Elizabeth; clearly she had underestimated William's young wife.
"No, him did not return my advances," she admitted to a smug Elizabeth, who prompted,
"Did he tell you to give me a message?"
"Aye," Calyspo muttered. Elizabeth grinned.
"Wonderful! I would love to hear it." She smiled cheekily at the sea goddess, who was not amused.
"Him says dat him loves ya and thinks of ya and William everyday." Elizabeth grinned blissfully.
"You see?" She taunted the goddess. "He still loves me - I knew he would." Since this was only a dream, Elizabeth knew it couldn't hurt to goad the goddess even further. "You can tempt him all you want, but Will has loved me since I was twelve - he isn't about to stop now. I would suggest you stay away from him."
"I won't be giving up on him dat easily," Calypso growled. "Besides, just because William don't return my advances don't mean he don't enjoy them. Why just today I heard him sigh with pleasure while I massaged him back. Aren't ya worried why him don't ask me ta leave him alone?" Elizabeth just laughed with glee.
"No - I'm glad he enjoyed your massage. After eight years, he deserved one. Don't you get it? He. Doesn't. Want. You." Calypso barely contained her rage at Elizabeth's insult.
"No man has ever resisted me," she said truthfully. "Besides, him still got two years ta change him mind. And as for ya, I'll come up with a fitting punishment later."
"Go ahead - I'm not afraid of you!" Elizabeth exclaimed boldly. "You're just a part of my dream." She waved her hands at the goddess. "Be gone!"
"Don't make de mistake of thinking ya and ya son be safe from me," growled Calypso. And then she vanished right before Elizabeth's very eyes. Yawning, Mrs. Turner turned over in bed, wanting this long night to be over. She never once thought that she had actually insulted the real Calypso.
End Ch. 10
A/N: Just to recap, two things that you need to remember are: One, Will must also remain faithful to his wife (meaning not sleeping with someone else) for the curse to be broken. Two, Calypso cannot tell a direct lie, nor can she refuse to answer a question. She can say things like 'what do you think?' and hope that the person asking the question doesn't press her further for information. I hope you enjoyed Chapter Ten. I'm afraid that once I start back in school in a week that the updates won't be as frequent. Especially when the Harry Potter movie and book comes out! But don't worry, I won't abandon this story. I promise I will finish it - eventually. It's going to be quite long. Review please!!! If you review, I will reply.