Chapter Twelve
So Glad To See You
Elizabeth Turner leaned against the railing of her Empress. Her husband, Will, had offered to take over the steering for a while. He knew more than anyone that his beloved Elizabeth needed a break and some rest. However, Elizabeth didn't feel the need to rest.
So here she was, on a sailing ship, staring out at the waves and starlit sky. Elizabeth sighed as she ran a finger over the wedding band on her finger. Will had made their rings himself and it was one of her most treasured possessions. She reached up, fingering the rings she wore as a necklace. These were her parents rings.
After all that had happened to Elizabeth Turner, she couldn't help but give off a small smile. Will and everyone really were showing their concern for her. Her dear friend, Jack Sparrow, had even stopped saying that she was cursed with the kiss of death. She didn't mind the joke so much but that was before her son had died.
"At least I got to hold him," Elizabeth said as she gazed down into the deep blue ocean. She noticed a water ripple. It wasn't the normal movement that a ship left either. But she recognized this particular water ripple. The movement was becoming larger and soon, just a few yards away, a ship emerged from the water.
Elizabeth's lips released a squeal of excitement as she recognized the ship. "Will!" Elizabeth called out as she ran over to the wheel of the Empress. "Will!" she exclaimed again. Will smiled. It was good to see his wife appearing to be happy. She hadn't been for nearly two days since the death of their son. "What is it, Elizabeth?" Will asked as he handed the wheel to a nearby member of the crew.
"It's the Dutchman, Will!" cried out Elizabeth. "It broke surface! It's here!" Will laughed as he approached his wife. He looked out into the dark and saw his father's ship. "They'll be here soon," Will said quietly. Elizabeth gazed up at Will, smiling brightly. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually looked at Will, without crying. He had become a bit tanner from steering the Empress.
Elizabeth noticed Will was stealing glances at her out of the corners of his dark eyes. She quickly turned away and she was grateful for the darkness because she didn't want anyone to see her blushing. "I hope this is a friendly visit," Will finally said breaking the silence between him and his wife. Elizabeth turned her attention back to Will. She was completely confused. Of course it would be a friendly visit! They'd be seeing their son and Will would be seeing his father. Why wouldn't it be a friendly visit?
The sound of a baby crying could be heard from behind the couple. Both Will and Elizabeth Turner turned around. They were greeted by Bootstrap and their infant son. Will's father was busy trying to calm down the newborn. Elizabeth reached out for her son and Bootstrap immediately handed him over. "He's not very hard to take care of," Bootstrap said as he looked at Will. "I like taking care of him. It's like I'm actually making up for not being there for you, Will."
Will smiled at his father's remark but quickly covered his ears at Elizabeth's shouts. "Katie!" Elizabeth shouted loudly. "Come see your brother!" Both of the older Turner men laughed as Katie and her companion, Charlie, ran up from below deck. "Is it really Benjamin?" Katie asked with excitement. Elizabeth nodded as she approached him. The pirate king knelt down, allowing for both five year olds to glimpse at the youngest Turner.
Both Bootstrap and Will smiled at the scene before them. Will couldn't believe how nice it was to see his wife and daughter so happy. Even Charlie seemed to be happy as Elizabeth let him old Benjamin. "She's extremely angry, Will," Bootstrap finally said to his son. Will turned his attention towards his father. A hint of anger could be seen on his face. "Well, our Calypso is an extremely angry goddess," Will replied. "I don't care what she says, Father. I'm not leaving Elizabeth and my family."
Bootstrap nodded. He understood that his son wanted to be with his family. He was choosing to die for them. "I'm proud of you, Son," Bootstrap said as he placed a firm hand upon Will's shoulder. "You're standing by your family, even if it means death." Will looked into his father's eyes, eyes that were so familiar to his own. "I don't fear death," Will replied. "I've experienced it first and second hand. Elizabeth's experienced it too. So have Jack and Barbossa. I'm not leaving my family for any cold hearted, pirate obsessed sea wench."
"You should watch your words, William," Bootstrap said as he glanced around at the open sea. "She has ears all around." Will raised an eyebrow but then smirked. He replied, "Being captain has made you superstitious. You used to tell me to not listen to anything that Calypso had to say." Bootstrap Bill Turner nodded as he turned his attention back to Elizabeth and his infant grandson, who were approaching him.
"I know you must leave soon," Elizabeth said to Bootstrap as she looked down at her son. Her Benjamin. "But take good care of him, Bootstrap. Keep him safe from Calypso. If you need anything, call upon Persephone. She's been defending us against Calypso for years. She's a strong family person, you know." Bootstrap chuckled and nodded as his daughter-in-law placed the now sleeping child into his arms. "Take care you two," Bootstrap said before he left to go back to the Flying Dutchman.
Elizabeth and Will stood near the railing, glancing in the distance at the Flying Dutchman. With an arm around Elizabeth, Will Turner once again bid farewell to his father and son.
For a long time, Elizabeth Turner hadn't been happy. She was glad that early that evening she was able to see her son so soon after departing from him. She removed her shirt and breeches before pulling a silk nightgown over her head. Will soon entered their cabin and in his hand was a letter. "It's from Barbossa," Will said. "Climb into bed and I'll read it to you."
With a large grin, Elizabeth jumped into the bed and giggled childishly as Will covered her up. He then placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips before sitting closely to her. He unfolded the letter and began to read:
"Dear Captain Turners,
Received yer letter about the lad. I never thought it was
possible for a feared pirate captain to cry but when I heard the news
of the babe's fate, I did. Both Willy and Bella were upset too. It seems like the
lass has taken up a'likin' to a teenage crew member. They're pretty much
inseparable. I just hope they're not leavin' Willy out of things. I, however,
am against this bond Bella and Jonathon, that's his name, have. But both have
gone through a lot. I hope all is well an' that no good Jack Sparrow isn't
givin' you two any trouble. Keep me posted an' I'll do the same.
Happy Sailing,
Captain Hector Barbossa."
Willy folded the letter back up and stood to set it on the desk in the room. He removed his boots and shirt then crawled back into bed with his wife. Will pulled Elizabeth gently into his arms. "I don't want her having a boyfriend," Will said. Elizabeth giggled a bit and answered, "She's fourteen, Will. She can court him as long as we approve."
"But I don't approve," Will quietly growled as he occupied himself with Elizabeth's curls. Will's remark only caused his wife to laugh like a hyena. "You don't even know the boy!" cried out Elizabeth through laughter.
"But he's a pirate," was all Will said.
Elizabeth raised her dark eyebrows and pulled her small form out of Will's arms. She looked at him with complete disbelief. "And you're a pirate," Elizabeth replied. "I'm a pirate. Bella, Willy, Lizzie, Charlie, Katie and Benjamin are all children of pirates. You're the son of a--"
Will Turner held his hands up at his wife in defense. "Ok! Ok! I surrender!" Will said. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Will before lying back down. "She's fourteen years old, Will," Elizabeth said just slightly above a whisper. "She wants to have the chance to be courted. When I was her age, I was practically engaged to James Norrington. When you were fourteen, you were longing for my body."
"I was not longing for your body!" Will exclaimed at Elizabeth's embarrassing comment. Elizabeth looked up at her husband's shocked expression. She tried hard not to laugh and she was definitely glad to be laughing instead of moping around. "Were too," Elizabeth whispered.
"What was that?" Will asked Elizabeth, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Nothing!" Elizabeth practically shouted. She managed another "were too."
Will now laid by his beloved Pirate King. He took her back into his arms and smiled as Elizabeth placed her head on his chest. It was like she was listening to his heartbeat. "I wasn't longing for your body," Will said quietly. "I was just longing for you." Elizabeth looked up at Will from where she lay. "I know," Elizabeth replied. "I just like giving you a hard time."
A/N: I was becoming so sick of sad and depressing chapters! There's going to be plenty of those in the future! Anyway, I had a lot of fun writing this and I really like how it turned out. So I hope I get plenty of reviews. I miss having a lot at once! Anyway, next chapter will be posted next Friday. It's called Before I Die. Enjoy and review!