Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney does. I only own the characters I made up. I also do not own Ambassador Alexander Swann, Isabella Swann, or Count Philip Rochester, who belong to Vilofied.

My Love,

It has been three weeks since I've made my departure. Now that you've received this letter, it has possibly been a bit longer than that. The waters of which my crew and I have sailed have been reasonably calm, and we've spotted not one threat of pirates in the area. We've opted (I not as eager as the crew), to sail toward Cuba, Mexico, or maybe even Florida. It is to be a long trip, and as we feared, it may be three months before I may return to you.

My nights have been long, and painful. Sometimes I find myself pacing the deck at various hours of the morning in naught but my boots, breeches, shirt untucked, and my hair fallen down partially in my eyes. Full moon nights are the most painful. They remind me of the times I would lay and watch you sleep peacefully after we made love, or when I would just watch you sleep in general (which is quite often).

I miss you dearly, my love. I ache horribly to hold against me as I try to fall asleep, and I'm certain you feel the same about me. When I do manage to fall asleep, I dream of you. I dream of lying awake in our bed, both of us bare beneath the sheets, talking of nothing in particular. I know this sounds strange, but I wake up feeling as though we're actually communicating through our dreams. I even wake with a tingling feeling on the skin of my face as though your fingertips had just been there. Strange, yes? Or perhaps I've grown used to you waking me with a simple whisper and a touch on the cheek. How I long for that now...

Our children are faring well, yes? Even though I only spent two days with her, I miss the sound of Melody making her soft, baby noises as she stared intently at us. I apologize for having to leave you to take care of her on your own. Oliver is helping you, isn't he? I told him he had the position of "man of the house" while I'm away. Hopefully he's filling his role of keeping things under control.

I apologize, darling, but I must go now. I've been informed that there has been a brawl among a few of my men on the deck. I must do my best in making sure that it won't happen again while we're on this voyage. Sadly, that means severe punishment to the men that started the argument. You know how I feel about keeping a clean, organized ship.

Please write to me soon, love; I long to hear from you.

Yours,

James.

"Are you reading that letter again?"

I quietly folded my letter and laid it aside as I playfully glared at Oliver. "What of it?"

Oliver smirked from his place on the hearth as he put another piece of wood in the fire. "That's the fifth time that I've seen you pick it up in the better part of an hour. Why won't you read it to me?"

I quirked an eyebrow at him as I smiled. "Because it simply contains things meant for me, and me only."

He grinned. "Oh? And what is it that you absolutely must keep secret? Has he shared his battle plans?"

I looked back down at the letter beside me, and stroked the elegant writing of James's hand on the front. "No. James doesn't like to discuss battle plans with me. Not because it's supposed to be kept secret. He just doesn't like discussing his work with his family. That is something that stays at the fort, on his ship, or among he and his men. Besides, it would be too risky to discuss one's battle plans in a letter. You never know who's hands it could end up in."

"So...why won't you read it to me, then?" Oliver asked curiously.

"Because there simply things that woman don't like to share about their love letters." Came a soft, amused voice from the doorway of my husband's study.

"Abigail!" I exclaimed softly from my place on the settee as I pat a spot beside me. "Sit with me, please."

Her steps were so light, and smooth, that it seemed as though she was floating across the floor. She curtsied to Oliver as he stood, and he bowed, and kissed the top of her hand in return.

"Go look in at the baby, Oliver, and bring her to me if she is awake." I told him softly.

"And if she isn't?"

I chuckled. "Let her sleep. It isn't quite time to wake her yet."

"So, what does this forbidden letter contain?" Abigail asked giddily as soon as Oliver was out of the room.

I scoffed playfully. "Really, Abigail! What did you just finish saying to Oliver?"

She smiled sweetly. "I have an idea of what it says. I received one from Theodore this morning."

I shook my head, and handed her the letter. "If you breathe a word of what it says to anyone..."

"Relax, darling. It shall be a secret among you, me, and James. No one else will know."

I waited for her to finish skimming the letter before I spoke again. "So, out of curiosity, what brings you here?"

"I've nothing to do at my estate, or Theodore's. I was hoping I would be accepted here?" she said innocently.

I smiled at her. "Always."

She returned my smile, and passed the letter back to me. "He's a kinder man than he lets on in public."

"I believe he showed us all a few weeks ago." Oliver laughed as he took his seat on the hearth. "People are still talking about it."

"Let them talk." I growled. "A man should be able to properly say farewell to his wife in public."

"Indeed." Abigail nodded.

I cut my eyes around to her slyly. "And just what was it that you and Theodore were doing in the shadows beneath the docks, hmm?"

"The same thing you and James were doing." she smiled.

I shook my head again, and turned my attention to Oliver. "Still asleep?"

He nodded. "Sleeping without a care."

I stood, and made my way to one of the study windows with a slight smile. "Good. She's supposed to be careless at that age."

Whatever I had planned to say next slid from my train of thought as I gazed out across the ocean. For a moment, I thought I could see James's ship coming into the harbor, but it was just a merchant ship. My momentary hope sank, and I leaned against the windowsill with a sigh.

"Mum?" Came Oliver's voice.

I shook my head as a hand rested on my shoulder. Oliver was standing beside me with slight concern written on his features.

"I apologize, Oliver. What did you say?"

"I asked if you wanted to join us for breakfast. Are you feeling alright, Mum?"

A soft smile tugged at my lips, and I affectionately stroked his soft, auburn hair. "I'm alright...I just miss your father."

He, too, smiled, and gently took my hand in his own. "Come along. Perhaps some breakfast will help."

I nodded, and glanced out the window one more time at the sea.

A sigh passed my lips as I paced my cabin silently. I'd inspected the ship several times, and, thankfully, came up shipshape. The men that had started the argument a week ago, which had led to a fight, had received their lashes, and were currently swabbing the decks.

Everything had been quiet other than that argument, and there wasn't really anything to do. The men were doing their duties, the ship was being run smoothly, and there didn't seem to be any weather or pirate threats at the moment. A sailor's wish come true; no trouble. Nothing to do on a ship full of sailors, however, usually leads to restlessness, or mutiny, if it drags on long enough.

I heaved a heavier sigh, and put on my officer's coat and tricorn hat, and made my way out of my cabin. On the deck there was nothing but the sounds of waves lapping gently against the hull, a gentle breeze blowing against the sails, and the Union Jack waving lazily above the poopdeck. I tilted my chin up slightly, and enjoyed the smell of the sea being blown gently in my face. It had been a long time since I'd been able to relax so while on a voyage. The only thing that bothered me was how overcast the sky was, and how it seemed a bit foggy.

I shrugged the slight concern off of my shoulder, and decided to walk about the deck. Sailors greeted and saluted as I walked by, and I returned their actions as I made my way to the man standing guard over the men scrubbing the deck; men that had started that argument.

"Admiral." he saluted.

"Lieutenant." I said, returning his salute. "How long have they been at it?"

"All morning, Sir."

I nodded, and looked down at one of the men scrubbing. He looked to be only nineteen, and was quite a scraggy, lanky fellow with short, mussed up brown hair. His back, like the other men, merited several lashes that were in the process of healing. His clothing, mainly his breeches, were filthy, showing that he'd been working for quite a while. He was very intent on his task, and hadn't even looked up at me when I'd spoken like the other lads near him had.

"You there." I called to him in a normal tone.

He immediately stopped scrubbing, and looked up at me with curious brown eyes. "Aye, Sir?"

"On your feet, and come here, lad."

He did as I told him without a moment's hesitation, his brush still clutched in his left hand. I took his free hand by the wrist, and gently examined his palm. It was filthy, of course, and red, with open blisters.

"Steady, lad." I murmured so that only he could hear when he hissed at my examinations.

I glanced down at his knees, next, and found that they had also been rubbed raw from his work. I could see the other lads from the corner of my eye, watching me hopefully.

I smirked inwardly, and gently released his wrist. "What is your name, lad?"

"Parks, Sir."

I nodded. "Leftenant, see to it that Mr. Parks and the others get their hands and knees taken care of. The decks look well taken care of; I think they've done enough."

"Aye, Sir." he saluted.

"Thank you, Sir." Parks said shortly before the others spoke.

As he began to turn away, I grabbed Parks by the shoulder, and spun him around to face me. "If I hear of any more fights that include you, or any of the others that were just scrubbing the deck, I'll see to it that you receive much worse punishment than you got this week. That goes for all of you! Do I make myself clear?" I said in a clipped tone as I addressed them all.

"Aye, Sir! Apologies, Sir!" he and the other lads answered quickly.

I nodded, and released him as I made my way to the poopdeck.

"Good afternoon, Admiral Norrington." the helmsman greeted me.

"Afternoon." I nodded. "I've come to take over for a bit."

"Aye, Sir."

I relished the feeling of the smooth wood against my palms. I hadn't actually sailed my ship in quite a while. The wheel just felt natural in my hands, but it couldn't seem to get rid of the uneasiness caused by the clouds and fog.

"Admiral."

I looked to my left upon hearing the calm voice, and found Theodore standing there, his hands folded neatly behind his back.

"Lieutenant." I nodded.

"Are you really so restless that you've resorted to bullying lower ranked sailors?" he asked quietly.

"I wasn't bullying." I replied without taking my eyes from the sea. "I was simply trying to make sure they wouldn't brawl again while on this voyage."

"Hmm." Was his reply. "Aren't there ways other than biting their heads off?"

"Other superior officers would have you punished for such a low display of respect." I reminded him.

"My apologies, Sir. We are brother in-laws."

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. "Indeed." I glanced over at him briefly. "You seem tired."

"Yes, Sir." he nodded, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

"You miss her." I stated.

He nodded again. "Yes, Sir." he paused for a moment. "Does it always feel like this?"

I smiled that time. "Yes. It will increase when you marry, and have children, but it is completely worth it."

"Sir!" A young sailor said as he held up a spy glass. "A ship has been spotted, sir."

"Take the helm, Theodore." I rushed as I made way with haste to join the sailor at the starboard side.

"Just there, Sir. A few degrees to the left."

I looked through the spy glass with mounting dread.

"Sir?" the sailor asked.

I furrowed my brows. "It's The Black Pearl, but..."

Theodore arrived at my side once he found someone to take hold of the wheel. "Sir?"

I stared at the ship a few moments more, my brows still furrowed. "It's Sparrow sailing The Black Pearl, but they're flying a white flag."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Hmm...Jack Sparrow, The Black Pearl, and a white flag...Something seems a bit fishy here. Please review, and let me know your thoughts on this! Thank you! HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS!!