Triplets in Love

By: Raven in Red

The Gardener triplets are divided once more as they each pursue a different path in their lives. But as their relationships go through difficult times, they come to discover that their bonds of sisterhood are stronger than any other facet of their lives. Long story, told in three parts, please R&R

Part Three: Sisters Forever

Chapter Thirty-Six: Lily the Bold

With her husband back at his office to deal with some crisis management, Lily was alone in the house. She tossed and turned in bed that night, unable to get Lionel Williams off her mind. She owed him her life for rescuing her beloved sister from Reeve's raping clutches, and if it hadn't been for him, Jasmine would have ended up either dead or married to the vilest man Lily had ever met.

"He's a pirate," Lily whispered aloud. She was trying to convince herself to join Beckett's team, but she simply couldn't. Yes, of course she knew Lionel was a pirate, but she and both her sisters had had their own stints in the trade of piracy. Above all, Jasmine was still officially marked as a pirate due to her marriage to Jack.

"I have to do something about this," Lily finally decided. She was not going to let an innocent man die for something she probably would have done herself if she were in the same situation. She was going to make sure that Jasmine had at least one more chance to see the man who had saved her future.

Lily got out of bed and hurried to her clothes press. As quickly as she could, she changed from her nightgown into a simple dress. Rather than wake up her attendants at such an ungodly hour of the night, she dressed quickly and threw her hair into a simple bun. She then tiptoed down the hall to Victoria's nursery.

"I love you, my little angel," she whispered. As she gazed down at her precious daughter sleeping, she couldn't help but release a single tear from her eyes. She loved the little girl with every fiber of her being, and she knew that Victoria was with an absolutely wonderful set of parents. Although Lily and Beckett had had their shortcomings, she knew that she loved him and she knew that he tried his best to keep her and his daughter happy.

Adopting a completely no-nonsense attitude, Lily threw on her riding cloak, marched straight to her personal stable, and mounted her horse. Seconds later, she was riding as fast as was safe, straight to Port Royal's prison. She probably wouldn't be able to free Lionel tonight, but she would at least make sure she had a chance to talk to him.

"Lady Beckett!" the guard exclaimed when she marched straight up to the heavy prison door. "I'm surprised to see you here, let alone at this time of night!"

"I need to speak to a prisoner by the name of Lionel Williams," Lily said firmly.

"Of-of course!" the guard stuttered. He and his partner hurried to open the door and let Lily in.

"Why must you speak with him so urgently?" the guard asked as he led Lily along the dark, torch-lit corridors.

"I have a feeling he was withholding some much needed information during my husband's interrogation of him," Lily lied. "I have had dealings with him in the past, so he's more likely to converse with me."

"I understand, Lady Beckett," said the guard. "Well, here we are." They came to a stop in front of none other than Lionel's cell. Lily cracked a small smile when she saw her friend sleeping peacefully in the far corner. "If you need anything, just give a shout."

"Thank you, sir," said Lily. She then knelt right into the dirt in front of the bars. "Lionel?" she called out softly.

"…huh?" came the man's groggy voice.

"Lionel, wake up!" Lily whispered loudly.

"Lily?" Lionel couldn't seem to believe his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," said Lily as Lionel pulled himself up to the other side of the bars.

"About what?" Lionel asked with a sad smile. "Giving me a last bit of comfort before I'm sent to the gallows?"

"Not exactly," said Lily. "If possible, I want to get you out of here."

"What are you talking about?" Lionel shook his head in disbelief. "Your husband would hang you right next to me if he were to find out."

"My husband wouldn't do that to me," Lily insisted firmly.

"Well, I'd rather not argue under the circumstances, so how do you plan on doing this?" asked Lionel.

"You haven't been officially convicted yet," Lily pointed out, "so that gives us at least another week. Ultimately, I want to break you out of here, bring you to Jasmine's home for safekeeping, and eventually get you back out to sea, maybe even back to England."

"Jasmine?" Lionel's face brightened a little. "How has she been?"

"She's wonderful, thanks to you," said Lily with a smile of her own. "She and Mary Rose are just fine. I bring Victoria to visit them every week."

"That's wonderful," said Lionel. "I just hope this can all work out."

"So do I," said Lily. "You saved an innocent woman from my husband's ultimately unjust rule. I would like to be able to show you the same kindness." Then, she sighed.

"What?" asked Lionel.

"With every passing day, I realize more and more how cruel my husband truly can be," Lily said sadly, getting a little choked up.

"No one is perfect in this world, Lily," said Lionel.

"I love him with all my heart, but I know in that same heart that he really isn't as perfect for me as I thought he was," said Lily.

"Wasn't it your father who arranged your marriage to him?" asked Lionel.

"Yes, it was," said Lily. "I always told myself that Cutler was his last gift to me."

"That's a nice way of looking at it," said Lionel.

"He was perfect for me back then," said Lily. "But now, we're far from a match made in heaven."

"Do the two of you fight?" asked Lionel. "Besides that time when I was arrested, of course."

"Not really," said Lily. "We disagree from time to time, but I know when to back off and give him his space. I like to avoid conflict whenever possible."

"Why do you no longer think he's so perfect for you?" Lionel asked patiently.

"When we were first together, I was terrified of the world," Lily admitted. "I couldn't stand the thought of making such important decisions by myself, so I needed a more powerful presence in my life that could do it for me." Lionel nodded in understanding, so she continued. "But then, I went to sea to search for Jasmine after she went missing, and everything changed. I began to take more charge of my own life and make my own decisions. I even went quite blatantly against Cutler several times because I didn't want him to be controlling me."

"And now you two have a baby together," Lionel pointed out. "He will always have that hold over you."

"That's very true," Lily sighed. "We always have Victoria to bond us together, and that's what scares me the most. It's like if I do anything wrong, he always has that hold over me and he can always control me because I couldn't bear to lose my daughter."

"So you've… never considered leaving him?" Lionel asked cautiously.

"What are you talking about? Of course I've considered leaving him," said Lily. "But I would either have to leave Victoria with him and miss her terribly… or take her with me and subsequently hurt him."

"From my experience under your husband's employment, it seems that he is almost incapable of caring for another human being," said Lionel. "He rules with an iron fist and an ice-cold demeanor."

"Oh, don't I know it," said Lily. Then, she straightened up and looked Lionel right in the eye. "That's it. I'm going to get you out of here."

"That's wonderful to hear," Lionel said with a smile.

"And I already have an idea to make it work," said Lily.

"Tell me," said Lionel.

"I'm due to visit Jasmine tomorrow," Lily announced. "This is one of Jack's months at home instead of at sea, so the two of them could definitely summon up a few people to help us."

"Lily… I don't know how to thank you," Lionel said, his voice trailing down to a whisper.

"Lionel, you did our family an immense kindness when we were mere strangers to each other," said Lily. "We owe you our very lives."

"Lily!" Jasmine exclaimed when she opened the door and saw her sister standing on the porch. "It's so wonderful to see you, as always."

"The pleasure is all mine," Lily said, greeting her sister with a one-armed hug while the other arm balanced Victoria on her hip.

"Well, come in, of course!" Jasmine stepped aside to allow Lily into the house.

"Is Jack here?" Lily inquired.

"Yes, of course," said Jasmine. "He's here for three more weeks before going back out to sea. Why? Do you need him?"

"Well, there's a matter that I would like to discuss with both of you," Lily said, walking into the sitting room.

"Did I hear my name?" asked Jack.

"Hello, Jack," Lily said, giving him a hug as well. She set Victoria down on the floor with Mary Rose so the two girls could play together.

"So, what did you want to discuss with us?" asked Jasmine as she, Jack, and Lily all took seats on the sitting room's chairs. The tone of her voice screamed that she could sense something was wrong.

"Well, it's not exactly a pleasant matter," Lily began.

"What's wrong?" asked Jack.

"Well, Jasmine, you obviously remember Lionel Williams," said Lily.

"Yes, of course," said Jasmine. "How could I forget? He saved me from Reeve."

"Yes, well, he has recently come under my husband's custody," said Lily.

"Oh, my God," Jasmine breathed.

"That son of a bitch," Jack snarled.

"Yes," said Lily. "Lionel is being charged with acts of piracy, and as you very well know, piracy leads to hanging, especially when my husband gets involved."

"What can we do?" Jasmine wondered aloud. As if to protect her, she lifted Mary Rose back into her arms. Lily did the same with Victoria.

"I have a plan, but it's risky," said Lily.

"You're going to bust him out." Jack's smile was devious. Lily could really see the pirate in him.

"Well, yes, but I can't do it alone," said Lily. "Jack, I was hoping you could find a few willing individuals to help us out."

"Damn right I can," said Jack.

"I certainly would enjoy seeing Lionel again," Jasmine said, brightening up a little bit. "I barely even got a chance to save him."

"How soon can we be ready?" asked Lily.

"Tomorrow night," Jasmine declared. "We'll rustle up some of Jack's crew and be ready before nightfall tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Lily," said Jack. "We'll make this work."

"One more thing," said Lily, holding Victoria a little tighter. "Can… Victoria and I stay with you tonight? I just… don't like the thought of going back to my husband right now."

"Absolutely," said Jasmine. "Our home is always welcome to you."

"I really appreciate it," said Lily, reaching over and holding her sister's hand.

"And I know something's wrong when you start calling him 'my husband' instead of his proper name," said Jasmine. "But don't worry. Your family is always here for you."

Author's Note: First updates in over a year! Wow, this feels good! Anyway, congrats to Lily for taking charge once more! Next chapter, we'll maybe check in on Holly and Norrington…