Chapter Twelve-One Year Later
Elizabeth Turner was walking through the streets of Port Royal from the small house she shared
with her husband, Will, to the Governor's Mansion where Catherine still lived with their father. The
relationship between Governor Swann and his eldest daughter had changed dramatically after the girls'
adventure. For a solid month after Jack's escape to the Black Pearl, Catherine broke free of every rule
her father had ever set for her and lived her own life, refusing to talk to him. One day, the governor
came into his daughter's room to see her sitting alone at her window staring longingly out over the sea.
He sat down beside her, and they talked. They spoke of Catherine's life, her dreams, her aspirations;
for the first time Governor Swann began to truly know his daughter. They emerged from that
conversation as what every loving father and daughter should be: they were friends. The governor
would tell Catherine the goings on at the fort, and give her updates on what was happening throughout
the Caribbean. Catherine told her father what had really happened during her and Elizabeth's
experience with pirates, that is, she told him most of it. She did not tell him about Jack. This was
actually a good thing, because the governor had gained an almost respect for the pirate from what he
had learned from his daughter. He had no idea of the many times Sparrow had saved his children, or
what he had done for them in the end, and when he learned all of that his entire mind set about Jack
changed for the better. He probably would not have changed his mind nearly as much if he had known
about Catherine and Jack, but as she was by no means going to discuss the matter with him, Governor
Swann maintained a high opinion of the captain.
Jack. He was a topic that was ever present in Will and Elizabeth's minds, but he was never
discussed, at least not around Catherine. Nothing was said of him in her presence, and she said nothing
of him. Elizabeth knew that however much her sister tried to deny it Jack Sparrow was the first and
foremost thing in her heart and in her mind. Catherine had changed after he left, it was like a light inside
her had gone out. The usual fire was gone from her eyes, though her manner only changed very slightly.
Elizabeth knew that though Catherine was trying to be her old self, she was a woman torn apart by the
sorrow of separation from the man she loved. It had been a year, a year without any idea where he
was or what he was doing, or if he was even alive, and that was slowly but surely killing Catherine.
Every morning before dawn she would walk out to the harbor and stand on the dock watching as all the
morning ships came in, not leaving until every last one was tied and unloaded. Sometimes she would be
there all day, others she would come back after shortly after dawn. Some days Elizabeth would go and
watch with her, trying to let Catherine know by her presence that her heart ached at the thought of her
sister's sadness, and that she prayed fervently for Jack's return to Catherine's arms.
Elizabeth pondered all these things as she entered the governor's mansion. She walked into the
parlor to see her sister and father sitting together reading. Catherine jumped up at the sight of her little
sister and immediately ran to embrace her and kiss her belly, large with child.
"Oh, Tess, I still can't believe that you are going to be a mother. When are you due to give
birth?"
"Any day now," Elizabeth replied smiling as she caressed her swollen stomach. The governor
rose to kiss his youngest daughter.
"You are to give birth any day and your husband allows you to walk all the way here? I would
have thought him more responsible."
"Will doesn't want me to walk so much," Elizabeth replied, smiling at her father's concern, " . .
. but I think the exercise is good for the baby. I let him pamper me enough to completely spoil me for
the rest of my life, but I would just go mad if I didn't get out and walk once in awhile." Governor
Swann just shrugged and left the two girls alone. As disapproving as he tried to seem, he was really
thrilled at the idea of being a grandfather. After he left, the sisters sat down on the sofa and rang for
tea.
"Cate, how are you?" Elizabeth asked as she fixed herself a small cup of tea.
"I'm fine." That had become Catherine's usual answer.
"How long were you at the docks today?" Elizabeth began to broach the forbidden topic.
"Only for an hour. There weren't very many ships that put into port, just a few merchant ships
and the Dauntless back from a mission. I did get to speak with Commodore Norrington for a few
moments. He sends his best regards to you and Will." Elizabeth frowned at her sister's perpetual
avoidance of any mention of Jack. She sat for a moment, sipping her tea, deep in thought, then sat her
glass down and took Catherine's hand.
"Cate, you can't keep doing this to yourself. Walking out to the harbor every morning just
makes you even more disappointed and heartbroken when the Pearl doesn't come in." Catherine sat in
silence, staring at her glass.
"I just . . . I just have to watch, Tess, I have to. What if . . . " she braced herself for the words
that had been formulating themselves in her head for a year, " . . . what if he comes and I miss him?
What if he just leaves again?" Elizabeth took her sister in her arms as she began to cry, stroking her
hair and trying to comfort her in her sorrow.
"You won't miss him, Cate. Jack will come back, and when he does he won't leave until he
finds you, you can be sure of that." Catherine was now fondling a ring she wore on a chain around her
neck, the ring Jack had given her that last day.
"How can I be sure, Tess? I'm so confused about everything . . . " Elizabeth took her sister's
tear stained face in her hands.
"Jack loves you, Cate, and that is all you need to think about. He will find you because he
loves you." Catherine began sobbing again and buried her head in Elizabeth's shoulder.
When Will, who had come to fetch Elizabeth home, and Governor Swann entered the parlor an
hour later, they found the two sisters still holding each other. Will, knowing full well what this was
about, took his wife's hand and helped her off the couch and gave his sister-in-law a reassuring squeeze
on the shoulder. Catherine looked up at him and smiled.
"Thank you, Will," she said, sniffling.
"It will be all right, Cate, you know that don't you?" Catherine nodded, and the couple left for
home. The governor came and sat down next to his daughter, putting his arm about her shoulders.
"I know something has been troubling you greatly for a long time now, Catherine. I just want
you to know that you can tell me if you need to, all right?" The governor looked at his daughter with
fatherly concern. Catherine just wiped her eyes and leaned her head against her father's chest.
"I know, Father, and I will tell you someday. I just can't yet, you understand, don't you?"
"Of course I do, darling. Just know that I'm here if you need me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth and Will walked into their dark house. Will went from room to room, lighting enough
candles so they could at least see to get ready for bed, and when he came back to the front room he
found his wife sitting on the couch holding her head and crying.
"Elizabeth! What is it? Is it the baby? Are you all right?" She waved her hand as if to ward off
more questions while she shook her head.
"It's Catherine. I hate so much that she has to go through this." Will sat down next to his wife
and put his arms around her as she wept for her sister's sorrow. "All she ever wanted to do was live
her own life with the man she loved, away from the constrictions of our childhood, and I'm living her
dream while she sits at home in agony because she dared to love a pirate."
"I know, sweetheart, I know. We all want Jack to come back for her, but there's no point
getting this distraught. You have the baby to think of. We all do." As Will was comforting his wife, a
cry was heard in the streets.
"Pirates! Pirates in Port Royal!" Will and Elizabeth looked at each other hopefully.
"Stay here," Will said to his wife as he ran outside, taking his sword with him just in case. The
sight that awaited him was so nonthreatening it was ridiculous. Four jolly pirates were waltzing down
the street, swords sheathed and laughing. The person sounding the alarm was an old woman standing
outside her door picking up her cat. It is understandable that she was alarmed, especially after the
violence of the year before, but there was no way that these people were planning to attack anyone.
Just as Will was laughing at the situation, the pirate at the head of the merry band raised his hand in
greeting.
"Will, me boy!" Will's mouth dropped open.
"Jack!" The pirate swaggered up to him and slapped him on the back as he grinned like a little
boy. This seemed to disturb the old woman more than anything. She began mumbling incoherently and
shaking with terror, unable to move, as her cat struggled to escape her grasp. Will walked up to his
neighbor and took her hand reassureadly.
"It's all right, Mrs. Brown," he said as he gently turned the frightened lady back to her door.
"These are not the pirates who attacked Port Royal last year. These are friends of my father's. It's
quite all right. You can go back inside without worry." Mrs. Brown nodded and hobbled back into her
home, still glancing frightened over her shoulder, but she did seem comforted by Will's positive words
and went back inside without any more distress. After she had closed her door, Will and the pirates
broke into laughter, Jack doubled over, howling.
"She thought we were goin' te steal 'er and 'er cat away to deal them inter slavery or
somethin'." As Jack was wiping a tear of laughter away, Elizabeth walked outside to see what all the
noise was about. Her jaw dropped and her hands fell down by her side in shock when she saw Jack.
She immediately ran up and gave him an enormous hug, throwing him completely off guard.
"Elizabeth! Hello, lass . . . er, glad ter see ye too?" he said as he patted her awkwardly on the
back.
"Oh Jack, I'm so glad to see you! We both are! We were just talking about you! Oh I'm so
happy you're here!" She finally let go of Jack and stepped back beside her husband. As she moved
away, Jack let out an exclamation at the sight of her enormous belly.
"Good God, woman . . . Will, nice work mate, congratulations . . . thought ye'd be married by
now, but I wasn't expectin' this so soon!" The pirate winked at Will as he playfully punched him in the
shoulder. "Didn't waste any time, did ye lad?" Will turned a deep shade of scarlet. Jack looked as if
he'd continue teasing him, but he was interrupted by Gibbs, Anna Maria, and Mr. Cotton all stepping
forward to greet the couple. They stood outside chatting for a moment, then Jack sent his crew mates
back to the ship while he joined Will and Elizabeth inside their cheerful house.
"Jack, I can't even tell you how glad I am that you've come back," said Elizabeth as she
lowered herself gingerly onto the sofa, wincing slightly as she held her belly. "We were beginning to
think the worse." Will nodded as he helped his wife get comfortable. Jack took his hat off and set it on
the side table next to the chair he had plopped down in.
"Aye, I wanted to rush back as soon as I got te the Pearl, but Gibbs talked some sense inter
me. It woulda been too dangerous, fer all of us." The pirate became more serious as he talked. "Will,
Elizabeth, I wanted ter find ye, te ask ye about, about Cate."
"Oh Jack, she's . . . " Elizabeth paused as her face tightened at a discomfort in her belly, "she's
. . . oh!" The woman's thought was completely interrupted as she bent over in pain.
"Elizabeth!" Will rushed to his wife's side.
"Will, get the midwife, the baby's coming!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will came back with the midwife minutes later to find Elizabeth quite calm and Jack ranting like
a madman. Apparently a woman in labor was not something he was used to. Elizabeth looked over at
Will, pleading with her eyes, and he grabbed Jack by the shoulders and shook him a little until he
calmed down. As the midwife helped her up and into the bedroom, Elizabeth shouted some brief
orders over her shoulder as she went to deliver her baby.
"Jack, go back to the Pearl. Will will come for you after the baby's here, just wait there." The
pirate nodded and went out, still a little shaken by the situation. After he had left, Elizabeth said to her
husband, "Will, fetch Catherine."
Hours later, Elizabeth lay in bed exhausted cradling her new baby boy as Will kissed her and
sat down beside them, filled with pride. Catherine was on the other side of her sister, one hand
stroking Elizabeth's hair and the other caressing the child's tiny hand. The midwife had just left with her
things, and life at the Turner house was calm as usual with the addition of a small new resident. The
new parents were absolutely glowing with joy as Catherine asked,
"What is his name?" Will looked at his wife with a question in his eyes. She nodded.
"Well, that depends on you, really," Will said to his sister-in-law.
"Me?" Catherine looked puzzled.
"Yes, we wanted to ask your permission. We want to name him Jack." Catherine stared at
them for a moment before nodding silently. As she sat there playing with her new nephew, Will looked
at his wife, questioning her with his eyes. Elizabeth shook her head.
"Not yet," she whispered to Will. "We don't need to tell her, she just needs to see him. We'll
arrange it all in the morning."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth Turner was walking through the streets of Port Royal from the small house she shared
with her husband, Will, to the Governor's Mansion where Catherine still lived with their father. The
relationship between Governor Swann and his eldest daughter had changed dramatically after the girls'
adventure. For a solid month after Jack's escape to the Black Pearl, Catherine broke free of every rule
her father had ever set for her and lived her own life, refusing to talk to him. One day, the governor
came into his daughter's room to see her sitting alone at her window staring longingly out over the sea.
He sat down beside her, and they talked. They spoke of Catherine's life, her dreams, her aspirations;
for the first time Governor Swann began to truly know his daughter. They emerged from that
conversation as what every loving father and daughter should be: they were friends. The governor
would tell Catherine the goings on at the fort, and give her updates on what was happening throughout
the Caribbean. Catherine told her father what had really happened during her and Elizabeth's
experience with pirates, that is, she told him most of it. She did not tell him about Jack. This was
actually a good thing, because the governor had gained an almost respect for the pirate from what he
had learned from his daughter. He had no idea of the many times Sparrow had saved his children, or
what he had done for them in the end, and when he learned all of that his entire mind set about Jack
changed for the better. He probably would not have changed his mind nearly as much if he had known
about Catherine and Jack, but as she was by no means going to discuss the matter with him, Governor
Swann maintained a high opinion of the captain.
Jack. He was a topic that was ever present in Will and Elizabeth's minds, but he was never
discussed, at least not around Catherine. Nothing was said of him in her presence, and she said nothing
of him. Elizabeth knew that however much her sister tried to deny it Jack Sparrow was the first and
foremost thing in her heart and in her mind. Catherine had changed after he left, it was like a light inside
her had gone out. The usual fire was gone from her eyes, though her manner only changed very slightly.
Elizabeth knew that though Catherine was trying to be her old self, she was a woman torn apart by the
sorrow of separation from the man she loved. It had been a year, a year without any idea where he
was or what he was doing, or if he was even alive, and that was slowly but surely killing Catherine.
Every morning before dawn she would walk out to the harbor and stand on the dock watching as all the
morning ships came in, not leaving until every last one was tied and unloaded. Sometimes she would be
there all day, others she would come back after shortly after dawn. Some days Elizabeth would go and
watch with her, trying to let Catherine know by her presence that her heart ached at the thought of her
sister's sadness, and that she prayed fervently for Jack's return to Catherine's arms.
Elizabeth pondered all these things as she entered the governor's mansion. She walked into the
parlor to see her sister and father sitting together reading. Catherine jumped up at the sight of her little
sister and immediately ran to embrace her and kiss her belly, large with child.
"Oh, Tess, I still can't believe that you are going to be a mother. When are you due to give
birth?"
"Any day now," Elizabeth replied smiling as she caressed her swollen stomach. The governor
rose to kiss his youngest daughter.
"You are to give birth any day and your husband allows you to walk all the way here? I would
have thought him more responsible."
"Will doesn't want me to walk so much," Elizabeth replied, smiling at her father's concern, " . .
. but I think the exercise is good for the baby. I let him pamper me enough to completely spoil me for
the rest of my life, but I would just go mad if I didn't get out and walk once in awhile." Governor
Swann just shrugged and left the two girls alone. As disapproving as he tried to seem, he was really
thrilled at the idea of being a grandfather. After he left, the sisters sat down on the sofa and rang for
tea.
"Cate, how are you?" Elizabeth asked as she fixed herself a small cup of tea.
"I'm fine." That had become Catherine's usual answer.
"How long were you at the docks today?" Elizabeth began to broach the forbidden topic.
"Only for an hour. There weren't very many ships that put into port, just a few merchant ships
and the Dauntless back from a mission. I did get to speak with Commodore Norrington for a few
moments. He sends his best regards to you and Will." Elizabeth frowned at her sister's perpetual
avoidance of any mention of Jack. She sat for a moment, sipping her tea, deep in thought, then sat her
glass down and took Catherine's hand.
"Cate, you can't keep doing this to yourself. Walking out to the harbor every morning just
makes you even more disappointed and heartbroken when the Pearl doesn't come in." Catherine sat in
silence, staring at her glass.
"I just . . . I just have to watch, Tess, I have to. What if . . . " she braced herself for the words
that had been formulating themselves in her head for a year, " . . . what if he comes and I miss him?
What if he just leaves again?" Elizabeth took her sister in her arms as she began to cry, stroking her
hair and trying to comfort her in her sorrow.
"You won't miss him, Cate. Jack will come back, and when he does he won't leave until he
finds you, you can be sure of that." Catherine was now fondling a ring she wore on a chain around her
neck, the ring Jack had given her that last day.
"How can I be sure, Tess? I'm so confused about everything . . . " Elizabeth took her sister's
tear stained face in her hands.
"Jack loves you, Cate, and that is all you need to think about. He will find you because he
loves you." Catherine began sobbing again and buried her head in Elizabeth's shoulder.
When Will, who had come to fetch Elizabeth home, and Governor Swann entered the parlor an
hour later, they found the two sisters still holding each other. Will, knowing full well what this was
about, took his wife's hand and helped her off the couch and gave his sister-in-law a reassuring squeeze
on the shoulder. Catherine looked up at him and smiled.
"Thank you, Will," she said, sniffling.
"It will be all right, Cate, you know that don't you?" Catherine nodded, and the couple left for
home. The governor came and sat down next to his daughter, putting his arm about her shoulders.
"I know something has been troubling you greatly for a long time now, Catherine. I just want
you to know that you can tell me if you need to, all right?" The governor looked at his daughter with
fatherly concern. Catherine just wiped her eyes and leaned her head against her father's chest.
"I know, Father, and I will tell you someday. I just can't yet, you understand, don't you?"
"Of course I do, darling. Just know that I'm here if you need me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth and Will walked into their dark house. Will went from room to room, lighting enough
candles so they could at least see to get ready for bed, and when he came back to the front room he
found his wife sitting on the couch holding her head and crying.
"Elizabeth! What is it? Is it the baby? Are you all right?" She waved her hand as if to ward off
more questions while she shook her head.
"It's Catherine. I hate so much that she has to go through this." Will sat down next to his wife
and put his arms around her as she wept for her sister's sorrow. "All she ever wanted to do was live
her own life with the man she loved, away from the constrictions of our childhood, and I'm living her
dream while she sits at home in agony because she dared to love a pirate."
"I know, sweetheart, I know. We all want Jack to come back for her, but there's no point
getting this distraught. You have the baby to think of. We all do." As Will was comforting his wife, a
cry was heard in the streets.
"Pirates! Pirates in Port Royal!" Will and Elizabeth looked at each other hopefully.
"Stay here," Will said to his wife as he ran outside, taking his sword with him just in case. The
sight that awaited him was so nonthreatening it was ridiculous. Four jolly pirates were waltzing down
the street, swords sheathed and laughing. The person sounding the alarm was an old woman standing
outside her door picking up her cat. It is understandable that she was alarmed, especially after the
violence of the year before, but there was no way that these people were planning to attack anyone.
Just as Will was laughing at the situation, the pirate at the head of the merry band raised his hand in
greeting.
"Will, me boy!" Will's mouth dropped open.
"Jack!" The pirate swaggered up to him and slapped him on the back as he grinned like a little
boy. This seemed to disturb the old woman more than anything. She began mumbling incoherently and
shaking with terror, unable to move, as her cat struggled to escape her grasp. Will walked up to his
neighbor and took her hand reassureadly.
"It's all right, Mrs. Brown," he said as he gently turned the frightened lady back to her door.
"These are not the pirates who attacked Port Royal last year. These are friends of my father's. It's
quite all right. You can go back inside without worry." Mrs. Brown nodded and hobbled back into her
home, still glancing frightened over her shoulder, but she did seem comforted by Will's positive words
and went back inside without any more distress. After she had closed her door, Will and the pirates
broke into laughter, Jack doubled over, howling.
"She thought we were goin' te steal 'er and 'er cat away to deal them inter slavery or
somethin'." As Jack was wiping a tear of laughter away, Elizabeth walked outside to see what all the
noise was about. Her jaw dropped and her hands fell down by her side in shock when she saw Jack.
She immediately ran up and gave him an enormous hug, throwing him completely off guard.
"Elizabeth! Hello, lass . . . er, glad ter see ye too?" he said as he patted her awkwardly on the
back.
"Oh Jack, I'm so glad to see you! We both are! We were just talking about you! Oh I'm so
happy you're here!" She finally let go of Jack and stepped back beside her husband. As she moved
away, Jack let out an exclamation at the sight of her enormous belly.
"Good God, woman . . . Will, nice work mate, congratulations . . . thought ye'd be married by
now, but I wasn't expectin' this so soon!" The pirate winked at Will as he playfully punched him in the
shoulder. "Didn't waste any time, did ye lad?" Will turned a deep shade of scarlet. Jack looked as if
he'd continue teasing him, but he was interrupted by Gibbs, Anna Maria, and Mr. Cotton all stepping
forward to greet the couple. They stood outside chatting for a moment, then Jack sent his crew mates
back to the ship while he joined Will and Elizabeth inside their cheerful house.
"Jack, I can't even tell you how glad I am that you've come back," said Elizabeth as she
lowered herself gingerly onto the sofa, wincing slightly as she held her belly. "We were beginning to
think the worse." Will nodded as he helped his wife get comfortable. Jack took his hat off and set it on
the side table next to the chair he had plopped down in.
"Aye, I wanted to rush back as soon as I got te the Pearl, but Gibbs talked some sense inter
me. It woulda been too dangerous, fer all of us." The pirate became more serious as he talked. "Will,
Elizabeth, I wanted ter find ye, te ask ye about, about Cate."
"Oh Jack, she's . . . " Elizabeth paused as her face tightened at a discomfort in her belly, "she's
. . . oh!" The woman's thought was completely interrupted as she bent over in pain.
"Elizabeth!" Will rushed to his wife's side.
"Will, get the midwife, the baby's coming!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will came back with the midwife minutes later to find Elizabeth quite calm and Jack ranting like
a madman. Apparently a woman in labor was not something he was used to. Elizabeth looked over at
Will, pleading with her eyes, and he grabbed Jack by the shoulders and shook him a little until he
calmed down. As the midwife helped her up and into the bedroom, Elizabeth shouted some brief
orders over her shoulder as she went to deliver her baby.
"Jack, go back to the Pearl. Will will come for you after the baby's here, just wait there." The
pirate nodded and went out, still a little shaken by the situation. After he had left, Elizabeth said to her
husband, "Will, fetch Catherine."
Hours later, Elizabeth lay in bed exhausted cradling her new baby boy as Will kissed her and
sat down beside them, filled with pride. Catherine was on the other side of her sister, one hand
stroking Elizabeth's hair and the other caressing the child's tiny hand. The midwife had just left with her
things, and life at the Turner house was calm as usual with the addition of a small new resident. The
new parents were absolutely glowing with joy as Catherine asked,
"What is his name?" Will looked at his wife with a question in his eyes. She nodded.
"Well, that depends on you, really," Will said to his sister-in-law.
"Me?" Catherine looked puzzled.
"Yes, we wanted to ask your permission. We want to name him Jack." Catherine stared at
them for a moment before nodding silently. As she sat there playing with her new nephew, Will looked
at his wife, questioning her with his eyes. Elizabeth shook her head.
"Not yet," she whispered to Will. "We don't need to tell her, she just needs to see him. We'll
arrange it all in the morning."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~