"The Return"

AUTHOR: Melissa (otherwise know as, JohnnyDee)

RATING: PG-13 for later chapters.

EMAIL: melismelli_101_@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own POTC, blah, blah, blah.

TIMELINE: A year after the end of POTC.

DISTRIBUTION: johnnydeppzone.com, fanfiction.net, and other sites.

CHAPTER: 11.Bootstrap Bill

Charlotte slowly rose from the bed she was laying on and rubbed

her eyes open. Not knowing where she was, she peered around to find herself in a

darkened shack, with the moonlight seeping in from the rip in the shabby curtain that

cover the window. She lay back down on the wool blanket as a pulsating pain in her head

brought back the memories of last night, or whatever it was when she was last awake.

Rubbing her hand on her forehead, she sighed loudly.

What had she gotten herself into? She ran away from home with a bunch

of Pirates, went to Tortugas, run away AGAIN to this place, and got knocked in the head

with a frying pan. Charlotte began to wonder if her captor was gone or not. Sitting up

again, it appeared to be just her in the shack. The candle was now out and the moon was

directly in the middle of the sky. Charlotte was not sure it right now was sill when she

was attacked or the next night.but she had an idea.

Carefully getting off the squeaky cot, she tiptoed across the room to the

open window were the curtain lightly fluttered. She poked her head out, trying to see

anything. When nothing was in sight, she turned to go back, but heard a crack. Charlotte

quickly turned back to the window but still could see nothing. She waited.her eyes

frantically searching outside, unaware that she was no longer alone. Giving up her search,

Charlotte brought her head back inside the door when she felt a cold hand upon her

shoulder!

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Will, feeling he'd been doing this a lot lately in his life, paced back in

forth aboard the Dauntless, while his wife looked on, wringing her hands. It had been at

least four hours since the boats had gone ashore the island and they had seen no sign on

the men since. Elizabeth stood up from the barrel on which she was sitting on and walked

over to Will. "Will, you must stop," she said grabbing a hold of his arm. He turned to her

and weakly smiled.

"I know, dear.It's just-I wish I were out there, looking for her. When

will they be back?" As if they Gods were listening, a clamor occurred and the men filed

aboard. The two immediately walked over to Commodore Norrington, addressing him

quickly. "Well, what did you find?" Will asked briskly, looking the man in the eye.

Commodore set his bayonet against the ship and turned to the couple.

"Nothing, except for the missing rowboat." Will's anger rose as he practically yelled,

"Why did you stop looking?" Commodore glared back at him and replied, "For one, Mr.

Turner, do realize that I am doing you a favor. Secondly, the woods are dark and my men

are terribly exhausted. We will continue the search tomorrow at sunset." Will,

embarrassed at his outrage, quietly excused him and Elizabeth to their quarters where

they continued discussing the matter.

* * *

Elizabeth took in a deep breath as Trudy finally unlaced the last of the

strings on her corset. "I can take it from here, Trudy," Elizabeth said as she dismissed the

maid. After pulling her nightgown over her head, she walked from behind the screen and

sat next to Will on the settee, who already had his nightclothes on. She laid her head on

his shoulder and sighed again, feeling that the burdens of the world still lay on her

shoulders. "Oh, Will. What a mess!"

Will, unexpectantly, pulled Elizabeth up on his lap, which pulled a squeal

of delight from Elizabeth. He cradled her close to him and looked down into her brown

eyes, (I got it right this time!). "The only thing that isn't a mess is our bed." Confused,

Elizabeth looked over at their bed that lay in perfect order. The pillows all symmetrically

lined up, standing tall and firm. The sheets smooth and very inviting. The quilt that lay on

top looked so warm and soft, Elizabeth giggled.

"I think that is a sign for us to go to bed, Mr. Turner," she said, turning

back to Will, smiling at him. Will swooped her up and lowered his face to hers. "I think

you are right, Mrs. Turner." The two stood there staring at each other for a moment, until

the passion growing between the two of them was two much. Will stared into her eyes for

reassurance, and when he found it, his lips met hers. They stood there kissing with gentle

passion. Nothing fast and harsh, but exactly what two lovers would do. Slow, knowing

they had all of the time in the world.

Will lowered Elizabeth into the bed and slipped his robe off, setting it on

the chair next to the bed. He walked over to the other side of the room and quickly blew

the lamp out. Reaching the bed again, he slowly crawled in under the quilt. He turned to

Elizabeth to continue what they had started to find her fast asleep. Will lightly laughed

and laid his head back down, finding dreamless sleep himself. If only their daughter were

so lucky....

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Charlotte turned around to find an older man facing her. Realizing that this

must have been the man that attacked her, she cowered in the corner and reached around

with arms, looking for anything she could hit him with. He followed her, coming closer

and closer. Finally, her back hit against the wall and she felt utterly defeated. Raising her

arms up in front of her face for protection, she waited for the eventual blow, whatever it

would be.

Charlotte waited and waited, when she finally dropped her arms and found

the man still in front of her, arms at his side, his face relaxed. So confused she questioned

him silently. "Who are you?" The man laughed boomingly as he scratched his beard. "I

suppose I should be asking ye' the same, miss." Charlotte was not sure whether or not

to give him her name. Besides, what could he know about her. He obviously had been

living here for a while according to what his house and clothing looked like. "Turner,"

she replied. "Charlotte Turner."

The man watched with the same face as he said. "Turner, eh? No doubt

your fathers last name, eh?" Somewhat puzzled at his question she answered, "Well,

yes.I mean, that's how it works, isn't it?" Laughing again, he outstretched his hand and

said, "The name's Bootstrap. Call me Bill. Pleased to meet you Miss Turner!" he said, as

he accented the word, Turner. Charlotte racked her brain. She had heard that name

before.possibly from a story her Mother had told her. Perhaps this man was a pirate.

Feeling a little more comfortable and confidant, she asked as she

straightened her shoulders, "Are you a pirate?" He looked at her as he slowly answered,

"I guess ye' could call me that, though I've done no pillaging for many a year." He

scratched his beard in thought at this as he replied, "It's been almost ten years since I've

sailed beneath a pirate flag." Becoming intrigued, she asked him another question. "Do

you happen to know Captain Jack Sparrow then?"

The old man's eyes lit up at this as he replied, "Old Jack is still alive then,

eh?" Charlotte did not respond as he continued. "Jack was the best captain there ever

was. He treated his men with respect. He done no wrong ever to anyone. Never deserved

mutiny, that one." Bootstrap eyes dazed off as he thought for a while. "Well, I'm no

host. Come, take a seat and I'll brew you up some tea." Charlotte gladly took his

invitation as took her spot in the moth-eaten chair.

She was relieved to find this man harmless yet glad he was a pirate. 'The

stories I'll hear from him.' she thought as she watched him light the iron stove. While

he did this he asked, "It's apparent you have a great interest in pirate's missy, but what

you be doing on this island here?" Charlotte sighed as she replied, "Oh, I've runaway

from home. I need freedom, not to be locked up in some cage to be watched by my

parents for all eternity," she replied with disgust as she remembered they chokehold they

had on her.

Bill came back with the tea and sat across from her. "I know what it feels

like, miss. I've been free for ten long years, and it's not the best feeling after a while. It

gets lonely here, having freedom on this island," he said as he watched her closely. "It's

seems like the only freedom you want is freedom from your parents, eh?"

After taking a sip, she answered, "I suppose. My mother isn't so bad, but

my father.He's always worrying about me. Where I am and what I am doing. To think

that he had been an orphan practically all his life, yet he doesn't trust his own daughter to

take a visit into town." Bill laughed as he said, "Perhaps that be the very reason he be so

protective. He doesn't want you living the life he led, being he already lived it." Charlotte

thought about this, and though it did make sense, she dismissed the idea.

They drank in silence for a while when another question rose to

Charlotte's mind. "What is that old boot?" she asked as she pointed to it. Bill turned

around as he said, "Oh, that thing. Well.it's al long story miss. You best be getting

sleep before you hear that one." Charlotte laughed as she replied, "All right. However,

please...Call me Charlotte!" Bill laughed with Charlotte as the two rose. Pointing to the

old cot, Bill said, "You can stay there Charlotte, if ye promises not ruin me blanket. Best

one I have, that one!" Charlotte laughed but then stopped.

"Where will you sleep?" "Me.I sleep outside. Best view, out there."

Charlotte laughed as she walked to the cot. "Goodnight," she called to him, as she

plopped own on the cot. Bill shut the door behind him and laid his back against it,

sighing. "Goodnight, Granddaughter," he whispered to the night wind, hoping it would be

carried to the sleeping ears, just inside his house.

NOTE: Glad you guys are still liking it..I think! There will be another shortly. I'll be

explaining then WHY Bootstrap is still alive!