James had snuck Will in through the kitchen, taking him to a guest room upstairs. After explaining to him where the extra blankets and towels were, as well as the bathroom, he left to go back to Elizabeth. His words were still on Will's thoughts. He wasn't dead, just the opposite. It was pain that he felt, looking around and wondering what his life could have been. But he wasn't about to admit it. He'd quit admitting things a long time ago.
Getting up from the bed, he took his hat off, throwing it on the bed. Heading towards the bathroom, he pulled off his coat, his vest, his shirt, dumping them in piles on the floor. Someone had left a basin of warm water there for him, and he washed his face, his neck, feeling the warmth of it against his bare skin. Grabbing a towel, he stood upright, wiping his face. Catching sight of someone besides himself in the mirror.
Will turned, regarding the newcomer. The little girl stared back at him. Wavy brown hair surrounded her face, eyes like chocolate taking him in. He knew exactly who she was. His little Emma had grown up.
"Hello." He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "Can I help you?"
She cocked her head, staring at him, hands clasped behind her back. "Who are you?"
"My name is Will." He smirked. "And what would you be called?"
"Emma." She scrutinized him. "Are you a pirate?"
He blinked. "Excuse me?"
"A pirate." She bravely walked to him, reaching up and grabbing his wrist. He let her pull it down, flipping it over to reveal the 'P' branded on his skin. "You're a pirate."
He knelt down. "And aren't good little girls like you supposed to be scared of pirates?" He pointed behind her. "Could you get me that shirt?"
She did as she was told, coming back and handing it to him. "Yes, but I'm not." She told him, tracing the letter with a finger. "Mommy told me that there are good pirates too."
"Is that so? Well, what makes you think I'm one of these good pirates?" He asked, raising an eyebrow, but there was a gentle smile on his face. He pulled on his shirt, rolling up the sleeves to his elbows and buttoning it.
"Because you look like the one in Mommy's story." His smile faltered. "She told me a story about a young girl, who lived in a town, and she wanted adventure, but one day, she got kidnapped by pirates. But it had a happy ending, because she was rescued by a handsome young pirate who took her away and they lived happily ever after." She smiled at him. "It's my favorite." Will sat on the ground, feeling slightly surprised. It grew more when Emma crawled into his lap, sitting down. Her fingers moved up his arm to another tattoo. "That's pretty. I like swords." She told him proudly, tracing the tattoo just below the elbow, on the inside his arm.
"I like swords too." He told her, getting another smile from her. For a moment, he forgot that he this wasn't the life he was leading, that he was a father again, playing with his little girl. A rare, genuine smile crossed his face. This was what he'd missed for so long.
"What is this?" Her hand wrapped around one of the dreadlocks.
"Hey." He chuckled, gently reaching up and pulling her hand from it. "That is a braid."
She pointed to her twin braids. "Like these?"
"Aye, just like them." But her attention was already somewhere else.
"Do you have any interesting stories?" She looked up at him, lying against his chest.
"Stories? I might have a few stories…"
James was starting to panic. He's searched most of the house, with the help of the servants, for Emma. She'd disappeared completely, and with what had been going on as of late, he feared for her. Going off to the east wing, he went to Will's room, to get his help. He opened the door, and stopped, hearing laughter from the bathroom. From two people. He snuck over to the bathroom, looking in.
"So the brave pirate captain ran as fast as he could, while the big angry sheep followed right after him…" Emma's giggles filled the bathroom as Will told the story. James leaned against the doorframe, watching the two.
"That's a good story."
Will jumped slightly, craning his head around to see James standing there. "How long have you….?"
"Long enough." He crouched down. "You, young lady, have a bed time." He told her.
She looked up at him with big eyes. "Can't I stay with Will for a little bit longer?" She pleaded.
He gave her a stern, yet loving, look. "It's time for bed."
Will stood her upright. "You should listen to your father. How about this? If you go to bed, maybe I'll tell you another story later."
"Ok." She took off out of the bathroom, as Will got to his feet. The two men regarded each other for a few moments in silence.
"Looks like you're not as dead as you want us to think, Will." James said, before leaving the room, Will standing in the bathroom still, a strange expression on his face.