A/N: Hey! Sorry for the long delay, but the semester ended and we went on vacation. But without further ado, here's the next chapter!
Chapter 19
Liz was in the kitchen kneading bread when she heard the door open behind her. She turned and saw Will coming in. Liz smiled, put down the dough, and went to meet him half way.
"Miss me that much did ya?" She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands automatically went to her waist and pulled her closer. Will started to tell her about the incoming storm, but she leaned in and brushed her lips against his. He instantly forgot everything except the feel and smell of Liz, the sensations she stirred in him.
When the kiss started to get out of control, Liz tried to pull back before anything happened that they might regret, but Will held her to him. After Liz tried a few more times, he sighed and reluctantly let her go. Will knew that she had the right idea, they had to stop, but he didn't have to like it.
Will looked down at her with disappointment and longing clearly on his face. Liz took another step back. She looked Will up and down and started cracking up. He was slightly annoyed that she could laugh at him at such a time. He asked,
"And what is so funny, you little tease." She gave a mock look of fury at being called a tease, smiled, and then answered him.
"You, Mr. Turner, are what is so funny." He lifted a brow trying to figure out through his still desire-filled mind what she was talking about.
"And how is that?" He finally muttered when his brain was semi back to normal.
"You are covered with flour." She said lifting a piece of hair that had come lose from his band. "I guess I should wipe my hands before touching you next time." The two were both absolutely covered in flour. She started giggling again and Will couldn't help but join in.
"How do you get so dirty, Princess?" Will asked after they had cleaned up some.
"I don't know, I can't help it." He grinned and pulled her back into his embrace.
"Well, if being dirty is the price I must pay to hold you close then it is not a problem. I don't mind." He leaned down to nuzzle her neck.
"Oh no you don't." Liz squirmed out of his arms. "We better not start this again. I don't trust myself to pull away another time." He looked at her truthfully.
"Then don't, it's okay." Liz looked at him with pleading in her eyes.
"Will. It's not okay. It's too soon. Please understand." He realized she was being serious. He smiled at Liz to let her know he wasn't angry with her. Will actually admired her for her honesty. It actually wasn't like him at all to act like this anyway, and he was glad she had enough sense left in her to stop them.
"Very well. I'll try my best to remain a good boy from now on." Liz's smile lit up the room and he was happy he was the one who put it there. Liz stepped back into his arms and they hugged. Liz pulled back all of a sudden and asked,
"Will. Why did you come in here to begin with? Not that it wasn't wonderful to see you. Did you have something to tell me or did you really just miss me?" she asked with a grin.
"Oh no. I forgot. You distract me, Princess, and dim my brain. I came to get you."
"What? Why?"
"There is a heavy storm coming and Jack wants you in his cabin to be safe." Just as he finished saying this thunder crashed and Liz screamed then buried her face in his chest.
"It'll be alright, Princess. It's just a storm. Nothing the Pearl can't handle. Let's get you into the cabin."
"I'm not afraid of storms, Will. The thunder just startled me, that's all. I'll be fine."
"I know sweetheart. I don't think you're scared of anything," he said lightly.
"Are you mocking me?" she asked playfully punching his arm.
"No No, of course not. But as much as I would love to stay here with you and discuss your bravery, we must get you to a safer place onboard." They started out of the kitchen arms wrapped around each other. The rain had already began to fall.
Liz and Will got to the door and stepped inside. He turned to face her.
"I'll have someone bring you some dry things. Be careful. Stay in here." He kissed her and then started out the door.
"Wait." Liz yelled after him. Will looked back.
"Yes?"
"You're not staying here with me?" Liz asked fear apparent all over her face. Will walked back and wrapped his arms around her.
"I can't. I'm sorry but I must help the crew." Her lip trembled. "I thought you said you weren't afraid of storms."
"I didn't think I was. But I guess it's different…on a ship." He didn't want to leave her but he had no other choice. He held her tight.
"You'll be fine. I promise. Allie will be here shortly and I'll come check on you as often as I can. Try to take a nap or something. Don't think about the weather."
Outside the storm grew heavier. He heard the crew scurrying around. Will pulled back and looked into her eyes. "You will be fine," he reiterated. Will leaned over, kissed her forehead, then walked out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Allie!" Allie looked up from the rail that she was washing and saw Jack coming towards her.
"What can I do for ye, Captain?" she asked, dropping the rag she was holding into the bucket and turning to face him.
Jack grabbed her hand and started pulling her down the hall.
"Where are you taking me?" Allie asked, enjoying the feel of their hands clasped together.
"To me cabin," Jack told her. Allie grinned mischievously.
"Any particular reason?" she asked teasingly. Jack glanced at her.
"Storm's coming, luv. I want ye and Liz to be where it's safe." Allie stopped walking, forcing Jack to stop as well.
"What?! But, Captain, I want to help!"
"Ye can help by stayin' in me cabin until the storm's over." Jack tried to take her hand again, but Allie took a step back.
"I would be of more use out on deck," she argued. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Luv, ye don't know the first thing about sailing, especially during a storm."
"Paul's been teaching me," Allie said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Jack was surprised at this, but didn't let it show. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry, luv. But until ye've had more experience, yer not going to be working on the deck during a storm." He grabbed her hand again, and tried to pull her towards his cabin, but Allie was putting up one heck of a fight. Jack sighed, turned around swiftly, picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Allie shrieked in surprise, then immediately started to pound on his back with her fists.
"Jack! Put me down!" she yelled, starting to kick now, hoping that would do the trick.
"That's 'Captain' to ye, luv." Jack replied calmly, not paying any heed to the demand to be put down.
He carried Allie the rest of the way to his cabin. About half-way there, she stopped screaming and kicking, realizing that it was bloody useless, and that it wouldn't get her anything but a lost voice and a sore throat.
When they reached the cabin, Jack finally put her down.
"Stay here," he ordered, giving Allie a look that said ye'd-better-listen-to-me-or-I-won't-be-held-responsible-for-what-I-do-to-ye. Allie sighed and looked at the floor.
"Aye, Captain." Jack nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave. Allie called after him, "What, no goodbye kiss?" Jack thought for a moment.
"Nope," he said with a cheeky grin, then was gone. Allie just stood there, mouth hanging open.
"Jerk!" she finally yelled. She sighed and turned around. Then jumped about a foot when she saw Liz sitting on the bed. "Dang it, Liz, don't do that!"
"Do what?" Liz asked, hugging a pillow. Allie rolled her eyes.
"Scare me like that," Allie said, then noticed just how scared her friend looked. "I thought you liked storms, Liz?"
"I do…on land. It's just scary knowing that this particular storm could flip over my 'house' and leave me stranded in the ocean for the sharks or who knows what else to eat me." She buried her head in the pillow when another crack of thunder filled the sky. The ship rocked with the force of the storm. She mumbled something into the pillow unintelligible . Allie asked,
"What was that, Liz?" She lifted her head.
"I said we're going to die!" Allie laughed at her friend.
"Is your faith in Will that weak?" Liz looked up at her friend confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"If you were confident in Will's skill as a sailor, you wouldn't be scared." Liz didn't say anything. Allie walked over and sat next to her friend putting her hand on Liz's back. "It will be alright. The crew knows what they are doing. We'll be fine." Liz took a deep breath.
"You're right." Allie could tell that Liz was still uncomfortable. She jumped up all of a sudden and started singing Tomorrow at the top of her lungs. Liz looked up still frowning. Allie reached down and pulled her friend up. Allie sang,
"The sun will come out…Tomorrow." Liz joined in. Weakly at first then she got stronger as the words continued. "Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow…there'll be sun. Just thinkin' about…tomorrow, clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow, come what may!"
Allie suddenly ran over, picked up her clogs, and sat down on the bed. She pulled off her boots and threw them aside. Still singing, Allie pulled on her clogs. Once they were on, she jumped back up and started clogging around the room, still singing. After a few moments, though, she found that she couldn't sing and clog at the same time-it was taking away her breath. So she simply clogged while Liz sang.
After singing Tomorrow, they moved on to other songs. For the next two hours, the girls sang and danced. Every now and then Allie would sit down and take a breather, but those breaks only lasted for three minutes at the most. Then she would leap back up and continue.
The two friends were having so much fun, that they forgot all about the storm. In fact, they didn't even notice that the storm had died down.
Allie turned around during part of her routine that she was clogging, and was startled when she saw Jack and Will standing in the doorway, grinning. They were soaking wet.
"Hey," she said, trying to catch her breath.
"Having fun, luv?" Jack asked with a smirk. Allie nodded.
"You bet," she replied, grinning. "Shouldn't you be helping the crew battle out the storm?" she asked. Jack grinned broadly.
"Storm's over, luv. Has been for about 10 minutes now." Allie cocked her head to the side, listening. She couldn't hear the rain falling or the thunder booming anymore.
"Huh. Guess we were having too much fun," she said, glancing at Liz, who seemed to be relieved that they had actually lived through the storm and Will was okay.
Liz ran over to Will arms outstretched. He stepped back when she drew near him. Liz stopped with a hurt look on her face. Will lifted her chin so she was looking him straight in the eyes.
"I'm soaking wet, Princess. I don't want you to catch a cold." Liz smiled relieved that that was the reason for him not wanting to touch her. Then she hurled herself into his arms holding on tight so he couldn't push her away. He gave up and hugged her back. They were standing there in the doorway for a few minutes when Will noticed Liz was crying. "What's wrong Sweetheart?" Liz held him so tight that Will couldn't breathe.
"I was so afraid." She finally mumbled into his chest. He pulled her back to look at her face and wipe away a few tears.
"You were safe in here. I wouldn't have left you in here otherwise."
"Not for me, although I was scared. I was afraid for you. You were out there in the heart of the storm. You could have been washed overboard or something. I don't know what I would do without you." A few more tears rolled down her face. He placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"I'm fine. I'm used to these. Don't worry for me, do you hear?"
"I can't help it, Will, I just can't help it." He wrapped his arms around her, said good night to Jack and Allie, and headed for the door.
"Let's get you to bed. You've had a long day, Princess."
Allie stared at her friend's retreating back. She knew that Liz had much deeper feelings for Will than she was letting on and that Liz was way past the trial stage. Allie also knew that Liz had done something she said she'd never do again: fall in love.