Chapter Two

That week flew by, Will spent most of his free time with Jack. Elizabeth was glad to see Jack too, though she stayed in bed most of the time. She was so close to delivering the baby that she wanted to do nothing else until then. With the help of Jack, will found a maid to keep up the house work; she would also be able to help with the delivery when the time came.

Jack and Will spent many hours in the local tavern, Eagle's Nest. Jack drank rum until Will brought him home, where Jack mumbled about treasure before falling into an alcohol induced slumber. Will longed to drink away his troubles, but knew that it really wasn't a solution to any of his problems. Instead he listened to the past adventures of the great Captain Jack Sparrow for hours upon end.

Finally the day of the delivery came.

Will awoke to Elizabeth's groans of pain. Her face was red and beads of sweat dripped slowly down her face.

"Liz! What's happening? Why didn't you wake me?" Will bolted upright with fear.

"I'm having the baby. The pains just started. It's alright. Just go get the maid."

"Are you sure-"

"Get the maid!"

Will rushed off to the kitchen where he found Lilly, their made preparing breakfast.

"Elizabeth! She's going to have our baby! Go help! Quick!"

Lilly nodded, "Yes Master Will." She had prepared hot water earlier that morning and gathered all that she would need with the expectation that Elizabeth would deliver that day. She rushed upstairs while Will went to wake Jack.

"Gold. So much gold. And rum. All the rum I want? No, just give it to me." Jack was mumbling drunkenly into the pillow when Will burst into the room. The sound of the door hitting the wall snapped Jack out of his dream.

"What!? Where's the fire?"

"No fire, Jack! Liz is going to have the baby! I'm going to be a father!"

Jack's addled brain took a moment to process the information the excited, half naked, man in the doorway had just presented to him. Eyes still blurry, Jack stared at Will's lower half, struggling to focus his vision. Everything was spinning so fast. Finally things straightened out and Jack realized he was staring rudely at Will's scantily clad, built body.

"She's having it now?"

"Yes!"

"Oh."

"Aren't you excited Jack?" asked Will as he helped the pirate to his unsteady feet. Jack almost fell, causing Will to hold tighter to his equally almost naked body.

"No, I'm drunk."

Will sighed and led Jack to his pile of clothes on the floor. When Jack had dressed without falling into anything, Will rushed off to dress himself. The two met in the kitchen and Will served Jack the eggs and pork the Lilly had cooked. Will was too anxious to eat, but Jack ate everything on his plate and everything on Will's plate.

After a while, Will began to pace around the kitchen. Jack, still very much asleep watched with dazed interest. He began to fiddle with his bead-adorned beard before speaking.

"Shouldn't you be telling Liz's father...perhaps even that Norrington fellow? Or are you to wait until the baby is born?"

Will stopped pacing for a moment. "I hadn't thought of that. I shall wait, I don't want there to be a big crowd in the house. Elizabeth must have peace and quiet. Oh I do hope she's ok."

For hours screams of pain echoed their way downstairs and off the walls of Will's panicked brain. He felt so bad that Elizabeth was going through all that pain. It had been so long since her labour first began that he wondered if things were going ok. To his and Jack's relief Lilly came down the stairs shortly after mid-afternoon. But the sight of her bloodstained dress and tear stained face soon washed away the relief they felt.

Lilly slumped drunkenly into the first empty chair. She looked ready to faint. Will rushed up to her and gripping her shoulders said, "Is Elizabeth alright? The baby? What happened? You must tell me!" Will shook Lilly.

"Easy there, boy, you'll damage the poor girl's brain." Jack's concern touched Will though he didn't know why.

"Miss Turner...fares well." Lilly panted. Jack couldn't help but watch the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. He got the sudden urge to strip her of her clothing and shook his head, realizing what a bad time it was to become aroused. He cursed himself and looked away, anywhere but at the maid. As Will questioned Lilly, Jack scolded himself and did his best to think of anything not related to the act of sex.

"Can I go see her?"

"It's best that you let her rest. She's had a hard time..."

"The baby...how is the baby? Is it a boy or girl?"

"Girl."

"Oh, I must go see her! Liz can rest later; I want to see my daughter." Without waiting, Will rushed up the stairs and into the room he shared with his wife.

Lilly made a weak noise. Jack looked back to her, this time at her face. When he saw her expression, the sadness in her eyes, he knew what she had not told Will. A wail of anguish from upstairs confirmed Jack's thoughts.

"It was stillborn," Lilly spoke softly and Jack wasn't sure if the young girl, she couldn't have been anymore than fifteen Jack scolded himself again, was talking to him or herself, but he listened anyways. "Miss Tuner wanted a girl so badly. She already had the name picked out. 'Bring me my darling Ariel.' She'd said as soon as it was over. I complied after trying in vain to get the baby to cry. The poor thing was born blue. Miss Turner refused to believe that the child was dead. I don't know what's to happen now."

As if in answer to Lilly's thoughts a distraught William stumbled down the stairs, his face a mask of pain. His voice was distant. "Go get Governor Swann and James Norrington. Have them come see Elizabeth...and don't let her leave the house. I'm going out. Don't bother me."

Will left as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving the front door open. Lilly hesitated only a moment before rushing off to do as Will had said. Jack hesitated too before swaggering off in the direction his friend had gone. Jack's usual drunken stumble was less drunken as he attempted to run after Will. Jack found the young lad sitting on the dock, staring into the sea.

Jack loved the ocean. Somehow, no matter how bad things got, the sea could always calm him. It gave him the sense that everything would eventually turn out alright. Jack sat down next to Will, but Will didn't even look up. The warm sun reflected off the waves and gave Will's face a heavenly glow. To Jack he seemed to be a tormented angel.

Jack thought hard about what to say. He wasn't very good with being sympathetic, so when something came to his mind, he said it without hesitation or other thought.

"You can always have more, you know." As soon as the words left Jack's slightly chapped lips he regretted them. Will turned on him, furious and stood.

"Have more?! HAVE MORE!?" Will's face turned many shades of red, as he discovered he was too angry for words.

Jack stood too. "No! That's not what I meant! What I meant was...uh...well I mean; you didn't really know your daughter, so...it shouldn't be as bad." Again after Jack spoke he regretted his words. Gods, just cut my tongue out already.

"Of course I didn't know her because she died before she was really born! I...I cant believe you have the nerve to say such things. Sparrow, I thought you a better man."

"No! William! This isn't working. I'm trying to be sympathetic, it's not working. Give me more time."

Will sighed and shook his head, turning away so Jack couldn't see his tears. "I need to be alone."

Jack grabbed Will's arm in an attempt to try to work things out. Angrily Will shoved Jack backwards and ran off. Jack stumbled away and found that there was no dock left to stumble on. With a shout he fell backwards into the cool sea. He came up surprised, sputtering for air. Saddened, he treaded water for just a moment before crawling to shore. Jack laid on the beach for a long time, thinking. He was determined to find a way to make things right again in the Turner household.

The funeral for Ariel Turner was held three days later. It was a terribly dismal day, grey clouds blocking out the sun. But the rain did not stop almost all of Port Royal from attending the child's funeral. Will didn't know so many people cared. Jack and his crew hung at the back of the crowd; the last to pay their respects.

When everyone had left but Will and Jack, Elizabeth burst into tears. She sobbed uncontrollably, having held back her tears throughout the ceremony. Jack wanted desperately to offer words of kindness, but feared what might come from his mouth. He remained silent. Will stood silently too while Elizabeth sobbed. Finally she managed to speak.

"Just leave. Both of you. I need to be alone with my daughter."

Will and Jack exchanged worried glances. Elizabeth hadn't eaten since the death of her child. She'd grown pale and thin, a mere skeleton of the woman she'd once been. She seldom spoke or left her room; only cried for the daughter she never knew. After a few awkward moments, the two men left.

Elizabeth slumped down upon the wet mound that covered the small wooden coffin her daughter rested in. "Oh my baby. Someday, someday I shall know you. Someday soon. Soon." Elizabeth spoke with her face pressed into the dirt, not caring that she was getting mud all over herself. She looked up at the sky for a moment, small rain drops covering her face.

With slow, trance-like movements, Elizabeth found the meat-cutting knife that she'd hidden in her skirts earlier that morning. Lying on her back, resting her head upon her daughter's grave, she held the knife above her. Once it was wet with rain she brought it straight down, plunging it into her chest with a sickening squish, back arching slightly. Elizabeth let out a cry of anguish. She felt it dig into her heart and used all her strength to drive the blade into her until only the handle protruded from her bloodied chest. Her work completed, she closed her eyes, ready to make the journey to join her daughter in the heavens.

Jack and Will sat at Will's kitchen table in silence. Jack could tell Will was a mess. He'd eaten and slept scarcely more than his wife over the past few days, and the lack of rest and food was starting to get to him.

"You and Liz are welcome to join me and my crew when we head back to sea. We'll be leavin' in a few days time. I think being at sea would really take your mind off the present situation."

Will didn't answer, only stared at the harsh wood of the table, tears welling in his eyes, but not daring to fall.

"Listen boy, you need some rest. Take a nice long sleep and you can think of things in the morning, savvy? I'll even make some food of some sort. I'm sure that maid can help me out. Come on."

Jack felt like a father leading his tired child to bed. Will's feet scuffed the floor as he walked. The two made their way slowly up the stairs and to Will's room, Jack making encouraging comments the whole time. Once they'd reached their destination, Jack helped Will out of his soaked clothing and into some dry breeches, enjoying the process too much. He scolded himself for being such a bad friend; always thinking of sex at the wrong times. Jack then tucked Will into bed and gave him the slightest peck on the forehead, feeling even more like a father.

Jack shut the door and snuck downstairs. He found himself to be exhausted as well, and blamed it on the weather. He decided to take a quick nap before making dinner for his friends. He dreamed of a stranger from the sea and a raft and an island with treasure.

When Jack awoke it was well past midnight. Lilly had fallen asleep on the floor by the fire and Will was still abed. Jack found no sign of Elizabeth though, and that worried him. It was pouring now, and the wind was blowing fiercely. If she was still out in the brewing storm, Jack had to save her. He left the house, almost at a run, and headed to the graveyard. It seemed a logical place to look, as it was the last place Jack had seen Miss Turner.

He made his way through the gravestones, slipping in the slick mud created by the rain. It was cold and Jack wished he'd worn his jacket. He mentally scolded himself, for the millionth time since he'd arrived at Port Royal, for being so weak as to complain of some mere rain. He dodged rocks that seemed to appear out of nowhere while he ran through the cemetery, deciding the sea was much less confusing than land. He cursed himself for not knowing exactly where the young Turner had been buried.

Jack slipped and fell in the mud many times, but he did not give up. After a good fifteen minutes of scouring the home of the dead, Jack found what he was looking for; the large oak under which Ariel had been buried. He peered through the darkness, afraid of what his eyes were showing him. If he'd seen correctly, there was a body lying on the girl's grave. Jack rushed to the burial sight.

He'd been right. It was Elizabeth, lying seemingly unconscious on top of her daughter's grave. Jack knelt at her side, and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. She was soaked to the bone and looked a deathly blue color.

"Love, you awake? Liz? Are you alright?" Jack leaned in to get a closer look at his friend's wife, noting the calm expression she wore. It was then, in his closeness, that he noticed something protruding from her chest. With horror, he realized it was the handle of a knife. He let out a shout, and sprang back.

"Oh all things be damned! This whole place has been forsaken! The damn girl's gone and taken her own life! Will won't be able to live after he hears this. Oh!" Jack looked skyward and yelled into the night. "Why must you take the best of people?! Why!? Can't you take the scoundrels instead of the saints?!" With little effort, Jack scooped up the cold corpse of Elizabeth Turner and began the trek back to her home.

Jack burst into the Turner house and found Will, Lilly, Norrington, and Governor Swann in the kitchen. It appeared that they were formulating a search plan to find Elizabeth and himself. He stood, soaked and dripping, in the doorway for a moment before sinking to his knees, Liz still in his arms. The walk back had been longer and harder than he remembered, and carrying a woman in a large, now drenched, dress was no easy task. He was exhausted. Everyone rushed to his side, exclaiming. Jack heard a thousand questions and comments, but could respond to none.

It was Lilly's horrified scream that stopped all the commotion. "Miss Turner is dead!!!"

Jack nodded sadly. "She's in a better place now. Gone to join her daughter, as it were."

Lilly began to sob while the governor had to sit down. He turned as white as milk as his brain processed all that had happened that day. James merely stood, still as a statue, silent tears coursing down his cheeks. He'd loved Elizabeth just as much as William had. Will stood, momentarily frozen. Then he fell to his knees and took Elizabeth's body from Jack's lap, crying out. He buried his face in her soaked, once golden, now dull yellow, curls. Jack merely sat in silence watching his once happy visit turn to shit.

I have to leave. I have to leave as soon as Liz is buried. I can stay here no longer. It's too much to watch William suffer so. I'll take him with me. But I must leave this place before any more miseries befall us.