-Little Miracles-
Author's Note: We come to the halfway point. After this, there are only eight chapters left. If that worries or upsets you, don't fret. If I can ever get going on the other story again, Lily, Mary Kate and everyone else will be returning in a longer story. For this chapter, though, I have a bit of a treat for you. At least I would think of it as such. Enjoy. :p
Disclaimer: I wouldn't be working at all if I owned Pirates of the Caribbean. But I have to work or I don't have any money at all so don't sue me. You wouldn't be getting anything from me anyway.
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Chapter 9The bed was moving. No, she was being moved. It was gentle, familiar. James wanted her to wake up, but she didn't want to. Not yet. Lily turned away and snuggled back into her pillow and covers. "Come now, Lass. None of that. It's time to get up."
That wasn't James' voice. It was Mister Jacob's.
Lily's eyes flew open and she sat up. She looked around, but her eyes wouldn't stay open. She rubbed them with the backs of her fists. That was better. She looked around again. It was too bright, much later than James usually woke her up.
Her eyes started burning and watering up. He hadn't left and forgotten to wake her, had he? "James?" she whimpered, crawling out of bed. She clutched her faithful little puppy tighter. Ink hadn't left her. He never left her, though James had talked her into leaving him behind a few times. Like when they went to that beach place with the moving water and sinky ground. She liked that place. It was nice eating on the ground.
"He's still here, Child," Mister Jacob said. "Cecil is helping him get ready, and they asked me to wake you and help you get ready today."
Lily's face scrunched in confusion. "Why isn't he at the fort?" He always went to the fort. It seemed very strange to her mind that he wouldn't be there now. As young as she was, she knew something was different. After those first two days, almost everything was the same every day.
"He will be going a bit later than usual today. He only has a few duties and it is also his turn for a day of rest. It is Sunday, though, so he has inspections that must be done."
"Inss-pec-ton?"
" 'Inspection.' He is to see that the sailors and soldiers have everything put away and looking nice at the fort and on any Naval ships that are in port."
"He will go to his boat?" That sounded interesting.
"Aye, for a little bit."
"Do you think he might let me see it?"
"He might. You'll just have to ask him. Come, now. Let's get you ready." He held out a hand for her, which she took, and led her over to the wardrobe that held her dresses. "Now, let's see. Which one will be suitable for today?"
"My favorite blue one?" she asked hopefully. It was the one that was most comfy.
"Not today, Lass. It isn't appropriate."
Confused, she watched as he looked through the dresses on the other side of the wardrobe. The ones with more lace. Why was he looking through those ones? He rummaged through them, occasionally pulling one out and holding it between them, but then he would shake his head and put it back.
Finally, he pulled out a dark blue one with white lace. It was a familiar shade of blue. "This one'll do the trick, I think," he said, nodding. He pulled some other things out of her drawer at the bottom and led her back toward the bed. Still sleepy, she leaned against the bed, resting her head on top of the mattress. "Ah, ah, ah," Mister Jacob tutted, tapping her back into a standing position. "You won't be going back to sleep today, Little Miss."
With a short whine of complaint, she allowed him to wash her face off with the water now kept by her bed at all times. It was too cold and the cloth wasn't as soft as when James did it. After he helped her with her other morning needs, he helped her get dressed. She had to keep hold of his shoulders or the bed so she wouldn't topple over when stepping into her pantaloons.
At last, all that was left was the dress itself. Fingering it, she found it to be smoother and softer than her other dresses. "It's different," she said, looking up at the older man.
"That's because it's silk."
"Silk?"
"Aye. In your case, the ones like this are only for special occasions. Like today."
"Today is special? Why?" she asked as he pulled the dress over her head.
He helped her thread her arms through her sleeves when they got caught. "Today is Sunday, Lily. James is taking you to church."
"What will we do there?"
He straightened out her underclothes so they weren't quite as uncomfortable and bunched up. "You will listen to a cleric speak about Jesus and His father."
"Who else will be there? Will you?"
"Aye, I'll be there. So will many others," he said as he began buttoning her dress.
"Where is it at?"
"It is near the fort so that off-duty soldiers may attend if they wish."
"Will Nathan be there, too?" she asked. She liked Nathan. He was always silly and made her laugh.
"I imagine he will be, but I can't be entirely certain. Don't you get upset if he isn't, though. He may have more duties than he usually does today. Understand?" he asked as he finished her buttons.
"I understand." She wondered what they would do at that church place. She didn't remember Papa ever saying anything about church, and she didn't really remember all that much about Momma. She hadn't been around for so long that a lot of the things she did remember were going away.
"Why don't you go sit in your chair and wait for James to come get you?" Mister Jacob said, gently guiding her away from the bed.
Though he hadn't yet, Lily scrambled to do as she was told before he could get mad. Papa got upset with her a lot, and when he got mad, she would hurt. From her chair, she watched Mister Jacob make the bed. She watched more woefully as the comfy way the pillows and the blankets sat were smoothed away.
Now she would have to try and get that comfy-ness back.
She gazed longingly at the small box Mister Jacob had brought in a few days ago, as well as the small table by her bed. Her toys were in the box and her boat was on her table. She wished she could get something, but she had been told to sit, and sit she would. She wondered why James was taking so long.
Lily squirmed a bit and began kicking her feet, then leaned back the rest of the way. She could almost lie down. She twisted sideways a bit and curled up. She could almost fit perfectly. Lily wiggled around until she felt more comfy. It wasn't as good as her bed, but it would have to do.
"Lily, you need to wake up. You'll wrinkle your dress." Lily opened her eyes at the touch to her shoulder and the sound of James' voice. With his help, she uncurled herself and got out of the chair. He steadied her when rubbing her eyes and stretching her legs made her sway.
She opened her eyes again and looked at him. "You're different." His clothes were fancier than usual. Today must really be special.
"I am. This is my dress uniform."
"We match, too!" she said, showing him her skirt color.
"We do, indeed." He smiled. She liked his smiles. They made her feel happy. "Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast?"
"Yes, please." She reached up and grabbed hold of his hand. It always helped her feel better and safer. "What do you do today?"
"I will look things over on the Dauntless and make certain things are where they should be. I will do the same at the fort. Then, I will meet you, Jacob and Cecil at the church."
"Oh," she said, dejected. She had hoped to get to look at his boat.
He knelt beside her, which helped to make her feel not so little and touched her shoulder. "Lily? What is it? It's all right. You can tell me."
She looked down slightly, suddenly feeling shy. "Can I see your boat?" she asked quietly.
James was quiet for a long time and it scared her that maybe she had said something that made him mad. She sneaked a peek at him. "We will see, Lily. Now, let us go downstairs and eat."
She nodded and took his hand again. He walked at a pace she could easily follow. She liked that about him, too. Papa had always walked at a pace that she had to run a lot so she could keep up with him. James also waited for her as she carefully went down the steps. "What did Mister Jacob make?"
"I don't know. We will just have to wait and see." He answered as they stepped down from the last step.
"Will it be good?"
"Do you think the rest of what he prepares is good?"
Lily thought about it. So far, he only made lots of her favorite foods. "Mmhmm."
"Then you have your answer."
"So it will be good?" she asked, looking up at him.
James laughed. "Yes, I suspect it shall taste very good."
Lily smiled and started running toward the kitchen. She was very hungry now. She was confused, though, when James directed her to the room they ate dinner in. Why didn't they just eat in the kitchen like they always did? She supposed it was because today was a special day. "Why are we eating in here? Is it because today is special?"
"It is, Lass," Mister Jacob said as he came in with two plates.
Lily let go of James' hand and ran over to the side of the table. Grasping the edge with the hand that didn't have Ink in it, she pulled herself up on tiptoes to try and see the top. "What is it?" she asked the cook.
James lifted her from behind and swung her up into her special taller chair. Mister Jacob put a plate in front of her, but Mister Cecil got in her way by tying a large cloth around her neck. They hadn't ever done that before either. She pulled on it, trying to get it off again, but it wasn't going to come off easy. "Leave it be, Miss. It is there to keep your dress clean," Mister Cecil said.
So far, special days sounded like trouble.
She looked at her plate again and found something very different than what she had eaten so far. There was yellow lumpy looking stuff, some brown finger-like things, and the only thing she recognized was the warm, crunchy bread.
She saw James bow his head and she mimicked him while he thanked Jesus for their food and asked for something called a blessing. When he finished, she reached for her spoon. The yellow stuff looked like it could be good. She had never seen anything like it before.
It didn't have much taste to it. She looked over at James. He had the same things, and was eating some of his finger things. Maybe that would taste better. She took a little nibble, but spit it back out as quick as she could and tried to pull the taste of it out of her mouth with her fingers. It was very icky. Why would James eat something like that? She grabbed the bread she knew would taste good and ate it instead.
James was very quiet this morning, but she didn't know why. Maybe he was still sleepy. She poked at the yellow stuff with her spoon, watching it wiggle a little. The finger things just rolled away from her spoon. They must know they don't taste good and helped her by rolling away.
"Stop playing and eat your breakfast, Lily," James said.
Lily looked balefully at her food. It was the first thing Mister Jacob made that she didn't like. She didn't want to eat it, but James must not see that. She pushed it around some more. "Lily," James said again. She looked at her food, then back at James. He sounded like he might be getting mad.
Lily sighed and tried some more of the yellow stuff. It was getting cold now, and tasted worse than before. She continued forcing it down, though, so she wouldn't have to see if James would be like Papa. She just wished it tasted better. On her fifth bite, however, she could stand no more. It was just too yucky. It was better for watching it wiggle and she wouldn't touch those other things.
"Lily, do you not want your eggs and sausage?" James asked.
Lily scrunched her nose and shook her head. "I don't like them."
"Are you certain? You will not get anything else until lunch later today."
She looked at the food again. Her tummy hurt just thinking about having to eat more. Her nose scrunched again and she pushed her plate away. Even the smell was getting icky. "They're icky," she told him. James laughed a little. Lily folded her arms on the table in front of her and lay her head down.
"Sit up, Lily. You shouldn't lie down at the table." Lily sighed and did as she was told. So far, this special Sunday thing wasn't fun. She wanted to go back to bed like she did before.
James was also acting differently. He was acting grumpy. Papa always hit her when he was grumpy, and he was grumpy almost all the time. She hoped James didn't get like Papa. He had been nice so far, even if he was sad a lot. Papa was never sad. Just mad and grumpy. She thought she remembered Momma being sad, though. Especially when she looked down at her.
She waited quietly for James to finish, wondering what the day would be like. She already knew it would probably be bad. Even though her dress matched James' uniform, the lace itched her arms and neck. The way Mister Jacob acted, she also knew she wouldn't get to change no matter how much she wanted her other dresses.
Finally, the itching became too much for her and she scratched. She scratched her arms and neck and anywhere else seams poked. "Lily," James admonished. Lily stopped and sighed again. No, she thought, today will not be fun. She plopped her chin in her hand and propped her elbow on the arm of the chair and began kicking its legs with her heels.
She stopped when James' head started turning towards her.
He was very grumpy. Maybe there was something he didn't want to do today, and that was why he kept telling her not to do things. She scooted over to the other side of her chair and pillowed her head with her arm on the armrest. She traced some of the carvings on the chair with her finger.
She wished today was like all the other days. Then James would be happier and she wouldn't be bored and sleepy and wearing this dress with its itchy lace. She wondered what made him sad. That 'Lizabeth lady made him seem sad and not comfy when she had to get new shoes. Maybe he had to see her again today.
A hand touched her shoulder. "Lily!" She looked to the side to find James crouched beside her chair. He looked worried and that cloth was gone from her neck. "What is it, Lily? What is wrong?"
As best she could, Lily stood up in her chair and reached for James. He stood and gathered her into his arms. It was here she felt the safest; when she could latch onto him as tight as he did her. She snuggled closer, finding that perfectly comfy spot on his shoulder. "Why are you sad?" she asked.
He jumped a bit, then hugged her a little tighter. "I don't know, Lily." He sounded sadder, then, but something told her he did know why. "I don't know, but you help me feel better."
She raised her head. "I do? How?"
"By simply being you and being here." Lily smiled and snuggled back against him. He started walking toward the front door. When he reached it, she noticed he didn't get his sword. "You know, I think I will take you along for inspections. You'll do exactly as I tell you, though, with no questions. Understand?"
Lily was very excited that she would get to see his boat, but knew from Papa that when someone tells you to do something, even if you didn't understand or like it, you do it. She nodded her obedience. "Where will Nathan be?"
"He is aboard the Dauntless at the moment, but I believe he will accompany us to the church." He put his hat on. It was different too. It had some pretty, white feathers on it. "Lily and I will meet you at the church in the same spot as usual."
"Aye, Lad. Enjoy yourself, Lass," Mister Jacob said.
"Behave, Miss Lily," Mister Cecil said.
"Goo'bye, Mister Jacob and Mister Cecil." She watched everything around them as James carried her down to the docks. There were only a few people out, and that suited her just fine. She didn't like very many people.
Once they reached the docks, Lily looked around for the right boat. James had picked the toy that looked like it, so she tried to find the one that looked like hers. She didn't see it by any docks, so she looked farther out. She finally saw it. It was the farthest one away. "Is that it?" she asked, pointing toward the mouth of the bay.
"It is."
Lily looked around. It wasn't anywhere near any docks. "How do we get there?" She was very confused. How were they supposed to get on it?
"We will take that boat there at the end of the dock. Those sailors will row us out." Lily nodded, trying to see the boat he talked about. She didn't see it until they got to the sailors. Mister Stone was there too. She had some doubts, but James didn't look scared. He mimicked their salutes. "Good morning, Gentlemen."
"Good morning, Commodore," Stone said.
"Lily, I need you to go to Lieutenant Stone while I get in the boat. Will you do that for me?"
She nodded and allowed Mister Stone to hold her. She clutched Ink closer and tighter, wishing James had asked her to leave him behind. She didn't want to drop him in the water. She gripped Mister Stone's shoulder as tightly as she could, too, so she wouldn't fall in either. She watched James get in the boat. It wobbled in the water and she didn't know if she wanted to go anymore or not.
James turned toward her, then. "Are you ready, Lily?" She looked at the water below fearfully and tried to figure out how to free her other hand and keep hold of Ink at the same time. She put his ear in her mouth and clamped it shut as tightly as she could. She nodded, trying to look braver than she was and reached for him with both hands. "We won't let you fall. See?" he asked. Mister Stone kept a good grip on her, and then James had her, too.
The boat wobbled again, and she clung to James as tightly as her arms and legs would allow. "I've got you, Lily. It's all right," James said, making her better. He sat down and she hid her face at his neck. She breathed in powder, though, and sneezed. She didn't like that hair very much. She buried her head into his shoulder as the boat began to move. "It's safe, Lily. Why don't you look around?"
She did, though cautiously. It was a little like Captain Henderson's boat, but much smaller and not as smooth. She twisted around, keeping her grip on James solid and watched his boat get bigger. There wasn't a ramp and she didn't know how they would get up there. "It's very big," she said. And it just kept getting bigger.
Several hours later, Lily sat between James and Nathan on a long, wooden bench with other people all around them. A man was talking about Jesus like Mister Jacob said, but Lily was bored and sleepy. That man just made her more sleepy, and her eyes were drooping again. Before she knew it, James was pushing her back upright with his elbow. By that, she knew she had fallen asleep again. She didn't know why she couldn't sleep. Mister Mullroy was sleeping in front of them. She could even hear him snoring a little.
Nathan reached up and flicked the back of his ear.
Mister Mullroy jumped and Lily guessed that maybe sleeping here was a very bad thing. Her legs were starting to hurt, though, so she pulled them up in front of her. "Lily," James whispered. He pushed her legs back down and straightened her skirts again. She looked up at him, but he was looking at that boring man that kept talking again.
She started feeling sleepy again, so she poofed her cheeks with air and started poking them. James stopped that too. She sighed and leaned back. She craned her neck trying to see around. There was a lot of people with silly-looking hair. Men had curly hair almost longer than her own. She saw Mary Kate, though, and waved when the nice lady looked at her.
James' head turning caught her attention, though, and his stern look made her sigh and sit back again. He had been much nicer on the boat and at the fort. She had been scared to climb up and down the side of his boat, so he had climbed right behind her and kept her from falling off. The boat was much bigger than Henderson's and she liked seeing where things were.
At the fort, James was the same as all the other days. All the men she saw had different clothes, too. She wondered why Sunday was so special. All she had seen were stiffer clothes, cleaner rooms and nicer things. And everyone lined up and James looked at everything.
He changed when they got to the church, though. Everyone did. She didn't like it. She was also getting very sleepy again. It was getting closer to her second naptime, and she still hadn't had her first one, yet. Her legs hurt, too. She wondered if James would get too mad if she moved them again.
She slid to the floor and started walking toward James, her legs finally feeling better already. "Lily!" he hissed quietly. She froze. He had never used that kind of tone with her before. She knew it well, though. Papa used it a lot. "Sit back down."
He was mad now. She knew it. She scrambled back onto the hard bench before he could hit her like Papa always did and dropped her gaze to her hands, which she folded in her lap. She didn't see his concern and the pained and worried look that crossed his face or the questioning look he sent to Nathan. She also didn't see the confused look Nathan returned with a slight shake of his head.
Lily kept absolutely still like Papa always wanted, not daring to look up, and waited for her punishment. She jumped when a hand grasped her shoulder. "Lily?" James asked her. She tensed, waiting for what punishment he would give her with a board-like rigidity she couldn't help. She was terrified of what he might do. She didn't want to know; yet she wanted to just get it over with. He had been so nice before, though…
"Lily-bit?" Nathan asked. Lily didn't say anything, afraid that James would get mad at that, too. James hadn't let go of her, yet. She hoped he wouldn't use a belt like Papa did that one time. When Papa got done, her back had hurt really, really bad and she had had to stay with Emmie for a very long time. She hadn't been able to wear anything, then, except bandages. She hadn't even been able to move without it hurting, either, and the thought that it might happen again made her start trembling.
"Lily? Lily, say something," James whispered. She couldn't tell if he was mad, but she knew he had to be.
She whimpered when he picked her up and started walking outside. She knew, now, that he was very mad and now he would be just like Papa. She kept as stiff as she could, but it was harder when she started shaking even worse the further they got from Nathan. Her back even started to hurt again a little and she squeezed her eyes shut. They started burning too.
Sunlight hit her face and she heard the door shut. James set her down and she stiffened and shook even more. "Lily? Lily, please. What's wrong?"
He sounded sad, so she risked peeking her eyes open. They instantly welled and overflowed with tears, though, and she couldn't see anything. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to. Honest. I'm really, really sorry."
"Lily, you've no need to apologize. Not now." His voice cracked a bit, but she didn't notice. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be bad." She couldn't get her voice above a whisper. "I'm sorry, James. I won't do it again, I promise. Please don't hit me with a belt."
A painful sob slipped from her surprise when he grabbed her shoulders. Papa didn't like her to cry, but she couldn't help it now. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop. She tried to get her arm to her mouth to help get quiet, but James didn't let her. Instead, he hugged her tight. "Shh. It's all right, Lily." He started rocking her back and forth and she finally realized he wasn't mad. "Shh." Then he started rubbing her back, so she grabbed hold of his vest and buried her face into his chest and cried. He wouldn't hit her. He wasn't like Papa after all.
Though he hugged her very tight and she felt hidden and mostly safe from the world, she didn't quite feel completely safe. Ink was still in the floor where she dropped him inside, too. She didn't know if he could help all that much, though. She wished James was her Papa. He was a lot nicer. She pulled her other thumb into her mouth. That was what was missing. It had always made her feel extra safe after a bad scare or punishment before, and now it was even better when James hugged her like this.
When she calmed down a lot, James stood up, taking her with him, to go back inside. She was still hiccupping, and she didn't like hiccups, but they didn't hurt. He sat back down by Nathan and smoothed her hair. That helped her feel better, too. He also let her stay in his lap this time. She wouldn't have let go of him anyway. Nathan touched her shoulder and rubbed her arm a little. He looked worried. Lily just snuggled closer to James and rubbed her cheek against his uniform. He started rubbing her back again.
She wanted to go home.
That boring man finally stopped talking and it looked like she would finally get to do what she wanted. She didn't move, though, except to hold tighter to James. When he stood, Nathan passed Ink back to her, and she lifted her arm so she could clamp it down and hold on to her puppy. James picked up his hat too. He left the building and from her comfy spot, she could see Mary Kate walking toward them. She looked worried too. Nathan was still beside them.
"Commodore Norrington!"
James began turning toward the new voice. No! She just wanted to go home. Didn't they know that? "Governor Swann. When did you return?" This new man was one of those with the silly hair.
"Last night, actually. I declare, if I have to deal with those two men one more time, I'll hand their properties over to…to Sparrow if I need to."
"Commodore," a young couple greeted when James turned toward them a bit. That 'Lizabeth lady was one of them. Lily glared at them all. They were keeping her James from taking her home.
"Mister and Mistress Turner," James said.
"And who is this lovely little lady?" the silly-haired man asked. The other man by that 'Lizabeth lady was looking at her and James with a odd look. She glared harder at him. He also had hair on his face that she didn't like.
"This is Lily," James answered. "She is staying with me."
Silly-hair moved closer and smiled. He was older like Mister Jacob and seemed nice so far. "That is a very beautiful puppy, Lily. Does he have a name?"
Lily looked at him curiously, then glanced up at James. He gave her a slight smile, encouraging her. "Ink," she told him without removing her thumb.
"That is a very fitting name. Very beautiful, indeed." Lily turned her head and rubbed her other cheek against James' shoulder. "Commodore, I wonder if you and Lily might join us for lunch this afternoon." Lily's eyes drooped, then slid shut as her ears latched on to a familiar rhythm.
"I would, but Lily just had a bit of an upset. Perhaps…be better…I host…" His voice and everything else around her faded away except the steady, comforting beat of his heart.
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Author's Responses:
Cheska, TheHollister, Eledhwen, tink, InaraSerra – Thank you :) I'm glad you're enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it.
Erusuiel – I'm more than happy to provide amusement of some sort. Even if it's just in my disclaimers.. :p And thank you for the lovely comments! :D
Sallie – Jack is funny and I like his character as much as Norrington and Gillette, but I just don't feel I could really write him that well. I'm also not sure if he would fit into this story that well. Don't worry though, you'll be able to see Lily's opinion on such people either in this or the other story.
uniks – Again, I'm just not certain I could write him well. I may attempt to write him, but then I might not. It mostly depends on what the characters want to happen in this story. They've been the ones determining that anyway. If that makes sense.
noboddyinparticular – It may have seemed to fade a bit, but please be patient. I'm trying to show that Lily has good days as well as bad, and for her, that was a good day.
Thank you to everyone else that is reading, but lurking. I am glad you find this story worthwhile and continue to read it.
I'll return next Saturday with the next chapter.
Take care, and for those that apply, have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Seaweed