A/N: Everyone, I am so sorry for my absence, I have been horrendously busy with life and what not. So, making it up to you, here's Thursday. There isn't going to be anything beyond complete cute mushy stuff in this one. To show a bit of the intimate romantic side of Will and Liz' relationship without the steam on the side. Again, sorry for making you all wait so long.
By the way, everything in italics, just like the other chapters, is a memory. I took someone's advice about bringing in memories of them as children, so here you go.
Thursday
Elizabeth smiled gently as children ran past her skirt, their chatter and laughter reminding her of how wonderful life was from the view of a child. The sky seemed bluer and the grass greener, the sun warmer and the days shorter. Her hair hung loose on her shoulders, earning her several disapproving glances from those about her; mostly women talking with the merchants as they shook their heads and went about their business.
She wore a light dress, nothing as cumbersome as those she was accustomed to. The simple white flowing material was none the less enchanting however, and she still managed to turn several heads as she made her way from the town and out to the beach, her shoes coming off quickly as she waded through the waves and enjoyed the cool feeling of the water rushing about her feet and calves. Moving out of the water, she sat down in the sand; the grains clinging to her wet skin as she brought her knees up under her chin and closed her eyes against the warm sun on her flushed cheeks.
A small smiled graced her features as her mind flew back to the sunny days she and Will had spent as children in the sandy surf of this very shore.
"Miss. Swann, I promised your father that I would watch over you while he is away, and I intend to do just that. Come out of the water before something happens." Young William Turner ordered, standing at the waters edge and holding the intricate dress in his hands. 'For a boy of naught but 16, he was terribly mature.' Elizabeth thought.
"I will not Mr. Turner. I intend to enjoy this time while father is away, and I am going to do nothing less. If I wish to go for a swim, then I shall."
"Please, Miss. Swann, I will be in a terrible amount of trouble if someone sees you swimming in the ocean in nothing but your under dress; I dare say I've seen too much already." He averted his eyes back down to the sweet smelling and incredibly warm outfit in his hands.
"Then you can go back. I'll say I came here of my own volition."
"Yes, you did." His voice squeaked out as he attempted to keep his anger at bay. "I am quick growing tired of this Miss. Swann, get out of the water. It was hard enough trying to find you this morning, do not make me come in there to carry you out." He threatened, his dark eyes glinting as the rays of the sun bounced off of the shining water, causing him to squint.
"Oh yes, well I'd like to see that." She grumbled as she stood waist deep in the churning salt water, beads dripping from her soaked hair and down her cheeks and shoulders, soaking the material completely as it clung to her still shaping figure.
With an angry sigh he tossed the gown to the ground and began to unbutton his vest.
"What on earth are you doing?" Elizabeth's voice was shocked as she watched the young blacksmith apprentice remove his vest and shirt, the sun bouncing off of his tanned skin. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the forming muscles of his shoulders and arms. 'Probably from swinging a hammer for endless hours every day…' she thought as she turned her back to him.
"William Turner, that is highly improper. Put your clothes back on right now." She ordered, crossing her arms over her chest as she kept herself from looking back at the young man.
"Well, there's no sense in me getting my vest and shirt wet attempting to fish you out from the ocean. They'll be perfectly safe on the beach with your gown. I'm calling your bluff, Elizabeth Swann, if you don't want me to come to you; I suggest that you come to me." He stood after removing his boots and socks, looking out at her with his arms akimbo as his eyes were drawn to the intricate designs the criss-crossed lacings made over her alabaster skin.
"I'm giving you 'till the count of three."
"I am not a child, Mr. Turner. You're more that free to go back to your business for I did not ask for your protection." She snarled, tossing her hair over her shoulder and sticking her pert nose into the air.
"One….."
"You impudent young scamp!"
"Two….." he began taking small steps into the wake of the waves, an ominous look to his face, set with pure determination and a touch of mischief.
"You wouldn't dare….."
"Come now, this is your last chance. You will not enjoy it if I have to come in there and retrieve you." He warned, the water slowly getting higher and higher over his legs, touching the ends of his trousers as he strode toward the stubborn Englishwoman.
"I am the Governor's daughter; there is nothing you can say that will make me bend to your wishes. You, however, are required to do as I bid, and I am telling you to leave- me- be." She ground out, turning to face him with an indignant look sparking her haughty features.
"You were warned." Will shrugged, forcing himself onward through the torrent of waves as he reached where she was standing. With a slight grunt from his lips and a surprised cry from Elizabeth, he tossed her over his shoulder and began the trek back to the beach.
"William Turner! Put me down!" She shouted, her small hands pummeling his shoulders and back as he easily walked from the waves to the sandy shoreline.
"As you wish; your majesty." He grinned, immediately releasing her from his grasp as she fell with an undignified thud into the sun warmed sand. He flopped down next to her, the sand sticking to his back and arms as he turned his head to look over at her.
"Why do you so delight in tormenting those around you?"
"Well, I have learned from the best, apprentice." She snarled and jumped up to lift the heavy dress into her arms. Struggling into it with words Will hadn't thought an angel capable of saying; she managed to slide her wet body into the heavy fabric..
"You know… you're going to need someone to lace that up for you." He rose, pulling his shirt over his head and slipping back into his vest, buttoning the large silver knobs into place prior to looking over at her.
"Just let me alone, Will." She ordered, desperately trying to pull the laces closed, but failing miserably.
With a huff he walked up to her and snatched the ties from her fingers, making short work of them as she turned to him with a frown.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. You know…I really don't know why I put up with you, Miss. Swann. It would have been much easier to let you be eaten by those sharks out there." Will smiled, two large dimples showing at the edges of his mouth as he began walking back toward the city.
"Sharks?" Elizabeth squeaked as she immediately scanned the waters with wide light brown eyes. "William, wait!" She yelled, jogging up and grabbing his arm. "Were you serious back there?"
"Serious? Of course. I mean, why do I put up with you?"
"No, about…about the sharks."
"The sea is full of them, Miss Swann. If there really was a threat of a shark, would I have walked the entire way to your side?"
She pulled him to a stop, a curiosity filling her eye, seeming to make them turn a shade darker.
"You would have come? Even if there were sharks?"
"Sharks aren't the things I should fear if your father comes home to find his pride and joy eaten by a beast from the sea. Would they?" He jested, a slight blush rising to his cheeks as he began his slow walk in attempts to change the subject.
"That would be a very brave thing, William; facing a shark to see that I was safe." She spoke quietly, looping her arm through his.
"Well, you're my best friend Miss. Swann. I have to make sure you stay that way." He smiled down at her as he escorted her home, keeping a hold of her arm throughout the entire journey.
"Elizabeth Ellen Swann! My goodness young lady, you look a fright!" The nanny called as she walked with brisk steps toward the two sopping wet teens walking up the drive. "Get inside before you catch a cold, you're just in time for lunch. I shall make you some hot soup."
"This is where I say farewell…as usual." Will smiled, nodding his head in her direction as the maid tossed them both a disapproving scowl.
"Will, would you come eat lunch with us. I mean…I put you through so much today already…if you weren't there who knows what would have happened with those sharks?" she called, hearing the gasp from her appointed nanny as she turned shocked blue eyes to the smithy apprentice.
"It was nothing, Miss. Swann. Merely keeping an eye on a good friend. I must decline; I have taken off far too many afternoons rescuing damsels in distress. Mr. Brown will be wondering where I have gotten off too. Perhaps another time. Good afternoon ladies." He winked before turning back and heading down the drive and onto the main road.
Drifting back, Elizabeth felt a slight chill as the sun set lower in the sky, bathing it with orange and red light. The reflection off of the water was entrancing, and she found herself unable to look away. How different she had been before her marriage to William. She had changed over these months; the most notable being the change of her views. A suggested marriage to a working class young man five years ago would have had her laughing at the messenger outright; but here she was, five years later with a lasting relationship to her husband of six or so months, the town's local blacksmith to be precise. To him she owed her newly formed state of mind, heart and soul.
"A penny for your thoughts, love." His low soothing voice broke her concentration, making her slowly smile as she turned to look behind her, seeing the man of her contemplations leaning against the round trunk of a large palm tree. His arms were crossed over his wide chest and he returned her smile before making his way to her side and flopping down next to her.
"Overpriced at that…"
He frowned at her words as she turned her head back out to the ocean and heaved a sigh.
"Under priced if you are asking my opinion. I would willingly hand over my best sword for a chance to hear you speak my name. Or grace me with a glance from your beautiful eyes."
He reached out and ran his finger down her cheek to her jaw. Cupping her chin he turned her head to his as he moved, cradling her entire cheek in the palm of his hand as his thumb stroked idly over her delicate cheekbones.
"Tell me what is bothering you, Elizabeth."
"Just reminiscing about times past."
Will nodded in agreement as he turned, sitting much in the same style of his wife, though his arms looped around his knees with interlaced fingers to hold them in place.
"Pleasant thoughts I hope?"
She looked back over at him, resting her cheek against her knee.
"Why do you love me, Will?" She asked.
Her question caught him off guard, and a few loose curls whipped about with him as he looked at her with surprised eyes.
"Why do you ask?"
"I just want to know. For some reason I cannot see how anyone as noble as you could ever look at a Governor's daughter with more than the briefest of glances."
"I have never once seen you as the Governor's daughter Elizabeth. Of course, that was always your title, but a person is worth more than the title implies. Look at Jack for instance. You know your wealth and class has never mattered to me."
"I know…I just have yet to figure out why." She stated, moving closer to take solace in the heat his body offered. Without another thought he pulled her against him, his arm wrapping about her back and coming to rest against her stomach as he placed a loving kiss to her forehead.
"Your love."
"My what?" She asked, pulling away slightly to look up at him but not breach the circle of his arms.
"Your love. You hold so much love for me that it makes it nearly impossible for me to not love you. I…I've never had that before. I mean, before you became my wife. Oh, I have had plenty of women say that they love me, which I graciously yet fervently declined, but I have never once experienced anything so wonderful as waking up beside you each day and having you look at me with such….devotion. It breaks my heart each time I think of what may have happened all those months ago. That if I was too late all of this would have never existed, my dreams and hopes for the future dashed by the greed of a pirate seeking his treasure.
"The constant smiles that you save just for me each day when I return from the smith. Or the kiss I receive before I'm even greeted by morning's light. The fact that no man will ever know you like I do…that you belong to me and I to you."
Tears shone in her eyes as she looked up at him in adoration.
"That is why I love you, my wife. That is how I love you." He leaned forward, catching her lips with his, the kiss undemanding and unhurried. He savored the taste of his wife before pulling back.
"Let's go home. I believe that is enough reminiscing for one day." She laughed while standing and helping him up as he pulled her into a tight embrace. They stood together for what seemed like ages before pulling apart and sharing one more intimate kiss as they headed back toward the city, the sun setting behind the couple to mark the end of yet another day in their lives.
A/N: Friday coming soon! I promise! If anyone has any ideas….please let me know! I kinda running dry!
Jean