Chapter Seven: Yours Forever

James shifted in his bed and looked over at his sleeping brother. 'He could sleep through a cannon going off,' he thought with a sigh, admiring the way his brother didn't let the trials of life affect his sleep.

James wasn't tired; he was confused. He had heard Alaina scream and her cries; he heard them so often now that they seemed to just become another part of the night. But he had no clue why. Often he wondered if it was because of their mother's death.

Even though he had been only four when she'd died he still felt a void whenever they were together. He knew the rest of them did too. But he couldn't remember his mother's face; sometimes he'd see her in his dreams but wake up to only forget it.

He had no true memory of her. Though sometimes when Alaina sang their mother's song, he could almost remember her voice. But then he'd forget again.

Silently he cursed God, knowing that it was him that allowed her to be taken away. That he was the one that made his family almost break.

A tear slipped down his cheek as he threw off the covers and sat up. He needed to talk to someone.

Getting up, he wandered out into the hall. He wasn't sure if he should talk to Alaina or his father. Both were worn out, he was almost certain of it, and probably wouldn't want to talk about her.

But he needed to ask these things; he wanted to know about her now. James didn't know why he suddenly had a fascination with her. Maybe it was because he never got the chance to know her.

With a quick decision he quietly went down the stairs and headed for his father's office. He stopped and looked at the closed door for a moment before gripping the doorknob.

Slowly he opened the door and peered inside. The moonlight illuminated through the lace curtains, giving the room a beautiful but eerie atmosphere. To him, his mother's presence was strongest in this room. She had spent so much time working in here to make it perfect for his father. From the ocean blue walls, to the extravagant oak desk, to the books she'd done all by herself.

He walked into the room, allowing his hands to brush against the top of the chair that he passed by. He headed for the bookshelves that sat on each side of the large fireplace.

As he walked past his father's desk he noticed a sheet of paper that sat on the middle of the clear space.

Curiously he picked it up and a chill suddenly went up his spine, giving him goose bumps. The moonlight was bright enough by the large window for him to read it:



Will,

I hope this chess set reminds you always of our first year spent together as husband and wife. Of all the nights we have and will spend together. And hopefully of all the times I will have beaten you.

I also hope that this will remind you of me and my love for you when I am gone. I love you William Turner, and will to the end of my life. Merry Christmas.

Yours forever,

Elizabeth



James wiped away the tears that ran down his face and set the letter back down. Fresh tears began to form in his eyes, as he was slightly able to grasp the pain that his father felt every day when he woke up alone in his bed.

He suddenly felt a calming presence envelope him and he closed his eyes. He wished his father could feel this peace; this wonderful peace that he felt called out his name and was healing his heart. But just as soon as it had arrived it was gone. Yet the memory of it stayed with him as he trudged back up the stairs. Only when he got to the top, he didn't go back to his room; instead he went to his father's.

Quietly opening it, he saw his father lying on the bed. Opening the door just a little more, he crept through and made his way to the bed.

Gently getting on the mattress, he curled up close to the sleeping form of his father. James lay there for a moment before he felt the arms of his father around him. Almost immediately James closed his eyes. It didn't embarrass him for one moment that he was sleeping with his father. His father needed someone with him to help and James was glad to.

'After all,' he thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep, 'I still am a child.'

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