Chapter Thirty: Angel

Carrick slowly opened his eyes to find his room dark, and he was startled to see a woman in white sitting on the edge of his bed. The moon shining through the window gave him enough light to properly see her.

He heard her sigh and lean closer to him so that she was hovering right above him. He blinked; her face seemed so familiar and so strange at the same time.

The woman's long dark hair was draped over one of her shoulders, with thick strands framing her face. He smiled as he saw the deep brown eyes and slowly sat up and took her face in his hands.

He realized then that it was Alaina, because she shrank back and her eyes held an odd sort of fear. The fear he knew and felt. The fear of being loved.

"I won't hurt you," he promised in a whisper, gently kissing her lips.

Alaina looked at him and her fear slowly drifted away. He knew of her fears, and she of him, and she knew he was a man of his word.

They looked at one another for a moment, then Carrick kissed her again. And this time it wasn't so short, yet held the same tenderness and sincerity of the first. Carrick slowly pulled away and smiled at her.

"What?" she asked, afraid that he was about to make fun of her and her nonexistent kissing ability.

"It's just," he began, stroking her face. "When I first saw you, I thought you were some sort of angel."

Alaina began to laugh but he quickly put a finger to her lips. "I'm serious," he insisted, leaning in and kissing her forehead.

"Carrick, if my brothers walked in here they'd probably kill you," Alaina said, taking his hands off her face and grinning.

"Perhaps, but now I'm hungry," he told her, letting go of her hands and swinging his legs over the side of his bed.

"Carrick," she said, a little shocked.

"Hmm?" he asked, looking at her innocently.

"You're shirtless," she said in a low tone as a blush crept up her cheeks.

"Does that make you uncomfortable?" he asked teasingly, putting his face only centimeters from hers.

"Well, uh, no. Not really," she stuttered, looking away from him.

"Good, because I'm too lazy to put it back on."

"Mrs. Bates left us some remains of dinner in the kitchen," Alaina said, ignoring him as her stomach growled.

Carrick began to laugh as he stood up. "Would you be so kind as to show me where that is?" he asked.

She nodded and got up as well. They then made their way quietly down the dark hall and the stairs so not to wake the boys.

"It seems so different at night," Carrick remarked softly as they headed through the main hall. "So bleak, like someone died."

Alaina nodded gravely. Her mother had been the spirit of the house, and when she was murdered, the house seemed to become dark and dreary as well. As if it reflected their feelings.

"Well, I hope you're quite hungry because Mrs. Bates left just the two of us enough to feed four," she said with a forced laugh. She led him through the dining room and the swinging door to reveal two large plates, covered with another plate on top, but they could see it was full.

Carrick grinned and went over and lifted off the top plate. "Food," he said contentedly, taking in its delicious aroma.

Alaina smiled and motioned to the dining room as she got two forks, knives and spoons from a drawer, grabbed her own plate and headed after him.

***

Alaina quietly turned the knob to the boys' room and opened the door. Surely enough, she found them sound asleep on their beds. She smiled and slowly made her way into the room, picking up their clothes strewn on their floor, folding them and carefully setting them back in their large dresser.

Jack stirred and Alaina whirled around in surprise as he sat up in his bed and looked at her. "Mom?" he asked.

Alaina was at a loss for words but nevertheless walked over to him and gently laid him down again. "No," she said regretfully, pulling the covers over him and tenderly kissing his cheek.

Jack began to cry. "Why can't I remember her?"

Alaina's heart twitched in pain. She knew the twins were upset about not having any memories of their mother, and immediately felt selfish for not being grateful that she at least remembered her mother's face.

"I'm sorry," Alaina told him, sitting on the edge of his bed and wrapping him in her arms. "And I know that doesn't help you at all, but that's all I know to say right now," she apologized to him, kissing the top of her forehead.

"What was she like?" a small voice piped in, and Alaina looked over to see James looking at them curiously.

Alaina smiled and thought for a moment. "Well, she had dark brown hair," she began, seeing her mother's face in her mind, "with really brown eyes—like Dad's—and a smile that made you glad to be alive." Alaina's face softened as glimpses of time with her mother played through her mind.

"And she had this laugh that could set you to laughing." Alaina paused and closed her eyes as a tear went down her cheek. "And no matter what the situation, she always knew what to do." She looked her brothers each in the eye and said sincerely, "And she loved you both so much,"

James nodded. It felt odd though, being told that a person you couldn't remember loved you.

"In fact," Alaina said, looking at Jack and ruffling his hair. "I remember the night you two were born." Jack raised an eyebrow at her to continue. "She was so sick the few days afterwards, but she was always asking how you two were, if you were alright. She probably sent me to check on you a hundred times a day at least!" She paused. "And each time I came back she'd ask me to describe you two. Every single time, until dad finally took her to see you."

"What did she say?" James asked, sitting up in bed. "She took one look at you and burst out laughing. Then she kissed Dad and told me that I hadn't done you two justice."

Jack smiled and hugged his sister. He hadn't known that, and it made him feel better. Their mother had loved them more than if she could have all of her heart's desires.

"Now," Alaina said, letting go of him and tucking him in. "You two should sleep." She wiped away her tears.

James nodded and slid back down between his sheets. Alaina smiled and gave her brothers each a kiss on the forehead. "I love you," she told them each, turning to walk out.

"We love you too," they replied at the same time, closing their eyes.

Alaina looked back at them and knew that no matter what happened to them, they would always be the same two misfit pirates to her. "'Night," she whispered as she shut their door.

"'Night," she heard their mumbled reply.

"Goodnight Carrick," Alaina said down the hall.

"'Night Alaina," he called through his door.

Alaina gently touched her lips, remembering the kiss they shared. She bit her lower lip in glee and almost skipped to her own room, knowing that tomorrow would come and she wouldn't have to face it alone.

***

A/N: Okay that's it for this story. Yes I'm done, done, done, done, done. The rest is up for your imagination to concoct. Not really.

And as wonderful people you all are, and cause I'm in such a good mood tonight I will give you a brief synopsis of what will go on later.

In my next few chapters of Will, he'll have to deal with all his emotions towards his family, crew, Captain Partuse, Alex and of course, our favorite pirate captain.*drumroll* Cap'n Sparrow!!!

The next few chappies will prolly be about Alaina and the Cap'n. You know, how they feel about one another.

And how the boys (Jack and James) and Carrick feel about each other (NO SLASH) and their situation. (Stuck in Port Royale)

Yeah so that's it. Later days! No wait. I'm missing something. Oh yeah! *smacks forehead*

I'm currently revising a ton of my chapters since I don't like them much; I'm just adding and making stuff more descriptive. But just thought you should know!! And give thanks for my editor Erin, who is a god among men. She really is.