Chapter Six

Will stretched out languidly, squeezing his eyes shut and trying desperately to retain his hold on his dream. It had been luscious and beautiful, and he felt warm to the bone, but even now, he couldn't quite grasp what the dream had been about, or even who had been in the dream. It was a woman, that much he knew, and she made him smile at some elusive remembrance, but again, he hadn't a clue why, and he couldn't see her no matter how hard he looked. He dragged a hand through his hair and curled up on his side, burrowing further into the downy pillows, until he felt the prickling of skin that accompanies being watched. It was comforting, rather than alarming however, and as he breathed deeply he remembered where he was, whom he was with. He pried open one eye and grinned over at his father, who sat perched on the corner of the bed. "Morning Da."

Bill reached out a hand and ran it over William's hair, to reassure himself his son was really there. "It be evening William."

Will grinned. "Aye, that it would be." He sniffed deeply again and his stomach gave a hollow growl. "What is that that smells so delicious?"

"Vegetable an' goat stew with some freshly baked bread." Bill grinned in response to the smile on his son's face and the groan that erupted from his stomach, "One of me best dishes I might add."

Will nodded, feeling his throat clench with emotion. "The same recipe you used to make when I was a boy?"

Bill's face lit up, "Ye remember! Yes it be tha same. The one yer mother used to pick fresh herbs for."

Will nodded. "Of course I remember. I remember everything about you. Or at least, I tried to remember. The years have stolen far too many memories of you and mother."

The smile dropped from Bill's face. "Ye can't know how sorry I be. I miss yer mother no end. For a few years after the mutiny I railed at the fact that I be stuck on this Island, but this was the only place I be safe from Barbossa. Tha evil blaggard deserved tha curse an' for him ta stay under I had to stay here and I couldn't in all conscience bring ye ta his notice."

Will sighed wistfully. "I understand father. Even as much as I wish it might have been different. She loved you, you know. Till her dying day you were always right there with her. Even after years of her friends and family encouraging her to move on, assuring her that you were dead, all she could say was that even if you were, she could never move on from a love like that."

"Does it surprise ye ta know that I feel the same? I will never wed again. I would never find anyone who could compare ta yer mother so I won't bother trying."

Will shook his head and smiled softly. "I would be surprised if you said you could. I must admit that I always longed to emulate the kind of love that you felt for mother, longed to feel that way for someone. Too bad it led me to fall for the one woman that didn't deserve it, and tossed it away like dirty bath water. Without a second thought."

"Yer mother was a different kind of women. Not as spirited, more gentle and loving. Yer Elizabeth has a restless spirit. Give her time an' she will see what she has."

Will shook his head vehemently. "Never. Even if she were to come around like that, I would never trust her again. She would even now be consummating her 'love' for Jack, if she had her way. I've waited my entire life for her, but none of it was enough. i I /i was not enough. I bought into the idea of her loving me, but she only loved what she thought I had become... a pirate."

Bill snorted, "Jack would never give inta a woman like Elizabeth. Ta many complications. If it be true that Elizabeth was not tha one for yer heart and soul then it will not be long before ye find that one tha is Will. Just be patient and don't close yer heart off ta the possibilities." He gently slapped William's leg. "Now come, it is time ta eat and ye be hungry. If yer stomach is any indication."

Will smiled weakly. "Okay father." He stood, allowing the man to end their maudlin conversation. He was only too eager. Talking of Elizabeth had very nearly ruined his appetite. Thoughts of Ruby, in the midst of the same discussion, threatened to finish the job.

Bill raised an eyebrow. "Father? Isn't tha a wee bit formal William? Wha happened ta Da?"

Will grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, bit out of practice I suppose."

Bill chuckled and handed his son some freshly laundered clothing. "While I am serving up dinner would you be so good as to head to the Tavern and bring Lorelei home...and tha miscreant Jack if he can walk."

Will scowled and gripped the clothes tightly in his hand. "If that's your wish."

"It takes me ta long ta get around on this wooden leg or I would do it myself. But dinner would be cold by tha time I got there."

"Lore... Ruby didn't act like she relished the idea of dining with us. Well... with me."

"She may not have looked like she didn't but she will. Biologically or not I be still her father."

"I kept telling her that, but she kept on about how I needed time with you and had more right. I got the distinct impression that she believes I will supersede her in your affections."

Bill sighed, "Just bring her home William. She an' I will talk later on."

Will nodded. "I will do my best. She truly dislikes me, though I cannot say quite why."

Bill shrugged, "She may have taken something that ye said wrong, or something ye did. Was there anything that could hurt her?"

Will blushed to the tips of his hair. "We... fought... over various things... several times. But I tried to assure her that you were as much her father as mine, if not more so. I simply don't know how to even begin to understand that woman."

Bill narrowed his eyes as he examined his son flushed face. "I see, was this fight over something...ahem personal in nature?"

Will shrugged and nodded simultaneously. "She took offence to being treated as a lady."

"I don't mean to pry but...there are some circumstances where yer are to far along and cessation at that point can be...hurtful and embarrassing...was it something like tha?"

Will's eyes narrowed and he blushed an even deeper shade of crimson. "How could you know that?"

"It be a good guess. Lorelei would never have had this great a reaction to ye unless ye wounded her pride or confidence in some way. If she hadn't liked ye she would have ignored ye."

Will sighed. "It never should have gotten that far. I've... never... and she deserves better than some random one night stand with someone who's heart isn't in it."

"Ye're right she does. Much more than that but ye also need to take into account that she is a very independent woman who knows her own mind and what she wants and doesn't want. In that fierce mind she now has the impression that ye've rejected her and if I know Little Ruby right, it is because she thinks ye think that she is just a grubby little pirate." Bill gave an ironic smile, "She knows exactly what ye think of us. Jack told us."

"I wish Jack knew when to keep his bloody mouth shut. I felt that way at first, but much happened after he and I had our conversation. I fought along side him, and realised that it was in fact possible to be a pirate, and still be a good man. It is still not the path I would choose, I prefer to make my living through hard work and without stealing from others, but I do not look down my nose on pirates. I risked everything to save his life, that should be proof enough that my feelings had changed."

Bill hooked his arm around his son's shoulder. "But that is not the impression ye would have given Lorelei."

"We'll not go into the impressions Lorelei made upon me. I tried only to be honourable, I even tried to explain. She spent the entire trip trying to make me look like a pathetic young virgin male that had no spine and no sense. She made me out to be a lovesick fool in front of the one man who would love nothing more than to gloat in Elizabeth's humiliation of me. I even saved her life. Still she insists on seeing me as the devil incarnate."

"Look, I do not want to be torn between my children. I love ye both equally. I do not want Ruby to feel unwelcome. The girl is a mere eighteen William; her handling of situations is not always what is expected from an adult, no matter how mature she comes across as. Her life here has been limited and her experiences are nothing beyond Haven."

Will sighed. "I would never ask you to choose. By all rights she knows you infinitely better than I do anyway. If anyone had rights to you, it would be her. I'll try harder to get along with her, but she seems to relish battling with me. I should go fetch them now before dinner is ruined."

Bill clapped him on the shoulder, "She relishes battling with everyone." He headed towards the small kitchen shaking his head. He would stay out of the middle of this one.

Will strode through the front door, barely sparing it enough attention to open it rather than smash right through. His strides ate up the distance as his fists clenched. Surely she couldn't feel like his saying no had anything to do with not wanting her. He'd explained it to her. He'd made certain of it. And damn it all, why was he feeling all guilty and unsure now? What could he do, walk up to her and say... I "Oh, by the way, I wanted to have sex with you more than I've ever wanted anything in my life save Elizabeth's love, but I think too highly of you to use your body." /I

That would certainly inspire her confidence. She'd just hate him then for admitting that he couldn't get over another woman. Women didn't like knowing that you thought of anyone but them when you were with them. But then, in all honesty, Elizabeth had barely registered even as a memory while Lorelei had been in his arms. He reached the Tavern, his eyes searching the Island in fascination as he walked. He'd never seen anything quite like it, not even Port Royal. With a hesitating sigh he pulled open the door of the Tavern and stepped through.

Lorelei looked into the watery blue eyes of the young, relatively handsome man who'd been staring at her the whole time she'd been in the Tavern. She grinned, anticipation rising as he led her into a darkened corner. Jack, her over protective nanny was finally distracted by three shipmates of her new friend and it was her first chance to escape. She leaned up against the wall and pulled the young pirate towards her. She was soon lost in the feel of his hand and lips, the sounds of the ensuing brawl lost in the back of her mind.

Will felt the top of his head nearly explode as he caught sight of Ruby in a shadowed corner with some sleezy pirate's hand up her shirt and tongue down her throat. He looked around for Jack and found him acting a buffoon, drunk, big surprise, and fighting with three large toad-like pirates that stank of rum even more than he did. So much for looking out for her. He crossed the distance to Ruby in mere seconds, and grasped the bastard by the scruff of his neck, tossing him backward across the floor before he could register a single coherent thought.

Lorelei gasped in shock at the sudden loss of contact. She shook herself to clear her mind of the passion fog and looked up. "What tha bloody hell are ye doing?" She snarled as she recognised William Turner. She moved to push past him, and help her 'date' recover.

Will caught her and held her fast, not allowing her to get free. "Collecting you for dinner, at the request of your father." He scowled as Jack approached, looking quite sheepish and disgruntled. "Bill wants you there too, though I'm not sure why."

Lorelei scowled and shook her arm free. "Tell him I not be hungry."

"I'll tell him no such thing. He wants you there, you'll be there. And I most certainly won't leave you here to the wolves."

"What are ye talking about?" The look she gave him suggested that she thought he might be crazy. "I been here plenty o' times with out ye I don' need ye now."

"Obviously we are bound to disagree on that point. As would Jack if the guilty look on his face is any indication." Will grasped her wrist tightly and began dragging her out of the tavern. "Your father made you dinner, and asked me to fetch you, so by God that's precisely what I will do."

Lorelei dug her heels in, "I dun't want dinner." She broke his grasp, ignoring the slight pain that she would cause him. "I be staying here and having some fun with me new friend."

Will ground his teeth together and grasped her around the waist, hefting her up over his shoulder and ignoring the bite of her fists pounding into his back, and her toes punishing his shins. "You will NOT be going anywhere near that miscreant again. Not while there is still breath in my body anyway."

Lorelei fought and struggled fiercely, bringing her knee up till she caught him in the stomach. "Who made ye me keeper."

Will ignored her tirade while continuing to glare at the equal shares shamefaced and silently laughing Jack. He reached up and slapped her backside hard after muttering a silent prayer of thanks that her knee hadn't been positioned to land any lower than it had. They crossed the distance to the cabin in no time, his anger making her weight even more negligible than it normally would be.

Ruby punched the small of his back hard in retaliation, "Tha next time yer hand gets friendly Will Turner ye'll find it cut off…..or something more at the next opportune moment."

"You continue to kick and thrash out at me and I will damn certain land a few more blows of my own, be ye a woman or not." Will replied evenly, though his teeth were still tightly clenched.

"Interfering bastard," Lorelei muttered, landing another hard punch before she bit his shoulder.

Will flattened his hand out and landed another hard blow square on her buttocks, just as their father opened the door to stare wide-eyed at the scene. He dumped her unceremoniously at Bill's feet and scowled at the older man. "You have obviously not taught your daughter the finer points of decorum or self preservation. Her taste seems to be as lacking as her vocabulary."

With a shrill screech Ruby launched herself at Will, her hand tightening around his pony tail, eyes flaring dangerously. "If ye EVER touch me again Will Turner, I will carve ye up and feed ye to the fish do ye understand me?" Her voice was cold and cutting despite her fury. "I may have to put up with ye for this meal but that will be the only time I will endure ye." She cast her father an angry, hurt and reproachful look before stalking into the house.

Will turned his own fury on Jack. "HOW in GOD'S NAME could you leave her alone to the likes of that... that... scoundrel. The stench of evil flowed off him in waves. And I thought you her friend, an uncle of sorts. He... He... His hands... UP HER SHIRT JACK! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAMN TAVERN!"

"What's got you in a twist boy?" asked Jack calmly, reaching for the fruit that grew on the vine next to the front porch. He took a bite, "It not like she be hurting anyone. It wasn't tha middle of the tavern young Will. Besides if he be truly evil, he'd never have found the Island now would he?" Jack smiled brightly.

Will grasped his shirt and smashed him against the wall. "You are no fool Jack, do not pretend to be. That... man is bad news all round. And she... she... IN PUBLIC JACK! The island shows itself to those that mean to do no harm WHILE HERE; it doesn't say anything about only allowing good people."

Jack brushed the boy's hands off of him, "The choice be Ruby's as to who she keeps company with Will." He gave the younger man a sharp knowing stare. "So why are you so upset about this?"

Will growled. "She's just a girl Jack. I don't care how accomplished she is, and all women deserve to be treated better than that, ESPECIALLY her."

"I would say that Ruby knows what she is about despite her age." Jack took another bite, "So that leads me to ask." He mumbled around his mouthful, "Why do you care how she is treated, because from everything you've said and done it seems it would be your last concern."

Will's hand literally itched to smash through that smug face. He turned to his father with disdain. "I wouldn't have thought time would change you so much that you would raise your children to such different standards. Perhaps I didn't know you even as well as I thought I did."

Bill's shoulders sagged as the situation deteriorated, "Me children were both very different people." He took a deep breath, no wanting to believe that his son could possibly be so disappointed. "If we disgust you so much William I can have you taken back ta Port Royal on tha next tide."

Will turned to the house and slammed his fist into the hard wood, reveling in the feel of the boards quivering as they gave away beneath his impact of muscle and bone. "God Damn me to hell." His head fell forward and his shoulders sagged. He had no idea why he was so angry, other than the sight of another man's hands where she had once welcomed his made his stomach turn. "You raised me to believe that women were the most precious thing on earth, that they deserved to be treated as gold, and yet you would allow your daughter to be treated as a common whore? I just don't understand."

"I don't LET her be treated anyway William. As I said to ye before, she is a young woman who knows her mind and has a strong strength of will power. She does what she wants. And now that she is technically of age what can I do to stop her? To forbid her to do anything of that nature is to drive her away. She is not as accepting of authority as you were my son."

"Why does she think so little of herself? Does she not realise how special she is? How much she DESERVES to be treated like a lady?"

Jack sighed and shifted uncomfortably. "She couldn't save her mother." It was all he said, he didn't want to betray Little Ruby's thoughts and feelings, especially not the ones confided by a small confused child so he hoped his one sentence conveyed all he meant, of the girl's suffering and loss.

Will heard again her screams in the midst of her nightmare. He shrugged his shoulders and rested his forehead against the wall. He wished he understood what the hell was happening to him. His own father had been the one to raise him, the one to preach these ideals to him, and yet now, as always, he was the oddity. He was the one that stood out like a sore thumb. He straightened and let out a heavy sigh. "Go to her and reassure her. I need to go for a walk. Perhaps it will be best for everyone if I do take you up on your offer and simply return home."

"What do you want William. I don't want ye ta leave but if it is your wish..." Bill trailed off hesitantly.

Will sighed. "I don't want to leave either Da, but I don't belong here. All I'm doing is making a mess of everything."

"What makes you think ye don't belong here?" Bill asked roughly. "Ye're my son, ye belong here with me."

Will pointed toward the house, wincing at the sharp pains that pierced up his arm. "That's what my legacy has been so far. Alienating your other child. And she has much more claim on you than I do. She also needs you more."

Bill motioned for Jack to see to Ruby while he led Will inside and got a cold compress and alcohol. He gently began to clean the bruised and scraped knuckles of his son's hand. "Neither of ye have more claim ta me than the other. I love ye both equally. Ruby has been fortunate enough to have me all to herself for the last few years, ye haven't. Ye are both going to have ta get used ta the fact that ye both have me love and that there is room for ye both in me heart and me house. As ta alienating Lorelei, well maybe ye have but running back ta Port Royal won't solve it." He gave his son an arch look but mildly said, "I thought ye were tougher and much more stubborn than that."

Will sighed. "There was a time when I would have agreed with you. I'm not so sure anymore. I used to believe in a lot of foolish things. I learned the hard way."

"Indulge an old man Will, ride out tha situation. Things will work out. Lorelei will come around once the sting ta her pride has faded." Bill carefully set the cold compress on Will's hand, and tied it in place.

Will reached out his left hand and grasped his father's gently. "I'll stay then. Even if I'm not so certain of the outcome as you seem to be."

"The outcome is never predictable where a woman is concerned William...but now tha ye see what I am living with ye can't possibly want to condemn me to facing that alone for years ta come." Bill's eyes twinkled as he stood. He squeezed Will's undamaged hand gently." Welcome home William."

William stood and enfolded his father in a fierce hug. "I've missed you Da. So very much."

Bill closed his eyes as he held his son. Something he never thought he'd ever have a chance to do again, "And I've missed ye lad, more than ye'll ever know." He pulled back reluctantly, "Now why don't ye go eat."

Will shrugged. "I really should just go for a walk Da. You should eat with Lorelei and Jack."

"Please Will, Lorelei will be in her room railing at ye and Jack will be useless getting through her rage. I need to talk to her. So ye may as well sit and eat comfortably while ye are doing all that thinking."

"Try to make her understand that it's not me thinking less of her, that it's just the opposite?" He had no idea why it was so important to him that she not doubt that, but it was nonetheless.

" I will try. That might be easier when she doesn't have a few gallons of rum in her." Bill looked at Will thoughtfully." After ye've eaten if ye still want that walk will you head back ta the Tavern and get her stuff. I seem to remember she took her bags with her."

Will nodded. "Yes." he couldn't stop the little thrill that tingled through his nerve endings at the thought of getting a chance to come face to face with that scoundrel again, this time with Ruby safely tucked away.

"Well and good. Come on then son." Bill led William into the kitchen and served him some stew and bread He waited till Will was eating heartily and slipped into Ruby's room. He let out a heart felt sigh, the young woman he looked on as a daughter was staring angrily out the window. He tapped Jack's shoulder. "Go get something ta eat. Will is in tha kitchen." He waited for Jack to leave and moved forward to settle his hand on her shoulder. Saying nothing and waiting for her to explode as she was sure to do.

"Do ye want me ta go now." Lorelei asked as softly as she could manage through the tearing pain.

"Now why would I want ye ta go anywhere Lorie?" Bill whispered as he slid his arm around her waist.

"Cause he be yer natural son and I cannae stand him. We be turnin this place inta a war zone."

"Ye'll be going nowhere, and neither will he. If it takes a war zone ta work this out, then a war zone it'll be. But I don' think it will result in that. I think ye both just have some things to learn bout the other. I think ye might just find yer not so different in the end."

Lorelei grimaced, "Don' compare me with him, I know he be yer son an all but he is as prissy as a noble maid. He dragged me outta tha tavern with out even a by yer leave. I be in tha middle o something."

"Ye have to understand Lorelei. He was raised in a different world. In his mind, he feels you deserve better than that. He feels ye are meant to be prized and treated like gold. He knows that men of that ilk aren't looking at ye that way. To him, sex is something you share with the one ye love. He is just trying to protect ye in his own way. Ye ought to understand, I've spoken my similar thoughts often enough."

"Ye have tha right ta. I don't knew him. All he did was ta judge me, from tha moment we met so I knew how he be feeling, and it ain't that I outta be prized." Ruby gave a harsh laugh. She knew better, he'd made it quite clear that he despised her for being a pirate and thought her a harlot for her behaviour. But she would never say these things to Bill he was having a hard enough time trying to reconcile them." I don't need him protectin me. I've taken care o meself this far an' I'll continue ta do so."

"Lorelei, you know I won't lie to ye. I may not have been on that ship with ye, but I have spoken with him and I think we did him a disservice. Jack told us he hated pirates, and so we assumed he did. From what he's said to me today though, he doesn't. He doesn't look down on ye Lorelei, he sees ye and all women as precious. That's how his mother and I raised him to feel." He paused and squeezed her waist again, about to go where he truly didn't want to, but had to. "He said no because he respected ye Lorelei, not because he didn't want ye. That's the truth of it. Ye don't have to believe it, but it's the truth."

"Does it be mattering? He still be loving his fiancé. It could be going nowhere. If I be having him I'd be rathering him seeing me an not some other lass be it love or no." She shrugged nonchalantly.

Bill smiled softly. "Ye say that, and yet it still hurts that he didn't want ye." It was a statement, more than a question.

"No more then anything else in me life. I'll be over it." She turned to face Bill, "after all he be me brother now."

Bill pulled her into his arms, ignoring her attempts to pull away at first, kissing her hair when she finally melted into him. "Ye never know the way things may go child. He's fancied himself in love with her for most of his life, tis a hard thing to let go of, no matter how great the betrayal. He's a staggering capacity for love though, who knows what might happen when his heart begins to heal. If nothing else though Lorie, he'll make a good friend and ally, he truly does care about ye already. That must count for something."

Lorelei gave up struggling and relaxed against Bill. "Maybe, I still nae forgiven him manhandling me outta the Tavern. Over his shoulder nae less."

Bill stifled a laugh and squeezed her tighter. "Aw Lorie, ye know if the lads hadn't distracted Jack he'd have been the one to do the same. It's just that noone would think anything of Jack handling ye that way. You're pride is just dented that it was Will and they don't know him."

Ruby snorted, "Gah, if i'be Jack I wouldnae hesitate in thumping him but since twas Will I figured tha' ye wouldnae appreciate me bruisin yer son."

Bill quirked an eyebrow and the corners of his mouth twitched dangerously. "He'll have a fair number of bruises I assure ye. Wait till you see his hand."

Lorelei narrowed her eyes dangerously, "But they be self inflicted. Tha next time tha boy gets it in his head ta touch me like tha I'll carve his innards out."

Bill shook his head. "Most of the bruises were the result of your hands and knees love. And I have no doubt you'll try. Ye must admit though, the boy has much more spirit and gumption than ye expected."

Ruby snorted again, "Only when he be holdin a sword. He refuses ta let control of hisself slip. He be a brilliant swordsman, but he has no flare, jus rigid control an technique."

"That not be how Jack described him during the Pearl incident. And I would say his retrieval of ye from the tavern had a definite flair. Surely you have sensed there is more to him than meets the eye?"

Lorelei shrugged and snapped, "Does it matter what I be thinking? Since at ever' turn I be told I be wrong."

Bill shook his head. "No one said ye were wrong Lorie. I simply said don't underestimate him. Besides, if ye think him too stiff, I'd say ye were just the one to open his eyes to a new way of thinking."

Lorelei shook her head, "I'd rather not be in his company unless I 'ave ta be."

Bill sighed. "I see." He squeezed her once more, and then released her from his embrace. "I'll do me best then to keep him out of yer hair."

"Me thanks Da."

Bill couldn't help the disappointment that filled him, but he shoved it aside. "Come and eat dinner Lorie. I'll take it upon meself to show him bout the island. It'll take longer with me for a guide, but we'll manage it."

Lorelei reluctantly allowed Bill to steer her towards the kitchen, and the small wooden table. But she sat down, not looking at anyone or anything but the plate of stew Bill set in front of her. She still had that empty feeling inside her. No matter what Bill had said, nor Jack she still felt that Will was the apple of their eyes and could do no wrong. She felt the way she felt, it wasn't right or wrong it just was the sum of her experiences, but she knew that Jack felt that she was dead wrong as did Bill. Well she would not be a burden on them much longer that was for sure. She was truly alone now, so being at the helm of the "Maiden' would not be any different. But then a thrill shivered its way down her spine. She could see so much, and she had freedom aboard the I Sea Maiden /I .

Her appetite was non existent so she chased the chucks of meat and vegetables around her plate despondently till with a sigh she gave up and asked to be excused. She rose before Bill even nodded. She would head back to the Heave's Gates and finish what she'd started. She needed something to erase that hollow feeling inside her. She ignored her father's voice as he called out questions and slipped out of the front door and down towards the Tavern.

Will didn't bother with saying anything and followed her, running down the pathway until he was able to jump in front of her, stopping her forward momentum momentarily. "If you are going for your things, I already brought them back home."

"I not be going for me things." She held tight to the anger that rose as he admitted he took it upon himself to interfere in her life and touching her belongings.

"You belong at your home Ruby, if anyone should be staying at the inn it's me. Please... I'm sorry that things went so wrong with us. Whatever I've done to upset you... I'm sorry."

Lorelei scowled, nobody called her Ruby but Jack, but she bit her lip determined not to react, for Bill's sake. "Just stay out of me way and things will be fine."

"Please." Will sighed. She didn't want to hear anything he had to say. She thought him nothing but a prissy stuffed shirt anyway. Why did he care? But that was the point, he did care. For whatever reason he cared very much for Ruby. "I understand that you don't like me Ruby, and I'm sure that's probably my fault, but I meant well. Please... for Da's sake?" He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I'll not inconvenience you forever, can we at least call a truce?"

"Fer Da's sake." Ruby nodded, "As to inconveniencing me, he be yer Da ye can stay as long as ye like and think nothing of it." She moved past him, to continue her journey to the pub.

Will fell back in step with her. He knew he was treading thin ice, but the thought of her with that... man... still made his skin crawl. "I thought you said we'd truce?"

"I did." She replied shortly but continued walking.

"Then why are you going to the pub? Da was looking forward to us all spending time with one another our first night together."

"Because I want ta be at the Tavern." How could she explain to the cause of her problems what the effect of his presence had been so far? that her father and Jack had told her, not necessarily in words but in body language that he could do no wrong and that she was the outsider in her feelings.

Will sighed. "So that you don't have to be near me... right?"

"Since when were ye the be all and end all in me world?" Ruby snapped. She'd had just about enough of Will being the centre of the universe for everyone and being expected to play along.

Will threw up his hands and growled low in his throat. "I give up. I swear to God I just give up. You do whatever the hell you want to Ruby. I'm going to go home and spend time with the father I have grieved for ten years. The father that you've been blessed enough to see, and have hold you, and ease your fears. The one that you've had to understand you and listen to you. You think everything in my life has been so easy, but you don't know me any better than you'll ever let me know you. Don't say I didn't try though." He spun on his heel and stalked back toward the cabin.

Ruby grabbed his arm and spun him around, "I don't want ye to know me. I don't want ye in my head." She spat angrily, thoroughly tired of the man but glad finally for a proper outlet. "I kin do without yer self righteousness in me life. Yer so perfect. Ye've made that clear enough as have they." She motioned with her chin back to the house." It be clear that nothin I kin do kin live up ta ya so why put meself through it. Yer lucky ye got ta grieve for yer da and move on. Lucky fer yer second chance, I had none of that. All I have is the memory of me da havin his throat slit and everyone else I cared about slowly burnin ta death. Forever their screams of pain and terror echo in me mind. Be grateful that ye don't hear that night after night. I see me ma screaming silently in agony as flames consume her." Ruby let go his arm abruptly and ran off, she had said more then she wanted to, let him in more than she should have. She wouldn't give him a chance to mock the tears that were about to course down her face.

Will chased after her, too far behind to see her, merely following the sounds she made. He found himself on the beach, looking around for her frantically, startled nearly out of his skin when just as he'd almost given up, he heard a sniffle. He crossed the distance and dropped to the sand beside her, pulling her into his arms and rocking her gently, the depth of her grief apparent in the fact that she didn't even attempt to get free of him. His own mind filled with terrible visions and nightmares from his own youth, and his arms tightened even more.

Ruby cried, hard racking sobs till she couldn't sob any longer and her body relaxed against the warmth that called to it. She was tired and her eyes were swollen, she was definitely one of those women who would never be able to cry in public. Her face was red and splotchy, but she didn't care as she sucked in deep shuddering breaths. Not even the weeping fit erased the emptiness within her, nothing could replace what was gone, and in all she felt worse now than she had before she had loosed on Bill's son.

Will reached up and caressed her cheek tenderly, his eyes conveying the yawning terrors her confession had wrenched free within him. The dreams he had fought so hard to conquer with days filled with enough hard labour that he slept too hard to dream. "How old were you? When you saw them kill your family?"

Ruby started at the sound of his voice, it was more she felt the vibration as a rumble from the chest her ear was pressed up against. "Seven, nearly eight."

"I'm so sorry." There was so much more he could say, but right now he just wanted to be there for her. She didn't have to know he understood, just needed to i be /i understood.

"Why be sorry, ye weren't responsible." Her voice was flat, emotionless. His sympathy couldn't bring her family back.

"I don't have to be responsible to be sorry you had to go through that. It's a horror that no child should have to live through." He stroked her back in long easy motions, kissing her temple and closing his eyes as she snuggled closer to him, despite the tinge of a bite to her words.

"Only reason I got through it was cause o' Bill 'n' Jack." I 'An now I be losin them ta.' /I Ruby squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her jaw as another sob threatened to escape at that thought. She had to keep strong, soon she would be away and all this would be far behind her and she would have to hold firm, she wouldn't have anyone out on the open sea, or in any other circumstances.

Will kissed her temple again. "I'm thankful things worked out the way they did then, that da was where he could be there for you." He sighed. "Da loves you so much. I'm so thankful that he had someone to love, and that you had someone to love you. The thought of you having to go through that alone... losing your parents and then having no one to turn to, I can imagine..." he trailed off before he began to cry himself.

Ruby bit her lips, in sympathy. For the first time since they'd met a glimmer of compassion for him stirred. He had lost his parents too, not violently. his mother had died and his father had disappeared without a trace but he'd been young. He'd only had a mentor in his Master Blacksmith. She slid an arm around his neck and held him close, sudden understanding sharp in her mind. Will clung to her, taking her comfort, even as he gave every ounce of it he could. It was the first time in his life he could remember feeling safe. And that was a startling thought. Especially when he realised that not once had Elizabeth ever given him even a fraction of the comfort and understanding that enveloped him now.

"Fer me part I be sorry William, I've bin hurtin and in me pain I be selfish." She murmured once the worse of his tears had subsided. She'd been holding him to her tightly, and it had slowly dawned that the depth of her own loneliness had been matched in his heart.

Will nodded weakly. "Me too."

Ruby smiled, tentatively. "So I guess suggestin that we start wit' a clean slate not be as stupid as it be sounding?"

Will shook his head. "No." A mischievous smile spread across his own face. "I'd much rather have you as a friend than an enemy, that's for certain."

"There be no promises that I not be losin me temper at ye." She warned him softly. There were also no promises that she wouldn't tease him like se had when they first met, not when the imp took her over regularly.

Will gave a wet laugh and leaned his forehead to her shoulder, not ready to lose the physical contact with her just yet. "Nor me with you." He pulled back enough to look in her eyes. "But let's get one thing straight right from the start, I don't look down on pirates, especially you specifically. I actually happen to think you are quite special."

"First impressions William." was all she murmured; when they had first met he had made a point of distrusting her because she was a pirate.

"It wasn't because you were a pirate honestly. It was because you were telling me that my father was still alive, and I couldn't believe it. Not to mention... you were a woman. That was probably what made me most weary. But then you said you knew Jack, and since he had never once mentioned that my father was still alive..."

Lorelei sighed tiredly, "A failin of Jack be that he be honourable no matter how hard he tries ta hide it. He woul' nev'r tell another's story without ther leave. Tha's one thing I learned early, he be honourable, intelligent and nev'r as drunk as he makes hisself out ta be. He acts like tha so people will make a point o' underestimatin him. Look at yer Norrington."

Will laughed. "Yes, Jack is a good man, despite what he wants us to believe."

Ruby sniffled, "He be clever and tha's wha' make him be dangerous."

Will stifled a nearly overwhelming urge to kiss her, and smiled instead. "Yes, he is at that. But then, so are you."

"I not be dangerous." Lorelei shook her head, "Not like he is."

Will reached up and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Oh, I think you could be very dangerous. Like I say, I'd much rather have you as a friend than an enemy."

"I suppose we should be gettin back ta Bill."

Will nodded reluctantly. He wasn't sure he was ready to let go of this moment yet. "Okay." Now if only he could find the will necessary to disentangle himself from her embrace, a position that he'd only just now become fully aware that he was in.

"Or we could sit here and watch tha stars for a bit longer." Lorelei found herself hesitant to move, this was the first time in her life she'd been so at peace, within herself. She also noticed that the emptiness was slowly filling up with something she couldn't identify and she wasn't sure she wanted the feeling to end and it surely would if they moved.

Will suddenly felt as it he was lit from within. It seemed too good to be true that she would feel the same way. "You wouldn't mind if we did?"

Ruby shook her head. "Tis a perfect time fer me to know me new friend." It was a peace offering. A willingness to put everything that had happened behind them in no uncertain terms.

Will tightened his arms ever so slightly and leaned his forehead against hers. "I like the sound of that." Will leaned his head back and looked up into the vast expanse and realised that it had somehow always managed to seem small to his senses. His life had always been mapped out, his prospects and dreams so... attainable and near. Now though he found himself for the first time in completely uncharted territory. No strings, no safety net, no plans. Yesterday, that thought would have frightened him out of his mind, today, it simply made him feel... bigger. Yes, his world had collapsed around him, but somehow, he had the sneaking suspicion that it was going to all be better when it was rebuilt. And oddly enough, he knew that he owed that to Ruby. Her simple understanding and acceptance, while unlooked for, had turned out to be precisely what he'd been searching for all along.