"Did your father ever tell you about the great adventures he had with your dear old Uncle Jack?" the captain asked the little boy as they both sat before the snapping fire. The child's eyes, wide and listening, stayed constant as he shook his head in response. "Well!" he gasped, fingers moving nervously over his bent knee. "We've been to just about every place a boat can go, seen just about every thing an eye could see…and can't see."
"How long have you known Father?" little Jack asked.
"Well, I knew your grandfather before I met your father," the captain explained.
"You knew Grandfather? But he didn't know who you were at the party!"
"No," Jack scolded gently, "your other grandfather. His name was William, just like your father and…"
"Just like me! John Michael William Turner!" Jack laughed as he finished the boy's lengthy title along with him. The toddler barely stumbled over the meaningless words.
"Yes, just like you. I can tell already you're going to look just like him. You've got…you've got the same dark hair, well, your mother's touch is in it," he rambled as he ruffled the boy's locks and caused him to squirm with delight, "and the same dark eyes…but…there's something missing…" The boy immediately demanded to know what separated him from his beloved father and mysterious second grandfather. "Patience, boy, you're just like a Turner. Can't sit a single second." Jack smiled and waited as the captain reached into his thin sleeves and pulled a silver chain through his knuckles. "This here is something I've been holding for a long, long time." The firelight cast over the small silver bird Jack had inspected earlier on the ship.
"It's a bird!" little Jack excitedly cried.
"It's a sparrow!" Jack corrected with the same bright enthusiasm. "And it matches this one here on my very arm." The faded tattoo was placed near the firelight so the boy could see. "Now I'll be gone by tomorrow's tide, my boy, but I don't want you to ever forget your friends on the sea, no matter if Mum and Pap both lock away every story I've told you and never allow you to say my name again."
"We have the same name, Jack!" the boy giggled. Jack's serious demeanor was broken by a sly grin.
"You're too smart. Here, take this here." The child's small palm was nearly covered in the bird. "You remember dear old Sparrow, Jack." The boy nodded an empty promise, now entrusted with something glittery and smooth. The captain frowned gently and laced the chain over Jack's collar. "Don't take it off and you shan't forget."
"Jack?" Both turned to the doorway where Elizabeth had called. She smiled to the captain briefly before addressing the child. "It's time for bed."
"I want to hear a story!"
"I'll tell you a story," Elizabeth smiled, extending a hand.
"One of Jack's stories!" She immediately looked to the proud captain, who beamed back at her, but didn't quite trust what he might have said.
"All…all right, dear, just hurry." The two began up the stairs, Jack's eager steps thundering ahead, while Will sauntered into the room and sat near the fire.
"She makes a fine mother," Jack observed quietly as the shadows of the two passed through the upper hall. Will sighed and nodded, watching the flames that turned steel into poetry in blades. "Wasn't sure one like her would settle down, you know, a fiery one. But you two have a lovely life. Lovely house, lovely family, lovely…rum…" Will broke into a smile and faced his loyal captain. "It's lovely to see you both being so lovely," he mumbled as he pulled his dagger from his waist to cut loose a tie that annoyed his sleeve.
"Thank you," Will hesitantly replied, a little confused. Jack chuckled and draped his flighty arm over the lad's shoulder with a sigh. The bottle dangling from the pirate's fingers swung in the soft light; Will glanced at the label at his neck. "This is the governor's rum, Captain…"
"Yes, it's all quite lovely…lovely indeed."