What Is & What Will Never Be
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: I do not & cannot obtain ownership of POTC 1, 2, or 3...
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"So, what have you lovely ladies been up to all day?" Will Turner asked with a warm smile, as he sat down at the head of the dining table. Elizabeth and Jade sat to the right and left of him. He had returned home from work just a few minutes before, being greeted with a kiss from his wife, and stream of French poetry from Jade, as she came to welcome him at the door, holding Jenevieve in her arms.
Jade, of course, was murmuring sweet nothings to Jen, but once she saw Will, she blushed slightly, and greeted him amiably, the gesture which he returned, and then gave Jen a kiss before Elizabeth tucked her in for bed.
The three of them sat down in the dining room, about to consume a light supper, and then indulge themselves in having a cup of mint tea.
"Oh, nothing too strenuous. Don't worry", Elizabeth replied with slight discontent, but smiled nonetheless, and placed her wedding ring-adorned hand atop Will's.
"Oui", Jade said, after taking a small bite of a strawberry. "We were sewing, and watching the rain, and talking..."
"Yes, gossiping", Elizabeth agreed, grinning.
Will gently shifted his hand under Elizabeth's. "Please don't let me guess what you were so importantly tittle-tattling." He eyed them both disapprovingly.
"Oh, what better is there for a woman to do other than discuss the latest scandals of the town?" Elizabeth exclaimed, as if it were a right-of- passage.
Will looked to Jade. "And do you believe in this, Miss Rochet?"
Jade smiled. "I'm sorry to say that I must agree with your wife, Mr. Turner."
"And what is the good of this chatter and spreading around rumors?" Will asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Well darling, the first and most important reason is: we're getting back at them", Elizabeth explained.
"Getting...back?"
"Yes, Will. Don't you see?"
Will look perplexed.
Elizabeth sighed. "Do you remember when we were the ones the women were gossiping about? Our huge scandal?"
"Uh...we?"
"Yes, Will—us, as a couple."
"Ehm..."
"When we were really seeing each other after coming back from our little adventure last—", Elizabeth started, her voice slightly raised, as if appalled that Will could not get and recall what she was saying to him.
"Yes, yes, yes", Will cut in. "Go on."
"Well, my point is, Jade and I..." She looked over at Jade, who was watching the couple banter with a look of pleasurable serenity in her gaze. "Find satisfaction in doing these things, for the sole purpose that we get to be in their shoes, and they get to find out what it was like to be in ours."
Will gave a nod. "Ah."
"She's perfectly right", Jade answered to his glance.
"So, do you understand now?" Elizabeth asked.
"Completely, love", Will resigned, giving her a kiss.
"I knew you would", Elizabeth responded. "And we have quite the scandal to tell him of, haven't we?" she continued to Jade.
"Oh, it's quite an interesting tale", she answered.
"Do tell", Will beckoned amusedly.
"Well", Elizabeth started exuberantly. "The latest scandal that's spread about here, is one about this high-strung girl—woman—wench—"
"Elizabeth!" Will interjected, clearly aghast at her language.
"Anyway", she continued, taking no notice. "This girl is attempting, by any means possible, to woo her long-lost love away from—oh, you won't believe this! You finish, Jade. It's despicable."
Jade complied, finishing, "Away from her own cousin, who by the way, is happily married to that very 'long-lost amour', and even has children with him."
"Isn't that just dreadful", Elizabeth murmured, turning to Will again.
"Most dreadful."
"Will", she tapped his hand, to which he replied in tsk-tsking.
Jade laughed a bit, then excused herself from the table as she cleared her dish.
"Well, darling, I'm sure beautiful ladies such as yourselves may find better use of your time", Jade was within earshot of Will speaking to Elizabeth.
"Better use of our time? And what would I do instead?"
"Well", he smiled. "I might have an idea." He leaned in, giving Elizabeth a loving kiss.
"Good idea, Mr. Turner", Elizabeth expressed amusement and smiled.
"Better than gossiping about the desperation and despicability of—"
Elizabeth cut him off with a kiss. "Much better."
Jade entered the dining room again, gently clearing her throat. Having put her empty teacup in the sink, and glancing over at the adoring couple, she was filled with emotion. Her heart went to them and their happiness, and she thought upon that rumor they had just recently discussed. What kind of woman would go so far in hating her family to stoop that low? To pine after her cousin's husband? Hopefully, it was just a rumor.
Jade brushed these thoughts aside as Will and Elizabeth rose.
"I believe I'll go...get some fresh air on the balcony", she said.
"Oh, yes...fine. Are you going to be alright?" Will asked.
"Oui", Jade nodded. "I'll be turning in for the night soon anyway."
"Alright, then. Have a good night, Miss Rochet."
"'Night, Jade", Elizabeth bided her, and Jade departed them, and as she voiced, headed to the balcony.
The truth was that Jade was beginning to worry over Jack. She missed him, and wished that she had left with him. How could she bare life without him for nearly a month? And would she be able to continue imposing like this upon Mr. and Mrs. Turner? Yes, she had befriended dear Elizabeth, but she hadn't spent nearly as much time with Will since the wedding.
She stood out on the terrace, letting the cool, dusk breeze catch her curls, and blow them away from her face. She sighed gently and closed her eyes, hoping that Jack's journey was going smoothly. He never did tell her what exactly made him feel that change in the wind...
Elizabeth straightened a few pillows on the settee and turned on a lamp in the living room.
"Liz?"
"Yes", she replied as she stood facing him.
He smiled and took her hands.
Elizabeth pouted a bit. "What's on your mind, Will?"
"I'd like to take you somewhere."
"Where?"
He didn't answer, but merely replied, "Hurry, it's getting late." He took her hand and led her out the front door.
"Will!" Elizabeth cried breathlessly as they started down the hill. "Where are we going?"
He suddenly stopped, and stepped behind her, putting his hand over her eyes.
"Will...What in the world?" Elizabeth murmured, trying to turn back to face him, but Will only pushed her forward, still obscuring her vision.
"Sshh", he breathed at her neck, and continued to guide her. "We're almost there."
Elizabeth was about to speak, but just smiled instead.
After a few more paces, she felt that she was stepping on sand...and...was that...the ocean? Very near by?
"Will?"
"Alright", he said, and lifted his hand.
"Oh!" Elizabeth gasped as she looked about her. She was on the beach, just paces from the water's edge, looking at one of the most beautiful sunsets she had ever seen. "Oh, Will..."
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"We haven't done this since...since..."
"Since before we were married."
She turned her head to look at him. "Yes. Oh, it's so beautiful."
"I thought you would enjoy it."
"I love it. Watching the most beautiful sunset with my husband...nothing could be more perfect."
"I'm glad."
"I love you." She lightly kissed him, then broke away, and scurried down towards the waves, getting near enough so that the water brushed her feet, but screeched as the water came above her ankles.
Will smiled at her, suddenly reminiscing about his and Elizabeth's adolescent-hood. They would sneak out at this same time, just as the sun set in Port Royal, and Elizabeth would dance near the waves. Of course, Will warned her that her father would be angry if they were caught, but she just laughed, not caring that the bottom of her dress was getting wet and her hair was falling down...
And Will watched her now, in a light cotton gown, with her wavy curls loose and flowing in the breeze as she danced along the beach at sunset. This vision of her was perfect, and Will just continued to gaze at her in awe, even when she spoke his name.
Will snapped back out of his reverie as she ran up the beach towards him, and into his arms.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Us, when we were young. You."
Elizabeth smiled. "And through all these years, since we were ten years old, you've always remembered that I loved sunsets on the beach."
"Indeed I have."
She lifted her eyes. "What's the occasion?"
"Occasion?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Oh, I missed you. And you're my wife. That's worth celebrating."
"Oh, Will", she sighed, leaning into his embrace. "Do we deserve to be this happy?"
"Oh, more than deserve it, my love. We've gone to hell and back just to test our devotion..."
She laughed. "That is true! But I'm happy; we are together now, and nothing in the world could tear us, our family, apart."
Will kissed her. "We'll soon have to bring Jenevieve here to see the sunsets, won't we, darling?"
"Oh, we must. They're lovely..."
"Just like you and she."