Title: Shanghai

Author: Supplanting Promise

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.

Homecoming

Elizabeth's POV

I stood at my front door for many minutes not knowing how to enter my own home. As I raised my hand to knock on the door I heard my name.

"Elizabeth? Is that you?" I look up and see my father leaning out a window. I nodded my head.

"Come in the house, don't just stand there like a stranger." He said and then disappeared from the window. I turned the door knob and opened the door.

I slowly walked in and quietly shut the door behind me. Immediately a maid came forward and took my belongings from my hands. I thanked her and looked up the stairs to see my father almost running down them. He grabbed me in his arms and hugged me as if he'd never let me go again. I pulled back from him slightly and he loosened his grip.

"Elizabeth. . ." He said looking at me. I smiled at him.

"I need to talk to you." I said leading him towards the library.

"Later Elizabeth. Right now you look like you could do with a bath, a warm meal, and a good night's rest." I nodded my head and followed him upstairs with a maid behind us.

"Emily will draw a bath for you." My father left me at my room with the maid.

I went into my room and laid on my bed, waiting for the maid to let me know when the bath was ready. I was looking at the ceiling slowly drifting to sleep when I heard Emily come back in.

"Miss the water is ready." She said bowing and leaving the room.

I got off the bed and walked into the bathroom and pulled the dress over my head. I draped it over a chair and took off my undergarments. I sat back in the tub and let my muscles relax. I stayed in the bath for over twenty minutes before I finally scrubbed my body and hair with soap. I got out of the tub and dried the water off my body then wrapped my hair in the towel. I walked back into my room and sat at the vanity.

Emily came back into the room with a few more pillows and another blanket. Laid the blanket at the foot of the bed and laid the two extra pillows at the head of the bed. She came over to me and began to comb my hair. I savored the feeling of being cared for and asked her to braid my hair.

"I'll bring up a tray fro you." Emily said after she was done braiding my hair.

I stayed at the vanity just staring at myself in the mirror. The entire time I had been on the ship the only mirror I'd had was the sea. Now looking into the reflective surface I was shown a different picture. My hair that had once been a beautiful chestnut brown was now a sandy bleached blonde. My skin, once prized by many for its porcelain nature, looked much like Jack's tanned skin. I traced my fingers over my face, becoming reacquainted with it. It was that moment that Emily chose to come back into the room. She set the tray on the vanity in front of me and left me too eat. I sipped at the hot stew until I had drained about half of the bowl and ate one of the biscuits. I left the tray on the vanity and turned down the blankets on the bed. I slipped under the sheet and fell asleep almost instantly.

The Next Morning

I woke up the next morning to my father knocking on the door.

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth darling it nearly twelve." I opened my bleary eyes and looked up at my father. He had genuine concern written on his face.

"I'm fine; I've just been sleeping on a ship for the last five months." He smiled. I sat up and put on the robe that my father was offering me. I got out of bed and walked over to my wardrobe to find something to wear.

"Shall I meet you in the study downstairs?" He asked as he saw me pull out one of my dresses.

"Yes I'll be down in a few minutes." I said walking behind my changing screen.

I heard him leave my room and I pulled off my robe and nightgown. I threw them over the screen and pulled on a loose white sun dress. I pinned my hair up in a twist and went downstairs to face my father.

He was sitting in an overstuffed armchair sipping at his tea. I walked in, took the seat across from him and poured myself a cup of tea.

"Are you hungry?" My father asked.

"Yes, famished actually." My father called a maid over and asked her to make lunch. Once she had left he turned to me.

"What have you been doing these last five months?"

"Gallivanting on the sea with several pirate crews. What else father?" He smiled and I smiled back at him.

"When I left I went to find Will or Jack and then use one to find the other. As it turns out I found Jack who had previously used Will to pay his debt to Davey Jones." I told him the entire tale of my adventures, stopping after I had found Jack, leaving out having been with both men and that several times the compass pointed to Jack. He stared at me, his wide eyes almost disbelieving.

"Did you find The Black Pearl?" He asked still memorize with the tale. Lunch was served during the break I had taken.

"After lunch." I said as I cut a piece of the chicken in front of me. We ate in a companionable silence and after the dished were cleared away I began again.

"Before I go on I need to tell you something, but you have to promise not to get upset."

"Elizabeth you can tell me anything." He said turning more fully towards me.

"Will and I were married in Panama not long after we lost Jack to the Kraken."

"That's wonderful Elizabeth. - -Where is Will?" He asked and then looked around as if he expected him to just appear.

"He died a month ago." I said making myself cry. I gave myself a few minutes to gather myself together and then continued.

"We hit a storm and he was on deck with Jack and few other men from the crew, trying to sail through it, and he went overboard. With everything going on and only a few men on deck no one noticed for a few minutes. When finally Gibbs noticed they couldn't even see Will. Jack dived in with a rope and searched for fifteen to twenty minutes but they couldn't find him." By the time I was done with the story I had wove I had tears pouring down my face. His hand found mine and he grasped it comfortingly.

"Elizabeth. . ." He said; his eyes looking at me apologetically. I gave him a weak smile and dried my eyes.

"I have just one more bit of news." He looked at me his face imploring me to tell him what more could have happened on this journey.

"I'm- - I- - Will has left me with child." I said placing my hand on my slightly distended abdomen.

His eyes went from my face to the hand on abdomen and then back to my face. His eyes were disbelieving and his mouth was slightly open. He withdrew his hand from mine and I was afraid that he was going to be angry.

"Elizabeth- -" He started and then stopped to look at me. "Elizabeth this is wonderful news." He said getting up from his chair and bringing me into his arms. I hugged him back thanking God that he believed me.

"Is this why you have returned?" He asked stepping back from me.

"Yes."

"When will the child be born?" He asked, having me sit back down.

"I've estimated about five or six months from now. I need to check with Dr. Meadows though." He smiled from ear to ear.

"It is terrible that this child has come at a time when he cannot have his father, but I know that you will do a fine job raising him." He said, and then his happiness went visibly grim.

"Will you be having the same problem as your mother had?" He asked nervously.

"I believe that there may be some problems but I have no doubt that both my child and myself will live." I heard him give a sigh of relief and then he called for another maid.

"Go to Dr. Meadows and ask him if he can stop by this afternoon." The maid, Anna, agreed and left immediately.

"There was no need to summon him right away." I said slightly startled by his concern.

"You've been on a ship for approximately four months while with child and no doctor. I would say that it is about time." I nodded my head in agreement with him, knowing I would have to talk with Dr. Meadows sooner or later.

"I think I'm going to go lie down for a while, this discussion has expended my energy." I stood up and my father escorted up the stairs and to my room once again.

I sat at mt desk and pulled out some parchment, ink, and a quill. I addressed the letter to Jack and contemplated how to begin.

Dear Jack,

I have reached my home safely, no doubt Gibbs has told you that.

I told my father that Will and I were married in Panama shortly after we had lost you and The Pearl to the Kraken. I have also told him that Will died a month ago, having gone overboard during a horrific storm. He took it all very well and is expecting the joyous arrival of his grandchild.

I am doing well so far. I am expecting Dr. Meadows at any moment for an examination. I will keep you posted on the well being of your child.

Love,

Elizabeth Swann

I signed and sealed the letter hoping to one day send it or give it to Jack should I see him, but knowing that I never would. I slipped the letter into the secret compartment in my bottom drawer. I left my desk and sat on my bed and waited for Dr. Meadows; my wait was not long. Within fifteen minutes there was a knock at my door and I beckoned the person in.

"Miss, Dr. Meadows has arrived. The Governor has asked that I bring him up here to you Miss."

"Yes of course allow him in." I stood and straightened my dress as the doctor came in.

"Miss Swann, lovely to see you again." He said as he entered my room. "How can I help you today?"

"I am Mrs. Turner now, and I wish to have an examination. I am with child and I wish to get your professional opinion on how my pregnancy is progressing."

"Congratulations, Mrs. Turner. Well, if you could, please lie back on the bed and I'll begin the examination."

"Of course." I laid back on the bed and waited patiently as he conducted his exam. Ten minutes later he was done.

"Well as I'm sure you know you are four months into your pregnancy. I do have some bad news though. Your hips are very narrow and I am not sure how well you will be able to birth this child." He said gathering his bag. "Mrs. Turner I would advise you not to have anymore children after this. No stress and a lot of rest should see you through this pregnancy."

"Thank you Dr. Meadows. I'll let you know if I need anything else." I said walking him downstairs and to the door.

"Good-day Mrs. Turner." He said tipping his hat and then leaving. I shut the door behind him and went about trying to find my father. Ten minutes later I found him in his study upstairs.

"Dr. Meadows just left."

"Ah, what did he say?" He asked closing his book.

"I have only five months left, he is worried about my hips though. He assures me that I'll be able to have this child with little complications, but says that it will be uncomfortable." My father nodded his head and went back to his book. I stayed with him in his study for the rest of the day, reading and enjoying being home.

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