Later that morning while William had dozed off, Elizabeth noticed in the pile of clothes discarded on the floor from the previous night that her shawl was missing. She remembered that in the midst of their passion, Liz had left it at the Mayfield's home. She quickly got dressed and went over to the bed where Will held the pillow over his head. Elizabeth almost woke him up but hesitated for she knew how exhausted he must be, for she was beginning to feel the effects of their sleepless night. Instead she wrote him a short note, telling him where she had gone and that she would be home shortly. The house had not begun to stir yet as Elizabeth made her way downstairs. One of the windows was open in the foyer and she could feel the cool breeze blowing through the curtains. The sunlight shone through and cast a light glow throughout the high roofed room. The new, slightly warmer weather made Liz smile unknowingly, opting her to walk instead of take the carriage. It wasn't a long walk to the Mayfield's for Port Royal wasn't a very large town. She approached the large mansion with some apprehensiveness remembering the few times she had been a guest there. George would always take her inside immediately, never wanting to stay outdoors longer than he had to…never wanting to bronze his perfect white skin, never wanting to be misunderstood as a common field worker. Liz watched her feet below her carry her further up the drive. Her mind wandered to Will – how his hands were rough from work and his skin was tanned from the sun and hard labor. She loved everything about him and his adventurous spirit. Before she reached the door Elizabeth prayed that George would be gone, more often than not he would go out drinking with his friends after a large social gathering such as the one the night before. She knocked on the door and was soon greeted by their butler who invited her in, knowing who she was. Mr. And Mrs. Mayfield was nowhere to be seen as Elizabeth scanned the rooms before her. But a familiar face caught her attention at the top of the stairs…George.

"Elizabeth." He stated, trying to hide the surprise in his voice. "To what do I owe this blessed visit once again?"

She gave him a polite smile and didn't pause for him to throw more flattery at her. "My shawl, I seemed to have left it here last night."

George's eyes slightly narrowed as he regained some of the swagger, leaning against the banister of the last stair. "Ah yes, you left in such a hurry I thought something was the matter."

Elizabeth shook her head with wide innocent eyes. "No, nothing was the matter – I merely felt a bit ill and Will suggested we retire for the evening."

"I see… Well if you wanted to stay and have a little more fun, you should have told me so and I would have handled that for you, talked to him or whatnot." He said, resting his hand on the inside of his rich, burgundy robe.

Elizabeth's eyebrow held a slight arch. "He's my husband, you know George." She said, knowing exactly what he was trying to say.

"I'm aware." He said in a slightly lower voice, stepping towards her. "How unfortunate it is…"

"Only for you." She retorted with her jaw square. Elizabeth stepped back and turned her head away, unable to hold his intense stare. "My shawl…if you please."

George snorted and went to the closet in the foyer where he pulled out her ivory shawl. He put it up to his nose gently before looking right at her and filling his nostrils with her scent. Elizabeth sighed impatiently and reached quickly for the garment, before George pulled it away with a coy smile. "I'd hate for you to walk home alone on this chilly morning, sweeting."

Again, Elizabeth's back tensed as her eyes narrowed on his smug face. "If you would ever return my shawl to me the walk would not be so unpleasant." Then she stepped to him, her head slightly tilted back so he could see her teeth gritted as she spoke. "And please, don't ever refer to me as your 'sweeting' again. Such loving endearments are reserved for husbands and fathers – two things which you're not."

George's anger was rising, his gray eyes burning and his skin burning even more for the closeness of his former love was beginning to have an affect on him. "My apologies…but really, I insist you must at least take my carriage home."

Elizabeth was running out of patience for this man, but she knew that if she kept turning George down, he would come at her even stronger. She decided to accept his offer of a ride home, hoping that would quell his desire for her closeness, and then leave her alone.

"Yes, alright. Have it you're way."

Elizabeth knew that the Mayfield's owned more than one buggy, in fact it was rumored they were wealthier than the governor himself. They were plantation owners with as many slaves as money could by – a business, which Elizabeth always held contempt for. So it was to her slight astonishment, and apparent disappointment that George prepared the only carriage he owned with only one bench on the inside – for him to sit with her. She kept her eyes straight forward during the ride, her hands placed in her lap with her ankles crossed – obviously rigid to his company. George stared at her and smiled with a chuckle. "I do believe this husband of yours has broken your spirit, has he not? I don't remember my Elizabeth being so stiff."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, trying so hard not to let his mockery get a rise out of her.

"What's wrong Lizzy?" He said, moving closer to her, his finger touching her cheek. "I'm not going to bite."

She turned from him quickly and put her back to the opposite side of the carriage so he was in her full view. "Don't." She said with a short, heated tone in her voice. It was commanding and caught the brazen man off guard.

He smiled playfully in her direction, moving even closer to her. Elizabeth's breathing became harder when he neared, his face growing close to her own. "Elizabeth…" He breathed.

She pushed him from her and turned her head from him, trying everything she could to make him keep his distance. Her knees went up to push him away but with his other hand he pushed her leg down. Finally her hand flew up as she hit him in the shoulder, then the chest then raised it again to slap him in the face but he caught her hand by the wrist and froze her. His eyes saw a glimpse of the scar on her palm and he looked at her with questioning eyes. "Did you're beloved husband do that to you?" He asked harshly.

Liz pulled her hand from his grasp forcefully and pushed him back to his side of the carriage before facing forward again, her eyes set forward and her face in a determined, frustrated stare. When the carriage slowed, Elizabeth gathered her skirts to get out but George saw his last chance of talking to her, slip away – so he took her hand in his and put it to his chest. "Elizabeth, wait I –"

She pulled her hand from him once again and jumped out of the carriage and faced him. His eyes were pleading, waiting for her to say something. Herface was hard, staring at him, knowing he hadn't gotten the hint since the moment she spoke to him the day before. "Leave me alone!"

"Elizabeth! You and I…we were meant for each other. Remember all the time we spent together?" His tone was different, more soft and caring but Liz knew how he was, how he liked to manipulate and always get what he wanted, and wanted things he couldn't have.

"You do not know me, sir." She replied shortly before slamming the door in his face. She stood there and watched the look of a heartbroken man through the window of the carriage as it drove off. The sound of the gravel on the wooden wheels fading as it went down her drive. Elizabeth sighed and wrapped the recovered shawl around her shoulders before turning and going in the large house.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Will heard the door front door shut down stairs, he rolled over with a grunt and saw the light of the early morning still pouring through the bay windows in Elizabeth's old bedroom, the room which they had made love in the whole night through. He heard the crinkle of paper below his arm and found a note lying on the bed next to him. He smiled, reading his wife's writing and feeling that nagging in his stomach, wanting to kiss her good morning just as he had done every day. Instead he sat up and stretched with a yawn, he scratched his head and stood up – finding his trousers on the ground. Will slipped them on, went to the water basin and washed his face before going down the hall to the nursery where his little daughter lay. Katie was awake and squirming around in her blanket and swaddling clothes. Will bent down and picked her up, cradling her best he could.

"You're mother is much better at this." He told her.

The little girl looked up at him, watching as his mouth moved.

"But I have a feeling you're going to be around with us for quite sometime, so I might need to get used to it." He smiled down at her.

Will kissed her forehead and nose, while her little hand grasped his finger tightly. She turned her head and put his finger to her mouth and sucked it. Will sighed and bounced the little girl in his arms gently. "You're hungry… Well I can't help you with that. We'll have to wait till mummy gets home."

As he held baby Katherine so close to him, he could feel her chest rise and fall against his own bare chest. And if he tried hard enough he could feel the pulsating of her tiny heart on his skin. Her skin was so smooth, so white and pure. He wanted to give her everything, to never let her be harmed or face danger. This baby in his arms was half of him and half of his wife, his true love, Elizabeth. To him Kate couldn't be any less perfect…even if she did cry at all hours of the night. The governor walked by the open door to see Will shirtless, holding his baby girl, rocking her gently. It was a heartwarming scene but slightly bold for the elder man, wanting everyone to be fully clothed when walking around the house. He cleared his throat, which caught Will's attention.

"Good morning William."

"G-Good morning Governor…" replied Will, his presence threw him off, but not enough for him to miss the small look of disapproval the governor threw his way before walking down the stairs. Will knew Weatherby wasn't saying something to him; his dislike for the man who married his daughter without his blessing was now staying in his house. He decided to talk to him about it. Will lay Katie back down in her crib and gave her one last soft kiss on her head before going quickly to his bedroom, throwing on a shirt and buttoning it up as fast as he could while going downstairs. He found his father-in-law sitting at his desk reading some papers. He knocked on the doorframe for the Governor to look up.

"Come in." He said, lowering his reading glasses. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Will took a deep breath, drawing in his confidence. "Yes sir, I know there is something that you've been wanting to say to me…and its been left unsaid for too long. I'm here to talk with you Governor."

The elder man sighed and stood up from his desk and walked around to the front to face Will. "Do you want to know what I really think of you Mr. Turner?"

Will nodded, remembering to hold his head high.

"I liked you, I took you in for a time when you were a boy. I got you an apprenticeship at the smithy, you always held a sense of decorum around your elders and you always seemed to know your place in society…until now."

Will shifted slightly where he stood and slipped his hands in his pockets, his eyes were fixed on the Governor, knowing he had more to say.

"When Elizabeth was kidnapped on that dreadful day, I even admired your courage for speaking to the Commodore… rest his soul. But when you two came back and began to court I thought a heart attack was the only way for me to put an end to my worry. Then when I realized you had run off with my daughter, and I received a letter from her, saying you too had eloped I had never been so heart broken since my wife's death. I don't think you realize how you have indefinitely affected my life Mr. Turner."

Will nodded solemnly, and waited to see if the Governor was going to continue, instead he found himself speaking.

"Sir, I know we have caused you much heart ache and worry, and I am sincerely sorry. But you must know that I have a love for Elizabeth that is greater than any explanation I can give…and it is returned." Will paused and looked to the elder man who was listening intently. "If Elizabeth's or your honor has been compromised by our actions in any way then I am in debt to you. But know that our marriage was a right and pure act. One made out of love and not circumstance, as some might think." Will's speech became bolder and his voice was stronger with even more conviction coming through. "But please sir, find it in your heart to hold no grudge against me. For the only offence I have given you is loving your daughter when it was not in my birthright. For who can choose who we love….?"

Weatherby was impressed with the boy's speech. He thought for a moment, realizing he had held a childish grudge against the man that held his only daughter's affections. He let out a deep breath and set down his glasses on the desk behind him. Will watched him intently, wanting to know what he thought. The Governor looked to Will then stuck out his hand. Will looked to his father-in-law and back to his outstretched hand, then shook it with a growing smile. "Welcome to our family William."

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Elizabeth opened the door to her fathers home slowly, knowing it was still morning and her daughter and husband could still be sleeping. She went up the stairs and immediately to the nursery. Her father and Will were in there, working on what seemed to be parts of a rocking chair.

"What's all this?" She questioned with a smile.

Will jumped up and dusted off his hands before going to his wife and kissing her squarely on the mouth. "Good morning." He smiled.

"It's almost afternoon." She corrected him with a giggle.

"I know." He shrugged. "But I missed it this morning."

The Governor stood up with a little more difficulty than Will and presented a half put together chair. "This is for you my dear. So you can come and visit me with your family anytime you want. There will always be a place for you." He beamed.

"Thank you father." She said, moving from Will's embrace to the arms of her father as she gave him a kiss on his cheek. She parted herself from him and glanced to Will who was still smiling. She gave both of the men a quizzical look. "And Will is welcome as well…?"

"Of course." Said Weatherby. "I said 'family' and Will is family now."

Elizabeth smiled and kissed her father quickly on the cheek then went to Will and jumped in his arms peppering him with kisses as well. "I'm so glad you're my husband." She said in his neck.

Will laughed, wondering why she had said such a nonsensical thing, but enjoyed it non-the less. "What a coincidence." He said, holding her close. "I'm ecstatic to be your husband."

"How were the Mayfield's spirits this morning?" Weatherby asked, engaging in chair once again.

Elizabeth cleared her throat, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "I didn't see them, they were still in bed. But I talked to George briefly…"

"Oh?" questioned her father, knowing their past he was eager to find out what was said.

"Yes, he offered to take me home and I felt silly refusing such a helpful suggestion..." She said smiling, trying to convince herself that nothing had really happened.

"George…that's the same bloke you courted?" Will asked, leaning against the nursery wall.

Elizabeth nodded, walking over to the crib and taking Katie in her arms. "It is." She paused for a moment, watching her daughter stare up at her; she smiled upon her little face and tiny hands, outstretched. Will watched her, she was more sobering than usual, and she had become reserved once the subject of George had come up. "Liz…are you alright?" He asked once he had gone to her, not wanting the Governor, who was enamored with the building of the chair, to hear his worried tone.

She looked up at him and gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes I'm fine… but if he comes around be polite, be courteous, be generous, but don't leave him alone with me." She said, her eyes with a glimmer of sadness and her voice so rich with emotion.

Will nodded and held her close to him, also feeling Kate's little hand on his face. He held them both there wanting to keep any harm from coming to them. Forever and always.