The roaring fire mere feet away could not warm the icy air that surrounded the uninvited guests and surrounded the room. The men sat in the living room, quite relaxed considering the situation, as they sipped tea and lay their feet on nearby pieces of furniture. Elizabeth sat on the sofa next to Will with her arm around Katie who was nuzzled between them. The little girl had been roused but soon fell soundly asleep once the commotion had died down and her eyes grew heavy. The only noises were the crackling flames, cups quietly clanking against the saucers and an occasional cough from one of the troops. Will sat in stoic silence, he was burning with rage and itching with the dread of what may come next for him and his family. Elizabeth didn't say a word either. Once she had come downstairs to find her husband in a very unpredictable circumstance she demanded to know what was going on. When she was informed, she caught a look from Will that meant to her 'go along'…and so she did, quite reluctantly.

"Enough of this Mr. Turner! Can we not be civil? …Come and share a drink with me and my men, we shall talk!" Said one of the Generals. His tri-cornered hat was placed neatly on the table in front of him; his golden tassels were gleaming in the firelight.

Will clenched his teeth unnoticed and nodded hesitantly. "Very well then."

The soldier smiled and gestured to Elizabeth. "Lady, be so kind as to get us a few cups of ale?"

Elizabeth looked to Will; he nodded with an apologetic gaze. So Liz stood, laying Katie's head on the pillow, replacing her lap, and went quickly into the kitchen. She removed 5 mugs from the cupboard and went to the locked cabinet for the strong liquor. Elizabeth moved with deft hands, trying as swiftly as she could to deliver what the man had ordered. As soon as the stopper was released from the neck of the bottle, the smell of the pungent liquid reached her nostrils. Her eyes began to water and she practically ran to the back door. Liz threw open the latch and leaned over the doorframe to wretch on the ground below her. After a moment she leaned up, wiping her mouth with the side of her sleeve. She straightened her apron and quietly closed the door just in time to see Will come into the room with haste…a soldier right behind him.

"Elizabeth?" He said, coming to her. "I heard the door bang open, what was the matter?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. I merely saw a field mouse. He's in his rightful place outside now, nothing to worry about."

The soldier behind her husband gave an exasperated sigh and turned on his heel back to the living room. The couple could hear him tell his companions of the silly escapades they had sent him to check on. Once he had left, Will turned back to Elizabeth and gave her a quizzical look.

"Nothing? …You look so pale." He said as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I know this was not expected. I'm going to talk to them, if that's what's got you worried.

Again Elizabeth shook her head. She turned from him and began to poor the ale in the empty cups, again the smell caught her off guard and she made a mad dash for the door. Once more her retching consumed her and Will immediately followed her and went to her side.

"Liz…Liz what's wrong? ….Are you –"

"What is it this time?" Said another officer as he barged in the room. A different once than the last, his whole bulky frame blocked out the light from the adjacent room. He saw the young woman, halfway leaned out the door and her husband knelt beside her, hand on her back and he gave the couple a skeptical stare. "Another field mouse I suppose, ey?"

Will grit his teeth and tried not to raise his voice too much at the soldier. "My wife is ill. You're shouting isn't helping anything. If you go out with your companions, we'll be out with your drinks shortly."

The red coat rolled his eyes and sauntered back where he came from. Will again looked down at his wife, noticed the wave of unpleasantness had passed and walked her over the to the table, this time forcing her to look at him and not at the task at hand.

"That stench set you off, did it?" He said glancing at the bottle behind her. He knew why this nausea has been brought on…He had noticed 2 mornings ago as well. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, eyes pleading.

Liz began to cry. Her eyes were already watering from the heaves and now she didn't attempt to hold them back, but she managed to keep herself in check. "I wasn't sure. I didn't want to tell you if I wasn't sure…but now – now I cant deny that I am with child."

Will's mind flashed, just a few months after Katie was born. Elizabeth hadn't even made it to her fifth month of pregnancy before the baby was rejected – miscarried by no reason or default of their own. It had been a devastating blow for them, knowing that another child was on its way – another member to the family, then having that child being taken from them just as quickly. Mrs. Yates had said it is a common occurrence, that Elizabeth was to be assured it happened to many women and it may not be her last. For a time Liz refused Will's touch saying that 'What if it happens again? What if another life is created then taken? I don't know if I can endure it.'. Will felt the same, but he wanted to comfort his wife, the woman he loved more than anything in the world. So the previous year they had tried…tried to no avail. Every month Elizabeth's cycle came and every month no baby was to come. Until now.

He hugged her; he embraced her tightly, so very lovingly that the tears came more steadily to his wife's eyes.

"I don't…I don't know what is to be done…" She wept. "We've prayed and…we've hoped and now we have - but it's going to be so hard."

Will did not speak, he let her cry and sob onto his shoulder, merely stroking her head and slightly rocking her like a distraught child.

"I want this baby…I am happy Will…but I am so scared."

He kissed her hair; he kissed her cheek and finally her sweet pouted lips. "I know love. But I am here, and everything will be alright. Everything."

Although those words were everyday implied and occasionally spoken, it always gave comfort to the couple that had been through so much together. She knew it was true: That Will would do everything in his power to ensure that things would turn out for the best. And that it was her duty to stay strong and endure for his sake and her own. Elizabeth nodded and quickly wiped the tears with her apron. Will silently kissed her on the cheek again in an assurance that things would be taken care of. He took the ale in his hand and poured the liquid in the mugs, which Elizabeth turned away held her breath refraining from reenacting the events in the doorway, as her husband placed them on a tray and steadily took them into the living room. Elizabeth followed closely and gracefully behind. Will sat the tray down in from of the General and took his place on the sofa once more.

"Well I'm glad to see those damn field mice didn't drink it all!" he chuckled, taking a long look at Elizabeth who was busying herself with her sleeping daughter's comfort. The only response his little jest made was the laughing of his men. The Turner's sat stiffly opposite of him.

The men all took a mug and downed it heavily. The General, Graham as they men called him sat in reference. His eyes roamed the room around him as well as the owners of the house. "I see how it is." He said with a slight smile. "You want to get down to business…" The man leaned forward in his chair, causing Will's muscles to involuntarily tighten. "I'm sure you're wondering why we're here."

Will leaned forward as well, closing the gap. "Its crossed my mind a few times…sir."

The General gave him an easy smile. "I've been watching you William Turner…You're a blacksmith by trade. You're business partner is Nathan Harrington. He's also a good friend of yours, and his wife Lucy I suppose as well. You live a quiet life. You spend as much time at your workshop as you do at home. You refrain from attending any rallies and for the most part avoid any connection the to present 'political' situation. Elizabeth, your wife here, is the daughter of Governor Swann….though….I'm not quite certain what your background may be. It is of no matter to us, all we care to know is where your loyalties lie. And as the son-in-law of a colonial governor and a hardworking man I assumed that this, of all the places within the North Carolina harbor, was the safest to inhabit."

When he finished, Will noted that his tone was smooth, as if the information he had conveyed was nothing more than simple, conversational talk. It's true that this man had observed him and his family for a time, but he said a silent prayer that his own past was unknown to these men.

"Very impressive." Will replied after a moment. "You seem to have gotten my family and I all figured out…but, sir, you have failed to mention why you have come here."

"Location Mr. Turner." He said, with his hands clasped together sitting respectfully across his lap. "For a time your home will serve as our base, here in the colony of North Carolina." General Graham sat back once more in the plush chair. " Be proud! Be proud that you are serving the King's men for the betterment of your country."

Will sat, looking at this slightly pompous man who had recently taken over his home. He stared at the soldiers around him: All fairly young, all tired and haggard from their long journey across the sea and across this land. A couple of them were already passed out from exhaustion on the chairs around him. He felt no need to fight with them. There was nothing he could do about the situation…for now. For time being he would have to house these men, take them into his home and give them care under his roof.

Will stood, causing him to draw the attention to everyone in the room. He went around the corner and to the linen closet. He came back with an arm full of blankets and threw them on the floor next to the General's chair. Then he went to his wife and daughter, picking up Katie and taking her in his arms like a sleeping babe. Elizabeth stood by his side with her hand unnoticed on his back behind him for unspoken support.

"My family and I will retire for the evening gentlemen. Make yourself at home here in my house. I pray you will find our accommodations applicable…Goodnight."

The Turner's turned and made their way out of the living room, into the cold, dank foyer before Will's name was called. He turned to see the General with his glass raised and a smile on his lips.

"I knew you'd come around ol' boy! You're a true Englishman. You're doing a real service! Who knows, I could make a fine soldier out of you."

Will shook his head and spoke reverently. "I try to refrain from fighting sir…as you yourself said, it doesn't fit my life style…"

Elizabeth couldn't help but give an ironic smile.