The open window blew the curtains softly against the window pane that drew in from the inside. Will was between sleep and wake, between unconsciousness and reality and the curtain moving against the stationary object made the rustling sound of a rock on the ocean's coast – with its water companion grating back and forth on it's surface. With the spring breeze and soft hollow sounds on the opposite side of the room he was near sleep, almost slipping away, barely there in slumber until….Abigail began to cry.
Elizabeth lifted her head quickly, but her body was slow to follow. She breathed in sharply, lifting the covers from herself, treating them as if they were heavier than they really were. Her feet moved deftly across the rug below and made their way closer to the two cribs at the foot of the bed. As she lifted the crying baby in her arms as she had done so many nights before, her nightgown already began to slip from her shoulder – as if it knew what was coming. She lowered the already plunging neckline and allowed the fussy child to attach herself. Will raised himself on his elbows and yawned, propping his head up on the headboard and looking forward, towards his wife with groggy eyes. She glanced his way at his movement and smiled lazily. As she sat down in the rocking chair, she didn't take her eyes off the window to her left. The moonlight wasn't shining on her, but past her, on the floor in front which made it difficult for Will to see them. He could faintly hear Abigail suckling, her little mouth working so hard to drink while the rest of her attempted to breath and recuperate from crying at the same time. It was some sort of unusual, humbling symphony of the rocking chair against the wood floor, his baby feeding, and the soft rustling of the curtains still brushing the window.
"You've been awake." She said, as she looked down at her daughter, but directing the question to her husband. At first he thought it was a question but noticed her voice didn't rise at the end of her statement.
"Yes." He said, getting up and walking slowly towards them. He momentarily leaned in to Liam's crib to see him sleeping soundly…thankfully. "How did you know? …you were sleeping."
She looked up and shrugged. "I could just tell. I know you well."
Will couldn't help but laugh a little. How could he be so naïve about this woman that he loved so much? "Of course, you know all there is to know when it comes to me."
Elizabeth couldn't help but to keep looking up at him. Now that he was standing almost in front of her with the soft light upon him she could see him, the simplicity of just him. The kind she never got tired of looking at. The sinew of his arms and his chest, the broadness of his shoulders and the slight indentions of the muscles in his stomach, and the usually obscured definition under his hips and just above…
"I'll take her from you now." He said reaching his hands forward
She looked down and blinked a few times and noticed that the baby was finished feeding and was almost starting to slip back to sleep. So, carefully she delivered her into her father's waiting arms. She stood and fastened a couple of bottom buttons on her gown so as to not let it slip any further down her lithe shoulders. As she was about to turn around she felt Will's lips slightly brush her neck.
"You can go back to bed. I'll put her down." He whispered.
She grinned and placed her cheek against his shoulder for a moment before going back towards the disarrayed sheets and covers.
Will patted his large hand on the back of his tiny two month old daughter. Once she expelled a few burps and managed to spill a little on her father's neck, she seemed satisfied enough to doze off in his arms, his quiet humming creating just enough vibration from his chest, to hers – to put her at ease.
Slowly he put her back down into her crib, letting his hand cradle her head and little body, not allowing a sharp movement to disturb her. Once he was sure that her blanket was securely placed, Will straightened his back and ran a hand over his face, clearing his eyes of anything that they could have acquired while he had lain there sleepless, motionless and mysteriously incapable of slumber. He looked to the bed, and then looked to the doorway and back. Should he give it another go? Try and sleep? He just had so many things on his mind…work for one. He needed to go back to work so badly. He and Nathan had been gone, first Nate which had left Will alone, then once Will left that just allowed the work to pile up. And with more and more orders coming in because of the continuing fighting this wasn't the time to let things sit. One of the men who lived in town, Mr. Armstrong owned the bakery near the smithy, and he and his older son kept a watchful eye on the place while the two blacksmiths were away. The baker's younger boy was close to Katie's age and the two men knew of each other because of their children's choice of playmates. By now Nate had returned to work but of course had let Will take time off to help Elizabeth, and now…well he knew he needed to return. Then there was the guilt of leaving his wife here to care for three children, two of them being infants. He sighed. Will's eyes rested on Liam and he smiled. His son still managed to sleep through each time his sister cried – the opposite of Abigail who would begin to wail as soon as her brother opened his mouth. Will's mind turned to his eldest daughter Katie…He went from his bedroom down the hall to the nursery, where the twins would be moved to once they weren't needed to be constantly tended to during the night. He saw Katie lying in her bed, her back turned to him, but her dolls head just barely peaking above the covers over her shoulder. Will could barely see the shine of her blonde curls from where he stood. In three days it would be his and his wife's sixth year anniversary and already his little girl was five years old... half a decade. When he put it that way it almost pained him. Was it that long ago when Elizabeth had given him the news that she was pregnant? She was so scared, he recalled. He also remembered as they both sat outside against the wall and cried – they faced each other in that cool night and wept. Will felt his throat tighten just thinking about it.
"Goodnight Cricket." He said softly before shutting the quietly and turned back towards his bedroom.
With his candle in hand he silent approached the cribs once more. There were his sleeping children, right where he had left them ten minutes before. His children. They had his dark hair, a few curls lifted from the top of their delicate heads and their small hands with their fragile, tiny fingers – each one with a minute little fingernail. And right there, in the dark stillness of his bedroom Will began to cry. At first he was unaware then as he felt the wetness run down his cheek he lifted his hand and wiped away a tear. He was overcome by everything around him. His two daughters, his son, his lovely home he shared with the only woman he had ever loved…it was too much. How did he deserve all of his? Three months ago he was presumed dead, six and a half years ago he had risked everything to go and save Elizabeth's life, fighting and almost dying side by side with Jack Sparrow, and sixteen years ago his future wife had saved him from the open waters from a ship wreck that should have killed him in the first place…Why him?
"Will?"
He turned slowly to see Elizabeth standing beside the bed, coming slowly towards him. He hadn't heard her get up and move the covers, so it had slightly caught him off guard, causing him to look down, unsure if he should be crying or not.
"Will…" She said more definitely now, trying to stable her voice, almost as an example for him to do the same, the maternal quality showing through. Elizabeth took her hands and wrapped them around his upper arms, making sure he knew she was close. "Whats wrong? What is it that's troubling you?" She asked, searching his diverted face.
He looked at her, with his shining eyes showing a smile. "Nothing, nothing in the is troubling me."
Elizabeth tilted her head. "Oh come now…you weren't sleeping, and now you're crying? …please Will, tell me what is on your mind."
Almost abruptly, without hesitation, he grinned and said "Thank you."
"W-what?" she asked quietly.
Tears were still falling, they were running down his face, but still his smile was unmistakably present. "Thank you for…for being you. For being that girl who pulled me out of the water and saved my life, for being that girl who never let me rest on formality when I was around you and let be myself, who left everything she ever knew to run away and be with a blacksmith and turned the other cheek to everyone who doubted us. The girl who loved me so much to give me three beautiful children, and….and just…thank you." Then he leaned forward and embraced her tightly, pressing her into his body, wrapping his arms around her waist and shoulders.
By now, Elizabeth was to the point of crying, but still unsure of what had brought his on…and for the moment, not really letting it matter. What mattered was, right now, her heart was bursting for him. "Oh Will…I…I don't…" Then she closed her eyes and let herself melt into him, let herself feel everything he was feeling. "I love you." She said quietly. Elizabeth pulled apart enough to see his face; she placed her hands on both sides of his tear stained cheeks and looked him squarely in the eye. "I should be the one thanking you….you gave me a life of freedom, you gave me love, you gave me my gorgeous little children…you gave me…everything!" She finished with a tearful laugh.
He smiled again and held her close, their foreheads touching, their eyes closed, their breath intermingled and arms entwined. After a moment she looked up at him again. "And here I was…thinking I knew all about you."
Will laughed and kissed her nose. "Still more than anyone else, love."
She smiled and pressed her head in the crook of his neck, still standing there next to the cribs at the end of their bed and leaned softly into him, her one hand resting on the small of his back while the other toyed with the dark locks of hair that were free from its tie. The window's curtains still billowed softly from the unpretentious breeze that blew in from the east. The rustling sound was the only instrument still accompanying the couple's soft breaths. "Must you go back to work tomorrow?" She asked
Will sighed. "I should…I've been away for so long."
She was silent for a moment, knowing her husband was right and knew the guilt he felt for leaving it all to Nathan lately. "Perhaps, the day after tomorrow, for our anniversary we could all go to the beach." She suggested. "We can get out of the house and you can sort things out at the smithy tomorrow."
Will thought about it for a moment. He knew that Elizabeth was ready to leave the confines of their home on some sort of excursion, no matter how small a trip to the near-by coast was. Katie would love to spend some time with her parents that wouldn't consumed with caring for the babies and it would be the twins first time to see the expanse of the water…even if they weren't old enough to appreciate it all just yet.
He tightened his grip a little and rested his cheek against her forehead. "Hmm…that's a wonderful idea…a day at the beach."
Liz lifted her head and kissed the stubble on his chin. "I knew you'd like it." She let her hands move down and grasp his waist, moving her nails over his skin easily. "Now, let's go to bed." She said with her eye brow slightly raised.
He smiled and moved away from her a little. "Oh Mrs. Turner, you must be patient."
"Why must I?" She quarried, with her full lips now pushing her bottom lip out in mock discontent. "You and I both now I'm perfectly fine." She protested, knowing they had waited long enough after the twins were born.
Will couldn't help but smile mischievously at how he was teasing her. "But not tonight, you said yourself I haven't been sleeping and in two days it's our anniversary – surely you can wait just a little longer."
Now that they had moved to the opposite sides of their beds, Will could see that her shoulders slightly dropped. He felt bad for denying her something he himself had been yearning for the past two months, but he truly was tired and sleeplessness did not agree with him. She moved herself under the covers and he did the same. Elizabeth leaned over to her bedside table and blew out the candle, letting the only light be from the window, the couple let their eyes adjust.
"….but I'm not making any promises about tomorrow." He said with a husky whisper.
She couldn't help but break her composure and giggle.
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The next morning came too soon for Will. Before he had left the house, before he had left his bedroom he stood in the doorway with his hair tied back, his vest buttoned and his boots on prepared to leave – but couldn't bring himself to walk away. Elizabeth was still sleeping in their bed with the covers lying loosely over her hips, which gave her husband another pull in his chest to not leave. Also, the two sleeping babies in the crib were cooing softly in their sleep, unknowingly telling their father to stay. Will sighed and looked down – perhaps if he didn't look at them it would make it easier to make his move towards the stairway.
He took Joby to the forgery, making sure he didn't stay any longer from home than he had to by walking to work like he had usually done. The horse was brisk and antsy to take a trek in the new spring, early morning weather. His tail swished and flicked while he held his tall, broad tan head high in the new sun's rays. Will passed the old tavern and thought of Thomas. He knew that the boy had been staying there ever since he had come back to New Bern. Once he found out that Will wasn't dead, but alive and back at home, the former soldier had solemnly and with such conviction apologized to Will and Elizabeth that it was hard for Will to stay angry with him. Sure, he had lied to his wife and broken her heart – but it was unknowingly done so, and with the best intentions in mind. So since then, Will had paid for Thomas' room and board, and now that two months had passed he wondered how he was getting along. By trade, before the war, Thomas had been an apprentice in his father's cobbler shop. So now, with no job to speak of Will knew that the boy was spending most of his days at the beach or talking to the loose women who hung around the harbor, taking his time with being alone, with being himself without the red and white uniform.
Will knew he would be at the smithy before Nate was even awake back at home, so he deiced to get done as much as he could and possibly finish up some of his neighbor's projects. The first thing he noticed as he walked through the unlatched, large, wooden door was the unmistakable smell. Coal, wood, hay, the aroma of leather and the dense smell of smoke all wafted through the large open room. It was almost like an old memory coming back to him, one that had been gone from his life but was familiar and belonged to him none-the-less. He walked over to the wall that held all his tools. Will drew a finger across his hammer, over the axe, along the prongs that held the smoldering metal. He couldn't help but feel like he was greeting and old friend. With a drawn out look across the room, Will undid the buttons on the front of his vest and took it off. He brushed the hay and bits of dirt off of the nearby table and lay his vest down neatly, smiling at himself knowing he never would have thought about keeping his vest tidy before marrying Elizabeth. Each sleeve he rolled up to his elbows and tucked the loose material underneath. Soon he had his mallet in hand, gripping the thick wooden handle with nimble fingers; the other hand held the prongs with secured the long, dense piece of metal in place on the anvil. He poised the instrument just above the unshapely thing and calculated his first impact… just to the right corner, flatten the sides then go for the middle to make sure the thickness stays consistent, he thought. Will brought down the mallet in once swift, heavy blow which made the CLANK sound reverberate around the rafters.
"OooAhhh!!" Then a resounding thud.
Will stopped immediately. He left the prongs on the anvil and kept the mallet in his hand, still raised to eye level. Turning quickly to where the noise had come from he walked around the forge to see the back of the shop. To his surprise he found a disoriented old friend sprawled out on the ground, below a makeshift bed of chairs.
"Jack Sparrow…you're the last person I'd ever expect to find here." Will said with a spreading grin.
Jack raised his head and squinted to clear his vision. "Why mate, I've ambushed you in your shop before." He rolled his upper body forward, attempting to stand only to fall on his back again. Instead he raised his hand and pointed many ringed finger towards the man standing above him. "…and its Captain."
Will extended a hand and lifted a staggering Jack up to his feet and put two hands on his shoulders to steady the Captain's sea legs….or drunkenness. "I would hardly call this an ambush, Jack. By the way, what are you doing in my shop?"
The roguish pirate gave his signature grin and a flourish of his hand. "I came wif a proposition." He slurred.
Will couldn't help but laugh a little bit. He hadn't heard or seen anything from Jack Sparrow in over two years, and even then it was because he had stopped in New Bern (quite out of his way) to 'acquire' another shipment of rum. The whole visit, Will learned later was to ask for a bit of Will's share of the gold, because he had already frittered his share away, and to have a bit of fun in the brothel next to the tavern on the other side of town. "What could it be this time?" he asked, not really in the least bit interested.
Jack found his hat on floor where he had been previously been lying and plopped it on his head. Will walked back around to the front of the shop, putting the mallet next to the retired anvil, for the moment. Jack let his eyes wander to the array of finished and gilded swords hanging on the wall, to the nicely repaired silver belt buckle, and freshly polished jewelry box with new pinned hinges. "Well you see…" He said, still not taking his eyes off of the shining objects. "….It's quite simple." Then he paused, in the way Jack always does when he knows he has the floor and his listener's attention. "How would you like to live forever?"
Will looked to him skeptically. "Live forever? …Jack, it's impossible."
"Nothing's impossible, mate." He grinned. "I've got a map." He said, patting his chest with the pocket. "And I've got a ship."
"You mean Anna hasn't tried to steal it yet?" Will laughed.
Jack threw him a look. "Ah…well…she's tried." He said, attempting to be nonchalant. "But I'm Captain Jack Sparrow…the Pearl will always come back to me, and so does my girl."
Will shook his head good naturedly. "Right…well, you've got a map and you've got a ship but how is this going to make you live forever did you say?"
"Now you're asking the right questions!" Said the pirate, as he leaned against the wall. Jack reached into his jacket and pulled out a roughly painted picture of a map. As he held it up for Will to see, he noticed that he lines formed the outline of the Colonies. "The Fountain of Youth, mate…" He said as he indicated the tip of the Spanish territory of Florida with his finger. "How could you pass it up?"
Will nodded his head slightly, seeing the Captain's explanations. "Well…" He said as he walked towards him. "A bit like this…" Then he took the parchment from the pirate's hands, rolled it back up nicely, then placed back into his friends palm. "No thanks." Will simply said with a smile.
Jack stood there slightly aghast. "Wha -?"
Will picked up the mallet and took the unfinished work and began to pound away at it once more. "You heard me, Jack. I'm not interested."
"Pff…married life made you soft. What about Elizabeth?" He said, knowing that mentioning her might make him reconsider. "Shouldn't you ask her what she thinks?" Jack went a bit closer to the blacksmith who continued to work diligently. "She won't look beautiful forever you know? ….not unless we find this fountain."
Will shook his head and grinned. "Maybe not to you. And besides Jack, the only reason I went with you the first time was to save her life, remember?"
Jack stood silent there for a moment and fingered his mustache, mulling over every direction he could go to get this man's attention, then… "Your father is interested." He saw the blacksmith pause. "He's coming with us."
Will turned and looked at Jack directly. "Did he come with you here…?" He asked, almost hesitating.
Jack nodded.
"But not to come visit me?" He asked very flatly
The pirate shrugged, knowing the answer was no but reluctant to say it.
Will looked down. He was silent for a moment, letting his mallet rest at his side. The heat from the forge in front of him was beginning to gain momentum and was now burning heavily. The sweat from Will's forehead that had begun to bead moments before was now falling to the flagstone floor. Then suddenly he turned away and began to hammer again, harder than ever. "Well it makes no difference. We're not coming with you."
Jack sighed, wishing now he hadn't brought the boy's father into this.
"Listen, Bootstrap never meant to do ya any harm you know he –"
Will turned again and faced him. "Jack, you don't have to do the explaining for him. I know that he is a pirate. He's not a husband, he's not a father, he's not a merchant sailor, and he's not….he's not a bad person…he's just – a pirate, and that's all I expect him to be. But that's never what I wanted for myself. And besides…" He said, with a slow shrug. "If he wants to go and find the Fountain of Youth, that's his decision, it doesn't affect me."
Jack, for once, couldn't find a way around, through or under and argument. He nodded and leaned against the wall once more. Will made sure that Jack wasn't going to retort before he turned and hammered again. They both stood there like that, away and silent from each other for what seemed like half an hour. Jack kept eyeing the pretty things on the wall, thinking to himself how he could slip one of those swords behind his back without the blacksmith knowing, while Will was contemplating how to leave this conversation with Jack mended and not so unresolved.
"Did you just come to tell me about the Fountain?" He asked, making sure it wasnt for money again.
Jack tore his eyes from the sword that was second from the right, his favored his decided, and faced Will. "Well…yes. We thought we would give you the offer."
"My father and you?"
Jack nodded again, unwillingly making it seem as if Bootstrap was avoiding his son. "He still loves ya, ya know? …for some reason. Once he found you, and he knew you were alright – what with your new family and all he thought it best to leave you be."
Will thought for a moment and put himself in his father's place, in the same frame of mind that he himself might be in if he was in his position, and soon concluded that he couldn't blame him. "I understand." He mumbled.
Jack was relieved that Will wasn't still angry – or at least as mad as he was a moment ago. He was getting stuffy in this old smithy, not outside or somewhere with some clean air, and…an easy getaway. "So!" Jack said, jumping up and putting a hand on Will's shoulder. "If you're not coming with us then, will you at least tell me if there's any other whelps that ya know of, who might be interested in a bit of piracy? You can't let me leave empty handed…" Then his eyes wandered back to the rack on the wall. "Perhaps a token of our friendship? He hinted.
Will smiled and shook his head. "Those aren't mine to give away." He said. "But I might know of man who could join your crew."
As disappointed as Jack was he took Will up on his lesser offer. So he inched back up against the wall, his hands very naturally behind his back.
"Go to the tavern and ask for a man named Thomas Porter. He's a good bloke; he'll do any job you ask of him…not too good when it comes to fighting though…" Will smiled ironically at the thought of Thomas in battle again, this time on a ship, no where to cower off to. "But he'd be keen on an adventure."
Jack grinned and started to back his way towards the door. "Right. Will do, then."
Just about that time the doors opened and Nathan walked in, quite surprised to see Jack Sparrow near the doorway and Will standing near the forge. "Uh…Jack" He nodded in acknowledgement.
Jack grinned. "Ello mate, I was just leaving."
"Right." Nate, said, still a bit perplexed.
"William, dear William" Jack announced in his naturally theatrical way. "It was lovely to see you. So sorry you wont be joining us, but give my regards to Lizzie won't you? I'm sure she's been missing me, and of course to the little whelp."
Will smiled and couldn't help but laugh…that was Jack Sparrow alright. He decided not to tell him that the Turner family had grown substantially since his last visit. "I will Jack. And would you – could you give my regards to my father and tell him – no hard feelings."
Jack nodded. Then he turned and faced Nathan, keeping a safe distance away from him, then slid out the door and went quickly from the pair's view around the corner.
"He's such an odd fellow…" Nate said as he stepped inside.
The blonde headed man took off his jacket and laid it next to Will's vest. He too then rolled up his sleeves and examined which tools he needed to take from their place on the wall. "It's good to see you back Will" He said, throwing a smile over his shoulder.
Will did the same, still pounding away at the metal below him. "Good to be back."
Nate took down the hammer and inspected it to make sure it was the right weight he needed, then he went over to the rack of swords and paused seeing the empty space where one of his projects should have been, second from the right.
"What? I swore I put it right here…"
Will smiled without turning around and knew exactly what Nathan was referring to. "He may be odd, but he knows how to wait for the opportune moment."
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"Mama! Mama, look!" Said Katy as she bounced her way up the sand towards her mother, a few tiny shells gripped in her hand.
Liz leaned forward, sure to give her daughter her undivided attention. "Oh, what is it dearest?"
Katy pulled at a bit of twine between her thumb and forefinger, extending the shells and showing her off a beautiful, carefully made shell necklace. Her face beamed as she held it up for her mother to inspect.
"How lovely!" She exclaimed, fingering the small white ornaments.
"Papa showed me how to make it. He made one for you too." She said excitedly.
Just then Will appeared behind her, scooping her up in his arms and turning Katy on her side. "Shhhh, you rascal, you weren't suppose to say anything."
The little girl spoke through her growing giggles. "I'm sorry Papa, I forgot!"
"That's alright; I'll forgive you this time." He teased. Then he put her back down, letting her run off towards the gently rolling waves once more.
Liz lifted herself from her propped up elbows and called towards her. "Not too far in dearest. Stay Close!"
Elizabeth lay back down but glanced at the two sleeping babies in the bassinettes next to her in the shade, she placed one hand on Abigail's cheek to check if she was too warm but was soon satisfied to find that both the twins seemed to be content. An hour before Will and herself had taken both of them to the edge of the water and let their tiny little feet kiss the waves. They had cooed and giggled, with their large brown eyes staring up at their parents, the wisps of brown hair blowing in the salty breeze. With all this new excitement, Liz was hoping they would take a good solid nap now. Will had told her when he arrived home so late last night that he would've been home soon if Jack Sparrow hadn't have graced him with his presence. Of course she was curious for what reason the pirate had for such a random visit. He explained the proposition that Jack had given him and how he hadn't considered it in the least. Elizabeth was slightly relieved that Will turned him down of course, but also that Jack wouldn't be here, swaggering around during their lovely anniversary day at the beach. Its true, she hadn't seen Jack in a couple of years, and she had wondered what had become of him, but it was more of a curiosity than worry…and a Fountain of Youth – it didn't strike much of an interest.
Will plopped down next to his wife, leaning against his elbows and smiled at her. Then, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a slightly larger version of the same necklace that Katy had presented moments earlier. "Happy Anniversary" he said, as he held it out to her.
Elizabeth feigned an over joyous surprise. "Oh Will, you shouldn't have!" She placed her hand over her mouth and gasped, which was followed by a true fit of giggles.
Will couldn't help but laugh. "Do you remember when I would make these for you when we were younger?"
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Of course, almost every time we went to the beach I would come home with shell necklaces or shell bracelets. I'm sure I could have started my own shell jewelry showcase!"
He grinned and placed the necklace over her chest, drawing the strings behind her neck and tying them securely together. He let his hand linger there for a moment, before brushing her shoulder as he drew it back. "You know…I would keep bits of string in my pocket for weeks, ready for the chance when I would see you again."
"You didn't…" she said, teasing him.
"I swear." He said as he lifted his hand in innocence. "But once your father forbade us to see each other so freely…well…I guess you could have had your shell showcase and I could have started a string museum." He laughed, putting his hands behind his head and resting there on the sand.
Liz shifted herself a bit lower and laid her head on her husbands shoulder and chest, letting his arm curl around her back. "Where did you learn to be so romantic?" she grinned.
Will gave a smug smile. "Well it comes naturally really, what can I say?"
She playfully slapped his chest and leaned up slightly, raising her face to meet his. She smiled into his lips and just as they were about to kiss they heard someone calling.
"Oi! You two, don't you have somewhere to go for all that?"
Both of them jumped up and brushed the sand off their clothes to see the Pearl passing the beach a hundred or so yards out. Jack was standing near the helm with his arms outstretched at his question.
"Don't you ever mind your own business Jack?" Will shouted with a smile spreading across his face.
"My business is everyone's' business mate…Ello, there Lizzie" He shouted with a bit more forced baritone in his voice.
She merely waved and gave a short reply. "Hi Jack. Good to see you."
He gave an exaggerated bow from the Pearl's decks and she couldn't help but roll here eyes.
Just then Will saw Thomas come into view and next to him was…Bill. Thomas gave a hurried, excited wave, and what he first noticed was the worn cotton trousers and old, overworked brown shirt he donned so proudly. And his father raised his hand to wave so hesitantly Will thought he was never going to make a move. Smiling, both Turner's returned the greeting with Bill, who immediately smiled back and waved with more fervor.
"Are you sure you're not comin'?" Jack asked as the Pearl was beginning to pull away.
Elizabeth looked up to Will who gave her a knowing grin. "Not all treasure is silver and gold, you know!"
Jack lifted up the map in his hand and pointed to it in the air. "No mate, this time its life!"
Will glanced behind him and saw the two still bassinettes that held his two tiny babies; he looked over at Katy who stared so mesmerized at the ship, her blonde curls blowing in the breeze while her little blue dress – all wet from playing in the water clung to her legs. Then finally he looked to his wife, Elizabeth who wrapped her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's always been life Jack! …A life with love, that's all any of us can ask for."
And with that the Pearl was gone behind the cove of rocks and out of sight.
Elizabeth turned towards him and brushed a bit of sand that was still on his cheek. He grinned and touched hers in return. "Where were we….My blacksmith?" She breathed into him. Her hand rested on his neck while the other placed itself firmly on his chest. Will drew his arms around her, pulling her closer into him and felt her hair brush his face. And they kissed a simple, yet meaningful kiss. Their bare feet were sinking in the wet sand below them while her dress caught the wind and drew it behind her, and the sun settled slowly behind the glass like water.
They kissed.
Now, are you ready for this? THAT, my friends was the last 'real' chapter to this story. I know, I know, I can feel your heartache from here. But...I've decided that there will be one or two bits after this - sort of a prologue (can it still be a prologue if its more than one chapter?) anywho, it will kind of show you a glimpse in their life a few years later. Then, hopefully I'll be satisfied enough to quit. You'd hope so after a combined 76 chapters!
You guys are awesome!