Like he told his wife he would the previous night, Bill gathered up everyone except for Aidan who was keeping Will entertained, and brought them all into the library. For some reason, they always had their big and important discussions in the library. It was supposed to be a room of content and peace, but they always seemed to make it into a room of dread. He looked them all over. The children were piled on the sofa and Charlotte on the right side and Colleen on the left. Alexander was sitting on the arm of the sofa. Richard sat in the chair with his morning cup of tea. Gabriel was sitting in the opposite chair beside the sofa. Dirk was standing beside his father. They were all looking at him.
"Sixteen. What comes to mind when I say the word sixteen?" wondered Bill.
"Teenage boys," replied Gabriel. "Stupid teenage boys."
"Besides that," Bill said. "And I know you are referring to me."
"Will's age," replied Lily obviously.
Again, Bill shook his head. He looked at them as they returned to him with looks of adult. "Is sixteen a child or an adult?"
"An adult. William, you of all people know that. Age sixteen is when a man reaches adulthood," replied Richard.
"Says who?" wondered Bill.
"It's how it's always been," replied Richard.
"And what if someone isn't ready to become an adult and his family makes him suddenly grow up overnight and he finds the only means of expressing his voice is to express it through actions. Eventually these actions grow to a reputation that he wants to break and a state of mind that he cannot control because it is habit, and a family that wants to get rid of his attitude when they were the ones who brought his attitude to life," explained Bill. He set his hands behind his back and walked the distance from chair to chair. "All of you, tell me what you did after his sixteenth birthday. What did you see him as August twenty third? An adult. Am I wrong? You began treating him as an adult and expected him to become an adult. Well, you were asking him to grow up overnight."
"Bloody hell," whispered Gabriel, his head falling into his hand supported by his knees. He shook his head in the palm of his hands. "Will is still a child and we suddenly decided it was time for him to grow up."
"And Will being Will decided he was going to go against it and acquire the name Blackbird," added Bill.
"I don't know how I didn't see this one from the past. He did everything you did. The moment you were told to grow up and take on a little responsibility you too rebelled," said Gabriel. He let out a frustrated cry and stood. "I'm so blindly stupid. I should have seen this. We should have seen this."
"I am his father. He was doing wrong and I was trying to correct it like any good father would do to his son. I didn't see myself in Will until I sat beside him and looked at him. I recognized the darkness in his eyes that I once had in mine," said Bill.
"All right, since you say it was our fault then what did I do?" asked Dirk.
Having the feeling he was going to eventually have to explain it to every person eventually anyway, Bill sighed and began the tales. "You, Dirk, did nothing but laugh at him when we scolded him. You thought it was funny that he was always getting into trouble. As I recall, you were also one to tell Will to grow up because we were. At school, you did nothing but avoid him like he was some disease. Behind his back, you talked about him to all your friends, giving every detail if not stretching the story to make it more entertaining. Don't try to deny it. We have lots and lots and lots of letter from your behavior as well as Will's behavior. You provoked him and got him upset all the time. You didn't stick up for him like he always does for you.
"Gabe, well, you were Gabe. You told him to grow up and assume responsibility as well. Just thought I would mention that you were also the one to keep Will away from Dirk, further tearing the cousins apart. You really didn't do much to Will, but it's because you didn't do anything that he held a grudge for you.
"Colleen, you kept the children away from him and told him to accept responsibility. As I recall, you tried to tell Will how fortunate he was to be sixteen and in a noble house not in the streets of London begging for food. You tried to use guilt to get him to assume responsibility. Clearly, he doesn't understand because he's never been down there. He wouldn't understand what you mean and only got irritated when you were blaming him for not opening his eyes and seeing the world. It's because he's noble that he doesn't understand.
"Lily, Andrew, a word with you two. You two were the main reasons he got moody. Once he started getting into all that trouble, you two thought it was funny to get him in trouble and so you did everything you could think of for us to scream at him. You blamed him for everything you two did. We were yelling at him, not you and you took a liking to it. He avoided you two because he didn't want to be yelled at for anymore trouble that the two of you got him into. You caused your own problems.
"Lottie, well, we're his parents. All we did was yell at him and not listen to him. When I asked him why he didn't go to us and explain, he reminded me that after being screamed at no one wants to go to his parents and try and talk to them.
"Alex, I don't know what went wrong with you two really. I think it was just because you two were close and understood each other one second then he felt you suddenly turned on him by telling him to accept responsibility and grow up. He thought you of all people would understand what it was like to be told one thing when your heart wanted to do another. Since you betrayed him he felt he should betray you.
"Richard, you—"
"Hurt him the most by being the first to tell him to grow up overnight when I should have understood that growing up overnight is not the simplest action to do whether you have that choice or not," replied Richard. "I of all people should have let him grow up naturally. I was beginning to see myself in him and I didn't want him to rebel and leave like I did. He was already assuming responsibility. He's engaged to be married and practically raised his baby brother. I just wanted him to get past all thoughts of rebelling before he had the chance to go out and rebel."
"It was no one person, it was all of us," said Alexander to his father. "It was me most of all.
"Alex, it was all of us," Bill said, using his words against him.
"Now what?" wondered Dirk quietly.
"Will is Will again. We simply just have to keep him Will," said Bill.
"Just because I know what happened doesn't mean I'm going to trust him suddenly now. He needs to get that trust back that we lost," Alexander said.
"I know," said Bill, recalling his son's fright. "He's afraid nothing will be the same between any of you again. He messed up, ruined his life, and hurt a lot of people. I'm not asking you to suddenly trust him or want to be with him, but I am asking you to try to talk to him and listen when he wants to say something. He knows about the two options we left him."
"They're out," Richard suddenly said. "I'm not forcing him to do either. We ruined him already. I'm not losing him because we forced him to do something else. I have the feeling if we push a matter like that with too much force, he'll leave with Elizabeth and possibly Aidan and never look back."
Nodding head all around the room agreed with that thought. It was Will. Will already decided it was all right for him to get on a horse and leave whenever he wanted. What was there to say he wouldn't take his fiancée and leave forever to start his own family? He was sixteen after all and an adult. He was an abnormally smart sixteen year old who knew the trades of the world.
"Um, I hope you don't mind Richard," Edwin said as he entered the library. He motioned to the door. "A trio of brothers we know of barged through the door and are making their way upstairs."
"Which also leads me to the relationship that hurt Will and me the most," added Bill.
Little Aidan's laughter rang as he and his biggest brother were playing with his toy ships and small pirate figurines on the bed. Will was always the best storyteller and thought up the best battles. He knew all the great pirate battles so they could always play them. Today was just playtime though. There were not battles; they were just playing like two brothers.
Will reached forward and grabbed Aidan's arm to pull him close to his body. "Do you feel better from yesterday?"
"Mm hm," whispered Aidan. "I no drink again."
"Please don't," Will asked sincerely.
"You be bad anymore?" Aidan asked.
"No, I told Papa what happened to me and we're going to try to make it better," said Will.
"What happened?" asked Aidan.
"I ruined a lot of people's lives including my own. I rebelled against everything. I thought no one cared because they wanted me to do what they wanted. I want to be my own person and not have to live how they want me to live. I have a free soul Aidan and no one can bring me down. I have to apologize to a lot of people and get their trust back. Somehow," explained Will. He shifted his brother in his arms so they could look at each other. "What do you say to me being in the Navy?"
Aidan looked at him ridiculously, wrinkled forehead, narrow eyes, and head tilted to the side. "They let pirates be in Navy?"
Will laughed aloud then shut up immediately as his face went into a painful expression that he tried hiding.
"Broken ribs?" wondered Aidan, nodding his head.
"Yeah," replied Will. "Don't ever break your ribs. You can't laugh or lay on your stomach or sigh or breathe too deeply or have any pressure against yourself. Don't break any bones for that matter. And to answer your question, I am not a pirate. Jack isn't really a pirate anymore. Papa was once, but he gave it up to have a family so he could have us. Me, rather, but you came along. What do you think?"
"No," Aidan said, curling against his brother. "Go away too long. Sailing too far away from me. No."
"You don't have to sail. I can do something else," Will said.
"How about be the accountant or chart the courses?"
Despite the pain he was in from Aidan causing him to laugh, Will's heart was pounding in his chest. He knew that voice from somewhere a long time ago. It was months ago since he last heard that voice. If it was him then he wondered if the oldest of all of them was there. He wasn't ready to face him just yet. Why would he be there anyway?
Aidan answered his question for him. "Will, the brothers are here."
"Which ones?" Will asked softly.
"All of them," replied Aidan.
"As in all three of them?" Will stuttered.
Aidan looked up from his brother's arms. "Yep."
Will squeezed his eyes shut and let out a sigh. "Ow."
"Aidan, how about you go play somewhere else. We have some things to talk to Will about."
"Okay," replied Aidan, pushing from his brother's body.
Will bit his tongue to keep the scream in his throat. If Aidan continued to push off him like that and make him feel like his ribs were being broken again and again, he was going to have strong words with his father about that. But, that thought was suddenly gone from his mind. Now that Aidan was gone from the room, he was alone with the three Beckett brothers and all three of them were there so the eldest was in there too.
Slowly, he raised his eyes and then his head. He attempted to smile. The younger two, Harrison and Theodore, were standing in the room looking at him with relief. He didn't have time to look for the third, for they immediately rushed to his side and Theodore was the one who pulled Will in first since he got their first.
"Will, you—"
"Don't say anything about what happened all right? I'm tired of hearing it. I know I was stupid. I don't know what I was thinking. I know I should be dead. If I wanted to kill myself I know I should have done it another way. I know," Will immediately told him.
"Will, I'm just glad you're alive and moving," said Theodore.
"We've known too many men who have not survived a fall like that," added Harrison, wrapping arm around him.
Will shut his eyes and smiled. Two people he hurt seemed to suddenly not care that he hurt them. They were happy to see him alive and somewhat all right. He felt himself slumping into their arms. His body curled tightly against Theodore who pulled him closer, but not to close so he didn't hurt his ribs.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's all right Will," said Theodore.
"I'm not apologizing to you two," Will said, his eyes looking straight ahead of him.
Leaning against the doorway, Cutler simply was watching him. His eyes weren't relieved or happy or anything really. He was nothing. He just stood there watching. His façade was calm and emotionless, but there was disappointment written all over him. He didn't look even the least bit relieved Will was alive. With a sigh and shaking his head, he turned his back on Will and left from his sight.
Will turned away. He knew it was going to be difficult to get back this relationship, but he thought there would at least be some sort of relief on his face.
"Don't worry about him Will. He was a mess when we found out what happened to you," said Harrison.
"It was his idea to come in and barge on you when we figured out you were awake," added Theodore.
"He doesn't seem to care about me," whispered Will. "Did I mess up that bad?"
"He cares about you so much Will. You know our father. Even with their improved relationship, he doesn't speak very highly of you anymore. He told Beck to keep away from you because you are not proper and right," said Theodore.
"Then what are you two still doing in here?" Will asked.
Harrison gave Theodore a light tap on the arm then motioned to the door. They agreed before they walked over that if Will even showed some sort of moodiness, they would simply leave him alone to let him get it out of his system. Going over there was already an idea that was though out and considered carefully.
"We're going to go talk to your father all right?" Harrison said, rubbing his arm.
"And hunt Beck down before he does something stupid again," added Theodore.
"Papa and I figured out what happened. It's probably best that you talk to him," agreed Will, surprising them both at his calm and unexpected reaction.
"We'll be back Will," said Harrison.
Will nodded his head. He gave them a weak smile as they left with a wave. Slumping against his pillows, he thought that went better than he was expecting. Two out of the three were glad to see him alive and well. That was a good start. His father and two brothers' relationships were fixed. He was still very far from mending his future and recovering what happened.
Of course, he had to physically recover before he could do much more. If anyone wanted to be with him they had to go to him, which was not good on his part since it was agreed that he had to make the first move to mend the wounds. His leg was broken and he could move only his toes. The ribs were mending. His arm was healing. His head was healing. Healing, not healed.
Bored again, but this time also disappointed, he pulled at his curls at watched them bounce. What he would give for a bath right now. He was never one to truly care much about bathing, but he was covered with medicines and dead skin. He needed a bath. He whistled and Orion came trotting in from the other room.
The dog hopped on the bed and immediately set his head in Will's lap, letting out a low whine.
"Orion, go find someone who can walk and get him or her in here. I want a bath," Will said while itching behind his ears.
Happily, the dog ran out of the room.
Will itched his head lightly. Yes the stitches were pulled out, but it still itched. His leg was the most itchy of them all. During the night he would lay there and grab the blanket not to itch himself all over. He had a feeling he would do more harm than good trying to itch with one hand and broken body. At least he was hoping a warm bath was going to settle the itch.
Thinking of his warm bath, he shut his eyes and halfway sighed. Vanilla soap. His head getting massaged while removing the dirt. His body gently being scrubbed. He missed it. The last time he remembered bathing wasn't truly bathing. He was riding through a rainstorm with Cian. One of the first things he wanted to do to celebrate his recovery was jump on the back of Cian ride through the countryside. Perhaps Cian would allow Elizabeth to ride with him. They were both small bodies and most likely only equaled one muscular human.
Orion barked as his tail wagged.
"Who did you get?" Will asked happily.
The Golden Retriever turned his head. Seeing she was not there, he barked low and silently.
Unexpectedly, Elizabeth Swann appeared in Will's bedroom doorway.
Will's eyes widened and mouth went agape. He felt his heart pounding blood and adrenaline through him. This was the love of his life and he thought he was never going to see her again. "I love you," he found himself saying.
"I'm pregnant."
"What did you say?" Will asked. She spoke so softly he barely heard her.
Elizabeth turned her eyes and moved her face to his window. The tears that she fought to keep in her eyes fell in great heavy drops down her cheeks. For three months she had not said those words to another, or herself. She did not speak them loudly, for she still hoped it was not true. She was only sixteen years old. They knew when they saw each other at night there was a possibility of this happening, but she never thought it would happen.
They slept with each as many times as less than the fingers on one hand, excluding the thumb. It was only twice. This didn't happen. It was only twice. Being with child the second time didn't happen to nobles; it only happened to those who dwelled on the street. She had to finish school and then marry him and then they could have a child. The two of them talked of having a child after school. They were planning on a child after school was out. This couldn't have happened to her.
She knew it was happening to her though. Her dresses were already not being tightened as tight as they usually were. Each day she found herself more exhausted than she should have been. Her moods shifted constantly and she was in a mess of tears when she looked at her father. Each and every morning it seemed she found her head in a bucket kept at her bedside. It wasn't just around her belly that her dresses were tightening; her chest was growing in size while milk was being created.
Looking at Will hopelessly, she did something she thought she could never do again. She smiled.
Will was looking up at her with a glowing smile on his face. He was glowing brightly. His lips were parted revealing his perfectly white teeth. The brown eyes almost looked gold. He was literally glowing.
She last saw him lying under blankets and pillows on supporting his broken bones. He was pale and as lively as a teenager on his deathbed. When she took his hand between both of hers he did not move, nor seem to sense that she was right there sobbing at his bedside.
"Come here," he whispered.
Elizabeth slowly moved forward. She backed away from him when he reached out his hand.
"What's wrong?" Will asked, suddenly taken aback by her behavior.
"I don't want you to touch it," she said.
"Come here," Will said again. "I need to know. I have to know. Do you trust me?"
"Mm hm," said Elizabeth, slowly stepping forward.
Slowly, Will reached his hand out again. She appeared no different than her normal weight, but that may have been since her dress was not tightly against her body like normal. Taking a quick glance over all of her, he saw his small request was granted; her chest was larger. His hand pressed against her belly and his palm cupped skin and something harder than skin. The small, round object cupped in his palm and his smile further widened.
He grabbed her arm, forcing her to sit beside him. Once she sat, his arm wrapped around her and hand gently cupped her belly again. "Baby," he whispered, smiling.
"I'm sixteen Will," reminded Elizabeth.
"I'm gonna be a father," Will said. He suddenly moved his head to kiss her full on the mouth in joy.
She pushed on his chest to push him away.
The pressure against his ribs caused him to scream in pain and curl his arm around his chest. His knee came upward, trying to protect himself further from all hands. "Stop touching my chest!" he screamed. "Everyone needs to just stop with touching! I'm not blaming you personally Elizabeth, but everyone has seemed to push on my ribs. Half my ribs are broken and they're not going to heal if people keep pushing on them. Ow!"
"The last time I saw you, you were barely alive and just laying here looking like you were dead," said Elizabeth.
"I'm awake now. I'm all right. You and I are going to be parents," Will told her.
"And you're the only one who knows," Elizabeth said, burrowing her legs under his blanket and leaning gently against him. She rested her head on his shoulder and grabbed his hand. "What are we going to do Will? I don't know what to do. I'm pregnant and I'm sixteen years old."
"For one, you and I are considered adults now that we are sixteen. Everyone knows we were going to get married since we met anyway. Our parents had us privately betrothed when we were children. This family is known for being abnormal so you and I to have a child at sixteen is nothing out of the oddity. Alex and I aren't on the best terms, but I know he won't let what I've done hurt this. We'll be all right. When I get up we'll get married and have the small wedding like we wanted," said Will. "All you have to do is create the child and give birth and feed our child. I'll do the rest. I'll change him and rock him and hold him and care for him and burp him and change his clothes for him and bathe him and I'll get up in the night to care for him and I'll do anything a father can do. And I'll take care of you too."
"I know you will," said Elizabeth. She gently pressed her lips on his. "I'm so afraid. How am I going to tell everyone?"
"We have to tell someone," Will said.
"Who?" wondered Elizabeth. "You don't exactly have a good relationship with anyone right now and my father is going to kill you."
"We'll tell my father. We've spent a lot of time talking and explaining a few things. He and I are normal again. I trust him to help us get through this," said Will.
"Um, Father doesn't know I'm here and neither does anyone else," admitted Elizabeth playing with her hair around her finger. "I told him I was staying with a friend of mine for a few days out of town. He told me he wanted me to get out and to get my mind off of you anyway. Technically we're not exactly in London and I do have my mind off of you because here you are. I snuck in through the broken window by the tower and sort of walked down the hall to get here. I guess Orion wanted me to follow him."
"I told him to get someone because I need a bath," said Will. "Just didn't think he would come back with you. I'm not complaining though. I've missed you a lot."
"Missed you too," said Elizabeth.
They were happy together. Anyone could see it. Despite that Elizabeth was three months pregnant and sixteen years old and Will was still quite broken and had a long recovery ahead of him, they felt their lives were going to be all right again. All worries of the two of them possibly being torn away from each other because of recent events was gone. No one would take her because she was with Will's child and so they would be forced together like they should have been.
"I need to know," said Will. "How many times have you cried over this?"
"Every morning when I'm sick and an hour later when I'm being dressed. My maids are suspecting something because my dresses are tighter than they should be. They've already made comments that I've gained weight," said Elizabeth.
"You're so little that it's obvious you're pregnant," said Will.
Elizabeth pushed off of him again. "Is it that obvious?"
Among his severe cursing Will breathed deep and glared at her. "The ribs Elizabeth. Broken ribs. I hope the baby kicks you and breaks a few of your ribs."
"They can do that?" asked Elizabeth, color suddenly draining from her face.
"Apparently I did and so did Aidan," replied Will.
Elizabeth's arms wrapped around her chest. "This sound so horrible. How long does being sick every morning last."
"As long as your body lets it," replied Will.
Slumping into his arms again, Elizabeth sighed and groaned. "I hate this. I'm crying again."
Will looked at her oddly. "Why are you crying?"
"I don't know," replied Elizabeth.
Rolling his eyes, Will wrapped an arm around her. "You're just emotional because you are pregnant. Mum was the same way with Aidan. My father told her it was just best to get the crying out to make room for more tears eventually."
He hushed her and rocked her. Something was wrong with him and he knew it. His sixteen year old fiancée was pregnant and he did nothing but smile about it. There was no worry or fear in his eyes or heart. If it was anyone else both of them should have been panicking, but not him. He was so ready to be a father, but watching Elizabeth cry, he was realizing he was so afraid.
A child was a blessing and a curse. Children were a gift from the heavens since some women did not have their own children and wanted to be mothers. They were also a curse because of how lives were changed. This baby was going to be a good thing for him. He needed something to keep him from rebelling against the world like he was doing and tame him. This baby was going to tame him and he knew it.
He messed up again and this time it was Elizabeth who truly had to pay the price. She was not going to finish her formal schooling and would have to reside to tutors teaching her, while he was already expelled so there was no worry there. Because she was with child, her visits into town were limited. He feared what the world's opinion of them would do on her. He was figuring the world to brush it off on him and simply pass it by as nothing since he had done everything else a person could to do rebel. However, knowing the world and the world's love of noble gossiping, this was most likely going to be considered as another act of rebelling on his part.
"Is everything all right Son?"
"Oh my god you're father's coming," Elizabeth said.
Will nodded confidently at her. As he saw a figure in the doorway, he turned his head upward.
"Oh, Elizabeth, I didn't know you were here," noted Bill, a bit shocked to see her. He looked between her frightened face and Will's lips trying to make out words.
Something he noticed was her legs curling tightly against her and she was cocooning herself into Will's body and he was holding her close as if protecting her. There was a look of fear in her eyes. His eyes were fearful, yet glowing. They wanted to say something, but didn't know how and they were behaving awkwardly now that he was in the room. He didn't mean to but, he noticed her chest size increased and the dress was not fitting her properly.
With a sigh, he grabbed the door and shut it, his eyes never leaving theirs. He stepped forward and sat on the side of the bed. "How many months are you?"
"You know? We didn't even tell you?" Elizabeth said.
"It's the look in your eyes, your weight increase, and Will keeping you protectively close to him," said Bill.
"Three," replied Will.
Bill shook his head shut his eyes. He pressed his palms to his face and chuckled. Removing his palms they saw a smirk widen across his face. They were figuring it was going to be disappointment and Will was expecting a lecture of some sort not a smirk.
"Here we were just having agreed to not force you into anything and now you have no choice but to assume responsibility overnight," he noted.
"We didn't plan this," began Will.
"I thought you said you only slept with her a handful of times," Bill told him, his eyes furious and voice harsh.
"Twice," replied Elizabeth. "The night of my sixteenth birthday and a month after. It was that night in April. We only did it twice and both times sort of happened."
"I didn't mean for this to happen. It's not an act of rebellion. I would never use her for my own uses; you know this," Will said.
"I know," said Bill, calming. He turned to Elizabeth. "Stand up. I need to see for myself."
Sobbing and knowing she had no choice, Elizabeth stood profile to him. She reached around in back and pulled on the loose strings, tightening the cloth to her stomach where a small bump was visible.
"Okay," replied Bill, taking her hand. He sat her in his lap and kept a protective arm around her. "How are you feeling? Physically, how are you?"
"Tired. Sick, Hungry," replied Elizabeth.
"Normal," said Bill. "Swift mood changes?" Elizabeth nodded. "I would assume you've discovered your mornings are not very greeting." Again, Elizabeth nodded her head. "Your father doesn't know."
"Nor does he know I'm here. He thinks I'm with a friend," replied Elizabeth quietly.
"Probably best that he doesn't know yet," admitted Bill. "Does anyone else know?"
"Orion," replied Will, motioning to the dog who was keeping close to Elizabeth.
"I hope you like Orion," Bill told Elizabeth. "I hope you like all the dogs. When Lottie was pregnant she always had a dog near her and that dog is going be Orion. These dogs know things and Orion is already protective over Will. Wherever you two go he will follow and I'm telling Alex."
"Not yet!" Will cried pleadingly.
"Will, we cannot keep this a secret," Bill said, haste in his voice. "She's barely sixteen. Alex and Lottie need to start helping her. She's got to get the right foods in her and Will, look at her; you two aren't going to be able to hide this much longer. Trust me; Alex is not going to shun you away because of this. He's going to help you. Even if he's mad at you more than ever, he's not going to let your baby die because of some silly grudge. Alex needs to know."
"Just a couple more days for us to think about how to tell everyone," requested Will.
"Please," Elizabeth pleaded.
"If you two have not told anyone in five days from now, I am telling Alex," said Bill. He didn't like the situation but he knew that there was nothing he could do. "I also had a change of mind. Your father will be informed soon Elizabeth. Don't open your mouth to try to protest. You are staying here with Will. You are carrying his child and therefore a member of this family officially. Your home is now here. You are Lady Seastone-Turner."
Once again, Elizabeth broke into sobs. She fell against Will.
Will flinched and breathed through his teeth at the pressure against his ribs. He shut his eyes and leaned back. Color was draining from his face. His breathing increased as he blinked heavily.
Slowly, Bill sat beside Will on his right. "Come here. It's going to be all right. It's gonna be all right."
Realization dawning, Will leaned into his chest, bringing Elizabeth with him. Bill sat beside them and rocked the two teenagers. He was not expecting this. He was not expecting this to be the choice Will chose. It was going to be the Royal Navy while Elizabeth finished up her schooling. First of all, it was supposed to be a choice and not something that was forced upon. However, it was a choice he made and unfortunately, Elizabeth made that choice too.
They were too young to have a child. All those time Will spoke of wanting to be a father as soon as possible meant as soon as they were done with school and married. He knew Will's plan. They were going to graduate, get married that summer in the garden, and have children. Everything with his future was going to happen after his childhood ended. Sixteen was not an adult and he knew it, however, Will was now an adult.
Will and Elizabeth were adults. They didn't have a choice anymore.
"All right you two, tears aren't going to fix anything," Bill said, pushing them back. He set a hand on each of their faces to remove the tears gliding down them. "The past is in the past. Learn from it. Accept it. Let it go, but never forget it. It's not the end of the world."
"Feels like it," noted Elizabeth.
"That's because you are with child. You're going to feel like it's the end and wish for it. It's not as bad as you think," said Bill.
"I'm going to be fat!" Elizabeth softly cried.
Bill chuckled. "That's the least of your problems."
A small squeak erupted from the door. "Lizzy!" Aidan cried, running his little feet across the room and wrapping his arms around her. "Miss you."
"I missed you too Aidan," replied Elizabeth.
"Long time," noted Aidan, nodding his head.
Elizabeth looked at him with a smile.
Bill glanced at Will who glanced at him going pale. He nodded his head. Elizabeth was looking at Aidan differently. Her eyes were gentle. She poked his nose. Instincts of a mother were already coming into her.
"Can I have a bath?" Will asked, still wanting to remove the itch and sickness from him.
"Sure," replied Bill. "I've been thinking about asking you if you wanted one anyway. We need to get some of those wounds cleaned up. I'll get your bath ready."
"So, how have you been since I saw you a few months ago?" Elizabeth asked Aidan.
The four year old shrugged dramatically and sighed heavily. "Okay," he replied. "You?"
"Not so good. I've been sick a lot lately," admitted Elizabeth.
"Biggest brother hurt so he no good," Aidan pointed out. "But getting better."
"Slowly," added Will. "So, I would assume you know what happened?"
"You fell," replied Elizabeth.
"Pretty much," said Will.
"And you should be dead," added Elizabeth softly.
"And I don't know how I'm alive," admitted Will.
They sat quietly, thinking to themselves. Aidan eventually got bored with them not talking and only sitting in there so he left in minute or two. The teenagers continued to sit quiet. Will was pulling a curled piece of hair not looking at her. Elizabeth was also pulling at a strand of her hair not looking at him. Awkwardness was set between them and it was strong. Orion, at the foot of the bed, continued darting his eyes back and forth. His ears were perked and he was cautiously watching them both.
Everything seemed different between them suddenly. It shouldn't have been any different, but it was. Not only was Will seriously injured, but she was also pregnant. They were sixteen years old and knew they would become the talk of London. There was nothing better to do than talk about nobles' problems.
"It's going to be a long next six months if you two continue to sit there and ignore each other," Bill's voice said.
They looked up from their hair then at each other and turned away again.
"He should be dead and I'm pregnant. Of course it's going to be awkward," Elizabeth told him.
"I'm alive and you being pregnant isn't quite an issue as you are making it out to be. You need to relax. Once we figure out how to tell everyone and get the telling over with, you and I will have help. Once I'm healed, I'll get a job and pay for the expenses and we'll have a beautiful child. I can teach you all that you need to know. I am the oldest of four siblings and my cousins are tiny still. Everything will be okay until then," said Will.
"It's what's going to happen in between that I'm worried about," said Elizabeth.
"Me too," said Bill. "This may hurt a bit Will. Elizabeth, you are welcomed to stay in here and rest. It's going to be a few hours to get this done."
"Hours?" wondered Will.
"Removing the bandages. Taking care of the stitches if it is required. Cleaning the wounds before setting you in the water. Having one bath for cleaning and the other for relaxation because I don't think you want to rest in water with dead skin and blood in it. Scrubbing your body clean. Bandaging you again. Drying you," replied Bill.
Will and even Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
"I'll admit I do need to sleep. I always take naps in the afternoon," said Elizabeth, immediately finding herself crawling under Will's blanket.
Unexpectedly, Will felt an arm both slip under his knees and around his shoulders then he was lifted into the air blanket and all. He was bounced a little bit.
"You don't weigh enough you know that?" Bill asked as he left the room.
"That happens when one simply gets up one morning and decides to leave and let the voices of the earth dictate where he go. Food isn't always an option and I don't eat when I'm upset," said Will.
"I know, you're just like me in that regard," said Bill.
Uneasily, Will rubbed his right arm. He leaned his head into his father's shoulder as his eyes turned to his right leg. There was an usual amount of pain going right there. Since his knee was bent somewhat, and he was moving, blood must have been going through his leg and reawakening his body. He shifted uncomfortably.
"Something wrong?" Bill softly asked.
Will bit his lip before responding. "My leg really hurts."
"Your uncle had to cut into twice to mend it if that explains anything," said Bill. "And your knee was quite a bit bruised. It'll take time walking on this leg again."
"If I didn't have a broken arm I would be walking now," Will muttered.
"I heard that and I'm grateful that you cannot walk Little One. I know where I can find you if I need you or you need me," said Bill.
Will nodded admitting the words his father spoke were right. He leaned his head into his father's shoulder again and inhaled to sigh. Rather than inhaling, he pressed his nose further into his father's body. "You smell good."
"You don't," Bill told him.
"I know," replied Will with a cheeky smile.
The father carried his son into one of the bathing rooms. In the center of the marble flooring was the tub which thankfully was not above the flooring. He set his son on a pile of pillows, carefully lowering his leg on the ground. With help from his son, he pulled the blanket from around Will.
The teenager was hesitant when his father began unwinding the bandaging around his torso. He was uncomfortable about this entire situation. There were a few things his father didn't know about him that he had done while out in the world rebelling, one of which was on his right shoulder. As each layer was removed from his person, the pain on his ribs decreased. He was breathing easier without the pressure pushing against him. Curiously, his head lowered. He was right to presume that there would soon be a scar on his chest. It was not stitched so that was a good indication; however it ran parallel with the cavern that was holding his heart on his right breast. It looked like someone had placed it there to cut out his heart in all reality. The line was straight a first then tilted more toward his the center of his torso at the bottom. He had to admit it was going to be a fine scar.
Onward his father continued as he unwrapped the right arm. Like he thought, two flat pieces of metal the width of his arm. Both of them extended along his forearm from his elbow to the center of his hands. Cloth was bunched in the palm of his hand to keep the metal from rubbing and shifting in the space. After the metal was removed, the cloth was further unwound.
Will's eyes got a bit wider at the sight of his arm. A cut that was still stitched was along the entirety of his forearm and there were yet blue bruises dotting both sides.
"These definitely need to be replaced," Bill noted to himself. He poked skin to the side of the stitches. His eyes turned to his son as he heard will gasp and felt him flinch. "Hurts doesn't it?"
"It's not my arm I'm worried about," Will said, his eyes already on his leg.
Having to agree, Bill nodded. First of all, he carefully set the free arm on a towel. He scoot on the marble and took the teenager's leg into his hands.
"Ah!" Will softly cried as his ankle was set on his father's leg.
"I have to get these off somehow," Bill told him.
"I know," Will replied with teeth gritted.
"So, can I ask what brought on the mark on your belly?" Bill asked softly,
Will looked away guiltily. He moved his left hand across his body until his palm cupped and covered the small sun tattoo on the right side of his bellybutton. "I felt like it," he replied.
"And what about that dragon on the back of your shoulder?" wondered Bill.
"You know I've always liked dragons, and it's a Celtic dragon. If you notice, the Trinity is in the center of its wings and tail," said Will.
"I know. I noticed," said Bill.
"You're not happy with me are you?" assumed Will.
"About the tattoos or the six piercings you have in your ears?" asked Bill.
Will immediately brought his fingers to his earlobe. "I don't have any earrings in right now."
"I know, but I was the one that pulled them out," said Bill.
"Then you won't be pleased to know I gave myself the other five piercings," Will said softly. He screamed and leaned forward in the attempt to grab his father's hand.
Bill had Will's broken leg in quite a tight grasp. The normal soulful blue eyes were suddenly black and daggers were piercing his son's legs. He shook his head and couldn't help himself as he slapped Will across the face with his other hand. He less than gently removed the rest of the bandaging and pieces of metal keeping his leg supported.
All the while, Will was struggling to keep his screams in his throat and bit his tongue. He breathed in gasps and quick breaths. It was just two tattoos and five piercings. Tattooing was normal in the family. Every adult male had at least one tattoo—rather, at least two tattoos. Piercings were just the same. Two was the minimal number. Alexander had six piercings, three in each ear like him. Richard's back was one massive tattoo, although hardly anyone knew about that. Why was his father getting so upset over it? He was sixteen when he got them after all and clearly none of his piercings were infected so there was nothing to fuss over.
"Eww," he mumbled as he took a look at his leg. "How do I still have a leg?"
Along his calf, like he thought, there was gash; it went very near from his knee to his ankle. Black stitches kept the wound closed and the skin was becoming irritated. Dried blood was between the stitches and some blood spots ran across the line. Bruises surrounded most of his leg.
"And I don't know how you have leg. I don't know how you are alive," replied Bill honestly. "All right let's get you cleaned up.
"Leg last," Will declared.
And so Bill Turner began the painful task of pulling out the stitches, stitch by stitch and pressing hot rags with herbal remedies into the wound. He began with the two cuts on his chest. Those two were healed well, and stitches were not a priority since he still wanted his son's chest wrapped for a few more days at least. The herbs stung at first but then became cooling and comfortable. He suspected there was some sort of eucalyptus oil in there because of the refreshing feeling and the clean scent.
The same was done to his arm and his leg. For now, until after his bath was finished, he was to leave the stitches from his body so the thread wouldn't separate when he was soaking in the water. The herbs on his leg got him to scream and give a good hit to his father's face. Bill had to admit it wasn't a bad shot for the left arm, but not good enough because he didn't draw blood. Everything seemed to worsen when he brought a small knife from under a towel.
Will's teeth remained clenched and his head turned away as the knife was cut across the build ups of dead skin and dried blood. He felt the pieces slowly come from good, healthy flesh and pulled as they were torn away. Every new cut caused him to flinch and breathe through his teeth.
"Don't say anything," Will said.
"I'm not; I know how this feels," said Bill.
"Do I get any oils in my water or is it just water?" wondered Will.
"Only soaps for your hair washing and body cleaning and then I'm immediately moving you into the warm water to soak," said Bill.
Will gave his father a nod and realized the knife was on the floor and his father was rolling up his sleeves to past his elbows. He was gently placed in the water. Water surrounding the wounds and getting into his body stung and caused him to dig his nails in his father's arms.
"You'll be all right Will. It'll only hurt for a moment or two," promised Bill.
"Why is this happening to me? Why does everything bad always happen to me?" Will asked softly.
"Because you brought about your own problems Will," replied Bill.
"I know, but I just wish," said Will.
"Here, inhale," Bill told him, placing a glass bottle beneath his nose.
At first Will was hesitant for fear it was something other than vanilla oil, but the scent of vanilla did come into his senses. He shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. Comforted and the soreness of his body finally being relieved, he let go of his father's arm and sunk back into the water more. Fingers began massaging through his curls and rubbing into his scalp.
Rather than just rubbing through the messy curls, the fingers massaged in circles then slowly moved in directions. Off and on, they gently pulled out the knots and matted patches. His delightful comfort was ruined when a fine toothed comb was pulled through his hair. There was a bit of tugging and pulling and a few patches were removed by means of scissors. Bill promised him it didn't look as awful as he was thinking it did. Eventually, Will simply reached over for the scissors and simply cut away a huge chunk in the back and there was decided that it was just best to cut his hair short and let the curls.
In a few moments, Will was lifted from that tub of water and wrapped in a huge fluffy towel. He was carried to a different room, one that was smaller and riche with bold reds and ivory colors. Cabinets of oils lined one wall and towels on the other. A window was open and the warm summer breeze was blowing the scent of the flowers through the sheer red curtains. The tub was above the marble floor and steaming. He was lowered gently into the water. No aches or pains caused him hurt this time, although the water was hotter. In fact, the hotter water seemed to give him more relief. He rested his head back into the pillow.
It must have been comfortable for him because he sunk lower into the water until there was a small pocket of air between the water and his nose. His eyes shut. Slowly, he managed to sigh a little.
Setting the folded towel aside, Bill turned his head and stole a glance at his son. Will was comfortable; anything with eyes could see that. The sunshine through the red curtains was causing Will to have a simple, rosy glow on his cheeks, giving him the appearance of a more normal, healthy human. Looking at Will more, he saw his son had changed quite a lot since he was fifteen a year ago. He was taller and more muscular. For someone who ran out on a limb and did whatever, he kept up with building muscle. He was looking more like his father than his mother. Slowly but surely, he was losing that child appearance.
In fact, Will had lost the child appearance. There was not baby fat on his body; it was all muscle. His facial features were more prominent. He had two tattoos and six piercings. Losing the curls that were in his hair since birth, gave him more of a grown impression. He was going to be a father in six months.
Bill staggered to a chair in the corner of the room where he covered his mouth. His son did grow up. It took a year, but Will was grown up and he never got to watch his son grow up. He went from a child last he remembered to a young man who was sitting in the hot water.
Will opened his eyes. He turned his head and his face slumped. "Why is it whenever I'm not crying you are?"
"You grew up and I wasn't there," replied Bill.
"I'm only sixteen father. Almost seventeen," said Will.
Bill shook his head. "You lost the child appearance. The baby fat has turned to muscle. Your facial features have come through. Those curls that I have seen since your birth are gone. You have two tattoos and six piercings. I wasn't there to watch you get any of them or help you design. You're going to be a father in six months and you are already ready for it. I feel like I was never there in your life."
"Papa, come here," Will said. He stuck his hand out from the water and motioned over.
The father dragged the chair with him and sat beside the tub.
Will wet his hand then wiped each tear from his father's cheeks. He ran a wet finger below his father's eyelids. A smile widened across his face as he pulled out a few strand of hair. "I'm not the only one who is getting older."
In his son's hand, Bill saw a few silvery wisps that were yanked from his scalp. He shook his head and managed to chuckle a bit. Always like Will to make his mood shift from horrible to better. Ironically, it was always Will to begin his horrible mood.
"Yes, well if I am getting older because I have a few strands of white in my hair, then what do you call your grandfather?" he asked.
"Ancient," Will said confidently. "And Grandfather had white hair by the time he was forty and he's practically bald now all because of Alex."
Bill raised an eyebrow at that comment. He pointed to his hair. "I would choose your words a bit more carefully William."
Bad words indeed, as Will knew exactly that he was stressing his father like Alexander stressed Richard. All he did was shrug innocently and forced a smile.
"So, I have to ask you. What is your opinion of Elizabeth's situation that is yours now as well?" wondered Bill.
"I'm so ready," said Will confidently, a huge grin widening across his face. In just a moment, the joy faded as he slipped underwater more again. "And I'm so afraid."
"That's a relief," said Bill, brushing his forehead. "It wouldn't be right for a teenager to be completely ready."
"It's not that I'm afraid to be a father, I'm just afraid I'll mess up. When I couldn't deal Aidan, I could always give him back you or Mum and I know I can't do that. I know everything, but it's the thought that this is my child and my influences dictate his or her life and I don't know if I'm ready anymore," said Will.
"It's because you're afraid to fail that you are," said Bill. "Those that fear the changings and feedings and sleepless nights and what other people will think are the ones who are not ready. Because you fear your influence on your child, not taking care of the child, you're ready."
"She's only sixteen and she's not the one who was expelled from school so it won't be odd when I don't go back," said Will.
"Like you two said, you'll think of something," reminded Bill.
"Can you tell Alex?" Will asked softly.
"I think you should do that on your own. You telling him face to face will comfort him and make him see that you still care for him and are ready to grow up now," said Bill.
Will nodded his head. He lowered his mouth in the water again and shut his eyes, telling his father he didn't want to talk anymore.
Taking that as a hint, Bill gently kissed his son's head. "I'll be back in half hour to get you out."
"Mm hm," Will whispered.
"Thank you for making me feel better about all of this," he whispered into his son's ear.
Will opened his eyes and turned to him. He smiled. "I'm your son. I'm supposed to give you hell on Earth and then suddenly give you a piece of Heaven."
"Aye," replied Bill. He poked Will's nose then gave him a kiss on the head again.
He left and firstly checked on Elizabeth. She was sleeping under Will's blankets calmly resting. He should have been worried about her but he wasn't. She was a strong young woman and never truly listened to the opinions of the world. Being born of noble blood she too learned to ignore everything. She would be all right. Not surprising him in the least bit, Orion was curled on his pillow looking at her closely.
With a sigh, he wandered down the hall and down the stairs and back down the halls and down the stone stairs and into the kitchen. Immediately, he walked across the room and down into the stone cellar where their alcohol was stored. He returned from the cellar with a bottle of scotch. Not bothering for a glass, the cork was popped off and he drank straight from the neck of the bottle. The drink was not just a small swig.
Alexander counted four swallows from where he was stirring his tea in the hot water. He was casually standing by the stove watching him. "All right what is it?"
Startled, Bill sputtered the alcohol across the room and coughed after involuntarily inhaling some of the scotch. He wiped his mouth. "Alex!"
"You don't just drink from the bottle for no reason," noted Alexander. "What is it?"
"Um," was all Bill managed to say.
"Is anything on Will's body infected?" Alexander asked, pushing from the counter and approaching.
"No, he's soaking in the water," replied Bill, corking the bottle.
"Good, he needed a bath. And you put the oil in his wound correct?" asked Alexander.
"Aye," replied Bill.
"So what is wrong then?" wondered Alexander.
Bill looked at him with fear and anxiety in his eyes. He flopped in the chair. Finally giving in, he slumped his head onto the table and beat it against the wood a few times. Although he rubbed his head from the pain, he needed to do that. Sometimes it was just necessary to beat one's head into something.
"My sister's not pregnant is she because I said no more after Aidan," Alexander said.
"She's not the one who is pregnant," replied Bill, knowing his brother would hunt him down and get it out of him eventually.
"Colleen isn't I know that," said Alexander.
"No," replied Bill.
"And who else do we know of who could be with child?" asked Alexander.
"Think about it for a second or two," said Bill, reaching for the bottle again.
It wasn't long before Alexander gently set his teacup on the table. He raised a forefinger to his brother and walked into the pantry. With a smile he shut the door.
Bill took another drink and listened to his brother cursing and played a game all the while. What was being thrown across the room now? He watched his brother emerge from the pantry while panting.
Alexander forced a smile at him. He sat beside his brother and took the bottle from his brother's grasp to finish it off. Groaning, he pounded his head into the wooden table.
"Elizabeth," he replied from the wood.
"Mm hm."
A note from TurtleHeart: well, i bet you weren't expecting that coming. and for those of you who have read this far, i hope you enjoyed and i appreciate all your time. tell me what you think! until next chapter when the secret is revealed...
Happy Readings!