Chapter 6: Advice from a pirate
Elizabeth slowly made her way down below, walking through the door as she placed Emily into the crib. Will lay atop the bed, his body rigid and his arm thrown over his eyes.
"I didn't know that seeing your father again would make you so angry Will. What got into you?"
Seating herself on the edge of the bed, he rolled into her as his cheek fell to her lap.
"All the things I'd held inside just…exploded. I don't want anything to do with him Elizabeth."
"He's your father."
"No, he was my father. Everything has changed, love, I…I don't know what to think any longer." Sitting up she gave him a slight smile before placing her head to his shoulder.
"At one time I knew the only thing that mattered to me was having a family. To have someone there to care for me when times were difficult."
She took his hand in her own and kissed his cheek lightly. "Talk to him. But look harder and you'll see that you do indeed have a family." Moving over to the changing screen Will sighed as he fell back against the blankets.
* * *
"You're joking?"
"Certainly not. That's what it is, savvy? That necklace…can restore life. Any life you choose, mate." Jack Sparrow propped his feet up onto the table as his gold teeth sparkled in the flickering candle light.
"Any life?" Turner questioned as he lifted the vial from his pocket and rubbed his fingers over the smooth glassy surface. The colorless liquid within sloshed back and forth in time with the movement of his fingers.
"Any life."
"Even…my wife?"
"I did say any life. Now listen, there is a catch. The only way the thing will work, is if you mix it with the life's blood of one willing to become sacrifice." Seeing Turner's blank look, Jack sat up, the beads and adornments hanging from his hair making a sweet sound in the small confines of the room.
"In other words…someone who is willing to die. Which…I might add…is terribly hard to find now a days." Jack leaned back again as he watched Turner study the white and green glass container.
"You know…I feel a change in the wind Jack. I may have someone in mind."
"Someone willing I hope?"
"Perhaps…not quite willing yet. Yet." A sadistic grin plastered itself across his face as he looked up at the Captain, a gleam in his eye unrecognizable in its intent.
* * *
Will tossed and turned, and shortly before dawn Elizabeth banned him from the room. Walking silently up topside, he saw Jack and his father talking in the dim moonlight.
"Ah, Will. Come and sit down, mate." Jack offered, seeing the tension begin to build between father and son.
Nodding, he lifted a barrel and sat heavily upon it, not daring to look into the chocolate eyes much like his own.
"Will…I feel that I owe you an explanation." Bootstrap started, his fingers winding back and forth as he moved to finger his wedding ring. Shaking his head, he remembered bartering it for passage away from Tortuga.
"Here." Will reached into his pocket and took out both golden rings. "These are yours." Laying them flat onto the table, he saw the tears well up in the older pirate's eyes.
"I didn't meant to lie to you son, you or yer mother. When I went searchin' for gold, I couldn't help myself. With all that was around here, I figured I'd be goin' home a rich man, able to care for you both properly. Then everything aboard the Pearl happened at once. I'm sorry son."
"I should be the one apologizing. I never intended to take it out on you; I've just been frustrated with everything. You were always the one piece missing. After mum died I went to find you, but failed when the Pearl attacked our ship. After that I vowed to hate pirates forever. No offense Jack."
"I seem to recall you hatin' me anyway, Mr. Turner." Jack commented, lifting the small glass of rum to his lips as he leaned back in his chair, the tri-pointed hat casting shadows over his eyes.
"We'll be leavin' today. The crew has all gone ashore for supplies and such, so we'll just sit low until they return, savvy?"
Will nodded, and gave them both a slight smile. Calmed by his companions company, he took a deep breath before relaxing a bit and moving back down below to spend the last couple hours before dawn in the arms of his wife.
"Do you think we'll run into resistance? On the island I mean." Turner questioned Jack as he watched his son walk away, a sense of pride in his eyes at the fine young man Will had become.
"Don't know mate. That's the fun of it. Never know what to expect."
* * *
"Will?" Elizabeth's soft voice called out as she heard the door to their stay room open, a tall figure running into the rocking chair she had unwittingly left in the middle of the floor. Receiving a grunt in response, the bed shifted as he slid up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist as she leaned her head back against his shoulder.
"Will we be heading home soon?"
"After the sun rises." He commented, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair with a soft smile.
Elizabeth turned in his loose hold as she rested her cheek against his shoulder; her nose to the crook of his throat. "Did you speak with your father?"
He nodded, his loose curls tickling her forehead and chin, feeling her smile against his neck.
"Elizabeth Anne Turner, what are you smiling at?"
"I hate to say it William Jonathan Turner…but I believe I told you so."
With a resigned sigh, Will pushed her off of his shoulder and onto her own pillow as he turned to face her, propping his head up on his hand. Leaning forward, he placed a light kiss to her shoulder.
"Just what did you tell me?"
"I told you that you wouldn't be able to ignore him for long. He's family."
Placing a light kiss to the tip of her ear, he pulled her back into his arms as he settled down into his pillow.
"Then I concede that you were correct darling. Just this once."
She laughed as she rested against his chest once more, slipping back into a silent slumber.
* * *
A/N: Okay, I SWEAR that it will be getting better!!! I've been neglecting you guys, and for that I'm terribly sorry. The main plot of the story is where I want it, unfortunately I haven't a clue how to get there. If any of you out there are willing to have me ruin the story for you, and will become my sort of…second hand author, I would appreciate it more than you could ever imagine!!! IM me at Gadien Elf (with AIM) or e-mail me at JeanOConnell195@aol.com.
I know there are MANY of you who reviewed, but I haven't the time to write you all a thank you yet. So for good measure, THANK YOU ALL! A more formal thanks will be within the next chapter, I promise! So don't believe that I'm ignoring you all!
~Jean~