Chapter 12

When Elizabeth opened her eyes it was mourning. The storm had stopped. She stretched her arms, but then realized something. Where was Will? He was not next to her. Elizabeth jumped up in a panic and ran to his room. He was no where to be found, "Will? Will? Where are you?" she exclaimed as she ran around the upstairs and then began to head downstairs but then remembered, the chest! She ran back up and checked the hidden floorboard in her closet, it was gone!

"Oh no," she said under her breathe. She darted back to the stairs, "Will?" she exclaimed once more as she heard the front door open.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs she whipped her head in the direction of the door to see who it was. She nearly fell to the floor as all the air in her was knocked out, Will was okay, thank heavens! But why had he been outside?

"Momma! Are you okay?" Will said running to her.

She took him into her arms and held him in her embrace as long as she could.

"Will why did you do that! You scared me to death! Never ever do that again!" She said almost crying.

"But he said it was okay," Will said confused.

Elizabeth heart stopped, who told him he could go outside?, had Matthew came in the night and got into the house or worse.

"Who?" Elizabeth asked fastly.

"Papa," Will said still confused at her questions.

"What?"

"Papa, he said I could go outside as long as I kept clean."

"But he—, how—"

"He's here Momma."

Elizabeth looked at her son, he was telling the truth, she could see it in his eyes. She ran as fast as she could to kitchen, no one was there. Then she heard it, "Elizabeth darling, you're awake!"

Elizabeth whipped her head around to where to voice came from, the living room. She ran in and there he was. She felt as if she had seen a ghost!

"Will!" she said breathlessly as she ran to him collapsing into his warm embrace.

"Ha-ha, I missed you too," he laughed. "Wow, you act as if you haven't seen me in years."

"I haven't," she said as she looked into his deep brown eyes and hugged him tighter.

"I just say you yesterday, heck I woke up next to you this mourning—" he laughed.

"But… but you were at sea, you were supposed to return tomorrow!" she said confused.

"Elizabeth…" he said looking at her sincerely as he put his hands on her shoulders, "I've been back… for a little over a year now. Tomorrow's our Anniversary, our first together and—" he was interrupted by crying from the other room.

Elizabeth was confused; William never cried like that, that was the cry of a much younger child.

"Sounds like someone else woke up too," Will laughed.

"Huh?" Elizabeth said confused.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," he laughed, "William!"

William then came in slowly holding a small bundle.

What is that? Elizabeth wondered.

"Whoa there! Will what are you—" Will said running over to him.

"I wanted to help!" William said proudly handing the bundle to his father.

Elizabeth couldn't speak, she thought to herself, It couldn't be… this has to be a dream… it's too good to be true….

The crying was coming from the bundle but Will calmed it but gently rocking it.

"You haven't held 'em all mourning," Will said coming to me, "Here I know how much you love holding him."

"Who?" Elizabeth asked confused. She looked at the bundle in front of her in Will's arms. It was a beautiful baby!

"Our son, our youngest," he laughed.

Elizabeth shook as she took the baby boy slowly in her arms; she began of cry tears of joy.

"There ya go Dustin…" Will said sweetly as he stroked the baby's head in my arms.

"Dustin?" Elizabeth asked sweetly.

"Yes, Dustin Adrian Turner… Elizabeth you act like you've never even seen him before…" Will laughed confused.

"I… I… feel like it. He's beautiful…" Elizabeth said breathlessly.

"I know," Will said as he put his arms around her. William ran up and peeked his head up to see Dustin.

"Dustin Adrian Turner… my son… my second son," Elizabeth said almost crying again.

"Can we take him outside today?" William asked.

"We'll see," Will laughed as he answered, "That's a good idea, we can have a Family day, just the four of us together."

Elizabeth was in amazement, it all felt so wonderful! She finally had her family together plus a pleasant surprise! "Family…" Elizabeth said looking at little Dustin, then William, and last Will, "My boys… together at last."

"In deed," Will said kissing her. They both smiled as Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder and looked at her family. She closed eyes and took it all in but then she suddenly heard thunder. She opened her eyes; it was early mourning, the rain was pouring outside, young Will was cuddled up tight next to her. It had been a dream, as she feared. She would soon have to get up and make Will breakfast as he got ready for another day at school and her another day at her dreadful work. She looked at Will sleeping; he looked so peaceful, so happy.

Oh why not? A few days won't hurt us,she thought to herself, the rest of this week will be about family, and no one's going to stop me. She laid her head back down above Will's and went back happily asleep, hoping that her wonderful dream would continue the minute she closed her eyes.

It was Tuesday, Elizabeth was supposed to wake up, make Will breakfast as he got ready for another day at school and her another day at her dreadful work… but she didn't, she wouldn't.

For the rest of the week, she would not go to work and Will would not go to school, they would spend some well-needed time together but most importantly, they would receive the last missing piece to the puzzle, which was there family. That piece being Will, who would return the next day…