Disclaimer. Well I've reached the end of the story and I still only own Ben.

Hope you enjoy this, the last chapter! Please don't forget to review…every one is read, digested and taken very seriously.

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Petal of a Rose

Chapter 12 – A Touch Of Destiny!

Elizabeth was sleeping. Cotton was with her in case she needed anything. Their baby daughter was fed, clothed and asleep in a blanket lined drawer placed close to the bed. Her thumb in her mouth and her tiny, rosebud lips sucking as she slept. Jack looked at her, emotion, raw and primeval coursing through his veins. He loved his daughter and vowed that she would never suffer the torment of believing herself to be thought of as 'the one that lived.' Although he already loved her with every bone in his body, he knew that, deep down; his mind would forever associate her with their dead son.

Checking that Elizabeth was asleep and casting a warning look at Cotton, he left the cabin. Gibbs was slumped in the gangway, cradling Jack's son and crying openly.

Jack walked up to him, squatted in front of him and grasped his shoulder with his hand, squeezing gently. The older man looked up from the child.

"In the name of all that's right and holy, Jack, why?, he muttered, tears coursing down his weather-beaten face.

Jack sighed, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "I don't know…Joshamee…he was too small…too weak…too early. Damn it! This can't be happening!", after which the tears started to fall.

"How is she?", Gibbs croaked out, nodding back toward the cabin.

"Gave birth to me daughter," Jack managed, gazing longingly at his son, "Sleepin' at the moment – both of 'em. Cottons with 'em."

Jack reached down and, with tender care, as if he might break, lifted his son from Gibbs' hold. He craved some time alone with him.

Word had quickly spread amongst the crew, and as Jack stumbled out onto deck, they stood quietly, heads bowed. As he moved forward with the child they parted in a wave, to allow him passage amongst them.

He took his son to his thinking spot, behind the helm. The wheel was tied off and the upper deck was deserted, as if they knew that this was where he would come to grieve.

He stood at the railing and gazed out at the huge expanse of ocean, drawing solace from the endless horizon. He threw his head back and issued a guttural roar, that sliced the silence. He looked at his child. The earthly remains of his little boy. His first born. His son. He crushed the baby to his chest, willing him to life. He kissed his cold head, with its thatch of dark hair. He touched the baby's skin, cold and pale, like a wax doll. Tears fell unheeded from his eyes and dripped steadily down, onto the perfect body. The body that looked as if it were merely sleeping. He wrapped the blanket tighter. He had to warm up his son. He felt empty of emotion. Empty and so, so alone. Breathless, he gasped for air, as the tears coursed down his face until it became impossible for him to see. He tried to imagine his son in a better place, running and dancing on the tips of the waves with other little ones, but, deep down he could see nothing. His son had not lived, never drew a breath. His son had been a dream that had turned to ashes. He didn't know what to do…how to cope. His shoulders shook with the force of his grief.

No-one who witnessed this would ever be able to forget it. The scene played out as if in slow motion, time was suspended as The Pearl seemed to hang in a pocket of grief.

Some time later, Jacks sobs started to still and he felt an immense cavern of emptiness settle in his chest.

He was just turning from the rail to go back to the cabin and check on Elizabeth and their daughter, when there was a boiling of water beside The Pearl and an ear-splitting explosion of imploding water as the Flying Dutchman surfaced alongside his ship.

As The Dutchman settled in the water, Jack sensed Wills presence behind him. He gulped and turned to face his old friend, Elizabeth's ex-fiancée, who, in exchange for eternal life now ferried the souls of those who died at sea, to the other side, as Captain of the Flying Dutchman.

Will looked at Jack, pity and compassion openly displayed on his face.

"Hello, Jack."

Jack gripped his son tightly and held him tighter against him. He gulped, fighting a surging fear within his heart.

"Ye can't have him – he's mine – mine and Elizabeth's. Ye can't take him…not yet!" He looked like a wild cat defending his young.

Will stepped towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Look at me, Jack.", he said.

Jack fearfully looked at his son's still, peaceful face and then lifted his eyes to Will.

"This wasn't meant to be, Jack. Not this. It isn't what was ordained."

Jack looked puzzled.

"Listen to me, Jack. Something went wrong. A mix up in time, perhaps. This isn't what is meant to pass."

Jack knew that he was losing his senses. Hadn't a clue what the whelp was talking about, but something, one last shred of sanity told him to hang on in there – to try and make sense of what Will was saying.

"A great future waits for your son, Jack, history that must not be changed – which is why…I…can…do…this –"

Will reached across, laid his hands on the dead child's chest and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, Jack's whole body jerked, as he felt his son grow warm through the blanket. He felt his cold, dead heart start to beat. Felt his son wriggle in his arms. His eyes opened for the first time and looked directly into his fathers. He gathered breath and burst into a noisy crescendo of crying.

Jack looked from his crying son, to Will, his face alight with wonder and a heartfelt relief, and saw the smile on his old friends face.

"Everything will be fine, now, Jack.", Will assured him.

Jack hugged his friend close, making sure that the baby was kept from being crushed, and felt tears of happiness on his cheeks. He brushed them away, self-consciously, while William grinned at him.

The crew were cheering and slapping each other on their backs, delighted with the change of events.

Jack threw his arm about Wills shoulders.

"Come with me, Will. There be someone who'll b' delighted to see ye, an ye can meet me daughter too!"

He led Will down to the Captains Cabin, threw open the door and cried, "Lizzie, tis an ol' friend I've brought t' see ye – and this young man is hungry!"

Elizabeth rose from the pillows, glanced at their still sleeping daughter, then looked back to her husband. She stared, puzzled, at the baby cocooned in Jack's arms and then spotted Will.

Her brow puckered.

"Will…? How lovely to see you. I certainly didn't expect this!"

She looked at the crying baby in Jacks embrace and said, I've just had the strangest dream…"

The end

Well… that's it. All done and finished.

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