Disclaimer: Bad news- I don't own Pirates! NOOO! (Sobs uncontrollably) What is the world coming to?
Sunday, the 22nd of September
Dear Diary,
Mum remains ill, although still no one speaks a word of it but Pintel and Ragetti. I was rather surprised that they would be the ones to mention it, as they tend to be, shall we say, a bit dull. Just last night, they were talking between themselves about "Wot's wrong wit' Missus Turna', d'ya think?" For once, they seem to be the only ones who realize what is going on. I was utterly shocked when I heard Uncle Jack murmur to Anamaria, "Lizabeth is lookin' right fine these days." I began to doubt whether I had heard correctly. However, I learned that I had indeed understood her when Anamaria smilingly replied, "She's doing fine, just fine." Has everyone gone blind? No, my mother is not looking fine!
I intended to speak with Kristie yesterday, but we were unfortunately interrupted by an argument between my mother and Uncle Jack. Of all those on board the Black Pearl, those two seem to have the most trouble getting along. Then Father came over to settle the argument. He told Kristie and I to go and help Anamaria with little Jonathan. I wish I knew what the quarrel was about, but the only things I managed to hear before being whisked away were something to do with being marooned, a signal fire, and missing rum. I was disappointed to find that I was unable to hear anything else from Jack and Anamaria's cabin.
Below decks I very nearly directed an angry outburst at Anamaria about my mother's strange condition, but stopped myself. After all, I told myself, we are all on the same rather cramped boat (Oh, goodness. I hope Uncle Jack does not read what I just wrote about his precious Pearl. I apologize. I correct myself, it is a ship, not a boat.) and I do not wish to be on bad terms with anyone, especially those who I am in such close proximity to for extended periods of time.
Speaking of which, I learned this morning that we should reach the Cayman Islands within a week! I have never been there, but I am told it is a lovely place. Mother and Father went there about six months ago. I remained with the Sparrow family for three full weeks while they took a short vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay with Kristie. I learned that her father snores. Although he adamantly denied ever having made a sound while asleep, the sound his snoring is similar to that of a boulder being dragged across a cobblestone street. Fortunately, I was placed at the opposite end of the hallway from his and Anamaria's room. I slept in Kristie's room; we took turns sleeping on the creaky old cot Uncle Jack dug out to accommodate a fourth child.
Father is calling me. Today he has promised to give me another sailing lesson!
Always,
Sarah Turner
Later that afternoon, Sarah hauled Kristie up to their favorite hiding place, the crow's nest to discuss the problem.
"Have you noticed anything wrong with my Mum?" she began. When her friend started to speak, she held up a hand to silence her. "I wasn't finished. As I was saying, she has been ill for several days now, and no one will talk about it, not even her! The only crew members who have spoken of this are Pintel and Ragetti, and as we both know, they are... they can be... Oh, you know-"
"Stupid?" Kristie offered.
"Well, yes." Sarah hadn't intended to be so blunt, but she had to admit Kristie was right. Sighing, she seated herself beside her friend. "I'm just so worried about her," she confided. "What if whatever this is kills her and it's all our fault for not doing anything? Or worse, what if people have noticed and are intentionally ignoring her rapidly declining health and-"
"Hold it! Hold it." Kristie raised both hands now, looking half annoyed, half amused. "Keep 'at up and yer just gonna make this whole thing worse. There's gotta be a logical explanation, savvy?" Like her father before her, that word was one of her favorites.
Sarah sighed and reluctantly agreed. "Savvy."
Kristie moved around so she was facing Sarah. "An' I 'spect I know what it is."
Sarah sat up straighter, giving the other girl her full attention. She trusted that her friend would be more likely to understand a situation like this. Elizabeth had been somewhat overprotective of her only child. Kristianna, on the other hand, had been exposed to the ways of a pirate from a young age. Sailing on the Pearl with Captain Jack Sparrow, she had not exactly led a sheltered life. Therefore, Sarah often turned to her when something arose which she did not understand.
When he came aboard the Black Pearl the year before, Will had commented more than once on the remarkable resemblance between Jack and Kristianna, and indeed, Kristie was without a doubt her father's daughter. Whenever she had a choice in the matter, her long black locks were tied back by her trademark blue bandanna, and she had seriously considered cutting her hair short. She hated dresses with a passion, and was never content to sit still. Her bright black eyes usually had a mischievous gleam in them, suggesting that some elaborate plan was formulating in the enigma that was her mind.
Now those eyes danced with self-satisfaction as she told Sarah her suspicions. "I'd be willin' ta bet that ye got a brand-new sibling on the way."
"What?" Sarah's mind reeled. Everything she had noticed when Anamaria was pregnant with Jonathan came flooding back to her. Memories of the morning sickness, the aches and pains, and the odd behavior filled her mind. "Oh, my Lord."
"Kristianna Jacquelyn Sparrow! Come here this instant!" The shouts of an angry Anamaria Sparrow shattered Sarah's dazed silence and brought her back to reality. She heaved an exasperated sigh and looked pointedly at her friend.
"Kristie, what have you done this time?"
"Um..."
"Do I even dare to ask?" Although she intended to sound angry, she could not hide her amusement from the younger girl.
Kristie sported her signature lopsided grin.
"Prob'ly not."
Monday, the 23rd of September
Dear Diary,
Yesterday I dragged Kristie up to the crow's nest and asked her what she thought was wrong with my mother, and I must admit I was not expecting the response I got. She suspects that I shall soon have a younger sibling! At first I was quite taken aback. Now that I think about it, however, I am surprised I did not make that assumption myself. While Anamaria was pregnant with Jonathan, she, Uncle Jack, and Kristie were visiting with Mum and I, and I recall that she acted very similarly to the way Mum has been acting as of late.
I shudder when I remember that time. Never before or since have I seen Kristie so very frightened. We were all hiding from the East India Trading Company at the time, and we decided that our small cottage on the outskirts of Port Royal was the best place we could run to. It was such a terrible time to bring a child into the world! Seeing as there were only two occupants at the time, our house was very small. It was rather uncomfortable having to cram three more people into the already snug space, but it was well worth it. Who knows what may have become of us?
During those weeks, Kristie and I slept on makeshift beds in Mum's room. Due to her condition, Anamaria was given my room while Uncle Jack and Robert slept on cots in the parlor. Looking back, I see very little purpose to all of this, for on most nights, neither Kristie nor I could sleep. I knew Mum was troubled as well, for every once in a while I would hear her crying softly late at night.
I have been very fortunate for the majority of my childhood thus far; events such as these are rare. I suppose it is a bit selfish of me to complain, especially considering what some of our friends have gone through, but the very thought of having to go through something like that again makes me shudder.
I do not wish to write any more on this subject right now.
Always,
Sarah Turner
Later that day, the youngest Turner decided she would set things straight once and for all. In her mind's eye, she pictured herself marching boldly up to her mother and demanding to know what was behind the uncharacteristic behavior she'd witnessed recently. She would carry herself with confidence befitting of the young lady she was becoming. Unfortunately for her, things did not go quite as she had planned.
First of all, she could not locate Elizabeth. She searched above and below decks, from bow to stern, but to no avail. She checked the galley. She knocked at her parents' cabin door, and when she received no reply, she even went so far as to listen at the keyhole. She tried opening the door, only to find it securely bolted. Exasperated, she glanced about to ascertain that there was no one watching, then dropped to her knees before the heavy wooden door. She slowly leaned forward, pressing her ear to the worn floorboards to peer into the room.
The cabin was dark. This confused Sarah. Why on earth would her parents block the light out of an unoccupied room? Shifting her position on the floor, she attempted to get a better view of the room. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, She could make out a woman's figure underneath the blankets. Her jaw dropped. Her mother never took naps, even as a young child. She was constantly active in some way. Even when writing letters or sewing, she would continually shuffle her feet, unable to sit still. If she was weary enough to succumb to sleep at this hour, surely she was not quite herself. With each passing moment, she was more inclined to agree with Kristie's suspicions.
"Uh- Well, hello there, Sarah." Sarah jumped at the sound of a voice behind her. "Might I ask what you're doing on the ground with your nose under the door?" She scrambled to her feet, brushing off her clothes as best she could and attempting to make her unruly dark curls appear tidier. Blushing, she lifted her gaze to meet her father's dark eyes. Although she was quite embarrassed, she was relieved to note the amused twinkle in his eyes and the hint of a smile that he was trying to hold back.
"Um.." She struggled to find the right words. Will raised an eyebrow, pressing for an answer.
"You can tell me." His words and the smile that came with them greatly reassured Sarah. Surely he would understand her predicament.
"Well," she began timidly. "I've noticed that Mum hasn't been acting- well, like Mum." She faltered at his inquiring expression. "She never takes naps, and yet she's fast asleep at half past noon. In all my life, I have never seen her seasick, yet she's been queasy more than once in the last week." Her father conceded that this was true. Finally, she blurted out, "Kristie thinks she's going to have a baby."
Her father looked somewhat startled when she said this, but quickly recovered. "Would that upset you?" He asked tentatively.
"No, no! Of course not!" He examined her face, searching for any sign that she was lying. When he was sufficiently convinced of her sincerity, he smiled. "Well, that's good." Then his smile faded slightly. He felt somewhat guilty about sharing the news with their daughter when his wife was not present, but Sarah deserved to know. "Please, Father, I need to know."
Looking off into space, he smiled thoughtfully. At length, he quietly spoke. "Kristie is correct."
Before his daughter could respond, Mr. Gibbs hurried into the corridor, calling for Will. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated when he noticed Sarah's slightly disheveled appearance. "Are ye alright?" he asked her.
"I'm quite well, thank you. And you?" He nodded. After all these years, he still considered it bad luck to have a female on board.
Satisfied with her response, he turned to Will. "Jack sent me ta tell ye that thar be a storm brewin'."
Turner nodded slowly. In his years as captain of the Dutchman, he had dealt with more storms than he could count, and there were very few that caused him to worry. "Does it look like a bad one?"
"Aye, if ye ask me. Jack says it be too early to tell, but mark my words, this is no mere rain shower."
"Thank you, Mr. Gibbs." With one last befuddled glance at Sarah, the older pirate made his way out, shaking his head.
Turning back to Sarah, Will suggested that she fetch Kristie and that they retreat to the cabin they shared. Although reluctant to miss out on the action, she decided it best to obey her father. After all, he had weathered many, many more storms than she, and knew nearly all there was to know on the subject. Who was she to question his judgement? Nodding in agreement, she scurried off to find her friend, who was no doubt up to some sort of mischief.
William Turner watched his daughter hurry on her way to fetch Kristie, and his heart swelled with fatherly pride. He thought to himself for what must have been the thousandth time of how very blessed he was that he was able to be with his family. How he wished he would have been here to watch her grow up! By the time he returned and the curse was broken, Sarah Turner was well on her way to being a young lady. He sighed heavily. He would simply have to embrace that which he was given.
As the sound of her footsteps began to fade, he turned and grasped the door handle. He opened it slowly, pressing upwards on the door as he pushed it forwards in order to minimize the creaking noises. He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. Walking silently across the floor, he gazed adoringly down at Elizabeth. He contemplated whether he ought to wake her or leave her in peace. He felt he should tell her that Sarah knew there was a new Turner on the way, as well as of the storm looming above them. But when he looked at her sleeping face, with a blissful expression adorning her angelic features, he could not bring himself to stir her from her slumber. Instead, he leaned down and tenderly pressed his lips to her forehead, closing his eyes for a moment before pulling back to gently trace the contours of her face with his calloused fingers.
Though he would have loved to watch her sleep for much, much longer, he knew he was needed on deck. He managed to remove his hand from her face, and he left the room as silently as he had come. Once the door was closed behind him, he headed for the deck to face the storm.
A/N: And chapter two is DONE! Woohoo! Thanks a million to Williz, my amazingly awesome beta-reader! Thanks for all the reviews too. I absolutely love getting comments. (Hint to any non-reviewing readers... heh...)