Upon the Sea Again
A/N: Here we go again. We learn the name of Child Turner, and see some old friends.
To the person who fave'd and followed, thanks! I can't remember how to find out who you are… but this chapter's dedicated to you my love.
The dappled sunlight of the starting sunlight filtered through the flimsy curtains of covering the spotlessly clean windows and gently illuminated the room's sleeping occupant. It made her raven hair shine and lit up her pale skin with a rosy light. She slept peacefully, a small smile playing across her face. A bottle of rum stood half drunk on the bedside table. Clothes were haphazardly stacked in the corner. Shoes were strewn across the floor. A drawing of a ship adorned the wall above the girl's head.
"Jackie!" a woman's voice screeched through the door accompanied by loud knocking. The girl groaned and she rolled over, a frown now marring her pretty face.
"Jack!" the woman screeched again, pounding on the door now. "I know you came home at dawn this morning, get your lazy arse out of bed!" she thumped twice on the door.
Jackie, for that was the girl's name, groaned again and she threw her arm over her eyes.
The door opened to reveal Captain Elizabeth Turner, Pirate King of the Brethren Court, captain of the Empress and Pirate Lord of Singapore. "Jacqueline Elizabeth Wilhelmina Turner, get up right now before I throw cold water over you and burn the rum!" she yelled. "Your father's coming ashore today."
Jacqueline Turner shot awake. "Why din' yer say summant, Ma? I en't sin me Da in years, what wif 'im bein' at sea an' all. Capt'ning the Dutchman and th'like," asked, scrambling for clothes and speaking the widely used language and accent of the town. Elizabeth had explained to her daughter exactly what her father was doing, why he could only step ashore once every ten years. She had explained all her adventures with Will and Jack. While Jackie had been out the night before, Elizabeth had packed up their worldly belongings and was ready to move back to her home on the sea.
Elizabeth drew herself up to her full height. "Jacqueline Turner you will remember both your manners and your lessons whilst talking to me," she said.
Jackie cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Mother, I was with Gareth and Thomas all night… and most of the morning," she said, pulling on black pirate's trousers and a white 'poofy' shirt, commonly known as a pirate's shirt. She tied a belt of red material around her waist, where the shirt met the trousers. "What time is Papa coming ashore?" Jackie asked as she tied her hair back and then the bandanna that her father had given her when she was ten. It was his captain's bandanna and besides, Will could always have gotten a new one.
"He'll come to us when we signal him. Well, I'll signal him at the very least," Elizabeth replied. "We'll leave in a little while, because we've got to into town. Say goodbye to a few people," she said. "You might want to say goodbye to your friends, as well. We'll not see this place for a while."
Jackie frowned, looking up from pulling on her boots. "Why? And how long?" she asked.
"Because we're going to sea, Jackie, and we won't be back until your father can step ashore again. Not for ten years," Elizabeth explained. "And will you finally kiss Thomas Sawyer? Even if it bloody kills you, the least you can do for the lad is kiss him before you leave. He's been in love with you for donkey's years and you've never paid him any attention!" she added.
"Oh, but Ma! I don' like 'im like 'at an' it en't as if there's women linin' up afore 'im!" Jackie protested, slipping back into the town's dialect.
" I don' care, Jackie, yer gon' kiss 'im an' 'a's 'at!" Elizabeth retaliated, following her daughter into town dialect.
"Ma! 'S Gareth Tattler I's bin in luv wif, I don' like Thomas Sawyer like 'at yer know it!" Jackie said. "We goin' or what? I wanna catch Rummy afore he packs up for th'night," she asked.
"Aye, I do too. Come on, girl. And yer'll kiss both yer friends g'bye, un'stand?" Elizabeth told her daughter as they both left the little house that had been their home for the last twenty years. They walked away, taking one last good look before they left for good. Or for the next ten years, at least.
"Rummy! Rummy Frecks!" Elizabeth called as she and her daughter approached the market.
"Aye, Lizzie! O'er 'ere, missus!" Rummy called back from packing up his stall, the one that he'd had since before his father's father's father was born. He would pack up and then sit in the Jilted Groom for awhile.
"Aye, Rummy." Elizabeth replied as they both approached the old man. Jackie had a tearful goodbye with the beloved old man before she left to go say goodbye to her friends in the tavern.
"Yer 'usband comin' ashore tonight then, Lizzie?" Rummy asked as he lit his pipe.
"Aye, he is. But me daughter an' I'll not be returnin' to yer. She's old enough to be livin' at sea, now. I was younger 'an 'er and look 'ow I turned out," Elizabeth explained. "Would yer like to come meet me 'usband an' say a proper g'bye to me and Jackie then?" she asked. "An' if yer care to leave us at sea, yer'll pass into me 'usband's care and perhaps join 'is crew if yer care to."
"Aye. I'd like that. I'd like ter see who yer Jackie comes from. She's just like 'im, I bet," Rummy cracked a grin. "Yer've lost yer breedin', luv," he said.
"Robert Freckles how dare you insinuate I have lost my breeding!" Elizabeth said, fake-scandalized. Only she and Jackie knew Rummy Frecks' true name of Robert Freckles. He preferred Rummy, anyway and he shortened his surname just before he moved to the town.
"Now there's the girl we all know an' love," Rummy grinned harder. "Shall we check on your Jackie?"
"We shall. I've gotta make sure she does summant," Elizabeth replied, leading the man towards the tavern.
Inside, Jackie was giving a tearful goodbye to the owner's daughter and barmaid, Lily Rush.
"'M gon' miss yer, Jackie Turner. Yer best be comin' ter see me ev'ry now an' ag'n," Lily said into Jackie's shoulder as the women shared a tight hug.
"'M gon' miss yer too, Lils. I'll see yer when I c'n come ashore, depends on wha' me Ma says," Jackie replied, drawing back slightly and spotting her mother and Rummy over Lily's shoulder. "'ere, Lils, yer en't sin Tommo and Gary, 'ave yer? Need ter say g'bye to 'em," she asked.
"Aye, they'd be in th'corner wif Nellie Whitbourne an' Alice Hones," Lily replied. "'ow 'bout one fer the road? Bottle o' rum, en't it? On th'house. Fer yer Ma as well if she wan'," she added.
"Aye, give 'er a bottle an' all. She were a rummy afore I were born," Jackie replied, nodding and departing to go and see her two best friends.
Elizabeth watched her daughter wandering off to find her friends. She sighed, eyes flicking towards the window, keeping an eye on the sunset. It was almost sundown. Jackie had to be quick, otherwise they'd not get to Will and the others on time.
Jackie approached her best friends cautiously. Tommo saw her first, face lighting up with joy. "Jackie!" he called, waving her over.
Jackie took a deep breath, plastering a smile on her face and walked over to her friends. "'Lo, boys. Ladies," she said, nodding to Nellie and Alice.
"'Lo, Jackie. Wha' brings you over here after las' nigh'?" Gary asked, grinning as he swigged on his rum.
Jackie did the same, shrugging. "G'bye. 'M meetin' me Pa tonight and then me and me Ma're off to live on th'sea wif me Pa an' some family friends," she said, perching on Tommo's lap as she was prone to do.
"Yer leavin'? Aw, Jacks," Gary said, reaching across and patting his friend's shoulder.
"Aye, 'm leavin'. Me Ma's over there wif Rummy and she's made me promise summant to 'er," Jackie said grimly. "I 'ope you en't courting' these girls," she added.
"Nay, not yet," Tommo grinned. "Though I might' tek Nellie out once 'r twice."
"Good. Both you boys, get up," Jackie nodded, standing up herself.
"Eh?" Gary asked, frowning.
"Stan' up yer sonofagun, and you Tommo," Jackie rolled her eyes in a perfect imitation of Will. Both boys stood, uneasy of what Jackie might do to them. It might be a slap, as she'd been prone to do before, it might be a hug which was rarer.
Jackie licked her lips before reaching up to Gary and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. She hugged the man, memorizing his scent. She'd been in love with him for two years now and had loved him like a brother for longer still. "G'bye, Gareth Tattler. Yer're a good man and yer'll mek some girl a good 'usband someday," she murmured into his ear. "I'll miss yer, yer bloody spoilsport," she said.
Gary tightened his hold upon the girl he'd thought of as a sister for fifteen years now. "And I'll miss yer too, Jackie Turner. Place won't be th'same wifou' yer," he replied softly. "I'll miss yer a lot, yer stupid cow."
Slowly drawing away from Gary, Jackie turned to Tommo. The man had hurt and betrayal in his blue eyes. "Ah, c'mere yer flamin' lummox!" she said, reaching up and kissing his lips as well. She also hugged him tightly, commiting his scent to memory as well. "G'bye, Tommo Sawyer. Yer'll mek an 'onest woman out of tha' Lily Rush yet. Don' wallow o'er me, I'll be back. Just not yet," Jackie told him. "I'll miss yer, yer flamin' lummox," she said.
Tommo tightened his hold on the woman he'd been in love with for six years and counting. "And I'll miss yer too, yer silly girl. Tavern's gon' be awful quiet wifout Jackie Turner mekin' a fool o' herself ev'ry night," he smiled.
"Ay! If I recall, yer eightenf weren't all summant to be proud o'!" Jackie protested with a grin.
Elizabeth smiled as she went over to the bar and caught Lily's eye.
"Eh, Lizzie. Wha' can I do fer yer?" Lily asked, leaning over the bar to Elizabeth.
"Eh, Lily. Can I get six bottles o' rum? I got money ter pay. I got some friends who like ter drink a fair bit an' what better way ter say 'ello, eh?" Elizabeth asked, reaching for her purse.
Lily shook her head. "I'll nay be tekkin' payment from yer tonight, Lizzie. Yer'll be leavin' us soon. Think o' it as a goin' away presen'," the barmaid said. Elizabeth smiled. Everyone had taken to calling her Lizzie once they found out her name was Elizabeth. At first she'd corrected them, but then she just grew into it and get used to it. Now it'd feel strange for someone to wander up to her and call her Elizabeth.
"Ta, Lily, yer a diamon' and at's the truf o' it," Elizabeth replied, smiling as she took the crate of six bottles from the barmaid. "Eh, Jackie!" she called over to her daughter. "C'mon, we gotta go meet yer Pa down at th'beach." Elizabeth turned to Rummy. "Yer ready, Rum?" she asked.
Rummy drained his tankard. "Aye, 'm ready," he said as Jackie came over to the two.
"Eh, Rum, why're yer tekkin' us down ter th'beach?" Jackie asked as she, her mother and Rummy walked down to the beach.
"'Cause yer Ma offered fer me ter meet yer Pa and I said I would," Rummy replied.
"Yer gon' meet me Pa? Really?" Jackie asked, grinning widely. Rummy was like a father to her, especially considering that her real father was away for but two days of her life. She needed some fatherly figure after all.
"Aye, I am. I wan' see jus' 'ow much yer look like 'im," Rummy grinned. "Yer face shape and features're yer mother's, but all th'rest're father's."
"Stop 'ere. 'M gon' call me 'usband," Elizabeth interrupted, stopping them. Four ships adorned the horizon and a smaller dinghy mad it's way to shore.
Elizabeth walked forward twenty paces and pulled a necklace from beneath her shirt. She pressed it to her lips and whispered, "Will."
A minute later, a man who looked barely out of his twenties appeared from thin air. "Elizabeth!" he cried, running towards his wife.
"Will!" Elizabeth replied, also running towards him, meeting him halfway. The two shared five minutes privacy while Jackie and Rummy chatted among themselves and the dinghy grew closer to the shore.
"Is that… it can't be our baby girl, can it? That's not our Jackie?" Will asked, looking over at his daughter and Rummy. "She's so beautiful, Elizabeth. She looks just like… she looks just like my mother did," he said.
"That's Jackie, yes. And the man she's with is a very good friend of ours. He gave us a house to live in, paid my expenses when I was too heavily pregnant to work and he's been a father figure to Jackie all her life. I'd like for you to meet him," Elizabeth replied. "It feels so strange to be called Elizabeth. Most just call me Lizzie nowadays," she said, leading Will over to Jackie and Rummy.
"Rum, me Ma and Pa're comin' over. 'Ang on while I remember me teachin's," Jackie nodded, closing her eyes. Her shoulders went back, head went up and her back straightened as she drew herself to her full height.
"Rummy, this is my husband, William Turner. Will, this is Robert Freckles, more commonly known as Rummy Frecks," Elizabeth introduced, her accent slipping back into her breeding and lessons.
"Yer foun' yer breedin', I see," Rummy joked, winking at Elizabeth. "Right honour it is ter meet yer, Will'um, it is. Yer've got a lovely wife and a beautiful daughter. 'Ad 'alf the town after 'er, she did, but she en't ever said nowt ter any of 'em, never did she," he added.
Will smiled. "The honour is all mine- er- Rummy. Thank you for looking after my family while I was away," he said, having no trouble understanding the man after having traveled with Jack and Barbossa for so long.
"T'wasn't a problem, Will'um lad. They're a joy to look after, so they are," Rummy shook his head. "Say, when I pass on, I intend to pass on at sea. Yer lovin' wife mentioned I'd be able ter join yer crew. Would 'at be possible to do so now an' 'en fulfill me duties when I pass on?" he asked.
"I'm not entirely sure on that, Rummy. I shall confer with my first mate and then notify you at the earliest opportunity," Will conceded after a moment's thought. "Now, little one. Have you no hug for your dear old Papa?" he asked his daughter.
"Papa!" Jackie squealed as she leapt on her father, consuming him in a hug. "I've missed you so, Papa," she said.
"Aye, and I've missed you my little one," Will replied, hugging his daughter tightly, burying his face in her hair.
"Yeah. All but her face shape and features're her father's," Rummy muttered to himself, nodding. The dinghy finally reached the beach and all passengers jumped out. All but two worked on pulling it up the beach.
The other two walked towards the scene. One with a confident swagger to his walk and the other with a hand on his sword.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't King Lizzie and the Captain Turner," the swaggering one asked.
Elizabeth gasped, grinning. "Jack!" she yelled, excitedly.
Jackie jumped. "What?!" she yelled back at her mother.
A/N: Hehe, cliffy! I'm writing the next chapter as we speak so it should hopefully be up either tonight or sometime tomorrow. I have coursework to do.