Authors' Notes: I was so happy; I had the story up, had finally gotten the notes done, and I remembered I had forgotten a disclaimer! Ugh...So, then I come back to write a disclaimer, and realize I can't without removing the story. So I remove the story when I remember I didn't save my conversation with my cousin that I was going to take our authors' notes for. So now I'm stuck with nothing. Life is great, isn't it?
Disclaimer: I own nothin', me cousin owns nothin', and I don't think a soul on Fanfiction DOES own something. Josephine, Victoria, and anything you do not recognize from the movie is Lizzy's (my cousin) and mine.
Since I deleted my conversation, I forgot the quote my dear cousin gave me. So, I pick my own:
Quote: "Weddings? I love weddings! DRINKS ALL AROUND!"
The ironic thing is, it completely fits this chapter.
Oh, and by the way:
MJ (Which is me) will talk in bold. I am also known as Thing-One when I review.
Lizzy (Which is my cousin) will talk in italics. She is known as Thing-Two when she reviews.
So without much further ado:
Not Everything is as It Seems
By: Things-One-and-Two
Chapter One
New Adventures
The Turner cottage was full of laughter and merriment for tomorrow Victoria Turner would be wed to Commodore Edward Gillette, son of the late Commodore Gillette. The Turner twins were energetically discussing the wedding in their bedroom while making sure Victoria's wedding dress fit properly.
"I can't believe you are getting married tomorrow!" Josephine Turner was saying to her twin sister.
"I know, but Edward is such a dear," Victoria sighed melodramatically, a huge smile spread across her ivory face, that lit up her clear, light brown eyes. "I don't think I could be completely happy, though, unless I knew you'd be well married, too. You know, John Norrington has been making eyes at you for a while you know."
Josephine rolled her deep brown eyes, "Then he can keep them to himself or give them to that pansy, Abigail Stuart." She told Victoria, while making a face as she said "Abigail Stuart" as if it pained her to speak of the name.
"Josie!" Victoria admonished as she swung around to confront her sister, swinging her blonde curls with her, "Abigail is such a sweetheart! You just dislike her because she does not share your obsession with pirates and adventure. I mean; can you really blame her?"
Josephine used all the self-control she could muster not to strangle her sister. "Abigail has no sense in anything except fashion and boys. How can you blame me?" she said, half mocking her sister, whom took no notice of this. They then started to Victoria into her corset.
"I believe you do have an interest in boys," Victoria teased.
"Do not!" Josephine declared adamantly.
"What about Samuel?" Victoria countered.
"Sam and I are just friends," Josephine told her sister feeling, exasperated. "How many times have I told you that?"
"I don't recall," Victoria admitted. "But not enough to make me believe you," she added slyly.
With that Josephine tightened the laces of the corset as hard as she could.
"OUCH!" Victoria choked, "Stop…Please…"
"What do you say?"
"You and Samuel are just friends," Victoria wheezed out in defeat. Josephine eased the laces, as an amused grin lit her radiant face, tanned from being outside without her hat.
"Now you see reason," Josephine said triumphantly, grinning broadly as Victoria shot her a look. Josephine merely continued the laborious and tedious task of lacing up the rest of the corset. The two girls hurried to get the dress on. It took many tries, as the corset required was so small. "Why must you insist on wearing a corset? I don't…" Josephine told Victoria in frustration as she tugged on the laces with all her might, again, trying to lace up the corset.
"Because…I…don't…mind…OUCH!…besides…it's…only…for…a…little—oh, be careful!—while…" Victoria gasped.
Josephine rolled her eyes and continued to lace up the horrid contraption.
(Divider)
Meanwhile…
"I can't believe Victoria's getting married!" Elizabeth Turner exclaimed happily to her husband, William Turner, as she fixed two cups of British Tea. She quickly wandered around the small kitchen, grabbing this and that, and talking rather fast as she went. Will caught on quickly:
"Elizabeth, sit down," he smiled, motioning for her to take the seat across from him at the worn, wooden table scarred and chipped from many years of use. Very reluctantly, she sat passing Will a cup of tea. "Now tell me, is something bothering you?"
Elizabeth hesitated, deciding it was the right time to pour a bit of sugar into her cup. "It's just Josie…I'm worried about her," She told him, grabbing a spoon and stirring her tea. She couldn't look up into those caring, loving eyes she knew were looking down at her.
"Why are you worried?" Will asked patiently, stirring his own tea.
"Because…well, because…because she seems to get more adventurous every day; she never stops talking about pirates! I want to tell her so badly, Will…but you know Father," she sighed looking up at him, and, much to her surprise, he smiled at her.
"I wish I could tell her, too. Both of them," he told her.
"I've never seen someone so interested in pirates, or the sea, for that matter!" Elizabeth exclaimed, as her bell-like laughter softly rang throughout the kitchen.
"I have."
"Who?" She asked him curiously.
He chuckled softly, "You! I remember you always wondered what it would be like to meet a pirate. Though it didn't seem like it, I'm sure you enjoyed our 'trip' with Captain Sparrow…"
He was talking half in code. It was decided, long ago, when Josephine had first showed an interest in pirates and Victoria a great dislike for them, to keep Will and Elizabeth's adventure with the infamous Jack Sparrow a secret. They didn't like lying to their daughters, but felt it was the only way to keep them safe. Besides, the Governor left them with no other choice. Although they did not like to admit it, they knew that they were somewhat dependent on him because according to him, "a blacksmith's pay could not possibly afford to have the Governor's granddaughters be respectable in society." So, they half-heartedly agreed for him to pay for Josephine's and Victoria's education and he insisted on providing an allowance for their clothes since, "being the Governor's granddaughters, they must dress the part."
Elizabeth laughed, "I would have had my life not have been threatened the entire time!"
Will nodded with a small smile, running his index finger along the thin white scar on his left hand. He shuddered, remembering it all too clearly. "We need to talk," he began.
"About what, love?" Elizabeth was staring at him curiously.
"Captain Sparrow sent word that if I wanted, I could temporarily—" he put a lot of emphasis on that word "—join his crew. He's after this ship—the Vengeance, I think—and he said he could use an extra hand." He paused, giving her time to think before he eagerly added, "It won't be that long—six months, a year at the greatest."
"No, Will, it's fine…but what do you think we should tell the girls this time?" She asked, frowning as she thought it over again.
Will grinned at the thought of him at sea again, but after her second comment, frowned, deep in thought. After a few moments, he finally spoke, "What if we told them I was going out on business again?"
"That may just work," Elizabeth smiled; she stood up and took her cup over to the washbasin, and then turned to face him. She walked over to him as he got to his feet. "Just promise me you'll be careful…"
"Don't worry, I will," he told her honestly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into a hug. He kissed the top of her golden hair gently, and as he laid his chin on top of her head, he whispered, "I promise…"
(Divider)
Josephine lay awake that night mulling over her sister's wedding. She hoped it would all go well for he sister's sake—she could care less about Edward. The British Navy was such a mockery; all those pretty boys in powdered wigs! She preferred roguish pirates because they were at least manly.
I guess Victoria is starting her own adventure, Josephine thought as she turned on her side, gazing out the window. The night sky was dappled with dazzling stars, as the shinning moon soared upward. Unfortunately the window did not give her a view of the sea she loved. I wonder when mine will be…Hopefully something more exciting than marriage!
(Divider)
Victoria Turner's wedding to Commodore Edward J. Gillette was one of the grandest ever seen in Port Royal. The fort was decorated in splendor—Hibiscus and colorful Tiger Lilies filled crystal glass vases, white silk and lace hung from the walls, and many chairs lined up, a white piece of cotton, cut in a long rectangle acted as the aisle. The Caribbean weather was perfect for this joyous occasion with a topaz sky and a claming breeze.
All of the higher class were dressed in their finest—women in rather large skirts with equally large hats, men dressed in their military uniforms, seeing as how must of the higher class were in the military.
Victoria's wedding gown made her look like an angel. It was a long-sleeved white dress, with gold embroidery at the edge of the sleeves, around the elegant neck cut in the latest fashion, and lining the bottom of her skirt. Her deep brown hair was swept in a bun, a few stubborn curls tucked hastily behind her ears, showing off her gorgeous light brown eyes.
Josephine, as the made of honor, wore a dress of a delicate pink, the color of a rose, and was even forced to wear a corset! The dress was simple, yet elegant enough. It flowed effortlessly, and was decorated with a small amount of darker pink embroidery. The rest of Victoria's childhood friends, including her nemesis Abigail Stuart, wore identical dresses.
The wedding went on, and it went on wonderfully. Elizabeth sat in a seat of honor, crying as she watched her daughter get married. Will held her hand as he, too, watched proudly.
Josephine had found it pretty, the wedding, the reception, though it was incredibly long! She found herself counting down the minutes until she could rid herself of that itchy dress and that damn corset. This wedding would be talked about for months afterwards!
After the wedding, however, the Turner cottage was not a merry place. Everyone missed Victoria, especially Josephine. She had lost her friend, her sister, her confident, but somehow she cheered everyone up slightly by noting that Victoria would not live far away at all and daily visits could occur once the honeymoon was over.
The next day was a day of rest for those who were involved in the wedding. The day after was a day that brought despair for Josephine. She learned that her father would be leaving for Port Avery at the end of the week for business. First Victoria, now Father!
The house would immediately feel empty upon his departure, though Victoria promised she would visit as much as she could. Then, of course, there were her childhood friends Samuel Parker (who lived just across the lane) and Richard Smith, who worked at the naval stables.
Josephine tried to spend as much time with her father as she could, often joining him in the blacksmith's shop. He began to teach her basics on sword fighting, and rather enjoyed her company since it was usually just himself and his lazy apprentice at the shop.
"Good, Josie," Will complimented her one afternoon during one of their "lessons", "but watch your feet." He took a step and swung his sword. Josephine blocked it with hers, and took a step to her left, Will's right. She swung her wooden sword—they had learned that she should most likely start with one after the first time she had dropped it and sliced Will's arm while doing so—and made contact with Will's body.
"Ha!" She grinned triumphantly, "I got you!"
"Oh, I let you do that," Will smiled, sheathing his sword.
"I'm so sure," Josephine grinned, putting her "sword" away as well.
"C'mon, you're mother's making shepherd's pie for supper," Will told her, putting away the last of his supplies as he did.
"Hungry, Father?" Josephine laughed.
"Starving…"
And so it had went, each day Josephine would accompany Will to the shop, he would let her beat him in a sword fight, and then they would return home for supper when it got late. By the end of the week, Josephine had gotten quite good, quite fast. She was able to perform with a real cutlass. She enjoyed the time she spent with her father, but, much to her dismay, it ended…
"G'bye, Father," Josephine heard herself saying that Saturday.
"G'bye, Josie," Will smiled, pulling his daughter into a hug. She looked up at him, having a mental battle with her own emotions.
"Edward and Victoria send their fare-wells as well," she told him pulling away. "I think I'll…I'll go visit with Richard and Sam…" She said, though not wanting to leave, she didn't want her father to witness the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Wait," Will reached into his canvas sack and pulled out a long, thin box. "I made it especially for you…"
Josephine opened the box to find a cutlass, a real cutlass, inside. Its hilt was decorated with gold filigree; a "J" was spelled in small rubies. The folded steel was crafted to perfection; it shone brilliantly in the summer sun.
"It's beautiful," Josephine smiled, admiring the cutlass.
"Just promise me you'll use it for practice and not on your sister," Will smiled. Josephine laughed.
"Ruin my fun…"
"Josephine!" Elizabeth admonished.
"Only joking, Mother," Josephine smiled. "Well, I'll be off. I love you, Father. Be careful!" She made her way towards the stables, not to far from the docks, as eager as a child to show off her cutlass, but she did manage to hear Will's "I love you, too" before she went.
"I'll send you letters, two, actually. One for the girls to read," Will said, smiling as he thought about it.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," she told him, wiping her eyes to keep back the tears.
They stood like that, in an awkward silence, neither knowing of the right thing to say. The silence seemed to last an eternity until Elizabeth finally spoke.
"A sword, Will? Are you mad?" She laughed slightly, moving to be closer to him.
"Just about…though, she is really good with one. Did you see what she did to my arm?" Will laughed with her, his arms finding their way around her waist. They stared at each other for a while; just laughing like they were the lovesick teenagers they were those eighteen years ago.
"Maybe if you were a better swordsman, it wouldn't have been like that…"
"If I was a better swordsman? Woman, she dropped that sword! It was a pure stroke of luck!"
"I thought you were just commenting on how wonderful she was," Elizabeth smirked, and kissed Will quickly before he could come back at her. When they pulled away, he smirked back at her.
"I was, but you interrupted me…"
"Oh, did I?" She laughed, resting her head against his shoulder. She sighed and looked back up at him, her hazel eyes filled with worry. "Please be careful, love…I don't want to lose you…"
"You won't lose me, I promise," Will kissed her forehead. "Alright? I promise on my father's grave I'll be careful. Is that good enough for you?"
"It's going to be awfully lonely without you…you know that, right?" She whispered, breaking his heart with every word she spoke.
"I know…what are you going to do without me?"
"I could take up knitting," she offered jokingly.
"You know, I'm starting to get the impression that you want me to go," Will teased.
She laughed, but it ended quickly. "I should go…" She whispered, moving to pull away. Will, however, held her close. And he kissed her. It was a kiss with just as much passion and filled with just as much love as it had on that day eighteen years ago when he had first told her he loved her.
"I love you," he whispered, after they pulled away.
"I love you, too," she replied and with one last chaste kiss, she made her way up into the streets of Port Royal. Will watched her go, already missing her. His thoughts were soon interrupted.
"Turner!"
Will turned to see Gibbs and Cotton sitting in a rowboat off towards the beaches. Will made his way over to them.
"Ye ready?"
With one last look towards the place where Elizabeth left him, Will nodded and got inside the boat.
I must say, I completely adore cut and paste. I cut this from our IM conversation (she lives in South Dakota, I live in Pennsylvania) and I just now remembered I had it on cut and paste.
Life is sweet, isn't it?
Anyway, before I continue, please REVIEW! Also, before I post the IM conversation (Yes, it's IM, so please excuse the chatspeak and lack of proper grammar, spelling, etc.) you must realize something:
My cousin and I are two drunk-on-Tortuga's-best-rum-pirate-and-not-just-in-the-movie-way-fanatics and we just happen to love to write. Also, I LOVE cherry rum, but my cousin prefers mint. That will explain part of the conversation. The part about the hanging is something she and my brother Chris were talking about. They're wierd like that...So, here it is:
You were going to HANG ME!
Bitch...
how did u know
I came upstairs to tell my bro to tell you that I had to restart the damn computer and I saw what the two of you were writing. And he told me, anyway, so there.
I still can't believe you.
hee hee heee
anyway...
BUSINESS!
Anyway, let's get some notes up so I can post the damn thing already
chech ur e-mail, pronto
That's what I'm doing.
u should read what we wrote about ur hanging, it was funny
About you getting the rum or something?
yes, and the platform from which to hang u by
:I still can't believe you. Just for that, the story is not going up for another week
chris had the rope
no loss on my part
go right ahead, i know its going to drive u crazy
Nope.
Not at all.
alright
so anyway, notes
We don't need them...I'm never putting it up, remember?
Hee hee hee...
riiiiiight
well, in case u change u mind
(laughs maniaclly)
Mhmmm...sure...
ahh, that's really good CHERRY rum, mmm
Yep...And the fire's nice and MINTY from that really gross MINT rum. (Burns it all)
Touche!
doesn't matter, i have a whole case with me
Really? Huh...(looks around, grabs your case and tosses it in the fire)
Touche.
Fin
If anyone is still out there, a bottle of rum for you. If you mention something from this conversation in your review, the next chapter will be dedicated in your honor, and a whole case of rum for you for being so gosh darn patient.
MJ & Lizzy