Alright, folks, here's the last drabble! Thank you so, so much for reading! And a big thank you to those of you that reviewed! Smithy, shewhoshallwrite, .life, keiraliz, Sonjadore, and PirateRN, thank you!! Enjoy!

25. Anniversary

A high-pitched wail echoed down the hallways, soft but somehow demanding.

Will felt a hand smack his arm and Elizabeth voice mumble. "Your turn."

"I went at two." He buried his head farther into the pillow.

"I went at three."

"He wasn't crying then."

She uttered a grunting laugh. "You didn't wake up."

A soft rustle of sheets and coverlets followed his clumsy efforts to get out of bed. His feet connected with the wood floor in quiet 'smack' as he fumbled his way to the door. "Right." His vision was still bleary from too little sleep and the door knob continued to evade his lumbering fingers.

He finally succeeded, and the door was wrenched open. By now, irritation had taken control of his actions and in an impulsive move he snapped the hall light on.

That, he learned, was a mistake.

Feeling like Jack with a hangover, he extinguished the light and stumbled down the hallway, hands outstretched to feel the walls. Willie's room was at the end of the corridor, such a painfully long distance with burning retinas.

Another pitiable wail rang in Will's ears. Willie had inherited his mother's patience then.

The plush carpet in the bedroom was a relief after the cold wooden floors, and the soft night light was merciful beacon to gently illuminate the room.

Willie was wriggling in his crib, round hands waving and face red with exertion.

Will leaned down and was about to scoop up the distraught babe when he saw the pacifier lying forlornly next to him. Instead, he picked up the plastic magic-worker and held it before Willie. "Is this want you wanted?"

His wails ceased and the little boy looked up at his father with wide eyes.

"Right. Now you're happy." Feeling greatly used, Will lifted Willie out of his crib and settled the sleepy infant against his chest.

Within moments, he found his thumb and began sucking away contentedly. Ten drowsy minutes later, Will returned Willie to his crib gingerly.

He was stumbling back down the hallway to return to a much needed rest when the doorbell rang with a deep 'gong'. Biting back his furious ranting, he moved to the doorway, pulled loose the locks, and yanked the door open.

"Merry anniversary!" Jack flopped forward to give Will a sloppy hug. "And a benevolent New Yuletide!"

"Jack," Will pushed his long-time friend back a few feet and nearly passed out from the liquor reeking from the man's jacket. "How much rum did you have tonight?"

"That," Jack's finger almost took out Will's left eye as he gestured, "is a very good question, whelp."

"Enough, I think." Will took his friend's shoulders and steered him into the living room.

"N'ver enough rum." Jack muttered, his voice oddly nasally.

"Jack?" Will pushed him towards the couch, and the dark-haired man's muscles took him there almost automatically. "Are you sick?"

"Me? Nah."

"Yes, you are. Your nose is red."

"An' are you sayin' tha's a bad thing?"

"Go to sleep, Jack. We'll talk in the morning." Will shut the door and replaced the locks, letting his feet scuff the floor grumpily.

When he finally sank back against the now cool sheets on his side of the master bed, he sighed gratefully, despite the chill seeping up from his frozen toes.

"Did I hear Jack?" Elizabeth's voice was slurred from sleep.

"Yes, he's drunk. I put him on the couch." Will pulled the thick coverlets over his shoulders and tried to recapture the deep slumber he'd been enjoying only moments before.

And found, to his utter dismay, that he couldn't. But then, such was life in the Turner household. Fate, it would seem, would never stop throwing them surprises.

A warm hand brushed his shoulder and suddenly Elizabeth was curled up next to him, her soft hair brushing his chin.

"You're cold." She commented.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "You're warm."

"Willie's alright?"

"Mh-hmmm."

She leaned over and her lips brushed his. Then, with a little sigh, she settled back and was asleep an instant later. To his surprise, he followed only a short while later.