Author's Note: This is the sequel to "To The Black Pearl."
Elizabeth looked at the portrait of her family, sitting on the wall of her bedroom at their home in the French countryside. The title of the picture said The Sparrow Family: Jack, Elizabeth, and Charlie.
There was Jack, standing up next to Elizabeth. In front of them stood their son�well, the son of Elizabeth and Will�Charlie. He had Will�s dark eyes, but Elizabeth�s auburn hair. He was only seven when the portrait was drawn�but he was eleven now.
Just then, Charlie came barging into her bedroom. �Mother,� he asked, �when�s Jack going to be home?� Charlie had been told early on that Jack wasn�t his real father, and so he called Jack by his name.
Elizabeth mussed Charlie�s wavy hair. �Soon, Charlie. Soon.�
�You always say that!� protested Charlie. �Why does he always leave?�
�He�s a pirate, Charlie. And he�ll be out for another week before he comes home. Try to be patient, alright? He�s promised to take us with him on a trip one of these days.� Elizabeth smiled. �Why don�t you go out and play?�
�There�s nothing to do,� complained Charlie. Then, �Are you a pirate too, Mother?�
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. �No.�
�Why don�t I have a grandfather?� asked Charlie.
�You�re just full of questions!� cried Elizabeth, taking Charlie by the hand and leading him out of her bedroom. �Go find out what�s for lunch, will you? I�m very tired and I should like to rest.�
�Yes, Mother,� sighed Charlie.
Elizabeth shut her bedroom door and laid down on her bed. Oh Will, she thought, if we�d gotten married, would you have stranded me all alone with your son for months at a time? Probably not.