Fanfiction: Master and Commander (G)
Title: Tutor
Pairing/Characters: Captain Jack Aubrey, Sophia Aubrey, Dr Stephen Maturin, Brigid Maturin; Jack/Sophie, past Stephen/Diana
Rating: G
Fandom: Master and Commander (movie)
Word Count: 1,730
Spoilers: N/A
Summary: Stephen tutors Jack's children.
Notes/Warnings: AU, simply another way Jack and Stephen could have met. It assumes certain events were still the same, just came about differently. Previous part here. Beta by mylodon
Tutor
Jack tapped lightly on the door to his wife's room, waiting for her to bid him enter before he opened the door and slipped inside. "Good evening, my love."
"Good evening, my heart." She smiled, tilting her cheek up for his kiss. She watched in the mirror of the dressing table as Jack took the hairbrush and began to run it through her fair hair for her, a task he always seemed to enjoy. "Thank you for agreeing to let Dr Maturin continue to tutor the children. He needs the position."
He nodded, keeping his eyes on his task for the moment. "So he told me." He set the brush aside and began to braid her hair, the movements of his large hands deft and easy. "He said he has a daughter."
"Brigid, yes." She continued to watch him in the mirror. "You'd almost think she and Fanny were the twins."
Jack finished braiding her hair in silence and secured the end. Resting his hands on her shoulders, he met her eyes in the mirror and asked, "Why didn't you tell me he was Diana's husband?"
"Would you have considered allowing him to tutor the children if I had?" Sophia gave her husband an arch look. "I don't know what sort of falling-out you two had, but I didn't wish for it to reflect on your opinion of Dr Maturin." She turned in her seat, forcing him to step back and perch on the edge of the bed. "He's a good man and he needs this position to provide for his daughter."
The captain sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. There were some things men did not tell their wives, most particularly that there had been other women before them. "You don't need to plead his case any longer, Sophie. I've said he could continue and I meant it. I also told him that his daughter is welcome to come visit."
"Thank you, Jack." She stood up and slipped easily into his lap, her arms circling his neck and his circling her waist. "If the children get along well with Brigid, could we, perhaps, have her stay with us instead of visit? I love my mother and sisters dearly, but she needs to be near her father."
He kissed her forehead, smiling quietly. "I don't see why not. We'll extend the invitation for a visit when we go to see your family next week."
"Thank you, my heart." She stretched up to kiss his cheek.
"You're welcome, my love." He kissed her softly, holding her close to his heart.
* * *
When Jack finally met Brigid a week later, he saw for himself what Sophia had meant about Brigid looking more like Fanny than Charlotte. The little girl was closer to George in age, with dark hair like both her parents and pale green eyes. A quiet, solemn child, she'd gazed at Jack for several moments after he was introduced to her, only to drop her eyes to his boots, studying them intently. He glanced at Stephen inquiringly and the doctor explained, gently stroking her hair as he did. "She finds it difficult to look people in the eye. I'm hoping that will change as she grows older."
"Ah, yes. Georgie had trouble when he was little, too." Jack nodded, understanding a little, glancing over to where the boy in question was being coddled by his aunts. Though he was enjoying the attention, Jack knew his son would be glad to go home by the end of the visit. Cecelia and Frances were best taken in small doses. Crouching in order to speak to Maturin's daughter, he asked, "What do you like to do, Miss Brigid?"
She didn't look up from his boots, tilting her dark head to one side as she whispered, "Miss Brigid."
"She sometimes echoes people's words," the doctor explained when Jack glanced up at him, surprised. "I haven't quite figured out why, yet."
He straightened to his full height, reaching out to briefly clasp a thin shoulder. "It's quite all right, Doctor. I lost my mother when I was little and I thought for sure I would never know happiness again."
"I know what you mean, Sir." An emotion flashed briefly in the man's pale eyes that Jack later identified as gratitude. "I'm hoping she will eventually recover and be as lively and sweet as your two daughters."
Nodding, pleased by the compliment, Jack gestured to where the two in question had joined their brother and aunts. "Perhaps we should join the others and see how the children get on?"
"Yes, Sir." The doctor's lips twitched in a faint smile and he nodded.
Together, the two men, with Brigid between them, walked over to join the others.
* * *
Jack was pleased to note, in the course of their visit that all three of the children got along with Brigid. Charlotte and Fanny were occasionally frustrated that they couldn't hold a proper conversation with the other girl, but George seemed perfectly content to play with Brigid in silence. If she walked over to join him, he would simply offer her one of his toys, which she would accept and begin to play with it, not a word spoken between them.
Jack watched from a doorway as the two put a puzzle together. He started slightly when Stephen's voice came from his elbow. "She has always liked puzzles. Even before her mother died, she could spend hours putting them together."
"Georgie seems to like them, too," Jack commented quietly, glancing at the doctor. Stephen's eyes were fixed on the two heads bent over the puzzle, one dark and the other light. "I'll see if Killick can find any in London."
"Killick," Stephen repeated, looking at Jack inquiringly.
The captain nodded, smiling. "Yes, my steward. He'll have arrived during our visit here. He grumbles a bit, but he's a good man."
"You trust your children with him?" The tutor glanced at his daughter.
Jack nodded again. "I do."
"I see." That was all Stephen said as they continued to stand and watch Brigid and George put their puzzle together.
* * *
As the end of their visit drew near, Jack found himself seated with Sophia on the settee near Mrs Williams' chair. She'd barely left it since the accident that had taken Diana and nearly killed her as well. Stephen stood by the fireplace, thin hands clasped behind his back. Never one to beat around the bush when a direct approach would work just as well, Jack told his mother-in-law, "Sophie and I would like for Brigid to come and visit us for a couple of weeks, maybe longer."
Sophia added when no one else spoke, "We think she might like the company of other children."
"And her father." Jack glanced at Stephen, whose eyes flashed with gratitude at the sentiment.
"Nonsense," Mrs Williams scoffed, hardly glancing at Stephen. "A daughter is not important to her father. She is more important to her mother."
The doctor cleared his throat with a slight cough. "Forgive me, Madam, but Brigid is my only child. She is all I have in this world."
"You can visit her when my daughter and her husband come." Mrs Williams gave a satisfied nod, as if that settled the matter.
Husband and wife exchanged a glance, and then looked to the doctor, wondering what he would say next. "Madam, I thank you for your generosity, but I love my daughter very much. A couple weeks whenever your daughter can visit would not be enough."
"It is certainly enough for Captain Aubrey," she protested with a glance at Jack, as if requesting his support.
He interjected a comment of his own. "If I could spend more time with all of my children, I would. Duty prevents me, unfortunately." He glanced at Stephen once again. "Fortunately, Dr Maturin's duty need not prevent him from spending more time with Brigid."
"He left her in our care," Mrs Williams reminded them. "He could have taken her with him."
Maturin put himself forward. "That was due in part to the fact that I was not assured of the position with Captain and Mrs Aubrey. I had no wish to risk upsetting Brigid again so soon after she lost her mother. Now that my position as your grandchildren's tutor is secure, I would like my daughter to come for a visit."
"Please, Mother?" Sophia asked, giving her mother an earnest look.
It seemed to work, because Mrs Williams gave an imperious nod. "Very well. She may visit, but only for two weeks."
"Thank you, Mother." Sophia rose and went to squeeze her mother's hand.
They were dismissed from Mrs Williams' presence soon after. Sophia excused herself to see to preparations for Brigid's impending visit. Dr Maturin turned to Jack. "Thank you, Sir."
"Not at all, Doctor." He briefly squeezed the tutor's shoulder and they went to find the children together, to tell them that their new friend would be coming with them.
End Chapter
Pairing/Characters: Captain Jack Aubrey, Sophia Aubrey, Dr Stephen Maturin, Brigid Maturin; Jack/Sophie, past Stephen/Diana
Rating: G
Fandom: Master and Commander (movie)
Word Count: 1,730
Spoilers: N/A
Summary: Stephen tutors Jack's children.
Notes/Warnings: AU, simply another way Jack and Stephen could have met. It assumes certain events were still the same, just came about differently. Previous part here. Beta by mylodon
Tutor
Jack tapped lightly on the door to his wife's room, waiting for her to bid him enter before he opened the door and slipped inside. "Good evening, my love."
"Good evening, my heart." She smiled, tilting her cheek up for his kiss. She watched in the mirror of the dressing table as Jack took the hairbrush and began to run it through her fair hair for her, a task he always seemed to enjoy. "Thank you for agreeing to let Dr Maturin continue to tutor the children. He needs the position."
He nodded, keeping his eyes on his task for the moment. "So he told me." He set the brush aside and began to braid her hair, the movements of his large hands deft and easy. "He said he has a daughter."
"Brigid, yes." She continued to watch him in the mirror. "You'd almost think she and Fanny were the twins."
Jack finished braiding her hair in silence and secured the end. Resting his hands on her shoulders, he met her eyes in the mirror and asked, "Why didn't you tell me he was Diana's husband?"
"Would you have considered allowing him to tutor the children if I had?" Sophia gave her husband an arch look. "I don't know what sort of falling-out you two had, but I didn't wish for it to reflect on your opinion of Dr Maturin." She turned in her seat, forcing him to step back and perch on the edge of the bed. "He's a good man and he needs this position to provide for his daughter."
The captain sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. There were some things men did not tell their wives, most particularly that there had been other women before them. "You don't need to plead his case any longer, Sophie. I've said he could continue and I meant it. I also told him that his daughter is welcome to come visit."
"Thank you, Jack." She stood up and slipped easily into his lap, her arms circling his neck and his circling her waist. "If the children get along well with Brigid, could we, perhaps, have her stay with us instead of visit? I love my mother and sisters dearly, but she needs to be near her father."
He kissed her forehead, smiling quietly. "I don't see why not. We'll extend the invitation for a visit when we go to see your family next week."
"Thank you, my heart." She stretched up to kiss his cheek.
"You're welcome, my love." He kissed her softly, holding her close to his heart.
* * *
When Jack finally met Brigid a week later, he saw for himself what Sophia had meant about Brigid looking more like Fanny than Charlotte. The little girl was closer to George in age, with dark hair like both her parents and pale green eyes. A quiet, solemn child, she'd gazed at Jack for several moments after he was introduced to her, only to drop her eyes to his boots, studying them intently. He glanced at Stephen inquiringly and the doctor explained, gently stroking her hair as he did. "She finds it difficult to look people in the eye. I'm hoping that will change as she grows older."
"Ah, yes. Georgie had trouble when he was little, too." Jack nodded, understanding a little, glancing over to where the boy in question was being coddled by his aunts. Though he was enjoying the attention, Jack knew his son would be glad to go home by the end of the visit. Cecelia and Frances were best taken in small doses. Crouching in order to speak to Maturin's daughter, he asked, "What do you like to do, Miss Brigid?"
She didn't look up from his boots, tilting her dark head to one side as she whispered, "Miss Brigid."
"She sometimes echoes people's words," the doctor explained when Jack glanced up at him, surprised. "I haven't quite figured out why, yet."
He straightened to his full height, reaching out to briefly clasp a thin shoulder. "It's quite all right, Doctor. I lost my mother when I was little and I thought for sure I would never know happiness again."
"I know what you mean, Sir." An emotion flashed briefly in the man's pale eyes that Jack later identified as gratitude. "I'm hoping she will eventually recover and be as lively and sweet as your two daughters."
Nodding, pleased by the compliment, Jack gestured to where the two in question had joined their brother and aunts. "Perhaps we should join the others and see how the children get on?"
"Yes, Sir." The doctor's lips twitched in a faint smile and he nodded.
Together, the two men, with Brigid between them, walked over to join the others.
* * *
Jack was pleased to note, in the course of their visit that all three of the children got along with Brigid. Charlotte and Fanny were occasionally frustrated that they couldn't hold a proper conversation with the other girl, but George seemed perfectly content to play with Brigid in silence. If she walked over to join him, he would simply offer her one of his toys, which she would accept and begin to play with it, not a word spoken between them.
Jack watched from a doorway as the two put a puzzle together. He started slightly when Stephen's voice came from his elbow. "She has always liked puzzles. Even before her mother died, she could spend hours putting them together."
"Georgie seems to like them, too," Jack commented quietly, glancing at the doctor. Stephen's eyes were fixed on the two heads bent over the puzzle, one dark and the other light. "I'll see if Killick can find any in London."
"Killick," Stephen repeated, looking at Jack inquiringly.
The captain nodded, smiling. "Yes, my steward. He'll have arrived during our visit here. He grumbles a bit, but he's a good man."
"You trust your children with him?" The tutor glanced at his daughter.
Jack nodded again. "I do."
"I see." That was all Stephen said as they continued to stand and watch Brigid and George put their puzzle together.
* * *
As the end of their visit drew near, Jack found himself seated with Sophia on the settee near Mrs Williams' chair. She'd barely left it since the accident that had taken Diana and nearly killed her as well. Stephen stood by the fireplace, thin hands clasped behind his back. Never one to beat around the bush when a direct approach would work just as well, Jack told his mother-in-law, "Sophie and I would like for Brigid to come and visit us for a couple of weeks, maybe longer."
Sophia added when no one else spoke, "We think she might like the company of other children."
"And her father." Jack glanced at Stephen, whose eyes flashed with gratitude at the sentiment.
"Nonsense," Mrs Williams scoffed, hardly glancing at Stephen. "A daughter is not important to her father. She is more important to her mother."
The doctor cleared his throat with a slight cough. "Forgive me, Madam, but Brigid is my only child. She is all I have in this world."
"You can visit her when my daughter and her husband come." Mrs Williams gave a satisfied nod, as if that settled the matter.
Husband and wife exchanged a glance, and then looked to the doctor, wondering what he would say next. "Madam, I thank you for your generosity, but I love my daughter very much. A couple weeks whenever your daughter can visit would not be enough."
"It is certainly enough for Captain Aubrey," she protested with a glance at Jack, as if requesting his support.
He interjected a comment of his own. "If I could spend more time with all of my children, I would. Duty prevents me, unfortunately." He glanced at Stephen once again. "Fortunately, Dr Maturin's duty need not prevent him from spending more time with Brigid."
"He left her in our care," Mrs Williams reminded them. "He could have taken her with him."
Maturin put himself forward. "That was due in part to the fact that I was not assured of the position with Captain and Mrs Aubrey. I had no wish to risk upsetting Brigid again so soon after she lost her mother. Now that my position as your grandchildren's tutor is secure, I would like my daughter to come for a visit."
"Please, Mother?" Sophia asked, giving her mother an earnest look.
It seemed to work, because Mrs Williams gave an imperious nod. "Very well. She may visit, but only for two weeks."
"Thank you, Mother." Sophia rose and went to squeeze her mother's hand.
They were dismissed from Mrs Williams' presence soon after. Sophia excused herself to see to preparations for Brigid's impending visit. Dr Maturin turned to Jack. "Thank you, Sir."
"Not at all, Doctor." He briefly squeezed the tutor's shoulder and they went to find the children together, to tell them that their new friend would be coming with them.
End Chapter