Fanfiction: Master and Commander (G)
Title: Tutor
Pairing/Characters: Dr Stephen Maturin, Brigid Maturin, Captain Jack Aubrey, Preserved Killick, Sophia Aubrey, Charlotte, Fanny, and George Aubrey; Jack/Sophie, past Stephen/Diana
Rating: G
Fandom: Master and Commander (movie)
Word Count: 1,444
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 parts here and here. Beta by cats_paws
Tutor
Well after Charlotte, Fanny and George had fallen asleep in their own beds, Brigid remained awake in hers. Stephen had tried letting her sleep with him as he had done immediately after Diana's death, but she would not sleep, fidgeting and crying instead. Finally, Stephen decided to play his 'cello for her, hoping the music would soothe her enough to sleep. Having tuned the instrument, he began to play a deep, sonorous piece that he hoped would be sufficient. Brigid quieted, but still did not sleep, simply watching him.
When the sound of a violin joined that of the 'cello, he nearly scraped his bow across the strings. Turning to the door, he saw Captain Aubrey standing there, a dressing gown pulled on over his nightshirt, playing a violin softly. The captain glanced away from the bed to smile briefly at Stephen, encouraging him to continue. Nodding, the doctor resumed his playing, watching with relief as his daughter finally fell asleep.
They played on for several more minutes, their decrescendo slowly fading into complete silence. When Brigid did not stir, Stephen gathered up his 'cello and crept from the room, closing the door softly behind him. "Thank you, Captain. I didn't expect her first night to be so difficult."
"It's quite all right, Doctor." A big hand briefly clasped one of Stephen's shoulders. It didn't surprise him nearly as much as the first time it had happened. "The first time we tried to put Charlotte and Fanny in separate bedrooms, they cried and refused to go to sleep unless they were together."
"Sometimes, twins need each other." Stephen glanced at the closed door to his daughter's room, not yet ready simply to leave her to sleep. He turned in surprise when he felt his 'cello being drawn from his grasp.
"Go in and sit with her, Doctor. I'll put your instrument away."
"You're very kind, Sir, but she doesn't need me to sit with her." He tried to retain his grip on the instrument, not wishing his employer to think he had any concerns for safety in his home.
Aubrey was stronger, though, and gently but firmly removed the 'cello. "She might not need it, but you look as if you do."
Swallowing his gratitude that the captain understood, Stephen simply nodded and slipped into his daughter's room once more. He settled in the chair by the bed and watched her sleep. His own eyes gradually closed and he too slept.
* * *
He woke to the sound of someone starting a fire in the fireplace. It was an older man, his grizzled grey hair in a ponytail down his back. Stephen started to sit up and realized that the thick quilt from his own bed had been draped over him as he slept. A glance at the bed assured him that his daughter still slept. Mindful of this, he kept his voice quiet as he addressed the servant as cordially as he could.
"Good morning."
"Mornin', Sir," the curt reply being all he received as the stranger straightened to his full height, about the same as the captain's, he judged. "Captain says ye and Miss Brigid may sleep as late as you like. Cook's to keep somethin' warm for ye."
Part of Stephen wished Aubrey was not so kind and considerate. He felt rather beholden to the man as it was. He allowed none of this to show in his face, however. "Thank you, Mr...?"
"Killick, Sir." The man touched a hand to his forehead in what the doctor belatedly realized was a salute. "Captain's steward."
Stephen nodded, understanding. The captain had mentioned that his steward would have arrived at the house while they were visiting Mrs Williams. "Thank you, Mr Killick. Tell the captain I'm very much obliged to him for his consideration."
"Aye, Sir." Another salute, and Killick left the room.
Sighing, Stephen turned to the bed, to find himself being studied by pale green eyes. "Good morning, Brigid."
"Morning," she murmured, a small hand squirming out from under the blankets, stretching out towards him. "Pa."
He took the small hand in both of his, blinking rapidly to clear the extra moisture from his eyes. He had missed his daughter very much.
* * *
When he saw the captain later that day, Stephen thanked him for his assistance the previous night. "You played very well, Sir."
"Not at all, Doctor." Aubrey waved off the gratitude with what the doctor was coming to see as his usual cheer. "I don't often get a chance to torment the fiddle, and it was for a good cause."
A small smile curved Stephen's lips. Something about Captain Aubrey made it almost impossible to remain serious. "Brigid appreciated it, I assure you."
"So much so that she fell asleep," the captain commented with a wink and a grin.
The doctor dipped his head with a wry smile. "Indeed, but she indicated to me that she really did appreciate your music."
"Oh?" Aubrey looked sincerely curious. "How so?"
Stephen gave him a calm look and proffered one of the slates the children used for their lessons. "She drew this."
"Did she?" The captain took the slate and studied it. A loud, heartfelt laugh escaped him when he saw the drawing itself. The rather convincing attempt at the violin was all that made it clear that the subject was the captain and not someone else entirely. "She flatters me, Doctor. I'm not nearly this handsome at all."
A small squeak of laughter escaped Stephen at Aubrey's comment, and he quickly clapped his hand over his mouth, mortified. The captain stared at him in surprise.
He reluctantly lowered his hand so he could speak. "My apologies, Sir."
"Don't apologize for laughing, Maturin," Captain Aubrey responded, with a clap on Stephen's shoulder so strong that he nearly lost his balance. "It shows you can appreciate humour."
The doctor braced a hand against the wall to steady himself. "Yes, Sir. Will that be all?"
"Let me know if Brigid has trouble sleeping again." The captain handed the slate back to him. "I'll torment the fiddle again to help her to sleep."
Stephen nodded, touched and pleased that his employer would help. "Yes, Sir."
* * *
Stephen stood with the family in the entryway as the captain bid farewell to his wife and three children. Mrs Aubrey was calm and composed, accepting her husband's kiss on her cheek with a softly-voiced request: "Be safe, and return home as soon as you can, my love."
"As soon as I can, my heart," Aubrey promised, blue eyes soft as they met her grey ones.
The children were an entirely different matter. Charlotte and Fanny clung to their father, tears sliding down their cheeks. "Why do you have to go, Father? Don't they have other captains to sail their ships?"
"If I didn't sail a ship, Charlotte, we wouldn't have any money." The captain was very patient, but his eyes betrayed the difficulty of parting.
Fanny simply held on with all her might, whispering, "I love you, Papa."
"I love you, too, Fanny." Captain Aubrey kissed her forehead, his voice lacking in cheeriness.
George tried to put up a brave front and not cry, but he was betrayed by the occasional swipe at his eyes. "Be brave, Parpar. Don't let the Frenchies beat you."
"You know I won't." Aubrey ruffled his son's fair hair. "You must be brave, too, and protect your mother and sisters while I'm gone, do you understand?"
The little boy straightened into a position of attention and saluted as best he could. "Aye-aye, Sir!"
"Good lad." The captain returned his son's salute and turned to leave.
Before Stephen realized what was happening, Brigid had released her hold on his leg and dashed after Captain Aubrey. "Captain!"
"Brigid?" Surprise and puzzlement on his face, Aubrey turned back just as she wrapped her arms as far around his waist as she could reach. "What is it, child?"
She looked up at him and held up a little box. "Gift?"
"For me?" he asked, even more surprised. She nodded and he opened it carefully. "It's beautiful, Brigid. Thank you."
She smiled brightly as he lifted out a small handkerchief, unevenly hemmed, clearly the work of an inexperienced seamstress. Brigid patted the captain's waistcoat and released him, turning to rejoin her father, calling over her shoulder. "Thank you!"
Amid soft laughter, Captain Aubrey left his home to return to his ship. Stephen remained with Mrs Aubrey and the children, though part of him wished he could go to sea with the captain. It was a part he ignored as best he could.
End Chapter
Pairing/Characters: Dr Stephen Maturin, Brigid Maturin, Captain Jack Aubrey, Preserved Killick, Sophia Aubrey, Charlotte, Fanny, and George Aubrey; Jack/Sophie, past Stephen/Diana
Rating: G
Fandom: Master and Commander (movie)
Word Count: 1,444
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 parts here and here. Beta by cats_paws
Tutor
Well after Charlotte, Fanny and George had fallen asleep in their own beds, Brigid remained awake in hers. Stephen had tried letting her sleep with him as he had done immediately after Diana's death, but she would not sleep, fidgeting and crying instead. Finally, Stephen decided to play his 'cello for her, hoping the music would soothe her enough to sleep. Having tuned the instrument, he began to play a deep, sonorous piece that he hoped would be sufficient. Brigid quieted, but still did not sleep, simply watching him.
When the sound of a violin joined that of the 'cello, he nearly scraped his bow across the strings. Turning to the door, he saw Captain Aubrey standing there, a dressing gown pulled on over his nightshirt, playing a violin softly. The captain glanced away from the bed to smile briefly at Stephen, encouraging him to continue. Nodding, the doctor resumed his playing, watching with relief as his daughter finally fell asleep.
They played on for several more minutes, their decrescendo slowly fading into complete silence. When Brigid did not stir, Stephen gathered up his 'cello and crept from the room, closing the door softly behind him. "Thank you, Captain. I didn't expect her first night to be so difficult."
"It's quite all right, Doctor." A big hand briefly clasped one of Stephen's shoulders. It didn't surprise him nearly as much as the first time it had happened. "The first time we tried to put Charlotte and Fanny in separate bedrooms, they cried and refused to go to sleep unless they were together."
"Sometimes, twins need each other." Stephen glanced at the closed door to his daughter's room, not yet ready simply to leave her to sleep. He turned in surprise when he felt his 'cello being drawn from his grasp.
"Go in and sit with her, Doctor. I'll put your instrument away."
"You're very kind, Sir, but she doesn't need me to sit with her." He tried to retain his grip on the instrument, not wishing his employer to think he had any concerns for safety in his home.
Aubrey was stronger, though, and gently but firmly removed the 'cello. "She might not need it, but you look as if you do."
Swallowing his gratitude that the captain understood, Stephen simply nodded and slipped into his daughter's room once more. He settled in the chair by the bed and watched her sleep. His own eyes gradually closed and he too slept.
* * *
He woke to the sound of someone starting a fire in the fireplace. It was an older man, his grizzled grey hair in a ponytail down his back. Stephen started to sit up and realized that the thick quilt from his own bed had been draped over him as he slept. A glance at the bed assured him that his daughter still slept. Mindful of this, he kept his voice quiet as he addressed the servant as cordially as he could.
"Good morning."
"Mornin', Sir," the curt reply being all he received as the stranger straightened to his full height, about the same as the captain's, he judged. "Captain says ye and Miss Brigid may sleep as late as you like. Cook's to keep somethin' warm for ye."
Part of Stephen wished Aubrey was not so kind and considerate. He felt rather beholden to the man as it was. He allowed none of this to show in his face, however. "Thank you, Mr...?"
"Killick, Sir." The man touched a hand to his forehead in what the doctor belatedly realized was a salute. "Captain's steward."
Stephen nodded, understanding. The captain had mentioned that his steward would have arrived at the house while they were visiting Mrs Williams. "Thank you, Mr Killick. Tell the captain I'm very much obliged to him for his consideration."
"Aye, Sir." Another salute, and Killick left the room.
Sighing, Stephen turned to the bed, to find himself being studied by pale green eyes. "Good morning, Brigid."
"Morning," she murmured, a small hand squirming out from under the blankets, stretching out towards him. "Pa."
He took the small hand in both of his, blinking rapidly to clear the extra moisture from his eyes. He had missed his daughter very much.
* * *
When he saw the captain later that day, Stephen thanked him for his assistance the previous night. "You played very well, Sir."
"Not at all, Doctor." Aubrey waved off the gratitude with what the doctor was coming to see as his usual cheer. "I don't often get a chance to torment the fiddle, and it was for a good cause."
A small smile curved Stephen's lips. Something about Captain Aubrey made it almost impossible to remain serious. "Brigid appreciated it, I assure you."
"So much so that she fell asleep," the captain commented with a wink and a grin.
The doctor dipped his head with a wry smile. "Indeed, but she indicated to me that she really did appreciate your music."
"Oh?" Aubrey looked sincerely curious. "How so?"
Stephen gave him a calm look and proffered one of the slates the children used for their lessons. "She drew this."
"Did she?" The captain took the slate and studied it. A loud, heartfelt laugh escaped him when he saw the drawing itself. The rather convincing attempt at the violin was all that made it clear that the subject was the captain and not someone else entirely. "She flatters me, Doctor. I'm not nearly this handsome at all."
A small squeak of laughter escaped Stephen at Aubrey's comment, and he quickly clapped his hand over his mouth, mortified. The captain stared at him in surprise.
He reluctantly lowered his hand so he could speak. "My apologies, Sir."
"Don't apologize for laughing, Maturin," Captain Aubrey responded, with a clap on Stephen's shoulder so strong that he nearly lost his balance. "It shows you can appreciate humour."
The doctor braced a hand against the wall to steady himself. "Yes, Sir. Will that be all?"
"Let me know if Brigid has trouble sleeping again." The captain handed the slate back to him. "I'll torment the fiddle again to help her to sleep."
Stephen nodded, touched and pleased that his employer would help. "Yes, Sir."
* * *
Stephen stood with the family in the entryway as the captain bid farewell to his wife and three children. Mrs Aubrey was calm and composed, accepting her husband's kiss on her cheek with a softly-voiced request: "Be safe, and return home as soon as you can, my love."
"As soon as I can, my heart," Aubrey promised, blue eyes soft as they met her grey ones.
The children were an entirely different matter. Charlotte and Fanny clung to their father, tears sliding down their cheeks. "Why do you have to go, Father? Don't they have other captains to sail their ships?"
"If I didn't sail a ship, Charlotte, we wouldn't have any money." The captain was very patient, but his eyes betrayed the difficulty of parting.
Fanny simply held on with all her might, whispering, "I love you, Papa."
"I love you, too, Fanny." Captain Aubrey kissed her forehead, his voice lacking in cheeriness.
George tried to put up a brave front and not cry, but he was betrayed by the occasional swipe at his eyes. "Be brave, Parpar. Don't let the Frenchies beat you."
"You know I won't." Aubrey ruffled his son's fair hair. "You must be brave, too, and protect your mother and sisters while I'm gone, do you understand?"
The little boy straightened into a position of attention and saluted as best he could. "Aye-aye, Sir!"
"Good lad." The captain returned his son's salute and turned to leave.
Before Stephen realized what was happening, Brigid had released her hold on his leg and dashed after Captain Aubrey. "Captain!"
"Brigid?" Surprise and puzzlement on his face, Aubrey turned back just as she wrapped her arms as far around his waist as she could reach. "What is it, child?"
She looked up at him and held up a little box. "Gift?"
"For me?" he asked, even more surprised. She nodded and he opened it carefully. "It's beautiful, Brigid. Thank you."
She smiled brightly as he lifted out a small handkerchief, unevenly hemmed, clearly the work of an inexperienced seamstress. Brigid patted the captain's waistcoat and released him, turning to rejoin her father, calling over her shoulder. "Thank you!"
Amid soft laughter, Captain Aubrey left his home to return to his ship. Stephen remained with Mrs Aubrey and the children, though part of him wished he could go to sea with the captain. It was a part he ignored as best he could.
End Chapter