Disclaimer: Don't own the original PotC plot, characters and/or profit. I only own this story plot, my characters, ships, and my insanity. Many thanks.
Deceptions of Heritage- Act One- The Start of Something New
A shrill whistle broke through the morning quiet as someone exclaimed, "Land ho!"
Jack glanced over his shoulder, a gold toothed grin appearing as he ordered, "Furl the mainsail, take in the slack and prepare to dock."
The deck became a flurry of movement as the crew rushed about preparing the ship for it's upcoming arrival in the nearby docks with Jack taking the helm and gently guiding his old lady into the harbor with ease. From the corner of his eye he saw a shift in white and turned to see Ana and their young daughter sleeping in her arms.
"How is she?" he asked quietly.
Ana wrinkled her nose. "She has a slight fever," she explained.
Jack nodded his head, his hand gradually reaching out as he stroked his daughter's cheek, a sigh escaping her weary form as she nestled deeper in her mother's arms. "Perhaps Gill will be able to find out what's wrong with her," he commented as he glanced back at the approaching town. "Her nightly tantrums are startin' to get old."
"Would be even better if he decided to travel with us," Jack added momentarily. "At least we wouldn't have to go track him down every time we needed him."
Ana shook her head. "Gill has a responsibility too you know," she scolded the man beside her. "He needed to do what he felt was in the best interest of Miles and if he felt like the lad going to school was what was best, then it's not our place to say otherwise."
The pirate captain frowned at her. "I still think travelin' abroad is best for the boy," he mumbled.
The dark skinned woman sighed as she replied, "One day it'll be our daughter's turn and then perhaps you'll understand."
Jack scratched his chin as he watched her head toward the bow of the boat, their departure soon to come as they would head into the port to locate Gill.
---
"Careful now. Take my hand and don't slip," Jack instructed loudly over his daughter's screams.
"Jack, I think I know what I'm doing," Ana gently reprimanded as she climbed slowly over the gangplank onto the dock.
The pirate captain huffed as she walked past him, the young girl still crying as he muttered, "Ye still could have slipped." He cast a glance back at the ship, waved his hand in irritation and hurried down the dock to catch up with Ana. Just as he squeezed through the crowd and caught up with the female pirate, he saw a young woman push her way down the dock toward them.
Just as she rushed by the couple, she bumped into Ana knocking her off balance. Jack instinctively reached out and steadied the female pirate, as she scowled at the young woman, a light curse honoring her lips. The pirate captain glanced back to see that the blue eyes of the woman were trained on him, an almost malicious smirk present on her face as she suddenly turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
Shaking off the odd feeling that had overwhelmed him, Jack shuffled through the crowd to Ana's side as she headed into the small town, her dark eyes searching the familiar surroundings before leading the pirate captain toward a row of buildings gracing the outskirts of the small port.
---
"Wait here," Ana insisted. "I'll go inside and see Gill. It shouldn't take long."
Jack idly nodded as he leaned up against the old house pulling his hat over his eyes as he crossed his arms. A few minutes passed before he heard someone shuffle beside him, a hand pulling his hat up. Squinting in the light, Jack asked, "Done already?"
Ana rolled her eyes. "Not hardly. The midwife says that Gill went on call shortly before we got here and that he may be a while," she stated. "I'm going to stay here and wait, but you don't have to stick around."
The pirate captain rearranged his hat. "Are ye sure?"
"I'll be fine," Ana assured with a nod.
"All right then," Jack agreed. "I'll be at the dock waitin' for ye when you're done."
---
Jack leaned heavily on the railing, a hand casually hovering over his eyes as he squinted against the sun. The deck gently swayed beneath his feet, the motion calming and relaxing as he looked out to the horizon; the bustle of the small port snapped him back to his attention as he saw a figure hurrying down the dock toward the ship, a bundle in their arms.
Leaning back, Jack rapped softly on the quarterdeck flooring before moving to the bow of the ship as several of the crew crowded around him. Jack stepped back as they lowered a gangplank to the dock, the figure quickly coming up once it was in place. Thanking the crew, the person moved to face Jack, a frown apparent on their face.
"Well?" Jack asked hesitantly, his head cocked to the side as he gently lifted his daughter from Ana's arms.
Ana glanced back at him, her expression calm as she answered, "Summer cold."
Jack quirked an eyebrow as he looked down, the young girl in his arms trying to shove a fistful of his hair into her mouth. He smirked and tickled her under the chin eliciting a giggle of joy as she blew a spit bubble at him.
"Oh," Ana added as she turned around. "And she has chicken pox."
The pirate captain stiffened as he held the girl at arm's length to stare at her, a tiny dribble creeping down her chin. "Sucks to be you."
---
Ana blew out the candle as she crept from her daughter's room, her tiny dog bounding at her heels. She closed the door quietly and turned to see Jack standing there, a thoughtful expression on his face. Ana stifled her laughter as she placed a hand on his arm bringing him out his reverie.
Jack snaked his arms around her waist as he tilted his head. "I've been thinkin'…"
"Oh no!" Ana replied cutting him off as she placed her hands on the sides of his head as if searching for damage. "You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"
Creasing his brow in what he hoped was a convincing enough pout, Jack muttered, "Ha Ha, very funny."
Ana shook her head at him and sighed, "Okay, so what were you thinking about then?"
Jack held a hand up as he turned around. "Oh no, that's okay- if ye don't want to hear what I have to say, that's fine by me," he exclaimed sarcastically as he walked away.
"Oh no you don't!" Ana retorted, her hand grasping his arm. "Don't you try that one on me, Sparrow. Spill it," she demanded softly, a slight smirk on her face.
The pirate captain mustered up the best expression of defeat he could as he answered, "Well, okay, since you're practically forcin' me…" he trailed off, lost in thought.
"Well?" Ana piped up after several moments of silence, the impatient urging snapping Jack back to reality.
"Oh, yes," Jack nodded. "I was just thinkin' that it be time we stop by the Turner's for a visit. It's been two years, I think that's long enough, don't you?"
Ana tapped her chin and gave a small nod of her own. "I think that perhaps you are right, Jack," she agreed before adding, "for once."
Jack rolled his eyes skyward and mumbled under his breath before honoring Ana with a little bow in consideration as he slowly headed back up deck, the female pirate close behind him.
---
Something wet stuck it's way into her face and she rolled over in aggravation, a hand idly swiping out in the dark. Just as she settled back into sleep, a light whimper reached her ears as once again, something cold and wet shoved itself into her face. "Go away, Sava," she grumbled sleepily as she pushed the dog away from her.
Sava whimpered again, his front paws now coming to rest on Ana's arm as he barked once before whimpering again. From beside her, she heard Jack grumble something along the lines of "mangy mutt" before throwing back the covers and getting up, the small dog dancing circles around her.
"Alright, alright," Ana muttered as she opened the cabin door, the dog bolting past her to her daughter's door. "No Sava, upstairs."
Sava scratched at the door and whimpered before Ana gave in and cracked it open, the small bundle of fur squeezing through as he ran around the room wildly. The female pirate watched in confusion as the dog zipped across the floor stopping to check everything before finally stopping beside the bed where her daughter slept. Satisfied, Sava plodded out of the room before racing up the stairs to the deck.
"Come back here you brat," Ana growled as she followed him.
The moon shone brightly illuminating the deck as Ana searched for the small dog. She spotted a figure resting haphazardly against the ship wall, the faint sound of snoring reaching her ears. She shook her head in irritation at the sleeping watchman before making her way over to him, intent on giving him a good thrashing for dozing during his watch.
Just as she was about to shake him awake, a fierce bark came from Sava startling her and the young watchman. Turning, she could see the small dog, paws up on the ships railing looking out in the dark, his barking becoming louder and louder. Rushing over to shush him, something in the distance caught her eye as a frown settled on her face. Allowing her eyes to adjust, she cursed as the outline of an approaching ship became more and more apparent, its sails whipping about in the breeze as a British flag fluttered above.
Author's Corner: Well... its the start of something new, now can Jack, Ana, the Turners and the crew ban together one last time? It's the dawning of a new era, the pirates' domination over the seas is crumbling as time runs out; can our team of ragtag sailors and nobles beat the hourglass before the last grain of sand falls?