A/N: Hey all! This is the third in the Seven Days is a Week (dunno what I was thinking when I named that one) and All the Time in the World arc. If you haven't read those and you want to read this one…you probably won't get half of it, so if you want to read it that badly go read the others. To those who have read the others: welcome back! This is probably the last one and I'll be moving on to a different story that I'm writing. This'll most likely be a shorter one. Moving on…this is a somewhat silly chapter after the beginning part. You'll see ;) enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: back to these again. Can't think of a witty response at the moment. Check back later.
Aging Chapter 1Dark water swirled around the hull of the ship. The foam stuck on the wood and lingered as the tiny bubbles popped one by one, white against the darkness of the hull. It was washed away by a few trickles of water from the ship's scuppers.
On the deck, the ship's crew was in action, far from the lazy pace of the sea; the men were frantic. The thunderous booming of cannons shattered the quiet of the day.
Cannonballs from the Navy ship tore into the other and flung its yelling, terrorized crew in all directions. A shiver struck a man in the heart. Another of the crew had his head crushed by a falling mast.
Explosions rocked the ship from stem to stern. The bursts of color were reflected in the fearful eyes of the crew.
Proudly standing by the wheel was the captain, his scarred face outwardly calm and his eyes betraying only the smallest bit of fear. The heat of the explosions ruffled the feather of his wide black hat. His expression was calm, serene. His face never changed; not even when a final blast tore his ship apart.
The Navy ship sailed away, untouched, unconcerned.
A black flag depicting the Jolly Roger rippled on the waves. A body fell upon it and did not move. A feathered hat floated away from the wreckage of the pirate ship, bobbling on the current.
… … …
Elizabeth sat and watched Jack's face from the only angle presented to her at the moment: upside down. Ten years had gone by, and as far as she could tell, time had barely touched him. There were, perhaps, a few extra laugh lines around his eyes, a few small gray highlights creeping in at his temples, but it seemed like nothing. Barbossa was nearly completely white and did not seem to care in the least.
It was then that she realized that she had no idea as to Jack's age. Or, for that matter…
"Jack?" she said.
"Hmm?"
"How old are you?"
Jack winced. "Ask me how young I am, luv, not how old."
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth said, "Fine, then. How young are you?"
Grimacing, Jack shifted his position. "I'll be forty-seven…soon."
"When's your birthday?" Elizabeth pressed curiously.
"Tomorrow," Jack admitted reluctantly.
She gave him a calculating look. "How long has it been since you had a birthday party?" she asked.
"Ah…" Jack counted on his fingers. "Twenty-nine years, why?"
"Just wondering."
"I see." He rose and stretched. "I'm off to bed then, luv. Coming?"
"I'm not tired. I'll stay out here for a while," Elizabeth said, quickly stifling a yawn. "I'll be in in a while."
"Right." Jack ruffled her hair. "'Night, luv."
"'Night."
As soon as the door to the cabin closed behind him, Elizabeth jumped up and went into the crew's cabin. She woke up Gibbs.
Gibbs's eyes popped open and he fell out of his hammock. A ratty old bear fell on top of him. "Where'sa fire, 'Lizabeth?" he mumbled.
"There's no fire, Gibbs," Elizabeth explained calmly.
"Oh….Then why'm I awake?"
"I'm planning a birthday party for Jack," she said.
"Ye found out when the cap'n's birthday was? Good for ye," Gibbs said. "When is it?"
"Tomorrow. Here's what I'm thinking…"
… … …
The following day, Elizabeth rose with Jack, which was somewhat difficult owing to the fact that Jack rose with the sun. Will and Gibbs were already on deck, along with Bootstrap.
"Mornin', Cap'n!" Gibbs said brightly. "I was hopin' ye'd be up soon. There's a leak in the hold I'd like ye to see."
"A leak?" Jack said fuzzily, still blinking sleep from his eyes. "Oh. Lead on then, Gibbs."
Elizabeth, Will, and Bootstrap leapt into action when the other two disappeared into the hold. Will signaled the Gilded Sunset, which was moored nearby. The crew came over as quietly as possible. Barbossa came behind them, shooing along the stragglers. Instead of blond hair streaked with gray, he had white hair streaked with blond. Or so Jack loved to tell him.
Bootstrap and Elizabeth dragged out a table laden with rum while Barbossa's crew rolled out a few barrels of the stuff, just as with the wedding reception.
Just then, there was an angry explosion form below.
"THEN WHO THE BLOODY HELL'S BEED TAKING EXTRA RATIONS?!" came Jack's bellow.
Elizabeth stifled a giggle when the Black Pearl's crew all guiltily looked at the table and raised their hands.
"THREE BARRELS?!"
She winced. "Perhaps I should go down there before he seriously maims Gibbs," she pondered. She pushed through the silently laughing crowd of pirates and into the hold.
"Jack, what's going on?" Elizabeth asked innocently.
"Apparently someone's been taking extra rations of rum. Many extra rations," Jack added. "Half the rack plus three barrels're gone!"
"It was you," Elizabeth teased immediately. "Come on, there's no need to get so worked up. let's go upstairs."
"Let's," Jack growled. "I'll catch the bloody scalawag, mark my words…"
"Poor precious rum," Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes and hanging back by Gibbs for a moment. "How did you get him so upset?" she asked through silent laughter.
"Trick o' the trade," Gibbs said with a small wink.
Elizabeth shook her head and caught up with Jack.
"Where's the crew gone?" he wondered aloud.
"You've probably woken them all with your shouting," she told him.
This sentiment infuriated him even more.
"Bloody good!" he shouted. "I'll bloody interrogate them all and keelhaul the first to look guilty!"
"Jack, calm down!" Elizabeth said, failing in her attempt to sound soothing by laughing.
"It's no laughing matter!" Jack exclaimed. "Rum's expensive, luv! I'm going to – wha…" he cut himself off when he opened the door.
"Happy birthday!" the pirates bellowed.
Barbossa looked around. "Oh, surpriiise," he said flatly into the silence.
Jack thanked him sarcastically. Elizabeth threw her arm around Jack's shoulders. "Don't you want to see your present?" she asked.
Jack winced. "Present?"
"All of ye back t' yer sewin', it's present time," Barbossa said in a bored voice. The crews burst into chatter.
Turning to Elizabeth, Jack asked, "So what is my…er…present?"
"Hmm…remember how you lost your hat in the last battle?" Elizabeth said, grinning like a little kid.
"Yes…" Jack muttered.
Elizabeth pulled an identical tri-corn hat from behind her back. "Happy birthday!"
"Ha!" Jack exclaimed happily, allowing Elizabeth to place the hat on his head. "It's just like the other one! Thank you, luv."
"Jack, it is the other one," Elizabeth told him gleefully.
"That's why you asked me when my birthday was," Jack mused. "It's perfect, luv. Thank you."
He grabbed a bottle of rum and tossed it into the crowd. "Drinks all around!" he bellowed happily, taking two more for Elizabeth and himself.
This party was, if possible, even louder and wilder than the wedding reception. The crews were all dancing and singing different versions of "Happy Birthday" at completely different times. The musician was playing loudly along with the din, jumping around so much in his excitement that a few notes came out jumpy and discordant.
Later, when everyone was completely out of their minds with rum, they all gathered around and tried to wheedle Barbossa and Elizabeth into revealing their own birthdays. This endeavor was, of course, unsuccessful. However, by the end, Barbossa was shouting at Jack to call off his bloody crew, whereupon Jack announced that he was rather enjoying himself and would like to know their birthdays.
Barbossa and Elizabeth looked at each other in exasperation.
"Arright, I'm fifty-bloody-seven, but I'm not sayin' when!" Barbossa relented.
Elizabeth never did tell any of the pirates her own age, and, grumbling, the crew dispersed and picked up their dancing again.
The party ended late at night when too many had passed out for it to continue. All of the collapsed men were carried to their respective ships and thrown into hammocks. The captains, unconcerned with their men for the moment, stumbled into their cabins and hit the bed with sighs of relief.
Still unsteady, Elizabeth fell into the bed next to Jack. He put his arm over her and pulled her closer. "G'night, luv," he mumbled. "'N thanks…."
"Anytime," Elizabeth yawned. "I had fun."
Every person on the two ships was either asleep or passed out with exhaustion form the party. No watches were set as they would usually have been. Therefore, no one was awake and able to alert the Black Pearl and the Gilded Sunset until an hour after the ship had appeared on the horizon.
A/N: dun dun dunnn. I'm already having fun with the next chapter…it'll probably be up in the next 3 or 4 days. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this one…leave me reviews so that I'm inspired to write faster!