The Pirates Are Found

Beckett had finally found out where his wife had gone: she and Marana and Jack had stolen his ship and left the town. He stared angrily out at the bay. He was extremely surprised that his delicate wife could have helped two pirates escape from prison and help them steal his ship. Then he realized something: he had left no guards on the ship the night they escaped. He was angry at himself for being so stupid.

He stood motionless on another ship, the Free Being. He despised the ship, since it had once belonged to a pirate, but it was almost as good as his other ship. He was determined to find his ship, his prisoners, and the woman whom he was sure he loved. He had prepared a large fleet of at least ten vessels to find all of them. He was becoming obsessed.

Meanwhile, Marana and Jack were fighting again.

"Jack, for the last damn time, you are not in control of me!"

"You need to get your head on straight, Marana. I'm not trying to control you; I'm just trying to help you!"

"And when you did that, you sound like you want to control me! So I don't want or need your help anymore!"

"Are we ever going to stop fighting?"

"Not until you let me be the woman that I really am!"

"And what woman is that?"

Marana was triumphant. "A woman who doesn't have a jerk of a husband like you!" She slapped him and started to leave. But then she stopped. "Oh and by the way, I'm pregnant." Jack was shocked. He looked deep into her eyes and said, "Marana, my love, are you sure?"

She calmed down. "Yes, Jack, I'm sure. Celeise has had to deliver three of her sisters, and she knows the signs of pregnancy." She stepped a little closer to Jack. "But that still doesn't change the fact that my baby is going to have an idiot of a father!" She stepped back. Then she saw something extraordinary: a tear on Jack's cheek. She walked up to him and slowly took his hands. He leaned into her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She kissed his cheek. "Jacky, I think we're settled now. I am so sorry for doing this to you. I didn't realize how cruel I was being until I saw that tear." She pulled back and kissed his lips gently. He put his hand to her belt and fingered the medallion that he had given her. Marana pulled away and left the cabin. She found Celeise on the bowsprit.

"Celeise, I have something to tell you." But as Celeise started to get off, she tipped off the edge and fell into the water, screaming.

"CELEISE!" Marana stood on the rail. Jack came running out. "Darling, what are you doing?" She didn't respond. She threw her belt to Jack and dove expertly into the ocean. She saw Celeise's delicate body drifting slowly deeper. Marana swam as fast as she could. She reached Celeise and grabbed her waist. Then she heard something. There was another ship passing over them. She ducked as she was covered in shadow. The water rushed over them. Marana was desperate for air. She swam to the surface as fast as she could. When she burst up from the water, she took in deep breaths of air. She held Celeise as tight as she could as Jack threw a rope to her. She grabbed it as Jack pulled her onto the ship. He took Celeise and put her in his cabin. Marana dried herself and looked out at the other ship. "On, no!" It was Beckett's ship!

She saw her archenemy and glared at him. She yelled, "Jack, come out here!" He ran out and took his wife's hand. "Marana, you can't be out here. You or the baby could get hurt. Just stay in my cabin and keep Celeise comfortable." Marana gave him a tearful hug and kiss. "Don't die, my Jacky!" She turned and hurried to Celeise's aid. She bolted the door and kneeled at the side of the bed. Celeise gasped herself awake. "Marana, what happened to me? I remember water, and seeing black." Marana explained everything to her and hugged her. "Oh, Celeise, Beckett's on that ship."

"Really?" She jumped up and unbolted the door without waiting for a response. She ran out on deck, which was deserted. She looked out at the Free Being, where there was a battle going on. With no time to lose, she grabbed a rope and swung over. She fought through the dozens of men and found her husband. She hugged him. He dropped his sword and wrapped his arms around her back. She kissed his cheek. "Celeise, why did you leave Port Royal?" He was stern. She stepped back and remembered her motive. "My Cutler, I swore to Jack and Marana that I would free them from your cruelty. They are free now, and you won't be able to snatch them again. As you might not know, you now you can't separate them without breaking the law." She took a deep breath. "Marana is pregnant. There is a law that states that you cannot separate a pregnant woman from her husband until the baby is born. And she qualifies as a pregnant woman. So you're out of luck for nine months, Cutler." He was surprised by his wife's boldness. He reached out and hugged her again. Then she decided to admit. "Cutler, I love you."

He was shocked. He touched her face. "My dear Celeise, I love you too." She smiled lovingly. They leaned forward and kissed for the first time. They didn't care that there was a battle going on around them. When they broke apart, Celeise went back to the Pearl. She checked on Marana. She was up, and staring out the window. She had a grin on her face as she watched Jack take down a whole bunch of stupid soldiers. She saw Celeise and said, "Did you find him?" Celeise sat on the bed next to her and replied with excitement, "Yes, and I told him that I love him! And he said it back!" Marana was surprised. She hugged her and whispered, "Jack and I are finally a loving couple again." They broke apart with Celeise whispering back, "Marana, what's wrong?" She was looking sick.

Marana swaggered and fainted.