Chapter 4: The Open Sea
Jack held Emily on his lap as he looked over at Will and Elizabeth with a smile. Seated together on the small bench, her head rested on the blacksmith's strong shoulder as he leaned his cheek against the top of her hair; both were sound asleep. Emily squirmed against his leg as he placed her to his shoulder spreading a tattered but clean blanket over the sleeping couple. Closing the door quietly he turned the infant away from him as she faced the bow of the ship.
"Sir, have you not seen how much bad luck we get into when you bring a woman aboard? Even a tiny one." Gibbs growled, catching the Captain's attention as Emily smiled up at the gruff sailor.
His frown turned into a grin as he placed his huge hand atop the child's curly hair and scoffed.
"Never mind, sir." He picked up his discarded mop and continued as Jack merely smiled and carried the baby over to the wheel.
"What say you…learn how to steer the Pearl?" He asked, looking down into her bright eyes and was awarded with a smile as she reached out to grasp a knob with her small chubby fingers.
"Love, left is Port. Savvy?" Jack commented, turning the wheel a few rounds to the left and flashed a grin as the ship rocked toward the port bow before placing the mast center again.
"And right is starboard. In no time you'll be sailin' with old Uncle Jack. We'll be the most fearsome pirates in the world." He promised as he continued to show Emily how to steer, the infant giggling at the sound of his voice and the many gestures that only Captain Jack Sparrow could pull off.
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The sudden shift to the left caused havoc below deck as the crew made a mad dash for their items before they slid to the floor and into a corner.
Landing with a thud to the hard wood floor, the Turner's were greeted with the abrupt awakening as Will rubbed his sore backside and looked up into the smiling face of his wife. Flopped to her stomach on the vacated bench, she had avoided being tossed to the deck and showed him a delighted smile before straightening herself and tucking her hair back into place. Standing with some difficulty, Will placed a hand against the cabin wall as he dusted himself off with an annoyed look. Just as it had swerved to the left, the ship righted itself back into place as he was tossed back onto the bench and landed with a muffled grunt over his startled wife.
"You know, Mr. Turner, if someone was to walk in at this precise moment, this would prove most embarrassing." She laughed, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind his ear as he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss to her lips before standing and pulling her with him.
"Get ready for sleep, I'll retrieve our daughter." Will promised as he ushered his wife into their cabin at the end of the corridor before making his way topside.
Spotting the Captain giving his daughter a thorough education of sailing he smiled as he stepped up behind the infamous pirate whom his daughter had turned into a complete soft hearted man.
"The most fearsome pirates to be certain. What are you filling my child's head with Captain Jack Sparrow?" Will laughed, and at the sound of his voice Emily pushed away from him and reached out with a smile to her father. Taking her from Jack's arms and held her to his chest, noting the small that escaped her lips as she wrinkled her nose up and rubbed her eyes. Placing her cheek against Will's she yawned again before sliding lower to his chest and pushed her face up against his neck.
Will responded by relaxing his hold on her and rubbing her back with his large hand as she softly fell asleep against the warmth of his body.
"Aye, the most fearsome pirates in the world. I'll teach her everything from swordfighting to firing a conon." He smiled, leaning his hands against the wheel as he looked at the compass in his hand, turning it a foot to the right before pocketing it and facing the father and child.
"Well, I never would have thought that Captain Jack Sparrow would be quite so taken with just a child, and I thank you for the attention that you give her. But I have no want or desire for my daughter to become a pirate. If anything, she'll become a respected young woman like her mother. I can't say I'm too excited for you to be placing these thoughts into her head so quickly."
"All right then, I confess. I'm attached to the kid, more than I thought I would have been, but then…how many chances will I get to have a baby on the Pearl, eh? I'm just teaching her who she is." He handed the wheel to Gibbs as he accompanied Will below deck as they headed to their stay rooms.
Will turned to Jack with an angry look, his eyes clouded. "My daughter is not a pirate. Nor will she ever become one." His voice was ominously low as Jack lifted his eyebrows.
"She's as much a pirate as you are. Though you could improve with some lessons, I thank you."
"Jack, it may be in her blood as it is mine, but I will not allow it to happen. Captain Jack Sparrow of the pirate ship the Black Pearl is to remain different than Uncle Jack. Understood?"
"We should reach Tortuga by morning." He commented and changed the subject before he turned to look at the blacksmith with unreadable eyes and his usual grin plastered to his face.
"I know that look Jack Sparrow. Elizabeth and Emily will be staying on the ship. Am I correct in assuming that the crew will be staying aboard as well?"
"Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Will, relax. I swear by pain of death that both your wife and child will be safe. I promise." Bowing slightly, his hands pressed together in the style of prayer as he backed away from the blacksmith and slipped into his own stay room across the hall.
Tossing his pointed hat to his bed, he slid into the padded chair in front of a large mahogany desk. Pouring himself a small glass of rum, he grinned as he recalled the incident with Elizabeth on the island. Downing it, he reached for more as he opened the scroll in front of him. The words hadn't lied before; the treasure of Ila de Muerta had been in the exact place the parchment had spoken of. He lifted it again, reading aloud.
"'The Eternal Vial: Once thought to be myth, the small green and white container holds within it an elixir that has the ability to return life when mixed with the blood of one willing to become sacrifice.'" He looked down at the endless papers that Barbossa had written during his ten year stay aboard the Pearl and flipped instantly to the page where a sketched drawing and scribbled writing caught his eye; much as it had done the first time he had spotted it.
'...Small green and white vial found inside a golden jewelry box. I kept the box, having no use for the bottle and placed it into the pile of nameless swag that went off to the crew. Bootstrap has taking a liking to it, placing it around his neck instantly. Odd, that would be his only claim as he slunk below deck to chat with that mindless Jack Sparrow. Tomorrow, the Pearl will be mine and I will be Captain. I've the location of the gold, and have no need for the wretched man any longer. Tomorrow, a mutiny will rise…'
Jack stopped reading as he leaned back in his chair, a wistful look to his face as he contemplated the situation at hand. There was only one other that knew of the vile, and its location with William Turner Senior. Jumping to his feet, he crossed the hallway and knocked on the wooden door that led into the Turner's bedroom.
Will appeared, his sleepy eyes holding no secrets of his aggravation as he looked over at the captain.
"What was the item Tavington requested laid into the handle of his sword? It sounded intriguing to me, as it were." He held back a yawn and saw Will sigh.
"This couldn't have waited until morning?" The deep scratchy noise made Jack unsure that it had been Will that had said it.
"Curiosity, mate."
"Something he thought I had. A green and white bottle, about this big." He lifted his left thumb up as he used the appendage to show the Captain the size of the object in question.
"Unfortunately I don't work with glass, so I pointed him to the nearest shop. He decided it wasn't important in the end and took the blade without another question as to the item. Why are you curious about this in the middle of the night?"
"I thought it seemed the opportune moment. Couldn't get it out of me head, savvy?" He smiled, walking back to his cabin and closing the door as Will shook his head and grumbled.
"Bloody pirates." He ground out and slipped back into his own room as the Black Pearl sailed up to Tortuga's docks and weighed anchor, it's crew settling in for the night as they prepared for tomorrow.
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A/N: A bit of a short chapter, but I really couldn't put much more into it without giving more away. Anywho, I hope you're all enjoying it, and I have a few reviewers to thank. From now on, even if you leave me a review for my other stories (A Tale of Two and Daddy's Little Girl) I WILL have them posted in my Author's note at the end of the chapter of the story I'm writing. Promise!
I apologize to those of you that have been waiting for this chapter like it was a life line…if there are any of you out there…I just got my brand new computer and have been in the middle of shifting things over from my old one to my new one. Including these stories. So I'm sorry to you all. I promise that updates will come more often now that it's all set up and stuff.
Replies to reviews from POTC: A Tale of Two:
Ponytail goddess: I hope you liked it, and that you've read Daddy's Little Girl. If you thought the end of ATOT was sweet you'll love the second. Thanks for your review!
LegolasLover2003: Glad you liked the story, and hopefully you'll find this. You were asking for sequels, and here they are. Thanks!
THEPRINCESS04: Really happy you enjoyed it, hope you're tuning in for the rest of the series!
OceanGirl28: Thanks for your compliments! I write what I myself would love to read, so hey, I'm happy you liked it.
JuLzYAnGeL: Of course I knew! I'm so excited! And that ALL character have agreed and signed on is fantastic. I can't wait for them to start on it. Thanks for reading!
Maegquareiel: Thanks for your review, and yes; I do love LOTR fics. As soon as I get a minute I'll check yours out. I have one as well: To Each Their Own. You can find the link under my pen name: Gadien Elf. Again, it's not finished and I know all of you out there that have been waiting for it, I'M SORRY!
Now, for those of you who reviewed for Daddy's Little Girl:
Ponytail Goddess: I'm glad you liked it, and I'm happy you love the sappy kinda sweet stuff. Me too.
OceanGirl28: Pretty much same as above.
And now the reviewers for Life's Schedule:
Ponytail Goddess: To those of you out there that are waiting for "my" Jack to have a relationship, I hate to disappoint you. But I'm afraid I'm going to have to. Based on his portrayal in the movie, he didn't seem like one to settle down with a girl for longer than one night, so I probably WON'T have him in any solid relationship with kids in my stories. But MANY more adventures can come of him and Emily together, so fear not. You'll see more sensitive pirate.
youkai Otaku: I thank you for your review! And I'm pleased to amaze you. :) I was just thinking to myself one day, I said: 'Self? If Bootstrap took the coin and sent it to Will...he'd be an undead pirate thing. So if he was thrown into the water tied to a canon he wouldn't die. Ten years is an awful long time to think about getting a knot undone, so I say what the heck. Let's throw him into the story.
Khaira Lia Beren: Wow! I can tell you that I agree completely. I've seen the movie 13 times, and haven't grown a BIT tired of it. Then there's Orli...who I shall never grow tired of seeing. I would LOVE to have you as a proofreader, I kinda suck at it and my friend that usual does is hasn't really been online much. If you have AOL/AIM, IM me at: Gadien Elf. Shocker, eh? Or e-mail me at JeanOConnell195@aol.com and we'll figure something out. Thanks a million!
Gabi217: I hope you've gotten SOME rest since I last updated, I know it's been a little while. But here you go. And yes...I did take my time and formulate a whole new way to make this story...Ummm... "go". Ifn you know what I mean. :)
LordLanceahlot: I kind of got a kick out of it too. The pirate, Jack Sparrow babysitting a kid. Couldn't help but throw that idea into the pot.
Pirate-chicha: I take it you like the adventure kind of stories? Well, there will be PLENTY of it in the future. Maybe more so than in ATOT.
Krissa: I have to agree with you. I hope they go farther into Will Turner in the sequel. It'll make it that much more thrilling and stuff. Anywho, thanks for the review! And I LOVE the FOTR extended edition. I too was amazed at how much these seasoned actors seemed taken with Orli's styling and such.
lovebruises: I'm glad you like Emily so much...she probably won't play such a huge part in this particular story, but I guarantee she will in the future. I'm also happy that you like my fluff, I myself being a sappy romance lover.
OceanGirl28: I'm excited that you love the series! I hope you stick around for future stories!
The-Serious-Padfoot: Thanks for reading and enjoying these stories, they're my babies. Lol...not really. I can't back that up, but I am happy to see so many of you reviewing!
annomously1: I was hoping you'd be able to picture this as an extension to the movie; these are the kind of reviews I really go for. It tells me I haven't gone completely out of character and what not. Thanks!
Onyx and S: Thanks to you both! Lol. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story, and stay tuned for more of them.
angelsflame265: Thanks, I hope I updated soon enough for you. I'm trying, but I've been kinda busy.
icy878: MORE GREATS! Lol. Thanks a bunch, and keep it up. You never know when a hint you give will appear in the next chapter.
Admiral Lily: HUGE apologies for not keeping up with To Each Their Own, I promise that I'm trying to go somewhere with it, I just don't know where! Anywho, thanks for reading a checking in.
A BIG hug and thanks for those that have reviewed, and to those who haven't but like the stories anyway! ::cough cough:: REVIEW ::cough cough:: Sorry about that, had something under my fingernails...he he he. Anywho, more to come soon! Hopefully up by tomorrow, I don't really feel like stopping so I should have another for you really soon.
~Jean~