HONORIFICABILITUDINITATIBUS
Chapter one: Dried peaches and rum.
Thank you for the reviews: beautiful-mistakez, Bits1212 and 'fan'
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Elizabeth felt at calm again, out on sea, feeling the waves push the ship up and down in a way that inexperienced men or women would find sickening.
She now realised that she belonged here, as the motion soothed her lately tense muscles.
The same could not be said for Patrick. The boy, frail and pale lay shivering in his cot. They had been out at sea for nearly two days and he wasn't used to it yet. Elizabeth had stayed with him all this time in the cabin, not allowing him out of her sight.
When he whimpered or moaned she would rush over and hold his little hands and whisper reassuring nothings into his ear. She didn't think he would hear her; he was delirious most of the time.
She had been a little disappointed at first to discover that her son wasn't able to stand the sea motion like she did, but then she remembered that on her first voyage she had been sick as well. She hoped he would soon get better; she was desperate for fresh sea air not to mention he was bored out of her mind.
As if on cue, Jack sauntered into the cabin with Barbossa and Gibbs. Elizabeth looked up and smiled, "How are we fairing?" she asked.
Barbossa sat down at the desk, "The wind is in our favour, but there's a storm coming." He said in his usual pirate-y voice.
Jack walked over to the cot, he bent down and felt Pat's forehead, "What in the blazes have you been feeding him Lizzie? He's feverish!"
Elizabeth sighed irritably, "He's sea sick Jack."
Jack straightened up, "Well that settles it, he's no son of mine."
Elizabeth glared at him coldly, "That's not funny Jack."
Gibbs, who had been silent till then suddenly stepped forward to join Jack at the cot, "Aye, good that I know some cures for sea sickness." With that he walked out of the cabin, only to return a few moments later with a leather bag.
He picked out some smaller select bags from the larger bag. "Now, a little peppermint tea will ease his stomach." He said, dumping a small white bag in front of Elizabeth, who after some consideration, took it.
As Elizabeth set to work preparing tea, and Jack came to join Barbossa at the table, Gibbs was steal spitting through his first aid kit.
"Jack, go fetch me an onion." Jack looked rather scandalized at being ordered around by his first mate but complied anyways, leaving the room whilst stringing together some over exaggerated curses. Barbossa looked amused at this.
Gibbs then headed over to Elizabeth, "Here, add some powdered Aconite to it. Just a pinch. Nothing more. It'll bring the fever down."
Elizabeth looked confused, but stirred into the tea anyways. Gibbs went back to his bag, went through it a couple of times before drawing out a willow twig. "Let him chew on this when he wakes, it'll ease the pain."
Jack returned with an onion, which Gibbs then cut in half. Tearing a piece from his sleeve, which he then used as a rope, he tied the onion to Pat's feat.
At the confused looks he was getting from Elizabeth, Jack and Barbossa he shrugged and muttered something about it helping against fever.
Gibbs soon joined Elizabeth again, this time with a small vial; he poured the contents of the vial into the tea, "Ginger essence. Against the nausea."
Elizabeth sniffed the tea, and drew back. She couldn't imagine her son drinking this and feeling better. Gibbs laughed, "I'm not finished yet! Here," he drew out another bag and poured some powder into her hands, "Powdered peach. For the taste. Ah, and of course sugar. And last, but certainly not least. The traditional pirate cure for anything…."
Jack got up, excited now, "Oh let me!" From his coat, Jack flamboyantly drew out a bottle and added a considerable amount to the tea; "Rum!" he declared happily, "Cures everything."
Elizabeth frowned, but still poured a cup and took it to Pat. She softly nudged him, "Hey sweety, we got something for you here to make you feel better."
Pat groaned out some inarticulate mumble jumble and promptly rolled around so his back was to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, used to this kind of behaviour, which was a trademark reaction to medicine for a five year old, took his shoulder and gently turned him round.
"Trust me Pat, it'll make you feel a whole lot better." Pat narrowed two bleary eyes at her. Elizabeth narrowed them back. "Look, I'll drink some too." Elizabeth did as she promised and took a brave gulp from the concoction. It wasn't too bad but she knew already that Pat wasn't going to favour it.
Pat continued to look at her, still rather disbelieving. However when Elizabeth held out the cup to him, he reached out and took a cautious sip. He scrunched up his face in disgust, but Elizabeth forced him to drink it all
Gibbs, "Now just give him a cup now and then and I think he'll feel better in a day or two." Elizabeth nodded her thanks to him. Gibbs smiled and then quickly left, following a bored Barbossa.
Jack remained, sitting at the table. He watched Elizabeth as she started to clean the room. Pat decided it wasn't all interesting enough to stay awake for and quickly fell asleep again.
Once Elizabeth was finished she joined him at the table. He now noticed how incredibly tired she look. He took a swig from the rum bottle and then sat it down with thump. He looked at it for a moment before picking it up again and holding out to Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled weakly but she took it gratefully. She took a long sip, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the warmness spreading over her body.
"Lizzie," he whispered. Elizabeth looked up, her eyes wide. A memory flashed before her yes
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"Lizzie," Jack whispered. Elizabeth lowered the bottle from her mouth. "Jack." She replied brokenly. Jack cocked his head sideways at hers, he regarded her carefully. He got up, and walked over to her. He looked down at her, she looked up slowly. His dark eyes met hers. Gently he raised her from her chair.
He reached out; his hand hesitated in front of her face. Elizabeth gazed at him, wide eyed. They were red from crying, but dry. Jack allowed himself a small smile. "Ten years is an awfully long time to be alone," he stated quietly, letting his hand go forward, touching her face softly.
Elizabeth leaned into his touch. Needing it. Wanting it. Jack pulled her body closer to his own; she could now feel his hot breath on her face.
Their lips met in warm embrace. They both tasted like rum. The strong alcoholic tang set the mood. The bottle was left forgotten at the table.
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Elizabeth blinked, waking from her day dream. Jack still sat opposite her, he had observed her all that time, knowing what she was thinking about. The current situation reminded him of it as well.
"Was it a mistake Lizzie?" he asked her honestly.
Elizabeth decided this was an opportune moment to take another swig from the bottle. Since she gave no answer, Jack continued, "Was it wrong of me? So soon after Will's…….change?'
Elizabeth laughed bitterly, "So soon, that's an understatement. It was the same evening Jack! Me alone in my cabin, wrought in grief…not to mention rum. I was an easy pray and you know it. You went too far."
Jack looked hurt, but he had expected it, "That I did."
Elizabeth glanced at Pat's sleeping form. "But if you fathered him, then how can I regret it?"
"Even if he is cursed?" it was the first time Elizabeth had thought about it like that, she shook her head, "That's different. He's Pat. My Pat. Maybe your Pat. And if he is cursed…..then I'll fix it. I've managed our previous adventures. I'll manage this one."
"We'll manage this one." Jack corrected her with a smile, "I went too far, remember?"
Elizabeth smiled as well, "I went too far as well.
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Two days later, the weather was good and the sea was calm. Jack had offered Elizabeth some time up on deck and replaced her down in the cabin. Pat was in his cot. Jack glanced at him, not sure if the boy was asleep.
He had the suspicion the boy was pretending to be asleep, it appeared to be a preferable option over having to actually talk to Jack.
Jack couldn't blame him however; he hadn't exchanged a single word with the boy yet, although the child had acknowledged his presence.
Jack pondered the situation, then decided to find out. He went quickly to his own cabin to retrieve an oilskin bag. He laid the bag rather obviously over the table, making sure that he was making sufficient noise to draw the boy's attention.
"Hmm, what do we have here?" he said to himself, shooting a sideways look at Pat. He swore the boy shifted. "Dried peaches, hmmmm yummy. Oooh and sea biscuits! My favourite. Sugar sticks, what a treat! Lucky the boy is asleep, or I would have to share these goodies,"
Jack couldn't help but smirk as the boy's head slowly turned. Jack turned to meet his gaze, "Oh, you're awake are you?"
"Dried peaches?" he asked in a small voice.
Jack got up and came to sit next to him, "Are you feeling well enough?"
The boy nodded, "Don't feel icky anymore. I'm hungry."
Jack looked at him sideways, "Well, you've been sick the last few days," he was enjoying himself, children were such easy prey, "You'll need something more substantial then dried peaches. How about some fish stew?"
The boy grimaced. Jack laughed, "Gah! Sneaky little blighter," he handed over a peach. Pat took it cautiously, but ate it anyways.
Jack watched him. The boy could be his, he thought as he looked at the black curls. He was too young to have any recognizable features yet; his nose was still a cute little button and his cheeks were still full and plum like any toddlers. His eyes, those we definitely Elizabeth's. Gibbs and his father had said so, and he saw it himself. Those beautiful eyes in which you could drown. He would be handsome then. The ladies love those eyes, Jack thought proudly.
He suddenly felt inexplicably scared. If Patrick is his son, then the boys life would be ruined. Jack got up quickly, suddenly being unable to breathe.
"I just need to," he said as he turned to looked at him; but the boys innocent stare made him swallow whatever her had to stay. "I need to go." He finished awkwardly.
He turned on his heel and left the room quickly. He bumped into Elizabeth on the way, who greeted him with a warm smile, "Jack," she said fondly, "How's Pat?"
"Fine," Jack mumbled distractedly before hurrying up onto the deck. He sighed once fresh air reached him. "Not feeling so well are we, Jack?"
Jack turned around, more then annoyed to find Barbossa there. "None of your business Hector." Jack said, frustrated.
Barbossa smiled, showing off his rotten teeth, "Hmm I think it is my business seeing as I'm bringing you to the place where everything shall be revealed."
Jack frowned, "I know already the truth." He said darkly.
Barbossa nodded, "Elizabeth's going to need a little more then your conviction. Her son's life is at stake here."
"I know that." Jack couldn't help but retort irritably.
Barbossa petted Jack (the monkey) distractedly as he came to join Jack at the railing. "What will ye do?"
Jack looked out onto the sea, "I'm not sure yet." Jack left, hoping that Barbossa would take this as a hint that the discussion was over. Barbossa didn't follow him.
Jack decided that indeed rum, was in order as he went on a search to find Gibbs.
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Okay sorry for the boringness of the chapter. I needed to establish some sort of a relationship between Jack and Pat, and also wanted to dig threw some memories between Jack and Elizabeth.
Oh yes, if any of you are or if any of you know any good video makers I would love a movie (youtube music vid) to go with this fanfiction, seeing as I cant make one myself considering my other computer decided to be an arduous scallywag and crash on me.