Disclaimer: POTC is Disney's, OCs are mine.

A Sparrow's Fortune Changes with the Tide

Sympathy for the Devil

After I'd tended to Dylan, I settled into the bath Kate had ordered for me. As I soaked, I tried to gather my wits about me to prepare for the evening ahead. I knew Jack would be feeling victimized by his father, so I was determined to remain calm, focused, and poised. Yes, I would be the picture of tranquility. There was no way Captain Teague was going to get me flustered again!

As I thought more about it, I had to admit I admired Teague's uncanny ability to decipher weaknesses in people. With that skill, he must be an incredibly successful pirate; though for certain, a rather intimidating one.

I had to wonder just what Jack's mom had seen in him. Surely, he must've been different back then. I remembered the drawing I had seen in Jack's sketchbook that depicted his father laughing and happy. And I wondered what his weaknesses might be. And what had happened to turn him into the menacing, despicable man he was now?

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I had just finished dressing when Jack wandered into the room, clutching a half drunk bottle of rum.

"It's like waiting to be hung at the gallows, with no foreseeable chance of escape," he muttered as he sunk into the chair.

"Maybe it's time to sort things out with your father," I suggested.

He grimaced, stuck out his tongue, and made a repulsed sound. "I'd rather have all Ruby's leeches feasting on me flesh!" he declared, sipping his rum.

"Jack, just confront him and get it over and done," I pressed, "Then he'll go his way, you'll go yours, and you won't have to torment yourself anymore."

He glared at me resentfully and continued pouting with his rum.

"In the meantime, I've asked to have the tub refilled. You need a bath, Jack," I informed him.

"Ughhh, Eeeeeve…" he whined peevishly. "How 'bout you join me!" he suggested abruptly, his face brightening.

"I've already had a bath," I told him, rolling my eyes.

He sat up, his intense gaze inspecting me from head to toe. "I don't know, luv," he said with exaggerated skepticism as he waved a bejeweled finger at me, "You may have missed a spot or two. You still look pretty dirty to me." He took a swig of rum, then smirked at me suggestively.

"I'll scrub your back for you, Jack," I offered flatly.

"It's not me back I'm concerned about," he replied, grinning wickedly.

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Captain Teague arrived promptly, and after some tense small talk, we all adjourned to the dining room.

Dinner was an uneventful, yet anxiety-filled ordeal. Seamus and Teague dominated the conversation, each trying to out-do the other with their tales of the "old days" of pirating. Jack spent the entire time sullenly poking at his food, occasionally rolling his eyes or making a small "humph" of indignation. Ruby and Gibbs ate silently, with watchful eyes. It was like the ominous calm before a storm.

Kate and I also kept watch on the men at the opposite end of the table. Intermittently, we cast each other nervous glances. In a brief, clandestine talk before dinner, I had asked Kate to somehow try to arrange for Jack to be left alone with his father, in the hope that they would attempt to mend their differences. As usual, she was more than willing to join the conspiracy.

After dinner, Teague and Jack accompanied Seamus to the sitting room; lured by the temptation of sampling Seamus' latest blend of rum. Ruby and Gibbs wandered out to the garden for a stroll, no doubt relieved to be away from any potentially awkward occurrences. I retired to our room to feed and change Dylan.

As I put Dylan into his cradle, a thunderous crash sounded from the kitchen. I heard Kate's voice shout, "Saints A'mighty! Seamus, come quickly! I be needin' yer help!"

I smiled as I stealthily crept downstairs with the intention of eavesdropping on Jack and Teague's conversation. As I passed the kitchen, I heard Kate hushing Seamus' protests. I tiptoed quietly over to stand by the closed doors of the sitting room, and pressed the side of my head against the door, straining to hear.

Suddenly, my arm was grabbed and I was pulled away from the doors.

"Ye best leave 'em be, lass," Seamus whispered to me as he pulled me into the kitchen, "Ye won't accomplish nothin' by hoverin'."

"But…what if things get…out of hand?" I argued.

"Ye wanted them to settle things," he said sternly, "Then ye best let 'em do it on their own terms, lass." He firmly sat me down in a chair. "Givin' 'em a push is one thing…anything else is just meddlesome."

"Oh, bloody hell!" I huffed, frustrated that my curiosity had been so effectively thwarted.

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The silence that had shrouded the room after Seamus departed hung ominously between the two pirates.

Jack stood stiffly, gazing out through the French doors, brooding and desperately wishing he could escape into the cool moonlit night. He felt like cornered prey, waiting anxiously for the death blow that would inevitably come.

Teague lounged, his long legs stretched out on the settee, lazily watching Jack as he sipped his rum. He wondered what was delaying the return of Seamus, whose presence would diffuse the awkward tension that had settled in the room. Dismissing that thought, he downed the remainder of his rum, and took matters into his own hands.

"So, how've you been, boy?" he asked innocuously, instantly regretting the bland inquiry as it hung in the air between them

Jack stared at the doors, watching his reflection's eyes involuntarily roll in response to his father's question. "I'm fine," he said flatly.

Again the silence enveloped the two men.

"I understand that Swann girl sent you to Davy Jones' locker," Teague mentioned.

"Yes, she did," Jack answered.

"I'm sorry," Teague said in a whisper.

"Then she tried to redeem herself by rescuing me," Jack volunteered, still gazing out the doors.

After a long pause, Teague asked, "Did she?"

"Did she what?" Jack questioned, glancing at his father briefly.

"Redeem herself," Teague replied.

"No," Jack responded with finality.

"Well then, pleasantries aside, what's this grudge you've held against me all these years?" Teague inquired.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," Jack dismissed nonchalantly.

Teague looked amused. "Come, come, Jackie. You know better than to lie to a liar," he chided, with a deep chuckle.

Jack spun around to face his father. "Why didn't you come to her?" he asked, "She needed you…and you ignored her pleas." He glared at Teague with a cold hatred in his dark eyes.

Sighing heavily, Teague swung his legs off the settee. He leaned his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. "I was hoping you'd never ask me that," he admitted quietly. Lifting his head to look at his son, he continued, "I was hoping your anger would keep you distracted."

"Oh, it's distracted me alright," Jack said sarcastically.

Despondently, Teague sighed deeply before he began, "I've always wanted you to be the best at what you do, son. Even after I'd heard you'd hooked up with the East India Company." He paused to lean back on the settee. "I thought the best way to help you, was to inspire you. I thought that if you admired me…" He trailed off. With another sigh, Teague began again, "The truth of the matter was…I couldn't come, Jackie…I was imprisoned in Turkey." He avoided looking at Jack as he got up to refill his rum. "Yes, I was having a rollicking time being beaten, starved, and wasting away in my shackles, knowing…knowing my sweet Ellie was sick. He turned to face Jack. "By the time I was able to escape and make my way back…" Teague slowly waved his wrinkled hand. "Well, Jackie, you know the rest."

Jack stared at his father, speechless for a moment. "You expect me to believe that?" he finally responded, "You've never even been arrested, much less imprisoned."

Teague regarded his son wearily. "Don't be naïve, Jackie," he admonished, "You're not a boy anymore. You know the realities of this life we lead." He returned to the settee, as Jack stared after him.

The silence briefly returned to engulf the room. Jack watched his father stare blankly ahead, sipping his rum.

"It devoured my insides like a sickness, son," Teague said as he continued to stare straight ahead, consumed by his memories. "Knowing she needed me and I couldn't go to her." Reluctantly, he looked at Jack. "I'm glad she had you with her," he admitted.

"She was delirious, from the fever," Jack told his father, "Thought I was you…I had to make up excuses for you."

"I'm sorry for that," Teague replied somberly.

They remained in the room, each in the silence of their own torment, until the sound of a baby's cry startled both of them.

Teague looked at Jack in surprise.

"I have a son now," Jack revealed to his father.

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I sat in the chair Seamus had put me in until I couldn't stand it any longer. The waiting was unbearable! I decided to keep busy, helping Kate and her kitchen staff clean up after dinner.

The sound of Dylan's cries filled me relief. At last, an excuse to leave the kitchen that no one would deny me.

I rushed up to the room to find Dylan very angry at having woken up in a soaked diaper.

"You poor little guy! You're all ouchy down there," I said as I changed him, noticing he was developing a case of diaper rash.

I quickly changed him and carried him downstairs with me to consult Kate or Ruby about how to treat his rash. As I passed the sitting room, the doors opened and Jack stuck his head out.

"Eve, come in here," he called quietly, "Dylan needs to meet his grandpa."

I followed Jack into the room with a surprised expression.

Teague smiled warmly when he saw us, sauntering over to admire his grandson.

"Dylan Jonathan Sparrow, meet your Grandpa Teague," Jack introduced with a smirk.

"Don't call me that, boy," Teague warned Jack, as he gazed adoringly at the baby. "Can I hold him, please, Eve?" he asked politely.

I handed Dylan to Teague, glancing at Jack in disbelief. I couldn't help wondering what had transpired to bring about this bizarre change.

Teague touched my arm lightly. "It seems I owe you an apology, my dear," he said very contritely, "I've been…ruthless, with my comments to you, and I'm sorry. You're a fine girl, Eve. I'm happy Jack found you." He then focused all his attention on Dylan, cooing and babbling at the baby.

His apology had me flabbergasted. I stared, agape with shock, at the spectacle of him doting on his grandson.

"It's not polite to stare, luv," Jack teased.

"What the hell happened?!" I whispered to Jack in utter disbelief.

"I'll tell you later," he said quietly, then he dashed off to join his father.

I plopped onto the settee, mesmerized by the sight of Teague, Jack, and Dylan.

"…and he's destined to be a pirate! Just look at this!" Jack said excitedly, as he shook his head near Dylan.

Immediately, the baby grasped for Jack's enticing hair trinkets.

"See! He likes shiny things!" Jack slurred happily.

Teague laughed a deep, rumbly laugh. "Let me try," he said, mimicking Jack's head shaking. And little Dylan grabbed his grandpa's hair too.

"What'd I tell you?" Jack exclaimed heartily.

The whole scene was just surreal. I looked down and noticed a glass half-filled with rum on the table in front of me. I grabbed it and drank it all, hoping it would somehow help.

"…and you chose Ruby as your midwife?" Teague asked.

"I suggested Scarlett, but…" Jack began.

"Scarlett?! What the hell's wrong with you, boy?" Teague interrupted.

"I insisted on having Ruby," I said tentatively.

"Aye, Eve wanted nothing but the best for the babe," Jack explained proudly.

Teague glanced at me, then focused on Jack. "You've got yourself a smart lass, Jackie. You should listen to her," he said, pointing his finger at Jack.

Jack grinned at his dad, then at me.

I smiled tenderly back at him.

I knew this was probably one of only a handful of "father-son moments" they'd shared. Jack reveled in it, proudly telling his dad about our adventures, and showing off his wife and son. The last time I'd seen him this happy was when Dylan was born. This time, I knew, was "much more better."

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A/N: A little fence-mending in the Sparrow family. They say it's best to keep one's friends close, and enemies closer. Being on good terms with Teague is probably not a bad thing! Could be advantageous in the future. Big thank you's to all who read and reviewed! And have a great Labour Day weekend!