A/N: I know it's been forever and five years since I've last written. But I promise I'll make it up to you all if I get 1) loads of reviews and 2) support. :) That's not too much for a girl to ask for, I think. In any case, I'm so terribly sorry it's been about 6 months since I've written. I definitely plan on cranking out many, many chapters before the summer is over. Here are a few other notes I have to say:
This story is set after Curse of the Black Pearl but has no correlation whatsoever to the other two movies. I like the second and third, but I started this before that, I believe.
I'm trying not to make Andria a Mary-Sue. It's a little harder on paper than it is in my head. I'm working on it.
Thanks for all the support.
Disclaimer: I do not own POTC, though I wish I could, because Jack is my lover.
Chapter 10: An Unwelcome Visitor
Gibbs was perched on a barrel on the quarterdeck, playing dice with a few of the crew members and wondering where in the devil's name was Jack Sparrow. A bellow from the crow's nest could be heard as the vibrations came down to greet him.
"There's a ship fast approachin' Sir!" yelled Jonathan, who had temporarily taken the job while being on the Pearl.
Gibbs started, stirred out of his thoughts as to why the Captain and his lady were a week later than planned – and still not back.
"Run up the colors, and signal the ship to begin contact!" called Gibbs from his sitting position.
The foreign ship was mahogany in color with large billowing crème sails. The sails had patches sewn all up and down each one but the wind paid no mind to the mending. The figurehead was a woman, not a mermaid, with endless flowing hair and no manner of clothing at all. Her arms were crossed elegantly in front of her and her hair flowed in the wood all around her body. It was as if Venus herself had graced the otherwise shady ship with her beauty. As it approached the Pearl ever closer, Gibbs could see the crew was standing stock-still in formation. Well, those that weren't doing a job to maneuver the ship were. Almost merchant-like in nature, but the air of the ship and the colors proudly posted stated otherwise.
The two ships pulled up side by side – one facing out to sea, one facing inland. The Pearl had been positioned in the small inlet so that those in Port Royal could not see, and so that when they finally did leave, the getaway was easy.
"What business does yer crew have wit the Pearl, sailor?" Gibbs politely bellowed across to the unfamiliar ship, as he walked down the stairs from the quarterdeck onto the main one.
A large gangplank was placed between the rails of the smoothly polished mahogany wood and the slightly-chipped and weathered black wood of the Pearl. A man, presumably the Captain judging by his hat, stalked across the gangplank and hurdled onto the deck.
"I 'appen ta be good friends with the Captain of this ship an' I wish ta speak with him," replied the man haughtily.
The man was broad-shouldered and lofty, standing at least a good foot above Gibbs. He loomed above the First Mate as Gibbs gave him the once-over. He had large shoulders but was fairly trim in the waist, almost French-aristocratic. His clothing was clean and well-fitted: black breeches with three buttons near the knee on the seam lead to leather boots with fold-over cuffs, a shirt that had been discolored by the sun was placed under a vest of wine-colored brocade, a jacket of dark teal concealed the copious weapons he possessed, and a feathered tricorner hat adorned his head. He was also dressed with many belts and had a sash around his waist; golden rings graced a few of his fingers. The First Mate knew he'd seen this man before, with his defined cheek bones, groomed mustache and goatee of black. His hair was slightly wavy and ebony, flowing freely to just above his shoulders out from under the headscarf and hat.
"Traversten…" Gibbs whispered, pulling his eyes away to examine the deck boards and compose his worried face. "The Captain is on shore-leave at the moment, but should be returning soon, Sir."
"Very good, I'll just wait in Jack's cabin then," said Traversten as he sauntered away, looking about on the deck at the intimidated, but always ready to serve, crew. Traversten ordered his First Mate to pull his ship, Satan Bourreau, away from the Pearl and out of enemy sight.
"Oi, what you dogs lookin' at, back ta work!" commanded Gibbs as an afterthought. He sent word up to Jonathan to make sure that he was the first to know when Jack and Miss Andria were on their way back to the ship.
He'd heard the story of Captain Hawthorne's ship and knew this was the man who'd done it. Jack, however, did not know the story and therefore did not know what confrontations were imminent.
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After a week of cat-nap filled nights and helping a new mother adapt to her child, Andria was more than ready to return to the Pearl. She and Elizabeth had become fast friends, but if she didn't get sleep soon, she was going to keel over right then and there. As the two couples rode down the hill to the docks in the carriage Andria rested her head on Jack's shoulder, dozing lightly. Jack kissed her forehead and she shifted so that her body was leaning against his; he wrapped his arm around her, cradling her in slumber. It was slightly funny, Jack had been sleeping fine, and as he gazed amorously at his Dria-love he supposed it was a woman thing to be woken up every few minutes by the slightest noise. It would only occur to him later that it was possible the reason was because there was a new child in the house.
The carriage pulled to a stop and Will helped Elizabeth, who was cradling a sleeping baby Jacqueline, out on to the street leading to the wooden planking. Jack did the same, clutching Andria as she threatened to fall to the ground with fatigue. Her eyes were slightly red and she had dark circles under her eyes, though Elizabeth was sure she looked the same, but didn't feel as tired.
"It has been fantastic to meet you both, but I really must get more sleep and I think I can accomplish that on the ship," Andria commented as she yawned, accidentally accentuating her point.
"Yes, we really must visit again some time soon, thank you so much for everything," replied Elizabeth, smiling down at her bundle of wiggling joy.
"Cheers, Whelp, congratulations again," quipped Jack, eager to get out of his aristocratic folly and back to being a pirate, "Off we go then, darling."
"Yes, Jackie-dear," Andria singsong-ed back, hugging both of her friends goodbye. She kissed Will goodbye on the cheek and reassured him he was going to be a great father.
Andria and Jack stepped into the waiting dinghy bobbling next to the dock. What little physical baggage they had was loaded into the small rowboat as well, and soon Jack rowed them out of the harbor. As they rode and rowed back to the Pearl, they sat in blissful silence. That is, until Jack opened his big gob.
"Do you want children, love?" he queried nonchalantly.
Andria sat up from her lounged position laboriously to face the Captain fully. To be honest, she hadn't really thought of having children with anyone specific, just that she wanted some someday. It was slightly more difficult though, being a pirate Captain and all. "With you or just in General?"
"Generally speaking, I suppose," he replied softly, looking at her with dark brown eyes filled with millions of questions.
"I have thought about having one or two, but I've also thought about what I'd have to sacrifice and, at the time, it wasn't worth what I'd lose." As she said this, she subconsciously began to wring her hangs and avoided eye contact with Jack.
"What about now?" Jack asked quietly, as he looked over at Andria she looked suddenly sullen and pensive.
"I don't know," she whispered, ending the conversation. The two rode the rest of the way in silence, lost in intermingling thoughts; the only sound was the rushing of water with each oar stroke.
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Jonathan spotted Captain Sparrow and Captain Hawthorne rowing to the Pearl a few hours after Traversten stepped aboard. He climbed down the rigging to Gibbs and told him that "Captain Sparrow's naught but a few minutes out Sir." He was careful not to include that Andria was also on the rowboat, in case the suspicious pirate Captain were to overhear.
As the dinghy pulled up along side the Pearl, the crew got a hold of it and Jack and Andria climbed aboard their home once again. As soon as both their feet were firmly on the deck, Gibbs rushed over to inform the Captain of the visitor.
"Sir, Captain Traversten is here ta see ya," he said in a hushed tone, hoping that Andria had not heard. She had to strain to hear the words come out of the older man's mouth.
But as soon as she heard, her heart skipped a few beats, her breath quickened to an alarming pace causing her to have troubles breathing, and she was suddenly more awake but more dizzy than ever. Ana was standing nearby as damage control and beckoned the lot to her cabin while Gibbs went to tell Traversten that the Captain was here but it would be a few minutes and that he needed to wait where he was. Jack thought this behavior was very peculiar and as soon as her door was shut, he demanded and explanation.
"What in the name of undead monkeys is going on here?" he asked with large, swinging gesticulations and buggy eyes.
Andria's breathing was slowing back to normal and she began to quickly fill Jack in on the quandary and discord she had with Traversten.
"… and now he thinks me and my crew are dead along with my ship, as far as I know," she finished in a quiet, hurtfully reminiscent voice. A few tears began to trickle and river their way down her alabaster cheeks.
Jack sat in silence for a few inconsequential moments after she was done. This did not sound like the Traversten he knew. This pirate had been his friend for innumerable years, but fighting a war against Andria? Traversten had some explaining to do. Jack pulled Andria into a warm, enveloping hug to assure her he would take care of it. Pulling away, he placed his hands on either side of her face, kissing her softly and massaging her temples.
He wiped away her tears with his thumbs while speaking in a soft, dulcet tone, "Love, we have to see what Traversten wants without him knowing it's you here. Do you think you can do that?" She nodded slowly.
"Alright, you're going to need to use that dress o' your'n," he replied with a smirk on his face and a plan bubbling in his mischievous mind.
A/N: Alright so, major developing plot point, eh? I'd say that earns major kudos. Maybe even cookies. ;) Anyway, I hope to get another chapter out soon, so tell your friends to read and always make sure to REVIEW!
PPL