Chapter Ten

Parents

I put a shaking hand on the doorknob. I felt Jack's presence next to me, and I grabbed for his hand, shivering all over. He took hold of it, put a hand on my chin, and turned my head to face him.

"Sade River, when we are in there, I will protect you with my life," he assured me.

I swallowed, looking directly into his eyes. "Jack… I don't know what to do… I feel so nervous…"

My heart took off on high speed chase as I pulled the door open.

There on my bed sat my parents. My mother, tall, lean, and red-haired, was gazing at the empty rum bottles disapprovingly. My father, tall, muscular, and dark-haired, was playing with Jack's compass. They both glanced up when we entered.

My heart was beating faster than it ever had in my life.

My mother broke the silence. "I don't recognize you.

"This is the real you, Sade," she continued, holding up a portrait I had had done back when I lived with them. "A proper young lady. Now look at you. Too thin, too muscular, which girls aren't supposed to be, and holding hands with an infamous pirate. What have you done to your life?"

I met her gaze steadily, then dropped my eyes to look at the portrait. "I don't know that girl. Nobody ever did." With that, I snatched it from her hand, threw it on the floor, and stamped on it.

My parents both stared at me, their eyes widening.

"My name is Captain Sade River, captain of the most durable ship in the Caribbean, the Ocean Pearl. This is Captain Jack Sparrow. I belong here now. I never belonged where you come from."

"If I may speak," Jack added, "I do believe that Sade here is a wonderful sailor, aren't you, love?"

"Don't call my daughter love," my father snarled.

"He can call me what he likes," I said, surprising myself.

"Sade," my mother began.

"Captain Sade," I corrected.

She rolled her eyes. "Whoever you are, I couldn't have been more surprised to find you on a stupid boat…"

"It's not a stupid boat! It's a glorious, beautiful, majestic ship! It's MY glorious, beautiful, majestic ship!"

"… with a first mate who used to be your respectable best friend…"

"And still is!" I said, glowing with pride at the mention of Karissa.

"…with a captain who is obviously mad…"

Here Jack grinned and took a bow and I proudly ruffled his coat.

"…and with a bunch of rugged pirates!"

Jack was so proud he swept off his hat when he bowed to her this time, and when he had finished he slung an arm over my shoulder. "I agree, ma'am, I think that Sade here picked the perfect lifestyle."

"Don't touch my daughter," my father piped up.

"He can touch me whenever he wants," I said.

"My point is," said my mother, "that you need to come home right this minute."

"I am home," I said simply. "This is where I belong. On the sea, having adventures."

"But Sade," said my father. "You can't belong on a ship with a bunch of criminals…"

"Oh, no, sir, not criminals! We prefer pirates, though the girls at Tortuga call us scoundrels." Just to make my father mad, Jack pulled me in front of him and hugged me from behind, rubbing my stomach. It felt good; I didn't have to pretend to enjoy it.

My mother's eyes blazed. "Sade, you come home this instant! We'll get you in school again, find you a respectable man, and better friends that Karissa."

"I don't want school, I don't want a respectable man, and it's impossible to have a better friend than Karissa."

Jack worked his hands upward-they were about to touch my chest. Here I had to pretend to be enjoying it, and tried to send him a mental message- Jack Sparrow, I'm going to kill you later.

"Sade, why does it feel like the ship is moving?" asked my father, suddenly getting a panicked glint in his eyes.

"Because it is," I said, leaning deeper into Jack, who began to massage me more vigorously. "You're stuck. Believe me, I'm not pleased about it either. We'll find you a spare cabin, and feed you and everything, and drop you off when we find some land."

My parents both gasped in harmony, and I broke free of Jack and opened the cabin door. "Gibbs!" I called.

He hurried towards me. "Orders, Captain?"

"Yes. Find them a spare cabin." My parents followed the first mate, and after they left I turned to Jack. "Overdoing our part a little, are we?"

"Admit it, love. You liked it."

"You were touching my chest!" I blushed a little when I said this.

"Aye, that was the best part." Jack smiled and closed his eyes, replaying the memory.

"Look, at first, you were doing great! Annoying my father? I'm all for that. But you didn't have to take it too far."

"I didn't have to, but I did. Makes it all the more believable, eh?" His eyes remained closed.

I approached him, about to slap him or kick him or something, but then he opened his eyes fast as a shot and pushed me up against the wall. I could feel the wood through my shirt, and Jack's breath against my ear.

"Jack, what are you doing?" I cried. I didn't like this. His lips were coming closer and closer, hovering just a bit away from my own.

"Love. I've been…"

The cabin door banged open. Thank God! His lips had literally been a millimeter away from mine, and if that door had waited another second, they would have touched. For the first time in my life, I was glowing with happiness to see the face of Hector Barbossa.

Jack glanced up, startled, his grip on me slipping. I jumped out of it, feeling rather awkward, but no one was noticing me now. Barbossa and Jack stared at each other, hatred oozing from their eyes.

"Sparrow. Always the gentleman." He said this with sarcasm, loads of it, in his tone.

"Like your any better, Hector." Jack sneered. "What do you do to your girls… kiss 'em till they suffocate?"

"Excuse me!" I cried. "But girls are human beings, not treasure or rum. We are not just simply things to be enjoyed by men! We are…"

My voice trailed off as Jack and Barbossa stared at me, then looked at each other as if they had just gotten a good idea.

"Uh oh…" I muttered. Something bad was about to happen.

The two men both started towards me, and I felt myself rooted to the spot. Jack placed a hand on one of my shoulders, Barbossa on the other.

"Sade. My dear love," said Jack.

"My sweet darling," purred Barbossa.

Then, at the same time, they said, "We have an idea."