Jack & Katrina

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (characters, plot, dialogue, etc.). Any other tid-bits of creativity, however, are mine… in which I hope you will enjoy.

Author's Note: Seriously, any fragments of an idea of a scene or one-shot you'd like to see written up to read, don't hesitate to send me a message!!! I'd love to do it!

Old

As the cargo was being unloaded, Elizabeth and Katrina came up the gangplank onto the Pearl with the boys to welcome home Will and Jack.

"Missed me?" Jack grinned down as his five-year-old crashed into him with a hug.

"Mmmhmm," Jacky replied with a matching grin.

"Missed me?" came John's voice as Katrina handed the younger boy to his father.

"O' course, lad," Jack bobbed his son up and down in his arms. "I always miss me boys when I'm away at sea." Jack paused as he turn his gaze upon his wife. He then added with a crooked smile, "And me girl. Always, always miss me girl when I'm away."

Carefully taking a step forward, with Jacky still clinging onto him, and carefully adjusting John to be held only by one arm, Jack wrapped an arm around his wife's waist and pulled her as close as he could to himself.

"So," the pirate captain teased into Katrina's ear, "did ye miss me?"

Katrina instantly gave a loving kiss. "Of course I did. I always miss you."

"The bed not stayin' warm enough, aye?"

"It's not so much that," Katrina giggled, "as it is that I always need your help with these boys."

"Ah," Jack sighed, slightly disappointed. He then looked to each of their sons. "You lads causin' too much trouble?" He paused as he gave a wink to Jacky. "Too much playing? Laughing? Running about?"

Jacky smiled. "Aye."

"That's me boy."

"Captain?" Gibbs appeared at the family's side.

Jack turned to his first mate. "Aye?"

"Have a question 'bout some papers found among the cargo."

"All right," Jack said as he handed John back to Katrina who began pulling Jacky away. "One moment."

When finally free of the family entanglement, Jack took a close stance next to Gibbs. The first mate held up the documents that were found.

"Interesting," Jack mumbled as he overlooked the papers. "This is good information t' know 'bout future voyages the French plan on." Jack turned back to Gibbs. "Go on and send these to ol' Norry as well. Think he'll appreciate these, too. It'll help plan what t' do next… for they're clearly plannin' on sailin' through our waters again."

Gibbs took the papers from Jack with a nod of the head. "Aye."

The moment Gibbs departed, Jack turned his attention in the other direction where his family and friends were happily together. His wife, still holding John, lividly conversed with Will and Elizabeth while Jacky and little Will played about them.

Though a seemingly pleasant scene, something began to tug at Jack as he continued to watch on in silence. Something he knew, but never truly paid attention to before: Katrina, Will, and Elizabeth were all roughly the same age, but he… Captain Jack Sparrow… was older.

Slowly a frown began to form on the pirate's face. How did this happen? When did this happen? Have they always been so young?

As if to annoy Jack further, Will picked up his four-year-old son effortlessly with one arm. At that age Will had a son and another baby on the way. Numbers and calculations quickly filled up Jack's head. At that age the chase began in going after the Pearl. The whelp was so far ahead of him.

"Jack?"

The pirate snapped to attention as he heard his wife call to him.

"Jack? Are you all right?"

Jack blinked a few times. "Aye, love. Just a bit tired I s'pose. It was a long trip."

"Yes," Will agreed. "Quite long." The former blacksmith looked to the boy dangling from his right arm. "And we need to get home so we can play around with the new wooden swords, don't we, William?"

As little Will squealed with delight, Jack groaned. Come home from a trip only t' go about playin' wi' wooden swords wi' his boy? He's not the least bit tired?

"We'll come by later in the evening for dinner," Katrina's voice broke Jack's thoughts as she waved good-bye to the Turners walking down the gangplank.

Further "good-byes" were exchanged from the leaving family but Jack paid no attention to them. Instead, he looked from Jacky to Johnny, and back again.

"What's wrong, Corazon?" Katrina asked sweetly as she approached the pirate. "What's going on in that head of yours? You were so happy when we first came to you."

Jack rubbed his hands over his face before replying. "Nothin', love. I'm just tired."

Katrina put a hand to her husband's forehead. "Are you sure that's all? You look much more warn out than usual. Are you sure you aren't coming down with something?"

"I'm fine, love," Jack sighed. "I'm just…"

"Just, what?"

"Just… old."

Katrina broke into a laugh. "Old? What do you mean by that? We're all getting old."

Jack continued to hold his frown in place. "It's not funny, love. I'm the oldest one out o' all o' you. I'm older than Will, older than Lizzie, older than you… oh, no…"

"What?"

"I'm older than ol' Norry, too."

"I'm not so sure about that last one. At least, you two are very close in age than I think you realize."

"It don't matter," Jack huffed quietly. "Will's beat me."

Katrina rolled her eyes. "Why do like to torture yourself like this? How on earth has Will 'beat' you?"

"Look at 'im."

Katrina simply stared back at Jack in reply.

"At his age I 'ad just begun sailin' about in search of Barbossa and me Pearl."

"Your point?"

"Look at 'im, Katrina. He's married wi' a child, another on the way, and 'as a respectable occupation… not t' mention a house t' go along wi' all o' that."

"Oh, Jack."

"No. Don't ye 'Oh, Jack' me."

Katrina gave a small smile as she inched closer to the man before her, placing her free hand on his chest.

"Jack, I know that to many people ten years difference between us is a lot, but to me age is irrelevant."

"Will and Lizzie are only a year apart--"

"Irrelevant, Jack. Age is irrelevant when it comes to you and me."

Jack remained silent.

"Next, when it comes to Will, so what if you didn't have me and the boys at that age… has Will sailed all the world like you had by the time you were his age?"

"No, but he's come very close--"

"Jack. Has Will Turner sailed all that you have sailed by the time you were his age?"

"No."

"Has Will Turner seen and experienced all that you have by the time you were his age?"

"No."

"As for Norrington… you two are practically the same age… is he married?"

"No."

"And no children either, am I right?"

"Aye."

"Now, do you see where you lie?"

Jack took a deep breath. "Aye."

"Are you all right with where you are for your age?"

Jack nodded. "Aye."

"You have accomplished a lot, Jack, and have survived to be at the age you are now… even if it is considered an older age than myself or Will or Elizabeth." Katrina paused as she moved her free hand from the pirates chest to the side of his face. "Don't let that bother you, Corazon. Be grateful."

Jack nodded again as one hand covered hers and the other wrapped around her waist again.

"Daddy," Jacky called from his side, pulling on the pirate's sash, "You're not old."

"No," Johnny piped in. "No old."

Jack couldn't but to chuckle at this. "Thank ye, lads." He then looked into Katrina's dark brown eyes. "I am grateful. Thank you."