CHAPTER 11: Things Are Getting Better…

It was nearing sunset, and Phoenix hat sat in the Crow's Nest most of the day, crying, and looking out over the water. She thought about her life… she thought about ending it right there, but knew she couldn't. Yes, her son was gone, but she had to stay strong… for her daughter's sake. As she looked out into the sunset she thought about Jack… and the way he'd treated her. The young boy Walker had walked up to Phoenix earlier that day, and had given his condolences to Phoenix.

Walker had heard what happened in their cabin… well… almost everyone HEARD it, and he awkwardly had asked Phoenix why she didn't kill him right there. She told him he wouldn't understand. She said to young Walker that, when you love someone, as much as Phoenix did Jack… nothing in the world, could EVER change the way she felt about them. She would run to the end of the Earth for Jack, jump into a volcano, and even slit her own throat… their love was much too deep.

She told him he had to understand, after all, they're both Pirate Captain's, not weak in any way, so it was more like a 'scrap', rather than a full-blown fight. The amount of torture she's endured, and the amount of times she's been beaten, by friends AND foes… Jack could never make it feel as bad. Phoenix was not weak at heart… she knew Jack would probably never have kept his promise of never touching her in that way again, but she didn't care. She's had many boyfriends, with worse tendencies. If fact… the mysterious scar, that appeared on her side, she thought to herself about constantly, she got from another man… and heaven's knows, if Jack found out… all hell would break loose…

"'Ello sugarplum…", Phoenix heard beside her, awaking her from her reverie. She smiled to herself, then looked over to see Jack's innocent-looking face. "Sugarplum eh?", Phoenix said with a tiny smirk. Jack grinned showing his golden teeth, and climbed up to sit beside Phoenix. He wrapped his arm around her waits, and looked out at the sunset. Jack saw how Phoenix was toying with her ring, and looked at her.

"What are ye thinkin' about luv?", Jack asked, his gaze un-faltering. Phoenix looked down at her ring, and then out at the sunset once more.

"I didn't want to bring it up… but… are we still goin' to see me parents?", Phoenix asked, looking back up into Jack's eyes. Jack looked her sternly in the eyes, then took a deep breath. A small grin then formed at his lips and he nodded. Phoenix smiled at Jack, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank ye…", she whispered to him. Jack rubbed her back gently as he looked over her shoulder to the fading sunset. Suddenly he felt his shirt slowly getting damper by the second. He pulled Phoenix back to see that she had begun crying once more. "My baby is gone Jack…", she said, hiding her face from Jack's gaze. Jack said nothing, but held her. He then felt something against his back… something sharp.

"Avast, scallywag!", Raven yelled at her father, who couldn't help but chuckle. Raven giggled as well, and walked around the tiny nest, holding on tightly to the railing, and sitting beside her mother. Raven studied her mother's movement very carefully… her face contorting with compassion.

Jack's smile quickly depleted then he looked confused, staring at Raven. "How in 'ells name did ye get up 'ere?", He asked his daughter. Raven looked at her father sternly, and remembered what Jacobs had told her to say (Jacobs carried her up). She looked Jack seriously in the eyes, "I flew…", she said. Jack checked her expression, and waited for her to begin laughing, but she looked so damn serious.

"Riiiight…", Jack said, staring at his daughter perplexed. He then looked back down at Phoenix, but then quickly at Raven again… he knew it wasn't possible, but her face was so serious… it was eerie. Raven giggled at her father, then rolled her eyes…

"Why is mum cryin'?", she asked, playing with the tiny sword she held in her hands. Jack clenched his jaw and sighed… "She misses yer brother luv… we both do…", Jack said, looking down.

"Why?", Raven asked, genuinely looking confused, as to why they missed him. Phoenix looked up at her daughter perplexed, somewhat angry she could've said such a thing.

"How can ye dare say that about yer deceased brother… I never want to hear ye say---", Phoenix was interrupted by Raven's sigh on annoyance, as if she'd just been told to go clean her room. Phoenix's mouth went slightly agape, as she stared at her daughter's lack of compassion.

"He's not dead… in-fact… he doesn't 'ave a scratch on him…", Raven said as she began to play with her sword again. Jack and Phoenix looked at each other for a short moment, then back at their daughter. Raven rolled her eyes once more, and looked up at her mother.

"I saw him… in me dream…", Raven began, noticing at how her parents were staring at her oddly. She continued, "… he was saved… by an old woman, and man… with a big ship… and they gave him fruits and porridge! And even let him sleep in the captain's bed!", she finished, almost excitedly, with a smile of triumphant-ness (inherited by her father). Jack looked sternly at Raven… almost a warning look.

"Stop lying Raven… I've told ye not to---", Phoenix was cut off. "I'M NOT LYING! I SAW IT!", Raven yelled through clenched teeth, glaring at her mother. Jack merely continued to study his daughter's expressions, but couldn't decipher whether she was lying or not… why couldn't he tell with her? He was usually good at that…

"Come on Raven… let's get ye ready for a bath…", Phoenix sighed, not willing to argue with her daughter, standing up, and giving Raven a piggy-back ride. Phoenix slowly descended from the crow's nest with her daughter on her back, and Jack not far behind.

As they reached the deck, Raven climbed down from Phoenix and tugged on her shirt. Phoenix looked down at her daughter. "It's the truth…", Raven said, almost pleading with her mother. Phoenix sighed, and walked into Jack's cabin. Jack then walked over to Raven and picked her up in his arms, beginning to walk over to the cabin.

"Ye believe me… don't ye?", Raven asked her father… looking him in the eyes, her eyes filled with hope, that at least one parents believed her. Jack gave her a smile, and gently stroked her hair. He pressed his mouth to her soft cheek, "Of course I believe ye…", he said. Kissing her cheek hard, making her giggle.

"Daddy… I told ye! It itches me…", Raven said, referring to Jack's moustache and beard. Jack laughed and apologized to her. As they reached the cabin, Jack faced his daughter who was in his arms, once more, and looked at her seriously. "Ye never complain when I kiss yer cute lil' cheeks while yer sleepin'…", Jack said, raising his eyebrows. Raven laughed at Jack and then hugged his neck tightly. "I love ye dad…", Raven said; Phoenix heard her and saw how she was holding Jack, and couldn't suppress her smile.

oooooooooo

Romeo sat with his grandparents at the table in the Captain's cabin… slowly picking at his food. He felt as though he had suddenly become a burden of some sort, feeling almost unwanted. He looked down at his food, and didn't lift his gaze until the two adult had long finished eating. Mary looked at Romeo, and gave a half-hearted smile… not like the one she'd given him when she first found out his identity.

"Why aren't ye eatin' lad?", she asked, making Romeo slowly avert his gaze from the table to meet her eyes. Romeo looked in her eyes for a split second, then looked back down at his cold food.

"I hate soddin' beans…", he said, his face contorting with disgust. He looked up sharply when he heard his grandfather give a hearty laugh. Romeo stared at him for a moment, and then opened his mouth to speak.

"What's so funny?", he asked seriously, his face showing no sign of amusement. Grant looked at his grandson and shook his head, in a sort of disbelief. "Yer so much like yer father… ye know that? I remember, a some, 40 years ago… yer father said the exact same thing… sitting in that very chair…", Grant finished with a grin. Romeo felt odd, but hearing how much he was like his father, brightened his spirits, and made him give a whole-hearted smile.

Grant looked at his grandson, and saw something incredible. He saw the future of his bloodline, carried in the body of the little boy; a little boy who would be known through history… a little boy who would conquer, and claim, everything and anything he wanted. He saw the same aspirations for his son Jack, and his other son… John. John was a man who was quite stern, and much more fierce than Jack. But that's how it had to be… John was the elder of the two, so he had to be a role model for his younger brother.

Grant thought about how John had worked hard, finding treasure, raiding several ships, and struggled to escape from the simplest of prison. Jack on the other hand, had barely worked at all to gain his respect and status as a notorious captain. Jack, growing up, had been only interested in women and alcohol… and his ship of course. He didn't care as much about raiding ships, and being bothered with making people respect him… it happened naturally… it was something Grant never could understand, but he figured his son just had a natural charm about him… a charm he'd like to think he had himself.

"Romeo…", Grant began, catching Romeo's attention once again. "Has yer father ever talked to ye about yer uncle?", he asked. Romeo raised and eyebrow, "He never talked to me about ye, so what makes ye think he mentioned me uncle?", Romeo stated, defensibly. Grant gave Romeo a skeptical look.

"He never mentioned any of us? Not even me?", Grant straightened his back ,looking highly offended. Romeo shook his head. Grant rolled his eyes and sighed, making Mary slightly giggle at how his ego was shot down.

"He did say that this was yers… and yer father's…", Romeo said, holding his hair-trinket in his hand. Grant gave Romeo a smile, and nodded. Grant stood up after a few moments and Romeo played with his tiny trinket, and walked across the room to where Romeo sat at the other end of the table.

Romeo looked up at him, and then stood up once Grant motioned for him to. Grant walked him over to the corner of the cabin, and sat him down an many pillows, that came from India. They were luxurious and down-filled… very soft. Romeo plopped himself down on a few, as Grant sat in a lounging chair beside him. Grant pulled out a small journal from the mini-bookshelf that was beside them. Grant them searched himself for something, making faces and odd noises, during his search, making Romeo giggle.

Mary then walked over, chuckling as she handed her husband his spectacles. Grant grinned and cleared his throat as Mary began to light candles around them. After the candles were lit, she took a seat beside Romeo, putting her arms around him, hugging him close. Romeo could no longer feel the un-easiness that he felt earlier, and relaxed in the warm embrace of his grandmother.

Grant flipped through a couple of pages and chuckled, he then found what he was looking for and made a sound, signaling his discovery. He pointed at the page, then looked down at Romeo. "This 'ere Romeo… is me journal… one of many. Seein' how yer good-fer-nothin' wretch of a father didn't tell ye about me, I will", he finished with a smile, making Romeo laugh at the fact his grandfather just called his dad a wretch.

"Now then… it was July 23rd… and me ship was 'eadin fer India… this was when I was about 16 mind ye… a very long time ago…", he began, catching Romeo's interest. Romeo's eyes went wider and more exited as the story continued, looking in wonder at his grandfather, who was a more spectacular pirate than he'd thought.

As Grant read the story, he felt rejuvenated… remembering his old tales, and his adventures. He remembered how his son's had the same looks on their faces when he'd told them the same stories, right in the very same spot his grandson now claimed. Grant however, felt somewhat disappointed as he thought briefly about his sons… remember how much hate there was between the two now. John was extremely jealous of Jack… Everything Jack had, or did better than John, John was envious. John was envious to the point, he'd kill Jack over something meaningless… something unnecessary…. his own brother.

oooooooooo

Phoenix had just tucked Raven in her bed, kissed her on the forehead, and stood beside Romeo's bed. Jack came in quietly behind her, and placed his hands on her shoulders, caressing her.

"It's ok luv…", Jack tried. Phoenix shot him a warning glare however, "It's not ok Jack… my baby is gone…", Phoenix finished, her eyes welling up. Jack's face became filled with sorrow as her looked at his lover… the mother of his children.

"Come on… let's go to bed…", Jack persuaded her, and took her by the arm and led her to their cabin. Phoenix didn't bother changing into her sleep-clothes, and neither did Jack… instead they both laid down on their bed, and hugged each other, trying to think about what made them love Romeo so much… the way he was just like his father, to the way he was a natural-born pirate… they remembered. Phoenix even heard Jack chuckle a few times, sure he was thinking about something Romeo had done that reminded him of himself.

"I hope yer dream was right Raven… ", Jack thought to himself, as he closed his eyes, and thought about his family once more, and the thought of his only son being safe.