Disclaimer: POTC is property of Disney, OCs are mine.
A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea
The Fairy Godmother
Kate proved to be a woman who was half drill sergeant and half mother hen. And she had never had any female children of her own. All of which meant I was her guinea pig! Her immediate fussing was like being swept up in a 17th century make over show! She had practically the entire household staff devoted to scrubbing, buffing, combing, and polishing me back into looking like a presentable girl. Kate even managed to have my teal dress, new earrings, and the rest of my wardrobe delivered to the house.
"Where is Jack?" I asked, as my hair was being coaxed forcefully into some sort of fashionably upswept hairstyle.
"Don't ye be worryin' 'bout him, me dear!" Kate admonished, "Ye can worry 'bout him when he sees how devastatin'ly beautiful ye be at dinner."
I couldn't help giggling. I had to admit, it was rather nice to have another woman to spend time with. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed having female companionship. And, as it turned out, Kate was just as brazen a wench as I was! Outspoken and courageous, she never had any hesitation in making her opinions known to one and all, whether they liked it or not. We quickly became friends, trading humourous stories about our men and about being pregnant.
"Where did ye get that necklace?" she asked, out of the blue.
"Ruby gave it to me," I answered, "She's my midwife."
Kate smiled. "Aye, she was mine as well, dear, for me two boys," she said, "'Course that was long before we came to live here. Ye'll be happy havin' Ruby there. I just hope Jack won't end up stranglin' her! There be no smooth sailin' with the two of them!"
I laughed. "I noticed that when we visited," I mentioned.
There was suddenly a knock on the door.
"Go away, ye no good scallywag!" Kate shouted at the door.
"Open the door, Kate," Jack's voice called through the door.
"What ye want?" Kate yelled back.
"I want to see Eve," Jack answered, sounding slightly whiney.
"Fly away, little Sparrow," she said firmly, "Ye'll see her at dinner."
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When Kate and her staff had finally finished with me, I was amazed at the reflection I saw in the cheval mirror that resided in a corner of the bedroom. My normally stubborn, stick-straight dark hair had been transformed into soft curls, swept up and miraculously held in place by an abalone comb. The earrings Jack had given me dangled gracefully by my neck, sparkling in the light. The revealing cut of the teal empire style dress presented a vast expanse of soft, alabaster cleavage. A subtle smudge of kohl lined my eyes, and my lips had been stained just slightly darker than their natural colour. In all honesty, I had never looked more beautiful. Strange that I could never accomplish that in the modern world, and yet these people, who lacked all modern beauty products and appliances, could!
Kate stood back, beaming at me, as she admired her handiwork. "Jack's gonna choke on his own tongue when he sees ya, me dear!"
"Oh God, I hope not!" I said, smirking, "I've grown rather fond of that clever tongue of his!"
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Kate and I peeked around the corner of the hallway at the top of the curving staircase, to see Jack pacing the foyer below.
"Now, me dear, mind ye tread carefully and hold the rail," she told me in a whisper, "It won't do to have ye tumble down them stairs and land in a heap!"
I nodded, smiling in anticipation of seeing the look on Jack's face. "Thank you so much, Kate," I whispered as I hugged her.
She smiled, then turned and went down the stairs. I peeked around the corner to watch, camouflaged by a potted parlour palm. Jack looked up as soon as he heard her.
"Where is she?" he questioned Kate, almost a little too demandingly.
"Oh, she'll be along," Kate responded casually. She walked to the corner of the foyer, behind Jack. I saw her nod to me.
I took a deep breath and stood up straight, ready to make my big entrance. I stepped out from behind the palm, to stand at the top of the stairs, holding the rails as Kate instructed. I conveyed my most regal countenance, waiting patiently for Jack to notice me. I had to suppress a smile as I saw Kate poke him, and then point up.
Jack turned and looked up at me, his mouth falling open in awe. Our eyes instantly locking, I smirked slightly, thinking how I wanted to just bring him back to the bedroom, and skip dinner entirely. I began to slowly descend the stairs, not once averting my gaze from his dark, kohl-lined eyes as he stared up at me. Carefully, one step at a time. Safely holding the rail, my hand gliding along the glossy wood. Watching Jack as he looked at me. Watching his eyes as they swept over my breasts, as they caught me licking my lips nervously, as they were distracted by the sparkle of the earrings catching the soft light, as his gaze caressed the demure waves of my hair.
And then, I was at the bottom, and he stood directly in front of me. I wanted to kiss him, I wanted to touch him, desperately, but I was terrified if I did…there would be no stopping.
He opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing. His eyes told me everything, and more.
"Well, come on then," Kate interrupted, smiling smugly, "Can't have everyone starvin' to death while the two of ye are ooglin' each other!" She put my hand on Jack's arm and took him by the other arm, leading us to the dining room.
Only two chairs were unoccupied. They were directly opposite each other. There would be no physical contact for us during this dinner.
The food was truly delicious, but it could've tasted like cardboard for all I cared. We ate a simple salad of greens, avocado, tomato, and cucumber in a sweet and sour dressing. A spicy fish and vegetable stew followed. Dessert was fried bananas in a rum-flavoured cream.
Seamus and Kate had kept the conversation flowing and lively, by prompting either Jack or I to tell about how we met and our adventures together. And Seamus told the most exciting tale of how, with the aid of an earthquake, he had managed to escape jail and the gallows, and go on to earn a pardon for his acts of piracy. It seems he was now a pillar of the local community, having donated much of his ill-gotten gains to help others. And, having been born into slavery, he chose not to participate in the use of slave labour to run his plantation. All his workers were generously compensated for their efforts. And I could see very clearly why Jack admired this man and wished to emulate him.
"Well, ye've missed the sunset," Kate mentioned, "But it couldn't compare to the sight of the full moon risin' over Nevis Peak! Why don't the two of ya go for a stroll in the garden?"
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With Kate's suggestion, we were dismissed from the dining room. Jack and I wandered along a path, enfolded in the blue twilight of the garden. I could feel Jack watching me and I turned to look at him. We had stopped walking and stood under a large tree, bursting with delicate white flowers that glowed pale in the dimming light.
Jack reached his hand up to briefly touch one of the earrings he'd given me. He then trailed his long fingers softly down the length of my neck, as I felt my skin come alive with goosebumps. The intensity we'd felt at the foot of the stairs had returned full-force. I could feel my breath quicken as I held his darkening gaze.
"So, you and Kate cast a spell to bewitch me with your beauty tonight, eh?" he drawled lazily, sliding his arms around my waist, and moving in to brush his lips teasingly against the base of my neck, releasing yet another torrent of goosebumps.
"And did it work?" I asked him tauntingly.
"Aye, it was the most painful dinner I've ever had to endure," he answered, "Condemned to do nothing but look at your tempting beauty, while Seamus and Kate were constantly distracting me with their incessant chattering!" He pulled me close, growling softly in my ear, "A pirate with less manners would've cleared the room, flung the fine china and crystal goblets to the floor, and ravished you right there on the table, my love!"
I pulled back to look at him. His eyes danced villainously with anticipation.
"Well, I'm relieved that your mother was able to ensure you acquired a few noble traits," I said, deciding to toy with him, "before you concluded your educational needs would be better served on the streets of Tortuga!"
He smirked, trailing his finger along my jaw slowly as he spoke, "I learned a great many useful things in Tortuga, my dear."
"I can just imagine!" I said, rolling my eyes.
"Oh, can you?" he asked sweetly, "Well, you would have a far more wicked imagination than I thought!"
"Really?" I said in surprise, "Then you've been underestimating me, Captain." I slid my arms under his coat, around his waist, pulling him nearer.
"Have I, luv?" he said quietly, as he regarded my lips with a smirk. He held me close against him. I could feel the warmth his body radiated, along with the cold hardness of his pistol and large belt buckle pressing against me.
"Yes," I answered, as his lips descended to meet mine in a deep, engulfing kiss.
I noticed him glance behind me, as we broke from the kiss.
"Turn around, Eve," he said abruptly.
He loosened his hold on me and I turned, then leaned back against him. A huge, pale, luminous full moon was beginning to rise over the dark slopes of Nevis Peak. It's light brilliantly illuminating the surrounding sky, turning it a dark sapphire against the black mountain.
"It's beautiful," I whispered.
"Yes, it is, luv." Jack replied as he nuzzled against my neck, his hot breath sending shivers through me.
I felt his hands slide over my bodice, his arms encircling me, as his lips continued their sweet torture on my neck. I glided my hands over his arms, to caress his hands as he held me. My head fell back to rest on his shoulder, surrendering completely to his exquisite kisses.
"Eve," he said quietly, his voice roughened with desire, "We should go to our room…now."
"But, what about the moonrise?" I inquired innocently, pulling out of his embrace and turning to look at him. I had difficulty suppressing my smile as I saw his frustrated expression.
"Oh, who the bloody hell cares!" he blurted in exasperation, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me urgently back toward the house.
I was giggling from exhilarations as we rushed through the French doors, across the foyer, and up the winding staircase. Jack threw open the door, and pulled me into our room. I pressed the door shut behind me, as I backed up against it.
Jack turned gracefully and stood, silent and still. His eyes burned with lust. He watched my breasts heave with each inhalation as I tried to catch my breath.
I recognized his predatory demeanour instantly. His focused gaze, his deliberate actions, his single-minded determination. He was a pirate pursuing his prize, and I was it.
I watched as he advanced slowly, our eyes riveted, the electricity between us intensified by each step.
His earthy dark eyes glinted in the candlelight and his mouth twitched with a smirk. "Lock the door," was all he said.
I reached my trembling hand behind me to find the lock, twisting it with a sharp click.
And instantly, he pounced, his hands gently holding my head with his long fingers splayed through my hair, his lips fiercely kissing me as I eagerly responded. I felt the abalone comb being slipped out of my hair, as Jack's fingers coaxed the dark waves to cascade over my shoulders.
He pulled away from me and bent, sweeping me into his arms, and carrying me to the bed.
And I heard the memory of his commanding voice echo in my mind, "Prepare to be boarded!"
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A/N: Well, poor Cinderella never had THAT much fun! Hope you enjoyed reading! As always, reviews are greatly appreciated! Have a lovely weekend!