I PASSED ALL MY EXAMS! SOOOO HAPPY! :D

Love you!
LV
XX

"I hear you're thinking about what you've done," I said as I opened the door. He looked at me like he was about to throw something at my head.

He was in a sulk.

A big one. He was moody, sullen and swearing- the works. Took me ages to calm him down. I wasn't even sure what he was saying half the time, but between the mumbling and the swear words I got the gist of it. He wasn't going to do what Teague told him, basically (well... with a few more colourful words in between). I knew that I should trust Jack, with him being my husband and all, but Teague's unhappiness about the Fountain made me uneasy. Jack was in no mood to be questioned and I knew that if I wanted to stay on his good side I would have to use suggestion rather than confrontation.

"Maybe," I said when he had been silent fo some time. He looked up. "Maybe you should think about what Teague said."

"No." I could see that he was about to go ballistic at me, so I raised my hand to stop him talking.

"Well then," I said loudly as he tried to swear over me. "Maybe you should ask the crew what they think."

He stopped then and looked at me for a second with his mouth hanging open. He clearly hadn't been expecting that suggestion. "Ask the crew?" he repeated. I nodded.

"Yes, put it to a vote," they deserve to know what they're getting themselves into and have their say in it. Then if it they decide they do want to go, it wont just have been up to you and you're father can't really blame you."

"That's genius," he brightened immediately. I knew he'd love a plan that meant he could successfully blame other people and got him exactly what he wanted. I confess, I had an ulterior motive to getting him to ask the crew. There was one person's reaction I was looking for before I made my own decision about it. Jack was looking so much happier I knew Teague would be cross. "Lets do it now!"

"Or we could wait until you're dad's not here," I suggested.

"Until he knows what I've decided to do he'll always be here," Jack said gloomily. "It's now or when he's driven us both mad."

Without waiting for me to say anything else he stood up and grabbed the Charts, which were looking a bit worse for ware and strode out onto the deck. I followed him and then tried to hide behind him as I saw Teague, so he wouldn't see that I'd been in there influencing Jack's thoughts about what he'd done. He saw me, but by the time he did I just looked like I was a bit crazy because we were far enough away from the cabin for me to have joined Jack from anywhere. He gave me a strange look and then glowered at Jack. I stood up like a normal person as Jack smiled at Teague.

"Been thinking, lad?" Teague sounded threatening.

"Oh, yes. We're putting it to a vote," Jack breezed past him and walked quickly up to the upper deck, shouting for the crew's attention. They all stopped what they were doing and looked up at him. Teague looked at me accusingly. I shrugged. Jack addressed his crew and held the Charts high above his head. "Gentlemen. I have here the Charts to the Fountain of Youth, as some of you may or may not know from the old Captain Scallywag. I propose to use them and reach said Fountain for immortality, savvy?"

The crew cheered and I scanned the crowd for Gibbs. He was not one of the ones cheereing. My heart sank. Gibbs, who knows all the ledgends, all the stories and myths of the sea was looking positively petrified at the thought of the Fountain of Youth.

"So what do ye think, gents?" Jack asked them. "Are ye with me?"

Another cheer rose up and Jack smiled. He nodded to them all and then at his father. I looked at Teague, who was looking angry, but defeated. "I knew he'd find a way round it," he muttered more to himself than me. I tried not to look guilty. He turned to me. "You and Jack are still coming back with me, aren't you?"

I nodded. It was the least Jack and I could do. "Of course, I'll make sure we do."

"I'm planning on staying there for a while, I'm getting a bit old to be off pirating all the time, lass. Tell Jack I'm leaving someone in charge of my ship for a while and I'm coming with you two on the Pearl." he said and then walked away without waiting for my reply. Just like his bloody son, never finishing a conversation!

"Erm... okay then..." I said to his back. Jack was deep in a discussion with Gibbs. Gibbs was still not looking happy, but Jack was now that he'd got his way. I walked over to them. The conversation stopped and I got the feeling they didn't want me to hear it.

"Everything alright?" I asked, directing my question at Gibbs rather than Jack.

"Of course!" Jack smiled, putting an arm around me. I didn't miss his meaningful look at Gibbs. "Isn't it, Gibbs?"

"Aye," he nodded, but still looked a little unhappy. "Aye, everythin's going well."

If he wasn't going to let on what was bothering him about the Fountain with Jack around I'd just have to find another way of deciding if it was worth the risks. "Will you be coming with us to the Fountain of Youth, Gibbs?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Aye... Aye, I will be."

I relaxed and the knot my stomach had tied itself into loosened. If he thought it was too dangerous then he wouldn't have agreed to come. It couldn't be that bad... could it? "Alright then," I said, studying his expression. He smiled. I nodded and turned away from them both. "Oh, and Jack?" I looked at him.

"Yes, love?"

"We're still going back with you're dad first, aren't we?"

"Yes, I suppose we have to. Why?"

"Oh," I said innocently. "You're father will be travelling back with us, that's all."

"WHAT?"

'Ha, you're not the only one who can walk away during a conversation!'

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