Here it is! The Family Reunion from Hell!! Bwa ha ha ha! (a moment of silence for Alyssa's sanity please)
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"Your mother…" Jack repeated, staring at the old woman across the water. Alyssa turned to face him.
"Jack you have to hide me! Please hide me!"
"I always wanted to meet your mother…" His eyes never strayed from the older woman. She grabbed his collar and shook him hard.
"For the love of God Jack! I don't want to talk to my freaking mother, and I doubt you do!" But by now it was too late. The woman had noticed her, and had started to cry. A gangplank was lowered between the two ships, and she ran over.
The pirates parted for her, surprised that she wasn't screaming in terror. Lillian went straight for Jack. Alyssa was hiding behind him, the best she could do in such short notice.
"Alyssa? Alyssa it's your mother. I've missed you." The younger woman winced at her words. She never believed her mother would miss her. Marie maybe, but not her.
She slowly stepped out from behind the pirate, who still stared at the other woman. Her mother gasped at the sight of her.
"You…you're wearing…"
"Yes, mother I am wearing britches. It's not that big of a deal." Alyssa crossed her arms over her chest.
"It's been so long…" She approached and hugged her. Alyssa stiffened and made no move to hug back. There was no way she was showing affection towards this woman, no way.
'Save me!' she mouthed to Jack, who now stood next to them. He simply shrugged, unsure what to do.
"Can we talk over there?" she hissed, getting her mother to let go.
"Yes, of course darling." Darling. That was what she had always called Marie. Alyssa felt her blood boil at the sudden change towards her.
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Alistair cam cautiously over to the ship. He went over to where his wife and supposedly - dead daughter had been standing.
"What did I miss?" he puffed to no one in particular.
"Not much. They hugged. Alyssa's not too happy to see her though." Jack replied. He was leaning on a nearby railing, overlooking the scene. Knowing Alyssa's temper, this wouldn't go well.
"Ah. That makes sense." The older man said. It dawned on him now who he was talking to.
"Really? Never mentioned her mother much. I assume you're her father?" The man nodded, still rather perplexed that he was talking to a pirate. It surprised him that he hadn't been robbed or murdered yet.
"Yes. The two never got along well. Lillian always tended to favor Marie." Jack nodded this time, remembering her.
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"Can they speak French, any of them?" Lillian whispered.
"No, and as far as I'm concerned neither do I."
"Alyssa, this is a private conversation! They have no need to know what we say. "
"Let them listen for all I care!" She turned to the crew. "YOU HEAR THAT!? LISTEN CAREFULLY!" There was a sudden burning sensation on her cheek, followed by stinging. She swiveled back towards her mother.
"You will speak to me in a dignified language that these scallywags cannot understand."
"No I will not." She replied, pronouncing every syllable. Her mother agreed angrily. They would get no where by arguing.
"Why Alyssa? We think you're dead for four years, and don't even write to tell us you're alive?"
"Maybe I didn't want you to know." She spat back. Another slap fell hard against her cheek.
"Don't you use that tone with me!" Alyssa's knuckles turned white and it was all she could do to keep from punching her own mother.
"Where's Marie? I'm sure she would like to talk to me and your father…" She looked around, but didn't see her any where.
"She's dead, mother. Has been for almost two years now." Alyssa whispered back. The other woman blinked twice before bursting into tears.
"My Marie! Oh God my Marie!" She sobbed. Alistair came over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"It's okay darling. Alyssa's here at least."
"Why would she care? I was never 'pretty' like Marie, or 'smart' like Marie. Why would she want the other daughter? The 'second choice', as you once so kindly put it!" She yelled back at her mother in seething anger.
Jack came up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders, as much as to hold her back as in comfort.
"I don't belong in London!" she continued "Can't you see that? I'll never fit in there!"
"We can make you fit in Alyssa! I could make you the most fabulous-" Her mother's voice was soft but pleading, and her face red and blotchy from crying.
"You wouldn't have forced Marie to do anything." She muttered. Her mother straightened, holding her chin high.
"Fine. If you want to stay here with these damn bloody pirates, so be it. Don't be surprised when they rob you of your innocence." She turned to leave.
"I already lost it!" Her mother turned back around.
"What?"
"Uh huh, and I lost it to him!" She pointed a finger back at Jack, who shook his head violently, making a 'crazy' motion with his finger.
"Stop calling me crazy Jack! You know it's true." she said without turning. There was a short pause as Lillian tried to absorb the information and come up with a suitable response.
"I see they've already corrupted you. I must say Alyssa, you could have been something. I always knew you were a disappointment."
"You made me a disappointment! I loved you, and you pushed me away! When I was young I would have done anything for you, and this is how you treat me? As a disappointment?"
"Have a good life with these criminals." Lillian replied, heading back to the ship. Alistair turned back to Alyssa.
"I'm sorry Ally. I didn't mean for this to happen. But your mother…"
"Yeah. I know." He hugged her tightly, and she returned it. Her father understood, just like Jack did. "I missed you much more than her, dad." He nodded.
"Take care of yourself Ally." He said as he let her go. Once back on his own ship, he went to go comfort his wife. She was yelling and screaming incoherently as she went below deck.
"Well, I personally think that went very well." Jack quipped cheerily as the ship disappeared. Alyssa groaned and went back below deck.
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There we go, family reunion done.
SO, PotC 2 came out today!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!! My dad bought it for me, but I can't have it till Christmas…grrrr. But at least I have a copy!!
Chicaga
