AN: Alright, so this chapter could've been separated into tow separate chpters, but seeing as I'm too lazy to separate them, it's only one. I think I did rather well on it;. My computer is gay, so updates might not be as frequent. I post whenever I can. Reminder to those who read and don't review; when I posted my last chapter, my story got over 200+ visits. No, not everyone reads and that's fine by me, but I would appreciate if you'd review at least this chapter if you're new! It took me two days to type this, and I'd appreciate it. Kayley Taylor, thanks. I appreciate the 'sympathy'. Enjoy! Review! Savvy:).
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"Like what you see, darling?" I turned to see Jack grinning at me, his hand reaching out to brush back my hair.
"Very much so." I returned the grin, feeling as if everything were perfect.
True, I'd grown up on a ship that was under the command of one of the most devilish, vile pirates known to man, so I hardly could discuss perfect. But to me, at that moment, it was. I'd always wanted to watch the waves play at my ankles, and there I was, doing so that very moment.
Except that I had a devilishly handsome, charming rouge pirate next to me who had taken a surprising liking to me, it seemed. I love him, the little voice in the back of my mind sing-sang. Love was another one of those emotions that was hard to describe since Bootstrap had been the only one to ever display such actions. And that was a fatherly love, not a love that most women longed for. And I found myself doing just that; longing for a certain pirate.
"You alright, love?" I nodded, locking eyes with him.
"Jack there's something I need to…"
He turned away, as if knowing what I would tell him. He looked over his shoulder, smirking. "C'mon. I think you need to practice running on land. It's quite different than walking…" With that, he took off, me chasing him close behind.
I caught up with him a couple of times, my balance giving way beneath me when I'd think that I had him. The third, and final might I add, time I fell, I collided into him, knocking him down from the force of my falling. With a thud, I landed on top of his back, hearing him chuckle as he somehow rolled onto his back without me rolling off.
"Well, now, darling, if this is what you wanted, all you had to do was ask." He continued to laugh as I smirked at him, joining his laughter.
I struggled to catch my breath as my heart jumped into my throat. "I love you." I whispered soft enough that I could barely hear myself.
Immediately, he was quiet and he gave me a confused look, like a lost puppy. "No, you don't." He got up, pushing me off of him and stalking down the shoreline once more.
"Jack!" I chased after him, trying not to stumble. I slowed once I was in stride with him. "What do you mean no I don't?"
He turned and looked at me, something along the lines of confusion shining in his dark eyes. "I mean no you don't lo… what you said you did. You don't, darling." He reached out to caress a curl that fell alongside my face. "You just lost your father. Of course you think you…"
"We both know it's going to happen sooner or bloody later! You know that, Bootstrap…"
"Is dead," he concluded, releasing my hair as he spoke. "For all we know, he could've been pulling our legs, love."
"Then why did your heartbeat work, eh? Coincidence? I don't think so, Jack."
"Andrea!" He raised his voice, not able to hide the faint crack in his normally smooth voice. "Be reasonable. He was a pirate. Pirates lie."
"And I'm lying?"
That made him stop and think. Never once had I lied to him. I'd lied several times on the Dutchman, but on the Pearl, none. His voice was calm as his gaze softened on me. "No. But that's not the bloody point."
I rolled my eyes and bit my lip in frustration before responding. "Then what, pray tell, is the 'bloody point', Jack?"
He looked at me with his dark eyes and I couldn't help but feel idiotic for allowing my feelings to slip out of my mouth. Most of the time I was level-headed. Jack seemed to have turned over a new leaf in me, for I was feeling slightly hurt. I didn't know what hurt more; losing my father or the current situation. Either way, I was torn and Jack obviously refused to see that.
"You're not in 'love', darling. Admiration I could understand, for as you've pointed out on numerous occasions that only seems to make my 'ego' grow bigger. But love? No, you're not."
I glared at him coldly. "Jack Sparrow you tell me to let my father's death go, and I'm trying a day later. May I remind you that women who hadn't grown up with a bunch of idiotic pirates would mourn of days, maybe even months. I'm trying to let go and all you have to say is that my feelings are incorrect. Let me assure you that I will not be sharing a cabin with you tonight. I don't care if you're the bloody captain or not."
With that, I turned on my heel and waited in the longboat for him to return, for he took his sweet time doing so.
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The ride back had been long and quiet, neither of us wanting to communicate in any way, shape, or form at any given time.
As soon as we were back at the Pearl, I went to the cabin that had been Tia Dalma's and locked myself in. It was a tiny thing compared to Jack's, but it was space away from him. Space that he seemed to want between us. Damn him, he knew what he was doing, he had to.
I flopped onto the tiny bed face-first, growling to myself as my face hit the soft pillow. I couldn't believe that three words could cause so much trouble for one man. Jack wasn't as dumb as he acted, and he knew that I was honest about my feelings.
He was being a pain in the arse and he seemed to thoroughly enjoy watching me be tortured. It's not true, a little voice in the back of my tired brain rattled. He wouldn't have reacted in such a way had he not felt the same… No, I can't think like that. I quickly pushed the thoughts aside, allowing myself to cry instead. If I couldn't have a man accept the truth or my father, the least I could do was have some pain to feel. That was not lacking in my life.
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Will sat up instantly at hearing a soft noise coming from the neighboring cabin. He and his wife hadn't gone onto the island, deciding that a nice nap together would suit them much better than searching for fruits. Presently, Elizabeth was asleep, her head resting on his shoulder as he held her close. He'd awoken several moments ago, but spending time doing nothing but watching his wife's face as she slept was something he rarely got to do for large periods of time.
The noise sounded again, sounding like air being sucked into someone's lungs rapidly. Questions filled the young Turner's mind since the cabin hadn't been occupied by anyone since Tia Dalma, and that had been a couple of days. They hadn't made port, so no one new aboard the ship could be occupying it. Will's mind quickly remembered what had awakened him; the slamming of the Captain's doors. Something must have happened on the island, for a lack in fruit wouldn't have upset Jack that easily. Daft as he was, he had a little sense for those types of things.
The pieces clicked in his mind as he realized that it had to be Andie, for she was the only one who'd accompanied the Captain onto the island.
Gently moving the dozing Elizabeth onto her own pillow, he exited the cabin to gently try to handle of the other cabin, finding it locked. Quietly, he knocked a couple of times, hearing the crying cease. "Andie, it's Will. May I come in?"
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At hearing Will's gentle voice, I got up, wiping my eyes on the pillow before unlatching the door and allowing my brother to enter. Quickly locking it behind me, I went to sit on the bed, the man following my lead. Neither of us said anything, both of us studying the other's face.
His dark brown eyes showed his emotions, tired and slightly hurt. The tanned skin of his well-formed face was paled, showing that he'd been asleep not too long ago. "Did I wake you?"
He shook his head, smiling faintly at me. "No. Jack slamming his door about something or other did. Do you know what that was about?"
I turned my head away, staring blankly and guiltily into the wooden floor. "Yes," I whispered, suddenly scared to speak. "I'm the reason." I looked back at Will, his face showing confusion.
"I'm sorry, I don't…"
I burst out, my anger flooding out in a flurry of words. "I'm the reason. I let it slip that I… you can probably guess… He told me what I did and did not feel. The nerve of him, honestly what man, Captain or not, tells a woman what she feels? The bloody…"
Will brought a hand to my mouth, silencing me. Only when I nodded that I was calm once more did he remove it. He spoke, trying to get all of the facts straight. "You told him that you loved him, aye?" I nodded, waiting for him to continue. "He's Jack Sparrow, Andie. He'll react how he'll react. He's not every other man that you might imagine."
I nodded. "The way he reacted, it was almost as if he was trying to deny any feelings…"
The man before me chuckled, causing me to smile slightly. "Aye, that's Jack for you. He'll deny anything and everything unless he thinks it's fit for it to be said or done. Probably why he's Captain…"
A soft shuffling sound came outside the door and I felt the color drain from my face as I stared at a dark and moving shadow outside the door. Jack was there. How much had he heard, did he care? Of course he'd care. And I'd probably end up not hearing the end of the rant including lectures on not to trust whelps whose wives had murdered him. I sighed as I tried not to notice it, knowing Will had too.
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When he'd slammed and latched the doors of his quarters shut, he'd told himself that he wouldn't go to her, for she'd been only toying with him. She was quite a minx, and it wouldn't be below her to tease him. But then that little voice in the back of his head that he often ignored for it was usually right had spoken. 'Aye, but she wouldn't have teased about love, would she?' It had said in a sing-song way, causing Jack to allow the truth to dawn on him. No, she would tease about how is ego was attractive, how his dreadlocks and gold teeth were just irresistible, but she wouldn't tease about something that meant more than a few words.
Bloody wench, he had thought as he'd collected his anger to exit calmly from his cabin. Causes enough problems as it were, with Jones and her hating me off and on. Now she has me feeling guilty. Bloody, life-changing, troublesome, beautiful women. They can't do anything worth remembering half the bloody time…
Presently, he was standing out side the room that he knew she'd claimed as her own. Where else would she go? The hammocks weren't exactly the best place to sleep, and she'd fuss if she'd have to sleep in one, so that left the empty cabin. And she was talking to Will. Jack furrowed his brow as he tried to figure out why she'd turn to the whelp. Then again, he was her half-brother, the only blood relative she had left. Besides, he reasoned with himself, even if she didn't know that they were related she'd probably still turn to him. He's quite the suck-up when he wants to be…
Deftly, he leaned in close to the door, using his hands to hold his hair back so the trinkets adorning it wouldn't make noise against themselves or the wooden door.
They were talking about him. At least they have my reasoning down, he grinned. He shifted his footing, trying to hear more but failed since they'd become silent. They must've heard me, he cringed as he heard the two sigh deeply and a pair of footsteps coming to the door. He heard the golden latch unlock the door and there stood Andie, her blue eyes ablaze with hurt and anger. Will causally slipped past. "What do you want, Jack?"
He grinned, hoping his way with words could get him out of the situation. "The cabin was a little quiet and lonely without you there, darling. Thought you could give me a little entertainment…"
He was silenced by her hand greeting the skin of his cheek in a rough slap. "I suppose I deserved that…" He muttered as he snapped his head back around, holding his cheek for a brief moment.
"Damn right you did, Captain Sparrow."
He rushed into the cabin, startling her slightly by taking her wrists so she couldn't slap him again. "Tell me, Andie, are you angry because I told you how you felt or angry because I refused to accept what you said? Or perhaps you're upset that your father is gone, eh? And that what he told ye aren't coming true?" Jack smirked to himself as he watched her anger quickly disappear. "I seem to have struck a nerve."
She spoke, her voice quiet and surprisingly calm as she drew in deep breaths. "Jack, I don't know." He watched calmly as a few tears began to crawl down her cheeks. "I don't know.
Without any complaints, he allowed her to lean into his chest, her tears melting through his shirt while her released hands gripped his overcoat. "I see." He whispered as he rested his chin atop her head. "Let's put this behind us, what say you?"
She pulled back, meeting his gaze with a look that burned his spirit. "Yes. But I'm staying in here, eh? I… I can't share a cabin with someone who can't admit his own emotions, or understand the tiniest bit. You didn't even try, Jack. You walked away. No, you don't love me and that's fine and dandy. I could care less. Just wasn't expecting you to react the way you did. Guess I should've. You're a pirate, a good man at times, and the Captain of the Black Pearl. I'm not a wench you can bed every night. Good night."
Jack watched, feeling her words seep into his brain. Everything she'd said was true.
As she turned to walk to the bed, expecting him to leave, he reached out and took her wrist. Andie glared at him as she tried to break free but failed. Not thinking twice, he pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely, feeling her melt in his grasp. "No, darling," he whispered against her lips as he claimed them once more. "You're not. That must be why I find myself," He kissed the base of her neck, "wishing," a kiss was planted closer to her ear, "you would," a kiss on the curve of her ear, "sleep in my quarters," a kiss on her jaw, "that way," he moved to her lips, knowing she was watching him intently, "you would be mine." He claimed her lips again, feeling her respond more than she had the first time around. "I love you, darling."
With that, he pulled away, not releasing her wrist. "Now, what say you to forgiving this scallywag before you and allowing said scallywag to make the whole incident up to you by a rather scandalously fun evening in the scallywag's quarters which are much larger and much, much more comfortable than this ratty 'ole cabin. Savvy?"
He grinned as she did the same, the fire returning to her eyes. "Savvy," she whispered, allowing him to lead her to the Captain's Quarters, his promise fulfilled.
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"I'm not going to apologize, darling."
I smirked as I snuggled closer to his warm body, my head upon his bare chest as he tried to catch his breath from our previous activities. "You don't have to," I murmured as I kissed the scared flesh that was serving as a pillow. "I believe you made it up to me in a much, much better way than you apologizing could ever be."
I grinned as he chuckled, his grip on my waist tightening. I was speaking the truth. After he'd led me to his cabin, he'd began to teach me how he'd apologize. And I rather enjoyed it, feeling like an honest and true pirate now that I knew why he enjoyed having a wench on board.
"Now go to sleep, Andie. I believe I have thoroughly worn you out, seeing as you're hardly stirring." I continued to grin as I kissed his chest once more before relaxing upon it, allowing my left hand to trace a couple of scars as I slowly lost conscience. "And remember love, I love ye."
After he spoke, I nodded, letting him know I understood as I drifted off. He'd come around, but he didn't know that it would take time for the matter of Bootstrap passing to get over. That, would take time and patience, two things Jack Sparrow seemed to have trouble understanding. Before long, I was asleep in his gentle hold.