Embracing Katrina – Version II
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (characters, plot, dialogue, etc.). Any other tid-bits of creativity, however, are mine… in which I hope you will enjoy. Please be sure to read and review!
Author's Note: Not sure about this chapter… please review and let me know! Thank you!
Chapter 51
Celebrating
As the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman finished cruising alongside the Endeavour, shooting cannons as they went until the ship was no more than a pile of wood slowly sinking to the depths of the sea, the two ships came into view of the rest of the armada.
"They're turning away!" Marty shouted excitedly as he pointed to the retreating navy ships.
"Wind in the sails!" Mr. Cotton's parrot agreed enthusiastically.
Immediately cheering broke out across the Pearl and became contagious as it spread to the Dutchman and then to the ships of the pirate lords that had been holding their positions behind them.
Everyone was celebrating the victory – yelling, whistling, and throwing about their hats. Seeing that even his father joined in with a toss of his own hat, Jack beamed happily as he turned to his first mate. "You may throw my hat if you'd like, Mr. Gibbs," he said as he handed the pirate his tri-corner hat.
Gibbs joyfully obliged and threw the hat out over the main deck from where he stood beside Jack at the helm.
"Now go and get it," Jack instructed.
Confusion came across Gibbs but he quickly left the helm in search of the hat among the chaos of pirates below.
While he was busy with that, Jack descended along the opposite staircase and entered his cabin once again. To his surprise he found Elizabeth and Will celebrating with a deep kiss within one walking stride of entering the room.
"Go get yourselves a room 'fore ye make me sick," Jack called as he made his way around them as best he could without touching them.
"As long as you'll be staying here with Katrina," Elizabeth teased, having broken her kiss with Will.
"Where else would I go, love?"
As Will and Elizabeth headed out the double doors, Jack made his way swiftly to his wife. "How are ye doin', love?"
Katrina looked up at Jack with watery eyes. "Better, now that this is all over." She paused for a moment, still holding their baby tight to her chest. "It is over, isn't it, Jack?"
"Of course, love," Jack said softly before giving her a loving kiss on the lips and taking a seat beside her. "It's all over. We won. Beckett is dead, the armada fled, and all that's left is to return home."
Katrina cocked her head with a puzzled look on her face. "Return home? But I thought the Pearl…"
"The Pearl is our home when we're out at sea, darlin'… howe'er we'd be needin' a home on land too for when we're between voyages, aye? Such as now… I feel best if we saw Doctor Collins… t' check on you and our li'l one."
Katrina shook her head not sure if she was hearing correctly. "Very well... but what is home on land then, Jack? Are you suggesting Port Royal?"
"O' course, love. Where else?"
Katrina's eyes went wide. "Truly?"
"Aye."
"Oh, Jack!" Katrina cried out. She then grabbed the front of his shirt forcing him to lean forward until their lips met again.
"Captain?" Gibbs' voice from outside the cabin doors however interrupted their moment.
"I think you better answer that," Katrina broke their kiss.
"Well, I don't," Jack replied before taking over her lips once more.
"Captain," Gibbs accompanied the knocking at the door. "Your father's 'ere t' see you."
This time Jack reluctantly broke off the kiss with a slight growl and sigh. He then pushed himself up from the bed and swaggered over to the doors.
"'ello, Dad," he greeted upon seeing his father when he opened one of the doors.
Teague gave a simple smile as he passed by his son. "Heard you're a father now."
"Aye. That I am."
Teague didn't say anything more to Jack as he walked over to where Katrina was in the bed with the newborn in her arms. "How are ye doin', daughter?"
"I am doing well, thank you, Daddy Teague."
"Everything went alright, then?"
"Yes."
"And the li'l one?"
"This," Jack suddenly jumped in as he appeared beside Katrina and took the baby up in his arms, "is Jack Henry Sparrow."
Teague smiled down at the babe blinking up at him. "He already looks like you, Jacky."
Katrina laughed. "Yes, I've noticed, too."
"Does he, now?"
"Aye, boy," Teague said as he carefully wrapped his hands around the baby within the bundle of small blankets and lifted him out of Jack's arms. "Looks just like you when you were born. Just look at those eyes."
"Careful, Dad."
"Oh, he's fine, Jacky," Teague whispered as he rocked the baby in his arms. "Just wait 'til he gets to the age where he starts squirmin' and he can't stay still… that's when you'll 'ave t' be real careful in holdin' him."
Jack nodded, not wanting to argue with his father.
"Was he born durin' the maelstrom?" Teague looked to Katrina.
"Yes."
Teague couldn't help himself in chuckling as he looked back at the baby. "Just like a Sparrow to be born like that. First me, then your dad, and now you."
"A-one moment," Jack spoke up. "Ye never told me you were born during a storm."
Teague laughed as he looked up at his son. "O' course, Jacky. Was born durin' a hurricane off the west coast of Africa."
"Didn't know that."
"Aye. And I think your granddad was born during a tsunami near Singapore if I not be mistaken."
A troubled look appeared on Katrina's face upon hearing this. "Daddy Teauge," she began with a cringe, "are you saying that all Sparrows are born during some kind of storm?"
Teague laughed all the harder. "No, not necessarily, daughter. Although the record seems to hold that those born at sea were during a storm."
Katrina frowned and turned to Jack. "I believe we still have plenty of time to thoroughly think about having the other three you want… but if it does happen I don't want to be stuck out at sea."
Teague continued laughing as Jack tried his best to join in the laughter in effort to hide his embarrassment. "We'll talk later, love."
"Well," Teague eventually subsided his laughter, "have ye introduced the lad to your crew, yet?"
"No."
"What are ye waitin' for, boy? Go out there and share the good news!"
Jack looked to Katrina.
"Go on, Jack," Katrina smiled. "I know you want to. Just be careful."
With the largest grin she had seen on his face in a long time, Jack gently took his son from his father and then followed the older man out the double-doors of the cabin. They then took the stairs up to the helm to where Gibbs stood by the wheel.
"There ye are, Jack!" Gibbs cheered. "Took ye long enough t' come out and join us! We've got the rum goin' around!" The first mate then took a swig from his bottle.
Jack rolled his eyes. However, before he could utter a word, Gibbs began shouting over the crowd below. "Jack's 'ere! Look e'eryone! Jack!"
In a moment the crew of the Pearl all looked in his direction expectantly.
"Er…" Jack began lamely. "I'd like t' thank all o' you fine gentlemen…" he paused as he spotted Elizabeth, "and lady… for stayin' strong in the midst o' this storm and havin' faith in the battle that was at hand though it didn't seem probable at the time…" Jack stopped unexpectedly here as Gibbs put a rum bottle in his free hand. After giving the man a brief look to say that he was crazy because his other arm held his newborn son, Jack held the bottle up in a toast. "And so… here's t' all o' us… what Beckett had threatened me t' be a dyin' breed is the one t' be livin' and thrivin' now! Proof o' that came in our victory…" Jack paused to take swig of the rum before handing it back to Gibbs. He then took up his baby in both hands to hold up for everyone to see as he finished, "and the birth o' me son, Jack Henry Sparrow!"
Cheering and shouting broke out once again on the account of Jack's speech.
"Ye did good, Jack," Gibbs laughed as Jack held the babe tight in his arms again. "Ye gave the men 'nother reason t' drink! And now the real celebratin' can begin!"
"Come again?"
"We were waitin' on you, captain," Gibbs went on laughing as he made his way to the stairs.
After eyeing Mr. Gibbs ascend drunkenly down the stairs to the main deck, Jack turned to his father. "They weren't holdin' back much o' the celebratin' already."
