Disclaimer: I am far too unimaginative to do anything other than borrow other people's characters. In other words, I own nothing in this story besides all peeps you don't recognize. Which would mean that I am imaginative enough to write without borrowing other people's characters. Maybe what I need are other people's established plotlines . . . (Author wanders off after successfully confusing herself.)
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Story Thus Far:
Jack watched as the dripping figure saluted him, a cocky smile just visible in the fading light.
Returning the salute with a smile of his own, Jack shouted, "Well, I see you kept your word, Winnie. Safely on deck, indeed. I believe I owe you for this, lass. It's been awhile since I've been so outmaneuvered."
Winn shouted back, "Don't worry about it, Captain Sparrow. I was glad to be of service. I shall pass along your regards to Will and Elizabeth."
"As I shall pass yours along to them," Jack said under his breath. Walking up the plank to his ship, he started making plans to reach Port Royal unnoticed.
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Winn took a deep breath of night air as she watched the lights of Tortuga slowly dim with the passage of water underneath the hull. She was free, she was with part of her family, and best of all, she was away from Jack Sparrow. Pulling the blanket tighter against her small frame, Winn turned to Ryan and his wife Catherine. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."
"I would if you would tell us anything, Freddy." Ryan Morgan wanted to know exactly what his baby sister had been doing aboard the Black Pearl. Though he knew she would resent him for being concerned for her wellbeing, he couldn't help thinking, I'll get Sparrow should Winn ask for it. I'll definitely get him if he laid a hand on her.
Cat jumped in before her husband could get fully into captain/big brother mode. "Before you start in on her, Ryan, maybe we could get her into some dry clothes, get her some food, possibly something to drink . . ."
His train of thought broken, Ryan gazed fondly at his wife and nodded. "Yes dear, of course. I don't know what I was thinking. Perhaps while we're at it we can hunt down a few goose feather pillows or ask the sky not to storm so that Winn can sleep more comfortably tonight."
Catherine Morgan laughed. "You sir, are being extremely impertinent. Just because I brought up a good point doesn't mean you need to . . ."
Winn interrupted before this went on too long. While the Caribbean nights were anything but cold, they weren't exactly warm either when one stood dripping wet aboard a moving ship. "Dry clothing sounds wonderful, as does the food. But I insist on talking while we eat. I believe we have a great deal to catch up on." Having made peace, at least in her mind, Winn took the arms of her brother and sister-in-law, and guided them to Ryan's cabin.
". . . and so ends the story of my time aboard the Black Pearl." Winn sat back looking at the astonishment and amusement on the faces of her family. "Blasted man still has the rum I got for Elizabeth and Will, and my sword. At least he gave me back Father's knife the day after our duel. I hate to think what I would have done had I left that behind."
"I can't believe you actually challenged the man to a duel on the deck of his own ship, Freddy. It sounds like Captain Sparrow was exercising remarkable restraint. You're lucky you got away with just a scratch; Sparrow had every right to do much more lasting harm. It's not like he recognized you as a fellow captain." Ryan was amazed by his younger sister at times.
"I've faced worse, Ry, and come out all right. Don't start playing 'brother knows best.' I'm twenty-six for goodness sake. Besides, the insufferable man made me mad."
"He made you mad?"
Winn glared when she heard the astonishment in her brother's voice. "Yes, he made me mad. It's been known to happen when people go digging in a past they're not wanted in."
"Yes, it's been known to happen. I myself have not only seen you mad and lived to tell about it, but have made you mad myself. I think the least I ever got away with was a thorough maiming. Yet this non-member of the family is still alive, in full possession of all his body parts, and able to walk without the aid of a crutch?"
Winn made a face. "You needn't make me sound like some kind of virago, Ry."
"No, I think the term 'harpy' works ever so much better."
"Cat, make your husband stop insulting me." Winn appealed to her brother's wife. "I thought you would have him better trained by now. You've been married for what, nearly ten years? Don't you have any control over him?" she teased.
Catherine laughed. "One would think so. Perhaps more than one might think." She leaned over and whispered something in her husband's ear. Winn watched as his eyes widened in horror. She let out a peal of delighted laughter.
"What'd you say?" she asked Cat.
"You'll know when you have to threaten your own husband into proper behavior," was her sister-in-law's reply.
There was a quiet knock at the door. Jumping at the opportunity to get the focus of the conversation off him, Ryan called for the person to enter. Three men came in with trays. Quickly clearing the table of the Morgan's dinner dishes, they left a bottle and three glasses behind on the table. Then they left, shutting the doors to the cabin behind them.
Winn reached for the bottle. "I see Richie bestowed a few bottles of his best rum upon you as well. You don't happen to have a spare I can give to Will and Elizabeth, do you?"
"Well . . ." he said reluctantly, "it's awful hard to get drunk off just a single bottle of rum, especially when it's split three ways." Ryan grinned evilly.
Winn fixed a hard eye on her brother. "We are not at Grandfather's. I see no reason why I should get drunk for your amusement at this point in time. It'll be soon enough that we're all gathered back together – you can watch me drink you under the table then. Now, I want to hear all about your children. How are my nieces and nephews doing?"
Tilting his chair back on two legs, Ryan started talking. "Well, for one thing Cat and I will have been married for eleven years come October, not ten."
"Oh . . . Please, I humbly ask that you accept my deepest and most heartfelt apology on behalf of my confusion . . . ."
"Hush."
The rest of the night was spent with the proud parents telling various amusing stories of their children, while their aunt listened in rapt attention. When daylight started to show through the aft windows, Cat yawned. "Oh, I shouldn't have stayed up so late. I need my sleep."
"And why's that, Catherine dear? Do you have something else you want to tell me before we fall asleep where we sit?"
Looking at her husband, Cat smiled gently. "You tell her Ryan."
Taking his wife's hand, Ryan said proudly, "Catherine is pregnant again. Come February, you'll have another niece or nephew. Care to place a bet on which it will be? The rest of the family will, once they hear about this."
"Yeah, I'll bet. I'm thinking you're going to have another set of twins, which will up my niece and nephew count to sixteen. You all need to stop having children before I die of exhaustion."
"You!"
"Yes me. Who do you think is the favorite aunt around here?" Winn asked with mock indignation. "I happen to have no children or husband of my own demanding my time, so all your little terrors feel free to mob me at once. I'm the one who tells stories all day, who watches a majority of your children so you can have some time alone, who fishes overeager toddlers out of tide pools, who has small children invading her bed at all hours of the night, that. . ."
"Ok, we get the point, Freddy. We'll make sure to name our next daughter after you out of gratitude."
"Right. If you really want to thank me, you can stop calling me 'Freddy' for starters." Standing up, she added, "And then you can show me to where I'll be bedding down for the next few hours. I've got to get some sleep before we reach port this evening."
Taking Winn by the arm, Ryan said to his wife, "Go ahead and get to bed. I'll be right back after I escort Freddy to her room." Cat gave him a look that told him she knew exactly what he was planning on doing. Leaving before she could say something, Ryan pulled Winn out the doors to his cabin.
Shutting the doors behind him, he turned to her. She was looking up at him, eyes tired and confused. "What? You're not about to ask what I think you are, are you?"
"I was planning on asking you if Sparrow laid a hand on you beyond what you described. If he did, if he took advantage in the ways that pirates have been known to . . ."
"You want to know if he raped me, or if he got me drunk and coerced me into sleeping with him?" Winn sighed. "What would you do if he did? Hunt him down like a dog and kill him? Track him down and demand that he do the 'honorable thing' and marry me? The second choice would accomplish the same as the first, except he'd end up killing himself. Stop being ridiculous, Ry." Seeing the look on her brother's face, Winn continued quickly.
"Captain Sparrow did nothing but jerk me around a few times and gave me no wounds but a surface scratch, for which I paid him back in full. If he had done anything else, I'd handle it myself, Ry. You know that. I wouldn't have left that ship before I had killed him. You need to learn that I can take care of myself. That I have taken care of myself. I don't need an older brother to look out for me the same way I used to. Threaten potential suitors? Yes. Provide an escape vessel? By all means. Come up with a second wedding present? Most definitely. Defend my honor? I think I've got that covered."
Pulling her into a hug, Ry said, "I know you can take care of yourself. It's just that I still think that I can do it better." He released her slowly. "Now, get to bed. Big day tomorrow. Old friends to greet, a pack of wild dogs to tell stories to, a man to welcome into the family – well, sorta."
Winn laughed. "See, that's what I need from you – a to-do list." She pulled his head down and kissed him on the forehead. "Thanks. Go see your wife." She pulled open the door to the cabin behind her and disappeared from Ryan's sight.
"Night, Freddy."
An hour later, Winn was lying on one of the bunks that Ry and Cat had set aside for their children in a cabin next to theirs. She was drowsy, but she couldn't seem to get her mind to stop racing. Various thoughts, memories, and scenes from the past few days kept forcing their way to the forefront of her mind, leaving her aggravated and sleepless. . .
Turning over, she thought, Ry and Cat are so happy, so in love. Even after nearly eleven years. Just like mum and papa seemed to be. The thought didn't make her nearly as sad as it might have had she been fully awake. I wonder if I'll ever find anyone that will make me that happy. Opening her eyes, she wondered where that thought had come from. She was perfectly content with her single status. She was independent. She had her family, her friends, her hobbies. I don't want anything else. I don't want anybody else. She forced her muscles to relax once more. But, wouldn't it be nice, a part of her whispered, to have someone to hold you like your brothers have? To have someone to talk to, to touch? To love?
NO! Stop it! I like my life. I don't want any obligations to anyone else. And loving others brings obligations. I want to remain . . . I want to be free. I want to keep who I am, to keep a part of myself separate . . .
Ye be a liar, lassie. Since when did her inner voice sound like Jack? Even when the man wasn't around he was finding ways to annoy her. I don't want to think about this anymore.
Punching her pillow into a more restful shape, she deliberately changed her train of thought. Tomorrow we'll dock in Port Royal, and I'll get to see Elizabeth, not to mention Marcus and his brood. He had just better not start on "respectability." I might have to throw him in the ocean if he does. She smiled at the thought. Setting her thoughts aside for the time being, Winn fell asleep.
Tortuga, same night:
"Gibbs! Gibbs!" Jack roared as he boarded the Black Pearl. He had watched from the dock as the Kingfisher was faded into the evening's gathering gloom, thinking, If I want to set sail tomorrow, then I have plans to make tonight. He'd let himself be blasted six ways from Sunday if before he'd let that scrap of a female think she'd bested him.
Just as Jack was going to yell for Gibbs again, the man appeared at his elbow. "What is it ye'd be wantin', Capt'n?"
"What I'd be wantin'? What I'd be wantin'? I be wantin' to find our guest still aboard, but it looks like I'm out of luck when it comes to that, doesn't it? I'll settle for leaving Tortuga with the tide tomorrow evenin' instead."
"Tomorrow?" Gibbs protested. "But the crew was countin' on another few days –"
"Yes, well, I'm the bloody Captain here, and I say we set sail tomorrow."
"To what purpose, Jack?" Ana Maria came up unannounced. Ever since she had returned his ship to him, the blasted woman thought she had the right to put in her two cents worth anytime she felt like it. "What would we do in Port Royal for near a week?" she asked, unaware of Jack's thoughts. "Have tea with the Gov'ner? Catch up on old times with Commodore Norrington? Get a grip, Capt'n. Your little Kestrel will still be in port if we show up the day of the weddin'. Not to mention your crew would be less likely to desert if we don't make this a suicide mission."
"Aye, Capt'n. Ana Maria has the right of it. Besides, it's bad luck to rush into these kinda things."
Jack glared at his two crewmen and friends. He hated it when others pointed out things he knew for himself, and despite his ire with Winn, he had known that he was being foolish. "Fine," he snarled. "Then before we leave Tortuga in three days, I want this ship to be cleaner than she was when she was first built. Savvy?"
Stalking to his cabin, Jack ignored the looks his crew was giving him. If that wench thinks she's gotten the best of me, then she's got another thing coming. "I'll pass on your regards," indeed. Cocky little, scheming, piratous get of a wharf rat.
Highly annoyed (as was shown by his language), Jack went to his liquor cabinet intending on getting himself drunk this night. Opening it up, he found that all his bottles were empty – well, all save one. His commandeered bottle of Pelican Bay rum was still fully intact and was being kept company by a note.
Captain Sparrow, he read, sorry for your lack of spirits at this time, but I did get rather bored sitting here in this cabin all day without your, how did you put it? Your 'enthralling presence in my life?' No matter. This bottle would be gone as well if I didn't fear the wrath of my dear brother who put his heart and soul into this particular vintage. That and I thought you might need some consolation upon discovering my absence.
Truly, my time aboard the Pearl has been lovely (other than the time I spent 'conversing' with you, that is) and I regret my need to leave. However, it did prove to be necessary, not to mention fortuitous, for me to make my exit at this point in time. I hope you will remember me as . . . fondly . . . as I will remember you.
Sincerely,
Winifred.
Jack crumpled the note in his hand. He was about to uncork the remaining bottle of rum when he had an idea. This might come in handy later, he thought.
His good humor instantly restored by the thought of a little good natured revenge, Jack left his cabin, whistling. "Gibbs! I'm going ashore. Look after my ship." And with that, Jack left for the nearest tavern to purchase several bottles of rum.
"What's put him in such a fine mood?" Gibbs wondered aloud to Ana Maria.
"It'd be my guess that he's come up with some kind of plan for Mistress Winn. I wonder if the lass knows what she's gotten herself into." Hearing Jack to break into a rousing chorus of his favorite song, Ana Maria felt sorry for the strange woman.
Later that night – much later that night – Jack lay in an alcohol induced haze upon his bunk. Had anyone been around to comment on his inebriated estate, Jack would have told them that he wasn't quite drunk, per se. However, he was close enough as to not split hairs over semantics. (In other words, he was most definitely drunk enough to mix his metaphors without a second thought.)
On the verge of sleep, something disturbed Jack from his descent into slumber. Lifting his head in fuzzy confusion, he looked about his cabin with blurry eyes. What's that smell? No, it's not a smell . . . more like . . . a scent. Yes, a scent. So what's that scent? He sniffed the air, his forehead wrinkling with concentration before suddenly brightening. I know that smell . . . a woman, that's it! It smells like a woman in here. Just as suddenly, his face fell as he remembered, But there isn't a woman in here . . . is there? He looked around his room again.
No, no woman. So what . . . ? he buried his head in his pillow in confusion and vexation. When he did so, the scent got stronger. Lifting his head, he looked at his pillow quizzically. Why does my pillow . . . Winnie! That little . . . she made my pillow smell like her. How am I supposed to sleep with her in my nose?
He buried he head in his pillow again, forgetting that it smelled like Winnie for a moment. As he lay there, he realized that the scent wasn't necessarily a bad one. For such a no nonsense woman, the scent Winn wore was remarkably . . . feminine. It smelled of some kind of orchid, with underlying traces of lavender and some kind of musk. It was really a very sexy aroma.
Sexy! Right. That woman is so cold that any man who'd try to bed her would end up with frostbite. Following hot on the heels of that thought was the memory of green-blue eyes flashing with anger and a sleep roughened voice that was more in character with a woman of a much different profession. Uh-huh, he thought. We are not going there, Jack 'ole boy. There are plenty of other women to think about. We're going to go to bed and sleep off the rum so you can start planning tomorrow. That's it, sleep . . . sleep . . . slee . . .
Jack's soft snores filled the cabin in much the same way that memories and dreams filled his sleep.