A few hours later Jack began to appear restless, and finished the contents
of his mug. "Well, I dunno about the two of you", he began, standing up
and motioning towards Will and Elizabeth. "But you and I 'ave a busy day
ahead of us so we best be gettin' on with it", he finished to Julianne.
Julianne regarded him for a moment but then continued to drink.
"I agree, its getting late and Elizabeth and I were just getting ready to turn in ourselves", Will added before Julianne said anything. Both Turner's stood, said goodnight, and headed for their bedroom. Jack continued to watch Julianne, waiting for her to get up and go to bed with him.
"You go on Jack, I just want to put some of this 'ere stuff away and I'll be in." Jack continued to look at her for another second as though he was not quite satisfied with this answer, but eventually nodded. He pushed in his chair, picked up Will and Elizabeth's mugs and set them on the counter, gave Julianne a quick kiss on the cheek and made his way for the master bedroom. After he had left, Julianne made no move to get up but remained sitting where she was. She poured herself another cup of trum and gazed out the window as she drank. An hour passed, and still Julianne sat at the table, drink in hand. Still staring out the window, she was completely oblivious that Will had come out of the extra bedroom and sat down across from her. "Can't sleep either", he asked in his crisp accent, startling her out of her daze.
"Guess not", she answered with a smile, finally putting her mug down.
"What are you doing out here?"
"Not much luv, just thinking."
Will nodded, unsure of what to say next. "Umm, well", he cleared his throat. "If you needed to talk about anything.I'll listen", he managed to stammer.
Julianne gave him a strange look, amused at the idea of the young man's offer of help, then reconsidered. "That's very sweet of you Will, but it's a little more complicated than one conversation can explain", she went back to looking out the window. Minutes passed in silence.
"It's Jack isn't it?" Will finally broke in. Julianne turned her head slightly and examined Will critically. She had only met him a few days before, but already she felt as though she had known him forever. Maybe it was because of how much he resembled his father, physically and in personality. Will Turner was the split image of his father, to the point where those who knew them both almost forgot they weren't talking to Bootstrap himself. At any rate, he was right, it was Jack. But it was not exactly the way he thought. Will expected her to be distressing over some womanly, emotional turmoil, but this was not the case. Instead the thoughts that ran through her head were very much like those that had been earlier that week when the Renegade first sailed into Tortuga. A wild melee of memories, events, dreams, and realities, that all came together in one man. The details, it was all in the details. She thought about the leather bracelet he wore on his left wrist, and how no one but her knew that it really served to cover up the deep scar he gave himself when he thought he would die on Rum Cache Island. And the grand charade he put on convincing everyone that he had spent three weeks on that godforsaken spit of land, when it was really only 3 days. She remembered how he had tackled her to the ground when she launched into a full out assault on everything in her house and how he held her there, tight in his arms, while she screamed and cried over the news that her father was dead. That every bead that hung in his hair represented an event in his life, a bright memory that he was proud of, and was not simply for decoration. How every morning following an evening of pleasurable company, he left before his whore woke up, unable to face what he had done again and unable to admit that deep down he really was ashamed of it. And how deep in the pockets of his captain's jacket lay his dearest treasures, including the key to her house. She supposed all these things amounted to something, meant something, but to Will the answer she gave held none of this, "and what makes ye think that?"
"Oh come on Juli, Elizabeth and I saw the two of you walking up here tonight."
Julianne made no reply, only raised her eyebrows tempting Will to go further.
"I heard Jack propose to you", he said firmly, as though he had won some kind of argument.
"Is that all?" Julianne asked with a laugh. "Will if I 'ad a dollar for every time Jack asked me to marry 'im, I could damn near give up pirating and live off that money for the rest of me life."
For this, Will had no response. After stuttering a bit, thinking something to say, he spoke up. "Sorry. It's just that I know Jack, and it's not like him to."
"To what? Get drunk and say stupid things? If you think that's out o' the ordinary then you obviously don't know 'im very well Mr. Turna."
"That's not what I meant. What I mean to say is that." Will was interrupted in mid-sentence by the sounding of a loud horn blowing in the distance. Upon hearing the horn, Julianne's eyes widened and she immediately shot out of her chair to look out the window which over-looked the harbor. Almost as soon as she had stood the door to the bedroom flew open and Jack stepped out looking rather disheveled in only a pair of pants and his bandana. He looked questioningly at Julianne, although as far as Will could tell it seemed Jack already knew what she was going to say when she turned around.
"It's the Caligula" she said in a low voice turning. For a moment, neither of them spoke until finally the silence was broken when Elizabeth also came out into the kitchen.
"What's going on?"
"Well what do you think Jules?" Jack asked, ignoring Elizabeth's inquiry.
"I'd say we've got about 10 minutes til e's 'ere", Julianne answered him.
"Whose here?" Will cut in.
"You sure e'll be here?" Jack continued not to notice the Turners.
"Always is..."
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" Elizabeth now demanded too loudly to be ignored again, and receiving a nasty glance from both pirates. Both Jack and Julianne turned and stared at Elizabeth with a mixture of surprise and irritation.
"Miss Turner", Julianne finally answered her quite curtly, "we are expecting a visit from one of the most ruthless pirates to have ever sailed the Caribbean."
"And who would that be?"
"Augustus Cordei."
"Better known as "Cut-throat" Cordei", Jack added with a smirk. At this, Elizabeth's eyes widened in fear. "I've heard of him. He's the one responsible for the massacre at Carsa a few years back."
"He's the one", Jack confirmed.
Elizabeth gaped, quite a contrast to Will's slightly distressed but still calm demeanor. "And why is he coming here", he asked not noticing a look of discomfort wash over Julianne's face.
"Ah ah ah William, you best just be minding yer own business and getting yourself and your lovely wife out of 'arms way, savvy?" Jack ordered.
He and Elizabeth exchanged a confused glance, and after a few moments both retreated to their bedroom, leaving the door cracked slightly open so as to watch.
Jack and Julianne remained standing in the kitchen. Without a word they exchanged a glance and shared a silent understanding. Julianne crossed the room in the direction of the front door where her pistol, sword, and jacket hung. All of these she removed from their place and adorned herself with, including her favorite leather hat. Jack also equipped himself with his affects and stood quietly off to the side. After only a few more minutes the moment they had been waiting for arrived and a loud knocking was heard on the front door. Julianne did not answer, and the banging continued on louder.
"Juli! I know you're 'ome. JULI!" the harsh, deep voice of a man sounded from outside. Still she did not answer and it was apparent that her visitor was not pleased by this. The knocking soon turned into a full assault on the door with shouts mixed in. "JULI!" From the bedroom door crack, Will and Elizabeth thought they caught the faintest smile forming on the face of Captain Amaris as she listened to the disgruntled ruckus outside. The look of amusement quickly passed though when she heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed, and quickly flung open the door.
To his surprise, the blade of Captain Augustus Cordei was met in descent by another as the door to Captain Amaris' house flew open.
"Try calling people by their right name, and you might get a response, Captain", Julianne glared at Cordei with hatred in her eyes.
"Ah Captain Amaris", Cordei began with a triumphant smile, "a pleasure as always."
"What do you want Augustus?"
"Why only to see my favorite pirating captain of course."
"Well why didn't you say so", Jack said mischievously, stepping out into Cordei's view. "I'm right 'ere."
"Sparrow!" Cordei scowled. "What are you doing here?"
"Now, now mate, I don't think you're in any position to be askin' that kinda question."
"Why I oughta.", Cordei raised his sword again and began moving toward Jack.
"Nor do I", Julianne cut him off with her own sword. Slowly, Augustus lowered his sword and took a stop back. "Now, keeping in mind that you are perfectly clear on how I feel about having you in my presence, let's try this again shall we? What are you doing here?"
"I already told you, I'm 'ere to see you."
"Well in that case I guess you'll be on your way then won't you?" Jack cut in with a smile just daring Cordei to go at him again. As expected Cordei succumbed, threw up his sword and rushed forward. This time he did not stop when Julianne's sword met his, but began crossing blades with her still moving towards Jack. "Get out of the way Juli, this is between me and Jack" he yelled at her, swinging his sword with all his might. Despite the fact that he wasn't much of a match for her, Julianne was in no mood to be engaged in a sword fight in the middle of her house. Swinging his blade down and away from her with her left hand, she gave herself enough time to reach down and pull out her gun with her right. Cocking the trigger, she pointed her pistol directly at Cordei's head bringing him to a screeching halt.
"First of all, DO NOT call me Juli. Second of all, Jack is a guest in my house, therefore this does have to do with me. And third of all, you are, in fact, not a guest in my house, nor are you welcome here at all, so I suggest you remove yourself immediately or I'll be forced to put a bullet in your 'ead. Savvy?"
Eyes wide and terrified, Cordei simply nodded, lowered his sword, and sheathed it. Julianne continued to hold him at gun point, and behind her Jack continued to smirk at Augustus, whose eyes narrowed in hatred at the both of them.
"Good, then be off with ye", Julianne continued, motioning to the door with her gun. Begrudgingly, Cordei did as he was instructed, turned and walked for the door. Both Jack and Julianne watched as he made his way down the front walk and away from the house fuming with rage and embarrassment.
As an afterthought, Jack ran toward the door and called out. "Oh and Cordei, you even so much as go near my boat, it'll be the last thing you ever do!"
Minutes later, the house stood silent. Will and Elizabeth slowly opened the door to their room and stepped out without a word, Juli remained motionless where she stood, staring at the ground. Only Jack seemed unphased by the encounter, as he closed the front door and relocked it. Turning around, he sheathed his sword, unclasped the belt that held it to him and threw it on the table and looked at Julianne waiting for her to snap back to it. The moment did not come, and both the Turners watched Jack watching Julianne and waited for some kind of answers.
"Jules", Jack finally said trying to get her attention. Still, she did not respond, but continued to stare at the ground, twirling the handle of her sword in her hand.
"Jules", he said again a little more forcefully putting a hand on her shoulder. This time seemed to pull her out of her daze.
"Well Ms. Turner", she began turning to Will and Elizabeth with narrowed eyes, "you wanted to know what it was like being the only woman captain. Now you know."
Unsure of what to say in response, Elizabeth remained silent and continued to watch as Jack put his other hand on her opposite shoulder and led her into the bedroom.
"Come on luv", he said almost inaudibly, and shut the door.
***
In the next room, Elizabeth and Will lay in bed both wide awake. Rolling over, Elizabeth leaned over looking at Will and asked, "So what do you think the deal is with them?"
"With what?"
"Oh come on Will, don't give me that oblivious act of yours, you know perfectly well what I mean."
"Honestly Lizzie, I don't know why you care so much."
"I just find it interesting that's all. Even you have to admit that the whole situation seems a little out of character for Jack."
"I guess so, but I suppose there's a lot we probably don't know about Jack. We haven't exactly known him for all that long."
"I know, but it still seems strange. Although it is rather charming really."
"How's that?"
"Its nice to see that there's a softer side to Captain Jack Sparrow."
"It is quite amazing that they can make it work under the circumstances", Will agreed.
"Well I wouldn't go that far."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, I mean yes it is amazing all things considered, but I wouldn't exactly call it 'making it work'. Something's missing, you know?"
"They're pirates Lizzie. What do you expect?"
"I know they are, but still that doesn't mean they don't want the same things as everyone else on some level. Just from talking to Julianne, you can just tell, it's as though she torn between what she wants, and what's expected of her. Oh, I can't describe it really. But I'd be willing to bet that she really loves Jack, and it must hurt on some level the way things are."
"How do you figure, she's practically got him wrapped around her little finger. Honestly, I didn't think it was possible for Jack to ever be anything other than in total control. I think he actually respects her, and the fact that she's a woman, and not just another one of his women, well that almost blows my mind."
"But that's just the point I'm trying to make Will. There are still other women, and I think it absolutely kills her."
"And you think there aren't other men?"
"Oh I'm sure there have been, but I hardly think it's quite as many. The thing is, it's not just her who wants more from him, I think he probably loves her too. They both want commitment from other person, but are too bound by their way of life to ask for it."
"My god woman, you got all of that from spending 5 days with them?"
"Of course I did, I'm a woman, we pick up on these things."
"Well I don't know about any other women, but if you're so good on picking up what people want, how about you pick up on what I want right now", he replied pulling her on top of him.
"Well, figuring you out isn't much of a challenge, that's for sure", she answered with a laugh and a kiss.
"I agree, its getting late and Elizabeth and I were just getting ready to turn in ourselves", Will added before Julianne said anything. Both Turner's stood, said goodnight, and headed for their bedroom. Jack continued to watch Julianne, waiting for her to get up and go to bed with him.
"You go on Jack, I just want to put some of this 'ere stuff away and I'll be in." Jack continued to look at her for another second as though he was not quite satisfied with this answer, but eventually nodded. He pushed in his chair, picked up Will and Elizabeth's mugs and set them on the counter, gave Julianne a quick kiss on the cheek and made his way for the master bedroom. After he had left, Julianne made no move to get up but remained sitting where she was. She poured herself another cup of trum and gazed out the window as she drank. An hour passed, and still Julianne sat at the table, drink in hand. Still staring out the window, she was completely oblivious that Will had come out of the extra bedroom and sat down across from her. "Can't sleep either", he asked in his crisp accent, startling her out of her daze.
"Guess not", she answered with a smile, finally putting her mug down.
"What are you doing out here?"
"Not much luv, just thinking."
Will nodded, unsure of what to say next. "Umm, well", he cleared his throat. "If you needed to talk about anything.I'll listen", he managed to stammer.
Julianne gave him a strange look, amused at the idea of the young man's offer of help, then reconsidered. "That's very sweet of you Will, but it's a little more complicated than one conversation can explain", she went back to looking out the window. Minutes passed in silence.
"It's Jack isn't it?" Will finally broke in. Julianne turned her head slightly and examined Will critically. She had only met him a few days before, but already she felt as though she had known him forever. Maybe it was because of how much he resembled his father, physically and in personality. Will Turner was the split image of his father, to the point where those who knew them both almost forgot they weren't talking to Bootstrap himself. At any rate, he was right, it was Jack. But it was not exactly the way he thought. Will expected her to be distressing over some womanly, emotional turmoil, but this was not the case. Instead the thoughts that ran through her head were very much like those that had been earlier that week when the Renegade first sailed into Tortuga. A wild melee of memories, events, dreams, and realities, that all came together in one man. The details, it was all in the details. She thought about the leather bracelet he wore on his left wrist, and how no one but her knew that it really served to cover up the deep scar he gave himself when he thought he would die on Rum Cache Island. And the grand charade he put on convincing everyone that he had spent three weeks on that godforsaken spit of land, when it was really only 3 days. She remembered how he had tackled her to the ground when she launched into a full out assault on everything in her house and how he held her there, tight in his arms, while she screamed and cried over the news that her father was dead. That every bead that hung in his hair represented an event in his life, a bright memory that he was proud of, and was not simply for decoration. How every morning following an evening of pleasurable company, he left before his whore woke up, unable to face what he had done again and unable to admit that deep down he really was ashamed of it. And how deep in the pockets of his captain's jacket lay his dearest treasures, including the key to her house. She supposed all these things amounted to something, meant something, but to Will the answer she gave held none of this, "and what makes ye think that?"
"Oh come on Juli, Elizabeth and I saw the two of you walking up here tonight."
Julianne made no reply, only raised her eyebrows tempting Will to go further.
"I heard Jack propose to you", he said firmly, as though he had won some kind of argument.
"Is that all?" Julianne asked with a laugh. "Will if I 'ad a dollar for every time Jack asked me to marry 'im, I could damn near give up pirating and live off that money for the rest of me life."
For this, Will had no response. After stuttering a bit, thinking something to say, he spoke up. "Sorry. It's just that I know Jack, and it's not like him to."
"To what? Get drunk and say stupid things? If you think that's out o' the ordinary then you obviously don't know 'im very well Mr. Turna."
"That's not what I meant. What I mean to say is that." Will was interrupted in mid-sentence by the sounding of a loud horn blowing in the distance. Upon hearing the horn, Julianne's eyes widened and she immediately shot out of her chair to look out the window which over-looked the harbor. Almost as soon as she had stood the door to the bedroom flew open and Jack stepped out looking rather disheveled in only a pair of pants and his bandana. He looked questioningly at Julianne, although as far as Will could tell it seemed Jack already knew what she was going to say when she turned around.
"It's the Caligula" she said in a low voice turning. For a moment, neither of them spoke until finally the silence was broken when Elizabeth also came out into the kitchen.
"What's going on?"
"Well what do you think Jules?" Jack asked, ignoring Elizabeth's inquiry.
"I'd say we've got about 10 minutes til e's 'ere", Julianne answered him.
"Whose here?" Will cut in.
"You sure e'll be here?" Jack continued not to notice the Turners.
"Always is..."
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" Elizabeth now demanded too loudly to be ignored again, and receiving a nasty glance from both pirates. Both Jack and Julianne turned and stared at Elizabeth with a mixture of surprise and irritation.
"Miss Turner", Julianne finally answered her quite curtly, "we are expecting a visit from one of the most ruthless pirates to have ever sailed the Caribbean."
"And who would that be?"
"Augustus Cordei."
"Better known as "Cut-throat" Cordei", Jack added with a smirk. At this, Elizabeth's eyes widened in fear. "I've heard of him. He's the one responsible for the massacre at Carsa a few years back."
"He's the one", Jack confirmed.
Elizabeth gaped, quite a contrast to Will's slightly distressed but still calm demeanor. "And why is he coming here", he asked not noticing a look of discomfort wash over Julianne's face.
"Ah ah ah William, you best just be minding yer own business and getting yourself and your lovely wife out of 'arms way, savvy?" Jack ordered.
He and Elizabeth exchanged a confused glance, and after a few moments both retreated to their bedroom, leaving the door cracked slightly open so as to watch.
Jack and Julianne remained standing in the kitchen. Without a word they exchanged a glance and shared a silent understanding. Julianne crossed the room in the direction of the front door where her pistol, sword, and jacket hung. All of these she removed from their place and adorned herself with, including her favorite leather hat. Jack also equipped himself with his affects and stood quietly off to the side. After only a few more minutes the moment they had been waiting for arrived and a loud knocking was heard on the front door. Julianne did not answer, and the banging continued on louder.
"Juli! I know you're 'ome. JULI!" the harsh, deep voice of a man sounded from outside. Still she did not answer and it was apparent that her visitor was not pleased by this. The knocking soon turned into a full assault on the door with shouts mixed in. "JULI!" From the bedroom door crack, Will and Elizabeth thought they caught the faintest smile forming on the face of Captain Amaris as she listened to the disgruntled ruckus outside. The look of amusement quickly passed though when she heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed, and quickly flung open the door.
To his surprise, the blade of Captain Augustus Cordei was met in descent by another as the door to Captain Amaris' house flew open.
"Try calling people by their right name, and you might get a response, Captain", Julianne glared at Cordei with hatred in her eyes.
"Ah Captain Amaris", Cordei began with a triumphant smile, "a pleasure as always."
"What do you want Augustus?"
"Why only to see my favorite pirating captain of course."
"Well why didn't you say so", Jack said mischievously, stepping out into Cordei's view. "I'm right 'ere."
"Sparrow!" Cordei scowled. "What are you doing here?"
"Now, now mate, I don't think you're in any position to be askin' that kinda question."
"Why I oughta.", Cordei raised his sword again and began moving toward Jack.
"Nor do I", Julianne cut him off with her own sword. Slowly, Augustus lowered his sword and took a stop back. "Now, keeping in mind that you are perfectly clear on how I feel about having you in my presence, let's try this again shall we? What are you doing here?"
"I already told you, I'm 'ere to see you."
"Well in that case I guess you'll be on your way then won't you?" Jack cut in with a smile just daring Cordei to go at him again. As expected Cordei succumbed, threw up his sword and rushed forward. This time he did not stop when Julianne's sword met his, but began crossing blades with her still moving towards Jack. "Get out of the way Juli, this is between me and Jack" he yelled at her, swinging his sword with all his might. Despite the fact that he wasn't much of a match for her, Julianne was in no mood to be engaged in a sword fight in the middle of her house. Swinging his blade down and away from her with her left hand, she gave herself enough time to reach down and pull out her gun with her right. Cocking the trigger, she pointed her pistol directly at Cordei's head bringing him to a screeching halt.
"First of all, DO NOT call me Juli. Second of all, Jack is a guest in my house, therefore this does have to do with me. And third of all, you are, in fact, not a guest in my house, nor are you welcome here at all, so I suggest you remove yourself immediately or I'll be forced to put a bullet in your 'ead. Savvy?"
Eyes wide and terrified, Cordei simply nodded, lowered his sword, and sheathed it. Julianne continued to hold him at gun point, and behind her Jack continued to smirk at Augustus, whose eyes narrowed in hatred at the both of them.
"Good, then be off with ye", Julianne continued, motioning to the door with her gun. Begrudgingly, Cordei did as he was instructed, turned and walked for the door. Both Jack and Julianne watched as he made his way down the front walk and away from the house fuming with rage and embarrassment.
As an afterthought, Jack ran toward the door and called out. "Oh and Cordei, you even so much as go near my boat, it'll be the last thing you ever do!"
Minutes later, the house stood silent. Will and Elizabeth slowly opened the door to their room and stepped out without a word, Juli remained motionless where she stood, staring at the ground. Only Jack seemed unphased by the encounter, as he closed the front door and relocked it. Turning around, he sheathed his sword, unclasped the belt that held it to him and threw it on the table and looked at Julianne waiting for her to snap back to it. The moment did not come, and both the Turners watched Jack watching Julianne and waited for some kind of answers.
"Jules", Jack finally said trying to get her attention. Still, she did not respond, but continued to stare at the ground, twirling the handle of her sword in her hand.
"Jules", he said again a little more forcefully putting a hand on her shoulder. This time seemed to pull her out of her daze.
"Well Ms. Turner", she began turning to Will and Elizabeth with narrowed eyes, "you wanted to know what it was like being the only woman captain. Now you know."
Unsure of what to say in response, Elizabeth remained silent and continued to watch as Jack put his other hand on her opposite shoulder and led her into the bedroom.
"Come on luv", he said almost inaudibly, and shut the door.
***
In the next room, Elizabeth and Will lay in bed both wide awake. Rolling over, Elizabeth leaned over looking at Will and asked, "So what do you think the deal is with them?"
"With what?"
"Oh come on Will, don't give me that oblivious act of yours, you know perfectly well what I mean."
"Honestly Lizzie, I don't know why you care so much."
"I just find it interesting that's all. Even you have to admit that the whole situation seems a little out of character for Jack."
"I guess so, but I suppose there's a lot we probably don't know about Jack. We haven't exactly known him for all that long."
"I know, but it still seems strange. Although it is rather charming really."
"How's that?"
"Its nice to see that there's a softer side to Captain Jack Sparrow."
"It is quite amazing that they can make it work under the circumstances", Will agreed.
"Well I wouldn't go that far."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, I mean yes it is amazing all things considered, but I wouldn't exactly call it 'making it work'. Something's missing, you know?"
"They're pirates Lizzie. What do you expect?"
"I know they are, but still that doesn't mean they don't want the same things as everyone else on some level. Just from talking to Julianne, you can just tell, it's as though she torn between what she wants, and what's expected of her. Oh, I can't describe it really. But I'd be willing to bet that she really loves Jack, and it must hurt on some level the way things are."
"How do you figure, she's practically got him wrapped around her little finger. Honestly, I didn't think it was possible for Jack to ever be anything other than in total control. I think he actually respects her, and the fact that she's a woman, and not just another one of his women, well that almost blows my mind."
"But that's just the point I'm trying to make Will. There are still other women, and I think it absolutely kills her."
"And you think there aren't other men?"
"Oh I'm sure there have been, but I hardly think it's quite as many. The thing is, it's not just her who wants more from him, I think he probably loves her too. They both want commitment from other person, but are too bound by their way of life to ask for it."
"My god woman, you got all of that from spending 5 days with them?"
"Of course I did, I'm a woman, we pick up on these things."
"Well I don't know about any other women, but if you're so good on picking up what people want, how about you pick up on what I want right now", he replied pulling her on top of him.
"Well, figuring you out isn't much of a challenge, that's for sure", she answered with a laugh and a kiss.