Now then, jackfan2, the double chapter is for you, so you don't get a voice
shouting 'PSYCH!' when the Author Alert pipes up! See, I do remember what
people put in the reviews! Sorry . . .the point of A/N is to say that
apparently the dear commodore is named in a cutscene, so I decided to used
the canon name rather than be bothered to make one up. Okay? Onto the story
. . .
*~*~*
The ocean sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, casting a glittering shadow across the bay. Jack gazed out at the ship, rolling gently in the tiny swells that swept the water. The talk had continued well into the early hours, once young Dugan had been sent down to the fort to inform them that the commodore would be staying the night at Governor's House. In fact, the planning was only postponed when the governor himself rolled gently off his chair, jolting himself awake. The laughter that had ensued had reminded Norrington of his injury, and the other's of Marin's, and so they had sent one another to bed, resolving to continue the planning later that day.
Not one to sleep for many hours at a time, Jack had woken at around one o'clock, content to sit and watch the world go by until the others roused themselves. He could hear someone coming up behind him, the light steps telling him that it was a seaman.
'Afternoon,' he greeted Marin as she lowered herself to the ground beside him, wincing slightly at her sore limbs.
'And you,' she replied with a smile that drew an echo of it out onto his own face.
'How are you this fine day?' he asked cheerfully.
She grimaced, her expression comical.
'Stiff,' she told him. 'Very confused.'
Jack nodded, his gaze once again finding the harbour below as he unconsciously slid closer to her.
'Must be a lot to take in,' he murmured, exerting a huge amount of self-control on himself to restrain the impulse to kiss her.
Marin sighed softly, letting herself lean into him as her hair fell about her face, hiding the flush on her cheeks from his proximity.
'Almost too much,' she agreed. 'To find out that Elias and the commodore are my cousins; worse, that Danielson is of my blood. And that my father's locket is part of a key to a stockpile of treasure on an island off Cape Horn . . . it's so surreal.'
He laughed quietly, wrapping an arm about her shoulders.
'I can imagine, love,' he sighed. 'Not something I'd like to discover about myself. Mind you, if any British officer was related to me, I think I'd shoot myself. Or him.'
As he had hoped, Marin giggled, turning to let him see the smile that lit up her face. He grinned, pleased that he had drawn such a cheery expression from her. It hadn't seemed as odd as he had thought it might to do so.
There was a groan behind them, and they both turned to watch as Commodore Norrington all but staggered out the front door, one hand pressed to his side. He leant heavily against the doorframe, seeming to breathe deeply of the clean air. As he ran a hand through his short cropped hair, Jack glanced between him and the girl sat by his side, seeing similarities he would never have thought to look for had they not been revealed as cousins.
The shape of their eyes was the most striking, though they were alike in many different ways. The more Jack thought on it, the more he found himself comparing them to Elias, and finding those same similarities in him. There was no doubt in his mind that they were definitely family, though no one would guess who didn't already know.
Marin suddenly leapt to her feet, hurrying to the house. He turned back to the commodore to see the naval officer sagged against the stone wall, obviously lacking the strength to remain on his feet. Jack hauled himself upright, laughing as Marin yanked Norrington from his half-seated position, ignoring his loud protests. The pirate moved to help her, lifting the stricken officer to his feet a little more gently than Marin had.
'I assure you, Sparrow, I am in no need of your assistance,' the commodore muttered, his actions contradicting him as he leant heavily on Jack's arm.
The pirate captain chuckled to himself.
'Ah, you see, I know that, mate,' he said cheerfully. 'But as you came out, I suddenly realised I don't have the strength to carry myself, and since I can't lean on the lady here, for obvious reasons, you seemed the logical choice.'
Norrington held his gaze for a long moment, clearly duelling within himself as to whether to accept the flimsy excuse offered to him. He glanced at Marin, who was fighting to contain her laughter at the ridiculous situation, and appeared to come to a decision.
'Very well, Sparrow,' he conceded. 'Since you appear to find yourself so weak, I shall escort you to the drawing room.'
'Most kind,' Jack murmured, grinning down at Marin as she had to turn her back on them.
He drew Norrington's arm across his shoulders, pulling the commodore upright.
'And it's Captain Sparrow,' he added.
All he received in answer was a pained grimace as they made their slow way back though the house, Marin hurrying ahead to open the doors and send Jonathan for some coffee for the commodore. There were sounds of movement above them, signalling the waking of those others who still lay abed. With a heartfelt sigh of relief, Norrington slid into an armchair, his head lolling back on the cushions gratefully.
Jack threw himself down on the sofa, making space for Marin to fold up beside him, her head on his shoulder as she curled her feet under her on the rich cloth. They heard Will accost Jonathan outside the door, talking to the old manservant gently. After a few minutes, the door opened and he stepped inside, handing Norrington his coffee as he bestowed good mornings on them.
'Commodore, your surgeon, O'Reilly, will be coming up again this afternoon,' he said quietly, loath to break into the easy silence that surrounded the three. 'Apparently he doesn't approve of your excursion last night.'
Norrington snorted.
'He doesn't approve of anything I do, especially when I'm injured,' he muttered, pleased when Marin chuckled at his tone.
'That's sounds a lot like Elias with me,' she told him. 'Except I don't need to be injured for him to treat me like a child.'
The commodore caught the look that passed between his cousin and the pirate at her side, once again reaffirming to himself the distinct possibility that he was going to live a life of bachelorhood through no fault of his own.
'You are very close to Elias, aren't you?' he asked softly, forcing his thoughts away from such a depressing topic.
Marin smiled faintly, her eyes shining with love for the older man.
'Yes, I am, commodore,' she said fondly. 'He's the only father I've ever known. He saved my life when I was very young, and I've been with him ever since. Of course, he has his faults, but he wouldn't be Elias without them.'
Norrington smiled faintly, seeing the deep affection within her as she thought back on her life with the infamous pirate. He couldn't help but feel slightly envious of her obvious attachment to the man who had, to all intents and purposes, been her father. His own father had regarded him with distaste, never approving of his decision to enter the Navy. The old man had certainly never understood the allure the sea held for his only son. Norrington would have given much to be able to speak of his father with even a fraction of the easy affection that Marin felt when she spoke of her piratical family.
He sighed softly, leaning forward to take her hand.
'Well, since we seem to be family, I see no reason for you to continue calling me commodore,' he said gently. 'My name is James, and I would be happy if you would use it, cousin.'
Marin smiled, pleased with this show of trust. The warm way he said cousin made her happy to accept him as a part of her family, convinced now that he was not the cold distant man everyone said he was.
'Of course I will, James,' she said easily. 'And I don't answer to anything other than plain Marin unless I concentrate, so I'm afraid you have no choice but to use mine.'
There was a shout from the landing above the hall, echoing through the old house.
'Will?'
Frowning in concern, Will leapt to his feet, hurrying out to see what Elizabeth wanted. She was leant against the wall, one hand on her bump and her face a mask of pain. He ran up to her, fearing the worst as his eyes searched her body for any sign of injury.
'What's wrong?' he asked anxiously, his worry heightened when she didn't answer straight away. 'Elizabeth?'
With a low groan, she opened her eyes with a faint smile, feeling a little guilty for panicking him so. She reached out to him, letting her husband walk her gently back to their chamber. Sinking back against the pillows, she sighed wearily.
'Will, I want you to do something for me, and I don't want you to panic,' she told him, squeezing his hand gently.
'Anything, love,' he said softly, brushing her hair off her face tenderly.
Elizabeth smiled at his eagerness, shifting slightly as she sought a more comfortable position.
'I want you to fetch the midwife,' she said, her eyes widening as the blood left his face abruptly.
Will swayed, shocked to the core by what she had just told him. His hand stayed to her bump, where the child was unusually inactive.
'It's happening?' he asked, his tone almost frightened. 'Now?'
She nodded, a gentle expression settling on her features. Will echoed the nod, stumbling out into the hallway without any actual idea of what he was doing. He thudded down to the entry hall, falling back onto the stairs with his head in his hands. Alarmed, the three sitting together in the drawing room came to the door.
'Will, what's wrong?' Marin asked him, concerned for her friend.
He stared up at her blindly, barely able to get the words out.
'The baby . . .' he managed, before slumping forward with his head once again held in his hands.
Marin frowned, not understanding, as the two men standing behind her exchanged a look over her head. Jack patted Will gently on the head.
'Congratulations, mate,' he said quietly, carefully lowering James onto the stair beside the younger pirate. He turned to Marin. 'You're needed upstairs.'
Still unaware of what was actually happening, she paused, resisting his hand as he tried to usher her up the staircase. Jack sighed impatiently.
'Love, what are you here for?' he asked her in exasperation, nodding as comprehension dawned on her face. 'Exactly.'
As she hurried up the steps, Jack wandered down the hallway towards the kitchen, barely hearing James call for Jonathan. He slipped into the deserted kitchen, finding who he was looking for curled up under one of the tables. Gently, he shook Dugan awake.
'What is it you'd be needing, cap'n?' the little lad asked sleepily, almost before he'd opened his eyes.
Jack grinned down at the obedient expression.
'I need you to go and get the midwife,' he told the young boy.
Dugan whistled appreciatively, nodding in understanding.
'Miss Elizabeth having her babbie, then, aye?'
Jack nodded, pulling him to his feet.
'Aye, and I can't trust Master William to even walk in a straight line, let alone find the right woman for his needs,' he said, his voice thick with suppressed amusement.
Dugan, however, had no such compulsion and laughed loudly.
'Aye, then, cap'n, one midwife coming up,' he promised cheerfully, slipping past Jack and out the kitchen door.
Trying to wipe the grin off his face, Jack made his way back to the stairs, where James had procured a large glass of brandy and was encouraging Will to drink it down. They exchanged a hopeless look, knowing it was up to them to keep him from underfoot that day. Jack hauled Will to his feet, shoving him into the drawing room when it became clear he could hardly move without prompting. Settling the younger man in an armchair, he slipped back out into the hall to let the commodore 'escort' him back to Will's side with a sigh. It was going to be a long afternoon.
*~*~*
The ocean sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, casting a glittering shadow across the bay. Jack gazed out at the ship, rolling gently in the tiny swells that swept the water. The talk had continued well into the early hours, once young Dugan had been sent down to the fort to inform them that the commodore would be staying the night at Governor's House. In fact, the planning was only postponed when the governor himself rolled gently off his chair, jolting himself awake. The laughter that had ensued had reminded Norrington of his injury, and the other's of Marin's, and so they had sent one another to bed, resolving to continue the planning later that day.
Not one to sleep for many hours at a time, Jack had woken at around one o'clock, content to sit and watch the world go by until the others roused themselves. He could hear someone coming up behind him, the light steps telling him that it was a seaman.
'Afternoon,' he greeted Marin as she lowered herself to the ground beside him, wincing slightly at her sore limbs.
'And you,' she replied with a smile that drew an echo of it out onto his own face.
'How are you this fine day?' he asked cheerfully.
She grimaced, her expression comical.
'Stiff,' she told him. 'Very confused.'
Jack nodded, his gaze once again finding the harbour below as he unconsciously slid closer to her.
'Must be a lot to take in,' he murmured, exerting a huge amount of self-control on himself to restrain the impulse to kiss her.
Marin sighed softly, letting herself lean into him as her hair fell about her face, hiding the flush on her cheeks from his proximity.
'Almost too much,' she agreed. 'To find out that Elias and the commodore are my cousins; worse, that Danielson is of my blood. And that my father's locket is part of a key to a stockpile of treasure on an island off Cape Horn . . . it's so surreal.'
He laughed quietly, wrapping an arm about her shoulders.
'I can imagine, love,' he sighed. 'Not something I'd like to discover about myself. Mind you, if any British officer was related to me, I think I'd shoot myself. Or him.'
As he had hoped, Marin giggled, turning to let him see the smile that lit up her face. He grinned, pleased that he had drawn such a cheery expression from her. It hadn't seemed as odd as he had thought it might to do so.
There was a groan behind them, and they both turned to watch as Commodore Norrington all but staggered out the front door, one hand pressed to his side. He leant heavily against the doorframe, seeming to breathe deeply of the clean air. As he ran a hand through his short cropped hair, Jack glanced between him and the girl sat by his side, seeing similarities he would never have thought to look for had they not been revealed as cousins.
The shape of their eyes was the most striking, though they were alike in many different ways. The more Jack thought on it, the more he found himself comparing them to Elias, and finding those same similarities in him. There was no doubt in his mind that they were definitely family, though no one would guess who didn't already know.
Marin suddenly leapt to her feet, hurrying to the house. He turned back to the commodore to see the naval officer sagged against the stone wall, obviously lacking the strength to remain on his feet. Jack hauled himself upright, laughing as Marin yanked Norrington from his half-seated position, ignoring his loud protests. The pirate moved to help her, lifting the stricken officer to his feet a little more gently than Marin had.
'I assure you, Sparrow, I am in no need of your assistance,' the commodore muttered, his actions contradicting him as he leant heavily on Jack's arm.
The pirate captain chuckled to himself.
'Ah, you see, I know that, mate,' he said cheerfully. 'But as you came out, I suddenly realised I don't have the strength to carry myself, and since I can't lean on the lady here, for obvious reasons, you seemed the logical choice.'
Norrington held his gaze for a long moment, clearly duelling within himself as to whether to accept the flimsy excuse offered to him. He glanced at Marin, who was fighting to contain her laughter at the ridiculous situation, and appeared to come to a decision.
'Very well, Sparrow,' he conceded. 'Since you appear to find yourself so weak, I shall escort you to the drawing room.'
'Most kind,' Jack murmured, grinning down at Marin as she had to turn her back on them.
He drew Norrington's arm across his shoulders, pulling the commodore upright.
'And it's Captain Sparrow,' he added.
All he received in answer was a pained grimace as they made their slow way back though the house, Marin hurrying ahead to open the doors and send Jonathan for some coffee for the commodore. There were sounds of movement above them, signalling the waking of those others who still lay abed. With a heartfelt sigh of relief, Norrington slid into an armchair, his head lolling back on the cushions gratefully.
Jack threw himself down on the sofa, making space for Marin to fold up beside him, her head on his shoulder as she curled her feet under her on the rich cloth. They heard Will accost Jonathan outside the door, talking to the old manservant gently. After a few minutes, the door opened and he stepped inside, handing Norrington his coffee as he bestowed good mornings on them.
'Commodore, your surgeon, O'Reilly, will be coming up again this afternoon,' he said quietly, loath to break into the easy silence that surrounded the three. 'Apparently he doesn't approve of your excursion last night.'
Norrington snorted.
'He doesn't approve of anything I do, especially when I'm injured,' he muttered, pleased when Marin chuckled at his tone.
'That's sounds a lot like Elias with me,' she told him. 'Except I don't need to be injured for him to treat me like a child.'
The commodore caught the look that passed between his cousin and the pirate at her side, once again reaffirming to himself the distinct possibility that he was going to live a life of bachelorhood through no fault of his own.
'You are very close to Elias, aren't you?' he asked softly, forcing his thoughts away from such a depressing topic.
Marin smiled faintly, her eyes shining with love for the older man.
'Yes, I am, commodore,' she said fondly. 'He's the only father I've ever known. He saved my life when I was very young, and I've been with him ever since. Of course, he has his faults, but he wouldn't be Elias without them.'
Norrington smiled faintly, seeing the deep affection within her as she thought back on her life with the infamous pirate. He couldn't help but feel slightly envious of her obvious attachment to the man who had, to all intents and purposes, been her father. His own father had regarded him with distaste, never approving of his decision to enter the Navy. The old man had certainly never understood the allure the sea held for his only son. Norrington would have given much to be able to speak of his father with even a fraction of the easy affection that Marin felt when she spoke of her piratical family.
He sighed softly, leaning forward to take her hand.
'Well, since we seem to be family, I see no reason for you to continue calling me commodore,' he said gently. 'My name is James, and I would be happy if you would use it, cousin.'
Marin smiled, pleased with this show of trust. The warm way he said cousin made her happy to accept him as a part of her family, convinced now that he was not the cold distant man everyone said he was.
'Of course I will, James,' she said easily. 'And I don't answer to anything other than plain Marin unless I concentrate, so I'm afraid you have no choice but to use mine.'
There was a shout from the landing above the hall, echoing through the old house.
'Will?'
Frowning in concern, Will leapt to his feet, hurrying out to see what Elizabeth wanted. She was leant against the wall, one hand on her bump and her face a mask of pain. He ran up to her, fearing the worst as his eyes searched her body for any sign of injury.
'What's wrong?' he asked anxiously, his worry heightened when she didn't answer straight away. 'Elizabeth?'
With a low groan, she opened her eyes with a faint smile, feeling a little guilty for panicking him so. She reached out to him, letting her husband walk her gently back to their chamber. Sinking back against the pillows, she sighed wearily.
'Will, I want you to do something for me, and I don't want you to panic,' she told him, squeezing his hand gently.
'Anything, love,' he said softly, brushing her hair off her face tenderly.
Elizabeth smiled at his eagerness, shifting slightly as she sought a more comfortable position.
'I want you to fetch the midwife,' she said, her eyes widening as the blood left his face abruptly.
Will swayed, shocked to the core by what she had just told him. His hand stayed to her bump, where the child was unusually inactive.
'It's happening?' he asked, his tone almost frightened. 'Now?'
She nodded, a gentle expression settling on her features. Will echoed the nod, stumbling out into the hallway without any actual idea of what he was doing. He thudded down to the entry hall, falling back onto the stairs with his head in his hands. Alarmed, the three sitting together in the drawing room came to the door.
'Will, what's wrong?' Marin asked him, concerned for her friend.
He stared up at her blindly, barely able to get the words out.
'The baby . . .' he managed, before slumping forward with his head once again held in his hands.
Marin frowned, not understanding, as the two men standing behind her exchanged a look over her head. Jack patted Will gently on the head.
'Congratulations, mate,' he said quietly, carefully lowering James onto the stair beside the younger pirate. He turned to Marin. 'You're needed upstairs.'
Still unaware of what was actually happening, she paused, resisting his hand as he tried to usher her up the staircase. Jack sighed impatiently.
'Love, what are you here for?' he asked her in exasperation, nodding as comprehension dawned on her face. 'Exactly.'
As she hurried up the steps, Jack wandered down the hallway towards the kitchen, barely hearing James call for Jonathan. He slipped into the deserted kitchen, finding who he was looking for curled up under one of the tables. Gently, he shook Dugan awake.
'What is it you'd be needing, cap'n?' the little lad asked sleepily, almost before he'd opened his eyes.
Jack grinned down at the obedient expression.
'I need you to go and get the midwife,' he told the young boy.
Dugan whistled appreciatively, nodding in understanding.
'Miss Elizabeth having her babbie, then, aye?'
Jack nodded, pulling him to his feet.
'Aye, and I can't trust Master William to even walk in a straight line, let alone find the right woman for his needs,' he said, his voice thick with suppressed amusement.
Dugan, however, had no such compulsion and laughed loudly.
'Aye, then, cap'n, one midwife coming up,' he promised cheerfully, slipping past Jack and out the kitchen door.
Trying to wipe the grin off his face, Jack made his way back to the stairs, where James had procured a large glass of brandy and was encouraging Will to drink it down. They exchanged a hopeless look, knowing it was up to them to keep him from underfoot that day. Jack hauled Will to his feet, shoving him into the drawing room when it became clear he could hardly move without prompting. Settling the younger man in an armchair, he slipped back out into the hall to let the commodore 'escort' him back to Will's side with a sigh. It was going to be a long afternoon.