Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 73 - A Second Wedding

Year 5 - Early September

A week later Jack, Catherine, Theodore and Edmund Groves stood quietly in the chapel, waiting for the minister to begin the ceremony. Catherine was dressed in a beautiful pearl-beaded cream dress that she had had a seamstress make especially, once again wearing the ruby heart attached to her pearl necklace. A lacy shawl was draped around her shoulders, shielding her still healing wound from prying eyes. Jack was pleased that the cuts and bruises on her face had faded, thinking she looked more beautiful than ever, but grief for Zeke still haunted her eyes. He had been her truest friend as well as her shadow.

"We are gathered here," the minister began, "to celebrate the marriage of Jack Sparrow to Catherine Reyes with the formal ceremony of the giving of rings. These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken."

Jack wished that the man would just get on with it.

The minister continued. "Now, if you will repeat after me… I Jack, take you Catherine, to be my wedded wife…"

Jack squeezed her hand, smiling. "I Jack, take you Catherine, to be my wedded wife…"

"To have and to hold from this day forward…" the minister droned.

"To have an' t' hold from this day forward…". Oh, he fully intended to hold her once the ceremony was complete.

"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer…" he intoned.

"For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer…" Jack repeated, determined that Catherine would be only better and richer from now on.

"In sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part…" the man said, frowning as Jack paused briefly before speaking.

"In sickness or in 'ealth, to love an' t' cherish 'till death do us part…" He slowly said, squeezing her hand again, remembering how close they had come to the last part of the vow.

"And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness," the minister ended.

"And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness." The memory of Catherine standing bloodied on deck drove any additional comments from his mind. He knew he could never be unfaithful, she was his everything now.

The minister smiled as he turned to Catherine. "And now you Catherine, repeat after me… I Catherine, take you Jack, to be my wedded husband…"

Her voice was level and calm, but she looked at her father defiantly. "I Catherine, take you Jack to be my wedded husband…"

Jack stared at her face, memorising each contour, as she repeated the same vows. Theodore passed the rings that they had given him earlier to the minister. The rings were exchanged and then he wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her.

They walked together down to the docks where the two ships sat at anchor. Catherine hugged her brother goodbye as Jack took Edmund quietly to one side. "Are yer happy now then, mate?" he pressed.

"I am not happy, but I will accept it," Edmund sighed. "I still think she could do far better than a pirate."

Jack shrugged. "P'raps, but she's made her choice twice now - an' it's only made us stronger - savvy?" He smiled as he saw Catherine walking back towards them.

"Keep safe Catherine." Edmund Groves kissed his daughter and hugged her tightly before climbing down into one of the two ship's boats tied to the jetty. Theodore took up the oars and started rowing towards the HMS Gauntlet.

"Well Mistress Sparrow," Jack drawled. "I guess we'd better get you home." He glanced across at the Black Pearl, her repairs nearly completed. In a day or so they would be able to leave, heading south, following the map. He helped her into the remaining boat, clambering down behind her.

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Catherine sat in on the crew meeting that Jack called early that evening. The Black Pearl always voted on important decisions, from captain to cabin boy, and he did not want to leave them with any false illusions of what they faced.

"Men, and my lady", Jack bowed to her slightly in deference, making the gathered crew laugh, "Let's say we can assume that every ship 'tween here an' Singapore know we have th' map. An' we already know some will kill t' get it. We have two choices t' vote on. Firstly, do we take on more crew? We could do with twenty or thirty more men - but we won't know if we can trust 'em. Secondly, we will probably face more ships flying th' red… do we fight or flee? Gibbs?" He looked to his quartermaster, eyebrow raised as he waited for him to speak.

"We can cope with the men we have Cap'n - but might be pressed in a fight. We cannot afford to lose more men. I vote to take on more, but carefully - not from Tortuga, an' of course we bloody fight!" Joshamee thumped his hand on the ship's rail for emphasis.

Jack sat and heard out the remaining crew that wished to speak. "Kitty?" All eyes turned to her, sitting next to him, still in her beautiful beaded dress. They knew she might be the last to speak, but she was certainly not the least crew member – not after the way she had fought through the reds. She smiled at Jack, knowing that they would get no private time together to celebrate their second wedding until later that night.

"I think the crew have already decided, Jack. Vote is in for more men and you know we will fight - we are the Black Pearl after all!" Murmurs of agreement echoed from the crew.

Jack nodded. "All right. Gibbs, start recruiting - no more than five men from each port… quietly and carefully though. Even the slightest doubt and you turn them down."

The quartermaster nodded. "I'll start later tonight Cap'n, when the taverns are full." He winked to some of the pirates that were standing near the galley. "The crew have prepared a special meal tonight, for Kitty…" Several pirates pulled musical instruments from various hiding places, starting to play. "An' we couldn't pass up on a night of dancing when you're wearing such a pretty dress… could we?"

Joshamee offered her his hand, but Jack batted it away. "My wife, mate, so I get first dance!"