Usual disclaimers. blah!
This is the last chapter I am posting tonight. it is late and I have nothing more typed. sorry! Hopefully the housework won't get in the way tomorrow and I will get something more uploaded by the end of the weekend.
***
Mid November
On the evening before they were due to arrive in Port Royal, Jack climbed up to the crows nest to talk to Catherine. She had slept up there every night, refusing to even enter the cabin. "Kitty, can we talk - please?"
"I think we have already said everything Jack," she replied sadly.
"Dammit Kitty, I want yer t' stay! The crew want yer t' stay!"
"I cannot Jack. I thought I was crew but it seems I'm only that when it suits you." She turned to look at him miserably, her lip so bitten over the last week and a half that it had started to bleed. "I cannot live like that Jack."
"But."
"You cannot protect me all of the time! I need to make my own decisions. even if you think them wrong!"
Jack took a deep breath, knowing that the wrong words could destroy their marriage beyond any hope of repair. "So what is your decision Kitty?" he asked quietly.
"I want to stay ashore.."
"I'll."
"Alone Jack." She smiled weakly. "At least for now." She reached across, touching his hand gently.
Jack smiled realising that perhaps all had not been lost. Balancing precariously, he offered her is arms, holding her tightly to him as she started to cry. "Will yer at least come back to th' cabin tonight? Please?" Sniffing she nodded.
Jack helped her down from the crow's nest, still holding her hand. He locked the cabin door behind them. "I love yer, yer know!" he whispered, kissing her on the top of her head.
"You've never said that before." She looked up at him, still crying.
"I."
"No, you've called me love, referred to me as your love, but you've never actually said that you love me Jack Sparrow!"
He smiled wryly. "P'raps I should say it a bit more often like?" He wiped a tear away with this thumb. "For I do love yer Kitty, very much."
She smiled, standing on tip-toe to kiss him. "I think that is enough talking Jack Sparrow!" Her kisses gained intensity as she bumped backwards against the bunk.
He did not argue, his hands eagerly undressing her as he whispered things no righteous pirate would ever admit to - if they wanted to walk in Tortuga again. He held her close, gradually kissing from her ear to her navel and back again. "Please stay," he whispered.
She smiled sadly up at him. "I cannot for now Jack. give me a month, please. I need to know in my mind where I belong."
"You belong here luv - in this bunk on this ship!" Jack sighed knowing what his decision had to be if he wanted to keep her aboard the Black Pearl. "I'll come for you at Christmas - as a crew member as well as my wife!"
"No strings?" Her eyes stared into his, searching for any sign of deceit as she chewed her lip.
He shook his head. "No strings, an' no brig either, ever again - I promise." He stroked her cheek. "But never blame me for wantin' t' keep you safe, please. I've nearly lost you too often luv!"
She smiled sleepily, the first real smile he had seen for over two weeks. Cuddling against him she fell asleep, her breath tickling his chest. He held her tightly, knowing tomorrow that he would have to let her go, unable to show his emotions in front of the crew. "Happy Anniversary luv," he whispered, even though she could not hear him.
***
The next morning, those going ashore gathered on the deck. Jack held Catherine tightly, reluctant to let her go even for the agreed month. "I'll miss yer," he whispered, ensuring the crew could not hear. "And I do love you, remember that!"
She smiled, standing on tip-toe to kiss him. "And I love you too Jack Sparrow!" A chorus of raucous catcalls echoed round the ship, even though the crew was relieved to see the two of them make up.
"You know after two days you'll be desperate t' come back," he smiled. "Yer don't belong on dry land luv!"
"Sometimes it can be good to be reminded of why you hate something. even dry land!" She smiled up at him. "I'll miss you."
"Cat! Are you ready?" Theodore and the marines were ready to go ashore, sitting patiently in the ship's boats.
Jack reluctantly helped her down into waiting boat. "See you at Christmas!"
She smiled up at him as he leaned over the rail, realising that she was already missing him. "I'll be waiting!"
***
Happier Starlight8?
This is the last chapter I am posting tonight. it is late and I have nothing more typed. sorry! Hopefully the housework won't get in the way tomorrow and I will get something more uploaded by the end of the weekend.
***
Mid November
On the evening before they were due to arrive in Port Royal, Jack climbed up to the crows nest to talk to Catherine. She had slept up there every night, refusing to even enter the cabin. "Kitty, can we talk - please?"
"I think we have already said everything Jack," she replied sadly.
"Dammit Kitty, I want yer t' stay! The crew want yer t' stay!"
"I cannot Jack. I thought I was crew but it seems I'm only that when it suits you." She turned to look at him miserably, her lip so bitten over the last week and a half that it had started to bleed. "I cannot live like that Jack."
"But."
"You cannot protect me all of the time! I need to make my own decisions. even if you think them wrong!"
Jack took a deep breath, knowing that the wrong words could destroy their marriage beyond any hope of repair. "So what is your decision Kitty?" he asked quietly.
"I want to stay ashore.."
"I'll."
"Alone Jack." She smiled weakly. "At least for now." She reached across, touching his hand gently.
Jack smiled realising that perhaps all had not been lost. Balancing precariously, he offered her is arms, holding her tightly to him as she started to cry. "Will yer at least come back to th' cabin tonight? Please?" Sniffing she nodded.
Jack helped her down from the crow's nest, still holding her hand. He locked the cabin door behind them. "I love yer, yer know!" he whispered, kissing her on the top of her head.
"You've never said that before." She looked up at him, still crying.
"I."
"No, you've called me love, referred to me as your love, but you've never actually said that you love me Jack Sparrow!"
He smiled wryly. "P'raps I should say it a bit more often like?" He wiped a tear away with this thumb. "For I do love yer Kitty, very much."
She smiled, standing on tip-toe to kiss him. "I think that is enough talking Jack Sparrow!" Her kisses gained intensity as she bumped backwards against the bunk.
He did not argue, his hands eagerly undressing her as he whispered things no righteous pirate would ever admit to - if they wanted to walk in Tortuga again. He held her close, gradually kissing from her ear to her navel and back again. "Please stay," he whispered.
She smiled sadly up at him. "I cannot for now Jack. give me a month, please. I need to know in my mind where I belong."
"You belong here luv - in this bunk on this ship!" Jack sighed knowing what his decision had to be if he wanted to keep her aboard the Black Pearl. "I'll come for you at Christmas - as a crew member as well as my wife!"
"No strings?" Her eyes stared into his, searching for any sign of deceit as she chewed her lip.
He shook his head. "No strings, an' no brig either, ever again - I promise." He stroked her cheek. "But never blame me for wantin' t' keep you safe, please. I've nearly lost you too often luv!"
She smiled sleepily, the first real smile he had seen for over two weeks. Cuddling against him she fell asleep, her breath tickling his chest. He held her tightly, knowing tomorrow that he would have to let her go, unable to show his emotions in front of the crew. "Happy Anniversary luv," he whispered, even though she could not hear him.
***
The next morning, those going ashore gathered on the deck. Jack held Catherine tightly, reluctant to let her go even for the agreed month. "I'll miss yer," he whispered, ensuring the crew could not hear. "And I do love you, remember that!"
She smiled, standing on tip-toe to kiss him. "And I love you too Jack Sparrow!" A chorus of raucous catcalls echoed round the ship, even though the crew was relieved to see the two of them make up.
"You know after two days you'll be desperate t' come back," he smiled. "Yer don't belong on dry land luv!"
"Sometimes it can be good to be reminded of why you hate something. even dry land!" She smiled up at him. "I'll miss you."
"Cat! Are you ready?" Theodore and the marines were ready to go ashore, sitting patiently in the ship's boats.
Jack reluctantly helped her down into waiting boat. "See you at Christmas!"
She smiled up at him as he leaned over the rail, realising that she was already missing him. "I'll be waiting!"
***
Happier Starlight8?