(disclaimer and notes in 1st chapter)
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Many miles away, Will Turner, former blacksmith and betrothed of Elizabeth Swann, stood at the helm of the Black Pearl and gazed out at the dark waters of the Caribbean sea.
"Mayhap certain first mates of certain famed pirate ships have found their duties lacking as of late," came a drawling voice from behind him, "but there are certain pirate captains who have a long day ahead and need their beauty sleep, savvy?"
"I'm sorry," said Will without turning around. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Jack Sparrow sighed. "You know I can't sleep when you get up to wander, lad." His lean arms went around Will's waist and tightened gingerly.
Leaning back into his captain's embrace, Will replied, "I'll come back to bed in a minute."
A coarse black mustache nuzzled at his cheek. "All will be forgiven if you'll tell me what's troubling you."
"Nothing," Will insisted. "Just couldn't sleep, that's all."
Jack held his tongue for a moment, but he could never last long at that. "You miss her, don't you?"
"Miss who?" said Will, feigning ignorance and getting a pinch on the hip for his troubles. He was a terrible liar, and he knew it.
"Your bonny lass, that's who."
"I do miss Elizabeth. And I still feel guilty for leaving her."
"She wanted you to, though," Jack reminded him gently. "She gave you her blessing. Don't forget that part."
"I know," said Will. "But it's strange, to go so long without seeing her when she's been part of my life for years.
One callused hand crept under Will's shirt to cover the freshly bleeding wound beneath his ribs. "This lovely needs a new bandage," Jack said. "Come inside and I'll do you up." As Will turned to follow him back to their cabin, he added nonchalantly over his shoulder, "Might as well pull into a port for a few days. You're not going to be much good to me anyhow, all cut up as you are."
The injury twinged in protest as Will stepped quickly in front of Jack.
"Jack," he warned, "it would be very unsafe to go to Port Royal. You know that."
"Aye, I know it," said Jack with a conciliatory nod. "But I also know this: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, and I'm taking you home for a little while."
Will smiled. "Grateful as I am," he murmured, kissing him, "this ship's home to me now. And you."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well of course the Pearl's my home, she's *my* ship." He ducked into the cabin before Will had a chance to correct him, which, Will thought, was really all for the best. Jack was not overly sentimental – at least, not until you could get him inebriated to a degree that would kill a small horse.
They could definitely do to boost the Pearl's liquor supply while they were in Port Royal.
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Many miles away, Will Turner, former blacksmith and betrothed of Elizabeth Swann, stood at the helm of the Black Pearl and gazed out at the dark waters of the Caribbean sea.
"Mayhap certain first mates of certain famed pirate ships have found their duties lacking as of late," came a drawling voice from behind him, "but there are certain pirate captains who have a long day ahead and need their beauty sleep, savvy?"
"I'm sorry," said Will without turning around. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Jack Sparrow sighed. "You know I can't sleep when you get up to wander, lad." His lean arms went around Will's waist and tightened gingerly.
Leaning back into his captain's embrace, Will replied, "I'll come back to bed in a minute."
A coarse black mustache nuzzled at his cheek. "All will be forgiven if you'll tell me what's troubling you."
"Nothing," Will insisted. "Just couldn't sleep, that's all."
Jack held his tongue for a moment, but he could never last long at that. "You miss her, don't you?"
"Miss who?" said Will, feigning ignorance and getting a pinch on the hip for his troubles. He was a terrible liar, and he knew it.
"Your bonny lass, that's who."
"I do miss Elizabeth. And I still feel guilty for leaving her."
"She wanted you to, though," Jack reminded him gently. "She gave you her blessing. Don't forget that part."
"I know," said Will. "But it's strange, to go so long without seeing her when she's been part of my life for years.
One callused hand crept under Will's shirt to cover the freshly bleeding wound beneath his ribs. "This lovely needs a new bandage," Jack said. "Come inside and I'll do you up." As Will turned to follow him back to their cabin, he added nonchalantly over his shoulder, "Might as well pull into a port for a few days. You're not going to be much good to me anyhow, all cut up as you are."
The injury twinged in protest as Will stepped quickly in front of Jack.
"Jack," he warned, "it would be very unsafe to go to Port Royal. You know that."
"Aye, I know it," said Jack with a conciliatory nod. "But I also know this: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, and I'm taking you home for a little while."
Will smiled. "Grateful as I am," he murmured, kissing him, "this ship's home to me now. And you."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well of course the Pearl's my home, she's *my* ship." He ducked into the cabin before Will had a chance to correct him, which, Will thought, was really all for the best. Jack was not overly sentimental – at least, not until you could get him inebriated to a degree that would kill a small horse.
They could definitely do to boost the Pearl's liquor supply while they were in Port Royal.
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