Usual disclaimers. blah!
***
Jack rowed quickly across the harbour and tied his small boat up at the dock. He had permitted only the senior crew ashore to purchase necessary supplies and left Oran in charge onboard. Catherine had been warned that any thoughts of leaving the ship would see her in the brig - and she was well aware that Oran would not hesitate to do so. He'd left her playing with the girls in the cabin for he had places to go, people to see, wheels to turn within wheels. His first mission had been successful and now he was heading towards the smithy to see Will. He pushed open the door carefully, mindful of the gap and his friend's tendency to attack him with his latest sword in lieu of a more usual greeting. He was in luck - Will was working on a large hinge today.
"Jack!" Will grinned. "When did the Pearl get in - I didn't see her in the harbour?"
"We're not - I've anchored just offshore t' keep th' peace like." Jack grinned.
"No Kitty then?" Will looked behind Jack, surprised not to see her for they were usually together.
"No Kitty..." Jack looked uncertainly at Will, frowning to himself but his friend noticed.
"Alright Jack - what are you after?" Will grinned.
"Can't a man visit his friend..." Jack began innocently, his gold teeth glinting in the dim light as he smiled.
"Jack! I know you too well - you are after something... what is it?" He frowned, eyeing the sack that Jack held behind his back, surprised when it moved. "And what are you hiding?"
"Okay! Okay! I was hopin' Elizabeth an' yer would come t' dinner on th' Pearl tonight. We will be leavin' at dawn an' I don't know when we'll be back..." Jack paused, hoping Will would believe him without further explanation - he was not in luck.
"And..." Will prompted, still eyeing the sack suspiciously.
"You are as bad as Kitty!" Jack protested, his free arm waving as Will headed towards one of the many sword racks in the forge. "No!" he shouted. "No! Okay... I'll tell! Just no sharp things today... deal?"
Will smiled, knowing that he had Jack where he wanted him. He sat on the anvil, staring suspiciously at the pirate. "Okay then - tell!"
"Well, you see, it's like this..." Jack hesitated.
"Get on with it Jack!" Will warned, enjoying teasing Jack.
"Alright! We found two little girls on a ship full of corpses an' they need a home. Kitty wants them but we can't keep them an' I want yer to have them so I know they're safe..." His voice trailed off quietly towards the end in embarrassment. "Happy now?" he sulked.
Will looked at his friend in disbelief. "Jack! You know the size of our house... we cannot take two more children!"
"I'll buy yer a new house! Pay fer their keep! Anything!" Jack waved his free arm wildly.
"Anything?" Will queried in disbelief.
Jack slumped on the cart in defeat. "Anythin' Will. It would mean th' world t' Kitty if she knew who was takin' them in..."
Will sighed heavily. "You will have to ask Elizabeth," he warned. "I'll not agree to anything without her knowledge... come on, I'll lock up here! The sack moved again. "Jack! What is in that sack?"
"Kittens," he admitted quietly.
"Kittens?" Will laughed loudly as he locked the door of the smithy. "Now I've heard everything! Come on, let's go see Elizabeth."
Still chuckling Will led the way up to the new home they had moved to following the hurricane. Jack was amazed at how small it was - Will had not been joking that they did not have room. He felt bad that he had not known, even though there was no way he could of, else he would have helped them sooner. Will led the way through to the kitchen where Elizabeth was preparing lunch for Billy.
"Jack!" Elizabeth put down her knife and hugged him, spotting the sack. "What's that?"
"Kittens!" Will grinned.
"Nothin'!" Jack declared defensively at exactly the same moment. Elizabeth grinned. "Damn it Will, do you have t' be so bleedin' honest!"
"Surely even you've learned never to lie to your wife Jack... it's a dangerous business!" Will warned, a glimmer of a smile on his lips.
"Yes, well, um, maybe..." He looked at Will. "Well, are you going t' ask her or what?" he demanded.
"It's your plea Jack - you ask!" Will pulled up a chair and sat at the kitchen table, smiling with delight at Jack's discomfort. "Go on!" he prompted, reaching for and munching on a carrot.
Jack's eyes narrowed at Will, promising dire vengeance later. Elizabeth coughed. "Yes Jack?"
He turned to face her. "How would you an' Will like a bigger house..." he began.
"Tell it straight Jack - or she'll never believe you!" Will laughed.
"Alright!" He sighed, shooting Will a venomous look at his snort of laughter. "Elizabeth, we found a ship with everyone dead but for two little girls... Kitty wants t' keep th' girls but th' Pearl isn't th' place for them..."
"Am I assuming that you want us to take them?" Elizabeth asked. "Look around you Jack! The house is too small, and financially..." She sighed deeply. "We've ploughed every shilling we had back into repairing the smithy..."
"I'd buy yer a new house... and pay fer their keep... anything...I would have helped yer sooner if I'd known, but you know we kinda left in a bit of a hurry thanks to th' Governor." He looked at her miserably. "Please?" He brightened when he saw she was actually considering his proposal. "Yer could meet them t'night when yer come t' dinner on th' Pearl..."
"What?" Elizabeth gasped.
"Come t' dinner tonight - we leave in th' morning an' don't know when we'll be back... meet them Elizabeth..." he pleaded. He saw her wavering. "Please? Else I'll have t' hand them t' strangers..."
She sighed. "Alright Jack! We'll agree to meet them but no more! If, and I mean if, we take them then it will cost you a house Jack Sparrow as well as their keep!" she warned. "We have no room here!"
"Thank you Elizabeth," he smiled, kissing her hand with a flourish. "I'll send Gibbs with a boat this evening!" He grinned. "I'll see m'self out!"
***
Jack rowed himself back to the Black Pearl - he loved it when a plan came together. He climbed quickly up, the sack over his shoulder. He felt quite proud of himself for he'd even remembered to pick up a bag of soil that could be used for their tray, and some milk for them to drink.
"Afternoon Captain!" Oran smiled correctly identifying the wriggling sack tied to Jack's belt "They're in the galley...
Jack grinned, creeping quietly towards the galley and eavesdropping on the conversation within.
"A little more flour Richael." He could hear Catherine talking but could not quite catch the children's voices. "It's beginning to stick... yes, that's enough. Now rub it together... Eilis, add the raisins.. rub a bit more... now pat them into shape. No Eilis, not so hard sweetheart. I'll do that Richael! No, the stoves too hot..." She laughed. "Yes Eilis, I'm sure Jack will like the ones you baked..."
He couldn't bear to listen any longer, his curiosity getting the better of him as he crept away before walking normally back towards the galley - boot heels clumping on the deck. "Are yer there Kitty?" He poked his head through the doorway. "Ah, here yer are! I've been lookin' all over fer yer."
"Ssshhh!" Richael hissed to Eilis and they started to giggle.
"What are yer cookin'?" he asked, trying to see beyond them.
"Secrets," Eilis whispered. "I can't tell you!" She hid her sticky, flour covered hands behind her back, but the front of her dress and her face told their own tale.
"Well I won't tell you my secret then," he teased, hiding the sack behind his back.
"What you got?" Eilis asked as she tried to peer behind him..
"What yer cookin'?" he pressed.
"Biscuits..." Eilis said almost immediately, trying to get to the sack to see what it contained.
"Eilis!" Richael shouted. "It was a secret!"
"But I want to know what Jack's got!" she protested.
"Okay Jack..." Catherine smiled. "Show us!"
Jack brought the sack before him, laying it on the deck and untying it. The wriggling intensified, revealing two small kittens, one black and one tabby.
"Kittens!" the girls squealed in unison, each reaching for a kitten and cuddling it.
Catherine looked happily at Jack, knowing that their guardianship of the girls was nearly over but treasuring every moment. Her eyes softened as she looked at Richael and Eilis, the yearning clear in her eyes even though she knew it never could be.
"The biscuits!" Catherine gasped, turning back to the stove and rescuing the biscuits just in time. Some were decidedly misshapen, but they all looked edible. Jack reached for one but she batted his hand away. "They are too hot Jack!" she scolded, "and since you've distracted my helpers I'll have to find somebody else to help me with tonight's meal!" She chased the three of them from the galley. "And it'll serve you right if I ask Cotton!" she shouted after them.
***
Edmund Groves looked up at the looming hull of the Black Pearl wondering how he would manage to climb onboard. Theodore had told him not to worry, but he eyed the climb warily. He had feared that he would never see Catherine again when the Black Pearl had left in the night but was delighted when the ship returned, even more so at Mary's furious reaction to it. He looked up, surprised to see a bosun's chair being swung over the side rail.
"In you get Father..." Theodore helped him climb through the ropes and sit on the small wooden seat. Theodore tugged on the rope and a number of the crew onboard hauled him up onto the deck without the need for him to climb.
"Papa!" Catherine cried in delight.
He struggled from the bosun's chair, embracing his daughter warmly. "It is good to see you Catherine," he smiled, surprised to see William and Elizabeth Turner onboard too, their son Billy running riot with two small red-haired girls.
"Come into the cabin Papa, dinner is nearly ready," she smiled, ushering him through the doors.
"I didn't know the Turners were coming too?" he frowned, staring over his shoulder at the children. "Whose are the girls..."
"Foundlings Papa. We are hoping that Will and Elizabeth will take them in." She smiled as Jack winked at her when they entered the cabin. Obviously the girls had made a good impression.
"You're not..." he began.
"To keep them would mean leaving Jack and living ashore, and we both know now I will never do that..." She sighed regretfully. "But I must see to dinner - excuse me Papa."
Catherine quickly returned to the galley, relived to see Cotton smiling. Although he could actually cook, having no tongue made tasting it very hard on him and everyone teased him good naturedly about his often over exuberant seasoning. If somebody was there to see to that he actually managed quite well. Everything was nearly done and she remained with him until it was all ready. Several crew helped her carry the food through to the cabin whilst Oran found himself volunteered to find the children. She had cooked a large pot of fish stew for the crew so they would be eating too. She sighed, fish stew always made her think of Zeke.
When she returned with the final bowl everyone was sitting around the table, eagerly waiting for dinner. Bowls and platters of steaming food were carefully placed on the table and everyone started. Although the kittens had been placed in an empty barrel that they could not escape from, Eilis kept creeping away from the table to look at them.
"What are you going to do when you leave?" Edmund asked.
"Going after Lact!" Jack said firmly.
"We don't know this is Jean Claude..." she argued. "I still don't believe it is!"
"You two aren't going to argue over that again?" Theodore sighed. "We've had this already today!"
"I'm sorry Theo - I know you hate to hear me defending a pirate, and a French pirate at that!" Catherine laughed.
Theodore shook his head in disbelief. "I'll pretend I didn't hear it - alright?"
As Theodore and Catherine bantered good naturedly, Jack leaned across to Elizabeth, speaking quietly. "Well..." he prompted. "What do you think?"
"You're not going to give up, are you Jack?" she sighed.
"Nope..." he grinned.
"Okay, we'll take them," she smiled resignedly. "If the girls are willing to come with us that is. They seem very nice children, I like them, and considering what they've been through..."
"I'll ask them later," he promised, tucking greedily into a platter of meat.
"You'd better!" Elizabeth warned.
***
The children were all sleepy by the time that they had finished eating, although Eilis retrieved her kitten from the barrel and held it too her chest. Jack took the girls to one side and quietly crouched down to talk with them.
"Do you remember what we were saying about yer not being able t' stay aboard th' Pearl?" They nodded miserably, having hoped he had forgotten. "Well, William an' Elizabeth are very good friends of mine an' they have offered t' take yer into their home an' care fer yer. The kittens can go as well - Elizabeth likes kittens too..."
Richael looked at him suspiciously. "Will you visit?"
"When we can luv, I promise." He tousled her hair. "But I have t' go and catch those bad men..."
"Okay," Richael nodded slowly.
"As long as I can take my kitten!" Eilis declared, still holding the small animal tightly as it mewed in protest.
He looked up, smiling as he saw Elizabeth watching them. "Well then, we'd better get you home and into a bed," she smiled. "The Black Pearl will be gone by the morning, so you'd best say goodbye to Catherine and Jack now..."
They ran across to her, hugging her tightly. Jack could see that she was trying desperately not to cry, still reluctant to let them go.
"I'll get Gibbs t' row yer back," Jack offered, leaving the cabin quietly in search of his Quartermaster. He returned quickly, silently and discretely handing Will a heavy purse.
Will nodded. "We'll take care of them Jack, don't worry," he assured him, handing Billy down into the boat to Gibbs. "It will be good for Billy to have some other children in the house... someone to play with." Elizabeth followed, and then the girls and their kittens. "Come back when you can..."
"We will mate, we will..." Jack replied as Will too climbed over the ships rail and down into the boat. He heard the splash of oars as Gibbs started to row, the boat disappearing into the darkness. Jack turned and saw Catherine staring sadly after them, close to tears. He put his arms around her. "It's fer th' best luv, yer know that..."
Catherine smiled sadly. "Aye." She sighed deeply. "But that doesn't make it any easier..."
Theodore coughed, realising that the two of them would probably want to be alone. "We'd best be heading back too Jack. Could you give Father a hand with the bosun's chair?"
"Sure thing mate," Jack smiled, shouting to some nearby crew to come and help.
Edmund Groves hugged his daughter. "Keep safe Catherine," he smiled. "And visit when you can..." He had seen a different side to his son-in-law tonight, not what he had expected from a pirate. "Both of you..."
"We will Papa. I promise," she vowed.
She watched as he was hauled over the rail and lowered gently down into the small boat. Theodore climbed down quickly and picked up the oars. "Look after her Jack!" he shouted from below.
"I always do mate!" He put his arms around Catherine again. "I always do..."
***
***
Jack rowed quickly across the harbour and tied his small boat up at the dock. He had permitted only the senior crew ashore to purchase necessary supplies and left Oran in charge onboard. Catherine had been warned that any thoughts of leaving the ship would see her in the brig - and she was well aware that Oran would not hesitate to do so. He'd left her playing with the girls in the cabin for he had places to go, people to see, wheels to turn within wheels. His first mission had been successful and now he was heading towards the smithy to see Will. He pushed open the door carefully, mindful of the gap and his friend's tendency to attack him with his latest sword in lieu of a more usual greeting. He was in luck - Will was working on a large hinge today.
"Jack!" Will grinned. "When did the Pearl get in - I didn't see her in the harbour?"
"We're not - I've anchored just offshore t' keep th' peace like." Jack grinned.
"No Kitty then?" Will looked behind Jack, surprised not to see her for they were usually together.
"No Kitty..." Jack looked uncertainly at Will, frowning to himself but his friend noticed.
"Alright Jack - what are you after?" Will grinned.
"Can't a man visit his friend..." Jack began innocently, his gold teeth glinting in the dim light as he smiled.
"Jack! I know you too well - you are after something... what is it?" He frowned, eyeing the sack that Jack held behind his back, surprised when it moved. "And what are you hiding?"
"Okay! Okay! I was hopin' Elizabeth an' yer would come t' dinner on th' Pearl tonight. We will be leavin' at dawn an' I don't know when we'll be back..." Jack paused, hoping Will would believe him without further explanation - he was not in luck.
"And..." Will prompted, still eyeing the sack suspiciously.
"You are as bad as Kitty!" Jack protested, his free arm waving as Will headed towards one of the many sword racks in the forge. "No!" he shouted. "No! Okay... I'll tell! Just no sharp things today... deal?"
Will smiled, knowing that he had Jack where he wanted him. He sat on the anvil, staring suspiciously at the pirate. "Okay then - tell!"
"Well, you see, it's like this..." Jack hesitated.
"Get on with it Jack!" Will warned, enjoying teasing Jack.
"Alright! We found two little girls on a ship full of corpses an' they need a home. Kitty wants them but we can't keep them an' I want yer to have them so I know they're safe..." His voice trailed off quietly towards the end in embarrassment. "Happy now?" he sulked.
Will looked at his friend in disbelief. "Jack! You know the size of our house... we cannot take two more children!"
"I'll buy yer a new house! Pay fer their keep! Anything!" Jack waved his free arm wildly.
"Anything?" Will queried in disbelief.
Jack slumped on the cart in defeat. "Anythin' Will. It would mean th' world t' Kitty if she knew who was takin' them in..."
Will sighed heavily. "You will have to ask Elizabeth," he warned. "I'll not agree to anything without her knowledge... come on, I'll lock up here! The sack moved again. "Jack! What is in that sack?"
"Kittens," he admitted quietly.
"Kittens?" Will laughed loudly as he locked the door of the smithy. "Now I've heard everything! Come on, let's go see Elizabeth."
Still chuckling Will led the way up to the new home they had moved to following the hurricane. Jack was amazed at how small it was - Will had not been joking that they did not have room. He felt bad that he had not known, even though there was no way he could of, else he would have helped them sooner. Will led the way through to the kitchen where Elizabeth was preparing lunch for Billy.
"Jack!" Elizabeth put down her knife and hugged him, spotting the sack. "What's that?"
"Kittens!" Will grinned.
"Nothin'!" Jack declared defensively at exactly the same moment. Elizabeth grinned. "Damn it Will, do you have t' be so bleedin' honest!"
"Surely even you've learned never to lie to your wife Jack... it's a dangerous business!" Will warned, a glimmer of a smile on his lips.
"Yes, well, um, maybe..." He looked at Will. "Well, are you going t' ask her or what?" he demanded.
"It's your plea Jack - you ask!" Will pulled up a chair and sat at the kitchen table, smiling with delight at Jack's discomfort. "Go on!" he prompted, reaching for and munching on a carrot.
Jack's eyes narrowed at Will, promising dire vengeance later. Elizabeth coughed. "Yes Jack?"
He turned to face her. "How would you an' Will like a bigger house..." he began.
"Tell it straight Jack - or she'll never believe you!" Will laughed.
"Alright!" He sighed, shooting Will a venomous look at his snort of laughter. "Elizabeth, we found a ship with everyone dead but for two little girls... Kitty wants t' keep th' girls but th' Pearl isn't th' place for them..."
"Am I assuming that you want us to take them?" Elizabeth asked. "Look around you Jack! The house is too small, and financially..." She sighed deeply. "We've ploughed every shilling we had back into repairing the smithy..."
"I'd buy yer a new house... and pay fer their keep... anything...I would have helped yer sooner if I'd known, but you know we kinda left in a bit of a hurry thanks to th' Governor." He looked at her miserably. "Please?" He brightened when he saw she was actually considering his proposal. "Yer could meet them t'night when yer come t' dinner on th' Pearl..."
"What?" Elizabeth gasped.
"Come t' dinner tonight - we leave in th' morning an' don't know when we'll be back... meet them Elizabeth..." he pleaded. He saw her wavering. "Please? Else I'll have t' hand them t' strangers..."
She sighed. "Alright Jack! We'll agree to meet them but no more! If, and I mean if, we take them then it will cost you a house Jack Sparrow as well as their keep!" she warned. "We have no room here!"
"Thank you Elizabeth," he smiled, kissing her hand with a flourish. "I'll send Gibbs with a boat this evening!" He grinned. "I'll see m'self out!"
***
Jack rowed himself back to the Black Pearl - he loved it when a plan came together. He climbed quickly up, the sack over his shoulder. He felt quite proud of himself for he'd even remembered to pick up a bag of soil that could be used for their tray, and some milk for them to drink.
"Afternoon Captain!" Oran smiled correctly identifying the wriggling sack tied to Jack's belt "They're in the galley...
Jack grinned, creeping quietly towards the galley and eavesdropping on the conversation within.
"A little more flour Richael." He could hear Catherine talking but could not quite catch the children's voices. "It's beginning to stick... yes, that's enough. Now rub it together... Eilis, add the raisins.. rub a bit more... now pat them into shape. No Eilis, not so hard sweetheart. I'll do that Richael! No, the stoves too hot..." She laughed. "Yes Eilis, I'm sure Jack will like the ones you baked..."
He couldn't bear to listen any longer, his curiosity getting the better of him as he crept away before walking normally back towards the galley - boot heels clumping on the deck. "Are yer there Kitty?" He poked his head through the doorway. "Ah, here yer are! I've been lookin' all over fer yer."
"Ssshhh!" Richael hissed to Eilis and they started to giggle.
"What are yer cookin'?" he asked, trying to see beyond them.
"Secrets," Eilis whispered. "I can't tell you!" She hid her sticky, flour covered hands behind her back, but the front of her dress and her face told their own tale.
"Well I won't tell you my secret then," he teased, hiding the sack behind his back.
"What you got?" Eilis asked as she tried to peer behind him..
"What yer cookin'?" he pressed.
"Biscuits..." Eilis said almost immediately, trying to get to the sack to see what it contained.
"Eilis!" Richael shouted. "It was a secret!"
"But I want to know what Jack's got!" she protested.
"Okay Jack..." Catherine smiled. "Show us!"
Jack brought the sack before him, laying it on the deck and untying it. The wriggling intensified, revealing two small kittens, one black and one tabby.
"Kittens!" the girls squealed in unison, each reaching for a kitten and cuddling it.
Catherine looked happily at Jack, knowing that their guardianship of the girls was nearly over but treasuring every moment. Her eyes softened as she looked at Richael and Eilis, the yearning clear in her eyes even though she knew it never could be.
"The biscuits!" Catherine gasped, turning back to the stove and rescuing the biscuits just in time. Some were decidedly misshapen, but they all looked edible. Jack reached for one but she batted his hand away. "They are too hot Jack!" she scolded, "and since you've distracted my helpers I'll have to find somebody else to help me with tonight's meal!" She chased the three of them from the galley. "And it'll serve you right if I ask Cotton!" she shouted after them.
***
Edmund Groves looked up at the looming hull of the Black Pearl wondering how he would manage to climb onboard. Theodore had told him not to worry, but he eyed the climb warily. He had feared that he would never see Catherine again when the Black Pearl had left in the night but was delighted when the ship returned, even more so at Mary's furious reaction to it. He looked up, surprised to see a bosun's chair being swung over the side rail.
"In you get Father..." Theodore helped him climb through the ropes and sit on the small wooden seat. Theodore tugged on the rope and a number of the crew onboard hauled him up onto the deck without the need for him to climb.
"Papa!" Catherine cried in delight.
He struggled from the bosun's chair, embracing his daughter warmly. "It is good to see you Catherine," he smiled, surprised to see William and Elizabeth Turner onboard too, their son Billy running riot with two small red-haired girls.
"Come into the cabin Papa, dinner is nearly ready," she smiled, ushering him through the doors.
"I didn't know the Turners were coming too?" he frowned, staring over his shoulder at the children. "Whose are the girls..."
"Foundlings Papa. We are hoping that Will and Elizabeth will take them in." She smiled as Jack winked at her when they entered the cabin. Obviously the girls had made a good impression.
"You're not..." he began.
"To keep them would mean leaving Jack and living ashore, and we both know now I will never do that..." She sighed regretfully. "But I must see to dinner - excuse me Papa."
Catherine quickly returned to the galley, relived to see Cotton smiling. Although he could actually cook, having no tongue made tasting it very hard on him and everyone teased him good naturedly about his often over exuberant seasoning. If somebody was there to see to that he actually managed quite well. Everything was nearly done and she remained with him until it was all ready. Several crew helped her carry the food through to the cabin whilst Oran found himself volunteered to find the children. She had cooked a large pot of fish stew for the crew so they would be eating too. She sighed, fish stew always made her think of Zeke.
When she returned with the final bowl everyone was sitting around the table, eagerly waiting for dinner. Bowls and platters of steaming food were carefully placed on the table and everyone started. Although the kittens had been placed in an empty barrel that they could not escape from, Eilis kept creeping away from the table to look at them.
"What are you going to do when you leave?" Edmund asked.
"Going after Lact!" Jack said firmly.
"We don't know this is Jean Claude..." she argued. "I still don't believe it is!"
"You two aren't going to argue over that again?" Theodore sighed. "We've had this already today!"
"I'm sorry Theo - I know you hate to hear me defending a pirate, and a French pirate at that!" Catherine laughed.
Theodore shook his head in disbelief. "I'll pretend I didn't hear it - alright?"
As Theodore and Catherine bantered good naturedly, Jack leaned across to Elizabeth, speaking quietly. "Well..." he prompted. "What do you think?"
"You're not going to give up, are you Jack?" she sighed.
"Nope..." he grinned.
"Okay, we'll take them," she smiled resignedly. "If the girls are willing to come with us that is. They seem very nice children, I like them, and considering what they've been through..."
"I'll ask them later," he promised, tucking greedily into a platter of meat.
"You'd better!" Elizabeth warned.
***
The children were all sleepy by the time that they had finished eating, although Eilis retrieved her kitten from the barrel and held it too her chest. Jack took the girls to one side and quietly crouched down to talk with them.
"Do you remember what we were saying about yer not being able t' stay aboard th' Pearl?" They nodded miserably, having hoped he had forgotten. "Well, William an' Elizabeth are very good friends of mine an' they have offered t' take yer into their home an' care fer yer. The kittens can go as well - Elizabeth likes kittens too..."
Richael looked at him suspiciously. "Will you visit?"
"When we can luv, I promise." He tousled her hair. "But I have t' go and catch those bad men..."
"Okay," Richael nodded slowly.
"As long as I can take my kitten!" Eilis declared, still holding the small animal tightly as it mewed in protest.
He looked up, smiling as he saw Elizabeth watching them. "Well then, we'd better get you home and into a bed," she smiled. "The Black Pearl will be gone by the morning, so you'd best say goodbye to Catherine and Jack now..."
They ran across to her, hugging her tightly. Jack could see that she was trying desperately not to cry, still reluctant to let them go.
"I'll get Gibbs t' row yer back," Jack offered, leaving the cabin quietly in search of his Quartermaster. He returned quickly, silently and discretely handing Will a heavy purse.
Will nodded. "We'll take care of them Jack, don't worry," he assured him, handing Billy down into the boat to Gibbs. "It will be good for Billy to have some other children in the house... someone to play with." Elizabeth followed, and then the girls and their kittens. "Come back when you can..."
"We will mate, we will..." Jack replied as Will too climbed over the ships rail and down into the boat. He heard the splash of oars as Gibbs started to row, the boat disappearing into the darkness. Jack turned and saw Catherine staring sadly after them, close to tears. He put his arms around her. "It's fer th' best luv, yer know that..."
Catherine smiled sadly. "Aye." She sighed deeply. "But that doesn't make it any easier..."
Theodore coughed, realising that the two of them would probably want to be alone. "We'd best be heading back too Jack. Could you give Father a hand with the bosun's chair?"
"Sure thing mate," Jack smiled, shouting to some nearby crew to come and help.
Edmund Groves hugged his daughter. "Keep safe Catherine," he smiled. "And visit when you can..." He had seen a different side to his son-in-law tonight, not what he had expected from a pirate. "Both of you..."
"We will Papa. I promise," she vowed.
She watched as he was hauled over the rail and lowered gently down into the small boat. Theodore climbed down quickly and picked up the oars. "Look after her Jack!" he shouted from below.
"I always do mate!" He put his arms around Catherine again. "I always do..."
***
