Reviews!

PED-Sarah-Thank you!! Please keep reading!

AbbieNormal182-Thank you! Yeah, Jack might have plans!

SuzzieQue-Yes he certainly did reject *cough cough* for Pearl. AWW and a pirate rejecting *cough cough* is a sin! How sweet!

The Electric Russian-Thanks! I'll try it, if it doesn't work oh well, but at least it might fix the problem! Thanks for the review!

LadyKaGoMe409-Lol! Ok, I'll put some thought into that. Thanks for the review!

Jaqueline Sparrow-HA! Well...at least one of us had fun on new years. Lol, I sat in front of the TV, counted down, then went to sleep. Yeah...fun...ANYWHO, thanks for the review! Hehe...that rhymed!

Coco bean-How'd u know I was going to update soon? Thanks!

Oh, my gosh! I just noticed...I don't give out fake prizes anymore! Well...RUM TO ALL!

A/N: Just to let you know, this story will probably be half as long as the other, just because of how fast it's moving. I hope that doesn't upset you all. (

Chapter 10-Commandeering

~A Month Later~

As night fell on the Black Pearl, making all pitch black, Jack Jr. walked out on deck with a candle stick in one hand and a compass in the other. He had been planning this for about a week now, but just the thought of what he was about to do made him a bit queasy and weak in the knees.
Very carefully, he cranked the contraption that would lift the anchor up and tried not to be too noisy about it, which wasn't an easy thing to do. Once the anchor was up, Jack wiped the sweat from his forehead and swaggered over to the beloved helm.
He placed the candlestick carefully on deck while he pulled a crinkled, ripped map out of his coat pocket. He noticed how bright the moonlight was and decided it was alright to blow out the candle. The wind picked up sails quickly and Jack steered at the helm like a pro.
"It's not commandeering the ship if ye plan to inherit it in the future anyway...right?" Jack asked himself.
"WIND IN THE SAILS! BRAAWWK! WIND IN THE SAILS!"
Jack nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around and saw Mr. Cotton's parrot on deck, observing his every move.
He sighed and turned back to staring at the open sea.
"Here I come, Pearl." Jack whispered to himself.
"DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES!"
Jack turned around quickly, startling the bird. "WILL YE CUT THAT OUT?"

~*~*~*~

Pearl sat on her bed, looking out the open window onto the beautiful view that lay before her. She could see the ocean, mountains, the little shops, all sorts of beautiful things. Sometimes, she tried to look for the Black Pearl, coming back again. But all she would see was the tranquil ocean and the limpid tears running down her face.
Thomas had proposed to her many times already. She had always turned him down, thinking Jack was on his way back. But she had doubts and also had thoughts of her becoming an old maid, serving the rich and powerful because she never accepted anyone's proposals.
Thomas had promised her the world, money, and safety, but Pearl was simply not interested. She would reject him and each time having to face him not muttering a word, just nodding sadly. She was thinking of perhaps saying yes one day, but every time he proposed, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She could tell that he loved her dearly, but Pearl loved someone else much more than him. She loved Jack, and that love would be insatiable until Jack came back.

~*~*~*~

The sun was about rising and Jack was already growing tired at the helm. He had been up since very early that morning, almost since the day before, and had gotten no sleep. His parents still had no idea of his plans and most likely didn't even notice that the ship was moving.
Jack was about two seconds away from strangling the bloody bird behind him. The thing wouldn't stop talking all morning, and every time he made a noise, Jack almost passed out because he didn't want his parents waking up any sooner than they have to.
"READY THE STARBOARD OARS! BRAAWWK!"
"I swear, I'm going to kill this bird." Jack muttered to himself.
"SHIVER ME TIMBERS! BRAAWWK!"
"HONESTLY, KNOCK IT OFF!" Jack yelled at the bird.
Jack was suddenly silenced when he heard a loud yawn coming from the cabin. His father and mother had woken up!

~*~*~*~

"Oh, Pearl, you look absolutely lovely today." Thomas said to her with a small bow.
"Thank you, Thomas." She answered back, stifling a yawn.
"Oh, Pearl! I possibly can't stand it anymore!" Thomas said dramatically, walking over to edge of the balcony where they stood.
"I must have you! Please...accept my last proposal. If I cannot have you, I will die!"
Staring into the eyes of the daft man, she shook her head vigorously.

"No, Thomas! I've denied you once, and I'll deny you again! I'm in love with someone else, not you. I'm...I'm sorry." She stared daggers at his eyes. Thomas, startled at her answer, widened his eyes and stepped back. He nodded, and looking quite angry, walked off.
Pearl sighed. Why did she ever think of saying yes to his proposal?

~*~*~*~

"Jack?" Juniper asked wearily. "What are you doing at the helm??"
"I'll tell ye what he's doing!" Jack Sr. yelled. Jack Jr. sighed. He was in for it.
"He's commandeering his first ship! I'm so proud of ye, son!" Jack Sr. exclaimed, taking his son into a hug.
Jack Jr. was startled. "Um...thank ye, Father?" Once Jack Sr. let go, letting Jack Jr. breathe again, Jack Jr. turned towards the sea again and began steering again.

~*~*~*~

"So you turned him down, Miss?" One of the maids, Abigail asked while Pearl laid in bed. Abigail was Pearl's best friend...besides Jack anyway. "Why would you do that? He's a fine gentleman. He's said to be the future commodore, Miss!"
"Yes, well that doesn't interest me, Abigail. I'm in love with someone else."
"Another man, Miss? Do tell!"
"I'm afraid I can't."
"Why's that, Miss?"
Afraid of Jack's identity getting out, she decided to stop the conversation. "Enough, Abigail. I'm tired of talking right now."
"Very well, Miss. I'm sorry if I pushed it on you."
As Abigail left, Pearl heard a tapping on her window. She went to open the curtains in front of the glass, when a little pebble hit the window. Startled, Pearl took a step back, but then opened the window and looked below. At first, she thought it was Thomas again, but when she looked, she couldn't believe her eyes.
Standing below the window was a soaking wet and panting Jack.

A/N: This was such a fun chapter to write! And in the next chapter, I'll explain why Jack is soaking wet, lol!