Disclaimer: No profits are being made from this. I own nothing except original characters.
Summery: Jack comes home after 15 years to a childhood friend and finds a map that will lead to the treasure that belonged to his father. But like he said to Will, not all treasure is silver and gold, and greater treasure might be right in front of his very nose. Chapter One – 15 years after the Prologue, set after events of Curse of the Black PearlCaptain Jack Sparrow stepped off the deck his beloved Pearl onto the small wooden dock. He looked out over the senary and sighed. From what he could tell, not much had changed in the small town he grew up in. Behind him, Joshamee Gibbs, his first mate let out a soft grunted.
"Cap'n may I enquire as to the reason you 'ave for stopping in this very small town? Hardly seems worth it if yer asking me."
"Mr Gibbs, must a captain always give a reason for his choice of port?"
"No, but I would like t' know if there be any good drinkin' spots in this camp site."
Jack smiled and slung an arm around his friend as they made their way down the gangway. "My dear Mr Gibbs, there be the place where your dear friend Captain Jack Sparrow had his first sip of Rum, now is that good enough for you Sir?"
Jack watched as this new information sunk into his friend and he nodded his head with a sly grin. "It's just up the hill, tell the crew we're having a two day shore rest, on the dusk of the second day we sail, savvy?"
"Aye Cap'n."
"Good, I have business to attend to."
With that, Jack left his will in the capable hands of Gibbs and went to seek a long time friend who lived on the top of the next hill.
Mary-Alice's head bobbed up as a knock was sounded at the door. She stood quickly almost knocking over the dress mannequin in front of her. It was late and she was certainly expecting no one tonight.
She made her way over to the door cautiously and sincerely hoping that the caller was not the person she least wanted to see tonight, the town Governor, Governor Holum.
Reaching the door she swung the door open and her breath left her.
"Goodness…" Her sentence trailed off as the man on her doorstep grabbed his had and bowed.
He stood up once more and smiled.
"Hello Lacey, how are ye love?"
Once the initial shock wore off, Mary-Alice smile and pulled him forward into her house closing the door behind him.
"Honestly Jack, what would the neighbours think about a scallywag pirate Captain waiting on my door step at this time of night?"
Mary-Alice led him into the table and chairs and all but pushed him into one of the wooden chair and left the room in search tea and supper. It had been seven or eight years since she had seen Jack, she remember him appearing on her door step shining like new gold coin and boasting about his own ship, The Black Pearl.
Mary-Alice re-entered the room and grinned shaking her head at the sight of Jack drinking rum from a small tankard. "Jack Sparrow, you must have a proper meal before drinking that stuff." She scolded.
Jack set the tankard on the table and grinned back. "It's the life of a Pirate my dear, I wouldn't have it any other way." He then lent forward and patted the table with his hand. "Come over here girl and let me have a look at you."
Mary-Alice sighed and moved over to where Jack was sitting and stood hands on hips in front of him. The smell of Rum that came from his breath was almost enough to knock her out.
He motioned with his hands for her circle so she did a small pirouette and locked eyes with his again.
"Well one thing is for certain, the years have been very good to you, you've to grown into a beautiful young lady. Your father must be very over the moon. Say where is the old man? Not down the tavern with out me I hope."
Mary-Alice knew this question would come up eventually and clasped her hands together gravely.
"Jack, my father pasted away last winter. He was very ill and the winter was too harsh for him."
Mary-Alice watched the emotions pass passively across his face. Finally he spoke up whilst still staring off into space.
"If I had know—" He began.
Mary-Alice shook his head and cut him off.
"There was no way you could have known Jack, but he did leave you some things, they're a box upstairs."
Jack's far off gaze focused on her again and took her soft, creamy hands in his dirty hands.
"You have managed to keep the house I see."
"I've carried on from my father's dressmaking but since the new governor's come, the money I have to pay has doubled. It's getting harder to find the money."
Jack smiled broadly. "Not to fear Darling, Captain Jack Sparrow is here now."
Later that night, Jack was sitting in a hot tub thinking about the girl downstairs who was cleaning up after his supper. She had only been about thirteen when he had last seen her, still a baby really. And now that baby had grown up to a beautiful woman who had caught his eye the moment she opened the door. Sighing he reached over and pulled the box Lacey's father Abel had left him and carefully as not to wet it, he opened it and looked inside. On top was an envelope which he grabbed first and opened. As he suspected, it was a letter.
Jack,
I fear that my time is starting to slip away and I need to write this.
I have left you a few things in this box, but there is something I had long forgotten about until now, it was given to me by your mother before she fled and she told me to give it to you when you were older. It's a map that belonged to your father, who he is, I cannot tell you, sorry boy. It is rightfully yours so I am returning it.
Another important thing I have left you is unfortunately too big to fit inside this or any other box and is the most important thing in the world to me, that is my daughter Mary-Alice.
You took care of her when you were both growing up and I know you always will, for that I am very thankful. She is a strong woman Jack, just like her mother was, but she needs someone strong to look after her.
Please watch over her for me.
Abel.
Jack let a breath out and placed the letter back in the envelope. He pulled up the box again and searched through the box until he found a rolled parchment. Unfurling it carefully he studied it.
"Interesting, very interesting."
Again, thanks for reading my story, I hope this chapter was somewhere up to standard! Suggestions and reviews greatly appreciated!