* Chapter Seven
Jack stood at the helm, one had on the wheel. The day had just dawned, and the sun was slowly rising from the water.
The night had been fairly still, but the breeze across his face told him that the waters would get rougher as the day progressed. His thoughts went to Lacey asleep in his cabin, and as if signalled she came running out in her nightgown and robe directly to the railing.
He watched as one of his crew, Rogers met her there pulling her hair back while her head hung over the side of the railing.
Jack looked over and nodded to Gibbs who came over to take the wheel while Jack wandered over just as Rogers pulled her back slightly.
"Don't want to loose you over the edge now do we?"
"Alright there, Love?" Jack asked.
Jack watched Lacey's eye's glaze over slightly as she shook her head no.
Rogers gave him a tight smile. "First time on a boat?"
Jack returned his grin. "Aye."
Once again, her head leant out over the railing coughing and spluttering miserably
Rogers laughed turning to Jack, "She's all yours Captain."
Rogers left and Jack leant on the rail next to Lacey, one arm looped around her waist.
She trembled slightly against him and he winced feeling a mite guilty.
"Jack, how long will this last?" She asked miserably.
"Not too long, I promise you'll be right soon. Yer can take ol' Jack's word for it."
He felt her shudder slightly and held her closer.
"I think I'm right to back now, I have but naught in my stomach."
Jack watched as she stood, one hand lying over her stomach protectively, while the other balanced her as she moved.
He could only hope that they wouldn't enter into any stormy weather on the way to Port Royale.
*
A few days later Mary-Alice was sitting in the window seat of Jack's desk room carefully sowing up a hole in a pair of threadbare pants for one of Jack's crew.
She had finally resisted the urge to be sick every time she stood and could even walk around with out falling over. However the lack of food in her stomach was beginning to make her feel weak and lethargic.
Jack's cabin was exquisite to say the least, divided up into two separate rooms. His bedroom held his overly large, soft bed and dresses, and his desk room where his desk and draws that held his numerous maps and trinkets were. The desk room also held the plush window seat where she was sitting the moment sowing. She was pretty sure Jack had been sleeping here while she slept in his bed at night.
Mary-Alice looked up as the door swung open. Jack marched through and grinned at her.
"Morning Love."
"Good morning Captain." She said as she stood.
Jack winked at her and closed the door behind him. "You only have to call me captain in front of the crew Lacey."
Mary-Alice nodded once. "I've finished with these pants."
"Ahh, excellent. I'll take them out to Mr Cotton. But firstly, we need to finish our lil' chat now that your feeling better, Savvy?"
Mary-Alice nodded her head in agreement.
Jack took a seat on the window seat and pulled out his tankard of rum.
"Now, do you know what your father left me, m'dear?"
Mary-Alice shook her head. "No, he just told me to make sure I gave you the box when you returned next."
Jack took a good swig of his rum. "Well ye see love, he left me a couple of bits and pieces and two very important things. One being a map me dad left for me a'for he died."
"A map?"
"Aye, a map that leads to his treasure savvy?"
"Your father had treasure?"
"Aye, he was a great pirate, much like meself really, but he could feel a mutiny coming on aboard his ship because unlike his mates, he had saved up all his plunder to a great fortune. So one night while his crew was at shore, he collected his masses of treasures, quite a bit mind you and borrowed a small boat and sailed out to hide his wealth. 'O course once his crew found out they killed him and went after me mother. She was barely able get me away in time before me Pa's crew got her and tortured her for information about where he put his treasure, but she had already given the map to yer father."
Mary-Alice nodded sadly. She had never known her mother, she had died while giving birth to her so her father had cared for her from birth.
"So now you've got the map your going after to treasure right?" Mary-Alice said slowly whilst placing everything together. She and Jack had often played games about finding a treasure map and sailing off on an adventure to get it.
Jack smiled proudly. "You got it."
"It will be just like how we used to play at finding treasure Jack! Now we can find a real treasure!" She said excitedly.
Mary-Alice watched as Jack's face fell slightly. "We?"
"Of course! You have the map now so it's onwards to resting place of our fortune!"
"For me yes, but not you Love."
"But yes! There is nothing holding me back now. Don't you see? No one to tell me what to do!"
"Yes, well that brings us to the second thing your father left me."
"And what else did he leave you?" She asked enthusiastically thinking of a great clue as to where the treasure was.
Jack's face lit up into a wide grin making Mary-Alice's shake with excitement. "Well?" She asked impatiently.
"The other thing he left me is more like a guardianship role."
Mary-Alice looked at Jack confused. "Whatever do you mean?"
"He left me as your Guardian love."
Mary-Alice's eyes shot up in surprise, and then narrowed slightly. "I hardly think I am in need a guardian Jack, least of all a scallywag pirate like you."
Jack shook his head. "'Tis the man's dying words, thus the reason why I had to bring you along with me."
Mary-Alice placed her hands on her hips. "Jack I am old enough to take care of myself, I have been for quite some time now."
"It doesn't matter, the fact still remains that I am now responsible for you."
An unintelligible noise escaped her mouth. "And what are you planning on doing with me if I won't be accompanying you on your treasure hunt?"
Jack smiled. "Glad you asked that Love. Have you ever been to Port Royale?"
Mary-Alice shook her head. "No."
"Well, you can think of it as your new home, m'dear."
"What?! You are just going to leave me stranded in a town where I know no one?!"
Mary-Alice could not believe him. At this rate she would had preferred to take her chances at home.
"Of course not Lacey, I have some very dear friends who live in Port Royale who will look after you."
"Oh really? And may I inquire as to the professions of said friends, and god so help you if the word 'whore' escapes your lips Jack Sparrow." She ground out.
"What kind of man do you take me for, love?"
"Pirate."
"Touché."
"And? Are you going to answer my question?"
"Mr William Turner is a Black smith and his wife, Elizabeth Tuner nee Swann is the Governor's daughter Savvy?"
Mary-Alice studied Jack carefully for a moment before resigning to the fact that he was telling the truth.
"And you're just going to persuade them to take me in?"
"Aye."
"They must very good friends of yours."
"Aye that they are."
*
Jack stood up at the helm of his ship. They were only a day from Port Royale now and he had decided that entering the harbour under the cover of night would be the best course of action.
Mary-Alice was in his cabin still sulking about being left behind in Port Royale, and quite frankly he would hate to be left at Port Royale too. But he was responsible for her safety now and he didn't want anything to happen to her.
Behind him Gibbs came and stood behind him. "Good sailing days Cap'n."
"Aye."
A silence fell over the men.
"She may hate ye now Jack, but she'll be thankin' ye later. Women are fickle things."
Jack smiled. "Aye Mr Gibbs. They sure are."
Gibbs patted Jack on the back and left leaving Jack with his thoughts.
Special thanks to:
Jello bean – I'm not sure the literature world is ready for me yet… hehe! Thanks for the review!
Amy luv – Thanks and I hope you enjoyed the latest! Sorry it took so long!
Jujubob – I promise to continue don't worry! I have to complete it or it will drive me crazy eventually! Thank you!
Lolo fruit – Johnny Depp sigh He is an awesome actor! And absolutely gorgeous of course! Thanks!
Alison – Na, I won't give up, like I said to another reviewer, if I don't finish the story, it will drive me crazy forever! Thanks for reviewing!
Jacks my homie – hehe, I love your name! It's very original! Thanks for review honey!
Thanks to everyone for hanging in with me, especially when it took me so long to update! I'll get chapter eight underway right now! Until next chapter!