Author's note: Sorry this chapter is short, but I was looking forward to writing the next one and I didn't really have a lot of ideas for this particular chapter. Enjoy though.
Oh! If you haven't seen "Chocolat" then do- it's a great story and has Johnny Depp in it…it's magical…
And Lucy Rootes…or Lousiefamesavvy….I e*mailed you…and if you haven't gotten it or didn't get it…I'll be your beta reader….*smiles*
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Jack and Rick had talked the night before about the bet a bit more. Rick argued that this was not for entertainment but for all decent pirates everywhere. Jack had told him that he wasn't emotionally involved and wouldn't get emotionally involved and that was the only reason why he was doing this.
Jack had woken up early and gone out to sit on the porch to listen to the waves come in. To his surprise, little Daphne had come out and sat with him, cuddling next to him. Jack thought back to when Brenda was little and was happy to relive the experience.
After breakfast Jack had given up thinking about the bet he had agreed on and decided he was just going to plow through this. He only had two and half weeks left and he was determined to get the fifteen pounds and somehow prove Rick wrong at the same time.
About two hours after breakfast the Turners had a surprise. Elizabeth showed the surprise into the room Jack was sitting in telling Daphne a story. "Jack, you have a visitor…" He looked up to see a boy around eleven, maybe a little older. "Speak boy," he said, thinking he had something to do with Norrington. Looks to be a cabin boy of some sort…
"Mrs. Beverly Norrington has requested your presence, sir."
Jack paused, again letting the information of Beverly's last name sink in, "Where?"
"At her home, sir. And she requested that you come quickly."
Jack slowly nodded. "Alright, then if you get to her before I do, tell her I will be there shortly."
***
The Norrington household was on the other side of town, away from the beaches and most of the vendors, and close to the battlement. And although Jack's appearance had changed, he was glad he had taken a carriage, knowing no Captain or Lieutenant would see him. I wonder if Norrington will be here… he said getting out of the carriage and walking to the front door. He knocked, and the door opened and he was promptly ushered in.
"Jack Sparrow here to see Mrs. Norrington…on request…" he said to the man servant. He nodded and took Jack's jacket and led him to one of the many sitting rooms in the house. He opened the door and Jack saw a woman standing in front of a fireplace looking at the framed portraits. "Mr. Sparrow, to see you ma'am." The servant said and then quickly exited.
She turned and paused before saying in barely a whisper, "Jack."
"It's a bit early in the year to be runnin' a fire, don't you think?"
"The Caribbean usually doesn't get cold enough to run fires…but this was the one thing I loved about being on land…a fireplace."
Jack paused, this is really strange…but you can do this. Keep on top of your feelings. "I knew you would like it here."
She nodded, "That's somewhat why I asked you here, do sit down." She said motioning to a chair as she herself sat down. "I figured you would be more comfortable with my husband out of the house, so do feel free to talk about the past, Jack."
"Your husband…The Commodore…James Norrington. I never really would've guessed."
She smiled, "I bet. I never really guessed myself."
"What ever happened?"
She sighed and then started, "When you left myself, Will, Gwyneth and Elizabeth, I actually lived with the Turners for awhile. I had my son there, Samuel, and I stayed there until their twins were a couple months old. The Commodore had gotten my into a house and Gwyneth gave up her job as a shop keeper and gave it to me once Samuel turned three. I then gave Samuel over to Gwyneth during the day.
"Well during this whole time James pursued Gwyneth for a time…" she paused, watching Jack carefully but went on when she saw no change, "But soon stopped. I saw him often because of the Turners and we became good friends and sooner or later we had mutual feelings for each other. We got married soon enough and had three children…"
"I'm happy for you Beverly, I really am…but it's a little odd still."
She nodded, "I can imagine that. But I have to thank you Jack, I developed a life here. A job, friends and a family. And especially a husband I couldn't love more."
Jack winced, still after all these years, he still felt the pang of when she left him. "Your welcome."
While Jack and Beverly were talking, Brenda had somehow gotten word that he was here. She knocked on the door and was let in and once she told the servant she was here to see Jack Sparrow, she was led to the room. She stopped him, however, from announcing her and said she'd surprise them. He nodded and left.
But just as she was about to go in, she heard, "Brenda's matured into a fine young woman, Jack. You should be proud."
"I am, but I must say that she's taken after you."
"Please, she was never completely my child, not after I left all those years ago…"
Brenda paused. Shaking her head, no…I must've heard wrong…no…I was wrong to come here anyhow…no… She turned and quickly left the house.
Jack didn't respond to Beverly's comment. She saw the sudden silence in him and said, "And also Jack, my years on Port Royal have made me realize I…am sorry that I left you and Brenda. It was wrong…not to mention any of the other things I did to you while I was with Antonio…I don't know what I can do to make it up, because I want to Jack, I really do."
Jack saw the sincerity in her eyes and realized she was telling the truth, that she really had regretted what she'd done to him all those years ago. Make it up? I don't think you can make it up. He sighed but then something came to mind, "Actually there is something you can do for me…"
"Anything."
"Well it's mostly for your family but for peace of mind for me Beverly," he paused, "Don't leave your family. It's obvious they're the best thing that ever happened to you."
***
Elizabeth stared at the person before her, why is she here? She thought to herself. This woman who Elizabeth barely knew, already knew Jack? "Hannah…Come in…"
"Did I not hear right?"
Elizabeth wasn't certain the person she was talking about was Jack, but she said he was with Gwyneth so it must've been him. "Mr. Smith is staying with us, yes."
"Do you have other company?"
"Uh yes," she said guiding her into a room and sitting down, "But he's not here at the moment, he usually spends the days out…and the nights…"
"Who is it?"
A male, that's all you want to know, right? "Uhm, Rick…Rick…" Elizabeth froze, oh no! "Rick Potter!" she said snapping her fingers, "Yes…sorry. I rarely call him by his last name."
Hannah nodded, "I see. And where is Mr. Smith?"
"Who?"
"Mr. Smith…"
"Oh! Sorry…" this is going fabulous. "I had a rough night last night…one of the children…had…nightmares…" she said trying to make a story up to cover her blunder. She so badly wanted to stuff her face into a pillow. "He is…at Beverly Norrington's house. Talking with her about old times I imagine…"
"Oh, so he's been here before, has he?"
Elizabeth paused, "Yes, but Beverly knows him from other…coincidences."
"Interesting. Well it's been nice chatting with you Elizabeth, say hello to Will for me and tell Mr. Smith that he should expect me tomorrow." The both stood up as she walked towards the door, "I'll let myself out."
***
Brenda slammed the door behind her as her afternoon had been wasted on drinking. The words she had heard in the Commodore's house kept going through her mind but she refused to listen to them, she tried to drown them out with liquor, but nothing seemed to be working.
"Whoa there tiger…" Trevor said as he passed her on his way to the kitchen. She growled and grabbed one of her daggers from her boot and threw it at him. He ducked and then straightened up, seeing if he hadn't had ducked, the dagger wouldn't have missed its target.
"Leave me alone Devil boy!" she yelled.
He went and got the dagger from the wall and held it in his hand, "You need to learn how to control your problem's Sparrow."
In a second she was at his throat, too bad he was stronger than she expected. He kept her struggling hands far away from his neck as he tried to push her away. "Anger being one of them!"
"There's no one here to save you boy," she said still struggling, but knowing she would lose. The rum did have some effect on her. He pushed her away and she rubbed her wrists, giving up at the moment, but only to regain her strength.
"Drinking being the second one."
"You've never seen me drunk," she spouted.
"Ha! Would you like to recall the other night? So much for not like to be touched."
Trevor saw her eyes flame as she came at him again, now with seemingly new determination, but still she didn't get far. He threw her over his shoulder kicking and screaming and biting to one of the rooms so her sounds could mostly be muffled. He threw her down on a couch and backed away.
"What are you, a human mosquito?" he asked, rubbing his back.
"You'll be lucky if I didn't draw blood."
"What's with you?"
Brenda sighed, "Nothing that concerns you."
He frowned, now he really wanted to know. But not like he cared, "Jeez, just tell me. It must be something big."
"It's nothing okay? And you wouldn't care anyhow! I'm a big girl and can deal with my own problems! Now leave me alone!" she said and then walked out of the room.
***
"You're home late…" Jack spun around, Elizabeth held back a laugh, "You look like a deer caught by a hunter." He was standing by the door and had just entered quietly as he could, but Elizabeth was descending the stairs, and had a complete view of the door.
He eased up a bit, "I was hoping I could come in without interrupting anyone," he paused, "Where's Rick?"
"His daily routine to the tavern…" she said and walked to him, saying, "Can we talk?"
Jack looked around, "Will out with the kids?"
She nodded. "They went shopping…"
"Shopping?"
"My birthday is coming up…and there are still some stores open and it's a nice trip since Will is gone most of the day."
He nodded his understanding and looked at her from the corner of his eye, "What did you want to talk about?"
"No need to be concerned…I want to talk with an old friend…"
Jack looked at her slyly and then nodded knowing she either wanted a heart-to-heart talk or information. He hoped this wasn't going to be a conversation about the change he was going through, because that was the last thing he wanted to think about, let alone talk about.
She smiled and strung her arm through his and led him into the parlor. They both sat down and Jack nervously drummed his fingers on the arm of the couch as he awaited Elizabeth's speech.
"How was your lunch with Gwyneth?"
He looked up, "Good…good…we ran into one of her friends…Ms something. I can't remember."
Elizabeth swallowed, "Powell? Hannah Powell?"
He nodded, "Yea, that was it, how'd you know?"
"She came by here about an hour before you got home…she said to expect her tomorrow."
Jack moaned, "Are you kidding me?" he sighed and growled, "That's perfect. Just perfect. That makes this whole thing a great deal easier!"
Elizabeth paused, Jack looked at her, "Uh…I mean…"
She held up a hand, "No need to explain…but it has something to do with Rick, doesn't it?"
"Liz, please-"
"Jack, if he's making you do something that you don't want to…don't."
He paused and sighed, "You don't know what I'm doing and if it's good or bad…just please stay out of it." He said in the kindest voice he could muster.
She took in a deep breath, "What binds you to him? You two don't seem to have anything in common…anymore and Brenda hates him…why?"
He sighed, so that's what she wanted. To know about Rick. I guess I could tell her, Will must be dying to know too… "The whole story?" she nodded. He nodded as well and leaned forward, "Well Rick and I met along time ago…" he scratched his chin and his fingers went down, expecting to find two braids but they were gone. He frowned and kept going, "While I was roaming the Caribbean, looking for Barbossa and trying to think of a way to kill him if the curse was really true…I met Rick in Nassau, I can't remember how, I think I borrowed money from him."
Jack shook his head, as if trying to resort his memories, "But he helped me get a boat…and get to the nearest island before it sunk." He smiled, "The Island was Port Royal. I never have thanked him for making me buy that piece of junk…that I'm sure is still on the bottom of the ocean floor. Well…we kept in touch after the Pearl came back for me…but he had a ship of his own so our meetings were few and far between. I often brought Brenda with me to visit him. He was kind rough with her, but nothing serious…who knows why she hates him.
"But then I felt like leaving…I needed to get away from the Pearl, so I left and got myself to Rick's house. We get along great and he's a good friend and roomie. I think I'm going to retire…from whatever and live with him until I tip over."
Elizabeth kept herself from gasping at the way he referred to death. "Well I'm glad you've made a choice about what you're going to do with the rest of your life," even though I would like it if you said you were going to be a pirate…
"Is that what you wanted to know about Rick?"
She looked at him, "Yes…I guess. It's just…Jack-" But she was interrupted by the door opening and the sound of her kids and husband coming through the house and telling her not to come in because they had her presents. The minute she heard them go up to their rooms, she left the room.
***
When a man sweeps you off your feet, he's in the perfect position to drop you on your rear.
Gwyneth suddenly sat up with a gasp. Suzie picked her head up to look at her but then put it back down and fell back asleep. Gwyneth grabbed her heart and started breathing hard. That's possibly the worst nightmare I've ever had… she thought to herself as she tried to calm herself down.
The words that had been spoken in her dream were the words of Ana Maria, ever so long ago. She had advised Gwyneth to stay away from Jack in a dream she had while on the ship and in the middle of an emotional relationship with him. This dream seemed to be the same one.
She had told herself before the lunch that day that she didn't want to get involved with Jack again, but their parting kiss told her that she subconsciously did. But now, she had no regrets. She wanted to be with him and was looking forward to the next time she could be able to see him.
But what about the dream?
She sighed and got up from her bed and went to her window seat, she thought things had been so clear. But the dream was sticking with her. Jack wouldn't do anything to hurt me, right?
It was a dream! Her self conscience argued.
Right…dream…dreams have no meaning, right?
Of course you're right!
But no matter how much she convinced herself, she had a gut feeling that there was a certain reason why Jack had asked her to lunch, that there was a certain reason other than he liked her or wanted to be with her and talk about old times.
Author Thanks:
So obviously FanFic had a little trouble sending out Author Alerts and Review Alerts…I was beginning to get worried that the last chapter caused you all to hate me…but I wasn't sure what did it. I'm sorry if I haven't reviewed in a awhile, but I'm afraid it was on account of FanFic…I forgive them tho…they have a lot of stories come in…
ThePinkPanther: Have I heard from you besides this one? I don't remember, but I'm glad you're reading my story! Rick is a shady person…and that's how I want him to be…but I hope this chapter maybe cleared some stuff up…maybe. Like his background.
DragonFlyGirl: Wow, I love that you love my story! You're awesome! I've never had someone tell me bravo…lol. Thanks
Emma436: Yea…the Oscars…Well it's very unusual for a comedy to be even nominated…I wanted to shoot LOTR….lol- I love the movies to death but seriously! I wanted to kill myself! But anyways…yes, I've written your part in my story as Caitlin's friends…she's kinda nosy…but don't take it personally….lol….Oh! Yes…Another Jack and Gwen thing coming soon…not the next chapter but the one after that…so yea! I'm excited for that…and Will and Jack are gunna talk about his "transformation" so yea…thanks for reviewing! OMG! It would be awesome to be the long lost sister….you haven't updated yet, have you?
Bitty-Buffy
Vicki Turner
Dawnie-7: Well yea…Rick…he's not really meant to be liked. And Brenda wow! She's gunna get a huge scene next chapter…yea…that temper of hers…*sigh* But yea, Like I told Emma, Jack and Gwen are gunna talk soon about him.
Piper8188: Well I'm glad you liked that chapter and pointed out things that you liked, I like hearing that. I'm also glad that you found it entertaining in a sense….
