Author's note: Hmm…longest chapter yet…Four Thousand words…not counting author's note/thanks…I'm good.
Okay, and of course the long, anticipated explanation to Jack's behavior is in this chapter…but tell me what you think about it in general…
-------------
Jack woke up to the sound of boot-against-stone. He didn't open his eyes, thinking it was the Captain who he didn't really want to talk to. "Get up Sparrow."
His eyes fluttered open, "What?"
"You've been pardoned."
"Oh, for something I haven't done?"
"Don't get smart with me. I'll have my men around the Turners, watching your every move." Regan said unlocking the cell door and opening it. "One thing Sparrow, and I'll tie the noose myself."
"Why do you hate me?"
"I don't. I just hate pirates."
"I'm not a pirate."
The Captain looked him up and down, "Sure, not on the outside, but I don't think you could just so easily give up piracy after more than four decades of being a pirate."
****
Jack peaked his head in the door, and looked around, hoping no one was home. Even though he knew Will had him pardoned, he didn't really want to see any of the Turners, a little embarrassed that he had been arrested the night before.
He didn't get far into the house when he heard the shrill voice, yelling through the entire house, "Uncle Jack!" and then it seemed like a herd of elephants come towards him. In a minute it seemed as though he had a herd of elephants on him. "I need to breathe!" he said faintly.
All five of the kids had tackled him (quite by accident) and now were on top of him, giggling to death.
"Daphne, you're foot is in my face!"
"Calm down Suzanna, I have a sock on."
"It stinks!"
"That's not very nice…"
"Sheldon! You're fat finger is in my ear!"
"Don't make fun of my fat finger…and Jeffery…your hand…it needs to move."
"Whoops, sorry Sheldon."
"You're all fat and crushing me!" Cassandra yelled, giggling.
"And killing your 'uncle'." Jack said, gasping for air. They quickly got off and Sheldon helped him up.
"Sorry Jack."
"We were just excited to see you…" Cassandra said honestly. Jack nodded. He looked down, feeling his leg gain weight almost instantly. Daphne had attached herself to his right leg. He sighed.
"Where were you?" Jeffery asked.
"Uh…you don't want to know." They all paused, all of them looking at him innocently. "You animals want to hear another story?"
They all agreed eagerly and Jack took them away into a room, on the way he met Will and Elizabeth, their arms wrapped around each other. "Jack! You're home…"
He stared at the couple, "Of course I am, did you think I would stay there after you pardoned me?"
The couple stared a Jack, "What are you talking about?" Will asked. "We're surprised you're alright…"
"But the Captain said I've been pardoned…"
"It wasn't us…" Elizabeth said. "It may have been James."
"Who?"
"The Commodore!" Daphne said, from below.
Jack paused, the Commodore wouldn't spring me from jail…would he? Jack had no time to finish his thoughts before the children dragged him into the next room.
****
"Trevor, come here for a minute…" Faith called. Trevor turned around, meeting his two parents.
"I was just about to go meet Brenda, Jonathan and Mark out in the stables…"
"Yes dear, but this won't take long…please?" she asked sweetly, but sounding concerned. He sighed and nodded. He walked over to them and waited. "Your father has expressed some…concerns about…well…"
"Brenda." Edward said. Faith frowned at her husband. She knew the attraction the two seventeen year olds had towards each other, even if it wasn't apparent to them; so she wanted to take this easy and not hurt her eldest feelings.
"What about her?" Trevor asked.
"She's a pirate Trevor." Faith stated plainly.
He nodded, "That is obvious…"
"We're concerned that you're…" Edward didn't know how to put it, "Whatever happened to Belinda?"
Trevor shook his head slightly, trying to organize his thoughts, how did we get from Brenda to Belinda? "Who are we talking about, Brenda or Belinda?"
They paused, "Brenda." Faith answered.
"Okay. Now what's wrong with her?"
"Nothing!" Faith said quickly, knowing she had come to like the young woman, "It's just…we thought you and Belinda…we thought you were courting her."
Trevor shook his head, "She refused me."
"Well there's no need to replace the pirate for her son, there's plenty of wonderful girls out there!" Edward said.
He paused, staring at the two adults in front of him, "You think I'm courting Brenda?"
They didn't answer.
He smirked, "That's out of the question…believe me."
Don't believe him…he likes her.
Shut up, would you?
"You have no intentions on getting involved with her?" Faith asked, hoping he would say no.
"She's attractive…but like dad said, she's a pirate…and our society wouldn't allow it."
"Are you trying to tell us if we were in a different society, you would consider it?"
Trevor shrugged, thinking non-committal answers would get him out of trouble and out to the stables quicker.
"So do you like her?" his mother asked.
He shrugged.
She sighed, "Trevor, go ahead and go…" she said, dismissing him. He left quickly, glad that his mother caught the signs.
"Faith!"
"Edward, it's obvious he doesn't want to talk to us about it. And the boys have always been more open with Gwyneth before they are to us…so we either tell her to tell us or we wait patiently."
Edward sighed, "I guess we should wait…Gwyneth would get touchy if she knew what we thought about Brenda."
"What you think. I think she would be good for Trevor."
Edward rolled his eyes and nodded, "What I think…" he said, trying desperately not to voice his opinion about what his wife had just mentioned.
****
"You're back!"
Jack turned around from the apple he was looking for in the fruit basket, "You know I've never stayed in jail long."
Rick smiled, "I'm glad you're here…there's something we need to talk about."
"What would that be?" he said, turning back around.
"Our bet. A week's up Jack."
Jack winced. He grabbed the first apple he saw and took a bite out of it, it was bruised. He grimaced and went to the trash in the kitchen and through the whole thing away.
"You're still…okay with the bet, right?"
Is he trying to imply that I'm a chicken?
"I'm still fine with it…why wouldn't I be?"
Gwen will never find out.
She's smarter than you! She'll find out.
"Great! A weeks up, savvy?"
Jack nodded. "I understand. I might get her to say it a couple days early actually…"
Of course you might say it first…
Shut up.
"We'll see Sparrow. Now I'm trustin' you to tell me if she tells you or not. I can trust you right?"
"Aye!"
Rick nodded, "Well then good luck mate."
****
Now Gwyneth, stay calm. It's just Jack…there's nothing to get excited or worked up about. Jack Sparrow. And remember not to blush, stammer or get carried away.
That's not possible.
Gwyneth groaned as the carriage came to a stop in front of the Turner house. That is, if Jack is even back yet. If he's not, I'm sure the Captain will let me talk to him in his cell… She got out and shut the carriage door, walked up the steps and knocked on the door. The door opened and a familiar voice rang through the air.
"Gwen!"
She turned, expecting to see the man servant, but seeing Jack instead. Her insides started twisting and her fingers grew cold. She bit her lip. "Don't you look extraordinary?"
"You're back."
"That seems to be the case. Happy to see me?" he asked, finally inviting her in.
"I'm always happy to see you…" she said warily.
"And I you."
She smiled politely. He smiled back, "You really do look lovely."
She felt herself blush, and rubbed her cheek, as if that would make it go away. It's some kind of man who can make a woman my age blush. Of course I'm not exactly hard to make blush. She sighed.
"Come and take a walk with me…" he said holding out his hand. She panicked.
"W-where?" She managed to get out.
"The beach…it's only a short walk from here. It's in clear sight, and it's been killing me to get out there and feel sand under my feet."
She sighed and looked at his hand that was still outstretched to her. Take his hand Gwyneth…you know you want to. Her conscience told her. She wavered and then finally grabbed it. Jack broke into a smile and entwined his fingers with hers. She sighed and forced on a smile. His hand felt the same, the feel of rough, large hands somewhat comforted her, but still- when she looked at his face, it was like looking at a stranger. I hope he tells me soon so he can get over it…
****
"Finally!"
Trevor grunted. Brenda was mounted on Pearl alone, looking down on Trevor. He had just walked out to the stables, the talk his parents gave him bothering him.
"Johnny and Mark finally figured you weren't coming so they put the saddle on…" she paused, "What's with you?"
He shrugged. "They in the stable?"
"Yea. Why?"
"I just want to talk to them, okay?"
Brenda heard the bite in that comment. I've been around males too long to not know what's wrong…Even though Trevor isn't like the men I hang around…he's a male so he'll be easy to figure out. "You still want to go riding?"
Trevor paused, looking up at the short pirate. "I don't think so…" he said warily.
She stared at him, gauging her temper. He's already mad…don't make him worse. "Fine. I'll catch you at dinner." She said and quickly turned around and then kicked Pearl's sides and they rode off into the distance.
Trevor sighed and watched her go, wanting so badly to be on the horse with her. He sighed again and walked to the stables, needing to talk to his brothers.
Once he told them the story, all three of them sitting out in the field, they both paused, "So does this mean you like her?" Mark asked.
Trevor rolled his eyes and fell backwards into the soft grass. "I'm not going to answer that."
Jonathan and Mark gave each other a look and Jonathan pushed up his glasses, "Well then let's say…hypothetically you do have feelings for the pirate…why would you care what mom and dad think?"
"Because…hypothetically… if mom and dad would talk to me after such a short time…that they're concerned for me…what will the rest of the town think? I'm the eldest of the bunch. People expect things from me. Society expects things from me."
"Who cares about society when you have the love of your life?" Mark asked. Jonathan jerked his head around and stared at his brother and Trevor sat up on his elbows and stared at him, "…Hypothetically." He said looking at both of them.
Trevor sighed and laid back down. "I shouldn't be talking to you two about this…I need to talk to Aunt Gwyneth."
"She's with the Captain…I think." Jonathan answered.
"Figures."
"Well she left in kind of a hurry…she said it was important…" Mark put in.
That's just great. Here I am having a problem with my pirate and Aunt Gwyneth is out with her pirate.
****
It had been about a half an hour of walking since Gwyneth and Jack had made their way to the beach. Hand-in-hand they walked down the quiet beach, glad there weren't a lot of people out and about, Gwyneth wore the perfect dress for such an occasion. It was light, of course with the traditional layers underneath, white and light blue. It was simple. She had to pick up the back to keep it from getting wet, and Jack seemed perfectly fine with that. She smiled, thinking most men would faint if they saw a single woman's under layers.
She was getting antsy though. She was of course, happy to be with Jack, but she really wanted him to talk. She didn't say anything though, knowing if she were to force him, she wouldn't get the full effect. But maybe he's waiting for me to start the conversation… she thought to herself, panicking. She squeezed his hand lightly and watched his face.
"You got time?"
She smiled, "I have plenty of time for you…"
He sighed and stopped walking. She stopped with him, still watching him. He looked out onto the ocean and breathed deep, taking in the salty air. "He's out there somewhere…"
"Who?"
"Gibbs."
She nodded, remembering that Brenda had told her, Will and Elizabeth that Gibbs had passed away. "I'm sorry Jack."
He seemed to shake it off, starting to walk slowly again, "He wouldn't have wanted it any other way. And it was his time to go…"
"But I know you two were good friends…"
He nodded, not saying anything more on the subject. "I haven't told Brenda any of this…which is something I desperately need to do."
"Oh?"
"She knows the basics…what happened on the outside, but she doesn't know what I went through…inside. But I s'pose it sounds funny…a pirate talking about feelin's."
She shook her head, "No, not at all." Liar.
"When Gibbs died…I couldn't get over the fact of it. He was gone. Forever. I wasn't ever going to hear his snoring through the thin wood walls, and I wasn't ever going to eat his 'bubblin' mass'…he was gone. He is gone."
She nodded, just listening. But also knowing how he feels with losing someone. She had lost her parents, but that was for another time.
"Ana left about two weeks later. We had stopped on some island…I can't remember where, and she had saved up enough money to buy a ship of her own and she took on a crew and left. I think she was escaping the best way she could…"
Gwyneth cringed, two friends in two weeks…oh Jack…
"Soon enough I started to change my appearance…it's obvious. I also started spending a lot of time in my cabin, forcing Brenda into the Captain mold. I kept thinking if I wasn't a pirate then none of this would've happened…that I wouldn't have known Gibbs and hurt when he died, that I wouldn't have stole Ana Maria's boat causing her to leave, and I wouldn't have…had Brenda. And if I did…it would've been on civilized land instead of a bloody pirate ship.
"And if I wasn't a pirate that would increase my life span…in theory. So I left. I stowed away on a cargo ship and made my way to Ricks. Thinking I could get away from it all. I was a coward and ran away from it all, but I knew I couldn't face it."
Gwyneth was almost too afraid to ask, "Face what?"
"Death. I love being a pirate, but I love my life even more. It may not sound horrible or be what you thought it was going to be…but it's the truth. I changed my appearance and left the Pearl to get away from death."
****
Brenda sighed, since she had come to Port Royal and Gwyneth's house and ridden Pearl, she had always felt somewhat significant and important on the large beast. Mostly just being so tall, but it always made her feel good about herself. But now, as she sat with a straight back and a straight face, she wasn't feeling that good.
Bloody men, she thought to herself as she watched the sun set, remembering the other day with Trevor. She had never felt this unsettled about a male, save for her father. Her and Jack have gotten in numerous arguments over the years and many of them lasted a week or longer, but she had always made up with him and had always known what was wrong with him and her.
She didn't with Trevor.
And that bothered her.
A lot.
I'm sure it's nothing I've done…because I haven't done anything…
Why are you so worried about him anyhow?
She paused. Good question. When she first got here he was a complete jerk to her, to say the least. He seemed to resent the fact that she was a pirate and she knew Gwyneth. Gwyneth… she thought to herself. Surely it has nothing to do with Gwyneth and I…that we're close…
You and Gwen are close?
Brenda sighed. That was another thing entirely that she didn't even want to get into at the moment. Gwyneth would certainly take longer to consider and make a real thought out process than Trevor. Right? Brenda wasn't sure. She had always thought of men to be so easy to figure out. They weren't complicated and didn't really have an intelligent thought in their head.
At least not the men I'm around…
But she guessed that was the thing, Trevor was so different. She had never been around such a creature. She joked with the Pearl's crew and they teased her and only her father could make her mad, but Trevor did so much more to her. He made her furious in a minute, he challenged her mentally- something only her father had done, and only on a small scale.
He gets me mad but then distracts me so my tension and anger fade away…something that no one has ever tried. Usually you couldn't pay someone to get as close to me when I'm angry…but he actually picked me up and carried me! She sighed. This whole thing was incomprehensible to her.
Is he even angry with me? Whenever I was angry he practically forced me to talk to him, but I just ran off… She paused. Should she do the same thing? Should she push and push until he explodes like Gwen did to her? That's another person who dared to get close to me when I was at my angriest! She shook her head, what was with these people? They actually care about me?
That's not fair…your father cares…
True. I need to talk to him too.
Her shoulders sagged, this was too much. She didn't really care if Trevor got mad at her, she was going to ask him what was the matter. She was going to get it out of him and she was going to help him with it. And I'm tired and hungry anyhow… She sighed again and kicked Pearl's sides, making the large animal gallop towards home.
****
Gwyneth didn't say a word through dinner. Of course neither did anyone else. Trevor and Brenda wouldn't make eye contact with each other, and Trevor wouldn't make eye contact with anyone except for Gwyneth. Edward barely ate anything and Faith kept dropping her silverware. Rebecca and Caitlin whispered back and forth to each other and Jonathan and Mark were making strange eye contact to each other from across the table.
Trevor excused himself early and Faith watched him go forlornly, almost, as did Brenda. The girls left when they had cleared their plates to go in the backyard and play with Suzie since it was still light outside. Mark and Jonathan soon left as well, going up to their room. Brenda sighed. Gwyneth bit her lip and Edward and Faith looked at each other.
"It's been a long day…" Gwyneth started, remembering almost falling into Jack's arms when he told her everything. "I'm going to start getting ready for bed so I can sleep in…"
They all nodded. Gwyneth looked at Brenda, "You going out on the town tonight?"
"I don't think so…though I may go take a walk…"
"As long as you don't get lost dear. We wouldn't want you out in the late hours wondering around." Faith responded, looking at her plate. Brenda nodded and got up, quickly leaving the room and the house.
Gwyneth looked at her brother, "Is everything alright with the kids? Barely anyone talked."
"And I noticed neither did you…" Edward answered.
She eyed him, "You didn't answer my question big brother."
Faith sighed, "Its Trevor."
"What's wrong with him?"
"We talked to him about Brenda…and our concerns for them…well for something that might come up."
"So?"
"We don't know his feelings…" Edward said, glancing at his wife, "We figured he would go to you before he would come to us. The boys have always felt more comfortable with you, and we're fine with that as long as we get to know too…"
"And we know you have good morals and always advise them to do the best thing." Faith added.
"So you're saying…" Gwyneth said, not sure what they were exactly talking about.
"Be ready for him." Edward said. She nodded and made her way up the stairs slowly. She all of the sudden felt old and weak. She felt totally drained. She was sure a good nights rest would help her greatly, so then she could talk to Jack and maybe tell him part of what had happened to her in the past fourteen years and how it could relate to him.
Once she got in her room, lit all her candles, closed the draperies, she jumped slightly when she saw Trevor sitting in a chair. "Sorry," he said plainly.
She shrugged, "I guess I'm kinda of used to people on my bed scaring me half to death…"
He smiled weakly. "Auntie…" She sighed and walked over to the bed, sitting on the side of it. He scooted up next to her and even though he was much taller than she, he leaned his head on her shoulder and sighed heavily.
"Hard day?"
He nodded, "Mom and dad's talk ruined my whole day."
"I know how you feel kid," she said, leaning her head against his and putting her arm around him.
"I feel so immature."
She smiled, "All of us do once in a while…"
There was a pause before he said, "They said that she's a pirate…"
Gwyneth paused, "Yes, yes she is."
"They said I should…pursue other girls…of higher position."
Oh…I get it now. "They're looking out for you…no matter how right or wrong they could be."
"What do you think?"
"That's dangerous Trevor…I don't want to say something that might-"
"Please, Aunt Gwyneth." He said, cutting her off.
She sighed, knowing that whatever she said would stay in this room. "Well look at Will and Elizabeth! They love each other, have five kids and came from totally different backgrounds! His father was a pirate for goodness sake!"
"That's true…"
Gwyneth paused, "So does this mean you like her?"
He groaned, "That's what Mark asked." Gwyneth nodded, seeing that he would ask that, but didn't say anything. Trevor closed his eyes, "She's…attractive…" Gwyneth nodded again, thinking that Brenda was quite beautiful. "And those gray eyes of hers…they seem to penetrate my entire being!"
"That look she gets from her father."
"But not the eyes…"
Gwyneth nodded, knowing who she got the eyes from. Beverly. I wonder if now that Brenda knows, if she'll confront Beverly.
"Did you see Jack today?"
"Yes...how'd you know?"
"Lucky guess…"
"Hmmm…You need more time on your hands."
Trevor shrugged, "I heard he had a massive bruise on his jaw…is it still there?"
Gwyneth smiled, "Yes it is."
"Did you talk to him?"
"Yea…we had a nice long talk…"
"You seem tired, was it a stressful thing to do?"
She paused, stressful? "Nah…not really. Draining maybe, but not stressful."
"Do you love him?"
Gwyneth paused, that's what you get for asking him a similar question.
Did I ever stop loving him? Did I ever love him in the first place? "That's a little more complicated."
"Are you leaning towards yes or no?"
She sighed and patted her nephew's arm. "I'm leaning towards I don't want to think about it."
"Yes or no, Gwyneth…"
"You're stubborn, you know that?"
Trevor nodded, "It comes with age."
She smirked, "I might possibly perhaps maybe kinda leaning towards…yes." Trevor smiled. Gwyneth reveled in that for a moment and then said, "But don't tell the pirate."
--------------
Author Thanks:
Piper8188: lol, you crack me up. Gwen and Jack have kissed before…I didn't really explain it when it happened, but I mentioned it when Jack was leaving her house or something…I can't remember. I'm glad you liked those things in my chapter, and yes you're advice for the Brenda explaining Rick thing was good. Everyone loved that I wrote that…lol. Why I didn't think of it in the first place, I wasn't sure.
Emma436: You're insane, you know that? I can't believe you put the Shooter/shoot her thing in your review. I almost started crying. That movie scared the pants off me. Yet I'm going to see it again! Omg, I'm so excited to post this bloody thing…ah! It's so stinkin' long and it has A LOT of good stuff in it. No! Drinking…not yet. Jack is slowly…well…becoming himself again, at least after he lets all this out in the open. He still has to tell Brenda though. So he's on the slow road to recovery… and he starts drinking when well…something bad happens…but I can't tell you! But since you're a psychic, you might figure it out anyways.
Dawnie-7: So yea…same with me and Secret Window. Didn't really realize it until the last minute. Then it REALLY freaked me out. The scene where he stabs her in the leg with a tool…ew. And then at the end with the Corn…field. Auh. I wanted to ….see it again. Lol. Oh! So yea, did you like this chapter? With the whole explanation thing?
Albe-Chan
Vicki Turner
ThePinkPanther
