Chapter Seven
In the Wings of a Sparrow

Standing in front of the tall mirror I gazed at the flowing white wedding dress hanging from my shoulders, the scattered diamonds sparkling in the sunlight and the train piled haphazardly at my feet. Penny was standing next to the mirror, her palm held out and full of pins as Samantha pinned my dress to fit my height.
"It really is quite beautiful," I said quietly, smoothing the cloth with my hands over my stomach then adding absently, "I hope Jack likes it."
Silence fell over the room and I involuntarily covered my mouth, realizing what had just slipped. Samantha stood, her face ashen, and I looked from the mirror to her next to me. "Who's Jack, milady?" she asked and I sighed, stepping down from the small platform.
"No one important anymore."

There was a soft knock at the door and I glanced at the clock on my mantle. It was noon, still a few hours until the guests were to arrive, and I hadn't expected Samantha to help me dress for another half an hour.
"It's Elizabeth, can we talk a moment?"
After calling that the door was unlocked she peered inside and around the edge of the door at me. "What about?" I asked, returning my gaze into my vanity mirror. She strode over to me, placing her hands to my shoulders, and she smiled sweetly at me into the mirror. "Did Penny tell you?"
"About what happened yesterday?"- she nodded and squeezed my shoulder. "That's what I came to talk to about, actually. Jocelyn, if you still love Jack-"
"It doesn't matter if I love him anymore," I interjected bitterly, a lump beginning to form in my throat. "Jack doesn't love me and that's why I really have no choice but to marry Adrian."
"But you've been such a free spirit all these years, why subject yourself to your father's wishes now?"
"Because there's nothing left to look forward to."
I looked at her, a tear streaming down my cheek and dripping to my nightgown. "I've always believed there's only one person for anyone and I found him. He just didn't want me back."
"Oh Jocelyn..."
She pulled a handkerchief from the vanity and dabbed at the wet streak left by the single tear. "Don't sell yourself short, Jocelyn."- she paused to set the handkerchief back down then placed a hand to my cheek, bringing me to look at her. "Listen, we all just want to make sure you're truly willing to wed Adrian. We don't want you to give up."
I smiled a little, appreciative of her worries, but there truly was nothing left to look forward to. This was my fate and I was reluctantly beginning to accept it.

"We are gathered here today..."
I sighed inwardly, looking down at my feet and avoiding the sight of Adrian's hands grasping mine. His palms had gotten sweaty already and I was wanting desperately to pull away. Looking back up I smiled at him, and he smiled back, but I felt nothing inside. There was no warmth, no true love in his eyes and holding his hands on that alter didn't make me feel safe; they didn't make me feel at home, and I looked at the priest about to call the entire thing off but I just couldn't. I could already feel that chain closing around my ankles and just couldn't bring myself to say anything.
"And do you, Jocelyn Rose Turner, take Adrian Brody to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
I hesitated, glancing at Will and Elizabeth in the front row, but William wasn't looking towards the two of us. He seemed preoccupied with something else while Elizabeth chewed on her bottom lip, trying to smile encouragingly at me. I turned back to Adrian and whispered a soft "I do" then bowed my head.
"If there is anyone here today that feels these two persons should not be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace."
"'old up there mate. I got me sumthin' to say."
A dull murmur rippled through the guests as everyone turned to gasp at each other while my heart seemed to freeze inside my chest. I looked down the aisle to see Captain Jack Sparrow standing near the back row, his weight leaning on one of the empty chairs, and I had to smile. He wasn't wearing his usual get-up; the sash around his waist with the leather holster strap across his chest and the stained pants with his large boots were no longer to be seen. He was instead wearing a nice dress shirt, reminding me of one of William's, and a pair of black pants. His bandana was missing, although the beads and the windblown hair still remained, and one hand was tucked behind his back.
"Y'see, as much as I luv weddings and anything of th' like I must say this one shouldn't 'appen."
"Just who do you think you are?" Adrian demanded, stepping in front of me and puffing out his chest as if to stake his claim. "You don't have any right to-"
"Oh I think I do mate," Jack argued with a wink and swaggering toward the alter. "Because that woman there is my bonnie lass...savvy?"
I hurriedly sidestepped Adrian to come between him and Jack, suppressing the urge to hug him right then and there. "What are you doing here Mr. Sparrow? I thought you told me to come back to England while you would stay in the Caribbean."
Not long after I had finished he dropped his hand from behind his back and brought it up between us, holding a single red rose with my golden locket placed carefully in the bed of velvet petals and tears stung at my eyes. He had kept it. "I 'ad more roses, luv," he said quietly, looking into my eyes and I felt at home again. "But I remember ye didn't quite like th' boo kays and all that fancy stuff too much."
Taking the rose from his fingers I gently removed the locket from its bed, and in turn Jack took the locket from my hands and stepped back. "May I? I got a surprise for ye."- he glanced away for a second before bending down on his knee, holding the locket out in front of him. I heard Adrian heave a sigh of frustration, but I didn't let it bother me. All my attention was on Jack as he cleared his throat, scratching absently at his chest a moment, then taking a breath. "Not th-the stars in the 'eavens are enough to match the twinkle in ye eyes. The ocean is-isn't wide or deep enuff to 'old the love ye 'old in ye heart."
Getting to his feet he took my hands within his own as the tears in my eyes finally fell. He had learned to read...just for me. "What about the rest?" I whispered, although not exactly caring. He smirked and nuzzled my nose, brushing his lips against mine.
"I may be a pirate, Jocelyn, but all the treasure I 'ave ever run across in me days never filled me like you do. 'My heart constantly aches to be with you' so would ye 'ave me back?"
"Oh Jack," I whispered, throwing my arms around his neck and an even louder murmur rippled through the rows of guests as we kissed in the aisle. I could hear my name from many of the women, but over them all was Adrian's pleading voice from behind on the alter. I really hadn't wanted to hurt him but Jack had given me my life back and rescued me from something I never wanted to begin with. He pulled away from me, still clinging to my hand, and began to lead me away from the crowd of people. I paused only a moment at the end of the aisle to get one last look at everyone's shocked faces. "Thank you," I called over the dull roar of the guests. "Thank you all for attending my wedding but I'm afraid I won't be coming back for awhile. Best of wishes!"
And I threw the small bouquet of white flowers I held in my hand at Adrian, his mouth agape, then gathered what I could of the train in one arm as Jack led me away by the other to the Black Pearl. Getting there seemed to take no time at all and standing on the deck of his ship we held each other close, lost in each other's worlds as his crew pulled out of dock and out to sea.