Bridget Sparrow

By Anna Summers
Ohh, how I love reviews! They're always so lovely to come home to each day! I've officially decided to continue this story, and I hope you're as anxious as I am to see where it goes. So many ideas are in my head right now, I've got to get them all organized! All in good time! Enjoy Chapter 3!

~~~

 It took nearly three days to reach Port Royal, and by the time the Black Pearl got there, Bridget was as anxious as ever to rejoin her legs with solid ground. She had scarcely spoken with Jack; he'd taken on a "tough-captain" approach to everything and it seemed as though he was trying to evade talking to her.

Bridget was not alone in the world, however. Tom and the rest of the crew still paid her mind, and she was grateful for that. In five years, she'd bonded with the Black Pearl's crew beyond belief. She was their little girl and they were all a horde of fathers: one big happy family. Well, except for Tom. Bridget did not like to consider him family, for obvious reasons.

It was late in the evening when the coast of Port Royal finally came into view, and Jack announced to the crew that they would wait until sunrise to dock. That offered the crew one final night with their dearest Bridget, and they all (with the exception of Jack) glumly assembled in the crew's lodge for rum and card playing.

Bridget had inherited her father's winning streak, and she infrequently suffered a loss against any member of Jack's crew. That particular night, she was in a hard game of poker with Tom, Gibbs, (her father's first mate) and Cotton, another pirate. Cotton's tongue had been cut out in his previous years, for reasons beyond Bridget's comprehension. Tongue-less, Cotton was not a man of words, so he, as Bridget had been told, had educated a parrot to talk for him. The senseless bird only sounded like it knew what it was talking about, but Bridget often questioned both the bird, and Cotton's sanity. Bridget liked Cotton, nevertheless; he was, after all, a high-quality listener, even if his bird was not. Around the four card players stood the remainder of the crew, watching their every move intently. A few men stood behind Bridget, staring at her hand and sneering impishly at Tom and Cotton, knowing the three men did not stand a chance.

"Ahhk! Cards on deck! Cards on deck!" the bird squawked. Cotton nodded in exuberant agreement as Tom inclined an eyebrow at the parrot. Tom then went back to ogle at his cards, pretending that he knew what the bird had been chatting on about. (It always made Cotton look less fanatical if the bird was treated with the same respect as Cotton was.)

Bridget stared at her perfect hand, a full house, and smiled victoriously. She glanced up at Tom, who was furrowing his brow and staring at his own cards with frustration. He scratched his sandy-colored hair and his sea-colored eyes trailed upward and met her own. She smiled again; his baffled expressions only made her love him all the more.

"I fold." Gibbs slapped his cards down on the table in exasperation. He gazed at the lasting three players in wide-eyed wonder. His balding head was glistening from perspiration; it was quite warm below decks in the tiny room.

"Show 'em." Bridget spoke with a grin as she watched Tom, then Cotton, lay down each of his cards on the table. Tom had two pairs of sevens, not good enough for Bridget's hand. Cotton set down a pair of nines.

"Ahhk! Overboard! Overboard!" shrieked the parrot.

"'Fraid it's not goin' te be 'nuff, there, Mr. Cotton." Said a pirate behind Bridget who was familiar with her hand. The entire crew leaned forward to see what Jack's daughter would lay down. She aligned her cards perfectly in her hand and flipped them over for the room to see. A full house.

The crew howled for Bridget, and Cotton reached an arm over to pat her on the shoulder as the bird squawked in congratulations. Bridget met Tom's gaze from across the table, and found that he was looking at her with a flirty smirk upon his face.

"You beat me!" he bellowed above the noise of the animated crew.

"That I did!" Bridget laughed heartily and allowed herself to be hoisted up by three large members of the crew. She was atop their shoulders, having to duck so her head did not thump the low ceiling. She hooted and clapped her hands as she felt herself being spun around. All of a sudden, she felt someone grab her from behind by her waist, and she did not defy as she was lowered to the ground. Once on the floor, she turned around and smiled when she perceived her intruder as Tom. He intertwined his fingers with hers and led her outside the room and onto the deck, disregarding the whistles and howls from the crewmembers as he and Bridget departed.

Once outside in the night, Bridget took a deep breath of salty air, trying to ignore the already-homesick feeling she had when she recognized that she might not be on a ship again for a very long time.

"Why are you leaving me?" Tom bleated as he pretended to pout. Bridget touched his lips.

"Come visit me?"

"Of course..." he smiled with a short breath.

He kissed her again under the moonlight, only briefly, of course. He strode hastily away when he heard Jack's cabin door swing open from somewhere on deck. He winked at her as he descended back down the crew-corridor stairs. Right on cue, Jack emerged and stood about ten feet from her.

"So, here we are." He said. He looked at the ground with dark eyes. Bridget tried to keep her emotions from getting the best of her. There was no turning back now.

"Yes. Here we are." She repeated as she stared at her father.

"I'll show ye off to the Turner's in the mornin'. It'll be early, crew won't be up yet, so ye best say yer goodbyes tonight." Jack was scarcely ever in a mood such as this. Usually, everything he said had a humorous twit to it. But not tonight, he was losing Bridget; there was nothing comical about it.

Bridget nodded and let her eyes meander from Jack's gaze. She turned away, but was thankful to know that Jack was not leaving. Instead, he walked up behind her so that he was not but a few inches from her.

"Just because I'm lettin' ye go home..." he began, "Doesn't mean I'm not goin' te miss ye."

Bridget smiled, but still hid her face from Jack.

"I know." She understood, "I'll miss you too. But, I really have to stand on my own two feet right now." She turned to him as she said the last sentence, and Jack nodded respectively.

"Sleep would be a nice idea, now. Don't want to be tetchy for 'ol Will and Elizabeth."

Will and Elizabeth...the Turners. Bridget trusted she would like them as much as Jack apparently did. She nodded one last time, and then unexpectedly threw her arms around her father.

"Thanks again. I'm awful sorry I always harassed you about givin' up bein' a pirate. I know I was being difficult."

Now she understands, thought Jack.

"No worries, love." He turned on his heel and walked away, hiding his thwarted expression. In a way, he thought, he should be happy. He would be returning to life before Bridget – drinking, pilfering, and swearing. It was his dream. It was his old life. He loved that life.

Then why did it feel so wrong?

***

The sun rose the following morning, and Bridget roused at once. This was her big day, and she would not squander any time. She was confident that no one was awake yet, and she climbed out of her bed and ambled to her mirror that stood on the back of her door of the guest cabin. The cabin was near her father's.

Her loosely curled hair hung near her mid-back, and Bridget brushed a few stray strands from her eyes. Sleep had never been one to maim Bridget's appearance – she had a natural magnificence about her that had often been the envy of some women while she lived in Port Royal, even at age twelve. She had her father's eyes – those dark brown, mystifying eyes – that often looked as though they held a secret of some sort. Come to think of it, she had her father's hair as well – also a dark brown, nearly black, look that was much more kept than Jack's was. The only feature of Bridget's that resembled her mother was her bone structure. Her high-cheek bones and broadly spaced eye sockets only did her justice. Bridget was thin, still she ate like a healthy man, and just as much as any member of her father's crew.

After stumbling sleepily to her closet, Bridget chose the light blue dress that she had set out the preceding night when she had packed everything else she possessed in a large bag. The blue dress had been her mother's. She seldom wore it, fearing it may get dirty, but this was a special occasion. She was returning to Port Royal, after all, with five years maturity, and she was determined to show it. She pulled the dress over her under-dress that she had slept in. The dress itself was slightly off-shouldered, and Bridget could not tell whether the dress was made to fall off her shoulders, or if it was just too big on her. Either way, it made her look fabulous.

Bridget jumped when a knock came at her door.

"It's me, love."

It was indeed Jack, and Bridget opened the door and spread her arms open as if to say, "How do I look?"

"Ye look – nice." Jack had never been one with compliments. Bridget giggled a 'thank you', and glanced at herself in the mirror once more.

"Ready?" he asked.

"All set." She smiled and grabbed the bag that held her belongings. She followed Jack out the door, and to her astounded surprise, saw every single member of the crew standing in a line, waiting to bid her farewell. It took all Bridget had not to let tears fill up in her eyes.

First in the line was Gibbs, and she hugged him tightly.

"Stay outta trouble, lass." Gibbs warned teasingly, and Bridget nodded with a smile as she pulled away.

She passed through the line, hugging each one of them, and accepting advice from each. (Except Cotton, of course.)

Last, but not least, was Tom. She let him cling to her, not caring if Jack saw, or even minded. She would miss Tom more than most, therefore her goodbye would be longer than most.

"Remember me." Tom raised his eyebrows earnestly.

"Always, always." Bridget embraced him once again and shuddered as he ran his fingers through her hair. He kissed her forehead and let her go. She walked after Jack, not looking back, even for an instant.

***

Jack, who had not been himself at all the past few days, was becoming relatively ordinary again. The bounce in his step was back, and he was visibly thrilled at the thought of reuniting with Will and Elizabeth. Outwardly, Jack looked standard, but inwardly, he was disheartened. His stance was purely a disguise to keep his mind off his departing daughter.

Jack guided Bridget through the back streets of Port Royal, so as not to be seen. He was not a senseless man, and he knew if he were to be caught again in Port Royal, he'd have to answer to Commodore Norrington, possibly one of his least favorite people in the entire world. He was not afraid of the Commodore, but a long chat with the fellow could slow things down for him. While not irrational, he was still impatient.

Bridget trailed behind Jack elatedly. She was back home again, and she had to restrain herself from squealing with delight whenever they passed a landmark of something that reminded her of her youth. She was anxious to see the house in which she had grown up, but Jack was leading her in the opposite direction – towards the thriving part of the port where the rich citizens lived. Catherine, Bridget's mother, had not been obtained a large sum of wealth working as a seamstress, and she and her daughter had shared a small house in the pitiable part of the village. Though never furnished as marvelously as some, Bridget's recollections belonged to that house, and she treasured it all the same.

Jack stopped at a black gate that included white walls on either side of it. The walls extended all the way around a large area that delimited a white house with vast, white columns. Surely this was not the Turners! Jack had never mentioned a thing about the couple being perhaps the wealthiest family in Port Royal. Jack detected Bridget's gawking.

"She's the governor's daughter." He explained, and Bridget nodded her head slowly.

"And Mr. Turner...?"

"Blacksmith. Great with a sword, you two should get along in that department."

Bridget had not taken her eyes from the house as she stood gazing at it through the rod-iron fence. She followed Jack inside as he pushed open the gate and began bounding blissfully towards the front door. Once they reached the great black French doors, Jack knocked thrice, and the two waited apprehensively for a soul to answer the door.

The large door in front of Jack swung open unhurriedly, and an aging man wearing a black butler ensemble appeared in the doorway. He cocked an eyebrow at Jack's appearance, but said nothing.

"May I assist you?" he said properly.

"Yes, you may. I'm here to see William and Elizabeth Turner. I have a very important business proposition I would very much like to discuss with them over tea and crumpets." Jack imitated a rich, proper, refined snob, but the beads in his long, dark, mangy hair and the braided goatee that he sported gave him the appearance of anything but a nobleman.

The butler looked incredulously at Jack, then at Bridget. He appeared skeptical, but then illustrated an expression of relief when he heard his master's voice from behind him.

"Who is it, George?"

It was the voice of Will Turner.

"Appears to be a p—," the butler stopped himself from saying "pirate", as it was not the custom to point fingers at seemingly harmless guests. He finished his cut-off with, "A gentleman, sir."

Jack was hardly a "gentleman", but he accepted the compliment with a gold edge to his crooked smile. Will's head appeared from behind the butler's broad shoulders, and an enormous smile spread across his face.

"Jack!" he exclaimed as he pushed his way past George the butler, "How've you been!"

Will approached Jack and shook his hand vigorously, then stepped back, and Bridget caught her first good look at Will. He was a young man, maybe early thirties or so, with curly brown hair that had grown downward to the nape of his neck. It was secured behind his head with a red piece of a cloth. He certainly looked like a blacksmith with his callused hands, but he oddly enough had a rough charm that Bridget found appealing. On the whole, he looked like a friendly man, and Bridget smiled at him, although he appeared not to have noticed her yet. Still caught up in the fact that his old friend was back, he couldn't take his eyes off Jack. He gestured both hands towards him.

"You haven't changed one bit!" he said.

"Neither have ye!" replied Jack, evidently ecstatic to see his comrade. "How's the wife?"

"Elizabeth's fine..." Will commenced. Then, blushing, he added with a nod, "Pregnant."

Jack grinned and winked at Will knowingly, "Ye scoundrel." 

"What brings you to Port Royal?" Will asked, dismissing Jack's last comment and changing the subject.

"Well --," Jack started, but Will took this opportunity to become aware of Jack's companion, a young girl.

"Who's this?" Will questioned happily with a smile as he looked upon Bridget with kind brown eyes. He placed his large hands on his hips and waited for Jack's answer.

"It is she that brings me to Port Royal." Jack explained, "This is my daughter, Bridget."

Will furrowed his brow and stared in wonder at Jack. He narrowed his eyes.

"Daughter?" repeated Will, "Jack Sparrow, a daughter! I never thought I'd see the day! Has it really been that long since we've heard from you?" Will sounded unconvinced.

"Well, no, ye see. She's been sailin' with me for near five years. Last I saw ye and Elizabeth was two years ago, but I kept little Bridget on the Pearl. This used to be her home." Jack clarified. "Didn't want to stir up bad memories. 'Er mother died here."

Will nodded understandingly, lost in thought. A moment later, he blinked and returned his gaze to Bridget. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Will Turner."

Will took Bridget's hand and made an attempt to draw it to his lips, but Bridget shook his hand in her own and Will smiled. She was one of Jack's crewmembers, not a mere lady as she appeared.

"Come in, come in! I'll fetch Elizabeth. She's just woken up from a nap, I believe."

He ushered the pirate and the pirate's daughter into the large house, and Bridget could only stand gaping. The oak wood floor was beautifully flawless and the walls were gorgeously beige in color. Looking up, one could view a large spiral staircase with steps, also wooden, and white handrails that wound up and around where it ended at a long corridor. In the middle of the large entrance hallway on the ceiling, a huge brass chandelier shone down on Jack, Bridget, and Will as he made his way up the stairs to retrieve Elizabeth.

"Wow," whispered Bridget, "It's huge."

"Aye." Jack nodded as he eyeballed the place, "Seems to have gotten bigger since I last saw it."

"How long've they been wed?" Bridget asked as she studied the chandelier above her.

"Two years, I'd say. That sounds 'bout right, seein' as the last time I was here was fer their wedding."

Bridget nodded leisurely and suddenly turned her interest to the top of the long staircase, where Will and a very beautiful woman with long curls were beginning to descend. The woman, obviously Will's wife, Elizabeth, was extremely pregnant and she had to struggle to keep her balance, even with Will's guiding hand on her lower back.

"My God!" Jack cried, "Yer huge!"

He held out his hands in exclamation and walked to the foot of the stairs, where Will and Elizabeth were very nearly approaching. Elizabeth, not offended in the least, simply rolled her eyes and laughed at Jack.

"Why, thank you, Jack." Breathed Elizabeth as she and Will finally reached the bottom of the staircase.

Will brought his wife over to Bridget, who had not moved, and Bridget politely introduced herself to Elizabeth.

"I'm Bridget Sparrow." Said Bridget, then she put in, "Jack's daughter."

"Amazing," said Elizabeth, "Jack Sparrow. A daddy. Will, can you imagine?"

Bridget smiled a bit awkwardly as the couple stared at her. Luckily, Jack was there to break the silence.

"And Will Turner!" he said, clapping his hand onto Will's shoulder, "A soon to be father! Even I can't imagine!"

Will chuckled at this, then noted as he gazed upon Bridget, "She's got your eyes, Jack! Anyone ever told you that?"

"Many a time." Jack nodded with a hint of...was it pride?

There was a discomfited silence, as there happened to be quite often, and finally Jack spoke the burning sentence that Bridget had been wondering about since they first set foot in the mansion.

"Can she stay with ye?" Jack flat out asked the question rather hastily, which caused Elizabeth and Will to look rather taken aback.

"What?" Elizabeth reflexively put a hand on her swollen stomach, "Here? Stay here?"

Jack nodded and Bridget smiled a small smile. Jack had popped the inquiry a bit unexpectedly, and Bridget felt rather sympathetic for the Turners for having to make a large decision on the spot. She hoped they knew that they were free to decline.

"Um..." Will started, looking at his wife, "I suppose...it'd be all right."

Visibly unsure at first at the thought of having to support another child while their not yet born one was soon to arrive any day now, Elizabeth eventually consented and she smiled.

"You're welcome here."

Always optimistic, Elizabeth looked at the bright side of Bridget's company. She could help with dishes, the baby, and other such errands. Perhaps it wouldn't be all that terrible.

"Oh, good." Jack said, relieved, "Well, I'll be goin', then."

He turned to leave, but Bridget couldn't stop herself from trying to prevent it.

"Wait!" she called, "Right now? You're leaving – now?"

Jack whipped around.

"Yes, love." He nodded and raised his eyebrows. "Ye'll be fine."

"Stay for a hot meal, Jack. All that rum all the time cannot be healthy." Elizabeth pleaded half-heartedly. After all, Jack had been the one that had saved both her and her husband from near death after their voyage on the Black Pearl. At times, although never out loud, Elizabeth sometimes wondered if Jack was the reason she had ended up marrying Will. In fact, now that she thought of it, if Jack hadn't been there to save her the day she fell off the top of the landing and into the water, she would have drowned. In this case, she wouldn't have gotten to wed anyone at all. She owed Jack a lot.

"Ah, I've got meself a hungry crew back onboard." Said Jack, and Will and Elizabeth nodded.

Winking at Bridget one final time, Jack allowed George the butler to open the large door for him as he walked out into the daylight.

Bridget filled with regret, but she tried to conquer it. When would it be that she would see her father again? She tried not to think of it, but her mind told her that it would certainly not be very soon at all.

Jack disappeared when George closed the door, and Bridget tried with all her might to shield her face from the Turners. She could feel them staring at her, gazing upon their new and potentially permanent houseguest. She watched where Jack had been and couldn't help but feeling her eyes flood and she struggled to keep from crying.

...but everyone expected Bridget, the girl, to cry. No one expected, or saw, the single tear that slid down Captain Jack Sparrow's rough, scratchy face the moment he stepped off the Turner's property. He wiped it away hastily as he began walking back to the sea.

~~~

Oy, that was a long one, aye?

Thank You's!

Delphein-My favorite author! I may take you up on that offer...I hope you're enjoying the story, and I am anxious to make it better!

IWRY-ALWAYS-So wonderful you like it thanks for the great review! Yes, I know this chapter took about a million years to update, but no worries I'm trying! Honest!

szhismine-I'm glad I've helped you find a new interest in POTC fics. They've always been among my favorite, obviously. :)

Jaina Kenobi-Thank you ohh so much!

Ashlee – More is on the way!

bambi eyes- I'm so glad you can relate this to something, I think that makes stories all the more enjoyable to read...when you can relate to them. :)

AllieScic-Yes, poor Tom, he is heartbroken. And if I was Bridget, I would definitely love hanging out with dear William. Except he's married – darn it! Oh well...maybe someone new will come along???

Hamster Huey-You'll see the future all in good time, my dear!