Disclaimer – I don't own POTC, any characters, events, plots, settings,
etc. from it. It belongs to Disney.
'I'm not going to panic. I'm not going to panic.' Jen mentally instructed herself. Why on earth had she agreed to this? Jack was safe at home in the Turners house, babysitting Charlie, and here she was, all dressed up but with no one to talk to. To make matters worse, she had just spotted her parents. Who had arranged a marriage for her with Governor Swann. Jack had rescued her at the last minute and dueled with her father and Governor Swann. She hadn't seen them in over a year. Jen turned away from them, heading in the opposite direction. Elizabeth and Will had already been announced; Governor Swann had already made his announcement about his pleasure that his daughter had a son. Jen put her hand to her hot forehead, praying that neither her father nor Governor Swann would find her. She was absolutely dying in this dress. It was a long and fanned out at the waist, as was the fashion. Elizabeth had been generous with the tying of the corset laces, but 'generous' and 'corset' didn't really go together. Jen felt like her lungs were going to burst. It was a white gown, which called some attention to her, as it was considerably bright. However, the blessing was that Governor Swann had called for a masquerade. Some chose to remove their masks, as the Turners had done, and obviously her parents. Jen kept her mask firmly in place. It covered the upper half of her face, with two holes for eyes. Jen had worn gloves to hide her weather worn hands. She was heading away from the excitement towards the balcony when suddenly, a man place himself in front of her.
"My Lady, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting." He said in a low, warm voice, bowing. Jen forced a smile, offering him her hand, which he brushed his lips over. Realizing she needed to answer, she quickly thought up a name.
"Jennifer Raven." Mentally, she laughed at herself. Wishful thinking, perhaps? She thought was a sardonic smile.
"We have something in common!" The man said with a laugh, straightening. "The name is Adam Hawk. Birds must be well loved creatures." Adam said with a slight smile. Jen nodded.
"Perhaps, Mr. Hawk."
"Please, call me Adam." He insisted. Jen nodded.
"I was just going out to the balcony for some air, if you'll excuse me." Jen said politely, hoping to slip away. Adam grinned. He too was still wearing his mask.
"If it's not a bother, might I join you? The air in this room is stifling!" Adam added. Jen nodded.
"Your presence is greatly appreciated." Jen said with a false laugh. Adam offered his arm, and resentfully, Jen took it.
MEANWHILE...
Jack stared at Charlie, who was sitting on a chair opposite him. They were staring at each other, their gazes locked. Suddenly, Charlie looked away.
"Ha! Another game won for me!" Jack said triumphantly. They had been having staring contests for the past hour. Charlie grimaced. Jack grinned.
"S'all right. I was getting bored too. So tell me, what do I do with ya'?" Asked Jack. Charlie just stared. Jack sighed and slumped in his chair. What was he supposed to do with a little kid? Jack checked his watch. It was nine o'clock. Jack stood and walked to the porch, opening the door and stepping out. The Swann house was ablaze with lights. Jack grinned.
"Jen must be goin' out of her mind! I'll be nice and come collect 'er early." Jack decided aloud, stepping back inside and shutting the door. "All right Charlie, we're gonna' go find Jen. She'll know what to do with you." Jack announced. He looked at Charlie's chair. Nothing. It was empty. Panic suddenly surged through Jack. Where had the little tyke gotten to in the three seconds when his back was turned?
"Charlie?" He called. No answer. Annoyance was now edging in on his panic. What if the kid had found something sharp? Or wandered off? Will would kill him. That boy was dangerous with pointy objects, and Jack didn't feel like having a second showdown. Or would it be a third? Possibly a fourth...they had squared off many times...Suddenly Jack realized Will's anger would be nothing compared to Elizabeth's. That woman had the sharpest slap he'd ever felt, as well as the cruelest tongue. Jack suspected it had something to do with him turning her down.
"Come out, Charlie! I don't need your mother trying to kill me!" Jack called again. Still no answer. Jack ran a hand through his hair. Wait...where was his hat? Jack looked around in despair. Losing that hat was worse than losing the kid! Oh wait, he had left it in the kitchen. Suddenly, a gurgle of laughter pierced the air. Jack listened carefully. It came again. Jack tiptoed to the source of the noise, pausing as he heard it to check that he was heading in the right direction. He ended up right outside the kitchen door. A last gurgle of laughter. Jack pushed the door open and saw Charlie, sitting on the floor, clapping his hands and laughing. There was a captain's hat falling down over his eyes. Jack grinned and sat next to the kid, pushing the hat up so that it wasn't over Charlie's eyes. Charlie laughed even harder, grinning a cute toothless grin. Jack couldn't help grinning.
"You gave me a scare, you little whelp!" Jack teased, letting out a sigh of relief. Charlie just grinned.
"Don't do it again, savvy?" Jack ordered firmly. Charlie clapped his hands.
"Savy!" He squeaked. Jack grinned.
"C'mon. We've got to go rescue a damsel in distress." Jack said, lifting Charlie into his arms and exiting the house.
THE PARTY
Jen stood in an awkward silence on the balcony with Adam. He had a grave, serious air about him, although sometimes he smiled or laughed. Jen just wished she could go home and get out of the horrid dress.
"Do you live around here, Miss Raven?" Asked Adam, turning to her. He had removed his mask, revealing dark brown eyes. Jen smile slightly.
"No. I'm just visiting. And you?" She asked.
"Ah, a traveler, are you? Well, I've lived here quite some time now. I used to travel a bit, but life on the seas wasn't for me. Ever heard of the Black Pearl?" Asked Adam gravely. Jen nodded.
"Of course. Who hasn't?" She replied, her heart swelling with pride for Jack's reputation.
"I once saw that ship. Dreadful, dreary ship it was. Never again do I wish to see that ship." Adam said in a hard tone. Jen made a noise that sounded like agreement.
"Are you a friend of the Turner's then?" Asked Adam, breaking the silence that had once again fallen around them.
"Oh, yes. Elizabeth and Will met me when I came visiting a while ago. Elizabeth was kind enough to invite me tonight." Jen murmured.
"Have you met Governor Swann yet?" He asked.
"Oh, no, but I don't want to trouble our host. He has been most gracious." Jen sputtered. Adam smiled.
"Nonsense. He'd be delight to meet you." Taking her arm in a firm yet gentle grip, he guided her inside and marched her straight up to Governor Swann.
"Governor, have you met Miss Jennifer Raven? She's visiting in town." Adam said as an introduction. Governor Swann smiled, kissing Jen's hand. Jen shuddered.
"Delight to meet you, Miss Raven." The governor stated, smiling at her. Jen once again plastered a smile on her face.
"The pleasure is all mine." Jen said, barely managing to conceal her contempt.
"Now why don't I introduce you to some of the other guests tonight?" Adam said with a smile.
"Jen! Hey, Jen, come!" Jack called quietly from behind a pillar. Somehow, he had managed to slip in unseen. He carried Charlie who still wore his hat, on his arm. Jen smiled. Adam turned to see what she was looking at.
"I'm sorry. I've got to go. It's important." Adam grabbed her arm.
"Is he a relation?" He asked.
"No, but an old friend. He's...he's watching my cat for me. It's an old cat, very sick, and I hated to leave it alone. I suppose something happened. I must go." Jen said firmly. She began to walk away but Adam pulled her back.
"Please, come to my house for dinner tomorrow." Adam pleaded.
"All right." Jen gave in, wanting nothing more than to flee. "I'm staying at the Red Lily Inn."
"Wonderful. I'll send a carriage for you around five in the afternoon." Adam said with a bow. Jen nodded and hurried away. Jack grabbed her hand and the three of them hurried away. Once they were out of the house, Jack kissed Jen in greeting.
"How was it, luv?" He asked with an evil grin. Jen rolled her eyes.
"Horrible." In retaliation, she added, "But I think you have some competition for my hand, Mr. Sparrow."
Unknown to them, someone was watching from a window.
'I'm not going to panic. I'm not going to panic.' Jen mentally instructed herself. Why on earth had she agreed to this? Jack was safe at home in the Turners house, babysitting Charlie, and here she was, all dressed up but with no one to talk to. To make matters worse, she had just spotted her parents. Who had arranged a marriage for her with Governor Swann. Jack had rescued her at the last minute and dueled with her father and Governor Swann. She hadn't seen them in over a year. Jen turned away from them, heading in the opposite direction. Elizabeth and Will had already been announced; Governor Swann had already made his announcement about his pleasure that his daughter had a son. Jen put her hand to her hot forehead, praying that neither her father nor Governor Swann would find her. She was absolutely dying in this dress. It was a long and fanned out at the waist, as was the fashion. Elizabeth had been generous with the tying of the corset laces, but 'generous' and 'corset' didn't really go together. Jen felt like her lungs were going to burst. It was a white gown, which called some attention to her, as it was considerably bright. However, the blessing was that Governor Swann had called for a masquerade. Some chose to remove their masks, as the Turners had done, and obviously her parents. Jen kept her mask firmly in place. It covered the upper half of her face, with two holes for eyes. Jen had worn gloves to hide her weather worn hands. She was heading away from the excitement towards the balcony when suddenly, a man place himself in front of her.
"My Lady, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting." He said in a low, warm voice, bowing. Jen forced a smile, offering him her hand, which he brushed his lips over. Realizing she needed to answer, she quickly thought up a name.
"Jennifer Raven." Mentally, she laughed at herself. Wishful thinking, perhaps? She thought was a sardonic smile.
"We have something in common!" The man said with a laugh, straightening. "The name is Adam Hawk. Birds must be well loved creatures." Adam said with a slight smile. Jen nodded.
"Perhaps, Mr. Hawk."
"Please, call me Adam." He insisted. Jen nodded.
"I was just going out to the balcony for some air, if you'll excuse me." Jen said politely, hoping to slip away. Adam grinned. He too was still wearing his mask.
"If it's not a bother, might I join you? The air in this room is stifling!" Adam added. Jen nodded.
"Your presence is greatly appreciated." Jen said with a false laugh. Adam offered his arm, and resentfully, Jen took it.
MEANWHILE...
Jack stared at Charlie, who was sitting on a chair opposite him. They were staring at each other, their gazes locked. Suddenly, Charlie looked away.
"Ha! Another game won for me!" Jack said triumphantly. They had been having staring contests for the past hour. Charlie grimaced. Jack grinned.
"S'all right. I was getting bored too. So tell me, what do I do with ya'?" Asked Jack. Charlie just stared. Jack sighed and slumped in his chair. What was he supposed to do with a little kid? Jack checked his watch. It was nine o'clock. Jack stood and walked to the porch, opening the door and stepping out. The Swann house was ablaze with lights. Jack grinned.
"Jen must be goin' out of her mind! I'll be nice and come collect 'er early." Jack decided aloud, stepping back inside and shutting the door. "All right Charlie, we're gonna' go find Jen. She'll know what to do with you." Jack announced. He looked at Charlie's chair. Nothing. It was empty. Panic suddenly surged through Jack. Where had the little tyke gotten to in the three seconds when his back was turned?
"Charlie?" He called. No answer. Annoyance was now edging in on his panic. What if the kid had found something sharp? Or wandered off? Will would kill him. That boy was dangerous with pointy objects, and Jack didn't feel like having a second showdown. Or would it be a third? Possibly a fourth...they had squared off many times...Suddenly Jack realized Will's anger would be nothing compared to Elizabeth's. That woman had the sharpest slap he'd ever felt, as well as the cruelest tongue. Jack suspected it had something to do with him turning her down.
"Come out, Charlie! I don't need your mother trying to kill me!" Jack called again. Still no answer. Jack ran a hand through his hair. Wait...where was his hat? Jack looked around in despair. Losing that hat was worse than losing the kid! Oh wait, he had left it in the kitchen. Suddenly, a gurgle of laughter pierced the air. Jack listened carefully. It came again. Jack tiptoed to the source of the noise, pausing as he heard it to check that he was heading in the right direction. He ended up right outside the kitchen door. A last gurgle of laughter. Jack pushed the door open and saw Charlie, sitting on the floor, clapping his hands and laughing. There was a captain's hat falling down over his eyes. Jack grinned and sat next to the kid, pushing the hat up so that it wasn't over Charlie's eyes. Charlie laughed even harder, grinning a cute toothless grin. Jack couldn't help grinning.
"You gave me a scare, you little whelp!" Jack teased, letting out a sigh of relief. Charlie just grinned.
"Don't do it again, savvy?" Jack ordered firmly. Charlie clapped his hands.
"Savy!" He squeaked. Jack grinned.
"C'mon. We've got to go rescue a damsel in distress." Jack said, lifting Charlie into his arms and exiting the house.
THE PARTY
Jen stood in an awkward silence on the balcony with Adam. He had a grave, serious air about him, although sometimes he smiled or laughed. Jen just wished she could go home and get out of the horrid dress.
"Do you live around here, Miss Raven?" Asked Adam, turning to her. He had removed his mask, revealing dark brown eyes. Jen smile slightly.
"No. I'm just visiting. And you?" She asked.
"Ah, a traveler, are you? Well, I've lived here quite some time now. I used to travel a bit, but life on the seas wasn't for me. Ever heard of the Black Pearl?" Asked Adam gravely. Jen nodded.
"Of course. Who hasn't?" She replied, her heart swelling with pride for Jack's reputation.
"I once saw that ship. Dreadful, dreary ship it was. Never again do I wish to see that ship." Adam said in a hard tone. Jen made a noise that sounded like agreement.
"Are you a friend of the Turner's then?" Asked Adam, breaking the silence that had once again fallen around them.
"Oh, yes. Elizabeth and Will met me when I came visiting a while ago. Elizabeth was kind enough to invite me tonight." Jen murmured.
"Have you met Governor Swann yet?" He asked.
"Oh, no, but I don't want to trouble our host. He has been most gracious." Jen sputtered. Adam smiled.
"Nonsense. He'd be delight to meet you." Taking her arm in a firm yet gentle grip, he guided her inside and marched her straight up to Governor Swann.
"Governor, have you met Miss Jennifer Raven? She's visiting in town." Adam said as an introduction. Governor Swann smiled, kissing Jen's hand. Jen shuddered.
"Delight to meet you, Miss Raven." The governor stated, smiling at her. Jen once again plastered a smile on her face.
"The pleasure is all mine." Jen said, barely managing to conceal her contempt.
"Now why don't I introduce you to some of the other guests tonight?" Adam said with a smile.
"Jen! Hey, Jen, come!" Jack called quietly from behind a pillar. Somehow, he had managed to slip in unseen. He carried Charlie who still wore his hat, on his arm. Jen smiled. Adam turned to see what she was looking at.
"I'm sorry. I've got to go. It's important." Adam grabbed her arm.
"Is he a relation?" He asked.
"No, but an old friend. He's...he's watching my cat for me. It's an old cat, very sick, and I hated to leave it alone. I suppose something happened. I must go." Jen said firmly. She began to walk away but Adam pulled her back.
"Please, come to my house for dinner tomorrow." Adam pleaded.
"All right." Jen gave in, wanting nothing more than to flee. "I'm staying at the Red Lily Inn."
"Wonderful. I'll send a carriage for you around five in the afternoon." Adam said with a bow. Jen nodded and hurried away. Jack grabbed her hand and the three of them hurried away. Once they were out of the house, Jack kissed Jen in greeting.
"How was it, luv?" He asked with an evil grin. Jen rolled her eyes.
"Horrible." In retaliation, she added, "But I think you have some competition for my hand, Mr. Sparrow."
Unknown to them, someone was watching from a window.