A short, light chapter after the heaviness of the previous ones.
Caffeine fairy! I wondered where you'd got to, welcome back!
AJ Sparrow, I dealt with the issue of Maddy never getting pregnant a few chapters ago. Quite a few chapters ago, actually (must go and look it up for next time….)
Summery-ice, I get the chapters out quickly, by having a stockpile of around 5-10 chapters, so everything you comment on, I probably typed weeks ago!
Sparrow-Phoenix, here's your update.
Thanks to Hilary for keeping me (mostly) sane, and Linnie for all her hard work behind the scenes, as it were!
Chapter 57
'Madalene, y'know I hate surprises,' Jack frowned, folding his arms.
'No Jack, you love surprises, you're just a big child.' Maddy squealed as Jack chased her around their cabin, finally catching her by the bunk, his eyes dancing mischievously.
'Well, well luv, look where we've ended up.' Jack threw his wife down and landed, none too gently on top of her, laughing wildly as he straddled her. 'Now, are ya goin' ter tell what you're plannin' or do I have ter tickle it out o'ya?'
'Don't you dare, Jack Sparrow.' Maddy wriggled desperately, trying to get from under Jack, but his lithe build disguised the strength of the man and he held her fast.
'Ya know better than ter dare me Madalene. Now, this is yer last chance…..' He ran his hands down Maddy's body, making certain detours here and there, until he reached her feet.
'NO! Please Jack, I want it to be a surprise, please don't… Arrrrgh! Maddy screamed as Jack ran his fingers along the sole of her foot, then she beat him with her hands, screaming louder and louder the more he ticked her foot. 'All… right,' Maddy panted, breathlessly. 'You win, you swine.'
Jack still sat astride Maddy, waiting for her to regain her breath, a crooked grin on his face. 'C'mon luv, ya know I'm not exactly the patient type.'
'I'm taking you back to the inn where we stayed for our anniversary. There, happy now?' Maddy felt slightly piqued, but then smiled, knowing neither of them could keep a secret from the other.
'We are?' Jack eyes lit up and his grin grew broader. 'When? Do we have ter travel in the bloody coach again?'
'Tomorrow, and we're going by ship - this one.' Maddy purred with pleasure as Jack's hands worked their way back up her body, then along her outstretched arms, so that he was lying on top of her.
'So luv, how about we get some practice in now, eh?'
'Sounds like a good idea to me, Maddy murmured, before losing herself in a deep kiss.
*********
'Umm, Jack, may I have a moment?' Will hovered hesitantly as Jack inspected a repair to the rail on the poop deck.
'Aye William, what is it?' Jack leaned on the repaired rail, hoping it was strong enough to take his weight.
'It's about my father. I know you've offered him a position, but I'd like him to come and work for me. I'll recompense you,' Will offered, eagerly.
'Recompense me, will ya? Well that's mighty generous o'ya Will Turner, an' very welcome. Won't be able ter get a man o'Bill's stature around here, not cheap anyway.'
'Jack Sparrow, you scallywag, you!'
Jack looked up with slightly sardonic expression on his face, as his wife walked up the stairs to join them. 'Eh luv?' He tried to look innocent, then gave a half smile at Maddy, who merely glared at him through narrowed eyes.
'You need eh luv, me. We only offered Bill a position if things didn't work out with you Will, so there's no need for any payment whatsoever, is there, Jack?' Maddy stood before her husband with hands on hips, still glowering at him.
'Ah, no, no need at all William, I was only pullin' yer leg mate.' Jack looked at Maddy winsomely beneath his lashes, knowing it usually melted her and this time seemed no exception as she blushed slightly and turned away, linking arms with Will as he made his way back to the main deck, then shot a sarcastic look at Jack as she heard him chuckle.
'I'm glad everything has worked out between you and your father, Will.' Maddy smiled at her friend, squeezing his arm as they walked.
'So am I Maddy, I still can't take it in though.' Will shook his head in amazement, still not believing how his life had changed in a few short months.
'I think Jack is a little disappointed not to have longer to catch up with Bill, although having said that, I don't think either of them have shut up since they became friends again.' Maddy felt sad that the Turners were the nearest thing Jack had to calling a family, apart from herself.
'You'll just have to make sure you stop by more often then, avoiding Nassau, of course,' Will laughed.
'Oh we will, don't you fret about that. I'd better go and pack a trunk, I'm not leaving it to Jack this time…' Maddy rolled her eyes at Will, then made her way down to her and Jack's cabin, looking forward to some time alone with him again.
Jack spied Maddy disappearing down the stairs and hurried over to follow her, a broad grin on his face. 'See ya when we get back, whelp,' he called to Will as his friend made his way off The Pearl.
'All right then, whelp,' came the riposte, making Jack laugh out loud.
'D'ya need a hand luv?' Jack sidled up to his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist as she bent to put some clothes in the large trunk.
'Not after last time Jack Sparrow, now let me be. There'll be time enough for that when we get to the inn.'
'Aw, don't be a spoilsport luv.' Jack leaned over Maddy, who was still bent over the trunk, and nibbled her ear lobe.
'Jack…' Maddy warned, trying to straighten up, but ending up overbalancing and falling into the trunk, Jack on top of her. 'Jack Sparrow, you incorrigible rogue, get off me!' Maddy giggled as Jack tried to move, but found himself stuck fast, trapping Maddy beneath him.
'Bloody 'ell luv, how're we goin' ter get out of here?' Jack tried pushing himself up again, but couldn't get enough leverage and collapsed back down again. 'Madalene, tis not funny,' Jack moaned, but soon started to snigger as Maddy became more helpless with laughter.
Tom, who'd heard the commotion from the cabin, peered around the door and started as he saw the wriggling backside of his captain sticking out of the trunk. 'Er, Cap'n, everythin' all right?'
'Does everythin' look all right, Thomas? Get me out before I crush me wife ter death.'
'Maddy's in there as well?' Try as he might, Tom couldn't keep the laughter out of his voice. He strode over and hauled Jack up by his collar, then lifted Maddy out far gentler.
'One word o'this Tom, just one word….' Jack wagged a finger in the face of his cook, a stern look on his face.
'Not a word Cap'n.' Tom left the cabin with his shoulders shaking with laughter and no intention of obeying his captain on this occasion.
*******
The Black Pearl dominated the small bay in which the village nestled, and there were quite a crowd gathered at the small jetty, watching as Jack and Maddy were rowed ashore by Freddie and Tim Moyles.
'Remember, come back in a few days, unless there's any problems, savvy?' Jack either didn't notice, or ignored Moyles rolling his eyes.
'Aye Cap'n,' the helmsman replied, for the umpteenth time.
'Looks like we got a welcomin' committee luv.' Jack waved grandly at the gathered crowd, a golden grin splitting his face as he noticed the inn-keeper amongst them. 'Look luv, I hope his wife's got the stew on t'boil.'
Maddy smiled and shook her head, enjoying her husband's enthusiasm for life. She gratefully accepted a helping hand to alight from the boat as it was moored to the jetty, then stood aside as both pirates and villagers lifted the trunk from the boat and carried it the short distance to the inn.
'Captain Sparrow, Mrs. Sparrow, it's good to see you both looking well.' The inn-keeper shook Jack's hand warmly, and led the way to his inn, where his wife was waiting in the doorway. 'I trust you'd like the same room once more, Captain?'
'Aye, aye, that'd be grand, wouldn't it luv?'
'Fine, thank you.' Maddy smiled at the proprietor, then his wife as they reached the inn.
'Right, I'll show you both up then, I gather you won't be requiring refreshments first?' The inn-keeper pushed past the men holding the trunk and led the way up the stairs to the room at the front of the building, overlooking the sea.
'Don't ferget Moyles….,' Jack warned as the door finally closed behind the crowd and he was alone with his wife at last.
Maddy sighed deeply, eyes closed, savouring the peace and quiet, then she moaned as Jack's lips brushed against her bare shoulders.
'So luv, what're we goin' ter do until dinner time….?' Jack murmured huskily, his hands busily working at the buttons on the front of Maddy's dress.
'I'm sure we can think of something Captain Sparrow, how about a walk?' Maddy laughed as Jack nipped the back of her neck playfully, then moaned again as his rough hands ran down her now exposed front.
'Not a good idea luv, try another one.' Jack tugged at Maddy's dress and undergarments until they fell in a heap at her feet, leaving Maddy naked in his arms.
'A bath, maybe?'
'Mmmmm, now that I like the sound of……, but we'll leave it fer another time. Again.'
Maddy kicked the clothes away from her and turned so she was facing her still fully dressed husband. 'Go and have a drink in the bar? They stock good rum here as I recall…..' Maddy's lips followed her fingers' progress as she undid the buttons of Jack's shirt, feeling him rumble with pleasure.
'Oh, Madalene,' Jack moaned as her fingers reached the laces of his breeches and started tugging at them. 'Bugger t'rum.'
'What? The infamous Jack Sparrow, turning down good rum? Whatever next?'
'Madalene Sparrow, stop yer bloody teasin' an' get me undressed.'
'Now, now Jack. There's no need to order me about, we're not on board the ship now y'know…' Maddy squealed as Jack threw her onto the bed, then leapt on top of her, once free of his breeches and boots, and small mewls of desire escaped her lips as Jack's hands roamed her body.