Pay close attention, I shall say this only once . . . I'm sorry. Alright?
And Ariandir, I am most heartily repentant for doing that to you, but you
did get fair warning. Right, on with the story.
*~*~*
Dawn rose cold and dreary over the little island, illuminating the dew that dripped from sails and ropes aboard both ships. James shuddered involuntarily as one of the drips fell from the rigging to splash icily down his neck. Rubbing his hand over the suddenly cold skin, he moved forward, out of range of the water as it ran from the sails.
The door to the great cabin opened quietly, and he glanced back to see Marin making her speedy way to the heads, lips clamped firmly shut against the tide of nausea that surged within her. A low chuckle nearby told him that Solomon had also seen her hurry across the deck, and he wished for the hundredth time that he knew what ailed his cousin.
The cabin door sighed again, and this time Jack sauntered out, looking as though he had been woken rather roughly by his wife in her haste to get out of the cabin. He pinched the bridge of his nose, blinking wildly for a moment, before glancing around at the quiet ships. Seeing James, he moved to join the commodore, staring out across the island in companionable silence as the Pearl creaked beneath them comfortingly.
Jack sighed softly, his usually merry eyes heavy with thought and sorrow.
'Elias would have loved to see this,' he murmured, seemingly to himself.
James glanced at him, surprised. He had not thought that Jack knew the old pirate well enough to make such judgements, yet the captain had spoken the words with an air of experience.
'You knew him well, then?' he asked quietly, not willing to break the stillness around them by raising his voice.
The captain of the Black Pearl nodded, a faint grin on his face.
'Aye, I knew him,' he said as softly as before. 'Best bloody pirate in the Caribbean, old Fitz was, mate. We all wanted to be like him, or sail in his crew. I was lucky enough to be taught my trade by the old coot.'
James frowned, again surprised that Jack Sparrow had ever been in a position to be taught that which he did so well.
'How long did you know him?' he asked, curious despite himself.
Jack's smile was edged with sadness, not unlike Marin's was whenever she thought of Elias. It occurred to James that, in his own way, Jack had been wounded just as much as Marin by the old pirate's death, and that maybe her presence in his life was doing as much to heal his pain as his was in hers.
'Since I was a lad,' Jack murmured. 'I tried to pick his pocket in Tortuga.'
He laughed quietly, remembering the scene.
'He caught me, of course, but he never punished me for it. Said if I was brave enough to pick a pirate's pocket, then I should be one myself. So he took me on board the Dragon and taught me all he knew.'
He glanced up towards the heads, where Marin still hadn't reappeared.
'I was on board when he pulled her out the water,' he mused. 'If only I'd known the impact that would have on me, I might not have broken with him.'
James followed his gaze, watching as Marin slipped from the heads and returned to the cabin, not looking any better than she had when she'd first come on deck. The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
'You knew her when she was a child?'
Jack nodded, this time a fully fledged grin on his weathered face.
'Six years of her growing,' he said, somewhat proudly. 'Of course, neither of us can remember much of the other during that. My only real memory of her was when I jumped ship. I nearly ran her over.'
He chuckled again, seeing in his mind's eye the tiny girl-child flinching back out of his way as he ran up on deck, ignoring the howls coming from the brig below him.
'But I remember one night, the first night she was on board,' he mentioned, his tone suddenly serious. 'I'd never seen old Fitz look so agitated in my whole life. He took one look at that locket she wore, and closeted himself in his cabin with her for hours. My first taste of command, that night was. He left me in charge while he sorted her. Like any good father would.'
James smiled faintly. Of course Jack would remember his first taste of command, it had nothing to do with Marin's presence.
'When did it all change?' he asked. 'Why did you break with him?'
Jack's face grew solemn, a flicker of guilt flashing across his eyes.
'I saw the Pearl,' he said simply.
James remained silent, sensing more beneath Jack's calm exterior that the pirate needed to say.
'Have you ever stared out across a harbour, James, and seen the perfect ship, the ship that is just right for you?' Jack asked suddenly, turning to look at the other man with an expression that was stripped of his usual merry facade.
James nodded, smiling gently.
'The Interceptor,' he murmured, feeling the sorrow that came whenever he thought of the ship he had always referred to as his. Even though it had been years since she was lost, there was still an ache there for his beautiful ship.
Jack nodded in echo, seeing the understanding on the commodore's face.
'I'd never understood Fitz's attachment to the Dragon until I saw the Pearl,' he said quietly, turning back to stare over the strangely calm waters. 'I knew, if I could only gain command of her, that part of my life would be complete. Of course, it was a fool's errand, and Fitz told me so, but I wouldn't listen. He ended up confining me to the brig just to get some peace on deck.'
James' smile quirked up a bit. He could imagine Elias Fitzpatrick doing just such a thing to a young Jack Sparrow, just for a bit of quiet. Jack saw the smile, nodding in agreement as he continued his tale.
'If only I'd listened to him, I would not have been through so much,' he murmured. 'But the Pearl was suddenly my life, she was all I thought of. So when Fitz came down to let me out, I waited till my cage was opened and I stabbed him. He was shocked, mate, he hadn't thought I had it in me. Anyway, while he was staggering around, I ran up on deck and leapt overboard. He must have been furious.'
James stared at Jack. He would never have thought that the pirate could stab someone in cold blood, just for a ship. But then, Jack had been through a lot in the years since he broke with Elias, and what he would have done then, he would not do now.
'He kept that dagger,' Jack mused. 'Gave it to Marin. Odd, innit?'
James nodded.
'Perhaps that Celtic blood he was so proud of gave him a few hints for the future,' he speculated.
Jack gave him an arch look.
'That Celtic blood runs through your veins too, mate,' he pointed out. 'Maybe it was hinting at Laura when you asked for Elizabeth.'
James was offended momentarily, until he saw the logic in the pirate's teasing words. He chuckled softly.
'Maybe,' he agreed.
The stillness fell over them again as they looked out across the water, both so much more comfortable with the other than they would ever have thought possible. The Royal Naval Commodore and the pirate captain, standing together as equals, united in so many ways and yet still so separate as to be strangers. James drew in a deep breath, turning to look at Jack with an inscrutable expression.
'I think it's about time we put our differences behind us, Jack,' he said firmly, ignoring the surprised look on his companion's face. 'You are a good man, and I would feel honoured to call you my friend.'
The look on Jack's face was priceless as James held out his hand. The pirate stared at him for a long moment, before his palm smacked against the commodore's in a firm grip.
'Only if you would permit me the same honour, James,' he grinned, shaking his friend's hand warmly.
The two men stood together in a moment of complete understanding and serenity, at one with the world around them, and for the first time, with each other.
*~*~*
The deck of the Pearl was alive with business, men preparing for the trek around the rocky island in search of this elusive treasure the captains had promised them was there. An air of muted excitement hung over the cove as they went about their work, each fuelled by the excitement that radiated from Jack and his friends.
Gibbs reached out and grasped Harry's shirt as the young lad slipped past, hoping to side-step any more lifting. He'd been pressed into helping carry the fresh water casks up on deck from the hold, and was knackered already from the exertion. He had no idea how he was going to survive a long hard walk after the morning's activities.
'Harry, lad, step over to the forecastle and fetch out Solomon and Marin, would ye?' Gibbs asked him, knowing fully well that the boy had taken on too much for himself that day. 'The cap'n says we'll be off in a short while.'
More relieved than he could articulate, Harry nodded to the first mate with a grin, ducking under the longboat as it was swung out over the calm waters of the bay. He slipped along the deck to where the forecastle hatch stood open, prepared to stick his head down and shout for the two to join them. But as he opened his mouth to do so, something Marin said stopped him short.
'I can't be,' she was saying vehemently to Solomon. 'It's just an illness, it has to be.'
Solomon sounded vaguely amused as he answered.
'How many illnesses do you know only attack in the morning, Marin?' he asked her. 'You can deny this all you want, but it will be hard to pretend it's not happening when you start to show.'
Harry frowned, intrigued. Start to show what, he wondered.
'When will that be?' Marin was asking, and Harry found his heart going out to her.
She sounded small and frightened, and he did not want to think of her being frightened. Marin had been his first friend aboard the Pearl, and he would protect her with his life if need be. But this sounded like something no one could protect her from, not even Jack.
He slipped inside cautiously, careful not to be heard as Solomon sighed.
'It depends,' the young man mused. 'How long did you say you'd been ill?'
Peering around a hammock that had been left hanging by some careless seaman, Harry's eyes went straight to Marin. She was turned slightly away from him, but even so, he could see how pale her face was. Her hand was rubbing her midriff, almost as if she were completely unaware that she was doing so.
'About two, maybe three months,' she told Solomon.
As Harry watched, the young seaman knelt before his friend, his hands on her shoulders.
'Then you'll start showing within the next month or so, I'm afraid,' he told her, and from the sound of his voice, Harry could tell that he really was worried for her. 'You would do well to talk to Elizabeth.'
Marin sighed, and her face tightened, as though tears were not far away.
'She told me to talk to you,' she said quietly.
Solomon sighed gently and leant forward, hugging his little friend close for a moment.
'You need to tell Jack,' he murmured to her, letting her pull back and roughly wipe the moisture from her cheeks. 'He has a right to know.'
A right to know what? Harry was near frantic with worry for his friend now. Like everyone else, he had assumed she would recover from whatever it was that ailed her, but this conversation was tearing his confidence to shreds.
Marin nodded, sniffing slightly.
'I know,' she said, drawing in a deep breath. 'But I'm frightened, Solomon.'
Solomon smiled affectionately down at her.
'I don't think I've ever seen a woman more terrified than my Martha when she found out she was expecting our boy,' he told her, and Harry had to bite his tongue to prevent a gasp escaping.
He slipped back to the hatch, and knocked loudly.
'Cap'n says we're off in a while!' he called, trying to sound as though he'd only just been told.
Marin stepped into view, looking for all the world as though nothing was wrong. She smiled up at him.
'Thank you, Harry, we're coming,' she told him.
As she and Solomon made their way to Jack's side, Harry found himself setting a course for Dugan. Tugging at the Scottish boy's arm, he drew his friend off to one side, ignoring Dugan's irritated expression.
'What is it noo?' he demanded, shaking Harry's hand from his shirt.
The younger boy's eyes were wide and wild, somewhat alarming to the more experienced cabin boy.
'It's Marin,' Harry said breathlessly. 'She's not ill!'
Dugan rolled his eyes.
'Ach, get on wi' ye,' he said irritably. 'I knowed she'd be fine in a while.'
Harry shook his head vehemently, retaining his grasp on the older boy's arm.
'She won't,' he insisted. 'I just overheard her talking to Solomon -'
Dugan's eyes hardened.
'What're ye doing, listening tae other people's private conversations, eh?' he chided.
Harry pinched him.
'Shut up and listen, would you?' he said, a little angry at Dugan's off-hand manner. 'She's going to have a baby!'
Dugan froze, staring down at his friend in shocked surprise. He let out a low whistle, a proud grin on his youthful face.
'Ach, well, wouldn't ye know?' he mused. 'A better bit o' news we've not had in a long spell.'
Harry stared at him.
'Shouldn't we tell the captain?' he asked. 'She shouldn't be going on this trip ashore in her condition.'
Dugan's hands were suddenly in a vicelike grip on the younger boy's arms. He forced Harry to look into his eyes.
'Ye're not tae get involved, Harry lad,' he said sternly. 'Tis Marin's choice who knows and who doesnae. Let her tell the cap'n.'
'But -'
Dugan shook him, none too gently.
'No buts,' he said, his tone brooking no disobedience. 'If I hear ye've bin stirring things up a 'tween 'em, ye'll know bloody quick who taught me my trade. Noo, get on wi' ye, and not a word tae anyone.'
Harry let himself be pushed away, back towards his own crew, his mind awhirl with questions. But if the Scottish lad said no one was to know unless Marin told them, then who was he to argue? Dugan knew these two crews better than Harry, and the younger lad was prepared to trust his judgement. His mind made up, he hurried to leap into the longboat beside Solomon, biting his tongue against the questions he so wanted to ask. He could wait for a better time to question the young man about what he had heard.
*~*~*
Dawn rose cold and dreary over the little island, illuminating the dew that dripped from sails and ropes aboard both ships. James shuddered involuntarily as one of the drips fell from the rigging to splash icily down his neck. Rubbing his hand over the suddenly cold skin, he moved forward, out of range of the water as it ran from the sails.
The door to the great cabin opened quietly, and he glanced back to see Marin making her speedy way to the heads, lips clamped firmly shut against the tide of nausea that surged within her. A low chuckle nearby told him that Solomon had also seen her hurry across the deck, and he wished for the hundredth time that he knew what ailed his cousin.
The cabin door sighed again, and this time Jack sauntered out, looking as though he had been woken rather roughly by his wife in her haste to get out of the cabin. He pinched the bridge of his nose, blinking wildly for a moment, before glancing around at the quiet ships. Seeing James, he moved to join the commodore, staring out across the island in companionable silence as the Pearl creaked beneath them comfortingly.
Jack sighed softly, his usually merry eyes heavy with thought and sorrow.
'Elias would have loved to see this,' he murmured, seemingly to himself.
James glanced at him, surprised. He had not thought that Jack knew the old pirate well enough to make such judgements, yet the captain had spoken the words with an air of experience.
'You knew him well, then?' he asked quietly, not willing to break the stillness around them by raising his voice.
The captain of the Black Pearl nodded, a faint grin on his face.
'Aye, I knew him,' he said as softly as before. 'Best bloody pirate in the Caribbean, old Fitz was, mate. We all wanted to be like him, or sail in his crew. I was lucky enough to be taught my trade by the old coot.'
James frowned, again surprised that Jack Sparrow had ever been in a position to be taught that which he did so well.
'How long did you know him?' he asked, curious despite himself.
Jack's smile was edged with sadness, not unlike Marin's was whenever she thought of Elias. It occurred to James that, in his own way, Jack had been wounded just as much as Marin by the old pirate's death, and that maybe her presence in his life was doing as much to heal his pain as his was in hers.
'Since I was a lad,' Jack murmured. 'I tried to pick his pocket in Tortuga.'
He laughed quietly, remembering the scene.
'He caught me, of course, but he never punished me for it. Said if I was brave enough to pick a pirate's pocket, then I should be one myself. So he took me on board the Dragon and taught me all he knew.'
He glanced up towards the heads, where Marin still hadn't reappeared.
'I was on board when he pulled her out the water,' he mused. 'If only I'd known the impact that would have on me, I might not have broken with him.'
James followed his gaze, watching as Marin slipped from the heads and returned to the cabin, not looking any better than she had when she'd first come on deck. The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
'You knew her when she was a child?'
Jack nodded, this time a fully fledged grin on his weathered face.
'Six years of her growing,' he said, somewhat proudly. 'Of course, neither of us can remember much of the other during that. My only real memory of her was when I jumped ship. I nearly ran her over.'
He chuckled again, seeing in his mind's eye the tiny girl-child flinching back out of his way as he ran up on deck, ignoring the howls coming from the brig below him.
'But I remember one night, the first night she was on board,' he mentioned, his tone suddenly serious. 'I'd never seen old Fitz look so agitated in my whole life. He took one look at that locket she wore, and closeted himself in his cabin with her for hours. My first taste of command, that night was. He left me in charge while he sorted her. Like any good father would.'
James smiled faintly. Of course Jack would remember his first taste of command, it had nothing to do with Marin's presence.
'When did it all change?' he asked. 'Why did you break with him?'
Jack's face grew solemn, a flicker of guilt flashing across his eyes.
'I saw the Pearl,' he said simply.
James remained silent, sensing more beneath Jack's calm exterior that the pirate needed to say.
'Have you ever stared out across a harbour, James, and seen the perfect ship, the ship that is just right for you?' Jack asked suddenly, turning to look at the other man with an expression that was stripped of his usual merry facade.
James nodded, smiling gently.
'The Interceptor,' he murmured, feeling the sorrow that came whenever he thought of the ship he had always referred to as his. Even though it had been years since she was lost, there was still an ache there for his beautiful ship.
Jack nodded in echo, seeing the understanding on the commodore's face.
'I'd never understood Fitz's attachment to the Dragon until I saw the Pearl,' he said quietly, turning back to stare over the strangely calm waters. 'I knew, if I could only gain command of her, that part of my life would be complete. Of course, it was a fool's errand, and Fitz told me so, but I wouldn't listen. He ended up confining me to the brig just to get some peace on deck.'
James' smile quirked up a bit. He could imagine Elias Fitzpatrick doing just such a thing to a young Jack Sparrow, just for a bit of quiet. Jack saw the smile, nodding in agreement as he continued his tale.
'If only I'd listened to him, I would not have been through so much,' he murmured. 'But the Pearl was suddenly my life, she was all I thought of. So when Fitz came down to let me out, I waited till my cage was opened and I stabbed him. He was shocked, mate, he hadn't thought I had it in me. Anyway, while he was staggering around, I ran up on deck and leapt overboard. He must have been furious.'
James stared at Jack. He would never have thought that the pirate could stab someone in cold blood, just for a ship. But then, Jack had been through a lot in the years since he broke with Elias, and what he would have done then, he would not do now.
'He kept that dagger,' Jack mused. 'Gave it to Marin. Odd, innit?'
James nodded.
'Perhaps that Celtic blood he was so proud of gave him a few hints for the future,' he speculated.
Jack gave him an arch look.
'That Celtic blood runs through your veins too, mate,' he pointed out. 'Maybe it was hinting at Laura when you asked for Elizabeth.'
James was offended momentarily, until he saw the logic in the pirate's teasing words. He chuckled softly.
'Maybe,' he agreed.
The stillness fell over them again as they looked out across the water, both so much more comfortable with the other than they would ever have thought possible. The Royal Naval Commodore and the pirate captain, standing together as equals, united in so many ways and yet still so separate as to be strangers. James drew in a deep breath, turning to look at Jack with an inscrutable expression.
'I think it's about time we put our differences behind us, Jack,' he said firmly, ignoring the surprised look on his companion's face. 'You are a good man, and I would feel honoured to call you my friend.'
The look on Jack's face was priceless as James held out his hand. The pirate stared at him for a long moment, before his palm smacked against the commodore's in a firm grip.
'Only if you would permit me the same honour, James,' he grinned, shaking his friend's hand warmly.
The two men stood together in a moment of complete understanding and serenity, at one with the world around them, and for the first time, with each other.
*~*~*
The deck of the Pearl was alive with business, men preparing for the trek around the rocky island in search of this elusive treasure the captains had promised them was there. An air of muted excitement hung over the cove as they went about their work, each fuelled by the excitement that radiated from Jack and his friends.
Gibbs reached out and grasped Harry's shirt as the young lad slipped past, hoping to side-step any more lifting. He'd been pressed into helping carry the fresh water casks up on deck from the hold, and was knackered already from the exertion. He had no idea how he was going to survive a long hard walk after the morning's activities.
'Harry, lad, step over to the forecastle and fetch out Solomon and Marin, would ye?' Gibbs asked him, knowing fully well that the boy had taken on too much for himself that day. 'The cap'n says we'll be off in a short while.'
More relieved than he could articulate, Harry nodded to the first mate with a grin, ducking under the longboat as it was swung out over the calm waters of the bay. He slipped along the deck to where the forecastle hatch stood open, prepared to stick his head down and shout for the two to join them. But as he opened his mouth to do so, something Marin said stopped him short.
'I can't be,' she was saying vehemently to Solomon. 'It's just an illness, it has to be.'
Solomon sounded vaguely amused as he answered.
'How many illnesses do you know only attack in the morning, Marin?' he asked her. 'You can deny this all you want, but it will be hard to pretend it's not happening when you start to show.'
Harry frowned, intrigued. Start to show what, he wondered.
'When will that be?' Marin was asking, and Harry found his heart going out to her.
She sounded small and frightened, and he did not want to think of her being frightened. Marin had been his first friend aboard the Pearl, and he would protect her with his life if need be. But this sounded like something no one could protect her from, not even Jack.
He slipped inside cautiously, careful not to be heard as Solomon sighed.
'It depends,' the young man mused. 'How long did you say you'd been ill?'
Peering around a hammock that had been left hanging by some careless seaman, Harry's eyes went straight to Marin. She was turned slightly away from him, but even so, he could see how pale her face was. Her hand was rubbing her midriff, almost as if she were completely unaware that she was doing so.
'About two, maybe three months,' she told Solomon.
As Harry watched, the young seaman knelt before his friend, his hands on her shoulders.
'Then you'll start showing within the next month or so, I'm afraid,' he told her, and from the sound of his voice, Harry could tell that he really was worried for her. 'You would do well to talk to Elizabeth.'
Marin sighed, and her face tightened, as though tears were not far away.
'She told me to talk to you,' she said quietly.
Solomon sighed gently and leant forward, hugging his little friend close for a moment.
'You need to tell Jack,' he murmured to her, letting her pull back and roughly wipe the moisture from her cheeks. 'He has a right to know.'
A right to know what? Harry was near frantic with worry for his friend now. Like everyone else, he had assumed she would recover from whatever it was that ailed her, but this conversation was tearing his confidence to shreds.
Marin nodded, sniffing slightly.
'I know,' she said, drawing in a deep breath. 'But I'm frightened, Solomon.'
Solomon smiled affectionately down at her.
'I don't think I've ever seen a woman more terrified than my Martha when she found out she was expecting our boy,' he told her, and Harry had to bite his tongue to prevent a gasp escaping.
He slipped back to the hatch, and knocked loudly.
'Cap'n says we're off in a while!' he called, trying to sound as though he'd only just been told.
Marin stepped into view, looking for all the world as though nothing was wrong. She smiled up at him.
'Thank you, Harry, we're coming,' she told him.
As she and Solomon made their way to Jack's side, Harry found himself setting a course for Dugan. Tugging at the Scottish boy's arm, he drew his friend off to one side, ignoring Dugan's irritated expression.
'What is it noo?' he demanded, shaking Harry's hand from his shirt.
The younger boy's eyes were wide and wild, somewhat alarming to the more experienced cabin boy.
'It's Marin,' Harry said breathlessly. 'She's not ill!'
Dugan rolled his eyes.
'Ach, get on wi' ye,' he said irritably. 'I knowed she'd be fine in a while.'
Harry shook his head vehemently, retaining his grasp on the older boy's arm.
'She won't,' he insisted. 'I just overheard her talking to Solomon -'
Dugan's eyes hardened.
'What're ye doing, listening tae other people's private conversations, eh?' he chided.
Harry pinched him.
'Shut up and listen, would you?' he said, a little angry at Dugan's off-hand manner. 'She's going to have a baby!'
Dugan froze, staring down at his friend in shocked surprise. He let out a low whistle, a proud grin on his youthful face.
'Ach, well, wouldn't ye know?' he mused. 'A better bit o' news we've not had in a long spell.'
Harry stared at him.
'Shouldn't we tell the captain?' he asked. 'She shouldn't be going on this trip ashore in her condition.'
Dugan's hands were suddenly in a vicelike grip on the younger boy's arms. He forced Harry to look into his eyes.
'Ye're not tae get involved, Harry lad,' he said sternly. 'Tis Marin's choice who knows and who doesnae. Let her tell the cap'n.'
'But -'
Dugan shook him, none too gently.
'No buts,' he said, his tone brooking no disobedience. 'If I hear ye've bin stirring things up a 'tween 'em, ye'll know bloody quick who taught me my trade. Noo, get on wi' ye, and not a word tae anyone.'
Harry let himself be pushed away, back towards his own crew, his mind awhirl with questions. But if the Scottish lad said no one was to know unless Marin told them, then who was he to argue? Dugan knew these two crews better than Harry, and the younger lad was prepared to trust his judgement. His mind made up, he hurried to leap into the longboat beside Solomon, biting his tongue against the questions he so wanted to ask. He could wait for a better time to question the young man about what he had heard.