Ildera: *nervously swallows* Er. Hello. *pathetic wave* I know it's been a while, sorry about that . . . erm . . . well, Word decided to lock me out of my own story, so I had to download all the chapters I'd written and posted and open another file to continue from where I left off. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. *glances over at collective cast of story cowering out of sight* And that lot haven't been much help at all. Anywho, enough of me, on with the story!
*~*~*
Moonlight shone down hazily on the Jamaican town of Port Royale, illuminating its streets with a soft light that seemed to fill the town with a melancholy air. As usual, only the fort and the taverns remained active in the small hours, the townspeople slumbering peacefully in their beds until dawn broke.
Governor's House was still and silent, the trees and bushes that decorated the garden blowing gently in the breeze, their rustling a comforting descant to the crashing waves on the beach far below. No lights flickered, no movement within betrayed the fact that not everyone was sleeping this night.
Laura stood at the door to her balcony, gazing out across the harbour to where the horizon was devoid of any sails. Her dark hair fell about her face, moving lightly as the wind blew in through the open window, cooling her skin. She wrapped her shawl tighter about her, never once taking her eyes from that distant horizon and wishing that black sails would appear as she watched.
She missed them all terribly, not only her cousin, but Marin and Jack, and most of all James. In the months since their departure, she had been bullied into taking part in the social events on the island, but after the wildness that was her cousin and her cousin's friends, they all seemed so stuffy and boring to her. Of course, it did not help that Captain Gillette had set his cap for her and was pursuing her romantically at every opportunity. She didn't know how long she could keep him away, prevent his asking for her hand. She had no excuse to give him. Her promise to James had not been made formally, and so she could not cite herself as taken, much to her chagrin.
Oh, how she longed for James to return! Her heart seemed to ache continually, as though it were bleeding in his absence, crying tears of blood until he came back to soothe the pain. She got through each day with a memory of him close to her heart, and her nights were filled with dreams of her handsome commodore. The worry that he might have been lost at sea, or killed in an accident, haunted her constantly. She did not know what she would do should he not return.
Suddenly a violent gust of wind swept over the town, slamming her shutters open and whirling about the shivering young woman before whistling back out across the town once more and out to sea. Shocked, Laura stared out at the Caribbean, suddenly unable to shake the feeling that something momentous had happened. For just one moment, she had felt a presence so familiar it was a balm to her soul.
'James?' she whispered, her eyes searching out the tiny cyclone that had brought him to her so briefly.
There was no answer, though she had expected none. Laura smiled faintly, wondering what on earth had happened. Soothed by that all too brief contact with the man she loved, she closed the window, slipping back beneath the sheets with a weary sigh. Soon, she told herself, he'll come back to me soon.
And far out to sea, whistling and wailing like the cry of the banshee, a rush of wind was returning to its source, in the eye of the storm, in sight of the land of eternal flames.
*~*~*
Jack leant back wearily, stretching his tired muscles as he watched Marin scribble in her note book, something she did not do very often. But this evening she seemed fired up with enthusiasm, determined to get whatever it was rolling around her head down on paper. Every so often she'd glance up, frowning at nothing, and then dive back into the book, the quill scratching across the paper with a purpose.
Bemused, Jack rubbed his eyes, thinking over what they had done that day, and the plans for the next few months. What gold they were taking back with them had been brought on board the two ships that day, five chests for each of the three inheritors. Even to Jack, five chests of gold for one person seemed a little over the top, though he knew what his wife intended to do with hers, after paying the crew handsomely. Danielson's share of the gold was left untouched, by mutual agreement, his part of the silver doubloon and the locket that had held it for generations now resting, hopefully in peace, at the bottom of the little cavern's waters, along with a huge amount of ballast from both the Pearl and the Dragon, since the gold weighed so bloody much.
Marin glanced up again, her forehead creased in thought.
'Jack?' she ventured, staring out of the window of their cabin.
He opened one eye to look over at her.
'Aye?'
'How much stone would you need to build a village of about twelve houses?' Marin asked, turning to face him.
Jack stared at her, trying his hardest not to laugh under her stern stare.
'Love, why're you asking me?' he asked her, leaning forward. 'I'm a sailor, not a builder.'
She shrugged.
'You're here, and I can't add up very well,' was the demure reply, though he could see her mind was already on other things.
He sighed, moving to lean over her and read what she had written. Marin made an irritated noise, but she didn't try to stop him as he read along her lists of building materials, provisions, medical supplies, everything she could think of that would be needed to start up her haven for pirates and their families.
'Still going on with this haven idea, then?' he murmured, dropping a light kiss on her hair.
She smiled faintly.
'Why should I not?' she said. 'Especially now.'
Jack frowned.
'Now?' he asked, confused. 'What's so special about now?'
Marin bit her lip guiltily, grateful she had her back turned to him so he couldn't see her alarmed expression. She still hadn't managed to tell him about the imminent bundle, and the longer she left it, the harder it got.
'Well, we're going to need somewhere to base ourselves, aren't we?' she said, matter-of-factly. 'After all, it would be nice to have somewhere to call home. Somewhere we can watch our children grow up in safety.'
Jack nodded, smiling as he sat back with his feet on the table.
'Aye, that it would,' he agreed. 'But we have a long time ahead of us to think about that, don't we?'
She fell silent, holding his gaze with a calm that seemed akin to the serenity he had seen about her on their wedding day. His smile faded slowly as she glanced down at the table, her gaze rising again to meet his with apprehension. Jack's eyes grew wary, and he lowered his feet to the deck, leaning forward to look at his wife more closely.
'Don't we?' he repeated, feeling the silence in the cabin wrap about him protectively.
He watched her swallow nervously, her fingers picking at a splinter in the table.
'We don't have as long as you think, Jack,' she said softly, tearing her gaze from his as his eyes widened in shock.
Jack drew in a deep breath, trying to stop his head spinning as he regarded her, looking suddenly very vulnerable and alone as she sat before him.
'How long do we have?' he asked her gently.
Marin couldn't lift her eyes to meet his again, afraid that her news would somehow drive him away.
'Solomon says about five months, maybe less,' she murmured in a tiny voice.
His eyes closed slowly as he exhaled in a rush, leaning back against the chair with a thump. A baby . . . his baby, his son or daughter was growing inside Marin. He was a father. What a thought. Captain Jack Sparrow, infamous pirate of the Caribbean, was going to be a father.
'Jack?'
He opened his eyes, hearing the frightened hitch in Marin's voice that meant tears were not far away. She was still sat where she was, her eyes wide and stormy as she looked on him, her whole body tensed for his reaction.
'Jack, say something, please,' she ventured, half afraid that he would never speak to her again.
He rose quietly, moving to pull her to her feet before him, keeping her hands held in his own as he gazed down at her. A smile broke across his face.
'A baby?' he asked her, laughter edging his words. 'We're going to have a baby?'
Before she could answer, he wrapped his arms about her tightly, lifting her off her feet and spinning about the cabin, laughing at this astonishing turn of fate. Infected by his laughter, Marin joined in, a little shocked at this display of pure good humour from her pragmatic husband. As he set her on her feet, she barely had time to regain her balance before he kissed her, holding her as close as he dared in the tender embrace.
Pulling back slightly, he rested his forehead against hers, gazing down at her with eyes that almost glowed with happiness. Marin smiled shyly back up at him.
'I take it you're not unhappy then?' she asked.
Jack grinned that familiar grin, and suddenly everything was alright again. He kissed her nose gently.
'Not unhappy, no, love,' he told her, holding her close against his chest.
A thought suddenly occurred to him and he leant back, quickly checking her over. Bemused by his sudden concern, Marin batted his hands away.
'What's wrong?' she laughed.
'Did I hurt you?' he asked her, seeming almost frantic with worry. 'When I picked you up, did I . . . squash anything?'
Marin stared at him, incredulous, for a moment, before falling about laughing.
'No, no, Jack,' she spluttered, trying to regain control of herself before her husband burst a blood vessel. 'I'm fine.'
He nodded, his eyes no less wild than before. His hand hovered above her midriff.
'And . . . ?'
Marin's smile grew gentle. She reached out to take his hand, laying it carefully over her womb. The look on his face was priceless, one she would treasure for the rest of her life.
'We're both fine,' she said softly, as his gaze dropped to his hand on her stomach, his fingers moving gently across her midriff.
Jack's eyes lit up in wonder as his palm lay flat against the place his child was growing. He barely felt Marin's hand against his cheek until her lips touched his, and his world fell apart in flames. But as he drew her against him, he found another space in his heart had been filled with wonder and expectation. They were going to be a family, a thought that seemed to cushion him in contentment as Marin drew him down beside her, her touch a loving caress.
*~*~*
Hehehehe . . . I suppose now would be a bad time to ask you to point and click on the little blue button, yes? *suspiciously bright giggle*
*~*~*
Moonlight shone down hazily on the Jamaican town of Port Royale, illuminating its streets with a soft light that seemed to fill the town with a melancholy air. As usual, only the fort and the taverns remained active in the small hours, the townspeople slumbering peacefully in their beds until dawn broke.
Governor's House was still and silent, the trees and bushes that decorated the garden blowing gently in the breeze, their rustling a comforting descant to the crashing waves on the beach far below. No lights flickered, no movement within betrayed the fact that not everyone was sleeping this night.
Laura stood at the door to her balcony, gazing out across the harbour to where the horizon was devoid of any sails. Her dark hair fell about her face, moving lightly as the wind blew in through the open window, cooling her skin. She wrapped her shawl tighter about her, never once taking her eyes from that distant horizon and wishing that black sails would appear as she watched.
She missed them all terribly, not only her cousin, but Marin and Jack, and most of all James. In the months since their departure, she had been bullied into taking part in the social events on the island, but after the wildness that was her cousin and her cousin's friends, they all seemed so stuffy and boring to her. Of course, it did not help that Captain Gillette had set his cap for her and was pursuing her romantically at every opportunity. She didn't know how long she could keep him away, prevent his asking for her hand. She had no excuse to give him. Her promise to James had not been made formally, and so she could not cite herself as taken, much to her chagrin.
Oh, how she longed for James to return! Her heart seemed to ache continually, as though it were bleeding in his absence, crying tears of blood until he came back to soothe the pain. She got through each day with a memory of him close to her heart, and her nights were filled with dreams of her handsome commodore. The worry that he might have been lost at sea, or killed in an accident, haunted her constantly. She did not know what she would do should he not return.
Suddenly a violent gust of wind swept over the town, slamming her shutters open and whirling about the shivering young woman before whistling back out across the town once more and out to sea. Shocked, Laura stared out at the Caribbean, suddenly unable to shake the feeling that something momentous had happened. For just one moment, she had felt a presence so familiar it was a balm to her soul.
'James?' she whispered, her eyes searching out the tiny cyclone that had brought him to her so briefly.
There was no answer, though she had expected none. Laura smiled faintly, wondering what on earth had happened. Soothed by that all too brief contact with the man she loved, she closed the window, slipping back beneath the sheets with a weary sigh. Soon, she told herself, he'll come back to me soon.
And far out to sea, whistling and wailing like the cry of the banshee, a rush of wind was returning to its source, in the eye of the storm, in sight of the land of eternal flames.
*~*~*
Jack leant back wearily, stretching his tired muscles as he watched Marin scribble in her note book, something she did not do very often. But this evening she seemed fired up with enthusiasm, determined to get whatever it was rolling around her head down on paper. Every so often she'd glance up, frowning at nothing, and then dive back into the book, the quill scratching across the paper with a purpose.
Bemused, Jack rubbed his eyes, thinking over what they had done that day, and the plans for the next few months. What gold they were taking back with them had been brought on board the two ships that day, five chests for each of the three inheritors. Even to Jack, five chests of gold for one person seemed a little over the top, though he knew what his wife intended to do with hers, after paying the crew handsomely. Danielson's share of the gold was left untouched, by mutual agreement, his part of the silver doubloon and the locket that had held it for generations now resting, hopefully in peace, at the bottom of the little cavern's waters, along with a huge amount of ballast from both the Pearl and the Dragon, since the gold weighed so bloody much.
Marin glanced up again, her forehead creased in thought.
'Jack?' she ventured, staring out of the window of their cabin.
He opened one eye to look over at her.
'Aye?'
'How much stone would you need to build a village of about twelve houses?' Marin asked, turning to face him.
Jack stared at her, trying his hardest not to laugh under her stern stare.
'Love, why're you asking me?' he asked her, leaning forward. 'I'm a sailor, not a builder.'
She shrugged.
'You're here, and I can't add up very well,' was the demure reply, though he could see her mind was already on other things.
He sighed, moving to lean over her and read what she had written. Marin made an irritated noise, but she didn't try to stop him as he read along her lists of building materials, provisions, medical supplies, everything she could think of that would be needed to start up her haven for pirates and their families.
'Still going on with this haven idea, then?' he murmured, dropping a light kiss on her hair.
She smiled faintly.
'Why should I not?' she said. 'Especially now.'
Jack frowned.
'Now?' he asked, confused. 'What's so special about now?'
Marin bit her lip guiltily, grateful she had her back turned to him so he couldn't see her alarmed expression. She still hadn't managed to tell him about the imminent bundle, and the longer she left it, the harder it got.
'Well, we're going to need somewhere to base ourselves, aren't we?' she said, matter-of-factly. 'After all, it would be nice to have somewhere to call home. Somewhere we can watch our children grow up in safety.'
Jack nodded, smiling as he sat back with his feet on the table.
'Aye, that it would,' he agreed. 'But we have a long time ahead of us to think about that, don't we?'
She fell silent, holding his gaze with a calm that seemed akin to the serenity he had seen about her on their wedding day. His smile faded slowly as she glanced down at the table, her gaze rising again to meet his with apprehension. Jack's eyes grew wary, and he lowered his feet to the deck, leaning forward to look at his wife more closely.
'Don't we?' he repeated, feeling the silence in the cabin wrap about him protectively.
He watched her swallow nervously, her fingers picking at a splinter in the table.
'We don't have as long as you think, Jack,' she said softly, tearing her gaze from his as his eyes widened in shock.
Jack drew in a deep breath, trying to stop his head spinning as he regarded her, looking suddenly very vulnerable and alone as she sat before him.
'How long do we have?' he asked her gently.
Marin couldn't lift her eyes to meet his again, afraid that her news would somehow drive him away.
'Solomon says about five months, maybe less,' she murmured in a tiny voice.
His eyes closed slowly as he exhaled in a rush, leaning back against the chair with a thump. A baby . . . his baby, his son or daughter was growing inside Marin. He was a father. What a thought. Captain Jack Sparrow, infamous pirate of the Caribbean, was going to be a father.
'Jack?'
He opened his eyes, hearing the frightened hitch in Marin's voice that meant tears were not far away. She was still sat where she was, her eyes wide and stormy as she looked on him, her whole body tensed for his reaction.
'Jack, say something, please,' she ventured, half afraid that he would never speak to her again.
He rose quietly, moving to pull her to her feet before him, keeping her hands held in his own as he gazed down at her. A smile broke across his face.
'A baby?' he asked her, laughter edging his words. 'We're going to have a baby?'
Before she could answer, he wrapped his arms about her tightly, lifting her off her feet and spinning about the cabin, laughing at this astonishing turn of fate. Infected by his laughter, Marin joined in, a little shocked at this display of pure good humour from her pragmatic husband. As he set her on her feet, she barely had time to regain her balance before he kissed her, holding her as close as he dared in the tender embrace.
Pulling back slightly, he rested his forehead against hers, gazing down at her with eyes that almost glowed with happiness. Marin smiled shyly back up at him.
'I take it you're not unhappy then?' she asked.
Jack grinned that familiar grin, and suddenly everything was alright again. He kissed her nose gently.
'Not unhappy, no, love,' he told her, holding her close against his chest.
A thought suddenly occurred to him and he leant back, quickly checking her over. Bemused by his sudden concern, Marin batted his hands away.
'What's wrong?' she laughed.
'Did I hurt you?' he asked her, seeming almost frantic with worry. 'When I picked you up, did I . . . squash anything?'
Marin stared at him, incredulous, for a moment, before falling about laughing.
'No, no, Jack,' she spluttered, trying to regain control of herself before her husband burst a blood vessel. 'I'm fine.'
He nodded, his eyes no less wild than before. His hand hovered above her midriff.
'And . . . ?'
Marin's smile grew gentle. She reached out to take his hand, laying it carefully over her womb. The look on his face was priceless, one she would treasure for the rest of her life.
'We're both fine,' she said softly, as his gaze dropped to his hand on her stomach, his fingers moving gently across her midriff.
Jack's eyes lit up in wonder as his palm lay flat against the place his child was growing. He barely felt Marin's hand against his cheek until her lips touched his, and his world fell apart in flames. But as he drew her against him, he found another space in his heart had been filled with wonder and expectation. They were going to be a family, a thought that seemed to cushion him in contentment as Marin drew him down beside her, her touch a loving caress.
*~*~*
Hehehehe . . . I suppose now would be a bad time to ask you to point and click on the little blue button, yes? *suspiciously bright giggle*