Usual disclaimers... and yes, I still hate them!
Updates may be a little patchy for about a week as I am redecorating my 6 year old sons bedroom... major clear out, major clean, major paint... and a modest rebuild with sewing thrown in for good measure. I will do my best to update... but if there is nothing for a week then bear with me... unless YOU want to come and wield a paint brush!
***
Jack woke to find the crew had decide to breakfast on the beach, Elizabeth overseeing the cooking. He was glad to see that the last of the trees were being cleared from the site for he wanted to be ready for when Jeremiah's men turned up. It would not be well received by the Old Man if they were kept waiting. He saw Isaac walking towards them, two bowls in his hands - closely followed by Eilis as she carefully walked behind him trying not to spill her own breakfast.
"Morning Captain! Kitty!" he smiled, handing over the bowls and frantically rescuing Eilis' breakfast before she spilled it as she sat next to Jack.
"Thank you Isaac," Catherine smiled as she took her bowl. "What time do you think your father's men might get here?"
"Probably mid-morning at the earliest. He won't start out before first light - the trail is too rough in places to travel in the dark," he replied.
"Yer think th' Old Man'll come himself?" Jack frowned, unsure if he wanted Jeremiah pacing along the beach.
"He will want to see it," Isaac admitted. "He likes to keep an eye on his investments..." He paused, looking across to Will. "And once Will's forge is up and working it will be a definite investment... especially for those that can afford them!"
"Aye," Jack agreed. "I don't think Will's swords will be cheap..." he shrugged, "but then again they never were!" He glanced down to Catherine's sword which she still wore. "But good things are always worth th' price..." Catherine looked up at him, wondering for a moment if his comment was for the sword alone.
"Jean Claude wants to know what you want done once they've finished," Isaac asked.
"Well, th' scrub needs clearin' an' then th' trail t'wards Tortuga needs th' same. P'raps yer should lead th' trail team an' meet th' Old Man when he arrives?"
"I'll finish my breakfast and get started," Isaac grinned, pleased at being put in charge of his own little team. He felt it was good that Jack was beginning to trust him with more responsibility now and, although he would not be considered senior crew for quite some time, it was a start.
***
It was barely mid-morning though when Jeremiah Hallam arrived at the head of a column of carts, flanked by his men and bringing a stone mason and a team of carpenters with him. The stone mason had to see what was needed before he could go away and quarry what would be required but the carpenters set to work immediately, preparing and cutting the trees into workable planks of wood.
Jack was surprised to see Anamaria riding in the second wagon, Edan safely held in her arms as it lurched from side to side on the old rutted track. "Ana!" he smiled as she gratefully climbed off.
"I thought we'd never get here!" she groaned, trying to straighten. "I'm begging a hammock and passage next time you head to town - and I don't care how long I have to wait!"
Jack laughed, remembering his own brief ride in a carriage through the much smoother streets of Port Royal for just a few minutes. Hours on a wagon over that terrain... ouch! It did not bear thinking about.
"Come and sit down Ana," Catherine called. "You'll excuse me if I don't get up..."
"I'll go an' see th' Old Man..." Jack left them alone, realising that Anamaria would want to talk about Gibbs. He looked back, unsurprised to see the two of them hugging and from the expression on Catherine's face he knew that his guess had been correct.
"I see you have been busy," Jeremiah Hallam commentated, his eyes taking in everything from Elizabeth carrying Charlotte whilst the men worked, to three small children running chaotically underfoot. He particularly noticed a small red haired child carrying a protesting cat, smiling to himself as he put another piece of the jigsaw into place. A sackful of kittens indeed. Jack Sparrow was so vulnerable it was unbelievable - wife, family, friends and now children even if they were not his own. But in a strange way, that vulnerability was his strength for he had a feeling that they would pull together and fight together and he had suspected that somebody would only double-cross Jack once - they would not live to do so again.
The child with the cat was following them. Jack stopped, looking over his shoulder at her. "Eilis luv, let that cat go an' then ask Elizabeth if she needs any help. I've gotta talk with Jeremiah here..."
She looked up at Jeremiah, frowning. "Is he a pirate too?" she asked, reluctantly letting go of the cat and staring up at him. "I'm a pirate!" she declared proudly. "Jack said so!"
"Little pirate," Jack corrected. "And it is time that us big pirates got to talk in peace. Shoo!" He spotted Paul Fearnan heading towards them.
"Sorry Captain, I don't know how she got away again... come on Eilis!" He took her by the hand and led her back towards Elizabeth.
"Jack said that man is a pirate," they could hear her comment as she walked. "I think Jack is lying again... he's too old to be a pirate!"
Jack snorted with laughter, trying to keep a straight face as he glanced at Jeremiah, relieved to see that he was smiling. "You forget Sparrow that I have raised three boys myself... and if you can be assured of one thing it is that children will drop you in it when you least expect it!" He watched as she was reunited with Elizabeth. "Even when they are not yours!"
They walked across to where the mason was talking intently with Will where the forge area had been roped out. Both men looked up as Jack and Jeremiah approached. "I'm nearly done Mr Hallam," he said politely. "Should be no more than ten minutes if you are wanting to head back..."
"Yes Edwards, that will be fine," Jeremiah Hallam agreed.
"I think Ana wants t' stay here. We'll keep her safe," Jack offered.
"I told her not to come," Jeremiah sighed, "but she insisted that she wanted to talk to your wife..."
"Ana was close t' Gibbs when she was onboard," Jack explained.
Jeremiah nodded. "I thought that would be her reason, but she would not say. Women can be strange creatures at times..." He looked across to his six month old grandson laying peacefully between Anamaria and Catherine as they spoke, Elizabeth crouching down next to them with Charlotte in the sling. Anamaria was pointing out to the bay, Elizabeth nodding. "One day I might even understand them!"
Jack smiled quietly to himself for he rarely had problems understanding Catherine. "Guess yer'd be wantin' t' say yer goodbyes t' her then," he suggested, walking across the beach towards the women. "I'll drop her safe back t' port when yer've got a lid on th' place..."
"She will be sleeping aboard?" Jeremiah asked.
Jack nodded. "Aye, an' probably in a hammock knowing Ana." Jeremiah looked at him surprised but Jack just shrugged. "She prefers it!"
"Like I said... strange!" Jeremiah said under his breath as they approached. "Anamaria, I will be heading back with Edwards. You will sleep on board, won't you?"
"Will you stop fretting Jeremiah?" she sighed.
"I think I am allowed to fret where the safety of my grandson is concerned," he replied.
"Considering Elizabeth is raising three and Kitty used to be a Nanny, I hardly think you need to fret about Edan." She looked sideways in exasperation at Catherine. "Now stop worrying and go!"
"Later then." He nodded to Jack, "Look after them Sparrow," before turning back to the wagons.
Jack waited before he was out of ear shot before turning to Anamaria. "Was that necessary Ana? Th' man is only concerned fer yer safety!"
"Jack!" she protested. "He is suffocating! I cannot even leave the house without him ordering an escort for me... in bloody Tortuga!" She looked around where the carpenters were studiously working, staring at them suspiciously. "I wouldn't put it past him to have his spies watching me there too!"
"Well, they aren't going on th' Pearl," Jack smiled. "So yer can be as charming as yer want t' be on board an' none of them will be th' wiser... savvy?"
Catherine smiled, thinking that she would have described Anamaria as argumentative, short tempered, sharp tongued... anything but charming. Her lips twitched as she saw Anamaria scowling at Jack - his comment had not been missed by her either.
"I'll go an' see about a hammock fer yer," he smiled innocently and headed quickly back towards the shoreline.
***
Updates may be a little patchy for about a week as I am redecorating my 6 year old sons bedroom... major clear out, major clean, major paint... and a modest rebuild with sewing thrown in for good measure. I will do my best to update... but if there is nothing for a week then bear with me... unless YOU want to come and wield a paint brush!
***
Jack woke to find the crew had decide to breakfast on the beach, Elizabeth overseeing the cooking. He was glad to see that the last of the trees were being cleared from the site for he wanted to be ready for when Jeremiah's men turned up. It would not be well received by the Old Man if they were kept waiting. He saw Isaac walking towards them, two bowls in his hands - closely followed by Eilis as she carefully walked behind him trying not to spill her own breakfast.
"Morning Captain! Kitty!" he smiled, handing over the bowls and frantically rescuing Eilis' breakfast before she spilled it as she sat next to Jack.
"Thank you Isaac," Catherine smiled as she took her bowl. "What time do you think your father's men might get here?"
"Probably mid-morning at the earliest. He won't start out before first light - the trail is too rough in places to travel in the dark," he replied.
"Yer think th' Old Man'll come himself?" Jack frowned, unsure if he wanted Jeremiah pacing along the beach.
"He will want to see it," Isaac admitted. "He likes to keep an eye on his investments..." He paused, looking across to Will. "And once Will's forge is up and working it will be a definite investment... especially for those that can afford them!"
"Aye," Jack agreed. "I don't think Will's swords will be cheap..." he shrugged, "but then again they never were!" He glanced down to Catherine's sword which she still wore. "But good things are always worth th' price..." Catherine looked up at him, wondering for a moment if his comment was for the sword alone.
"Jean Claude wants to know what you want done once they've finished," Isaac asked.
"Well, th' scrub needs clearin' an' then th' trail t'wards Tortuga needs th' same. P'raps yer should lead th' trail team an' meet th' Old Man when he arrives?"
"I'll finish my breakfast and get started," Isaac grinned, pleased at being put in charge of his own little team. He felt it was good that Jack was beginning to trust him with more responsibility now and, although he would not be considered senior crew for quite some time, it was a start.
***
It was barely mid-morning though when Jeremiah Hallam arrived at the head of a column of carts, flanked by his men and bringing a stone mason and a team of carpenters with him. The stone mason had to see what was needed before he could go away and quarry what would be required but the carpenters set to work immediately, preparing and cutting the trees into workable planks of wood.
Jack was surprised to see Anamaria riding in the second wagon, Edan safely held in her arms as it lurched from side to side on the old rutted track. "Ana!" he smiled as she gratefully climbed off.
"I thought we'd never get here!" she groaned, trying to straighten. "I'm begging a hammock and passage next time you head to town - and I don't care how long I have to wait!"
Jack laughed, remembering his own brief ride in a carriage through the much smoother streets of Port Royal for just a few minutes. Hours on a wagon over that terrain... ouch! It did not bear thinking about.
"Come and sit down Ana," Catherine called. "You'll excuse me if I don't get up..."
"I'll go an' see th' Old Man..." Jack left them alone, realising that Anamaria would want to talk about Gibbs. He looked back, unsurprised to see the two of them hugging and from the expression on Catherine's face he knew that his guess had been correct.
"I see you have been busy," Jeremiah Hallam commentated, his eyes taking in everything from Elizabeth carrying Charlotte whilst the men worked, to three small children running chaotically underfoot. He particularly noticed a small red haired child carrying a protesting cat, smiling to himself as he put another piece of the jigsaw into place. A sackful of kittens indeed. Jack Sparrow was so vulnerable it was unbelievable - wife, family, friends and now children even if they were not his own. But in a strange way, that vulnerability was his strength for he had a feeling that they would pull together and fight together and he had suspected that somebody would only double-cross Jack once - they would not live to do so again.
The child with the cat was following them. Jack stopped, looking over his shoulder at her. "Eilis luv, let that cat go an' then ask Elizabeth if she needs any help. I've gotta talk with Jeremiah here..."
She looked up at Jeremiah, frowning. "Is he a pirate too?" she asked, reluctantly letting go of the cat and staring up at him. "I'm a pirate!" she declared proudly. "Jack said so!"
"Little pirate," Jack corrected. "And it is time that us big pirates got to talk in peace. Shoo!" He spotted Paul Fearnan heading towards them.
"Sorry Captain, I don't know how she got away again... come on Eilis!" He took her by the hand and led her back towards Elizabeth.
"Jack said that man is a pirate," they could hear her comment as she walked. "I think Jack is lying again... he's too old to be a pirate!"
Jack snorted with laughter, trying to keep a straight face as he glanced at Jeremiah, relieved to see that he was smiling. "You forget Sparrow that I have raised three boys myself... and if you can be assured of one thing it is that children will drop you in it when you least expect it!" He watched as she was reunited with Elizabeth. "Even when they are not yours!"
They walked across to where the mason was talking intently with Will where the forge area had been roped out. Both men looked up as Jack and Jeremiah approached. "I'm nearly done Mr Hallam," he said politely. "Should be no more than ten minutes if you are wanting to head back..."
"Yes Edwards, that will be fine," Jeremiah Hallam agreed.
"I think Ana wants t' stay here. We'll keep her safe," Jack offered.
"I told her not to come," Jeremiah sighed, "but she insisted that she wanted to talk to your wife..."
"Ana was close t' Gibbs when she was onboard," Jack explained.
Jeremiah nodded. "I thought that would be her reason, but she would not say. Women can be strange creatures at times..." He looked across to his six month old grandson laying peacefully between Anamaria and Catherine as they spoke, Elizabeth crouching down next to them with Charlotte in the sling. Anamaria was pointing out to the bay, Elizabeth nodding. "One day I might even understand them!"
Jack smiled quietly to himself for he rarely had problems understanding Catherine. "Guess yer'd be wantin' t' say yer goodbyes t' her then," he suggested, walking across the beach towards the women. "I'll drop her safe back t' port when yer've got a lid on th' place..."
"She will be sleeping aboard?" Jeremiah asked.
Jack nodded. "Aye, an' probably in a hammock knowing Ana." Jeremiah looked at him surprised but Jack just shrugged. "She prefers it!"
"Like I said... strange!" Jeremiah said under his breath as they approached. "Anamaria, I will be heading back with Edwards. You will sleep on board, won't you?"
"Will you stop fretting Jeremiah?" she sighed.
"I think I am allowed to fret where the safety of my grandson is concerned," he replied.
"Considering Elizabeth is raising three and Kitty used to be a Nanny, I hardly think you need to fret about Edan." She looked sideways in exasperation at Catherine. "Now stop worrying and go!"
"Later then." He nodded to Jack, "Look after them Sparrow," before turning back to the wagons.
Jack waited before he was out of ear shot before turning to Anamaria. "Was that necessary Ana? Th' man is only concerned fer yer safety!"
"Jack!" she protested. "He is suffocating! I cannot even leave the house without him ordering an escort for me... in bloody Tortuga!" She looked around where the carpenters were studiously working, staring at them suspiciously. "I wouldn't put it past him to have his spies watching me there too!"
"Well, they aren't going on th' Pearl," Jack smiled. "So yer can be as charming as yer want t' be on board an' none of them will be th' wiser... savvy?"
Catherine smiled, thinking that she would have described Anamaria as argumentative, short tempered, sharp tongued... anything but charming. Her lips twitched as she saw Anamaria scowling at Jack - his comment had not been missed by her either.
"I'll go an' see about a hammock fer yer," he smiled innocently and headed quickly back towards the shoreline.
***