Usual disclaimers... but I want him!
Last chapter today... and since my son is home on 2 week Easter break, it might be a while before I can update again. Please bear with me!
***
Chapter 65.55.37.51 - Reunion
Late February
Jack paced anxiously along the beach, as he did every morning, looking to the trail and then back to sea, again and again. Catherine had still not made her way home and he was worried. He heard footsteps on the beach and turned in hope, only to sigh in disappointment as he saw Oran trudging along carrying a bowl of breakfast. He realised he had missed the meal again. "Thanks Booth," he muttered.
"She'll get here Captain, stop worrying!" Oran assured him.
"Yeah, but it's a big ocean an' anythin'' might have happened... especially with that other ship out there!" he fretted.
"Kitty will make it!" Oran smiled. "She might have to make a detour or two, but nothing will stop her getting back to you - you know that!"
"Aye, m' little homin' sparrow," he grinned. "Thanks Booth!" He sat on the beach starting to eat his breakfast, glad that Oran left him to his thoughts. A proper little homing sparrow - but she might just have to fly around the odd storm before she reached him. He sighed deeply and settled down to wait again.
***
Catherine sighed tiredly, relieved to at last see the island of Tortuga before her. "Look Rose, home!"
Rose sat up from where she had been dozing to look at the rocky shoreline. Tropical trees clung to the cliff tops and occasionally a small sandy cove came into view. "Not quite Portsmouth my dear," she smiled.
"Many times better," Catherine grinned as she turned the tiller and headed towards one of the coves. "I think we'll walk in - I don't want to blunder into anything if there are problems..."
"What do you mean?" Rose frowned.
"If Louis has been up to his old tricks then the real Black Pearl might not be popular at the moment... we will walk cautiously until we know." She beached the boat, jumping into the water and pulling it higher up the beach. "You'll have to give me a hand Rose," she pleaded. "She's heavy!"
Rose cautiously climbed out, managing to reach the beach getting only slightly damp before she took the end of the rope and helped Catherine haul the little boat up higher out of the water. She stood uncertainly on the sand. "Which way?" she asked.
"Follow me... if the Pearl is there you should meet Jack within half an hour..." Catherine grinned, eager for her own reunion as well as happy for Rose. "Come!"
Rose followed Catherine along the narrow trail, often having to push her way through the lush foliage. The track was clearly not often used and at times disappeared almost entirely. At last she was relieved to see Catherine stop, holding her hand up and bidding silence.
For a while they stood there, concealed by the trees. "The real Black Pearl," she grinned, delighted to see Jack playing with Billy and Eilis on the beach. There was no sign of the others, although the welcome smell of baking drifted from the house. "And Jack!"
Rose looked in surprise at the dark haired man playing on the beach with the children, running from them as they chased him with sticks pretending to be pirates. He was barefoot with a red bandana around his shoulder- length hair. "That is my son?" she whispered, sitting on the ground in shock.
"That is Jack," Catherine replied, her grin threatening to split her face. "Stay here... I will send him to you." She turned, placing her hand on Rose's arm. "Some things are best kept private..." Rose nodded, but blinked in surprise as Catherine drew her pistol "Trust me," Catherine winked, "and just stay hidden!"
She turned, and stepped out onto the beach.
***
Jack skidded to a halt as a shot hit the beach, embedding itself in the sand inches from his feet. He drew his own pistol, turning towards the source. "Kitty!" he gasped, uncocking his pistol and dashing across the beach, his delight evident on his face. Eilis ran after him, whereas Billy ran towards the house screaming that she was home.
"You worthless two-bit pirate!" she taunted, shouting across the sand.. "I'll teach you to leave me in bloody Cape Town!"
"Kitty!" he staggered through the deep dry sand, his arms around her as he kissed her deeply. "Yer took yer bleedin' time!"
"Kitty!" Eilis squealed, hugging her leg until she crouched down to pay her attention.
Catherine looked up at Jack, kissing him again. "She's here," she whispered softly.
Jack paled, instantly understanding her. "Where..." he began.
"In the trees," Catherine smiled, her hand on his cheek. "I thought you'd like some privacy."
She was not surprised to see how nervous he was. "Thanks luv," he replied.
"I've been calling her my Aunt Rose," she explained. "But I've got important news when you are done... I want a senior crew and family meeting as soon as possible..."
"What..." he frowned.
"Nothing that cannot wait for a few minutes... go!" She kissed him again, shoving him firmly towards the tree line before taking Eilis' hand and walking towards the house. She could see several members of the crew simply diving off the Black Pearl, too eager to see her to wait for the boats to be lowered. She grinned, picking up Eilis and twirling her around. It was good to be home.
***
Rose watched as the man, her son, ran towards Catherine, grinning broadly before holding her to him and kissing her. He obviously loved her as much as she had come to understand Catherine loved him. They were lucky in their marriage, clearly more so than she had been. Her breath caught in her throat as he looked towards her... he looked anxious, but Catherine kissed him again before picking up the small girl and leaving him there. For a moment she had thought the child was theirs, until she remembered that Catherine could not have children... but it was a puzzle that would have to wait - he was walking towards her.
"Mother?" Jack was surprised to find his voice trembling as he pushed his way through the foliage. He spotted her sitting on the ground. "Mother..."
"John!" Rose smiled, accepting his hand as he helped her rise. "Sorry, Catherine said I should call you Jack..."
"It is my name here Mother," he smiled, all trace of his slur gone. "John Waike no longer exists..." He fell silent, unsure what to say. "I..." he began.
"Oh, come here!" Rose hugged him. "It is good to see you son..." She looked up at him. "You've grown somewhat..." She held him at arms length, looking up at him. "I thought you were dead," she whispered, "and then find you are a pirate. Your father was furious!"
"What? That I was alive or that I was a pirate?" Jack grinned.
"A bit of both I think," she admitted, her eyes still drinking in his face. She could still see the boy within his features, but he had matured, grown into the type of man that he had promised to be.
Jack laughed, offering his mother his arm. "We must not stay hidden talking, it will raise comment. Let me introduce you to my friends," he smiled. "And my ship. I need to hold a crew meeting as soon as possible... Kitty is worried about something..."
"Oh, that ship..." Rose frowned.
"How does she..." Jack stopped in his tracks, turning to face his mother. "No, it can wait until the meeting." He led her from the foliage, stopping in surprise at the sight of so many of his crew on shore clustered around Catherine - Will, Elizabeth and Theodore too.
"Your wife is popular with your crew," Rose observed.
"Two jumped into shark-infested waters in an attempt to save her back at Cape Town," he smiled. "You cannot ask more of them than that..." Catherine looked up and he nodded towards the house, guiding his mother to the privacy it afforded.
"Jean Claude, Ned, Oran, Isaac - crew meeting at Will's now!" Catherine ordered. "The rest of you get back to the Pearl!" Good natured muttering greeted her commands and the four men and those that lived there followed her towards the house. She took Theodore's hand, leaning close to him. "There is a woman with Jack - she is our Aunt Rose... I'll explain later," she whispered.
"But we don't have an..." he began, turning to her in confusion.
"I said later!" she hissed as they walked up the steps and into the house. Jack was already sitting at the kitchen table, Rose sitting to one side of the room. Clearly she expected to take no part in the meeting and Elizabeth went and sat next to her introducing herself.
"Aunt Rose," Theodore said warmly, interrupting their conversation. "So nice to see you again." He winked.
Rose caught his wink, understanding quickly. "My, you've grown!" she smiled, offering her hand for him to kiss.
"Family reunions will have to wait Theo," Catherine sighed. "Meeting now!"
Theodore nodded and sat down whilst Catherine, assured of Rose's alias, walked around the table and sat on Jack's lap. He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. "Alright luv," he grinned. "Now what's so important..."
"The false Black Pearl..." Catherine said quietly. She felt Jack tense beneath her, but it was clearly not news to him.
"How do you know about that?" he frowned.
"We had to take a slight detour on our way home via France and then New Orleans... the false ship is there." She looked across the table at her brother, holding his eyes. "Louis and Mary are there..."
"She's alive?" Theodore gasped.
Catherine nodded. "I cannot soften the blow Theo - it will be obvious to all when we come up against them..."
"What?" he frowned.
"She was heavily pregnant... due within a month at my guess... I'm sorry." She could not hold his gaze, lowering her eyes regretfully.
"Well," he sighed. "I guess even her father cannot stand against me if I petition for a divorce now..."
She felt Jack fidget beneath her, his hand sneaking up the inside of her shirt, tracing lazy circles with his fingers on her back. "I think yer'd better start at th' beginning luv," he drawled.
Catherine glibly glossed over Rose travelling with her, explaining that she had freed herself before finding her Aunt and fleeing to Portsmouth. She described how they had nearly been caught and how she had jumped into the water amidst the snowstorm. "Poor Jimmy," she laughed. "Looking at his face I don't think he'll ever be the same again!"
"He was always sweet on you Cat," Theodore smiled.
Jack pulled a sour face and Catherine laughed. "I don't think he will be now," she replied. "Anyway, we ended up in Le Havre and eventually got passage to New Orleans. Paul hid us and we fled that night before Louis could discover we were in the city. He was relieved to hear you were alive Jean Claude..."
"An' how exactly did yer get here?" Jack asked.
"I..." she blushed.
"I'm waitin'..." he pressed.
"I stole a dory and sailed here... happy!" Catherine pouted, twisting around to straddle his lap. "See what depths you've dragged me down to Jack Sparrow! I've never stolen a thing in my life!"
"Have now," he grinned as she thumped him on the shoulder. He kissed her. "Where's the boat..."
"In a cove a mile or so west of here. I beached her but there was no way of making her secure..." she explained.
"I'll send someone t' pick 'er up later," he smiled. "Yer did well t' sail all that way on yer own... I'm proud of yer!" He turned to those around the table. "Well.. comments?"
"There was one more thing that Paul said," Catherine interrupted. Sitting like that had sensations for both of them that they did not have the time for. A smile twitched across both their faces in recognition as she wriggled round to face the others. "Paul said that rumour in New Orleans was that this ship was built with English gold..."
"English gold?" Will questioned.
"What is the link?" Catherine asked him. "Louis, the ship, Mary... the Governor? Ships like that don't come cheap! Paul said she was newly built... and built to look very much like us!"
"What yer don't know Kitty is that th' other ship has already struck at Port au Prince... nearly fifty innocents were killed and we were blamed. We are only here in one piece because th' Old Man believed me an' has given us his protection..." Jack looked up at Isaac. "Get yer father!" he ordered. "We'll hold a meetin' on th' Pearl as soon as yer get back! Oran - fetch th' dory! Crew dismissed!"
***
You know the routine ladies... orderly queue and review... ta!
Last chapter today... and since my son is home on 2 week Easter break, it might be a while before I can update again. Please bear with me!
***
Chapter 65.55.37.51 - Reunion
Late February
Jack paced anxiously along the beach, as he did every morning, looking to the trail and then back to sea, again and again. Catherine had still not made her way home and he was worried. He heard footsteps on the beach and turned in hope, only to sigh in disappointment as he saw Oran trudging along carrying a bowl of breakfast. He realised he had missed the meal again. "Thanks Booth," he muttered.
"She'll get here Captain, stop worrying!" Oran assured him.
"Yeah, but it's a big ocean an' anythin'' might have happened... especially with that other ship out there!" he fretted.
"Kitty will make it!" Oran smiled. "She might have to make a detour or two, but nothing will stop her getting back to you - you know that!"
"Aye, m' little homin' sparrow," he grinned. "Thanks Booth!" He sat on the beach starting to eat his breakfast, glad that Oran left him to his thoughts. A proper little homing sparrow - but she might just have to fly around the odd storm before she reached him. He sighed deeply and settled down to wait again.
***
Catherine sighed tiredly, relieved to at last see the island of Tortuga before her. "Look Rose, home!"
Rose sat up from where she had been dozing to look at the rocky shoreline. Tropical trees clung to the cliff tops and occasionally a small sandy cove came into view. "Not quite Portsmouth my dear," she smiled.
"Many times better," Catherine grinned as she turned the tiller and headed towards one of the coves. "I think we'll walk in - I don't want to blunder into anything if there are problems..."
"What do you mean?" Rose frowned.
"If Louis has been up to his old tricks then the real Black Pearl might not be popular at the moment... we will walk cautiously until we know." She beached the boat, jumping into the water and pulling it higher up the beach. "You'll have to give me a hand Rose," she pleaded. "She's heavy!"
Rose cautiously climbed out, managing to reach the beach getting only slightly damp before she took the end of the rope and helped Catherine haul the little boat up higher out of the water. She stood uncertainly on the sand. "Which way?" she asked.
"Follow me... if the Pearl is there you should meet Jack within half an hour..." Catherine grinned, eager for her own reunion as well as happy for Rose. "Come!"
Rose followed Catherine along the narrow trail, often having to push her way through the lush foliage. The track was clearly not often used and at times disappeared almost entirely. At last she was relieved to see Catherine stop, holding her hand up and bidding silence.
For a while they stood there, concealed by the trees. "The real Black Pearl," she grinned, delighted to see Jack playing with Billy and Eilis on the beach. There was no sign of the others, although the welcome smell of baking drifted from the house. "And Jack!"
Rose looked in surprise at the dark haired man playing on the beach with the children, running from them as they chased him with sticks pretending to be pirates. He was barefoot with a red bandana around his shoulder- length hair. "That is my son?" she whispered, sitting on the ground in shock.
"That is Jack," Catherine replied, her grin threatening to split her face. "Stay here... I will send him to you." She turned, placing her hand on Rose's arm. "Some things are best kept private..." Rose nodded, but blinked in surprise as Catherine drew her pistol "Trust me," Catherine winked, "and just stay hidden!"
She turned, and stepped out onto the beach.
***
Jack skidded to a halt as a shot hit the beach, embedding itself in the sand inches from his feet. He drew his own pistol, turning towards the source. "Kitty!" he gasped, uncocking his pistol and dashing across the beach, his delight evident on his face. Eilis ran after him, whereas Billy ran towards the house screaming that she was home.
"You worthless two-bit pirate!" she taunted, shouting across the sand.. "I'll teach you to leave me in bloody Cape Town!"
"Kitty!" he staggered through the deep dry sand, his arms around her as he kissed her deeply. "Yer took yer bleedin' time!"
"Kitty!" Eilis squealed, hugging her leg until she crouched down to pay her attention.
Catherine looked up at Jack, kissing him again. "She's here," she whispered softly.
Jack paled, instantly understanding her. "Where..." he began.
"In the trees," Catherine smiled, her hand on his cheek. "I thought you'd like some privacy."
She was not surprised to see how nervous he was. "Thanks luv," he replied.
"I've been calling her my Aunt Rose," she explained. "But I've got important news when you are done... I want a senior crew and family meeting as soon as possible..."
"What..." he frowned.
"Nothing that cannot wait for a few minutes... go!" She kissed him again, shoving him firmly towards the tree line before taking Eilis' hand and walking towards the house. She could see several members of the crew simply diving off the Black Pearl, too eager to see her to wait for the boats to be lowered. She grinned, picking up Eilis and twirling her around. It was good to be home.
***
Rose watched as the man, her son, ran towards Catherine, grinning broadly before holding her to him and kissing her. He obviously loved her as much as she had come to understand Catherine loved him. They were lucky in their marriage, clearly more so than she had been. Her breath caught in her throat as he looked towards her... he looked anxious, but Catherine kissed him again before picking up the small girl and leaving him there. For a moment she had thought the child was theirs, until she remembered that Catherine could not have children... but it was a puzzle that would have to wait - he was walking towards her.
"Mother?" Jack was surprised to find his voice trembling as he pushed his way through the foliage. He spotted her sitting on the ground. "Mother..."
"John!" Rose smiled, accepting his hand as he helped her rise. "Sorry, Catherine said I should call you Jack..."
"It is my name here Mother," he smiled, all trace of his slur gone. "John Waike no longer exists..." He fell silent, unsure what to say. "I..." he began.
"Oh, come here!" Rose hugged him. "It is good to see you son..." She looked up at him. "You've grown somewhat..." She held him at arms length, looking up at him. "I thought you were dead," she whispered, "and then find you are a pirate. Your father was furious!"
"What? That I was alive or that I was a pirate?" Jack grinned.
"A bit of both I think," she admitted, her eyes still drinking in his face. She could still see the boy within his features, but he had matured, grown into the type of man that he had promised to be.
Jack laughed, offering his mother his arm. "We must not stay hidden talking, it will raise comment. Let me introduce you to my friends," he smiled. "And my ship. I need to hold a crew meeting as soon as possible... Kitty is worried about something..."
"Oh, that ship..." Rose frowned.
"How does she..." Jack stopped in his tracks, turning to face his mother. "No, it can wait until the meeting." He led her from the foliage, stopping in surprise at the sight of so many of his crew on shore clustered around Catherine - Will, Elizabeth and Theodore too.
"Your wife is popular with your crew," Rose observed.
"Two jumped into shark-infested waters in an attempt to save her back at Cape Town," he smiled. "You cannot ask more of them than that..." Catherine looked up and he nodded towards the house, guiding his mother to the privacy it afforded.
"Jean Claude, Ned, Oran, Isaac - crew meeting at Will's now!" Catherine ordered. "The rest of you get back to the Pearl!" Good natured muttering greeted her commands and the four men and those that lived there followed her towards the house. She took Theodore's hand, leaning close to him. "There is a woman with Jack - she is our Aunt Rose... I'll explain later," she whispered.
"But we don't have an..." he began, turning to her in confusion.
"I said later!" she hissed as they walked up the steps and into the house. Jack was already sitting at the kitchen table, Rose sitting to one side of the room. Clearly she expected to take no part in the meeting and Elizabeth went and sat next to her introducing herself.
"Aunt Rose," Theodore said warmly, interrupting their conversation. "So nice to see you again." He winked.
Rose caught his wink, understanding quickly. "My, you've grown!" she smiled, offering her hand for him to kiss.
"Family reunions will have to wait Theo," Catherine sighed. "Meeting now!"
Theodore nodded and sat down whilst Catherine, assured of Rose's alias, walked around the table and sat on Jack's lap. He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. "Alright luv," he grinned. "Now what's so important..."
"The false Black Pearl..." Catherine said quietly. She felt Jack tense beneath her, but it was clearly not news to him.
"How do you know about that?" he frowned.
"We had to take a slight detour on our way home via France and then New Orleans... the false ship is there." She looked across the table at her brother, holding his eyes. "Louis and Mary are there..."
"She's alive?" Theodore gasped.
Catherine nodded. "I cannot soften the blow Theo - it will be obvious to all when we come up against them..."
"What?" he frowned.
"She was heavily pregnant... due within a month at my guess... I'm sorry." She could not hold his gaze, lowering her eyes regretfully.
"Well," he sighed. "I guess even her father cannot stand against me if I petition for a divorce now..."
She felt Jack fidget beneath her, his hand sneaking up the inside of her shirt, tracing lazy circles with his fingers on her back. "I think yer'd better start at th' beginning luv," he drawled.
Catherine glibly glossed over Rose travelling with her, explaining that she had freed herself before finding her Aunt and fleeing to Portsmouth. She described how they had nearly been caught and how she had jumped into the water amidst the snowstorm. "Poor Jimmy," she laughed. "Looking at his face I don't think he'll ever be the same again!"
"He was always sweet on you Cat," Theodore smiled.
Jack pulled a sour face and Catherine laughed. "I don't think he will be now," she replied. "Anyway, we ended up in Le Havre and eventually got passage to New Orleans. Paul hid us and we fled that night before Louis could discover we were in the city. He was relieved to hear you were alive Jean Claude..."
"An' how exactly did yer get here?" Jack asked.
"I..." she blushed.
"I'm waitin'..." he pressed.
"I stole a dory and sailed here... happy!" Catherine pouted, twisting around to straddle his lap. "See what depths you've dragged me down to Jack Sparrow! I've never stolen a thing in my life!"
"Have now," he grinned as she thumped him on the shoulder. He kissed her. "Where's the boat..."
"In a cove a mile or so west of here. I beached her but there was no way of making her secure..." she explained.
"I'll send someone t' pick 'er up later," he smiled. "Yer did well t' sail all that way on yer own... I'm proud of yer!" He turned to those around the table. "Well.. comments?"
"There was one more thing that Paul said," Catherine interrupted. Sitting like that had sensations for both of them that they did not have the time for. A smile twitched across both their faces in recognition as she wriggled round to face the others. "Paul said that rumour in New Orleans was that this ship was built with English gold..."
"English gold?" Will questioned.
"What is the link?" Catherine asked him. "Louis, the ship, Mary... the Governor? Ships like that don't come cheap! Paul said she was newly built... and built to look very much like us!"
"What yer don't know Kitty is that th' other ship has already struck at Port au Prince... nearly fifty innocents were killed and we were blamed. We are only here in one piece because th' Old Man believed me an' has given us his protection..." Jack looked up at Isaac. "Get yer father!" he ordered. "We'll hold a meetin' on th' Pearl as soon as yer get back! Oran - fetch th' dory! Crew dismissed!"
***
You know the routine ladies... orderly queue and review... ta!