New chapter! Yahooie! Okay, this chapter is rather long, but enjoy it!
Here you go!
Chapter 2: The Unwanted Return
The next morning, the crew tiredly assembled on deck and got to work. Will and Elizabeth had each been given a room after a remark from the both of them about what a big ship the Pearl is.
Jack and Celeste were up at the helm, one arm around each other. Celeste was idly poking at a string of beads in Jack's hair, causing it to swing back and forth. Celeste was dressed in more adventure-appropriate attire: pants and a button-up shirt. She was pouting.
Will came aboard shortly followed by Elizabeth who was dressed in a fancy, white, frilly dress. They made their way up to the helm to speak with Jack and Celeste.
"Morning." Will and Elizabeth greeted in unison.
"Morning..." Celeste greeted gloomily.
"So, where are we off to at the moment?" Will asked.
"Ruby Falls..." Celeste pouted.
"We 'ave to, love." Jack said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "It's the closes' place that we can claim that bounty. That 'ead won' las' forever."
"What's so bad about Ruby Falls?" Elizabeth asked. "It's always sounded enchanting to me." Celeste continued pouting. Jack sighed and pulled her closer. "'er family's there." Jack stated.
"And that's bad?" Elizabeth asked.
"Aye, they soun' like a bunch o' bloody blighters to me."
"They are..." Celeste pouted.
"What happened?" Will asked. "They were very nice when I knew them."
Celeste sighed. "My mother left us and the country shortly after we moved back to America." She explained. "So, we moved to Ruby Falls... where my father met the most evil woman you'll ever meet and married her for reasons unknown to mankind. She's the reason I don't want to go back. All she wants is money... Besides, I left home to be a pirate (not that I told them that), so I know they won't treat me well at all if I go back..."
"Well, you don't have to visit them." Will told her.
"Word travels terribly fast in Ruby Falls." Celeste replied. "They're some of the richest people there, so everyone's dying to get respect from them... People will do anything for that... They'll find me... Besides, this is the ship I left on. They know that. I don't want them anywhere near here. That's why I can't just stay aboard."
"I'm sorry..." Elizabeth apologized. "That sounds just awful..."
"It is..." Celeste said. "But..." she sighed, "I'll be fine as long as Jack's here." Jack smiled.
"Yes, well, do you two want to 'elp with anythin'?" Jack asked Will and Elizabeth. "Don' get me wrong, you're guests on me ship, but if you feel like doin' somethin', there's always somethin' to be done."
"I wouldn't mind." Will said.
"Yes, I can help." Elizabeth said.
"Good. Go an' check with Gibbs an' see what 'e needs done, savvy?" Jack told them. They obeyed and went down on deck.
"Ugh..." Celeste sighed. "I am going to be immensely glad when we leave Ruby Falls..."
"I know. So am I." Jack added. The wind started to pick up a little. Suddenly, a humongous gust of wind blew, throwing them both off balance. The neck of Jack's shirt blew aside and Celeste spotted two round scars on his chest. Her brow furrowed.
"Jack, what—"she pushed the neck of his shirt aside, "what – when did – how...?"
Jack grabbed the neck of his shirt and jerked it back into place.
"Jack... what happened? What happened to you to get scars like that?" she asked, shocked.
"'ave you 'eard any stories about me, love?" Jack asked.
"Well, yes."
"Then you know I've been through a lot." Jack said almost bitterly. "Boun' to 'appen sometime."
"When – how --"
"Don' worry about it, love." Jack said quickly. "I don' like to talk about it any--"
"But—"
"I said, don' worry about it!" Jack snapped loudly. Celeste quickly withdrew from him in shock and almost fell over. He'd never spoken to her that way. She just looked at him, her brow furrowed in both confusion and hurt. She stressfully ran her fingers through her hair, her lip trembling.
"Oh – oh, darling, you know—" Jack hesitated. "I-I'm sorry, it's a—" Tears formed in Celeste's eyes and she turned and started to run off. "No, no, no!" he lunged forward and grabbed both of her upper arms. She struggled to get away, she sniffled as her eyes welled with tears. He put his head on her shoulder and spoke into her ear. "I didn' mean it. I'm sorry. I didn' – I mean... it's sort of a sensitive subject, alrigh', love? I'm sorry..." She sniffled and nodded her head.
"I didn't mean to—"Celeste began, turning to him.
"Forget it, darling." Jack interrupted. "We all 'ave sensitive subjects, an' that was one o' mine. I would never raise me voice at you." Celeste smiled feebly. "That's the girl I love."
They returned to the helm and stood, looking out at the ocean. Jack put his arm around Celeste's shoulders, still wary of his mistake and feeling very guilty for it. He knew what kind of person Celeste was. She could be as tough as nails and impossible to hurt, but he knew that if she had feelings for someone, it was like breaking the surface of an ice- covered lake. She trusted him and felt safe with him, and he knew that. The only one who could really hurt her was the one she really loved. He knew how sensitive she could be especially when it came to him, and he did feel quite guilty for raising his voice to her.
"What say we go an' get somethin' to eat, aye?" Jack asked her.
"Okay. That sounds good." Celeste replied. Jack put Anamaria on helm-duty and he and Celeste went down to the dining room for some breakfast.
The rest of the day was dull and somewhat awkward. They spent all the afternoon and evening preparing for their dreaded trip to Ruby Falls.
The next day, they docked in the Ruby Falls Harbor. Celeste had a gnawing feeling in her stomach from nervousness, and Jack wasn't exactly going to enjoy the visit either.
Celeste decided that since she had nothing to hide and didn't care what people would say, she wore her adventure-type outfit.
"I hate this." Celeste said to Jack. "I really hate this. I never thought I'd come back..."
"Don' worry, love, you'll get through it." Jack assured. "And unscathed. I promise."
"You don't know my stepmother."
"But I know you. You're better than she is. Jus' keep that in mind." Celeste smiled, though still strongly not wanting to go.
Jack and Celeste stepped out onto the docks. Celeste got a hold of herself and decided she was above all this. She straightened her posture and confidently strode off the docks on Jack's arm. Jack was carrying Santara's head in Santara's old jacket like Celeste had done when she'd first gotten it.
"Well, well," a girl's voice sneered, somewhere off to the right, and they turned to look at her, "if it isn't Celeste. Never thought I'd see you again." The girl speaking had long blond hair and was walking next to a blond man.
"Alyssa." Celeste addressed. "Yes, and I never thought I'd be back. Don't worry, I really never wanted to see your face again, and I'm not back for more than a day."
"Are you here to beg our family for money?" Alyssa asked.
"No." Celeste replied simply. "I happen to have quite a lot of money. And I am not here to see the annoying faces of my... extended family." She said bitterly.
"And who is this?" Alyssa asked, eyeing Jack. "Found someone, have you? Where did you pick him up?" she chuckled. "Well, he's just right for you – he looks like a mangy dog." She laughed.
"It's really none of your business who he is, you witch." Celeste stated. "But I do suggest you get out of my sight because you disgust me. I have a loaded pistol here – I fear what I might do."
Alyssa laughed. "And your appearance," she began, ignoring Celeste, "oh, you look just awful! What are you wearing?"
"Come on, Jack, I may reach for my pistol at any moment." Celeste said. She and Jack began to walk off.
"Come, come, Celeste," the blond man began, and she turned around, "you don't even say 'hello' to me?"
"Victor, I really don't care for you either." Celeste told him.
"Ah, pity, really." Victor said with sarcasm, "and you used to be such a nice girl. But you're not even a lady anymore. Just trash. Sad, truly."
"'ey!" Jack objected. "You can't—"
"Just let it go." Celeste said to him.
"No, really, darling, which one of 'is limbs do you want?" Jack asked, grabbing the handle of his sword.
"No, Jack, don't." Celeste sighed. "Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure I can't 'urt 'im for you, love?" Jack asked. "You know, jus' one swipe an' 'e's a eunuch." Celeste laughed a little, especially at the look on Victor's face when Jack said it. "Come on..."
"Well... alright." Celeste agreed, smiling.
Victor's eyes widened. Jack unsheathed his sword and started towards Victor. Victor turned and ran off – Jack followed.
"'ey!" Jack yelled. "Come back 'ere, you coward! Get back 'ere!" Alyssa chased after both of them, screaming. Celeste just laughed.
"Jack! Come back!" Celeste yelled, laughing. "Come on!"
Jack stopped and looked back at her. "Not even one limb?" he yelled back.
"No! Come on, now!" she yelled.
He gave up the hunt and came back to Celeste.
"You ruin all me fun, darling." He said to her jokingly.
"Sorry." She replied. "As amusing as that was, it's still not good to get in trouble with the law like that. Anyway, sticks and stones, right?"
"Aye..." Jack said, slightly disappointed.
"'ere." Jack started, after he was sure that Celeste's stepsiblings were gone. He set Santara's head on the ground, took off his jacket and set it on her shoulders. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and freed her hair from under it. She smiled. She loved his jacket. Since the jacket came to Jack's knees on him, it came to Celeste's lower calves, and the sleeves were far too long; the shoulder seams came nearly to the middle of her upper arms.
"What's this for?" she asked.
"This is a genuine Captain Jack Sparrow jacket." He said. "It's lucky an' it'll make you fell important. Works for me."
She laughed at his superstition. "Lucky? Is it?"
"Yes, it is." He replied.
She smiled. "Well, thank you. I think I'll need it. Especially since Alyssa is probably off to tell my stepmother that I'm here..." her smile faded.
They walked through the city, and came at last upon a guard.
"Ah, sir," Celeste addressed the guard, "where is the Governor? I must speak with him." The guard took them to a fancy building where the Governor apparently did most of his work. A few moments after the guard went to get the Governor, he returned with him.
"Miss Wyndham, what a surprise. We were under the impression that you'd gone to England to join a nunnery." The Governor said.
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Er, no, I did not."
"Oh, well, that is what... oh, well. Anyway, what is the problem?" the Governor asked.
"There is no problem. Nay, a problem has been solved. Captain Bartholomeu Santara... he's been giving you trouble as of late, has he not?"
"He has..." he replied confusedly.
"Well, no longer." Celeste stated, taking the wrapped up head from Jack. "We've killed him." She held out the bundle to the Governor and he took it. "This is his head. You can see for yourself."
"It's not possible..." the Governor said, unbelievingly.
"Not probable." Jack added.
"Hmm..." the Governor contemplated. "Captain Anderson!" he called. A moment later, a man wearing a brown wig and dressed in a military uniform walked in. "Captain Anderson, Miss Wyndham says she's killed Bartholomeu Santara. This is his head, she says. Can you confirm this?" he handed the bundle to Captain Anderson. He took it and unwrapped it.
"Ugh! Oh, bloody—"Captain Anderson groaned at the sight of the head. "Yes, yes, that's him." He confirmed. "How on earth did you kill him?"
"With difficulty." Celeste replied. "May I claim the bounty now, sir?"
"Absolutely..." the Governor answered, amazed. "You're lucky to get it. One moment, please."
"Of course." Celeste replied. The Governor reentered the room with two large brown sacks full of gold coins.
'Yahoo!' Jack thought with a smile on his face.
"Here you are, Miss Wyndham." The Governor said as he handed her both of the large bags. "And thank you very much for getting rid of that vicious pirate. It was quite brave of you."
"Anytime, sir. I am always glad to help." Celeste replied.
"And who are you, sir?" the Governor asked Jack.
"Oh, er, I am, er... Jack O' Lantern. At your service, sir." Jack replied, bowing. Celeste almost laughed as she did when he first used that name before, back in Rosalia.
"O' Lantern... What a strange name." the Governor contemplated. "Did you assist Miss Wyndham here in getting rid of Santara?"
"I did." Jack replied.
"Thank you as well, then." The Governor told him. "Now, perhaps you can both get rid of that Jack Sparrow. Have you ever seen him? For, alas, we have not, which makes it rather difficult to capture him. I mean, for all we know, you could be him." He said to Jack. He chuckled.
Celeste laughed. "Yes, I suppose you're right." She told him. "You know, I've seen him."
"Have you?" the Governor asked hopefully.
"Yes." Celeste replied. "Really ugly git. Filthy, and not in the least bit charming." She glanced up at Jack and half-smiled. "Just a bloody pirate. And I've also heard that he's a eunuch." Jack's brow furrowed and Celeste smiled. "Well, thank you, Governor, I'll be on my way. If I see any other pirate, I shall be sure to try and capture them."
"Thank you very much, Miss Wyndham." The Governor said. "Good day."
They walked along, down the path they came on, leading towards the city.
"Really ugly git, you know." Celeste joked. "Filthy pirate. Not charming in the least." She smiled
"I'm flattered, love." Jack said dully.
"Well, with a description like that, they'll never guess it's you."
"'specially the eunuch part. That's not me." Jack rushed.
"None of it is and you know it." Celeste said.
"Do I?" Jack asked.
"Oh, Jack, you know I love you and that I think you're the best of the best of everything." She looked up at the dejected expression on Jack's face. "There are millions of good things about you. You're the best."
Jack didn't reply for a moment.
"I thought as much. I just wanted to hear you say it." He smiled.
She laughed and they continued walking back to the city.
"Celeste!" a strict woman's voice called from behind them. They turned around and saw a thin woman with tightly pulled back blond hair.
"Marie." Celeste almost growled.
"Celeste, what are you doing here?" Marie asked. Celeste had been clutching Jack's arm, and she tightened her grip in frustration.
"Claiming a bounty." Celeste said through gritted teeth. "Behold," she gestured to the bags Jack was carrying, "the bounty of Captain Bartholomeu Santara."
"Uh, huh. Well, now that you've humiliated the family name, it's probably best that you leave."
"Trust me, I take no joy in being here." Celeste replied through gritted teeth.
"Good, because—"she looked at Jack and stopped. "Who is this?" she asked bitterly.
"None of your concern." Celeste replied.
Marie scoffed and spoke again. "Well, I want to tell you that we are very ashamed of you. How dare you just up and leave like that?"
"It's easy when you're in the house." Celeste stated. "You—"she stopped herself, "never mind."
"You always were a humiliation." Marie added coldly. Jack furrowed his brow at the way Celeste was being treated. "You always dragged the family name through the mud. Why can't you be more like Alyssa? You never were as smart or as pretty as she is. All you ever did was draw and practice fencing all day."
"And look where that's got me." Celeste said sarcastically, knocking one of the bags with her knee.
"You're an idiot, Celeste, you always will be." Marie said harshly.
"Excuse me," Jack injected, "but could you pleas not speak to 'er that way? She really is better than you give 'er credit for."
"I do not believe I have asked to speak to you." Marie said rudely.
"An' I do not believe that it is very 'umane to speak to anyone the way you jus' spoke to 'er." Jack argued.
"I do not care what a lowlife thinks about me." Marie dismissed. Celeste let go of Jack's arm and stepped closer to Marie.
"What did you call him?" Celeste asked threateningly.
"I called him a lowlife." Marie snobbishly responded. "He's below me."
Suddenly, Celeste slapped Marie hard in the face.
"You are below us, you disgusting, ugly, money-sucking snake!" Celeste screamed at her. "Now, get out of my sight!"
"How d-"
"Shut up!" Celeste yelled. "I'm tired of having to deal with you! That's why I left! I'm tired of you treating me like I'm nothing! But I'm a heck of a lot more than you'll ever be! So, get out of my life drop dead!" Jack raised his eyebrows at the way she was yelling; he didn't really think she could yell like that -- with so much hate.
"Celeste!" a man's voice exclaimed from the left of them. Celeste turned.
"F-father..." Celeste stuttered.
"Why do you speak to her like that?" he demanded once more.
"You should've heard what she said to us!" Celeste cried. "I don't have to take that!"
"What has Marie ever done to you that wasn't for your own good?" her father asked. Jack's eyes widened at that statement.
"Are you kiddin'?" Jack mumbled.
"I can't believe you still won't see it..." Celeste said quietly and sadly. Jack's heart broke at the sight of her sadness.
"She hit me, Henry!" Marie whined.
"After what you said, you deserved it!" Celeste cried.
"How dare you!?" her father yelled. He violently reached out to grab Celeste's arm, but Jack caught his wrist.
"I don' think so, mate." Jack said calmly.
"Who are you?" Celeste's father asked harshly.
"A friend o' Celeste." Jack replied. "You don' treat 'er very well, do you?" Celeste shot Jack a panicked look, but he ignored it.
"I've treated her the best way any father can." Her father retorted. "But she has failed to be anything more than a disappointment."
"Looks like you got your priorities a little mixed up, mate." Jack said.
"What do you mean?" her father asked angrily.
"Seems like you value that woman over your own daughter's feelin's, aye?" Jack accused. "You know Celeste doesn' like 'er very much, but you don' care, do you?"
"Whoever you are, you are out of line." Her father said.
"I think it is you that is out o' line." Jack contradicted. "You need to find yourself a 'eart, mate. Celeste didn' lie about either one o' you." Celeste's father and Marie both scoffed. Celeste grabbed Jack's arm.
"Come on." Celeste said to Jack and they turned around.
"Don't turn you back on us, you wench!" Marie ordered. She and Jack looked back at her father and Marie.
"An' you think that's for 'er own good?" Jack asked Celeste's father.
"Well," he hesitated, "she has to learn that she can't have everything her way."
"Oh, I'll make it her way--"he pulled out his sword.
"Jack stop it!" Celeste cried. "Don't! We don't want any trouble!" She put her hands on Jack's arm that was grasping the sword and lowered it. "Please, stop." She looked sadly at him.
She shot a contemptuous look at her father and Marie. "You don't know how long I've been waiting to leave home. You don't even care that you're making your own daughter suffer... Don't you know that she doesn't even love you, anymore?" His expression faltered. She scowled and stormed off.
"At least she knows someone cares about 'er." Jack said to them in anger and went to Celeste.
They stormed back to the Pearl and into the dining room. Jack set down the two bags of gold and closed the door.
"Oh, darling, 'owever could those people treat you like that?" Jack asked incredulously.
"I told you what they were like." Celeste said. She paused for a moment. "It's not easy hearing your own father call you a disappointment... And he used to be such a good person..." Tears formed in eyes. "No matter how much you get used to the yelling... it still hurts..." she sniffled. Jack's brow furrowed, still not being able to comprehend why anyone would treat her the way they did. He went over to her and put his arms around her. She buried her head in his chest.
"Don' think about it, love." He told her. "You don' 'ave to deal with them anymore... I can't believe they'd talk to you like that... I'm sorry... When you told me about them... I didn' think they'd be that bad..." She continued crying.
"I thought I'd gotten used to it..." Celeste sniffled. "Just when you think it won't hurt anymore..."
"Don' think about it, darling. Really. They're gone now." He comforted. "And, darling, you're not a disappointment." He assured. "You're perfect."
"I'm far from perfect, Jack." Celeste said.
"Well, you're my perfect." He let go of her and pulled out a chair from the table for her. She sat down while he pulled out a chair and sat next to her. They looked at each other and got lost in one another's eyes for a moment.
"You are so beautiful." Jack sighed. Celeste sniffled and wiped the tears from her face.
"Contrary to popular belief." She said, looking away from him.
"Oh, don' listen to 'er." Jack told her. "Who do you believe, 'er or me?"
She looked up with at him with red, watery eyes and smiled feebly.
"I thought so." He said. "No more pain. Not if I can 'elp it."
"You can't stop things like that, Jack." Celeste added.
"If I can 'elp it, I can." He replied.
"I'm glad somebody cared." Celeste smiled. Jack smiled and kissed her.
"Let's get out o' 'ere."
After Celeste had made sure that all the signs of crying were gone from her eyes, she and Jack went up on deck.
"Will! Elizabeth!" Celeste called to them. They came over.
"How did it go?" Elizabeth asked.
"Terribly." Celeste replied. "But, as I said, as long as Jack is here, everything's fine." She smiled. "But I did get to slap my stepmother in the face. My goodness, how long have I been waiting to do that?"
"She deserved it, too, that bloody witch." Jack added.
"Oh, Celeste, may I speak to you for a moment?" Will asked.
"Erm, sure." Celeste replied. Will patted Elizabeth's shoulder as if okaying a plan. Celeste and Will went over to the side of the ship.
"What is it, Will?" Celeste asked.
"Just wanted to catch up a little." Will told her. "It's been so long."
"Yes, it has." Celeste agreed. "Well, what do you want to know?"
"How did you meet Jack?" Will asked. Celeste raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I'm sorry. I know that is rather personal."
"No, it's alright." Celeste said. "Well, one day..." and she told him the story about how she met Jack. "...and then I figured it'd be best to go to Port Royal to claim the bounty. And then we met you and now we're here."
"Wow. That's very fascinating." Will said. "But... how exactly did you get... involved with him? I know that's personal as well, I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's fine, Will." Celeste assured. "Well, truth be told... I have no idea. He just charmed his way into my heart, I suppose. Yes, he's a scoundrel, sure, but... I don't know... I love him... He's always there for me. He protects me, you know?"
"Yes, I suppose, it's just--"
"Why?" Celeste asked. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know." Will replied. "I just wondered. You two are completely different and I just... I just thought it was interesting. You're prim and proper and... have your morals straight, and he's..." Will looked over at Jack who was gazing, concentrated, at his broken compass, "...well, he's Jack."
Celeste laughed. "Yes. Unlikely, I know. But... he's just... something I've never had before. He's just... mine."
Will smiled. "He's a good man." He said.
"Yes, he is." Celeste answered dreamily.
They went up to the helm where Jack and Elizabeth were standing.
"You don' 'ave to worry, love," Jack said to Celeste when she approached, "we're leavin' this wretched place an' its wretched people as soon as I can manage it for you."
"Good." Celeste sighed, leaning up against Jack's shoulder. "Because I am weary of it all."
"Come on, you salty sea-cockroaches!" Jack yelled at the crew. "We want out o' 'ere!"
"Aye, Cap'n!" Gibbs called back to him.
Shortly after, they began to pull out of the Ruby Falls Harbor and they sailed off toward the island on the map.
Hooray! Okay, I hope you enjoyed that chapter! "I'll be back!" Leave nice reviews for me!
Chapter 2: The Unwanted Return
The next morning, the crew tiredly assembled on deck and got to work. Will and Elizabeth had each been given a room after a remark from the both of them about what a big ship the Pearl is.
Jack and Celeste were up at the helm, one arm around each other. Celeste was idly poking at a string of beads in Jack's hair, causing it to swing back and forth. Celeste was dressed in more adventure-appropriate attire: pants and a button-up shirt. She was pouting.
Will came aboard shortly followed by Elizabeth who was dressed in a fancy, white, frilly dress. They made their way up to the helm to speak with Jack and Celeste.
"Morning." Will and Elizabeth greeted in unison.
"Morning..." Celeste greeted gloomily.
"So, where are we off to at the moment?" Will asked.
"Ruby Falls..." Celeste pouted.
"We 'ave to, love." Jack said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "It's the closes' place that we can claim that bounty. That 'ead won' las' forever."
"What's so bad about Ruby Falls?" Elizabeth asked. "It's always sounded enchanting to me." Celeste continued pouting. Jack sighed and pulled her closer. "'er family's there." Jack stated.
"And that's bad?" Elizabeth asked.
"Aye, they soun' like a bunch o' bloody blighters to me."
"They are..." Celeste pouted.
"What happened?" Will asked. "They were very nice when I knew them."
Celeste sighed. "My mother left us and the country shortly after we moved back to America." She explained. "So, we moved to Ruby Falls... where my father met the most evil woman you'll ever meet and married her for reasons unknown to mankind. She's the reason I don't want to go back. All she wants is money... Besides, I left home to be a pirate (not that I told them that), so I know they won't treat me well at all if I go back..."
"Well, you don't have to visit them." Will told her.
"Word travels terribly fast in Ruby Falls." Celeste replied. "They're some of the richest people there, so everyone's dying to get respect from them... People will do anything for that... They'll find me... Besides, this is the ship I left on. They know that. I don't want them anywhere near here. That's why I can't just stay aboard."
"I'm sorry..." Elizabeth apologized. "That sounds just awful..."
"It is..." Celeste said. "But..." she sighed, "I'll be fine as long as Jack's here." Jack smiled.
"Yes, well, do you two want to 'elp with anythin'?" Jack asked Will and Elizabeth. "Don' get me wrong, you're guests on me ship, but if you feel like doin' somethin', there's always somethin' to be done."
"I wouldn't mind." Will said.
"Yes, I can help." Elizabeth said.
"Good. Go an' check with Gibbs an' see what 'e needs done, savvy?" Jack told them. They obeyed and went down on deck.
"Ugh..." Celeste sighed. "I am going to be immensely glad when we leave Ruby Falls..."
"I know. So am I." Jack added. The wind started to pick up a little. Suddenly, a humongous gust of wind blew, throwing them both off balance. The neck of Jack's shirt blew aside and Celeste spotted two round scars on his chest. Her brow furrowed.
"Jack, what—"she pushed the neck of his shirt aside, "what – when did – how...?"
Jack grabbed the neck of his shirt and jerked it back into place.
"Jack... what happened? What happened to you to get scars like that?" she asked, shocked.
"'ave you 'eard any stories about me, love?" Jack asked.
"Well, yes."
"Then you know I've been through a lot." Jack said almost bitterly. "Boun' to 'appen sometime."
"When – how --"
"Don' worry about it, love." Jack said quickly. "I don' like to talk about it any--"
"But—"
"I said, don' worry about it!" Jack snapped loudly. Celeste quickly withdrew from him in shock and almost fell over. He'd never spoken to her that way. She just looked at him, her brow furrowed in both confusion and hurt. She stressfully ran her fingers through her hair, her lip trembling.
"Oh – oh, darling, you know—" Jack hesitated. "I-I'm sorry, it's a—" Tears formed in Celeste's eyes and she turned and started to run off. "No, no, no!" he lunged forward and grabbed both of her upper arms. She struggled to get away, she sniffled as her eyes welled with tears. He put his head on her shoulder and spoke into her ear. "I didn' mean it. I'm sorry. I didn' – I mean... it's sort of a sensitive subject, alrigh', love? I'm sorry..." She sniffled and nodded her head.
"I didn't mean to—"Celeste began, turning to him.
"Forget it, darling." Jack interrupted. "We all 'ave sensitive subjects, an' that was one o' mine. I would never raise me voice at you." Celeste smiled feebly. "That's the girl I love."
They returned to the helm and stood, looking out at the ocean. Jack put his arm around Celeste's shoulders, still wary of his mistake and feeling very guilty for it. He knew what kind of person Celeste was. She could be as tough as nails and impossible to hurt, but he knew that if she had feelings for someone, it was like breaking the surface of an ice- covered lake. She trusted him and felt safe with him, and he knew that. The only one who could really hurt her was the one she really loved. He knew how sensitive she could be especially when it came to him, and he did feel quite guilty for raising his voice to her.
"What say we go an' get somethin' to eat, aye?" Jack asked her.
"Okay. That sounds good." Celeste replied. Jack put Anamaria on helm-duty and he and Celeste went down to the dining room for some breakfast.
The rest of the day was dull and somewhat awkward. They spent all the afternoon and evening preparing for their dreaded trip to Ruby Falls.
The next day, they docked in the Ruby Falls Harbor. Celeste had a gnawing feeling in her stomach from nervousness, and Jack wasn't exactly going to enjoy the visit either.
Celeste decided that since she had nothing to hide and didn't care what people would say, she wore her adventure-type outfit.
"I hate this." Celeste said to Jack. "I really hate this. I never thought I'd come back..."
"Don' worry, love, you'll get through it." Jack assured. "And unscathed. I promise."
"You don't know my stepmother."
"But I know you. You're better than she is. Jus' keep that in mind." Celeste smiled, though still strongly not wanting to go.
Jack and Celeste stepped out onto the docks. Celeste got a hold of herself and decided she was above all this. She straightened her posture and confidently strode off the docks on Jack's arm. Jack was carrying Santara's head in Santara's old jacket like Celeste had done when she'd first gotten it.
"Well, well," a girl's voice sneered, somewhere off to the right, and they turned to look at her, "if it isn't Celeste. Never thought I'd see you again." The girl speaking had long blond hair and was walking next to a blond man.
"Alyssa." Celeste addressed. "Yes, and I never thought I'd be back. Don't worry, I really never wanted to see your face again, and I'm not back for more than a day."
"Are you here to beg our family for money?" Alyssa asked.
"No." Celeste replied simply. "I happen to have quite a lot of money. And I am not here to see the annoying faces of my... extended family." She said bitterly.
"And who is this?" Alyssa asked, eyeing Jack. "Found someone, have you? Where did you pick him up?" she chuckled. "Well, he's just right for you – he looks like a mangy dog." She laughed.
"It's really none of your business who he is, you witch." Celeste stated. "But I do suggest you get out of my sight because you disgust me. I have a loaded pistol here – I fear what I might do."
Alyssa laughed. "And your appearance," she began, ignoring Celeste, "oh, you look just awful! What are you wearing?"
"Come on, Jack, I may reach for my pistol at any moment." Celeste said. She and Jack began to walk off.
"Come, come, Celeste," the blond man began, and she turned around, "you don't even say 'hello' to me?"
"Victor, I really don't care for you either." Celeste told him.
"Ah, pity, really." Victor said with sarcasm, "and you used to be such a nice girl. But you're not even a lady anymore. Just trash. Sad, truly."
"'ey!" Jack objected. "You can't—"
"Just let it go." Celeste said to him.
"No, really, darling, which one of 'is limbs do you want?" Jack asked, grabbing the handle of his sword.
"No, Jack, don't." Celeste sighed. "Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure I can't 'urt 'im for you, love?" Jack asked. "You know, jus' one swipe an' 'e's a eunuch." Celeste laughed a little, especially at the look on Victor's face when Jack said it. "Come on..."
"Well... alright." Celeste agreed, smiling.
Victor's eyes widened. Jack unsheathed his sword and started towards Victor. Victor turned and ran off – Jack followed.
"'ey!" Jack yelled. "Come back 'ere, you coward! Get back 'ere!" Alyssa chased after both of them, screaming. Celeste just laughed.
"Jack! Come back!" Celeste yelled, laughing. "Come on!"
Jack stopped and looked back at her. "Not even one limb?" he yelled back.
"No! Come on, now!" she yelled.
He gave up the hunt and came back to Celeste.
"You ruin all me fun, darling." He said to her jokingly.
"Sorry." She replied. "As amusing as that was, it's still not good to get in trouble with the law like that. Anyway, sticks and stones, right?"
"Aye..." Jack said, slightly disappointed.
"'ere." Jack started, after he was sure that Celeste's stepsiblings were gone. He set Santara's head on the ground, took off his jacket and set it on her shoulders. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and freed her hair from under it. She smiled. She loved his jacket. Since the jacket came to Jack's knees on him, it came to Celeste's lower calves, and the sleeves were far too long; the shoulder seams came nearly to the middle of her upper arms.
"What's this for?" she asked.
"This is a genuine Captain Jack Sparrow jacket." He said. "It's lucky an' it'll make you fell important. Works for me."
She laughed at his superstition. "Lucky? Is it?"
"Yes, it is." He replied.
She smiled. "Well, thank you. I think I'll need it. Especially since Alyssa is probably off to tell my stepmother that I'm here..." her smile faded.
They walked through the city, and came at last upon a guard.
"Ah, sir," Celeste addressed the guard, "where is the Governor? I must speak with him." The guard took them to a fancy building where the Governor apparently did most of his work. A few moments after the guard went to get the Governor, he returned with him.
"Miss Wyndham, what a surprise. We were under the impression that you'd gone to England to join a nunnery." The Governor said.
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Er, no, I did not."
"Oh, well, that is what... oh, well. Anyway, what is the problem?" the Governor asked.
"There is no problem. Nay, a problem has been solved. Captain Bartholomeu Santara... he's been giving you trouble as of late, has he not?"
"He has..." he replied confusedly.
"Well, no longer." Celeste stated, taking the wrapped up head from Jack. "We've killed him." She held out the bundle to the Governor and he took it. "This is his head. You can see for yourself."
"It's not possible..." the Governor said, unbelievingly.
"Not probable." Jack added.
"Hmm..." the Governor contemplated. "Captain Anderson!" he called. A moment later, a man wearing a brown wig and dressed in a military uniform walked in. "Captain Anderson, Miss Wyndham says she's killed Bartholomeu Santara. This is his head, she says. Can you confirm this?" he handed the bundle to Captain Anderson. He took it and unwrapped it.
"Ugh! Oh, bloody—"Captain Anderson groaned at the sight of the head. "Yes, yes, that's him." He confirmed. "How on earth did you kill him?"
"With difficulty." Celeste replied. "May I claim the bounty now, sir?"
"Absolutely..." the Governor answered, amazed. "You're lucky to get it. One moment, please."
"Of course." Celeste replied. The Governor reentered the room with two large brown sacks full of gold coins.
'Yahoo!' Jack thought with a smile on his face.
"Here you are, Miss Wyndham." The Governor said as he handed her both of the large bags. "And thank you very much for getting rid of that vicious pirate. It was quite brave of you."
"Anytime, sir. I am always glad to help." Celeste replied.
"And who are you, sir?" the Governor asked Jack.
"Oh, er, I am, er... Jack O' Lantern. At your service, sir." Jack replied, bowing. Celeste almost laughed as she did when he first used that name before, back in Rosalia.
"O' Lantern... What a strange name." the Governor contemplated. "Did you assist Miss Wyndham here in getting rid of Santara?"
"I did." Jack replied.
"Thank you as well, then." The Governor told him. "Now, perhaps you can both get rid of that Jack Sparrow. Have you ever seen him? For, alas, we have not, which makes it rather difficult to capture him. I mean, for all we know, you could be him." He said to Jack. He chuckled.
Celeste laughed. "Yes, I suppose you're right." She told him. "You know, I've seen him."
"Have you?" the Governor asked hopefully.
"Yes." Celeste replied. "Really ugly git. Filthy, and not in the least bit charming." She glanced up at Jack and half-smiled. "Just a bloody pirate. And I've also heard that he's a eunuch." Jack's brow furrowed and Celeste smiled. "Well, thank you, Governor, I'll be on my way. If I see any other pirate, I shall be sure to try and capture them."
"Thank you very much, Miss Wyndham." The Governor said. "Good day."
They walked along, down the path they came on, leading towards the city.
"Really ugly git, you know." Celeste joked. "Filthy pirate. Not charming in the least." She smiled
"I'm flattered, love." Jack said dully.
"Well, with a description like that, they'll never guess it's you."
"'specially the eunuch part. That's not me." Jack rushed.
"None of it is and you know it." Celeste said.
"Do I?" Jack asked.
"Oh, Jack, you know I love you and that I think you're the best of the best of everything." She looked up at the dejected expression on Jack's face. "There are millions of good things about you. You're the best."
Jack didn't reply for a moment.
"I thought as much. I just wanted to hear you say it." He smiled.
She laughed and they continued walking back to the city.
"Celeste!" a strict woman's voice called from behind them. They turned around and saw a thin woman with tightly pulled back blond hair.
"Marie." Celeste almost growled.
"Celeste, what are you doing here?" Marie asked. Celeste had been clutching Jack's arm, and she tightened her grip in frustration.
"Claiming a bounty." Celeste said through gritted teeth. "Behold," she gestured to the bags Jack was carrying, "the bounty of Captain Bartholomeu Santara."
"Uh, huh. Well, now that you've humiliated the family name, it's probably best that you leave."
"Trust me, I take no joy in being here." Celeste replied through gritted teeth.
"Good, because—"she looked at Jack and stopped. "Who is this?" she asked bitterly.
"None of your concern." Celeste replied.
Marie scoffed and spoke again. "Well, I want to tell you that we are very ashamed of you. How dare you just up and leave like that?"
"It's easy when you're in the house." Celeste stated. "You—"she stopped herself, "never mind."
"You always were a humiliation." Marie added coldly. Jack furrowed his brow at the way Celeste was being treated. "You always dragged the family name through the mud. Why can't you be more like Alyssa? You never were as smart or as pretty as she is. All you ever did was draw and practice fencing all day."
"And look where that's got me." Celeste said sarcastically, knocking one of the bags with her knee.
"You're an idiot, Celeste, you always will be." Marie said harshly.
"Excuse me," Jack injected, "but could you pleas not speak to 'er that way? She really is better than you give 'er credit for."
"I do not believe I have asked to speak to you." Marie said rudely.
"An' I do not believe that it is very 'umane to speak to anyone the way you jus' spoke to 'er." Jack argued.
"I do not care what a lowlife thinks about me." Marie dismissed. Celeste let go of Jack's arm and stepped closer to Marie.
"What did you call him?" Celeste asked threateningly.
"I called him a lowlife." Marie snobbishly responded. "He's below me."
Suddenly, Celeste slapped Marie hard in the face.
"You are below us, you disgusting, ugly, money-sucking snake!" Celeste screamed at her. "Now, get out of my sight!"
"How d-"
"Shut up!" Celeste yelled. "I'm tired of having to deal with you! That's why I left! I'm tired of you treating me like I'm nothing! But I'm a heck of a lot more than you'll ever be! So, get out of my life drop dead!" Jack raised his eyebrows at the way she was yelling; he didn't really think she could yell like that -- with so much hate.
"Celeste!" a man's voice exclaimed from the left of them. Celeste turned.
"F-father..." Celeste stuttered.
"Why do you speak to her like that?" he demanded once more.
"You should've heard what she said to us!" Celeste cried. "I don't have to take that!"
"What has Marie ever done to you that wasn't for your own good?" her father asked. Jack's eyes widened at that statement.
"Are you kiddin'?" Jack mumbled.
"I can't believe you still won't see it..." Celeste said quietly and sadly. Jack's heart broke at the sight of her sadness.
"She hit me, Henry!" Marie whined.
"After what you said, you deserved it!" Celeste cried.
"How dare you!?" her father yelled. He violently reached out to grab Celeste's arm, but Jack caught his wrist.
"I don' think so, mate." Jack said calmly.
"Who are you?" Celeste's father asked harshly.
"A friend o' Celeste." Jack replied. "You don' treat 'er very well, do you?" Celeste shot Jack a panicked look, but he ignored it.
"I've treated her the best way any father can." Her father retorted. "But she has failed to be anything more than a disappointment."
"Looks like you got your priorities a little mixed up, mate." Jack said.
"What do you mean?" her father asked angrily.
"Seems like you value that woman over your own daughter's feelin's, aye?" Jack accused. "You know Celeste doesn' like 'er very much, but you don' care, do you?"
"Whoever you are, you are out of line." Her father said.
"I think it is you that is out o' line." Jack contradicted. "You need to find yourself a 'eart, mate. Celeste didn' lie about either one o' you." Celeste's father and Marie both scoffed. Celeste grabbed Jack's arm.
"Come on." Celeste said to Jack and they turned around.
"Don't turn you back on us, you wench!" Marie ordered. She and Jack looked back at her father and Marie.
"An' you think that's for 'er own good?" Jack asked Celeste's father.
"Well," he hesitated, "she has to learn that she can't have everything her way."
"Oh, I'll make it her way--"he pulled out his sword.
"Jack stop it!" Celeste cried. "Don't! We don't want any trouble!" She put her hands on Jack's arm that was grasping the sword and lowered it. "Please, stop." She looked sadly at him.
She shot a contemptuous look at her father and Marie. "You don't know how long I've been waiting to leave home. You don't even care that you're making your own daughter suffer... Don't you know that she doesn't even love you, anymore?" His expression faltered. She scowled and stormed off.
"At least she knows someone cares about 'er." Jack said to them in anger and went to Celeste.
They stormed back to the Pearl and into the dining room. Jack set down the two bags of gold and closed the door.
"Oh, darling, 'owever could those people treat you like that?" Jack asked incredulously.
"I told you what they were like." Celeste said. She paused for a moment. "It's not easy hearing your own father call you a disappointment... And he used to be such a good person..." Tears formed in eyes. "No matter how much you get used to the yelling... it still hurts..." she sniffled. Jack's brow furrowed, still not being able to comprehend why anyone would treat her the way they did. He went over to her and put his arms around her. She buried her head in his chest.
"Don' think about it, love." He told her. "You don' 'ave to deal with them anymore... I can't believe they'd talk to you like that... I'm sorry... When you told me about them... I didn' think they'd be that bad..." She continued crying.
"I thought I'd gotten used to it..." Celeste sniffled. "Just when you think it won't hurt anymore..."
"Don' think about it, darling. Really. They're gone now." He comforted. "And, darling, you're not a disappointment." He assured. "You're perfect."
"I'm far from perfect, Jack." Celeste said.
"Well, you're my perfect." He let go of her and pulled out a chair from the table for her. She sat down while he pulled out a chair and sat next to her. They looked at each other and got lost in one another's eyes for a moment.
"You are so beautiful." Jack sighed. Celeste sniffled and wiped the tears from her face.
"Contrary to popular belief." She said, looking away from him.
"Oh, don' listen to 'er." Jack told her. "Who do you believe, 'er or me?"
She looked up with at him with red, watery eyes and smiled feebly.
"I thought so." He said. "No more pain. Not if I can 'elp it."
"You can't stop things like that, Jack." Celeste added.
"If I can 'elp it, I can." He replied.
"I'm glad somebody cared." Celeste smiled. Jack smiled and kissed her.
"Let's get out o' 'ere."
After Celeste had made sure that all the signs of crying were gone from her eyes, she and Jack went up on deck.
"Will! Elizabeth!" Celeste called to them. They came over.
"How did it go?" Elizabeth asked.
"Terribly." Celeste replied. "But, as I said, as long as Jack is here, everything's fine." She smiled. "But I did get to slap my stepmother in the face. My goodness, how long have I been waiting to do that?"
"She deserved it, too, that bloody witch." Jack added.
"Oh, Celeste, may I speak to you for a moment?" Will asked.
"Erm, sure." Celeste replied. Will patted Elizabeth's shoulder as if okaying a plan. Celeste and Will went over to the side of the ship.
"What is it, Will?" Celeste asked.
"Just wanted to catch up a little." Will told her. "It's been so long."
"Yes, it has." Celeste agreed. "Well, what do you want to know?"
"How did you meet Jack?" Will asked. Celeste raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I'm sorry. I know that is rather personal."
"No, it's alright." Celeste said. "Well, one day..." and she told him the story about how she met Jack. "...and then I figured it'd be best to go to Port Royal to claim the bounty. And then we met you and now we're here."
"Wow. That's very fascinating." Will said. "But... how exactly did you get... involved with him? I know that's personal as well, I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's fine, Will." Celeste assured. "Well, truth be told... I have no idea. He just charmed his way into my heart, I suppose. Yes, he's a scoundrel, sure, but... I don't know... I love him... He's always there for me. He protects me, you know?"
"Yes, I suppose, it's just--"
"Why?" Celeste asked. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know." Will replied. "I just wondered. You two are completely different and I just... I just thought it was interesting. You're prim and proper and... have your morals straight, and he's..." Will looked over at Jack who was gazing, concentrated, at his broken compass, "...well, he's Jack."
Celeste laughed. "Yes. Unlikely, I know. But... he's just... something I've never had before. He's just... mine."
Will smiled. "He's a good man." He said.
"Yes, he is." Celeste answered dreamily.
They went up to the helm where Jack and Elizabeth were standing.
"You don' 'ave to worry, love," Jack said to Celeste when she approached, "we're leavin' this wretched place an' its wretched people as soon as I can manage it for you."
"Good." Celeste sighed, leaning up against Jack's shoulder. "Because I am weary of it all."
"Come on, you salty sea-cockroaches!" Jack yelled at the crew. "We want out o' 'ere!"
"Aye, Cap'n!" Gibbs called back to him.
Shortly after, they began to pull out of the Ruby Falls Harbor and they sailed off toward the island on the map.
Hooray! Okay, I hope you enjoyed that chapter! "I'll be back!" Leave nice reviews for me!