I'm going to try and keep the author's notes to a minimum this time because
I think the last ones were actually LONGER than the chapter. Basically, I
just want to say that you should be proud. Very proud. We've gotten two
chapters out in less than a week. And this chapter is SO god dammed cute,
it's making me want to vomit. Ick. I HATE the cuteness. And I'm the one who
wrote it too.
And now for our Jack quote of the chapter. Thanks to szhismine, who suggested it.
"Ah, fortunately I know how to counter it. The man who did the waking buys, the man who was sleeping, a drink. The man who was sleeping drinks it while listening to a proposition from the man who did the waking."
Reviewers:
Bratprincess: No! Of course Will wasn't behind Jack! We couldn't kill him. And definitely not like that. OoOoOoO... déjà vu. It would be rather amusing though... "Blast. They've shot Will. Oh, bloody hell."
MovieLvR4Lyfe: Don't die! We've added!
LuvlyGRLofLIFE: Mmm... sharpie marker. I'm sure it doesn't kill THAT many brain cells. I hope. We really are taking our time, aren't we? Sorry!
Ginny-Star: Thanks for the birthday wishes!
J. Liha: No! Not the plushies! Oh wait. Clones. That's alright. I like the clones. Yummy Jack.
LotRseer3350: Actually, I think your cameo is in the next chapter. Although it may be the one AFTER that. But it's soon! And Jack with twins? Awwwwww.
Szhismine: crap she fell? You sound so upset? lol. And Jack did get wounded. Sort of. You know, the bullet kind of grazed his shoulder... it's not our fault! It's just so HARD to hurt him. And hey, he lost his daughter over the edge of a cliff. That's got to hurt somewhat. And see, it WAS 12 days until my birthday... when that chapter was posted. Now it's 10. My birthday's the 28.
And now for the moment you've all been waiting for (Eeeee! I just saw Johnny Depp on TV from the premier of PotC!!!! And Orlando! He was absolutely gorgeous!) the next chapter!
*
Jack reached the edge of the cliff first, staring numbly where his daughter had just been. The forest below was too thick to see through, to see where they might have landed. The other five broke free, immobilizing their captors. They raced to the edge of the cliff, stopping beside him.
"Jack?" Anamaria prompted, her voice unnaturally gentle.
"She's gone," he whispered, his voice disbelieving. "She was right here, but now she's gone." They were all silent for a moment.
"Jack, it wasn't your fault," Will said quietly. "There was nothing you could have done."
Jack didn't seem to hear him. "I was too late." He didn't feel the pain in his shoulder; it was nothing. He felt numb. "I failed her. I said I'd be there for her, and I wasn't." There were tears in his eyes, but he didn't notice them. "I was too late."
Nobody knew what to say. Jack Turner blinked furiously, unsure of why he was so upset. Obviously he hadn't wanted Jade to die, but he felt as though he were falling apart inside. He turned away, unable to look down any longer. What he saw walking toward them stopped his heart. He sat there, speechless, wondering if the figure before him was a dream. He watched in silence as the figure, winking at him, moved to stand behind those looking off the cliff.
"Quite the drop there," Jade commented.
For a moment, silence reigned as her voice registered. Then, in shock, they all turned to look. Jack jumped up, gaping at his daughter.
"But, but- fell," he managed.
"I thought that was a good thing," Jade said innocently. Jack grabbed her in a fierce hug. "Dad, I can't breathe," she laughed. Jack stepped back, looking at her as if to affirm that she was, in fact, real.
"You are never to do that again," he ordered. "You were nearly killed."
"And if I hadn't, you would have been," she pointed out. He glared at her. "I knew what I was doing! Really!"
"And how, pray tell, did you manage to return?"
"Grabbed a tree root," Jade grinned. "Pulled myself and climbed up. I had to move way over to the side of the cliff to find a path, and there's a slight overhang. That's why you didn't see me."
Jade shook his head ruefully. "Honestly. I leave you alone for the barest of times, and look what happens."
"Hey, you're the one who left me behind in the first place, and Mara was after you, so don't even start in on me." It was then she noticed the red stain spreading on his shirt. "You're bleeding," she announced.
They were interrupted from further discussion by a slight groan.
"We'd best be tying those men up afore they awaken," Gibbs declared. They moved to where the seven remainders of Mara's crew lay unconscious.
"Hey, it's Garren," Jade said, nudging him with her foot. "He's my best friend." The man's eyes fluttered open.
"We lost." It was a statement, not a question.
"Catches on quick," Jade told everyone, tying him up. "We pillage, we plunder, we rifle or loot," she sang softly.
"Jade!" her father barked.
"Sorry."
To everyone's surprise, Garren laughed. It was not a cruel laugh, but one that actually found humor in the situation. It made his face look years younger.
"What's funny?" Jade demanded rudely.
"Well, it's nice to see those etiquette lessons have sunk in and she's become a proper lady," Elizabeth muttered, amused.
"She's not a lady," Garren said, still chuckling.
"That's what I've been trying to tell them all along." Jade looked at Garren and burst out laughing, throwing her head back. Jack, watching his daughter, looked visibly relieved. No matter what, they couldn't take away her laugh.
"Hey Dad!" Jade called out suddenly. "I've a proposition for you."
*
Jack Turner watched as Jade rose to speak with her father. She was beautiful, he decided, and then shook himself in surprise. Where in hell had that come from? He watched her movements, the way she sauntered over, the way her arms moved violently, echoing her father's as she argued with him. There was a familiarity in them, which didn't quite make sense when she was so unpredictable. He though about their arguments and smiled to himself. They were ridiculous and superficial, and part of why he felt so drawn to her. He had gone from hating her to tolerating her to, well, liking her. And even so, their arguments were likely to continue, irrelevant insults tossed back and forth like a ball.
Jack stopped as he suddenly realized something. Jade had constantly said how she belonged to the ocean. And now her father had come to rescue her. Not just from Mara, but from land itself. She would be leaving Port Royal, and lord only knew when he'd see her again.
She'd only been there for a few months, but now it was impossible to imagine her gone. Everyone was fond of her, he knew, from his mother, father, and grandfather; to the stuffy butler nobody had been able to talk to yet Jade had made friends with. Yes, they would all miss her. But not the way Jack instinctively knew he would. He loved everything she had brought with her. The spontaneity she had brought into their lives, the air of excitement she seemed to hold around her, the indescribable walk that said so many things. It was then Jack realized. He loved all those things, yes, but there was more. He was in love with her.
*
Jade walked back over to Garren, having finally forced her father into agreement.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes," he answered, rather suspiciously.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-two."
"And how old were you when you joined Mara's crew?"
"Twelve," he answered, still not comprehending where she was going.
"I figured as much. Tell me, Garren, how would you like to be on a REAL pirate ship?"
"Excuse me?"
"She's extending you a formal invitation, lad," Jack explained, coming up behind his daughter and placing his hands on her shoulder. "I suggest you accept. Although it is entirely up to you."
"Honestly?" Garren asked. They nodded. "I, I- yes. I would."
"Great then," Jack said. "Shall we prepare to leave?"
"Not until you have Anamaria fix your shoulder," Jade insisted. "Or at the very least bind it until we return to the Pearl."
"I'm absolutely fine and need no binds, savvy?"
"Dad, your whole shoulder is red."
Jack gave it half a glance but before he could argue further, Anamaria had been called over.
"Hold still," she ordered, pushing him to the ground and ripping off his shirtsleeve. Jack grumbled, but did what he was told as Anamaria wiped the blood with a rag. She used the clean part of his sleeve to bind it, pulling tight.
"Damn!" Jack howled. He muttered something that sounded remarkably similar to "Bloody women pirates" but Jade and Anamaria let it go, sharing grins.
When at last Anamaria proclaimed him ready, Jack began ordering with even more vigor than usual. Anamaria and Jade all but ignored him; they were used to it. He always did the same thing to make up for his wounds, as though fearing the other men would think less of him.
"What should we do with the others?" Gibbs asked.
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Leave 'em here."
They set off, and Jack Turner knew this might be his last chance to speak with Jade. "Jade, wait!" he called to her.
She turned to him and lingered behind. "Yes?"
"I have to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I-"
And now for our Jack quote of the chapter. Thanks to szhismine, who suggested it.
"Ah, fortunately I know how to counter it. The man who did the waking buys, the man who was sleeping, a drink. The man who was sleeping drinks it while listening to a proposition from the man who did the waking."
Reviewers:
Bratprincess: No! Of course Will wasn't behind Jack! We couldn't kill him. And definitely not like that. OoOoOoO... déjà vu. It would be rather amusing though... "Blast. They've shot Will. Oh, bloody hell."
MovieLvR4Lyfe: Don't die! We've added!
LuvlyGRLofLIFE: Mmm... sharpie marker. I'm sure it doesn't kill THAT many brain cells. I hope. We really are taking our time, aren't we? Sorry!
Ginny-Star: Thanks for the birthday wishes!
J. Liha: No! Not the plushies! Oh wait. Clones. That's alright. I like the clones. Yummy Jack.
LotRseer3350: Actually, I think your cameo is in the next chapter. Although it may be the one AFTER that. But it's soon! And Jack with twins? Awwwwww.
Szhismine: crap she fell? You sound so upset? lol. And Jack did get wounded. Sort of. You know, the bullet kind of grazed his shoulder... it's not our fault! It's just so HARD to hurt him. And hey, he lost his daughter over the edge of a cliff. That's got to hurt somewhat. And see, it WAS 12 days until my birthday... when that chapter was posted. Now it's 10. My birthday's the 28.
And now for the moment you've all been waiting for (Eeeee! I just saw Johnny Depp on TV from the premier of PotC!!!! And Orlando! He was absolutely gorgeous!) the next chapter!
*
Jack reached the edge of the cliff first, staring numbly where his daughter had just been. The forest below was too thick to see through, to see where they might have landed. The other five broke free, immobilizing their captors. They raced to the edge of the cliff, stopping beside him.
"Jack?" Anamaria prompted, her voice unnaturally gentle.
"She's gone," he whispered, his voice disbelieving. "She was right here, but now she's gone." They were all silent for a moment.
"Jack, it wasn't your fault," Will said quietly. "There was nothing you could have done."
Jack didn't seem to hear him. "I was too late." He didn't feel the pain in his shoulder; it was nothing. He felt numb. "I failed her. I said I'd be there for her, and I wasn't." There were tears in his eyes, but he didn't notice them. "I was too late."
Nobody knew what to say. Jack Turner blinked furiously, unsure of why he was so upset. Obviously he hadn't wanted Jade to die, but he felt as though he were falling apart inside. He turned away, unable to look down any longer. What he saw walking toward them stopped his heart. He sat there, speechless, wondering if the figure before him was a dream. He watched in silence as the figure, winking at him, moved to stand behind those looking off the cliff.
"Quite the drop there," Jade commented.
For a moment, silence reigned as her voice registered. Then, in shock, they all turned to look. Jack jumped up, gaping at his daughter.
"But, but- fell," he managed.
"I thought that was a good thing," Jade said innocently. Jack grabbed her in a fierce hug. "Dad, I can't breathe," she laughed. Jack stepped back, looking at her as if to affirm that she was, in fact, real.
"You are never to do that again," he ordered. "You were nearly killed."
"And if I hadn't, you would have been," she pointed out. He glared at her. "I knew what I was doing! Really!"
"And how, pray tell, did you manage to return?"
"Grabbed a tree root," Jade grinned. "Pulled myself and climbed up. I had to move way over to the side of the cliff to find a path, and there's a slight overhang. That's why you didn't see me."
Jade shook his head ruefully. "Honestly. I leave you alone for the barest of times, and look what happens."
"Hey, you're the one who left me behind in the first place, and Mara was after you, so don't even start in on me." It was then she noticed the red stain spreading on his shirt. "You're bleeding," she announced.
They were interrupted from further discussion by a slight groan.
"We'd best be tying those men up afore they awaken," Gibbs declared. They moved to where the seven remainders of Mara's crew lay unconscious.
"Hey, it's Garren," Jade said, nudging him with her foot. "He's my best friend." The man's eyes fluttered open.
"We lost." It was a statement, not a question.
"Catches on quick," Jade told everyone, tying him up. "We pillage, we plunder, we rifle or loot," she sang softly.
"Jade!" her father barked.
"Sorry."
To everyone's surprise, Garren laughed. It was not a cruel laugh, but one that actually found humor in the situation. It made his face look years younger.
"What's funny?" Jade demanded rudely.
"Well, it's nice to see those etiquette lessons have sunk in and she's become a proper lady," Elizabeth muttered, amused.
"She's not a lady," Garren said, still chuckling.
"That's what I've been trying to tell them all along." Jade looked at Garren and burst out laughing, throwing her head back. Jack, watching his daughter, looked visibly relieved. No matter what, they couldn't take away her laugh.
"Hey Dad!" Jade called out suddenly. "I've a proposition for you."
*
Jack Turner watched as Jade rose to speak with her father. She was beautiful, he decided, and then shook himself in surprise. Where in hell had that come from? He watched her movements, the way she sauntered over, the way her arms moved violently, echoing her father's as she argued with him. There was a familiarity in them, which didn't quite make sense when she was so unpredictable. He though about their arguments and smiled to himself. They were ridiculous and superficial, and part of why he felt so drawn to her. He had gone from hating her to tolerating her to, well, liking her. And even so, their arguments were likely to continue, irrelevant insults tossed back and forth like a ball.
Jack stopped as he suddenly realized something. Jade had constantly said how she belonged to the ocean. And now her father had come to rescue her. Not just from Mara, but from land itself. She would be leaving Port Royal, and lord only knew when he'd see her again.
She'd only been there for a few months, but now it was impossible to imagine her gone. Everyone was fond of her, he knew, from his mother, father, and grandfather; to the stuffy butler nobody had been able to talk to yet Jade had made friends with. Yes, they would all miss her. But not the way Jack instinctively knew he would. He loved everything she had brought with her. The spontaneity she had brought into their lives, the air of excitement she seemed to hold around her, the indescribable walk that said so many things. It was then Jack realized. He loved all those things, yes, but there was more. He was in love with her.
*
Jade walked back over to Garren, having finally forced her father into agreement.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes," he answered, rather suspiciously.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-two."
"And how old were you when you joined Mara's crew?"
"Twelve," he answered, still not comprehending where she was going.
"I figured as much. Tell me, Garren, how would you like to be on a REAL pirate ship?"
"Excuse me?"
"She's extending you a formal invitation, lad," Jack explained, coming up behind his daughter and placing his hands on her shoulder. "I suggest you accept. Although it is entirely up to you."
"Honestly?" Garren asked. They nodded. "I, I- yes. I would."
"Great then," Jack said. "Shall we prepare to leave?"
"Not until you have Anamaria fix your shoulder," Jade insisted. "Or at the very least bind it until we return to the Pearl."
"I'm absolutely fine and need no binds, savvy?"
"Dad, your whole shoulder is red."
Jack gave it half a glance but before he could argue further, Anamaria had been called over.
"Hold still," she ordered, pushing him to the ground and ripping off his shirtsleeve. Jack grumbled, but did what he was told as Anamaria wiped the blood with a rag. She used the clean part of his sleeve to bind it, pulling tight.
"Damn!" Jack howled. He muttered something that sounded remarkably similar to "Bloody women pirates" but Jade and Anamaria let it go, sharing grins.
When at last Anamaria proclaimed him ready, Jack began ordering with even more vigor than usual. Anamaria and Jade all but ignored him; they were used to it. He always did the same thing to make up for his wounds, as though fearing the other men would think less of him.
"What should we do with the others?" Gibbs asked.
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Leave 'em here."
They set off, and Jack Turner knew this might be his last chance to speak with Jade. "Jade, wait!" he called to her.
She turned to him and lingered behind. "Yes?"
"I have to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I-"