Usual disclaimers... pah!
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Jack slept on the sand, wriggling down so that Catherine's head rested on his chest, his arm wrapped securely around her. Elizabeth had kindly brought some blankets from the house and he had lain awake for half the night just staring at the stars contentedly. Most of the crew had managed to row themselves back to the ship, although one or two still slept oblivious to the world where they had fallen.
He looked across to the separate area where the women had camped, the glowing embers of their camp fire lighting their sleeping forms. Hopefully most of them would be able to find work in Tortuga – there were other jobs than whoring, even if that was the most profitable. Perhaps some of them would even choose that freely, he did not know, but they would be restricted to the pirate island for they would be forced back into slavery if they returned to any European controlled island.
Still smiling he shut his eyes, drifting off to sleep. He would tell Catherine the other news in the morning.
###
"He's what?" Catherine gasped, struggling upright beneath the blanket.
"Yer brother is gettin' married... only this time he's waitin' fer yer t' attend th' ceremony!" Jack teased. "We've a pardon an' our privateer status back... an' th' Governor is safely leashed. If he breaks his accord he hangs! Either his confession or th' ledgers will see him swing if he proves false again!" Jack felt quite proud of James – obviously his sneakiness did not come entirely from his maternal side.
"And how do you propose we get the papers?" she asked. "We cannot exactly sail into the harbour without them!"
"We'll sail to th' bay an' send a man in t' see James... he can arrange th' paperwork an' announce it. We'll be safe after that!" He wrapped his arms about her. "An' I swear nothin', absolutely nothin' is ever happenin' t' hurt yer again!"
"Promise?" she said quietly.
"I promise!" he assured her. "But we'd best sort out who is goin' to th' wedding! I think Will an' Elizabeth are, an' th' children. I don't know about Mother..."
Catherine realised that she had not seen Rose since she returned. "Does she..."
Jack nodded. "I told her yesterday," he admitted. "Don't worry, she accepted it but asked us t' give her time t' come t' terms with it. She does not hold it against yer..." He hugged her to him. "Yer did nothin' wrong luv," he assured her. "Hell, if I'd have known what th' bastard did t' yer he'd have died a damn sight more painfully than he did, believe me!"
"I know... but..." she queried.
"No but, savvy?" He smiled. "Yer are not t' blame an' that is th' end of it!"
"Aye Captain," she replied, although she was clearly still worried.
"Look, let's go to th' house an' get somethin' t' eat, eh? I'd like a look at those ledgers that Will an' Elizabeth were talkin' about b'fore we leave!" He scrambled to his feet, offering her his hand and they walked towards the house.
###
In the end it was decided that both Rose and Claire would stay at the bay. A number of the crew remained to help the ex-slave women build better shelters and to adapt to their new lives, Jean Claude included... although Jack had the definite suspicion that it would be a particular women, a French woman, that he intended helping the most.
Will and Elizabeth shared Jean Claude's cabin whilst the children claimed the bunks of the sick bay. Eilis was so excited about sailing on the Black Pearl that she was hardly controllable and it was only the threat of being locked in the brig that kept her from the rigging.
They did not have to wait long in the bay before Benedict returned with the paperwork they required and, assured of their safety they set sail again for the harbour at Port Royal. Jack timed it so that they would arrive late at night, after the taverns had closed, so that they would not face the stares of the curious as they walked through the town. Jack was surprised to find the Commodore waiting for them at the dock. Jack threw him the line and he fastened the boat securely.
"Welcome back," he smiled, offering his hand to help Catherine onto the dockside. "It is nice to see you safe Catherine!" He cast a startled glance to her hair, but to her gratitude made no comment.
"Thank you James," she smiled, waiting until Jack climbed up before slipping her hand into her husband's hand. Jack realised she had become much more tactile since she had returned, somehow seeking the reassurance that he was there as if she still did not believe it. The Commodore reached down, helping Elizabeth ashore as well.
"Elizabeth," he said warmly, looking down into the boat. "Will," he nodded, taking the children as he handed them up, followed by two small trunks – theirs and Jack's. Will picked up one trunk, passing it to Jack before picking up his own. "I'll walk with you to Theodore's house," James offered, "but after that I must return to the fort. No doubt I will see you both tomorrow to hear of your adventures." He nodded to a number of marines who saluted him as they passed, staring at the Sparrows in surprise. Although the Commodore had announced the pardon and change in their status, seeing them and having the Black Pearl sitting quietly in the harbour next to the HMS Phoebe would clearly take some getting used to.
Jack led Catherine up the steps, knocking sharply on the door. A manservant he did not recognise opened it. "Yes?" he began, only to be almost bowled over by Theodore.
"Cat!" he cried, embracing her tightly on the doorstep, belatedly realising that the Turners and the Commodore were there as well. "Come in, all of you!"
"I'll see you tomorrow," James Norrington said, nodding to them all before making his way up the hill towards the fort. He still had a large amount of paperwork to see to but had been determined not to miss the return of the Black Pearl. A chorus of 'James' echoed on his departure.
Theodore eventually released his sister, turning to his manservant. "Williams," he announced, ushering everyone into the lobby. "This is my sister Catherine and her husband Jack, plus Will and Elizabeth Turner and their children...they will be staying here and are to be accorded every courtesy."
"Yes Captain Groves," the man bowed. "I will see that three small beds are made up for the children in one of the rooms.
Catherine looked around, studying the house. She had not seen the place since it had been rebuilt, but you would hardly know it had changed – except that the furnishings were clearly new. Theodore caught her eye. "I've had your room prepared for you," he said quietly, knowing her mind was elsewhere. "Will, you and Elizabeth are in the room at the top of the stairs." He glanced up, seeing Kasia descending the stairs. "Is she asleep?" he asked.
"At last," Kasia sighed. "I think she has some more teeth coming through..." She embraced Catherine warmly. "It is good to have you here!" She turned, embracing Elizabeth too.
"Have you set a date yet?" Elizabeth asked.
"We were waiting for you to get here," Theodore replied. "I guess you will want to get some new clothes made... so perhaps a few weeks?"
"Can I have a new dress?" Eilis asked.
"I am sure you can," Elizabeth smiled. "I think we will all be visiting Tabitha in the morning!" She looked up at the large grandfather clock in the lobby. "But I think it is time that the three of you were in bed!" She led them up the stairs to the room that Theodore had indicated, relieved to find that Williams had just finished making the beds. "Thank you," she acknowledged as he left the room, busying herself finding the childrens' night clothes in the small trunk that Will placed at the end of the bed.
"I'll be downstairs," he said, leaving her to see to the children, eager to catch up with all the gossip of what had been going on in Port Royal since they had been away. Although he had missed the place, he did not want to move back for he enjoyed the solitude and security of the bay too much to leave it.
###
###
Jack slept on the sand, wriggling down so that Catherine's head rested on his chest, his arm wrapped securely around her. Elizabeth had kindly brought some blankets from the house and he had lain awake for half the night just staring at the stars contentedly. Most of the crew had managed to row themselves back to the ship, although one or two still slept oblivious to the world where they had fallen.
He looked across to the separate area where the women had camped, the glowing embers of their camp fire lighting their sleeping forms. Hopefully most of them would be able to find work in Tortuga – there were other jobs than whoring, even if that was the most profitable. Perhaps some of them would even choose that freely, he did not know, but they would be restricted to the pirate island for they would be forced back into slavery if they returned to any European controlled island.
Still smiling he shut his eyes, drifting off to sleep. He would tell Catherine the other news in the morning.
###
"He's what?" Catherine gasped, struggling upright beneath the blanket.
"Yer brother is gettin' married... only this time he's waitin' fer yer t' attend th' ceremony!" Jack teased. "We've a pardon an' our privateer status back... an' th' Governor is safely leashed. If he breaks his accord he hangs! Either his confession or th' ledgers will see him swing if he proves false again!" Jack felt quite proud of James – obviously his sneakiness did not come entirely from his maternal side.
"And how do you propose we get the papers?" she asked. "We cannot exactly sail into the harbour without them!"
"We'll sail to th' bay an' send a man in t' see James... he can arrange th' paperwork an' announce it. We'll be safe after that!" He wrapped his arms about her. "An' I swear nothin', absolutely nothin' is ever happenin' t' hurt yer again!"
"Promise?" she said quietly.
"I promise!" he assured her. "But we'd best sort out who is goin' to th' wedding! I think Will an' Elizabeth are, an' th' children. I don't know about Mother..."
Catherine realised that she had not seen Rose since she returned. "Does she..."
Jack nodded. "I told her yesterday," he admitted. "Don't worry, she accepted it but asked us t' give her time t' come t' terms with it. She does not hold it against yer..." He hugged her to him. "Yer did nothin' wrong luv," he assured her. "Hell, if I'd have known what th' bastard did t' yer he'd have died a damn sight more painfully than he did, believe me!"
"I know... but..." she queried.
"No but, savvy?" He smiled. "Yer are not t' blame an' that is th' end of it!"
"Aye Captain," she replied, although she was clearly still worried.
"Look, let's go to th' house an' get somethin' t' eat, eh? I'd like a look at those ledgers that Will an' Elizabeth were talkin' about b'fore we leave!" He scrambled to his feet, offering her his hand and they walked towards the house.
###
In the end it was decided that both Rose and Claire would stay at the bay. A number of the crew remained to help the ex-slave women build better shelters and to adapt to their new lives, Jean Claude included... although Jack had the definite suspicion that it would be a particular women, a French woman, that he intended helping the most.
Will and Elizabeth shared Jean Claude's cabin whilst the children claimed the bunks of the sick bay. Eilis was so excited about sailing on the Black Pearl that she was hardly controllable and it was only the threat of being locked in the brig that kept her from the rigging.
They did not have to wait long in the bay before Benedict returned with the paperwork they required and, assured of their safety they set sail again for the harbour at Port Royal. Jack timed it so that they would arrive late at night, after the taverns had closed, so that they would not face the stares of the curious as they walked through the town. Jack was surprised to find the Commodore waiting for them at the dock. Jack threw him the line and he fastened the boat securely.
"Welcome back," he smiled, offering his hand to help Catherine onto the dockside. "It is nice to see you safe Catherine!" He cast a startled glance to her hair, but to her gratitude made no comment.
"Thank you James," she smiled, waiting until Jack climbed up before slipping her hand into her husband's hand. Jack realised she had become much more tactile since she had returned, somehow seeking the reassurance that he was there as if she still did not believe it. The Commodore reached down, helping Elizabeth ashore as well.
"Elizabeth," he said warmly, looking down into the boat. "Will," he nodded, taking the children as he handed them up, followed by two small trunks – theirs and Jack's. Will picked up one trunk, passing it to Jack before picking up his own. "I'll walk with you to Theodore's house," James offered, "but after that I must return to the fort. No doubt I will see you both tomorrow to hear of your adventures." He nodded to a number of marines who saluted him as they passed, staring at the Sparrows in surprise. Although the Commodore had announced the pardon and change in their status, seeing them and having the Black Pearl sitting quietly in the harbour next to the HMS Phoebe would clearly take some getting used to.
Jack led Catherine up the steps, knocking sharply on the door. A manservant he did not recognise opened it. "Yes?" he began, only to be almost bowled over by Theodore.
"Cat!" he cried, embracing her tightly on the doorstep, belatedly realising that the Turners and the Commodore were there as well. "Come in, all of you!"
"I'll see you tomorrow," James Norrington said, nodding to them all before making his way up the hill towards the fort. He still had a large amount of paperwork to see to but had been determined not to miss the return of the Black Pearl. A chorus of 'James' echoed on his departure.
Theodore eventually released his sister, turning to his manservant. "Williams," he announced, ushering everyone into the lobby. "This is my sister Catherine and her husband Jack, plus Will and Elizabeth Turner and their children...they will be staying here and are to be accorded every courtesy."
"Yes Captain Groves," the man bowed. "I will see that three small beds are made up for the children in one of the rooms.
Catherine looked around, studying the house. She had not seen the place since it had been rebuilt, but you would hardly know it had changed – except that the furnishings were clearly new. Theodore caught her eye. "I've had your room prepared for you," he said quietly, knowing her mind was elsewhere. "Will, you and Elizabeth are in the room at the top of the stairs." He glanced up, seeing Kasia descending the stairs. "Is she asleep?" he asked.
"At last," Kasia sighed. "I think she has some more teeth coming through..." She embraced Catherine warmly. "It is good to have you here!" She turned, embracing Elizabeth too.
"Have you set a date yet?" Elizabeth asked.
"We were waiting for you to get here," Theodore replied. "I guess you will want to get some new clothes made... so perhaps a few weeks?"
"Can I have a new dress?" Eilis asked.
"I am sure you can," Elizabeth smiled. "I think we will all be visiting Tabitha in the morning!" She looked up at the large grandfather clock in the lobby. "But I think it is time that the three of you were in bed!" She led them up the stairs to the room that Theodore had indicated, relieved to find that Williams had just finished making the beds. "Thank you," she acknowledged as he left the room, busying herself finding the childrens' night clothes in the small trunk that Will placed at the end of the bed.
"I'll be downstairs," he said, leaving her to see to the children, eager to catch up with all the gossip of what had been going on in Port Royal since they had been away. Although he had missed the place, he did not want to move back for he enjoyed the solitude and security of the bay too much to leave it.
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