Author's Note: I'm finally the big 1-6! Yay! Oh, btw- thanks to my wonderful Beta- even tho it seems I do a pretty good job- I hate finding little things I messed up on AFTER I posted…so thanks a bunch!
Disclaimer: If I owned any of this…like the characters from POTC…I prolly wouldn't be writing this…I'd be writing the Sequel to POTC…so I don't own this…if it wasn't obvious already.
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"Do you want this?" Trevor asked, holding out a half eaten cinnamon roll, smothered in icing.
The woman across from him wrinkled her nose, "No thank you," she said politely, remembering the tight corset she was wearing. She stared at him for a minute, "What's wrong dear? You always eat your roll…something bothering you?"
He looked at her and straightened in his chair, "An old friend came back and she and I didn't have a good welcoming…that's all."
Katrina Cambridge paused, "Would this old friend happen to be your cousin?"
Trevor grimaced, "No. Not even remotely. Her father married my aunt."
"That must mean…" she paused, thinking and searching her memory, "It must be Brenda Sparrow, right? Jack Sparrow's daughter?"
"Captain." Trevor mumbled. His fiancé didn't hear him though. She went on about how long she had been waiting to see this woman. Brenda eats women like you for breakfast. He thought to himself. And although he loved Katrina very much, it was the truth.
"Well get up Trevor!"
He looked at her, who was already standing, "Why?"
"Let's go meet her!"
"I've already met her…" he said quietly, but getting up, knowing she had been wanting to meet Brenda after hearing so much about her from Gwyneth, Matthew and Jack. Soon they were out the door and in a carriage bound for his house.
****
After a minute Brenda's hand started to go numb of a tight grip. I didn't even know a skirt could grip this tight, let alone let anyone shake her hand. I thought all the men did was kiss the tops of their hands… Her thoughts drowned out the compliments Katrina Cambridge was showering over her. A few got to her though, something like, "It's such an honor to meet someone such as yourself." I never thought I'd hear a Commodore's daughter tell me that. Brenda mused.
Katrina wasn't a tall woman, but wasn't short either. Brenda who, when standing straight, reached five feet three inches, Katrina was about five foot five- standing tall of course. She had dark, red hair, up in a tight bun with little loose baby hairs sprouting out and curled perfectly. She had silky white skin that probably hadn't seen a sun ray from the day she was born. About a dozen freckles were sprinkled across the bridge of her nose, giving it an innocent look. Her eyes were what struck Brenda the most. They were gray, just like hers.
What does Trevor see in her? That had been the question on Brenda's mind all morning before Katrina and Trevor had come back home. Gwyneth had left about twenty minutes earlier and Brenda tried to shake this strange feeling. She didn't want to feel sorry for herself, she didn't want to feel like she had been left behind, but as much as she didn't want to feel rotten - she did.
She finally came back to the present when Katrina ripped her hand away. Brenda plastered the 'Sparrow' smirk on her face and said, "Pleasure is mine, miss."
"Please, call me Katrina. We will be family soon so I would like for you to be comfortable around me." She smiled and Brenda tried to feel as good as Katrina looked, but it wasn't exactly working.
"I suppose we will. Where did you meet this pain anyhow?"
Katrina giggled and looked from Brenda to Trevor, "You two are close, aren't you?"
Brenda shot a look at Trevor who hadn't said a word since they arrived, "Who told you we were close?"
"Your mother. She told me about the long-standing relationship you two had…" she looked from Brenda and Trevor again, "Was I wrong to assume…"
"No…" Brenda started, "It's not yer fault. We just haven't seen each other in three years…" she was about to add how he destroyed her ship, but didn't bother.
There was a short pause from everyone and Brenda was about to bolt, saying she needed to get reacquainted with Pearl, when the door opened. Jack stepped in a smiled instantly, seeing the three of them standing in the middle of the house.
"'Ello…" he started off, closing the door behind him and holding the gripping the handle of the basket he was holding. "Katrina…haven't seen you in a while. How are ye?"
She smiled, "Good morning Jack."
His smile faulted a bit, "Was I interruptin' somethin'?"
"No. I was just 'bout to leave in fact." Brenda said, speaking up.
Katrina and Trevor turned their attention to her, she asked, "Why? We just met!" She reached for her arm, but Brenda pulled it back. Katrina seemed offended, but wiped away the trace of it on her face.
"I'm sure you have other things to do…marriage stuff I'm sure…" she paused a minute and then quickly exited.
Jack left to the kitchen as well, watching his daughter leave the scene quite flushed. He made a note to himself, reminding himself to talk to her later. As he was putting things away he heard, "I don't understand, what has she heard about me to make her hate me?"
"She doesn't hate you, Kat."
"Did you not just see how she backed away from me when I tried to touch her?"
"She just doesn't like to be touched, that's all."
"Trevor, maybe you should talk to her…and I should go. She and I will have other times to talk, I'm sure. When she's ready to open up to me."
Jack heard Trevor not respond and then heard a door open and close. After a minute or so, Jack called, "Where's Matt and Gwen?"
Trevor sighed and walked into the kitchen, "The tailor, no doubt."
"That boy already has more pairs of clothes than I have bottles of rum. He doesn't need anymore. He's only five!" Jack said, mostly talking to himself. He finished putting away his bought items and leaned against the counter, facing Trevor, "To be honest, I don't like running errands for your aunt…" Jack said. "I feel weird payin' for things and carryin' a basket around…" He sighed and shrugged.
Trevor stared at him, thinking: then why do you? But the answer was obvious. Jack was still head-over-heels in love with Gwyneth. It was obvious to everyone. He did things for her and said things to her that no one would even think would be in his nature. Trevor knew if that wasn't love, then nothing was.
He sighed and looked out the windows, "Should I go talk to her?"
"Yer the only one who can get her temper under control in a heartbeat." Jack answered. Trevor whipped his head around and stared at him, memories flooding his mind. He had done that so long ago, he wasn't sure if he still could. Jack raised an eyebrow, "And anyways, I have to go save my son…" He winked and was out the back door in a flash, leaving Trevor in complete silence. Why does everyone want me to go talk to her? We're not as close as we used to be!
Nonetheless, he got up and gingerly walked to the one place he knew she'd be. The stable. Gwyneth had a larger one, but she and Jack had fixed it up to be a small house for company when they had it. Then Jack and Trevor had built a much smaller stable for Pearl. That's where Brenda always was. Whether Pearl was in it or out on the run, Brenda was there.
Trevor paused before going in and took in a deep breath. He walked in slowly and looked around, surprisingly enough it was empty. He looked around in the open pillars. Nothing. He sighed, I swore she'd be here… he thought to himself, feeling foolish. She obviously doesn't want to be found. He thought. He finally gave up and walked out.
****
Gwyneth sighed and shook her head, thankful that she had been blessed with a son so wonderful. She stopped brushing the wet hair out of his face and just sat and admired him. She had been so scared when she was having him that she wouldn't make it, or he wouldn't make it. But they both did and all in all it was not a bad experience.
She turned her head and saw Jack leaning against the door frame. She smiled and walked to him, kissing him lightly on the lips and then closing the door as they both left the sleeping child's room. He wrapped his arms around her body and she leaned into him, sighing contently.
"What's wrong?"
"What makes you think somethin's wrong, love?"
"I just know."
He sighed and kissed her neck and then pulled apart from her, "We haven't finished our conversation…"
She sighed and drew away from him completely, "Jack, I honestly don't understand why you're pressing this issue."
He pursed his lips, knowing that he had to tell the truth sooner or later, "I'm scared for you two."
She smiled slightly, grabbing his hand and leading him to their bedroom, "I'm deeply touched, but I'm never here alone, and either you, Brenda or Trevor can protect me, you know that! And don't forget about the fact that I know how to shoot a gun…"
He smiled back to her and shut the door behind them, "I'm honestly just lookin' out for yer safety."
"Let my safety worry about it's self and let us worry about us…" she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Don't try to seduce me while I'm being serious, Gwen…" he said, knowing what she was trying to do.
She frowned but didn't remove her arms, "What would make you feel better? Because I'm proud that you're my husband!"
"I'm proud to have you as my wife as well Love, but I don't think you should have my last name…"
She sighed, biting her lip, "How 'bout a compromise? Here on Cape Clear, I will only refer to myself as Gwyneth Sparrow unless it's someone I haven't met before. As well as Matthew. When I address my letters to Will and my brother, then I will use my maiden name. And at all times I will refer to Matthew and I as Johnson's."
He paused for a minute, and then nodded, "What's the other part of the compromise? What do I have to do?"
She smiled deviously, "Let me express to you how much your honesty and concern…touched me."
He smiled as well, "I think I can hold up to that."
****
Brenda was feeling uneasy about this whole thing. I shouldn't have come when I knew that Trevor was here… Why she thought that and why she felt this whole thing was uncomfortable, she wasn't sure- but she wanted to leave.
Coward.
She rolled her eyes at her inner voice. What did it know anyhow? She wasn't a coward. She was being wise. Everyone knew she had a bad temper, so the fact that Trevor irritated her, put him in danger.
Yea, that's it.
She sighed, so maybe she was just uncomfortable with him around her. So maybe she was uncomfortable about the thought of him being engaged. To a Commodore's daughter. She sighed again, this was getting her no where. She quickly got down from the rafters she was lying on and walked to the house. She went up to her room and stayed there. That way she didn't have to come in contact with her father who had seen the display hours earlier, Gwyneth who would evaluate how she was feeling or Trevor who was already looking for her.
****
The next morning Gwyneth and Jack woke up to loud noises from downstairs. They both got up quickly and went down to see what was making all the noise. "One…two…three!" they heard, and then a loud thump. When they turned into the main sitting area they both sighed, "What are you doin'?" Jack asked.
Both their children turned their eyes to them, like deer caught by a hunter. Gwyneth tried to stifle a laugh and yawned instead. Brenda was the first to speak, "I'm packing."
"And Matthew?"
"I'm sitting on her trunk." He answered. That of course, was obvious.
"Packin' for what?"
Brenda took a deep breath, "I'm goin' to work on the Pearl."
"And you can't stay here while doing that during the day?" Gwyneth asked.
"Why can't you guys just let me leave without so many bloody questions!" Brenda said, getting irritated quickly.
Gwyneth rubbed her neck and looked at her husband, "We're such horrible parents…"
"I know." He said, agreeing with her in mock seriousness, "We're concerned about our kids…"
She nodded, "We should be shot for putting our kids through so much."
Brenda sighed and crossed her arms and rolled her eyes while Matthew giggled. He almost fell off the trunk in the process, but Brenda caught him. Jack turned his eyes to his daughter, "Tell us what's wrong. Now."
"Mornin'…" Trevor said, walking by the room on his way to the kitchen. Brenda and all of them watched him go while Matthew scampered off after him. The two adults both looked at Brenda and she stomped her foot, pointing to Trevor. "That's my bloody problem."
"Trevor?" Jack said, not quite believing her.
She nodded, "Yea! We haven't seen each other in…a long time and!" she paused, "Well things aren't the same." She sighed, crossing her arms. Then she whispered, "I don't feel comfortable in one of the few places that I usually do."
Gwyneth and Jack looked at each other and then at their daughter, "Where will you stay?" Gwyneth asked, thinking this had gone by too fast. She had barely seen her at all, and now she was leaving.
Brenda looked at her mother's eyes and bit her lip, something she had picked up from her. "The Dobson's maybe."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and before they could react to it, they heard Matthew's feet scamper to the door and then Trevor's heavy footsteps behind him. Gwyneth, Jack and Brenda came out of the room and looked at the door, curious at who it was.
Trevor opened the door, and there stood a woman of Spanish origin. She had a slight smirk on her face and her arms were crossed. She had golden brown skin, thick brown hair and large, beautiful brown eyes. "Why you dirty, rotten bas-"
Brenda shrieked before the last word could reach little Matthew's ears.
Author Thanks:
Dawnie-7: I KNOW! Trevor's engaged! Wait until you read the next chapter…jeez. But yea- I figured Jack and Gwen at least ought to have one child…since there wasn't any birth control back then- you know what I mean?
ThePinkPanther: don't ask me why, but I didn't really write Brenda's initial reaction to hearing Trevor's engagement…but I don't think I would be able to write what she would do…they haven't seen each other in a while and she's trying to get a feel for how she still feels about him…you know what I mean? So the reaction to Katrina- tell me how well you think I did.
PiratePrincess91: End of the B/T romance? Do I ever write stories without romance? I think you have your answer then…lol. But the l-o-v-e thing…He actually says it different too…but he says 'love' because that's like her pet name. Kinda like 'Sweet Pea' or something? So yea. That's why.
Vicki Turner
Lord-of-all-the-Cheesesticks
Emma436: I always save yours for last because it takes so long. Lol. But btw- thanks for the Happy Birthday E*mail J Yes- he's engaged. Like I told Dawnie… Wait until you read the next chapter…that'll be sure to shock people. If everyone catches it. I might change around the…well never mind. The mustache you will see gone around…chapter six. I think. Yea…or is it seven? Not sure. But somewhere around there Trevor will shave it off- and you'll see why. Hehehe… YOU AND YOUR LOVE FEST! Tisk, tisk, tisk…I might have to satisfy your…obsessions. But we'll see. Until next time…