Author's Note: (Vicki, Panther and Pirate Princess: Sorry for the delay…my head has been elsewhere lately. And I'm sorry in the last chapter there weren't spaces between…subjects I guess…I forgot to put the little stars in. Whoops.
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"Why in bloody 'ell are you here?!" Brenda hissed once they were safely in her room. She had dismissed the maids quickly and had tightened her grip on Trevor's hand as she pulled him to her room.
He sighed and threw off the hood he had over his head and put his hands on his hips, "I'm dressed as a wench and you ask why I'm here? And besides the girl part, I would think it would be obvious! We're in Spain!"
She furrowed her brow, "I can take care of myself, thank you!" she said, offended.
He paused, seeing if she was serious, but by the tone of her voice- she was. "You're serious. You're mad that I'm here."
"Yes! How dare you follow me here and assume that I need help! I am a woman of one and twenty, buddy!" she said pointing a finger at him, "I no longer need someone to clean up my messes!" She paused, crossing her arms across her body, "Now what are we going to do?"
Trevor sneered, "Obviously it's all about you."
She glared at him but didn't respond. She sighed and started pacing, "Thanks to you, Phillip thinks I need you for a personal chambermaid." She paused, eyes wide in front of Trevor, "He said he was going to get his maids to clean you. Even if they're men- they don't keep secrets from the King."
Trevor remembered something Richard mentioned, "Does he happen to own a guillotine?"
She smiled half-heartedly, "Who knows. He might have a lion's den or something like that…Like in Greece…"
He paused, he had only heard stories about Greece. "Didn't they burn Christians alive?"
She shrugged and started pacing, "I doubt they stopped at Christians."
Trevor swallowed, determined to not be afraid. "Your father and mother expect me to come back with you on my ship."
"They probably want you back too…but you never know."
He sighed and sat down, "I'm not leaving until you're with me."
She paused and stopped, looking at him, "I told you- I don't need yer help."
"Did you even have an escape plan? Were you even thinking about escaping?"
She shrugged, "There's always divorce, right?"
He scratched his chin, "Wasn't there some King in England or France who beheaded eight of his wives…instead of divorcing them?"
"What, you don't know yer own history?"
He shrugged, "I didn't pay attention."
She rolled her eyes, "I don't even understand how you came up with his absurd idea anyhow."
"You think I came up with this? I don't think so!" he said, standing up and facing her. He pointed a finger at her and said, "I shaved my moustache to do this!"
She rolled her eyes again, "First- it was stupid and ugly anyways and second- am I supposed to be impressed by that fact? Who cares! It'll grow back in a month."
"Month? Try a week." He paused, that fact soaking in, "You wouldn't happen to have a razor, would you?"
She eyed him, "Back on topic!" She shook her head and started pacing again. This was getting them no where. It was obvious she didn't want to be here and the same for him. But she didn't need his help! She could've figured out a way to get out easily. Brenda shot a glance at him while he sat back down and thought about his facial hair problems. She sighed, that was a problem. It seemed like this was nothing but a problem. Why the blast did you even come?
Gwyneth smiled for the first time in over a month and nodded, "Matthew is adorable. He has so much of Jack in him it's scary. He's gotten so attached to the Pearl. The ship and the horse." She shook her head, "And he looks up to his sister…" she trailed off, knowing how hard it had hit Matthew when he realized that Brenda wasn't coming home in three weeks. He was so used to having Brenda here while Jack wasn't and vice versa.
"I'm sure Jack is burning to get back on his ship…"
Gwyneth nodded again, "Definitely. He and Matthew have been down there everyday for the last two weeks working on it since, most the Pearl's crew left with Trevor. But some of the neighborhood boys have been coming to help Jack after school…so it should be almost completed."
"Is Jack going to go after Trevor and Brenda?"
Gwyneth paused and then shook her head, "No…Trevor and her have some problems to resolve, so this is one way for them to be alone…and I know they can pull off a plan to get her back."
"Aren't you scared?"
Gwyneth paused and looked at her guests. That was too close. The other questions they had asked when they arrived an hour ago, were relatively 'safe'. She wouldn't get too emotionally deep and they could get information. And even though she considered the couple in front of her close friends- she had never been into giving away her feelings so quickly. She was still working on that with Jack.
Fortunately the back door opened and Jack and Matthew came into the kitchen. Jack paused for a minute, looking at the couple, ignoring Suzie who was dancing around his feet and Matthew who was already in the arms of his 'aunt'.
"I had a feelin' you were comin'…" he said, a smile creeping onto his face. He opened his arms a little to the man and they embraced and joked about something between them. Next he kissed the woman's cheek, glad to have them here.
"When'd you get in?" Jack said, sitting down neck to his wife and lazily draping an arm around the back of her chair.
"About an hour ago."
"Did you know they were coming?" Jack asked Gwyneth.
She shook her head, "No, but I wrote them…remember?"
Jack paused, "I remember the letter we got from Liz- did you write her back?"
"Yes! And in the letter I asked them to come! I read it to you, remember?"
Jack paused, shooting a glance and Will Turner and then back at his wife, "It's a trick question, right?"
Elizabeth laughed, "It's no use Jack, you'll loose either way."
He meekly smiled and said, "I love you?"
She crossed her arms, "That's no excuse."
Matthew giggled, glad to have his parents acting like normal. Soon he was explaining to all of them what he and his father had done that day. "We carried wood…and…and we nailed the ship together and we…we…played in the water and daddy showed me a fish and we killed it and ate it and daddy said it was 'cause…'cause…we're men and men do things like that."
Gwyneth smiled and shot an approving glance at Jack. He and Matthew rarely did things alone, so for them to have so much time together was really good for the little boy who only saw his father three weeks at a time and most of that time was spent with Gwyneth.
"So lad- where are yer kids?" Jack asked, looking around.
Elizabeth smiled, "They're hardly children anymore- Sheldon and Suzanna are seventeen, Suzanna engaged to the butcher's apprentice, Sheldon is courting some young woman who he knew from school. Cassandra is fifteen also courting some boy…" she stole a glance at Will who didn't look too happy with that fact. "Jeffery is twelve and ready to go into the Navy…and Daphne is nine…"
"Glad to be done having kids?" Gwyneth asked.
Elizabeth and Elizabeth looked at each other and then at Jack and Gwyneth. Elizabeth covered Matthew's ears and whispered, "Well we're hoping we won't…let's just say we have our…rhythm down pretty well."
Jack blushed and looked away, not particularly comfortable talking about this while his best friend sat right across from him. Gwyneth and Elizabeth smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
Will cleared his throat, hoping to get away from the subject of his personal life. "So any word form Trevor yet?"
Gwyneth stopped smiling. She had hoped to get a letter from him, but nothing had come yet. And although she usually didn't get letters from him when he left- she would think this is more important than a run to Port Royal to get supplies. She shook her head, "Nothing yet."
"I'm just hopin' she hasn't killed him yet." Jack added. The group smiled, letting off some of the tension that Will's question had created. They all knew about what kind of trouble she was really in and the question that was in all their minds were, can he really get her back?
"This King of yours really does have a nice place."
Brenda shot a look at Trevor and growled from under her breath. She had taken a permanent position on her bed, looking at the ceiling with her legs propped up against the wall with a pillow covering her. She had felt a little strange in her current 'belly-outfit' and with Trevor in the room, it made it more uncomfortable.
He had gone exploring. That is, right after Phillip's female servants came in to wash him. Trevor nervously backed up and started speaking in French, looking at Brenda and then back at the servants. Brenda was almost going to let them take him away, but she said that 'she' was very edgy and she would clean 'her'.
"He's not my King, Trevor."
Trevor turned around from his spot on the balcony. He walked through the open doors and said, "You're getting married to him, aren't you?"
"I thought you were here to get me out of this jam."
He crossed his arms, "I thought you didn't want my help."
She didn't answer. He went back to his spot on the balcony. After a minute or so, she said, "What did you say yer name was?"
He paused, name? The king didn't ask for a name… "Uh…he never asked for one."
Brenda smiled, "I think we should call you Suzette…after mom's dog."
Trevor turned around, "You're hilarious."
"I think so."
He paused, "Think of a French name…"
"Suzette is a French name. Of course if you were a man I would say you should be Roux, but you're a skirt…so that wouldn't work."
He rolled his eyes, I don't know how I'm going to out live this. "You know…" Brenda went on, "I knew a girl who's name was Darlene…that doesn't really fit you…but we could make it work."
He shook his head, "Enough has been 'worked' in this situation already. Think of a name that starts with…I dunno…a 'T'?"
She rolled her eyes, "Yes, ma'am."
Trevor growled and walked back into the room, pacing. Brenda kept thinking and then finally, a name hit her. "Therese!"
"Huh?"
"Darlene had a babe and named it Therese! It's perfect."
He sighed, "Fine."
"Good- now go clean up before someone comes in and sees you not clean."
He forced a smile and said, "Yes Your Majesty…" and bowed. He quickly ran out of the room before the pillow she launched at him made contact with his head. She sighed she read heard water slashing into the tub. She sat upward and sighed again. This was not turning out how she had planned it. That's true of most things in my life. She thought to herself.
I wasn't planning on getting engaged to Phillip…I wasn't planning on running into Trevor and have him damage the Pearl. I wasn't planning on him coming after me…now there's not only my life to be worried about, but his.
He can take care of himself.
So can I.
Then you can take care of yourselves…together.
After about a half an hour, Trevor came out of the bathroom, cleaned and looking a lot better. Setting aside the fact he had a dress on, of course. "Trevor, we need to talk 'bout what we're goin' t' do!"
He sighed, "When's the big day?"
She paused, "Not sure."
"Well find out when it is and then we'll work from there."
She bit her lip and looked away, "I think you should go without me."
"Excuse me?" I did not just come all this way to turn back around.
"Trevor, I don't want the Spanish armada comin' after you as well as me…it'll just be best if you left me here!"
"I came to get you! I'm not leaving without you."
Brenda sighed, this was harder than she thought. "The sentiment is sweet, but I don't usually go on what's best for me!"
"That's a given."
"This is my mess an' I don't need you comin' in an' takin' care of it for me! I have gotten myself out of more tight situations than you can count! Now please…"
"Brenda- your parents asked me to come and get you, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. Enough said."
"No! You don't get it! I don't-" she was interrupted when someone knocked on the door. She paused, her gaze focused on him. She got up and told him to put the fabric hood over his head. He did as he was directed and waited for the caller to make himself known.
The caller turned out to be Ana. Brenda immediately panicked. She had seen Trevor before, and if she recognized him now, then there could be real trouble. Ana had drugged Brenda to get her here, what would she do if she found out Trevor was here to take her away?
"Ana…this really isn't a good time."
The Spanish pirate paused, "I heard you yellin'…an' I'm the only one in the whole palace who knows English...other than Phillip of course…but he's not too good at it." She stood on her tip-toes to look over Brenda's shoulder, "Who are ye talkin' to?"
Brenda paused, "I was talkin' to my old friend…she and I get into strong discussions about…things we're very…opinioned about." She gave a weak smile and Ana pushed her way through the door. Trevor had his head down and was standing against the wall.
"What's yer name, woman?" Ana asked.
"Therese, m'lady."
Ana looked at Brenda and then back and Trevor. "How old are you?"
Trevor paused, "Six and forty, m'lady."
Ana turned completely around, "She's forty six! One of yer mother's friends?"
Brenda nodded and shrugged at the same time, not giving Ana a definite answer. "She's from France…if you wanted to know."
"Phillip told me…" Ana said, walking toward Trevor. Brenda bit her lip, "What are you doin'?" Ana shrugged and kept walking towards him. When she got close enough to touch him, Ana said, "Look at me woman."
Trevor paused and then slowly lifted his face. He had a piece of cloth around most of his face. Brenda raised a brow. She had seen women do that in different countries and it was most effective if you didn't want to recognize the person. All you saw was the eyes, but if you had eyes that could be picked out of a crowd like Trevor's…then there was going to be a problem.
Ana paused, narrowing her eyes, "Have we met before?"
Trevor shook his head. Ana looked and Brenda and she shrugged, "I don't think so." Ana paused before walking past Brenda to the door. "Phillip wanted me to tell you to meet him in his room. He wants to have dinner with you."
Jack gritted his teeth. The man behind him must've been drunk or was purposely trying to make Jack mad. Who did that anyways? Jack had heard many stories about himself and even started some, and all of them would strike some kind of fear into their hearts. But this man behind him…what was he thinking?
Will and Jack and left the house after Will and Elizabeth got situated in the spare 'house'. Elizabeth had wanted to learn how to ride Pearl, and Gwyneth promptly told the men to leave, saying it was a 'bonding time' and they two 'girls' needed it. The men rolled their eyes and left for the nearest tavern.
They had gotten to the 'Prancing Pony' about a half an hour before and since then Jack had heard this man who slurred his words, talking about him. Now usually Jack didn't stand for men talking about him. It got on his nerves real quick. But a look from Will told him to ignore it. That didn't surprise Jack. Will wasn't usually the kind to 'make waves'.
"Jack Sparrow," the man spat out, "Is a worthless cap'n, not t' men'ion man!" Jack glanced towards Will.
"It's not worth it…trust me." Will whispered to Jack.
Jack rolled his eyes and took another drink of his rum. Gwyneth will shoot me if I get into a bar fight. Jack thought to himself. Brenda had gotten into one a couple months earlier with some men. She came out with a black eye and the two men came out with dislocated limbs and broken jaws.
The man went on and on, but Jack just couldn't take it. He stood up quickly, looking at Will and then eyeing the man talking. Carefully tucking away his anger, he said, "You know who I am?"
The man looked him up and down and then made eye contact with him, "Why, yer bloody Cap'n Jack Sparrow!"
Jack smiled sarcastically, "If ye knew who I am, then why are ye talkin' 'bout me?"
The man smiled, his ego flaring. "'Cause yer the worst pirate in the Caribbean."
Jack was just about to punch him when Will held him back, "Steady…"
The man laughed, "Ye need a whelp to 'old ye back? Ye wouldn't punch me if ye 'ad the chance! Yer a coward an' a fool!"
Jack tried again but Will whispered in his ear, "Think about what's more important…" Jack calmed, breathing hard. He narrowed his eyes at the man and Will released his grip gingerly, "Yer not worth it." Jack scoffed and turned, about to sit.
The man laughed again, "I could say the same thing 'bout yer ship."
Jack paused, the words causing his hackles to go up. He turned on his heel and said slowly, "What did you just say?"
"Yer ship is more worthless than ye! It gets attacked by a quartermasters ship an' is damaged fer more than a week! Trash! The Black Pearl is TRASH an' should be treated as such!"
Jack couldn't take it. He had offended and insulted Jack, but insulting the Pearl directly was a completely different thing. Jack punched him then and there. The man's eyes widened as he stumbled backward, looking from Jack to Will. But Will wasn't going to interfere now. The man started to run, but didn't get far until Jack picked up a chair and threw it his ankles, causing the drunk to take a bad fall.
The rest was nothing but skin and bones connecting with skin and bones.
"Jack, don't kill me for saying this…but you're not as young as you used to be!"
"That was obvious when I got hit by the bloody redcoat."
Gwyneth sighed and shook her head. Will had a black eye and Elizabeth had grabbed him by the ear and led him out of the house. He wasn't in a lot of trouble, but Elizabeth was probably happy that he got arrested on a different island. He usually didn't start trouble- Gwyneth was surprised.
Jack however was a different story. Granted, Gwyneth hadn't been around him long enough to know what he was like in the past, but in their five years of marriage- she had learned that his temper rose rather quickly. Something that Brenda in inherited from her dear old dad. As soon as the four of them had come home from the battlement, Jack had taken off his shirt and laid back down on the kitchen floor, hoping the cool floor would help his throbbing back.
Gwyneth felt like smacking him, "What even compelled you do to such a thing?"
Jack sighed, he knew that was going to come up sooner or later in this conversation. "Would you accept he insulted me?"
"No. Unfortunately for you, I've known Will longer than I've known you or Elizabeth and I know he wouldn't let you get away with that. Now fess up."
He opened his eyes, looking at her, "He insulted my ship."
She raised a brow, "That's it?"
"That's it?! THAT'S IT?!" he said, sitting up on his elbows, "What do you mean, that's it? He insulted my ship! My home! No one gets away with that!"
She sighed, biting her lip, "My mistake. I see your point."
"Good." He muttered, laying back down.
She sighed, shaking her head, "What am I going to do with you?"
He smiled, "I know a number of things you can do to me…"
Gwyneth rolled her eyes, "I'm serious."
"There's something that has to be done?"
She paused, looking at him, "just stay out of fights, would you dear? I don't want the Commodore throwing you off the island."
He nodded non-committally and Gwyneth rolled her eyes again, used to the response. She went to making dinner- at least she had something to do to keep her mind off the current situations happening around her.
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AN2: Short little thing here, for those of you that have seen 'Chocolat' then you know that 'Roux' is pronounced 'Roo'…but for those of you who haven't seen it…that's how you say it! Darn French…why can't they just speak English?
Author Thanks:
Piper8188: Your wish is my command! Elizabeth and Will visited! No kids though…I would have to do a lot more work than I would like.
Dawnie-7
PiratePrincess91
Vicki Turner
ThePinkPanther: Have any ideas on making Ana more Sands like? I'm kinda stuck with her. Just in general… But yea- Sands…is funny. Johnny Depp does a great job with him.
Emma436: Oh dear…the saving her isn't going as well as Trevor would've liked- as you can see by this chapter. She's being rather…independent instead of dependent. It would've been funny if the Kings servants actually would've taken him away- but of course then there's the fact he's a MAN and Brenda has a hard time trusting people, you know? Short review this time! Oh well, at least you reviewed.