Here's another chapter! Hope you enjoy it!!
Chapter 3: A Brand New Reason
Celeste opened her eyes and looked up at Jack who was still asleep, and smiled -- he looked almost innocent.
"Jack." she said, kissing his cheek. "Jack O' Lantern, wake up."
He stirred and mumbled something in his sleep. "Infernal flutterin' monsters..." he mumbled. "No! Get 'em off me!"
"Jack, wake up." she laughed.
"Wh-what?" he blinked his eyes open and looked at her. "Oh, darling, it's you."
"What were you dreaming about?" she asked, laughing.
"Er, nothin'..." he dismissed.
"No, you're afraid of something!" she pressed. "What is it? Tell me!"
"Captain Jack Sparrow afraid o' somethin'?" he asked disbelievingly. "Never."
"Yes, you are! Tell me!"
"No." he said, looking away from her.
"I'll tell you what I'm afraid of if you tell me what you're afraid of." she told him.
"Well, okay..." he reluctantly agreed.
"I'm afraid of the dark and..." she hesitated, "cats..."
"Cats?" he asked incredulously.
"They're scary! They act all nice and cute and then the turn vicious and crazy!" she explained. "Bad experiences. And now you tell me what you're afraid of."
"Don' laugh." he told her. She nodded. "Well... butterflies..."
"Oh." she said, struggling to keep a straight face. "Well, you know, quite a lot -- of -- people... BAH HA HA HA HA!!!" she laughed.
"'ave you ever seen one up close?" he asked. "They may look pretty an' 'armless, but up close, they're disgustin'."
She continued laughing. "Oh, oh, gosh!" she laughed. "Okay, I'm sorry, Jack. Hahaha! I still love you even if you are... afraid of butterflies -- AH HAHAHAHA!!"
His lip curled impatiently. "I can get up an' leave, you know." he said, irritated.
"No, no!" she exclaimed, still laughing, as she tightened her embrace around his waist. "I'm sorry. Don't be angry at me. I promise it'll never leave my lips."
"It had better not." he said seriously. "Or else I'll tell everyone about your cat fear."
"It's a deal." she replied, smiling. She sighed. "I want to go into town today."
"Oh, darling, not today, you need to rest." he said. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Alright..." she sighed.
The rest of the day, Celeste spent in her room. Jack brought her her meals and went into town to try to light a fire under the military and get them to do something about Black. That night, he got in and was very disappointed because to the military, it was just another case to take care of. They said that they'd been after Black for a while and couldn't do anything immediately about it. Jack was mad as could be, but accepted his loss and decided that they would go after Black themselves. Besides, he could kill Black himself that way.
"I want to go into town today." Celeste told Jack the next day over breakfast. "Well, I don' see why not." he replied. "But you're not leavin' my side -- not for one moment."
"That's fine with me." Celeste agreed.
So, they headed into town.
"I want to buy you somethin', darling." Jack told Celeste as they walked down the London street, his arm around her shoulders.
"What?" she asked. "Why?"
"Because I think you deserve it." he said. "Let me buy you a nice, expensive dress."
"Well, alright." she agreed. "Can't have enough clothes."
"But it's goin' to be blue." he told her. "You know 'ow I like blue."
She smiled. "Yes, I do."
After they finished shopping, they headed out of the dress shop and walked down the street. Suddenly --
"JACK?!" a woman cried, running up to him.
"Jocelyn?!" he exclaimed, and they hugged. Celeste glared at them. "It's been so long! What are you doin' 'ere?!"
"I moved 'ere!" she replied enthusiastically. "What are you doin' 'ere?!"
"Vacation." he replied.
The woman was a few years younger than Jack. She was very pretty and had black hair and brown eyes. "Oh, it's so good to see you!" she exclaimed and kissed him on the cheek.
Celeste loudly cleared her throat with a furrowed brow.
"Oh, sorry, darling." he apologized. "This is me sister Jocelyn."
"Sister?" Celeste asked. "I didn't know you had a sister. How come you never told me?"
"You never asked." he replied simply. She smiled.
"Jocelyn, this me girl Celeste." Jack said.
"Your girl?" Jocelyn asked happily. "Oh, that's great! I'm glad you've found someone!" she turned to Celeste. "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too." Celeste replied cheerfully.
"You're getting' a great man, Celeste." Jocelyn said.
"I know." Celeste said, smiling.
"Jocelyn!" a man called, hurrying up to them. He had short brown hair and was very tall.
"Jim, look who's 'ere!" Jocelyn exclaimed. "My brother Jack! Jack, this is Jim."
"Nice to meet you, mate." Jack said, shaking Jim's hand.
"A lot's 'appened since we last saw each other, Jack." Jocelyn told him. "A lot."
"Aye." he replied.
"I mean, you're a wanted pirate an'... things 'ave changed with me, too..." she hesitated. "Jim is... my husband."
"Oh..." Jack said. "Oh, well, congratulations."
"Thank you, yes, it's been nigh three years now." Jocelyn told him. "An' I've 'eard stories about you. You're amazin'."
"Oh, you flatter me, Jos." Jack dismissed.
"You know," Celeste started, "you two should have dinner with us tonight."
"Brilliant, darling! Tha's a great idea!" Jack exclaimed, putting an arm around her. "Do you 'ave plans? You could just follow us back to the Pearl."
"No plans to my knowledge. I think that sounds great." Jocelyn replied. "Jim?"
"Sounds good to me." Jim added.
"Oh, an', mate," Jack started quietly, pulling Jim aside, "Jos is me only baby sister. Jus' sayin' that if you ever 'urt 'er in any way, I'll assure you a wonderful singin' voice." Jim looked at him confusedly. "You know..." Jack made a scissors motion with his hand, "snip, snip." Jim looked terrified.
"Oh, Jack." Celeste scoffed impatiently. She grabbed onto his arm and looked at Jim. "Don't be scared of him, he's much more bark than bite."
"Want to find out about the bite, love?" he asked quietly with a smirk.
Celeste's eyes widened. "Jack, that's horrible!" she exclaimed, smacking him in the stomach with the back of her hand. "How obscene! Besides," she lowered her voice, "we're in public!"
"Aye, jus' wait 'till we're not--" Suddenly, Celeste put a hand over Jack's mouth, stifling him. Celeste looked at Jocelyn and Jim who both looked mildly amused at Jack's joke. Was she really that much more uptight than everyone else? Darn right. It's only proper.
Celeste faked a "nothing's wrong" smile, still covering Jack's mouth, and said, "Well, then, shall we go?"
That evening, they dined together cheerfully and got to know each other better. Celeste took a particular liking to Jocelyn; she felt that Jocelyn was a lot like Jack. She thought she was funny, high-classed, and fun to be around. Jack accepted Jim and found him to be suitable for Jocelyn (much to Jim's relief).
"Do you think she liked me, Jack?" Celeste asked, waving to Jocelyn and Jim.
"O' course, darling." he replied, waving as well. "Who wouldn'?" Celeste smiled. "'ey, we're not in public any--" Celeste smacked him in the stomach with the back of her hand and cut him off.
"Why do I put up with you?" she scoffed.
"Because you love me." he replied, smiling.
"I suppose that's why." she said flatly.
He laughed, leaned over and picked her up, and spun her around.
Just then, Jocelyn looked back at Jack and Celeste.
"'e really loves 'er." she said to Jim. "I'm so glad. You know, Jack always used to be a... kind o'... well, one nigh' stand kind o' person. I never thought 'e'd commit to one girl. I was talkin' to Celeste an' she was tellin' me 'ow much she loves Jack. They're complete opposites, but they were made for each other. I'm so glad 'e's changed."
Jack still held Celeste in his arms, suspending her off the ground.
"'ow about we wait a week an' then try to go after Black?" he suggested.
"A week?" she asked. "Why not tomorrow?"
"I want you to be well rested." he told her.
"But... we don't have time to wait!" she protested.
"Love, before you do anythin' strenuous, I want to make sure that you've 'ealed properly, savvy?" he said. She began to protest, but he cut her off. "I promise we'll catch 'im. I promise. Jus' rest up for me. I jus' want you to be alrigh'." She sighed. "I promise you we'll catch 'im, savvy?" She sighed and nodded. "Tha's my Princess." he kissed her.
It was decided. They would wait one week and then go after Thomas Black. After this decision was made, Jack walked Celeste down to her room and she went to sleep.
The next day, Jack walked Celeste to her room for the night. For some reason, that day, she just couldn't seem to get the memories of that awful night out of her mind.
Something had been bothering her all day and Jack knew it. Celeste sat down on her bed and rubbed her forehead.
"Talk to me, Jack." she told him.
"What?" he asked.
"Please, just say something."
"Darling, you've been looking troubled all day, now what's wrong?" Jack asked.
"Just... remembering..." Celeste said. "Not on purpose! But... remembering what happened... It was an awful experience... I just... hate the memories of it... They come back to me sometimes... lots of times..." she stood up and walked past Jack to her dresser. She pulled out her hairpins and let her hair down. "I hate remembering, Jack..." She walked over to him. "I want to forget it... I want to forget it all so badly, but I can't... I can't and I want to so bad..."
"I know it's 'ard, love." Jack told her. "I've 'ad a few traumatizin' experiences meself, you know. The memories fade an' the nightmares stop. I promise."
"How long does it take?" she asked wearily.
"As long as it takes." he replied. "You jus' 'ave to keep goin', you know?"
She put a hand to her forehead. "I just can't help thinking about it... I don't mean to, but it just keeps coming to me..."
"Trust me, darling," he said, "I won' ever let anythin' like that 'appen to you ever again. I promise."
"I know." she replied wearily. "I just... I can't escape it... I can't forget it... Nothing helps me forget it... and it hurts so bad to think about..."
"I know, darling." he said gently. "You've jus' got to 'ang in there. An' I promise I won' let it 'appen again. I p--"
Suddenly, Celeste kissed him. They put their arms around each other.
He pulled away long enough to say, "Darling, wh--" but she didn't give him time to finish. She pushed him over backwards onto her bed and kissed his neck.
"Darling, what are you--"
"Jack, help me forget it." she pleaded desperately into his cheek.
"Darling, don'..." he said uncomfortably.
"Please, Jack, help me." she pleaded. "Just kiss me." She kissed him and unfastened his belt.
"Celeste, stop." he told her.
"Isn't this what you've wanted since the day we met?" she asked.
"No. Not like--" She kissed him again and slipped her hand under his shirt. "Celeste, STOP IT!" he yelled and threw her off of him; she fell on the floor with a thud. She looked up at him with her brow furrowed in confusion and hurt. He sighed and fixed his belt.
"Look, darling..." he said gently, standing; he bend over and picked her up. "I know it 'urts to think about it, but this isn' the way to deal with it." He sat down in a large, comfy armchair and set her on his lap. He pulled her close. She buried her face in her hands and started crying. "Darling--"
"Why, Jack?" she sobbed. "What's wrong with me?"
"Oh, darling, nothin's wrong with you." he comforted, putting his arms around her. "You jus' can't deal with the pain this way. What about what you said about a rring on your finger? This isn' you. I love you an' this isn' 'ow it's supposed to be. You wouldn' do this normally. You'll thank me, love."
"I just hate Black! I hate him!" she cried angrily, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"So do I, love." he said. "This jus' isn' 'ow to deal with it. I'll be your escape, darling, jus'... not like that, savvy?" He put his hand to her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "I mean, I can 'old you an' I can... certainly kiss you." he added jokingly, and she smiled.
For a little while, they just sat together until finally Celeste decided that she needed to go to sleep. Jack bid her goodnight and left her room and she went to bed.
The next day was no better than the one before it. Celeste was quiet and everyone noticed it. That night, Celeste went to her room without saying two words to anyone. Jack came into her room to check on her and bring her some less than good news.
He knocked on her door and she let him in.
"Are you alrigh', love?" he asked her. "Seem quiet."
"I'm fine." she replied. "Just tired."
"Well, er, I 'eard that there are rumors goin' around the ship that we're... er..."
"What?" Celeste asked. "We're what?"
"Er... doin'... things we are not doin'... in the nighttime hours..." he explained hesitantly. "You get my drift?"
Celeste gasped. "What? Why would people think that?! They know I wouldn't do that!"
"They don' necessarily know I wouldn', though." he said.
"Well, why haven't you contradicted them?" Celeste asked angrily.
"I didn' 'ear the rumors meself." Jack told her. "Gibbs asked me if it was true. O' course I told 'im 'no.'"
"Well, I certainly hope you tell the crew that those rumors are absolute rubbish." Celeste said staunchly.
"Darling, I'm sure you can jus' tell Audra an' Angelina -- they can take care o' the rumors I'm sure."
"Well, you are the captain, you'd think you could handle it."
"Darling, wha's wrong with you?" he asked.
"It just makes me angry that just because you have a loose reputation, I automatically get one as well." Celeste angrily told him.
"Loose reputation?" he asked. "That's sort of 'arsh, innit, love?"
"It's true is what it is." Celeste said firmly. "Why do you even let these rumors start?"
"It's not my fault, love." he replied bitterly. She said nothing. "An' frankly, I'm tired o' you blamin' me for every little thing that 'appnens."
"What?" she asked bitterly. "I don't do that."
"You do." he stated. "An' I'm tired of it."
"Well, maybe because you do start most of it." she said angrily and turned her back to him.
"Oh, no, Celeste, not this time." he told her. "I'm not chasin' after you this time."
"What are you talking about?" Celeste asked angrily.
"Every time somethin' bad 'appens, I always crawl after you on me 'ands and knees apologizin' an' takin' the blame." he explained, irritated. "Well, not this time. For once, Celeste, I'm not chasin' after you." He stormed out.
"Jack!!" she called after him, frustrated. She sighed impatiently and lied down on her bed. After a moment, her anger had passed and guilt began to rush into her and she began to feel terribly sorry for what she said. She wanted to tell him so, but she didn't know what to say.
'What's wrong with me?' she asked herself. 'Why am I acting like this?'
She reclined on her bed, arms behind her head, staring up at the ceiling and began to cry. She violently wiped the tears from her face. She was mad at herself, mad at Black, nothing else.
'Why on earth I yell at him?' she thought. 'The only thing in my life that could never hurt me... the one thing that makes sense I push away...' she sniffled. 'What's wrong with me?'
She hauled herself out of bed, ran to her door and flung it open. She ran out and dashed to Jack's room.
"Jack!" she called, knocking on his door. "Jack, please come out here!" There was no answer. She sniffled and wiped the tears from her face. "I'm coming in!" She opened the door, stepped inside, and shut it again. Jack was lying on his bed with his arms behind his head.
"I 'ave nothin' to say to you." he said absently.
"Well," she sniffled, "I have something to say to you." She sat down next to him. She wanted to stay calm -- she wanted to stay rational, but... "I'm sorry!!" she sobbed. "I'm sorry, Jack! I've been such a spoiled brat!" She leaned over, put an arm around him, and rested her head on his chest. "I didn't mean any of that that I said! Please forgive me!" She raised her head up and attempted to kiss him, but he turned his head away. Her expression turned from desperate to heartbroken. "Jack, please!" he didn't reply. "Say something!" he still just stared off in the other direction. "I-I was just angry and... and stressed out... I didn't mean it! Any of it!"
He sat for a moment in silence. "I don' 'ave a loose reputation anymore." Jack said quietly. "That 'urt, you know."
"I know you don't! I know you don't ad I-I didn't mean it!" Celeste pleaded. "It wasn't me! I mean, I didn't -- I mean --" she sniffled. "I don't know what's wrong with me! Please, Jack, please forgive me! I'm sorry!" He looked at her. "I love you so much, I'd never -- you know I'd never --"
"You said you were angry." he said. "Angry at what?"
"I-I just... hated the rumors, I hated Black... Everything but you." she told him. "But you were there -- the only thing there and I just... my anger just came out... You know I'd never hurt you."
Jack sighed. "I suppose we've both been under a lot of stress lately. More you than me... I shouldn' 'ave yelled."
"No, I was being a brat." Celeste said, sniffling. "I would've yelled at me, too." A moment of silence passed. "So... will you forgive me... my Jack O' Lantern?"
"Yes, Princess, I forgive you." he said, putting his arms around her. "I should've been more tolerant about all the stress..."
"No, it's not your fault at all." she told him. "I was being a fool." She kissed his cheek.
"Let me see your wrist." he said and she lifted up her hand. He took her arm and ran his thumb along the scar on her wrist caused by Black's ropes. "It's gettin' better. Won' be long before it's gone." He kissed her wrist and released it.
They both lied there, content to just be together. She stroked his hair and kissed his cheek again.
"We'll catch that man, darling." he told her quietly. "I promise you."
"I know."
He moved to kiss her, but...
"Wait." she said. "Every time we kiss, someone barges in and ruins it, so maybe we shouldn't..."
"Well, no one's allowed to barge into the captain's room." he told her.
"Good." she said smiling, and they kissed.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door. Jack moved away from Celeste long enough to yell:
"Go away!"
"Jack!" Audra called, knocking again. "Do you know where Celeste is? We can't find her!" Celeste smiled. Again, Jack moved away just long enough to answer.
"Well, she isn' in 'ere!"
"Why don't you come to the door?" Audra asked.
"I'm busy!" Jack yelled.
"Doing what?"
"Reading!"
"Oh, okay... Thanks anyway..." Audra said. She began to walk away, but paused.
'Reading?' she thought. 'I didn't know he could read... Hm...' and she walked off.
A few minutes later, Celeste moved away from Jack and sighed. "I really wish I could stay here forever," she told him, "but I can't. The crew is looking for me and all that."
"Oh, don' leave, darling." Jack coaxed. "Stay a bit longer."
"I wish I could, Jack," she said, putting a hand on his cheek, "but I can't. I should leave." She kissed him. "Good night, Jack O' Lantern."
"Nigh', Princess." he bid her, and she left.
Jocelyn and Jim were set to come over again the next day, but that afternoon, only Jim showed up.
"Jim, hello!" Celeste greeted as he ran on deck. "What is it? Where's Jocelyn?"
"That's what I came to tell you!" Jim exclaimed urgently. "Jocelyn's been kidnapped!"
The fight makes me sad. People who love each other shouldn't fight. Sometimes Jack and Celeste just yell at each other because they... they just do! Haven't you seen "The Notebook"?! If not, you should! It's excellent. Anyway, the fight makes me sad. Making up is good. But... KIDNAPPED! BUM BUM BUM!!!! What will happen?! Evil cliffhanger. I am so mean. Hehehe. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review!!