Usual disclaimers... but I'm plotting!

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Chapter 39 - Onboard

Boom!

One cannon sounded, falling close to the fleeing ship. Jack could see the trader crew running around, readying themselves to repel boarders as their Captain ordered their sails furled. He clearly realised the could not flee but he seemed determined to still fight. Jack nodded to Joshamee.

Boom!

A second cannon sounded, smashing into the hull of the ship. The crew stopped, looking to their Captain for guidance. Jack grinned as he saw the man lay down his sword. He loved it when faced with a realist... it made life so much easier. He brought the Black Pearl alongside the smaller ship, his crew swinging across, weapons drawn. He handed the wheel to Paul before swinging over himself.

"What have we got here then Gibbs?" he smiled, quickly scanning what the crew had taken from the hold. It was mainly foodstuffs and wine as well as a number of crates of the finest brandy. "Take what we need," Jack ordered, sauntering into the Captain's cabin.

"Non!" The Captain of the French trader tried to block Jack's path. Several pistols clicked as Jack stared at the man.

"Out of th' way," Jack ordered, his own pistol inches from the man's face. He could see the indecision in his eyes.

"Please..." he said quietly.

Jack frowned, wondering what was in the cabin that the man was so determined to defend. "Move!" he ordered, pushing him aside and opening the door. The cabin was basic but his eye was drawn to a woman on the far side of the cabin, A pretty brunette, she was heavily pregnant, her hands clasped protectively around her stomach. Eyes wide she backed away from him. For a moment she reminded him of Bessie, but Jack ignored her, rummaging through a number of chests until he found what he was looking for - several pouches of gold. He grinned, pocketing them. His eye was caught by a small glass bottle. He picked it up and bowed mockingly to the woman as he left. "Merci Madame," he smiled as she gaped at him in astonishment, shutting the door behind him.

"Captain?" Joshamee asked.

"Nothing of interest," Jack shrugged, watching carefully the Captain's response. "Except this!" He threw the pouches to Joshamee, reaching for a line to swing back to the Black Pearl. He paused. "I'd leave your woman at home next time," he warned. "The next ship you meet might not be so honourable as we are..."

The man looked at him in disbelief, not believing that his wife was safe. "Merci Monsieur," he gasped.

Jack smiled. "Just remember this as th' day that yer owe Captain Jack Sparrow." He bowed sarcastically, swinging back to his own ship. He was pleased that the trader had not fought... nobody had been hurt. He waited until all his crew were aboard before ordering the lines cut, nodding to Joshamee to take the helm.

He unlocked the cabin door, surprised to see Bessie still sitting on the floor beside the bunk. "Yer can get up now," he smiled. Daffodil nearly tripped him up as he walked forwards.

"Did..." Bessie began.

"Nobody was hurt on either ship," he assured her. "Their Captain was a realist an' surrendered." He carefully took the glass bottle from his pocket, removing the stopper. "An' I found yer something..." The soft scent wafted around the cabin. "Real French perfume!"

"Thank you," she smiled, carefully sniffing the bottle before dabbing a little behind her ears as she had seen the rich ladies doing.

Jack took the bottle back. "I'll put it in one of th' drawers. Yer don't want it t' smash..." Dodging Daffodil he went to the other side cabin, putting the bottle safely away. Bessie quietly followed him but he stopped her, leading her back towards the bunk. "Now," Jack grinned. "I seem t' remember our morning being interrupted..."

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Jack looked back fondly on that first ship... wishing all their attacks over the last six weeks had gone that smoothly. "Push th' bodies overboard," he ordered, his boot heel slipping on the bloody deck. "We'll bury our own at dusk!"

"Aye Captain," Joshamee acknowledged, limping as he saw to Jack's orders. Ned Cotton slowly started to work on the injured, stitching and bandaging where needed.

He looked around his ship, relieved that the damage was not more serious. The Black Pearl had been holed in several places and the top of the mizzen mast was in splinters. The Spanish ship had been heavily armed but she had been laden with chests of treasure hidden amongst a cargo of sugar. The chests now sat securely within his own hold and he had taken what sugar he knew he could easily sell. The rest, and the ship, he had blown, consigning it to the bottom of the ocean for daring to stand against him - for their audacity of taking the attack across to the decks of the Black Pearl. The few that had survived he had set adrift in a number of ships boats - even the most bloodthirsty of his crew had had their fill that day.

Worriedly he approached his cabin, unlocking the door. "Bessie?" he called quietly. "Bessie? It's safe now..." He staggered back, surprised as she ran to him, sobbing. "Bessie! Yer are safe!"

She looked up at him and he was surprised to see her face was bloodied, a long cut marking her pale blonde hair. Jack looked around, suddenly realising that one of the carronade shots had smashed through the side cabin, inches from where she must have been hiding. "Promise?" she whispered, still shaking.

"I promise," Jack smiled reassuringly. "We've a few repairs to do and then we'll be heading back to Tortuga for a few weeks..." He held her to him tightly. "Let's get Cotton t' see t' that cut..." He led her out onto deck, forcing her forward when she balked at the sight before her. "Yer are safe," he reminded her, leading her to where Ned Cotton was stitching a cut on Oliver Fernin's arm. "Can yer look at Bessie..." Jack asked, waiting until he had finished tying off his stitch.

Ned Cotton rose, the parrot on his shoulder squawking in protest as he moved. He peered carefully at the cut which, although long was thankfully not deep. He mimed washing it, pointing to a bucket of seawater on the deck nearby. Jack nodded. "Come here Bessie..." He led her away from the queue of men needing stitching. "Lean over." He sponged the cut clean, the salt water stinging but she bore it stoically, determined not to flinch before the gaze of the crew. "That's m' girl," Jack smiled, whisking her back into the cabin and away from the sight of the bloodied decks.

Blood. It had reminded him of something he had been meaning to ask Bessie that morning but had forgotten in the confused excitement of the Spanish ship. Blood. He knew a woman's bleeds were tied to the moon, every twenty-eight days but not once in the previous six weeks had she turned him away from her. He shut the cabin doors behind him, locking it quietly behind him. "Let's get yer out of those dirty clothes," he offered, nimble fingers quickly undoing the laces on the dress. He slipped it from her shoulders, frowning as she stood before him in just her undershift. "When were yer going t' tell me?" he asked quietly.

"Tell you what?" Bessie evaded, although her panicked gaze gave away the lie.

"You know what I am talkin' about Bessie..." He rested his hand on her stomach. "Yer've shared m' bunk fer what, six or seven weeks now... not once have yer denied me... " He smiled at her reassuringly. "How late are yer bleeds?"

She looked to the floor, wishing she were anywhere else but before him then. "Five weeks," she eventually whispered.

"So yer've missed twice," Jack reasoned, realising she must have fallen pregnant again shortly after her rescue. "Did yer not think I would want t' know?"

Bessie looked up at him tearfully. "I didn't want to tell you," she admitted. "You won't let me go now... will you? Even if you find the treasure..."

Jack sighed. "I had hoped yer'd no longer want t' leave," he said sadly. "If I set yer up in a house ashore when I can, will yer still be m' woman?" He stroked her wet hair. "I meant what I said about marryin' yer... d' yer think I'd be teachin' yer t' read if I meant t' cast yer aside?" He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Trust me again Bessie... please?"

"I..." she sniffed.

"If yer won't marry me then yer'll condemn our child t' being a bastard..." Jack pressed.

"You're despicable!" Bessie retorted.

"So... I'm a pirate!" Jack grinned. "Prove m' wrong... marry me!"

"This is a bit more serious than earrings!" she countered, determined that he would not box her with his clever words again.

"Am I still th' Devil?" Jack teased, leaning down to kiss her, his tongue demanding she open her mouth.

"Yes you are," she said defiantly. She struggled from his arms. "I may be carrying your child but I will not marry you Jack Sparrow!"

"Are yer sure?" Jack reached for her but Bessie stepped backwards, several short steps until she bumped against the table.

"Yes, no, don't..." she protested. "You will not sweet-talk me with your honey words and stolen gifts..."

Jack placed his hands either side of her, preventing her escaping. He stared at her, leaning closely until she bent backwards over the table. "Yer were sayin'?" he teased, rubbing his groin against her.

"I hate you!" she argued, but her body arched to his, a mewl escaping her lips as he kissed her, one hand inching up her undershift whilst he fumbled with his weapon belt. "Not here," she pleaded. "Not like this..."

"Well move yer pretty little bottom to th' bunk then..." He pulled her upright, sending her across the cabin with a gentle push. Locking the cabin doors he followed her eagerly, surprised to find her sitting on the edge of the bunk a worried look on her face. "What's th' matter?" he asked, undoing his weapon belt and carefully placing it to one side. He wobbled as he took off his boots, landing awkwardly next to her on the bunk.

"What is going to happen to me?" she asked worriedly.

"How d' yer' mean?" Jack puzzled as he sat up, undoing his sash and taking off his waistcoat and shirt.

"When the baby is due... I cannot have my baby on a pirate ship!" She looked at him, her eyes fearful. "What if that shot had been lower..." she cried.

"Treasure or not, I promise I'll put yer ashore near yer time... alright?" Jack assured her, tracing her cheek with his finger. "Would yer like a bath? Once we reach a safe anchorage I can get th' crew t' fill it fer yer..." Sniffing she nodded. "I swore t' Elizabeth I'd keep yer safe... d' yer think I'd dare lie t' her?"

Bessie smiled weakly at the thought. She knew Elizabeth was one of the few people that could inspire terror in Jack Sparrow and that Elizabeth knew it. "I guess not..." she ventured.

"Exactly," he grinned, wriggling out of his trousers and pulling her to him. Eagerly he removed her undershift and, for a moment just looked at her as she lay there naked. He leaned down, kissing her stomach. "D' yer realise th' child yer are carryin' has th' best pirate blood in th' Caribbean?" he teased. "A Masters an' a Sparrow... that's practically royalty!"

Bessie gradually smiled. She knew he was trying to make her feel better. "Will you be there?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Jack puzzled, unsure of her change of direction.

Bessie looked at him earnestly. "For our child... will you be there? I can hardly remember my own father... promise me you won't hang!"

Jack smiled wryly, remembering how close he had come to hanging once before. "I'll tell yer what, why don't yer just lie here an' I'll tell yer what I know of yer father?" he offered.

"And your promise?" she pressed.

"I'll do m' utmost t' avoid it, savvy?" he winked, wrapping his arms around her. She nodded and he propped himself up on the pillows, thinking of a tale about her father that was well known in pirate circles but she had never heard. Loving her, for now, could wait he reasoned, figuring her need to hear about her father, Horace Masters, was more important. His own needs could wait an hour or so... just.