Usual disclaimers... nevermind!

Last chapter for today... with a small mention for a special person... she knows who she is!

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Chapter 46 - Tortugan Celebrations

Jack looked at the other ships anchored in the bay at Tortuga, grinning to himself as he spotted Bryn Corbin's ship The Crow. He had a running battle over the years with the arrogant Welshman and was looking forward to his reaction to the news of his success. He slipped his arm carefully around Bessie. "Remember," he whispered, "yer are m' wife an' yer will be safe... an' if there is any trouble, just stand firm."

"Are you sure you want me to go ashore?" She looked doubtfully at the pirate town across the short distance of water, deciding this was as close as she really wanted to get.

"How can I show off m' wife without her bein' there?" Jack teased. He had helped her into her blue silk dress earlier and encouraged her to pin her hair up. He thought she looked beautiful, her pregnancy making her even more so in his eyes.

Jem Harvey coughed behind them. "Bosun's chair is ready Captain," he said.

"I can climb..." Bessie protested.

"We're being observed already luv," Jack drawled. "An' appearances are everything..." He grinned reassuringly at her. "Don't worry, they won't drop yer!"

Although she was not convinced, Bessie allowed herself to be guided to the bosun's chair, clinging tightly to the ropes as she swung out over the side of the Black Pearl. Jack had clambered down to the ship's boat and grabbed her feet, guiding her safely into the boat.

"Careful luv," Jack smiled, helping her sit in the middle of the rocking boat. He knew she was still worried at being so close to the water, remembering that she could not swim, and sat next to her squeezing her hand reassuringly. He let the others row but was first ashore, offering his hand to help Bessie clamber onto the dockside. "Remember, here yer are royalty," he drawled, offering her his arm as he walked towards the town, leading her through the narrow, often fetid, alleyways until he reached his favourite tavern - The Faithful Bride.

"Jack Sparrow!" A screech sounded from across the small square and he turned to see Giselle stalking towards him. She looked angry and stormed up to him, poking him in the chest with her finger. "You owe me an explanation!" she cried. "Never has a man left me for another whore... never!"

"But Giselle..." Jack spoke calmly, trying to pacify her. "I did not!" He had not seen Giselle since the night he had left her and he had been successfully avoiding her ever since.

"Who is she then, this Bessie?" She turned suspiciously towards Bessie. "Is this her? Your new whore?"

Bessie remembered the name Giselle, recalling the night that Jack came to her the first time she had seen the town. "I am not his whore..." she said quietly.

"What are you then?" she sneered, noticing Bessie's grip on Jack's arm.

"I am his wife," Bessie smiled.

Giselle started to laugh, and then wheeze, looking at Jack in disbelief. "You've found a good one there Jack!" she chortled. "Crazier than Old Martha on the docks!"

"She's tellin' th' truth..." Jack drawled, delighting in the shock in Giselle's face. "She's m' wife an' she's carryin' m' child..."

Giselle's gaze took in the rather pregnant state of Bessie for the first time, her eyes narrowing. "Harrumph!" she snorted. "I wish you luck with him..." she hissed, turning and flouncing angrily back across the square. "You'll need it!"

"So that was Giselle..." Bessie said quietly as he guided her through the door, heading for a booth on the far side of the tavern. "She seemed rather upset..."

"I told yer I was a prime catch," Jack teased, making sure she was settled before approaching the bar. He placed a bag of money on the counter, beckoning the barman over. "Drinks in this place are on me an' th' Pearl tonight, Ricardo" he slurred, "as long as they drink to m' wife an' my health..."

The barman opened the bag carefully, eyeing in surprise the gold within. "Are you certain Captain Sparrow?" he queried, unsure of the unusual request.

Jack smiled. "As long as they drink our health... savvy?"

"And if they don't?" Ricardo frowned.

"Then they pay fer their own drinks..." Jack grinned

"Aye Captain," Ricardo nodded. "I'll see that the rest of the bar staff know..."

"Good... so I'll have a bottle of yer best rum an' a wine fer m' beautiful wife..." Jack ordered. "P'raps yer could bring it across..." He walked back to the booth without waiting to see if his request would be carried out, but for the amount of money he had handed across he could probably have purchased the place. He sat down next to Bessie, his arm casually around her shoulders as he surveyed the bar. Most of his crew that had been granted time ashore were already within, eagerly surrounding the bar demanding their free drinks. Jack had ordered a proper watch kept aboard the Black Pearl since they still had Masters' treasure aboard. He wondered if it was worth taking a trip to the treasure cave on Isla de Muerta or whether he should stow it elsewhere... whatever - he would worry about it later.

For a while he sat drinking, watching the tavern fill up with those that he recognised and many that he did not for news of the free alcohol had spread rapidly - but everyone who drank free toasted his and Bessie's health. He nudged Joshamee on seeing Bryn Corbin enter, his eyes widening in recognition on seeing the white blonde hair of Bessie. He walked slowly across the tavern, those in his path making way for him.

"You've got some nerve Sparrow," he accused. "Bringing her here!" His four crewmen spread out on either side of him, their threat blatantly clear. "You aren't the only one who's been searching for Bessie Masters!" The tavern quietened on hearing the name, eyes looking in surprise at the booth. Although few knew enough to have been searching for her, all knew the name Masters.

"Now Corbin..." Jack grinned, spreading his hands wide. "It would only be some nerve if th' treasure was still t' be found..."

"You've found Masters' treasure?" Corbin gasped, snarling as he realised that he had reacted exactly how Jack had wanted him to.

"Aye," Jack smirked. "All divided up an' re-hidden..." he evaded, "but I'm not here t' talk shop. We're celebrating m' marriage..."

Bryn Corbin stared at Bessie, realising for the first time the advanced state of her pregnancy. "How long..." he stuttered.

"Bessie's been onboard fer seven months or more now... although I've known where she was fer over a year..." Jack teased, delighting in the angry tic on the Welshman's face as he realised how yet again Jack had beaten him.

"Where..." he demanded. "Where was she?" He hated himself for asking, but he had to know.

"Grenville on Grenada an' then Port Royal..." Jack smirked, "although most other islands in th' Caribbean b'fore that." He paused, looking up at Bryn. "So, are yer here t' drink m' health?" he taunted, bringing his pistol to rest upon the table top. "Or were yer leavin'?"

Bryn Corbin hissed in anger. "I'll not forget this Sparrow," he snarled.

"I should hope not," Jack mocked, most of the bar laughing as the captain of The Crow left with his crew, reckoning it would have been a shame to waste such effort if he did.

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Okay girls.... reviews?