Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 27 – Port au Prince

So it was that Theodore Groves found himself dressed in civilian clothes and travelling with the Turners and a highly excited James Schott, on a small trading ship to Port au Prince. Elizabeth's pregnancy made travelling difficult for her, but the birth was not for another three to four months and she insisted on going. Jack Sparrow getting married was something she was determined not to miss, however awkward the journey was. When they arrived, they could see the Black Pearl sitting at anchor in the bay and they soon found a fisherman willing to row them out.

Jack leaned over the rail. "Thought you'd never get here! What kept yer?" He stretched down and carefully helped Elizabeth onto deck. "My, you're puttin' on weight, Missy!" he teased as Theodore and Will climbed up after her. "Come into the cabin..."

The cabin had certainly changed since Elizabeth had last been on board, when she had been abducted by Captain Barbossa and the ship was cursed, dark, dirty and scary. Indeed, it had even changed in the short time since Theodore had seen it - now the cabin was clean, in good repair and, as the windows had been opened, there was only a mild lingering smell of rum.

The biggest shock, however, was Catherine. She had wriggled into a narrow crevice, beneath the bunk, Ned Cotton's macaw screeching encouragement from above. All that could be seen of her was the soles of her very dirty bare feet. "Come here you little… got you!" She wriggled back out of the crack, holding a flapping, squawking, and extremely indignant young red macaw in her hand. Her wavy hair was plaited, she was wearing breeches and a plain, but now very dusty shirt. "Who's bright idea…" She stopped muttering to herself on seeing their guests, trying unsuccessfully to hide the bird behind her back. Her face whitened as the bird decided to eat one of her knuckles, but she started to laugh on seeing their youngest guest entering the cabin.

"Come here, James – you might as well take her now!" she smiled.

He came forward uncertainly. Ned's macaw, on seeing him, flew across to the boys shoulder, and perched eating his hair.

"We were going to send her back with Theo, but as you are here you can have her now." She placed the bird on his free shoulder. He sagged a little under the weight, but his grin went from ear to ear.

"Yer'd better name 'er," Jack said, slipping his arms about Catherine's waist as he rested his head on top of hers.

James thought. He smiled shyly at Jack, "Could I call her Pearl… it's a lady's name, isn't it?"

"Heaven knows what ole' Norrington'll say 'bout that!" Jack smiled broadly and everybody laughed.

88888

There were still a few days before the wedding, but every crew member and guest spent their time cleaning, polishing the ship until she gleamed. Clothes were washed, bodies were washed – with soap even, and the days flew by. The three adult guests slept in the sick bay, taking up all of the bunks, but James insisted on sleeping in a hammock with the crew.

Theodore looked at his sister in a different light over those few days. She dressed differently for a start, but her whole demeanour had changed – returned to the carefree nature he remembered from their childhood. Of course, she had not worn breeches then, nor wandered around with a pistol tucked into them, but then, this was a pirate ship and they were not in Portsmouth Harbour. She still did not like men standing too close to her though. She could cope if it was just one person, such as when dancing, or with people she knew, but too many men, too many strangers, still worried her. The crew knew this, if not the reason why, and always gave her as much space as they could.

On the evening before the ceremony, Catherine was grateful of that space, finding herself alone by the ship's rail as she stared out to sea. She looked quietly down at her hand, twirling her wedding ring on her finger; it had never been off her hand since Greg had placed it there. Greg's ring. Her smile was sad, but not unhappy, as she took the ring, slowly, from her finger, and let go of it, watching as it made a small splash and disappeared. For a moment she fancied it would find its way back to him, somewhere beneath the waves, and that he would know that she was happy once more.

"Yer could've sold that," Jack said softly, having crept up on her without her noticing. She jumped, turning sharply and stumbling back against the rail. Jack's hand shot out, catching her before she could overbalance and fall.

Catherine smiled gratefully, but shook her head at his words. "It wouldn't have been right. It belonged to him and now it is back with him." She placed her hands in his, stretching up to kiss him. "Tomorrow I start a new life… with you. I must let go of the past."

"Aye," he nodded. "T'morrow yer'll be Mistress Sparrow, respectfully married…"

"Respectfully married to a pirate!" she snorted. "Do you think he'd mind?"

"He was Navy, wasn't he?" Jack asked, smiling reassuringly at her for he realised she had never spoken about her previous husband before and, other than the name Greg Reyes, he knew nothing about him.

"He was," she replied, her voice a mere whisper. "A lieutenant on HMS Comet…"

"A lieutenant, eh?" He held her to him, his arms encircling her waist. "Well, if he luved yer then I'm sure he'd be glad that yer are happy…" He paused, looking down at her upturned face. "Yer are happy, aren't yer, Kitty?"

Catherine smiled up at him. "I am," she assured him. "Blissfully happy…"

"Well, how about I make yer even happier…" He started to lead her back towards their cabin.

"Jack!" she protested. "You know it is bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony! You'll have to sleep elsewhere!"

Jack nuzzled her neck. "That only counts on th' actual day," he grinned. "I'll be gone by midnight…"

"Promise?" she frowned, trying to keep a straight face as his braided beard tickled her collarbone.

"I promise…" he vowed, pausing his kissing briefly as he pulled the cabin doors shut behind him and locked them before leading her to their bunk. "Eight bells, but not a moment sooner!"

88888