Disclaimer: Hear Ye! Hear Ye! I have many things to proclaim! First and foremost, the letter "m" doesn't work on my computer! The button is very hard to push! I like using E!X!C!L!A!M!A!T!I!O!N! P!O!I!N!T!S!!! Oh, yeah, POTC belongs to someone other than me… dis-something… oh well, it's probably not important…
Hello, humanoids! I'm meee… and you're you! See how that works out? Ok, here's the chappy. And remember kids, vampires don't like sunlight! (I am so lost…)
Goodbyes and Mister Stykes
(Three days later, en route to Port Royal.)
Cela: (It's early morning, and Cela is sitting in her room, massaging a smacked bottom. Surprisingly, the blow had come from Will and not Jack. He had become very irritated when she had stolen and hid his Three Musketeers suit for the seventh time running in two hours. After recovering his hat, this time from atop the crows nest, (this girl had no fear of heights) he had gently explained that although he liked her and the Black Pearl very much, it really was time for him to get back to Port Royal and he promised that he would see her again and that he would appreciate it if she would stop hiding his things in order to delay his departure. Then he had sent her to her room, landing a whack on her bottom as she passed. She had yelled and ran sobbing to her room, loudly protesting the whole way. It was not that the hit really hurt, it was more that it was unexpected and she wanted an excuse to cry. She didn't want Uncle Will to go! It's not fair! How come he has to leave her and go to Port Royal and see Elizabeth and be a stupid blacksmith again? She didn't even know what a blacksmith was, but it couldn't be good if made Will go away. Although she didn't show it, her young mind was suffering under the pressure of all the things she had been enduring since birth. Even with a playmate, her mother's lifestyle wasn't at all ideal for raising a child. And then for her to have simply given her away to a man she had never met before, a man that took her to talk to eerie floating women and who turned scary at night, that was a bit much for anyone to handle. But while her young mind was still trying to wrap itself around the concept of a "father," she had grown awfully attached to Jack and Will, the predominate figures in her life. So of course she was quite upset that the latter of the two was simply leaving, only to return in the far distant future of "when the time is right." He might as well have said never.)(Drained from tantruming, she flung herself down on her bed, where she buried her head in an overstuffed pillow, only to be called up again by a rapid knock knock knock at her door.)(voice muffled by the pillow.) Go… away… (The door opened and Mister Gibbs stepped in, carrying what appeared to be several black bed sheets.)
Gibbs: (setting the sheets down next to Cela.) Now don't be like that. Jack wants you to put these on. We'll be at Port Royal soon. (She said nothing, but snorted loudly into her pillow after a few seconds.)(Uncertainly.) Right, well I'll just leave these here then… (He leaves.)
Cela: (waits until she's sure he's gone before sitting up and picking up one of the sheets. There's a great gaping hole in it, and another on the side. After a moments careful thinking she takes her pillow and stuffs it halfway through one of the holes, then wraps the other sheets around the bottom half before kicking the whole mess on the floor and retreating back under the covers. A few minutes later Jack walks in. She decides to keep still and see what happens.)
Jack: Cela? (He looks around and spots the "dress" bundled on the floor. There seems to be something inside. He boots it softly.) Cela? (It doesn't move so he picks it up and unwraps it. It's just a bloody pillow! He sees something move on the bed out of the corner of his eye. Cela.)(In a loud, fake voice.) Oh well, I guess she's not in here. I'll just put these HERE. (He throws the stuff on the bed, hitting Cela soundly in what he knows to be her back.)
Cela: (shoots out from under the sheets.) OWW! (She glares angrily at her father.) Jack!
Jack: (Raises an eyebrow.) What's wrong?
Cela: (Fuming.) You hit me!
Jack: Yeeees… And?
Cela: (Opens and closes her mouth soundlessly before her face screws up in a silent wail and she hides her face in her pillow again.)
Jack: (Sighs and walks over, sitting on the bed next to her)(Rubs her shoulder.) Cela…
Cela: (Jerks away from him and hides under the covers.)
Jack: Cela… (Pulls her out from under them.) What's wrong?
Cela: … Un-Uncle Will is going away! (Breaks out in a fresh sobbing session.)
Jack: Oh for… Cela, Will has to go away. He has a girl waiting back home for him and a career and… they miss him very much. (Smiles apologetically.)
Cela: (Face still in pillow.) But I'm a girl! And I'll miss him!
Jack: (Can't help but be amused. Smiles sadly.) I know, but what I mean is that Will is engaged. Do you know what that means?
Cela: (Lifts her head and gives Jack a strange look.)…He's doing something?
Jack: (Blinks.) Uh… well, yeah. But more specifically, he's getting married. He and Elizabeth- the girl waiting for him- are going to get hitched and live together till… till death do them part. (Looks kinda hesitant and uncomfortable with saying something that Jack Sparrow would never even consider doing. Death do him part his ass. It simply doesn't make any sense.)
Cela: (Till death do them part? So if one of them were dead…)(Slowly.) What would happen if this Elizabeth died, Daddy?
Jack: … (Stares at her) Oh no. I will lock you in your room if you even think about trying to kill Elizabeth, you hear me, Cela? If you did you would be hung and Will would be very sad and never speak to you again. You understand?
Cela: … O…k. Fine. I'll play nice if she does.
Jack: That's my girl. (He grins and affectionately ruffled her hair.) Well, actually, I don't play nice with women but… that's not the point. (Smiles at Cela.) Now, will you put the dress on like the big girl I know you are?
Cela: (Bluntly.) That's not a dress. It's a… thing.
Jack: No, here, look. (He set her down on the bed and out of his lap, then picked the dress up, shaking it out so it wouldn't have any wrinkles.) See, you go under the big hole here… (He put his arms up through it and into the sleeves.) And then you slip it over your head… (He goes to slip it over his head and gets stuck just as the door to Cela's room opens.)
Will: (Stares at Jack's arms and head stuck halfway through the dress.) Uh… I see that this is a bad time. I'll just… come back later… (Quickly leaves as Jack tries to look at him from under the fabric.)
Jack: …
Cela: (Laughs.) You're funny, Daddy! (Pulls the 'thing' off of him.)
Jack: (Sighs heartily.) Just… put it on, all right sweetheart?
Cela: Oh, ok. (She struggles with it for a while before Jack takes pity on her and sets her straight.) Is this how it goes?
Jack: (Looks her over.) Yes, that's fine. You ready for Port Royal?
Cela: (Dully.) Yes, Daddy. (She sticks one of the sleeves in her mouth and suck on a stain.) This one tastes like tomatoes, Daddy!
Jack: (Yanks it out of her mouth.) Don't do that, okay? No, uh, eating the dress. Just… no. (Looks up at a shout.) Sounds like we're at Port Royal. Daddy has to go get his clothes on, all right, honey? You… play nice, be safe, don't get in anybody's way, okay? (Takes off without waiting for an answer.)
Cela: But… (Looks after his retreating feet.)(She decides to go on deck and take a look around.)(To Mister Gibbs.) What's that place? (Points at Port Royal.)
Gibbs: (Turns around.) Ah, that be Port Royal, where we'll be meeting Miss Elizabeth, Will's fiancée.
Cela: (throws her arms open wide.) But …it's so big!
Gibbs: Well, it is a town. See, that's where Miss Elizabeth lives with her father, the governor.
Cela: (Cocks her head to the side.) What's a Gov-ah-na?
Gibbs: Uh… a governor is someone who runs a place over all the common folk, like you and I. Jack decided he didn't like that kind of life and chose to be a pirate instead.
Jack: (Coming up on deck.) Mr. Gibbs, stick to the code. If Cela and I don't come back by nightfall, take off, are we clear?
Gibbs: (Nods.) Aye.
Jack: (Looks at Cela.) Ready to go escort Will back to his woman?
Cela: (Notices Jack for the first time.)(She stares at him, shocked. Every inch of his exposed skin is covered in slightly dirty white wrapping and he's got an unfamiliar style of cloths is worn over the stuff.) Daddy? Is that you? You're all… wrappy! What's wrong with him, Uncle Will?!
Will: (He leans down and whispers to her.) He looks like a burn victim, doesn't he? That's good, that's the look we were going for. (Replies more loudly) Uh, that's just his disguise so he won't get himself hung, right, Jack? No need to draw more attention to yourself than necessary.
Gibbs: Ay, I'm sure nobody would give that a second glance.(Snickers and looks innocent as Jack looks over at him with a glare.)
Jack: (Sighs heavily.) Let's get out of here. (Climbs into the boat, then looks at Gibbs.) Remember, the code.
Gibbs: (Nods as Will and Cela climb into the boat with the luggage and the crew sets them off.)
Cela: (Waving.) Bye, bye Mister Gibbs! Bye, bye Black Pear! Bye, bye everyone! (Spastic noise.) OOOOooh!!
Gibbs: (Laughs and sends the crew back to work.)
Will: (Rows the boat alongside Jack.) It's Pearl, sweetheart.
Cela: Pearl?
Will: Yes. Peeaarrll. (Looks slightly confuses at the noise he just made.)
Cela: Oh. (turns to the ship.) Bye Peeeaaaarllllll!
Jack: (Rolls his eyes and just keeps rowing.) Sweetheart, it's the Pearl. My ship is called the Black Pearl.
Cela: Oh. Bl-ack… Pearl. But aren't they white? Huh?
Jack: (Glares at her.) Cela…
Cela: (In a singsong voice.) BL-ack Puerl! BL-ack Puerl! BL-ack Puerl! BL-AAAAACK POOOO-AL!!!
Will: (Was looking at Cela but now his eyes slide carefully over to Jack and he shifts away from the glaring man.)
Jack: (Stares hard at Cela.)(Through clenched teeth.) Stop it or I won't give you ice cream ever again.
Cela: I'll be quiet. (She fiddles with the folds of her skirt until they reach the dock. Jack gets out and the dock master strides self-importantly up to them.)
Dock master: That will be two shillings. (Will hands Cela to Jack and clambers out himself, pulling his luggage out after him.)(The dock master looks down his nose at the scruffy child.) And I'll need a name, too.
Jack: (Produces the coins.) The name is Mister Stykes.
Cela: Who's Mister- (Will claps his hand over her mouth and grins nervously.)
Dock master: (Raises an eyebrow at them.)(Checks his list.) Oh! You're expected at the governor's mansion. Please, go right on up. Wouldn't want to keep them waiting.
Jack: No, of course not. Uh, come along then Cela, Mr. Turner. (Walks off self-importantly, pretending not to notice the stares that innocent passerby were tossing him.)
Cela: (When they get a little ways away from the dock, she tries to help Will with one of the bags, fails miserably, and quickens her pace to keep up with Jack.)
Jack: (His swagger is far more pronounced than ever now that's he's playing an "important" person.)(Loudly.) That's right dear, you can leave that sort of thing to the peasants.
Will: (Pauses for a moment to give Jack an 'ugh' look, then keeps moving, hefting his backs.)(Under his breath.) You're lucky we're going to see Elizabeth
Jack: (Stalks up the driveway to the mansion, then realizes Will really does need help. Takes one of the bags for the remainder.) Sorry about that, Will.
Will: (Grumbling.) Right, whatever.
Cela: (In an angry and very loud voice.) Who is Mister Stykes, Jack?
Jack: (Glances at the footman by the door who was giving them a weird look.) Uh, that's Daddy's full name, honey. Just.. just don't speak, okay?
Cela: (Opens her mouth to say something, but is cut off by the arrival of a beautiful woman with masses of blonde hair.)
Jack: Ah, the lady of the house. (Sets the bag down and bows over her hand, placing a kiss on it that lingered almost too long.) A pleasure to see you again, Elizabeth.
Liz: Jack? Is that you? (Sees Will.) Will! (Disgusting reunion.) A/N: Hee Hee
E/N: How obvious is it that Cela wrote that part and not I? Oh yeah, forgot to mention I'm helping write the story now. Since next chapter you get to meet a new and much better person than has yet been introduced. Okay, Cela's staring at the screen like I'm nuts. Moving on….
Jack: (Sees Cela's disgusted look and covers her eyes.) Don't watch, sweetheart.
Cela: What is that, Daddy? It's like…they're trying to eat each other's heads!
Jack: Well- (Liz cuts him off.)
Liz: DADDY?! (Stares.)(Strange noise.) WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?! WHAT?!
Jack: Shh! Shhh! Calm down. Elizabeth, meet my daughter, Cela. Cela, this is Will's fiancée, Elizabeth.
Cela: (To Jack.) So she's the one that- (Jack thumps her.)
Liz: (Shocked.) Jack! Don't do that! (Cuddles Cela.)
Cela: Aww! I won't kill you now. I just want to badly poison you! (Hugs Liz.)(Jack rolls eyes and then places his head in his hand, Will's jaw drops, and Liz is confused.)
Liz: (The sound of an approaching carriage made them all look up.) We should move to the back now. (She gathers up Cela and leads them around back, keeping up a constant stream of questions and statements the whole way.) Jack! I can't believe you have a daughter! When did you get her? Where did you get her? Who's the mother? How old is she? What is this thing she's wearing? Oh! She's a mess; you can't go in the house like this dear! Come here, I'll fix you up nice. (She led them around the back of the house to the servant's quarters and into a room.)(To Will.) You can leave those bags there, honey. (She holds Cela up and examines her.)(Indicates to her dress.)(Demanding.) What do you call this?!
Jack: (Indignant.) A dress! What does it look like, woman?!
Liz: (Bites her tongue.)… Well, she can't come in the house in it, that's for sure. (To Cela.) How would you like a bath and a fresh new dress?
Cela: I dunno… I don't like dresses much. (Looks at Liz's frilly gown.) Why do we have to wear them? Pants are better.
Liz: (Laughs.) Yes, I suppose dresses can be a bit cumbersome sometimes.
Cela: (Shoots Jack a questioning look over Liz's shoulder.) …Like a cucumber? The green thinge?
Will: (Laughs.) No, Cela. Why don't you let Liz give you a quick bath, ok?
Cela: (Looks at Jack again. He nods.) O…k…
Liz:: (She takes the girl into the next room and gives her quick bath and helps her into a clean frock.) See? Don't you feel better?
Cela: (Gives a small nod.) Can we go into the big house?
Liz: (Smiles.) Sure we can go into the big house. But when we do you have to be quiet, ok?
Cela: Oooook.
Liz: Let's go get Will and you daddy. (They go back into the other room, where the men are waiting.)(Curtsies to them.) Mister Turner, Mister Stykes? I believe you may enter the governor's mansion. (Cela takes Jack's heavily bandaged hand and they head out.)
Sorry I had to cut it short, If I didn't it would just go on for pages and pages. I just love Cela's pronunciation of the Black Pearl. My sisters, particularly Vana, have been such a help. We're currently working on chapter eight, so it should be out soon. I'm also working on an Otto Octavius (Doc Ock, from Spider-Man) story, if anyone is interested. I'll be posting the first chapter when I put this one up. Thank you for your reviews, I always enjoy them. Until next time, gentle human(oid)s!!