Chapter 6 Contests and Rain

Michael's eyes fluttered open and he looked around the room. 'What a weird ass dream,' he thought as he stood up and walked out of the room. Light was scarce and dark clouds covered the sky.

"It's gonna rain," he said under his breath as he walked down the stairs into the den.

Elizabeth and Cindy were sitting on a couch discussing various things like books, people, and Orlando Bloom.

"So you're saying, that my Will, is identical to a future person named Orlando Bloom? That and he's a sex symbol to the world?"

Cindy nodded her head and smirked as she thought about the night she almost raped Will.

Wilson and Brian were outside being taught how to swordfight with Jack and Jennifer laughing at them.

"Come on now! Ye are going to 'ave to fight better than that if ye don't want to be killed!"

Wilson shot him a glance and he proceeded to fight Brian, who was practically cowering at the much taller Asian. Slowly, as the swords clanked together, they would misstep and Will would scold them.

"No! You need to step over it and then parry! Try to get used to your feet boys!"

Jack would snicker and Jennifer shout out "Wilson sucks!" just to watch him mess up and nearly fall.

"He's so finicky," Jack commented as he watched Wilson nearly trip a seventh time. "Will, ye shouldn't teach the boys everything the proper way. Teach them some dirty fightin' too!"

Will looked at him and gave him an annoyed glance. "Properness is the right way."

"To getting yerself killed." Jack smiled and Will smirked.

"Fine, let's see you do better."

Jack looked at the boys and then he smiled devilishly.

"I've an idea that'll prove I'm the better teacher, but not have me try to mess up your training with the boys."

"I'm listening," Will listened as Jack proposed his thought.

"We have a contest," Jack's smile got wider, "of pupils."

Will returned the smile. "Who shall you have as your pupils?"

Jack turned his head around and he grinned, "Kitten and Cindy."

Will's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. When shall we have the contest?"

Will stroked his chin and his smiled faded, "Tomorrow, midday."

"Perfect," Jack turned around and grabbed Jennifer and hauled her into the house.

"Wha—?!" Jack pulled her into the den and grabbed Cindy and dragged them both outside.

"What are you doing?!" Jack had manages to drag both of them out of the house to the back along with grabbing a few extra swords again.

'He has such a strong grip,' Jennifer thought as he released their hands and examined the swords he grabbed.

One sword was a bit heavier built with an intricate grip with drawings and such, he handed that one to Jennifer. The other was a bit lighter with a more simplistic handle of wood, which he handed to Cindy.

"What are these for?" Cindy asked as she looked at the sword.

"Well," Jack grinned, "I am going to teach you the art of sword fighting."

Both of the girls blinked and then smirked.

"Sweet," Jennifer said as she grinned at the sword in her hand and held it up.

"Now, you two, hold your swords like this," he drew his sword and then showed them how to hold the sword and how to stand, and the basics like that. Soon they got to actually fighting.

"Don't forget to move your feet." Jack watched them, helped them, taught them tricks, and they became more active.

"Why aren't you moving Jennifer?" She had barely moved her feet and still managed to stave off Cindy's assault. The girls stopped and Jennifer held up her sword and replied, "It's too heavy for me, I can't focus on lifting this and moving at the same time."

His eyebrows scrunched together and he took the sword from her hand and held. His sword was a bit lighter than this one…

"Here," he unsheathed his sword and handed it to her, "This one is a bit lighter. Try it." She took it from his hand and held it. Her eyes met his and she smiled and nodded her head. "Continue then," he said as he walked out of the way. They began again and it was much more quickly paced.

'They're naturals,' Jack thought as he observed them. Their form was excellent, and they knew their footwork, their movements were a bit jerky, but both of them were alive so it was good enough.

"Let's take a break," the girls stopped and were breathing a bit heavier than before.

"My arm hurts," Jennifer chuckled as she held her right forearm.

"Those are your muscles actually working!" Cindy smirked.

"Oh, I forgot I actually had muscles," they smiled and sniggered.

They continued to sit in silence until Jennifer looked at a small nearby tree.

"Oh my fucking god," she stood up and back behind Jack and gripped his shirt, digging her claws into his skin.

"Ow," Jack looked at her and her eyes were wide in fear, and her pupils were dilated till you could hardly tell the dolor of her eyes. He looked in the direction of what she was starring at.

"Oh my fucking god Jennifer," Cindy commented as she looked at Jennifer in annoyance, "Even when we're back in fucking time, you're still fucking scared of spiders!"

Jack looked at the large orange spider hanging in midair between two low branches near the ground. It was the size of a golf ball and was motionless except fore the wind shaking the invisible web. He looked back at Jennifer and watched her back away slowly to hide behind Cindy who just laughed at her and pushed her away.

Jack sighed and walked over to the spider. He brought his sword up and slashed it sideways. It fell to the ground in two pieces and he looked back at Jennifer. Her eyes weren't as wide and she smiled weakly.

"Thank you," she looked up at him and smiled.

"You're very welcome luv." He watched Jennifer calm down and eventually relax.

"You know, in the movie we see your scars," Jennifer said randomly.

Jack looked to her and his face was serious. "'Movie?' And how do you know about my scars?"

Jennifer looked over to him and said, "A movie is like a play, but it's recorded onto something so you can watch it over and over again. And your movie shows all about the Black Pearl and Barbossa and Liz and Will and the curse of Cortez and all that. But in one deleted scene it shows you and Elizabeth on the island talking about your adventures. She asks you if any of the others were real and you show her your scars and say, 'Truth? No truth at all.'"

Jack's eyes were fixed onto her and he looked down at the ground. His eyes went over to Jennifer and he watched her stand up and stride over to him. She looked at his shirt and with a child's curiosity and pushed away at the collar, revealing a bullet wound. She traced the scar lightly with her fingers and she smiled gently. His eyes watched her and he felt a bit strange. He didn't mind her touching his scars. This was strange because he was usually very conscious of his personal space. Slowly she explored his arms and traced the scars and then looked up at him with wide curious eyes. She let go of his arm and backed away slowly from him and turned around.

'Strange girl,' Jack thought as he looked around. The sun was hidden behind the clouds still and he watched the two girls whisper to each other very quietly.

Slowly, it began to rain and the ground was covered in mud in a matter of minutes.

"That's enough for today." Jack slowly walked into the house and left the two girls alone in the rain. His feet felt heavy as he walked into the house, up the stairs, and into his room. He fell onto his bed and lay there for a long time. The rain pounded onto the window and he looked out to the bay. The Pearl was nowhere in sight, and the town seemed deserted. Except he saw a lone figure cloaked in black, walking towards the bay from the house. He whispered a name under his breath and proceeded to dress and follow the figure.

MEANWHILE…

Cindy watched her friend go off in the cloak, alone. She had refused to have her come, but she took a sword and a gun and promised to be back soon.

"I just want some time to think," she had said.

She let her go, and walked back inside and saw Will sitting in the den, alone.

'Finally,' she thought as she walked over to him. He looked up and smiled faintly.

"Hello Cynthia."

"It's Cindy," she chuckled.

"Oh," he looked down, "Sorry, I assumed it was an abbreviation."

"Eh, it's ok." She sat down next to him and looked at him. "What are ya doin?"

"Oh, I'm just thinking is all," he avoided eye contact with her and she smirked.

"I'm sorry about the thing—on—the—ship." A light blush came to her cheeks as she said this and he just smiled.

"It's alright. You were drunk," his voice was a bit saddened.

"Yeah," she looked away and then their eyes met and she felt something. As soon as she felt it he turned away and left the room.

"I love Elizabeth, I love our baby, I love—" he continued muttering the mantra until he came into his room and closed it behind him.

Meanwhile Cindy was sitting in the den, thinking about the spark she felt. 'Instant chemistry,' she thought as she walked up to her room and lay down on her bed, looking out the window at the storm raging on.

MEANWHILE…

Jennifer stood at the docks, holding her cloak close to her. The storm frenzied and the sea swayed to the rhythmic flashes of the lightening near the horizon.

'What do you think of him? Do you really feel something? Or is it just the fact that he's Jack Sparrow? What would you do if her showed up and tried something? What would you do if—?' These thoughts raged in her mind as she watched the sea.

"You must want to get sick, eh luv?" She didn't even bother to look behind her. Jack slowly walked up behind her and looked down at her. Her eyes were placid, and her face was beaded with water droplets. He watched the wind blow her cloak away, revealing his sword at her side, and a gun next to it. 'She's prepared,' he thought as he continued to think.

"The rain," she said as she smiled gently, "It's calming." She looked up at him and then looked away.

'What would she do if…' his thoughts trailed off. He placed his arm around her and waited for a reaction. She slowly huddled closer to him and eventually rested her head on his chest. The rain slowed and the clouds parted just long enough to show the full moon.

'If she did this, then…' He looked down at her and then their eyes met. They just looked at each other and studied their faces for a long time. Then their lips met. Slowly they pulled away and she just rested her head on his chest.

"We'd better get back. They might get worried—" Jennifer began.

"Yeah, they would." Jack looked down at her and they began to walk together back ton the house through the empty streets, in silence.

MEANWHILE…

Barbossa stood at the helm of the ship, looking out onto his crew. A half eaten apple was gripped in his hand. He lifted it up and took a large bite out of it. He savored the taste and swallowed it while the red-haired woman walked up to him.

"It's time for another soul session," she whispered into his ear. He turned around and walked over to his cabin and waited for her to light the candles. He sat down and began to clear his mind.

"Might I ask your name, milady?" His eyes were closed and he waited in silence for an answer.

"It is a bit rude, but I shall grace you with a reply." She paused and looked at him sitting on the ground. "My name is Lily."

Barbossa smiled and began to send his soul out to the boy again.

His eyes opened and he was back in the room, seeing the same face in the mirror.

'Oh no, not again,' he heard the inner voice of Michael say.

He did not answer and proceeded to get up and wander the house. He opened doors and went about his work swiftly. He opened one door and saw, lying in the bed, Elizabeth.

He watched her chest rise and fall, and he saw the small bulge of her belly: she was expecting. He smiled an evil smile, and the ideas flowed into his mind.

He felt the familiar tug of his heart, but this time he left the boys body willingly and returned to his own body.

"You catch on quick," Lily commented. Barbossa just smiled and stood up and left the cabin and began to plan his way of destroying the two lives of his greatest enemies.