Usual disclaimers

I am amazed that any of you knew I had uploaded, what with all the problems with emails alerts etc! So, thanks to Chelsey, KillerK, Pankhurst, BoricuaSparrow, Mrs Depp (thank you!), Hils, Punkdpirate, beatlechicksteph, Miss Sophia, Pendragginink (welcome back!), Orlando's Hot Chick, Ceyenne Pepper Powder (read her stories – great!), Sparrow's Slutty Strumpet (welcome!) and apologies to anyone I missed out!

I'm glad so many of you found the fact that Jack is scared of rats funny – and do you really think I'd have not let Shay and Patience get married? Hils would have killed me for a start!

…

Chapter Twenty five: 'You are a wonderful man, Jack,'

Jenny stood watching as some of the crew danced a jig, clapping her hands in time to the music. She smiled as Jack approached her.

'Jen… c'mon,' Jack smiled taking her arm and leading her to the side of the ship, stepping over a couple of the crew who were already legless after only an hour or so.

'Eh?' Patience thought to herself as she noticed her friend disappear over the ship's rail whilst being twirled around by Drew McCarrick. 'Where're they off to?' She almost shouted out after them, but something held her tongue.

Jenny looked down at the waiting boat containing Luke and Olabisi then at Jack, a puzzled frown on her face. 'What's going on?'

'You'll see,' he grinned, helping her into the bosun's chair then lowering it to the boat, climbing down himself once Jenny was settled.

'Jack…? Do either of you know what's going on?' she asked the two men, who merely nodded and smiled at her as they rowed to shore.

Jack jumped ashore once they reached the wharf and held out his hand to Jenny, kissing her as she stepped onto dry land. 'This way, luv,' he smiled, crooking his arm and leading her through the town, with his men shadowing them, until they reached the church once more.

Jenny looked at him, her eyes widening and her mouth became dry. 'Surely not,' she thought. 'Is this what I think it is?' she asked.

'Yup, if ya want ter…'

'Have you arranged it?'

'Yes, this afternoon. Th'priest found he could fit us in,' he grinned, not letting on that a more than generous purse had helped. 'D'ya want to?' he asked gently, praying that she would.

'Oh, Jack Sparrow! Do you really need to ask?' she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.

'Guess that means yes,' he grinned at Luke and Bisi, then he lead the way into the church.

'You have arrived then…' the priest sighed as he lit some altar candles. 'I was beginning to wonder if the lady had had a change of mind.'

Jack arched an eyebrow at him but wisely kept his tongue. 'Ya ready then?'

'I have been ready for a while,' he replied acerbically. 'We might as well make a start. We are gathered here today in the sight of God…'

'Here we go again…' Jack sighed to himself, keeping half an ear open for anything he might need to say.

…

'Will you have this Woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?'

'Damn right I will.' 'I will,' Jack smiled, looking into Jenny's moist eyes.

'Will you have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?'

'Don't ya cross yer fingers, Jenny Wren…'

'I will,' she smiled happily.

The priest joined their hands together then looked at Jack. 'Do you know the vows?' he asked, fully expecting a negative reply and almost jumped with surprise when Jack nodded. 'I-I see…'

'I, John Hillier, take thee Jennifer Crompton to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse.' 'Plenty o'them,'he thought sadly. 'For richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and I plight thee my troth.'

Jenny raised an eyebrow at the use of their actual names, but realised that Jack really wanted to do this properly and so smiled at him as she pledged herself to him for always.

'A ring?' the priest prompted, and took the two rings that Jack handed to him and blessed them, intoning the vows which they both repeated as they placed the rings on each other's fingers.

'Get on wi'it man,' Jack implored silently. 'I want ter kiss me wife…'

'You may kiss the bride,' the priest said finally, hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of the display from the younger couple earlier.

'My husband,' Jenny smiled, gently capturing his lips with hers.

'My wife,' he grinned, holding her tightly. 'Mrs. John Hillier…'

'Mrs. Jack Sparrow,' she laughed, pulling away from him. 'I love you.'

'I love you, Jen. More than life itself.'

'If you don't mind, I have Evening Mass to prepare for,' the priest interrupted, scowling slightly.

'Of course,' Jenny smiled apologetically. 'Thank you.'

'Congratulations,' Luke smiled as they walked back up the aisle.

'Aye congratulations Jenny, Cap'n,' Olabisi put in, clapping his captain on the back. 'She's a fine woman, suh.'

'I know she is, Bisi,' Jack smiled, bringing Jenny's hand up to his lips. 'D'ya want to spend th'night on board or in th'tavern?' he asked her.

'On The Pearl. Home,' she smiled, squeezing his hand.

'Better make sure she's well anchored then,' he grinned, winking at his crewmen.

'Jack…' Jenny warned with a smile, wagging her finger at him. 'Behave.'

'Me?' Jack put on an innocent expression, belied by a wicked gleam in his eyes.

'Yes you…' Jenny stopped when they left the church and turned to face their two companions. 'Thank you both. You've missed the party to be here,' she sympathised.

'No,' Luke assured her. 'It's a pleasure to see you both happy. Besides, Bisi hid some booze especially for us,' he chuckled.

'Ya crafty devil,' Jack laughed.

'Got a good teacher, suh,' the black man laughed back as they slowly made their way to the wharf.

…

'Alone at last, eh luv?' Jack murmured, pulling her to him in the privacy of their cabin and nuzzling her ear. No-one had really noticed their absence and they had slipped back on board as if nothing had happened and went straight down below.

'At last, my husband,' she sighed, pressing her lips against his ear whilst tugging his shirt from inside his breeches.

'I'm not yer husband proper – yet!' he chuckled, pulling away and carefully undoing the silk laces on the bodice of her dress.

'How long had you planned it?' she asked, sighing blissfully as his lips traced a trail along her collar bone.

'I'd wanted ter ask ya fer a while, but I knew th'time wasn't right. I don't know… watching you watching Shay an' Patience getting' married, it felt right then.'

'You are a wonderful man, Jack,' she smiled, cupping his face in her hands and kissing him tenderly.

'I know I am,' he smiled cheekily before returning the kiss. 'Let's get ya out of this, eh?' he growled huskily, yanking the dress down past her hips until it fell in a heap at her feet, her undergarments following suit soon after, then he scooped them up and placed them on a nearby chair. Years of stealing and selling fine things had taught him to look after them.

'Now your turn,' Jenny whispered, reaching for him and hoisting the shirt over his head. She sank to her knees and undid the laces of his boots, tugging each one off and tossing them aside, chuckling at his small yelp of protest. She knew there were two things of Jack's that you did not mess with. His ship and his boots. 'And his hat, his coat, the rum…' she mused, laughing silently to herself. Her fingers ran along his legs, making him shiver with excitement, until they reached the fastening of his breeches, and she undid them with her customary speed, pulling them down and exposing his throbbing manhood.

She got to her feet, and wound her arms and a leg around him, kissing him with as much feeling and passion as she could muster whilst his hands roved her body, caressing, grabbing and pulling her into him.

'C'mon, Jenny Wren, or should that be Sparrow now?!' he chuckled. 'Let's make ourselves comfy.' Jack scooped her up in his arms and lay her gently down on the bunk before climbing on top of her, looking deep into her eyes. 'Thank you for marryin' me,' he smiled, kissing the palm of her hand as she stroked his face.

'Thank you for wanting to marry me,' she whispered, moaning as Jack eased into her, consumating their marriage.

'It's a pleasure darlin'. Believe me, th'pleasure's all mine.'

'I don't think it's all yours,' she murmured, sucking the tender spot just behind his ear while her fingers stroked down the length of his lean back.

'All right… maybe not all mine,' he chuckled, thrusting deeper inside her as the ministrations by her tongue and hands sent flames of desire shooting through him.

'Share and share alike, isn't that what the vows said?' she giggled.

'You did promise ter obey, didn't ya?' he asked, wondering if she and Patience had managed to talk about the earlier conversation.

'Of course I did! Although, whether I will or not is another matter…'

'Ya'd better,' Jack warned, nipping her neck.

'Mmm, do that again,' Jenny murmured huskily, groaning and arching as her back as he showered nibbles and licks all along her neck, throat and jaw until she was moaning his name as passion coursed through her body and her juices flowed over his manhood buried deep within her.

'Now you really are mine,' he rasped, kissing her intensely.

'Become mine,' she gasped, tracing the contours of his ear with the tip of her tongue and murmuring in his ear as she fluttered her fingers down the back of his thighs until he came with a throaty growl.

'My husband,' Jenny smiled, holding him as he recovered.

'My wife,' he whispered, kissing her ear.

…

'Typical,' Jenny sighed to herself. 'Awake alone as usual.' She climbed from the bunk and pulled on her best shirt and breeches, glancing at her wedding ring every now and then and smiling. 'The first man I've really wanted to marry,' she mused. She padded from the cabin and set off in search of her husband, stopping as she went past the mess and backtracked on herself.

'Hello you two,' she smiled. 'You are awake then?'

'Aye,' Shay grinned. 'Only just mind…'

'I've been awake fer hours,' Patience grinned, then laughed out loud.

'I see,' Jenny chuckled knowingly. 'I'll bring your comb and mirror to you just now.'

'Me hair'll survive until later. I'll pop by yer cabin if yer like.' Patience's eyes caught a glint of gold on Jenny's hand. She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

'Should I tell them now?' Jenny wondered, caught in two minds.

'Later,' Patience said quietly, smiling as her friend nodded and left the galley.

'What later?' Shay asked, looking from his wife to the door.

'Women's stuff,' she assured him, taking the bowls back to the galley and washing them up, Shay following behind. 'Don't yer have duties today?' she asked him, leaning back as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

'Aye, a husband's duties,' he grinned salaciously.

'I meant on board, not on yer wife,' she chuckled, squealing as his sharp teeth nipped the skin on her neck.

'But I have ter help on th'riggin' first,' he sighed, pulling a face. 'Then I'll do m'husbandly duties, again.'

'Go then, I'll come find ya when yer done.'

'Up th'riggin'?'

'Not on yer bleedin' life!' she protested. 'In a dress? D'yer think I'm showing all and sundry m'underwear?'

'Ye can always borrow me breeches…'

'I think I'll pass,' she snorted.

'I'll see ye later, cailin,' he smiled, giving her one last kiss.

Patience quickly finished washing the dirty dishes and hurried along to Jenny's cabin. She wanted confirmation of her suspicions.

'Ya there Jenny?' she called softly, knocking on the door.

'Yes, come in,' Jenny's voice called from within and Patience entered, shutting the door behind her.

'Well?' she prompted, too impatient for niceties.

'Sit down, I'll sort your hair out,' Jenny offered, still evading the issue.

'I'll do me own - you pull!' She took the comb from Jenny, looking pointedly at her left hand.

'Jack and I got married ourselves yesterday,' she finally admitted, chewing her lip nervously.

'Congratulations!' Patience cried, hugging her. 'Why didn't ya say?'

'Thank you,' she breathed, returning the hug. 'I didn't want to say anything, you know - spoil your day.'

'Yer daft bugger! We could have had a double weddin'. Hell, I'd even have got drunk fer that!'

'I didn''t know anything myself until Jack took me away from the party and back to the church. He apparently offered the vicar a generous purse if he would marry us,' she grinned.

'Oh no!' Patience gasped, her eyes twinkling with mischief. 'Ya don't say...? It can't be... th'Captain's goin' soft!'

Jenny laughed out loud, hugging her friend. 'I think he must be,' she chuckled.

'Or daft…'

'Hey! That's my husband you're insulting there,' she teased.

'Is it a big secret, or what?' Patience asked, breaking away from the embrace.

'Well, no. I just didn't want to steal your thunder.'

'Yer are daft, woman!' Patience snorted. 'I'd shout it from th'crows nest if I were ya, except I ain't goin' up that high!'

Jenny laughed. 'I think Jack will allow me back on the rigging - I might just do it myself… and then be hauled off to the brig.'

'Make sure yer wearin' breeches. They're a bunch of pervy dogs on this ship!'

'Why do you think I only ever wear breeches on board? Jack gave me a shirt to wear when I first arrived and it had as many buttons on it as his does...' she rolled her eyes. 'Needless to say, I found something to wear beneath it.'

'I don't think I could wear breeches,' Patience said, eyeing Jenny's attire cautiously.

'You get used to them,' the older woman assured her. 'It's certainly easier about ship.'

'P'raps...' she said, her voice still heavy with doubt.

'It doesn't matter anyway, we won't be on board for too much longer.'

'Why?' Patience looked at her with shock.

'Well we'll both be looking for a house soon,' Jenny replied, confused as to her friend's obvious discomfort.

Patience breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment she had thought that Jenny had realised she was already with child. It was almost a relief that she and Shay would be leaving for Ireland soon. Patience didn't want to see the pain in her friend's eyes when her pregnancy started to show.

'Aye, I'd forgotten about that,' she blustered. 'What with th'weddin' an' all.'

'And then you will be off to Ireland before too long,' Jenny smiled sadly. 'I'll miss you.'

'I'll miss yer as well,' Patience replied. 'But Shay has said we'll be back.'

'True, but not for some time. It takes a while to sail the Atlantic and you won't exactly be staying in Ireland for just a few days, will you? But it will be a wonderful adventure for you.'

'Aye maybe… but somebody has ter be here an' watch yer back.'

'Tom will be nearby and I believe Mr. Cotton is thinking of retiring as well. Maybe Luke will take over his doctoring?'

Patience's sour glance gave words to her feelings.

'I know he's a naval man,' Jenny sighed. 'But he was a good friend to me, twice... three times, in fact, if you include how he helped Jack and I escape from the fort.'

'Aye, I know that but it's hard ter trust 'im. Ya ain't sat up a tree watching yer home burn twice b'fore yer were ten.'

'True', Jenny conceded.

'I'd best be goin'. Am I allowed ter tell Shay about... you know?' She nodded towards the ring.

'Of course you can,' Jenny smiled. 'If Jack hasn't beaten you to it!'

'So yer aren't keepin' it a secret?'

'No, not if you don't mind.'

'Why should I mind?' she puzzled. 'Ya should have told us earlier - it would've been one hell of a party!'

'I didn't want a fuss made. This is my third marriage and after, you know… John,' she paused as she remembered her baby son. 'I don't know. I wanted to be married to Jack but I didn't want a huge celebration. Does that make sense?'

'Yes, it does,' Patience assured her. 'But th'crew will want another party,' she warned.

'Yes, they most probably will,' Jenny sighed, rolling her eyes. 'They always do…'

'Ah, give in with good grace,' Patience smiled. 'They'll soon be drunk an' then it'll be over.'

'Hmm, good job Jack and I celebrated our marriage last night then, isn't it?' she joked. 'I take it Shay wasn't too drunk to...?'

'He'd have been thrown overboard if he were,' she laughed, rising. 'I'd best start ter help John in th'galley then.'

'All right. I'll see you later, no doubt.' She hugged her friend, glad they shared a bond of marrying on the same day. 'If you see Jack on your travels, tell him I'm getting lonely…'

…

'Connelly!' Jack called, spying his friend at the far end of the ship. 'You an' I need ter talk.'

'If it's about th'marital bed, yer too late,' Shay chuckled, making his way over to him. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothin'. I just have a little proposition fer ya. Let's go up to th'nest.'

'Eh?' Shay looked at the figure of his captain and friend as he sped up the rigging towards the crows nest, then followed suit. 'What sort of proposition?' he asked once they had both reached their destination.

'First of all, me an' Jen are married ourselves,' he grinned, holding up his hand and flashing the wedding band.

'Bloody hell!' the Irishman exclaimed. 'We wondered where ye disappeared to yesterday. Congratulations.'

'Secondly, we've already started tryin' fer a family again. I'm getting' old, Shay, it's becomin' harder to be a good captain. An' I want ter be around fer Jen an' our children. I want ter enjoy th'fruits of m'labour, savvy?'

'Yes,' Shay replied uncertainly. He had not known Jack open his heart like this in the short time he had known him.

'I'm thinkin' of trainin' someone ter take over from me, captain th'Pearl until any son I have is old enough ter become her captain.'

'I see,' the younger man pondered. 'Have ye got anyone in mind?'

'Yes. You.'

'Me…?! Ye can't be serious?!'

'Never more so,' Jack smiled at the shocked look on Shay's face. 'I know ya don't know everythin' about sailin', which is why I'm stickin' around a while, ter teach ya.'

'But… what about Ireland?'

'Ya can still go if ya want, just make sure ya come back, savvy?'

'Does anyone else know about this?' he breathed, his head still reeling, trying to take it in.

'Jen, no-one else. Of course, I'd have ter put it to th'crew first. But any sailor worth his salt knows it takes a special sort of character ter be a good captain, an' I reckon you've got that character, Shay. You will be a good captain of my ship, an' th'crew will agree, I'd stake all my treasure on it.'

'I-I… I don't know what ter say. I'm flattered ye think I'm upto th'job, but…'

'Nah, no buts,' Jack interrupted. 'Do ya want ter do it or not?'

'Are ye kiddin'? I'm flattered, honoured… thank ye, Jack.'

'It's a pleasure,' he smiled benignly. 'Now go an' see that wife of yours an' I'll go an' see ter mine. Beat ya down there…'

'Ye bloody cheat!' Shay protested as Jack stole a march and raced down the rigging.

'Pirate!' Jack called up, looking in amazement as the younger man rapidly caught then overtook him. 'Yer in good hands, darlin',' he told his ship as Shay stood proudly on the deck with his hands on his hips, waiting for Jack.

'I let ya win' he joked as he finally stood besides the Irishman.

'Like hell ye did! Give my love ter Jenny.'

'I will mate, now go.'

'Jack Sparrow! What's that there on your finger?' Joshamee Gibbs enquired, squinting with both hangover and the fierce morning sun.

'That there'll be a weddin' band, Mr. Gibbs,' Jack smirked, holding his hand up for all to see. 'Me an' Jen snuck away whilst you lot were gettin' pissed.'

The captain of The Black Pearl found himself swamped with men offering their congratulations and he had a struggle to get out of the thong. 'Excuse me, gentlemen. I have a wife who is missin' me!' he winked salaciously as he disappeared down the hatch amid a chorus of whistles and cheers.

…

Of course I was always going to marry Jack and Jenny off! I should have named this chapter 'Two Weddings and a Piss Up!' :D

…