(A/N – Haha! Almost done… well, don't fret me buckos! There's a few more after this, and immediately after this sequel is done, I'll post the threequel! Just An Odd Pirate Story 3: Yo ho! I'll tell you all about it down at the bottom, but first, enjoy this chapter now that Jack's back!)
Oh la la! Reviewers!
x) Raina and Nayana - Ok, I'll be updating on your birthday, so don't worry! lol... Dots for you! And enjoy the last few chapters! Thanks for reviewing, also!
x) Choco Donut - I knew you'd review! lol... But it's not the end! There's this chapter, the next, then the epilogue still!!! YOU CAN'T GO!!! Haha... And actually, explanation is the noun form of the verb that makes sparks fly off my head lol... so, it's the verb that gets me, but I still spaz a bit when I see it! Thanks for the review and enjoy!
.:: Let's observe a moment of silence for someone to just screw it up and fart ::.
- I hate the word 'disclaimer'… it's starting to get as annoying as 'explain'… AHH!
- The best (and worst) things that ever happened to me: Lindsay, Jessica, Arielle Faye Turner, Rebecca Barbossa, Paige Castrella Madrine (Lillian Paige Barbossa), Thomas Pikes and Meridian. Thanks for not taking them!
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: "It's Miss Swann!"
- At the docks -
"Are you sure we can keep these dresses, Governor?" I asked as the gangplank was dropped for us to board the Black Pearl.
"I'm very sure," he responded with a smile.
"Well, now that ye've got what's left of yer rubbish," Jack said, "And that ye've changed back to what I see fit as normal… get aboard there, lassies."
Paige gave him a hug again.
"I get it already!" Jack yelled. "I missed ye, too! But enough with the huggin' and –"
"Jack, calm down," Elizabeth said with a laugh. "We'll be back in a day or two," she told her father.
Everyone turned to go aboard, but I wasn't going anywhere yet.
"Hold up," I said. "I wanna see Norrington and Jack shake hands."
Jack shot me a look ('You're gonna die…'), and Norrington gave Jack one of pure disgust. They turned towards each other, and Norrington lifted his hand first. Jack eyed him.
"Oh, come on, Sparrow. I already know you're a pirate," Norrington said. Jack then shook his hand slowly, and Norrington added, "And the best I've ever seen."
Jack's eyes narrowed on him.
"You're not that bad of a strapping commodore, either," Jack said.
"You know, I believe a Letter of Marque should be in order here," the Commodore said.
He turned toward the Governor who smiled at Jack.
"I think so, too," Governor Swann said.
"Jack? A privateer?" I asked.
"Privateer?" Stewy asked. "What's that?"
"A pirate is given this special paper-" I said.
"-a Letter of Marque-" Paige said…
"-that allows them to still appear as a pirate, only they plunder ships for the flag that they sail under."
"And in Jack's case, that's England," Lindsay said.
"Oh, ok," Jessica, said. "Are you gonna be a privateer, Jack?"
"I'd love to be part of your glorious brigade and be remembered for generations to come as one of the best served, but I'll have to pass that up," he responded.
"But, Mr. Sparrow, surely we can reach an agreement…" the governor said.
"Sorry, but no deal. I'm already gettin' the same notoriety for livin' freely with me own ship and flag. I wouldn't give it up for anything ye paid me."
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way," the Commodore said.
"No worries," Jack said.
"Yes! Haha!!" Jessica said scribbling in her little notepad again.
"Jess! Would you quit with the notepad already?!" Lindsay asked.
"NEVERRRRRRR!!!"
Oh God… we're doomed… Anyhoo, Jack cleared his throat, and we returned our attention to them with big fake smiles (raise your hand if those smiles have saved your life lol).
"Besides, how could I let all me crew down? How could I let me Littles down?"
"We understand," Governor Swann said. "But if you ever change your mind, I would not hesitate to send in a request for your Letter."
Jack nodded respectfully to him, and then Will and Elizabeth walked up in front of the gangplank.
"Now, I believe we have a certain town to make an entrance at?" Jack said as we all smiled at him.
"All aboard!" Lindsay yelled.
We started to run up the gangplank as Will put his shoulder on Lindsay, bringing us to a halt.
"I believe the correct pirate terminology you're looking for is 'shove off.'" Will said.
"So why don't ye?" Jack asked. "Go on!"
We ran aboard the Black Pearl, our first time on it when in the hands of Jack. Will and Elizabeth came next and stood beside us as Jack came up and had the gangplank removed so we could set sail.
"Secure those guns! Hoist the anchor! Make way for Tortuga!" Jack hollered loudly to them.
The crew cheered quickly as we began to leave port while waving down to Governor Swann and Norrington. Lindsay, Jessica, Paige and I followed Jack over to the wheel soon after where Anamaria was bringing us out of port.
"Go on," he said to her as he took the wheel in hand. Their eyes met for a moment, and I remember the story Ana told us the previous night. I decided to have a little jab at them…
"Hey Jack, you better thank her," I said.
He whipped around all confused.
"What? Thank her for what?"
"For getting you off the island!" Jessica piped happily.
Jack's face came into understanding. He looked down at Anamaria with narrow eyes like he had Norrington, and he nodded.
"Oh, I see," he said. "And when did dear sweet Ana decide to let that one out, hmm?"
"Last night when we asked how you two met," Paige said.
"What?! " Jack asked.
"Well, when we heard that you probably wouldn't make it, we went down to see Ana and Thomas to talk to them, and she told us about getting you off the island," Lindsay said.
"I think you owe her more than a story about some lame sea turtles," Paige said ("You're getting better at this," I whispered to her. "Thanks!" she replied.).
"And back hair," Lindsay added.
Jack sighed and looked back at Anamaria.
"So ye want an apology, is that what I'm getting from all this?" he asked her.
"Aye," she replied matching his tone.
"Fine," Jack said. "Sorry. There."
"A better one…" Paige said.
"A better one," Jack sighed.
"Ha! There's another one!"
"Jess! Give me that thing!" Lindsay yelled.
"Get your own!"
"Give me that stupid… little… note… pad… noOOOWW!!!"
Lindsay lost the game of tug-o-war, and slammed into a tower of crates.
"No," Stewy said happily, turning back to Jack and Ana with me and Paige now. I shook my head; I love my friends…
"I'm still waiting for that better apology," Anamaria said.
"Can I save for later?" Jack asked.
Giggles burst out; Lindsay the first as she usually was with her corrupt mind (-glares at Lindsay- WHAP! Well excuuuuuuse me!)… I looked at them and we couldn't help but let a few out ourselves. Maybe we are good at this matchmaking stuff…
"Later, right," Anamaria said. "I'm holdin' you to that."
"I'd imagine ye would," Jack replied.
Anamaria walked off, and Jack took the wheel, staring out across the crystal blue waters. We mimicked him just to annoy him and have some fun, and then he spoke.
"'S'pose ye're wonderin' how I made it," Jack said.
We looked up at him quickly.
"It was a tough fight, I'll tell ye," he said. "And it was the plan."
"Screw the plan," Lindsay said.
"Jane…" he said firmly.
"Yeah?"
"That'll do," Jack said. "Anyways, ye did wonders in the cave while I was still conscious. I haven't heard how ye managed to kill Rebecca or anything of that nature just yet."
"No?" I asked.
"Of course not," he said. "I'm still recuperatin', remember."
"I still can't see how you are this well after being shot three times in the chest just yesterday morning," Paige said. "It's almost impossible."
"Almost?" Will asked as he and Elizabeth came over.
"Well, sure," Paige said. "Jack's here alive and somewhat well, so it's almost impossible."
"You are immortal," Jessica said nodding at Jack.
"Nah," he said.
"It only seems that way," Elizabeth said with a smile.
I thought back over all that had happened. Geez, all this in only five freaking days! Five… is that right? Oh, who cares? We'll use five. It sounds about right… I leaned my head in Jack's arm with a relieved smile. Five minus fourteen… Nine. Nine days til we have to go back before the ruby would disappear. Fourteen days divided by five… Two and four-fifths – that's how many five-day adventures we could have! I can't handle anymore! Well, not until after a day or two's rest…
"Grace?"
I lifted my head up.
"Yeah, Jack?"
He turned the wheel toward me. My eyes widened with my ecstatic smile.
"Seriously?" I asked.
He nodded, and I took the wheel. Holy crap! I'm sailing the Black Pearl! I instantly felt a difference in me. I felt like I was flying. Like I was free and not one thing was gonna stop me. Now I know where Jack gets it from. I smiled back at him.
"Wow," is all I managed to say.
"Wait!" Lindsay said suddenly, rummaging through her book bag. She pulled out a camera, and I shook my head.
"Paige! Get in there with Jack and Grace!" Stewy said. She crammed Paige on the other side of Jack, and I pushed half the wheel toward her. She grabbed one of the pegs, and we stood like that with Jack behind us, draping an arm over each of us. They snapped it, and it was one of the biggest times I had smiled.
"Now that's a keeper," Will said, looking at the three of us.
"Never thought I'd see the day where Captain Jack Sparrow had a daughter, let alone two," Elizabeth said.
"Yeah, well… they aren't exactly me own by blood, but they still get under yer skin and grow on ye."
"You're an old softy, Jack," Will said.
"Never!" Jessica said. "He's tough as the seven seas, he is!"
"Jess, that was lame," Lindsay said.
"Lamer than lame," I added.
"Yeah, I know, but- … hey…"
We giggled at the stupidness of Stewy.
"And what was so 'lame,' as you like to call it, about it?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth said. "Jack knows all there is to about the sea."
"Thank ye, Lizzie," Jack said.
"It's Miss Swann!" Lindsay and Stewy chorused. Paige and I laughed. I recall that happening to me and Holly, haha ('He shot me!' lol)…
"It's ok," Elizabeth said. "Now all that's left is leisure for the remainder of your stay now that this whole matter is done."
"Who said it's done?" Will asked.
The four of us whipped around to Will like 'you have got to be kidding.'
"There's more?" Jessica moaned.
Will, Elizabeth, and Jack started laughing.
"That's not funny," Paige said.
"What's not funny?"
I looked past Elizabeth's shoulder, and I saw… -swoon-… Thomas… coming up… -swoon-… the stairs… -swoon-… I nudged Lindsay while still drooling helplessly over him. He soon drew the attention of all of us.
"Ah, Thomas!" Jack said, striding over to him. "How's this lucky lad who helped with my rescue?"
"Oh, it was nothing but an act of loyalty towards you, sir," Thomas said.
"Nonsense," Jack said. "I haven't heard what happened after I was knocked unconscious yet, and maybe you would all care to inform me?"
"Uh, maybe later, sir?" Thomas asked. "I wanted to have a moment with Jane if it is all right."
Jack stood up tall and threw a smile over at Lindsay. Paige, Jessica, and I did the same, and Stewy even started doing a little dance with her fingers.
"A moment with Jane?" Jack asked him.
"Aye, sir."
"Well, the man to see about that would be her father who just happens to be standing right next to you," Jack said.
"Mr. Turner, if I may?" Thomas asked.
I could feel Lindsay bouncing even though she wasn't moving a muscle because she was frozen with joy. Karma… that was it. We have good karma sensors between us lol. Lindsay was beaming just like Stewy was when she got to wear Jack's hat ("And that's saying something!" Jessica said.).
"You may," Will said with smile.
- Lindsay's PoV -
I was so freakin' happy, I might've exploded if Erica hadn't elbowed me and brought me back to some state of control. Thomas nodded at Will, and he looked at me as he walked right up to me. My knees were so weak when he looked at me… He extended his arm to me, and I took it, smiling the biggest I ever had. Then, we walked off to the bow of the ship.
"You look lovely, Miss Turner," Thomas said.
Okay, I was Little Swann, but Liz got married, so now I'm Turner… okay! I can live without my real last name here!
"Thank you," I said with a laugh. "But this is just a pirate dress torn to shreds."
"Still, that's not what one looks at," he said.
I gave a noise halfway between a snort and a laugh.
"If the guys back home were only like that…" I said. "All the crazy things we tell you probably make no sense and the way we act is primitive, but it's just who we are. You know we're from the future."
"Yes, and I know your real name isn't Jane, but it suits you."
I must've been so red in the face…
"I have Jack to thank for that one."
Awkward silence…
"You'll have to come with us someday to our time," I said. "Paige is dying to go with all the stories she's heard, and… if you didn't want to… I mean –"
"I'd like to see it one day," he said. "It sounds… unique."
"Yeah… maybe when we go back, you and Paige can come?"
"Maybe. At least your food sounds better."
We laughed, and I really couldn't believe how proper I was acting!
"You have a wonderful laugh," he said after a minute. "It's just one of the things that compliments you… just like your beautiful eyes and gorgeous smile."
Okay, pull yourself together, Lindsay! You're about to collapse, you're beat red in the face, and he's flirting… right? Man, I hope so…
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes," Thomas said. "I know we've only known each other a few days and that I may not know much about you or you about me, but I never met anyone like you."
"And you probably never will," I said.
"I don't really mean it like that," Thomas said. "You're just amazing."
Burning inferno on the face!!!
"I-I like you too, T-Thomas," I said, staring at the deck. "You're a really cool guy."
Cool guy?? Nice line, you doofus…
"What I mean is, you're a… a…"
"Yeah?"
I stared at him. What the heck do I say?!
"Oh, screw it! You're just downright hot!"
"Err... thank you… I guess," he said.
"Uh… that was… uh…"
"The real you?" he asked.
"Umm… yeah?"
I wanna just murder myself! GRR!!! Stupid, stupid, stupid!
To my surprise, he smiled.
"That's who I've been attracted to these past few days."
I couldn't think of anything. I couldn't move, speak, scream, die, faint, explode, laugh, cry, or…
He looked down at me with his soft blue eyes, and before I knew what was happening, he was kissing me. And I was kissing back.
Okay, so I could kiss him. Just not move, speak, scream, die, faint, explode, laugh, or cry…Maybe melt. Yeah, I could melt...
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- OoOoOoOo… Lindsay gets some action…
WHAP! Okay, that is IT!! Battle stations, Jack!
Please review! ATTACK!!!