Chapter 4

Before breakfast was served, Jack was informed that he had to meet Uncle Mort in the parlor room. A maid led him down there after he was dressed and ready, and secretly downed some more rum in preparation. He entered the highly decorated room and then took a seat on the couch.

Mort was sitting in one of the French imported chairs at the side of the room and when Jack entered he looked up from the tea he had in his hands and set the cup down on a small wooden table by him. "Good morning," he said in his hoarse voice with his gentleman-like manner, which he attained many years ago as a young man.

"Aye. Ye wanted to see me?" Jack asked. He thought they had covered pretty much everything the day before, so he had no idea of what the man wanted. Well, he had some idea, but it was best to get things clarified.

"Indeed. We have to have a little discussion," Mort said seriously. He was still uncomfortable about this pirate, and he had decided the previous night that he was going to finish questioning him. "I need to ask you some questions."

'Splendid' Jack thought to himself. He was actually surprised that her uncle would even give him a chance like this. Amelia must really mean a lot to them, and since she is the only child they ever raised they are used to spoiling her. Well, he was not scared of this wig, and he knew that no matter what Mort said Amelia would still be his. "Go right ahead. I've got nothin' t' hide."

"Good. First off all, when you do intend on marrying my Amelia?"

The real answer was that he was not even sure if they were going to get married, but he knew that was not the smart thing to say. "Soon."

"Do you have any children?"

"Not that I know of." It was an honest answer. If any of the whores he had slept with got pregnant, then they certainly didn't tell him about it.

Mort frowned at this response, although he knew that it was what he should expect from a man such as this one. He knew one thing though, he was only doing this because Amelia loved him, lord knows why, and if Sparrow ever hurt her then he would send all of his men after him and his ship and gladly watch him hang.

"A man can never be sure." Jack added with a half-grin, fully aware that Amelia's uncle was not amused.

"I see," the man replied dryly. Now it was on to the question that had been tormenting him since the previous night. "Have you had pre-marital relations with my niece?"

He did not know what type of response he was expecting. Pirates were not known for being honest or truthful, so what did he think that this one would say? He was testing him. Trying to see how the other man would respond, and if he lied then it would most likely be extremely obvious. Mort knew that he would have to keep an open mind on this situation, but there was a fine line of which he refused to cross.

If he deemed this man, not even a gentleman in any aspect by what he had witnessed so far, unworthy of his beloved niece then she would have to be separated from him. Mort would not see his only niece become a dirty peasant, not after all his family had worked for to have a high position in society. She was supposed to be a lady, and ladies do not marry pirates.

Jack could have answered this question in many ways, but he chose to be direct. "Why, no sir. I wouldn't even think of that! A lady such as your niece would never commit such an act of impropriety." He also chose to lie.

Mort was not sure whether to release a sigh of relief or to call in the British soldiers to arrest this Jack Sparrow fellow. He refrained from both choices, and instead sat silently in his favorite chair for a few moments, staring hopelessly at the man whom his niece wants to marry. The only thing that he could think about was how far Sparrow was from the man he envisioned Amelia would one day walk down the aisle with.

He loved his niece like she was his own daughter and he wanted to make her happy, but this request seemed crazy. Did she know what she was getting herself into? He had to decide whether or not this was truly the only thing that would please her. Was this actual love, or was she blinded by the foolish folly of her youth?

"One last question," he eventually stated, getting ready for them to join the others at breakfast in the dining room. "Do you love her, enough to change your lifestyle to make a proper life for her?"

Jack was sure that he loved her, he wouldn't know what to do with himself if he wasn't with her, but he wasn't sure of the last part. Was he ready to give up the only life he ever knew, for her? Was that what she even wanted? After being accustomed to the free life of a pirate, with no restrictions or responsibilities and nothing holding him down, how would he ever adjust to living the way that Amelia was raised to live?

"I already told ye, I luv her," he answered. "I would do anythin' fer her."

"I will give you both my blessings, if that is what she really wants," Mort replied, standing up. He added, in a serious and threatening manner, "But if you ever mistreat her in anyway I will not hesitate to send the authorities after you, and they will not stop coming until your ship is sunk and you are hanging lifeless from a rope in Town Square. Understand?"

A grimace spread over Jack's face and he touched his neck for a second, imaging the picture that Mort had painted for him. Then he quickly turned his frown into a confident smile and following Amelia's uncle, stood up. "Crystal clear."

"Good," Mort responded in a more upbeat fashion. "Then let's go have some breakfast, shall we?"

Mary and Amelia were already seated next to each other in the dining room waiting for them to arrive by the time they got there. The places were set and some food, including a bowl of fruit, was previously laid upon the center of the table. As the men entered the room both ladies looked up at them with smiles and welcomed them to the table.

Mary, being polite as usual, smiled radiantly and asked, "How are you this morning, Captain Sparrow? I hoped you slept well last night and found the guest room accommodating. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask."

"Everything is splendid," Jack answered, showing his teeth. At least Amelia's aunt remembers to call his 'captain'. Plus it was the honest truth, he had never stayed at such a lavish estate, only robbed them. "I assure ye."

Amelia was pleased at how everything was going. Her aunt seemed satisfied with her decisions, but she was still unsure about her uncle. He could be a bit stubborn when he wanted to, and she was worried that nothing she could do would change his opinion of Jack.

"Uncle," Amelia said, looking at her old uncle. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, like a tired, old man, my dear," he replied warmly and began buttering a piece of bread. He was feeling like he was getting old, and watching Amelia turn into a lady and ready to start a family of her own just made him feel even more ancient. "I have some news for you young lady."

"Really?" Amelia asked. She was in an overall cheerful mood, due to being home again and seeing her beloved friends and family. It was nice to come back to the world that she knew so well, but she also knew that she would be leaving soon as well. "And what may that news be pertaining to, if I may ask?"

Mort smiled at his lovely niece, just happy to see her in such good spirits. He remembered her restlessness before he had sent her to Port Royal, and it was obvious that in many ways she had changed. It seemed like her transformation was for the better, because he had never seen her so jubilant. "Your wedding. Or did you change your mind already?"

"You're giving us your blessing?" Amelia asked, overjoyed. She knew there was a chance that he would relent, but not so soon. Mort nodded, confirming her suspicions, and she was so ecstatic that she jumped out of her seat to run over and give her uncle a hug. "I love you, uncle!"

"Yes, yes," he responded. "Now eat your breakfast, you are going to have to have your strength when debating with Mary here over what flowers and fabrics to pick."

She laughed, and then returned to her seat. "Actually uncle, we haven't talked about where we want to have our wedding at yet, or when."

Jack nodded in agreement, and continued eating the food that he had piled onto the ceramic plate in front of him. He was waiting for her to say something like that, because they hadn't even discussed marriage yet. He wasn't sure what type of wedding she was thinking of, but he was not the kind of man to have the wedding become some elaborate ceremony of which the entire town is invited to and thousands of dollars are spent, catering to every tiny detail. Actually he never even pictured himself marrying at all, but if he did it wouldn't be all built up.

He wouldn't sweat the details, because Jack was sure that soon Amelia would approach him with the same decisions and they would discuss the matter then. For right now all he had to do was eat up and listen to their conversation.

"Right," Mort stated. He knew that he didn't have much say in the matter, but he did have one request. "Well those are matters for you to decide upon, but I hope that you will at least use our priest. He has known you since you were a small child, you know."

"If that is what you wish," Amelia replied. "Then we will."

"So dear," Mary interjected, changing the topic. There was one question that she had been meaning to ask. She would hate to see her niece leave again, but she knew that it was inevitable. "How long will you two be staying? A couple more days I hope."

"It depends," she answered after taking a sip of her warm tea. "On the weather and how long we feel like staying. I was only planning on staying a few days anyway."

"I see," she replied. "Well it is just lovely outside today, don't you think? You simply must take Sparrow on a walk around the garden. The roses just bloomed."

"Ye can call me Jack," he stated. He never quite understood all the formalities of the upper class and since they were going to become relatives she might as well call him by his first name.

"I'll take him after breakfast," Amelia said and everyone returned to eating.


A/N: Haven't updated this story in ages, but I decided to finish this chapter today. Thank you for the reviews I received for the last chapter, I appreciate any comments. Sorry again for taking so long, but I've had a bit of writer's block and I am so busy with school and SAT's and all that jazz. Anyway, please review and I'll try to update this again sooner then last time.