CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: MARRYING IN BOTH WORLDS
The island was alight with music and dancing again. The festivities lasted well into the night. Finally, men began dropping from exhaustion or more likely a spot too much of rum. Jack and Sunni soon found themselves alone in their secluded hammock on a quiet beach with a fire lighting the sands and a bright moon illuminating the skies. Sunni was lying back on Jack's chest with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. His chin rested on her head as her soft blond hair blew around in the gentle breeze.
Gently, Sunni turned over and lied on her stomach atop of Jack. She smiled. "Guess what?"
Jack looked up at her, shining in the moonlight. "What?"
A mischievous grin lit her face. "I'm having your baby." She loved to remind him.
A slow grin spread across Jack's face. "I know, luv." He leaned up and kissed her gently. Then, Sunni returned to her original position.
"It's past sunset," Jack said.
"Hm?"
"It's past sunset," he repeated. "I told ye that there was more at sunset."
"But there was. All th' gifts," Sunni said.
"But not my gift, luv."
"Jack, ye already gave me plenty of gifts. Ye gave me today. That's more than enough. An' ye gave me a child-"
"An' I'm givin' ye this," Jack whispered, holding a ring before Sunni's eyes.
"Jack," she gasped at the sparkling diamond.
"Remember a long time ago, in the bar, the day after we got married? You said we didn't even have rings. And then, when we married on th' ship, we used pirates' symbols. I thought it only proper to use symbols from both our worlds." On Jack's left ring finger was a gold band identical to Sunni's, only without the sparkling diamond.
"It's beautiful," Sunni whispered.
Jack took her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger. "Bone of my bone," he whispered into her ear.
"Flesh of my flesh," Sunni answered, remembering the night they were married under pirate's law on the deck of the Pearl.
Warm lips awoke Sunni from a deep slumber as she rested in the comfort of her second story bedroom in the governor's mansion. Her eyes flew open to be greeted with rich, dark brown orbs hovering over her.
"Jack," she threw her arms around his neck, letting out a breath she felt she had been holding since the day he left.
"'Ello, luv," he greeted her with another kiss. He had not seen is beautiful bride since the week they were married. It was nearly a month ago.
"So, you didn't change your mind, then?" Sunni pulled back to look into her husband's eyes.
"Sunni," Jack toyed with her hair, "Yer my wife, an' yer stayin' that way, savvy?"
"I was worried you'd scare an' run off."
"Luv, please. I'm Cap'n Jack Sparrow."
A slow grin spread across Sunni's face. "An' I'm Mrs. Jack Sparrow," she answered, imitating his cocky tone.
Jack's grin grew wider. "That's right, luv. Now c'mon. There's something we need to do."
Sunni threw back her covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Jack was searching along her dresser.
"Ye fixin' on stealin' me jewelry?" she teased him, as she pulled on her robe.
"Do ye still have that necklace I sent ye?"
Sunni pulled it out of her nightgown, still around her neck. On the end of the necklace was a simple gold band. Jack nodded and then took her hand and led her to the balcony.
"Jack, I only have my nightgown on-" Sunni protested.
"All th' easier to undress you."
"Jack!"
"C'mon, woman!" He vaulted over the balcony and landed on the lawn with a muffled, "Oomph," after falling a few floors.
Sunni took the less punishing route down and climbed the vine trellis to the ground. Two rough, sea-worn hands grasped her hips and lifted her down the last few feet.
"Where are we goin'?" Sunni whispered as they skulked along in the shadows.
"To my Pearl."
"Really?" Sunni gasped, immediately knowing what they were going to do. She had read enough books about pirates to know the ceremony.
Jack looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, then grabbed her hand and they took off in a run. Sunni's white nightgown billowed out around her legs and shimmered in the moonlight. She grasped the gold bond on a chain that was around her neck as she ran barefoot on the cobblestone.
They came to a stop when they reached a secluded dock Sunni had never seen before. She glanced around in wonder. They were in a cavern inlet that in all of her exploring, she had never discovered. There was no gangplank leading onto the magnificent Pearl, just a rope dangling down from its massive hull.
Before Jack could even offer his assistance, Sunni leapt up and grabbed the rope and began hauling herself up.
"Yer stealin' my heart, luv," Jack whispered to her, watching in amazement as she climbed before him.
Once on the deck of the spectacular ship, Sunni turned about in admiration. It was her first time aboard the Black Pearl. "She's beautiful, Jack," she whispered.
"Aye," he smiled, proudly. ""She is." He took her by the hand and let her onto the moonlit helm. The night was quiet and bright with stars. "The crew's in town. We're alone."
Sunni nodded, suddenly nervous. "We gonna do this, then?"
Jack took a deep breath. "If we're gonna be married, we're gonna do it right."
Sunni nodded. "All right, then," she removed the necklace and ring and placed it in Jack's hand. He gave her his matching one. "You're th' Cap'n. We're on yer ship. Marry us."
"Caitlyn Marie Swann," Jack began, his voice empty of his usual cockiness. "On my honor as a pirate, I pledge myself to you. You are above my rum, my plunder, an' even my ship. I will lay down my life for you. I'll die for your honor. I choose you as my wife." He placed the necklace over her head and then kissed the ring.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Sunni said, her voice surprisingly steady and full of conviction. "On my honor as a lady under the crown, I pledge myself to you. You are above my title, my wealth, and even my family. I will lay down my life for you. I will die for your honor. I choose you as my husband." She placed the necklace over his head and kissed the ring.
Jack removed the dagger from his belt. He pierced his index finger until a drop of blood appeared. Then, he grasped Sunni's hand and did the same to her finger. They pressed their fingers together.
"Bone of my bone," Jack recited.
"Flesh of my flesh," Sunni answered.
"I am yours forever."
"And I, yours."
"I love you Sunni."
"I love you, Jack."
Jack pulled Sunni's hand to his lips and kissed her ring. "Til death do us part, luv."
"An' after," Sunni whispered.
Jack held her tightly and soon, they both drifted asleep in the hammock.
