By Kitty =^.^=
A/N: Oh wow, chapter 15! I'm so proud. But gasp what's this?!?! I'm losing my reviewers!!!!! I realise that part of the reason may be that chapter 14 got messed up for a while (almost the WHOLE chapter had been erased!!), but I fixed that. Many apuh-lohgies for ze een-con-ween-nience, heehee. So if you're one of those people who left the ICELY audience for a while because of the technical error, please return to us and read it now that the mistake has been fixed. Many thanks to my dear reviewers who have remained faithful.
My dearest Countess Katook: Kate dear!! Thank you so much for all your support in the story. You are quite often the first reviewer. Much love!
Magicgirl810: I'm sorry for the late update last week!! Please forgive us!!! See ya in school.
Madison: Yay!! You were my 100th reviewer!! Thank you much for keeping up with the story, it's much appreciated.
zigzagzoe: Heehee, I'm glad you like the story! And good job finding the Blackadder quote. ^_^ It's good to know I'm not the only one who likes British comedy. Which reminds me... GO ROWAN ATKINSON!!!!!
Faeries Flitter: Clemmyclemclem!! Much love to ya sweets! I thank ye much for reading (even though yer mum finds me work silly and, ahem, naughty... ^_^;)
Jen, Kelly, Liz, Faith, & Beth(a-nemo): Man thanks m'dears, we are glad you like the story, we thank ye for your feedback!
Jessie the Great: OMG!!! Such an honour!!! T'is High Queen Jessie, Ruler of the World by Way of the Iron Fist!!!!! Hey Jes-say-say, thank ye much for reviewing (and not flaming...) Do you people realise that me mate Jessie here NEVER gives nice reviews?? Well, ok there was that one. I am SO HONOURED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tank oo Jessie fo reviewing, I wuv you!!
Now, onto the story!!!
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A few minutes later, Jack awoke to the sounds of things moving around to the side of him outside and the scraping of wood. His eyes flickered open and saw outside the open window on the cabin's balcony that the sun had almost set. He was just about to drift off to sleep when he wondered when Lela would be back. A warm ocean breeze flowed in through the open windows and ruffled the long black hair that was draped over the table. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Lela's face, contentedly calm in sleep. Her cheek was nuzzled against her arm and papers were scattered on the table.
Brushing away a few ebony wisps away from her fair face, Jack leaned back in his chair to sit down again. However, with only a moment's hesitation, he laid his hand against the back of her head and gently pressed his lips to hers. She made a small sigh in her sleep and Jack thought she was going to wake up, but she settled down once again. Jack lay back in his own chair and wondered to himself why he still loved this girl. I've always wondered why it's only been her that I love like this, he thought to himself. He closed his eyes and smiled his trademark smirk. I thank god that I do though. Jack began to fall asleep again, thankful that Lela was there next to him. Gives me a reason to live.
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Of course, eventually, the fair captain had to wake. It was mere minutes before Jack had fallen asleep again, unbeknownst to her, when she felt something touch her hair. Somewhere in the state of consciousness that is right between sleeping and being awake, Lela almost saw Jack smiling at her, not with a playful smirk or an evil grin, but a tender smile of genuine affection. If only it were real. If only he would look at me like that again. And then she could almost feel him kissing her, his salty bittersweet lips on hers. She sighed and snuggled further into her arms on the table. I really do miss that, she thought wistfully.
Finally, Lela woke completely. Her eyes fluttered open and, what a sight to wake to! There was Jack, once more in his chair, blissfully slumbering. Brushing the sleep from her eyes, Lela pushed her chair back by stretching out her legs. She grappled towards the ceiling, spreading her arms out and rousing her stiff sleepy muscles. "Right then," she whispered, "time for work, yay..." Lela took one last longing gaze at Jack and walked out.
Over on the Gremlin Flame was chaos. "C'mon ye bunch-o-scurvy dogs!!" Conleth shouted, then, at a few murderous glares from the women, added, "Not YOU of course, ladies." Once they turned their backs to him, Conleth sighed, worried about all the women on these ships that could probably kill him if he wasn't careful. "Let's pick it up now, boys! The Cap'n's gonna be up and about soon!"
"And we wouldn't want to irritate her," called said-captain who was swinging over the crew's heads, and then landed, "would we?"
"We're all set fer tomorrow, Cap'n!" Conleth reported standing straight as a soldier.
"Excellent, Conleth," Lela replied. "If you would please fetch Mr. Sparrow in my cabin, I will start relaying the plan to the crew."
"Right away Cap'n." Quickly picking up the gangplank, Conleth crossed over to the Siren Fire to rouse Jack and bring him back to the Gremlin Flame. After Conleth left, Lela gathered her crew and, making sure everyone was there, began to tell them her latest scheme.
"As many of you know, Isla de Muerta is one of the most coveted pirate treasure hoards in the Caribbean, possibly the world." Lela dramatically pointed towards the craggy cliffs that loomed over the dark enigmatic caves. "We have been lucky enough to get at it. Inside is enough gold and jewels to ensure that each of us will live comfortably and," she chuckled pleasantly, "rather excessively well-off for the rest of our days."
"But Captain!" cried the petite Caitlin. "Me and the rest of the girls only just got here!"
"Oui, Capitaine!" whimpered the little lovely Frenchie Minou. "Don't want to go!!" she added in heavily accented English, like a small child.
"We've got our whole lives to be rich little housewives!!" called out Brittany.
"That's right!" chimed in Katook, waving her hands about. "I've got plenty of time before I must return to my villa with the Count!"
The blonde Chelsea (A/N: Remember, say *Chel-say-uh*) ran over and threw her arms about the captain's neck, hugging her tightly. "It's too SOON for us to leave, please don't make us go!" she shouted, almost sounding like she was about to cry.
"Girls, girls!!" Lela shouted, "please! Calm down. I don't want any of you to leave!" All the crew, including the men (some of whom had rather disappointed looks), stared back at Lela, confused. "I was merely trying to describe the wealth inside these caverns." She looked to her side and smiled fondly at Chelsea. Tousling the bright yellow locks, she continued, "I should be quite distraught if any of my treasured crew left me too soon. I hope you all stay on the Gremlin Flame and Siren Fire for a long, long time and have many wonderful adventures and plunders with me!" At the last comment the whole crew gave in to laughter for a moment. When the bellows and guffaws had died down, Lela began to explain how they would transport the contents of the caves of Isla de Muerta into the ships...
Back on the Siren Fire, Conleth walked swiftly into the captain's cabin. Upon opening the carved doors, the first mate discovered his captain's detainee was fast asleep in a chair. Rolling his eyes and heaving an irritated sigh, Conleth walked across the creaking floor to jab at Jack Sparrow's shoulder. At first it was a soft nudge, but when no reaction came again and again, it became a bard stab. Finally Jack's hands flew about his face in front of him as he grumbled and cursed to himself and tried to figure out just what the hell was going on. Once his rebellious shaggy braids had been pushed behind his ears, Jack looked to his side, then up, to see...
"I'm sorry, don't believe I've had the pleasure, who the hell are you?" As he spoke, Jack smiled insincerely and brought his hands to prayer position with the index fingers placed up and together.
"Conleth, Mr. Sparrow," the podgy pirate replied, raising one exceptionally bushy eyebrow. "Oi'm Cap'n Lela's first mate."
"Ah, yes, yes, o-course, o-course..." Jack clapped his hands together and rubbed them together vigorously. "Well. First thing's first, Conleth." Jack leaned his head from right to left, a cracking noise filling the otherwise dead silence of the room. He then stretched out his arms and legs, cracking his ankles, fingers, and toes (whose cracking could be heard even inside his boots.) Finally standing up, he started out rather amiably, "Please, call me," his voice grew annoyed, "CAPTAIN Sparrow. And would ye mind tellin' me where the good Captain Lela is at the moment?"
"She's on the Gremlin Flame speaking with the crew," came the quietly irate reply. "Oi'm to be taik'in ye to her now."
"Oh, really," Jack mused aloud, again trying to be a smart-ass. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Conleth spat back sardonically, "it be so." He reached over and grabbed Jack's shirt, yanking him up to stand. "So get a move on."
Jack pulled his hands back in a defensive pose, and protectively assured, "Sorry, Connie, meant nofthing of offence, not-tat-tall."
Conleth groaned at the girlish nickname, but ignored it. Prodding Jack to move, the two men made their way to the other ship. As they boarded the Gremlin Flame, Lela had just finished conveying her plan to her crew.
"So we're all clear on the details then, are we?" asked Lela. One hand was raised. Lela sighed. "No, Ramona, you cannot keep the swords and silverware under your bed with you." The hand slowly went down. "Right then," Lela slapped her hands together, sending a loud 'smack!' echoing around the ship. "I advise all of you to get some good, and might I add, well-deserved rest." Another hand began to rise in the throng of co-ed pirates. "No, Scarlett, you may not sleep in the men's cabin," Lela quickly and derisively said, answering the unspoken question. "Finish whatever work any of ye have, and then fare thee well and have a nice sleep, luvs!" The crew began to disperse and Lela turned around to start walking. Seeing that Conleth had already brought her captive, she boldly smirked with poise. "Ah, Mr. Sparrow, I see Conleth has already retrieved you." The tanned pirate began to look around with a puzzled expression on his face.
"Oh, what, huh, what now?" He raised his hand over his eyes and looked out all around him, and Lela rolled her eyes, almost ready to say the words Jack was about to say along with him. "I thought...I 'eard someone call me." Jack pursed his lips and brought his hand to his chin, contemplatively stroking his beard. "But...no. No. If some had been calling me, I would've 'eard:" Jack looked pointedly at Lela who was grinning abashedly yet amusedly, "CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW." Jack shrugged his shoulders and his face became perplexed again. "But, ye know, no one called me, so it doesn't really mat-tuh does it now?" Even after his big display of annoyance at not using his correct title, Jack still flashed a small smile at the woman standing in front of him.
"All right, all right," Lela laughed, throwing her hand up in defeat, "I give in." She took on the same piercing glare that he had given her and imitated his voice. "CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW," Jack could not help but give a small chuckle at how good she was at impersonating him, "I have a question for you."
"And what would that be, luv?" Jack asked tilting his face slightly and giving her a very different sort of pointed gaze.
"Mind out of the gutter please, Jack, lovey," Lela replied, granting an equally evocative wink to an astonished (yet rather impressed) Jack. "Even though you are prisoner of the dread pirate Lela Bratchkep," she began giving a proud, mocking smile, "you are a pirate captain and I have a great deal of respect for you and therefore wish to treat you somewhat hospitably."
"Which you have done an excellent job of so far," he interrupted with a wily grin on his face.
"Part of this hospitality," Lela continued ignoring Jack's comment "includes a choice in sleeping arrangement." Jack's eyes widened, but didn't want to let on that he was rather nervous about that, so started smiling deviously.
"Ah," he purred and smoothes his moustache. "And, uh, a-hmm, where might I be sleeping?"
"I told you, you have a choice." Lela pointed to the floor. "In the brig wiv yer crew and the Spaniards." She pointed to the male part of her crew. "Wiv my men in their cabins below deck." She pointed reluctantly at the new additions to the crew. "Or wiv me girls in their cabins."
Jack, for once, did not have a snide remark to say. He leaned back, putting his weight on his right foot, and thought. The brig would be cramped, sweaty, smelly, and possibly mouldy if this cell was anything like the ones Jack had been in, and he had been in a lot. Striking option number one from his mental list, Jack glanced at Lela's men.
Sadly, he recognised some, and the one who met his stare smiled evilly and pounded his fist into his other hand a few times. Jack's frightened eyes couldn't look away fast enough. Strike two.
He lastly looked at the women on board. Now, at first, he thought that that sleeping arrangement might be fun, not to mention an amusing way to infuriate his beloved captor. Unfortunately, poor Jack also recognised many of the women in Lela's crew as well. Some of them waved primly at him, while others demurely batted their eyes, and still others sent cold smiles that sent shivers down his spine.
"Uh," Jack weakly chuckled, "do I 'ave any other choices then?" Jack silently prayed that she'd suggest the galley or some remote room in a part of the ship where these people couldn't get to him...
"Well, you could stay in my cabin."
...but that was good too.
"Your cabin, luv?" Jack asked, almost not believing he'd actually heard correctly.
"Yes, I'm sure I can find you a cot or somefthing to sleep on," Lela replied, reflectively placing her index finger on her bottom lip.
"Oh, come now, luv," Jack whimpered, his lips trembling and his eyes looking up at her with big, bubbly cuteness (A/N: AAGH!! The Chibi Eyes!!!!!). "Surely ye wouldn't mind 'aving lit'ul me sleep beside ya."
"I may be many things, Jack, darling," Lela said knowingly, her eyelids lowering along with her voice which had taken on a enticing seductiveness, "but I am neither stupid nor suicidal." Lela tapped Jack on the nose and walked around him to the gangplank that led to her other ship. Jack's mouth dropped open and he turned, running after her.
"My dear girl," he protested shakily crossing the makeshift bridge behind her, "you cannot think that I would do anyfthing to harm you or try to take advantage of you?" Lela gave a good-natured laugh.
"Oh no, Jack, I never gave that a thought. I was simply saying that if you and I slept in the same bed, I would be crushed as soon as you rolled over on top of me in one of your fitful slumberings."
"Oy! Hold on now," Jack called offended. "Are you saying that I'm fat?!"
"Absolutely not Jack!" Lela innocently cried and held her hands towards herself. "I'm insulted that you would even think that of me!" She suddenly looked downwards and playfully poked Jack in the stomach. "Though, now that you mention it, you have put on a few pounds since we was lit'uler, luv." Lela laughed loudly and clutched her sides while Jack followed he into her cabin, sulking and upset and all out of good comebacks.
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A/N: OK, so we're finally moving on from all the cutesy J/L moments.
ERIC: Even though they're cute as hell!! whimper It's so beautiful!!
Yyyyyyyyyeah. Ways of any (translation from kittyspeak: anyways), our favourite lovers--
ERIC: wiggles eyebrows suggestively You and me??
No!! Eric!! Naughty!! waps him on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper Bad Muse, bad!!
ERIC: dances playfully away Eeeeheheheheee...
sigh Moving on, JACK AND LELA and their crews have reached Isla de Muerta. Next week we shall see what happens when Captain Lela Bratchkep loots the sacred pirate cache. But until then... where will Jack decide to sleep (or rather with whom!!)??? MWAAAHAHAHAHAHAA!!
ERIC: melt I just LOVE it when she acts like a mad evil genius!
Remember to review my darlings!!! REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!!!
Drink and be merry and be many-a-fair lad!! (or, ya know, 'lass', for the guys who're reading...)
Fare thee well, safe journeys, and I'll be in Scotland a'fore ye!!
Love,
~*Kitty*~
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