CHAPTER TWO: IN THE BEGINNING
It was two in the morning. Sunni just fell asleep no more than an hour ago. It had been a long night, trying to get Maddy to fall asleep. She had been out on the deck, walking up and down with her daughter wrapped in a blanket as she bore the cold in a nightgown. Now, she was back in her warm bed, with her husband's strong arms around her, and she was asleep.
Until a piercing shrill cry broke the silence.
Sunni moaned, but refused to open her eyes. Instead, she gently elbowed Jack. Jack grunted and mumbled, "Th' baby's hungry."
"No, she ain't, I just fed her," Sunni answered, eyes still closed. "She wants you."
"Luv-" Jack tried to protest.
"Jack, please," Sunni cried, making the puppy dog face for Jack, while her eyes were still closed. "I need sleep, please, sweetie."
Jack sighed and pushed himself up off the bed. His daughter was lying on her back in the crib, fists curled in balls, wailing for all she was worth. Leaning down, over the crib, he picked her up and walked outside the room, rocking her.
Once in the cool, night air, Maddy immediately quieted down. Jack sighed, and shook his head. "Is this all ye wanted, luv? Just to see th' ocean?" He smiled. "Then ye're definitely my little girl, ain't ye?"
The next day, Jack was not up at sunrise to take over the helm, which was very unusual, unless he had been drinking. Sunni was also no where to be found. Anamaria and Gibbs ducked their heads in their quarters, only to see them both asleep, nearly dead to the world. Maddy was gurgling happily in her crib. It had been no more than a week since the crew of the Black Pearl had left Port Royal with their captain escaping the noose once again.
"They're exhausted," Ana commented.
"Maybe we should do somethin' fer them," Gibbs suggested.
"Like give 'em a weekend off?" Ana asked with a smile.
"How we gonna do that?" Gibbs asked. "Jack is completely paranoid if is his daughter isn't within his sight, and Sunni's attached to her all th' time."
An evil grin appeared on Ana's face and she motioned for Gibbs to follow. Together, along with other members of the crew, they took Maddy and her crib from the captain's quarters. A few moments later, Jack and Sunni were awaken by the sound of pounding.
Jack rolled over and moaned. "What in th' bloody 'ell is that?" he demanded, throwing a forearm over his eyes to shield from the sunlight.
Sunni pushed herself up and looked around, her eyes squinted. "Someone's poundin' on our door," she muttered.
"Bleedin, no-good, sonofa-" Jack muttered, throwing his covers back and marching toward the door. He gripped the doorknob, turned it and threw all of his weight into it, but the thing didn't move. He knit his eyebrows and pushed again. Again, nothing.
"What in God's name," Sunni asked, getting up to try the door herself. Nothing happened.
Jack pounded on the wooden surface with his fist. "What th' hell is goin' on out there?"
"Oh, nothin' of any great consequence, Cap'n," Gibbs answered, pulling a nail out of his pocket and continued to pound the boards across the door. "We're just makin' sure ye can't get out, that's all."
Jack frantically pounded. "Yer organizin' a mutiny?"
The sound of Anamaria's laughter reverberated through the door. "No, no, nothin' like that, Cap'n, nothin' of th' sort. We jest figured you an' th' missus could use a little alone time."
"Alone time? What are you talking about?" Sunni demanded.
"Well," Gibbs answered, "Ye an' Jack are like th' walkin' dead, what with takin' care of Maddy an' all. An' I can tell by Jack's recent surly temperament that he hasn't received any- ahem- hot, sweet, lovin' in a long time-"
"Mr. Gibbs!" Sunni screeched.
"So," he continued on, "We took Maddy and locked ye in here for th' weekend."
"Maddy!" Jack and Sunni cried at the same time, and turned to where her crib was supposed to be. The spot was vacant.
"Now, now," Anamaria placated them, "No need ta worry about little Madelyn Marie. We'll take good care of her. You two just need some time to rest, relax, and," she chuckled, "do other things."
"What are we ta eat?" Jack demanded.
"Look at your desk, Cap'n. We provided ye an' Ms. Sunni ample provisions."
The two turned on their heals to examine the desktop, which was indeed full of food. They had enough food to feast for the next two days.
"But what if ye have trouble with Maddy?" Sunni asked through the door.
"There's going to be no trouble at all. We'll take good care of th' little Sparrow, savvy?" Ana shouted back.
"If even a hair on her head is harmed in any way-" Jack threatened.
"Aw, Jack, ye know Maddy's like a niece to me. I wouldn't let a thing happen to her. Now just relax an' enjoy yourself, savvy?" Gibbs called, walking away from the cabin.
Sunni and Jack pounded on the door for a few more minutes, but their protests were ignored. Sunni plopped down on the bed with a huff. "I can't believe we were outsmarted on our own ship," she crossed her arms.
"Outsmarted my ass," Jack muttered. "Havin' yer door nailed shut does not count as being outsmarted."
Sunni sighed. "Well, ye want some breakfast?"
"Sure," Jack shrugged. "I'll look for a way to get us out of here."
While Sunni was preparing a breakfast of fruits and breads, Jack searched the room for loose boards, looked in the washroom for a secret door, and then tried Maddy's room, but found no way out. He worked back into the bedroom to re-canvas the area, but he found himself becoming distracted.
Jack's eye wandered from the grain of the wood to Sunni's bottom as she bent over to pull out two plates from the bottom shelf of their cabinet. He blinked and studied her slim body as she stretched upwards for the cups on the top shelf that she could barely reach. The fabric of her white nightgown grasped her body deliciously. To Jack's pleasure, he also noticed that the fabric was becoming so worn that it was practically see-through.
Her long blond locks hung in natural waves that bounced around as she gathered their breakfast. Jack was mesmerized. He just could not stop looking at her. He swallowed audibly when she turned, revealing her straining breasts spilling over the nightgown just a little. He noticed that since her pregnancy, her breasts were the only thing that did not return to normal size.
"Jack?" Sunni was saying. "Jack?"
He snapped out of his stare to find his eyes met with her sea green orbs. "What? Sorry."
"You were staring," she pointed out.
"Sorry, I'm just hungry," he said.
Sunni nodded and then turned back to the table to set out the food. Jack crept up behind her and scooped her up in his arms and deposited her on the bed with a thud.
Sunni laughed, "I thought you said you were hungry."
"For you," he growled, nibbling on her neck.
"That's a terrible line," she chuckled.
Jack moaned, "Do you know how long it's been, Sunni?"
Sunni trailed her hands up his back and then down his chest. "We've been so busy and tired with the baby," she said, teasingly running her hands toward his trousers.
"I've just had a good night's sleep," he told her, molding her breast with his hand. "I'm not tired anymore."
He attacked her with the fervor of a man imprisoned for years. His lips pressed against hers, striking his tongue possessively in her mouth, and licking up her taste. Sunni immediately responded, tugging off his shirt, and running her hands appreciatively over his bare chest. She ran her tongue over his newest tattoo, the one for Maddy. A low growl escaped from his chest and he crawled closer to his wife. Sunni scooted back farther on the bed, pulling her nightgown over her head as she went.
"Okay, Captain," she whispered, now naked beneath him. "Show me what ye got."
A mischievous smile played on Jack's lips as he leaned down and took his wife.
Anamaria smiled as she and Gibbs walked by the captain's door. Through the wood, she could already hear moans and bed springs. "Sounds like they're takin' our advice," she said to Gibbs.
Gibbs stopped to listen. Soon, a few more crewmembers surrounded the door. They knew of Jack's foul mood as of late, and knew the reason, as well. They knew the current events would do a lot to reconcile his mood.
"Let's set sail for Nefari," he ordered the men. They had been heading in that direction since leaving Port Royal.
Jack had had a house built for his family for vacations, holidays and other times they weren't sailing. Sunni had insisted on something small and simple, but Jack was never one to be understated. Though neither Jack nor Sunni had seen it yet, the house on the secluded side of the island of Nefari was three stories high and had a cellar full of secret hideaways for swag. It was furnished simply, but was large enough to hold a number of the crew when they decided to stay with the captain and his family. The backyard would soon have a swing set built by the crew. Jack planned on keeping a couple of employees to keep the house up while they were gone.
Mr. Gibbs smiled while cradling his niece at the helm. They were only two days away from the island, giving the Captain and his wife plenty of time to catch up on . . . sleep.