Disclaimer: I wish I could be there… at the filming of the sequels…
Will and Elizabeth pause in their dance as Jack and Squirrel come close.
"Captain Sparrow!" Elizabeth says with forced cheerfulness. "What a wonderful surprise to see you here."
"Didja miss me?" He grins, one arm still around Squirrel's shoulders. "So you two are finally married, are you, Mister and Missus Turner?" Elizabeth beams for real this time.
Squirrel smiles shyly. "I wasn't sure about when I should give you the wedding gifts we got for you… Could we give them to you now?"
Will shrugs. "I don't see why not."
Squirrel fumbles with a cloth-wrapped package hidden in the voluminous layers of her dress. Jack pulls a velvet bag from his belt.
"Congratulations on your big day." Jack says, tossing the bag at Will. Squirrel hands the cloth package to Elizabeth. Will and Elizabeth stare at their gifts, then at their friends. Jack grins. "I told you, Will. I told you I'd get you presents that a pirate would deserve."
"So do you like it?" Squirrel asks softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It took me a while to decide, but I hope you like it."
Will tips the contents of the velvet bag onto his hand. Faceted gemstones wink back cheekily in thousands of colours - ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, diamond and more. Elizabeth holds the necklace of cloud-white pearls up, staring in awe at the giant centre pearl. It reflects the light from its deep black smooth surface.
"Kind of an inside story," Squirrel explains. "Just one pearl is black, the middle one. The Black Pearl." She shrugs, pinking slightly. "Just my bad attempt at a joke, I guess."
"Thankyou, Squirrel." Elizabeth breathes. "It's beautiful!"
"Really?" Squirrel pinks even more. "Oh. Y-you're w-welcome."
Will carefully pours the shining gemstones back into the bag. "So I'm a pirate now, am I?"
Jack grins, flashing gold teeth. "An honorary one, mate. Just like Miss Swann here." He holds up a hand, holding back a complaint from the woman. "Oh, my mistake. Mrs Turner." Jack grins, then he and Will shake hands. "Best o' luck, the two of you. Congratulations and stuff."
"Thankyou, Jack." Elizabeth says. "I must say, I've had my doubts about you, but I'm rather pleased that you came. Thankyou for everything." She turns to smile at Squirrel. "You've been a good friend, Miss Grey, even if we haven't known each other for very long."
Squirrel bobs her head, smiling and blushing.
"Well, this has been a lovely chat and all," Jack says with an array of hand gestures, "But we have to go and enjoy the party now. You should be doing the same." With a pair of smiles, Jack and Squirrel sidle away, melting back into the crowd.
"What say we go somewhere a little more private, ey?" Jack whispers. Squirrel turns bright red, but nods. Jack leads her through the crowd, out of the white tent, out onto the fort walls. Even from up here, the musicians' music can still be heard.
"One more dance?" Jack bows with his trademark cocky smile. Squirrel curtsies.
"I'm inclined to acquiesce to your request, Captain Sparrow." She says with a smile.
If that pirate, that man is here, that must mean that he did lie about Jack. Jack wouldn't treat me like that. He wouldn't. Jack loves me. He told me…
"I have something to ask you," Jack says, clearing his throat. "Well, actually, it's more like something to give to you."
Squirrel smiles up at Jack. "I'm listening, Captain."
"Ah…" Suddenly, Jack seems to have forgotten what to say. "Ah, never mind, luv. I'll ask you once we're back on the Pearl."
"Oh. Alright then." She looks sideways. Her eyes widen, and she gasps. "Jack, there's something I need to tell you. Last time I was in Port Royal, I saw this pirate… That pirate! And he…"
"Aye," Jack says, glowering. "I see him too. Act like you don't see 'im, act like nothing's wrong, ok? And we'll get out of here once there's an opportune moment."
Jack and Squirrel continue their dance, slow and graceful. Norrington watches silently.
"Great Scott!" A voice says, and Norrington turns slowly. One of the guests comes towards him, eyes pinned on the pirate and the woman dancing together. "Commodore, isn't that man a pirate?"
"Yes." Norrington says wearily. "Captain Jack Sparrow." He frowns at the guest. "Why do you ask?"
The man's face shifts from surprised to angry. "Jack Sparrow? Saints alive, he's not planning to kidnap that woman as well, is he?"
Norrington looks quickly back at the dancing pair and watches them more closely. Yes, Rose Grey does seem nervous. And she keeps glancing towards him with large frightened eyes. A silent plea for help? And then Jack Sparrow… He's glaring now… pulling her closer, talking to her… So he is threatening her!
"Careful, luv." Jack whispers to Squirrel. "That pirate's still watching us."
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no…"
Norrington turns to the guest. "Thankyou for alerting me, Mister…?"
"Smith." The man says, not taking his furious eyes from the dancing couple for a moment. "And think nothing of it. I'll be damned if that… pirate!" Smith spits the word, "Gets away with anything!"
Norrington thinks back to Elizabeth's near-kidnapping. "As will I, Mister Smith." He strides over the pirate and the woman, waving a handful of redcoats with him.
"Captain Sparrow?" Norrington says, bringing both dancers to a halt, "You're under arrest." The handful of guards raise their weapons, aiming the sharp points of the bayonets at Jack.
Smith, standing behind Norrington, bows dramatically, taking off his hat as he does so. With a wave, the man disappears. Squirrel breathes something halfway between a curse and a prayer. Jack swears less subtly.
"To hell with you, Norrington." Jack growls. "I came for the party, not for the hanging."
Norrington smiles severely. "I'm sure. Miss Grey?" He turns his attention towards Squirrel. "Step out of the way, if you would be so kind."
Squirrel feels the cold muzzle of Jack's pistol against her temple, and his arm around her waist. She feels her heart start thundering away. Two types of panic. How I've missed you.
"I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request, Commodore." Jack says with a grin. "Rose here is staying with me."
"Don't be a fool, Captain." Norrington says, calmly. "Come quietly and you won't be harmed."
"Bugger that." Jack says cheerfully. "I think I'll get out of here, and she won't be harmed. Savvy, Commodore?"
Norrington and Jack glare silently for a moment, then Norrington nods at the redcoats around him. They all lower their bayonets.
"Well," Jack says, stepping back and pulling Squirrel with him. "I'm glad we have an accord."
"Captain Sparrow, release Rose at once!"
Jack tilts his head at Norrington. "That's funny, Commodore. I don't remember ever agreeing to that!" Squirrel gives a yelp as she is lifted into the air and flung over Jack's shoulders like a sack of well-dressed potatoes. Someone down in the marquee screams.
"It's that pirate!" Flora screeches, "He's kidnapping Rose!" The women start twittering in alarm. The guards come as close as they dare, weapons ready. Norrington scowls.
"Can you scream, Miss Grey?" Jack hisses.
Squirrel, whose loudest cry of outrage had been pained yelps or brief screeches, decides it's worth a shot. Jack grins as her scream echoes across the bay, trying not to show that his own ears are ringing.
"Looks like I'll be leaving now." Jack says, walking backwards, waving his pistol around vaguely. "Lovely chatting to you, Commodore. Goo'bye now!"
A shot rings out. Norrington and the guards pull back. Jack turns and jumps away, running across the stone walls of the fort as fast as he can. Smith swears, and hurries in the opposite direction, reloading his pistol as he goes.
"Should I scream again?" Squirrel asks Jack.
"Whatever floats your boat." Jack says, casting his eyes about, looking for an escape. "Ship. Sorry. Ship."
"Just say when."
Another platoon of guards rounds the corner. "When!"
Squirrel takes a deep breath and screams her lungs out.
"Okay, okay, that's enough." Jack tucks his pistol back in his belt and pulls out his sword. "Hang on to something." He grins and raises his sword. "Me's good."
Squirrel, tossed over Jack's shoulder, sees Norrington and his guards come from behind.
"Hold your fire!" The Commodore orders. "We can't let Rose be hurt."
"Here we go!" Jack charges through the guards, sword in front of him. Squirrel screams every now and then, not just because Jack says 'when', but because the guard's bayonets come very close to her face as Jack charges through the platoon. Ok, the 'good' panic's gone.
Jack barrels through the streets of Port Royal, Squirrel over his shoulder. The guards don't dare come near him.
"Alright," Jack casts his eyes about, "Which way's fastest to the docks?"
Squirrel lifts her head. "Left."
"Your left or my left?"
A shot rings out. Squirrel catches sight of the pirate on the roof. He swears, and quickly aims again.
"Doesn't matter! Just run!"
"You can't run forever, Sparrow!" The pirate shouts down as Jack sprints away. "I'll catch you one day!"
"What is that all about?" Jack pants, ducking into an alleyway, then into an alcove. He pauses to catch his breath.
Squirrel swallows. "He and his friends want revenge for what you did to them."
Jack slides Squirrel gently off his shoulder. "You saw him last time you were here, you said?"
Squirrel nods and looks down.
"Is that why you came back crying?"
Squirrel nods again.
Jack sighs. "And you believe them?"
Squirrel bites her lip. "I…" She pauses, then tries again. "I don't know."
"What did they say, exactly?"
Squirrel tries not to panic, and fails. "It… it d-d-doesn't m-matter."
"True enough." Jack nods, looking out of the alcove. "But I'll find out soon, if this character's going to be keeping his promise."
Squirrel smoothes some invisible lint from her dress.
Moments pass. Jack and Squirrel remain hidden in the shadows, listening, waiting for the chance to run. But the footsteps of the soldiers never seem to end. Searching for us…
"So, since I think we're going to be here a while…" Jack leans against a wall and flashes a gold-toothed grin. "Should we pay each other compliments on how stunning we both look, or will it just be me complimenting you?"
Squirrel blushes.