Once is Never Enough

Chapter 6 Home

"We are all born for love... It is the principle of existence and its only end" Benjamin Disraeli

Elizabeth woke up to the soft rocking of the Pearl as she floated on the sea. She faintly remembered Jack saying something about going to pick up another crew member in a small town called Timlan. Thinking about it now she was sure she had heard of that town before. Maybe she had read it somewhere.

"Miss Elizabeth?"

"Come in Mr. Gibbs."

The pirate came in and gave Elizabeth a handful of clothes. Taking them carefully she looked them over and was pleasently surprised to find that they weren't tattered old pirate clothes but actualy nice dresses, skirts, pajamas, and shirts.

"What are these for?"

"Well we are going to Timlan. Also, the captain thought you might need some more clothes."

Elizabeth nodded and felt the fabric with her fingers. It was smooth, like it was made out of silk. Looking up she suddenly remembered where she had heard Timlan from: it was in a book, called Pirates of the Age. Jack Nathanel Sparrow was born in Timlan. Elizabeth froze, she was going to meet his family.

One thought kept running through her head as she thought about going to Timlan: They're all pirates. Than why the fancy clothes? Surely no one would care what she wore. Obviously Jack did. Shrugging her shoulders slightly Elizabeth was about to try on one of the dresses when the door opened. She let out a small scream and looked at Jack.

"What are you doing! What if I was changing?" Elizabeth scolded then started to get angry when a laugh formed on Jack's face.

"Well then, I would suggest locking the door if you don't want me to see you naked."

"I wouldn't be naked Jack."

The pirate walked over to his desk. "Then what's the problem?"

"It's just, um, nevermind."

Jack didn't seem to be paying any attention to her anyway so she sat back on the bed and started to comb her hair. "Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are we going to Timlan?"

"To pick up another crew member like I said last night."

Elizabeth wasn't going to let him slide. "Why the clothes then? And who is this other crew member? A realative of yours maybe?"

Jack looked up at her then back down at his map. "This is getting way out of control already. My brother Alex knows about the map LeBanon is looking for, he even searched for it once. I need his help."

"Okay, what about the clothes?"

"Believe it or not you and I have very similar backgrounds. I'm sure you want to make a good impression like everyone else."

Elizabeth fingered the clothes again and talked to Jack.

"Why not just leave me on the Pearl?"

"It's too dangerous, besides I'm sure my mother will make me stay longer than expected."

Elizabeth laughed at the thought of Jack being babied by his mother. "When are we going to get there?"

"In a few hours."

"Do you mind either turning around or leaving so I can change into something more appropriate?"

Jack smiled and headed for the door. Before he left he looked over his shoulder. "I don't know why you're so picky about that. I'm sure you have a better body than some I've seen."

The comment made Elizabeth glare at him but the heat rose to her cheeks anyway. Jack smiled at her then left.

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The humidity was almost non-existant when Jack coaxed the Black Pearl into the harbor of Timlan. It had always been too cold for his taste, maybe that's why he didn't visit much. "Okay you dogs listen up." He yelled at his crew. "Go and have yourself a good time but I want five of you on this ship at a time. I don't care how you arrange shifts but make it so. I will be at my house so if anything goes wrong tell Gibbs, he'll know where to find me."

After his little speech and laying down some guidlines he knew wouldn't be followed, Jack went back to his cabin to get Elizabeth.

Opening the door, Jack was half expecting Elizabeth to let out a scream like she did earlier that day. What he saw however almost made him gasp. Almost.

Elizabeth was standing at the large mirror fixing her hair and rearranging the folds of the dress. She was beautiful. The dress she had desided on was a pale, white gown that had a deep neckline and draged on the floor. Her hair was down, losely covering her neck and back. Something in Jack's stomach did a complete one-sixty when she turned around.

"Is this good enough for a first impression?"

Jack didn't say anything and he realised his mouth was slightly open.

"Darling, I've seen you about a hundred times and I must admit, that's the best impression you've had on me." He said and she giggled. Something about Jack standing there looking like a fish out of water made his so adorable.

"Come on luv, we must be going."

Elizabeth nodded and the two walked up to the deck.

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"I don't know about this Jack. What if they don't like me?"

"What's not to like?"

Elizabeth wanted to grab Jack's hand away before he was able to knock on the door. Too late.

"I promise, everything will be alright."

The door opened and a women was standing there. She was older with light blonde hair that was streaked with grey from all the years she spent chasing after her children. Her eyes were the same dark brown eyes as Jack's and she smiled at them.

"Jack! Oh, I missed you so much. When are you going to cut off all this unnecessary hair? Oh, who's this? Your wife?" She asked catching Elizabeth's ring out of the corner of her eye then looking at it with interest.

"I can't believe you went out and got married without telling anyone. Well better for me I guess. How I do want a lot of grandchildren. Casi refuses to have any. What a shame. By the way darling, my name is Amilia Sparrow as I hope you already know." She said and gave Jack a look. "You are a pretty little thing, what's your name sweetheart?"

"Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth Sparrow, what a beautiful name. Come in, come in, you must meet the rest of the family."

Before Jack or Elizabeth could say or do anything Amilia had her by the arm and was draging her into the house.

"You know, mom is right. She is a pretty little thing."

Jack felt an unfamiliar heat in his chest at the lustful voice coming from inside.

"I know, that's part of why I married her." He said and then kicked himself.

Alex came out from the shadows and looked down the hall where his mother had just left with Elizabeth not too long ago.

"Tell me. Where did you find her, does she have a sister?"

"No. And don't even think about it. She's mine." Jack found the unfamiliar heat to be very easy to place, it was jealousy.

"Don't worry about it. So, why are you here? You never just stop by to say hello."

"I need your help."

"Doing what?"

"Finding the map."

Alex knew exactly what his younger brother was talking about and he scratched his head. "I thought you weren't interested in it. Why all of a sudden?"

"Because LeBanon borded my ship a couple of nights ago."

Alex remembered the death of his brother and nephew and looked to the floor. When he looked back at Jack he said, "Let's find it and then kill the son of a bitch."

TBC