Chapter nine: The house that Jack built

Life formed on the island...I hated it. I felt caged. Like a lion who knows it is going into a bear fight, and there is nothing it can do about it, but simply pace around, wasting time and energy.

Sparrow proved himself to be a pretty good carpenter. Making a small two room shanty up in the highest part of the island. I didn't help. I spent a lot of time in the storage cave, rummaging through my mothers things. I found a large cameo. It was onyx, with a opal scene. It showed a ship being tossed by waves, and a lighthouse not too far.

Every time I felt as if I had her figured out, something else would pop up, like this. I thought, the way everything was going, who knows...she could still be alive. I snorted at the ridiculousness of that thought, and rummaged around in a few more things.

One trunk, thank the lord, was filled with books, parchment, inks and quills, as well as notary things. However it was a shock when I found a piece of parchment that looked to be a torn page out of a diary.

January 23, 1725

Mackensy Olivia Shane has been born. My darling daughter. Gerald has begun preparations to finally set sail. I want my child to grow up happy, secure of her life. Already she looks up at me with black eyes as if saying 'Mother, do not let me down.". I wish I could guarantee that. But we are constantly followed. I am afraid. For the fist time, I am afraid. Not just for myself anymore either. But for my child. My life has little meaning when I look into her face. She is our world, and it would all come crashing down if anything were to happen. That's why I think that a time out on this island would do us good. We have enough supplies to last a few years. Sending our trunks ahead of us seems to be the only way. I only wish we could leave right this moment.

It wasn't until a drop hit the parchment that I realized I was crying.

Jack stood on the beach, checking the horizon. Nothing was going how he planned. In fact, it all fell apart after the kiss in the cave. He damned himself over and over again. He needed to wait for her to come to him.

"Never be too forward. I know its difficult Jack, but just don't." AnaMaria had said to him before leaving. "She feels something for you, I can tell. The look in her eyes when you two are together is amazingly sickening in that lovey way." Jack had snorted with laughter.

Now, he felt mirthless. He had brought her here for a reason, and it just was...arg! He couldn't even start to fathom his feelings for this red-haired wench. She was not exactly beautiful. He didn't think so when first seeing her. But after he got to know more of her, he thought she was absolutely dazzling. But those eyes...those black eyes seemed so out of place, it was scary. They were too hard, and too...hungry. Yes, that was the word...hungry.

"Jack?" He turned around, startled to hear his first name. She always called him 'Sparrow', except the one time she echoed him.

"Yes m'dear?" He asked, plastering a fake smile across his face. She was running to him, clutching a piece of parchment in her hands. He noticed she had been crying.

Jack had only once seen her cry, and that was when she found her father was dead. Every time else, she just shot a hard look, and (usually) said nothing. She stopped in front of him, almost breathless. There was a pause, then she flung her arms around him. She didn't wail, or sob, or even weep, but held fast to him. He gently patted her back, unsure how to react.

After a while of standing on the beach, she finally let go, and wiped her eyes.

"I never really knew my mother, it just hit me. All I know is that her name is Victoria Maureen Shane...I don't even know her maiden name. And...I just feel so alone." Jack traced her jaw bone with his finger. She looked up at him, eyes narrowed, as if just now realizing she had bared her soul.

"Love, your not alone." He said simply. He felt like there should be no need for words. He wished she felt the same.

"Well!" He said, clapping both hands together. "How bout some dinner?" Mack grimaced, and went to slouch off.

"Don't you dare go back into the cave. Tonight, we are eating under the stars,"

And so we did. It was...romantic. But odd at the same time. I just couldn't see Jack the courting type. Hmm...I said Jack? It sounded so natural now, that I did not mind.

"So," I drawled, poking at the fish. I hated fish. "Where did you come from? What about your parents?" Jack looked up at the night sky, then down at the crackling fire that would sometimes throw off a spark or two. He finished chewing his food, then took a small sip of water.

"Well...where to begin?" He scratched his unshaven chin, and sighed. "Never knew me mum. I lived with me dad till I was fifteen and couldn't stand it all. Pompous ass. I think he's in court. Ruddy good it will do him, all ugly German broads, really(no offence to German people!)" He was quite a moment longer. Then, he smiled. "I met Mrs. Whiting when I was just being a bum. Took me in, I helped clean her chop. Crotchety old bag if there ever was one. Wonder if she is still around. Ah well. That's about it." I took a sip of the rum he had offered me in a skin. It went down smoothly, causing my body to warm up, and my mind to open.

"Oh. Im sorry. Where did Mrs. Whiting live?" Jack stretched out on the beach, and put his hands under his head. He smiled his humorless half-smile.

"Sussex." He rubbed his forehead for a moment.

"I think it will rain."

"What? How do you know that? Its clear as dandelions heads out."

"That is why you would make a shotty sailor, Miss. Mack. Cant you smell the rain, even if it isn't there? Can you feel the dampness in the air?" I shrugged and pulled my legs up into my skirt. I felt a slight chill.

"Is that small little shanty thing alright in rain?" I asked after a moment. Jack slowly got to his feet, and offered a hand.

"I should think so. I mean, after all...I built it." I rolled my eyes at his arrogance. He kicked some sand over the fire, and collected our things. We slowly made our way up to the small little place. Bickering/playfighting the whole way.

There was a loud clap of thunder. I didn't jump, or call out. I had seen far worse then a little thunder and lightning.

Jack kept looking at me, as if seeing I was alright. I was feeling irritated, yet peaceful. I really needed to make up my mind with him. I felt as if I would go mad.

"You know...you look particularly beautiful, bathed in moonlight." He said, raising an eyebrow.

"It must be no mean feet, being as there is no moon out at this moment, and there are no windows in here." He nodded wisely. We were leaning against one of the walls, just being bored.

"So, are you going to tell me why you drug me here?" I asked, in the sweetest voice I could muster.

"Ok, now I know you are trying to be conniving when you use that bloody tone of voice, and it wont work." I rolled my eyes, and leaned my head back.

"We have time."

"I suppose we do." I was about to ask him something when he suddenly went: "Have you ever wanted something so badly, that you would do anything to get it?" I blinked, shocked by his words.

"Jack, if all this is about some stupid treasure, why the hell didn't you tell me in the first place?" He waved an impatient hand, like swotting a fly.

"I don't need treasure." There was silence. "I need you." I was going to laugh, for lack of something better to do, when I made out the look on his face. It was hard in the dim light, but then a lightning strike hit, causing the whole of the island to illuminate for a split second.

"Jack.." I said, trying to be reasonable. "I mean, come on. You're a bloody pirate. Im just a low piece of trash with a past I don't know, and no future."

"Bollocks." He said briskly. "The fist time I saw you, I knew there was something different. Maybe it was your hungry eyes, or perhaps your smart ass mouth. But whatever it is, I don't care. Mackensy...I love you."