DISLAIMER: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean :)
Chapter 16- Liberté
The pain that ravaged her body was all encompassing and darkness surrounded her. 'So this is what it is to die?' Paris mused. She couldn't complain, Paris would soon find happiness with her family. Yet, as Paris allowed her mind to ponder such thoughts, there was one thing that was impossible to ignore.
There was once a time when it would not have mattered, for herself or anyone, whether she were alive or not, but now it was clear, Paris had something, or more rightly, someone, to live for. This thought alone was enough to keep her fighting while she passed in and out of shadows. It may have been days, weeks, or years before Paris felt the cool touch of a damp cloth on her forehead.
Blinking open her eyes, Paris was groggy and disoriented. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her side made her think better of it. The pain also came as a quick reminder of the near fatal wound she had received. "Ah, it's good to see your finally awake Miss," a friendly voice said.
Paris turned her head to see a middle aged nurse with a kind face swim into view. The woman moved over to the bed she rested on. "How long have I been asleep?" Paris questioned the nurse uncertainly, still trying to remember the events that had led her up to such a state.
"Two long stressful weeks, Missy," came the friendly reply. "I wasn't too sure you'd make it. You lost here a fair bit o' blood."
Paris nodded, now very much aware of lucky she had been; and how foolish her actions were. She'd put Jack in greater danger and almost lost her own life. Even with these turbulent thoughts, Paris knew it had been worth it. Both she and Jack had survived.
"Everyone is talking about what you did for that pirate," the nurse broke into her thoughts with a small smile.
Paris felt her heart leap. "Is he alright?" she asked, sitting up despite the pain. Fear he had been hung all over again crept over her.
"Last I heard he escaped his cell," the nurse told her sympathetically, inspecting the dressing over the wound. Glancing around, she leant in and added quietly, "But rumour has it Mr Sparrow was let go. No one knows where he has gone."
Taking in a harsh breath and grimacing in pain as the nurse touched a particularly sensitive spot, Paris couldn't help but wonder; had Jack left her? She remembered lying in Jack's arms, totally at the mercy of such notions as fate, chance or luck as she tried to remain conscious. 'I told him I loved him,' Paris thought miserably to herself. Perhaps he didn't feel the way she thought he did. After all, that had been the niggling fear always at the back of her mind.
The pain intensified in her body, and despite what she tried to convince herself, Paris knew it was no longer the injury that had caused the ache, the seemingly emptiness inside of her. What had she been thinking trying to convert Jack from his piratical ways? Paris' mournful thoughts subsided when something hit the window above her bed. The nurse gasped and Paris tried to look behind her, but failed when her wound protested. "What was that?" Paris asked the nurse who was hurrying over to the window.
What, or more correctly, who was there was made clear when Jack fell ungracefully to the floor beside her. The nurse laughed. "We have a door Mr Sparrow. Couldn't you get it open?"
"Too conventional," Jack stated with a wry grin. "And, I may 'ave assumed the window was open," he admitted with a grimace.
The nurse giggled and then left the room to give Jack and Paris time alone. Jack watched her leave before allowing his dark eyes to fall on Paris. Her heart was pounding and she fervently hoped he couldn't hear it. Paris tried to discern some type of emotion in him, but Jack seemed particularly good at hiding them to her constant frustration. Instead, she waited for Jack to break the awkward silence. "Ye gave the crew a bit of a scare back there," he finally said, his gaze never straying from her face.
Paris nodded, studying his own. "And you?" she asked quietly.
He looked thoughtful a moment as he rubbed his chin, then he moved closer, crouched down on the floor beside her and took her small, slender hand in his rough one. Taking Paris by surprise, Jack leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. A warm sensation filled her while the scent of the ocean and rum tingled her senses.
Pulling far enough away to look her in the eye, he muttered, "Hell, darlin', of course ye bloody terrified me."
Paris was so relieved, so consumed by happiness, that she ran a hand through his decorated hair and pushed him back to her for another sensuous kiss. There was something comforting about being back in Jack's arms agai, andas his callused hand ran down her cheek, a cough interrupted them. The nurse had reappeared, a small smile upon her round face. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave for a short time, Mr Sparrow," she told him. "The lady needs her rest. None of these strenuous activities."
Jack feigned confusion and Paris laughed, stopping abruptly at the sudden burning in her chest. Placing a soothing hand over the wound, she conceded it was for the best. After Jack left reluctantly, organizing to meet her on her release from hospital, Paris fell asleep, now content that her dreams had been given an answer in the form of one infamous pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow.
A beautiful day had bloomed when Paris finally exited the hospital a few weeks later, dressed once more in her emerald green dress that had been cleaned and delivered for her. Martinez greeted her with an enormous hug, akin to a bear, outside the hospital building. She winced in his arms when her wound stung for a moment, but disinclined to complain, she returned his grin. Martinez looked about ready to burst with happiness at the sight of her. "Paris, me dear gal, it's a pleasure to see ye again!" he beamed at her.
Extending his arms and taking a step back, he continued, "Let me take a good look at ye. You seem to be well enough."
Paris smiled shyly back at him, feeling overwhelmed by the obvious concern he had had for her. It was something she could never quite get accustomed too. "I'm glad to see you too," Paris told him sincerely. "I've missed your cooking."
Martinez let out a loud, pleased laugh and placing a large hand on her shoulder, led her towards the port and a small boat docked there. The Caribbean sun sparkled off the ocean into Paris' eyes as the rowboat glided through the clear water. The Black Pearl came into view seconds later, the dark sails swaying gently with the welcomed cool breeze.
Although Paris had seen Jack at the hospital, her stomach swam nervously; Their conversation had been limited then. "Martinez," Paris began suddenly, remembering something that had been playing on her mind.
"Aye, dear?"
"How did you know Jack was to be hung? I thought his crew where remaining on The Pearl," she said.
Martinez looked uncomfortable in replying. "I know Jack wouldn't like it if he knew I'd told ye, but…" he hesitated and then went on. "Before the two of ye went ashore, he commanded a couple of men to follow soon after."
Paris opened her eyes in surprise. "Why?" she asked
"He wanted to make sure we were told if ye were gonna be hung again fo' his mistake. Jack didn't say it, but we knew he must've cared fo' ye a great deal to do that."
The nerves Paris had felt earlier disappeared and she smiled at Martinez who chuckled while he moved the boat through the water. "If that's true," she continued pensively, "Where were they when Jack was hung?"
Martinez looked ashamed. "The two men sent ashore had been drinking the night before Jack got arrested. They never knew until the morning of his hanging."
Paris frowned, realizing the drama of a few weeks ago should never have happened. Martinez continued bashfully, "By the time they alerted us, we were too late."
"It's alright," Paris assured him with a slight smile. She was never one to hold grudges, and Paris was just grateful she and Jack had lived through the ordeal.
On reaching The Pearl, their boat was hauled up and Martinez and Paris stepped onto the deck. To her surprise, Will and Elizabeth were also aboard. "We wanted to see you before we left," Elizabeth told Paris, embracing her.
Will returned a warm smile, before saying, "We also wanted to let you know that the Commodore won't be bothering Jack for some time now."
Paris furrowed her brow. "He's just going to let The Pearl leave?"
Both Will and Elizabeth nodded. "After what happened to you, Norrington was feeling ashamed, you could say. He knew Jack escaped, but never raised the alarm," Elizabeth told her.
"Norrington saw Jack with you that day. Perhaps he's realized Jack isn't all that bad now," Will took up the rest of the story. "I think he'll have second thoughts about chasing after him now."
Paris smiled, grateful that the fear the pirate Captain would be hung could be laid to rest, at least for the time being. As her mind wandered to Jack, she scanned the deck for any signs of him, but his usual station at the helm was vacant. Knowing Paris was longing to see Jack, Elizabeth and Will wished her farewell and left on the rowboat she and Martinez had arrived in.
After they had gone, Paris made her way to Jack's cabin. Peering inside, she spotted Jack in the chair at his desk, looking lost in a sea of his own thoughts. Closing the door quietly, Paris slinked up behind him, and although she was positive he now knew she was there, Paris clamped her hands over Jack's eyes, whispering into his ear, "Guess who?"
Muttering a curse under his breath, Jack replied, "I've told ye countless times, Gibbs, whilst ye dripping with femininity, it jus' wouldn't work."
Biting her lip to keep from laughing, Paris uncovered his eyes and slid on to his lap. Jack rearranged his face to look at her in disbelief. "Paris! Darlin'! Gibbs, he jus'.."
"I'll have to have a word with him, shall I?" Paris asked, maintaining a serious expression with difficulty.
Jack nodded. "Aye, that would be a wonderful idea, love. But don't be too harsh on the lad."
Unable to suppress her laughter any longer, Paris wrapped her arms about Jack's neck, while he placed his hands on her waist. "Elizabeth said the Commodore turned a blind eye to your escape," she said.
Jack gazed down thoughtfully before he looked her in the eye, replying, "It was sympathy really."
Paris grinned at him as he gave her one of his most devilish grins. Paris leant down closer to Jack, catching a glimpse of his weather beaten face lighting up with a smirk before the distance was filled with his scent as their lips met. Leaning the tip of his nose against hers a few moments later, Jack asked, "Does that mean you'll be staying, love?"
"Aye, aye, Captain," Paris teased playfully. "But there's just one thing..."
Sliding off of him, Paris tugged on his hand to make him follow her. Picking up her skirts, she led him outside, across the deck, and stopped in front of the large, wooden wheel. Oblivious that the crews eyes had followed her and were now watching with keen interest, Paris told Jack, "You have to teach me how to commandeer your boat."
Jack grimaced, trying to ignore his crew's attention which was now avidly on him. "Firstly, darlin', The Pearl is not a boat, she's a ship. And secondly, the Captain commandeers the ship." Jack made a flurry of hand gestures at himself to emphasise this point. "Savvy?"
Sweeping closer into him and creeping a hand onto his off-white shirt, Paris gazed at him with one of his own mischievous looks. Clearing his throat conspicuously, Jack announced, "There are, of course, exceptions."
Unable to help herself, Paris took her Captain into a passionate kiss, until the playful, teasing hoots and catcalls from the crew reminded her of where she was. Jack swirled around, the objects in his hair jingling as he commanded, "Back to work, ye scavenges dogs!"
To his dismay, they did as they were told, but most with large grins still in place. Paris' hazel eyes danced with silent laughter when Jack looked back into them. A voice calling out to him distracted him from complaining. "Captain!" Moroney called, flying up the stairs to them.
Paris turned, impressed Captain Moroney had accepted his new position on Jack's ship and had acquainted himself quite well with the crew. "I have a lead!"
Jack's eyebrows almost disappeared beneath his red bandana. "Ye 'ave a wha't?" he asked completely bewildered.
"I think I know where we can find Marienna," he told them, a look of longing and nervous excitement evident on his elderly face. "I spoke with some women on land and they say they saw her naught three months back! They tell me she was headin' to France!"
Paris couldn't have been more thrilled for Captain Moroney and was surprised when Jack swung around to her asking, "Ye up for another adventure m'lady?"
Paris put her arms around her Captain's neck. "Of course," she replied with a smile. "As long as it doesn't involve the gallows again."
Jack gazed down at his lady. "I promise I'll make an attempt to avoid them, darlin'."
Then, giving Paris a grin more infamous than himself which allowed his gold teeth to glimmer in the Caribbean sun, their mouthsmoved once more onto the others.
Author's Note: Well, there you have it! That was the final chapter in 'The Problem with Fate.' I hope everyone enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it! A huge thankyou to all those who have reviewed along the way, whether once, twice, three times or more! I appreciated it more than you know! 'Hugs all around!' ;)
The Future Mrs. Jack Sparrow- Hehehe, well, no, no I didn't kill her off ;) I couldn't do that to her, or Jack! Thankyou so much for your reviews all the way through! I truly appreciated it and I hope you enjoyed the story :) >Gives you a big hug>
amanda031- There you go! I updated! ;) Hehehe, thankyou for reviewing! I hope you liked the story! >Gives you a hug>
Lady Turwaithiel- Hehehe, I wasn't questioning, I was suggesting ;)' Thankyou for your...wrong reaction? Hehehe, jokes! Thankyou for all your reviews, thanks for pointing out my mistakes, and I hope you enjoyed the story :) >Gives you a hug>
LegolasLvr71- It's alright, she didn't die:) I wasn't going to do that to them, I had to finish on a good note :) Thanks so much for all your reviews! I hope you liked the ending :) >Gives you a big hug>
Aisuhana- >Passes you a tissue> I apologise for making you cry! Thankyou for reviewing and I hope you liked the last chapter:)
Spikez-babe91- Well here's the next chapter! I didn't kill her off, cause that would upset me too, hehehe :) Thanks for reviewing! Hope you enjoyed the story!
blondi 24x7- Oh! You couldn't sleep! That's not good! Hehehe, well here's the last chapter! I hope you will be able to sleep better now :) Thankyou for reviewing and I'm hoping you liked the fic!