Thanks to corinne sparrow for the review! That's the first one in a looong time! Rum to you!
I really need to get back to writing the end of this. I think it's almost over but since I'm writing as I go. I'm still trying to find an end to it.
Disclaimer: The mouse owns everything but Meg and other characters that I have created!
Jack was sitting in the lobby of the 'Reigning Lion', an inn in London, early Christmas morning. Gracie and Shane were upstairs in the bedroom Jack had rented for the holiday weeks. He sat drinking some coffee and staring at the wall. He had heard nothing from anyone about Meg. He was beginning to wonder if she was still alive, or even cared that he might be looking for her. Suddenly, the door burst open and Elijah ran in, red in the face from running in the cold.
"Jack! I had to come and tell ye meself! Meg's been found!" he exclaimed.
Jack looked at him with wide eyes, almost not believing what he was hearing.
"Really!"
Elijah nodded.
"She's just over the ways. Get the kids! We're going to see her!"
"When?"
"In an hour! Hurry, man!"
Jack did not need to be told twice. He jumped up, ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, and burst into the children's room.
"Wake up!" he bellowed. "Get dressed! Gracie help your brother!"
Gracie groaned.
"Why daddy?"
"We've found Meg!"
Gracie's eyes grew as big as saucers.
"Really daddy?"
Jack nodded and smiled rather smugly from the doorway. Shane was sitting up in his bed trying to figure out what had just happened. Gracie jumped from her spot, took Shane by the hands and danced in a little circle.
"Alright, alright, come on! Get dressed!" Jack ordered again. Grace went right to it, getting herself and her brother dressed to go see Meg.
---
Christmas morning arrived in the Warren household and everyone was downstairs. The adults, including Kearney and Meg, were dressed but the children were not. When all the presents were opened and hugs and thank yous were exchanged, Mr. Warren smiled at Meg and spoke.
"Meg, we've all enjoyed you while you've been here…"
Meg smiled but looked around confused.
"You make it sound like I'm leaving."
"Well, Kearney hasn't given you his gift yet…Kearney?"
"One moment…" Kearney disappeared from the room and then returned shortly. Meg still looked around the room confused. When Kearney reappeared he had Meg's coat in his hand.
"Put this on," he ordered. "You'll be needing it…"
Meg stood up and put on the coat. She already had her boots on and never when anywhere without them. Kearney led Meg to the kitchen and opened the back door. He placed his hands over Meg's eyes and walked her out to the middle of the street.
"Say 'thank you' now…" he whispered.
"Thank you?" Meg replied and Kearney took his hands away. Meg looked down the street and stared for a moment. With Shane in one arm, and Gracie holding the other, Jack was standing at the end of the street. Meg stared at him for a moment, blinking back tears, making sure it was real.
"You better go see him before he leaves…" Kearney urged. Meg began running to Jack.
"Uh-oh…incoming…Gracie, take your brother…" Jack said and handed Shane to her just as Meg slammed into him, knocking her Captain over.
"Yep, you're real alright," Meg murmured as she hugged Jack in the snow.
"Let me up, love…" Jack said and Meg, at once, got up. Jack stood up and looked down at Meg, still kneeling in the snow. He broke into a smile and pulled her up and hugged her tightly before handing her cloak to her.
"I thought I lost it in town!" Meg exclaimed.
"No, it was on the ship…"
"Aunt Meg!" Gracie cried. Meg looked down at Gracie and Shane.
"Hello! And who's this?" she asked.
"'Ane!" said the little boy. Jack smiled again.
"Shane…" he translated.
Meg looked around.
"Where's Louise?"
No matter how much she didn't like Louise, Meg knew that it would be polite to ask. Jack looked down for a moment.
"She, uh, died…after giving birth to Shane…"
"Oh, Jack…I'm…sorry…"
"No you're not…"
"What?"
"I'm the one who should be sorry…I forgot about her and never told you about her…much less told you that you were being handed over…" Jack took a deep breath. "I gave Elijah back the money…when we started the search…"
"Search?"
"Aye, I've been looking for you, love!"
Meg stared at him.
"R-really?"
Jack nodded.
"And if it wasn't for Kearney I wouldn't have found you."
Meg looked back at Kearney who was still standing by the Warrens' house.
"Actually, if we could, I would like to meet the boy…" Jack suggested. Meg turned back to him and nodded. Gracie grasped her hand and Jack picked up Shane and the four of them went back to the house.
"Jack, this is Kearney Warren," Meg introduced them. "Kearney, this is Captain Jack Sparrow and Gracie and Shane." Kearney nodded.
"Would you like to come into the house?" Kearney asked rather formally with a smirk. Meg smirked back and nodded. Kearney led them back into the kitchen.
"Did you find him?" Mr. Warren asked as he walked into the room. "Ah, I see you have," he answered his own question smiling.
"Mr. Warren, Captain Jack Sparrow, and his children, Gracie and Shane."
"Well, you are deciding to emphasize on the captain's today aren't you?" Jack teased. Meg shrugged and smiled.
"Did you find 'im?" Mrs. Warren said entering the room. Mr. Warren called the other children into the room.
"But, Papa! I'm not dressed!" Marian's voice called. Meg left Jack's side for that moment.
"Come on, Marian, Jack's not gonna care," she said and brought Marian into the room. Meg smiled when she noticed Marian blush bright red at the sight of the pirate. Meg also noticed that Gracie and Lilly were playing in the corner. Mr. Warren introduce the rest of the children much the same as he did when Meg first came. The two boys, James and Peter started asking many questions at once.
"Hold up, sons." Mr. Warren started, "How about we bring the Captain into the family room and then we ask questions."
Mrs. Warren smiled.
"I'll start the turkey, Marian, go an' get dressed and 'elp me."
Marian blushed furiously again and ran up the stairs.
Soon everyone was seated in the family room. Jack pulled Meg down next to him on the sofa. Gracie crawled into her lap. Shane sat on Jack's knee.
"Now, Meg, would you like to tell your true story now that you know we're friendly with pirates?" Mr. Warren asked. Meg looked at the floor guiltily and nodded. So with the help of Jack and Gracie, Meg told the tale once more. At the end, Marian was standing in to room with tears in her eyes.
"Tha' was so beautiful!" she exclaimed pathetically. Meg smiled. Shane climbed off of Jack's lap and took Gracie's place in Meg's. Grace had gone off to play with Lilly again.
"Ma!" he said. Meg smirked and shook her head. Jack smiled.
"No, Meg…Shane, say 'Meg'?" he tried to correct him.
"Ma!"
Megsmiled, stood up and carried Shane with her to the kitchen to see if she could be of any assistance to Mrs. Warren. Jack stared after her.
"You really love her then?" Kearney said suddenly. Jack turned to him.
"I do," he replied with a sparkle in his eye. Kearney nodded almost sadly.
---
"No, darlin'," said Mrs. Warren to Meg. "Go sit with your pirate!"
"Ma!" said Shane again. Meg sighed but smiled. Mrs. Warren too smiled.
"Now, go!" she said again and shooed Meg from the kitchen.
"Alright! I'm a'goin'!" Meg said and walked back into the family room. She looked around the room. Gracie and Lilly were playing with dolls in one corner, while Mr. Warren, Kearney and Marian were listening intently to one of Jack's many stories.
"Marian!" called Mrs. Warren.
Meg rolled her eyes.
"You better go. She won't let me help."
Marian grimaced and got up from her spot.
"Don' worry, I'll tell you what happened later," Jack said as he flashed his gold teeth again. Marian nodded and went to go help with Christmas supper.
"Daddy? Are Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Will coming? What about Uncle Elijah?" Gracie asked. Jack shrugged.
"If it's alright with Mr. and Mrs. Warren." He replied looking at Mark. Mr. Warren nodded.
"The more the merrier!" he cried. "Kearney can fetch them if you'd like."
Meg nodded.
"Could you, Kearney?" she pleaded. Kearney nodded and gave Meg a small smile.
"Aye, where are they?"
"At the 'Reigning Lion'," said Jack. Kearney nodded and left the room. Mr. Warren smiled at Meg and Jack.
"I'll leave you two for a moment and see if my wife needs any help…" and he got up and left the room too. Meg noticed that Shane had fallen asleep on her shoulder. She looked at Jack who was staring back at her, almost lovingly, Meg thought. She slowly walked back over to the sofa and sat down, carefully so she wouldn't wake Shane.
"So, how's the Pirate King?" she whispered to Jack and smiled. Jack nodded.
"I'm fine…" he slipped his arm around Meg and pulled her and Shane a little closer. "I missed you…"
Meg nodded, not wanting anything to get too sappy but she truly missed Jack too. She leaned her head on his shoulder, rubbing Shane's back as he slept. Jack stuck a hand in his coat pocket and took out a ring. It had a wide band, silver and looked braided. He played with it for a moment and then slipped it on Meg's finger when she wasn't looking. Meg looked down, feeling the ring on her finger. She then looked back at Jack.
"Merry Christmas…" he whispered and kissed her forehead. "…Queen."
"Ma…" Shane said in his sleep. Meg blinked and stared at Jack for a moment. Then she smiled again and looked down at the ring.
Sappy? Yea, I know...You know what to do! TALLY HO!