A few minutes later, Jim and the kids were waiting down in the front hall when Sara came down dressed in her normal clothes again.
"Feel better?" asked Jim giving his wife a kiss.
"Much! The dress was beautiful and everything, but it was a little creepy to wear a dead person's dress!" Sara laughed hugging her son.
"We just faced a household full of ghosts and you think just wearing a dress was creepy?" asked Jim in disbelief. Sara shook her head and then looked up to see the Turners dressed once again in their 17th century wedding attire.
"Oh Elizabeth! Is that your wedding dress?" asked Megan. Elizabeth smiled,
"Yes it is!"
"It's gorgeous!" said Sara as she and Megan began talking with Elizabeth about clothes. Jim and his son exchanged bored looks and said,
"Girls!" Will shook his head amused and then looked up when he heard Jack say,
"Everybody ready to cast off?" The Evers were taken aback by Jack's pirate garb from his blue wool coat and gray blue knickers and yellowed poet shirt to his scabbard and red and white sash that tied around his waist. Looking him up and down from his brown leather tricorne to his folded over boots, Jim said to Jack,
"Wow! You really are a pirate, huh?"
"Just don't tell him he's the best pirate in the Caribbean or his ego will get terribly inflated!" joked Elizabeth in a dry tone. As everyone chuckled, Michael exclaimed,
"I want to be a pirate when I grow up!" Jim chuckled and told him patting his cheek,
"Don't even think about it!" Jack's amused expression turned serious when he asked,
"So where's the fair Miss St. Claire?"
"She's in the library!" said Megan. Jack put his hands together in a prayer of thanks to her as he turned and walked into the library. As he pushed aside the curtain, he stopped seeing Stacey still in the lavender gown looking out the broken conservatory window over the car. She looked like an angel in the moonlight. Murray barked and walked up to Jack happily wagging his tail. Jack picked up the small dog and rubbed his ears as Stacey looked over her shoulder at him for a second and then turned back to the view outside,
"Look!" Jack did look and he saw the graveyard was being replaced with a vast rose garden. Stacey continued, "Every time a ghost leaves, its grave becomes a rosebush! Ain't it pretty?" Looking at her and not the new garden, Jack said softly,
"Beautiful!" Stacey looked at him and took in his pirate garb like the Evers did earlier.
"That look really suits ya!" Looking directly at that cleavage he loved so much, Jack said,
"As does that dress, Luv!" She laughed,
"Well, I figured I never met the former owner so it wasn't weird!" Jack chuckled softly a moment, before digging into his pocket and pulling out carefully folded bills of money and placed it in her palm.
"A grand total of three hundred dollars and..." He pulled out the business card and placed it in her other hand, "One business card guarantee to fame and fortune!" Looking at the business card, Stacey said,
"Funny, after all this...this don't seem so important anymore..." Jack tilted her chin up and said,
"You listen to me Stacey St. Claire. You're going to go on with your life and do what you love. All I pray is...is that you find your happiness...and remember me from time to time, Savvy?" Stacey was stunned silent at his words. When had he said them before? Looking at her lips Jack added, "And something else..." He began to lean his head towards her watching as her eyes shut in anticipation. Just then, Will entered the room and asked,
"Jack?" Jack backed away just as Stacey groaned,
"Oh wait!" Not noticing Stacey's outburst, Elizabeth came in followed by the Evers and said,
"Come on Jack, the moon is almost on the horizon!" Jack looked to Stacey and said sadly,
"I best be getting along." Stacey nodded as Jack handed her Murray and rubbed his ears,
"Yeah, you want to get back. Don't want to change history or nothin'!"
"Yeah...goodbye Stacey!" said Jack. Stacey nodded and said her goodbyes to Will and Elizabeth as she crossed the room to join the Evers family.
"Evers!...Ta!" He shook Jim's and Michael's hand and then stepped aside to let Will and Elizabeth say one final goodbye.
"Wait Jack! They shouldn't be in the room, they might get pulled in with us!" exclaimed Will.
"Hmm...good point!" said Jack thinking it over. Jim looked to the desk and said,
"Wait a second!" he walked over to the desk and pulled the head back on the small stone bust. The secret passage opened and Jim stopped his family and Stacey saying, "Wait a second here!" He pulled the large chair over to the side of the entrance and then beckoned them inside. He stepped in, pulling the chair behind him and using it to block the door from closing all the way. "Ha! Okay, go ahead!" he told them. Jack arched an eyebrow but pulled his half of the mirror out as Elizabeth pulled hers out and handed it to Jack. He placed them together and the two halves sealed shut with a green glow. They all read the incantation,
"Recite the mirror's inscription if that be thy choice. Defy time and place to find what the soul must seek, but return home again before the next full moon descends from its peak!" The mirror floated out of Jack's hands and it began to grow again a strong wind picking up again. Instantly, they were pulled forward into the green mirror that rippled and then shrunk back down to normal size floating gently to the floor.
"Wow!" exclaimed Jim. Stacey sighed sadly,
"Goodbye Captain Jack Sparrow!"
She and the Evers left the library after Jim struggled for ten minutes to get to door back open. He took the kids up to bed with a promise they'd leave in Stacey's jeep in the morning. Sara and Stacey were now in the kitchen. Sara was looking around for some tea, but she pulled a few knives out of the cabinet door and looked strangely at it, wondering what went on in here. Jim entered and took the boiling water off the stove top, the teapot's whistle dying down. His jacket was off now as he told Sara,
"Took forever to get them to bed."
"Where they still scared?" asked Sara handing him some teacups.
"Nah, your daughter was too busy talking on her cell phone...FYI we have reception again...and your son was too wired and talking about how he's going to be a pirate!" Sara smacked his arm and hissed,
"Jim!"
"What?" asked Jim confused. He followed Sara's nod over to Stacey who was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the business card she held before her face with her chin resting in her hand, still dressed in that lavender gown only now her wild curls were spilling down her back again. He mouthed 'Oh!' as Sara placed the teacups on the table saying,
"Stacey are you okay?" Stacey shook her attention away from the card and said,
"Hmm? Oh! Oh yeah I'm fine! Just wonderin' when I should call Mr. Brockton, that's all!" Pulling some teabags out of a glass jar he found, Jim said,
"Why don't you call him now?"
"Jim it's the middle of the night!" said Sara as she poured the hot water in the teacups.
"It's three o'clock in the morning! Besides these record producer types probably pull all nighters anyway! You should go ahead and call him!" said Jim
"Well..." said Stacey placing a teabag in her cup and dipping it a few times. Sara reached over and grabbed her hands,
"Stacey...you miss Jack don't you?" Stacey smiled,
"Well yeah...I only knew him such a short time...but I felt so close to him! He's a good friend to have!"
"Are you sure there wasn't anything else between you?" asked Sara. Stacey closed her eyes, seeing Jack's face smiling at her.
"I know there was. But there's nothing I can do about it. He had to go back. Jim...can I use your cell phone. I'm gonna call Mr. Brockton." she said. Jim pulled out his cell phone and handed it to her. She stood and leaned against the wall nearby punching the numbers in. She waited a few more rings and was about to hang up before someone answered,
"Hello, Tony Brockton's office, this is Tony!"
"Mr. Brockton? You don't know me but I'm Stacey St. Claire. I've sent you a few demos and I was wondering if it's possible I could come audition for you in person?" asked Stacey.
"Miss St. Claire! Thank God! I've heard you're demos and I was in Alabama a few says ago to hear you play!" he said.
"You did?" she asked.
"Yeah...I must admit I got myself drunk and I left forgetting to talk to you. By the time I sobered up you were gone without a forwarding address! I've had my staff working non stop to try and find you! Thank God I came back from a party and decided to stop by my office!" he told her.
"So you like my sound?" she asked.
"I love it! Where are you?" he asked.
"New Orleans." she told him smiling a bit at the Evers.
"Great, I'm going to buy you a plane ticket and fly you up here. As far as I'm concerned you are our next sensation!" he exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Absolutely, so what so you say?" he asked.
"Stacey..." Stacey looked over and saw Madame Leota roll into the room. Jim jumped out of his chair,
"Hey! Why didn't you go with everybody else?"
"Eh, I'm a rebel! Stacey...before you agree to anything...listen to your heart. What is it telling you?" asked Leota. Stacey looked unseeing at her as Mr. Brockton asked on the other end,
"Miss St. Claire? Miss St. Claire? Hello? Are you there?"
In the year 1675, Governor Weatherby Swann entered the library and walked over to his desk. He shifted a silver half mirror out of the way so he could pick up a worn china doll with golden brown hair. He had bought it for Elizabeth when she was born. He smiled thinking of how she told him while putting it in the box that her favorite doll should go make another child happy. However, that did not stop Governor Swann from taking the doll out and placing it on one of his book cases. He couldn't believe his little baby was married and off somewhere probably enjoying an early wedding night. Ah youth! He was just about to walk out and say goodnight to his lingering guests, when a green vortex opened up just on the open balcony and deposited Will, Elizabeth and...
"Captain Sparrow! Elizabeth, what's going on? What's the meaning of this?" Governor Swann demanded of his daughter as Will helped her to stand and Jack got up on his knees, grabbing his lower back as a loud crack was heard. Elizabeth rushed forward happily,
"Father! We're back!"
"Back? Back from where?" asked Governor Swann as Elizabeth hugged his neck. Will turned from his bickering wife and father-in-law to see Jack leaning out on the balcony railing looking over the setting sun. He join Jack and asked putting a hand to his shoulder,
"You okay?" Jack shook his head and sighed in a depressed tone,
"I'll live!"
"Do you want to admit you care for Stacey now?" asked Will.
"Why, ain't like there's nothing I can ruddy do about it is there? It wouldn't have been fair to stay with her. She has her own dreams! At least I can see her in mine!" shrugged Jack trying to hide his pain. But Will saw his usual spark was gone. Will said,
"I'm never going to figure you out Jack Sparrow!"
"Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow!" said Jack jokingly. Then Jack told him, "I'll be okay, Will. Just a little lonely that's all!" Will smiled and nodded,
"I better go help Elizabeth explain things!" Jack stood up straight and followed him back inside saying,
"And I better make myself scarce!" But no sooner had he said that, a crack of thunder and lightning came from behind them and a huge wind picked up.
"What's happening? " asked Swann.
"Elizabeth you didn't read the incantation again did you!" yelled Jack.
"Of course not!" yelled Elizabeth. Another green vortex opened on the balcony and in came running in and barking...
"Murray?" asked the Turners and Jack. As the storm died down, Swann asked as Jack picked Murray up,
"What's a Murray?"
"Wait...if you're here...then..." started Jack before looking over at the window. There stood Stacey still in that lavender gown and now leaning against the doorframe and a stuffed messenger bag was slung over her shoulder. She smirked and said practically in a purr,
"Nice view ain't it?" Handing Murray off to Swann, Jack stepped forward on the balcony to look down in disbelief at Stacey.
"Told you they get together!" Will whispered to Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled and whispered back,
"That's the last time I bet a back rub!"
"And I plan to collect tonight!" implied Will grabbing her bottom and giving it a slight squeeze. Elizabeth laughed in her throat and told him,
"You're despicable!"
"Pirate!" Will told her.
"Elizabeth! Will! Who is that girl? Where'd she come from? What's a Murray!" asked Swann as Murray barked in response to his name. Elizabeth took her father by the arm and led him out with Will following saying,
"Come on Father! It's a rather long story!"
"But, but, but, but!" protested Swann wondering about the pirate and the strange woman. Once they were gone, Jack finally spoke and said,
"Stacey...Luv what are you doing here?" Stacey shrugged,
"Well I got to thinkin'. Being a famous singer is great an' all, but I think I'd prefer a simple life...without a lot of fuss and frills... . A life where I could go where I could go and do what I could do and not worry about what society thought of me...A life of freedom, with every new horizon!" she said taking the messenger bag off her shoulder. Smiling at her words, Jack said,
"I know exactly what you mean Luv!"
"Sides, who needs limos and jets and fabulous clothes and all that attention!" said Stacey taking Jack's tricorne off and trying it on her head. As she shifted it back on her head, Jack nodded,
"Not me for one!"
"Righ'! Well, I guess I don't need this anymore!" she said pulling the business card out of her cleavage satisfied Jack licked his lips in desire. But just as she was about to throw it over the edge, Jack grabbed her wrist, and took the card from her. Seeing a plan in his eye, Stacey just smiled as Jack said looking at the card,
"Milady? Who do you think you are to presume that you can come back to the past, take my hat and throw away the only life you ever knew, for a rouge pirate captain who'd give his very life for you and ravage your naked body senseless every night and maybe twice during the day on Sundays?" Figuring out that he had just told her he loved her, Stacey stepped forward with her hands on her hips and looked up at him and said defiantly,
"A woman who not only will love ya till the day she dies and let ya ravage her naked body senseless every nigh' and maybe three times on Sundays...but a woman wondering whatca gonna do about it?" Tossing the business card over the balcony, Jack pulled her to him and kissed her with all the pent up passion he had been holding in since he met the woman. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands getting tangled in that mess of brown seaweed he called his hair returning the kiss for all she was worth as the red sun set behind them.
An image of Jack and Stacey could be seen in the green crystal ball until it faded away to Madame Leota who chanted in rhyme,
"Angels in heaven together at last, the tale is well ended for those who have pasted. Love endures all, no reason no rhyme. It lasts forever and forever all time!" From ahead of Leota in the back of the station wagon, Megan whined,
"Mom, Leota won't shut up!"
"Are we there yet?" asked Michael from his seat as his family drove along the bridge from New Orleans over the Mississippi River.
"I'm getting pretty hungry! Can we get some pizza?" asked Megan. Jim asked his wife who was driving to the lake,
" Yeah. How long before we get there, Sara?"
"Twenty minutes tops!" she smiled. Remember their recent adventure, Jim said,
"Nothing takes twenty minutes!" Then he heard through the open window,
"Do...Do...Do...Do Do Doo!"
"Hey guys, keep it down!" yelled Jim back to the four singing busts who were tied to the top of the luggage. They sang in reply to the tune of "The Saint's Go Marchin' In',
"We'll keep it down, (We'll keep it down!) We'll keep it down! Oh yes we'll try to keep it down! We're driving down the highway, yeah! And we're trying...to...keep...it...down...!"
The End