Hello again. Okay, there's something you have to know: I'm kind of writing crap at the mo because Jack and co have ended up in England and I don't want them in England, but they were headed for England anyway, so they have to go there. So bare with me, ok? Also, if anyone has any ideas on how Jack and co can find out about how Will's gonna be hanged, I would like to know, otherwise Will will die.
Jimbo watched his daughter crawl forwards on the deck of The Hornet. She would stop occasionally and examine something, putting it in her mouth, before continuing. He sighed, Maggie's smiling face popping into his mind again. This was not how he had planned it. Maggie was supposed to be safe on land, looking after their child. And now she was dead, and he had to look after a baby on his own.
"Cap'n?" Jimbo looked up. His first mate was standing next to him.
"Yeah?"
"There's a Navy vessel comin' up, Cap'n, we were wondering what t' do." The first mate looked anxiously as Ruby, who was now sucking on a piece of rope by the wheel.
"Do what yeh'd normally do." Jimbo replied walked over to Ruby and picking her up.
"Attack 'em?" The first mate said.
"Yes." Jimbo said, looking coldly into the man's eyes. "D'yeh have a problem with that?"
"No, Cap'n." The first mate walked hurriedly away.
"Good." Jimbo said, scowling at him, "And you're gonna be locked in my cabin, savvy?" He added to Ruby, who sneezed. "Good." Jimbo said and took her below deck.
"Ruby! Ruby!" Jack hollered. He was standing at the wheel, with England approaching quickly.
"What?" Ruby pushed up the hatch and glared at her uncle.
"Put a dress on." Jack instructed.
"No!" Ruby said, looking disgusted. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Ruby! Yeh can't go ashore lookin' like that! D'yeh wanna get us all hanged?" Jack snapped impatiently.
"Wouldn't mind if some of us got hanged." Ruby muttered, and disappeared below deck to change.
"Bloody kids." Jack said cheerfully, and swung the wheel slightly to the left.
Johnny walked towards Jack, wrapping a new bandage around his hand.
"Jack?" He said, coming to a halt in front of him.
"What?" Jack said, looking around him to see where to steer.
"What are we doin' in England?" Johnny finished tying the bandage and looked Jack in the eye.
"We're gonna visit Ruby's aunt." Jack replied.
"Why?" Johnny persisted.
"Just because I feel like it." Was Jack's reply.
"Does Ruby know?" Johnny asked, stepping out of Jack's line of vision as they neared the harbour.
"No." Jack said.
"She'll go mad." Johnny informed him.
"Yeah, I did realise that." Jack snapped back and twisted the wheel slightly, so the ship steered neatly into a gap. "Tie 'er up, Lads!" Jack shouted, and his crew jumped about, carrying out orders.
Anamaria walked up to Jack and laid a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"I took the liberty of telling Ruby why we're here." She said quietly in his ear.
"Oh." Jack said, much taken aback. "Thanks."
"Your welcome." Anamaria replied. "And while we're here I'll pick up a few supplies, and you need to buy Ruby a new dress." She added.
"Buy? Buy?" Jack repeated, looking horrified. "Ana, we're pirates!"
"Thank you for that Jack, I didn't realise." Anamaria replied sarcastically.
"And I'm not buying- or stealing- any dresses." Jack finished, glaring at Anamaria, who rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I'll take her!" She snapped, sounding exasperated, but a smile played on her lips.
"Thank-yeh me dear." Jack said with a grin, and kissed her on the cheek. She slapped him.
"You did deserve that." She said, as Jack opened his mouth. Jack grinned and pushed her aside, walking towards the gangplank, which was being lowered by the crew.
Ruby appeared from below deck, looking very disgruntled and uncomfortable in a pale blue dress, which was a few sizes too small. Her hair had been brushed and pulled into a ponytail, with a hat jammed on top of her head.
"Yeh look gorgeous, darlin'." Jack said, grinning at her.
"Piss off." She snapped. "And don't expect me to go see my aunt." She added, as she elbowed Jack out of the way and made her way down the gangplank.
"It would be so funny if she fell off right now." Jack muttered to Johnny. He rolled his eyes and followed her.
"Right, Ruby, I'm goin' off to find a tavern or sumin' and then to pick up some supplies. After that, we're gonna go visit your aunt." Jack said, swaggering down the gangplank after Johnny.
"I ain't goin'." Ruby said, flatly.
"Yes yeh are," Jack replied. "Johnny, stay with me. I don't want yeh getting' lost or anything."
Johnny frowned.
"I'm sure I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself for a few hours." Johnny snapped.
"Whatever. Will'll kill me if yeh get lost." Jack replied, catching Ruby's arm as she tried to wonder off.
"He's gonna kill yeh anyway." Johnny said, holding up his bandaged hand. Ruby blushed.
"Whatever, Ruby, yeh goin' t' yeh aunt's so don't try an' get out of it, and Ana's gonna take yeh t' get a new dress." Jack said. "And don't spend too much money." He added to Anamaria.
"Meet back here in five hours." Jack shouted to his crew, who nodded and wondered off. "Ana, bring Ruby back here in about two hours, so we can go to her aunts."
Ruby scowled and followed Anamaria.
"And now, Johnny! You an' me are gonna look for a tavern…" Jack swung around and walked drunkenly forwards towards the town. Johnny raised an eyebrow, and followed him.
"So, is the reason we're here just to talk to Ruby's aunt?" He asked, catching up with Jack.
"Yeah." Jack replied, stopping and looking Johnny in the eye. "Look, mate, Sarah never really knew what happened when Jim took Ruby. She knew Maggie got hung but she-"
"Wait, stop!" Johnny said, shaking his head. "Who's Sarah and Maggie?"
"Oh, Ruby's aunt and mother." Jack said, apologetically. "Anyway, Maggie was hung because she went slightly mad and branded Ruby and Jim just never got round to tellin' Sarah."
"So Sarah never knew her sister was hung?" Johnny said as they started walking again.
"Hanged, actually. Yes she did know. She wanted to keep Ruby and make sure she was ok, but Jim took her. He said it was for her own good, but he was grieving too much to really go into details." Jack said, peering into a tavern. "In 'ere." He steered Johnny inside and walked towards the bar.
"So is that why we're here, to tell Sarah, Jimbo's dead and you're sorry on his behalf?" Johnny asked, as Jack ordered two rums.
"No!" Jack said, looking at him and frowning. "We're here just to visit!" He took the rums off the barman and swaggered over to a table, where he handed Johnny the smaller of the two mugs.
Johnny, remembering the last time he had tasted rum, sniffed it suspiciously and took a small sip.
"Why is Ruby so determined not to go?" Johnny asked, as Jack took a large gulp of the rum.
"Because she thinks we're gonna dump 'er." Jack replied, after swallowing. "Jim did it a lot. When things got too dangerous, or he felt like going off on a rampage, he'd dump her at her aunts."
"That's nice." Johnny said sarcastically, taking another sip of the rum, and coughing. "I really don't see what people love about this stuff." He muttered to himself.
Jack grinned and downed the rest of his own rum.
"Just drink it quick. Yeh don't taste it too much then." He said. Johnny scrunched up his face and took a large gulp.
"On second thought's, don't." Jack snatched the mug away from Johnny. "Yeh a lightweight, I don't want yeh drunk when we go t' Ruby's aunt's."
"I am not a lightweight!" Johnny snapped, looking hurt.
"Okay." Jack said, and drank the rest of Johnny's rum.
"Shut up." Johnny replied, as they stood up to leave.
"Yeh know," Jack said thoughtfully as they stepped into the street. "On any other ship the Cap'n could 'ave yeh whipped raw feh that."
"Yes, but its not any other ship, is it?" Johnny replied. "And my father would kill yeh if yeh did."
Jack smiled and pushed Johnny towards a small, dingy shop to their left.
"Ever stolen anything, boy?" He hissed in his ear, with a grin.
"No." Johnny replied.
"Oh good." Jack said.
Okay, seriously! Help me get em out of England! And also- what are they gonna say to Ruby's aunts. Hey! Idea! You guys can help me write the next chapter! Good idea? Write and let me know:D