What Is & What Will Never Be
Chapter 23
Disclaimer: I do not & cannot obtain ownership of POTC 1, 2, or 3...
The sound of their padding footsteps resounded as they rushed along down the road, into the setting sun.
"Jack!" Jade exclaimed. "Mon dieu, où est nous qui marche?"
"Ne vous inquiétez pas", Jack answered as he turned to look at her, and caught her hand again, then slowed so that he walked in step with her.
She looked sideways at him, her big green eyes sparkling with curiosity as the sun hit them, but Jack did not utter a word.
They passed the marketplace, snow crunching under their boots.
"Oh, look!" Jade whispered, pointing out the front of a shop. "Le crèche—the manger."
In the front of many Noël-ornamented shops, nativity scenes had been set up.
Music flowed throughout the town, and Jade picked up snatches of the conversations of people dining in open cafés.
-------------------"Excusez-moi, madame..."
"Oui. Quelle c'est? ...Pardon? Personne? ...Oh! Je suis fâché avec
vous! (rires) Mais, vous voilà! ----------------------------------------
------------"Toujours?"
"À tout jamais."-----------------
She sighed and looked back at Jack. She really looked at him. Such a pirate—with his long, trinket-weaved hair, his tattoos, his exquisite jewelry...
Did she really know him? She occasionally asked herself the question. But if she did not, how could she have fallen so deeply in love with him? Yet, there were still so many things he was keeping from her. She desired to know what and why.
In her silent thoughts, she had noticed not where they were walking, and was surprised when Jack stopped, right at the docks. The sun had now completely set.
"Here we are", Jack broke the silence.
The Black Pearl gently floated atop the icy water, its grand sails billowing in the breeze.
She smiled as Jack led her up to the ship.
"Is this why we came so quickly? Does this have to do with your unexpected visitor?" Jade asked as Jack ascended onto the deck, then took Jade's hand and helped her up.
"Oh no, love." He laughed. "Bloody false alarm, that was." He suddenly spun her around and caught her by the waist in time to the music that was heard faintly from the bazaar.
"Tonight..." he pulled her close, starting to dance with her. "It is just you..."
He spun her again. "...And I."
Her heart fluttered madly as she stood inches away from him, looking into his ritzy eyes.
"I didn't know you were such a magnifique dancer, Captain Sparrow", she said.
"I do have many talents, Mademoiselle Rochet."
"Really?"
He kissed her.
She smiled, brushing away a curl that had fallen loose from her chignon.
"You must tell me about all of them, no excuses."
"Agreed." He returned the smile. "Only, I think it would be more...understandable to you if I..."
Her breath caught in her throat as he bowed her, then spun stylishly back up again.
"If you..." Jade breathed.
"If I showed you instead", he finished, as he slowly stopped the dance.
"Oh", Jade gently answered.
Their eyes were locked for several moments before Jack pulled her to him for another kiss—staying in an embrace until the music finally died down.
Jack smiled and placed a hand on Jade's back as he led her down the stairs into the galley.
Jade felt calm as she walked into the ship—a feeling of warm familiarity.
"Oh, Jack!" she gasped as she entered.
Candles were lighted upon the crimson tablecloth-covered table, giving the room a radiant glow.
He came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I thought I'd do some redecorating."
"It's so...romantic."
She expressed pleasure as Jack massaged her thin shoulder blades.
"It feel so...nice to be here again, after such a while", Jade remarked.
"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about, love."
He turned to face her. "How about we leave here, eh?"
"Leave? Well, how do you mean?"
"We return to the seafarin' life, of course!"
He paced around the table.
"How can one be a pirate when one is not out at sea, exploring every isle we come upon, taking chances...letting our souls float atop the waves..."
He paused.
"Would you mind that?"
Jade was surprised that Jack suddenly desired to depart, but the way he talked about it...the thrill in his voice...she remembered the excitement and the freedom of it all when she had first been out to sea with the Black Pearl crew.
"Oh, Jack, it sounds..."
"It just seems to me the right time. Jade, you needn't make the decision now."
"Jack, how could I say no?" she answered, moving towards him.
Jack looked at her, as if he were about to say something, but did not, and instead embraced her.
"You know I want to spend my life with you?" he murmured as he kissed her.
They moved inch by inch out of the galley, finding their way through the dark until Jade felt her back press against something hard. She soon realized it was a door, as her hand caught on the latch and she stumbled back into a spacious, phantasmagorical room.
"Why, this is your..."
"Our room", Jack finished. He placed a light kiss upon her lips, before going to the window and drawing the curtains slightly. As his body was illuminated by the outside light, Jade again noticed the mark on his right arm.
She had noticed it when he had first returned, about a week and a half ago. It was a red scratch then, and since, it had turned into a scar. Jade had thought to think not of it, but now it had bothered her. She knew something had happened in Tortuga. Jack was just refusing to tell her anything.
"Jack", she said slowly, and brought her hand to touch the scarred arm. In addition to his recent scar, there was another rather large scar. It was faded, but when Jack had first acquired it, it must have been a gruesome sight. Jack had told her it was from a sword fight. And the bullet wound on his chest—from years ago when he had first become Captain of the Black Pearl. He had laughingly told Jade about how Miss Elizabeth had not believed the stories about him when they were stranded on the beach.
"What is it?" he asked, seeing the concerned look on her face.
She brushed her hand against his arm. "What happened?"
He clasped her hand. "I told you, love, it's nothing to worry about."
Jack had pushed aside the occurrences of Tortuga for so long now, it was easy to do. He barely remembered what really did happen there. However, it only took a bit of thought, and everything would come back to him. He cared not to dwell on such a trifling matter (that is what he decided it should be).
"Jack", she said forcefully, fighting with her emotions. "You're not telling me things. How can I know you if—"
"Jade, listen to me", Jack interjected. "I...am not hiding things from you...I only want to protect you."
"Protéger moi?" she exclaimed, wresting away from him. "Jack, please! You're so..."
She sunk down onto the bed, feeling overwrought, and lowered her tear-filled eyes.
"Jade." Jack kneeled next to her.
"You're always so solid, and ready to protect me, while I'm..." she broke off.
"Well, that's why I'm here, innit?"
She drew in a shaky breath.
"Look." He looked into her eyes.
Alright. I won't tell her the whole truth. She needs to hear something.
"When I was in Tortuga, I was fiddlin' with my pistol an' it slipped, an' that's how I got the scratch."
Well, that's partly true...
"Oh", Jade breathed.
"Alright?"
God, I feel so bloody guilty fer lyin' to her. But I can't tell the truth...that would be a disaster.
A tear rolled down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't of..."
"No, shhh", Jack replied, brushing the tears away.
She leaned against him, inhaling his scent, and she felt comforted.
She sat back and kissed him. He kissed her back more passionately as she wrapped her arms around his neck, easing down on the bed.
"You...ok?" Jack breathed into her loosened hair.
She nodded. "I want to spend my life with you too. I need you, Jack."
He kissed her again, filling her with dizzying ardor.
To the New Year...
Were both of their broken thoughts.
Mon dieu, où est nous qui marche: My dear, where are we going
Ne vous inquiétez pas: Don't worry
"Excusez-moi, madame..."
"Oui. Quelle c'est? ...Pardon? Personne? ...Oh! Je suis fâché avec
vous! (rires) Mais, vous voilà!" : "Excuse me, madame..."
"Yes. Who is it? Pardon? Who?...Oh! I am angry at you! (laughing) But, here you are!"
"Toujours?"
"À tout jamais" : "Always?"
"For ever & ever."