What Is & What Will Never Be

Chapter 24

Disclaimer: Do not/cannot obtain ownership of POTC...

The cold wind whistled through the air, scattering the winter flower blossoms across the gravel road.

The sun peaked into the sky, letting the world know that it was morning. The streets of the town were empty except for those who had been out the entire night, drinking to the L'an Neuf.

Jade lay in bed—at awaking she had been surprised at finding herself aboard a ship, but soon recalled her night back on the Black Pearl. She stared at the window with its drawn curtains. Only a sliver of light came through, casting a beam of sunlight across her face.

Her head ached. But that was probably because of the rum she had consumed last night along with Jack. But Jack could surely handle it. She actually had not drunk an extensive amount, but just enough to make her feel...odd. She shouldn't have drunk any—her stomach would probably upset her later.

As she lay there, she went over Jack's proposition in her head. She turned onto her back, pulling the sheets over her body as she shivered with cold.

"Jack?"

She glanced at the rumpled sheets on the other side of the bed; the empty space beside her.

"Oh", she sighed. She turned, letting her feet drop to the floor on the side of the bed. She brought her hands to her face and yawned then passed a hand through her hair. As she brought it out, her long curls cascaded across her shoulders and back.

She shivered again, and held the sheet tighter against her body.

"Oh God..."

Belle Berneray bolted out of bed for the third time and rushed to the privy. She leaned over the vanity, one hand clutching her chest, the other clutching her stomach. She gasped, coughing, and clutched the collar of her nightgown tightly. She willed herself not to vomit again. Her stomach was empty. She'd not eaten all yesterday or today.

Shaking, she made her way back to the bedroom and sunk down into a chair.

"God, what the bloody hell is happening to me?" she moaned, covering her face with her hands.

"Belle"

She glanced up. "Oh, James..."

He was dressed in his navy uniform, ready to leave for his duties. With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked towards his wife, stopping a couple of feet away from her.

"I've called a doctor", he said.

"Oh! No..." she began.

"You've been sick like this for days, Belle. We need to know what's wrong with you."

She made an indiscernible sound from the back of her throat, and then looked up at him again. "Are you going to work?"

He nodded briefly. "Yes, I must." He came closer to Belle and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"The doctor will be here within the hour. See you when I get home", he said and walked out of the room, shutting the door almost all the way behind him.

Belle sat there until she heard the front door close. The yellow dog barked downstairs.

Belle slowly rose to her feet, using the arm of the chair for support, and lay back down on the bed.

"Damn", she muttered, ever so gently placing a hand over her stomach. Will this nausea ever go away?

She frowned. A thought had occurred to her about her sickness. She half-hoped that she wasn't right.

Jack passed by the doorway, but stopped as he saw Jade's back turned towards him.

He quietly walked to her.

"Are you cold?"

Jade gasped in surprise at his touch upon her shoulder.

"Jack, where...?"

"Sorry, love; I was jus' out for a bit."

He sat behind her, and gently rubbed her back. "God, ye must be freezing."

He leaned over the other side of the bed, and grabbed a thick coat off a hook, wrapping it about her.

"Ah, merci", she said, hugging the coat to her body.

She turned and kissed him.

Jack looked at her for a few moments, then said, "You alright this morning?"

"Yes, I'm fine", she answered.

"Ye sure?"

"Yes." She stood up, fastening the clasps to the coat. "I was just thinking."

"Ah", Jack murmured. He stroked his mustache. "Ye know, we could leave by the end of the week."

"Where shall we go?" Jade asked.

"Oh, I haven't decided yet", Jack smirked.

Jade smiled. "I can tell you've got something in mind. Something...exciting." Her eyes lit up.

Jack eyed her impassionedly. "As a matter of fact, I've something exciting planned right now..."

Jade shrieked as Jack grabbed her by the waist and tossed her on the bed, cutting off her protests with a kiss. His hands swiftly unfastened the coat, exposing her corset.

"Jack!" she exclaimed indignantly, to which he responded with another kiss.

"Are you really that tempted by me when I look so messyin the morning? Not to mention my aches from all that rum?" she asked, attempting to writhe away from him, but failing.

He stroked her hair back. "I am always attempted by you, lass."

"Moi aussi", she admitted.

He gave her a last kiss before rolling away from her. As he adjusted his shirt and coat, he said,

"Well, I believe now's a bloody well time to leave, what with Will an' Liz happily married nowadays, and with a baby—nothin's threatn'in their marriage, like—"

He suddenly broke off.

"Comme quoi, Jack?" Jade asked, slipping into her gown.

Damn, I almost slipped. "Like Norrington", Jack said hurriedly. "So, they kin enjoy life now, eh? And we can go on livin' life as well."

"As pirates?"

"Aye. An' a fine pirate ye are, Ms. Rochet."

She smiled. "What do I do that's so pirate-like?"

"Well, with yer looks, yer breaking lads' hearts left an' right." He fiddled with his compass. "Yer beauty can't compare to any strumpet in Tortuga."

She rolled her eyes. "Merci beaucoup, Jack."

"You're welcome."

"So", she began again, as she sat down, lacing her boots, "Is the crew joining us?"

"Aye", he answered. "Well, some o' them—Gibbs, Pintel, Ragetti; but we'll meet up the rest jus' off the coast here. So we'll have to bid our tearful farewells to the Turners."

"Of course. They've been so good to us."

"But can you believe, it Will?" Elizabeth exclaimed. She sat next to Will at the dining table as they finished breakfast, which happened to be some of the Christmas pudding she had made.

Elizabeth held Jenevieve in her lap.

"She actually said 'Jack'?"

"Yes." Elizabeth shook her head, smiling.

"Well, he must be over the moon about that. Rubbing it in when he gets a chance", Will replied as Elizabeth handed Jen to him, and he hugged her.

"I wonder where they went off to", Elizabeth mused. She glanced at her husband. "You don't have an idea, do you, William?"

"Why, no", he smiled.

"Well, you...you don't think they left?"

"Left? Well, Elizabeth, I truly wouldn't be surprised, knowing Jack. But, now...he would tell us."

Elizabeth sighed, brushing her fingertips on her napkin. "Alright, good." She rose.

"Well I'm going to go change out of this..." she looked down at her robe and apron.

"So", she placed a kiss on Will's lips, then kissed her daughter. "I'll let you two have some fun. Don't get into trouble."

"We'll behave, dearest", Will responded. He took Jenevieve's small hand and waved.

"Bye, bye", Jenevieve said.

"Did you tell yer mum goodbye? What a good job!"

Jade stood at the bow of the ship, letting the breeze blow through her hair, which she had attempted to make tidy with clips.

"Ready?" Jack waltzed up to her.

"Oui", she answered.

"Sure ye don't want any rum before we go?" he asked, holding up a spare bottle.

"Oh, no", she laughed, covering her eyes. "I don't want to see that stuff again in a while."

"Oh, 'tis a shame", Jack murmured. He took her arm and they disembarked the Pearl.

"See ye soon", he said, tapping the side of it, and then started to walk to the Turner household.

Belle sat on the bed, on hand on the bedpost. She was nearly laughing and crying at the same time.

"Mrs. Norrington, do you still want to go through with this?"

"Well, I...I'll have to speak with my husband, of course."

"Of course", he smiled. He cleared is throat. "Just remember what I said—I advise you to get plenty of rest."

"Oh, I will", Belle answered. "Thank you for time."

"Certainly. Shall I let myself out?"

"Uh, yes. Just down the stairs..."

"Have a good day, Mrs. Norrington, and let me know as soon as you can about your decision."

Belle nodded.

"Oh my God", she breathed. She didn't know how James would react to this news.

Moi aussi: Me too

A/N: I know this is disappointing, but this is the last chapter until probably near the end of January. I'm going back to school, so my workload will be horrid.