Hey you guys sorry about the wait but December was extremely hectic for me, I got engaged! Yea for me! So I've been dealing with that plus I had serious writer's block with this chapter so I had to delete most of it and start over again which seemed to work. So once again sorry, thank you for the reviews and enjoy reading….I hope to get the next chapter up soon
Justine
For the next few days Jack watched as Ruby won over his crew and charmed them into the palm of her hand. She had eased up with anger and hostality towards him and she was friendlier to him but not to the extent she had been previously. Jack now stood at the wheel watched Ruby as she stood with Gibbs a few feet away admiring his sword. Jack grinned as he saw how in awe his wife was of Gibbs' sword, Jack nodded over to one of the crewman who was doing some idle work to take over the wheel.
Slowly Jack wandered over to Gibbs and Ruby. He had almost forgotten how beautiful she was when she smiled, since they had married she hadn't done much smiling. Ruby and Gibbs didn't notice as Jack approached them.
"I've been wieldin' one o' these since I was a wee ol' lad, only decent thing me father e'er taught me,"nodded Gibbs.
"May I try it?"asked Ruby refering to the sword.
"Love, may be bit ta heavy fer ya, blade isn't as lightweight as it looks,"said Jack. Ruby looked over at Jack and sighed heavily at his advice.
"May I?"asked Ruby holding her hand out for it to Gibbs.
"Cap'n right, tis a heavy piece,"said Gibbs.
"Well the captain's wife does not care if he is right, now may I?"asked Ruby starting to get frustrated. Gibbs looked over at Jack for approval, Jack shrugged and nodded as he prepared to grin in triumph. Gibbs held the handle out to Ruby who immediately took it and held it in front of her with ease. Smiling Ruby looked up at Jack.
"Heavy you say?"asked Ruby smuggly. Jack just rolled his eyes.
"More ta a sword than just holdin' it love,"said Jack.
"I suppose,"said Ruby simply,"care to have some fun?" Ruby pointed the tip of the sword at Jack who snickered as Ruby's question.
"Told ya love, I won't be hurtin' ya,"said Jack laughing at Ruby as if she had told him a joke.
"Too bad,"shrugged Ruby swinging the sword through the air with precision and experience. Jack stopped laughing and looked at Ruby with a raised eyebrow along with Gibbs.
"Come on Jack, we never do anything as husband and wife,"taunted Ruby.
"Ya sure love?"asked Jack.
"Of course, do not worry I will be soft on you if you are worried,"said Ruby. Their conversation was drawing the attention of the some of the crew members who were becoming highly amused at Ruby's taunting. Jack was growing agitated from being embrassed in front of his men by Ruby and he quickly drew his sword to Ruby. This got the attention of the whole crew on deck as Ruby carefully stepped back with a smug smile on her face.
"Are ya still sure love?"asked Jack.
"As always,"said Ruby as she brought her blade down on Jack's. Slowly Jack started testing his wife's sword abilities quickly learning she was not the frail high class chit she appeared to be, even the crew was amazed at a woman of Ruby's standing to have such skills.
Quickly the fight escalated as Ruby grabbed her skirt in her free hand as she matched Jack blow for blow. The crew was silent as they watched the married pair duel, Ruby ducked as Jack's sword swung by, as she rose back up she dealt him back a heavy blow that knocked Jack back a couple of steps.
"Seems the pirate is comin' out in ya love,"said Jack as he blocked one of Ruby's swing. Ruby responded by swinging as Jack as hard as she could and knocking Jack's sword clear out of his hand. Grining widely she stepped forward and lightly pressed the tip of the sword to Jack's neck.
"Seems Mr. Gibbs and I have something in common, swinging a sword is the only decent thing our father's ever taught us,"said Ruby.
"And quite well they did,"said Jack stepping back from the blade only to have Ruby place it slightly to the side so he could step back without cutting himself.
"You look to be in quite a position Jack,"said Ruby smiling,"need any help?"
"Ruby,"hissed Jack as the blade dug lightly into his skin.
"Hold this as a reminder to keep up your end of our deal, next time I may not be so generous,"said Ruby removing her sword from Jack. Quietly she handed the sword back to Gibbs before walking away, the crew softly started to snicker and whisper as they had just witness their captain out beat by his wife. Jack picked up his sword and looked over at his crew watching him.
"Back ta werk wit' ya,"hollered Jack,"or I might not be so generous." Quickly the crew went back to their tasks still dicussing the episode they had just watched.
"Makes sense, her father would teach her, fer protection,"said Gibbs as he stood next to Jack,"and she is yer wife, ya wouldn't want ta hurt her." Jack ignored him as he walked off following the way Ruby had gone.
Jack found Ruby in his cabin, she was sitting at his desk flipping through a book of maps aimlessly. He watched her closely as he grabbed a bottle of rum from his stash and uncorked it. She had come to one map, stopping and looking at it intensly. Wordlessly Jack strolled over to the desk and looked down at the map she was staring at, it was one of India. Jack's eyes rolled over the map that was all but engraved into his mind.
"Rememberin' home love,"said Jack. Ruby sighed and sat back in the chair. Jack inspected the map some more, a set of islands caught his attention. He would assume they were unchartered islands, but something was bugging him about them. Jack ran his finger over the paper where the islands where, he had never been to them. He glanced over at Ruby how had her hands resting on her lap, the ring caught his eyes. Slowly he reached down and picked up her hand with the ring on it and looked at the band's engraving.
"They're the islands love, aren't they?" Ruby inhaled deeply and nodded that Jack was right. Jack let go of her hand which quickly went back to her lap.
"Yer quite a fighter love,"said Jack turning and leaning back on the desk facing her. Ruby glanced up at him casually.
"How long do you predict it will be until we reach the island?"asked Ruby.
"A bit more love,"said Jack.
"I want to go home,"said Ruby quietly.
"All in good time love,"said Jack taking a swig from his bottle of rum. Ruby rolled her eyes as she pushed back the chair and stood up.
"All in time from finding the bloody treasure is more like it,"snapped Ruby walking away from Jack. Jack sighed and set the rum down on the desk.
"Are ya still on about that?"
"You would best well believe it,"shot Ruby turning quickly to face him,"You are pushing me to the point I am ready to curse my own father for bestowing this blasted ring on me." Jack ran his hands over his face in frustration, he felt they had already gotten over the fact he was going to find that treasure and that they had a deal.
"Are ya ever gonna forgive me fer this love?"huffed Jack.
"Yes, the day you loose something so incredible precious to you that you understand what this feels like. When that day happens I will forgive you,"said Ruby softly. Ruby left the cabin before he could respond, silently she walked across the deck well the crew went about their work all but ignoring her presence. Looking up at the wheel she seen Anamarie standing with her hands planted firmly on the spokes and her eyes attached to the waters ahead. Inhaling deeply Ruby walked up to the wheel where Anamarie was and stood next to her.
"Can you tell me how far we are from India?"asked Ruby softly, she wasn't sure Anamarie would answer her, the two had never really spoken and Ruby had gotten the distinct feeling that the other female had seen her as nothing more than a nuance and more trouble than she was worth.
"Giver 'er take a month,"muttered Anamarie never taking her eyes off the water. Ruby nodded as she bit her lip, atleast now she had a time line to live on and she knew she wouldn't be stuck on the ship forever.
"Thank you,"said Ruby softly before turning and walking towards the side of the ship.
"Are ya really the jewel?" Ruby turned to see Anamarie now staring at her.
"Unfortnatuely,"said Ruby sighing deeply.
"So yer not taken us on some red herrin' 'ere yer the real deal?"asked Anamarie with caution in her voice.
"If I was I might be revealing in the joy of duping that so called husband of mine,"snorted Ruby walking back over to Anamarie.
"I suppose any woman be findin' some joy in foolin' Jack,"snickered Anamarie,"many o' em' be satisfied with the hell ya've brought 'im."
"If he does not stick to the deal we have then he will have a lot more to worry about then my hell, he will be dealing with Lucifer's if I have a say," said Ruby confidently. Anamarie laughed as she steadied the wheel and turned to the side to lean on it and face Ruby.
"Ya really must be a Hellstorm,"said Anamarie.
"I know, the name is more than fitting,"said Ruby.
"Ney, ya speak like yer father,"said Anamarie softly,"So confident ya didna have doubt ya'll do it."
"My father," said Ruby questioningly.
"Aye, ney ta make ya think less o' 'im but he was a frequent visitor o' the 'ore house me mum worked at,"said Anamarie,"Many o' times as a lass I witness 'im handin' out promises such as yers, ne'er a threat always a promise." Ruby smiled slightly as she looked away, as much as her father tried to hide it she knew from a very young age he was fond of the woman who would offer him sinful services.
"Be sad ta see ya leave," said Anamarie,"as much as a pain in the arse ya can be with yer wailin' and chaos, it's amusin' ta see another woman besides meself sendin' Jack ta insanity." Ruby laughed as she heard Anamarie's comment.
"Well as much as a pleasure I am sure it would be, it would be a race to see who landed in the asylum first Jack or I,"said Ruby.
"Aye ya'd probably be speakin' the truth there, but well yer here keep it up,"said Anamarie,"keep our minds from driftin' ta the thoughts of the lonely sea." Ruby nodded laughed again and walked away from the wheel farther down the ship to the edge. A few crew members acknowledged her presence and nodded a hello to her but kept on with their duties.
Ruby leaned her elbows on the rail of ship and stared at the grey sea around her. She had another month of this and then she would be home, safe and back to her old life. Well not so much her old life, she was married and no longer a virgin. After this experience she would not oppose the idea of living a quiet secluded life alone but eventually her mother would want to know why and would not allow her until she admitted her situation. Knowing her mother, she'd be disowned and on the streets if she told her mother the truth. Looking down her ring she made a mental note that when she got home she'd have to stash away some of her most precious jewelry in a place easy to get to in a hurry if she did ever find herself at her own devices. If she had enough to buy her way passage to back to the Caribbean and Elizabeth.
Looking up from her ring and back to the sea, a ship in the near distance caught her eye. Staring closely she could tell it wasn't one of the king's ships as the Union Jack was not raised, though a series of color flags that were of no nationality were flying. Creasing her brow she did not know the means of flags that ships raised but she knew that almost all ships flew their countries flag for indentification, all ships expect renegade ships. Turning away from the see she looked around for a crew member she knew and spotted Mr. Gibbs walking by.
"Mr. Gibbs,"said Ruby.
"Missus Sparrow, how may I be helppin' ya?"asked the older man giving her his full attention as she walked over to her.
"Should that be of concern?"asked Ruby pointing to the ship that was making it's way towards the Black Pearl. Gibbs quickly walked over to the ship rail and looked closely at the ship that Ruby had pointed at, His eyes widened at the black skull and bones flag they flew.
"Cap'n,"hollered Gibbs wrapping his arm around Ruby and turning her away from the railing,"come wit' me Missus Sparrow."
"What is it?"asked Ruby looking over her shoulder at the ship as Gibbs guided her away.
"Get alert men, ship approachin',"hollered Gibbs ignoring Ruby's protests. Immediately a loud air hung over the ship as men dropped their choirs and went into action. Gibbs guided Ruby through the men and towards Jack's cabin.