Disclaimer: Squirrel is my intellectual property, but I dream of certain pirates belonging entirely to me… -cackle-
A/N: Tom is named after my brother - his first name only. And that's where the similarity ends.
The day passes slowly, almost dragging by. The mood on the ship is subdued. Subdued beyond belief.
"It's funny." Ana says softly as she checks a rope for the third time. Gibbs looks up from his own task.
"What's funny, if you don't mind me askin'?"
Ana shakes her head. "It's so quiet. I know this sounds stupid, especially coming from me, but it seems like Miss Grey was the life of this ship."
Gibbs looks out at the harbour. Clean-cut ships are moored at a respectful distance away from the Pearl. Guards patrol the docks. People go about their business, casting only the occasional suspicious or curious glance in the pirates' direction. A huge whitewashed manor sits proudly, imperiously, on a hill overlooking it all. Somewhere in that manor, Miss Grey is getting her family tour. What she thinks of it is anyone's guess. There's barely a breeze, the sun beats down mercilessly on the small port. No-one speaks, no-one looks at anyone else. Gibbs wipes the sweat from his brow.
"I couldn't agree with ye more." He says softly. He looks up, high in the rigging. "Blasted sun." He squints. "Do you want to go ashore, have a look around, Anamaria?"
Ana straightens up. "I'd rather not. I'd like to be here when Squirrel comes back."
A heavy silence falls, making the humid haze seem even thicker.
"If she comes back, you mean." Gibbs says softly.
A frown crosses Ana's face. "When she comes back, Mister Gibbs." Gibbs can't help but notice that Ana's scowl is more worried than irritated. I don't blame her.
"Jack?"
"Hrm?" Jack looks up, woken from his daydream. He frowns slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"I just came down to see…"
Jack looks down at his tattoo again. "Worried about Sparrow, are ye?"
Ana plonks herself down next to Jack. "Come off it, Captain. I know you're worried about her."
Jack squirms, slightly uncomfortable. "'Course I do. You know what she's like."
Ana raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.
After a moment, Jack asks softly, "D'ye think she will come back?"
Ana tries to look at Jack's face. "Why? Is there any reason you think she won't?"
Jack's eyes and temper flare. "She's rich. Bloody hell, d'ye see that mansion? And for crying out loud, it's her family! With her ma and pa gone, this… Cornelius is all she has left. Well, as far as I know, anyway..." Jack sighs. "You know how she is about family. She can't function without one. She even had a hard time leaving her uncle and Dawn behind!"
Ana places a hand on Jack's shoulder, trying to console him. But he doesn't notice.
"She's lived on land all her life. Here'll be a good place as any for her to stay. Pirating's a desperate existence at best. It's not the kind of life for a girl like her. She can't even swim, for crying out loud! What if something happened to her while we were out at sea?" Jack buries his head in his hands. "I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her…"
Ana whacks Jack on the back. Hard. "Snap out of it, Jack." She says shortly. "Something has to happen to Squirrel, otherwise nothing ever will." Jack looks up, confused. Ana allows herself a smile. "Think about it, Captain. There's been fights, raids, treasure…" Ana laughs. "Remember when Squirrel got gold fever?" Ana smiles warmly at Jack. "She couldn't leave all that behind. She's changed for the better, you know that. She's gotten stronger, more sure of herself…" Ana pauses to laugh. "And she can use that little sword of hers with lightning speed!" Jack nods, smiling.
"You're right, Ana." He says, sitting up straight. "What was I thinking? She'll be back."
Ana stands, a smile still on her face. "Of course, Captain. And… Why would she miss her own wedding?" Ana saunters out of the galley, leaving a grinning Jack Sparrow behind.
Rocks skim along the still surface of the sea, making ripples that spread across the blue-green water. The timbers of the docks suddenly creak. Ana looks up, shading her eyes against the glare of the late-afternoon sun, a stone still in her hand. "Captain!" She calls up to the ship. "Someone's coming!"
Jack hurries down the gang-plank, squinting against the sun. Is it her? Please let it be her…
But it's not. Jack feels his heart sink. It's only that guard, what's his name? Tom.
"Captain Jack Sparrow?" Tom steps forward, a folded piece of paper in his hand. "I've a message for you from Miss Grey… from Squirrel, I mean."
Jack turns and climbs back onto the Pearl. "Hoist the anchor, make ready to sail." He doesn't hide the bitter disappointment in his voice. "The smell of this place is getting to me."
"Captain Sparrow!" Tom says waving the paper. "She insisted that you read this!"
Jack whirls back around and glares at the redcoat. "Listen, mate, I don't need to know what 'Miss Grey' has to say. It seems pretty clear to me who she's chosen as her family. I won't read it. I won't." The pirate turns and climbs back aboard his ship.
Tom clears his throat. "Squirrel told me you'd be like this. She also said that if you were that I was to tell you, 'Parley'."
Jack stops mid-stride. With a sigh, he turns back to the redcoat. "Alright then, Tom." He walks back down onto the docks. "I'll take Miss Grey's letter. What are your terms?"
"You have to read it while I watch, Captain Sparrow." Tom says, handing over the piece of paper. "And you have to give me a reply." He scratches his head. "'Course, if you don't want to give a reply, that's fine too, I guess."
Jack unfolds the paper and casts his eyes on the neat handwriting briefly. He swears softly, then bows his head. His face is hidden behind his hat.
"Let's get going." Jack barks the order. "We don't want her changing her mind again." He crumples up the paper and throws it onto the deck, then storms below deck.
Ana slips forward past a stunned crew and picks up the paper from where it was thrown. She smoothes out the creases and reads it out loud.
I'm sorry, but I made my choice.
I'm nothing without my family.
You know that.
You gave me freedom, Jack, and I will always be grateful.
I am my mother's daughter, after all.
And this is my choice.
Ana looks down at the waiting guard. Tom bites his lip, trying to avoid Ana's fierce gaze.
"Tell Squirrel," Ana says, barely keeping the tremble of rage out of her voice, "That I'm glad she actually showed some spine for once. I hope she's happy. She'd better be."
Tom swallows. "I'll tell her that, then?" Tom says, nervously.
"HOIST THE ANCHOR!" Ana screeches, turning her back on the redcoat. "You heard the Captain, let's get the hell out of here!"
Slowly, the crew move to their respective tasks. The sails rise, and the Black Pearl sails out of the harbour, leaving the puzzled and frightened Tom, and the home of Lord Cornelius Redcliffe, far behind.