Jack Sparrow looked out at the setting sun knowing that it was setting just for him. He wasn't sure exactly where he was but he knew where camp was. On the opposite side of the island. It was this strange awareness of his surroundings he had now, knowing where he was at all times and where everyone else were even if he had not been there.
Shortly after his confrontation with Anamaria and Will, he had tired of sitting there with nothing to do and had gone off exploring. Jack Sparrow did not tell anyone where he was going because he didn't know it himself but he knew that Ana would take good and firm care of his crew in his absence.
He had wondered a bit through the forest, feeling the magic of the island reaching out to him. It called him somewhere and he didn't know where until he came to stand in front of the Indian camp.
It looked just like he had remembered it which was probably the reason that it did. He had also expected that they would all grow up, same as he did so that's exactly what had happened. He stood silently behind the tall trees and watched as the village went on with their daily business. Mothers bustled around the fire and little children played nearby.
Then he saw her. She had a little toddler in her arms as she walked out of one of the teepees. Then she froze as though feeling something bad turned around staring directly at where Jack was hiding and strode purposely in his direction. He stepped out when she got close enough and she stopped, seeing him for the first time.
"I heard that you were back Peter. We all felt it." She told him quietly. "You sure took your time getting here." Then when he grinned at her, she smiled too and putting the child down, ran the rest of the way and threw her arms around Jack.
His childhood playmate. Tigerlily. She looked older, but beautiful and when she hugged him, he could see that she was with child. Despite all of the bickering they had done as children or maybe because of it, Jack had always thought of Tigerlilly as a younger sister. She was one of the only things that he had missed from Neverland.
"It took me a while to find your camp." He confessed. "You didn't see my crew around did you?"
"Your crew?" She giggled. "More lost boys?"
"You can say that. My pirate crew." Captain Jack Sparrow admitted.
"Pirates!" Tigerlilly gasped in laughter. "You hated pirates!"
"It was the only adult influence I had." Captain Jack Sparrow shrugged unremorsefully. "I'm good at it I think. Is he yours?" He pointed to the child playing quietly where he had been left at their feet. She nodded.
"I have another older girl and …" She trailed off touching her fingertips to her stomach, a soft happy smile on her lips. Jack picked up the child and laughed when the little boy gave a big tug at his beard.
"He looks like you." He told Tigerlilly. "I'm glad you're happy. I missed you."
"And how do you know I'm happy?" His childhood playmate teased.
"I can tell by your smile." She threw her arms around him again, her child and all.
"I missed you too Peter."
"I think I might have to…" He trailed off, gesturing vaguely behind him.
"Go. I know." Tigerlilly nodded. "It's the island calling you. You are our salvation regardless of how that sounds. I called you here I think and the rest of the island is calling too. I'd come with you but... my children."
"That's alright. Just… my crew might come here. Don't kill them alright? You could scare them though." He smiled at her mischievously. "And Wendy and Slightly are here too. Do what you want with them, they'll probably remember you." Tigerlilly nodded her consent.
"We will Peter. Have fun. Some back here if you can afterwards. I want to introduce you to my husband and my children. Officially I mean." She lifted her child form Jack's arms and after giving the Captain one last smile, and lightly kissing his cheek, she turned and headed back to camp without looking back and pretty soon, Jack also moved on.
oooooooooooooooooooo
He had walked all over Neverland then, following the call to all of the places that he used to play in as a child.
And now he stood on a cliff overlooking the ocean. He had been so sure that so many hours had passed since he had sat out on this strange trek of his. Yet at the same time, while thinking that, he had willed it to stay light for just a little longer and just a little more so that he would be able to see where it was that he was going.
When he was finally done, he had found himself on this cliff, watching as the sun sat in front of him in its full glory as though wanting to show off to the island's Peter Pan.
With the setting of the sun, the darkness of the night descended around Jack Sparrow. His mind reviewed the day that he had just lived in every vivid detail and his thoughts turned to the moment that he decided to not tell Ana and Will the truth. That moment bothered him.
Tink had told him that they wouldn't be able to see her yet. He had thought that that had meant that he shouldn't tell his friends the truth just yet. But did she say that they wouldn't be able to see her yet because they didn't believe yet? Well they believed now. If they believed in Peter Pan then surely they believed in Tink.
And then there was that strange feeling that he had gotten just when he thought that he had enough courage to tell them the truth. Something telling him that he must not tell them anything, which they must not know. He had been so confused that doing what the odd compulsion told him to felt natural and it was gone by the time he had tried to analyze it.
"Tink?" He asked quietly. "Is it the island?"
"Yes." Even though she had just appeared practically out of thin air, she knew exactly what he was asking. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that it would work against Slightly and Wendy of all people but it's a reflex that the island has developed and perfected over the centuries. It will try to prevent you from telling anyone its secrets. If you really want to tell them Peter, then just talk through the feeling. You are Peter Pan after all and the magic will come to trust you."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked the glowing fairy who smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry Peter. I forget sometimes that there are still things about this place that you do not know. Every Chosen has his own fairy. I'm new at this, same as you."
oooooooooooooooooooo
He ran back. Not knowing how long it would take him to come back, understanding almost as little as he did in the beginning but he realized that he wanted to share this part of himself with his friends. His friends who had been there to share almost every part of his childhood. His friends who had never betrayed him. His faithful crew. Gibbs and Elizabeth. His best friend Slightly nad his Wendy. The girl he had tried so hard to love when the island had commandeered almost his entire self to the bond.
It must have been the middle of the night when he got back because the moon was full up in the middle of the sky and all of the pirates where deeply asleep. Taking a deep breath Captain Jack Sparrow crouched beside his first mate's bedroll. He admired for a moment how that moonlight lit her features, illuminated them in a magical light. He would have happily sat there for the entire night watching his first mate sleep but he knew form personal experience that procrastination only made things worse.
"Ana. Ana, we need to talk." Jack said, echoing those same words that she had said to him earlier in the day. "Ana, wake up." He wasn't even sure why he was waking them up in the middle of the night except that he didn't want his story told in full daylight where he would have nowhere to hide and anyone could listen in.
Anamaria awoke slowly to see her Captain shaking her awake.
"Where were you?" she asked groggily though still managing to sound accusing.
"I had something to do." He told her. "You'll understand soon. I have to tell you something." Something that Ana never thought she'd ever see, Jack actually looked nervous at whatever news he was about to impart to her. Or maybe it was the moonlight.
"Alright." She said invitingly but he shook his head.
"Not here and not only you. Get Gibbs, Will and Elizabeth and meet me at the waterfalls. You know where they are?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'll be there soon."
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Authors note – here is a question I really need answered. I had originally planned Captain Hook as a sort of father figure for Jack so that he would get to meet him again and thank him. But now I was thinking, what if Captain Hook was Borbossa? Does anyone else see the resemblance? What do you want to see? Any preferences?
Cal – you check for updates prob the same way I check for your reviews. Thank you! No! No Mary Sue's there are so many wonderful characters already ready to chose from. Thank you for telling me the story by J.L. Dexter. I didn't read all of the series but what I read – the beginning of it I liked and I saw the part you were talking about – him holding her – I'm going to have to go back and read more one of these days. I realised that I didn't want Jack betraying anybody so you can see what I did about it. Lol. Uh oh did you want more angst? Have fun on vacation and check my profile page for a present. 8-)
Thank you to zareen, FantasyChickellennar (you're right about the scandal and about the croc. Lol)
meowbooks (so happy to see you back here reviewing) Johnny-cakes-Depp (thank you, you're review is great regardless of how long it is) and J.L. Dexter (yes, Cal is amazing, she made me feel so welcome here! I liked your stories as well though I didn't read everything yet. If you ever have the time and desire, tell me what I'm doing wrong with my writing – in examples – I would love to improve it. Thank you so much for reviewing!)
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you everyone and Cal get an honorable mention. Thank you!
Please continue reviewing. 8-)
