It was a balmy night with a bright moon and light breeze off the Caribbean sea. Wilson was drunk. He'd been drinking whatever came to hand since four when he'd started to get ready for the dance. He smiled to himself and weaved to the balcony. A few drinks mad him as clever and relaxed as- as- thing. That bugger who was clever. Shakespeare? But when he told his absolutely hilarious jokes, they just gave him a funny look. Philistines. They just didn't understand. Why had he stopped? He focused.
'What's- whas your name?' he asked the young woman. Or at least, her cleavage.
'I am... Pearl. Mrs Pearl... Black.' She smiled to herself.
'Oh, Mrs Black.' he leered at her. 'You've got a lovely... thing on,'
'Um, thank you. Now, I must go meet my husband,'
Elizabeth went out on the balcony. Jack swilled the rum round his glass.
'For future reference, I'm -as much as it pains me to say- your wife.'
Jack frowned at her. She frowned back. 'Well, it was your idea not mine! You can probably find the necklace now. They're all drunk as they can be. I think,'
'Actually, I never said anything about marriage, and isn't a bit early on for that? We've on'y jus' met,'
'Jack Spa- Black, you're drunk. And a lech,'
'What makes you think that?' She glared at him
'I don't have to think, I know,'
She looked through the open door. ' At least you'll fit in there. I have yet to find a man who doesn't look down my bodice,' She looked at Jack again. 'And apparently I'm still waiting. Jack, you have to go get the necklace, remember? The young lady on the sofa.' Jack leant backwards till he could see her.
'And how do you suggest I get to the damn thing? She's wearing it!'
'Use your head!'
Jack wound through the crowd. Elizabeth was right. They were drunk. He saw the young lady, sitting with a glass and smiling at a young man, who wandered off in search of something. He fixed his best smile in place and walked over.
'Sir, please sit,'
'Ah, hello. I am Captain J-John Smith,' he kissed her hand and she giggled. He could see the necklace, exactly as his father's journal said. It was quite beautiful.
'That's a beautiful necklace.'
'Why thank you.' She fingered it. 'I was given it by my mother. The pendants are the originals. The chain isn't though. Isn't that a shame?'
'Er, yes? But it really is eclipsed by your face,' He winced. Come on Sparrow, you can do better than that. But she didn't seem to notice.
Elizabeth sighed as she avoided another leering drunk. Across the room she could see Jack get up from the sofa and stride across the room, as much as he ever did.
'We're leaving,'
'Why?'
'I've got the necklace in my pocket,'
'Ah. I was watching. You know Anamaria's gonna kill you?'
'On'y if someone let's on,'
'Like I'd do that,'
On the ship the men were in position. Will was watching from the crow's nest. There was a piercing whistle and the ship creaked into action. Jack and Elizabeth ran up the gang-walk and the anchor was pulled. As they pulled away Jack woke Anamaria. She stared at the jewel and burst into tears, waving off Jack's comforting.
'I'm being silly, don't mind it,'
Jill came up in the middle of it all. The general air was so happy she didn't show Jay that two of the cuts on her arm instead of one that had healed. They now only 3 months. And there was more.
When they were out on the open sea, Jack set a course for the Ila de Meurta.
'Er, why are we goin' there?' Jill asked.
'Why do you think? To return this,'
Jack held up the necklace.
'Mm. Jay...'
'What?'
'Look.' She showed him her arm.
'What? That can't be right!' Jill gripped his shoulder. He slumped slightly, and then stood again.
'Does Annie know?'
'No. I don't pr'pose t' tell her either. There's no point in worryin' her this close t' the birth,'
Jay stood straight again.
'You're right. Well, we'd better get goin' then,'
Will was told the news by Jack later in the day when the rum had flowed.
'Why is it at the Ila De Meurta?'
'The Ila De Meurta's been about longer 'n the Pearl lad, you should know tha'. Why, the Pearl is a sprightly young wench compared to some of the ships berthed there,'
'So you know exactly where to look then,'
Even Jack couldn't miss the cynical tone in Will's voice.
'Th' Pearl wasn't always me ship boy, an' I wasn't always on a ship.'
'What-'
'What's happened to your bonnie lass? Dunno, mebbe you should find her. Make sure she's not fallen over board or something.'
Obviously Jack wasn't in the mood for talk. Will sighed and got up, leaving Jack in his rum-soaked thoughts.
A/N: I know that it's like, deadly short, and sorry for anything not quite explained, point 'em out and I'll work in the answer somewhere, but like, I had to, like do a thing. Yeah, I'm so articulate today. All will be explained. Promise.
