Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: "A wedding? I love weddings! Drinks all around!" A familiar premise, but hopefully not too dull. Written for BPS Challenge "Drinks."

To Freedom

The forge-fire has burnt low in his absence and the smithy is full of shadows; one of which clears its throat loudly as he turns to latch the door.

He whirls, sword in hand. "Who's there?"

"Well, there's no call to try and skewer me like that," says the shadow, sulkily. "I rather thought you'd be pleased to see me."

"Jack? Is that you?"

"Who else?"

Who else indeed. "What are you doing here?"

"Why, I'm here for the wedding, o' course! Wouldn't miss it for the world, you know--"

"Are you mad? You could be hanged!"

"I won't be, though," says Jack cheerfully. "Last time was an anon...anomo...well, it won't happen again, anyway. After all, I am Captain Jack Sparrow." He claps Will on the back. "So! You'll be tying the knot in the morning, will you? How are you holdin' up?"

"Me?" Will frowns, surprised. "Tomorrow I'll be married to the woman I love. I'm fine. I'm better than fine. I'm--I feel wonderful--"

Jack shakes his head, setting beads and trinkets swinging. "'S not what your face said when you trudged through that door, my friend."

"There's nothing wrong with me." Will busies himself with stoking the fire, feeling Jack watching him keenly. Then he remembers how queasy he's been all day, and allows, "Well, I suppose I am a bit nervous..."

"Course you are! An' I don't blame you. Perfectly natural sentiment." Will first saw that brilliant, devilish grin on the deck of the Dauntless, some time ago; it glitters in the light of the reawakened flames, and bodes no good whatsoever. "Lucky I got here when I did. I know just what ye need."

"A good night's rest?" suggests Will, hopefully.

"No, no!" Jack flails, horrified. "That won't do at all." He throws an arm round Will's shoulders. "What you need, lad, is rum. And lots of it. What say you to the Cat and Fiddle, eh? Delightfully friendly ladies there, and all lasses love a bridegroom--"

It is Will's turn to be horrified. "Jack!"

"C'mon. We'll drink to your last night of freedom, mate. You'll feel much better for it, I promise you."

"But I couldn't possibly--"

Jack is already steering him out the door. "Now, now, I'll have none of that nonsense. You surely can, an' I'll see to it that you have a good time doing it--savvy?"