Chapter 9

A week later Jack sat at his desk going over some papers that he had been given this morning. He had been doing that since he had woken up this morning and he was starting to get a headache. Apparently no one had done much of anything since his father had gotten sick so he had to go over stuff that had been sitting there for at least six months.

"Why couldn' the whelp do some of this?" he muttered putting the papers he had just finished reading in the stack that he had done.

"Probably because he was making money at his smithy and trying to help me find you." Gwen said standing in the door way smirking.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Don' you have anything better to do?" he asked her.

"Will took Aaron to the smithy with him so not really." she said sitting down in a chair next to the desk and propped her feet up.

Jack raised his eyebrow at her. "Ye've changed from wha' I remember. The lil girl I remember wanted ta be the perfect lady wit' the rich 'usband an' all.."

"The little girl you remember was seven. A lot changed after you left, Jonathon." she said standing up. "I need to go."

She put her hand on the door knob and turned back to her brother. "You keep promising everyone that you're going to be like Father. He may have been a great king, Jack, but he wasn't a good man. Just remember that." With that she walked out the door.

"Jack you wan' somethin' to drink?" Ana asked coming into the room. When she seen him she asked, "What's wrong?"

Jack shook his head. "Nothin'. Can ye send someone to the smithy an' get Will?" She looked at him weirdly and called for someone to fetch Will.

"You wanted to see me Jack?" Will asked walking through his study door.

"Aye I did." Jack said and motioned for Will to sit down. "Can ye tell me wha' happened after I left?"

Will shifted in his seat. "Why do you want to know?"

"Gwen was 'ere earlier an' she said somethin'. She said tha' our father was a great king bu' he wasn' a good man. Wha' did she mean by that?"

Will sighed and looked down at the ground. "After you left he started drinking a lot. Every night she would come over to my house and she'd be covered in bruises."

Before Will could say anymore someone knocked on the door. Jack rolled his eyes and called for the person to come in.

"Your highness The Black Pearl has been spotted just off shore. Captain Jamison is wondering what you want done." One of the young marines told Jack.

"I'll leave you to your work." Will said and left the mansion.

Jack then turned to the young marine. "The Black Pearl you say? Tell Captain Jamison 'll be down in a moment to deal with it meself."

"Yes your highness." the young marine bowed and left to give the captain Jack's message.

Jack walked down to the room he shared with his wife. At that he laughed. It was still strange to think of Ana as his wife. He opened the doors to his wardrobe and grabbed his hat. He blew some dust off of it and put it on his head.

Ana spotted him when he came down the stairs. "Wha's going on?" she asked. She had not seen him wear his hat since they had arrived.

"The Pearl, luv. Gibbs is back."

Ana looked at him worriedly. "Ye aren' going to sink it are ye?"

Jack looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "I'd never sink tha' ship." With that they headed down to the docks.

Jack stood in between Ana and Captain Jamison as they watched The Black Pearl dock. Jack motioned for them to stay there as he went to the gangplank and walked onto the deck.

"'ello gents!" he called to the crew.

"Jack!" Gibbs called. "Look at ye. Ye've been on land far too long."

Jack laughed and put his hand on Gibbs' shoulder. "Aye bu' it 'as to be done."

"So when will ye an' Ana being joinin' us Captain?" Gibbs asked him.

Jack smiled sadly at the old pirate. "'m sorry mate. We won' be comin' back." he said quietly. Then man came forth with a set of irons.

"You are under arrest by order of the king of England." Captain Jamison said putting the cuffs on Gibbs' wrists. Gibbs looked to Jack silently asking him to do something.

Jack lowered his eyes and walked back down the gangplank. "Take the crew an' lock them up. The ship will be me new flagship." Jack told the officers and began walking back towards the mansion.

"Jack why did ye 'ave Gibbs arrested? If ye woul' 'ave told him you wanted The Pearl he woul' 'ave given it to ye." Ana said to him as she caught up to him.

Jack stopped and turned to her. "Wha' woul' they think of me if I jus' let them walk off? I 'as to do wha' I had to do." he said and continued walking.

"Calm down Gwen." Will said as he watched her pace the floor in their kitchen.

"Calm down? It's barely been a week and he's messing up."

Will rolled his eyes and stood up blocking her from pacing anymore. "Just because he had his old crew arrested and he took the ship as his flagship doesn't mean he's messing up. Besides he did what any officer of the law would do."

"Guess I'm just over-reacting then huh?"

"I told you. He is going to be fine." Will said pulling her to him.

"You know I still don't see why you wanted to find him. You could have taken the crown." Gwen said into his shoulder.

"I told you before I didn't marry you for that. I also told you I didn't want it. I like what I do." Will said letting her go. "And you can't tell me that you didn't want to see him again. Just give him some more time."

"I hope your right."

TBC...

A/N: Looks like I've backed myself into a corner again. Updates will becoming less frequent while I try to think. Any suggestions would be very very welcome.Hopefully I can have chapter 10 up the weekend.

Cap'n Lex