The Oldest Story in the Book
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's note: Look how quickly I'm getting the next chapter up. Aren't you happy? Pearl's all passed out, so not much of her in this chapter, but lots of yummy Jack and adorable Emmie. Hope that makes it worth it. Although in a perverse way I hope it doesn't. I love my Pearl and I hope you do too.
Pearl fell asleep before they got back from the shop, and didn't even stir as he tucked her gently into bed. An hour later she still slept as Norrington sat sipping at his tea, watching Maggie and Elizabeth discuss the best cut of the dress they wanted to make for Emmie with blue taffeta they had bought the day before. For her part, Emmie was completely ignoring the conversation, attention focused totally on the toy soldiers spread around herself and her brother. In order to avoid argument over who got to be the red English soldiers and who had the blue French ones he himself had painted half of the small tin soldiers white and the other half black.
Emmie's black soldiers seemed to be winning. They were definitely in the majority, having claimed the fainting couch, the fireplace mantle, all of the round rug she currently sat on, and was slowly herding Ethan's soldiers into the far corner, a group circling around to attack from the arm of a large easy chair. Ethan seldom won these skirmishes, Norrington knew, and it wasn't due entirely to Emmie's superior age. She was a fair tactician.
A maid entered suddenly, standing uncertainly inside the door. "Miss Elizabeth, could I speak to you for a moment?"
"Certainly, Rachel. What do you need?"
"Er, out if the hall, if you would, Miss?"
Elizabeth gave the maid a confused look, but when she didn't elaborate further Elizabeth shrugged and followed her out. "What do you suppose this is about?" Maggie asked.
"I'm not certain. Will, perhaps?" Norrington said.
The suggestion was punctuated by a raised voice out in the hall. Elizabeth's voice. While not an uncommon occurrence (Elizabeth did have a temper) it still startled the two adults. Norrington glanced back at his children. Ethan was carefully studying the attacking soldiers, but Emmie had her head turned toward the door from her half-crouch. When she caught her father looking at her she quickly returned her attention to the soldiers.
"Do you think we should-" Whatever Maggie was going to ask was cut off by a rather red-faced Elizabeth storming into the room and closing the door firmly behind her.
"Emmie, Ethan, go play upstairs," Elizabeth ordered.
"But I just found-" Ethan began, cutting off sharply when Emmie grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up.
"Yes Mother," Emmie said faintly. Obviously she had enough experience to know better than to argue with Elizabeth in a temper.
Elizabeth watched them exit through the rear door of the chamber. Stomping across the room she opened the door and stuck her head out, obviously following the sound of footsteps to make sure the children did as they were told. When she was apparently satisfied she closed the door to tromp back across the room and pull open the main doors. "Jack, would you stop assaulting my maid and get in here?"
"Depends," the pirate's voice floated in, amusement ringing clear. "Do I get to assault you?"
"In, NOW!" Elizabeth snapped.
The pirate sauntered in rolling his eyes. The amber orbs lit up when he saw the two other occupants of the room. "Norry!"
"If you call me that again I will be forced to hang you on principal alone, as I should do now," he ground out.
Maggie chuckled politely behind her hand. "Ah, Magpie!" Jack cried, hurrying over to her. Taking her hands he pulled her to her feet so he could hug her. "Magpie, my dearest, you get more beautiful as time goes by. You're the very picture of my daughter, do you know that?" He lifted her chin to inspect her face. "The very picture," he purred out. His thumb stroked low over her throat, caressing her pulse. "And while I've never spent a good deal of time thinking of her in this particular context, I'll be the first to tell you she's a right beauty."
Maggie's eyes turned to Edward's. She held one hand flat in the air and lowered it, her eyes repeating the order to calm down. He sighed. He knew as well as she that the pirate was just baiting him, but the man was pawing his wife as if she were some common prostitute. After everything he had done for this man, the pirate should have known what a dangerous game he was playing. Then again, knowing Jack Sparrow, that was probably what made it fun for him.
Maggie turned cold eyes on the man, tossing her hair in a move that just happened to remove his hand from her throat. "I would thank you to kindly unhand me, Captain Sparrow, and maintain a proper distance," Maggie said, ice lining her voice. "I am a married woman."
"A fact which pains me every day, luv," Jack said with a shake of his head, one hand fluttering over his heart. "You may call me Jack. And you should know I never worry about being thanked."
"My wife has very politely requested that you keep your distance, Sparrow, and I assure you I will be considerably less polite if I am forced to repeat the request," Norrington growled out, hand finding the hilt of his sword.
With a regretful sigh Jack stepped back, hands raised. "Sorry, my man. Women have that effect on me, especially ones as glow with beauty like this fine specimen."
"Focus, Jack," Elizabeth snapped. "I believe there was a reason you forced me to go to the trouble of sending my daughter to her room."
"Not your daughter, luv," Jack reminded with a grin. "Pearl's daughter. My granddaughter. His daughter. Glory be, I'm getting old." He flopped onto the couch next to Norrington. A flash of pain passed through Elizabeth's eyes which hardened into anger. "Sorry, luv, but it's the truth. I knew the girl, after all, and I can tell you at two she had the sea in her veins. From what I've heard she's made the choice to return to it even without knowing she's been given the option. Better you remember who and what she is, so as not to hurt yourself when she goes to her proper home. But I'm far off topic. I snuck in to see to my daughter and find I can't wake her."
"Wait. Snuck?" Norrington asked.
"Aye. The rose lattice climbs right up to the roof on the porch. Climbing in a window is too easy from there. What's more, Pearl stinks to high heaven of rum and burnt roast. What the bloody hell did you people do to my daughter?
"Burnt roast?" Elizabeth repeated.
"The wound," Norrington put in. "Burnt flesh smells just like burning roast. Which is, come to think of it, more or less what it is. Burnt meat."
"Was there a fire?" There was the smallest edge of panic to Jack's voice, despite the fact that he'd obviously just seen his daughter alive and well.
"No. The wound in her shoulder went bad. We had to cauterize it," Norrington said.
Jack sighed. "I told her that was going to happen."
"Seems to me it would have been easier to keep her from getting shot," he remarked.
Jack shrugged. "I wasn't near her right then. Asides, you should know her well enough to know that nothing short of tying her up in a sack and locking her in the brig would keep her from a battle, and probably not even that. Plus I'd have to let her out eventually, and there'd be hell to pay then. I have to give you credit, though, Edward. Didn't think you were up to putting hot metal into my girl."
"I wasn't," he answered simply.
"Lizzie, you little hellcat," he said.
"Wasn't me," Elizabeth said.
"Will? Didn't think he had it in him." Jack said.
Elizabeth shook her head and glanced toward Maggie.
"You?!" Jack asked.
"Is that really so surprising?" Maggie asked indifferently. Norrington grinned at his wife with pride.
"Aye, it is." Jack sat forward on the sofa. "Should I know you, luv?"
"I'm the wife of the man that nearly hung you. I would think that would make me memorable."
"Indeed," Jack said, eyes narrowing as he continued to study her. "So did you give her the rum too?"
"That was me," Norrington announced.
"You brought my daughter rum?" He nodded. "You mean you touched it? And you didn't spontaneously combust?"
"No, Jack. I dare say I lived."
"Well, wonders never cease." He sighed heavily. "Well, I dare say I should take my daughter and be on my way, if she's in no real danger. There's a Spanish galleon setting sail I'd like to catch."
"Jack!" Norrington cried.
"What? I said Spanish. Don't worry. The merchant ships coming here haven't hardly been worth bothering with, really. I mean, all they had were goods. I could do with some bloody gold. Maybe some jewels."
"Jack!" he cried again.
"Well, I'm a pirate. We can't live on silks and flour alone."
"Jack!"
"Do you just like hearing him scream your name?" Elizabeth demanded.
"Aye, sounds like church bells to my poor sinning ears. Although there are much more enjoyable ways I can think of tear my name from other's lips. Care for a demonstration?"
"You know, I knew I was in trouble as soon as I said it," Elizabeth sighed. "At any rate, you can't just take Pearl without giving her a chance to say goodbye to Emmie."
"Might be better that way, actually," Jack remarked. "I'd wager she's been tearing herself to pieces, seeing Emmie but not having her know who she is."
"What makes you say that?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack shrugged. "I know the girl. And I know something about having children you didn't plan on." He shifted on the sofa, suddenly muttering under his breath. "Supposed to be the good bloody thing about prostitutes. No responsibilities. No worrying over little ones. You think I bloody PLANNED to bring her onto my ship? You think I wanted a little red-headed snippet to worry over? I'm bloody Captain Jack Sparrow, after all." He shrugged and glanced toward the ceiling. "Seems someone else had other plans."
"I didn't realize you were religious," Norrington remarked.
"I'm not," Jack put in quickly. "But I've seen too much to think there isn't greater being puttin' in their two cents. I'm just not ready to throw in my hat and stick a label on him, her, or it. I figure if I keep my options open at least they can't be mad when I get to the great beyond for following the wrong religion. Enough of this, though. I'm a bloody pirate, not a philosopher. I'm taking my daughter."
"Emmie will want to say goodbye," Elizabeth put in quickly.
"Emmie's a tough girl. She'll manage. You've done well by her so far. Keep up the good work, will you? And tell Will the same?"
"I will," Elizabeth promised.
"Are you certain you can get through town without being seen?" Norrington asked. "With Pearl no less? I'd hate to sign your death warrant this afternoon." Norrington paused to consider the previous sentence. "Well, I wouldn't, but the Turners would be less than happy with me, to say nothing of Pearl."
Jack snorted. "I'm sure. But it won't be a problem. After all, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"
Norrington couldn't help but smile and nod. He stood to follow Jack out into the foyer. Elizabeth caught up with them and passed the pirate captain on the stairs, one finger pressed to her lips. Maggie caught up with Norrington, taking his hand and giving him a smile.
Elizabeth led them up the stairs, peaking around the corner at the top. Movement could be heard down the hall. A girl's voice hissed, "Out of the way. I can't hear any more talking."
"Mayhaps we should do as we were told," a boy's voice put in.
"Oh, hush. Something's going on, and I wanna know what," the girl answered.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, heaved a sigh, and stepped into the hall. "Emily, I thought I told you to go to your room."
Jack peaked around the corner, careful to stay out of the girl's line of sight behind Elizabeth. He grinned at the glimpse of the children on their hands and knees leaning down the back stairs, both heads turned toward Elizabeth.
The two children scrambled to their feet. Ethan looked down under Elizabeth's gaze but Emmie beamed up at her. "Hello Mother. Ethan was hungry. We were just going to get a bit to eat."
Elizabeth shook her head. "In your room then. I'll send Rachel to get something for you."
"Thank you, Mother," Emmie said, skipping down the hall toward Elizabeth. The woman moved quickly to meet her half way. Kneeling she hugged the girl. Jack pulled back quickly when curious green eyes searched the end of the hall.
"Your room, now," Elizabeth ordered.
"Clever, that one," Jack remarked when the two children had disappeared.
"You don't know the half of it. I had better send up some snacks or they'll come wandering back out again. Edward, can you get him on his way?"
"Of course," he answered.
"And I'll go sit with the children in case," Maggie added. Kissing Norrington on the cheek she hurried down the hall herself.
"This way," Norrington said, leading the pirate to Pearl's room.
They entered without knocking. Pearl was still soundly asleep on the bed. Norrington smiled down at her as Jack leaned over to examine the wound. "This is a good job. Your wife done this before?" he asked.
Norrington shrugged. "I don't think so, but I wouldn't know for certain. She had a life before I married her."
"She keeping things from you? Dangerous things, women with secrets, and I've yet to meet one as doesn't have her share."
He shook his head. "There aren't any secrets between Maggie and myself, just things I don't know yet. Oh, before I forget, Pearl picked this sword out for you. She told us yours is bent."
"Don't bloody start," Jack ordered, taking the weapon. He whistled as he threw it around a little. "Just feel that balance. Give Will my regards."
"I will." He moved back across the room to gaze down at Pearl. "She looks so peaceful when she sleeps."
"Aye. It's because she's never peaceful any other time." Jack placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know, lad, I know a little something of loving women you can't have. For what it's worth, you've my sympathies."
"Thank you, Jack," he said.
"Eh, what's this?"
Norrington pulled away when he realized Jack's hand on his shoulder had pulled the collar of his jacket down to reveal the bruises on his neck. "Nothing. It's nothing."
"Oh, no you don't." Jack's hand wrapped around his arm, pulling him forward long enough to snatch down the collar. He whistled as he examined the marks, Norrington turning bright red. "Pearl, you scamp."
"It wasn't Pearl," he said quickly. "And I dislike the insinuation that I would cheat on my wife."
"Apologias. Magpie did that?"
"Her name is Margaret. And yes, this is my wife's work."
Jack whistled again. "Well, it appears I've underestimated the woman. Territorial, ain't she?"
"Something like that," he answered.
Jack grinned as he released him. "You're a lucky man, Norrington. Probably in over your head, but lucky all and the same. You take care of my beautiful little granddaughter," he ordered as he hoisted his daughter into his arms.
"I will. You take care of Pearl. Try to keep her out of trouble."
Jack snorted as they descended the front stairs. "Lost cause, but I'll try."
Norrington walked the pirate to the back door, standing in the opening and watching the stealthy captain disappear with the love of his life.
Author's Note: There it is, all. Hope you like it. Now, because I reward good little readers, I'm going to look in the rum closet and see if I can find any more leprechauns. Maybe some pirate booty. Get away from Jack, I'm not talking that kind of booty! That's mine! So anyway, I'll give...something to whoever can tell me where the whip marks on Pearl's back came from. Yes, you should know this. I wrote it. You mean you don't have ever sentence I ever wrote memorized? I'm so disappointed. Extra credit if you can tell me what the pirate's name was. I don't know what the extra credit will count toward, but it's nice to know that you have it, isn't it?
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's note: Look how quickly I'm getting the next chapter up. Aren't you happy? Pearl's all passed out, so not much of her in this chapter, but lots of yummy Jack and adorable Emmie. Hope that makes it worth it. Although in a perverse way I hope it doesn't. I love my Pearl and I hope you do too.
Pearl fell asleep before they got back from the shop, and didn't even stir as he tucked her gently into bed. An hour later she still slept as Norrington sat sipping at his tea, watching Maggie and Elizabeth discuss the best cut of the dress they wanted to make for Emmie with blue taffeta they had bought the day before. For her part, Emmie was completely ignoring the conversation, attention focused totally on the toy soldiers spread around herself and her brother. In order to avoid argument over who got to be the red English soldiers and who had the blue French ones he himself had painted half of the small tin soldiers white and the other half black.
Emmie's black soldiers seemed to be winning. They were definitely in the majority, having claimed the fainting couch, the fireplace mantle, all of the round rug she currently sat on, and was slowly herding Ethan's soldiers into the far corner, a group circling around to attack from the arm of a large easy chair. Ethan seldom won these skirmishes, Norrington knew, and it wasn't due entirely to Emmie's superior age. She was a fair tactician.
A maid entered suddenly, standing uncertainly inside the door. "Miss Elizabeth, could I speak to you for a moment?"
"Certainly, Rachel. What do you need?"
"Er, out if the hall, if you would, Miss?"
Elizabeth gave the maid a confused look, but when she didn't elaborate further Elizabeth shrugged and followed her out. "What do you suppose this is about?" Maggie asked.
"I'm not certain. Will, perhaps?" Norrington said.
The suggestion was punctuated by a raised voice out in the hall. Elizabeth's voice. While not an uncommon occurrence (Elizabeth did have a temper) it still startled the two adults. Norrington glanced back at his children. Ethan was carefully studying the attacking soldiers, but Emmie had her head turned toward the door from her half-crouch. When she caught her father looking at her she quickly returned her attention to the soldiers.
"Do you think we should-" Whatever Maggie was going to ask was cut off by a rather red-faced Elizabeth storming into the room and closing the door firmly behind her.
"Emmie, Ethan, go play upstairs," Elizabeth ordered.
"But I just found-" Ethan began, cutting off sharply when Emmie grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up.
"Yes Mother," Emmie said faintly. Obviously she had enough experience to know better than to argue with Elizabeth in a temper.
Elizabeth watched them exit through the rear door of the chamber. Stomping across the room she opened the door and stuck her head out, obviously following the sound of footsteps to make sure the children did as they were told. When she was apparently satisfied she closed the door to tromp back across the room and pull open the main doors. "Jack, would you stop assaulting my maid and get in here?"
"Depends," the pirate's voice floated in, amusement ringing clear. "Do I get to assault you?"
"In, NOW!" Elizabeth snapped.
The pirate sauntered in rolling his eyes. The amber orbs lit up when he saw the two other occupants of the room. "Norry!"
"If you call me that again I will be forced to hang you on principal alone, as I should do now," he ground out.
Maggie chuckled politely behind her hand. "Ah, Magpie!" Jack cried, hurrying over to her. Taking her hands he pulled her to her feet so he could hug her. "Magpie, my dearest, you get more beautiful as time goes by. You're the very picture of my daughter, do you know that?" He lifted her chin to inspect her face. "The very picture," he purred out. His thumb stroked low over her throat, caressing her pulse. "And while I've never spent a good deal of time thinking of her in this particular context, I'll be the first to tell you she's a right beauty."
Maggie's eyes turned to Edward's. She held one hand flat in the air and lowered it, her eyes repeating the order to calm down. He sighed. He knew as well as she that the pirate was just baiting him, but the man was pawing his wife as if she were some common prostitute. After everything he had done for this man, the pirate should have known what a dangerous game he was playing. Then again, knowing Jack Sparrow, that was probably what made it fun for him.
Maggie turned cold eyes on the man, tossing her hair in a move that just happened to remove his hand from her throat. "I would thank you to kindly unhand me, Captain Sparrow, and maintain a proper distance," Maggie said, ice lining her voice. "I am a married woman."
"A fact which pains me every day, luv," Jack said with a shake of his head, one hand fluttering over his heart. "You may call me Jack. And you should know I never worry about being thanked."
"My wife has very politely requested that you keep your distance, Sparrow, and I assure you I will be considerably less polite if I am forced to repeat the request," Norrington growled out, hand finding the hilt of his sword.
With a regretful sigh Jack stepped back, hands raised. "Sorry, my man. Women have that effect on me, especially ones as glow with beauty like this fine specimen."
"Focus, Jack," Elizabeth snapped. "I believe there was a reason you forced me to go to the trouble of sending my daughter to her room."
"Not your daughter, luv," Jack reminded with a grin. "Pearl's daughter. My granddaughter. His daughter. Glory be, I'm getting old." He flopped onto the couch next to Norrington. A flash of pain passed through Elizabeth's eyes which hardened into anger. "Sorry, luv, but it's the truth. I knew the girl, after all, and I can tell you at two she had the sea in her veins. From what I've heard she's made the choice to return to it even without knowing she's been given the option. Better you remember who and what she is, so as not to hurt yourself when she goes to her proper home. But I'm far off topic. I snuck in to see to my daughter and find I can't wake her."
"Wait. Snuck?" Norrington asked.
"Aye. The rose lattice climbs right up to the roof on the porch. Climbing in a window is too easy from there. What's more, Pearl stinks to high heaven of rum and burnt roast. What the bloody hell did you people do to my daughter?
"Burnt roast?" Elizabeth repeated.
"The wound," Norrington put in. "Burnt flesh smells just like burning roast. Which is, come to think of it, more or less what it is. Burnt meat."
"Was there a fire?" There was the smallest edge of panic to Jack's voice, despite the fact that he'd obviously just seen his daughter alive and well.
"No. The wound in her shoulder went bad. We had to cauterize it," Norrington said.
Jack sighed. "I told her that was going to happen."
"Seems to me it would have been easier to keep her from getting shot," he remarked.
Jack shrugged. "I wasn't near her right then. Asides, you should know her well enough to know that nothing short of tying her up in a sack and locking her in the brig would keep her from a battle, and probably not even that. Plus I'd have to let her out eventually, and there'd be hell to pay then. I have to give you credit, though, Edward. Didn't think you were up to putting hot metal into my girl."
"I wasn't," he answered simply.
"Lizzie, you little hellcat," he said.
"Wasn't me," Elizabeth said.
"Will? Didn't think he had it in him." Jack said.
Elizabeth shook her head and glanced toward Maggie.
"You?!" Jack asked.
"Is that really so surprising?" Maggie asked indifferently. Norrington grinned at his wife with pride.
"Aye, it is." Jack sat forward on the sofa. "Should I know you, luv?"
"I'm the wife of the man that nearly hung you. I would think that would make me memorable."
"Indeed," Jack said, eyes narrowing as he continued to study her. "So did you give her the rum too?"
"That was me," Norrington announced.
"You brought my daughter rum?" He nodded. "You mean you touched it? And you didn't spontaneously combust?"
"No, Jack. I dare say I lived."
"Well, wonders never cease." He sighed heavily. "Well, I dare say I should take my daughter and be on my way, if she's in no real danger. There's a Spanish galleon setting sail I'd like to catch."
"Jack!" Norrington cried.
"What? I said Spanish. Don't worry. The merchant ships coming here haven't hardly been worth bothering with, really. I mean, all they had were goods. I could do with some bloody gold. Maybe some jewels."
"Jack!" he cried again.
"Well, I'm a pirate. We can't live on silks and flour alone."
"Jack!"
"Do you just like hearing him scream your name?" Elizabeth demanded.
"Aye, sounds like church bells to my poor sinning ears. Although there are much more enjoyable ways I can think of tear my name from other's lips. Care for a demonstration?"
"You know, I knew I was in trouble as soon as I said it," Elizabeth sighed. "At any rate, you can't just take Pearl without giving her a chance to say goodbye to Emmie."
"Might be better that way, actually," Jack remarked. "I'd wager she's been tearing herself to pieces, seeing Emmie but not having her know who she is."
"What makes you say that?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack shrugged. "I know the girl. And I know something about having children you didn't plan on." He shifted on the sofa, suddenly muttering under his breath. "Supposed to be the good bloody thing about prostitutes. No responsibilities. No worrying over little ones. You think I bloody PLANNED to bring her onto my ship? You think I wanted a little red-headed snippet to worry over? I'm bloody Captain Jack Sparrow, after all." He shrugged and glanced toward the ceiling. "Seems someone else had other plans."
"I didn't realize you were religious," Norrington remarked.
"I'm not," Jack put in quickly. "But I've seen too much to think there isn't greater being puttin' in their two cents. I'm just not ready to throw in my hat and stick a label on him, her, or it. I figure if I keep my options open at least they can't be mad when I get to the great beyond for following the wrong religion. Enough of this, though. I'm a bloody pirate, not a philosopher. I'm taking my daughter."
"Emmie will want to say goodbye," Elizabeth put in quickly.
"Emmie's a tough girl. She'll manage. You've done well by her so far. Keep up the good work, will you? And tell Will the same?"
"I will," Elizabeth promised.
"Are you certain you can get through town without being seen?" Norrington asked. "With Pearl no less? I'd hate to sign your death warrant this afternoon." Norrington paused to consider the previous sentence. "Well, I wouldn't, but the Turners would be less than happy with me, to say nothing of Pearl."
Jack snorted. "I'm sure. But it won't be a problem. After all, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"
Norrington couldn't help but smile and nod. He stood to follow Jack out into the foyer. Elizabeth caught up with them and passed the pirate captain on the stairs, one finger pressed to her lips. Maggie caught up with Norrington, taking his hand and giving him a smile.
Elizabeth led them up the stairs, peaking around the corner at the top. Movement could be heard down the hall. A girl's voice hissed, "Out of the way. I can't hear any more talking."
"Mayhaps we should do as we were told," a boy's voice put in.
"Oh, hush. Something's going on, and I wanna know what," the girl answered.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, heaved a sigh, and stepped into the hall. "Emily, I thought I told you to go to your room."
Jack peaked around the corner, careful to stay out of the girl's line of sight behind Elizabeth. He grinned at the glimpse of the children on their hands and knees leaning down the back stairs, both heads turned toward Elizabeth.
The two children scrambled to their feet. Ethan looked down under Elizabeth's gaze but Emmie beamed up at her. "Hello Mother. Ethan was hungry. We were just going to get a bit to eat."
Elizabeth shook her head. "In your room then. I'll send Rachel to get something for you."
"Thank you, Mother," Emmie said, skipping down the hall toward Elizabeth. The woman moved quickly to meet her half way. Kneeling she hugged the girl. Jack pulled back quickly when curious green eyes searched the end of the hall.
"Your room, now," Elizabeth ordered.
"Clever, that one," Jack remarked when the two children had disappeared.
"You don't know the half of it. I had better send up some snacks or they'll come wandering back out again. Edward, can you get him on his way?"
"Of course," he answered.
"And I'll go sit with the children in case," Maggie added. Kissing Norrington on the cheek she hurried down the hall herself.
"This way," Norrington said, leading the pirate to Pearl's room.
They entered without knocking. Pearl was still soundly asleep on the bed. Norrington smiled down at her as Jack leaned over to examine the wound. "This is a good job. Your wife done this before?" he asked.
Norrington shrugged. "I don't think so, but I wouldn't know for certain. She had a life before I married her."
"She keeping things from you? Dangerous things, women with secrets, and I've yet to meet one as doesn't have her share."
He shook his head. "There aren't any secrets between Maggie and myself, just things I don't know yet. Oh, before I forget, Pearl picked this sword out for you. She told us yours is bent."
"Don't bloody start," Jack ordered, taking the weapon. He whistled as he threw it around a little. "Just feel that balance. Give Will my regards."
"I will." He moved back across the room to gaze down at Pearl. "She looks so peaceful when she sleeps."
"Aye. It's because she's never peaceful any other time." Jack placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know, lad, I know a little something of loving women you can't have. For what it's worth, you've my sympathies."
"Thank you, Jack," he said.
"Eh, what's this?"
Norrington pulled away when he realized Jack's hand on his shoulder had pulled the collar of his jacket down to reveal the bruises on his neck. "Nothing. It's nothing."
"Oh, no you don't." Jack's hand wrapped around his arm, pulling him forward long enough to snatch down the collar. He whistled as he examined the marks, Norrington turning bright red. "Pearl, you scamp."
"It wasn't Pearl," he said quickly. "And I dislike the insinuation that I would cheat on my wife."
"Apologias. Magpie did that?"
"Her name is Margaret. And yes, this is my wife's work."
Jack whistled again. "Well, it appears I've underestimated the woman. Territorial, ain't she?"
"Something like that," he answered.
Jack grinned as he released him. "You're a lucky man, Norrington. Probably in over your head, but lucky all and the same. You take care of my beautiful little granddaughter," he ordered as he hoisted his daughter into his arms.
"I will. You take care of Pearl. Try to keep her out of trouble."
Jack snorted as they descended the front stairs. "Lost cause, but I'll try."
Norrington walked the pirate to the back door, standing in the opening and watching the stealthy captain disappear with the love of his life.
Author's Note: There it is, all. Hope you like it. Now, because I reward good little readers, I'm going to look in the rum closet and see if I can find any more leprechauns. Maybe some pirate booty. Get away from Jack, I'm not talking that kind of booty! That's mine! So anyway, I'll give...something to whoever can tell me where the whip marks on Pearl's back came from. Yes, you should know this. I wrote it. You mean you don't have ever sentence I ever wrote memorized? I'm so disappointed. Extra credit if you can tell me what the pirate's name was. I don't know what the extra credit will count toward, but it's nice to know that you have it, isn't it?