The Oldest Story in the Book
Chapter 21
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's note: wee! I actually had a day off. And I did nothing but write. I felt bad about the other update being so short so I thought I'd give you a little more. Enjoy!
The trip to the Pearl was uneventful, despite Jack's near-constant grinding out of threats against Pearl for making off with his gold.
The crew greeted the Turners warmly, even those that had never met them before. The navy ships came into view almost immediately. Jack gave the word to make for them. They pulled up along the side. Norrington and Gillette appeared on the deck to speak to them as they turned the ship to follow the Black Pearl's lead.
"Marden should meet us about dawn," Jack called across the space. "After that you just follow us to the island. They're in a cove. You just need to pull into position outside the inlet and cover our retreat. We're going to put an end to this once and for all."
"I want to hear the full plan," Norrington called.
"Sorry lad. We're on a need-to-know basis," Jack answered as his daughter rolled her eyes.
"This is my son. I need to know."
"We'll tell you if you swing across. I get tired of this yelling rather quickly," Pearl called, earning a look from her father. She shrugged at him. "He has a point and you know it. you wouldn't sit half-informed if it were Emmie."
Jack sighed as Norrington took a rope and made the leap onto the Black Pearl. "Jack?" Pearl asked.
"Aye, my cabin. You too, Turners."
"Yes, Emmie, you may come," Pearl put in before the girl could say a word.
Emmie skipped ahead of them toward the cabin. Upon entering she moved to light the lamps for them as Jack motioned them over to the table in the center of the room. No one seemed interested in speaking just then, waiting for Emmie to finish her trek around the room. "Rum, anyone?" Jack offered, moving to a cabinet.
"I'll take some," Pearl said.
"Me too," Emmie added.
"She can't drink rum!" Norrington objected.
Pearl giggled. "I expected Elizabeth to object first."
Elizabeth shrugged. "She is a pirate. And Jack has a certain talent for getting women to drink the vile stuff. Before you say a word, you scurvy captain, I drank you under the table," she pointed out.
"I'd like to see you prove it, luv," he said, shaking a bottle at her.
"Not on your life," Elizabeth informed him.
"No, no. I never bet with my life, luv," Jack said. He turned to bring the rum to the table, but stopped when a low growl reached his ears. Emmie, who had been lighting the last of the candles, straightened at the sound.
"Jack," Pearl said in a warning tone as he set down the rum and stalked toward his bed. "Jack!" she yelled when he drew his sword.
"I told that bloody animal I would gut it if I found it on my bed one more bloody time!" Jack announced.
"It's a cat, Jack. She doesn't understand you. Come sit down," Pearl ordered.
"Than animal understands every bloody word we say," Jack disagreed. "Probably a witch cat o' some sort."
"Then you should be glad it's so taken with your granddaughter." From the bed the animal in question hissed meaningly at the pirate captain. It suddenly it sprang off the bed to streak between Jack's legs, nearly toppling him as he attempted to follow the cat's movements, and into Emmie's waiting arms.
"She's mine, Jack, and she stays long as I do," Emmie informed him as the creature purred in her arms.
"Then perhaps it's time you went to live with your father," Jack grumbled, but there was no snap to it. He put his sword away, sauntered over to the table, slumped into a chair, and nabbed one of the bottles to drink deeply. "Bloody soft-heart women. Suckers for any wet pathetic creature they come across."
"Don't criticize the mothering instinct, Jack. How many lasses have you tempted off with that exact trick?" Pearl asked.
Jack grinned a swigged deeply. "You've a point there."
Emmie came over to the table still bearing the animal. "Everyone I would like to introduce Miss Desthia."
As if responding to the sudden spotlight the plump, midnight black creature leaped gracefully from Emmie's arms onto the table. Unfortunately, this also put it in the very middle of the map Jack had spread on the table.
"Bugger! I payed twenty farthings for that bloody map!" Jack cried, straightening and reaching toward the cat.
The creature turned on him, back arching as it bared its teeth and hissed a warning, flickering candlelight reflected red in its eyes. Jack froze, then slowly withdrew his hand. "Emmie, kindly remove this creature from my map."
"Oh, good heavens," Pearl sighed, reaching out and picking up the cat. It yowled in protest and glared at the woman, but it didn't seem inclined to claw or bite as Pearl rubbed her silky fur against her cheek and placatingly stroked the cat into submission.
"I didn't have you pegged for a cat person," Norrington remarked.
"I'm not. Really much more for dogs, but Miss Dessi and I have come to an agreement of sorts. Here, you may have her. You're a cat person, aren't you?" Pearl asked, dumping the creature into Norrington's lap.
He nodded as he allowed the cat to sniff at his fingers. She rubbed affectionately against them, turned herself around a few times, and settled into his lap, purring. "Cats loved Maggie, so we developed a truce of sorts. Maybe we should get back to the task at hand. I'd still like to know the plan."
"Righty-o." Jack leaned forward to smooth the map on the table. "This is the island. I paid a pretty penny for this map, I'll tell you, so no smudging it." He glared toward Norrington's lap as he said it.
"What's the island called?" Will asked.
"The Emerald Isle," Emmie chirped.
"It doesn't have a name," Pearl said with a chuckle. "It's a fairly useless spit of land. Big enough to have some forest to it, unfortunately, and a goodly hill. The note said they'd hold Ethan there. They'll see us coming, there's no help for that. The hill has a cliff overlooking the only cove--the rest of the island is sheer rock. We have to come up through the forest."
"Traps?" Will and Elizabeth asked in unison.
"I doubt it," Pearl said. "They want me alive. Quick and easy isn't torturous enough for their liking. I'd wager the crew will pick us up before we reach the summit. Maybe the beach."
"So what's the plan?" Norrington asked.
"Well, we leave the ships outside the cove," Jack said. "They won't be able to see them from the cliff. I image we'll encounter Bootleg's two ships there. If we leave the ships to fight we can take a boat into the cove. Craggy cliffs cut off the view outside the cove. They'll hear the battle but they won't be able to see that they're outgunned three to two, or at least dead even."
"Which is just as well," Emmie put in. "They think only the Black Pearl is coming. They won't think we'll be able to spare the crew for a sea battle and an ambush."
Pearl nodded agreement. "So Jack and I will row up in a boat--"
"They told you to come alone," Norrington broke in.
She shook her head. "They have to know Jack would insist on coming along. That I wouldn't just get your son released so he can wander down and sit on the beach. They've never been a big fan of Jack's anyway, and they know he would try to avenge me. They'll probably jump at the opportunity to get rid of him as well. So anyway, as we're rowing along we'll have some tag alongs hanging from a rope tied to the back of the boat. If they stay low in the water they should be easily enough missed."
"Who?" Will interrupted.
"Emmie for certain. I have the feeling Edward's going to be insistent on going along." Norrington nodded. "I won't turn you down, Will. Too handy with a blade. I have the feeling that's going to mean Lizzie's coming as well."
"Naturally," she answered.
"Now, while Jack and I walk into the trap the additional party will sneak off into the forest. Take the long way around--there's a path up the back--and while Jack and I keep them distracted take out Ethan's captors from behind, take him down to the boats by the back way, and wait for us. Now, if they realize something's up with Ethan I want Emmie or Lizzie, I don't care who, to distract them. Don't argue with me, Edward. They'll be more distracted and less weary of a woman. Set up an ambush in the brush and take them out."
"If you're there more than ten minutes without us coming back to the beach you should go," Jack said. "Head back to the Black Pearl, get reinforcements, and come back for us if you like."
"Ten minutes won't be long enough for you to get down," Elizabeth argued.
"You'll be taking the long way," Pearl said. "We should beat you."
"It sounds like a good plan," Norrington remarked, surprised despite himself.
"I plan carefully when I'm putting the lives of people I love on the line," Pearl said, glancing down at her daughter. Emmie smiled around a yawn up at her mother. "Okay, we should all get some sleep."
"Right. Is Annamaria going to have a fit about you having Norrington in your bed?" Jack asked.
"Oh, aye, she would," Pearl said. "Emmie and I share a room with Annamaria and Rose. Strictly girls only," she added for the Turners' benefit. "Which is why we aren't sleeping there tonight."
"Well, I sent the kids after a bed for the Turners, you two can sleep in here, but I don't know how you expect to talk him into sleeping on the floor," Jack remarked.
"He's a Commodore, Jack. He isn't sleeping on the floor," Pearl said.
A nasty smile crept over Emmie's face. "Then where are you putting him?" Jack asked. Pearl smiled sweetly up at her father. "Oh, no. Not in this lifetime. That man is not sleeping in my bed. I am sleeping in my bed."
"Who said you couldn't?" Pearl answered sweetly.
"That will never work!" Jack cried. "We cannot sleep in the same bed!" Norrington began coughing at that. Pearl and Jack both ignored him. "Can you imagine the rumors?!" The choking became worse.
"Emmie and I will sleep between you," Pearl promised. "Between that and the Turners in here no one should raise an eyebrow. Unless you want to talk the Turners into your bed so we can have the cot. Although if I were either of them I wouldn't allow you into a bed with Elizabeth without your hands securely tied to the bedpost."
"And his feet," Elizabeth added.
"Why, Elizabeth, that's rather kinky," Jack remarked. "What damage exactly do you imagine me doing with my feet?"
"More than enough, I don't doubt," Elizabeth said.
Pearl seemed a bit distracted suddenly, eyes fastened on Will. "Maybe Mr. Turner is more ambitious than I've given him credit for," she remarked.
Will, now bright red, was saved from any further embarrassment by a knock on the door. "Come in," Jack called.
The door swung open to reveal a woman, barely more than a girl really, with long dark hair wearing a dark dress, the skirts split to reveal heavy boots and pants beneath, and a sword at her hip, hefting a heavy wooden structure. "Higher David," she ordered over her shoulder. "Stop dragging it against the floor."
"I'm trying." A boy around the same age followed with the other end of the cot, hair a few shades lighter, wearing full pirate garb. "This damn thing is heavy."
"Stop whining. Where do you want this, Miss Pearl?" the girl asked.
"Wherever there's room. Thank you, Rose."
The woman moved to a spot a short way from the bed and began setting the cot up, the boy helping. Elizabeth stared at the two for several moments before suddenly squeaking. "Pearl, this isn't, I mean, David and Rose, this can't be."
Pearl grinned, elbowing her father. "You owe me ten crowns. I told you she'd figure it out."
"Figure what out?" Rose asked, straightening to brush her skirts straight. Norrington caught sight of a rose tattoo on the back of her hand.
"Rose, David, I'd like to introduce you to Will and Elizabeth Turner, and Commodore Edward Norrington. You do remember them, don't you?"
Confusion painted the woman's features until Pearl got to the Commodore. "They're the ones from the estate!" she gasped.
"What estate?" Norrington demanded.
"Yours," Pearl answered. "Your mother's. These are the children we found up the tree. Picked them up in Tortuga about a year ago. Apparently they weren't kidding about becoming pirates."
"You could have told us who you were, you know," the girl remarked.
"You were kids then. Still are, in fact. Now off with you. Swab the deck or something," Pearl ordered.
The woman rolled her eyes. "Yes ma'am. C'mon David."
"Oh, and Rose? Let Anamaria know that Emmie and I will be in here tonight."
"Can I have your bed?" Rose asked, excitement painting her face.
"I suppose," Pearl sighed. "But I want it in perfect condition tomorrow night!"
"You know, it isn't fair," David said. "I mean, I want my own room."
"It isn't my own room," Rose answered. "I share it with the other women. And I sleep in a bunk, same as you. Asides, we couldn't very well sleep in the men's quarters, could we?"
"You two can argue elsewhere," Pearl broke in. "Off with ye."
"Yes, Pearl," the both answered, tromping out.
"It's like bein' a father all over again," Jack remarked with a sigh as he removed his boots and meandered toward the bed, rum still firmly in hand.
"Yeah, except for the part where you dump them into my lap, it's exactly like that," Pearl remarked.
"No, I'd say it's the same. I always left you to solve your own problems as well," Jack said as he sprawled onto his bed.
Pearl stood to follow. "Such a loving father I have. Budge over," she ordered, crawling onto the bed. "Come on, Emmie. You can sleep by your father. I'll try to keep Jack from kicking you. See what a good mother I am? Saving you from the evils of Jack's toenails."
"Thank you, Mama," Emmie said with a sigh as she settled onto the bed, cuddling into her mother's embrace. Norrington gently deposited Desthia on the ground before removing his boots.
"Don't knock my toenails. If I'm ever imprisoned again I can pick the lock with these things," Jack said.
"That's disgusting!" Elizabeth, Emmie, and Will screamed in unison.
"Never say anything like that again," Pearl ordered.
"Or else?" Jack asked.
"Or else you can have Rose's bunk. Shut up and go to sleep. Edward, come on. I want to sleep. Faster or I'll strip you."
"Pearl!" Elizabeth cried.
"At least we know she has plenty of experience," Jack put in.
"What is it Elizabeth?" Pearl asked innocently. "Afraid you might cry when you see what you missed out on? On the other hand, Will is pretty enough--"
"Pearl! Please stop!" Emmie moaned. "I'm exhausted."
A plaintive meow came from the floor. "No!" Jack cried. "The bloody animal is not sleeping in me bed!"
"She can't do any more damage than you do," Pearl pointed out.
"Yes, she bloody can. She'll claw my sheets to pieces. I picked these up in Singapore."
"Do you want me to bring up the toe nails again?"
"Oh, it's all right," Emmie interrupted. "Go sleep in the window, Dessie."
Norrington watched in surprise as the cat padded across the room to curl up on the cushions beneath the window. This seemed to satisfy Jack, who closed his eyes and cuddled close to his daughter. Pearl smiled, cuddling back into him with a sigh and closing her own eyes.
Norrington finished shrugging out of his coat and lay down gently next to his daughter, as close to the edge of the bed as he could. Emmie shifted as Jack blew out the lamp, grabbing her father's arm and pulling it around her waist so his hand was trapped between her back and Pearl's stomach. At least he hoped it was her stomach. He could have sworn he heard Pearl chuckle as they settled in.
Author's Note: Okay, extra points to anyone who knew who Rose and David were. I do this a lot, so never count my characters out. So that's the plan and they're on their way. Hold tight, Ethan.
Chapter 21
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's note: wee! I actually had a day off. And I did nothing but write. I felt bad about the other update being so short so I thought I'd give you a little more. Enjoy!
The trip to the Pearl was uneventful, despite Jack's near-constant grinding out of threats against Pearl for making off with his gold.
The crew greeted the Turners warmly, even those that had never met them before. The navy ships came into view almost immediately. Jack gave the word to make for them. They pulled up along the side. Norrington and Gillette appeared on the deck to speak to them as they turned the ship to follow the Black Pearl's lead.
"Marden should meet us about dawn," Jack called across the space. "After that you just follow us to the island. They're in a cove. You just need to pull into position outside the inlet and cover our retreat. We're going to put an end to this once and for all."
"I want to hear the full plan," Norrington called.
"Sorry lad. We're on a need-to-know basis," Jack answered as his daughter rolled her eyes.
"This is my son. I need to know."
"We'll tell you if you swing across. I get tired of this yelling rather quickly," Pearl called, earning a look from her father. She shrugged at him. "He has a point and you know it. you wouldn't sit half-informed if it were Emmie."
Jack sighed as Norrington took a rope and made the leap onto the Black Pearl. "Jack?" Pearl asked.
"Aye, my cabin. You too, Turners."
"Yes, Emmie, you may come," Pearl put in before the girl could say a word.
Emmie skipped ahead of them toward the cabin. Upon entering she moved to light the lamps for them as Jack motioned them over to the table in the center of the room. No one seemed interested in speaking just then, waiting for Emmie to finish her trek around the room. "Rum, anyone?" Jack offered, moving to a cabinet.
"I'll take some," Pearl said.
"Me too," Emmie added.
"She can't drink rum!" Norrington objected.
Pearl giggled. "I expected Elizabeth to object first."
Elizabeth shrugged. "She is a pirate. And Jack has a certain talent for getting women to drink the vile stuff. Before you say a word, you scurvy captain, I drank you under the table," she pointed out.
"I'd like to see you prove it, luv," he said, shaking a bottle at her.
"Not on your life," Elizabeth informed him.
"No, no. I never bet with my life, luv," Jack said. He turned to bring the rum to the table, but stopped when a low growl reached his ears. Emmie, who had been lighting the last of the candles, straightened at the sound.
"Jack," Pearl said in a warning tone as he set down the rum and stalked toward his bed. "Jack!" she yelled when he drew his sword.
"I told that bloody animal I would gut it if I found it on my bed one more bloody time!" Jack announced.
"It's a cat, Jack. She doesn't understand you. Come sit down," Pearl ordered.
"Than animal understands every bloody word we say," Jack disagreed. "Probably a witch cat o' some sort."
"Then you should be glad it's so taken with your granddaughter." From the bed the animal in question hissed meaningly at the pirate captain. It suddenly it sprang off the bed to streak between Jack's legs, nearly toppling him as he attempted to follow the cat's movements, and into Emmie's waiting arms.
"She's mine, Jack, and she stays long as I do," Emmie informed him as the creature purred in her arms.
"Then perhaps it's time you went to live with your father," Jack grumbled, but there was no snap to it. He put his sword away, sauntered over to the table, slumped into a chair, and nabbed one of the bottles to drink deeply. "Bloody soft-heart women. Suckers for any wet pathetic creature they come across."
"Don't criticize the mothering instinct, Jack. How many lasses have you tempted off with that exact trick?" Pearl asked.
Jack grinned a swigged deeply. "You've a point there."
Emmie came over to the table still bearing the animal. "Everyone I would like to introduce Miss Desthia."
As if responding to the sudden spotlight the plump, midnight black creature leaped gracefully from Emmie's arms onto the table. Unfortunately, this also put it in the very middle of the map Jack had spread on the table.
"Bugger! I payed twenty farthings for that bloody map!" Jack cried, straightening and reaching toward the cat.
The creature turned on him, back arching as it bared its teeth and hissed a warning, flickering candlelight reflected red in its eyes. Jack froze, then slowly withdrew his hand. "Emmie, kindly remove this creature from my map."
"Oh, good heavens," Pearl sighed, reaching out and picking up the cat. It yowled in protest and glared at the woman, but it didn't seem inclined to claw or bite as Pearl rubbed her silky fur against her cheek and placatingly stroked the cat into submission.
"I didn't have you pegged for a cat person," Norrington remarked.
"I'm not. Really much more for dogs, but Miss Dessi and I have come to an agreement of sorts. Here, you may have her. You're a cat person, aren't you?" Pearl asked, dumping the creature into Norrington's lap.
He nodded as he allowed the cat to sniff at his fingers. She rubbed affectionately against them, turned herself around a few times, and settled into his lap, purring. "Cats loved Maggie, so we developed a truce of sorts. Maybe we should get back to the task at hand. I'd still like to know the plan."
"Righty-o." Jack leaned forward to smooth the map on the table. "This is the island. I paid a pretty penny for this map, I'll tell you, so no smudging it." He glared toward Norrington's lap as he said it.
"What's the island called?" Will asked.
"The Emerald Isle," Emmie chirped.
"It doesn't have a name," Pearl said with a chuckle. "It's a fairly useless spit of land. Big enough to have some forest to it, unfortunately, and a goodly hill. The note said they'd hold Ethan there. They'll see us coming, there's no help for that. The hill has a cliff overlooking the only cove--the rest of the island is sheer rock. We have to come up through the forest."
"Traps?" Will and Elizabeth asked in unison.
"I doubt it," Pearl said. "They want me alive. Quick and easy isn't torturous enough for their liking. I'd wager the crew will pick us up before we reach the summit. Maybe the beach."
"So what's the plan?" Norrington asked.
"Well, we leave the ships outside the cove," Jack said. "They won't be able to see them from the cliff. I image we'll encounter Bootleg's two ships there. If we leave the ships to fight we can take a boat into the cove. Craggy cliffs cut off the view outside the cove. They'll hear the battle but they won't be able to see that they're outgunned three to two, or at least dead even."
"Which is just as well," Emmie put in. "They think only the Black Pearl is coming. They won't think we'll be able to spare the crew for a sea battle and an ambush."
Pearl nodded agreement. "So Jack and I will row up in a boat--"
"They told you to come alone," Norrington broke in.
She shook her head. "They have to know Jack would insist on coming along. That I wouldn't just get your son released so he can wander down and sit on the beach. They've never been a big fan of Jack's anyway, and they know he would try to avenge me. They'll probably jump at the opportunity to get rid of him as well. So anyway, as we're rowing along we'll have some tag alongs hanging from a rope tied to the back of the boat. If they stay low in the water they should be easily enough missed."
"Who?" Will interrupted.
"Emmie for certain. I have the feeling Edward's going to be insistent on going along." Norrington nodded. "I won't turn you down, Will. Too handy with a blade. I have the feeling that's going to mean Lizzie's coming as well."
"Naturally," she answered.
"Now, while Jack and I walk into the trap the additional party will sneak off into the forest. Take the long way around--there's a path up the back--and while Jack and I keep them distracted take out Ethan's captors from behind, take him down to the boats by the back way, and wait for us. Now, if they realize something's up with Ethan I want Emmie or Lizzie, I don't care who, to distract them. Don't argue with me, Edward. They'll be more distracted and less weary of a woman. Set up an ambush in the brush and take them out."
"If you're there more than ten minutes without us coming back to the beach you should go," Jack said. "Head back to the Black Pearl, get reinforcements, and come back for us if you like."
"Ten minutes won't be long enough for you to get down," Elizabeth argued.
"You'll be taking the long way," Pearl said. "We should beat you."
"It sounds like a good plan," Norrington remarked, surprised despite himself.
"I plan carefully when I'm putting the lives of people I love on the line," Pearl said, glancing down at her daughter. Emmie smiled around a yawn up at her mother. "Okay, we should all get some sleep."
"Right. Is Annamaria going to have a fit about you having Norrington in your bed?" Jack asked.
"Oh, aye, she would," Pearl said. "Emmie and I share a room with Annamaria and Rose. Strictly girls only," she added for the Turners' benefit. "Which is why we aren't sleeping there tonight."
"Well, I sent the kids after a bed for the Turners, you two can sleep in here, but I don't know how you expect to talk him into sleeping on the floor," Jack remarked.
"He's a Commodore, Jack. He isn't sleeping on the floor," Pearl said.
A nasty smile crept over Emmie's face. "Then where are you putting him?" Jack asked. Pearl smiled sweetly up at her father. "Oh, no. Not in this lifetime. That man is not sleeping in my bed. I am sleeping in my bed."
"Who said you couldn't?" Pearl answered sweetly.
"That will never work!" Jack cried. "We cannot sleep in the same bed!" Norrington began coughing at that. Pearl and Jack both ignored him. "Can you imagine the rumors?!" The choking became worse.
"Emmie and I will sleep between you," Pearl promised. "Between that and the Turners in here no one should raise an eyebrow. Unless you want to talk the Turners into your bed so we can have the cot. Although if I were either of them I wouldn't allow you into a bed with Elizabeth without your hands securely tied to the bedpost."
"And his feet," Elizabeth added.
"Why, Elizabeth, that's rather kinky," Jack remarked. "What damage exactly do you imagine me doing with my feet?"
"More than enough, I don't doubt," Elizabeth said.
Pearl seemed a bit distracted suddenly, eyes fastened on Will. "Maybe Mr. Turner is more ambitious than I've given him credit for," she remarked.
Will, now bright red, was saved from any further embarrassment by a knock on the door. "Come in," Jack called.
The door swung open to reveal a woman, barely more than a girl really, with long dark hair wearing a dark dress, the skirts split to reveal heavy boots and pants beneath, and a sword at her hip, hefting a heavy wooden structure. "Higher David," she ordered over her shoulder. "Stop dragging it against the floor."
"I'm trying." A boy around the same age followed with the other end of the cot, hair a few shades lighter, wearing full pirate garb. "This damn thing is heavy."
"Stop whining. Where do you want this, Miss Pearl?" the girl asked.
"Wherever there's room. Thank you, Rose."
The woman moved to a spot a short way from the bed and began setting the cot up, the boy helping. Elizabeth stared at the two for several moments before suddenly squeaking. "Pearl, this isn't, I mean, David and Rose, this can't be."
Pearl grinned, elbowing her father. "You owe me ten crowns. I told you she'd figure it out."
"Figure what out?" Rose asked, straightening to brush her skirts straight. Norrington caught sight of a rose tattoo on the back of her hand.
"Rose, David, I'd like to introduce you to Will and Elizabeth Turner, and Commodore Edward Norrington. You do remember them, don't you?"
Confusion painted the woman's features until Pearl got to the Commodore. "They're the ones from the estate!" she gasped.
"What estate?" Norrington demanded.
"Yours," Pearl answered. "Your mother's. These are the children we found up the tree. Picked them up in Tortuga about a year ago. Apparently they weren't kidding about becoming pirates."
"You could have told us who you were, you know," the girl remarked.
"You were kids then. Still are, in fact. Now off with you. Swab the deck or something," Pearl ordered.
The woman rolled her eyes. "Yes ma'am. C'mon David."
"Oh, and Rose? Let Anamaria know that Emmie and I will be in here tonight."
"Can I have your bed?" Rose asked, excitement painting her face.
"I suppose," Pearl sighed. "But I want it in perfect condition tomorrow night!"
"You know, it isn't fair," David said. "I mean, I want my own room."
"It isn't my own room," Rose answered. "I share it with the other women. And I sleep in a bunk, same as you. Asides, we couldn't very well sleep in the men's quarters, could we?"
"You two can argue elsewhere," Pearl broke in. "Off with ye."
"Yes, Pearl," the both answered, tromping out.
"It's like bein' a father all over again," Jack remarked with a sigh as he removed his boots and meandered toward the bed, rum still firmly in hand.
"Yeah, except for the part where you dump them into my lap, it's exactly like that," Pearl remarked.
"No, I'd say it's the same. I always left you to solve your own problems as well," Jack said as he sprawled onto his bed.
Pearl stood to follow. "Such a loving father I have. Budge over," she ordered, crawling onto the bed. "Come on, Emmie. You can sleep by your father. I'll try to keep Jack from kicking you. See what a good mother I am? Saving you from the evils of Jack's toenails."
"Thank you, Mama," Emmie said with a sigh as she settled onto the bed, cuddling into her mother's embrace. Norrington gently deposited Desthia on the ground before removing his boots.
"Don't knock my toenails. If I'm ever imprisoned again I can pick the lock with these things," Jack said.
"That's disgusting!" Elizabeth, Emmie, and Will screamed in unison.
"Never say anything like that again," Pearl ordered.
"Or else?" Jack asked.
"Or else you can have Rose's bunk. Shut up and go to sleep. Edward, come on. I want to sleep. Faster or I'll strip you."
"Pearl!" Elizabeth cried.
"At least we know she has plenty of experience," Jack put in.
"What is it Elizabeth?" Pearl asked innocently. "Afraid you might cry when you see what you missed out on? On the other hand, Will is pretty enough--"
"Pearl! Please stop!" Emmie moaned. "I'm exhausted."
A plaintive meow came from the floor. "No!" Jack cried. "The bloody animal is not sleeping in me bed!"
"She can't do any more damage than you do," Pearl pointed out.
"Yes, she bloody can. She'll claw my sheets to pieces. I picked these up in Singapore."
"Do you want me to bring up the toe nails again?"
"Oh, it's all right," Emmie interrupted. "Go sleep in the window, Dessie."
Norrington watched in surprise as the cat padded across the room to curl up on the cushions beneath the window. This seemed to satisfy Jack, who closed his eyes and cuddled close to his daughter. Pearl smiled, cuddling back into him with a sigh and closing her own eyes.
Norrington finished shrugging out of his coat and lay down gently next to his daughter, as close to the edge of the bed as he could. Emmie shifted as Jack blew out the lamp, grabbing her father's arm and pulling it around her waist so his hand was trapped between her back and Pearl's stomach. At least he hoped it was her stomach. He could have sworn he heard Pearl chuckle as they settled in.
Author's Note: Okay, extra points to anyone who knew who Rose and David were. I do this a lot, so never count my characters out. So that's the plan and they're on their way. Hold tight, Ethan.