The Oldest Story in the Book

Chapter 38

Disclaimer: Not mine, although almost all of these are.

Author's Note: So here it is. The very end.

Emerald awoke with a start, looking hurried around the room. Gone was the ship, the merchants, and her mother's body, disappearing back into the winds of memory years old. It was replaced by the room bathed in moonlight coming in the window, mixing with a sea breeze, sweeping over the familiar dresser and mirror she hadn't looked in in weeks. Across the bed that didn't rock with the waves, over the comforter her mother had stolen from a British prince--oh, her father had gritted his teeth when she told the story Emmie demanded often as she dared.

She was aware of a figure in the doorway, and shifted beneath the covers. "My mother used to tell me it was rude to skulk in doorways." Her voice creaked through her well-used throat.

"I wanted to be certain you were awake," her daughter said.

She stepped forward, revealing a lamp that lit her blue silk gown and picked out the sparkle of diamonds in her hair and around her neck. She was the very picture of her grandmother, slim with bright red hair and freckles picked out by long afternoons in the sun with her children, sailing them about the harbor in small boats.

"I was dreaming," Emmie said, shifting beneath the covers as her daughter settled on the bed.

"What of?"

"Old memories. Pirates long dead, as I should be. It doesn't suit us Sparrows to linger."

"So I've been told, but I've been happy you have," the woman said, taking her mother's wrinkled hand. "And so are the children."

Emmie reached up to caress the string of jewels at her daughter's neck. "Will you ever forgive me for naming you Diamond?"

The woman laughed. "I wouldn't have any excuse to demand them from my husband if I didn't. Even if I have to pretend to be Diana."

"Your husband, he's a good one, even for not being a pirate," she sighed. "He reminds me a bit of your father."

"Do you forgive me for marrying him then?"

"I never regretted it, especially as pretty as the children are." Emmie said, coughing lightly. "You have to encourage them, when they turn to the sea. You won over the lust yourself, but you mustn't squash it in them. They're Sparrows too, never let them forget that."

The girl sighed as she rubbed her mother's hand. "I wish you wouldn't speak like that."

"It's the last chance you'll have to hear it," Emmie said. "I'll be with the others when you get back."

She straightened. "Do you want me to stay? I don't have to go to this party."

"Yes, darling. This is the way it should be," Emmie sighed. "Not such a bad way to go."

Tears sparkled in her daughter's eyes as she kissed the withered hand. "Should I get the children? I could wake them…"

"I said what I had to say." She sighed again as she shifted. "I think you son knows something's up. He's far too quick, that one."

Di leaned forward to wrap her arms around her mother. "I love you," she whispered.

"And I you. Just talk to me whenever you feel it. I'll hear you."

"I believe you will."

"Darling." A gentleman in a fine navy coat stepped into the room. "We'll be late if we don't leave immediately."

"I'm coming," she said, wiping at her eyes.

She stood to make way for the man who leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Rest well, Madam Emerald. The maid is at your disposal if you need anything."

"I have all that I need," Emmie said. She rubbed his arm affectionately. "You're a good man, Commodore. Never let anyone say different."

He grasped the hand on his arm. "Thank you. It means the world, you saying that."

She smiled. "I've waited long enough. The opportune moment is important. That's something you blustering Navy lads never learn. Go now. Have a lovely evening. Don't you dare let me ruin your fun. Promise me."

"We promise. I'll see you soon," Di said, leaning down for a final kiss.

"First light," Emmie said, laying back with a sigh.

Her children departed, taking the light with them.

Emmie was surprised to find she couldn't sleep, exhausted as she felt. It wasn't fear that kept her awake. She knew where she was off to somehow. Perhaps it was excitement.

Slowly she became aware of voices, rising over the sea. Not the children's restless whine, nor the maid's comforting whisper. Harsher voices. Soon words became recognizable.

"The bet is two shillings."

"That is two shillings."

"In what country is this a shilling?"

"Davy Jones said that would get you a dance with any whore on the east coast of Jamaica. Everyone knows it's two shillings for that," a woman's voice said.

"I had one did it for a shilling," the man's voice said.

"You're far more handsome than Davy was," another woman's voice interrupted.

"All right, let's call it even. Pearl, show your cards," a man's voice broke in. Emmie perked up as she recognized her father's voice. She'd not heard that since he sailed into the hurricane following his granddaughter's birth in an effort to save a Navy fleet her husband was on. After Pearl Sparrow Norrington's death Edward Norrington had returned easily to his navy roots, and had died for it.

Her own husband had been a sailor when she met him--when she was pillaging his ship in fact. When her father had offered him a place in the military he had ignored his new wife's objections and joined. He had also died in the storm, having met his daughter only once. Emmie had never seen fit to remarry, depending on the sea and her daughter to keep her alive.

Both of the younger men had lasted considerably longer than Jack, who had died in a battle not two months after Pearl's death. Gibbs had sworn he'd heard Grandma Diamond's laughter on that deck as Jack slipped away. Gibbs' son now helped run the Pearl, under Tass' daughter's leadership, the two of them legends in their own rights as they plundered away.

"I'm not showing my cards yet," a high-pitched woman's voice answered. Emmie chuckled. It was always bad news when Pearl's voice went that high. "Mistress Margaret has yet to bet."

"There are very few people I allow to give me that title. You are well aware that you are not one of them," Maggie's voice, clear and calm as ever, moved swiftly around the room.

"Tough luck, lass," Jack's laughing voice put in. "But she's right. You've yet to bet, Mistress Margaret."

"Jack, there's no reason to be vindictive," Emmie's grandmother's scolding tone broke in.

"Can we please finish one game without an argument?" Emmie heard her husband sigh.

Emmie turned to look to the wall the voices seemed to be emanating from. It looked hazy, as if a dark curtain too thin to truly hide the actors had been drawn.

"Don't ask questions you know the answer to," Diamond's voice ordered.

"Let's make it a side bet then," Pearl suggest. "If your hand beats mine then I'll never call you that again. If I win I can do it often as I like."

"I find that acceptable," Maggie said.

The curtain seemed to be growing more and more opaque by the moment. Emmie could make out forms gathered around a table beyond her wall. Red halos marked Diamond, Pearl, and Maggie's red hair. A shine marked Jack's place, still decorated with bangles.

"You still have to bet, darling. I want my coin," Diamond put in.

A form removed itself from the table and strode closer. "I wish she would bloody hurry up," Jack's voice grumbled.

"It's the last thing my daughter is ever going to do in her life. I would appreciate you not harrying her along. Asides, it's Ethan as keeps us waiting."

"The sea keeps him young," Norrington said. "No regrets there."

"Would you come back so we can finish this hand?" Diamond asked a much clearer Jack.

"No use, luv," he asserted as he returned to the table. "May as well hand over your coin now. Unless someone would care to draw it out by making it more interesting. I can think of treasures I haven't had from you in years, Di."

"That's because we lack physical bodies."

They were clear now to Emmie as if they sat in the room with her. Something twisted and she suddenly felt lighter than she had in years.

Diamond turned over her cards, and chuckled as Norrington did the same. Diamond whistled as Maggie revealed her cards. "I haven't seen that much royalty since Jack crippled that Prince's marriage liner off Tortuga's shore."

Jack's eyes were rooted on Pearl as he dallied with a bit of bejeweled hair, a sure sign that he didn't have the upper hand. Jack always bluffed consistently, out of habit if nothing else, which made it hard to know whether he had a winning hand or not.

Pearl was paying no mind to her hand, staring over her shoulder, toward Emmie with a smile on her face. "Here we are at last. Why don't you come join us, daughter mine?"

Emmie stood, getting out of the bed for the first time in nearly a month. She felt light as air and spun. Her hair, gone gray twenty years ago, was suddenly a dazzling red again. Pirate boots rapped on the floor and cloth brushed her legs along with the somehow-familiar weight of a sword. She continued to spin her way toward them.

Diamond stood, running to sweep her up. The woman could have been a shorter, slightly more chubby twin, far younger and radiant than Emmie had ever had the privilege of seeing. "We've missed you, my dear."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Emmie said.

"Not at all," Pearl said, stealing the girl into her own arms. "We have eternity to catch up."

"And we are very much looking forward to it," Norrington put in, garnering his own hug.

Her husband hung back for his part, waiting for Pearl to pull Norrington out of the way before stepping forward to bow primly. "I've missed you," he said as he drew closer.

"Bah," Pearl called from the table. "Kiss her, you fool!"

"I'm with my mother on this one," Emmie said with a coy smile.

He laughed, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "As ever. I like her, by the way."

"I told you you would."

"What say we do it over another hand?" Pearl suggested. "I'll deal you in." She quickly gathered the cards, shuffling them together.

Norrington cried out as Pearl grinned. "You cheat!"
"I'm fairly certain I had the winning hand," Emmie's husband remarked as he led her to the table.

"And my cheating is new and surprising?" Pearl asked. "Next hand," she added to Maggie.

"Absolutely. Deal away."

The wall closed behind them as Emmie took a seat, and Jack cried, "I'm not letting her deal. It's my turn to give myself the winning hand."

"I think it's my turn," Emmie put in. "I've missed a few hands."

"That's your own fault for keeping us waiting," Jack said.

"We have eternity to fight over this," Pearl said, shoving two cards into his hand. "And this is my hand."

Author's Note: So this is the end. If anyone is actually reading this, thanks for coming with me on the long journey. So I've tied up all the loose ands and I think I'm done. If anyone wants more, keep an eye on spotted.paw We're still writing together. Not as much pirates, but that could happen any time, and there's more of Pearl out there if you're craving it for some odd reason. Her and my writing could well show up through her. On to other things I suppose. Thank you all for being so loyal. If you're so inclined leave me a review just so I know if anyone is still reading this. Thank you to everyone who has, and the C2's this has ended up on. Love to you all and the thanks of a rogue pirate.