Chapter 5: Olivia's Fourth Birthday

            Kat felt Jack's strong arm still wrapped around her waist.  She felt his other arm beneath her head acting like a pillow.  She smiled upon thinking that it more than likely will be asleep when he woke up.  She definitely did not want to get up just yet, especially under the circumstances.  She just wanted to stay put and let the rest of the day pass her by.  Let the wind carry her grief and guilt far away to another beach.  Another port.  No such luck during her lifetime.  She knew that Jack was still asleep by his rhythmic breaths and didn't want to disturb him.

Although before the morning had completely sunk in for her, three children were whole-heartedly ambushing Kat and Jack.  Jessie and Emily bounced on Jack making him grumble and nearly jump out of his skin.  Olivia had flung herself from her crutches and across Kat's waist.  With an 'oof' Kat looked down at her, surprised that she was roughhousing in her limited mobility and condition.

"Wake up, Kat!" Olivia bounced a little on her and put her arms on either one of her hips, "Guess what?"

"Tell me," Kat half grumbled.

"Mommy and Jessie's and Emily's Mommy and Daddy are throwing me a birthday celebration today!" she shouted excitedly.

Kat smiled at her and then looked over at Jack's predicament.  Jessie sat on the top of Jack's chest, straddling him with a leg on each side, his arms crossed over his own little chest and a triumphant smile plastered on his face.  Emily in the meantime was planted firmly on Jack's legs, trying to make him near immobile.  The two Turners had the pirate pinned beneath their grasps.

"I guess that the real Jack Sparrow isn't that hard to beat," Jessie proclaimed, sure that he was the winner and would have the pirate begging for mercy.

"I wouldn' celebrate jus' yet," Jack bolted up making Jessie topple off from his chest and Emily loosen her grip on his legs.  He grabbed the two children in two swoops of his arms.  The two children squealed with joy and laughed as loud as they could.  They shouted that they were captured and screamed with delight with calls for help.  As soon as Jack sat up on the bed with a Turner child under each arm, Olivia took it was her cue and wrapped her arms around Jack's neck.  He stood up with little effort, pulling Olivia off of the bed.  Kat smiled watching Jack wrestle with the three children as he walked toward the hall outside the bedroom.

"Luv, ain't ye goin' to help me?" Jack sighed a little.

"Maybe," Kat said as she let out a breath of air.

Jack rolled his eyes and walked out of the room, thankful that he had his pants on from the early morning. Kat stayed in bed for a few moments before she decided to get up.  Before too long she felt a weird feeling in her stomach and she hugged her gut.  She slowly got up and headed toward an extra compartment used for bathing and washing, complete with a bathtub probably left over from the attack.  She walked and stumbled toward what looked like the sink, leaned over and just held her gut on both sides.  Nearly every substance left in her stomach seemed to spill out into the sink.  She didn't know what was wrong.  She just felt so sick all of the sudden.  After she was done she took a breath and a drink of water.

"What was that all about?" she whispered to herself.

She felt a hand land gently on her shoulder and she turned to see Jack, who had Olivia's crutches in his hands, "Ye all righ', luv?'

Kat stood up straight and put a fake smile on her face, "Just fine.  I guess the rum from last night finally got to me."

"Ye only 'ad two swigs," Jack said not believing her, "I don't even think ye drank any.  Ye were jus' humorin' me."

"You know I can never hold my rum," Kat said pulling herself together and whipping what was left of her last meal from her mouth, "Forget Olivia's crutches?"

"Aye, the celebration is 'bout to begin," he smiled and nodded toward the main hall, "Ye comin'?"

She looked down at Jack's large shirt that she was wearing and how Jack still had no shirt on.  A smirk played on her face and she giggled a little under her breath, "I think that we both need to be fully dressed to attend."

Jack chuckled a little, nodded and wrapped his arms lightly around Kat's waist placing his forehead on hers, "All righ'.  But I be a little hesitant 'bout leavin' ye be, as ye look as enticin' as ye are.  But I'll go along and find a shirt."

"Thank you," she kissed the tip of his nose and smiled, "Who ever said that you couldn't be civilized?"

"I believe tha' be ye, not but jus' over a year ago," he gave a small kiss back on her nose and turned toward the bedroom.

Kat hit him lightly in the arm and watched him grab a shirt that was laying part way out of his bag near the door.  She put herself together and looked for some clothes to wear.  She found a tan colored shirt and black pants.  After a moment or two she also found her boots that were flung to the other side of the room the night before.  She quickly pulled them on and smoothed out her hair.  With another look in the mirror and a deep breath after the feeling in her stomach went away, she stepped out the doorway and down the main hall.

The main room had dramatically changed from the day before.  The room still held the dim lighting, but colorful cloth hung above everyone's head brought a little brightness into the room.  The colorful material covered every nook and cranny of the room.  Making sure that there would be no sad thoughts today.  Today was about celebration.

Children were running around the table to the side were Jack was sitting, brandishing his pistol.  It seemed that there were only six children in all.  Kat couldn't imagine- or didn't want to imagine- how many children actually died in the attack.  She remembered so many more were alive and living in Port Royal when she left.

Kat walked over to Jack and smiled when he looked up, "Feelin' better?"

"Yes much," she looked at the pistol in his hands, "Why do you have your pistol out here with all the children running about?"

"It ain't loaded," Jack argued holding it up to prove his statement, "And it was left out 'ere last nigh'.  Jessie brough' it to me attention."

"And just why was it left out here?" Kat put her hands on her hips and tried to be the intimidating wife.

"Well, ye did want to 'play' last nigh', luv," he winked at her and gave her a smirk.

Kat gave her own smart smirk back, but couldn't hide her blushing.  She smiled at the children that began to clutter around Jack and stared admiring the legendary pirate captain.

"Uncle Jack," Olivia started as she sat down next to him placing her crutches to the side, "Tell us about how you defeated Captain Catterine and saved Kat!"

"Ye 'ave to be more clear on tha', luv," Jack smiled, "I saved her so many times, I can't keep count anymore."

Kat gave another smile and watched as Jack tried his best and began to tell the group of children his exciting tales.  She knew very well that he couldn't just stop at one.  Before he got too far into one of his tales Kat turned toward the different groups piled around the room, enjoying the left behind wine and water that was brought out for the party.  In one corner on the far side of the celebration Kat could see Norrington propping himself up on one of the doorframes.  He was eyeing another group very closely and Kat could see why.

On the other side of the doorway a group of her shipmates were talking and singing pretty loudly as they broke out another batch of rum, and any sight of pirates seemed to upset the new commodore.  She didn't see Anamaria or Charlie in the group and wondered where they could have gone off to.  Away from the crew's group, led by Gibbs, there were two or three groups of adults and young adults talking and chatting about the new celebration.  As she scanned the groups she tried to find Will and Elizabeth Turner, because they were more than likely near Harriet and she was the hostess.  She also had all the knowledge of the celebration's going on.

She finally found Will on the side of the one of the groups talking and joking with some of the other parents, "Morning Will.  Have you seen Harriet?"

"Morning Kat," Will smiled and looked over her shoulder and toward the other groups, "Um, she was here just a moment ago.  She is probably in the food locker with Elizabeth getting the cake ready."

"Food locker?"

"Yeah, we keep the food under lock and key so we wouldn't have to worry about it," Will looked back at her after taking another quick look around the main room.

"Well, tell her I'm looking for her.  I want to know when I can give Olivia her gift."

"All right, when I see her, I'll tell you," Will nodded and went back to meeting and greeting other survivors that had emerged from their rooms.

Kat began to walk around the room again, until she felt a delicate hand touch her arm, "Katerina Benikins?"

She turned around and faced a worn looking woman.  She wasn't as old as she looked; by the way she presented herself and her clothes she couldn't be any older than Kat.  Her blond hair was wrapped into a bun on the top of her head and her green eyes were a little faded.  She looked tired and dilapidated, the days spent down below hasn't helped her to survive.  It looked as though she was barely hanging on to her life essence.  Kat focused her eyes on the woman and tried to recall a face or voice to match her own.

"I'm sorry.  I don't seem to recall," Kat looked at her trying desperately to remember the stranger.

"I don't doubt it.  You were always a pity party at the academy when you were there the few short days, until you went crying home to daddy," the woman said straightening her back.

Suddenly a light went on in Kat's head, "Athena Strenen."

"That's Athena Brenton now," she held up her left hand to show Kat her wedding ring, "Well, I guess you could say Widow Brenton thanks to the scum that destroyed the city."

"I'm sorry," Kat bowed her head, "James was a wonderful boy when I met him.  I bet he turned out to be wonderful man."

"He did.  But now he is dead thanks to his kind," she nodded over towards Jack.

"What about his kind?" Kat crossed her arms over her chest, becoming a bit defensive against her former polishing school classmate.

"What about you Katerina?" Athena ignored Kat's question and began to circle her a bit, "I see that the classes didn't do you any good and that you have in fact risen from the grave sort of speak.  I heard that you were long dead.  Killed by the same crew that attacked the port if I'm not mistaken."

"What does that have to do with anything, Athena?  I'm here now and I'm willing to help.  So is Jack," Kat still held her defensive position in front of her.

"Jack is its name is it?" she turned her head quickly from Jack back to Kat a few times, "Last I heard you tried to run off with a pirate.  Loved him, even.  Is that true Benikins?"

Kat clenched her eyes shut as the name repeated in her mind over and over for a few moments.  She always hated the nickname.  Athena would constantly rub it in her face at polishing school when they were younger.  That her mother was dead, along with her brothers, how it was all her fault, and that her daddy didn't love her anymore and that's why she was sent there in the first place.  It wasn't the happiest of days of her childhood.

Kat took a breath and opened her eyes to face Athena.  She smiled a little and held up her left hand, "Actually, it's now Kat Sparrow."

Kat watched as Athena's face turned to surprised as she focused on the rings on Kat's finger.  Kat couldn't help but relish in the fact that Athena was finally suffering from the knowledge that she had something better.  And still had a husband; even though when she ran the thought through her mind again, it sounded awful.

"So you did do it," Athena said under her breath, "You married a pirate and gave up you fortune."

"I followed my heart.  Money has nothing to do with it," Kat said putting her hand back down, "I would think you would understand, being married once."

"Thrice," Athena corrected her.

"What?"

"James was my third husband," Athena said in a somewhat proud voice, "This time, I actually achieved in receiving a fortune."

"You still don't understand the concept of love, do you Athena?  You never did.  All you cared about was how you shone in the public eye and how you could push your way to the top," Kat growled in a low voice.

"It worked, didn't it?" Athena snapped and let a smile replace her scowl, "And if I see our situations clearly… it seems that I have the fortune and you have a boat."

Kat's eyes grew with intense hatred and she slapped Athena hard across the face, nearly throwing her down to the floor, "How dare you speak that way about the Pearl!"

"It's just a bloody boat, Katerina.  And you know it.  You have always known it.  A pirate boat even," Athena propped herself up on one of the walls and looked back at Kat and then over her shoulder, "Just like your husband is a bloody, filthy and disgusting piece of scum; no better than to be under the surface of my boot.  If even that."

Kat was about to lunge at her when Jack caught her around the waist from behind, "Kat, calm down, luv."

Kat struggled against Jack trying to reach out and tear Athena to ribbons, "She insulted not only the Pearl, but you too Jack.  I can't let her get away with that!  Let me go!"

"She don't understand wha's she sayin', luv.  She lost someone too, no doubt.  Emotions run haywire when tha' 'appens.  Now come on and sit down with me.  Olivia's 'bout to open gifts."

"All right Jack," Kat relaxed a bit in his arms and then started to walk toward where Jack was sitting with the children.

"That's right, listen to your good for nothing husband, Benikins," Athena called out behind her, "You'll need to learn how to follow orders when you find yourself in a jail cell one day!"

Kat squinted her eyes and bit and kept walking.  She was not going to let her get to her this time.  Not this time.

"So wha be her story?" Jack said once he sat Kat back down.

Kat looked at him in the face and let out a very long breath; "She and I were in the same polishing school when I was sixteen.  She was the best-known girl in the school… until I showed up.  The consequences of my departure from my father were a bit over dramatized and the other children picked up on it.  I became famous over night.  She didn't like that."

"She try to insult you?"

"No, not at first," Kat stared into a candle burning nearby, "She actually became my friend, but not under the normal circumstances.  She tried to find out the whole story and spread it.  It was amazing how much information she got out of me on the first day.  And then, the talk started… and I was sent back home.  The teachers and advisors didn't want an arsonist in their midst.  Only then did I see her for what she truly was.  And now, I'm a bit more cautious of telling people my thoughts and secrets."

"Except from me, of course," Jack gave a small smile.

"Of course," Kat smiled back and wrapped her arms around him, "Why can't we ever get a normal life?"

"A pirate's life is never normal, luv," he looked down at her face and swiped some of her hair away, "Ye knew tha' comin' into it."

"I know, I just wish it were," Kat sighed and heard an excited breath come from Olivia as she opened her first present, "We should join in."

Jack nodded and they headed over just in time to see Olivia open Kat's gift.  Inside a small box there was a small gold pendent with a little sapphire placed in the middle.  Olivia hugged Kat, thanked her, put it on immediately and showed it off to everyone that gathered.  Kat could have sworn she heard Athena mutter something about it being looted.  Even though it was true, Kat didn't appreciate the comment; she worked hard to get the pendant for Olivia.

After the last gift from Jessie, a bag of sweets that he had been saving for quite a while, Olivia started to shout for the cake.  As Elizabeth began to emerge with the cake covered in white frosting a loud breaking noise came from the stairwell leading to the outside.

Norrington, Will and Jack looked up the stairwell and quickly closed the inner, thick wooden doors.  Harriet grabbed Olivia in her arms and held on to her.

"Please, not again," she whispered.

Kat turned to her and then looked at Jack and Will, "What is it?"

Will came back over and grabbed Emily and Jessie, with Elizabeth not too far behind, "They found us."

Kat jumped up and began to follow him after Jack caught up, "What are we going to do?"

Will set Jessie down on the ground and gave Emily over to Elizabeth, "The tunnels lead to different sections.  More rooms and food are set further back into the tunnels.  I want you and Elizabeth to take the women and children back into the tunnels.  There you will lock yourselves in and stay there until we come for you."

"I don't know the way," Kat said.

"But I do," Elizabeth stepped forward, "Women and children come with me."

Will looked at Elizabeth and they gave each other a kiss before leaving, "Don't leave me now Will."

"I promise," he ran his hand through her hair and turned toward the doors with a new rifle and sword at his side.

Kat turned to Jack and gave him a tight hug, "I want to stay and fight.  But I already know that the answer is no, and there is no way I can change that, is there?"

"Ye know me all too well," Jack smiled down at her, "Ye take care of Harriet now, she needs you."

"I need you," she pleaded.

"I'll come back for you," he promised, lifting her chin to meet her eyes.

"I expect you in bed by eleven at the latest," Kat said smiling, "And I don't want to hear the excuse, 'I'm sorry, luv.  I was havin' too much fun fightin' the undead.'"

Jack chuckled a little, "I won't be late."

Kat reached on her tiptoes and gave Jack a kiss on the lips, trying to hold on as long as she could before she had to let him go, "Be careful.  If you get yourself killed, I might just have to kill you."

She ran off down the hall following the group of women and children, with Elizabeth in the lead.

"Ye know wha ye be doin', Will?" Jack asked, sitting down beside him.

"Let my ask you a question, Jack," Will said laoding his rifle.

"Wha's tha'?"

"Have a ever given you a reason not to trust me?" Will gave him a smirk and clicked his rifle to a ready position.  Jack smiled back and readied his pistol.  It was going to be a long fight.

A/N: Hey everyone.  It might be almost eleven-thirty at night, but I did it.  There it is, the fifth chapter.  Isn't it lovely?  I'm sorry it took so long.  I've been having some really big problems.  I would have had it up earlier this week, but the school's jazz teacher died this last Friday and I've been distraught.  And then I got into a typing mood.  Good for you guys.  Anyway, I should go and do my homework, update later.  And plase review, I need some good news these days.