This goes along with my other Pirates fic but as a prequel. For a heads-up, Jack is married in it and this is in response to a challenge fic to include a flowering tree from another board.
As always, I own nothing but the plot.
Jack Sparrow stood with his feet planted firmly apart, his cutlass held loosely in his right hand ready to parry if the need arose which, looking at the fire in his opponent's eyes, might happen at any moment. He shook his head in a defiant way, knowing the question that was going to be asked.
"I want to land there."
"There?" He asked, pointing with the tip of his sword to the shoreline just off the starboard side of the ship.
"There. Yes."
"Love—"
"Yes?"
"You're not going to let me win this one, are you?"
"No."
"Lizbeth—"
"That's not my name."
He growled deep in his throat before continuing, "I realize that's not your given name but aren't I, your husband, entitled to giving you a pet name, darlin'?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful." Sheathing his weapon, he took his eyes off of her for a moment, "Now, Lizbeth—"
Promptly, her weapon was poised at his throat. "Except that one."
"Easy there, Love." He looked up and locked eyes with his wife. He might not win the fight over landing, but he was going to win this fight. "Well, I'm not calling you by your real name."
"And why not?"
"I'd rather not be reminded every time I call to you, my wife, to be reminded of the woman who got me eaten alive by the same name. Savvy?"
"Oh." She finally placed her weapon back at her side.
"Yeah."
"That still doesn't change the fact that I want to land. There."
He waved his arms in a frustrated, frantic manner before continuing, "Why? Why do you insist on landing in that particular spot?"
"The trees. They're pretty."
"You want to risk life and limb, possible imprisonment thus leading to a trip to the gallows for yours truly and probably the necks of every man, woman, and child on this ship because you want to stop and smell the pretty flowers on the trees?"
"Um…And fruit. We could use some fruit."
"Flowers and fruit aren't on a tree at the same time, Love."
"Oh. Are you sure?"
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, Love. Of course I'm sure."
She narrowed her eyes at him, disbelief coloring her to the core before she turned on her heel and stormed across the deck.
"Love," he paused, waiting for her to turn around. "Be ready to go ashore in an hour."
Squealing, she rushed over to him and kissed his cheek before dashing back across the deck and into their cabin.
Gibbs, who had been watching the exchange like the rest of the crew from the fringes, walked over to his captain. "Course correction, Cap'n?"
"Do as you see fit, Gibbs. I'm going to…go…look for some things...over in that general direction."
"Aye, Cap'n. You did what you thought best."
Jack eyed his first mate and shot off, "By giving in? Is that what you mean? I'll have you know that shore leave is just what I had in mind!"
"Of course, Cap'n! Of course!"
Jack sighed and rolled his eyes, knowing he had lost. "There'll be no living with her after this."
"Aye Cap'n."
Hope you liked it! review? please!
