New Beginnings: Chapter 18

In the early dawn light, Will and Elizabeth crept down the stairs. They had to get the other three out of the house. They heard Dani's parents talking about turning Jack in.

"Dani," Elizabeth whispered inches from her face.

"No," she mumbled as she turned and put her face into Jack's shoulder.

"Jack," Will said. "Dani's father knows its you."

"What?" Jack said as he bolted upright, letting Dani's head fall onto the wooden floor.

"Ow."

He jumped up with Norrington quickly following. He looked down at Danielle on the floor.

"Why aren't you moving? Get up! Get up!"

"Why?" Dani moaned.

"Because your dad knows about me and you and us."

The thought finally registered in Dani's head. She panicked and was standing instantly.

"What have to go," she said breathlessly.

The group escaped quickly and quietly into the morning light. They were still exhausted and now starving. But they were running and couldn't stop.

"Can we stop somewhere for food?" Elizabeth asked as she held her stomach. She was so hungry that her stomach had started to hurt and make angry gurgling noises. She thought the whole world could hear it.

"We need to go straight to the king," Norrington answered.

"I think we should get Liz some food," Will said.

"She hungry, James," Dani told him. "Pregnant women need to eat."

Norrington sighed and looked at Jack. Jack shrugged back and held out his arm to motion for Dani to lead the way.

They stopped and got Elizabeth some food. Jack tried to hide from the people that passed, but only made himself more noticeable. He didn't want someone else to recognize him, but that wasn't really working.

"I guess I don't understand how your father knows about Jack," Will said as he moved his head to see over the opposite shoulder. They were all on lookout while Elizabeth ate.

"I…oh," Dani started as she nibbled a piece of fruit that she took from Elizabeth's plate.

"What 'oh'?" Elizabeth asked over a mouthful of food.

"I said Jack's name last night."

"What?" The other three shouted.

"You said, 'Good night, Jack Sparrow.' I remember."

"How could I be so stupid? Dani asked herself out loud. "This is all my fault."

"We'll go see the king and get this all straightened out," Will said trying to be optimistic.

"Don't you get it?" Dani shouted. "The king isn't going to care about bloody pirates," she said after lowering her voice. "As much as I would love to think that we'll all live happily ever after, happy endings are just stories that haven't ended yet. They don't exist. And they would certainly not happen for people like me."

"You're wrong," Elizabeth said as she stood. "Happy endings can happen. And they will."

"Ladies," Norrington interrupted.

"What?" Dani and Elizabeth answered together.

"We need to find a hotel room. We can't be out today. People will get suspicious."

"We can't afford that," Dani said.

"I know," Norrington answered her back.

"We're going to have to trick them," Jack said. "But don't you government officials get free things?"

"No," Norrington said. "Where did you hear that?" he laughed.

"Then what's the point of working for the king?"

In Port Royal, Cutler Beckett had escaped his prison cell. He was currently a day away fro England. Being a stowaway and sleeping with rats was not his coup of tea, but he was willing to take drastic measures to sabotage Danielle and Jack.

A day or so after Dani and Jack had left Port Royal, Beckett broke out. He strangled the guard who brought in his food and stole his cutlass. He was able to fight his was out quietly and escaped into the night.

He had come upon a ship that he hoped was destined for England and made his was to the hold.

They would all pay.

Norrington held Dani's arm and walked her into the hotel lobby. 'Pretend to be a married couple,' Will suggested. Will and Elizabeth would follow. Jack would then climb the lattice work on the back of the building. In the morning, they would all sneak out in some way or another.

Norrington and Dani requested a room at the back of the building, needing to see the view of the setting sun. After all, he was a commodore. In reality, it had easy access for the third guest they would be receiving in their room.

The five passed out in their respective rooms as soon as they were checked in, they were exhausted. Tomorrow they would see the king.

A/N: I know, bad. Not enough length or action. I'm so tired. Please review. I hoped someone liked it.