Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. Chapter title is a poem by William Blake.
Chapter 2: To Morning
She rushed downstairs and outside, slowing down as she got closer. Jack's back was to her, and he seemed to be losing a battle to young Peter as Sheila looked on, holding her hands behind her back against a tree. She was yelling, cheering Jack on against the evil Pilfering Pete. She saw Camille and was about to cry out, but Camille put her finger to her lips and got behind the tree.
"Hurry up and untie me, we've got to escape off the ship," Sheila whispered.
Camille nodded. "All right. We'll take the captain's lifeboat."
But they were overheard by the two dueling pirates. Jack turned around and feigned surprise at seeing the redhead. "Aha, a stowaway! I knew it!" he said, putting the fake sword up to Camille's throat.
She gasped. "Oh please Captain, don't hurt me," she begged.
He cocked an eyebrow, and she hoped that he would keep this clean for the sake of the children. He shook his head. "I'm afraid I must, love. You have interfered with the fight between me and my sworn enemy. For that, there is only one penalty. You will walk the plank."
"But, Captain-" she began.
"Silence! Now, walk!" he commanded, pushing her backwards.
But Peter poked Jack in the back with his wooden sword. "Not so fast, Sparrow. Miss Quartermaine goes free," he said boldly.
Jack turned around slowly. "I should've known," he said, narrowing his eyes. "In league with her, it all makes sense now. But you'll never get the map from me, Pete. I'll carry it to the bottom of the ocean with me."
"Peter, Sheila!" Annie's voice called. They both took off, running across the large yard.
"Peter, don't run with a sword!" Camille called after him. She squeaked as Jack lifted her up and spun her around. "Good morning, Captain," she said before kissing him.
"Mornin', love," he said before gently setting her down.
"I'm so glad to see that you're in a good mood," she said, burying her face in his dreadlocks.
He held her in his arms, not afraid of who might see them. "Of course I'm in a good mood, what reason do I have not to be?"
She swooned, taking in the smoky smell that his jacket had, even though she had rarely seen him around smoke. Seeing him like this had taken a small burden off her heart, and she hoped that it would all be taken off when he saw his ship again.
Camille had always been intrigued by Jack, and had fallen in love with him from the very beginning when she convinced herself that it was impossible. Seeing Jack down really upset her, especially since she still knew so little about him. He always came to her when he was depressed over his loss of the Pearl, but he had never really expressed himself in words when he did so.
She took his hat off, placing it on her own head. "I found something that I think you'll like," she said playfully.
He looked at her, enjoying the coy grin that spread across her face. He kept his arm around her waist as they made their way into the house. He was always very entertained at the way Camille perceived the world. She was always so innocent to him. "Now, I am wonderin' what it is that you're so convinced I will enjoy," he replied smoothly.
She couldn't hold back anymore, she had to tell him. They were just outside the back doors when she turned around, holding his hand. "Well, it's made of wood…" she pretended to think of a description, "…it's very big, and the entire King's Navy should be stomping on their wigs right about now."
The look on Jack's face was amazing. He stared at her, with almost a frown on his face for a moment until he could speak. "You stole the Pearl?" he choked.
"Ana Maria and Will took it. It's not stealing because it wasn't Norrington's to begin with," she corrected. "But in a sense, yes, we did get it back."
There were very few moments in Jack Sparrow's life when he had actually known what it was like to experience the warmth that was true happiness, and since colliding with Camille these instances had grown. He still wasn't very good at identifying what he was feeling. He felt his body go numb, and he wanted to sweep Camille off her feet and not let her leave the bedroom for days.
The expression on his face could still not fully be understood. "Now why would you do a thing like that?" He knew Camille had come up with the plan.
"Jack, I know how much that ship means to you. Well, perhaps I don't, but I do know that it means everything to you. Plus, it wouldn't have done any good just sitting in that port. The Navy isn't going to do anything with a pirate ship," she reasoned.
Jack sighed. Right again. This woman deserved the world, and he was still having trouble believing that he had his Pearl back. "Where is it, then?" he asked, his eyes lighting up like a child.
"I'm not entirely sure. But not to worry, Ana and Will know exactly where it is."
"Camille!" said little Cadence, running up and tripping over Camille's skirts. She looked up, making her way behind the large dress. "Don't tell Daddy," she said just before an out of breath Will entered the room.
"Have either of you seen Cadence?" he asked, looking disheveled. Camille then noticed that he was somewhat soaked, and from the feeling of the bottom of her dress so was his daughter.
A large grin spread across Jack's face. "I imagine you've lost your child again, mate?"
Will shook his head. "She doesn't like bathing, and I can't figure out why. I've never shown her otherwise."
"Perhaps she's afraid of the water," Camille suggested, trying not to laugh as she felt Cadence's little arms gripping her dress. "Whatever the reason, I'm sure that you can find her if you just follow the little wet footprints," she said, stepping to the side to cover them up.
Will shook his head, causing some water to run out of his hair. "Yes, I suppose so." He turned around and began searching for small puddles. "And Jack, stop that grinning. It worries me."
This made Jack's grin grow even bigger. He looked like he was going to burst out laughing any minute. "I told him about the Pearl," Camille explained.
Jack nodded wildly. "Yes, I am a bit ecstatic."