A/N: Thanks again for the support! I think I've said it before, but it is so warming to hear, as I like to grow as a writer.

While we are at it - please have mercy on me with this chapter!

Well, I hope you'll like it at least a little bit... :-)

Happy readings!

Married

Chapter VI

Moon River

Dressed up to her toes. Oh yes, even for such a small task as going to the market square. Usually as a novice, she would sneak out undercover and go for a quick walk. Sensation of freedom always entranced her. That is what a market square means for her. And also why she now is too torn about the matter. Because now she is stuck, even if she is free. Is that not the worse kind? Appealing free yet more stuck than ever, as a dog in a leash. Sí, that is precisely what she is.

In such an extravagant home, probably no one shot her a care in the world of being a prisoner of her own life. Perhaps many people were, in different formations. Maybe this is stupid too.

She is the one who gave Hans the idea of them going to the market square. She, for the sake of associating that with freedom - and Hans, accepting the offer for the cause of them giving an appearance in London. He urged many times of how they could make a first impression, but most of all that they shall blend in. To notify that Hans is nervous is an understatement. He is. As much as the two had been bickering behind the staff's back, he understands there must occur a miracle for them to be around one another. Even so, he does get a glimpse of kinder happenings between them. And for that matter, he must agree that they do behave in front of people. Pretty much everyone but himself. They are masters at wearing a false smile, pretending to be happy with the situation. They are. In a sense, Hans can understand why Jack Sparrow and this Angelica Teach had been chosen. They are masters at what they do. Hans just need to guide them, direct them in a harsh way to never end up in a situation where all this would be to no avail. And most of all, he needs to keep them apart whenever behind closed doors or else hell breaks loose.

The fact that Angelica has begun to come with proposals is just a fantastic progress. Who could have thought of that scenario?

Even if Frances scares Jack to death, he wonders if it would not have been a better idea to bring her along as well. For once, it was Hans that urged for her to remain at home with the nursemaid, insisting that wealthy noble people never would care for a child themselves, and it would mean a whole entourage joining them. He believed it would look bad, for a first impression and just wanted them to fool the population and any prying eyes that sought any new gossip to spread. He needed a good reputation to go from ear to ear, and by doing so - they needed to do this alone.

Which means that as Jack stands outside a carriage, he manages to sneak a bit of rum in between when no staff member watches. When Angelica finally arrives, like what feels like twenty hours later… she is dressed up to her toes to say the least.

Well now is she not a princess.

Aye, she may look good. Jack can admit as much. However it would be too much fabric for his taste anyhow. His eyes travel further down.

Alright, that cleavage though…

When she knowingly meets his eye, he blossoms into an innocent grin and gestures for her inside the carriage. Like a true gentleman, now giving one hundred for this act of being a wedded couple, he steadily grabs her hand to assist her inside. He can read her hidden expression of bafflement, but as she has her back against all others, they miss it.

When she is inside, he somewhat swings himself in, causing Hans' breath to hitch back at the porch, restraining himself from face palming at the motion.

As soon as they are inside and it starts rolling, the both of them move aside to have space between them. Angelica stares out of her window and Jack decides to believe there is something extremely interesting outside his window as well. It brings them about almost to the square before Angelica breaks the silence.

"So, how are we going to do this?"

"Say, we be supposed to give 'em an impression," Jack smirks. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, the legend - the only. No one leaves me without a mark, love."

With rolling eyes, Angelica gives up and returns to looking out her window. What was she thinking? This is useless!

Jack notices it. Is it not too typical of her to always neglect his proposals? But she, oh she would open her mouth here and there - letting out utterly stupid bloody ideas like going to the market square? Dressed up like two infernal cupcakes to fool half the Londoners?

Aye, that makes more sense for her?

He peers at her. Why is she so hard to work with?

But he does want the Pearl. His whole life he has fought for her. Lost her, regained her, several times. She belongs to him as much as he belongs to her. He needs to do anything to retrieve it. Just for one last time. He has a few quests to finish before facing his own funeral. Leaving a good trademark for all eternity still echoes in the back of his mind. Leaving a legacy so grand no history book can refrain from it. The one and true captain of The Black Pearl must be literally engraved in stone before his last breath is taken.

The carriage has come to a stop and he can see the servant walk around it to open to the door for them. He quickly leans over to Angelica, who winces by his close proximity.

"Love?" He is suddenly very serious and not so jest spirited as usual. She knows of this at once and therefore stays silent with a penetrating expression. "I won't lose the Pearl."

The slightly growing frown tells him she does not understand.

"I won't lose the Pearl," he repeats. "Which means, Angelica - that if ye so have to kiss me constantly for two hours; you gonna' do it. Savvy?"

Her mouth hangs agape.

Jack steps out of the carriage with a smile, turns around and bitterly eyes her. He reaches out his hand for her and almost snatches her down to him. She ends up in his embrace and pushes him away, clearly upset of him commanding her.

She is smiling but he can tell she inwardly wishes to shoot him a death glare, or kill him straight away. How can she speek while holding that false smile?

"You're going to regret saying that, you bumpkin."

"Why, ye in for doing that?"

"Never," she is quick to retort. "You are my so-called wealthy husband, and I'm going to use that fact for all I care."

He shuts her up.

"Me?" His finger rests on her lips dangerously. However from a distance, it looks seductively. Slowly, intensely, he leans into her, silently hears her hitching breath as he ignores her mouth for her ear, to whisper.

"Ye goin' to be up all nights forward, carrying Franny-girl until sunrise - and I will sit there, enjoying my rum, watching."

His smile is genuinely taunting when he leans back to stand straight. Angelica though is about to explode. The idea of grabbing a nearby sword from a passing London inhabitant tempts her more than anything right now. But instead she fights with all willpower she has to not kill Jack. She plasters a smile, appears happy to whoever watches them and with care puts her arms around his neck, fingers digging into his hair as they play at the back of his head.

"I hate you so much the one-legged man almost appears angelic," she speaks through her wide and charming smile.

Jack leans down again, now pausing close to her, his forehead almost against hers. Slightly heavier breathing and an intense look. Him challenging her at any level he can.

This is meant for him to not only show off them being in love.

Not.

But also him teasing her.

Moreover as it turns out, she wears this hungry expression of a lioness ready to attack. Whether that be to kill him or capture his lips, he does not know. And he never will find out because he eventually feels how he begins to react physically and backs away. He hears her muffled groan and feels almost sweaty.

With a crooked arm, he offers her to hold onto. She does. He brings her to a fruit stand, and she picks a few. And as they stroll around, as the happy couple they are, she manages to get her hands on a few fabrics and the fruit is long eaten. Jack himself found some stupid gold decoration that was supposedly the latest fashion. But it was also quite a salesman but he did not care less. There are even a few curious neighbors that introduce themselves. Easy to spot. The way nobility dressed… And to be frank, Jack and Angelica were acting no less. They blended in perfectly in their lavish clothing. Small talk, but Angelica kept on the act of gushing over her husband and he would return the act by kissing her hand, hugging her close and sharing a laughter with her. It seemed contagious as most seemed to leave a bit happier than they were beforehand. And many invitations to parties were already thrown their way.

Wonderful.

They were making progress.

As he strolls, Angelica still holding his arm, he uses his other free hand to bite an apple. They make a stop beside a diamond stand and Jack fumbles up his wallet. If they are about to flash themselves, this may be it.

"Ye know, love, what Hans be suggesting?"

"No."

"That I take on a mistress."

"What?" She lets go of him, now barely able to keep the act together. Nervously she scans the area around her, scared that someone would have noticed her questioning reaction. "Why?"

This is surely Jack's own ego speaking and has nothing to do with Hans. Or at least, she finds it hard to think of Hans to trouble their situation furthermore of what he already has.

"Aye." He is truly really curious to watch her reaction. Hans suggested telling her, but Jack wanted to do it himself. Back at the house he had found a golden heart that was rather easy to open. And a picture of a man was inside. Aye, he never should have peeked, but he did. And he knew.

Frankly, he somehow expected her to move on. Perhaps a part of him believed there was a chance she did not. But to have knowledge of the fact that she did, actually hurt him more than he had thought it would.

"Sounds… estúpido. We're supposed to be a happy family, remember?" she is truly taken by surprise.

Jack licks his lips before speaking. She has hurt him badly in the past, she has now and probably will in the future. Perhaps that is why he enjoys doing this.

"All aristocratic men have one. And if we were to blend in among them, darling, I need to get one."

Angelica swallows and keeps staring at him, disapproval for this idea. "I don't think you should be seen with anyone but me as long as we do this. Is this truly all and only Hans idea?" she inquires.

Jack smirks. "Sounds familiar."

He has heard and seen her act of envy many times before.

"It was grander," Jack announces and cannot stop being amused by her reaction. "Think I've heard that before. From this lady… Angelica? Jealous?"

Snorting, she approaches the last part to the stand and gets a view over the diamonds. It is a must to get rid of her thoughts of Jack and keep her focus. He just tends to be this master to distract her. She only wants them to do this as fast as possible. Getting by and done with it once and for all. Separate ways and she will never ever have to face this selfish idiot ever again.

When he approaches, he is proud-stomached. Standing as if he owns the world.

However she knows just how to crash it.

"The love of my life," Jack presents to the salesman and avoids Angelica's glance. "So give her the grandest diamond you've got."

For a moment, Jack watches with pride to how the diamond is handed to his 'wife'. He smiles as if in victory and is about to leave.

First of all, he made progress in getting invitations to events.

Second of all, he managed getting back at Angelica for hurting him.

Third of all, he enjoyed showing off to her and show her what she misses out of by not choosing him as partner instead of that... Armando-boy.

Not that he cares.

Angelica however examines the diamond. Very carefully and thoughtfully. It is beautiful, but she will not give Jack any credit. Not after everything he had just done to her. How he treats her.

"Sounds familiar," she suddenly announces, speaking up and causing Jack to stop tracks. He frowns.

What did sound familiar?

He has his back against her and tenses. She is repeating the words he just told her.

Slowly he turns around, and she holds up the diamond for him to see. "But it was grander," and nonchalantly she lets it slip inside her pocket.

He has never given her a bigger diamond than that before? It was the biggest he ever had bought - to anyone.

"Think I've heard that before..," she continues.

Heard what before?

Angelica smiles calmly.

"From this man…," she continues. Now suddenly Jack does not enjoy this anymore. "Armando?"

Oh, she did not.

And divalike, she passes him, throwing him a look as if in pity.

"Jealous?"

So, was this market square event a success or failure?

Probably both.

For Hans' part, they indeed succeeded. They were charming, everybody they met loved them.

But oh my, when Hans had seen them through the windows. How Jack had slammed the carriage door closed in front of Angelica, Hans had to shoo away every staff member. They could simply not be seen like that. But for that night, he had been firm on Angelica getting some sleep inside the bedroom and offered Jack to stay in a guest room with a bottle of rum. The nursemaid would take care of Frances and in the morning, he would have to make a drastic change to redirect them.

Barely any sunlight before Hans has found his way to the guest room, briskly knocking. This must happen before any servant awakes and will start their working day, finding Jack and Angelica sleeping in separate rooms. No tension between the two shall be revealed and Hans is therefore there. This is precisely why he must be cautious of keeping a very close eye on them.

Grumpiness, bitter eyes and a bottle of rum, sum up Jack in a gathering of words. To tell the least, even if irritation streaming through him, he has not slept this well for a long time. Completely enjoying his time in a bed for once. The floor does get uncomfortable already after a few hours. If he is about to sleep on that floor for much time to come, even Hans realized he must add another comfier furniture in there.

Trying to make Hans reconsider the ideas of a morning meeting by ignoring him, this only results in a bell ringing in his room. Hans stands there with the golden item in his hand, smirking at Jack's expression.

"For the love of..," he mutters and throws the cover off him. His attire from yesterday is still on, but his coat hangs over a chair. "Give me a moment, aye."

Hans nods and leaves, ready to try for the Seville lady.

"No," she mumbles and sandwiches her head in pillows, a hand tightly keeping it in place as if to cover both her hearing and sight from Hans. She too has no urge of waking up that early, and particularly not to meet up with Hans or Jack. Of the three suggestions she cannot decide what is worse.

Persuasively, Hans does manage to get her out of there, also dressed up. She wobbles in tiredness downstairs. Hans has been pacing back and forth, hands clasped and Jack is barely awake in his chair across the table. When Angelica arrives to sit down beside him, although now with a chair in between, they do not acknowledge each other. Hans notices.

"What now?" he wonder aloud.

For the first time, bitterly the two Teagues glance at each other. Jack appears upset and takes nonchalantly a swig from his bottle of rum and Angelica folds her arms defensively. None ready to talk.

Continuing, Hans goes on.

"Rumor even reached my very own ear, of the enlightening couple that just moved here. Everyone loves you," he informs. "So how do you put out that act, yet are this way behind closed doors?"

Now Jack decides to speak. "This be our job," he points out matter of factly. Mostly to end this discussion. He is not up to analyze his relationship with Angelica and prefer ending this before they dig any deeper. "Aye?"

"Yes, Mr Sparrow," Hans retorts. "However I would find this much easier if the two of you would get along somewhat more even privately."

"Oh, we don't," Angelica also joins the competition of putting an end to this meeting. "And we won't." She puts punctuation to her statement.

Hans' bony finger points at a letter. With a quick glance, Jack can tell it is the invitation letter to New Year's Eve.

"New Year's Eve is coming up in a few days," Hans states. "And I want you prepared. You will make an ecstatic impression, sweep people off the rag and you will be the definition of getting along."

Now Jack too folds his arms.

Suddenly Hans spills. "Why don't you give each other a hug, forgiving whatever misfortune you are putting up against one another?"

At first, Angelica gives the impression of him to please repeating himself. That she must have heard him incorrectly. Jack reflects this gesture.

Angelica shakes her head. "Eres increíble," she looks at Hans.

As if on cue, Frances' weeping reaches from her nursing room and for once Angelica is thankful for the child. She jumps out from her chair and cannot wait to get out of there. Excusing herself by plain curtsy, she hurries out.

Truth be told, Jack also felt relief when hearing Franny-girl. It meant that he probably could wrap this sort of meeting up and head back to his bed. Although Hans seems to have a different thinking. He views over Jack in a way that makes Jack pause his actions. He is free to leave but remains, wanting an answer to that gloating face.

"Go on," he urges Hans. Whatever this bony asparagus wimp wants to spill, he better be fast or Jack leaves.

"You do know, Mr Sparrow, that you are going to have to kiss her."

For a brief moment he thinks of what Hans just said. That Hans somehow must have messed up with the language called English and uttered all the wrong words in the wrong order. Then he fully spins back around and walks back in his confident flamboyant style. "Ye were saying?"

"New Year's Eve," Hans speaks. "Every man, even the ones with a mistress - do kiss their wives. Something you would have known if you were married for real."

Jack looks not the slightest entertained. With that, Hans is done and Jack watches closely as the man leaves.

Kiss?

Kiss Angelica?

Lord, he may kill Hans when this is over.

He raises the bottle again to bring it to his lips, but pauses.

Well, whether he likes it or not.

New Year's Eve is only getting closer.

A/N: Sooooo... here we go!