A/N: Thank you again, so much, for the kind words! :-) Truly, it is, as mentioned before, it means the world to me. I want to grow as a writer so I appreciate the support so much. And I feel so grateful that you keep sticking around and read my work. When you reach out and connect. Means the world! :-)

Hope you still enjoy this ride of this story and Happy Readings!

(If you are an "old" reader, the chapters are "new" from 9+).

And some sort of a "shoutout" I guess. But have you read "Louder than words" on Wattpad? If this author stumbles across this message here, I literally beg you to update. Read the story this summer and re-read it now. It is one of my favorite stories and I go absolutely nuts over the fact that is not updated (yet). So please, give us more because the story is amazing.

CHAPTER XIV

It's a Sin

Married

Mentioning the saying of how Frances is the one turning the Teagues' life upside down, she certainly did. Even if she may never have carried those intentions, she definitely wore a magic power in her presence. That is for sure. In many matters, for that information. But the major part, twisting them around as a sudden hasty wind changing a course of a ship, is what her first word will cause.

A major thunderstorm in them.

A shift of their minds, both together.

However it will take some time for her though. As if she for some reason holds onto the word, cherishing it within her and waits for the most appropriate time to try it. To try to say it, pronounce it and most of all - claim it.

It is mostly Angelica that sits with the tiny girl, trying to have her mimic her overly slow and articulative words. She speaks carefully and tries her hardest to make the girl just say something.

Little Lady Frances Teague, nevertheless, seems more happy and content just wobbling around on her tiny legs. Laughing happily as she gets hunt down by the nursemaid. Often she would run to Angelica that would lift her up in the air. And sometimes she would even dare running up to Jack, pulling in his pants to gain his somewhat harder attention.

Although he tended to refrain from picking the girl up, never wanting to hand her any false signals. When they were all done, he would regardless not be involved with a child anymore. Furthermore, he would usually look for either the nursemaid or Angelica, any person in fact, that would be nearby. In desperate cases when Franny-girl had run away from either woman, and find Jack to hug his leg, he could be desperate enough to spit a command at a passing servant and even in worst case - Hans himself.

Jack's shooing was gone though, thankfully. Angelica had given him a hard time, telling him off for all she cared and he did see her point after all, for once. So to shift his mindset from trying to escape the girl, he decided to instead bend down and look the girl in the eye, deeply wondering if the girl had any idea of what was going on. If she understood even the slightest thing that he nor Angelica were her parents.

Probably not.

Or maybe she did.

Because the girl is definitely an intelligent little missy, he can tell. Whenever Jack discreetly, in fact by mistake, passed by a room where Angelica would be, she did notice him. While Angelica would be busy doing something inside the room, and Jack sneakily would hide at the doorway, just eying the missus for the quickest and shortest piece of moment, Frances would happily beam and point at the open door to make Angelica look. And Jack would have to hurry away before she would walk up the doorway and see him.

One evening he had had enough though. And it was during a late supper.

Sitting in front of Angelica, he views how Frances keeps crying over something and Angelica continues to try to feed her something mashed.

The sight is awfully terrible to quite make it comedic. There have been many moments in the past time that would make Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl faint if he knew what he was in for. But the sight right now almost takes the price of it all. A well-worn mommy-wife trying to care for an unhappy demon toddler and Jack himself - probably looking like he just dug himself back up from a grave at the cemetery.

It has been a long day, which he has spent both in the office, reading papers and studying contracts. And the remainder of the late afternoon was spent in town, meeting the other "gentlemen" for a late luncheon. Lots of liquid, betting and ladies. Also meaning, too much energy spent from his part than he had counted on. Bring that with bad sleepless nights of getting kicked to the couch back again, and he wonders what miracle will occur to not make him explode.

When Frances now seems impossible to comfort, he barely knows how much he has left before he too, will implode.

"Please, get her silent."

He tries to focus on his plate and avoid Angelica's glare that she sends across the table.

"You fool," she mutters under her breath. "She's a child."

When Jack drops his fork on purpose on his porcelain plate, causing a thud as result, Frances' miserable wail only grows louder. And Angelica is back trying to comfort the toddler.

"I know!" Jack spits. "Do something," he waves at Angelica. "Or give her to the nursemaid."

From an overly eventful day filled with work, he is at the edge of losing his temper. Something Angelica probably is aware of, but just pushes aside. She keeps trying to calm Frances down and continues to ignore Jack's clenched jaw.

Whatever has been between them, is tense to say the least. Ever since the incident in the dining room, Hans witnessing it all, they had experienced a hard time together. Jack was no longer welcome in their bed and quite forced to sleep on a couch. He had pushed it beside the fireplace though to keep up the warmth through cold nights. In between he did watch Angelica sleep peacefully in the grand bed, soft mattress and a string of jealousy sometimes hit him. Maybe he deserved it though. Or did he really? It is not entirely his own fault they are not on terms. Partly it must be hers.

It takes two people to tango. Is that not how the saying goes?

Angelica lifts the child over and tries to sooth her, her soft voice speaks Spanish loving words as she does her best into trying to make Frances content. However it seems as if nothing can make her pleased. It is at the point of Jack going insane when a servant suddenly appears, excuses himself apologetically and shyly to Angelica. For whatever reason, he needs her for something inside another room. And before Jack has time to react, he realizes she has handed him the screaming missy.

So now he sits there, like a forlorn idiot, with the most unhappy Franny-girl in his lap.

Truly, misplaced.

And that goes for both of them.

Frances seems equally unhappy and surprised of being in Jack's lap as he is having her there.

"Where be the bloody nursemaid?" he mutters as if Frances will answer him. Upon understanding the toddler will not stop screaming her lungs out, he too tries what Angelica did. Bouncing the girl, trying to cheerfully speak in that overly assuring tone.

But no.

Nothing works.

This little lady has definitely set her mind on something Jack nor Angelica cannot fulfill. Whatever that may be.

"It'd be wonderful, ye know, missy - if ye'd like to tell us," he tries to hide his bitterness. "A first word," he mutters. "Would suit well, aye. Speak, now, savvy?"

First when he gives up and aims for his glass of rum, Franny-girl stops. With her eyes, she follows this glass of golden rum and Jack pauses with the wonder if he by now has lost his hearing for good?

Is he deaf now?

For a first reaction he should probably be scared of actually being deaf. But he is not. Oh, no. If deafness is like this, it surely beats hearing Frances' wailing any moment of any day.

Or can Franny-girl really be quiet?

Just to be sure, his own look falls back on her and he sees her closed mouth. Fullest attention is on the glass he is holding as if he holds something precious. Curiously her tiny hand aims for it and it truly pains Jack when he understands he must neglect her this gesture. And as he expects, her watery eyes begin to tear up again.

Oh no, Franny-girl. Dear Frances, do not cry. Do not cry.

Smoothly yet equally in pain, he must spill all rum from the glass over his shoulder, without letting Franny-girl to be able to see, and then he hands her the glass.

And now she has basically stolen his rum too.

For the first time in what feels like a lifetime, he finally, at last, sees a wide smile spread on her lips. Happily she gurgles and tries to bite on the shimmering crystalline glass.

And when she begins to reach for a diamond on one of his rings, he also lets her take it off his finger and play with it. Also something she tries to bite on and taste. As he aims to retrieve it, she hugs it back protectively and gives him a decisive look.

"Ah, ye fancy the bling," he opens and manages uttering the rest before thinking clearly. "Just like your mother."

He bites his tongue and immediately looks towards the open doorway, in fear Angelica might stand there. But she does not. There is no trace of her, no anyone else for that matter.

Carefully before the girl will get bored of the items and go back to wailing, Jack quickly snatches a spoon and with his boot, effectively and nonnoblelike pulls her tiny plate towards them. Before the girl has an opportunity to disobey, he has a spoon full of mashed fruit into her mouth.

She dodges his gesture and her expression reveals nothing but discomfort.

Lord, Frances. Can she make a man more frustrated?

Jack sighs. "Be there any way, darlin', I can make ye happy?"

Frances only poutingly eyes him back.

Looking back at the spoon and Frances, he begins to move it as if it is a ship, bobbing on waves. "Alright, Franny-girl. But 'ere comes the Pearl, ready to strike..," and he gently shoves it to her mouth again.

And for once, she actually accepts the gesture. She does eat.

Ah, so the girl does like ships after all. Maybe there is a tiny little sailor in her.

He continues to feed her though an imaginary ship sailing to her mouth with cargo of food, and fears he enjoys this too much for what he is supposed to.

Yet when he looks up to see the nursemaid stand in the doorway, watching them - he is fast to stand up and hand her Frances.

"If you please," and he just walks past her.

But her tone is flirty. "Naturally, my Lord."

It brings him to stop his tracks for the briefest moment. All to remember Hans words.

Further ahead he can see the painted picture of a ship, clearly the Black Pearl hiding in the background of it. Hans must have had that image hung to remind Jack of his mission. He has not seen it before. And no matter how Jack can see that manipulative side of Hans so clearly, he also must admit that it does come in handy. Carrying enough self awareness, even he understands it can be beneficial with such reminders like an image of the Pearl. Because nothing has better effect on pulling him back to focus than the nightmare of losing his beloved jewel.

So it does work, indeed.

As Jack looks over his shoulder and views the nursemaid holding Franny-girl, he clears his throat. "You do a great job with her, as it were."

The nursemaid smiles and eyes him under her lashes. "You think so, my Lord?"

Again he swallows. "I do."

And then he leaves.

Also, somewhat glad he cannot see Angelica around. He knows just about how much that hot-tempered woman can take before no matter how much she denies it, jealousy brings the best out of her. And nothing did suit him better than heading to the gentlemen's club for the night.

Even if he probably much more urged for a good night's sleep. He also had to have some sort of a break.

Everything went smooth, he managed hitting up with Baron Peter Rothley. Again, shooting around discussions of how to claim islands and which to sell off. Monty and a few other men would join them while others remained skeptical. Jack would of course too, remain skeptical, but now as he was the person forcing the subject upon them all - he did an overly excellent job in the major of selling. Selling ideas. Selling conversations and most of all - selling coming deals.

If he never had taken the path down the road of piracy, a title of being a merchant had probably fit his traits well.

When he arrives back home, he cannot truly wait to just sleep for a long night. While he had been busy with Angelica a few nights ago, she had not really left him any room of a good night's sleep ever since. So to speak, he is facing yet another night on the couch - again.

For being late in the night, he finds himself surprised on Franny-girl being awake. And up, for that matter. Who in charge lets her stroll around at this hour?

Inside the library he decides to relax, just for a moment. With a glass of water he enjoys the softness of the armchair while he musingly thinks about all different ways he can handle Rothley, or anyone actually. With a fireplace sparkling beside him, the tiny face of Frances sneaking inside surely lights up.

With his raised glass, he pauses. The tiny girl fully pushes the door that was ajar to open further. Upon seeing Jack, she immediately smiles happily, showing off the few teeth she has grown. With the same determination only this tiny mini Teague carries, she stumbles towards Jack with her tiny steps.

His first intent is to shoo her away and go look for whomever has let the girl be awake. Which mainly can only be two people; Angelica or the nursemaid.

But upon seeing the girl's happy face, there is something that makes him refrain from it. Instead, he feels very uneasy upon the warmness he begins to feel. There is simply something about her wide and genuine smile.

When she reaches his leg, she hugs it tight for dear life and that is also when Angelica shows up in the doorway. Sort of out of breath. It comes clear that she is the one who has been up with Franny-girl.

"There you are," she breathes and relaxes against the wooden doorway. Relieved she has found the girl. She catches her breath and clears her throat as she eyes Jack. "You've been away?"

"Gentlemen's club," he speaks.

"Mhm."

"Aye."

"It was good?"

"Indeed."

There is a moment of silence, both sort of exhausted from the eventful day. Only sound comes from the sparkling fireplace, cracking the wood put in there and breaks the other peaceful silence.

Frances holds her arms out to gesture for Jack to pick her up and he obeys to her demand. And this, this is the moment that she decides to further engrave herself in the Teague couple as if this is just what she is supposed to do.

With one first word, she will have them around her finger. Even if it by her happens by no such intention.

Because she looks Jack straight into his eyes, points at him and grins.

"Daddy."

Now Jack is about to drop the girl but some fatherly inner push, instead forces him to hold her gently to him. And Angelica in the doorway jerks to turn to them.

It truly looks like Jack has seen the Kraken all over again. His eyes may as well pop.

Frances seems oblivious to what she has done, and just begins to play with the buttons on Jack's shirt. Clearly fascinated by their shimmering bling.

Angelica begins to approach them. "Did she just..?"

Frances pokes Jack's loaded stomach. "Daddy."

With her big pouty eyes, she meets his gaze again and Jack smiles nervously.

This was never supposed to happen. It has gone too far.

And he must push down the feeling this brings him best way he can. He refuses to feel anything.

"No, Franny-girl. I'm not yer-."

"Daddy!" and she keeps grinning.

"Now, 'Gelica, what have we done?" he nervously lifts her to Angelica.

Warmly Angelica snuggles the girl close to her but bends to crouch beside Jack who still, terrified, is sitting in the armchair. "Her first word!" Angelica smiles and points to herself, trying to catch Frances' attention. "Frances, querida. Who am I?" she continues to point to herself. "Who is this person?"

Frances only smiles, now slightly with mischief flickering in her eyes and she points back to Jack. "Daddy."

He quite jumps in his armchair again. Oh no.

Coming back from his petrified state, Jack's ego makes a turn and suddenly begins to grow. He even grabs Franny-girl from Angelica and lifts her back to his lap.

"Franny-girl, who am I?"

And Frances grins widely. "Daddy."

"Can ye say it again, darlin'?"

"Daddy!"

It is truly a precious moment. Yet when Jack finally tears his eyes to look over to Angelica, he can see everything from this enormous pride of Frances first word. But there is also a bit of hurt in there, and he must roll his eyes for her reaction.

"C'mon, love. Ye cannot possibly be offended?"

She eyes him upset but stays silent.

"I promise ye her next word will be more beneficial for ye," Jack smiles and lets Frances bounce in his lap.

Angelica clears her throat and it is apparent she tries to hide whatever she feels of this. This grand offense of not getting called 'Mami' before Jack. And he can somehow understand her. She deserved the parental title more than him. For Jack's idea of taunting her just a bit of how he may be Franny-girl's favorite - he after all understands this is not the time for it.

With a sigh, Angelica eventually stands. "Think it's time to call it a night, sí?"

When Jack also stands, he holds back from handing Frances over as he instead pauses. He grows serious and looks carefully at the open doorway.

"Hans," he begins in a lower tone. "Can never find out about this."

Again, Angelica stays silent. She stands close to him and also glances to the doorframe to see the pitch darkness outside of it.

"He doesn't want us like this," Jack goes on. "Mark my words."

Now understanding what he means, Angelica turns her gaze back to Jack and frowns. "But what if she calls you that openly?"

"Then I need to stay away," and now he hands her over to Angelica before heading straight to the doorway. She scoffs at the gesture and quickly gets her hold corrected around the girl.

"Jack!" and she causes him to pause and turn around. "What do you mean?" she forces, honestly confused. "You're the one pointing out we're here for one thing and that only," she tries to repeat his words. "What would make Hans think any differently now?"

Jack's eye peers for a moment and with a raised forefinger he tries to save the situation. Trying to point out something she in that case must have her blind eye to.

However if she is this oblivious to the matter, is it wise of him to lay it all out?

As he understands he will not, he simply escapes the room to leave her in there. Never answering her question. But he surely does hear her next one coming.

"What would make you think any differently?"

Perhaps it has been too much of a day with too many impressions. Or else he might at least should have seen Hans standing in the shadows, seeing exactly everything he was not supposed to.

A/N: Okay, building it all up here. :-) Hope you liked the little chapter.