12. Open Ocean

Disclaimer: Again--thank you to reviewers:-D Also, the lyrics in this chapter aren't mine--they belong to Loreena McKennitt!

Once Will and Elizabeth arrive on the Pearl, we raise the anchor and set sail out of Port Royal at full canvas.

"It's a long journey from 'ere t' Singapore," Jack says to Matt as we sail into open ocean.

"Oh man," Matt replies, taking in a deep breath.

"It'll be fine—we'll have to entertain ourselves," I say to Matt, hinting at his camera and his laptop. He catches my drift and laughs, nodding his head. Matt and I then bound off to his room to get his camera so we can begin secretly filming life on the ship.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Will make themselves once again, at home aboard the Pearl in their usual room below deck, while Jack stands at the wheel.

Matt and I emerge from his room with the tiny camera and begin filming.

"Leaving below deck and heading to the main deck," I say to Matt, but really the camera as we walk up the stairs. "And the Captain, Jack Sparrow himself, at the wheel," Matt points the camera in Jack's direction getting a clear shot of Jack at the wheel as he stares out to sea.

We walk over to Jack. "Captain Jack Sparrow," I narrate. Jack glances over at Matt and I as we approach him.

"What are ye two up to?" Jack asks, immediately sensing our mischief.

"Nothing," I reply nonchalantly.

"Oh really, then what is that…device?" he asks, pointing to the camera hiding in Matt's jacket.

Matt and I both look at each other then back at Jack, "a temperature gauge," I reply quickly.

"Ah! And what is the temperature?" Jack asks in disbelief.

"86 degrees and humid," I respond without looking at him, knowing he knows I'm blatantly lying to his face. He just grins and shakes his head as Matt and I move on past him and film other parts of the ship.

0 0 0

That night, Matt and I compile our footage onto his laptop, and for the next two weeks at sea, Matt and I spend out off-time filming the ship and the crew, ourselves, Jack, Will and Elizabeth without anyone knowing, and each night we compile the footage onto Matt's computer.

We were lucky in that both Matt's camera and laptop are the newest of their kind—solar powered so to save energy—and lucky for us that we have an abundance of sun while on the ship.

However, during our third week at sea, Matt and I are out on the main deck late one night editing our footage and listening to music up in the crow's nest when we hear someone climbing up to the nest. We quickly save our data and try to hide the laptop but we fail to do so quickly enough. Elizabeth climbs over the edge and sits down with us. Matt and I both look at her in silence.

"What do you two do every night?" she asks, looking at the laptop.

"Nothing," I reply.

"Uh huh—and I suppose you tow don't spend all day together making up stories about other crew members either?" she asks, slightly angry.

"No! Not at all!" Matt replies in defense.

"Then what are you doing?!" She exclaims.

"Okay we have this thing called a camera and we're filming everyone and making a video on this computer," I reply, opening the computer and clicking on the file for the movie. I turn the laptop so Elizabeth can see it and I press play. She watches the video clips in amazement, her eyes lighting up.

"This is fabulous!" She exclaims with excitement, "Unbelievable!"

"I know—it is pretty good," Matt laughs.

"You can't tell anyone though—it's not done yet. We plan on showing everyone when it's done," I say, closing the laptop.

"Of course," she replies smiling. We're silent for a moment. "So why are you up here?" I ask.

Her smile fades briefly then comes back even wider as her eyes light up.

"Well, I've been meaning to tell you, but, I'm pregnant," she says.

"No way!" I exclaim, "That's wonderful!"

"I know—I'm so excited—except…I've been pregnant for a while," she confesses.

"How long?" I ask, looking at her, trying to see if she's showing.

"About three months," she says.

"How is that possible?" Matt asks, wondering how she's not showing.

"Will and I were together his first day as captain of the Flying Dutchman," she recalls. I also recall her departure—it was also my own. I nod my head.

"And you think it was that conception?" I ask.

"It has to be—I haven't had my cycle since then," she replies.

"Ah, that'll do it!" I laugh.

"But Will and I weren't married then—do you think our child will be considered a bastard?" she asks with concern.

"No, not at all. First of all, you were married by Barbossa. Secondly, Will is your husband now, so it doesn't even matter. It's Will's child," I say.

"You're right," she smiles, "I'm just nervous being on this trip now—that it wont be too strenuous for the baby,"

"Well I'll tell you what," I say, "I've gotten my nursing degree back at home, so I will take care of you and make sure you and the baby are healthy,"

"Oh that would be remarkable! Thank you so much!" she exclaims.

"It's no problem at all," I reply with a smile.

She departs from the crow's nest and leaves Matt and I to our editing. We soon tire and decide to call it a night.

I head back to mine and Jack's cabin to find him sitting up at his desk in the candlelight—waiting for me.

"Jack! I thought you'd be sleeping," I say startled when I turn around from closing the door.

"I thought I'd wait for ye," he says with narrow eyes, suspicious of where I've been and what I've been doing so late without him.

"That's sweet of you," I reply as I take off my shoes and move over to the bed.

"I feel like I 'aven't spent much time with ye since we started this voyage," Jack states as he gets up from his chair.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, turning towards him.

"Ever since the weddin' ye haven't seemed the same towards me, luv," he replies, "ye seem more distant,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I reply, turning away from him and going to sit on the bed.

Jack spins me around and catches me in his arms, "What are ye and Matt up to?" he asks.

"It's a surprise, Jack!" I confess, "Are you happy? That's what I've been up to—I'm making you and the crew and everyone a surprise,"

"Oh," he replies, raising his eyebrows, "what kind of surprise?"

"Well, I can't tell you that—then it wouldn't be a surprise," I reply with a smile and smacking him lightly on the head. He laughs and pushes me onto the bed. I pull him down on top of me.

"You're right. I need more Jack in my life," I say with a smile.

"Aye—that I believe ye do!" he replies kissing me.

0 0 0

The trip to Singapore is long—almost a 7 week journey across oceans. I didn't remember it being this long the last time I had been in Singapore, but Matt and I were about to go crazy. By the sixth week, Matt and I finish our real-life aboard the Black Pearl video and call for everyone's attention below deck.

Gathering around Matt's laptop, the entire crew, captain and all, watch the video Matt and I had been making throughout our journey, complete with music and all.

When the movie ends, the crew is in laughter, in awe at the idea of being able to watch themselves in action, as well as how comical life aboard the Pearl can be at times.

"Pet, that was outstanding—a surprise no doubt," Jack says to me with a smile.

"I can't believe the things I say!" Gibbs exclaims to me, shaking his head.

"You have quite the one-liners," I laugh with him.

"I liked the part where ye were filmin' me at the wheel," Jack says, a smug grin forming on his mouth, "I do look quite dashing up there,"

"And so modest," I laugh at him as Matt and I close up his laptop.

"Linz?" Matt pauses, handing me the laptop.

"What?" I ask. "I don't wanna show him the other one yet," I reply quietly.

"No, I made one for you," Matt replies.

"You did?????? When?!" I exclaim, opening the laptop.

"Whenever," Matt winks and walks away, leaving me alone with Jack.

I click on the file titled "Open Ocean". The song that begins playing in the background is Loreena McKennitt's "Dante's Prayer". I immediately get glassy eyed from the song as candid footage of the open ocean at sunrise and sunset and twilight appear, followed by candid footage of me and Jack appears on the screen.

Cast your eyes on the ocean,

Cast your soul to the sea,

When the dark night seems endless,

Please remember me…

The song plays as footage of Jack holding me at sunset one night, both of us staring out to sea with the wind blowing through our hair appears on the screen.

Jack and I watch, speechless, as the film plays on. Tears well up in my eyes and I don't dare look at Jack standing behind me watching, fearful that he will make me cry even more.

When the video ends, I close the laptop and turn around finally, facing Jack. His eyes are dark, lined thickly with kohl. I can't tell if he had been crying.

"That was…" I don't even know what to say.

"Love," he says and then walks away.

"Jack!" I call to him as I follow him to the stairs. He turns and faces me. I look at him and then kiss him, pulling him close to me. Leaning my forehead against his, "I love you," I say.

"I know ye do," he replies back, "being out in the open ocean can take a number on one's emotions,"

"I just want you to know, because I have been distant a lot during this trip,"

"I never forgot it, dahling. Like I said, open ocean takes a toll on a lotta people," he replies.

"Are we almost to Singapore?" I ask.

"Aye—we should be dockin' there by this time tomorrow, luv," he replies with a soft smile.

"Good. I need a break from the open ocean," I smile back, kissing him again.