Disclaimer: I tried to lure Jack away from the clutches of Disney, but he was distracted by something bright and shiny. My OCs are mine.
A Sparrow's Shadow on the Sea
Feathering the Nest
A bright morning of birds squawking outside woke me from my dreamless sleep. I sat up, blinking, and looked around the room. I hadn't had any time since we'd arrived to really look at it. The walls were painted a dusky blue colour, similar to the exterior colour of the house. The ornate moulding that framed the room was a crisp white. Behind lace curtains, French doors led out to the wrap around balcony.
All the furniture in the room had been stained to the same dark, glossy finish. There was a small writing table next to the French doors. A large armoire sat imposingly against the opposite wall, next to the door leading out of the room. The wall opposite the bed had been painted with a large map of the Caribbean, complete with quaint depictions of ships, sea monsters, and a compass. There sat a dainty dressing table and mirror beneath the map. I gazed at the map, remembering how I'd once decoupaged old National Geographic maps onto the ugly cabinet doors in my kitchen.
The large four poster bed I lay in was carved so that each of the posts resembled a palm tree. I smiled as I snuggled in the soft linen bedding, thinking it was exactly the way I would've loved to decorate a bedroom, had I been able to afford lavish 17th century antiques.
"Morning, luv!" Jack burst through the door carrying a tray. "Kate sent up tea and lemon scones for you. And I got you these!" he said, handing me some brightly coloured floral fabric.
"What's this?" I asked, confused, as I began to unfold the material.
"You admired the clothes those girls on the beach were wearing, so I got you some," he explained smiling, as he sat on the bed.
My eyes widened. "You got me normal clothes!" I squealed excitedly, hugging him.
"I wouldn't exactly say that, luv," he remarked laughing.
"Jack, this is how I dressed…before I came here," I explained, "These short skirts are very fashionable in the future."
He smirked. "The future sounds like a marvelous place, if it's fashionable for women to walk around scantily clad!"
"Yes, I'm sure you'd find it quite enticing," I said somewhat flatly, as I munched on a scone.
"Not nearly as enticing as you are," he replied as he kissed my forehead.
"Why are you up so early?" I inquired.
"Blasted noisy birds!" he complained, gesturing irritatedly toward the balcony. "Give me the peace and quiet of the sea any day over that racket. Besides, Greaves was going to show me the improvements he's made with his rum production."
I must've looked disappointed, because Jack added quickly, "Don't fret, luv, I'll be back before you know it. And I think Kate has a little something planned because she made me promise to send you her way once you're up. I want you to take this with you. It's a portion of your share of our recent acquisitions…just in case you want to do a bit of shopping. I'm almost certain that's what Kate's intentions are for the two of you." He handed me a small leather pouch full of coins.
He'd been putting on his "affects" while talking, and was now ready to go. He kissed me, whispering "I love you more than life itself, Eve, know that," then grabbed a scone and strolled out of the room.
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"Well, finally!" Kate exclaimed as I walked into the kitchen, "I was beginnin' to wonder if that handsome pirate o'yours had rendered ye unable to walk!"
I couldn't help laughing at her comment. "Oh, Kate, I'm so glad you're not some stuck up, boring, hoity-toity priss!" I blurted.
"So am I, me dear!" she said with a surprised look. "Things went well last night, I take it?"
"Oh yeah!" I confirmed, wide-eyed and grinning, "I just can never get enough of that man!"
She smirked in approval. "Never hurts to get all fancied-up every now and again, remind 'em just how good they got it," she mentioned. "Now, why don't we get a move on, the carriage should be waitin' for us out front."
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The carriage ride to Charlestown was uncomfortably bouncy, but the scenery was breathtaking! The thick blossom-filled rainforest would occasionally yield to reveal fields of sugar cane, blowing in the breeze like green waves. In the distance, the bright azure blue of the surrounding ocean sparkled with dazzling brilliance.
"Kate, I'm unfamiliar with this currency Jack gave me," I said, spilling the coins out of the small leather sack into a clinking pile on my lap, "How much is this?"
Her eyes widened. "Ye could practically buy the whole town with that, me dear," she exclaimed, "Jack must be doin' very well for himself!"
"Yes, we did have a bit of good luck with some ships that were disabled by the storm," I mentioned. "Kate, I'd like to do a bit of shopping for the baby," I said, hoping she'd be able to help, "You know, to get ready." I wasn't entirely certain what I'd need, other than the basics.
"Oh, that'll be great fun, dearie," Kate replied enthusiastically, "What ye be needin'?"
"Pretty much everything," I said sheepishly.
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Charlestown was a peaceful yet bustling town. Quaintly picturesque wood buildings painted in bright tropical colours lined the main street. It completely lacked the criminal element and frenetic pace that characterized Tortuga.
Naturally, Kate took charge of our expedition, guiding me through the best boutiques, and assisting me in negotiating fair prices. She offered helpful advice, such as buying twice as many cloth diapers to save on having to do laundry so often. And to buy more clothing than I thought was necessary, to compensate for the occasional "spit up" the child would inevitably produce.
I found a lovely wood cradle that I bought, with plans to decorate myself with painted designs. And, of course, I was unable to resist buying the soft cotton blankets I found that were embroidered with tiny, delicate birds.
In the marketplace, Kate pointed out the papoose-like slings the native island women used to carry their infants, explaining how useful one would be while tending a baby onboard a ship. I purchased one of those as well, immediately understanding the practicality of not having to be stuck in the cabin tending the child.
With all of our purchases loaded into the carriage, there was almost no room for us to sit. I couldn't wait to show Jack all the cute things we'd found.
Kate looked pensive on the return trip, as we bounced along the scenic road. She suddenly signaled the driver to turn down a different road than the one we'd traveled previously.
"Eve, dear, I'm goin' to show ye somethin', but ye mustn't breathe a word of it to anyone, especially Jack," she told me with great seriousness. "Seamus and I are the only ones who know 'bout it, and Jack swore us both to secrecy."
I stared at her, wondering what she was referring to. She sounded very mysterious.
It wasn't long before we came to a lovely plantation house, similar to the one that Kate and Seamus lived in. The carriage stopped in front.
Kate looked at me seriously for a moment before smiling as she explained, "This is the plantation next to ours."
"It's beautiful," I said, admiring the elegant simplicity of the home surrounded by flowering shrubs.
"Jack sent word for us to purchase it for him when it became available," she continued, "He wanted to have it for ye and the babe…in case anything unfortunate ever happened to him." She held my hand, adding, "Not that it would, of course, Jack's just bein' prudent."
"He bought it for us to live in?" I asked her, stunned.
"Aye, lass, wanted to be certain ye and the babe were provided for," she said, "An' he wanted it to be close to us, so ye'd be among friends."
I stared at the home, hoping I'd never have to inhabit it. And I remembered what Jack said about Greaves. "He was the closest thing I ever had to a real father." Jack had entrusted Seamus and Kate to watch over me and our child if he was…
"Thank you for sharing this with me, Kate," I told her earnestly, my eyes welled with tears at the thought of being without Jack, "But I pray the circumstances will never arise to cause me live here."
She kissed my forehead. "Of course, me dear, but yer man lives a life that can be very dangerous. It's only smart that he be havin' a plan ready, in case of the unthinkable."
Kate signaled the driver and the carriage continued back to their home.
I wondered why Jack wouldn't want us to live in his home in Tortuga, next to Ruby. Was it that he simply didn't want the child exposed to the corruptions of Tortuga? True enough, Nevis was a far more wholesome environment. Or was it because Ruby was still on friendly terms with his dad, and Jack's unresolved issues with him had caused some mistrust? What had happened to make Jack dislike him so much, I wondered.
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As the carriage approached the house, Kate reminded me, "Remember, me dear, not a word to anyone!"
"I promise," I told her.
The carriage stopped in front of the house. Jack was on the veranda, asleep in a chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, his hat covering his eyes.
"Ye lazy pirate!" Kate yelled, as she stepped out of the carriage, "Come help yer lass with all her plunder!"
Jack lazily lifted the hat from his face, yawned and stretched, then hopped to his feet and strolled toward us. "What the hell took you girls so bloody long?"
He peered into the carriage at all our purchases, teasing, "Well, you didn't leave much for the other town's folk, did you?" He grinned and gave me a quick kiss, then stepped in to help us carry the items inside.
Emerging from the carriage with the cradle, Jack commented in surprise, "'Tis nothing but baby things!"
"Aye, it is," Kate responded, "Would ye be havin' the wee one sleepin' on the floor in a corner of yer cabin, Jack?"
"Of course not," he said, frowning poutily.
"Well then, hush yer mouth and keep carryin'," Kate ordered.
I giggled, telling Kate, "You should be captain of your own ship! You have the natural ability to command others."
She smiled, obviously proud of it. "As will ye, lass, if ye end up raisin' a couple of boys."
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In our room, Jack was perusing through all the newly purchased baby things.
"The child hasn't even been born yet, and you're spoiling him already," he mentioned.
"Him?" I asked pointedly.
"Aye…or her," he added hastily. "They sure are tiny," commented with a skeptical expression, as he examined the baby clothes.
"Trust me, the baby will seem plenty big as it's clawing its way out from between my thighs," I commented.
"You do paint a pretty picture, luv," he said, grimacing, "And speaking of paint, what's this for?" He held up the small jar of blue paint and two brushes.
"I plan to make that cradle a bit more decorative," I answered, somewhat vaguely, as I folded the baby clothes.
"You paint?" he asked in surprise.
"Not the way you draw, unfortunately," I replied, "But I have a design in mind."
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I awoke during the night and carefully removed myself from Jack's embrace. He was sound asleep, having over-indulged in tasting some of Seamus' current brew of rum.
I lit a candle and crept quietly to the writing table for some parchment and a quill and ink.
Jack's arm rested on the bed, providing a perfect view of his tattoo. I sat on the bed and began to carefully copy the design of the sun, ocean waves, and graceful swooping sparrow onto the parchment.
I transferred the design to what would become the headboard of the cradle. Then, placing the parchment on the bottom of the cradle in case of drips, I carefully began to paint the design onto the wood.
I smiled, thinking how the baby would see it every night before going to sleep, and know that daddy was near and that he or she was safe and protected.
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A/N: Awww, cute! Jack's doing "guy things" with his father figure, and the women are shopping for baby things! Just like a happy little family! Big hugs and thanks to everyone who read and reviewed! Love you guys! Bit o'drama coming next chapter.