Esperanza woke up just a few hours after at the loud sound of the metal of the cell door hitting the ground. She noticed that she was laying down on Jack but instead his coat. She looked up to find him with a bench in his hands.
"Jack what are you doing?" she asked blinking her eyes open.
"Having the biggest moment of déjà vu in my entire life, why luv?" He answered throwing the bench to the side.
Esperanza grabbed his coat from the floor and walked over to him. Jack exited from the cell and removed his effects from a nearby hook on the wall.
"Now listen" He said turning towards her and grabbing his coat out of her hands "If you just lay down again and claim you were asleep the entire time, you wont be held accountable. Plus the fact that you didn't escape with dear old Jack might make them think otherwise as to our relationship, if that doesn't work...claim you are with child, Savvy?" he explained turning around.
Esperanza grabbed the sleeve of his coat and turning him around to face her "Jack listen to me. Don't you understand? Even if I can in some way avoid the gallows my stepmother will surely have me killed in an instant. Besides, Captain Jack Sparrow, for two years I've been praying for the opportunity to see you again, and now that I have; what makes you think you can rid of me so easily?"
"Luv, you must return to your life here in Spain where you are safe" He tried explaining to her.
Jack made an attempt to continue walking away from her but she wouldn't let go of him "Jack, do you think I wear these clothes for fun? My father is dead, Jack, I have nothing in Spain left for me. I am going with you" She stepped closer to him and cupped his cheeks "I trust you Captain Jack...You'll take care of me wont you?"
Jack rolled his eyes "Well I wouldn't let you get yourself killed, if that's what you're asking"
Esperanza smiled "I know…thank you" she leaned up and placed a light kiss on his cheek "Now, let's get out of here"
Aboard the Flying Dutchman Will waited patiently on the dock of Cartagena. Jack would have to return soon if he wanted to get out of here in time. It was getting late and they would have to make record speed to the Island where Elizabeth was and then back to Davie Jones's locker….or would it be considered Will Turner's locker now? He still had no idea.
Jack was supposed to just go and acquire the piece of the map they needed and come back out, no one had planned on him getting caught and arrested and Will couldn't wait much longer. He had afterlife obligations to attend to.
He crossed his arms on the wheel and rested his head on them. He thought about Elizabeth, the woman he loved and about their son young William; now almost three years old. They were his source of happiness in the world, without them he would be nothing.
Thanks to Jack, he could now watch his son grow up. Even though Will had no idea what sort of bargain Jack had worked out with Calypso, he was forever grateful to him.
From the main deck a voice interrupted his thoughts "Captain, I think I see 'im!"
Outside at the docks Jack held Esperanza's hand, leading her through the darkness. Just one more turn.
He poked his head around the corner and found the Flying Dutchman just where he expected it. He turned the corner and started walking towards it, Esperanza a step behind him.
When she caught a sight of the ship Esperanza halted suddenly. The ship was terrifying, its tattered sails a worn exterior just added to the ghostly overall appearance.
"What's wrong , luv? Let's go" Jack said turning around to look at her expression. Her eyes were wide in shock; fixated on the Dutchman, her mouth hung slightly open.
She swallowed hard and looked at him "Where's the Pearl?"
"Undergoing some repairs…now lets go" He said frustrated.
"You want me to get on that?" she asked motioning towards the Dutchman.
Jack walked and stood directly in front of her. "Well I can always leave you here if you like" he saw fear flash across her eyes "I didn't think so" he looked down at her and placed his hands on her shoulders "You trust Jack don't you?"
"Of course" he nodded
"Well then…it's settled, let's go" He said grabbing her hand again and continuing to the Dutchman.
Aboard the Dutchman Will stretched his hand out in the darkness to help Jack onto the ship. To his surprise, it wasn't Jack rough hand that met his but instead a delicate feminine one. Looks like Jack had decided to bring some company along.
Jack climbed on board behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Who is this?" Will asked Jack.
Before Jack could say anything Esperanza stepped in front of him "I am Esperanza Gutierrez…and you would be?" she said looking at Will.
"I am William Turner, captain of this ship" He answered her
"Ah so you are the famed William, I have heard much about you. It is a pleasure to finally be able to put a face to the name"
Jack didn't like them socializing. He grabbed Esperanza's shoulders and started leading her to the right "Well, we should get going now luv"
"Feel free to use my quarters Ms. Gutierrez" Will said knowing that she wouldn't be very comfortable if she was left with the crew.
As Jack passed will he narrowed his eyes at him and mouthed "mine". Will put his hands up defensively in response. He was just being kind to her out of the goodness of his heart, everything was purely innocent yet he had to contain his grin as he watched Jack be so overprotective of this woman.
"Ok men, you know where you know where to go!" Will shouted to his crew making his way back up to the wheel.
Inside the Captain's quarters Esperanza looked around as Jack walked in and took a seat in a large plush chair that sat behind a desk.
"Where are we going?" Esperanza asked sitting on top of the desk facing Jack.
Jack put his feet up on the desk; his legs crossed at the ankles, and leaned back. "A small desolate Island where Will's bony lass is staying. We should be there in no time since little Will has a curfew to meet"
Esperanza nodded and stood up. She began to pace the room and found there was a small mirror hung on the wall.
"You should consider getting one of these on the Pearl" Esperanza said removing the veil from her head and untangling her hair with her fingers.
Jack nodded and watched her looking at herself in the mirror, trying to make her hair fall in the right places. Like she didn't know that even with the huge mess her hair had been in earlier, she looked ravishing.
"We've arrived" Will announced as he came in the room a few hours later. He found Esperanza sitting on his desk, across from Jack, laughing loudly as she listened to one of Jack's stories.
Jack stood up and walked towards the door, with Esperanza close behind him "Well then, we'll just get off your pretty boat and be on our way" Jack said pushing past Will.
Esperanza stopped in front of Will to thank him for everything and then continued following after Jack. Once she caught up with him on the main deck she noticed that they had dropped anchor near a small island yet none of the crew members showed any signs of getting off.
Jack helped her get inside one of the small boats on the side of the ship and then climbed in himself. The crewmembers and Will watched them and they were lowered to the sea.
Jack began rowing them towards the Island in the dark water and Esperanza noticed that there was a fire lit on the beach and not far from it was a large house with a candle lit in each window.
"How come none will join us Jack? I mean…I do enjoy the fact that I get more time alone with you, but I would think that crew members would be desperate to set foot on land after such a day"
It took Jack a moment to process what she had asked since he go stuck in the "time alone with you" part of it. "Well young Will there, can't be on land between sunset and sunrise…thanks to me…and the rest of the crew are stuck aboard the Dutchman for the rest of eternity"
Esperanza gasped "Well how can that be that so many men have been doomed to such fate?"
Jack responded with an exhausted sigh, even though he was glad to have her constant curiosity back it was weird being around someone who wasn't "in" with the whole thing. "You needn't worry about them luv. They are in some aspect, already dead; they are just postponing the judgment by a couple of years"
Esperanza didn't respond but Jack could tell she was wrestling with her thoughts. They made their way to shore just a few feet from the bonfire, Esperanza looked at her surroundings as best as she could "Jack…Where exactly are we?"
"Carribean Luv" he said steeping out of the boat and pulling in forward on the sand
How kind of him, he doesn't want me to get wet Esperanza thought to herself.
"The Caribbean?!" Esperanza exclaimed as the realization of his response hit her "However did we manage to get here so fast?"
Jack held out his hand to her and she took it; stepping out of the boat. He looked out to The Flying Dutchman that was now disappearing in the darkness. "The Dutchman Luv, seems that the whelp found a way to control it in unimaginable ways" he said then looked at her "one might even call them mystical" he said with his familiar flailing arm gestures.
Esperanza looked at him in the darkness, the faint glow from the fire behind them played with the shadows on his features and the sea breeze blew small strands of hair across his face.
"Jack…I-" Esperanza begun speaking, choking on her words.
"Ah there be me Jack!" a voice that she recognized belonged to Mr. Gibbs came up behind her; interrupting her. "And looks like ye brought yerself a lil souvenir"
Esperanza turned around "Hello Mr. Gibbs" she said piercing daggers at him with her eyes for interrupting her moment with Jack; He obviously didn't notice since he continued in his same lively manner.
"Ms. Esperanza, it is a pleasure seeing ye again lass. My apologies for not recognizing ye but it seems that ye be all grown up now"
"No apologies necessary Mr. Gibbs and the pleasure is all mine" she answered politely.
From behind Esperanza, Jack narrowed his eyes at Gibbs; he didn't like the way he was looking at her. Jack came to stand by her side and placed his hand on the small of her back.
"Gibbs don't you have…something…anything really to attend to?" he said nodding his head in an opposite direction.
Yet Gibbs didn't get it, he just stared at the captain with a befuddled look on his face.
Jack tried again, this time in a more exaggerated manner and Esperanza could hardly contain her giggling.
Jack let out an exhausted breath "never mind, just go away" he said pushing past Gibbs, leading Esperanza next to him. She noticed she had a full tight-lipped smile across her face and eyes looked mischievous. "What's so funny?"
"You are, Captain Jack" she responded as they continued walking closer towards the bonfire. Esperanza found it hilarious, and quite flattering, how possessive he was of her; even after two years.
Esperanza knew Jack was about to ask for a more detailed explanation, but before he could speak a man stepped in front of them. He was of large build and was sporting full captain's gear. "I don't believe we've met" he said smiling at her reveling some gold teeth.
"I am Esperanza…Gutierrez." She said politely. "may I enquire as to who you might be?"
He took her hand in his and answered "Captain Hector Barbossa" he said a kissed her hand lightly "at your service"
Jack narrowed his eyes at him and slapped his hand away before stepping in between the two. "You might want to be careful before you introduce yerself as captain Hector…seeing as to how you have no ship"
"Ah…Jack, I do have a ship" he begun calmly but his demeanor changed suddenly "the one you blew holes in!"
"Oh I'm sorry did the Pearl do that? I'd failed to notice. You know her…she doesn't play well with others" Jack said sarcastically.
"I'm talking about the Pearl"
"Well then you must mean to say my ship that the Royal Navy blew holes in"
Hector didn't reply, he just glared at Jack and then looked at Esperanza; regaining his composure. "Pleasure to meet you Ms. Esperanza" he said typing his hat and walking back to join the men that were gathered around the fire. Many of them held bottles in their hands and some had already fallen asleep on the sand.
Jack led her towards the large house, from what she could see it looked like only about half of the house was completely built. He pushed open a small door that led them into a kitchen that was lit with a few candles that lined the walls. Jack closed the door shut behind him.
At the sound of the door opening, a very pregnant Elizabeth dried her hands and turned around. Jack stood near the doorway just behind a young woman who looked at her with a mixture of surprise and relief. Elizabeth glanced at Jack and lifted her eyebrow in confusion "Jack, who might this be?" she asked walking over to them.
Esperanza was actually tired of introducing herself to everyone so she just let Jack do the talking.
"This is Esperanza…she's from Spain" Jack said. If she didn't know any better, Esperanza could have sworn he was trying to show her off.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Jack and then turned her face to look at Esperanza "Did he kidnap you?"
Esperanza laughed lightly before shaking her head "No I am here on by my own doing" She turned her head to look at Jack and offered him a smile "completely by choice"
"See, she said it herself…no need to be suspicious of dear Jack" Jack said breaking the silence of the room.
Elizabeth playfully glared at Jack and turned her attention back to Esperanza "Well it certainly is wonderful to finally have some female company around all these pirates" she said smiling before turning back to what she was doing.
Jack led Esperanza to one of the large wooden chairs at the end of the table, she took a seat as he continued swaggering around the kitchen looking at different things.
"Well Elizabeth, I must say you are looking quite….big" Jack said motioning to her swollen belly.
She turned to look at him and placed her hands high on her hips "I am aware of that Jack, and I'll assume you meant it as a compliment"
"Assume away"
"Thank you, I will"
"Anytime" he answered as she turned to look away from him again.
Just a second after, a small child ran through the archway that led to the rest of the house and straight to Elizabeth's legs.
"William!" Elizabeth said leaning down to look at him "aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
The small child looked at her and nodded "I know mommy…I just couldn't sleep"
Elizabeth squatted down to look at the child eye to eye "What is it darling? Did you have a nightmare?"
Little William nodded at his mom, pouting. Elizabeth leaned in, hugging him as best as she could.
From across the room Esperanza watched as Elizabeth comforted her son. He reminded her so much of Atticus and Esperanza could already feel the tears stinging in the back of her eyes. She missed both Atticus and Grace already but there was no way that she could ever return to them.
Esperanza wiped a warm tear off her cheek when Elizabeth stood up to face her; holding little William's hand.
"So I can assume you'll be staying with us then?" Elizabeth asked.
Esperanza only looked at Jack who was still searching the cupboards. He nodded and then looked back at her "Don't you have any rum?"
Elizabeth didn't respond she just looked at him with annoyance in her eyes.
"I didn't think so" Jack said walking behind Esperanza.
"Well since I have to put William to bed….again, I should go ahead and show you the spare bedroom." Elizabeth said picking little William up.
Esperanza stood up and followed her with Jack close behind.
"The house isn't finished yet…what with Will not having much time to work on it and the men only being able to help when they come visit…so we only have the main bedroom, little Will's room and an extra…where you will be" She said looking at Esperanza as they made their way up the stairs and down a long hallway.
They stopped at the first door and Elizabeth pushed the door open "Here we are, I can fetch you one of my sleeping gowns, just tell me if you need anything else." She said grunting and she pushed young Will, who was now asleep, further up on her side.
"Um…Elizabeth, if you want I could put him to bed" Esperanza offered.
Elizabeth smiled at her "I can already tell I am going to love having you here" she said handing the child over to her, being careful not to wake him.
Elizabeth thanked Esperanza again and after showing her where little William's bedroom was, she excused herself and headed into the third door.
Esperanza laid young William down on his bed and surrounded him by thick pillows to keep him from rolling off the bed during the night. After she covered him with his blanket, she just stood there looking at him. He was so small and precious, and he looked so much like Atticus.
"Ye ready to call it a night luv?" Jack said strolling in the room, interrupting her thoughts.
Esperanza turned quickly to look at him. As soon as they made eye contact his mood shifted. He was now looking at her like he had that night on the Pearl, seeing through her. After two years, his effect on her remained the same and Esperanza turned her head away from him embarrassed.
Jack walked towards her and cupped her cheek, making her look at him "Don't turn away from me, luv" he said as Esperanza felt his callused thumb wipe away a stray tear from her cheek.
They where standing so close, their noses almost touching, that it was impossible for her to not look him in the eye. "Why is that Captain?" she asked in almost a whisper.
"Because" he begun as he leaned closer to her, their foreheads now touching "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow"
Jack watched her as she looked at him, her eyes searching his. She was breathing deeply now and heat had risen to her cheeks. He watched as uncertainty flash across her eyes as she bit down on her lower lip. All he wanted to do was have a glimpse of what it would be like to taste the sweetness of those lips. He wouldn't force her though, and he knew she would never do it on her own; not his sweet Esperanza.
Jack smiled at the thought, realizing once again how different their worlds were. He pulled her closer, hugging her and placing a kiss on the top of her head.
"Come Luv, we must sleep" he said as he grabbed her hand and led her out of the room.
Esperanza followed behind him, her fingers interlaced in his, as they walked towards the room. When they walked in, Esperanza noticed that the room was pretty much the same as little William's, except for one big difference, there was only one large bed towards the right of the room.
Jack noticed that Esperanza stood in the doorway looking at the only bed. He stood in front of and placed his hands on her shoulders "Don't fret luv, you can just pretend it's the hammock, savvy?" He said flashing her a grin.
Just being reminded of that night made Esperanza smile "Okay" she nodded as memories came flooding back. She remembered how safe and comfortable she had felt and how ,as soon as his arms were protectively around her, all the feelings of embarrassment had completely faded.
Jack turned back and begun removing his effects and placing them on a long table which was pushed against the wall next to the fireplace.
Esperanza crossed the room to sit on the bed. She scanned the room, surprised at how well furnished it was. It wasn't what she was used to, most of it built with the same dark hardwood, but it still amazed how someone was able to do all this on a desolate island.
The furthest wall curved out and was lined with four large windows looking out to the ocean. Near them, close to the fireplace, sat a large wooden tub and beside it stood a changing screen. Esperanza admired how Elizabeth seemed to pay attention to every small detail.
Esperanza watched Jack from the bed as he poked at the fire with a long steel stick. He brought it up to his face and poked the tip of it, his finger flinching away from the burn. She laughed lightly at his odd manner and he turned to look at her.
"Something funny?" He asked turning to look at her after putting the fire poker back in its place. She was laughing at him again, which seemed to happen a lot.
Jack made his way towards her and sat on the bed next to her "Hmm?" he raised his eyebrows at her.
"It is nothing, you Captain Jack never fail to entrain me" She replied folding her hands together on her lap.
He placed his hand flat on the bed behind her and leaned closer to her neck.
"Really?" He whispered in her ear.
A shudder went through Esperanza, like her entire body had been chilled in just a second. She sat there frozen with no idea what to do, Jack seemed to have such an effect over her body; what she felt was completely foreign to her and it made her want more.
She turned her head towards him to look him in the eyes, the closeness was the same as back in little William's bedroom. Even though she didn't feel uncomfortable in the situation, she still feared that at any moment she could lose control.
Jack changed something in her, something that made her want to be bold and daring like him. For just a moment, she wished she could be like the women Jack probably went for. They were sensual and womanly, and completely savvy in the ways of men.
Esperanza on the other hand, felt lost and nervous. She didn't want to make a wrong move.
A knock came from the door, interrupting their moment, and Elizabeth stepped in the room carrying some things in her arms. Both Jack and Esperanza turned to look at her and she eyed them suspiciously. "Um…I brought you one of my sleeping gowns and two dresses you could choose from for tomorrow." She said walking towards the table and placing the things beside Jack's affects.
Esperanza stood up hurriedly and walked over to Elizabeth "Thank you, you are too kind" she said as Elizabeth begun walking back towards the door.
She smiled "You're a guest, it is only my duty as a host" she glanced at Jack and then turned to look back at Esperanza "If dear Jack decides to misbehave, please don't hesitate to call me"
"Planning to teach me a lesson are we Lizzy-beth? Well don't get your hopes up, I plan to be on my best behavior" He said and then placed one hand over his heart and held the other up next to him "Captain's honour"
Elizabeth just rolled her eyes "Goodnight" she said leaving the room; Esperanza shut the door behind her.
Jack threw hands up and fell back on the bed. Esperanza watched him, smiling. She walked over to the table, picked up the sleeping gown and walked behind the screen to change.
She pulled the gown over her head and it fit, it just didn't fit right.
Jack looked up, supporting himself on his elbows, to see her emerge from behind the screen. Her long brown hair fanned out around her shoulders and she was wearing a sleeping gown that obviously didn't belong to her. The bust was much too small and it pressed against her breast, making them push up. The gown was tight around her waist and the light behind her showed through the thin fabric outlining every precious curve of her body, leaving very little to the imagination.
She offered him a shy smile and toyed with her hair.
On the outside, she had changed a lot from the young girl he had let go two years ago. She had evolved into a woman. Yet he knew that on the inside she remained the same. She was still innocent and insecure, and eternally curious of the world around her.
His thoughts went back to the prison cell, where in her drowsy state she had told she loved him. The mere thought of it baffled him beyond belief.
What could a sweet angel find to love in a man like him?
She walked over to him and around the bed, pulling the covers back and tucking her feet underneath them.
Neither of them spoke as Jack sat up completely to remove his boots. He lifted the covers and climbed in.
Esperanza moved down the bed and turned her body, facing the wall. Just pretend it's the hammock; just pretend it's the hammock she kept chanting to herself in her head.
She felt Jack's hand on her shoulder and turned her head up to look at his face. He smiled the gold of his teeth glimmering in the firelight.
"Sleep" he said leaning down to place a kiss on her temple, silently reassuring her. The bed sunk underneath his weight as he lay down beside her, his hand still placed firmly on her shoulder.
hey evryone.
first let me say, thank you for reading this far. Second, i'm sorry this took so long but one of my friends just had surgery and i've been visiting her frequently during her recovery.
luv you all
-La