Thank you to those who have reviewed, and to Kat for having a look-see at it. This is set a few hours after the end of the last chapter.
Oh, and there's a bit of naughty in this chapter… ;)
… Chapter Five"What…?" Jack frowned as he approached the figure, lying face up on the quayside. "Jesus… no!" He looked around in panic, almost dreading what else he might discover besides the body of his crewman, but finding the area deserted. "Celia!" he shouted as loudly as he could. "Celia – where are you?" but the only response was the cries of a flock of birds, taking flight the noise. "Bloody hell, Noah," he mourned, taking his hat off and bowing his head as he stood over the body before looking up and striding away, his eyes scanning the ruined dock area. "Celia!" he called again. "Where th'hell are you?" he muttered quietly to himself, a knot of terror growing in his belly.
…
"Mama?" Milly whimpered, snuggling closer, "I'm cold, Mama."
"I know, my darling," Celia whispered, hugging the child and rubbing her arms. She had not intended hiding in the old stone warehouse at the far end of the docks, but there had been gangs of men roaming and she was terrified for hers and her daughter's safety. She jumped as something scurried across the floor, almost crying with relief when she saw a shadowy rat running along and she wondered how long they would have to stay hidden. "Milly," she whispered. "I'm just going to go and have a look outside. It is very important that you stay right where you are, all right?"
"I don't want you to go," Milly wailed, her bottom lip quivering. "Please let me come with you, I'll be good."
"I'm only going to the door to see what is happening, I promise I shan't be long."
…
'Bloody hell, I wish I had stayed with Ben an' th'others now,' Jack lamented, reflecting on the offer of Ben Matthews to form a protective posse, but Jack, in his arrogance and eagerness to get back to his ship and, he believed, Celia, had declined and gone his own way. 'Damned fool, Sparrow!' he cursed, mentally kicking himself. He ducked behind the still smouldering ruins of a house as another mob appeared in view and sent up a prayer that Celia had managed to get to safety somewhere. 'What was that?' he wondered, debating whether he had really seen a shadow moving about by a warehouse or whether it was his eyes playing tricks on him in the encroaching darkness of night. 'Good place ter hide…' Jack half cocked his pistol and crept towards the store, keeping to what little shadows there were in an effort not to be seen.
…
'Oh, Lord,' Celia gasped, hiding back in the darkness of the warehouse as she saw a gang wandering along. 'Please don't let them come in here.' She felt her way around the wall, making for where she had left Milly, but froze on the spot when she heard the door creaking open. 'No, please no…'
"Mama?" Milly's voice piped up, making Celia's heart sink to the ground.
"Milly?" came Jack's voice. "Celia, are you here, luv?"
"Jack!" she gasped, her knees giving way in sheer relief and she sank to the ground. "Oh, God, Jack!"
"It's all right," he assured her, his voice getting closer. "You're safe now."
"They killed…"
"I know," he sighed as he reached her and he too sank to his knees, holding her tightly. "I thought… I'd lost you both."
"Oh, Jack," Celia sobbed, burying her face in his neck. "I thought I was going to lose you, as well."
"Mama? Papa?" Milly cried impatiently. "Where are you?"
"Come on, let's go an' rescue trouble, eh?" Jack chuckled, standing and helping Celia to her feet. "I love you," he whispered, squeezing her hand.
"I love you, Jack," she gulped, trying to keep a tight hold of her emotions, lest she break down completely. "Part of me always has."
"Are we staying here all night?" Milly demanded as they reached her. "I don't like it!"
"It's as good a place as any ter hide," Jack reasoned. "But yer have ter be quiet otherwise everyone'll want ter hide here an' we won't be able ter sleep, eh?"
"It's too cold and uncomfortable to sleep," she grumbled, positioning herself between her parents.
"I tell you what, darlin'," Jack crooned, shifting so he could take his coat off. "I'll wrap you up in my coat an' you'll be as snug as a bug in a rug, savvy?"
"Thank you, Papa," Milly replied, feeling his face with small fingers until she located his lips and reached up and planted a kiss on them. "Night, night," she murmured sleepily as she lay down, wrapped up in the battered coat.
"Night, my darlin'," Jack whispered, kissing her head. "Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight, Milly," Celia smiled, resting her head on Jack's shoulder and holding his hand in the dark. "I wonder why no one else has thought to come in here?"
"Probably because th'only ones in town are too interested in lookin' fer trouble," Jack mused, bringing her hand up to lips and kissing it. "We should be safe enough until mornin'."
"And then?"
"Don't ask me," he sighed. "This time last night, life was normal an' now there isn't even a town ter speak of."
"I can't believe how quickly it spread," she breathed, thinking back to early that morning when she had the children had fled their house in terror. "Oh, Lord, I hope Connor is safe…"
"Elliot would have taken him straight ter th'ship," Jack promised. "Matty'll know how ter look after him."
"Yes," Celia agreed doubtfully. "I'm sure he will…"
"Stop yer frettin' an' try an' get some sleep. "It's been a very long day."
…
'What th'hell was that?' Jack thought as he snapped awake. 'Th'Pearl…' he waited for a second, nodding to himself as two shots fired, one immediately after the other, his heart sinking. "Here we go again," he muttered out loud. "Celia, luv – wake up. We've got ter go."
"Hmm? Go where?" she asked sleepily, stretching her stiff and sore muscles.
"As far away from here as we can – th'Pearl's just fired a warnin'."
"Meaning?" Celia demanded, opening her eyes fully and staring at Jack in shock.
"That trouble's likely ter be on th'way or already here. Come on…" He scooped Milly up in his arms, kissing away her protest at being so rudely awoken, and grabbed Celia's hand, heaving her to her feet.
"But what about food and suchlike?"
"We'll have ter see what we can get on th'way," he informed her over his shoulder as he headed for the door.
"On the way where? Jack?"
"I'm sorry, luv," he sighed, stopping and facing her. "I know you're exhausted and frightened, but Gibbs wouldn't sound th'warnin' unless it was serious, savvy?"
"So where are we going?" she asked wearily, resigned to more upheaval.
"I have a dory hidden in a cove about five miles ter th'west – it's stocked with food an' money. We can sail back from there."
"And what if the danger is at sea?"
"Pray it isn't," he sighed gravely.
…
"Bloody hell,' Jack thought as he brought his spyglass down, reeling with shock at the sight of two ships approaching the harbour mouth to Tortuga, his mouth going dry as he recognised the Sea's Cutlass – the ship of Davy Stockton. "Navy!" he lied. "Th'Bloody Navy!"
Celia did not speak as she watched the two ships approached the island, not appearing to bother with the lone pirate ship, the Black Pearl, as she sailed away from the island and them. She winced as the child within her kicked hard and she shifted uncomfortably on the hard baked ground, wishing they did not have so far to walk.
"I'm sorry, Celia, but we have ter go…" Jack frowned, reaching over and stroking her face and wishing he did not have to put her through this. "We'll go at your pace, savvy? Th'Navy won't go any further than th'outskirts of town." 'God, I hope he doesn't come searchin'…'
"But they might, knowing that people will have fled the fire. You don't think they started it, do you?"
"It's th'sort of thing they'd do, ter be sure, but no. They would have attacked immediately an' not given th'ships chance ter leave th'harbour." He knelt before her and cupped her face in his hands. "I'll keep you an' Milly safe, I swear…" 'Even if it's th'last thing I do…'
"I know you will," she nodded, sighing blissfully as he closed his lips over hers. "I've always trusted you."
"Always?" he remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"Always," she confirmed, her lips brushing against his as she spoke. "Even when you were an incorrigible rouge."
"Y'mean I'm not now?" he cried in mock horror.
"All right, more of an incorrigible rouge than you are now," she chuckled, losing herself to his kiss once again.
"We have ter go," Jack murmured with regret as he broke away, also grateful that they had steered away from the subject of the ships. "We'll find somewhere t'rest up fer th'night an' should reach th'cove before noon tomorrow."
"Good," Celia sighed, easing herself up and rubbing her belly as the baby protested at the movement. "It's a strange coincidence that they turn up as Tortuga burns," she mused, looking once again at the two sloops, their flags still with the lack of wind.
"Nah – they probably saw th'smoke an' wondered what th'hell was goin' on. They won't catch many fer hangin' – serve them right, the bas… swine," he corrected, aware of his daughter's ears being cocked. "Up yer come, young lady," he growled playfully, picking Milly up and putting her on his back. "Just be grateful that you're little an' can be carried."
"Won't they be able to see us up here?" Celia pondered.
"Aye, they could," Jack confirmed as they started on their way once more. "But they won't bother comin' all this way just fer two people, even if they did spot us."
They walked on in silence for a few miles, saving their energy for struggling through dense undergrowth and steep hillocks in the burning heat, before coming upon a field of grass.
"This is wheat…" Jack frowned, running his fingertips across the ears of the cereal. "What th'hell…?"
"Look – it's a farm!" Celia exclaimed, pointing at a ruined building just ahead of them. "I didn't think there were any farms on Tortuga."
"Me neither," Jack mused thoughtfully. "Must be from before th'pirates took over. At least it'll give us some shelter tonight, eh?"
"I suppose it's too much to ask that it'll shelter us from these damned insects!" she grumbled, swatting at the annoying swarm hovering over her.
"They'll go once it cools down," he promised, turning his head and giving her a sympathetic smile. "They never bother me…"
"Probably the fact that you don't wash – much," she teased, bobbing her tongue out as he pulled a face at her.
"Cheeky madam," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at her before poking his own tongue out. "I'll have you know I last bathed… a month ago!" he declared after having thought about it for a few moments.
"Hmm, I believe you, thousands wouldn't." Celia sighed with relief when they finally reached the farmstead and dropped her knapsack on the ground, suddenly too weary to carry it any further.
"Come on, luv," Jack soothed, taking a sleeping Milly from his back and holding her in one arm whilst reaching out for Celia with his free hand. "We'll rest as long as you like, eh?"
"But we need to get away quickly, don't we?"
"No, you need ter rest – they won't find us," he assured her, pushing open the rickety door and peering inside, surprised to see it still furnished. "We can perhaps make some flour from that wheat – there's a stream th'other side of th'farmyard an' there might be some other crops we can use."
"You never cease to amaze me," Celia chuckled, sinking gratefully into an old and dusty but solid chair, easing her aching back.
"Celia… Celia…"
"Yes," she put in, grinning, "you're Captain Jack Sparrow…"
"You're learnin'!" he quipped with a wink as he placed Milly onto Celia's lap. "I'll have a look around – see what I can find. Will you be all right?"
"Yes," Celia murmured sleepily, her eyes already drooping. "We'll be fine…"
"But first, I'll see if there's a bed you can kip in…" Jack opened a door to his left and looked into the other room, nodding to himself as he spotted a large bed dominating the cramped space. "Here, luv," he called, beckoning to Celia. "This'll be more comfy fer you."
"And dirty," Celia mused as she carried her restless daughter across to where Jack was standing.
"No dirtier than th'chair or th'floor," he shrugged, giving her a shove towards it. "Shan't be long," he promised, planting a kiss on her head.
"Don't be," she fretted, looking from the bed to him. "Please."
"Just around th'farm – that's all, I promise, savvy?"
"Savvy," Celia agreed.
By the time Jack returned from scouting the farm and surrounding area, finding some mangoes and watermelons for them to eat and bringing water up from the stream in a pail, which he had found, Celia was fast asleep in the bed with Milly huddled against her in the middle. 'Think I might be joinin' them,' he thought, sitting on the edge and taking his boots off then lying down, his arm encompassing them both and a contented smile on his face.
…
'It's no use,' Celia thought to herself as she tried in vain to both get comfortable and go back to sleep. She smiled at the image of Milly and Jack curled around each other and her heart missed a beat as she saw just how like her father, Milly was. Celia carefully rolled over on her side and placed her feet on the floor, quietly creeping from the room and out of the house. She scanned the horizon for any sign of danger, making her way towards the stream when she felt it was safe to do so, sitting at the edge and scooping up some water to wash her grime covered face with. 'Blow this,' she thought, and began divesting herself of her clothes, streaked with soot and dirt and smelling horribly of smoke. Celia carefully stepped into the stream and sat down, gasping at the shock of the cool water and then sighing with pleasure as she started to wash the filth from her skin and then her clothes.
"I wondered where you had got to," came Jack's voice and she turned to watch his approach, blushing at the lascivious gleam in his eyes.
"I didn't want to wake you or Milly," she explained, "and this seemed like such a good idea."
"It is," he agreed, pulling his shirt over his head and untying the laces of his breeches. "A very good idea…" Jack sat down in the stream once he was naked, facing Celia and splashing her with water, grinning as she squealed.
"I meant to wash!" she admonished jokingly.
"Two washes in a month!" Jack gasped theatrically. "My reputation'll be ruined!"
"I won't tell anyone," she promised, splashing him back and trying to duck as more water came flying towards her. "It's not fair, I can't move that quickly - you cheat!"
"Pirate!" he winked, moving towards her and winding his hand around the back of her head, pulling her towards him. "Now… isn't this much better than washin'?"
"Mmm," she agreed, her words muffled by Jack's lips and she shuddered with pleasure as his tongue explored her mouth, doing battle with her own as she responded with as much passion as she could.
Jack broke away and nuzzled her neck, his hands cupping her enlarged breasts whilst his thumbs worked her nipples to a hardened peak. "Need you, luv," he rasped, moving further down and taking a nipple in his mouth, sucking and flitting his tongue across it, making Celia arch her back and shiver at the desire sweeping through her body.
"Yes…" she gasped, tangling her fingers in his hair, anchoring his head in place while her free hand ran down his back and scooped up some water, trickling it down his skin, making him tremble with pleasure.
"Come on then," Jack urged, standing up and helping her to her feet, holding her as best he could once they were steady. "I've missed you," he whispered huskily as he lead her to the bank and pulled her out.
"I've missed you, Jack," she replied truthfully, for as much as she and Oliver had loved, she had never felt the same passion that she had for Jack. Celia lay down on her back, gulping at the sight of his arousal and she spread her legs wide, desperate to feel him inside her.
"I'll be gentle," he promised, looking at her large belly.
"No need - it won't hurt or harm the baby. Please, Jack…"
"You want me, eh?" he growled as he slid his hands beneath her back and lifted her up, shuffling forwards so his legs supported her and his manhood pressed against her moist folds.
"You know I do, now stop teasing me, Jack Sparrow!"
"Ah, got a bit more forceful since I last had yer…" he grinned, sliding his fingers along her swollen lips until he came to her entrance.
"Jack…" she croaked, arching her back. "Please…"
"Your wish is my command," he replied, a seductive smile on his face as he guided his erection inside her, closing his eyes as her hot tunnel enclosed him fully. "Sweet… mother," he gasped, opening his eyes and looking deep into hers. "It's been far too long…"
"Yes," Celia sighed, savouring the feel of him inside her once more before jerking her hips towards him. "Now take me!"
"Yes, M'am," he chuckled, holding on to her hips as he started to thrust gently – determined to make this last.
"Oh, Jack," Celia moaned as old familiar feelings coursed through her. "I-I've been so stupid…"
"Nah – no more than usual, at least," he teased, quickening his pace, knowing that his wish to draw out their loving would be folly. No woman had ever affected him as the one beneath him had, and he doubted any woman ever would.
"Watch it!" she warned with a grin, running her hands along his legs bent under her. "I might turn nasty!"
"Hmm," he responded, wriggling his eyebrows at the thought, his eyes dancing with amusement and lust. "I might hold yer t'that." He thrust harder, almost withdrawing before thrusting deep into her again and again, until Celia started to pant and writhe.
"J-Jack… oh, God… Jack…" she gasped, clutching his legs as her passion took over her body entirely and she opened her mouth in shock but no sound would emerge, just a strangled cry as he continued to drive harder until with a shout, Jack shot his seed into her, white hot flames engulfing him as she swivelled her hips, milking him of every last drop of his juice until he sagged over her, panting hard.
"Bloody hell, Celia," he muttered once he had mustered enough strength to talk. "I'd forgotten…"
"I hadn't," Celia panted, wincing as he slowly withdrew. "I'm so sorry…" she gulped, turning her head so he would not see the tears which sprang up.
"Eh? What's wrong, luv?" Jack turned her back to face him, a frown creasing his brow when he saw the tears.
"I wish… oh, I don't know! Part of me wishes I had never run away – a very large part, but then…"
"Things happen fer a reason, luv," Jack smiled gently, kissing away a tear trickling down her cheek. "Maybe we weren't meant ter be back then, eh? Maybe this is our time."
"You think so?"
"Aye," he nodded, lying beside her and holding her close. "I think so, so stop yer frettin', savvy?"
"Savvy," Celia agreed, resting her head on his chest and listening to his heart as it began to slow to a more normal beat.
"Is that th'babe?" Jack wondered as he felt something bump against his midriff.
"Yes," Celia chuckled, taking his hand and placing it on her belly, laughing as Jack nearly jumped out of his skin when the baby kicked against his hand.
"How long before it's born?"
"About two months or so, maybe less," she replied, her smile fading as she thought of the child's father.
"I'm glad you met up with Oliver," Jack assured her, reading her mind. "At least I know he would have treated you right."
"He did," she nodded. "Like a queen. I just wish…"
"I know," Jack put in, hugging her tighter. "But you did love him, just differently, that's all."
"Yes," Celia agreed, her smile returning. "Differently…"
"Speakin' of love…" Jack grinned, getting up and hovering over her, a wicked glint in his eyes.
"Jack!" she giggled, reaching up and pulling him to her. "You're a bad influence on me."
"I'm a bad influence on you?" he remarked, a look of mock outrage on his face. "I'm a good boy until you're around – an' then I'm a better boy…!"
His lips crushing against hers muffled Celia's laughter and she lost herself to the feeling and passion of his loving once more.
…
"This is horrible!" Milly complained, spitting out the food which she had been chewing. "I want proper bread!"
"I'm sorry, darling," Celia shrugged, "but this is the best I can do." She had spent all morning grinding down the wheat Jack had collected, as finely as she could, before baking it on a stone in the hot sun. She had to admit that it did not look particularly appetising. "There's nothing else to eat, so you'll have to put up with it."
"Yuck, yuck, yuck," the child moaned, pulling a face at her mother but taking another bite of the hunk of grainy bread.
"You wait until you try hardtack, young lady," Jack warned as he entered the small cottage. "You'll have somethin' ter moan about then."
"What's hardtack, Jack?" Milly enquired after swallowing her food.
"And why will she be trying hardtack at all?" her mother put in, a frown on her brow. "We're not living on board…"
"No," Jack reassured her, raising his hands to pacify her. "But you will be on board whilst we find you somewhere safe ter live…"
"Somewhere…? Leave Tortuga?" Celia gasped.
"There's nothin' here fer you – an' I want you an' the children ter be safe."
"But I'll have to leave my friends," she bewailed. "And I'd have to build up my business again."
"Celia, luv, there's no one left ter clean clothes for. It's goin' ter take a very long time fer Tortuga to get back on her feet, savvy?"
"But you're still going to be here, aren't you?"
"Yes," Jack admitted. "I intend buildin' it how I want to." 'Davy Stockton notwithstanding…'
"And what about… me, us?"
"I'll see you so often you'll be sick of th'sight of me," he winked. "I don't intend you ter be far away, just somewhere away from pirates."
"Is anywhere away from pirates?" Celia demanded, wiping her hands on her dress and walking towards him. "I'm not sure I want you deciding what is best for me and my children."
"I'm not tryin' ter run your life, Celia," Jack reasoned, reaching out and taking her hand. "But there are men who would use you an' th'children against me, savvy?"
"Yes," she sighed, seeing his argument. "It's just… I never seem to settle anywhere for long."
"Maybe I'll do this place up an' keep you here!" he joked, kissing her hand. "Can't see many pirates wantin' ter traipse all this way an' have ter drag you an' three nippers along. Or maybe we'll just stay here together an' grow crops, eh?"
"Give up the sea? The great and infamous Jack Sparrow? I'd like to see that!" Celia snorted, chuckling and shaking her head.
"Why won't you live with us?" Milly demanded.
"Because Ja… your father's life is the sea," Celia explained gently. "He wouldn't, couldn't live on the land for too long.
"And what about Connor? Where is he?" the girl asked tearfully.
"I told you, luv," Jack smiled, loosing Celia's hand and squatting down to Milly's level, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes. "He's safely on board th'Pearl, where my crew are lookin' after him.
"Yes," Celia put in, a little more uncertainly, a lump forming in her throat as she thought of her young son. "He'll be fine," she added breezily, hurrying outside before Milly could see her tears.
"He will be fine," Jack told her after he had instructed Milly to stay where she was. "There's bound ter be women on board th'ship as well as crew – he'll be havin' th'time of his life… all right, maybe not," he added at her sharp glance, "but he is safe, I swear ter you."
"Yes, Jack," Celia sighed, resting her head on his shoulder and wiping away her tears. "I just can't help but worry."
"Come on, th'sooner we get goin', th'sooner we can make our way back ter th'town."
"But how can we until the Navy have gone? Wouldn't it be better to stay here – at least we have food and water."
Jack frowned, looking in the direction of his town, wondering if Stockton had finished in the town or intended making sure that no one could re-build it ever again – not even himself. "One more day," he sighed eventually, knowing he could not be as reckless with Celia and his daughter's lives as he frequently was with his own.
…