Usual disclaimers

Firstly, if you have not read my profile, then let me explain my absence. Alas my computer died on me a few weeks ago and took with it this story, but I thought I was safe as I had saved it to disc… I discovered that it had not saved properly and I had lost about ¾ of it, including this chapter and those following it. Thanks to the combined efforts of Kat and Hilary, I have managed to scramble together everything but the final chapter, which I am in the process of re-typing. Hopefully it won't be as long before I upload again. Ani

…

Chapter seven:

"Quiet as yer like," Jack whispered as they approached the harbour entrance to Tortuga in the witching hour before dawn, all lights on board having been doused almost as soon as they had left Port-de-Paix.

"Thank gawd I know th'way like th'back of me hand," Myles quipped, equally as quiet as his captain. "Are we near enough, yer reckon?"

"Not yet. I know th'way even better than you, Myles," Jack chuckled wryly. He closed his eyes, thinking back a few hours to when he had left a tearful Celia behind with solemn promises to return safely. 'I will return to you, luv,' he thought, sighing at his heavy heart. 'I swear…' "This will do," he eventually ordered. "Jennings…"

"Aye, Cap'n," the quartermaster nodded, whispering orders to furl the sails, and hearing the order being carried along the length of the decks in hushed tones. "Thank gawd that wind dropped," he breathed. "I wouldn't fancy our chances with not loosin' th'anchors."

"Silence on deck!" Jack barked as loudly as he dared, not wanting to take any chances now he was this close to his prey. He had thought of holding off until the following morning but he did not want to leave it any longer in case Stockton was ready to leave. 'I wish we'd got another ship for back up,' he lamented, worrying about the second ship that had accompanied the Sea's Cutlass into the harbour. 'Dawn'll be breakin' soon,' Jack mused, looking towards the horizon and seeing the merest hint of light there. 'I hope ter God I've judged this right…'

The crew of the Black Pearl waited as patiently as they could until it got light enough to see their exact position, all of them grinning with delight when they realised they were no more than a few hundred yards from the mouth of the harbour and that luck had favoured them once more.

"Unfurl th'sails an' run out th'sweeps," Jack ordered, still talking quietly in the hope that those on watch on the clifftops would be asleep. "Let's get th'bastard fer once an' fer all." He paced the deck, itching for the attack to start and he mentally urged his ship on faster, especially when he saw that it was the Sea's Cutlass that was nearest the harbour entrance. "Gotcha!" he grinned, nodding at Gabriel Jennings who had also spotted the ship. Jack could hear Thomas Frazer coaxing the men on the sweeps to put more effort into it and Jacob Sumner ordering the men to let loose more sail and he prided himself on having such a good crew.

"They've spotted us, Cap'n," Jacob informed him. "But I still reckon we'll hammer 'em!"

"That we will," Jack agreed. "Stow th'sweeps an' man th'guns," he ordered, "an' arm yourselves with pistols. I want no survivors, savvy?"

"Aye," the men chorused and the decks of the black pirate ship became a hive of activity as they prepared for the coming battle.

Jack nodded and grinned as he made his way down to the gundeck, waiting until his master gunner had finished giving his instructions. "Th'men know what ter do?"

"Aye, Cap'n – I've made damned sure of that! We reduce th'Cutlass ter tinder then man th'sweeps an' get th'hell back out again."

"That we do, Mister Frazer," his captain nodded. "That we do. Good luck."

"An' you too, Cap'n. This one's fer Celia."

"Thank you," Jack acknowledged, placing his hands together and bowing his head before climbing back up to the main deck, his heart skipping a beat when he saw just how close to their adversaries they were.

"Fire when you see fit, Frazer!" he yelled, grabbing hold of the rail as his ship reverberated with the broadide that his gunner's cannons had let lose. "That was a bit bloody sudden, wasn't it?" he enquired, almost indignantly.

"Sorry, Cap'n," came the Scot's wry chuckle just before another volley rang out, inflicting serious damage to the port side of her adversary. "Keep at it!" he yelled at his men.

"Fire at those on board," Jack bellowed, pointing his pistol towards some of the crew of the Cutlass who were trying to man some carronades on the main deck, smiling with grim satisfaction as one of them fell backwards, whether from his pistol or one of his men's, he did not know.

Round after round of shot was fired upon the hapless ship who was unable to respond thanks to lack men to man the guns and before long, the flag that had been fluttering from the top of the main mast came down quickly, indicating their surrender.

"Ignore it," Jack snarled, bloodlust raging through his veins. "No-one alive, remember?"

"Carry on, Cap'n?" Thomas called from below.

"They're not tinder yet, Mister Frazer!"

"Very true," he answered gleefully and another broadside smashed into what was left of the Sea's Cutlass.

"Time ter go, Cap'n," Elliot announced as he appeared over the ship's rail, dripping wet having swum to and back from the other ship nearest the docks. "Th'fuses are lit an' they've enough powder on board ter have blown Tortuga up if it were still there."

"Frazer, time ter go," Jack barked. "An' look sharp about it!"

The Black Pearl shook as the cannons were moved and stowed and the long oars were deployed through starboard holes and started to stroke through the water, turning the large ship around, almost on her axis, until her bow was facing the harbour mouth and then all the oars rowed, pushing them away from danger.

"Pity we couldn't have gone back fer Noah," John Orchard lamented, touching his forehead as he looked towards the wharf where his crewmate and friend had died.

"Aye," Jack agreed sadly. "We'll hold a memorial to him as soon as we can, eh?"

"That'd be good, Cap'n, thanks."

"Move!" Jack yelled, thinking they were not travelling fast enough away from the harbour for his liking.

"Th'wind should catch th'sails as soon as we clear th'entrance," Jacob called down

"We might not reach th'entrance," Jack fretted, glancing back at the Cutlass. "Shouldn't it have blown by now, Deane?"

"I made it a long fuse," the younger man admitted. "Give us enough time ter get away, like."

"An' fer th'fuse ter go out!" Gabriel Jennings cried with exasperation.

"It won't go out!" Elliot argued. "Not th'amount of powder I laid out…" he added with a grin.

"You'd better be…" Jack did not have chance to finish his words as the ship rocked with the sheer force of the explosion from the Fair Maiden which in turn set off an explosion on the Sea's Cutlass. "Get th'bloody hell out of here now!" he yelled, panic-stricken. "An' keep a watch fer burnin' debris." He ran as best he could to the side of the ship and threw a pail over into the water, drawing it up quickly and hurling it over some burning wreckage that had already settled on the deck. "Get more water up!" he ordered desperately as he repeated the process again. Jack's heart sank as he heard a cry of alarm from the rigging and he look up, horrified to see the foresail alight.

"Cut it down!" he practically screamed, along with several of the crew. "Fer God's sake, get rid of it!"

Jacob Sumner jumped down from where he had been on the rigging and ran over to the foremast, hacking away at the ropes lashing the burning sail to the mast. "Pauly!" he called up. "Cut th'fuckin' ropes!"

The crewman on the foremast yardarm glanced down at his immediate superior and then back at the burning sail beneath him, gulping loudly, before taking his short sword from its sheath and chopping at the ropes, all the while fighting the panic welling inside him. "T-th'flames are gettin' higher!" he cried, scything blindly and missing most of the ropes he was supposed to be aiming for.

"Shift, yer useless bleedin' prat!" Elliot snarled, shoving the frightened man to one side, having climbed along the rigging to reach the foremast, and he cut the ropes swiftly, gasping with relief as the burning cloth flew away and in to the sea. "I've a mind ter throw yer in with it, Pauly Smith!"

"I-I…" the hapless crewman stuttered, staring at the smouldering sail. "I couldn't…"

"Yer don't say…?" Elliot sneered contemptuously. "Get yer useless arse down there now, I 'spect th'cap'n'll want a word with yer…" The young crewman watched helplessly with horror as Pauly Smith threw himself off the yardarm, landing on the deck with a sickening thud that even he could hear from his lofty position.

"Bloody hell…" Jack murmured, closing his eyes briefly and sighing as he opened them again and looked at the body of his crewman. "You stupid bastard…"

"Sorry, Cap'n, but there's no time ter mourn," Gabriel apologised. "Still got tinder comin' down."

"Aye, that we have, Mister Jennings," he agreed, stamping on a piece of debris as he made his way back to the side to fetch more water.

…

"I still can't believe he jumped," Elliot lamented for the umpteenth time as he sat in the mess with his mates, going over the events of the day. "I never…"

"I know yer didn't, lad," Jack assured him as he stood in the doorway. "Fear does funny things to a man's mind – t'wasn't your fault, savvy?"

"He was a weak fool anyway," Adam Butler sneered. "Good riddance ter him, I say…"

"Any more talk like that, Butler, an' it'll be you that will be got rid of, understood?"

"But Cap'n…"

"I said understood?" Jack snapped, glaring angrily at the man.

"Aye, only too well," Adam muttered sourly.

"Glad ter hear it. We'll make Port-de-Paix in two turns," Jack informed the men. "No drinkin' until shore leave, savvy?"

A chorus of 'Aye Cap'n', rang around the mess and Jack turned on his heel, leaving them to their discussions.

"Do we hold a memorial fer Smith as well?" Myles Burford enquired as he caught up with his captain. "Or just bury him at sea?"

"I don't know," Jack admitted with a frown. "Was he popular with th'others?"

"Most got on all right with him, but he tended ter keep himself ter himself – never joined in with th'fun an' games that all crews get up ter."

"I suppose it would be churlish not ter hold a service, even though he very nearly burned my precious ship ter th'bare bones. We'll wait until we pick Celia an' Gibbs up, Gibbs does a better service than I do."

"Aye, I suppose that's somethin' yer goin' ter have ter get used to once he retires, again."

"Again!" Jack echoed with a snort of amusement. "I reckon he only keeps on retirin' so as ter get another payoff from me."

"There's an idea!" the helmsman teased, dodging a playful blow from his captain. "I'll go an relieve Gabriel fer th'last bit of th'journey."

"Aye, thanks fer all yer did today, Myles."

"A pleasure, Cap'n, as always."

…

"Bye, Celia," Aggie gulped tearfully, hugging her friend. "Yer take care, y'hear?"

"I'll be fine," Celia sniffed, biting her lip in a vain effort to stop more tears from spilling. "You take care of yourself."

"Yer know me," the red haired woman grinned. "I'm like a cat – always land on me feet!"

"Maybe I can come and visit you?"

"Nah, I doubt Jack'll let yer… but maybe he can drop by an' let me know how yer all doin'?"

"I'll blackmail him!" Celia chuckled, finally releasing her friend. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss yer," Aggie gulped, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dirty dress. "See ya…" She watched as her friend carefully climbed down into the ship's boat, with Jack's aid, and waved until her arms ached and the small boat reached the hull of the black pirate ship. She turned away once Celia was safely on board and took a deep breath; ready to start her new life in a new town.

"Why did we have the leave Aggie behind?" Milly enquired, looking tearfully up at her mother.

"Because she needs to work and she wouldn't be able to where we're going," Celia explained, holding her daughter's hand and squeezing it.

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know," Celia admitted, walking back into the cabin and looking around again, taking the time to let the memories form and fill her mind until the sound of Connor's voice penetrated her thoughts and she absently scooped him up and walked to the stern seats, sitting down and holding both of her children to her, which is where Jack found them some time later, sound asleep.

"Come on, little man," he whispered, gently picking Connor up and placing him in the small makeshift bed that John Orchard had made, then doing the same with his sister, who opened a bleary eye and smiled at him as he set her down beside Connor. "Sleep well, my darlin'," he crooned softly, kissing her forehead then doing the same to Connor.

"It's a good job the Navy can't see you now," Celia remarked as she watched him.

"It's a good job my crew can't see me now," he chuckled as he straightened up and stretched out his hand to her. "M'bunk's bigger…" he tempted. "Orchard did it…" He broke off, pulling a rueful face as he remembered when his carpenter had made a new bunk, during the repairs to his precious ship when Celia absconded.

"Why?" she asked. "If I had… gone?"

"I suppose I thought that I'd find you again," he shrugged. "I never thought you'd be so damned good at hidin' an' stayin' hidden."

"I'm sorry," Celia sighed, frowning as she looked into his eyes. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"I forgave you a long time ago," he smiled, pulling her closer. "Just don't do it again, eh?"

"Never," she stated firmly. "Even if I could with two, nearly three, children in tow! Where are we going?"

"Right now, my… our bunk! We'll discuss th'rest tomorrow, eh?"

"Our bunk…" she chuckled, winding her arms around him as best as her bulk would allow and capturing his lips with hers. "I could get used to the sound of that…"

"Well do," he grinned, the lamplight twinkling in his eyes. "An' when we get you settled in a house, we'll have a bed all to ourselves…"

"You've clearly never lived with children!" Celia remarked, arching her eyebrow.

"I'll put a bolt on th'door!" he threatened as his fingers made a start on the laces of her dress. "We'll have ter get you some new clothes," he murmured, kissing her skin as it was exposed. "Or I could just leave yer naked in my cabin…"

"Stop dreaming and undress me," she urged, arching her back as he nipped on her collarbone. "Oh, Jack…" she gurgled, pulling his shirt from his breeches and running her hands up his back.

"Yer getting' bossy," he teased, pulling her dress down and revealing her enlarged breasts. "I never knew pregnancy did this ter a woman's tits," Jack rasped, cupping both in his hands and sucking hard on a nipple.

"Gently," Celia gasped. "They are more tender than usual…"

"Sorry, luv," he chuckled, easing off a little. "I guess I've got a lot ter learn fer next time."

"Yes…" she groaned as the feeling became more pleasurable. "And I'm sure you're a fast learner…"

"You'd better believe it," Jack muttered, not breaking contact with her. "Get that dress off."

"Who's being bossy now?" Celia giggled, wriggling the dress past her bump until it fell in a heap at her feet. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic!" Jack declared, finally breaking away from her and looking her up and down in the lamplight. "Definitely ravishin'," he winked, running his hands down her body and grinning as the baby kicked. "Just how much bigger will yer get?"

"If Connor was anything to go by, very much!" Celia laughed, the noise turning to a moan as he started to kiss down her body, stopping at her belly button and teasing his tongue around it, before carrying on downwards until he reached the fuzz of hair between her legs, grinning to himself as she moaned some more.

"Enjoyin' this?" Jack enquired, darting his tongue out and licking her folds briefly, savouring the taste of her once more, but not continuing.

"Stupid question," she gasped, grasping the edge of the bunk for support as she pushed her hips forward, eager for more of his attentions. "Please, Jack."

"Hmm, now, should I make her beg…?" he mused aloud, pressing his finger against his lips as if deep in thought.

"I'll make you beg for mercy in a minute!" Celia warned, kicking him playfully in the ribs.

"Mmm, I love forceful women…" Jack chuckled as he flicked his tongue along her folds again before parting them with his fingers and plunging his tongue into her, drawing a gasp of desire and shock from her, which turned to a groan of disappointment as he withdrew almost immediately. "You'll be much more comfy on th'bunk…"

"You'll be dead if you don't stop teasing me!"

"Lie on top of me an' I might well be!" Jack laughed, helping Celia to climb up onto the bunk.

"There's a thought…" she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You, Captain Sparrow, are overdressed as usual…"

"An' overdressed I'll stay until I've finished with you, my girl," he growled, thrusting his head between her legs and sinking his tongue deep within her, smiling inwardly as it elicited a cry from Celia's lips.

"S-sweet… M-Mary…" she gasped, clutching the coverlets as his tongue explored and swirled around inside her whilst his fingers worked on her nub, making the desire sweeping through her body almost unbearable, "J-Jack…" she cried, grabbing a pillow and stuffing it against her mouth to dull her screams as he sent her over the edge and kept her there as he carried on with his ministrations until Celia was squirming to get away from him. "S-stop… please, stop, Jack…" she panted.

"Your wish is my command," he whispered huskily as he moved from between her legs and leaned over her, his eyes huge and glinting with lust. "I'd forgotten just how good you taste," Jack smirked, shifting to the side so he could kiss her, moaning in her mouth as her tongue eagerly lapped up her own juices. 'Bloody hell, Mouse taught you well,' he mused to himself. "Lie on yer side," he urged as they parted, "an' bring yer one knee up."

Celia did as he instructed while Jack hastily undressed himself, sighing blissfully when he curled his body against her back, then shuddered with delight as he eased himself into her, adjusting his position until he was fully sheathed within her hot tunnel.

"I can never get enough of you," Jack purred in her ear, thrusting upwards then almost withdrawing before pushing hard into her again. "Never could…"

"Oh, Jack," Celia moaned, not able to do anything but lie there and enjoy the feel of his member slamming into her and his fingers squeezing and tweaking her nipple. "You can have as much of me as you want."

"Oh, I intend ter," he growled ferally, making her shiver once more. "Squeeze me, Celia," he begged, feeling the desire bubbling inside like a cauldron. "Please…"

"Your wish is my command," she chuckled, bringing her leg down slightly and tightening her grip on his manhood. "Not tight enough…?" she teased, clamping down harder.

"B-bloody hell!" he gasped as molten fire coursed through his veins and ended at the tip of his erection. "C-can't hold on… Celia!" he cried, thrusting hard as he emptied his seed deep inside her while she wiggled her hips, milking him dry. "Christ, woman!" Jack panted, resting his forehead against her shoulders as he fought to recover himself. "You haven't had your…"

"I have!" Celia assured him with a laugh. "I don't think I have the energy for another one."

"Bloody hell, I'd forgotten how good we can be," Jack murmured as he withdrew slowly, wincing at the loss of contact.

"I hadn't," she replied quietly. "I never forgot anything about you, Jack."

"Oh, luv," he whispered, looking into her eyes as she rolled back over. "If only…"

"Shh… there's nothing you can do about if onlys," she smiled, placing her fingers against his lips. "And everything you can do about the here and now."

"That sounds like somethin' I'd say," Jack grinned, kissing her fingers. "I love you," he murmured.

"I love you," Celia smiled, replacing her fingers with her lips and kissing him deeply. "I always have..."