Elizabeth's hands flew up to her mouth and she stared blankly at Jack.
"Your son?" She asked incredulously. Will clasped a hand to his head and closed his eyes.
"You're sure he's yours?" He questioned Jack.
Jack sighed and looked at the pair, his hand drumming on the table. His rings clattered together noisily. The ocean seemed deafening as seconds rolled by and no one spoke.
"Gizelle's," He replied. "She'd been wanting to talk to me about something but I just kept putting her off. When I finally charted a course for here she explained about the boy. He's five years old...always wanted to be a pirate like his daddy she said..."
Elizabeth winced and stared at Jack for a few moments, the dirty blonde curls starting to fall out of her messy bun. Will opened his eyes and looked from Elizabeth to Jack, his brown eyes watching them intently.
"So you're going to take care of him from now on?" She asked quietly. "She's giving him to you permanently?"
Before Jack could answer that question, Danielle and Roger paraded into the room and started prancing around the table joyfully. Will and Elizabeth couldn't help smiling at their daughter having so much fun. Jack flinched.
"Roger," He said, trying to sound father like, he shivered at the thought and stuck out his tongue as if something sour had touched it while closing his eyes. Quickly putting the father figure out of his head, he tried to sound important. "Erm...what're you doing?"
Roger smiled up at his father and said "Acting like Jack."
Jack puffed up and thundered, "I do not act like a bloody monkey! Why do you think I'd prance around a table?!"
Roger stopped in his tracks and Danielle ran into him, they both tumbled to the floor and laughed. "What's so funny thinking that I loli-gag 'round and 'round my ship?!" Jack said angrily.
"He means Jack the monkey, Uncle Jack! Jack the monkey likes to run 'round like we're doin'!" Danielle got back up and started running around the table again, Roger remained on the floor.
"Daddy, I'm hungry." He said, trying to act seriously like his father. Danielle stopped her prancing just a few feet away from where Roger was sitting, if she'd gone much further she would've tripped over him. Without warning, she suddenly burst out laughing and bent over with amusement.
"Uncle Jack's not your daddy!" She said, still giggling.
Roger puffed out his chest proudly and said, "Captain Jack Sparrow is my Daddy!"
Still thinking it was a joke, Danielle toppled over with laughter. Jack gritted his teeth.
"Uhhh...Danielle..." He began, watching Danielle, who was still shaking with giggles. Jack looked at Will as if to say 'can I try to explain it to her?' Will nodded and looked at Roger while trying to catch Elizabeth's eye.
"We'll take Roger to get a snack." He said in an obvious way so that Elizabeth would catch on that Jack probably wanted to be alone with Danielle so he could explain about Roger.
Catching on, Elizabeth stood up. "Oh...yes, of course. It's some hours before supper...come along then Roger." She said cheerfully. The boy smiled up at her and the three exited the room. Finally over her giggles but smiling widely up at Jack, she said, "Why does Roger think he's your son, Uncle Jack? I'm your only child!" She smiled ever so wide up at her uncle at Jack thought he felt a bit of shame watching this little girl. He'd been there for her, and would always be there for her. He'd never able to get those years back with his own son. And here this little girl thought that she was the only child that would ever be in his world.
"Ahem.." He cleared his throat and sat down in a chair. He motioned for Danielle to come and sit down in his lap. "This isn't anything easy to say, love." He began, seeming strong with his words. "But Roger is my son, he's...like your cousin."
Danielle looked seriously at him, but it was hard to do with her young face. "It was funny Uncle Jack, but be serious, please."
Jack smiled warmly at her and sighed. Elizabeth had taught her manners at such a young age, Danielle always used thank-yous and pleases. "He is my son, love, do you understand?" He asked gently. Danielle knitted her eyebrows and stared hard at Jack, studying him hard for him to start ringing with laughter and say 'I'm just kidding, love.'...but he didn't.
"Why, Uncle Jack?"
To Be Continued...