Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.
Origins of a Pirate
Chapter 3
Sometimes, Jack wondered about his place in the world. Where did he belong? He seemed eternally tied between two worlds, a world of riches and aristocrats and a world of pirates and blood.
Jack knew he needed to find his place. He needed to belong and feel welcome somewhere. Ever since he had been young, Jack had always struggled to find love and family. He had found an undiscovered refuge in the sea many years ago, but now he realized he needed something more-something that his beloved ocean could never provide. He needed love.
As he looked out on the blue, unending horizon, now a middle aged man withered by age and salt, Jack privately reflected on the day that changed his life forever.
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The sun shone brightly outside, as the new buds of small flowers dared to poke their little heads out of the ground for the first time for the season. However the day was far from gay in the stuffy old home. The entire family was gathered around a small oak bed, not willing to leave for even the most basic of necessities. Delaine was dying. Their mother was dying. As she croaked out her final good bye to the world and the ones she loved the most, her adoring husband and children looked on helplessly and tried to battle their tears, as to allow the sickly woman comfort in her final hours.
"I'm sorry Edward." Delanie cried as she held Ginny close to her breast. "I'm sorry I can't be here for our children."
"It's… not your fault. I'll take… care of them. Don't worry." Edward hugged little Cut to his side.
"Mommy? What's wrong?" Cut whimpered, hiding in his father's coat tails.
"Mommy is sick, Cut." Edward whispered.
"Will she get better?"
The young merchant stared blankly into the distance, forcing his oldest son to speak for him.
"I don't think so."
Delanie sighed, preparing to address her children for the final time, "Jack, take care of your younger siblings. They need you. As does your father. Even though he doesn't know it. Cutler, you have a strong head on your shoulders, but try not to get your temper get a hold of you. Ginny, I'm sorry I won't be there for you as long as I would like to be. Listen to your brothers and be a good girl. Please?"
Ginny dutifully nodded, nuzzling closer to her mother.
"Mom?" Jack timidly asked.
Delanie groaned in response.
"What are we going to do with… without you?"
"I… don't…"
Delaine peacefully closed her eyes, never to open them again.
"Delanie?"Edward choked. "Delanie!"
The merchant grabbed the lifeless corpse, frantically searching for any sign of recognition. When he was fruitless in his attempt, he collapsed next to the bed, in tears.
Jack tore his little sister away from his mother's cold body and took Cutler by the hand; trying to suppress his emotions. As he led his younger siblings out of the room, he looked back at his father. It was the only time that he would ever see Edward Teague cry.
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