۞
The darkness of the room was as comforting and warm as the down comforter that Jack was tucking around Janie's dozing form... she was nestled against him happily, her cheek against his bare shoulder, her freckled nose scrunched against his dark neck... her slow breathing was warming his jaw, pleasantly, as she slept. He pulled her close to him under the blankets, her fair skin against his bronzed gypsy skin...
As the last of the toasts were being offered, Janie had happily taken blanketed Little Will in her arms, and she sat by the fire for a while with Jack and the Turners, holding the baby and taking in all of the blessings that they had enjoyed in each other's company. One of the blessings was that Jack's terrible nightmares of the year before had all but ceased - he was plagued by a night terror only one time since the first visit to the Inn with the Turners, and it was caused by a chance encounter with a slave ship on it's way to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean. The angry crew of the Black Pearl had, as was their habit, freed the captive slaves on the island of Cuba, and sank the ship, but Jack was tortured dreadfully in his sleep that night by the memories of his own captivity on a ship called the Queen of the Dark... a ship that his father had sent to the depths after rescuing his son from a brutal master.
The Turners had sat up with their distraught captain all of that night, calming him and talking to him, bringing his damaged mind back to reality and easing his everpresent fear of abandonment in an insane asylum if his problems worsened... he would never get over that deepseated fear, they knew, but it was also a positive new experience to the captain to be included in the Turners' anticipation of the birth of their baby... the trip back to Eire in the spring whilst Elizabeth was with child brought more healing for the captain, and he was doing better, they thought... it also helped to ease Janie's sorrow that she could not bear a child of her own...
Teague had not known of Jack's nightmares, and to hear that his son's mental instabilities had worsened worried him, but knowing that his Jackie was surrounded by those who kept an eye on him alleviated those worries, so he kept his thoughts to himself... to Jack's credit, it did not seem to bother him to talk about things with William and Elizabeth... he had always been an open book to only one person... the one who was sitting next to him as she rocked Little Will in her arms.
William and Elizabeth finally said their goodnights, so as to tuck Little Will back into his cradle in their room. Elizabeth knew that it would be a busy day the next day, and she planned to help bring about Janie's hope to present the finest feast in Eire. As Janie hugged and kissed her new godson goodnight, and Jack stroked the baby's soft curls fondly, Captain Teague and Bill opted to sit by the crackling peat fire and visit over drinks... before the two patriarchs of the family settled in for some storytelling, Teague told his Jack, in low tones, to take Janie to bed... to hold her in his arms and make her sleep, for she had worked hard to prepare for this time together that they were all enjoying... Jack knew he was right, and Janie, for once, did not argue.
Jack laid in the darkness, softly undoing Janie's long, thick braid... running his fingers through her auburn hair, he buried his nose in the mass of curls and inhaled deeply... her hair always had the aromas of bread and cinnamon, of the fresh salt air of the cove, and the mossy depths of the forest that guarded the inn... closing his eyes, he kept running his fingers through her tresses, thinking about all that they had been through, together... it had taken over thirty years for the two of them to come out and say "I love you" to each other... why, he wondered, had it taken that long? It was not pride, he thought... denial? Aye, maybe... it was like they were two wee children who liked each other, yet pushed each other into puddles, he noted with a smile... He removed his own bandanna, and shook out his long, black hair with the free hand that was not caressing Janie's... it felt good to let his hair loose... it intermingled with his love's.
Any other night, the physical sensation of her closeness, and the touch of her soft, bare skin against his own would have been irrisistable to him... but tonight, he, too, allowed himself to drift off into a deep sleep, with Janie's long hair curled around his slender fingers... just once, though, he could not resist making her smile in her slumber, by tickling her cheek with his mustache and kissing her softly... she sighed, and pressed herself against his tattooed body... they both knew, in the darkness, that Jack had attached a sprig of mistletoe to the headboard...
۞
Elizabeth woke up in the night, as was her habit since the baby was born... she peeked over into the cradle, and reached down to pull a blanket more snugly around Little Will's tiny form... his long, slender hands, identical to his Cousin Jack's, moved only slightly at her touch, and he did not awaken... he only puckered up his pink, bowshaped lips in a bit of a pout, and Elizabeth tried to keep from giggling at the face that her infant made in the soft light provided by the small fire in the cast iron stove in the corner of their cozy room.
Seeing that her son was dreaming his own baby dreams, she contentedly turned over and pressed herself into William's chest... he was sound asleep, his slow steady breathing one of the most wonderful sounds that she had ever heard. Her thoughts went back to the first night that they had spent together after his living heart had been restored... it was in Jack's cabin on the Pearl, and William was much too weak to do anything except hold her close to him. They had been seperated by the curse of the Flying Dutchman, but had been reunited by Jack's utter audacity and Calypso's mercy.
Much of what happened on that night was a blur to her, but she knew that she would never, ever forget what it was like to be in William's warm, loving arms, sharing soft kisses in the candlelight of Jack's own cabin after the months of seperation... months, she mused, not years! She remembered laying her head against William's thickly bandaged chest after Jack and Bill had replaced his heart where it belonged, and hearing his heart pounding strongly. She had listened to his heart against his ribs every night ever since, without fail...
Jack... Elizabeth thought. Their best friend, William's eccentric, odd cousin... a man who had surmounted so many obstacles of his own in his life... a man who had buried so many truths about himself so deeply inside that it took Calypso's intervention and Jack's own mind turning against him to enable them to really know him, and to know Janie. How fortunate they all were, Elizabeth thought, as William's arm curled around her in his sleep. She began to drift off, her eyes taking in William's wonderful, handsome face as she sleepily surrendered... a face that she gazed at, lovingly, in the same way, every night...
۞
"Ahoy! Ahoy, th' Inn! Not a fit day out for man nor beast, even if th' beast is a wee pony! Whoa, Toby!" came a boisterous voice booming down the lane from the main road... everyone that had just finished up a fine breakfast raised their heads, as Jack, William, Elizabeth and Janie grinned at each other.
The sound of trotting hooves in front of the Inn, and merry little jingling bells even made Teague and Bill look up from their game of dice at the great room table with smiles..
Jack was now at the door, bellowing, "Master Gibbs! I'll thank ye t' not be makin' so much NOISE!" He swayed from his hips, every bead and trinket that was loosely tied to his body jingling like the brass bells on the pony's harness.
"Mornin', Cap'n! William, Elizabeth! Miss Janie, ye looks lovely! Greetings o' th' Solstice to ye! Damn, it's cold!" Gibbs had pulled the little pony cart to a stop, and was tying the reins off at the hitching post by the dock.
It was then that a voice called out from blankets that had been sitting in the pony cart next to the seat that Joshamee had occupied, "Janie, darlin'! Top o' th' mornin' to ye! Dia duit ar maidin!"
As she untangled herself from the blankets and lowered herself to the ground, Gibbs hurried around and helped her guide her foot to the bare, brown winter grass... Janie hurried out the door and down the steps, with the rest of her guests behind her. "Dia duit, Meg! Failte! Welcome! You and Joshamee come in by the fire!" Jack and William were highly amused to see Mr. Gibbs put his arm around Meg O'Shaughnessy, taking her hand in his, smilingly nodding to his captain and first mate, as Elizabeth roughly elbowed William in the ribs for his grinning.
Meg was a short little thing, plump and jolly, her cheeks as rosy as Janie's, but unfreckled. She also had sparkling blue eyes, and bright red hair that was fading into gray, pulled back in a bun at the back of her head. Curls peeked out from the edges of a knitted cap, and she pulled her cape against herself in the cold. She hurried along like a giggling little hen, her chubby hand holding Joshamee's, fondly, and her other hand reaching up to pinch Captain Jack Sparrow's cheek!
"And this," she cried, "... must be my Joshamee's captain! Oh, Captain Sparrow, I have heard so much about ye! Such a legend, and a dark, handsome boy, to boot!" Jack had physically stepped back, his eyes wide as round, brown moons. "... Greetings, Madame..."
William began to snicker, until Meg reached over and pinched his cheek with equal zeal. "Oh my, and this must be First Mate William Turner the Second! Whist, if I were twenty years younger! Such a fine looking thing ye are! Oh, look at those strong arms!" William politely cleared his throat as Elizabeth's laugh rang out from behind them... William and Jack were both relieved when Meg fully turned her attention to Janie, Elizabeth and Little Will, squeeling with delight at the gurgling, smiling wee one who found her to be quite amusing. His pink fists waved and he crowed with laughter at the widow's tickling fingers.
Rubbing his pinched cheek, Jack leaned over and whispered to William, "... they brought two pies!" William craned his neck to see inside of the basket that Janie had retrieved from the back of the little pony cart immediately after slapping Jack's hand smartly as he peeked inside. As she joined Mr. Gibbs and Meg at the steps, she leaned back toward them, and whispered, "Dried apple and mincemeat!"
Jack brightened, then pouted, when Captain Teague and Bill both took the basket from Janie, and seemingly claimed the pies for themselves... William also frowned, then looked at a crestfallen Jack and said, "We'll see to that, later, cousin... let's go give Joshamee a hard time!"
As the group went into the front door, Toby the pony settled into his place at the hitching post, quietly nibbling on the small pile of hay that Janie had placed there for her expected guests' transportation. He twitched his ears and nickered amiably, as Clancy, the neighbour's friendly little black and white cat, rubbed up against the pony's strong legs.
۞
The feast had been a sumptuous, savory one, and Janie had reason to be proud. The goose was roasted to perfection, nearly falling from the bone in juicy abundance - the aroma of the roasted goose stuffed with the seasoned dressing was enough to make everyone crowd to the table in haste... Janie had served up potatoes with bacon, as well as a gypsy side dish that was very dear to Jack's heart, made of cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and seasonings... it was a dish that Maggie had taught Janie to prepare...
Teague noticed this immediately, and Janie quietly made sure that he and Jack got extra portions... Teague would enjoy his in silence, nodding his appreciation to his "daughter-in-law", savoring the delicate flavour with relish... now and again, he would look at his son, and they would smile a little as they enjoyed their meal.
There were other assorted side dishes, rounds of cheese, fruits sent in from Dublin - everyone noted the odd plate of sliced limes and a small bowl of peanuts at Jack's place - and many beverages. There were three kinds of bread, with crocks of fresh butter - which Jack and William kept pilfering from each other, in addition to Janie's specialty, wild plum jam.
The meal was topped off with the pies for dessert, which Janie had claimed back from Teague and Bill, and much laughter and mirth was served in huge quantities. The crowning glory was a flaming plum pudding, which had been soaked in brandy and set aflame for a fine presentation and applause from everyone. It's purple brandy flames brought back memories for Elizabeth, whose English upbringing allowed for plum pudding every year at the holidays... and she was thrilled to be the one who found the token of good luck baked into her portion - a tiny anchor that symbolized safe harbour in the coming year...
Many hands made for light work after the meal, and it was not long before the cleaning up was finished and the dishes were done, and many full bellies made for some good storytelling, dice rolling and joking at the fireplace in the great room. Great mugs of rum, whiskey and coffee were served, as Bill lighted his pipe and Jack and William entertained everyone with a mock swordfight... Joshamee Gibbs told stories of his years in the Royal Navy, and his allying with a scruffy rapscallion named Sparrow whilst stranded in Tortuga.
It was getting late in the afternoon, and Meg's home in County Clare was an hour's hard trot via ponycart, so it was time for them to take their leave... but not before last rounds were served up...
"Master Gibbs, you an' your fair lady can't leave wifout bearin' witness t' a ceremony wot we have been waitin' to perform... Janie, step forward an' sit down!" Jack patted his knees and grinned, as Bill poured shots of whiskey. William had taken his whetstone and was delicately sharpening the ends of the gold earrings carefully. Janie hesitated, then took a deep breath, "I hadn't expected such an audience!"
It was then that Captain Teague also stepped up, and took her arm, urging her onward with eyes that were sparkling like black diamonds... as she nervously smoothed her skirt, she settled into Jack's lap, his hands holding hers. Everyone gathered around, as William gave her one shot of whiskey... "Alright, Janie, just sit still. This will be quick. It will hurt a little later, but not at first..."
Janie studied William's tanned face and serious, warm brown eyes, as he concentrated on lightly pinching her earlobes for several minutes to squeeze the blood and the feeling out of them. With great ceremony, Elizabeth handed her another shot... Janie sniffed, and said,"Whoosh! I'm not so nervous as ye think... " she said, as she tossed the second shot down... even Jack was impressed, as he squeezed her hands and said, "Tha's me lass! I had t' get completely snockered t' get my ear pierced!"
William smiled slightly and said, "Your left ear is pierced with silver hoops twice, Jack... I would have to get snockered to get one ear pierced twice at the same time, myself!"
When William nodded, Elizabeth said, quietly, "Alright, Janie... close your eyes!"
Within just a matter of seconds, William murmered, "You are about to become a gypsy pirate, and an earring wearing member of the Family Teague..." and both sharpened earrings had been popped through her earlobes. Janie had not even felt it...
"Open your eyes..." and when she did, everyone was smiling at her... and Elizabeth was holding up a looking glass for her. Janie's eyes widened as the reflection showed her earlobes pierced perfectly with solid gold gypsy hoops, and the reflection of Jack's dark, serious face gazing at her, his chin resting upon her shoulder from behind. As she reached up and touched the golden earrings, she swallowed hard, and looked up at Captain Teague... who said nothing... his feelings were showing in his dark eyes...
Smiling at her reflection in the mirror, with all of her loved ones around her, Janie O'Madden felt as beautiful as she had always wanted to be... as beautiful as Magdalena Sparrow... looking around at the appreciative faces in the decorated great room, then at William and Elizabeth, all she could say was a deeply heartfelt, "... thank you...", and she turned and beamed at her lover, who put a hand to her cheek and lightly kissed her, right in front of everyone...
To be continued...