Chapter 3: Wonders Never Crease
Jack slammed the pillow over his face as he tried in vain to block out the noise of the crying baby down the hall. For almost an hour the infant had been screaming enough to drive the pirate out of his mind.
For Will and Elizabeth it was another routine night as they took turns trying to calm the baby back to sleep. Will was standing as he placed Emily against his bare chest and rubbed her back; feeling a sharp pain as she bit into his collarbone. He cried out and held her at arms length from him and studiously stared at her mouth. Calming almost instantly she looked up at him; the pain gone from her face as she hiccupped and sniffled; her nose running and her cheeks red.
"Good job angel." He smiled gently laying her back down into the crib, placing the blanket under her chin as he rubbed her stomach. His large hand ran down her bare arms and legs as he tried to soothe her to sleep.
"'Bout damn time." Jack commented from the door of the room as he stood in his cotton trousers, the white billowy shirt unceremoniously hanging out on one side and tucked in on the other. His bandana was off, the dark hair held back behind his head with a piece of cloth as he walked over to Will's side with bare feet.
"Watch your language around my child. She doesn't need to know about pirates yet." Seeing that she was contentedly smiling up at the newcomer, he lifted her up from the bed and set her into Jack's arms.
"While you're staying here you're going to work. Rock her to sleep and put her to bed. Oh Jack; don't do anything stupid." Will ordered with a smirk as he left the room and closed the door, climbing back into bed with his wife.
"Is she sleeping?" She questioned into her pillow, her voice muffled by the down and cloth.
"Relax; Jack is taking care of her."
"Jack? Jack Sparrow?" She picked her head up quickly as she stared into his laughing chocolate eyes, watching him slide under the blankets and settle down into his pillow before responding.
"Captain; Captain Jack Sparrow." He grinned, placing a small kiss to her lips as he rolled her into his arms, falling asleep with his cheek against her hair.
* * *
"Don't do anything stupid." Jack spoke to the baby, trying desperately to hold her away from him to forgo any accidents. Her smiling blue eyes caught him off guard as she giggled lightly, reaching out to him with her chubby fingers.
He relaxed a bit, and seeing that the baby was going to take this in stride, so would he.
"Worry not little one, Uncle Jack is here. Ummm..." He looked around the nursery and caught sight of a few small books on the toy shelf. Lifting one into his hand he awkwardly cradled the baby against his side as he plopped himself into the rocking chair.
By the time he was finished with the first page, he himself was bored with it. Rejecting it to the small carved table he grinned and placed her back into the crib. Stacking her many small pillows against the bars in the corner, he tilted her back against them as he wrapped her comfortably in the baby blanket.
"Let me tell you a real story. Captain Barbossa and his crew of lively characters sailed aboard the Black Pearl. Unfortunately, the previous Captain; you're old Uncle Jack, had been forced to walk the plank and by doing so gave the ship to these evil men. So what did Uncle Jack do, love? He single handedly commandeered a ship of the Royal fleet... and followed after the miscreants." Waving his hands through the air, he reenacted the stealing of the Interceptor with deft moves; the child sank deeper into the pillows and watched with eager bright eyes and a smile at the person in front of her.
"So we fought! Swords crashing; yelling insults through the deepest and darkest tunnels of the island. I of course was winning; though you could never put it past old Uncle Jack. I won of course, taking over the Black Pearl with ease as I placed the name of Captain upon myself once more, and by so doing,... winning the fair lady's heart." He laughed as he bounced around the room, lifting a recently patched teddy bear up and using it for a sword. The bear flopped against his arm as he stopped, walking back over to the crib.
"When you get older, I'm gonna introduce you to the whole crew! You'll be the angel, and everyone will know your name. Pirate is in your blood darlin', and one of these days you'll sail with me all over the world." He promised, placing the bear next to the now sleeping infant as he spoke in hushed tones. Laying her back against the bed and wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, he turned to see Elizabeth standing behind him.
"Pardon, Elizabeth. I didn't know you were still awake." He placed his hands together in a style of prayer and bowed slightly.
"Not to worry Captain, I fear I shall keep you around if you're so skilled in putting Emily to sleep." Walking over, she placed a gentle kiss to her child's cool cheek and smiled back up at the pirate.
"Go back to bed, Jack. Thank you for everything."
"Elizabeth?" He questioned, turning to her before he left the hallway as she closed the nursery door quietly behind her.
"Yes?"
"You wouldn't tell anyone about that would you?"
With a laugh, she opened the door to the master bedroom, hesitating before entering the dimly lit abode.
"Not a word... Uncle Jack." She chuckled as she walked into the room, closing the door.
Returning to his room quickly, he fell against the bed with a smile. His first night of babysitting had gone off without a hitch.
"I could get used to this." He sighed as he rolled into the pillows and fell into a peaceful slumber.
* * *
"Will, you can't expect us to go with you."
"You have to. I will not leave without you and Emily at my side."
Jack had his ear firmly planted on the opposite side of the door as he flinched at the blacksmith's words.
"She is six months old, William. We cannot justly take her out onto the sea yet, you know this." She shouted, sighing as she turned back to him and lowering her voice.
"You have to go Will. If you're able to find your father..." She left off, following him out to the balcony as she was welcomed by the cool breeze of early morning.
"I...I'm afraid."
"You? But pirates aren't afraid of anything." She said wryly as she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, laying her cheek between his shoulder blades. The grey of his vest invaded her vision as she closed her eyes, the material soft against her skin.
"But I'm not a pirate. I'm not afraid that I won't find him. I gave up when I came to Port Royal, determined to live without ever knowing him. Elizabeth, I'm afraid that I will."
"Why?"
"I don't know him. I never have; I...I can't explain." He ran frustrated fingers through his hair as he pulled her around to his side and held her against him.
She sighed, looking up at his taut features as she ran her fingers lightly through his dark hair and down his cheek to follow his prominent jaw line.
"If we go with you will you promise not to do anything rash?"
He smiled as he looked down at her, leaning forward to press a small kiss to her lips.
"No."
"Oh...well enough." She turned away from him, and opened their large closet door. Pointing to the chests on the floor she nodded her head in their direction.
"You, my good sir, will do the heavy lifting."
In the hallway Jack jumped and clapped his hands, eliciting a startled cry from a few of the servants as they looked at him with scowling faces. He once again pushed his palms and fingers together begging forgiveness as he bowed several times in quick succession. Backing into his room he began to dress quickly, meaning to stroll out for breakfast without as much as a clue to the previous conversation between the married couple.
"Perfect. Diddle de diddle de diddle de doo; and really bad eggs." He sang, walking down the large staircase to the first floor as he seated himself at the luxurious table in wait of his two companions.
* * *
Authors note:
Here's a thanks to me reviewers! (from Daddy's Little Girl)
LegolasLover2003: I absolutely DIE over Orli. He's so incredibly perfect, it's just sickening. Nice, witty, charming and sweet, and not to mention darn good looking.
Pen Is Ink: I am thoroughly impressed by your review, and I wholeheartedly agree with you. The screenwriters did NOT portray William Turner well enough. I firmly believe that if he was going to be so critical to the storyline, why not have a few more scenes with him? Orlando Bloom is a fantastic actor that steps into the shoes of any character perfectly. I'm fairly sure he could have pulled it off. Anywho, thanks for your review! I'm glad you like the way that I portray our favorite team.
And now to the reviewers for Life's Schedule
THEPRINCESS04: I'm glad you think it's good!
icy878: I can honestly tell you that you saved chapter 3. I couldn't for the life of me figure out where I was going to take it at all, but your comment at Jack...pardon. CAPTAIN Jack being unable to sleep because of Emily's crying was perfect inspiration. You WROTE this chapter in my mind! Thanks a million!
Loony: Here is son MOE for you. :)
Lordlanceahlot: Not to worry, Will...ermmm...WILL feel better in the next few chapters. I'm pretty sure that the rocking of a boat may put a bit of an ease on Emily's sleeping habits. Now that she's cut her tooth and all...
LegolasLover2003: (From your previous post concerning chapter 1) I can relate as well. My brother is three and my sister is one, and I've spent many nights with them as my mom yelled at me that it was my turn.
Admiral Lily: Speaking of the LOTR fic...I'm at a total writers block. If you have any ideas where I could go next, IM me at Gadien Elf on AIM. Or E-mail me at JeanOConnell195@aol.com. I would really appreciate it, I'm kind of at a loss at where to go next. So far, chapter 16 has about....One sentence.
Lovebruises: Thanks so much. I'm enjoying these family times....even if they are trying. But hey...I'm more the romantic family type, but I promise there WILL be action in this story. Maybe not as much as A Tale of Two...but hey what can I do? I already gave you a sword fight. :)
icy878: I thank you for the 63 'greats'. I don't know what I would do without reviewers like you all!!!
Lordlanceahlot: I can promise I will update as soon as I can type them out.
Thanks to you all! My appreciations! If you have an idea for a funny part, or something you'd like to see happen; much like Icy878 did with Jack not getting any sleep, I can honestly tell you I will probably have it in the story. I thrive on ideas from you guys, so keep it up in the reviews!
Thanks!
~Jean~