Chapter 7: Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate

Though she hated him for the remark about her parents, Evy was more ashamed about her reaction to what Jack had said about her. To make matters worse, she'd stupidly let him see that one inevitable weakness belonging to a woman—her tears. He'd probably had a good laugh about it once she'd gone.

The words Pity the man who gets landed with you repeated over and over in her head. She'd been shaken badly enough to skip cooking for the crew. The next morning she told Peggy that her sea legs were wobbly and that she needed to lie down. He'd readily agreed, eying her with concern. She must have looked ill indeed. He'd even offered to walk her to the cabin she shared with her mother. Though she'd kindly refused his help, he did it anyway.

At one point, her mum had come in to check on her, but Evy faced the wall, feigning sleep. Cool hands had pressed gently against her forehead, apparently searching for fever. Evy didn't doubt her skin was hot, as she'd been crying the better part of the morning. Mum had then spread a blanket across her prone form and quietly closed the door.

Later that night, however, she had cried herself thirsty, wincing with each scratchy swallow, and flung herself from the bunk. She hurried toward the galley, fearful that she might run into Jack, and she did run into someone.

Her mother was sitting alone at a table with a steaming mug of tea in front of her. She jumped in surprise at Evy's loud entrance, who had shut the door with a bang. Relief materialized over her mother's face.

"Oh, I'm so glad to see you up, sweetheart. I was beginning to worry you might have caught something horrible from one of these pirates."

"I think I did," she mumbled, sitting down across from her mum. She had wanted to be alone at first, but now that she wasn't, she was grateful for the company.

Mum patted her hand. "Tea?"

Evy nodded. In no time, there was a second mug of tea on the table and she clutched the hot tin with both hands, savoring its warmth. As the scalding liquid trickled down her throat, the tension in her body relaxed, though her mind traveled fast as the wind.

"Now…" began Mum, who'd let the silence last shortly, "Would you like to tell me why you've been crying?"

Evy's eyebrows rose. "How did you know?"

"We share a cabin, Evy. Since the evening past, you've been snuffling."

Scowling, Evy vowed to smother herself with twice as many blankets and pillows the next time she decided to cry all day. Her mother still watched her expectantly and Evy knew she wouldn't be able to worm her way out of this conversation. She truly hated to repeat what Jack had said about her parents for fear that it would hurt her mother.

"It was Jack, wasn't it?"

In amazement, Evy wondered if her mother could read minds. "Yes, it was."

"You seem to get on well with the crew, but it occurs to me that the captain is not your favorite person."

Evy said nothing. She knew she should hate Jack for his cruel words, but part of her was frightened that he'd been telling the truth.

"Let me tell you something about Jack. Course, I'm sure you've already discovered this for yourself, but he's got a big mouth and through the years, it's gotten him into trouble. Whatever he said…just let the wind cast it into the ocean."

Big mouth…ironic, that's what Jack had said about her, that her mouth would sink any man with his ship. The thought of having anything in common with that pirate was nothing short of repulsive. But it was true. She'd gotten along well with the crew, but anytime she minced words with that man, she felt like decking him for good measure.

Evy hated fighting. Her parents had only spoken to each other for the benefit of their children, but kind words had been few and far between. After a particularly nasty round of insults, Evy had vowed to never fight with anyone and here she was, repeating history, so to speak.

"What exactly did he say?" asked Mum, interrupting Evy's thoughts.

She hesitated, not wanting to voice his words.

"Never mind," said Mum suddenly. "If you'd rather not tell me, then I don't want you to. But if you need to, I'm always here to listen."

Evy decided to say something much riskier. "Mum, why did you leave Dad behind on the Retribution?"

She couldn't discern from her mother's expression whether or not she was angry, but she did see comprehension. Her mother must have deduced that Jack had made a derogatory comment about them.

"He almost died, Evy. The captain ordered an attack of a merchant vessel and one member of that crew took a lucky shot at your father. Here." She pointed to the left side of her chest. "There being no doctor on board, it was left to me and others with minor experience to take the bullet out. He lost so much blood…" she trailed off, looking to the past. Evy waited, respectfully quiet. "He was unconscious for two days, but your father is the strongest man I know and he was soon up and about in a few weeks."

Evy listened, enraptured to the story she'd never heard and kept quiet lest her mother decide to cut it short.

"By then, I'd tired of his occupation. He'd been shot twice before. Once in the leg, the other in his shoulder. Unfortunately, all three happened while he was married to me. He'd barely had so much as a scratch before he met me." She sedately swirled the tin mug around, watching its contents. "One of the many reasons Gibbs keeps ailing about women being bad luck."

"But that wasn't your fault," she protested heatedly.

"Of course not, but that didn't matter. They avoided me as though I had some horrible disease. The crew was against my joining them in the first place."

"What happened when they found out about Emerson?"

She made a face. "Let's just say they were not in the least excited, but he was a boy. His late night crying was eventually accepted. I recall, in fact, the captain saying he had a strong set of pipes and would yell at his own pirate crew one day."

Strangely, thought Evy, that prediction seemed about to come true.

"But then you were born and I thought we'd be forced to walk the plank. Two females meant twice the bad luck."

"That's nonsense," she said irritably.

"You can't change a pirate's superstition. Your father's injuries were an unfortunate coincidence." She chuckled. "He probably hasn't been hurt since I left."

"You left because you were afraid that the next time Dad wouldn't be so lucky."

She nodded sadly. "I've put you and Emerson through something terrible, but I hated piracy. I'd grown weary of worrying about him and when Emerson and you were born, I had two more reasons to worry for my family's safety." She held Evy under a sudden stern eye. "Piracy is a dangerous business. People die on both sides. Should you ever decide to hand your heart over to a pirate, you'll be in for a world of trouble."

"Not a chance of that happening," she said, turning her nose up at the thought.

"Oh, you can't predict the future, Evy," she said, a reminiscent smile brightening her face. "Never thought I'd love a pirate, but you're proof that any respectable young woman will swoon when a handsome pirate smiles at her."

Evy laughed at the absurdity of the turn the conversation had taken. "I'm not the type of girl who swoons, Mum."

"It's the truth," she defended. "Sometimes these things happen when you least expect them to. Jack…for instance."

Evy stopped laughing. "Jack Sparrow?"

"The only Jack on board."

"I'm afraid I don't follow," she said, perplexed.

"Beneath his…unusual exterior, he's rather eye-catching, don't you think?"

Eyes getting wider by the second, Evy stared at her mother as though a stranger had taken her place. "Jack…Jack Sparrow? Mum, did you by any chance sneak some of the captain's rum into your tea?"

Her mother laughed, eyes suddenly twinkling. "Course not."

Evy grimaced. "I can't believe you just said that."

"Are you saying that you haven't even noticed?" she asked with mild surprise.

"Noticed what?" she said, utterly bewildered.

"Oh…never mind," she said hastily, sipping her tea nervously.

She stared at her mum for a while, wondering where on earth that had come from. Even thinking of Jack right now made her stomach tremor uneasily. At some point, she'd have to face him. She couldn't stay below deck in her cabin forever. But what was to be said when she did finally see him?

"Do you think you can patch it up, what happened, between you and Jack?" asked Mum, breaking into Evy's whirling thoughts.

"I don't know," she said honestly. She hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Well, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but in the long run, it might makes things easier on you both," she said sensibly.

"I suppose," she murmured.

"Evy, I admit I've made mistakes," she said, deliberately slow. "And I grew to hate piracy, eventually passing that fervor onto you. Your brother is too enamored of his father to have let anything I say change his mind, but that's a good thing," she added quickly.

"Dad is a good man," she said softly. "But I hated him for being a pirate because it made you sad. Sometimes I saw you crying."

She smiled the same sad smile. "I'm sorry for whatever ill feelings I caused you to have toward your father." She pounded her fist softly against the wooden table. "But I couldn't take it anymore—all the worry.

"Dad would never stop being a pirate, would he?"

"Oh, no. The adventure and excitement has too great a pull on him, and that makes him happy. Why would I want to make him unhappy by asking him to leave it behind for me?"

"But, Mum, he's not happy."

Her mother glanced away, eyes lowered. "Maybe. Ten years is a long time, Evy dear. What's happened cannot be undone in a few days."

"Well it seems as though we've got more than a few days," Evy said, unable to keep away the hopeful lilt in her voice.

Mum did not reply, but stood and stretched. "I need sleep, Evy, so I think I'll head back to our cabin."

"All right, but as I've sleeping all day, I'm not the least bit tired."

She smiled, leaned over and kissed her on the temple. "My lovely girl."

Just as she was about to leave, Evy spun round to ask one last question. "Mum, why all the questions about Jack?"

Had Evy not been closely watching her mother, she would have missed the hesitation in her eyes. "Just remember that even though he is a pirate, he's still a good man. He could have decided to let your father remain in jail and go after the treasure himself…but, he didn't."

After Evanna had left her daughter alone in the galley and long after she'd gone to bed, she revisited the conversation in her mind. Words always had a lasting effect over any physical pain. Through the years, she'd refrained from saying too much about their father in front of them, but occasionally let slip a remark that they never forgot. Then there were the arguments that were never kept quiet.

"Jimmy, why do you always have to go back? Your children need you."

"It's my job. I couldn't leave my captain stranded without a first mate."

"A job not recognized as a real job by society," she argued.

"You didn't mind it when you married me, luv," he said nastily.

"Well, I mind it now! It's repulsive."

"Why do you hate it so much? It's not like I go round murdering people for laughs."

"Piracy is not the occupation of a respectable man," she said prudishly.

"Good thing I'm a pirate then, eh?" he fired back.

"Oh, yes, it's a good thing. You just rob innocent people of their fairly earned wages. No shame in that."

"Speaking of which, I'm late for an-innocent-ship-plundering celebration. Care to join me?"

"I'll never set foot on a pirate ship again! Never!"

Famous last words…she thought moodily, pounding her pillow. Though reluctant to admit it to herself, it hadn't been as horrible as before. The salty air and crisp winds were just as she remembered. She loved standing on deck watching the sun come up. She'd watched many a sunrise with Jimmy. Sometimes she'd climb up the crow's nest to watch it with him. It had always been their moment alone before his duties began. Just this morning, in fact, she'd watched the sun come up and Jimmy was high in his favorite place watching her watch the sun. The pull to join him had been strong, but she resisted and turned away.

Telling Evy about the day Jimmy nearly died had been more difficult than she realized, but now that she had, she felt better. The hurt still resided in her memory, but it lessened with each passing day. Maybe if she could move past her animosity towards piracy, maybe she could help Evy move past them as well.

As far as her daughter was concerned, Evanna did worry. She'd seen Jack looking at Evy in his usual unseemly way, but there was also something else in his eyes. Evanna had a guess and she'd begun to fish for information from Evy. The girl really had seemed perplexed when asked about Jack, so maybe Evanna's hunch was wrong, but she didn't think so.

They were watching her again. Those eyes followed her every move. She stood there passing out plates as the crew shuffled in for the meal and Jack was the last in line. She hadn't even noticed him. Her back was to the door, and even though the night was warm, she'd shivered suddenly and turned around to find that dark gaze burning holes into her back.

The line eventually dwindled, but he didn't come to get a plate. Instead he leaned against the doorframe, arms folded and waited. She got so flustered after his continued silent vigil that she shot him a look that clearly said, "What?" Gold teeth sparkled in the candlelight as he grinned. Evy almost threw the last plateful of food she was holding at his smirking face, but managed to hand it over to the crewman before succumbing to temptation.

When the crew had settled down to their meal, Jack sauntered over.

"A word, darling?"

"I can't leave, Jack," she protested, indicating the full galley.

"They've all been fed," he pointed out. "Peggy!"

The old cook spun round, looking wildly about until he saw Jack looking at him. "Aye, Cap'n?"

"Can you spare Miss Dawes for a moment?"

Say no. Say no.

"Course, Cap'n. She's all yers."

Evy slumped in defeat. It looked as if she could avoid him no longer. He took her by the arm, only it was gentler compared to the day he'd yanked her into his cabin, but that was not their intended destination this time. He led her along until they reached the bow.

"You've been avoiding me," he began.

"As have you," she reminded him.

"Fair enough, luv," he yielded.

When he didn't say anything further, she said impatiently, "Jack, did you want to tell me something?"

"S'matter o' fact, yes."

"Then will you get on with it? I've got a messy crew to clean up after."

"The mess ain't going anywhere, luv. It'll still be there whenever you get back."

"So why wasted my time when I could have already started?"

Evy started back across the deck, but had barely gone two feet before he called after her, "D'you always 'ave to turn everything into an argument?"

She froze; the vow she'd made drifting into her thoughts. Here she was doing it again. Fighting with him when he'd wanted was a moment of her time. Breathing deeply, she walked back to him and calmly said, "I'm sorry."

Jack grinned. "You know you're really quite pretty when fire shoots from those icy blues."

"So?" she said, feigning indifference, but was listening closely.

"So your mum's a fair sight. Too bad you didn't inherit her Irish coloring, though you certainly 'ave the temper of an Irish woman. No mistake there."

"Thanks for left-handed compliment."

"Anytime, luv."

Evy cleared her throat impatiently. "You were saying?"

"What I've got to say is what you just said because it's what I need to say to make things right."

"Sorry?" she said, completely at a loss as to what he was talking about.

"Yes, that!" He cried, pointing at her. "That! What you said just then!"

"What I just said? D'you mean…sorry?"

"Yes, sorry. I'm…sorry."

Evy couldn't believe he was apologizing.

"What I said 'bout your parents—I was out of line, darling."

Evy stared at the obviously uncomfortable pirate. Jack had turned away briefly to look out over the bow, but kept throwing her a sidelong glance, as if to gauge her reaction without actually having to look at her.

He snapped his fingers. "Oh, and um...the other thing."

"What other thing?" she asked, though fearing she already knew.

Instead of looking away, he looked her right in the eye. "Any man would be lucky to 'ave you, Evy, and your mouth."

"My mouth?"

"Because the bloke could kiss you everyday," he said cheekily.

Yesterday, perhaps, that remark would have ruffled Evy's feathers so badly that she would have decked him, but tonight, she startled herself as laughter erupted from her lips. Jack looked just as surprised as she did.

"Ah, so you can smile, darling. Been wondering if I'd ever see it."

Evy cleared her throat nervously, cheeks red. "Well, I'm sorry too," she said sincerely.

"Friends?" he asked, extending a hand.

Evy eyed the grease-covered extremity. The reason for that had been made clear. Jack loved the Black Pearl. Just because he was the captain didn't mean he didn't take care of his own ship. A man that cared for his vessel as though it were a loving member of his family couldn't be all bad.

"Friends," she said, shaking.

He held on longer than was deemed normal as a friendly handshake and his eyes swept over her a time or two, rather hopefully she thought.

"Don't push it, Jack," she warned affably.

He dropped her hand as though it were on fire. "Course, darling." Suddenly, he began rifling around behind his back and happily produced...what else, a bottle of rum. Jack leaned with his back against the rail, crossed his feet and tilted the bottle up to his mouth.

Evy wasn't as disgusted with this habit after having spent so much time on board now. Rum bottles were a fixture of Jack rather like the keel was to a ship.

"Can I tempt you, luv?" he asked, waving the bottle in front of her face.

"I think not," she said, pushing it away.

"Don't know what you're missing."

She too leaned against the rail, but faced the ocean rather than away from it. "It's a risk I'm willing to take."

His eyes swept over her again before coming to a stop on her face. Once again, he said nothing. This habit of watching her while not saying anything was more unnerving than anything else. She felt as though he were trying to read her mind. It wouldn't her surprise if he could. Jack was full of surprises.

"Can I ask you something?" she ventured, filling the uncomfortable quiet.

"Anything you like, luv."

"Why were you so upset with me for being up there?" she asked, indicating the long mast and crow's nest at the peak.

"I didn't want you to fall, darling."

"Emerson was there. He wouldn't have let me fall."

"The ocean is an unpredictable enemy at times. The Pearl may 'ave lurched suddenly. If you must go up there, please remember we're not on solid ground."

"Hmm," she said, not having thought of it that way. "You're right."

"Of course I—, "He looked at her sharply, head lolling back a bit. "Did you just say that I was right?"

"Yes, I did," she confirmed.

"That deserves another round I think."

He started to take another drink, but she grasped his wrist quickly. Droplets landed against the bare skin at his neck. "Don't get used to it."

"Silly of me," he said, catching the droplets before they vanished and sucked them off his fingertips.

She distinctly heard him mutter, "Bloody woman," under his breath.

It was some time later that either of them said anything again. She left him to his rum and stared at the ocean, a past time she never tired of. The moonlight cascaded over the diamond-crested waters and splashed against the hull, spraying her face as she closed her eyes. This was a feeling she could get used to.

"You seem to be at 'ome on my ship," he said suddenly, words beginning to run together. The rum was doing its job.

"What makes you say that?"

"You got your sea legs all speedy-like and you stare at the ocean as though you want to swim in it forever."

Evy shrugged. "Maybe being comfortable with the ocean runs in my blood."

"Or maybe it's because you're 'alf pirate."

In her peripheral view, she saw him watching her. "I suppose."

"All right, luv. Now it's my turn to ask you a question."

"Ask away," she conceded.

"Why are you so determined to 'ate pirates?"

Stubbornly, she stayed silent, but when his unflinching gaze offered no escape, she decided to be honest. After all, he'd been honest with her so far. Well, at least, she thought he had.

"I didn't know that my dad nearly died while on the Retribution. Mum only recently revealed that. She left him because of it, because she was scared it would happen again."

"There's always danger, Evy, whether a man's a pirate or a sailor in the Royal Navy. Being a pirate doesn't change that."

She nodded, swallowing against the sudden lump in her throat. "I understand that, but it divided our family. Sometimes, I hated him for making her sad and sometimes, I hated her for taking us away from him, and..."

He waited quietly, watching her curiously.

"What you said, about the man who might marry me."

"Oh, don't pay any attention to that, luv. I was lying."

"No, you weren't."

"No, really," he insisted, swaying a bit. "I do it all the time. Even in me sleep."

"Jack, you were right. I've always been stubborn, but ever since I boarded your ship, I've been nothing but angry. Every time I laid eyes on you, for instance, I wanted to punch you in the nose."

"Thanks, luv. It's nice to be appreciated," he said dryly.

"Jack, I'm serious. You were right. My mother passed on her anger to me. I don't want to repeat history, but what if I do?"

"Not going to 'appen," he said confidently, sounding almost sober.

"But how do you know?" she asked, begging for some advice.

"Because you're standing 'ere talking to a pirate and you 'aven't threatened bodily 'arm of any sort. That's progress, luv. Savvy?"

With a frustrated sigh, she turned back to the no longer peaceful ocean. Waves violently crashed against the hull, which moaned with each strike. She lurched over and Jack caught her by the waist as she fell into him. Once she felt able to handle herself again, she pushed off of him. He didn't look too happy about that.

"We're not all bad, you know?" he said, speech twice as thick.

"I know," she answered honestly, blinking fast to keep him from seeing her tears again, but it was too late.

He gently took hold of her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Chin up, luv."

In his gaze resided genuine concern; not something she associated with Jack, but once again, he'd taken her by surprise. His eyes were black in the moonlight, suggesting the mind behind them was as murky as the ocean under the cover of darkness. Not once had she been able to decipher the numerous expressions Jack possessed. He was a mystery never to be solved.

He blinked heavily, the stupor of drink beginning to take over. Releasing her chin, he draped his arm over her shoulder and tugged gently on her hair. She shivered as the prickly sensations assaulted her scalp. He drained the very last drop of the rum and tossed the bottle overboard.

She knew, perhaps from the beginning of the conversation, what was going to happen. Jack suddenly pressed his mouth to hers, winding the other arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace. Another shiver shot across her back as he buried his hand in the tangles of her hair.

The sensible voice in her mind kept shouting that Jack was so inebriated he probably would have kissed anything that stood still long enough. But her heart ached at the moment and took what comfort his kiss gave. His hand moved to her face, cupping it in his warmth. This last movement reminded her forcefully of what they were doing and with difficulty, she turned her face away. Jack's mouth was so pouty that she couldn't stop her quiet laughter.

"Wha' s'matter, luv? Why'd you stop?"

"You're drunk, Jack."

He grinned. "Of course, darling. I've been drinking." He went for her mouth again, but hit her ear instead because she'd jerked her face away at the last second.

"Come on, Jack," she said, putting her arm around his waist and forcing him to walk.

"Where you taking me, luv?" He asked, leaning heavily against her.

"To your cabin, of course."

"Care to 'elp me sleep it off?" he asked impishly.

"Heavens no, Jack. I just want to make sure the captain won't fall off his own ship."

With relief they reached his cabin where Evy deposited him on his bunk, which he immediately slipped off of and landed hard on the floor. She made no move to help him up. As long as he was in his cabin and not overboard was good enough for her. As she stepped away, his fingers closed over her wrist.

"That kiss wasn't so bad," he slurred. "Want to 'ave another go?"

"No."

"Why not, luv? Yours is really a very pretty mouth."

"Thanks, but I've had enough."

"Enough what?"

Evy nearly shouted at him for being such a dunce. That kiss had nothing to do with her, but had everything to with that bloody rum.

"Nothing, Jack," she said with forced calm. "Just sleep it off."

"Why not give me something to remember you by?"

Evy snorted. "Jack, you and I both know that you won't remember any of this in the morning."

"'ow do you know that, miss smarty pants?"

"Because of the rum in that kiss. That's what made you do it. The rum."

She threw his hand off and stalked out of the cabin, furious with Jack, but more furious with herself for wishing that Jack had kissed her without the aid of the alcohol.