A/N: Thank you again for all the support! I edited this chapter faster than I usually do. Got too excited uploading this. (And this is a bit longer).
She's Engaged
Chapter VI
When Jack wakes up in the morning, he does not know if he feels an emptiness or a fullness he has not experienced in a long time. At the same as he feels some kind of warmth, there is this coldness.
His eye peeps open and he faces the empty place next to him in bed. For a brief moment he has to think about why it appears odd in his head. He has not shared bed since years aback... He had not shared bed since... Not since... No. No! Do not think of her!
The memory of yesterday's evening enters. How Angelica had entered all upset and they had in fact done nothing but sleeping together. Sleeping, as in taking a nap together, tangled in each others' arms. Yet, nothing felt more intimate than just precisely that.
Where is she now?
Has she left bed?
Well, obviously. But where to? Should he run up and search for her?
He knows her. She has probably woken up way before him and headed back to her cabin, burying her precious face into the palms of her hands in worry she has done something stupid.
Seems he is right.
When leaving the cabin to go for a quick breakfast, meaning – ordering the chef to send something up to him at the helm – he notices Angelica already up. All dolled up.
And there is the drip... waltzing around her like the idiot he is. Jack peers slightly at the vision of Angelica blushing at George and her fake laughter when he says something Jack cannot hear. So they made up? Or...
Telling by how overly glued she is to the yokel, he figures she is definitely feeling guilty.
It takes more than an hour before she even notices Jack up there. At once her eyes slightly widen. He is staring back to her and has no intent on breaking the stare-down-contest. She backs away until she escapes into her cabin.
"What be that all 'bout?" Gibbs lurks up to the helm.
"Nothing. It be nothing."
Gibbs looks over his shoulder back to deck and just manages to see Angelica shutting her door closed. He nods knowingly but decides to not push this matter further. "Certainly..."
He approaches Jack and fumbles up a binocular and nods towards a ship at their left.
"There has been a rumor of a lassy dressin' up as a man, pretendin' bein' one and now the sailors 'board that ship go insane."
Jack's jaw tightens. "I will have no lady aboard these ships. They be nothin' but trouble."
Gibbs chuckles and his eyes drift to where Angelica has her cabin.
Jack squints and decides to intervene before Gibbs do. "Precisely Gibbs, trouble."
Gibbs nods amused in agreement. Well, at least Jack admitted it. Because Angelica is if anything, trouble for Jack. At least for his focus. And she always has been. Ever since Jack left that brothel all in daze, Gibbs would know something had changed in this man. It had resulted in him not meeting a wench at a brothel - but a novice at a convent. And Jack was not pissed. He was smiling foolishly. Whatever Angelica possessed by doing this to Jack, Gibbs would never know. But she certainly had him in the palm of her hand, no matter how much Mr Jack denied it.
Jack makes a face. He cannot have a lass running around men. Most were good men, that respect Jack and he trusts them. But not well enough to be able to guarantee her safety. Every now and then, an idiotic man slips in between and Jack has no urge of that retarded man to lay a hand on any of his crew members. Even a lady. Or, let alone - a lady.
He nods to the ship Gibbs had come from. "Get her over here." Gibbs eyebrows raise but he says nothing.
"Aye," he simply says and leaves.
Jack fumbles up his binocular and looks in the heading Gibbs has left off to. The other ship does have a sailor with long brown hair. She is attractive, he can admit that. He puts it down and scans the ship. He cannot place her below deck among the other crewmen. Nor does he dare leaving her in custody of the other captains he has hired.
When she reluctantly walks up the stairs, she glares at him.
"Maldito comandante..," she mutters under her breath.
Ah, Spanish blood. She is an alluring woman and she does remind him of someone. Except that this one is younger.
"Resembles of someone," he responds and then nods to the cabin door beside his own. "You'll stay in 'ere, luv."
She continues o glare at him and looks over her shoulder to the staircase, clearly thinking of her possibilities. Gibbs is standing at the top of it and blocks the passage.
"I can fight better than most of the sailors," she retorts. "Or pirates."
Jack chuckles. "That be probably true. I want ye in there though. Cannot have any kind of woman runnin' 'round the ship when we meet the baron's enemies once more."
Gibbs wanders over to the door and shoves it open. He gestures for the lady to enter.
She does and slams the door shut.
"She looks good, doesn't she?" Jack states.
Gibbs give him a look. "But she be no Angelica."
Jack's face drops. Gibbs just had to.
But that is true. Nobody will ever be Angelica.
When dinner is served, Jack has dressed up properly. He has even taken a bath! Think of that. He is wearing white, and if it were not for the dreadlocks, kohl framed eyes and tattoos hiding below the exclusive fabric; one would never mistake him for a pirate.
He is dressed in a navy blue wool coat with golden buttons. If Angelica does not find him handsome and irresistible now, then Jack does not know what it will take.
She is ignoring Jack for the better part of the evening, obviously still fed up with herself over the fact that she shared bed with him. George is the one pushing the topics and Jack engages in them. Whenever the subject has nothing to do with Jack, then she may intervene and leave a comment.
George places his finger tenderly below her chin and she meets his gaze.
"Forgive me, my love. For yesterday."
She smiles sweetly. Sickly sweetly. "Don't bother, George," her soft hands clasp around his. "It is already forgotten."
Jack has to shake his head when they do not see him. How can be so forgiving? Whatever that drip has done, he does not deserve her. She deserves the best. The precise best and that George cannot possibly be that. Or can he?
Subconsciously Jack's hand digs into his pocket and he feels a metallic item's cold material against his skin. He freezes and immediately pulls his hand out as if he touched something poisonous. He definitely should get rid of that stupid thingy.
He sees how Angelica is overly sweet towards George and feels the thunderstorm in his gut. Or maybe, this is how she always is around this man. Jack would not know, would he? It is not like he always is around, or has been.
He clears his throat and is suddenly very intrigued in finding out.
"If I may ask," he nods between them. "How were ye introduced?"
For the first time, Angelica meets his eyes. He holds her gaze but without any emotion he tears it to look at George. A flash of hurt is revealed from Angelica but she hides it well. Not well enough for Jack though. They shared a bed, and aye – they were tangled in each other's arms, but it is not like something actually happened. So why does she act this guiltily and ignores Jack as if he is the bandit in it all? She is the one who entered his bedroom all upset last night. He did not drag her into his cabin, so she should just stop with the avoidance game she is playing.
"We were introduced on the wedding celebration between Duke Lancaster and his Spanish Doña Magdalena De La Vega, now Duchess Lancaster," the baron began.
Jack chuckled. "So Jeff," he trails off and Angelica's eyes widen. Jack dared doing such? "Ye met Angelica on a party?"
The baron clears his throat. "It is George, Commandeer."
Jack nods once and grins. "Baron George," he corrects as if he in fact had not purposely done the mistake.
Angelica opens her mouth to direct Jack for the very first time that night. "There I met this handsome baron and just knew we were destined to be together. It was love at first sight."
Jack's eyes fall once again and he crosses his arms. "Oh, is that so?" His jaw is clenched and he hopes the baron does not notice it. "I don't believe in love at first sight."
The baron shifts uncomfortably. "Well, when love strikes you Commandeer, you will know what I speak of."
Jack snorts. "I doubt it."
Angelica glares at Jack. He better watch it.
The baron however is now amused. "You know what, Commandeer Jack Sparrow. I used to be just like you," he dreamily meets Angelica's eyes. "But then I met her and I just knew."
Distantly Jack snatches his glass of rum angrily and pours it all down his throat.
The doors burst open and Gibbs is standing in the doorway. By his worried expression it is revealed that something is going on.
"They are in sight again, and their flag be raised."
Jack jumps up from his chair and marches outside. The both of them jump over to another ship and reach up to the helm. Both of them with binoculars in which they see the approaching line of ships.
"Order the men to posts and load the cannons. This'll get ugly," Jack speaks.
Gibbs nods. "Aye, Capt- Commandeer." He runs off while gathering some strength before shouting to all directions. "All men on deck!"
Jack jumps down from the helm of that ship to grab a hold of a rope swinging him onto the ship he has his cabin on. Even if he is a pirate, he is indeed not a pig. So he hurries up the stairs and does not head for his cabin, but the one next to it.
He storms inside the room to find the woman staring out the window. She jumps in surprise and glares at him.
"Qué sorpresa."
With his sword already pulled out, he gestures with it to the window she was looking out of. "We've got company – again. And I want ye to stay in 'ere."
When he leaves the room, she is running behind him.
"I can fight! Please let me fight!" she tries. She runs out to the helm hot on Jack's heels.
He turns around and has to put his hands on her shoulder to prevent the woman. "I be responsible for all crewmen, guests and ladies aboard this ship. I am not goin' to let ye destroy my reputation if I so happen to have a woman killed."
He does not know that he is watched. Angelica has walked outside to the deck by the baron's side. He is himself panicking and not composed at all. All she sees is how Jack's hands rest on a young and attractive woman's shoulders. Well, she herself is getting married. She guesses she cannot expect Jack to stay single forever, can she?
Yet, the sight disturbs her and she cannot put a finger on why exactly she almost wishes the woman to just fall overboard. There is a little pang in her, as Jack watches carefully how the woman returns inside her cabin.
Is that cabin beside Jack's? Oh Madre de Dios. Is she joining him on the sea because they are together? As in soon-to-be-married? No, Jack will never marry. But as in romantically-linked? Why is she otherwise travelling beside Jack? Jack would never sail with a woman. Never.
But then again, why is he sailing with her? Is Jack in love with her? Is Jack in love with another woman?
Is that why he ran out of the dining room? Because he just had to protect this woman of his from getting hurt? He used to do that to her. But she guesses she has been replaced now. To a younger version on top of that. What does that woman have that Angelica does not?
Angelica does not even realize she wears such a hurt expression until the baron turns to her.
"Angelica, you are not going to die. I promise!" George says comfortably. "But you should be inside, on another ship."
She is about to answer when suddenly Jack is a bare meter away from her.
"He is right. Ye should be protected better this time," he agrees with George.
She crosses her arms with a quirked eyebrow. Jack is very well reminded of her disapproval of him commanding her. Even if this is actually more of a suggestion. A strong one.
Gibbs is back on the deck and heads for Jack.
"The Commandeer from our enemies has a proposal," he begins.
Jack motions for Gibbs to go on.
"If Baron George Baines," they all look at George. "Agrees to return a third of the additional money he took from farmers and simple workers, they will commit on leaving us alone."
There is a silence between the four people. Gibbs opens his mouth again.
"Then there will be no risk of harm to either you," he nods firstly to the baron and then to Angelica. "Nor Lady Angelica."
The baron snorts. "We have almost reached New England," he frowns and walks over to the railing. He gazes at the line of ships for a moment before he turns to Jack. "I make no deals with peasants."
Gibbs nods and runs off.
Jack has to raise his eyebrows in surprise. He usually does avoid a fight if there is a chance to. Not necessary to kill lives when there is a good reason not to.
And more to it; why risk Angelica's life for a piece of money that does not really matter for this wealthy George anyway?
He is about to retort disapprovingly to this baron, tell him off and just sweep Angelica off her feet. Put her down somewhere safe, somewhere far away from people wanting to physically harm her.
Why does he feel that way?
Maybe because he is a true gentleman? No, he prefers thievery and robberies, but once in a while, he likes playing hero. Simple as that.
Or perhaps just when it comes to her.
He has no time for further thoughts.
"Please George, I beg you," Angelica tries.
Jack notices how she reaches for his hands and he has to look away.
"No, my love. I know how to make a deal. I know how to build a fortune. Believe me, giving it away to angry peasants do not help it."
Angelica still looks pleadingly at him.
George is firm and shakes his head.
"Commandeer Sparrow," he says and gains Jack's attention. "My answer is 'no'."
Jack swallows and is quiet a moment before nodding once. "Aye." He then turn to Gibbs who is standing at a helm on another ship. He nods to him and he in turn gestures to a sailor to raise their flags. As a domino effect, all their ships hoist the colors to the top. And it does not take long before the sound of cannon balls cracks their ear drums.
Before any has time to react, their ship is hit with a booming sound. It shakes and to not lose balance, Angelica either grabs Jack or he reaches out for her. In any case, she ends up in his embrace with tangled arms. One hand which by mistake pulls his pocket and manages to catch a metallic item.
She stares at the ring. The beautiful diamond and for a moment it is as if her whole world stops. Is Jack going to propose to that woman? It is as if someone has stabbed her with a knife already.
Carefully she hands it back to Jack and meets his eyes. Both of them, revealing hurt in their gazes.
Jack takes it back and puts it in his pocket.
"I got it in Madrid," he lets out and it is all it takes for her heart to crack.
So... he had planned on proposing to her? To her. To Angelica.
Her Jack... had gotten a ring in Madrid because he wanted to marry her.
Her eyes are teary and the lump in her throat threatens to burst. With a blurrier vision, her eyes go between the beautiful engagement ring and Jack's eyes. If she only had known... If she only had known this before. Earlier on.
"But the woman... kind of left," he admits with a chuckle. He even grins, but she can see the hurt flashing in his eyes. He turns around and leaves before the occupied baron takes a note of what just happened.
On his way up to a helm, Jack gestures to a sailor to approach him. He cannot focus if he does not know where Angelica is at every precise moment. And she needs to be in the center of all ships, on the one he has his own cabin.
"She," Jack points to Angelica on deck. She is caught looking at him and quickly moves her attention elsewhere. "Needs to be on my main ship, hidden in a cabin. Cannot have her harmed even the slightest. Savvy?"
The sailor nods and immediately heads down.
Distantly Jack can hear her clear disapproval and rant in Spanish as she is practically carried away. But he has a job to do.
A/N: So... Jack was in fact willing to marry her. Stupidly she left before it happened. What do you think of this chapter/story so far?