She's Engaged
CHAPTER XI - FINAL CHAPTER PART 2
A/N: Thank you butter9, AlikiCruz, MMM73181, The DisHeartened, sambayar, GrapeCherie, deleni12, Kikowa and Guest for reviewing the last chapter. I appreciate the praise tremendously! Honestly, that is what makes me upload chapters and fanfictions, instead of keeping them as files on my laptop. Really, this is happiness for me.
And THANK YOU all who in some way, by reviews or PMs supported me through the story. It means the world to me.
(Changed the rating from T to M!).
Wow. What an intense ride. I am giving you this - this chapter is one of the largest I have ever written. Even longer than the finale of Como la flor. The journey I myself has gone through as author of this story has been intense. I put so much emotion into my stories and I hope you as a reader feel the ride I try to put out there for You, as a reader. :) I want to deliver intense emotions, happiness and sometimes grief. I wish I lived up to my own expectations. I hope you feel content with the ending.
Enough with my personal words and let's just right into the story! I am just warning you - it may take a while to get through this chapter.
This chapter is of 13 000 words (!) and hereby the longest chapter I have ever written. Therefore it took a bit longer to finish. Usually my chapters range between 2000-7000 words.
As I will not have an author's note at the bottom of the story, I wanted it said here. I would feel honored to hear your opinion of it when you have finished reading it. So I can grow as a writer, know what you liked and maybe what I should focus more on to improve.
Thank you anyways for reading my work!
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This is my ever longest chapter so far and it may take time to get it through. Hope I will bring you some Holidays' reading.
- There will never be another love another time.
She's Engaged
Chapter XI - Finale 2
Her eyes checks him out and Jack feels her stare burn on him. He meets her eyes when they travel up his upper body. He grins a toothy one and she appears content. She does not even seem mad when she decides to ask him.
"Why didn't you?"
He knows of what she is regarding. The night.
Jack gestures to the exit the baron left through. "He'll be able to give ye much more of life than I ever can."
Angelica seems upset as she bites her tongue and her jaw clenches. "You, saying this who always speak so highly of yourself?" It is a question but maybe more likely an angry statement. She takes a deep breath after a long silence. "Will you be there?"
Will he be there? "'Course I will." He even smiles sadly and now moves his hand to caress her hand that rests on the table. "Wouldn't miss it for anything."
Her eyes travel from his warm gaze to his finger gently stroking over hers.
"It's true," she speaks softly.
"What be?"
Her eyes travel back up to meet his again. "That you are a nobleman disguised as a criminal."
Jack's mouth twitches as he struggles a wry grin.
Even Angelica is amused. "You are a terrible criminal."
Now, Jack gives her a warning yet playful eye. "Don't push it, 'Gelica."
She forces a smile to not burst out and Jack sees it. He fights his grin too and they glance almost shyly at one another.
Suddenly she finishes yet another glass of wine to cool her nerves. A servant even appears into the room and takes their plates as dishes as they no longer touch the empty porcelain. When the servant goes out again, Angelica decides to regard the matter once more.
"Jack?"
Intently he looks at her. She seems calm and intrigued by something as her mouth slightly opens. When Jack catches her intent look, she ends up blushing. In comfort, he sinks into the backrest of his chair to look at what he holds dearly. "Aye, luv?"
"At the ceremony," she begins as she grabs a bottle and refills her glass herself, clearly uncomfortable with this matter. "You are not going to do something stupid right?"
Jack smiles wryly, content to have her in sight. "Stupid? What stupid, darling?"
She freezes upon her nickname but quite quickly she returns her posture. She shakes her head, slightly smiling too but keeps her front. "Like for example... shouting that you object when the priests asks..," she takes a breath, trying to memorize what she several times has heard priests saying. "If any person here can show cause why these two people should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Jack chokes on his drink, now feeling the heavy reality to it all when she speaks about it.
It is rather hilarious though that she mentions this... Because...
Aye, that plan has crossed his mind. But then he has come to the apparent conclusion that it would not be fair to do so. He has heard of it, in fact many times - and rarely it seems like it worked out fine for that poor man trying to claim the bride's love. The groom has always won. Even with Jack's grand ego, he would never stand being neglected. That said, also when he has knowledge of him with a greater chance of winning the bride.
Jack winks to her and shakes his head amused. "Be ye overdramatizing me right now, luv? Now why would I try to be the centre of attention?"
Angelica is in a challenging mood and speaks clearly with her accent ringing. "Because you always do."
"Touché."
Suddenly she turns serious and her former smile is a straight line. Her forehead is a frown and she is skeptical. "There is more..."
Jack turns to her once again.
"I take the event...," she begins. As she swallows Jack knows right at once to what she refers. The night he did not appear as planned. But instead left her hanging. "As some kind of ending," she continues. It stings in Jack but he really has no other to blame but himself for that. "And by so, we are from now on moving on."
Jack neither nods in agreement nor shakes his head. Instead he stares at her as if her words are poisonous.
"Which means that when you attend my wedding, you will sit down neatly among my guests and keep your mouth shut, is that clear?"
Oh, so decisive. He likes that part of her. And this time he cannot fight the grin back at all. It breaks through and she knows of why he smiles broadly. At last his expression turns into a confident smirk and she gets somewhat annoyed by it.
"And one more thing," she begins.
With arms and elbows on the table, Jack leans towards her. "What now, luv?"
He gets too close to Angelica. She feels the magnetic field between them, pulling them together as always. Thereof her quickness in shooting back into her chair and tear her eyes away from him, pretending her glass carries her full attention. Frankly, she is nervous. And it takes a lot of strength for her to ask about what has lingered her mind.
"About the ring."
Ah, can someone just hit Jack with a brick already?
He licks his lips in search of the remainder of a drop of rum. She wants to bring that subject up? They never really spoke about it. And he is not sure he is willing and capable of doing it now whatsoever.
"The ring," he repeats and leans back into the backrest again.
"You really wanted to marry me?" she requires.
Jack shrugs. He wants to dismiss that question. Nonchalantly wave it off as rubbish. Nonsense to even mention him within the same sentence as the word marry. It simply does not sound suitable, does it?
For some reason he ends up saying the contrary. "Suppose offering someone a ring only means one thing."
"You should have told me, Jack."
"You left. You were gone, luv."
"Even so."
"Even so?"
There is fire flashing in her eyes again. "Yes, Jack. Have you ever thought of how different things could have been? How our lives could have looked-."
"Are ye sayin' ye'd have obliged to it?" he challenges back, a little bit uncomfortable with the topic. He has never been fond of confrontations. For whatever irritating reason, Angelica so happens to love them as she time after time ends up shooting one into Jack's face.
A challenge was indeed in its place as she silences. She folds her arms and shakes her head disapprovingly before letting out. "You are unbelievable."
"That ye tend to say in bed though."
As he is drinking he misses the glare she shoots his way.
"I can't get a grip around you," she continues her admitting.
Jack give her a toothy grin when hearing this. "What a compliment."
It takes a moment until she realizes the double meaning and she rolls her eyes. "Never failing the ego, do you?"
In fact that is not true. If during any events in his life, it is around her he has questioned his ego. He is immensely secure in everything in his life. Yet around her he faces the only moments when he questions himself. Not that he ever in his lifetime will let her have knowledge of this matter.
"Regarding..," his eyes squeezes as he refers the ring without mentioning it. Angelica knows it and is keen on hearing him out. "It was quite some time back in life."
"Saying it wouldn't happen now?"
And what is he supposed to reply to this? Tell her absolutely yes, or the actual truth? There is simply no rightful way here.
"You're getting married, aren't ye, luv?" he states.
She bites her lip as if she figures out for the first time that she is. She mumbles a yes. Then she meets his eyes again. "Although," she starts. "Would you?"
Why does she want to know? And now, of all times and opportunities she has had. Now of all sudden she wants to know if he would slide that velvet box to her containing a commitment Jack before and by now deeply questions if he ever would dare engaging. More truthfully - he probably never ever would. Because it simply does not suit him. A married Sparrow. Nah-ah, it does not sound good. For the second matter, he has no time for such nonsense. Yet, when he looks at her, he wonder if he is just lying to himself or if her appealing presence has the power to manipulate him into any direction. Such as... marriage.
"We are moving on," he replies. He does not know if is a question hanging or if he states it to decide even for her. But then he meets her gaze once again and is confused in his mind. "Aren't we?"
"We are," she confirms. "Although, when I get married. And become a wife, a baroness and..," she is about to say mother and Jack knows it. He winces inwardly and feels this rush of hatred, passionately anger wave through him. "I refuse our paths to cross again. It doesn't work that way."
"I know."
"Then yet until now they tend to do every so often."
Jack shrugs again. "Cannot rule fate, luv. Ye know that."
"I know, it's just... I wouldn't be able to take it."
Her revelation hits him in the chest. Ah, so that is what she means.
"This is it, aye?" he wonders.
Her sad expression tells the confirmation. It is.
Suddenly he chuckles. "About time, eh?"
"It was quite some time ago you stumbled into that convent," she admits. And what a journey they have ridden through. Both together and apart, just to get reunited once again at different stages in life. And now, for a last time.
Jack smile broadens and again he feels sad he is about to cut out Angelica out of his life for good. He is not about to say goodbye to her, but farewell. Perhaps it is the opposite. She is cutting him out by never stepping a foot upon a ship again, but will remain in New England or other location in America.
A major change in the words, and he is not certain he approves of it in this particular case.
Angelica lets go of a breath, her shoulders sink and she seems to relax as she gives him a mischievous smirk.
"Thank you for the flowers."
Jack is stunned. "Flowers?"
"The one George pretended picking out for me," she explains.
"Ye knew they came from me?"
"He doesn't know my favorite type," she replies as a matter of fact. "But you do."
There is more Jack could show and teach the baron about Angelica, but that is something he stores into the back of his head. Frankly, he is quite sure he destroys the potential marriage by uttering a word about what past he shares with her whatsoever.
Something cold brings Jack back to reality and he sees that he subconsciously has brought his hand upon Angelica's, tenderly hugging it. She is smirking and his eyes fall on the stone. He cannot describe with words how much he hates that bloody diamond. For what it represents. He had hated that shimmering and immensely expensive jewel ever since he was blinded by it - from a distance. When he had stood on the ship and seen her down on the harbor. He really considered not following through with the deal the baron had convinced Gibbs on a contract. Yet, now as he looks at her, he cannot decide whether it still was the best decision he ever made. To follow through with the deal, or if it was the definite worst. Definitely nothing in between.
Interrupting the moment does the guest lady. She stumbles inside and the pair shoots from one another as if they did something indecent. She eyes between them.
"My apologies, Commodore," she begins. "There is something I could need your help for."
From eyeing the younger woman with a bit of peering eyes, her vision travels to examine Jack's reaction to this. A wave of disappointment is washing over her when he without realizing, lets go of her hand to regard this woman. He waves his hand.
"Take that with Master Gibbs," he answers.
The woman nods once but before heading out, she weirdly eyes the duo again, probably knowing very well what is going on. But she says nothing and leaves just as quickly as she appeared.
Angelica snorts. What for? - She does not even know herself.
Jack takes a note of it and refills his glass without even looking at her. It would not matter anyhow, as she seems upset with her gaze towards the now closed door.
"She won't come back, luv."
"Huh?"
"The woman ye be jealous of."
Again, she snorts. "Please."
Angelica lifts her hand and shows off her ring as if it will save and excuse her of hating a stranger for simply holding partly of Jack's attraction. He is smiling again and grabs her hand to lower it.
"I know, luv."
When the baron returns into the dining room Jack removes his hand. Angelica is looking at him intently and she seems to not grasp that her future husband is back. And Jack finds it hard to tear his eyes from her. Is it honestly possible to attract one's attention as much as she steals his? Fortunately, the amount of wine (and rum) they have been consuming is taking its effect in all of them. Certainly with the baron, who almost misses the chair when he sits down. He chuckles and therefore awakens Jack and Angelica. The duo turn to look at him.
"Had to send a message through a faster dinghy into land for a letter to the governor."
"Ah," Jack tries to understand and the baron explains.
"To clear out the streets from peasants. We cannot have them around to endanger us tomorrow."
Jack's eyebrows is quirked. "But, forgive me Mr Baron. Will it not be safe for you on land? I got the belief it was only on seas you needed protection."
Angelica swallows.
And Jack knows why.
Because of all sudden the baron is not too superior in popularity anymore. And it frightens her. Running out of excuses of why she does not just throw herself into the arms of Jack will never be a favorite part in her. She needs to be fed with different positive explanations of why the baron is the better choice. And whenever he utters something towards the negative part, she does feel fright. And Jack knows it.
"Not quite," the baron regards Jack. "Naturally a watchful guard or ten will have to look over us."
Which in other words means Angelica is not safe one hundred percent. Who is really though? Jack decides to neglect the matter. She must surely better off with this baron than with him as a pirate captain or commodore anyhow.
"George?" Angelica speaks sweetly. Sickenly sweetly, if asked Jack.
"Yes, love?"
"Maybe it's time to say goodnight," she suggests.
Jack does not want that. It was lovely to for once have a chat with her.
Did he just think that?
Well, they used to have those kinds of moments in between trying to end the life of one another. Not quite… but that would be near the truth at least.
George appears like a child that wants to nag himself into staying up late, but surrenders and stands up. His servant is fast to help him pull away the seat. Angelica joins him out of the chamber and looks over her shoulder. As Jack has followed her every move, he sits there, drinking the rest of the glass and meets her gaze. The fire is evident even if he tries to swallow it. He stands up too and joins them on deck, as if she is pulling him after her.
"Ah, perhaps a bit too much of Italy's fine wine," the baron chuckles. "What do you say?"
Jack shows him a hidden bottle of rum that he has had inside his coat. "Can it really, be too much?"
The baron holds his index finger to Jack, knowing the challenge but he is clearly not able to take up on that now. Instead he surrenders to Angelica's suggestions and kisses the back of her hand.
"Goodnight, grand day tomorrow, Lady Angelica."
She smiles in return and he heads for his quarters. The both of them watch after him and it is first when he closes the door after him that they realize the quiet pitch dark night on deck. And empty. When she turns, Jack is partly leaning and sitting on the railing, bottle of rum upside down to get the rest of it. He eyes her carefully when he slowly lowers the bottle and throws it over his shoulder to the sea. She seems nervous and not knowing what to do.
"'Night, luv."
He stands and heads for the stair up to the helm. She remains on her spot and follows his every movement until he has reached the top step. He looks at her and she begins to retreat to her cabin with a stop in the doorway to look up to him again. There is this longing in Jack. She gets married tomorrow. This is the last day for her as a so-called single woman, non-taken at least. She is called for, but she does not lawfully belong to someone.
Why does she want to tie down anyhow? Is she not a free spirited woman? The witty independent woman who fights her will through in all kinds of ways. So why want to settle for a baron? Surely, she will receive her fancy title and live safely, but is that really her? Or is she really in love?
She looks beautiful. Honestly beautiful, aye? And even Jack has to admit he may be kind of smitten with her. Kind of. Her deep eyes and luscious outer side as the same as inner... Ugh, does he have to witness her claiming her love to someone else? There is this something deep inside of him that just wants to bring him over there.
Because there she stands. In the moonlight and mouth closed. Those lips…
Jack swallows.
She does not want to join him in his cabin? Like the other nights? It would feel awfully lonely to sleep by himself in that bed. Specially when he once all over again has become used to the warmth of her body beside him. The habit of having her presence around him. Her perfume like a cloud around her and him feeling those eyes on him.
Come up Angelica. To the helm and to his cabin.
But she does not.
At last her hand fumbles on the handle and she opens the door. Slowly, she goes inside and closes the door after her.
Her cabin.
Not Jack's tonight.
And can he blame her?
Somewhere in the back of his head, he remembers this old tradition of sleeping alone the very last night before the wedding day. Cannot believe he in fact remembers such a matter.
The ships are quite empty with people. Some sailors have their stroll, and some captains are visiting their helms every once in a while. They are approaching land and will set anchor tomorrow morning in the harbor. Jack better get himself some sleep too.
Not that he will be able to get some but at least he shall try.
When he pushes the door to his quarters open, he is faced by the empty room. He almost slams it shut and wobbles over to his chair where he takes off his hat. It feels cold, and in some way very not welcoming. Yet, he kicks off his boots and lays down in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He closes his eyes and tries to sleep.
He will finally achieve what he has worked for, for so long. Since he was a child. His ambition has driven him through tremendous adventures in life. He has done and achieved more in his life than twenty Londoners together.
From a common sailor, evolving as pirate and now commodore. His name will travel in history books and he shall be remembered forever. He has a place in history. Just as he always has wished for, and worked for.
This is something he has always wanted, aye?
By that, he will be immortal. Live on forever.
Yet, why cannot he sleep? He twists and turns, rolls around and reaches frustrated for a nearby bottle of rum. When he for the third time bangs into the nearby nightstand by mistake, feeling a stinging pain in his temple - he opens his eyes and shoots it a glare. He quickly throws himself back into the mattress. He must sleep. If he falls asleep on Angelica's wedding ceremony she is literally going to hang him to death.
Aye, that again... Her wedding is tomorrow. The thought just does not escape his mind.
They had been through so much together. Met as young people and when life lets it - they encounter a bit everywhere. Wherever fate brings them and let their paths cross. Now for a final time.
The Angelica he knows: feisty, strong-willed, determined, caring, hot and just... Angelica.
How he the first time just was entranced when he saw her. No other person has ever captured his attention straight away like that. It was just something that happened in him. Something he cannot describe. He suddenly went against the rules and in fact wanted a woman aboard The Pearl. He wanted her by his side, and he definitely wanted her to know how to handle a sword. There was some kind of protective instinct over it all. Over her.
And the scariest part he did face, was how he noticed she would do the same for him. Her looking out, watchful eyes and tender fingers brushing his wounds. And this very specific sensation apparently scared the Kraken out of both of them as they tend to leave each other before it goes too far. Before it heads to… 'settling down'.
He knows he should not, but he simply cannot resist. With a trembling nerve he moves his hand inside his pocket. Just to feel the ring. It is as if the roof falls down on him, pushing his chest hard and heavy, preventing him to breath normally. She was supposed to wear that one. Not the one this drippy baron has shoved onto her.
Jack brings it out and examines it. That night in Madrid. How nervous he had been. Normally that never happened. Captain Jack Sparrow simply never became nervous. It is not one of his characteristic abilities. Or disadvantages. But that night, indeed he felt it.
He does not know what occurred to him, but he was keen on doing this. They spent several days together. Weeks even. Sort of pretending they were an unit. Executing thievery together on market squares and recruiting for his ship in the nights on pubs. He had a planned ship he would set sail from Lisbon in Portugal's costal line. The capital. She was supposed to join him this time. For good.
And for the first time, Jack felt the importance on bringing her along. He wanted her with him. By his side. She would fight like the true and proper pirate she was. The excellence in sword fighting and her manipulating skills would always benefit against an enemy.
Those days he spoilt her. He gave her everything, even if he would deny that until his grave. And that wry toothy smile appearing secretly behind her back when watching her beam in happiness for getting to choose whatever new-made sword she wished for. That was his lady, his Angelica. Not that she ever will be his. She only belongs to herself. But Jack, at that moment would have been thrilled to be the honored man to reside by her side.
Well, that was of course before she became all fancy and pompous, lavish clothing and expensive men, wealthy lifestyle and simply not the person he knew her as.
She had slightly started already there in Madrid. When she sat at the plaza, market square. An outdoor dining behind red ropes which parted the rich from the rest of the world. And she dined by herself at a lonely white clothed table, golden cutlery and waved her fan. Hair in an updo and looking like a true Spanish woman. She could have fooled anybody with her identity. Nobody could have known she was a poor novice at a convent, developed into a strong piratess and as by then - a fine lady.
Even if she wears this persona now, she really did not back then. She was undercover for something she was hired for. And she did it for the thrill and money. Probably money. But when Jack pushed the question she declined his ideas and insisted on the thrill. Her dignity always remaining high. At least higher than Jack's. She could be left, marooned on a deserted island and still walk away with higher dignity than Jack. For whatever bloody reason.
The ring glows by the moonlight which streams inside the grander windows in his cabin.
Oh, he recalls that event in Madrid, alright. How he for once had dressed up slightly more than usually. And even reserved a table.
When he had waited for three hours and two bottles of rum had passed, even the servant shot Jack a pity look. And Jack felt stupid. He had lost her.
And could he blame her? - Not really. It was probably a matter of time until he would have left her, in her belief. It was either way, one leaving the other one. It just so happened that he wished for a different outcome that particular time.
Perhaps it was for the better. Jack could go on and he would never be where he is today if that never happened. Jack's jaw clenches and jumps out of bed, on with boots. He heads outside to the helm and throws the ring angrily overboard. Stupid ring.
The sailing overseas has indeed been intense. In some way, he cannot wait to finally be over with all regarding this whole scenario. Even so, his gaze moves from the dark sea that just swallowed the ring signifying whatever he shared with Angelica, to her door. Her still closed door.
The wooden stair creaks when Jack takes his steps down it. He stops at the lowest one and still looks at her door. Will she come? Like she did the other nights? Can she? Just for a last one? One last night?
Uh... what the bloody... what is he thinking? She will not come. And if she does, he will be grateful. Just look at what he has turned into?!
He looks back up to his door behind the helm. Alright, time for sleep. He needs sleep.
It feels wrong to take that step back up to the helm.
And he only takes one.
Only one step before he make a u-turn, now storming towards Angelica's cabin. The door opens as the lightest feather and he marches inside, closes it behind him. He is quite panting and is not really aware of what he is doing. A candle burns on the windowsill by a great window. The silhouette of Angelica sits up in bed, also panting. Probably stunned by his sudden presence. Her hands dip the mattress, arms covered by fluffy white sleeves of this nightgown.
At first, Jack cannot bare himself uttering a word, and apparently neither can she. There is just this intense breathing, tension in the air as if someone can cut it with a knife.
Oh, dear God - is she wearing anything below that? Jack bites his lip in want.
"You shouldn't be here," she finally says.
He has not really been in her cabin before. Well, at least not during this last encounter.
Soft were the words coming from her. But he does not move an inch and remains in his position, still somewhat out of his mind and trying to regain his sanity. Something which desperately can make him change course and hurry back inside his room. To pretend this never happened. But he simply cannot.
Instead Angelica carefully slides off her bed. His breathing escalates when she approaches him.
No, no, no, Angelica, do not do this. Do not come over.
She stops a bit away and looks at him.
"Jack."
"Angelica."
Now, she is the one who swallows.
She is always this magnetic for him. Always alluring, attractive, hot, oh so bloody hot. It takes about two seconds before Jack, in the darkness, has towered over her. Her body pulled against his and head cupped to possessively meet her soft lips. She is taken by surprise and lets out a whimper in astonishment. In profound frustration, Jack pushes against her until a thud is heard and she has knocked her back into a wall. There has just simply been too long. The kiss during that morning was simply too short. He could go on forever. With her.
Against the wall, pinned and further so when Jack's hands finds her thighs. With a steady hold, he lifts both her gown and herself up while moving his lips from hers to instead bury in her neck. Her perfume is addicting and she draws in her breath when she feels his kissing. As by reflex, her hand digs into his hair among dreadlocks while lowering her eyelids.
Suddenly she pushes against him and struggles out of his grip. Directly Jack regains the feeling of emptiness. And a strong urge of having her back in his arms. When he reaches to take a hold of her wrists, she moves away from him, panting just as heavily as him.
"No, Jack. Don't!"
"'Gelica, I-."
"Just don't!" she lets out desperately. "Please. Don't make this harder than it already is."
Jack's mouth which still hangs open closes slowly. But he wants her. He needs her.
Her voice is cracking and she seems to be close to tears. "Let us be over with," she almost whispers before regaining some strength in her tone. "From now on."
No! No, no, no. Jack certainly does not want that! Not now!
Contradicting her words, she is up against him, her fingers unbuttoning his coat. He feels his heart throb and is deeply confused. But then again, he knows his Angelica better than anyone.
"You need to..," she begins but silences. She continues to unbutton his coat. "We need to..," she slides the coat off his shoulders and starts with his loose shirt. "Let go."
Her eyes are teary. She would never admit it, but Jack can both get glimpses of it by help of moonlight. But more importantly - her voice. He wants to comfort her, tell her not to cry. But instead he remains silent. And he allows her to open his shirt. To feel her warm hands brush against his skin, resulting in him inhaling deeply.
She grabs his hands, completely taking control of him and brings them to the back of her. He takes the hint and unties the ribbons holding her nightgown together. Her hands brings his shirt down and he has to let go of her tie for a brief moment, wiggle out of his shirt. She tiptoes and capture his lips when he leans down to continue untying her back. She moans into the kiss and part her lips further to deepen it.
"Darling," Jack pauses against her lips.
She mumbles in response, in daze.
Uh, darn she drives him insane.
"It be better this way... aye?" he wonders. "It be for the best."
"It is," and she reclaims his lips. There is such passion to it, and she brings herself further towards his body when her nightgown suddenly falls to the floor, creating a pile around her ankles. The pants are unbuckled on him and he steps out of his boots while she frustrated tugs jerks over his underwear, desperate to get them away from his body. Her force causes Jack to smile into the kiss and he surprises her by grabbing her bosom. She pulls in her breath and he takes the opportunity to draw her close enough for their bodies to touch. His hands relocate to her waist and bum to guide her towards the bed. He shall have her. Or rather, she shall have him.
"Only kissing," he says.
What a lie.
"Only kissing," she confirms.
Her lips tastes better than any rum. They are so addicting, just like her. She herself is pure addiction.
"You will marry him, luv."
"Uh-huh."
When the back of her knees hits the edge of the bed, he swiftly grabs her by her thighs, separates them and lifts her at the same time. Only to bring her down on the bed, hover over her and let her roll them over. She straddles him and leans down to him in a searching kiss.
This woman drives him mad.
He has a naked Angelica on top of him.
Suddenly the reality echoes in the back of his head, and he grabs her wrists to make her stop.
"Luv," he mumbles.
She pauses and lets him position himself against the headboard, back leaning against the pile of pillows. She lays down beside him, bent elbow and jaw line supported by her palm. She rolls to her back and closes her eyes as she parts her legs, revealing to Jack of her so-called invitation. He tries to fight the urge but cannot. Instead, he ends up in between and locking her eyes to his.
Does she want this? They should stop. They cannot do this. It is not right. Not for either of them. Not for anybody. It is stupid and something they simply should not do.
"We're letting go, Jack," she affirms.
He claims her lips again and puts her in a comfortable place by grabbing her waist and quickly shifts her body.
"We're letting go," he repeats. And in a way, he is. This will be his last time with her. With her they were quick. Hard and intense movement, sweat over their bodies and throbbing friction the closer they were. In ecstasy she tended to call out his name, something cursing in Spanish after doing so. He would collapse beside her. Sometimes brush the sand off him or even dry himself if it happened in the sea along the shoreline.
But not this time.
This time is special. And he wants it that way. Slow, intense and loving. He would give her everything he has. Everything he was and everything he will become.
Her legs bend on each side of him as she parts them further, pushing her lower self up to brush against him. He takes the hint and works his way inside her. She hisses at the contact and he pauses to see her wellbeing.
With her body, she urges him to go on. "It's alright, Cariño."
Jack feels how his blood gets warmer upon her nickname. With every trust he moves slightly further in her and she is keeping his head in a firm grip, his lips never leaving hers.
He devours them and tries not to increase the pace even though it tempts at points. He wants to savour every last moment he manages to share with her. And perhaps she cannot take it well. Her body urges for him, meeting his every trust and they find their rhythm way too fast for ex-lovers. Her body screams for him, every deeper plunging a tease. Her moaning gets louder and so does Jack's. He just cannot contain himself. The whole bed is moving, headboard slamming against the wall and somewhere deep in the back of his head, he hopes nobody will hear them. Because he would not care less anyhow. He could not. He is too absorbed in World Angelica that if the ship so were sinking, he would not budge. He just cannot stop, and will not.
"Dámelo," Angelica lets out before a moan slips and she deepens the kiss. Oh, he knows what that words means and he will show her.
Her hands grabs tighter and tighter in his dreadlocks and he can feel her body beginning to tremble. So slightly, but he knows her as the back of his hand.
"Oh, Cariño," she lets out, causing Jack to squeeze his eyes shut. If she continues using her native tongue much further she will drive him over the edge.
Suddenly it seems as if the world shatters. Her body is shaking and she gasps, pulling in her breath and ends up in a content moan. Her walls surrounding Jack, tightens and it is just eye rolling as he feels his knees weaken, his kiss deepen and heart wanting to pop out of his chest.
Oh lord.
He trusts one last time before pulling out and collapsing beside her.
Alright. He is just letting go. Simply as that. And so is she, aye?
Nothing wrong with that. Now, it will be easier. Easier to face the following day. But yet, he cannot help but to push those thoughts to the back of his mind.
After all, he has her by his side. Panting heavily and sprawled out on bed as she tries to catch her breath.
He had stayed the night at hers.
The warmth of her body against his spooning one, pulling her tight against him with a protective arm holding her all night. Really, none of them had slept. Certainly not Jack. It was impossible. If he had slept alone he would have continued twisting and in frustration rolling around in search for a comfortable position. But with Angelica by his side, he remained still.
It would be their last night. The last time he would have her beside him, and he better not miss a moment of it. In a way, he felt content. This comfort in her presence, and such a harmonic sensation to it all.
Sunrise in fact arrives too quickly for Jack's liking. It is possible to glimpse land from Angelica's window and while her eyes are closed, Jack gazes through them over her to see New England approaching. Eventually he has to get up. Reluctantly he has to let go of her, trying to memorize the very last moment. He gets dressed in silence and ends up watching her lay there peacefully.
Her wedding day is here.
Some sailors patrol, tie ropes and adjust the sails. One in the front signals to guards in the harbour and Jack walks up there. Gibbs is there and notices Jack. He is amused but shakes his head before drinking from a bottle. He will remain silent about the fact that he previously in the early morning knocked on the Commodore's door to inform him about their soon arrival - but found no one answering. Instead he focuses on gesturing towards New England forming in front of them. Buildings and people a bit everywhere, even that early in the day.
Jack grabs his bottle and takes the first one of the day. "New England," he speaks. A sailor beside him shouts to the harbour and they shout back, all trying to properly bring in the ships alongside the piers.
"We did it," Gibbs speaks. "We will be rewarded, mark my words."
Jack nods once slowly. Aye, they will be. They certainly will be.
The guards on the harbour help sailors with organizing boarding planks. Jack is first to walk off and is greeted by the guards at once.
"Commodore Sparrow."
Recognizing the infamous pirate captain, they all take a step backwards when he steps onto the pier. By throwing a sack of coins to them, they seem to relax.
"Commodore."
He nods to them. "That'd be all for the ships."
"Surely it is," a guard speaks and hands the sack of coins to a nearby co-worker.
During the whole morning, it is chaos. Organized chaos perhaps. Jack is everywhere, calling out orders to any sailor and any captain. What whereabouts should go where, how many and pointing directions for sailors. He manages to get glimpses of wedding decorations, smaller statues and other unnecessary crap the baron has brought with him. A few chests of pure golden coins as well, parts of the fortune the baron wanted with him. To start this new life in America.
Eventually around noon, the baron appears and stands pompously on the boarding plank, scanning eyes of a first impression over what New England's harbour has to offer. A few guards bow graciously upon his arrival.
A sack of coins is offered in Jack's path. He looks on the gesture and shakes his head confused.
"Commodore. You brought us safely to New England. You did the deal," he announces.
Jack shakes his head at the sack of coins. "I be alright, Baron," he assures. When the baron seems baffled, Jack explains. "I be good with whatever follows the contract between us."
The baron accepts his decline and motions for a driver, ruling white fancy horses with feathers, pulling a carriage - to approach him.
"We are staying at this villa, inside this gated community where we will have celebrations after church vowels. And we will live there afterwards," the baron confirms. "Will you send Lady Angelica there when she appears? I am sure she has lots of things to execute before the wedding."
Jack is numb but has to nod in confirmation. Of course.
"You know women and their thinking of wedding days as their greatest day of their lives?"
Jack has to shake his head at that. Then he smiles slightly at the baron. "Ye think this be Ange.. Lady Angelica's greatest day? Of her life?"
Truthfully he is stunned by the baron's ego. He surely knows nothing of her. Nothing about her at all in fact. But then again, he thinks she is this wealthy trophy who only has attended tea parties throughout her life.
"Naturally!" the baron is almost offended. "She is becoming a baroness for God's sake!"
Swallowing, Jack realizes his provoke and excuses himself. "My apologies, Baron."
Again, the baron accepts it and snatches his fingers for a nearby servant. The servant loads the wagon with the most important belongs for the baron. The rest will have to go with another one.
"I will see you in a few hours, Commodore," the baron announces and steps inside the wagon. "At the wedding."
"At the wedding," Jack repeats and off the baron is. The horses trot away from the pier and ride through town.
"Commodore?" a sailors speaks when Jack has been both quiet and frozen during a longer moment than he himself figured.
Jack lifts his eyebrows and see this young boy stand straight.
"Would you prefer if I also brought horses and a wagon, a transport for you to head for the wedding?" he wonders.
Brave young little sailor suggesting proposals for not only a captain, but a commodore. Jack makes a mental note to recruit this man when he returns as a fearless pirate commodore.
"Not yet. There be no rush. I'll get there."
The sailor nods and when Jack shoos him to return to his duties, the sailor leaves.
Jack manages to finish off another few things, bribe a harbour guard and look over his ship before the future baroness steps outside. She is glowing in her neutral colored dress, ladies in waiting surrounding her like a cloud. She seems occupied by ordering around a few servants carrying her stuff, one particular carrying a grander bag Jack dares to think contains the wedding gown. She appears bossy and deep in her thoughts while ladies in waiting in between throw a question in her way.
Wedding arrangements. It seems like a nightmare. How can anybody do that by free will? If Jack had managed putting that ring on her, they would probably just have swung by a priest to get it over with fast. Just like Will and Elizabeth married while fighting. Jack would have probably preferred a similar type of wedding. A memorable quick one rather than pretending the Queen of England visited town. Of what he has not witnessed, he can declare wedding arrangements take too much energy of a person.
That including himself.
When all of this is over, either he wants to go straight into finding treasures, plunder some noble vessels or he wants a vacation in Tortuga. Quite at the point that he can consider a few days or weeks off on a deserted island away from anything that screams wedding and drama.
She eventually sees him and walks down the boarding plank. All ladies in waiting nervous she will fall over. Graciously she approaches him. He cannot decide whether she is beaming of happiness or if she is happily sad. Well, it is either of the options.
"Is there a wagon for me?", she wonders.
Jack's eyes travel around her body, examining every single feature. She does not look like the pirate woman he tends to have beside him, a steady grip of the hold of a sword. A baroness, just as what she will become, are truer words describing her. And lovely, she always looks lovely. Beautiful.
Her questions causes him to smile, he fights it but it escapes. As if he ever will forget that night.
"Can prepare one," Jack suggests.
Angelica wears a closed smile and Jack tries to figure her out. She moves her attention away from him to the perfect horses with tidy manes run up for her. The wagon is white, golden decorations and red curtains framing the windows.
"Angelica..," Jack begins but sees her ignoring him.
Ah, what now?
Her eyes are suddenly teary and Jack thinks he knows why.
"Ye regret..?" he trails off.
She pulls in her breath and glances to her ladies in waiting, which all panics by tryouts of arranging the very last.
"You shouldn't come," she speaks. Suddenly she turns to him, now eyes very watery. "Don't come, Jack. I beg you."
Jack moves his hand to her cheek. He has an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Even if her words says one thing, repelling him, he feels yet the magnet pulling him to her. He wants to hug her close, embrace her tightly and let her bury her face in his chest while comforting her. He wants to take her away from all this nonsense, to be the one she cares for, to... to love her.
His mouth opens but he has no time to reply before a lady in waiting is there beside them. She is opening the door to the wagon for Angelica and she goes inside, leaving Jack on the pier. He meets her gaze through the window but one of the ladies in waiting going inside closes the curtains across the windows.
Another one looks at Jack after opening another carriage that stops beside them.
"Commodore Sparrow. I suppose I will see you at the wedding," she winks to Jack, clearly flirting but he cannot take a less notice than he already does. His vision shifts to the carriage in which Angelica is in, and he does not move from his spot until it is out of sight.
If she does not want him there, then he shall not go. If yesterday was a true goodbye according to her, then he shall respect that. If this baron makes her happy, then Jack will accept it.
Besides, he could get a good use of a peaceful evening by himself at the hotel in which he will stay at.
Gibbs joins him on the harbour and whistles to a driver by a carriage.
"Where're we off to, Jack?" he wonders.
"The Grand."
Gibbs gestures to catch the driver's attention. "The Grand."
The person behind the reins nods and Gibbs opens the door for Jack to head inside. He does while Gibbs loads on a couple of bags, the majority of them containing Jack's belongings.
"When do we need to be ready for the wedding?" he wonders.
Jack keeps examining the sceneries of the town they pass through. "Ye be goin' 'lone, mate."
Gibbs looks shocked. "Come again?"
"Won't go," Jack says more clearly. "So you'll be heading there alone. It starts in a two hours."
Frowning, Gibbs gives up and takes in the information.
It takes a short while before they come to a halt. Gibbs jumps out of the carriage and struggles with all bags past the doorman while Jack flamboyantly strides a few steps ahead. He gets the keys at once and hands Gibbs his.
"Bring my bags into my room in a while, aye?"
"Aye."
Jack heads for the stairs and walks up to his room. This room is very cluttered with fine decorations, not at all his style. He prefers wooden and darkness, just as on his beloved Pearl. This is too much of the red color, velvet couches and mahogany. Porcelain vases and Jack is sure there will be a scandal if he so happens to by mistake break them as he has done before at other hotels. That is why he also prefers staying on his boat. But now he has to wait for the baron to utter words about a possible opportunity which he can be able to follow through as a new commodore.
The opportunity of his lifetime.
Jack walks over to the windows and views the plaza. This empty feeling seems to nowadays follow him wherever he goes. As frustrating as it is, he is also aware of the reason. Or more truthfully, aware of who stands behind the reason.
Suddenly the doors burst in and Jack reacts with a jolt.
He turns around and sees his first mate storming inside with the bags. Angrily, the loyal friend drops them onto the floor.
"I be headin' for the wedding. Now."
Jack hears his announcement and waits as if he has further to say. When Gibbs only stares, Jack's eyebrow quirks and he shoos him away. But Gibbs remains.
"And ye be comin' with me."
"What for?"
Gibbs goes up to Jack, rather daringly. He seems to be more courageous these days also, than he tends to be. "We finally got what we wished for, Jack," his finger points warningly to Jack. "But ye destroyed it all."
Now Jack is very confused.
"Ye love her," Gibbs accuses.
"Partly smitten, but love?" Jack gestures a no but Gibbs does not give up.
His finger is lowered but his scolding expression tells otherwise. "Now ye go after her and stop this madness before she has married this dumpster of a nobleman!"
Still, Jack does not budge.
"Did your cocktail hours start a bit early today, eh?"
Gibbs is infuriated. "She loves ye, Jack! Ye will make your greatest mistake by staying 'ere, mark my words!"
In actual fear of this sudden irritated chubby man, Jack takes a step back.
"She be telling me herself she wanted me to stay here."
Gibbs closes his mouth so Jack decides to continue.
"And what about our titles? Names engraved in history books? For your matter, I stuck to the plan and gained us immortality."
Finally surrendering to Jack, Gibbs's shoulder sink and he takes a deep breath. Eventually he swallows and nods.
"Alright. Then I'll see ye tomorrow mornin'. Ready to take off, 'gain. I will celebrate all night. Rumored to be a heck of a party."
Jack gestures his acceptance and Gibbs leaves. The door closes and Jack shakes his head. His friend does not mean anything bad, even if he happens to be bloody irritating at the moment. Trying to intervene in Jack's lovelife and pair him with an impossible woman.
Because it was clear already from beginning that the two of them would never ever end up together - in the end. Their end is not simply together, but apart.
And the sooner he realizes that, the better.
Has he ever dwelled this much about anything? Jack sees a bottle of rum poke out of a bag and snatches it. Just what he needs, rum!
He brings up the bags on his bed and looks over them. The fine attire is there and he brings it out. That is an attire suiting well for a wedding. He lays it out on the bed and is soon dressed with it. The reflection in the mirror is not of himself. He looks foolish. Snooty and as if he were born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Clearly, he looks the furthest from Captain Jack Sparrow. With a dismissing and disliking expression, obviously disapproving the attire - he changes.
For the first time during this amount of time, Jack changes into his recognizable pirate clothes. His familiar and comfortable clothes he can take down any man in.
Even the hat above that muddy red bandana is finely and properly placed atop his head. Finally the Jack he knows.
He glances to his side and through the windows. The tower from a church is visible and bells ring. There she is.
Angelica Teach.
The woman who came to leave a trace within him.
The only woman he will ever love.
Jack freezes at that.
What the actual bloody..?!
Did he just think that?
He bites his lip and forces down more rum. More and more until there is no left.
By the thought of her, he feels how his blood gets warmer, his heart throbs harder and he begins to breath heavier. His head feels dizzy and he wishes she did not have that effect on him.
It comes as a cannon ball hitting him, but he understands.
He must go to her.
Now.
He rushes out of the room, even leaving the door open to jump down the stairs and hurry across the plaza. Straight for the church.
He must see her.
If it is not too late.
Too little too latte.
He must make it in time.
She is his everything.
Aye, his everything. As cheesy as it sounds.
The bell tower is located stable at the church. Doors open as the last guests arrive. Jack stops and lets out his breath.
It has not begun yet.
He hurries inside and neglects all people turning after him. He looks like a pirate.
Well, He Is A Pirate.
At once by hearing of the attention his piracy appearing arrival costs among other guests, he slides along a wall to hide from people thinking he will ruin the wedding.
On the other hand - will he not?
The door which is ajar catches Jack's attention. He sees a familiar lady in waiting. When she turns towards Jack and walks towards the door, he hides behind it. It opens and she passes, walking up to other guests at the entrance of the church.
Jack quickly slides inside. He turns and stops tracks.
Well, this is a sight he never dreamed of witnessing.
Angelica in a wedding dress.
She stands in front of a long mirror, reflecting herself with a veil hanging from her head down along her back. She has not yet put it over her face to cover it. She seems to be gathering herself as she takes a deep breath, rather dull look in her eyes and closed mouth.
If Jack thinks she looked beautiful before, he had never seen her in such a situation.
This is more of an innocent, pure angelic impression. Pure beauty.
It seems as if he has forgotten why he came as he must have stood there for quite some time before she sees him in the mirror. She gasps and turns around at once, deeply in shock.
"Jack?!"
Her eyes follows his features, not believing the sight in front of her. That is her old Jack. The conniving and charming pirate she knows of.
He forces a sad smile to appear. "Ye look..," he swallows. "Really beautiful. The loveliest bride there is, and ever will be."
Ah, man. He really can be that cheesy?
Seems like it.
Angelica inhales and seems to get dizzy. He approaches her and grabs her arms to hold her in place.
"Luv?"
"No, Jack... I..," she struggles to not faint. She begins to tear up and her breathing escalates. "It's too late now."
Jack gathers the strength in him. He just needs to know and he will leave her alone for good. He will let her alone, forever. But he needs to know first.
"Angelica?"
She sniffles and she is hanging in his hold, struggling to keep balance on her feet.
Jack opens his mouth again and penetrates her eyes deeply. Too deeply.
"Are you in love with me?"
She gasps again and wonders if she will collapse in his arms.
She is struggling hard to not break out crying and in frustration she regains her inner power to stand up completely. Her hands move over his to help him let go of her arms, but he will not. He refuses. He needs to know.
When her teary vision looks back up, she notices him still looking deeply into her eyes. She cannot talk, she cannot utter a word. Yet, she will be the only one speaking. She gathers her strength to let out a whisper.
"If I say yes..."
Jack continues to hold her gaze. A tear escapes the corner of her eye and streams down the side of her cheek. Her voice gets a bit stronger.
"Then there would be no point in me marrying George."
She looks away and it feels as if Jack's heart is about to pop out. He himself feels the dizziness in his head but he cannot loosen his hold on her.
"But if I say no," now her voice is cracking and more tears stream down. She is crying, struggling against it but ends up looking back into Jack's eyes. Now surrendering to it with letting it out in a breath. "Then I would be lying."
Her face is cupped in his hands and he stares straight into her eyes for a long moment. It is as if the world has stopped spinning. Time has stopped. He cannot let go of holding her gaze and she cannot win the fight of looking away, tearing from his locked gaze.
There is just so much love, the kind of deep profound love, that none of them realize where they are or what they are doing at the moment.
Is it possible to love anybody this intensely?
Obviously. It is.
It most definitely is.
She loves him. And Jack knows what he has to do.
All over again.
What he wants of her is for her to be happy. That she deserves to be happy. No matter what he himself thinks of this all, it is her life that comes first. She loves him and it is his duty to do the right thing.
She not only must, but she WILL marry George.
Not Jack. Never Jack.
She will become a baroness. She will have the happy life George can offer. She will live in a grand house and have a ridiculous amount of friends. Those she can invite on extravagant parties upon which she has forced her husband spend an awful amount of money on. And servants. Servants which do all the work and make her able to only sit down in a couch enjoying the view of her perfect garden, served by a private gardener. To not mention a chef which will make her afternoon teas.
She will have children. Children that can have anything they want. Children that will live a simpler and happier life than someone like Jack ever could offer her.
She will hate him for now, but eventually she will understand this is for her best. And that he really just thought of her. He prioritized her in front of his own wills. His own wills of sweeping her off her feet and running away.
This is his everything. And he cannot break that everything. This everything is something he cautiously must do the right thing for. For once not thinking of himself.
So he does it.
He takes a step back and is even stunned himself by what he does.
She seems shocked, gasping and still struggling to not burst out crying. But her looking into his eyes is anything but easy. He can see her questioning expression, yet understanding but incredible sad.
He has to do this - for her.
The steps he backs towards the door he came from are heavier than the fullest barrel of stones he has carried. They weight awfully much and the gut in him tells him to do the opposite. To run over to her and grab her mid-air, kiss her passionately and never let go.
She holds his eyes and he can feel it within him. This was not supposed to happen. As if taking in of what is left of the moment, he lingers a while before turning around and walks out the room. He storms out of the church and guests move aside to give him passage. Probably all thinking he is bad news and may rob them. It gets even worse when Jack stops.
By leaving the church now, he definitely gives up on her. There will be no return when she says 'I do'. And Jack will have to find himself in that. Inwardly he growls and knows he should not.
As fast as he left the church, he is back inside. He marches straight inside and heads for the room in which Angelica is in. She is adjusting her make-up that has been smoothed from her watering eyes. She jumps by Jack's sudden arrival.
"Come with me," Jack speaks decisively.
She glares at him, a look as if he were crazy.
"Jack?! Are you insane?" she gestures to her wedding dress. "I'm about to get married."
"We barely have no time..," Jack words die as they hear the escalating bells, revealing Angelica should head for the aisle.
"I can't, Jack."
She lifts her gown and passes him as she heads out of the room. Again, Jack swallows his pride. Alright, now he has done what he can do. Right? There is not much room for yet another intervention. It is over. He gathers himself and sees her doing the same. All guests are now finding their seats inside. Perhaps Jack has never witnessed that many fancy looking people at the same time, let alone squeezed inside the same chamber.
One of the ladies in waiting is putting the veil to cover Angelica's face.
In his lost mind, Jack manages to see a coat hanging on a nearby hook. He grabs it and wraps it over his shoulder. He will see this ceremony. As a closure.
Nothing less and definitely nothing more.
He sneaks inside and finds Gibbs on a row quite at the front by the altar. Non smoothly, Jack bumps his way through the crowd of people. When Gibbs eventually notices him, his eyebrows much reach his hairline.
"Ye came," he states. Jack cannot tell if he is surprised or if he waited for this to happen all along.
"'Course I did." But he does not utter a word about the reason why he came in the first place. Gibbs eyes him knowingly though but remains silent about the matter.
The both of them greet guests around them.
"Bride's side?" Jack wonders as he eyes a fancy couple. They are. When he scans this part of the church, all supposedly from the bride's side, Jack cannot help but wonder where Angelica met all those people. All wealthy looking people, seemingly of folks she should not approve of according to the Angelica Jack knows. She certainly is better at playing games than she takes cred for.
Gibbs takes a note of Jack's scanning and clears his throat.
"We don't fit in, do we?" he wonders.
Jack grunts. "Definitely not."
He moves his gaze to the nervous but also confident baron standing at the altar, beaming with pride as he exchanges a few words with a friend of his. He seems equally snotty and unpleasant.
Suddenly musicians begin to play and all silence. People stand up and Jack almost tiptoes to see the bride.
At first she stands still. But eventually she begins to walk slowly, and it is hard to see her clearly under that lacy white veil. It is a breathtaking sight. The fabrics of the dress shimmer glowingly by its silky fashions. And her larger brown curls hang over her shoulder, swinging above her lower back as she slowly walks. Some women whisper to each other, but Jack takes a greater notice of the men's gluing eyes. Can he blame them? He finds the vision very absorbing himself.
When the priest reposition himself at the altar and the baron finally gets to see his bride, Jack considers the idea of him puking. The sensation of nausea grows in him to the point of him feeling light headed. If he only had yet another bottle of rum inside his pirate clothing. He nudges Gibbs.
"Oi, ye don't happen to have a bottle of rum in 'ere, do ye?"
With a quirked eyebrow, Gibbs opens his fine coat, one Jack even did not know of his first mate owned. Discreetly, Gibbs hands him the glass bottle. Jack takes a swig while the majority is gushing over the lady. Jack cannot see her expression, but clearly she is giving the baron something as his smile widens. On the other hand, who would not grin so foolishly when they had her as future bride?
When she reaches the altar, carefully takes a few steps up, everybody sits down. That including Jack. He is last one down and Gibbs has to pull his coat to gain his attention from the trance the bride keeps him in. Jack awakens and sits down.
The priest takes a deep breath and examines the bridal couple. He opens his mouth with such a strong voice it echoes throughout the church.
"Dearly beloved," the priest begins and Jack takes a deep breath. His heart is throbbing heavily and his hands must be trembling. So... here it goes.
"We are gathered here in the sight of God to join this man, and this woman in holy matrimony."
Now Jack thinks he may have a black out. That is his Angelica.
Is this really happening? Is she really getting married to this baron? Or is this just a nightmare he will wake up from any moment.
Oh he wishes...
"Not to be entered into lightly holy matrimony should be entered into solemnly and with reverence and honor. Into this holy agreement these two persons come together to be joined."
Gibbs glances to Jack, trying to see how his friend is doing. Jack fakes a smile but Gibbs can tell. He avoids commenting on it though, and the priest goes on.
"If any person here can show cause why these two people should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
The silence is evident throughout the church. If anybody so would have dropped a feather, it would have been heard. Gibbs is holding his breath and nervously glances to Jack, who in turn struggles to not pass out.
This is really happening. She really is getting married. He cannot... he just cannot take it. To witness this is so much harder than he ever thought it would be. He wanted closure but accepting that closure turned out to be a heavier task than he ever could have expected.
"Marriage is a sa..," the priest silences and a few gasps.
It is first when Angelica turns around and looks to Jack and is visibly pulling in her breath - that he realizes he is standing up. That is also when he sees that not only is the priest too staring at him, but the whole church.
He struggles with trying to speak, heck, trying to keep the balance on a stable level and not collapse.
"Is there anything you'd like to add, Sir?" the priest wonders. The baron seems to be fuming but Jack's eyes are stuck on Angelica. She has by now removed the veil and her stunned expression reveals she did not expect this. Her eyes are getting teary again and he hopes he has not destroyed her wedding completely.
Jack gulps. No. No, he cannot do this. Because it is not right. And she told him before that she did not want him. She chose the baron. Who is he to try and steal her? They have gone back and forth so much it is for the better he keeps his distance. She has after all accepted this marriage and now it is his turn to do so.
"No," Jack lets out. He motions for the priest to continue. "Go on." And he is down in his seat.
The priest clears his throat and goes on, but Angelica is by now too at the point of approaching a black out.
Jack sits down and Gibbs pats his back comfortably.
"Ye did the right thing... I suppose," he hisses.
Aye. But the right things sucks... This is not how Jack wanted things to end with her.
"Marriage is a sacred union between husband and wife and shall remain unbroken. It is the basis of a stable and loving relationship and is a joining of two hearts, bodies and souls. The husband and wife are there to support one another and provide love and care in times of joy and times of adversity."
A few guests still glance in Jack's direction. He lets them and instead focuses on how he will survive hearing her declare her affection for this man. Tie her knots.
"We are here today to witness the joining in wedded bliss of Baron George Baines..."
Do not say, do not say it.
"And Lady Angelica Teach."
Jack's eyes go dull.
"This joyous day celebrates the commitment and love with Baron George Baines and Lady Angelica Teach's start their lives together."
Uh, bloody infernal crap how provoking this is to hear. Jack's legs are now slightly trembling and a rush of anger flows through him. It causes him to want to throw a bottle of rum onto the baron, destroy the wedding and just take the bride with his escape route. He has destroyed weddings before, but that was more unintentionally, or sometimes when he just attended them to steal jewels from guests. But...
This is his Angelica!
"Through God, you are joined together in the most holy of bonds."
Oh, no. Why is the priest turning towards the groom? No, no, no, no! Jack considers the idea of sneakily shooting the baron's leg to be able to postpone this most horrendous event.
"Do you, Baron George Baines, take Lady Angelica Teach to be your lawfully wedded wife and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her,"
Jack still looks at Angelica who has grabbed a nearby fan from a lady in waiting. She waves it towards her face, seemingly to catch her breath.
"In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you shall live?"
Jack inwardly dies.
Say no, savvy? Say no for God's sake.
The baron's voice booms in the church. "I do."
No, no, no. Do not dare turning to Angelica!
Yet, helplessly, Jack can only watch how he priest turns his attention to the bride. It is as if it happens in slow motion, because Jack knows that from there on. It is honestly over for his part.
"Do you, Lady Angelica Teach take Baron George Baines to be your lawfully wedded husband and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?"
Now Jack cannot breathe anymore.
It is a silence for quite some time. She seems to be struggling but eventually nods.
"I-."
She is interrupted by the audience's overly loud gasp. Again, apparently Jack is up on his legs.
Everybody again looks at him and Gibbs tries to make him sit down by pulling his coat.
"Jack! Sit down! It be over!" he hisses in frustration. But Jack only hears what his loyal first mate says distantly.
Angelica's mouth closes and she too turns to look at Jack. Slightly, she is trembling. As Jack fights his way through the crowd of people over to the aisle. Her eyes as well as every other ones follow his every move.
He approaches her directly and no other person exists in the world during that moment.
If she so wants to marry this man, he will let her. But he will not watch it.
"Jack?" she searchingly and softly speaks.
The words are simple, often spoken by others and perhaps nothing to raise ones eyebrows for. But for Jack, he has never really uttered them before. Even so, it comes so smoothly and sincerely, as if he genuinely has told her so every moment of every day.
"I love you, Angelica."
Everybody is numb. Including Angelica, and Jack.
When he is ready, he turns on his heels and goes straight along the aisle to the entrance of the church. He will leave. For good. This is now over.
For a very last time, Jack looks over his shoulder.
Everyone inside is looking at Angelica, now including Jack.
She is looking at him, painfully whimpers and takes a step towards him. The baron grabs her hand and stops her.
She turns her head back to the baron, says something to him while shaking her head frantically and winces out of his grip.
There honestly will never be another love another time, for Jack. She did come into his life and made his living fine. She does fill his heart with so much love that wherever he does go, he will never be lonely.
More does not Jack see of her struggling away from the baron, as he opens the doors of the church and begins to leave.
THE END