Rebecca woke to sun in her eyes the next morning. She rolled over and opened her eyes. She saw Jack asleep in the chair with his hat pulled down over his eyes. Rebecca sat up and stood next to the bed. She took a step forward but her foot slipped on the wooden floor. She gasped as she fell toward the ground. But she didn't hit the ground. She felt two strong arms pull her back up.
When her feet hit the floor she turned around to see Jack standing behind her with a grin on his face.
She said "Thank you Captain Sparrow."
He gave her a small bow.
"Ye should get dressed, love."
She nodded and he left. Becky put on one of her fancier dresses. She put her hair into a tight bun at the back of her head. She checked herself in the mirror.
She opened the door and stepped into the hall. Captain Jack was waiting outside her door.
He said "May I escort you downstairs?"
He held out his arm for her. She took his arm.
"Yes Captain you may."
He led her downstairs and to the dining room. As they walked Jack thought 'She always uses my title. Except last night when she had the nightmare, then she called me Jack.'
In the dinning room Jack pulled out a chair for Becky. She sat down and he pushed her in and sat across from her. They sat in silence. Becky looked at her hands in her lap. Jack sat back in the chair and looked across at Becky.
Becky could feel the Captain's eyes on her. She blushed pink. A small smile was on her lips.
Jack noticed that Becky's face turned pink and the trace of a smile graced her lips. He smiled knowing it was because she could feel him watching her.
He asked "Love, what are you smilin' at?"
Her eyes got big and she looked up at him with pink cheeks. He gave her a smile.
"Oh. Uh…n-nothing."
He gave her a puzzled look but still with a knowing smile on his lips and in his eyes. She suddenly realized that he knew what she was smiling at. She looked him in the eyes and asked "Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to, Mr. Sparrow?" 'Damn, spoke too soon.'
"Captain Sparrow, love. And I ask questions I already know the answer to ta see if someone is lyin' and if they are, how good they are at it."
As he said this he stared into Becky's searching eyes.
"And ye, love, are not very good at lyin'."
She became very frustrated at the grin playing on the pirate's lips. In a very soft voice she said "Fine. Then what was I smiling at?"
He leaned back in his chair, again and said "Ye were smilin' at the fact tha' the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow was watching ye from across the table."
Becky instantly hid the small surprise from her eyes. She narrowed her eyes at him. Just then Will and Elizabeth walked in. They had heard the whole conversation. As they walked in the heard Becky say "You have the biggest ego in the world Mr. Sparrow." Jack shot her a golden grin and corrected her.
"Captain, love, Captain."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and said "Good morning, you two."
Becky shot Jack one last look and her face changed instantly.
"Good morning Elizabeth, Will."
Will looked between Jack and Becky and remembered last night.
"Did you sleep okay last night, Becky," he asked.
"Yes, Will. The Captain here was kind enough to stay with me last night."
Will raised his eyebrow at Jack, who shrugged and said "She was scared of tha' pirate comin' back. So I stayed there."
He caught the look on Will's and Elizabeth's faces and put his hands up saying "I was in the chair next to her bed the whole night. I didn't break me promise."
After a moment of tense silence Becky said loudly "Well. I'm starving."
Elizabeth said "Yes, let's eat."
The meal went by without any arguments. The day went by fairly peacefully. The next morning was sunny and beautiful as always. Becky was forced to wear a corset because she was leaving the house. She walked out the door and down the long drive. She pushed the gate open and started walking. A man walked past her. He was dressed very nicely. Becky thought he was probably a rich merchant. But something was very familiar about him. She heard him ask "Rebecca?"
She turned around. She looked into his eyes. She asked "Thomas?"
"Yes."
"Oh my."
She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her.
"I set sail for here as soon as I got the letter," he said. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Come. Let's go inside."
Hand in hand they went back up to the Turner's house. As they entered the house one of the maids came up to Rebecca. Becky said "Jeni would you mind finding Will and Lizzie and Jack please. Have them come down to the parlor."
"Yes Mi…Becky."
Becky smiled at the correction. She had insisted that Jeni called her by her nickname. She hated being called 'Miss Rebecca'. Jeni curtsied and left to find everyone. She led Thomas to the parlor. They sat down on one of the sofas.
Becky said "Oh, I've missed you so much."
"As have I."
Elizabeth and Will entered the parlor followed by Jack. Becky and Thomas stood. Will walked over and the two men shook hands. Will said "Thomas, how good to see you again."
Elizabeth said "Yes it has been much too long."
Thomas took Elizabeth's hand and kissed it gently.
He said "It is wonderful to see you all again."
Becky said "Thomas, this is Captain Sparrow. The man who saved my life."
She motioned to Jack who was standing a few steps away. He stepped forward when Becky motioned to him. He put on a smile and shook Thomas's hand.
He said "Nice ta meet ya, mate."
Thomas looked at his attire and then at Becky. She said simply "He's a pirate."
Like that was all that needed to be said and it explained everything. Which it pretty much did. They all sat in the parlor and got caught up on all that had happened in the past six months since Thomas had set sail on one of his trips. He was a merchant sailor and he was wealthy. He had also been courting Becky before he left. When the topic came up Jack stood. He bowed to the women and excused himself. He left the house and went into the port to get supplies.
Jack had decided that they were leaving in the morning. He went back to the house that afternoon. He went up to his room and closed the door. Half an hour after Jack went to his room there was a knock on his door. It was shy and quiet so he figured it was Elizabeth.
"Come in," he called from the bed where he laid sprawled out. The door opened quietly and closed. He didn't look up. He asked "What?"
The voice that answered was a woman but not Elizabeth.
"I wanted to talk."
Jack raised his head off the bed and looked at Becky. She stood in front of the door. Her hands were clasped in front of her. Jack sat up on the edge of his bed.
He asked "'bout what?"
Becky looked down at her hands.
"I'm… I wanted to say that I am sorry. I kind of ignored you earlier today when Thomas came. I was a little caught up in the moment. I haven't seen him in six months. And… well… It was just nice to have something good from my old life back again." She paused. "I also wanted to thank you. I would not be here if it weren't for you. I owe you my life. And I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
She looked up at him. Jack looked into her dark brown eyes. His eyes roamed over her body. He stood up and walked over to her. He stood right in front of her. He placed his hands on either side of her head against the door behind her. He looked down at her. He thought to himself 'She could do without a corset, she's very pale. She's beautiful. But I can't have her. She is upper class and I'm a pirate.'
Becky's breathe quickened. She put her hands up on Jack's chest. Jack's eyes widened when she reacted to him. Her hands slid up to his shoulders then into his hair. She twisted his dreadlocks around her fingers. Jack leaned closer to her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. He smelled of hard work, the sea, and rum.
He whispered in her ear "Have you ever been kissed before?"
Her eyes opened. Her cheeks turned pink. She had never been kissed. She shook her head. Jack smirked.
"Well I can fix that."
He leaned close and kissed her. He moved his hands down around her waist. Becky wrapped her arms around Jack's neck. Jack pulled away but still held her waist. Her breathing was fast. She looked into his chocolate, kohl lined eyes. A sad look crossed her eyes. Jack caught it just as she pushed it away. He cocked his head to the side.
He asked "What is it, love?"
"You're leaving and I can't ever do this with you again."
He gave her a questioning look wondering if it was the same reason he had thought of. "You're a pirate captain. And I'm an upper class so-called lady. You would be hung." Becky's face fell. She turned and opened the door. She looked back at Jack.
She said "Thank you for everything you have done for me. I shall never forget it."
She left and closed the door gently behind her. She ran to her room, threw herself on her bed and cried.
That evening at dinner, Jack was not there. Will told Becky that he was finalizing everything before he left at sunrise the next morning. Through out the meal Becky was quiet. She went to bed early planning to wake before sunrise. Jeni came in and helped her out of her dress and corset. She got into bed. That night she dreamed of Jack leaving and never seeing him again and not getting to see him off.
Becky woke the next day before the sun rose. She put on her favorite red dress. She tied her hair in the scarlet ribbon she always wore. She smiled as she tied it around her ponytail. Jack had called her Scarlet. He gave her the nickname the day after they met because of the ribbon she wore.
Becky slipped through her door and down the hall. She carried her shoes so she wouldn't make noise. She crept out the front door and down the drive. When she was through the gate she slipped her shoes on and ran down the streets. There was no one around in Port Royal at this hour. She was thankful for that. Becky ran down to the docks. She ran along the beach until she came to a cove. She turned into the cove and followed the beach all the way back. In a crevasse at the back sat the large, beautiful, black ship The Black Pearl. Becky smiled as she came towards it. She could see Jack at the helm giving orders to prepare for their voyage. Mr. Gibbs was on the beach when Becky reached the ship. She smiled to him. He smiled and nodded. Becky walked up the gangplank. She looked about the deck. She walked to the helm, climbed the steps and walked toward Jack. She hesitated.
She said "Captain Sparrow."
He looked up, a little surprised to see her.
He said "Hello Rebecca."
Becky grimaced. She could tell he was a little angry and hurt. She took a deep breath.
"I wanted to say good bye to you before you left."
She looked into his eyes. They were cold and hard. Becky closed her eyes to hold back the tears of pain. She opened her eyes and looked back into the pirate captain's. She said "Good luck on your voyage. And good bye Captain Sparrow."
She turned and walked off the ship onto the beach. She turned back to watch them set sail. The gangplank was hauled in. She heard the orders shouted across the deck. The ship pulled away from the dock. As it headed out toward the open sea Becky sank to her knees in the sand and cried. She loved Captain Jack Sparrow but she knew she could never have him to hold.
On the Pearl Jack turned back to see Becky sink to her knees and bury her head in her hands. He turned back to the horizon. He had feelings for this woman but he knew he could never have her. Yet she teased him so much in just ten minutes yesterday. In those ten minutes he had felt as if he could hold her the rest of his life. These thoughts would torture the pirate captain for the next five years of his life.
Becky watched The Black Pearl sail away into the ever brightening horizon taking with her all Becky's hopes and her dreams of being free.
When the Pearl disappeared across the horizon Becky stood and made her way back to the Turner's house. She went back into her room and pulled out her clothes. She got out of her dress and wore just her under dress. Jeni came in and helped her dress. She didn't pull the corset as tight as usual. Jeni pulled the dress over Becky's head and laced it up in the back. She brushed Becky's hair into a bun. Becky went down stairs for breakfast. She put on a happy face but stayed quiet.
Later that morning there was a knock on the door. Henry answered it and ushered in the guest. He led him to the parlor. The he went and found Becky.
"Miss Becky, there is some one here to see you. He is in the parlor."
"Thank you Henry."
Becky headed to the parlor. She opened the doors to find Commodore Norrington. He stood and bowed and kissed Becky's hand. Becky sat in one of the chairs. The Commodore took a seat across from her.
He said "I have come to speak with you about your future. In your father's will he stated that if something should happen to him I was to be your guardian. And, if it was not already done, I was to find you a husband."
Becky looked at him in a state of slight shock. She managed to say "Alright."
Norrington said "The first man I thought of was your friend Thomas. He has also asked permission to court you. I gave him my permission as your guardian. He shall be here tonight at about five o'clock."
The Commodore stood. Becky stood as well. Norrington bowed and kissed Becky's hand. Becky managed to say "Thank you Commodore."
He nodded and left.
The next three weeks went by slowly, dully and in a sort of haze for Becky. Lying in her bed one night, trying to sleep, a plan started to formulate. The next morning Becky went back to her house. She went to her father's study and went through all his papers. She read his journal which told her all she needed to know.
Her grandfather on her mother's side had been a pirate as well as her great-grandfather on her father's side.
She pulled a couple books off the shelf and took them back to the Turner's with her. The rest of that day and the next two days she spent reading through her father's and mother's books on pirates. She went through all their papers and documents about their families. By the end of the week she had all the information she needed. The next week she went down to the docks and booked passage on a ship heading to Tortuga, under the name of Scarlet. She started packing her things. She packed a few dresses. Her favorite red dress. A few of her prized possessions. Such as the necklace her grandfather had given her when she was a child. It was a dark red heart with a silver hook, imbedded with four diamonds, holding it on to a black velvet string. He had called it 'The Heart of the Horizon' because the color was that of the sun rising at dawn just as it comes over the horizon out on the Caribbean Sea. She took a few other things. Things that were her mother's and her father's. She also took a few books. Two on pirates, one of Shakespeare, one of medicine and one of maps. When she was finished there was still a little room left in the trunk. She took a bag from the locked drawer in her father's desk. It jingled with coins as she placed it in the trunk. She took two of the swords off the walls and one pistol. She also placed them in her trunk. She was finally ready.
She sat at her father's desk and wrote out a letter to the servants of her house telling them to look after the house and take good care of it. She wrote out another letter to Will and Elizabeth thanking them for everything and explaining what she was doing and why. She also left them some money and asked them to keep a casual eye her house. She also explained what she had told her servants.
The night finally came. Thomas came over. It was working exactly how it was supposed to. Until Thomas asked to speak with her alone, away from Will and Elizabeth. He said "Rebecca, you are a fine woman and I have known you for a long time and well… Rebecca will you be my wife?"