An Old Flame (Still Burns)
A/N: Hehehehehe, we get to find out the ship and everything now! My mother (who the captain of said ship is based upon) helped me with the character details and I just made her character plot up. On with the story.
Joshua Sparrow and Joshamee Gibbs stood either side of Jack Sparrow about the Black Pearl watching a ship out on the horizon.
"Wha's th'ship called, Pa, c'n yer see 'er name?" Josh asked his father, squinting out to sea. Jack opened up his spyglass again and looked out for the ship's name.
"Aye… Oh, bugger," he muttered.
"Pa? Wha's she called?" Josh asked again, prodding his father gently.
"The Naked Flame, lad. I remem'er her captain," Jack answered almost wistfully. "Remem'er her captain well."
Joshua shrugged and wandered off to help some of the crew and his mother.
Joshamee Gibbs was worried. He remembered the Flame's captain, as well. She would not take Angelica's presence on the ship and her relationship with Jack well. It was a good thing that they had Jackie aboard. As the daughter of the captain of the Flying Dutchman and the Pirate King, she should have some leverage or authority over the rogue female captain.
"Don' worry, Mr. Gibbs. 'M sure th'good captain Hawkins has… calmed since our last meeting," Jack reassured his first mate and oldest friend. Captain Hawkins and he had come across each other whilst Jack was on shore leave at Calais, and Captain Hawkins was making a drop off. Jack had jumped off into his longboat and rowed out to the Pearl as fast as he could.
"Aye, an' if she's still angry at yer?" Gibbs asked. "Yer kno' 'ow protective o' yer she is," he added.
"Then I will simply explain to her that I am married now and can no longer be hers," Jack replied.
"She won' like tha', Jack, 'specially when she finds out tha' yer were…" Gibbs trailed off. Before Jack married Angelica, he got exceedingly drunk upon the island of Guernsey and ended up sleeping with the Pirate Lord of the English Channel- whilst he was engaged to Angelica. Upon waking up the next morning, Jack realized his mistake and left at the next port, catching a boat heading to Tortuga and meeting up with his on-shore-leave crew. They didn't ask questions and Angelica still had no clue, twenty years and nine months on. Only Gibbs knew the truth, and he wouldn't reveal it unless told to do so by Jack.
"She won'. As far as she will know, I married Angelica after I ran from 'er. I was never wif anyone when I slept wif 'er, savvy?" Jack told his friend.
"Aye, Cap'n, understood," Gibbs answered, nodding. Jack then ordered the crew to bring out three more barrels of rum. He'd need it.
Captain Cara Hawkins smiled as she collapsed her spyglass and put it back under her belt. "Mr. Lemon!" she called to her loyal first mate.
"Aye, Cap'n?" Mr. Keith Lemon answered from the helm.
"About to starboard. Set course for the Black Pearl," Cara told him, adjusting her faded burgundy bandanna over her dark brown hair. A plait trailed down the side of her head, tied of with a strip of red cloth- a piece that Cara had cut off from Jack's red bandanna. It was her only keepsake from that night. Her reminder.
"Ma?" a girl with dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes asked, "where we goin'?"
"We, little one, are going to see an old friend," Cara answered her daughter. Oh, this was going to be interesting. Very interesting indeed.
"She's sin us, Cap'n! She's bringin' 'er about and 'eadin' this way!" Gibbs yelled up to Jack who was up on the rigging.
"Bugger," Jack muttered. "HIDE THE BLOODY MUSKETS AND DO NOT GIVE THAT WOMAN A PISTOL!" he yelled to the crew. Jack distinctly remembered pistol fire peppering the waters as he rowed back to the Pearl that was anchored out to sea.
"Aye, aye, Cap'n!" several crewmembers yelled back as they rushed to do as asked.
Jackie exited Jack and Angelica's cabin after a talk with the Spanish woman, into the hustle and bustle. She looked around for her 'uncle', and found him upon the rigging. She quickly scaled it with ease and grace akin to that of her mother. "Uncle Jack?"
"Aye, lass?" Jack replied, motioning for his namesake to climb back down with him. They did so, Jack helping Jackie down to the deck.
"Wha's 'appenin'?" Jackie asked, frowning as she was jostled by various people carrying barrels of rum and muskets. "Why's 'at ship 'eadin' our way?"
"Old frien', luv, she's on 'er way ter say 'ello," Jack answered, skirting various objects as he walked to the helm, where Mr. Cotton was keeping the Pearl steady.
"OW!" Jackie yelled as something knocked her flat. Thump! Something dropped on the deck and a loud gasp.
"Bugger! Oh, Miss Turner!" Josh exclaimed. "I'm sorry, I didn' see yer!"
"Joshua Sparrow, help her up!" Angelica said, picking up the barrel of rum that her son had been carrying, putting it on her shoulder with the muskets she was carrying on her other shoulder. "You're off the hiding and rum duty," Angelica told her son. "Give Jackie a tour of the ship and help her settle into her cabin."
Joshua nodded and he reached down to help Jackie up. "Ag'n, Miss Turner, I'm sorry," he said, helping Jackie to her feet.
"No matter, Master Sparrow. Please show me to my cabin," Jackie replied, shaking herself off and drawing on her lessons. "I'd like to freshen up before our guests arrive."
"Yes, Miss Turner. Follow me," Josh nodded. "I took th' liber'y o' 'avin' yer bag tekken ter yer cab'n, I 'ope yer don' min'," he added.
"That's fine, Master Sparrow, just get me to my cabin please," Jackie shook her head, trying to not let the power she had over the captain's son go to her head. What? A woman had her ways of gaining power over a man. Jackie rarely used hers, and here it held no candle to her power of whose daughter she was. Lots of men were afraid of her father. Jackie suspected even more were afraid of her mother.
"Miss Turner, we're 'ere," Josh said quietly, drawing Jackie from her thoughts.
"Thank you, Master Sparrow," Jackie smiled and she entered her cabin without a glace backwards. Josh sighed and he walked back up to the deck and helped out the crewmembers.
A gangplank was thrown across the two ships that were side-by-side. On one ship, the captain, his crew and his family stood ready to welcome their guests. On the other, the captain, her crew and her daughter started along the gangplank to be welcomed.
"Jack Sparrow. It's been a long time. Hasn't it?" Captain Cara Hawkins asked, smirking. "This is my first mate, Mr. Keith Lemon," she added as the man stood beside her. "And my daughter, Laluna Anne Isabella Hawkins."
Jack's face registered shock before he schooled it back into an expression of welcoming. "This is me first mate, Mr. Joshamee Gibbs," he said, gesturing to the man, "and me wife, Angelica Sparrow. Our son, Joshua William Edward Sparrow."
It was Cara's turn to be shocked. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting married?" she asked coldly.
"I didn't fink it were any o' yer business, C. I mean, me and Angelica got wed after you an' me split," Jack replied, just as coldly.
"Boys," Cara called out. Thaddeus Snyder and Sebastian Motley snapped to attention.
"Yes, Cap'n?" they asked together.
"Bring two barrels of rum across. I've a feeling that Jack will need them," Cara ordered.
"Yes, Cap'n!" Thad and Sebastian said, quickly departing to do their captain's bidding.
"Yer brough' rum? Lordy, C, yer know 'ow ter mek a man 'appy," Jack said.
Cara rolled her eyes. Laluna, Josh and Angelica watched the exchange with narrowed eyes. Josh was watching Cara, Laluna Jack and Angelica flicking between the two. The Spanish woman sensed something between the two Pirate Lords.
"C? I ain't been C in years. It's just Cara now," Cara laughed. "Shall we adjourn, Jack?"
"Aye, lass, we shall. Angie, luv, get us some rum?" Jack asked as he led Cara to his office.
Angelica let out a huff, several choice words in Spanish and stomped off to the rum stores.
Having gotten bored of waiting in her cabin, Jackie had decided to try reading a map in Jack's cabin.
"Now… if tha' goes there, an' this goes 'ere… I shoul' be somewhere around… oh, bugger! Why can' I get this righ'? I'm the daughter o' two bloody pirates!" she muttered to herself, looking up at a small chuckle.
"Jack, why didn't you tell me you had a daughter?" Cara asked.
"She ent mine," Jack replied.
"Wife strayed did she, Jackie boy?" Cara smirked.
"She ent Angelica's eiver. Luv, were yer tryin' ter read a map?" Jack asked his namesake.
"Aye. Bloody fing don' mek a lick o' sense ter me," Jackie replied.
"Ah, so you took a concubine, eh Jack? Wife not giving you what you want?" Cara taunted.
Jackie's head snapped up. "What's your name, pirate?" she hissed.
"You don't deserve to know it, wench," Cara replied coldly.
"What's. Your. Name, pirate?!" Jackie seethed between gritted teeth, hand inching towards her pistol.
"I fink yer'd better tell 'er," Jack whispered loudly to Cara.
"Captain Cara Louise Hawkins, of the Naked Flame and Pirate Lord of the English Channel. And you, little girl?" Cara said, voice like ice as she sneered at the girl in front of her.
"I am Jacqueline Elizabeth Wilhelmina Turner, daughter of Will Turner, captain of the Flying Dutchman and Elizabeth Turner, captain of the Empress, Pirate Lord of Singapore and Pirate King of the Brethren Court," Jackie thundered, drawing herself to her full height and her nostrils flaring. "For your insolence, you are to call me Miss Turner and so help me God you had better hope that neither of my parents find out of your insults. I fear your fate should they do so," she continued. "Conduct your business and leave as quickly as you came. I've a lesson to finish that you so rudely interrupted."
"Yes," Cara replied through gritted teeth.
"Yes, what? I missed something on the end of that sentence," Jackie asked.
"Yes, Miss Turner," Cara repeated, upper lip curling. "Snooty piece of filth," she muttered under her breath.
Jackie whirled around, pistol from its holster quick as a gunshot. "Repeat that, pirate. Loud and clear."
"I said, Miss Turner, snooty piece of filth," Cara repeated, sneering. The slow sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard sounded throughout the cabin.
"How dare yer. Yer filfy wench, insultin' a girl wot has more worf than yer ever will, Pirate Lord or no'!" Hector Barbossa snarled, the tip of his sword touching the back of Cara's neck.
"Captain Hawkins, may I present to you Captain Hector Barbossa of the Malevolence, Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea and a member of the Brethren Court." Jackie said with a flourish. "My parents, and so me, are rather important to most of the people aboard the four vessels on this sea. Insulting me within someone's earshot isn't a good thing," she continued. "Uncle, if yer woul' 'elp Uncle Jack wif teachin' me ter read sea charts an' maps, I'd be proper gra'ful," Jackie asked her uncle.
"Aye, luv, I'll do so. Righ' after I escor' Cap'n Hawkins back ter her crew," Hector said. "Move." And with that, Cara Hawkins was led back to her crew at sword-point.
Later that night, Jackie sat up in the crow's nest with he legs hanging over the side. It was the middle of the night. That air was crisp and cool. The stars were bright. A gentle breeze rustled the sails and pulled her raven hair from the loose plait in was in. Jackie sighed. Here, now, she could think. It was quiet, away from the ruckus happening below on deck. Captain Hawkins' crew had brought a few extra barrels of rum aboard from their ship and the crew of the Pearl had jumped on it. Only Miss Angelica had paced herself. She was still mostly sober. Jackie had her own bottle of rum, randomly sipping on that when it suited her. Creaking of rope made Jackie look down. A red bandanna and beads clicking announced the arrival of Jack Sparrow.
Jackie pulled on her bottle of rum. "'Lo, Uncle Jack," she said, tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear.
"Jackie, me luv, git down from there! Yer'll fall an' 'ow I 'splain 'at ter yer Ma and Pa? Yer Pa'll frow me back in th'Locker!" Jack said, climbing into the crow's nest with his namesake. "Yer 'air's faillin' ou', luv. Want me ter re-do it fer yer?" he asked softly.
"Aye, if yer coul'," Jackie murmured. She leant back against her uncle's chest. She felt him untie her trademark blue bandana and run his fingers through her hair.
"Ye need 'air oil, luv. I fink Angelica's got some goin' spare," Jack murmured. "Jackie, luv. Come down ter me quarters," he said louder, tapping his namesake on the shoulder. Jackie nodded, climbing over and down the rigging. Jack followed, climbing down the rigging quickly with practiced movements. He and Jackie weaved their way through the various crew members to Jack and Angelica's rooms in the Captain's quarters. Jack knocked softly on the door, in case Angelica was in there. When no reply came, Jack cracked the door open and peeked inside. The room was empty, so he and Jackie went inside.
"'Air oil's under th'bunk, luv. Git it ou' while I go fetch some wa'er fer the basin," Jack said, getting the white ceramic basin from the corner of the room.
Now that there were to be three women at least on the ship, Jack and the crew had stockpiled as much fresh water as they could, so that the women could stay clean. Jack gathered a little of that and returned to his room. Jackie was pulling on her bottle of rum, Angelica's box of soaps and oils beside her. To be frank, Jack used as well; keep his hair all nice smelling and the like.
"C'mere, luv," Jack said, putting the basin on the table and setting a chair either side. Jackie moved from the bed to the chair, bringing the box with her. She selected an aniseed-smelling oil and handed it to Jack.
The captain gently began to wash his niece's hair with neutral soap. Once the girl's hair was squeaky clean, Jack dried it off with a towel and rubbed the oil into it, braiding as he went. Then he re-tied the faded blue bandana and smoothed down the hair.
"There y'are, luv. All clean an' tidy, not a mess like it were," Jack said quietly.
[LINE-BREAK]
A/N: Okay, guys, I apologize profusely for my lateness in updating. College and real life got in the way. I deeply apologize. I should get the next chapter up before Christmas. I won't be able to write or update over Christmas, as I'm spending it with family down South. So I'll update a couple of days before I go, okay?
Also, I've re-named the Fate's Star to the Malevolence.