Authors Note: I know I haven't posted in a while, and I'm terribly sorry. The work load has been very heavy. I'll post when I can, and now I'll be able to post more often. If there's something you want to see in one of my chapters/future stories send me a message and I'll do what I can.

Now, what you came for…

Chapter 12: Jack's Lantern

Cleo glared across the room at Jack. She knew how unreasonable he could be at times, but she'd never seen him like this. Cleo and Jack had been arguing about going their separate ways since midnight. Jack wanted them to band together into the makings of a fleet; Cleo wanted to be free to roam the earth as she pleased. All who heard the disagreement knew who would come out on top.

"I'll make you a deal, Jack."

"I'm listening…" he replied irritably.

"You know I'll not agree to be in a fleet, but I will promise you that I will come to your aid should there ever come a time that you need me and your old friend Joshamee."

Jack sighed and agreed, realizing that it was the best he was going to get. The two shook hands and went on about their day. Gibbs kept well away from Cleo. Being as superstitious as he was, it was his firm belief that seeing her before night fell and the wedding had begun was bad luck. Since he would not come near her, Cleo was left with Jack most of the day.

That night, with every lantern on the Pearl lit, Jack and Gibbs watched Cleo climb aboard the ship. She took her place beside Gibbs and looked at him for the first time all day. The two could hear Jack begin to talk in the background, but neither could make out the words. They were too busy staring into each other's eyes. Jack cleared his throat and tapped Gibbs on the shoulder. He jumped to attention and looked curiously at Jack.

"Mate, now might be the time to say 'I do.' Just a suggestion" Jack whispered.

"You helped the pirates escape! Give us a good reason not to hang you."

"I know where they be hiding."

"Do you? Well, where are they?"

"I heard 'er say the name of 'er hideout is Angel's Cove."

"Why is it called so?"

"She was once known as the Weeping Angel, sir. Those who wished to meet either 'er or their maker traveled there."

The Commodore smirked and nodded.

"Do you have a heading for us?"

"I do…"

Music and merriment continued on into the night. Cleo eventually retired to her ship, Joshamee at her heels. The two made themselves comfortable in the bed and drifted off.

Hours later, the alarm bell sounded. An intruder had entered the cove. Cleo donned her tattered white dress and stood near the helm of the ship while all others hid below decks. The Pearl drifted silently a few feet away. The unwelcome ship drifted further into the cove. It looked familiar to Cleo, but she said nothing. A white flag was waved and a voice called out the word "Parley." Cleo nodded and watched the longboat approach. The man was helped aboard by Gibbs, who stayed clear of Cleo as all of this happened.

"I thought I would find you here." a deep male voice said.

Cleo stiffened and turned to face the man abruptly. "Captain Teague?"

"Aye. Why do you look so?"

"I assumed you were the traitor and the murderous dogs come for us.

"He has betrayed you?"

"Are you surprised?"

"Not particularly, no. He betrays everyone at one point or another."

"Why did you come here?"

"There's been talk that you died, Cleo. Others said you had gone into hiding to be married."

"Well, obviously I'm still alive."

"You didn't invite me to the wedding?"

"That was your son's responsibility, Captain."

"My son?"

"Yes, your son. Would you like to see him?"

Teague paused and looked around. The crew had crept from their hiding places to look at the newcomer. Cleo extended her hand to Gibbs and smiled. He took the offered hand and stoon at his wife's side.

"Mr. Gibbs…"

"Captain Teague…"

"Where might I find Jack, Cleo?" Teague asked, the friendly tone gone from his voice.

Cleo shrank back and fetched Reah from the crowd.

"My first mate will take you to him."

Teague went with Reah and was not seen again for some time. Cleo watched Reach row Captain Teague to the Black Pearl. Gibbs put his arm around her and smiled. She looked up and turned to lean her back against the railing of the ship.

"Did he come to warn us, Cleo?"

"No idea."

"You don't think Barbossa could know where we are, do you?"

"If he does he is fighting a battle that he will not win."

"Tell me one thing, Cleo."

"What is it, Joshamee?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why me? You had never showed any emotion towards me. What changed?"

"I have always cared for you. I never acted on it because I knew you could do better than me."

"Cleo, you couldn't have been more wrong."

"What?"

"All I ever wanted was you. The years you sailed with Barbossa, I envied him."

"You did?"

"Yes…I wanted nothing more than to have you to myself. I knew what would have happened to me if I had spoken up, so I kept quiet."

"Nothing would have happened to you."

"How do you know?"

"Barbossa would listen to me then. He couldn't have touched you as long as I was around."

"I wish I had known that then. Maybe none of this would be happening."

"It would still be happening, Joshamee."

"You're right. Something else would have caused it."

"What are you doing, Jack?"

"What do you mean 'what am I doing?'"

"What are you doing here with Cleo?"

"She's a friend of mine. I married her and Gibbs. Does it matter?"

"She's dangerous company, Jackie. The royal navy has been after her since she made her appearance."

"The royal navy is after us all. You know that as well as I do that we are a dying breed."

"I know, Jack. What are you doing with that lamp?"

Jack grinned and hoisted the lantern attached to a rope into the air.

"You'll see…"

Barbossa stared out at the ocean. Two more days and they would arrive at Angel's Cove and all the pirates hiding there would be taken care of. He began to remember Cleo. It occurred to him that he couldn't remember her face or the sound of her voice. He knew that it was too late to save her, but he would have done whatever it took to save her from the horrible fate she was to face. Barbossa was done denying that he felt deeply for her. Cleo's live would end and he would hold himself responsible for all eternity.

Cleo watched the lantern swing back and forth. She grinned at Jack's antics until Gibbs suggested that he could be trying to tell her that it was time to leave. She wondered why he didn't send a messenger to tell her, but remembered who she was dealing with. Cleo nodded to Gibbs and woke the crew. Teague and the Misty Lady had just after the lantern began swinging. Cleo and her husband had a feeling that they would be seeing him again. The Weeping Angel's lamps were lit and the anchor hoisted back onto the ship's deck. Roach acted as the helmsman. Cleo asked Gibbs there they should go. He suggested Tortuga; Cleo reluctantly agreed and they set sail.

Two days later, the royal navy invaded Angel's Cove. They lost one of their ships to the trick passage. Not finding the wanted pirates put Barbossa in a bad position. He was locked in the brig and given no food for three days.

"How did you do it?"

"How did I do what?"

"The pirates. How did you warn the pirates?"

"Commodore, I were a pirate once, but me days of theft and treachery be over. I wish to see those barbarians hang for their crimes as much as ye do." Barbossa thought of Cleo and how she would react to hearing him talk so. He realized that she would rather hang than look into the eyes of the man who betrayed her. Hector still loved the free spirited woman. H came to the conclusion that he must try to speak with her alone after she was captured, but how?

In the two days it took to get halfway to Tortuga, Cleo was ambushed thrice by Barbossa's pet monkey, Jack. She had no idea how he got back on board, but let him be Things ran smoothly under the command of Quartermaster Gibbs. This made Cleo extremely happy. Jack sent messages over from time to time asking about supplies or other chance happenings. Days after reaching Tortuga, they got word that Angel's Cove had been infiltrated and raided by the navy. Cleo could not help but feel that she owed her life to Jack and his swinging lantern.