Author's Note
Yes, I'm still alive. Yes I know it's been –x- amount of months since I've last updated. I just really had to step back for a while (a long while) to examine where this story is going and plan out where I want it to go (plus school + shows + life + etc. taking up a shit load of my time). Hopefully I should be wrapping it up relatively soon, within 4 or so more chapters. I think I'm going to write the chapters out first and then put them up at some interval (after this chapter).
Anyway, thanks/shout-out to all the readers that stuck with this story! I thought about just discreetly never updating for the rest of eternity but then I didn't want to be that writer and… yeah
I enjoy reading any reviews and would be glad to answer any questions! :D
…
I woke up to the sun streaming in lazily through the window. I glanced around me and noted Jack was no longer beside me. The events from the previous day run in circles through my head. Three items…three items…hmm
…
I made my way to the wheel where I predicted, correctly, I would find Jack. I arrived just in time to hear Jack and Gibbs mid-conversation. Not wanting to be seen, I ducked behind a railing and strained to hear what they're talking about.
"I don't know what to do, Gibbs, it's just-" Jack began.
"Jack, just tell me what you want to say." Gibbs said in an almost brotherly manner.
"Alright, I may have had – very briefly, mind you – stirrings."
"Stirrings?" Gibbs questioned.
Jack nodded. "Stirrings."
Gibbs was quiet for a moment. "What, like feelings, you mean?"
Jack quickly jumped in: "No, no, no, no, not quite all the way to feelings, more like…" Gibbs shot him a look of amused disbelief.
"Alright, feelings, damn you."
"'Tis not a weakness to love, Jack." Gibbs said tentatively.
"Yah, but it's no strength either!" Jack shot back.
Gibbs was silent for a minute. Finally, he said: "Is that why ye've been pullin away from her?"
"Yes, Gibbs. And I trust you will keep this in complete confidence?"
"Always, Captain."
They both turned to face a table opposite the wheel. I slid down the wall and pondered on what I had just heard. So he's been pulling away… because he loves me? I took a moment to reflect that Jack Sparrow, the gorgeous sea captain with the brown eyes that cause many a girl's heart to melt, loved me. But why is he so afraid to admit his feelings? Could it have to do with my being a Water Nymph somehow? These thoughts followed me as I took a stroll around the ship.
...
"Land Ho!" shouted one of the Black Pearl's many crew members.
I met Jack at the prow of the ship and we gazed out together at the landscape as the ship drew closer. I've never been to any tropical islands but this is how I always pictured one. A white sand beach framed a forest of dark green leafy trees dotted with palm trees. In the distance, a craggy mountain loomed into view, partially obscured by a thick white fog. With the sun just setting, the sky was filled with a symphony of dancing colors: mellow oranges, delicate pinks, bold blood-reds, streaks of yellow, all swirling together over the beautiful background of Virgin Gorda.
"Drop anchor!" Jack shouted suddenly, making me and some of the crew. Immediately, the ship hands began to scurry around the deck making the necessary preparations to follow their captain's command.
I shot Jack a look. "Why are we stopping if we finally got here?"
"I thought it best to begin our quest in the morning, when we have the light on our side." Jack said.
I nodded. Fair enough.
...
"Azure, I think we should discuss what Tia Dalma told us." Jack was sitting across from me at the table in his quarters.
I looked up from my meal. "I agree."
"She mentioned three items. The first is an item from your human life."
"I don't think there's any way that I can go back over to my human life while I'm not in my spring." I said, the wheels in my brain slowly starting to move. "But… I still have my human clothes!"
Jack smiles with the realization that we were finally getting somewhere. "Tha's grand, luv. You seem to have the brains, keep goin'."
I nod and start thinking out loud. "The second item, that's water from my spring. I suppose we can get some when we eventually get there, though I don't know how much we will need…And the third item is something willingly given from the man." I look up to see Jack. "Do you have anything?"
Jack thinks for a moment before he answers: "For you, darlin, I can find something."
My smile is interrupted by an unexpected yawn that I unsuccessfully try to stifle but does not escape Jack's watchful eye.
"You get some sleep, luv; I'll start putting some things together for our journey tomorrow."
"Thank you, Jack," I say as I walk over to place a soft kiss on his weather-worn cheek. "For everything."
"Anytime, luv."