Hi all,
this was initially planned as a 20 chapter project and already closed, but I guess I'll just sail along with another impulse of inspiration (sparked by Ella's kind comment for chap 20, thank you!) – wherever it takes the story.
Hope you'll still like it :)
"Now that we've all sung for you, shall we cut the cake?" In the middle of the Brethren Court's Hall Tara forced a smile, just like most of the other guests present – unlike her children.
Teague and Jocard had made the twin's birthday song bearable. Their ridiculously low voices, with a deep timbre to them, were almost the only reasonable ones. Hazel's and Quick Draw's croaking, however, was just as bad as that of Ace.
At least they tried, though.
"What a great idea," Lizzy, too, wished to support Tara in her attempts to gloss over her kids' obvious reason for chagrin. "That cake looks fantastic! Doesn't it, Henry?"
"It sure does!" He was happy to nod, Ace and Hazel did so as well.
Nevertheless the twins' faces spoke volumes, all due to one missing face.
Kate bit her lip in suppressed amusement – as her best friend, she knew Tara long enough to see that she was already inwardly groaning to the heavens. The moment Sparrow would set foot on dry land, she'd be going for his throat.
What kind of a birthday was that even? What kind of guests where there? One other child, Henry, amidst an overwhelming majority of people with Wanted posters. Most of them were somewhat good of heart, however also quick to cut off tongues …
But still – they'd all made it.
All of them, despite their responsibilities, businesses and everlasting trouble in Shipwreck Cove.
So what the hell was Sparrow's excuse going to be …
"Alright, the cake then," Tara mumbled.
"No wait, can we talk?" James looked up at his mother as though he was about to interrogate her. Tia's glance was no less stern while their guests proceeded with exchanging amused and sympathetic glances.
Tia and James, both sides to the coin, were just like their father – Jack's best and worst traits split into two little humans. And Tara knew well that the duo was upset.
While the afternoon of their seventh birthday gradually turned into evening, their father still shone with absence. The very situation she had tried to avoid. The reason she already scolded Sparrow in advance, weeks ago – to make sure he'd be there when his twins would turn seven.
"No worries, love, 'just on time' is my middle name. That and 'reliable'!" he vowed. And as so often his vows were worth nothing but the breath used up to hush them. Jack simply being Jack.
If only she could've eased her anger, a bit of wine would have been a helpful start.
But no. With a third little sparrow on its way, that was no possibility either. Once again she found herself making all the sacrifices, while Sparrow got to enjoy his beloved freedom to his best abilities.
"Mamá?" James urged, startling her out of her gloomy reveries. "Now?"
"Sure!" Tara was quick to nod, trying to promote a sunny attitude despite her own annoyance yet again. "What's it about, sweetie? Speak your mind."
"In private." Tia whispered for her brother as though the others couldn't hear it that way.
Tara took a deep breath. "Of course. Out the hall, then. Edward?"
"Aye?" Her pleading gaze was enough for him to nod. "Will do." Teague gave the others a tired smile. Everyone knew the missing elephant in the room by name, after all, everyone knew his son. "Who'd like a little drink? Oi, Quick Draw, away with ye, I'll choose the bottle …"
Tara had both her hands full right away as well – on either side, Tia und James pulled her along out the hall.
"He forgot."
"He did not forget your birthday, James. I'm sure he didn't." Despite these words, Tara had to bite her tongue not to curse Sparrow out herself already. "He certainly tried to be here in time, believe me."
Almost certainly at least, after all, it was Sparrow they were talking about.
"But if he forgot, then he might not have tried –"
"Tia, I'm sure he's been hellbent to make it, something must've gotten in the way –"
"So you think he needs our help?" James gulped, his eyes widened with sorrow at once. "You think he's in danger?"
He is, she bitterly thought, the second I lay my hands on him. "No, darling", was what she voiced aloud, though, "your father never needs anyone's help and he's never really in danger. He has wings and wit, yes?"
Tia pouted, and rightly so. "Then why doesn't he use the wit to avoid a bad fight with you, and the wings to fly to us …"
"I can't tell," Tara sighed, "but listen, knowing your father, he'll make it up to you. I promise." He will, she thought to herself again, because otherwise …
"He vowed to be here!" Tia was obviously hurt, and not afraid to let it show. "We told you we shouldn't let him go, but you said he'd come back. And now he's traveling the world without us yet again!"
"I really thought he'd be back," James whispered in agreement.
"And he will be," Tara said, "just not in time, as per usual …"
It didn't help a bit, the kids kept staring into the dark wooden ground that was once a mighty ship.
"Pirate", Tia whispered in tired fury, and James repeated it as well, folding his arms over his chest to look up directly to Tara. Challenging. As though she was supposed to follow suit.
And she would have loved to. The last thing on earth she ever felt like doing was defend Jack.
But still they were his kids. They felt bitter disappointment and anger for good reason, but she just knew it wasn't right for them to talk like that. Like all the years prior to them even meeting him, she felt it was her duty to make sure they kept to the commandments of the Lord. And one of them so happened to go along the lines of honour thy father, despite not exactly specifying how much said father actually had to be qualified to be honoured.
"Tia, James, listen …" She bent down to them, one hand resting on her belly. She hadn't started to show that much yet, but it was like a reflex again. "Your father was born into a dynasty of Pirates, yes. He himself was branded a Pirate, indeed, but not for an act of Piracy. Trust me – rather to the contrary. I won't deny that his morals seem a bit vague at times, but he's a good man. I wouldn't have let him into my life otherwise. I wouldn't have you two with him otherwise."
They were still pouting, however a bit less bitter.
"I understand that you're mad, and you're allowed to be – I'm mad, too. But he's your father and he loves you, you know that. So let's give him the benefit of the doubt, shall we?"
They didn't particularly nod, but also they wouldn't shake their heads.
"And by the way, when he calls himself a Pirate, that's one thing," she said, "but you two little scallywags, you'll show some respect and call him your Papá and nothing else. Savvy?"
"But you yourself call him lots of things," James protested in quite some surprise, "you say Tonto!"
"Yeah, and that he's the scourge of the Seven Seas."
"Or a mangy cur," James added.
"Once she called him a bilge rat," Tia giggled, "oh, and a filthy Casanova and –"
"Alright, I got you! Stop it. I may get to say some of these things, but you certainly don't. I expect you to –"
"But it's our birthday and he's not here! At least today we ought to be allowed to say some bad words!"
They drove her insane. They were just like him, discussing each and every detail until one only wished to give up for sanity's sake.
"Well, you're not. You're not allowed to say bad words about your father. You may think them, that's mostly how I get by, but other than that –"
"Tara, dear," she suddenly heard Teague hum in oddest glee as he closed the huge doors of the hall behind him as well. "We have yet another guest. Are you done talking, birdies?"
"Did Papá arrive?" James jumped to his feet immediately, but Teague already shook his head.
"No, boy, I'm sorry. But I think you'll still like the new arrival." Teague was unable to ignore the disappointed little face of his grandson nevertheless. "Jay, your da' is like the wind, and flamboyant, he's always been that way – but remember he'll be back. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but he'll always come back to you. I know Jackie. He adores you two, and your mother as well. Aye?"
"Bilge rat," Tia said under her breath, James bit his lower lip in amusement.
"Tia!" her mother hissed.
"What was that?" Teague couldn't help but laugh out loud and raspy, even though her mother shot her a serious glance. "What did you just say?"
Tia cleared her throat. Saintly she claimed, "Quite sad. That's what I said. Quite sad …"
Teague chuckled, briefly tipping his finger onto the top of her nose. "Good girl. Quick-witted. Once he's here you go ahead and tell it to his bold face, aye?"
"Teague!"
"He promised to be here," Edward said, looking at Tara as calm and thoughtful as ever. "But he's not. No need for you to defend him, dear, Tia's right. Bilge rat …"
"Captain Teague," they heard a man say and open the door, "even if you think I'm a rat, you can't just leave me in a hall full of Pirates and expect me to make small talk while in uniform." His smiley nature was lacing every word – and Tara froze.
She knew that voice. She had loved to hear it for quite some time, whispering, conversing, shouting here and there.
And when Lieutenant-Commander Theodore Groves finally stood in the doorway, she was so taken aback she couldn't even blink for what felt like an eternity.
Teague's smirk was instantly a warm one as he noticed. Of course he'd let the man in. After his son had screwed things up majorly with Tara, several times at that, Groves was the first and only one that truly consoled her while Jack was still running in circles, oblivious to the fact that Tara had had his twins.
"Theo," she all but whispered.
The kids, however, screamed. They were overjoyed and ran up to him at once. As though no time had passed, they hugged him, and he smiled at them as kind as ever. Longingly, even.
He'd loved the kids, he would have adopted them if she'd asked.
But she hadn't. She also couldn't marry him at the time.
Many a night she thought it was the biggest mistake she'd ever made – not saying Yes to Theo's ring.
Still she couldn't ever regret it. He deserved to be loved, but her love had always been reserved for … a bilge rat …
"Happy Birthday, Tia", Theo said, shaking her hand in mock-ceremoniality, always one to be flexible with the rigid Navy rules, then he proceeded to shake Jay's hand. "And also to you, happy Birthday, James. How does it feel to be so old?"
"It's great!" he exclaimed. "We're almost adults now!"
"Yes," Theo laughed, "almost …"
"Did you bring us a present?" Tia asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Tia, darling, what is it with you today," Tara sighed, "that's a rude question to ask – Theo's not even been offered a drink yet!"
"First things first." Theo winked at her as he always would years back. He was the perfect Gentleman. Reassuring, open-minded, generous. Someone she felt at ease with immediately, despite his rank, his high morals, his integrity.
She'd not always felt at ease with Sparrow. No, but only with said insane paradise bird, she'd ever been able to completely be herself – for better or worse.
"Of course I brought you gifts, it's your birthday. Here …" He handed a book to each of them. "These are –"
"Legends of the Sea!" Tia beamed. "You remembered! Thank you, Theo!"
Teague gave Tara a questioning glance.
"He used to read his own copy to them," Tara explained.
"And what would the Royal Navy think about that?" Teague asked in Theo's direction. "Rumor has it they don't believe in too many legends."
"But I do, sir. I've never been in agreement with everything the Navy does and believes."
"I see." Teague already began to move back to the entrance of the hall. "Wouldn't blame you for their sins anyway, lad, you look dashing in that uniform."
"That was a compliment," Tara whispered.
"Why, thank you, sir," he politely answered Teague as the very man was about to leave.
"Tia, James, will you join me in looking after your other guests?"
"Are you going to stay a bit, Theo?" James asked before even moving. "I'll introduce you to Auntie Quick Draw!"
"Oh, don't," Tara sighed.
It was somewhat painful to see her son so happy with the man that could have been a reliable father figure, while their actual father was nowhere to be found once more.
"We'll catch up in a minute, James, I promise."
And that promise was worth his breath. The kids knew, Tara knew. Theo was a man of his word.
"It's good to see you." She smiled at him once they were alone.
"What shall I say …" He came a bit closer, unobtrusive and yet so committed. "I've been around here anyway, and I know it's their birthday. The day you used to love for their sake and hate for the fact how hard giving birth to them was."
Theo had been so patient with her. And her body, her scars …
"It's such a testament to your character that you remember."
"Wasn't so sure whether I'd be welcome, though."
"Of course you are. But the uniform is daring around here indeed, Theo. You shouldn't go flashing your title in Shipwreck City."
"The father of your children told me that a couple of weeks ago as well, yes."
Tara's eyebrows shot up. "Did he now … I guess he was rude as hell, wasn't he."
"I might have started our conversation just a bit too reprovingly, so I guess it's on me."
"I can hardly imagine that."
"Thank you." He chuckled. "Well, I could tell he's very fond of you. Quite in awe over the fact that he's become a father, isn't he?"
"Indeed. He sure surprised me in that regard."
"That's good, as he should." The left corner of his mouth twisted upward, then he got more serious again. "Tara, I'm sure it wasn't the best idea to come by. But I wanted to wish them a Happy Birthday because I used to be a tiny part of their life once. Still I'll be on my way in a –"
"You need to change your clothes, there's no way I'll let you take a stroll around town like that. And you look hungry. Do eat with us. The kids were so glad to see you, did you notice?"
"I did." He put his hands in his pockets, straightening. "I've missed them, too. And thank you for your hospitality, but I don't belong here anymore, I suppose their father wouldn't even encourage you to speak to me –"
"No worries, he may be overly possessive, but he's not here."
He seemed startled. "He's not? But it's their birthday."
She squared her shoulders. "Wherever he's now, the devil knows. It's just who he is, I'm not surprised."
"You don't seem so, yes, but certainly angry."
"I'm always mad at him. It's a chronic constant, what can I do."
"That kind of … excitement, I guess … I couldn't give you."
"Absurd, ain't it?"
"Well," he said, "I know we don't choose whom we fall in love with. We just do."
"I've always loved to be mad at him. Theo, I regret how we ended things nevertheless, and I wish you knew how much I enjoyed being with you. How much I felt for you. I always wanted you to be happy, you deserve the world."
He closed the gap between them to look down on her in a bit more intimacy. "So do you. Pleasure was all mine, and as kind it is to say all that, I still notice a hint of a ‚but' in there."
"But …" She smiled, both proud and slightly annoyed in a way. "He's the father of my children. My infuriating sanctuary."
"And I hope he'll be here soon to count his blessings. Some things just aren't meant to be. Maybe in another lifetime, had we met earlier –"
"I always thought so, yes."
"So in our next life, let's meet again."
"Agreed." He made her smile, and she took his hands out of his pockets into hers to squeeze them just when she noticed a ring on his finger. "Oh Theo, is that …"
He couldn't quite hide his joy. "It is. I'm a married man, actually. Just didn't know how to tell you now."
"Congratulations!" she almost hushed. She was truly happy for him, and he knew. "The ring suits you so well! Is she in the Cove, too? Please, do bring her, we can all –"
"She's in Port Royal already, we'll move to England soon. It's my last time in these waters, I wanted to seize the opportunity to say Goodbye."
"So your old life ends here, you start a new one overseas." She took in a deep breath, glancing up at him in awe. "How exciting! I wish you both all the best, Theo. And if you ever come back here, with her and all your beautiful kids, know that you are welcome! Never mind the craziest pirate you've ever seen."
"Thank you, let me hug you, Sullivan," he said smirking, already proceeding.
What the dress would not reveal, their touching bodies did.
"You're with child," he realized. "Tara, look at you!"
She winked. "Well, look at you, married man! Nothing but good times ahead."
"Let's celebrate that!"