Immortal Beloved post AWE parts 17-20

[soleilpirate]

Title: Immortal Beloved
Author: Soleil Compeau
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Pairing: Jack/Other
Spoilers: post AWE, third in the Jack and Sarah universe
Rating: NC17 overall, cause I'm just that way when I write, some chapters will be PG
Disclaimer: These stunt doubles have just reenacted what takes place after the final cut. No copyright infringement intended, no profits or wages are being made. I do this out of deep love for the characters

Summary: What would a teenage demi-goddess want with Jackson Turner? And what might Sarah and Jack, growing old together, be able to do about it?

Warning: angst (eventually), character death both minor and major


 

Chapter Seventeen - Seychelle Islands

Under the palm tree roof of the shelter they'd built on La Petit Digue, Jack sprawled spent across the slight body of the most wonderful woman he knew. Gunther was a furry lump somewhere near his feet, a rather significantly larger lump than when he'd been found. "Doin' better, love? No more ill effects from the old one?" he referred of course to her harrowing experience with the shaman on Madagascar.

Sarah attempted to open her eyes. She was far too content and comfortable to be able to succeed however. She settled for a sweep of her hand over the back of his shoulders and a murmured, "Mhm."

He turned his head and kissed the small ear that met his nose. Softly he whispered, "When's another wee baby going to emerge from that lovely belly of yours?"

Long moments of sleepy afterglow. Then Sarah grunted slightly. "Hadn't planned on any more babies Jack."

Rustling as he attempted to move, gave up and relaxed on her again. "Is that something a woman who lies with a man as much as you lie with me can plan?"

She yawned contentedly. "I have special herbs that Doc Baker taught me to use when he was curing me of pneumonia. For stopping babies from starting."

"Shame, that." He twined his fingers in a curl of hair that brushed across his nose.

"You want me to be pregnant? I don't wanna be. 'Sides, you're keeping me awake!" The cheetah mewed and circled once, snuggling his nose tighter into his tail, as if protesting the thought of a sibling to vye for his own affections of Sarah.

He nibbled her ear suggestively, though they had worn each other out to the point that neither of them were capable of much movement. "Pity. You're so extry beautiful when you're fat with my babies. And they're such pretty things."

Sarah laughed, shaking Jack in interesting ways. "'S cause they look like you! Don't you remember when Teague was born? 'N all the ladies came round to coo over him? I told them we didn't know who his mother was."

Jack gained strength enough to roll onto his side. "Wee Jackie looks more like you. Got your eyes she does." Flinging an arm around her waist, he pulled her close against him so they spooned, bodies curving lovingly. Sarah adored the feel of him wrapped around her, and he was comforted by her body breathing in tandem with him. The discussion appeared to be over, as both of them were essentially asleep.

Next morning, they walked as usual through a little copse of trees on the way to the beach. Sarah was just slightly behind Jack, instructing her pet wildcat to go off exploring on his own. When he came to an abrupt stop at the edge of the sandy beach, she nearly crashed into him. Peering around him to discover the cause of his halt, she observed a young woman, a native of the islands, walking barefooted along the water's edge. Clearly, she was preparing to swim, or possibly to bathe.

She was young, just on the verge of full womanhood, and wearing a kazak quite similar to Sarah's, a simple dress that fell unfettered and unbound to the knees. Her skin was dark like coffee but rich with cream. Black curly hair swept over her shoulders, very much like Sarah's own. Was that the attraction for Jack? Whatever it was, he stood rooted to the spot, drinking in her curves that were visible beneath the white fabric.

"Jack!" she hissed quietly.

He smiled lazily, flicking his eyes towards his wife. "What? No harm in just looking, darling." He murmured in answer.

She snorted, undelicately. "You're a pirate. What you see, you take. 'We pillage and plunder, and don't give a hoot,' remember?"

Jack grinned in fond memory of the song he loved. Just then, the island beauty pulled her shift up over her head, and waded deeper in the water. Mmm, she was lovely. "Ahhhh, but I've promised to share half me plunder with you." He chortled. "Shall I share her as well?"

Sarah's hand gently brushed hair away from his neck and shoulder and he froze. He'd just said entirely the wrong thing to her. Was he really that aroused by the sight of a naked girl, that he would forget himself and suggest such a thing? Sarah would surely blister his ears, or worse, give him dagger looks with her pretty eyes and refuse to let him near her until her temper cooled.

What she did do, was far more pleasurable and shocking. She nipped his earlobe and he quivered. She wasn't tall enough to reach him like that! How...? Her words whispered hotly in his ear sent blood coursing below his waist. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Sharing that sweet young woman with me?"

A few yards in front of him, the girl floated on her back, dusky nipples and fluff of woman hair quite visible. She was reveling in the water, enjoying its wet slide over her skin. Jack nearly stopped breathing as Sarah's hand slid down his bare chest. "What would you like me to do to her, Jack?" she continued in a sweet whisper. "Run my hands over her naked body, to learn all her...sensitivities? While you hold her close to your own body?"

His jaw dropped in disbelief. Did she not know what she was doing, by saying such things to him? The girl stood thigh deep in the water, having finished her brief swim, and began scrubbing her cafe au lait skin with a handful of sand. Her black curls danced in the slight breeze, teasing the brown peaks of her breasts. Sarah's hand wandered lower, slowly untied the strings of his breeches.

"Shall I take her nipples into my own mouth? Her skin is dark, is there a cinnamon tang to her skin?" Her hand curled around him, stroked lightly, up and down. Jack tried to turn his head to look into her eyes. She grabbed his chin, forced him to look back at the spectacle before him. The young beauty was rinsing herself now, wading further out. Her hands wandered freely over her body now, assuming herself to be in private, she was choosing to indulge her body's natural desires.

Jack groaned with bliss. A hot kiss was pressed to the side of his neck. "Quiet Jack. We don't want to scare her away. Let her think she isn't being observed. Think instead of holding her squirming body still while I put my head between her legs."

The girl in question at that moment placed her fingers between her legs. He wanted to scream. "Ahh, she likes it!" Sarah whispered in a pleased tone as her fist jerked fast and tight over his cock. He gripped the rough bark of the tree nearest him. How could be possibly keep silent during this? Particularly when the vision in front of him began to moan and moved to the sand to lie down, legs spread wide and fingers busy between slim thighs.

Wicked fingers formed a tight circle just under the head of his cock, twisting and rubbing. "Her taste is different than yours. Hmm, saltier. I move my tongue faster over her." The girl uttered guttural cries, writhing and lifting her hips into the air. His legs were so weak he feared he might faint. Sarah's hand left him and he mourned the loss. A faint rustling, then her palm on him again, slick and wet now. His head reeled as he realized she must have raised her skirt and gathered her own moisture from between her legs.

Jack's breath came hard and fast. Sarah's hand on him pumped slick and fast. Her thumb swept the sensitive crown on every upsweep. The girl writhed and sobbed on the sand before his eyes. It was all too much, he pressed his fist against his teeth to muffle the cries he couldn't, he just couldn't hold back. His legs trembled and the sand at his feet drank what he spent. Lazily he watched the beautiful dark skinned girl catch her breath and stand up to brush sand off her body.

Glancing to the side, he saw Sarah standing there looking quite smug. At last he solved the mystery of how she'd reached his neck and ears, she was standing on a rock. The island girl slipped her dress back on and sauntered away happily, little dreaming how she'd pleased a pirate captain.

"You can't ever look at another woman without thinking of me now!" Sassy as a cat full of cream, Sarah moved down the beach to the water's edge. Jack grinned slowly.

His luscious lady was simply begging to be tumbled and bedded, and he found himself in a very obliging mood. Holding his open breeches so they would not fall down, Jack strode to where Sarah delicately picked her way over the small waves. He caught her arm and whirled her around, bringing her hard up against his body. "I believe it is YOUR turn, bit o'Sarah," he growled.

He leaned in close, lips barely brushing hers, but did not kiss her. Instead, he hovered there while his hands ran appreciatively all over her body. She quivered, and made a choked little cry. Ahhh. She was definitely affected by what she'd done to him, then. Her body was hot and eager, ready to respond fully to his touch. Still carefully not quite kissing her, Jack moved his mouth from her lips, behind her ears, down her neck, and over the rounded slopes of her breasts.

She tipped her head back and groaned in passion, caressing his neck and back as he tormented her skin with his hot breath. Jack finished with a heated suckle of each of her aching nipples. He kicked his trousers off and tossed them behind him to shore. Sarah  tugged her kazak over her head and sent it sailing after his pants. Jack pressed on her shoulders until they both were kneeling, cool water rushing around their thighs.

Once again he hovered over her skin, lips so very close to hers. Holding her by the waist, he moved his lips over her forehead, cheekbones, ears as she trembled in anticipation. Pausing by her ear, he murmured low, "Your hand felt so good on me." His tongue came out and swiped along her ear in a long swirl. She moaned throatily.

Drifting across her face, lips so very close to hers once again but not enough, he reached her other ear and murmured more. "You described such depraved things, love. You had me at your mercy." Another tongue swirl.

He slid his hands from her waist up to firmly cup her breasts. She shuddered, and he immediately pressed his lips to hers in a commanding kiss, as he cupped and squeezed her full breasts in his palms. Sarah mewled into his mouth and sagged against him, quivering all over. By her reactions Jack suspected she might actually have come, perhaps in anticipation. His cock stirred and raised up a bit.

He turned her around so her back was to him, and kissed his way from the back of her neck down her spine, running his fingers up and down her sides. Pulling her tighter to him, he sat back on his feet and pulled her down so she was in his lap. Reaching around her waist, he splayed a hand firmly on her stomach to keep her still. Then he bit her shoulder, nowhere deep enough to break skin, but enough to definitely let her know he was in full control of her now.

Caressing her thighs, he spoke in a low voice to her. "I'm going to touch you and drive you crazy like you did to me." One finger parted her netherlips and stroked up and down. "Touch you just like that." The finger rose up and flicked her bundle of nerves. Sarah jerked and keened, low. "Would you like that? Shall I do it until you fly apart for me?"

"Please, yes Jack," she begged. She squirmed on his lap, and Jack became so excited by her movements he hardened fully, almost instantly.

Tightening his arm around her belly, Jack kept up a strumming motion with his fingers between her legs. With two fingers he slicked up and down her slit, gathering the increasing moisture, then rubbed it in circles all over the sweet button at the top. Holding her so that his thighs pressed against hers and her enticing little bottom pressed to his rigid length, Jack swept his fingertips softly over her excited nub. Then stopped. Then touched again, stopped, swept over her again. Sarah rose and fell in jerks against him, voice straining along with her body.

That little nub was sticking out more, throbbing beneath his teasing digits. He kissed and bit softly along her shoulder, and said filthy things to her. "Feels good, doesn't it? Want me to put my tongue on it?" He stroked it, paused, rubbed it hard, paused again, grinning madly at her response. "I'll put my tongue inside you, lap you up while you scream and cry for me."

"Please, oh God, so good!" Sarah keened.

Gathering her even closer, Jack pushed two fingers deep inside her. His thumb pressed down firmly on the clitoris he'd prepared so carefully and rolled in tiny circles over it. Meanwhile, his fingers curled against her inner walls. For one breathless long moment, Sarah poised on his lap. Then she cried, and thrashed, and screamed in beautiful release. Jack moaned, once again so ready for her. While she calmed from the spasms, he shifted a bit, grasping her hips and rubbing his hard cock over her slick quivering folds.

The tip entered her, and Sarah raised her head. Reaching back, she grabbed his hands on her hips, and drove herself back onto him, claiming him completely within her body. Impaled on Jack's lap, facing away from him, she arched and stretched, rolling her bottom against his pubic bone. Then began to bounce back and forth, taking him hard.

Jack closed his eyes at the sensations flowing over him. He leaned back slightly and spread his hands out to his sides, giving up control to her. As she pushed backwards on his shaft over and over, he felt like a god, like the best lover in the world. And he was positive Sarah felt something similar. The cool water rushed around their legs as their hot bodies pounded back and forth. He held still, allowing her to drive that soft little tush up and down on him while he watched himself disappear into her over and over.

Jack couldn't resist touching. One finger traced lightly over the puckered hole just above where his cock disappeared inside her. "I want to take you here one day, see how much that makes you squirm and scream."

That suggestion was enough to send them both flying high into burning ecstasy together. When they dragged themselves to shore, they found Gunther had returned, and was sitting on his haunches purring loudly as he blinked at his master and mistress, those he considered his parents. Quiet laughter and much petting of the animal ensued.

Chapter Eighteen - Going home

It was the morning of their last day on the magical, tropical Seychelle Islands. Sarah was on the beach feeding Gunther. Once, that had involved a bowl of milk and mashed food. Now, she hurled bits of meat through the air and he chased them down, growling as he tore them apart. The big cat, getting bigger all the time, wanted to hunt. He was now too heavy for her to carry for any length of time, and had gotten more careless with claws and teeth. But he was so loyal to her. He purred when she was near, slept curled at her and Jack's feet, and was nothing but affectionate. He was five months old now.

Jack was tender but quite firm. Not on my ship. And not in the house where my children are. She sighed, he was right of course. Gunther would certainly not be welcome back at home in the village. But how could she part with him? Would he accept other cheetahs as his family? Would the cheetahs accept him? Well he was healthy and sleek, a prime specimen. Sarah supposed he was certainly equipped to survive. After they rounded the Cape again, a last stop of the African shores would be made, to release him.

Finishing with his meal, the big cat returned to her side, flopped against her leg were she sat, and began washing himself. Sarah stroked his head and he purred in contentment. Before he could fall asleep, she nudged him to his feet and they walked together back to the little shelter. Jack was just emerging, squinting in the sunlight and absently scratching an armpit. He grunted a greeting and wandered off to find a tree for his morning piss.

Later, after the Pearl was well provisioned with water and tropical fruit of all kinds, new spices Sarah was eager to experiment with, dried fish and several bottles of a drink that caused even Jack's eyes to run with tears of appreciation, they set sail. The natives followed them a ways into the water in little boats, singing and flinging flowers after them. Several of the men sighed and shed a tear or two over the beautiful girls they were leaving behind.

The goodbye with Gunther was not tearful, to Jack's relief. Sarah held him in an awkward hug, then set the half grown cub down. He'd crouched there on his huge paws, looking up at her with those golden eyes. He meowed, butted her knee with his head, and turned in a restless circle. Jack crouched down and scratched behind the cat's ears.

"Take care of yourself, big fella," he murmured. Gunther chewed his fingers gently, as if sensing something was different. Jack petted him a bit longer, then stood.

Sarah gave him the signal she'd taught him, to go play. Gunther walked several steps away, then paused and turned back. "Go on, now," Sarah repeated the gesture. A lump grew in her throat as she watched him bound off. He would not find them again.

Jack comforted her in his own imitable fashion, and as Spain came closer she grew ever more eager and restless for her little ones. As soon as they docked in Cadiz, she impatiently ran down the gangplank and headed for home. Her husband followed more slowly after giving his crew orders and making sure his ship was settled properly. As a result, he arrived outside his home to see Sarah trying to gather all three of her offspring in her arms at once.

For the first time, she knew what it must be like for Jack, returning after months long voyages like this. Teague was nearly as tall as herself now, and Jackie chattered at her in full, complete sentences. Her wild curls had been relatively tamed in braids, and Mary actually displayed some decorum in greeting. Usually she whooped and hollered like a boy, uncaring whether her skirts flew up as she ran to her papa. This time she was more careful of herself, but no less enthusiastic.

As soon as they all noticed Jack coming, they darted for him, and swarmed all over him. Sarah was able to greet Esther with a hug, and beam at Joshua who held his cherubic blue eyed daughter. Rebecca at six years old was a dainty lady, a mini princess whom Teague, Sarah was informed, delighted to wait upon. Jackie played nicely enough with her, but eight year old Mary was a tomboy and they did not get on so well. But then, Mary was rather a handful at times.

A few days later, Jack suggested a trip to France, which was met with great excitement by everyone. Crew members Murtogg and Mullroy were sent on ahead to inform the Turners of the impending visit while the rest made sail again. Arriving, they were greeted warmly and with great excitement by the entire Turner clan. Bill Turner singled out Jack, who grinned happily and clapped his old friend on the shoulder in greeting. Will and Elizabeth talked with Sarah and all together they took charge of the gaggle of children.

"I need to talk to you," Elizabeth confided once the two woman went into the kitchen. "Will's been seeing his daughter, the child Calypso had."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Joie's visiting her father? That's wonderful!"

Her friend looked a bit surprised, and bit her lip. "Isn't it?" Sarah asked. "After all, knowing he had a child, Will isn't the type to just let that child be. Look what he went through to free his father."

Elizabeth nodded but still chewed her lip. "But what if something happens? What if...what if Calypso wants him back, or something?"

"That's not very likely, is it, Elizabeth? After all, she let William have a family with you, didn't interfere when you came to see him at sea. And she released him from his Duty." Sarah's face went shuttered and closed. Her best friend did not know the cost of that release, for Sarah.

Elizabeth noticed the woman's sudden withdrawal and wondered at it. "Yes...he's free now, thanks to you."

Sarah smiled tightly and searched through the cupboards. "Well anyway, I don't think you have to worry about Joie. She isn't much of a threat, is she? She's only a little girl. We're going to need all your dishes to feed this lot, Elizabeth."

She helped Sarah get out more plates and bowls. "Joie is small now, but she'll grow. And Will says she inherited all of Calypso's powers. Wonder what she'll be like when she grows up?"

That comment inevitably led the two mothers to discussing what their own children would be like as adults and the air between them cleared. Pleasant conversation followed as they prepared a feast for the three families. Gibbs and Cotton were along also, as well as Joshua and Esther Whiting. With so many people, there wouldn't be room in the house so Joshua and Will wrestled tables outside to eat on the lawn, under the trees.

Jack and Bill sat together watching the women setting the table, and Will teaching the children a new game involving hoops and pointy sticks. Jack had his feet comfortably propped on a chair in front of him. The two men drank and talked about 'old times,' sounding for all the world like old men.

Bootstrap jerked his chin in Sarah's direction, noticing that Jack's eyes were drawn to her again and again, and that she made frequent eye contact with the captain. "Funny, seeing you like this. I'd hardly expect you to be the type to settle down into family life." 

Jack glanced at him and grinned lazily. "What? Think a man like me can't fall in love? It's possible, I assure you."

"It isn't the falling in love that surprises me. It's the going home to her, time after time, for years. No one else." Bill was looking at his son, and a pain haunted his eyes.

The pirate took a steady pull at his rum bottle. He'd only seen Bill's wife once, from a distance. He remembered curly blond hair under a frilly white cap. Bill said her eyes were big and brown, and that he loved her. He said he would go home to her after he sailed with Jack, just one more time. He said it less and less often, and then Jack made Hector First Mate instead of Bill.

"It's easy to go home to her. She makes it easy. I...I want to know what she's been doing, I want to tell her what I've seen while I was out. I want to give her things." Jack's eyes brightened and he waved his expressive hands. "And the children! When they call me Papa...I live for it!"

Bootstrap smiled, perhaps recalling when William was very small. After a few minutes, he asked again, "Jack, you're one to get bored easily. How is it you two trust each other?" He grinned apologetically, trying to belie any harshness his words might carry.

"Are you implying I'm not trustworthy?" A knowing smirk. "To be completely honest with you, it's not hard to trust her. Sarah's the most loyal thing I know. Loyal like you, and Gibbs. Never betraying me, always sticking up for me." Jack cast a sly sidelong glance at his old friend. "Publicly, sticking up for me," he added pointedly.

Bootstrap took the light rebuke as it was intended. It was perfectly true after all, that he'd not done enough to save Jack from mutiny. But he'd been interested in saving his own life, something Jack could respect and therefore forgive. Young Teague, off on the grass beyond the tables, was chasing down a rolling metal hoop, brandishing his pointy stick at it like a young warrior.

Perhaps Bill was still thinking of the long ago wife and son he'd left behind when he asked, "After near thirteen years, what brings you back to her, again and again?"

Elizabeth, Esther and Sarah were bringing out the food now. Two steaming tureens of soup, loaves of bread, jugs of wine, rum, and milk began to fill the prettily laid tables. Jack drew in a thoughtful breath. "I suspect I get the best of both worlds. I can enjoy all the benefits of a loving woman and adoring and not to mention extremely cute, little ones. Just look at her, will you?"

He grinned and waved his arm in the direction of his little scamp, Mary. She'd forgotten decorum in her excitement and had her skirts hoisted to her knees. Mary was running pell mell after her brother and screaming like a hoyden. The men had a good laugh over such antics. Jack went on.

"She lets me go, every time. Doesn't say a word when the sea itch takes me away from her, for months. I wouldn't do so well if she wanted to leave me like that, and god knows when she'd be back." Jack did not see that Sarah was moving quietly nearer to him, circling from the side. Bill noticed her though, and waited with interest to see how the mischief in her eyes would resolve.

Suddenly she was standing over the reclining pirate. "And what do I get out of it, hmmm?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Without missing a beat, Jack merely tipped his head back and gazed up at her. "You get the pleasure o' my company, of course. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"

"Oh of course, how could I have forgotten?" Sarah leaned closer to Jack, smiling sweetly, hands lightly touching his outstretched legs.

He mock scowled at her. "That's better. Now get me my dinner, woman! I'm hungry!"

Suddenly she grasped his ankles and lifted his boots abruptly in the air until his chair overbalanced and landed him ass over head on his back. She darted off, trailing the characteristic sounds of her giggles.

Jack simply lay there, looking at the sky. He took another swallow of his unspilled rum. Bill tried to muffle his laughter but it soon escaped him in great bellows. Elizabeth came closer, also laughing as she regarded her old friend tumbled on the ground.

Jack idly kicked his feet in the air. "See what I put up with?" he grumbled. "Pretty ladies distracting me and taking advantage of it!" 

Chapter Nineteen - Visit with the Turners.

Jack continued conversing with Bill, from his back on the grass just as if all was right with the world. "You can see the fun I have, being married!"

Bill answered him quite seriously. "I do see, you love her, and being married to her, very much. What is it about her Jack?"

Jack became utterly still and serious. He sighed. "It was like....all my life I was underwater. But I didn't know it. Then I met her and in one crystal clear moment, her eyes met mine. And she pulled my head up out of the water and I could breathe." His voice went slightly hoarse. "I could finally breathe!"

Jackie noticed her father and came over. She bent down and studied his face solemnly. "What are you doing, papa? Can I sit on you?" She attempted to climb onto his chest.

Jack raised his head and kissed her nose. Scrambling to his feet, he held Jackie in one arm and righted the chair with the other. "Precious, let's eat, then I'll tell you a story, all right?"

After dinner, everyone leaned back, replete with good food and having a child next to them. Jack was particularly happy, since Sarah had made his favorite pie for dessert and he'd eaten large quantities of it. His stomach was pushed out slightly more than usual, and his eldest daughter cuddled at his side. Mary's head was on his chest. Jack opened his eyes and saw most of the adults in a similar state. Every adult except Sarah held a child.

He sniffed the air contemplatively. "Storm's brewing," he commented. The sky was dark blue and cloudless, yet he heard no contradictions. "Suppose I tell these little ones a story, and we tuck them into their bunks, eh?"

The formerly quiesent adults stirred, the children all perked up and began nodding and smiling. Jack grinned, and began. "Once upon a time there was a little princess, whose name was Elizabeth."

"Hey!" Jackson piped from his grandfather's lap. "That's my mama's name!"

Jack grinned and winked at the boy. Jackson idolized his namesake a great deal, knowing a bit more than the others the stories behind the pirate since he regularly pestered every adult he could for tales. Said pirate went on. "Elizabeth's mother had died when she was born, and her father the govenor raised her as all proper little princesses should be raised. One day when she was still a wee child, the king sent her father to a faraway land to rule for him."

"If she's a princess, shouldn't her father be the king?" Becky asked practically.

"Don't interrupt lassie," Jack flapped a hand at her. "As I was saying, the princess Elizabeth and her father crossed the ocean to the beautiful island of Jamaica. And en route, they came across a shipwreck and rescued a lost orphan named William."

Every child swiveled and stared at Will. William sat holding his first son and gazing at Jack with a little smile on his face. The tale continued without regard for the stir. "And young William, had a secret which would change the course of both their lives. William had a magic pirate medallion that his father sent him, and Elizabeth took it to hide any stain of piracy on the boy."

She hid it for years, daydreaming of dashing, adventurous pirates. William was taken in by the blacksmith Master Brown and his wife, and looked after by Captain James Norrington. The young blacksmith and the princess had little to do with each other, but they couldn't help being drawn to each other."

His deep voice was a hypnotic, soothing cadence. The children were all enthralled, but slowly the little ones in particular began to nod, eyelids drooping. As he went on telling the tale, Teague caught Willy's eye.

"Will turned pirate to protect his pretty princess from harm, and in the end, Elizabeth followed her heart and turned pirate as well. She just couldn't bear to stand by and let Will and the dashing, handsome pirate be punished for what they'd done." A breeze was blowing strongly, but no one paid any mind, caught up in this fairy tale style of telling an old familiar story.

The conclusion, "And the pirate finally had his precious ship back, and sailed off in search of adventure and treasure, while the princess and the blacksmith kissed passionately in the sunset. And all were happy, except the Commodore, until the next day when he set off chasing the pirate. But that's another story." Jack glanced around and saw that Becky, Jackie, little Jack were all asleep, and Mary was fighting heavy eyelids valiantly.

As everyone shuffled the sleepers to bed, the two eldest boys slipped off for a quiet word together. Near a copse of oak trees, Teague whispered, "I'm gonna ask my father to take me sailing when he leaves again. If he says no, I'm gonna stowaway!"

Willy's eyes rounded at this audacity. "You think he'll say yes?"

"I bet he will. I think he wants to take me, he told me long time ago I could go when I turned thirteen, 'n I'm nearly that now! I gotta go, my mother's getting too smothery for me to take." Thunder rumbled suddenly, and they jumped.

"Your mother's not so bad. She's teaching you to use a sword, isn't she?"

"Yes, but she's so awful protective of me. Won't let me do anything! I'm big now, nearly a man. She's gotta stop." Teague puffed out his chest, but when thunder growled again he looked anxious.

"My mother's the same way, and she's teaching me to use a sword too. Both my parents are." Willy boasted a bit. "Mama says papa taught her too."

"Well, it's time my father taught me more things. I'm going with him, I'm telling ya, mate." Teague repeated.

They started together back to the house when lighting struck and flashed across the sky. Although it was only a few yards to cross the lawn, the rain caught them before they reached it. The boys ducked into the doorway and bumped squarely into Jack and Sarah.

"Willy. Teague. What are you doing?" Jack laid a gentle hand on his son's shoulder, but Sarah was tugging him out the door. Mystified, the boys watched them dart out into the rain and allow it soak them utterly. Will and Elizabeth stood nearby, arms around each other. For some strange reason, although they looked at Teague and Willy, they said nothing to them, allowed them to join them in watching the mad couple now cavorting outside.

Sarah had her face raised to the downpour, grinning fiercely. She threw herself about in time to the thunderclaps and lighting flashes like a goddess. Like Athena, the goddess of war, defense, intelligence, daughter of Zeus. Teague daydreamed as his mother danced in graceful sweeps and circles, recalling the lessons in Greek mythology learned not long ago from his father.

Jack did not dance so much as flash and leap and feint in streams of bright cloth and black streaming hair. The two of them moved close, then far apart, in perfect harmony. Their movements were not choreographed in the slightest, but they were pefectly complimentary. Jack was lighting, bright and quick and impossible to follow with the eye for any length of time. Sarah was rain, steady and shimmering and relentless.

They ended in a kiss in the middle of the muddy grass, oblivious to soaked clothing, wet feet, and the danger of being struck by lightning. They clung to each other, lips sliding and hands clutching at each other's clothes. Elizabeth took hold of the boys hands and led them away to bed. They went quietly, happily, and were asleep within moments of heads hitting the pillows.

Chapter Twenty - Cabin boy and pirate

To his great delight, his mother allowed him to sail with his father. Teague vibrated with pride and joy as the Pearl cut cleanly through the waters and he waved self importantly at his mother and sisters watching from the dock. What he did not know was the lengths his father, now his Captain, had gone through to ease Sarah's anxiety over her only son and firstborn taking to a pirate ship.

Jack had all but promised his wife that he would guard the boy zealously from all evil. What placated her was Jack finally becoming impatient with her overanxious henpecking, and tartly reminding her of the repuation he and his ship had. No one would, or could, catch or defeat the Pearl under Captain Sparrow.

Jack stood at the helm watching his boy. His cabin boy, a thing he'd not had since the early days aboard the Pearl. That lad had been younger than Teague was now, and Jack rather regretted not having taken his son with him before. At twelve and a half, Teague was old for his first voyage. It might hinder him, the lack of experience. Jack was determined to catch Teague up on a proper sailor's education.

After they left the harbor, the Captain relinquished the helm to Cotton. "Young Mr. Teague!" he called out crisply. Teague jerked around from the rail and galloped over to Jack. The captain nodded in approval. "I need to explain to you the duties of cabin boy. You're to carry my messages, bring me my meals, and clean my cabin. As well, you'll carry out any other duties I think to give you. Be that scrubbing the deck, polishing or cleaning the guns, mending sails, or lookout duty. Clear?"

"Aye Captain!" Teague answered smartly.

"Very good! Let's go to my cabin then, so you can familarize yourself with where I keep everything." Teague had spend much time in the cabin growing up, it was as comfortable as his own room in the house back on land. But his father was acting every bit the Master, to remind Teague of just what this voyage was about. Once in the Great Cabin, he relaxed, tossing his hat on the table and hanging up his coat. "It's good to have you with me, Teague."

Teague could not stop grinning as he scurried around putting his captain's clothes where he knew they belonged. He answered, "I'm glad you brought me, pa..Captain. I couldn't take mama fussing over me anymore, begging your pardon."

Jack sipped some rum and looked thoughtful. "Can't be easy for a mother to let her first child go, son," he said gently. "Go easy on your mother. Mine was in an uproar first time I took to the sea. And I was only nine."

Teague shuffled his feet a bit. "Still, a boy needs to be with his father, you know. For...advice...and such lot. Aye?" He looked uncomfortable.

"Advice on what, son?" Jack poured more rum into a cup, did not water it down, then motioned for Teague to sit with him.

The boy fidgeted quite a bit before blurting out, "Oh you know, about girls and stuff like that." He blushed deeply.

"Girls," Jack stated blandly, buying himself time. How had he wound up in such a predicament? Oh yes, he'd fallen in love and got a woman pregnant. "What do you want to know about girls?" Please let it be a simple question, he prayed desperately to whomever might be listening.

"Why are they so irritating?" was the unexpected question.

Jack swallowed his mouthful of rum before he was quite ready to and choked on it. "In what sense, son?"

"Well...there's a girl in town, named Rosalia. She's nice enough, and she's got...curves now. She acts like she's sweet on me...but I guess I was wrong." Teague rubbed his cheek ruefully.

"What makes you so sure you're wrong?" Jack grinned cheekily at his son. "Have you tried kissin' her?"

"Yes, it was her idea!" was the unexpected answer. "Kissing is nice. But I wanted to know what those curves feel like. So I touched 'em. And she slapped me, now she won't speak to me at all."

Jack sat quietly for a moment. The boy took an experimental sip of the rum and rolled it in his mouth. The Captain pondered his son, old enough to be touching and kissing a girl. How had he not noticed how his children were growing up so fast, where had he been? Out having empty adventures and playing pirate, when your real joys and treaures are without you, a little voice answered.

"Well," he began after awhile. Teague was still taking small, thoughtful sips out of his cup. "With girls, you need to be sweet to them. Tell them how pretty they are, give them gifts. Flowers and pretty seashells, that's a good start."

"Is that how it was with you and Mother?"

Jack's eyes softened at the memories of falling in love with his sweetheart. "Not quite...it was danger that brought her to me, and a storm that pushed us into each other's arms." He changed the subject. "Sleep in the hammock slung just across from me bed, lad." The one I slept in before I was brave enough to bed your lovely mother, he added internally.

Since the age of six or so, Teague had bunked with the crew. He considered it a point of pride that they'd always accepted him, and his brow furrowed in question.

Jack explained, "I want my cabin boy near to hand in case I need anything, savvy? It's no reflection on you, indeed, it's a mark of honor." He chuckled. "Don't look so disgruntled, many of the men would jump at the chance to sleep in me cabin!"

After arriving in Caribbean waters, the Lord of that particular sea gave orders to put it on a certain island located off the Florida mainland. Gibbs stared at him for so long, with such an expression of disgust, that Jack stared him down coolly. "You have a problem with that particular heading, Mr. Gibbs?"

"No sir, no problem. Aye aye, Cap'n."

Once there, Jack rowed ashore alone, allowing no one to come with him. He made his way to the mystical Fountain alone, and sat for a long time on the edge, breathing in the spray in the air and thinking. I don't want to die, repeated itself over and over in his head.

How can I NOT drink it? Fountain of Youth, man! Living forever, doing exactly as you please! As long as you steer clear of enemies that kill even a youthened body. Jack forced himself to recall his painful death in the Kraken's maw. The teeth slowly grinding into his flesh, the putrid, retching smell. Knowing his ship was smashing to bits. The insanity of the Locker, the self loathing and confusion and fear. The desperation. He buried his face in his hands.

Now, thoughts of Sarah filled his mind. She would not drink it. Many times he'd tried to get her to do so, she always refused. Even slipped it into her tea once, and she knew somehow. Just picked it up and poured it out the window, sea green eyes staring accusingly at him. "Shall I break my promises to you as well, Jack Sparrow?" was all she said.

There just had to be a way, that was all. He was accustomed to making things work out for his benefit. Quickly, before he could think twice, Jack leaned close and cupped several handfuls of Youth water, swallowing it all. Then he filled his flask. Suddenly, his shoulders sagged and he dropped his head. 

How could he? How could he live forever when she could not?

The Captain rowed back to his ship and climbed wearily aboard. Tossing the flask to Gibbs, he ordered curtly, "Pass that around to the men, all of them. I don't want to see that bloody flask again, savvy?" He slammed the door of his cabin shut behind him.

Jack had a sudden and urgent longing to go home. He just wanted to see Sarah again, and hug her for hours.
 

 

Chapters 21-24

Comments

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Great story, love, especially the dialogue - you write them very well.

And he drank the water - wow. I loved Gibbs disapproval, and Jack's reflections that pushed him over the edge.

Beautiful work ♥

[soleilpirate.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I adore the character, so try very hard to do them justice.

Yes, he drank the water. But for the last time. Which is why he passed the flask off to the crew. he's supposed to share it anyway. Jack needs to come to terms with death, no easy feat for any of us.