When love interferes

A.N. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!


Chapter twelve: Regret

A week had passed since the kiss took place. Christine had instantly regretted the kiss and hadn't spoken to Jack since the incident. She was too ashamed of herself, she hadn't been thinking clearly…those eyes had just mesmerized her. She still had James to think of, he was somewhere out there looking for her…and she had betrayed him like this!

Decided to forget about the unfortunate incident she carried out her daily chores as if nothing had happened. Avoid meeting Jack proved to be rather difficult and hiding from him was not an option. The ship was fairly large, but one could search it's every compartment in a matter of hours.

Lucas, seeing that something wasn't quite like it used to be, had tried numerous times to confront her about what was vexing her. She had always replied that she was fine and that nothing was different about her, but he saw that she was lying. Noticing how she tried to avoid seeing or talking about Jack made him conclude that he must be connected to what Christine was trying to hide from him.

Christine sat on a barrel, fixing some sails when Lucas found her. She didn't notice him at first, but when his shadow fell on the sails she was sewing, she looked up.

'' Christine, we need to talk.'' Lucas said with a stern face.

'' What about?'' Christine inquired surprised. '' Did anything happen?''

'' I'm afraid that might be the case…something happened between you and the Captain, something that you're not telling me.''

'' WHAT? That's absurd! Why should anything have happened between us…we barely talk.'' Christine tried to eliminate his reasons.

'' Yes, you two barely talk. Isn't that a reason enough? I've noticed how you act around him Christine…I'm not judging you for what happened…whatever it is that happened. I just need you to be honest with me, you know you can always come to me if you need to talk.''

Christine looked down at the sail, feeling ashamed for keeping her secret away from him. '' I'm really sorry Lucas…I know I should have told you. I've just been too ashamed to tell anyone…it wasn't meant to happen.''

'' What wasn't meant to happen? What did you do? ''

At that moment Jack emerged from his cabin and immediately saw Lucas talking to Christine. He had noticed how she had been avoiding him since the pleasurable incident a week ago, but hadn't confronted her about it. He knew that young girls were tricky and that their emotions often proved to be troublesome. He was sure she felt that she had done something wrong by kissing him, but why, he was eager to find out. He staggered over to where the two were talking, hoping that he would get her to talk to him.

'' I see that ye have finally gotten her ta talk…anythin' that might interest me?'' Jack inquired with a smirk. Christine felt a shiver run down her spine as she heard him speak. Panicking, but having nowhere to run she sat still, hoping that he would lose interest in their conversation.

'' I'm afraid not sir…just a chat between two friends.'' Lucas replied, wanting him to leave them to their conversation.

'' In that case I think we need a new approach…'' Jack gently put his hand on her upper arm. '' Come luv…we need ta talk…'' When feeling his touch on her arm she quickly looked up, meeting his dark erogenous eyes. All her guards fell down as she eased up under his gaze. How could that man have this effect on her? In trance, he led her into his cabin and closed the door.

'' So…I know ye've been avoidin' me for a week now, and I have my suspicions why that may be…but, I can't seem ta figure out why ye're feelin' this way… '' His voice broke the trance she was in and it took some time for his question to sink in.

'' How did you know I was avoiding you?'' Christine inquired puzzled, she was sure she hadn't told a soul.

Jack grinned. '' Everyone on the ship noticed it luv…it wasn't hard ta figure out.'' Christine felt her cheeks flush in shame. Jack walked closer to her, standing only a few inches away from her.

'' Since this was yer idea as a repayment for me help I don't see why yer so upset about it. Nobody forced ye ta do it.''

'' I know this was my idea and I wish I hadn't done it…but I can't take it back now…'' Christine sat down on the bed. Jack narrowed his eyes at her, pondering over her reply.

'' Then why does it bother ye so much…''

Christine looked up at him. '' Because I already have a man waiting for me.''

This statement took him by surprise. '' A man…on land? ''

'' Yes…and he's coming to find me.'' Christine replied.

'' What makes ye so sure he's out lookin' for ye? '' Jack said with a smirk.

'' He must be…we love each other…he can't walk away from that.'' Christine stated.

'' Similar things have happened…I'm just sayin' ye can't be sure he hasn't declared ye dead or given up on the search…if he ever did begin it.'' Jack replied.

'' No he wouldn't give up on me…he wouldn't…'' Christine tried to assure herself.

'' I'm not sayin' he did…but ye've got to admit that the outlook is rather bleak. It's been what, a month since ye were taken…a month is a rather long time for a person ta be lost, especially in the hands of a pirate like Terrance. Yer man doesn't know that I saved ye, and that ye're out of danger…eventually he's got ta surrender to the fact that ye're lost forever.

'' No, he won't surrender…he won't stop until he finds me.'' Christine tried to block out all the things Jack said, but it was proving to be difficult. She buried her face in her hands and started to cry. Jack, always having a weak spot for crying women sat down beside her and rubbed her back soothingly.

'' I'm sorry luv…I wish there was somethin' I could do.'' Feeling his strong arms around her and his deep, sexy voice cooing in her ear had a soothing effect on her. She had been missing James and a man's touch, even though it wasn't his, made her feel safe. The exotic salty rum aroma off him tickled her nose, she was beginning to like that smell. It made her feel safe and forget all of her worries. She didn't know why or how he could have this effect on her and she really didn't care to know. He made her feel loved and cared for, just like James did, but on a whole another level.

'' Why are you being so nice to me…you don't even know me.'' Christine inquired, lifting her head up from her hands.

'' Well I be havin' a bit of a problem with cryin' women…'' Jack frowned.

'' I'm not just talking about now…why did you save me from that awful man, why didn't you just let me be? I'm sure that any other pirate must have left me there…unless he was planning on making me his wench.''

'' A wench…that's not such a bad idea.'' Jack pretended to get an idea. Christine hit him lightly in his chest.

'' Just jokin' luv…'' He grinned. Jack still had his arms around her and Christine didn't mind. It felt nice and harmless, it wasn't as she was doing anything wrong. Jack noticed how she unintentionally snuggled into his arms while they were talking. He smiled to himself, feeling content with the situation.

Lucas was pacing the deck outside the cabin. The two of them had been in Jack's cabin for a good while now and he was starting to wonder if anything indecent might be happening.

'' What could have happened between them that she would have to be ashamed for?'' He said to himself as he scratched his head. Then a thought hit him.

'' No…it can't be that…please tell me it wasn't that!'' He said shocked. '' Oh no… they are in his room, I've got to stop them…but what can I do, I can't just barge in on them like that!'' He started to imagine the two sleeping together, Jack kissing her soft breast and…'' No…I've got to save her!'' He ran over to the cabin and shove the door open.

'' Get off her you scoundrel! '' He shouted as the door hit the wall. Jack and Christine looked up at him puzzled. Lucas saw the two of them just sitting on the bed, staring at him like he had gone mad.

'' Oh…I thought…'' Lucas began to explain himself. Jack stood up from the bed and walked over to him.

'' What does this mean, bargin' in on people without knockin'? ''

'' I thought…I thought you…and her…in the cabin…'' Lucas stuttered. Jack's lips curled into a grin.

'' You thought we were shaggin' didn't ye…did ye get a tad jealous? '' Jack teased him. Lucas' face flushed bright red.

'' You were gone for so long and…she had been talking about something she regretted…connected to you…''

'' So ye assumed that she meant sleepin' with me?'' Jack inquired, enjoying himself by embarrassing him.

'' It was only logical…what else would she be ashamed for?'' Lucas replied, glancing over at Christine.

Jack turned to face her with a knowing grin. '' Yes…what else indeed? ''

Christine's face showed signs of surprise and embarrassment. How could he have thought that? Actually he knew nothing about James or their relationship, to him she was only a girl that got kidnapped, and apparently had surrendered herself to the Captain.

'' I have to go…there are many sails to be repaired and a lot of time wasted.'' She stood up from the bed and ran out of the room.

'' What was that? '' Lucas inquired puzzled.

'' There's a lot ye've got left ta learn about women, son.'' Jack said with a grin as he reached under his bed and pulled out two bottles of rum, offering one to him.

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This last week, Beckett had scarcely visited the crew on the Dauntless. Elizabeth, relieved by his fawning was thrilled to have some time on her own, where she didn't need to fear being drowned in flattery. Her relationship with Will was evolving and they had reached a good friendship by now. He still occasionally called her by her surname and blushed when she spoke to him, but she didn't mind. James had known her since she was a child and he could still be seen blushing around her. People told her that it was because he fancied her, and she couldn't but agree to that. He surely did show great signs of admiration towards her, but unfortunately for him she only thought of him as her friend. Lately this admiration of his had been directed to another girl, a poor sewer by the name of Christine. Elizabeth saw the love that emitted from his eyes every time he spoke of her. He was a kind and sweet man, one that deserved to be loved and in love. She had feared that he would never let go of his fancies towards her, but her prayers were answered one day at the market. The changes she saw in him were immense. He had never been as happy in his life, he practically glowed. And the news of Christine's abduction nearly destroyed his life. Now he was set to find her and bring her back to Port Royal, it was the only thing he could think about.

James stood by the rail, thinking of Christine. Even though a month had passed he hadn't lost his hope of seeing her again. He knew she was somewhere out there, in what state he wasn't sure, but he hoped she was well. It pained him to know that she might be mistreated by some pirates, not giving food or water, or even raped. The man that kidnapped her would pay for what he had done to her…it didn't matter if he had to sail through the seven seas to find him, he would do anything to get her back.

Occasionally, when his spirit was low, the thought about the dreadful possibility that she might even be dead haunted his mind. Maybe that man had killed her right away and dumped her into the ocean. He had no way of knowing, but deep in his heart the hope of her survival burned. He wouldn't give up on her…that would be her death sentence.

Elizabeth walked out on deck and saw James standing by the rail. She sighed as she walked up to him.

'' I'm sure we will find her.'' James looked up from the sea and smiled sadly.

'' My god I hope you're right.'' He sighed. '' Being away from her for so long is eating me up inside. I barely remember how her voice sounds.''

Elizabeth embraced him lovingly. '' You can't give up…she needs you to keep your hopes up.'' She could see the tears fighting to escape from his emerald eyes. Her heart ached to see her friend so grieved. James slowly nodded his head in agreement and she hugged him closer, feeling his body shiver with silent sobs.