The Fine Line Between Legends And Lies

Chapter 25:

A/N: Okay the Keswick arrives in Tortuga and drops Jack, Liz, and Will off. They meet up with Gibbs in the Faithful Bride tavern and rejoin the Pearl’s crew. Thank you all for the feedback, I love it! Please let me know what you think of the latest chapter!

Elizabeth pulled on her black breeches and fastened them quickly as she watched Jack with Jacob. Jack was laying on the bed on his back with little Jacob nestled on his chest. She smiled at the sweetness of the sight of Jack holding their little boy. Pulling on her boots she buckled her belt around her slender waist. She had noticed now that her hips were a bit wider since she had given birth to Jacob. Securing her sword at her side and then shoving her pistol into the waistband of her breeches she placed her hat on her head. Jack looked up from Jacob and smiled at his wife. She looked exquisite in the men’s clothing she was wearing. Although he remembered telling her once that it should be a dress or nothing at all. Then he had told her that he just so happened to have no dress in his cabin. Grinning at the memory he looked back down at their son. That had been a long time ago, before they had been ready to admit their feelings for each other. Back when she had still belonged to Will.

“Jack?”

“Hmmm?”

“How much longer before we reach Tortuga?”

“Not sure love, but let’s go check eh?”

“Yes.”

She walked over to the bed and picked up Jacob talking to him in a low voice crooning little words of adoration to him. Jack chuckled as he stepped into his boots and then buckled his belt with his sword and pistol around his waist. Pulling on his dark blue overcoat he then reached for his hat placing it on his head securely. Elizabeth waited for him to open the door and then she walked out of their cabin ahead of him. They headed up to the main deck of the Keswick quickly and found Captain Pearson standing on the wheel deck next to the man who was currently at the helm. Following jack up the steps onto the wheel deck Elizabeth waited for her husband to speak.

“Captain Pearson?”

“Aye?”

“A word with ye?”

“Certainly.”

“How much longer until we reach Tortuga?”

“Ah we shall make port within the hour Mr. Sparrow.”

“Thank ye Captain Pearson.” Jack gave a quick smile flashing his gold teeth as he fought of the urge to correct Captain Pearson for calling him Mr. Sparrow instead of Captain Sparrow. It wouldn’t serve them well to inform the honest merchant sailor captain that he was helping a pirate.

Placing his hand on the small of Elizabeth’s back he guided her down the steps back onto the main deck where they caught sight of Will leaning against the railing. They walked over to join him. Will smiled at them as they approached.

“Morning Jack, Elizabeth. Captain Pearson tells me that we shall reach Tortuga within the hour.”

Jack spoke up. “Aye lad, that’s right. So within the hour we shall meet up with Gibbs an’ the rest of the crew.”

“That’s good. Do you think that the Commodore will give chase again?”

“M’ sure the Commodore will likely want t’ extract revenge for his most recent embarrassment.”

“Meaning he will most assuredly launch an entire fleet of ships to search for you and Elizabeth.”

“Don’t worry William, our dear old friend the Commodore hasn’t the slightest inclination as t’ where we’ve gone.”

Will smiled weakly at Jack’s attempt to reassure him of their advantage. He glanced past Jack to look at Elizabeth who was paying them no mind as she fussed over little Jacob. He supposed it was a good thing that she had the little boy to worry about instead of worrying about James Norrington finding them. She looked up from Jacob to see both Jack and Will watching her. Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Jack and Will looked at each other after uttering the word at the same time. Jack turned his attention back to Elizabeth and his son. Will turned around to stare out to sea to avoid watching them. Elizabeth handed Jacob over to Jack and watched as he made his way over to the railing to look out at the sapphire waves that glittered underneath the sunlight. The little boy gurgled and whimpered in his father’s arms a bit. Jack held him closer to his chest and spoke in a low voice.

“There’ll be none of that fussing mate. M’ going t’ teach ye everything I know bout the sea Jacob.”

Will watched Jack as he talked to Jacob. He frowned a bit as he felt a slight pang of jealousy course through him. It just wasn’t fair. He should be that little boy’s father, not Jack. Just like he should be Elizabeth’s husband. She should be Elizabeth Turner, not Elizabeth Sparrow. Sighing in frustration at his jealousy Will pushed away from the railing and headed back down below deck. Elizabeth looked at Jack her mouth set in a sad line. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side.

“Come on love. If I told Jacob that there would be no fussing, then ye can’t do it either.”

“I know. I’m sorry Jack.”

“Nothing t’ be sorry bout darling. Jus’ let yerself enjoy our freedom.”

“Yes our freedom, how long do you think it will be before it’s in danger of being taken away again Jack?”

“Don’t know love, but we can’t sit around worrying bout when or if Norrington will catch us.”

“You’re right.”

“M’ Captain Jack Sparrow love, m’ always right.”

She snorted at his remark which made him chuckle in return. They leaned against one another enjoying the smell of the air and salty spray of the sea as it enveloped them with every gentle rock of the ship.

Back in Port Royal Governor Swann was pacing in his study angrily. How could he have been so gullible? He had believed that Elizabeth would surely abide by his rules and give up the foolish idea that she and that scoundrel Jack Sparrow could have a future together. But she had chosen to make a fool out of him by slipping away with that pirate once again. Commodore Norrington knocked on the doorframe of the study drawing governor Swann’s attention up from the floor.

“Well?”

“I regret to say that there’s no sign of her Governor Swann.”

“And Jack Sparrow?”

“I’m afraid he’s managed to escape as well.”

“Damn! How the hell did this happen?”

“It seems they had help sir.”

“Help?” His eyes widened as he realized who had helped his daughter to run away. “William Turner!”

“Of course, Turner has to be the one who helped Jack Sparrow out of prison!”

“Find them! And when you do bring them back to Port Royal immediately!”

“Yes Governor Swann.”

“And Commodore?”

“Yes sir?”

“When they are returned, Will Turner is to be hanged alongside Jack Sparrow.”

“Yes sir.”

“Now go! And bring my daughter and my grandson back home quickly!”

Nodding James turned on his heel and descended the spiraling staircase of the mansion quickly. He walked outside and down the cobblestone walkway until he came to the iron gates. Waiting for it to be opened he glanced up at the sky momentarily. So across the seas he would be chasing after them again. His life was beginning to feel like a never ending bad dream. And Jack Sparrow was the demon that haunted it. Norrington walked through the now open iron gate and headed back to Fort Charles. He gathered his soldiers and began briefing them on their mission to capture Jack Sparrow and Will Turner and to bring Elizabeth and her son safely back to Port Royal once more. This time he doubted that Jack would be as easy to track down since they had slipped out of Port Royal during the middle of the night without anyone knowing. They had a large head start and would more than likely be keeping a low profile so as to not draw any unnecessary attention to themselves. After informing the soldiers of their mission he launched four ships from the harbor. The fleet consisted of the Interceptor, the Dauntless, the Hesperia, and the Essex. They sailed out of the harbor just as the sun was stretching across the middle of the sky blazing down on them relentlessly.

Back onboard the Keswick the sailor perched in the crow’s nest shouted as the port of Tortuga began to appear on the horizon. “Land ahoy Captain!”

Jack’s dark eyes shifted from Jacob to the barely visible island of Tortuga ahead of them. He smiled. Now they were home free. They just had to reach Tortuga and find the Pearl. The Keswick quickly reached the port and sailed into the harbor. Pulling up to the pier the Keswick dropped anchor and secured the gangplank so that Elizabeth, Jack, and Will could exit the ship. Jack shook hands with Captain Pearson and then turned towards the gangplank. Will had already stepped down onto the pier and was holding the burlap sack for Elizabeth as she walked down the gangplank carefully holding Jacob. Jack followed them onto the pier and they stood there watching as the Keswick’s crew weighed anchor and turned about to sail out of the harbor. Jack took the burlap sack from Will and offered his free arm to Elizabeth. She took it still holding Jacob in her right arm. Will walked next to Jack as they headed down the narrow and dirty streets of the bustling pirate haven. They soon came to the familiar tavern The Faithful Bride. Jack smiled fondly at the faded wooden sign of the rundown looking tavern as they prepared to walk inside. Elizabeth stopped short making Jack and Will stop too. “Jack?”

“What’s the matter love?”

“Do you think it wise to bring Jacob into the tavern?”

“It’ll be fine darling. Come on.”

He ushered her into the tavern with Will on his heels. The tavern was dim and smelled of sweat and ale making Elizabeth wrinkle her nose. They looked around the room full of dirty and drunken pirates. Jack’s face twisted into a smile when he caught sight of Gibbs and Marty at a table. Swaggering over to the table quickly Elizabeth and Will had to quicken their steps to keep up with him. Gibbs looked up from his mug of rum to see the three of them standing before him.

“Mother Mary in heaven….Jack?”

“Aye.”

“Jack! Ye made it!”

The older man stood up and threw his arms around Jack’s neck hugging him quickly before turning him loose.

“Hello t’ ye too Gibbs.”

“How on earth did ye make it out of Wexford?”

“In shackles aboard the Interceptor.”

“Oh. Then how…..”

“How am I here? M’ Captain Jack Sparrow!”

Will elbowed him in the side hard making Jack grunt before he continued speaking. “An’ I may have had some…..help.” Nodding to Will he then took a seat at the table. Elizabeth and Will did the same. Gibbs noticed the baby boy nestled in Elizabeth’s arms.

“Is that?”

“Mine and Jack’s son, Jacob.”

“Jacob, that’s a fine name Miss Elizabeth.”

“Thank you Mr. Gibbs.”

“How the devil did ye get here Jack?”

“I have me ways Gibbs. Now we need t’ be getting back t’ me ship. Savvy?”

“Aye Captain. I take it we have a heading then?”

“Yes…..that way.” Jack pointed towards the East making Gibbs look a little more than confused. “We need t’ get out of here an’ quick as possible mate.”

“Ah right.” They stood up and headed for the exit of the tavern. Gibbs led them back towards the harbor where the Black Pearl was safely docked. They followed him up onto the gangplank and onto the ship.

Jack ushered Elizabeth into their cabin. “Now ye need t’ get some rest darling.”

“But Jack….”

“No fussing love, m’ the captain an’ that’s an order.”

“And I’m the captain’s wife!”

“Still part of the crew dearie, now do be a good girl an’ do as I say?”

“Fine.” She leaned up and placed a quick kiss on his lips before speaking again. “What about Jacob?”

“There’s a wooden cradle that I swiped….er borrowed without permission a little while back down in the hold. I’ll go an’ get it for ye darling.”

“Thank you Jack.”

“Welcome love.” He headed down the steps and made a hasty retreat to the hold. Finding the wooden cradle sitting next to a few crates of dried meat he grabbed it and brought it back up on deck. Heading into the cabin he now shared with Elizabeth and their son he shut the door behind him. He placed the wooden cradle in the far corner a short distance away from their bed. Elizabeth walked over to it and looked at it. On the headboard of it she noticed Jack had carved a small sparrow onto it. Baby Sparrow. She smiled at the sweet gesture as she bent down to place Jacob in the cradle. Turning around she kissed Jack passionately. “What was that for Lizbeth?”

“Just because I love you.”

“I love ye too darling. Now t’ bed with ye. I’ve got t’ tend t’ me crew. Captainy things an’ all that.”

She giggled and watched him leave the cabin shutting the door softly behind him. Stepping out of her boots she began to remove her effects placing her belt, sword, pistol and hat onto the table. She stripped off her breeches and placed them on the chair along with her linen shirt before walking over to their bed. So he would be back soon he had told her. And when he did come back she would be waiting for him in all her naked glory beneath the sheets. They were going to have a proper homecoming aboard the Pearl.

A/N: Okay that was a good place to stop….don’t worry I will add the homecoming celebration between Elizabeth and Jack in the next chapter! Please let me know what you think of the latest chapter!