A Pirates Passion

Chapter 29

"Aye Mum." JJ said and wrapped his arms around both of his parents.

Jack took a deep breath and led the way. His grief was still fresh but he had to put his son first now. He would deal with his own in private, when he was alone.

When they reached the site, Jack put his hands firmly on JJ's shoulder hoping to provide his son strength enough to grieve freely and openly with confidence that his father would neither judge nor reprimand him for it.

JJ stared at the headstone with his sister's name on it. He would never know her. Never be able to chase her with gross things. He slowly began walking towards it and knelt in front of it. He reached up and traced her name with his finger. He felt tears fall from his eyes but didn't bother wiping them away. "I want my name on here as well." He said.

Madeline looked at Jack and then back at her son. "Alright JJ." She said quietly. She gasped when she saw her son pull his knife out of his boot.

"Mum, Da, please come here." He said not looking at them.

Jack looked at Maddy, worriedly; maybe they should not have brought him here. Jack went to his side and Maddy followed him. "We're here son, what's on yer mind," he asked gently.

Madeline kneeled next to him as did Jack. She saw JJ raise his knife and her eyes widened. "JJ." she whispered.

JJ glanced at his mother and cut off a lock of his hair and placed it in front of him. He leaned over and reached for his mother's hair and cut off a lock of hers and put it on top of his. He then turned to Jack and reached for his hair. Cutting a lock of his off as well. He picked up the others and looked at his father. "Da, hold these please."

Jack held out his hand and held the locks of hair his son gave him. He didn't speak but waited.

JJ began to dig a small hole in front of the headstone and then reached for the locks of hair. He buried them and then covered them with the dirt. "Now we'll always be together." He whispered and bent his head down and cried.

Madeline watched her son and her own tears fell. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but she was scared. Scared that he would push her away so she let him cry.

Jack took JJ firmly by the shoulders and turned him to face him. JJ fought him at first but Jack took hold of his arms and wrapped them around his waist, "Let it go son," he said enveloping his son tightly. JJ held onto him tightly. Jack looked at Maddy and nodded to her, he would be all right, in time.

JJ felt safe with his father's arms around him as he cried.

Madeline sat and watched father and son. She wiped her own tears away. She could see the love pouring out from Jack for their son and it made her happy. Despite the circumstances of everything that happened, she knew that JJ would never be without love.

JJ's crying had subsided. He looked up at his father. "I love you Da." He looked over at Madeline. "I love you Mum."

"I love you too JJ." She said smiling at him.

Jack got a devilish smile on his face, "Well, I think it's time we put all this gloomy stuff away and go to the pool for a swim," he quipped.

Madeline looked at him with a shocked look on her face but then smiled when JJ jumped up excitedly. "Come on Mum!" he yelled and took off running. Madeline shook her head with a smile.

"I didn't bring any towels." She said looking at Jack.

Jack frowned and looked up, "Love look at that bright beautiful sun, now if that's not about the best towel to grace us I don't know what is," he said taking her hand and pulling her along.

Madeline hid her smile as Jack pulled her along. When they arrived at the pool, JJ had already stripped off his shirt and was splashing around. "Come on Mum!"

Jack grinned, "Or do I have to drag you in kicking and screaming," he quipped as he quickly removed his shirt know damn well Maddy would come unglued when he did.

Madeline growled under her breath as he took off his shirt. Bloody pirate. She watched as he jumped in and began to splash JJ. "Turn around." She said and was surprised that they both did as she removed her clothes. Her long shirt would drag her down in the water. When she was completely nude she dove in and swam to a corner away from them.

Jack watched her, "JJ yer mum is more daring then I thought ... so what do ye think I should do to one up her," he asked mischievously.

JJ laughed. "Hide her clothes." He said watching as his mother swam, seemingly oblivious to them.

Jack grinned, "An excellent idea, I'll distract her while ye hide her clothes," he said and swam toward Maddy.

JJ giggled and swam to the edge of the pool. He watched as Jack swam towards Madeline. He scooped up her clothes, as well as his own and Jack's and headed towards home. Whistling the entire way.

Madeline was coming up to the surface for air and literally jumped out of her skin when she saw Jack in front of her. "Jesus Jack!"

"Jesus never looked this good," Jack grinned.

Madeline rolled her eyes and looked behind him. "Where's JJ?" She asked as she looked around for him.

"Guess he decided he had enough," Jack said.

Madeline looked back and him and moved to swim away, but felt Jack's hand on her arm.

"Why are ye running from me love," Jack asked.

"Was I?" She asked in a whisper. He was half naked and she was totally naked. She felt her breath shorten.

"Feels that way, so I think JJ took everything very well all things considered," Jack said.

"Aye, he did. I’m very proud of him." She said quietly. She tried to brace her foot on a rock below but felt herself slipping and grabbed onto Jack's arms to steady herself. She felt her bare skin come in contact with his.

Jack held her for a moment, he was glad the water was cold, "So shall we go see where our son headed off to," Jack asked.

Madeline was disappointed when she felt him release her. She nodded and swam to the edge and began to walk out. She wrapped her arms around herself to try to hide her nakedness as she looked for her clothes. She couldn't find them. Bloody hell.

"JJ!" She yelled. She spun around when she heard Jack laughing.

Jack got out of the pool and realized his shirt was missing, at first he was angry but then he laughed all the harder. "I think my son has out witted me," he told Maddy.

"You!" She snapped. "At least ye still have your breeches. He took my pants and my shirt!" She looked at Jack. "Look at me, I'm completely naked!"