The Fine Line Between Legends And Lies

Chapter 35:

A/N: Sorry it’s been a while since I last updated…my internet was acting crazy. So here is the latest chapter! Enjoy…and thank you for all the reviews! I really appreciate them!


Since the sudden and intense squall that had appeared out of nowhere just a couple of days earlier the Pearl had finally seemed back on course. They had escaped the doldrums that had been hindering their progress towards making port in Port Royal. Jack knew that Elizabeth was anxious to get home to see her father again. He just hoped that the Governor would keep his promise to not have him hanging from the end of a rope at the gallows. Frowning Jack pulled out his spyglass and looked out over the vast horizon. Off in the distance he could see the familiar looking crumbling stone wall of the old naval fort that was perched on the side of the cliff. A small smile stretched across his face as he thought of the day that he had rescued Elizabeth from these very waters when she had plummeted off the parapet of the old crumbling naval fort. He had seen her fall into the ocean narrowly missing the sharp rocks that jutted out from the floor of the harbor. Being the only one that could swim Jack hadn’t thought twice as he quickly stripped off his effects before diving into the sea and rushing to her rescue. How could he have known that the girl that he had plucked from the bottom of the Port Royal harbor would be the woman that he would one day marry? If someone would have told him that day that she was the woman that he would marry he would have told them they were insane.

They would make port in no less than an hour or so now. Shutting his spyglass he dropped it back into his coat pocket before turning away from the railing of his beloved Pearl. Jack swaggered over to the wheel where Cotton was steering the ship. The old man nodded at him giving him a crooked smile. His parrot squawked loudly making Jack flinch before muttering something under his breath. He descended the stairs from the wheel deck onto the main deck and headed towards their cabin. Opening the door he smiled seeing his wife breastfeeding their son. Shutting the door he quickly ran over to the bed and sank down to his knees in front of her. Wiggling his dark brows he grinned up at her.

“My turn.”

“Oh for goodness sake Jack! Don’t be crude in front of our son.”

He stuck out his bottom lip in a pouting manner and looked up at her his coffee colored eyes pleading. Sighing heavily she moved Jacob away from her breast to pat his back. Hearing a small gurgling burp from him she stood up and carried him over to his cradle. Elizabeth placed her son in his cradle and rocked it gently a few times before standing up and reaching up to rewrap her breast bindings before pulling on her shirt. Jack pushed himself to his feet and grasped her hands quickly to stop her.

“Jack?”

“C’mon love…..jus’ a little friendly attention?”

“You had attention last night.”

“Aye…but now I want more.”

“Haven’t you had enough Jack?”

“I could never have enough of ye Izzy darling. C’mon…jus’ for a little while?”

Sighing she began unwrapping her breast bindings until they fell from her waist. Jack grinned as he watched her step out of her boots and begin unfastening her breeches. Soon she was sliding them down her hips and stepping out of them. Now naked she walked over to the bed and crawled onto it laying down on her back to wait for him. Frowning Jack quickly stripped out of his clothes. He joined her on their bed and reached for her cupping her breasts in his hands gently.

“Just make it quick Jack.”

“Try an’ sound a bit more interested in it love.”

“I’m sorry Jack…I’m just exhausted. Now either take it when it’s offered or do without.”

“C’mon love….don’t be like that. I can’t help it…..ye make me horny.”

“Seems you’re always horny Jack…..it’s why I’m pregnant again so soon after having Jacob.”

“Is that what this is about?”

Not wanting to argue she sighed and shook her head.

“I’m just tired and ready to see my father. I’m sorry Jack. Now…..do you still want to?”

Deciding he would take her any way that he could have her he slid up to settle in between her thighs. Rocking his hips forward he slid into her easily making her gasp against his neck softly. Knowing that she wasn’t really in the mood for making love he decided that a quick joining would be best if he wanted to keep things peaceful between them. Jack began pounding into her quickly grunting as he rocked against her. Elizabeth grasped his shoulders and raised her hips as he thrust into her. A few short moments later Jack was frantically rocking against her as his cock pulsed inside her spilling his desire into her depths. Feeling him give one last shuddering thrust Elizabeth loosened her legs from where they had been locked around his waist. Jack pushed himself up onto his forearms making his now soft cock slip from her slick sheath. He got up and strode over to the desk and poured some water into the basin. Grabbing a washcloth he dipped it into the water and walked back over to the bed. Gently he rubbed the washcloth between her thighs along the length of her sex to wipe away the remains of his climax that had dribbled out of her. Then he washed away the drops of his seed that had leaked from his cock when he had pulled out of her. Walking back over to the desk he tossed the washcloth back into the basin. They said nothing as they dressed. Once dressed Elizabeth cleared her throat. Jack looked up at her waiting for her to speak.

“How much longer until we reach Port Royal?”

“Should be just under an hour love.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah. Hungry?”

“I can wait until we make port.”

“Alright…m’ jus’ going t’ see if I can find a little something t’ nibble on until we drop anchor.”

She nodded and watched him walk out of their cabin shutting the door quietly behind him. Sighing she sank down onto the bed and buried her face into his pillow inhaling his scent deeply. Tears stung her eyes as she laid there. She hadn’t meant to be so cold towards him. But as of late being a mother to Jacob and finding out that she was pregnant again had seemed to drain every ounce of her strength. It was as if she just didn’t have anything left for Jack after she tended to Jacob and tried to take care of herself and the unborn baby growing inside her. But she knew that if she didn’t do something that their marriage would start to crumble. It had already begun to weaken. Their lovemaking had never felt like a chore. And it had certainly never been rushed and void of passion like that union had been. She had just laid there and spread her legs offering herself to him so he could finish quickly. She had barely even moved with him while he had been rocking against her. No wonder he had left the cabin so quickly after finishing. She had made him feel like he wasn’t wanted. Pushing herself up so that she was sitting she looked towards the door. Blinking back tears she stood up and walked over to the door. She had to go find her husband and make things right with him.

Elizabeth shut the door to their cabin quietly so that she wouldn’t wake Jacob and headed below decks to the galley. She gave a small sigh of relief when she saw that Jack was sitting alone in the galley eating a little bit of salted and dried meat with some apple that he had cut up with his dagger that lay on the table close to his mug of what she guessed was more than likely rum. Clearing her throat she gave a small smile when he looked up at her. Jack barely returned her smile before looking back down at the table. Elizabeth came to stand next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder softly.

“Mind if I join you?”

“If ye want.”

“I do.”

“Thought ye said ye weren’t hungry?”

“I’m not…..I….oh Jack, I’m sorry.”

“For what Izzy?”

“For the way I treated you just now. I don’t want things to be like this between us. Jack I love you…that hasn’t changed.”

“I love ye too Elizabeth….tell me….what has changed?”

“Everything…we’re married….we have a son….and another baby on the way. Things are different now Jack.”

“Different doesn’t have t’ be bad love.”

“I know that. Jack….I just want us to be happy.”

“That’s all I want for us love. But if I don’t make ye happy anymore….then say the word…..an’ I’ll let ye go.”

“No Jack….that’s not at all what I want. I’m just tired and exhausted. Being a mother and being pregnant takes quite a bit out of me.”

“I’ll do anything I can t’ make things better for ye love. Ye know that right?”

“Of course I do Jack. I just want you to understand that I won’t always feel like making love the way we used to before we had Jacob.”

“I’ll try an’ be a better husband t’ ye darling. I promise.”

“No don’t promise me.”

“Why not?”

“You said it yourself….a pirate’s promise isn’t worth squat. But you can give me your word.”

He smiled broadly at his wife before replying.

“Fair enough…alright I give ye m’ word that I’ll be a better husband.”

“That’s all I ask darling.”

Jack leaned over and placed a sweet kiss on his wife’s forehead before popping a bite of apple into his mouth. They sat down there in the galley kissing and cuddling for quite some time before Gibbs came in and reluctantly interrupted them.

“Captain?”

“Aye?”

“We’re pulling into the harbor now.”

“Fantastic! C’mon love….let’s get up on deck an’ get ready t’ drop anchor. Thank ye Gibbs.”

“Yer welcome sir.”

Gibbs shook his head as he watched Jack drag Elizabeth up the stairs behind him. They stepped out onto the deck and Elizabeth inhaled the salty air deeply as they approached the railing. It had been so long since she had been home. Frowning she realized that this wasn’t her home anymore. No….the Pearl and Jack were her home now. Port Royal was just a place that she used to live. She wondered how much had changed since they had been on the run. Feeling Jack’s hand slide around her waist she nuzzled against his side. The Pearl sailed smoothly into the harbor and dropped anchor. Once the anchor had been dropped Jack led Elizabeth back into their cabin to get Jacob. She bent down and picked up Jacob keeping him wrapped in his light blue blanket.

“Do you think I should put on a dress to go and see my father?”

“Darling….wear whatever ye like.”

“You’re right….my father knows what kind of life I have chosen. Why should I try and hide what I am?”

Smiling Jack nodded as he placed his hat on his head.

“That’s me girl. Now then…let’s go ashore.”

Jack led Elizabeth out of their cabin and towards the gangplank that had been lowered onto the pier. They stepped down onto the pier and were immediately met by the harbor master.

“That’ll be one schilling to dock sir….and I’ll need your name.”

Elizabeth spoke up first.

“Take two schillings and just don’t bother with the name sir.”

The old man gave a crooked smile as he took the two schilling and nodded.

“Well then…enjoy your time in Port Royal Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

Jack and Elizabeth nodded and continued on their way towards the governor’s mansion. She was starting to feel the trembling sensation of butterflies in her stomach as they neared the end of the pier before heading into town. It had been months since she had been here and Jack had been in handcuffs being hauled off to the jail. They would soon find out if her father was going to keep his word about granting Jack a full pardon. Elizabeth held tightly to her son in one arm and tightly onto Jack’s hand in her other as they walked through the narrow and bustling streets of the city. As they approached the hilltop where the mansion sat nestled she caught sight of a familiar face coming out of the local bakery. It was James Norrington!

A small line wrinkled her brow as she saw he had noticed her as well. Turning towards them Elizabeth now noticed that he wasn’t alone. There was a dark haired young woman clutching his arm tightly. Looking a little bit harder at the young woman in the pale pink dress that was walking with James Elizabeth noticed that she looked a lot like her.

“Elizabeth? Elizabeth Swann?”

“Oh….hello James. It’s Sparrow now actually.”

“Right. Forgive me….oh and let me introduce you to my wife.”

“Your wife?”

“Yes. This is Natalie Norrington….my wife. Natalie…this is Elizabeth Sparrow and her husband….Jack.”

“Pleasure to meet you Elizabeth.”

“Yes it’s nice to meet you….Natalie was it?”

“Yes Natalie. Oh what a beautiful little boy you have!”

“Oh thank you…this is our son….Jacob.”

“Well I didn’t expect to see you here Elizabeth….Jack.”

“Yes….James my father granted Jack a full pardon.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Jack smirked before speaking.

“Yes m’ sure that’s what ye thought when ye heard.”

Norrington flashed a frown at the pirate before smiling back at Elizabeth.

“Are you going to see your father now?”

“Yes…we’re on our way to the mansion. And we don’t want to keep him waiting any longer.”

“Of course….it was wonderful to see you again Elizabeth.”

She nodded and they continued on their way up to the gently sloping hill that the mansion was perched on. Walking up the winding cobblestone walkway after passing through the heavy iron gates they reached the front porch. Stepping up onto the porch Jack knocked on the door. They waited a moment before the butler opened the door and showed them inside to wait in the parlor for her father. Elizabeth sat down on the sofa and watched as Jack began pacing the floor nervously his hand clutching anxiously at his pistol.

“Jack…..relax.”

“M’ trying darling. Jus’ not sure what t’ expect.”

She nodded and then turned towards the door of the parlor when she heard it open. A smile swept across her face when her father walked into the room. Weatherby Swann stopped just inside the doorway of the parlor when his eyes fell on his daughter. She was cradling her infant son in her arms. Then his eyes shifted over to where Jack stood. They stared at each other a long time the silence in the room becoming stifling.

A/N: A cliffy…I know….but I will update soon enough! Will Governor Swann keep his promise or will he send Jack to the gallows? Review please….it encourages me to keep writing!