A Pirates Passion

Chapter 38

Madeline's eyes widened. "A present?" She asked as excited as a child on Christmas morning.

Jack shook his finger at her, "Oh no, first we eat breakfast, then we get dressed and go take a walk on the beach. If yer patient and a good girl, then I'll give ye yer present," he said firmly.

Madeline pretended to pout but then smiled at him. "I'll be good. I promise." She said as he brought the tray over to the bed and sat down next to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she reached for a strawberry.

Jack shrugged her off. "Yer being naughty, now eat," he snapped. He poured the coffee. "So the wedding went very well I think," he said before biting into an apple.

Madeline hid her smile as she lay down on her stomach and began to eat her eggs. "Aye, very well. Sierra has been in love with Michael for as long as I can remember." She savored the eggs in her mouth. "Jack, these are delicious."

"Yer welcome. So what's Emily's story? She's got it in for me or does she just jump every man that comes her way?" Jack asked.

Madeline snorted. "She tries to jump every man she can." She said reaching for another strawberry. "Ye should've seen the fight Sierra gave her when she tried to corner Michael in the caves." She chewed the fruit and swallowed. "Emily hasn't been here very long. Some of my crew found her on an abandoned ship in the middle of nowhere. Apparently she had been hiding from the pirates that raided the ship she was on. So my crew brought her here to live."

Jack grinned, "She's cute, just a bit too zealous for me taste." He finished his apple and coffee. He then got out of bed and started to dress.

Madeline watched him as he began to dress. She finished her eggs. "Do ye mind if we stop by the house before we take our walk?" She said getting out of bed and looked around for her dress.

Jack arched his eyebrow. "And why would ye be wanting to go there first?" he asked.

Madeline leaned down and looked under the bed. "Because I would like to put a different dress on." She said standing up and smiling at him as she held her dress in her hand. "Or should I wear this one?" She asked.

"We'll stop by the house," Jack said.

"Okay." She said and slipped into the dress. "Will ye tie up the back please Jack?" She asked lifting her hair out of the way.

"I'm better at unfastening, but if ye insist," Jack quipped and fastened her dress.

Madeline smiled as he quickly tied the ribbons. She didn't bother with shoes. "Are ye ready?" She asked turning and smiling at him.

"Almost, I'll meet ye up on deck," Jack told her.

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly on the lips before turning and leaving the room. She walked onto the deck of the Black Pearl and inhaled the scent of the ocean. She rested her face on her hands and just smiled. She was in love and happy. It had been so long since she felt happy.

Jack waited till she was gone then went to one of several "secret" hiding places and removed her present and placed it in his coat pocket before going to join her on deck. She was standing at the railing oh his ship. He heard a little creaking sound that made him smile, "Don't worry me dark beauty, no one can ever take yer place," he whispered as he stroked the wheel. "Are ye ready love?" he called to Maddy.

Madeline turned when she heard his voice. She smiled wide just looking at him. She came running over to him and flung herself into his arms and hugged him tight. "Aye Jack, I'm ready."

"Yer making me dark beauty jealous," Jack said kissing her soundly.

Madeline returned his kiss and giggled. "Didn't mean to." She said quietly and held his hand as they walked off the Pearl and towards the house. It was only a short walk and she hurried to her room once inside. "I won't be long." She called over her shoulder.

"Take yer time," Jack smiled. He watched her go then went to the kitchen where he found a bottle or rum and took a drink. Was he really ready for this? He began to get nervous as soon as he'd gotten up this morning and now it was just getting worse. He drank another big gulp.

Madeline hurried to her room and opened her wardrobe. She pulled out a yellow off the shoulder gown and quickly redressed. She brushed her hair so that it fell into soft waves around her shoulders. She didn’t bother with shoes again and made her way back to Jack.

She watched as he took a drink of rum. “I’m ready.” She said behind him.

Jack smiled, "Ye look all... all.... sunny," he said nervously. Damn it, he scolded himself.

Madeline arched an eyebrow at him but still smiled. She glanced down. "Is it too bright, I can go and change again."

"Well, I'd sort of hoped ye'd wear the dress ye wore when I made ye dinner the other evening. I liked that one a lot. But ye don't have to if ye don't want too," Jack said hurriedly. He was now just stalling for time because his nerves were making him twitch inwardly.

Madeline scurried over to him and kissed him on the cheek. She pulled back and smiled at him. "I'll be right back." She said in a whisper. She could see the wheels in his mind churning but didn't say anything. She picked up her skirts and hurried back to her room to change.

She pulled the pale pink dress out and smiled. She pulled the yellow dress off and put the pink one on.

Jack drank a bit more rum while he waited for her. Her present seemed to be burning a hole in his pocket. He looked out the window and took a deep breath.

Madeline came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his back. "I'm ready."

Jack rubbed her arms and held her hand before turning, "You take me breath away love," he murmured before kissing her hand.

Madeline smiled at him and cupped his cheek. "Ye take my breath away Jack." She whispered. "I love you."

"I love ye too Madeline. Come with me," he said leading her back outside and toward the beach.

Madeline held tight to his hand as they walked along the beach. The sun shining down on them. "Beautiful day." She said.

"Aye it is," Jack said glancing toward the horizon. He saw dolphins playing, "Look Maddy," he said pointing.

Madeline smiled. "Wouldn't it be fun to swim with them?" She asked excitedly.

"Aye I suppose," Jack replied. "Maddy, I need to talk to ye about something," Jack said nervously.

Madeline turned to look at him. She looked into his eyes and could tell something was bothering him. "Jack, what is it? What's wrong?" She asked worridley.

Jack looked at her, "When ye told me about Angel ye said yer heart had died with her and ye didn't think ye could love again, do ye still feel that way?" he asked.

Madeline looked at him and then lowered her head. "I'm learning to Jack." She said quietly. "The love that I have for Angel and JJ is different than the love that I feel for you." She looked back at him. "I think the love that I have has been lying dormant for a long time. But to answer yer question Jack, aye, I can love again. I want to love again."

"I need ye to be sure Maddy," Jack said sternly as he looked away.

Madeline turned his face back to her. "Ye can be sure Jack, I want to love again Jack. I want to love ye for the rest of my love. I know I can. Without reservations about anything." She said firmly. "I love ye Jack Sparrow."

"Last night I finally let go of my fear Maddy. I trust ye again and I want to spend the rest of me life with ye," Jack told her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a diamond ring.

The band was gold, the one larger stone was flanked by two smaller ones. "Will ye have me for ye husband Maddy?" he asked softly.