The Fine Line Between Legends And Lies

Chapter 45:

A/N: Okay some time has passed and little Jacob is now nearing a year old. Jack has taken Elizabeth all over the map showing her some of the many places he’s been. One afternoon she gets dizzy and collapses. Upon taking her to visit Tia Dalma Jack learns his wife is pregnant again. Please read and review…I love hearing what you think!

It had been months since Jack had gained his freedom and they hadn’t wasted any time sailing all over the map. Jack had wanted to show Elizabeth a few of the exotic places he had been. First he had taken her to Iceland to show her where he had followed the very same route as the legendary Viking King Erik the Red. She had fallen in love with the plentiful and fat little seals that seemed to inhabit the coast of Iceland on it’s eastern side. After Iceland Jack had set a course for the Americas. Elizabeth had been amazed at their encounter with the natives that lived along the coast of a place called La Florida which was still under Spanish occupied territory in the New World. Jack had said that the dark skinned natives of La Florida called themselves Seminoles. Their way of life had been fascinating to Elizabeth and she had almost hated to leave. But Jack had promised her that they had many more places to see.

She loved that he wanted to share the places where he had been on many adventures long before he had ever laid eyes on her. Currently they were headed to a place called Macedonia. Jack had told her that he was taking her to visit the tomb of Alexander the Great. This had been one of his first real acts of piracy after he had been relieved of his duty as an officer for the East India Company. Jack had gathered a ragtag crew of men, Gibbs included, and headed to search for the tomb of Alexander the Great. He had found it after much searching and it had been well worth his efforts. There had been gold and jewels piled nearly to the ceiling of the tomb surrounding Alexander’s coffin. Most of the treasure had been spent on food or drink and the occasional whore until it was gone. But Jack had kept a few select things. He smiled to himself as he remembered her face when he had shown her what he had kept. There had been a ring with a crest that bore a serpent which had been the known symbol of Alexander’s mother, Queen Olympias. It was solid gold and the serpent looked to be crafted out of jade. Then there was a golden chalice encrusted with sapphires. It was rumored to have been Alexander’s cup that he used when celebrating the conquer of a new country.

Lastly Jack had kept the miniature marble figure of Olympias that he had found. Currently they were sailing towards China so that he could show Elizabeth the Great Wall that had been built spanning the length of the country. They had just been in Mangalore, India visiting his grandparents. They had been overjoyed at the news of Jack’s newfound freedom. From his place at the wheel Jack looked across the deck of the Pearl to watch his wife as she played with their son. His little boy’s laughter filled the air as Elizabeth lifted him up in the air before lowering him and showering his chubby little cheeks with kisses. A broad smile stretched across Jack’s face as he watched his wife and son. Elizabeth was such a wonderful mother to their boy. Jacob had grown considerably over the past few months and was crawling now. He had started grabbing onto things and trying to stand up. It wouldn’t be long before he was taking his first steps now. Jacob’s dark hair had completely filled in and was getting longer and his eyes had seemed to get darker by the day. He was saying mama and daddy quite frequently now as well. Jacob was nearing a year old now and Jack found himself missing the days when Jacob was smaller and needed to be held all the time. Now Jacob rarely wanted to be confined to his mother or father’s arms since he could crawl around on his own.

Noah shouted his sighting of land from the crow’s nest causing Jack’s thoughts to be interrupted. Shortly they would be docking in the port of Tianjin. Jack carefully steered the Pearl into the harbor and eased it up to the pier to drop anchor. He gave the order to drop anchor and left Gibbs in charge at the helm of the ship as he descended the steps of the wheel deck towards his wife and son. Smiling Elizabeth shifted Jacob onto her left hip and held out her right hand to Jack. He took it bringing it up to his mouth to place a chaste kiss along the back of her knuckles. Ragetti prepared the gangplank for them to leave the ship. Turning back around before leaving Jack addressed Gibbs.

“Gibbs!”

“Aye sir?”

“Yer in charge until I get back mate.”

“Aye captain.”

Jack led Elizabeth off the ship and down onto the pier. They walked along the crowded pier filled with merchants and whatever they happened to be trying to sell. Elizabeth eagerly drank in the sights and smells of the bustling pier as they walked to the end of it and headed into Tianjin. Walking along the narrow and heavily crowded streets she clung to Jack as he weaved through the people carefully. Ever the opportunist Jack was pick pocketing anyone that was within reach and seemed to be the easiest mark. Dropping their coin purses into his coat pocket carefully he smiled down at his wife as they neared the busy marketplace where all the shops were. Elizabeth’s tea colored eyes lit up when they fell upon a kimono shop.

“Oh Jack…can we go in there?”

“Whatever yer little heart desires love.”

Smiling she dragged him quickly behind her as she crossed the overly crowded street. Walking into the shop they were greeted by an elderly Chinese woman with silvery hair and dark coal colored eyes. She was dressed in a white kimono with a floral pattern in brilliant shades of red yellow and orange.

“Hello….oh what a lovely family.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I help you find something?”

“Oh I’m just looking around, but thank you.”

“If I might suggest something?”

Elizabeth nodded and the elderly silver haired woman took her by the hand leading her over to a kimono towards the back of the shop. It was beautiful copper color with a black floral pattern and a solid black obi.

“This would look lovely with your eyes…they are the color of warm tea and the cooper will make them stand out.”

“Thank you. Oh Jack…it’s beautiful….what do you think?”

“How much?”

“Six schillings.”

“Six schillings!?”

He looked at Elizabeth who looked up at him with pleading tea colored eyes.

“Please Jack?”

“Alright….done.”

Digging into his coat pocket he pulled out six schillings and handed them to the woman. Taking the coins in one hand and then grabbing the kimono in the other she went behind a bamboo mat. After a few moments she reappeared and the kimono had been folded and placed in a woven bag. Jack took the bag from her and they left the shop.

“Thank you Jack.”

“It had better be worth it for six schillings love.”

“Oh don’t worry….it will be. You’ll see tonight darling.”

“I had better.”

She smiled up at him sweetly as he slipped his arm around her waist. They walked through the marketplace until they reached the edge of it. Jack led Elizabeth through a small meadow and up a hillside where she could see a magnificent stone wall off in the distance. Upon reaching the top of the hillside she could see that the wall seemed to stretch on farther than her eyes could see.

“Oh Jack….it’s beautiful!”

“It’s something eh love?”

“Yes…it’s….it’s incredible!”

They stood there drinking in the breathtaking view for quite some time until Jacob interrupted the silence with one of his earsplitting screams. Flinching Jack glanced down at his son with a frown.

“Must ye always be so bloody loud boy?”

“Jack…he’s still learning how to communicate. Have some patience?”

“I have plenty of it….but m’ not sure me ears can handle much more of that screaming love.”

“He’ll be talking before you know it and then you’ll be wishing that he was still learning to speak.”

“I doubt it.”

“I suppose he’s hungry so let’s get back to the ship so that I can feed him in private.”

Nodding Jack turned around and began leading them back through the bustling marketplace back towards the pier. Weaving through the crowd much faster now that Jacob was wailing at the top of his lungs they made it back to the Pearl quicker than Elizabeth had expected to. Taking her bag with her she went into their cabin. Jack strode back up the steps to the helm giving the order to weigh anchor and set sail. Soon they were sailing out of the harbor and leaving Tianjin behind. Gibbs moved aside so that Jack could take over at the wheel. Noticing the scowl on his captain’s face he cleared his throat before speaking.

“Something wrong sir?”

“Jus’ had t’ cut the visit short is all.”

“But why?”

“On account of my son screaming at the top of lungs Gibbs.”

“Oh….well I can see how that might interrupt things.”

“It was perfect until Jacob decided he was hungry an’ let out this earsplitting scream that was loud enough t’ make yer ears bleed.”

Gibbs stifled a laugh when Jack glared over at him.

“Well captain…he’s jus’ a little lad….he’ll be over that soon enough.”

“Aye…that’s what Izzy said.”

Inside the cabin Elizabeth unlaced her shirt and pulled it over her head before reaching for Jacob who sat on the bed next to her. He eagerly suckled her nipple into his mouth and began eating. She ran her fingers through his hair softly as he ate smiling as she watched his coffee colored eyes starting to droop. It wouldn’t be much longer before he was ready to go to sleep. She rocked him gently as he continued suckling at her breast. When he had eaten his fill she lifted him onto her shoulder and patted his back gently. After he burped she carried him over to his cradle and carefully laid him down. Pulling her shirt back on she went out onto the deck.

“Ragetti?”

“Aye Miss Elizabeth?”

“Could you and Pintel fetch the tub for me? I’d like to take a bath.”

“Aye!”

Smiling she walked up the steps to the wheel deck where Jack and Gibbs were talking. Gibbs smiled as she joined them. She stepped in between them to wrap her arms around Jack’s waist pressing herself to his back. Gibbs stared off out to sea as he felt his face heat up.

“I’m going to take a bath…care to join me husband?”

“A bath?”

“Yes…a bath.”

“I’ll meet ye in the cabin shortly love.”

Kissing his cheek she hurried down the steps back into their cabin as Pintel and Ragetti left after filling up the tub with steaming water to the brim. The bucket of bath salts sat next to the tub waiting for her. Shutting the door she stripped down quickly and eased herself into the warm water. Jack handed the wheel over to Gibbs and retired to his cabin to join his wife. He walked in to find her already naked and in the tub. His mouth fell open as he gazed at her longingly. She had lit a few candles in the room and the water that beaded on her naked flesh glistened in the flickering candlelight. Shutting the door he hastily peeled off his clothes. Jack eased himself into the tub to sit behind her. Picking up a sponge he began carefully washing away the dirt from her alabaster skin. Elizabeth let her head fall back to rest against Jack’s chest as he bathed her. When he had finished bathing her she turned around and took the sponge from him and began bathing him being just as gentle as he was with her.

After finishing their bath Jack helped Elizabeth out of the tub and wrapped her in a linen so that she could dry. She stepped behind the bamboo screen and pulled on the kimono that Jack had bought for her in Tianjin. Tying the black obi tightly around her waist she stepped out from behind the screen to see Jack standing beside the bed with the linen wrapped loosely around his waist. It hung low on his hips giving her just the smallest glimpse of the course dark hair that his cock was nestled in. She ran her tongue across her suddenly dry lips as she cleared her throat to get his attention. He looked up and his heart felt as if it jumped into his throat when he looked at her. She looked like an angel wrapped in the copper kimono the black floral pattern making her tea colored eyes seem to stand out as if they were glowing. Elizabeth smiled at him as she looked down at her bare feet feeling her cheeks starting to burn as he stared at her.

“Do you like it Jack?”

“Like it? Love…..ye look….I love it.”

She walked over to stand in front of him. Jack reached out and grabbed the knot she had tied in the obi. Tugging on it gently he watched as the folds of the kimono loosened to bare more of her alabaster skin to him. Elizabeth let out a soft gasp when his calloused hands came up to cup her breasts making her nipples harden instantly. Their lips brushed together softly at first as they moved toward the bed. Elizabeth shrugged off the kimono letting it fall to the floor as her hands lowered to pull the linen from Jack’s waist. It joined the kimono on the floor as they fell onto the bed their mouths meeting in a frenzy of kisses. Elizabeth spread her thighs for Jack to settle between them. He easily slid into her making her nails dig into the flesh of his shoulders as he rocked against her. Her legs tightened around his waist heels digging into his backside to spur his pace. Jack nipped at her jaw as he moved inside her his calloused hands roughly gripping her hips. She moaned his name into his ear her thighs squeezing him tighter. Lifting her hips she let out a keening cry as she could feel her muscles starting to jerk wildly. Jack grunted against the elegant curve of her neck as he felt her body starting to tug at him. They rocked against each other feverishly and Elizabeth grabbed a fistful of Jack’s hair tugging on it roughly as her release crested violently sending tremors coursing through her. Jack groaned her name as he nipped at her chin. The violent contracting of her muscles around his cock milked him of his resolve. Rocking forward burying himself inside her to the hilt he shivered against her as he exploded inside her filling her with his essence.

They lay there panting against each other still intimately joined as they waited for their hearts to stop racing. Lifting his head from her breasts Jack smiled at her. Reaching out she brushed away a dreadlock from his cheek softly.

“I love you Jack.”

“I love ye Izzy…never doubt that.”

“Never.”

Jack turned them so that he was on his back and Elizabeth was snuggled close to his left side. Her arm draped across his belly as his arm slipped around her waist to start caressing her back. The pads of his fingers came to rest against the still smooth but now marred flesh of her lower back where the bullet from Admiral Barry’s pistol had struck her. Tears stung his eyes as he remembered how close he had come to losing her that day. Blinking away the tears he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. Elizabeth snuggled in closer against Jack’s side as their eyes began to close.

The days seemed to pass by each one feeling shorter than the previous as they headed back towards Port Royal. It had been quite some time since Elizabeth had seen her father and she was anxious to spend some time with him. Now that Jack was a free man she could focus on rebuilding the badly damaged relationship between her and her father. The sun hung high in the sky that day beating down upon the deck of the Pearl as they sailed through the Caribbean. Jacob was crawling around the deck with Ragetti chasing after him quickly. Gibbs was at the helm with Jack standing at his side immersed in telling one of his ridiculous tales. Elizabeth sat on the steps to the wheel deck weaving together some bits of rope. Feeling the sudden urge to go and use the chamber pot she stood up quickly. A dizzying sensation overwhelmed her making her knees buckle sending her collapsing onto the deck. Hearing Elizabeth collide with the deck Jack rushed down the steps of the wheel deck falling to his knees at her side. Pulling her head into his lap he began patting her cheek. After a moment her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him with a confused expression etched onto her face.

“Jack….what happened?”

“Ye collapsed love. Are ye alright?”

“I…..I don’t know. I was just going to use the chamber pot but I got really dizzy when I stood up. I think I just stood up too quickly is all, I’m sure it’s nothing to be concerned about Jack.”

“I’ll be the judge of that darling. Now then…m’ going t’ carry ye t’ the chamber pot.”

Jack scooped Elizabeth up and carried her into their cabin. Setting her down she walked carefully over to the chamber pot and bent down to use it. After relieving herself she fastened her breeches and walked towards the door. Jack stopped her quickly grabbing her wrist.

“Oh no ye don’t.”

“But Jack…I’m fine.”

“Love ye jus’ collapsed….yer staying in bed.”

“But Jack….”

“An’ there’ll be no arguing love…now t’ bed with ye.”

Elizabeth sighed deeply as she stepped out of her boots and climbed into bed. Jack leaned over and kissed her cheek before turning to walk back out onto the main deck. Stopping at the door he glanced over his shoulder.

“We’re making a trip t’ Tia Dalma’s on the way t’ Port Royal darling.”

“What for?”

“Got me eye on finding the lost city of El Dorado an’ the legendary treasure that’s said t’ be hidden there.”

“I should have guessed it would have something to do with treasure.”

Grinning devilishly Jack winked at her before replying.

“Pirate. Now get some rest darling…we should be at Tia Dalma’s in a few day’s time.”

Nodding Elizabeth closed her eyes as she heard Jack shut the door to their cabin leaving her alone. Jack strode back towards the wheel deck stopping to pick up his son along the way. Jacob tugged at his father’s braided beard as they approached the helm. Stepping aside Gibbs allowed Jack to take the wheel.

“Everything alright sir?”

“Oh…yes Izzy’s fine.”

“I take it we’re still heading t’ Port Royal then sir?”

“Aye…but first we’re making a little side trip t’ visit Tia Dalma.”

Gibbs shivered at the mention of the witch’s name. That woman made him uneasy something awful every time he had to make a trip upriver to her rickety hut on the banks of the bayou deep in the heart of the Caribbean. Jack put on the façade that everything was as it should be but he couldn’t seem to shake the nagging feeling that there was more behind Elizabeth’s collapse than just the heat or standing up too quickly. What if something were really wrong with her? He shook his head to clear the ominous thoughts from his mind. No he wouldn’t allow himself to entertain such thoughts about her. His wife was just fine. It was probably the heat or standing up too fast just as she had said. Either way he would feel a lot better once they arrived at Tia Dalma’s. Because he knew that if there were truly something wrong with Elizabeth then the witch would sense it immediately.

A/N: Okay this seemed like a good place to stop. When they arrive at Tia’s Jack proceeds’ to tell her about his desire to find El Dorado and it’s lost treasure when Tia interrupts him to make a surprising declaration about Elizabeth. Please read and review!