All The Stars (Jack Sparrow)

10

That night was quiet aboard the Black Pearl once the crew returned from Tia Dalama's treehouse. No one spoke the boat ride back, and no one spoke climbing back aboard the ship. The only one who had been painfully silent was Catherine. No more tears had been shed as they sailed back. She sat away from everyone forwards the front of the long boat, wrapping her around herself as she sailed until they reached the Pearl.

Jack had already disappeared into their quarters after giving her a small kiss on her temple, whispering that he'll be waiting for her.

It was small things that always changed her mood into something positive. Despite her heart still being in pain, she wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up in her husband.

Jack Sparrow, the man who constantly challenged her patience, was the owner of her heart, always and forever.

Catherine gave a small goodnight to her best friend before returning to the quarters she shared with her husband.

Sitting for hours in the small boat with little space made Catherine's body feel still and sore. She stretched her back as she walked up towards the door. Upon opening it, she moved inside without so much as looking around, thinking to herself about one thing: sleep.

"There you are," Jack's voice reached her ear. Without even turning she heard the smile on his lips, only having her suspicions confirmed when she turned to face him. Out of every man she had ever met in her life, Jack by far was the most handsome, especially when he smiled. She would never admit it out loud, but she melted every time her smiled at her—every single time.

She smiled, swaying over to him. "I was just saying goodnight to Will." Upon reaching him, she slid her hands up his chest. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long," She purred, earning a groan from him.

Jack feigned a pained expression. "You have kept me waiting far too long, my dear." This earned a giggle from his wife as he pulled her closer to him by her hips. The smile on her lips slowly began to fade off as memories from Tia Dalma's began to swirl in her mind. Jack's fingers tilted her chin up, causing her to meet his narrowed expression. "What is it?"

"I just...I just have to know...why send Will? It's your debt you have to pay, Jack? Why send him?" Catherine questioned, furrowing her brows.

"I need him to find the key. If he desperately wants to save Elizabeth--yes I know, my love, she is your cousin and technically mine by marriage--but she is not my concern. He wants my help, he helps me."

"Alright," Catherine nodded, not entirely on the same page as him, "You do realize that I also have a warrant for my arrest as well? So he's doing this for...well I guess mostly for Elizabeth, but I know he's partially doing it for me too." Was he? She had no idea, but she did know he wouldn't let any happen to her.

"Nothing will happen to you, so long as you are here with me. I will protect you, you know that." He dipped his chin, looking into her eyes as he squeezed her hips. "And I know that you can protect yourself, aye?" He whispered, giving her a sweet smile. "It's double protection!"

Catherine giggled, her hands sliding up his forearms to his chest. "It's not...yes, yes, Jack, it's double protection," Her giggled continued at her adorable husband. She finally looked up to meet his brown eyes that had been resting on her the entire time. "I love you," The words came out softly, warm even.

"I love you too." It almost took her breath away how much love for her was in Jack's eyes. No man would ever be able to love her as much as Jack has.

Just saying those three little words caused her throat to swell with a lump. "So much," She breathed out, blinking her stinging eyes.

No further question had to be asked for Jack to understand the hidden message within those two words. He gave a small sigh, lifting a hand to cup her cheek. His thumb brushed across her rosy cheek as he held her sad, sad eyes. "You will always have me. No power on this earth can separate us. Not the Royal Navy, not Davy Jones. You must trust me on that."

A shutter breath past through her lips. "Jack, even you have to admit there is power that is stronger than you," She paused, gripping the collar of his shirt. Whatever came over her in that moment was something that possessed her soul and mind. "I will go with you."

Jack's brows dipped. "What?"

"I will go with you. If Davy Jones thinks that he can just take you from me then he has to take me too." Catherine knew she sounded insane, but in this moment, desperation can drive even the sanest person to madness.

"Catherine, no," Jack said gently. "I don't want you to get involved with this debt with Jones. I won't let any harm come to you."

She rolled her eyes, giving a small shove of his chest while still gripping his shirt. "This is what you signed up for when you decided to ask me to be your wife." Now she grew angry, burning with fire. "I will go to the ends of the earth with you Jack Sparrow. Not one person can stop me for doing just that."

The pirate was silent for a moment, studying his wife's face. His fingers dragged down her cheek, curving under to cup the back of her neck. Now a smirk grew. "Till death do us part means nothing to you does it?"

"Not if I can help it." A firm line was still on her lips despite Jack's current expression.

His smirk widened. "Catherine Bailey. A strong-independent woman, who never needed love or a man, now completely smitten with a pirate who she'd go to the ends of the earth with. Quite a turn of events now isn't, love?"

She hated that he was right. The old version of her would strangle the new version for falling so deep in love with a man. It was a sickening thought, in all honesty, but...she also found it so wonderful, to be so in love that she couldn't breathe.

Heat came from her cheeks.

"The pirate can sleep below deck with his crew if he'd like tonight."

Jack chuckled, tugging her closer with his one hand still on her hip. "I was not finished, darling." He still held their eyes locked together. "And Jack Sparrow. A devilishly handsome and clever pirate, who never cared about anyone but himself, now completely in love with the woman of his dreams, who he would give his life to protect." The smirk was now gone from his face. "Quite a turn of events now isn't, love?" His words came out strained with emotion, something she rarely heard from him.

Her lips parted in awe at his words.

She stared at him: you would give your life to protect mine?

He stared at her: without a second thought.

Catherine reached up on her toes, crashing her lips against his. Their lips melted against the other's, their hands prying the other's clothes off. The pirate and the lady stumbled towards their bed, losing themselves within each other's touches and kisses under the sheets.

"I love you," Catherine whispered within the darkness.

"No where near as much as I love you," Jack whispered back.

IM BACK BABY!

Happy Monday Update for the first time in a month??? That's the longest I've ever gone without updating my fic I'm actively writing. So terribly sorry about that. I was the process of moving during that time, but I'm back and all settled in.

Hopefully you able enjoyed this little chapter! It wasn't much or anything really necessary, but I needed something small to get myself back into writing this book. Being burnt out AND mentally exhausted is not fun.

I'll keep it short and end my little note here with a massive thank you for reading and supporting this book🤍