A Pirate's life for Me

Thirteen

Jack and Angelica were greeted with multiple well wishes and cheers as they arrived on deck. The Pearl looked beautiful with the lanterns lit, and decorations around. "You did this?" Angelica whispered to her husband as he loosely threw an arm around her shoulders. "Umm with some help." Jack replied. "Happy Anniversary Mama, Papa." Ruby approached. "Thank you my darling." Angelica wrapped her arms around her daughter before Jack kissed his daughter's head. Scrum began playing music and immediately the Captain twirled his wife into a dance. Carina was lent against the side railing when Henry whispered "So... may I have this dance my sweet?" The young woman's eyes widened before she lifted her hand and gently slapped him across his cheek. Henry's hand immediately found his wounded cheek. "What was that for?" "Just checking you're real... that was awfully romantic for a man who's barely said anything loving since we left the island." Carina replied smirking. Henry bit his lip before holding his hand out. "I'll warn you, I am the grandson of a former Governor and I can dance." He said proudly as he took Carina into his arms. Ruby had watched the interaction from across the deck where she was making small talk with the crew.

"Ruby looks lonely." Angelica said from Jack's arms where they were swaying off to the side on the main deck. Jack turned his head in his wife's direction. "Does she?" He asked shrugging. "Yes. I wonder if that Gibbs boy would ask her to dance." "Angel..." Jack said warningly. "Oh please! You asked me to do a lot worse when I was younger than her!" Angelica smirked. "It was an honest mistake, I really did think it was a brothel." "Is that supposed to make me feel better Sparrow?" His face scrunched up, he couldn't bare to think of anyone taking advantage of his little girl like he did to women. "I don't want her filling her head with romance and fantasies. Especially not now." "Jack.. that's exactly what these kids do need. Something to fight for, to live for." Jack tilted his head. "Are you done talking?" He asked bluntly making her eyes widen. "Good because I want to kiss ye again." He said leaning in. Ruby stopped her conversation and watched her parents, granted she was grossed out by their over the top affection when they were not arguing, but that being said she admired it, and secretly desired a love like that herself. 

"So Miss Sparrow..." "Thomas.. what did we say?" "To not call you Miss Sparrow." The young man said looking at the deck. "You've clearly been raised with honour." Ruby said with a smile. "Oh yes.. my mother knew she had pirate blood within her, as do I, but she raised a gentleman none the less." "I wouldn't expect anything less as a relative of Mr Gibbs." Ruby said smiling before looking away at her parents once more and admiring the new ring that sat upon her mother's finger. "So, your parents?" Thomas asked making Ruby look at him once more. "What about them?" "They've been married a long time... I wonder what their secret is?" Thomas said placing his hands behind his back nervously. "Secret?" Ruby scoffed. "I think it's the fact they love each other deeply, but they also drive each other insane too." She added making Thomas smirk. "Well I guess that's what we are all looking for.." the boy added with a smile. "Something like that." Ruby giggled.

An hour or so later, the party was well under way and the crew were very much enjoying themselves. Thomas was half way through a bottle of rum when he wandered back up to Ruby who was stood with a smitten Henry and Carina. "Thomas." The young Turner greeted. "Hello Henry, Carina.. Ruby." "Are you having a good evening?" Henry asked as he raised his bottle of rum to greet the boy. "It's wonderful. I was just curious as to whether Ruby here would care to dance." Henry's eyes widened but not nearly as wide as Ruby's did. She took a breath, and looked at the boy. "You want to dance with me?" She asked softly. "Well yes that was the nature of my question." "Umm, Ok." Ruby said nervously handing her rum to Carina who smiled kindly beside a smirking Henry. Thomas guided Ruby to the makeshift dance floor and twirled her round, as there were not many women on board not much dancing had been done the entire evening so Ruby felt very self conscious knowing they were the only ones. Thomas pulled her close to him and resumed frame, as they stepped in time to Scrum and some other crew member's music. "You're a good dancer." Thomas said shocked. "What? You didn't think a pirate could dance?" "Not at all, you're full of surprises." He whispered. "So are you.." she blushed slightly. "Who taught you to dance?" Thomas enquired. "My Dad used to carry me around and waltz me round deck when I wouldn't go to sleep, as I grew he had me stand on his boots and taught me." Ruby said proudly. "That's sweet." Thomas said lifting his arm and guiding the woman under it in a turn. She giggled as he pulled her back close and almost knocked her off her feet. Thomas had spotted his grandfather watching from the railings and smiled over Ruby's shoulder. The grandfather nodded and lifted his bottle to his grandson before Ruby saw her mother nudge her father who began to stare at them dancing.

Eventually the music came to a stop, Scrum took a sip of rum and the other crew members grabbed some food from a nearby table. Thomas elaborately bowed in front of Ruby and kissed her knuckles. "Thank you Mi'lady." He said with a smile that made her go weak at the knees. Ruby's eyes widened at the realisation. How did one man make her feel this way? She quickly scurried off towards her mother. "Darling you danced beautifully with Thomas. Don't stop." Angelica said smiling. "Oh that.. pffft. It was nothing." Ruby said taking a large sip of rum. "Oh.." Angelica said disappointed. "That's a beautiful rock that Papa gave you." The daughter added changing the subject. "Isn't it.. I'm very lucky." "That you are Mama" "why don't you go run a long, Carina looks a little lost over there." Angelica said shoving her daughter jovially.

Ruby approached Carina who sighed "Is everything ok?" "Oh yes. Umm well, no, I don't know." The young Barbossa replied. "Can I help with anything?" Ruby asked leaning on her forearms on the railing looking out at the dark ocean. "It's Henry." "Oh?" Ruby said with a knowing smile. "I think I'm in love with him." Carina said with a bashful smile. "You think?" Ruby raised her eyebrows "Well how do you know?" Carina asked curiously. "You're talking to the wrong girl! I know nothing about love, Savvy?"