A Pirate's Love

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The two couples returned to Will and Elizabeth's house for a quiet dinner. Madeline picked at her food. Her mind on her missing son. She looked up to see Jack watching her.

"We will find him," he said firmly hoping it sounded more like a promise then just a statement meant to comfort her.

"I know." she said quietly as she felt tears well in her eyes again.

"Maddy, if anyone can find JJ, it's Jack." Will said trying to be reassuring. He looked at Elizabeth who's own heart was breaking. She loved JJ as if he were her own.

"Come cousin." Elizabeth said standing up and reached for Madeline's hand. "Let's get you into a hot bath." Madeline went willingly with her cousin. Not looking at Jack. Elizabeth nodded to her husband so that he would keep Jack downstairs a bit longer.

"Jack, would ye like a drink?" Will asked as they watched the two women leave the room. He stood and walked across the hallway to the study.

Jack glanced upstairs, "Aye William... I could use one," he sighed and followed his friend.

Will caught his friend's eyes. "Elizabeth will get her settled. She loves JJ more than her own life Jack. This is killing her." he said as he poured them a glass of rum. "I"m sorry Jack. I know you've only known him a short time, but I know where your heart lies."

Jack took a sip of his rum and closed his eyes and sank into a chair, "How is it Maddy never let anyone be a father to him? I'm glad he's had ye William, but a boy needs his father, makes me wonder just how much Maddy really wants me in his life," he pondered.

Will sat down across from Jack. "Because no one can replace you in her heart. And aye, he does need his father. But Maddy needs you. She's just too damn stubborn to admit it." Will said taking a drink.

Madeline let Elizabeth wash her hair and her back. She rested her head on her knees and burst into tears. "Oh Elizabeth. What if I don't find him?"

Elizabeth moved to the side of the tub. "You and Jack will find him love. You must have faith cousin." she smiled at Madeline and brushed some hair out of her face. "If anyone can find him, Jack can." She stood and held out a bath towel. "Come now, let's get you dried off and into bed."

"She didn't exactly come looking for me nor did she seem in too big of a hurry to tell me when I first arrived in Port Royal, not that I can blame her... who wants a scallywag for a father. Did she fill his head about his father like yer mother did, ole Bootstrap didn't know he had a son, least if he did he never mentioned it to me," Jack cringed.

Will leaned forward in his chair. "Jack. She didn't fill his head with nothing but the truth. The truth that she loves you and that you loved her. That JJ's father is a brave and noble pirate who loves his friends and is willing to die for them." Will took another drink. "Aye, my father didn't know my mum was pregnant when he left. And no Madeline didn't go looking for you. Jack, she was pregnant. Would you really have wanted her traipsing all over the Caribbean looking for you?"

Madeline sat on the bed wrapped in a robe as Elizabeth brushed her drying hair. "Jack must hate me."

"Jack doesn't hate you Maddy. Anyone can see that he is in love with you." Elizabeth said as she heard her cousin sigh.

"I've hurt him terribly." Madeline said in a whisper.

"Then explain to me how the boy didn't know me? Maddy hid him from me and me from him, don't try to sugar coat it or romanticize it," Jack growled. "I'm just doing me best to prepare for her wanting to walk away with me son when we do find him," he sighed. "How do I let her do that," he asked and took a large drink of rum from his glass.

"I don't know Jack. I truly don't." Will said. "I wish I had an answer to that question."

Will turned when he heard the swishing sound of skirts. He turned to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway. "Jack."

"Aye," Jack snapped frustrated.

Elizabeth put her hands on her hips. "Don't take that tone with me Jack Sparrow."

"Ye burnt all the shade, the food, and the RUM... don't tell me what tone to use with ye missy," Jack barked.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and Will couldn't help but smirk at the banter between the two of them. "Madeline is upstairs. I think she needs you just as much as you need her."

Jack took another sip of rum, "Did she by chance tell ye what she plans to do once we've found her son," he asked. He should quit drinking he thought but damn he hurt like hell.

Elizabeth moved to Jack's side and took his hand. "No Jack. You need to talk to her. Tell her what you are feeling. She thinks that you hate her." Elizabeth had heard his conversation with Will. She squeezed Jack's hand and moved to sit in her husband's lap. "He's your son too Jack."

"The son of a pirate... ye think I don't know what finding that out did to yer husband? Hell he was ready to kill me to make it not true, why should I think JJ will be any different, sure he's young now and it seems all grand and adventurous... but when he's grown... ah hell, why am I even talking to ye about it," Jack growled and got up angrily. He stormed toward the stairs. He stopped short when he reached them, he couldn't go to her like this. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He turned back to Will and Elizabeth. "I think I've drank a bit too much, sorry," he said smiling sheepishly.

Elizabeth walked up to Jack and took a hold of him by the shoulders. "He is your son Jack. And Madeline was wrong not to try to find you after he was born. JJ knows who his father is. He knows that he is a pirate. He would follow you to the ends of the earth. Go talk to her Jack. Don't turn away from her now when she needs you the most. Let go of what she's done in the past."

"It's not the past I'm worried with love... it's the future," Jack said squeezing her hand then slowly he began to make his way upstairs. He went to the bedroom and started to knock but thought better of it. He simply opened the door and entered the room, "Maddy," he said gently.

Will walked up behind Elizabeth and hugged her to him. "They'll be alright." he said quietly as they watched Jack walk up the stairs.

Madeline didn't turn towards the door when she heard Jack call her name. She let her eyes continue to gaze into the fire in the fireplace.

"Elizabeth said ye needed to see me... or alluded to that, but perhaps she was mistaken," Jack said but instead of turning and leaving he waited.