Queen Anne's Revenge. Present day
THE JOLLY ROGER was in a bottle alongside many others that lined the shelves of a cabinet as they stared at it, with disbelief in their eyes. Honestly, it was Erica that couldn't believe how many ships lay in clear bottles, shrunken in order to be able to fit in them and eventually Erica was able to tear her eyes away from the display cabinet in order to look over at Jaclyn
"He does this with all the ships he captures?"
"Mostly, yeah" Jaclyn shrugged, something between a wry and proud smile touching his lips "The Black Pearl was part of his collection for a while until I managed to restore her to her former glory. See Barbossa munited against me again after the battle with the East India trade Company and Davy Jones and he left me on the shores of Tortuga, but I'm not mad about that because of a few months afterwards. The crew encountered Blackbeard and a battle for the ship broke out and Barbossa got caught in one of that enchanted ropes and he had to cut off his leg in order to survive"
"Cut off his own leg?"
"Yep"
"I knew piracy was brutal but I never thought it'd be that brutal" Erica muttered bitterly, although she doesn't quite know. She knows a pirate life can be brutal and not like the movies or in fairytales. She knew it could get bloody and gritty and even painful, blood was constantly in her mind and how she could line the streets with red if that's what she so desired
She just had to give in and let go
Erica could be free if she did
No. She still had plenty to fight for. Erica couldn't give into the darkness so easily because she still had all the love in the world and she was going to use it all up so she had the strength to fight this thing
But on the days she doesn't, she can see how much she has already fallen prey to the darkness, she had done so many things that she never thought she'd do and yet has survived it all because when it all came down to it that was what she was: a survivor
"You did what you had to do in order to survive. I know that I did"
"Yeah, I get that" Erica grimly shrugs as she took in Jaclyn's face, seeing the range of emotions she was going through and with a big breath she decided to share her own twisted, dark tale. Seeing as Jaclyn has shown her so much of herself already and she wanted Jaclyn to see just as much of her "See that scar over my hip, I'm sure you've seen it before because when we sleep you run your thumb across it. But I got this from a foster home, I was around ten and I don't know what happened but either I or Emma pissed off whoever we were placed with at the time and he took his anger out on me...They were going to do the same to Emma, but I protected her"
"You're serious?" Jaclyn asked and blinked, disbelief clouding her voice
"Yeah"
Before she could react or say anything else, Jaclyn pulled her into her and she melted into the embrace, inhaling the scent of sea salt, gunpowder and rum. This was safe for Erica. This was home. "I'm glad you told me because I'm not going to stop working until you feel safe"
"I already do. With you, I'm always safe"
"Hey, can I ask you a question: How do you figure out whether people are lying to you and have you ever done it with me? Like figured out I was ever lying to you?" Jaclyn questioned, her head cocking to one side and her cheeks reddening with blush
Erica couldn't help it as a laugh rumbled out of her throat. Jaclyn was so adorable when she wanted to be and Erica couldn't help but notice it as she rested her head on Jaclyn's shoulder, gently swaying with her and the rock of the ship
"With you, I don't need to because I don't think you've ever told me a lie. Half-truths, sure and maybe once or twice you've not told me the full scope of a situation but never a lie and I do hope that continues"
"I will never lie to you"
"I know" Erica grinned, giving them both a moment to digest the heavier topics that had just been discussed, and only when the heaviness is removed from both of their eyes does she move on "Now how are we going to get The Jolly Roger back to Killian?"
"What?"
"You heard me how do we get Killian his ship back"
"I don't think that's a good idea...Blackbeard might cause trouble"
"I don't have the history you do with him or Angelica. Let me do this" Erica pleaded, her voice holding a sort of begging note to it and she could see Jaclyn's resolve crumbling and she inwardly cheered. She could handle Blackbeard, in the last few months she had gained better control of her magic and she had faced bigger threats than him and come out on top
"Why must I have the most stubborn girlfriend?"
"Because it'd be boring if you didn't"
"Be careful though, I know you have magic but you heard the stories of what happened to me with Blackbeard, so I'm asking you to be safe"
"I will" Erica swore "I'll come back to you"
Jaclyn pulled her in for another hug and then cups her chin, a heavy expression in her eyes but this one free of pain and she said her next words with such caution like she's afraid that Erica's going to say no or pull away "Let me kiss you"
Instead, she let Jaclyn take her in pouring all the emotion into the kiss that she wouldn't say aloud. She knew why Jaclyn was spooked by Blackbeard but she wasn't going to fail and she wasn't going to fall into the darkness
* * * * *
Port Royal. Present-day.
"She really cares about you, you know? Don't break her heart or I will slit your throat"
That was the first thing that Angelica said to her when she found her reading in their room of the lighthouse. She decided to give Henry, Elizabeth, Jaclyn and Will some time to themselves as she had constantly been around them for a couple of months and she just wanted to give to them space for the time being
She was just reading a book and yet Angelica has to come and ruin it all but she doesn't say anything as her eyes flick up to her and narrow into a glare. Angelica didn't seem all that bothered as she plonked herself on the bed and peeked over her shoulder to see what she was reading
Only after a few minutes, did Erica sigh in frustration, fold the page over and look up at Angelica. She narrowed those eyes at her but once again Angelica just looked bored, like she wasn't scared or frightened of the power constantly brimming within Erica, just screaming to be released
Perhaps one day she will show her, just enough to make her terrified
"I think I proved that I'll do everything and anything to protect her". Her voice is cold and hollow, not betraying the anger she feels swirling in her veins, calling out to destroy this woman and burn everyone who hurts Jaclyn down to the ground
"That was rather stupid of you. You had no idea what I could do or who I was"
"They say that love makes us blind and I believe with Jaclyn, it just might"
Angelica crossed the room, the softening of her eyebrows the only indication Angelica took on board Erica's words. Erica does not flinch although she has a feeling she was supposed to as Angelica crawled onto the sheets of their bed, again not seeming to care as she once again looked to Erica for an answer
"You care for her then?"
"More than I ever thought possible"
"I'm sure that you've seen or know enough about her to know that though Jackie acts tough and like she can handle the world that she has quite the sensitive side and she does not do well when someone she trusts betrays her" Angelica explained, confirming the pieces of the puzzle that Erica already knew
"I know. I will do everything in my power to make sure I don't"
It was something she told herself over and over, that she needed to protect Jaclyn in any way possible. That she wanted to keep her safe, happy and protected from anyone because she has been through so much already and deserved the chance to feel loved and comfortable
Angelica nodded seeing the sincerity in her words and in a rare moment of vulnerability and in a move that surprised Erica opened up a little about her relationship with Jaclyn "Good, you won't be making the same mistake I did"
She heard from Jaclyn it was over and from multiple people that they had a complicated history but she didn't think it right to pry for any more information than what she was given. This was Jaclyn's life -- not hers but she was happy to be the support that Jaclyn needed
"You think you made a mistake?"
"In not realising what I had in front of me, in thinking that she would wait for me forever and in thinking that I was too good for her," Angelica told her, pain in her eyes and voice and not for the first time Erica wondered what had caused them to split for the first time, way before she got in the picture
"We all have our faults, but I know for a fact she forgives and loves you and you will always have a place in her heart and I would never try to take that place" Erica tried to comfort although she wasn't sure that she had done the right thing but a small smile broke out on her face all the same
"My God, you have a heart of gold, don't you" Angelica gasped, a sneer on her lips
"Just a heart that's darkening every day"
"Want to explain why?"
"You've already figured out I'm a witch -- well not really but I have magic within me, I am the product of True Love or something -- and I'm supposed to have this Prophecy hanging over my head and you are right I don't know the dynamics between you and Jack but I do know that I felt so angry at you for hurting you" Erica explained, giving enough information that it seemed like she was giving useful information but not explaining enough to actually give anything away
"Interesting"
"I told you that piece of information and you can use it however you want, all I ask of you is that you do a favour for me," Erica asked, getting straight to the point of what she wanted and Angelica seemed to appreciate it
"What kind of favour do you want?"
"I need The Jolly Roger back"
"Why?" Angelica pried, once again her voice was oozing with curiosity
"Because it's the ship that belongs to Jaclyn's best friend back in the Enchanted Forest and I bet she would love it if you were able to give her friend his ship back," Erica said as she crossed her arms over her chest, once again creating a physical barrier between them again
She didn't quite trust Angelica and Angelica didn't trust her but for the sake of Jaclyn, they would push that aside. It was the unspoken agreement. Jaclyn was their tie to each other and their tie to humanity
"Why do you care about this?"
"Because I want to see Jaclyn happy and maybe I can't do that but I can at least ease the guilt she is feeling over Killian's ship"
"See, a heart of gold" Angelica quipped. a smirk was hidden in the corner of her lips. She looked exactly like Jaclyn when she did something like that and Erica wondered who had learnt it from who "And don't doubt that you don't make her happy. She's the happiest I've ever seen her"
* * * * *
Queen Anne's Revenge. Present-day.
They are back on the Queen Anne's Revenge and Erica was waiting for them to come out of the captain's cabin where Angelica and Blackbeard were having a heated argument about the fate of the Jolly Roger. She found herself wandering around the deck and looking out to the water, they were docked by The Black Pearl and The Misty Lady but The Revenge overpowered both in size and statue
She was curious about everything around her, about pirates, about magic, about everything she almost had but never did. She had a hunger for knowledge and the more she knew the more she had to know and Jaclyn and the others didn't quell her knowledge in fact they encouraged it, only furthering her to help her find her place in the world
Angelica was a strange one, an enigma that she hasn't quite figured out, in so many ways she was just like Jaclyn and yet so different. She seemed more cold and distant than Jaclyn and had a more jagged edge too at her times as well. Yet, she could see their similarities as well like the way they roll through their emotions as if it didn't really matter what they were feeling at the time
"What's going on in that head of yours my darling?"
Erica knew who it was; so she didn't even bother turning around as she runs her hands over the rigging ropes. Magic thrumming in her veins and reacting to the ropes that seemed to have a life of their own but she didn't need to turn around to tell that Jaclyn was grinning
"Exploring"
"I can see that"
"Then why are you asking dumb questions?"
She turned toward the water, glaring against the sun. Erica had left her hat in the lighthouse and she was beginning to regret it, Erica leant against the rails and Jaclyn joined her although she didn't really notice at first until Erica noticed that Jaclyn was leaning on her shoulder and on instinct she brought her hand up to run her fingers through Jaclyn's long brunette hair.
"I don't love you, my pirate" Erica muttered, close to her ear
Jaclyn chuckled and looked over at her. Dark eyes flashed with amusement as she laughed and truly looked happy, being wrapped in Erica's arms as she looked out into the water. She looked as if she truly belonged and enjoyed the life of piracy
Erica knew that wasn't all true
She liked the freedom that piracy gave her sure but she hated some things that came with it although she did try and help out as much as she could with the Slave Trade and ended up putting most -- if not all -- of the East India Trading Company out of order
There was not much she could do though, not on her own, about the slavers that were captured in it but she could free as many as she could, hoarding as much rum, sugar and everything that she could get her hands on, splitting them both between her crew and those that she had freed
Though there seemed to be no trace of that life on her face. For once she seemed content and happy with who she was and where she was and that made Erica happier than any of Jaclyn's smiles that seemed to glitter in the sunlight
"Are you saying I'm yours, Erica?"
"What do you think Teague?"
They swapped flirting and banter easily, their tongues lose with love as they share smiles and lean against the railing, waiting and life had never been so simple for Erica. It's amazing how when she first came to Storybrooke all she wanted was to get the hell out of there and protect Emma from any more hurt
Then she finds out that the town is practically a prison for the fairytale characters she grew up reading and watching are real, on top of all that Erica Swan learnt that she was the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming leading her to want a reunion with her family and find out what she was missing all along
Then the world tilts on its axis and it left Erica craving adventure, she craved adventure as surely as the magic flowing through her veins. She wants to break out of the mould that society had created for her and wanted to prove she was more than the future Dark One
"That I'll be yours for as long as you want me," Jaclyn said with the most sincerity in her voice. The kind of sincerity that Jaclyn only ever uses with Erica and Erica found herself melting because how can Jaclyn be this sweet?
"How does forever work with you?"
"I can deal with that as long as I'm fighting by your side and for you always"
"I like the sound of that"
"Only one rule: I can't go grey. I simply will not do it, so whatever we do, we do before I turn grey" Jaclyn tells her with a slightly horrified look shining in her eyes and Erica can't help but laugh
"But you'd look so pretty with grey hair, and it shows how much of an old woman you really are" She retorted with a smirk as she pulls at the ends of Jaclyn's hair which was still tied into braids and she wasn't lying, she did think that she would look beautiful with silvery grey streaked in her hair. Now that was an image
"Hey I'm not that old"
"Really?"
"Yep"
"Hey, lovebirds!" Angelica called to them across the deck and they both looked at her, Jaclyn glaring at her a bit more than Erica "My father needs to speak to you, Erica"
"Be careful"
"I will and when I come back you can tell me how you spent the afternoon with Elizabeth, Henry and Will. I would really like to hear what you did when you were with them and whether you had fun."
"They're my family, of course, I did"
With that Erica made her way over to Angelica without Jaclyn, some things she could do on her own