A Finch and a Sparrow | Jack Sparrow x OC

by lilliallure

Summary:

"Well, well, well," he murmured, leaning back once more and surveying me with a hard eye. "Are you or are you not Clara Henrietta Finch, debaucherous thief and feckless deserter?"
I shifted my weight to my other hip.
"As it happens, no," I replied. "I'm Clara Henrietta Finch, honest woman, maid to the governor, and overall positive contributor to society at large."
The right corner of Jack's mouth curled up in a half-grin, and I caught the flash of a gold tooth.
"I'm sure you fool plenty with that line," he murmured wryly, "but not me."

Clara Finch left the Black Pearl behind ten years ago, but somehow it's come crashing into her life in Port Royal -- as well as her former best friend, Jack Sparrow, who's supposed to be very, very dead. Now there's a curse, a kidnapping, and uncovered secrets to deal with, not to mention years of repressed feelings coming to the surface.
Takes place over the course of the first POTC movie, JackxOC pairing.

Chapter 1: Author's Note

See end of page for content warnings, etc.

Hi, guys! Okay, so here's what happened.

I was going through some of my old things and I uncovered my HANDWRITTEN Pirates of the Caribbean fanfiction that I wrote when I was thirteen. It was such a fun trip down memory lane, and it got me thinking. Was it written very much by a thirteen year old? Oh good god, yes. Grammar? Don't know her, apparently! However, I found myself really liking the premise and the character I'd created, and I decided it would be a fun exercise to revisit the story and write it fresh from my present adult perspective!

So I present to you a concept I've been daydreaming about since I first saw this movie a zillion years ago and am excited to spend time with again -- A Finch and a Sparrow!

Clara Finch went straight ten years ago when she fled the Black Pearl and gave up her sea legs in favor of a steady job and a lawful life. She's worked her way up to a ladies maid in Governor Swann's mansion, where she's developed a close, sisterly relationship with his daughter, Elizabeth. Now, it seems that her past has caught up with her -- not only is her old ship back from the dead, but so is Captain Jack Sparrow, her former best friend with whom she may have shared one confusing kiss with before she vanished into the night.

Now, she must embark on a quest with said scoundrel and the local blacksmith in order to rescue Elizabeth from her old crewmates. To complicate things further, Jack hasn't changed a bit -- to Clara's chagrin, he's still just as frustrating, just as mischievous, just as intoxicating... and he seems to still be rather miffed that she disappeared on him all those years ago.

The story takes place over the course of the first movie, so there will be some screen-to-page. Also, I just wanted to say that while this story does romanticize the character of Captain Jack Sparrow, I recognize that Johnny Depp's situation is complicated and that many people find him to be triggering. I totally respect that and I am in no way trying to romanticize or condone the actor's personal life in any way.

CONTENT WARNING: Child/Infant Death, Pregnancy Complications (not graphic at all, but mentioned), Descriptions of violence (mostly things from the movie); Story will be PG-13, fade to black etc.