Summary: Genevieve "Gem" Lightfingers is the best thief in all of the Caribbean, but when she robs the wrong man she finds herself running for her life. What is a girl to do when surrounded by an oddball pirate, a brave blacksmith, a disgraced commodore, and the backstabbing daughter of a governor?

Genevieve slipped through the crowd to her prospective target. People did not notice as her slim hand snaked out to unhook the man's gold pocket watch from its place. In a flash, she had pocketed the watch and disappeared into the crowd before the man could realize what had happened.

Genevieve Lightfingers, or Gem as she was often called, was the most skilled thief in Port Royal. Some said in all of the Caribbean. Over the years she had filched items from drying laundry to jewels locked away in large safes. Nothing was safe from her fingers. Or so everyone said. Gem knew differently, but chose to allow people to believe what they wished.

Gem smiled to herself as she slipped into her home, a little hole in the fort walls that had gone unnoticed for nearly two years after the cursed pirates of the Black Pearl had bombarded the fort. A little bag that contained all of her stolen items lay hidden in the dark recesses of her home. To this she added her latest prize, the gold pocket watch. The next boat heading out she would be on, but first she had one more prize in mind.

The prize Gem had in mind was a necklace belonging to the newest commander of Port Royal, Lord Cutler Beckett. The necklace was a golden chain with a single gem teardrop dangling from it. The Lord never took it off until the moment he went to sleep each night. He would lock the chain away in a small strongbox beside his bed and place the key beneath his mattress. Gem did not plan on using the key; it would be far too risky. Instead, she would pick the lock and spirit away the chain. She would be on the next ship outbound.

Darkness fell, creeping through the city like a black shroud, hiding Gem in its folds. Her black hair was cut short and hidden beneath a cap. Dark clothes hugged her lithe body as she slowly climbed up the wall of Lord Cutler Beckett's mansion.

A candle flickered as Lord Beckett locked his chain in the strongbox and deposited the key beneath the mattress. Gem's blue eyes glittered as she watched the unsuspecting lord lie down.

A few short minutes later, Lord Beckett's snores echoed through the rather large and empty bedroom.

Gem smirked as she opened the window, all noise covered by his snores. He was her unwitting accomplice. In a few silent steps, Gem stood before the strongbox. A lock pick appeared in her hands. She deftly picked the locked and slowly opened the door. There lay the golden chain, hers for the taking. A slow smile crept across her face as she pocketed the chain and closed the strong box.

In her haste to escape the room, Gem did not notice the darkly colored cat that had slipped into the bedroom as well. It yowled loudly as she stepped upon its tail. Gem whiled just as Lord Beckett awoke.

"Thief!" He cried, springing from his bed. Lights flared to life just down the hall.

Gem leapt out the window to the balcony not far below. She swung over the railing, sliding down the ornately carved columns to the ground.

As she ran, Gem praised herself for getting the short haircut and wearing the cap. At least it would stall the Lord's attempts at her capture.

Lord Beckett stood at his window calling to the soldiers on duty around his house to catch Gem.

Musket balls pinged as they hit the cobblestones around her. One grazed her shoulder and she grimaced, but continued to run.

A few minutes later she had dashed into her hiding place, grabbed her bag, and was heading for the docks.

A boat stood in the harbor and Gem ran to it as the guards were sleeping at their posts. She breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted no soldiers anywhere near.

Her relief turned as she sighted the sleeping sailors sprawled across the deck. In a moment they would be woken by the distant shouts of the soldiers.

Gem took a deep breath and leapt lightly over and around the men until she had reached the hold. A quick glance around assured her she was still safe as she ducked inside, sliding the grate back into place. She hurried to the back of the ship. A few quick taps on the wooden floor revealed her new hiding place, the Smugglers' Hold. She pulled open the trapdoor and slipped inside just as a commotion erupted on the docks over her disappearance.

The young thief huddled in the darkest corner of the Hold, trying to be a silent as possible. In her silence she managed to drift off to sleep, her jacket becoming her pillow.

The Next Morning

Gem woke up to the violent tossing of her stomach. She groaned as she realized where she was, on the run and without a clue as to where she was going. To ease her fears, she began to estimate how much she could get for the necklace in her possession.

Her thoughts froze before she could form them, however, when she heard the sounds of boots just above her head. For a moment they paused, right on top of the trap door. They tapped on the hollowed floor. Terror gripped her heart as the trapdoor slowly opened and someone dropped into the Smugglers' Hold.

Gem struggled as far back into the corner as possible, but to no avail.

The lantern in the intruder's hand lit up the entire Hold. Gem was caught in its bright gaze.

She was blinded by the sudden brightness and dropped to her knees.

The person holding the lantern drew closer to Gem.

Instinctively, she tried to back up and was met by the mildew-covered wall. Her vision cleared, allowing her to see a young man, slightly older than she. He had dark, wavy brown hair and soulful brown eyes. Smooth muscles were outlined by his loose shirt.

"Who are you?" The stranger demanded, holding the lantern higher to get a better view of Gem.

Gem put a finger to her lips and motioned for him to come closer.

The man did so, a little bit wary of her.

"Please, don't tell the other sailors I'm down here." She said finally.

The man raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"I'm running away." Gem told him, "I don't want to get sent back to that place." She added a false shudder as though she was thinking of some terrible place.

A small smile lifted the corners of the young man's mouth. "I won't tell anyone." He sat beside her on the floor. "My name is Will Turner."

Gem smiled lightly. "Gem, just call me Gem."

"Well, Gem," Will said, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

He stood up as they heard footsteps descending the ladder into the normal hold. "I'll be back." He whispered quickly disappearing, shutting the trapdoor behind him. Gem was once again left alone in the dark.