I awoke to feel the gently swaying which I had grown used too. My tiny cabin seemed filled with light from the small circular window, set high above the wooden bunk. I quickly scrambled into my clothes stopping only to admire the small black raven tattooed on my right shoulder blade. The ship pitched and I was thrown to the floor but was able to recover quickly but then, I had been sailing for most of my life.
It was on my eighteenth birthday that Captain Teague requested I was sent to his cabin. We had made port in Tortuga they day before and like all others I was expecting to be granted my bottle of rum but when I went to the cabin I was granted a little more than I estimated. Sitting in the corner of the room was a young scared looking boy. Already in the usual pirate attire including a smaller version of Captain Teague's head scarf. I stood with my back to the young boy facing the desk in the centre of the room. The door opposite the desk creaked open and the captain stepped into the cabin his presence seemed to fill this, the largest cabin in the ship.
"Vaania care to sit," He motioned to the carved wooden chair and instinctively I sunk into the seat.
"As you know we took port in Tortuga late yesterday and much as it is unlike me to reveal personal details given the situation it is necessary," He paused I was to shocked to reply, the Captain always kept his personal life separate and it was rare it was mentioned on the ship at all.
"About 13 years ago I meet a woman, who feel pregnant and gave birth to my son." I could see the pain in his face while he spoke. "Yesterday I was told she had died and therefore it is my responsibility to bring up our son. As he has been used to his mother around him I request that you as the only female on board take him under your wing and show him the ropes."
" Yes Captain," was all I could manage to reply
" One last thing I request that the ins and outs of this are kept silent from the crew you hear me?" I nodded obediently "and if questioned he was in Tortuga at the time of his mother death and she requested he sailed the seas." Again I nodded. It was then and only then I turned to face the boy now I knew I could see the resemblance between him and his father. I smiled and to my relief he smiled back. Once my gaze returned to the captain he placed a bottle of rum on the table.
"As promised on every pirates 18th although I am sure you have been drinking rum for years now." Captain Teague gave me a knowing smile but then he had sailed from a young age also. " O his names jack, jack sparrow, took my last name but again the crew mustn't know this not yet anyway." At this point he turned to the boy now known as jack.
" Son as you heard Vaania is now going to take care of you if you need me you know where my cabin is." I stood up as if to leave and paused as I reached the door expecting some kind of embrace from the captain to his son but upon there being none I swiftly left. Hunting down penrod to find a cabin near my own for jack.