Disclaimer: I only own Amy and any other character you've never seen in POTC 1,2, or 3. By the way this takes place shortly after CotBP.

Chapter 1: "Home" Is Dead

The tavern door swung open, hitting the wall with a loud BANG! The occupants of the Faithful Bride failed to notice the newcomer; most were too drunk to even notice wenches magically appear on their lap. All they knew was that they would have a woman to warm their bed tonight, which was just peachy keen for them. The stranger made her way through the crowds, purposely keeping her head down. Sure, she was usually outspoken and unafraid, but now would not be a good night to make people angry or notice her. She was living on the streets after all, and she had been for the past week. Someone out to kill her would equal: BAD. A bit young though, she was only fourteen after all. Her skin was sun-kissed and glinted orange in the dim candle light of the tavern. The whole place wafted with the stench of gun power, rum, sex, cheap perfume, the ocean and sweat. But by now, she had adjusted to the scent. Her uncle often smelled like this when he came to visit, something he hadn't done in years. She had her step father to thank for that. But enough of all that.

She sat down at a back table, her deep chocolate brown eyes scanning for a familiar face. She pushed her raven black, wavy, shoulder length hair out of her face to get a better look. Her hair usually covered her left eye, but for now, she needed both optics for maximum sight seeing. Then she saw him.

"Bingo," she mumbled to herself as she stood and made her way through the brawls and drunken bliss of those in her way. Her baggy white shirt was tucked into tan breeches; dark brown boots covered her feet. And there he was in all his glory. About 5' 11"; male; dark brown beaded, dreadlocked and braided hair; worn tri-cornered captain's hat; and though his back was to her, she was certain he'd have identical chocolate optics, just heavily outlined with thick, black kohl. Despite not seeing him in half of a decade, there was no doubt in her mind that this was him; Captain Jack Sparrow.

"Uncle Jack?" she questioned.

"Captain!" he replied, raising a finger and not bothering to turn around at first. Then the full extent of what he'd just been called settled in and he turned he slowly swivled around on his heel to face her. "Bugger," he muttered, hoping he'd been wrong in who had called his name. Amy raised an eyebrow.

"Nice to see you, too," she stated sarcastically.

"Apologies," was the smooth reply she recieved. "But quite frankly I didn't expect to see my ten-year-old neice in bloody Tortuga."

"Terribly sorry to have troubled you, but first of all, I'm fourteen, and second of all, it's not exactly MY idea to be here in the first place."

"Does my sister know you're here?"

"That's...why I'm here." Her tone changed from sharp and attitude-like, to soft and quiet. "Can we go outside so we can talk? It's...getting a bit loud in here." She wanted to tell him this outside, so he didn't have to put on a show as she told him. So she could see the side of him he only showed her and her mother. He just nodded and led the way, looking back every so often to ensure she was still at his heels. Once they were outside, the continue walking down to the docks, though slowly now so they could talk.

"Let's have it then, love." His tone had changed from irritated, to curious.

"I don't know how to tell you this...it's difficult and it's very...sad...to say the least, and-,"

"While I'm still young, love," Jack interupted.

"Mum's dead."

Jack came to a dead stop and looked at her for a moment. His sister? Dead? "Ah. So that's the reason for the little...visit." His tone grew a bit more aggitated. "Shouldn't your father be looking after you, then?"

"No," she the sharp reply he recieved and he looked at her for a moment, his head tilting in confusion. "I know he wouldn't want me here, but she would. And I want to be here. That's all that really matters now." His inquisitive look didn't fade so she sighed and explained further. "The only reason I went along with what my father wanted was because Mum always said 'Do as your father asks.' But now...she's gone. And truth be told, I never really wanted to be around that house to begin with. I don't fit in with anyone. I'm not prim and proper and frilly enough to be with the other girls, and I'm lacking the equipment to associate with the boys. Truth be told...I hated being there. But I knew it would break Mum's heart if I left. So I didn't. And now...it don't matter too much now, well does it?"

Jack nodded in understanding. "Well, I appriciate you coming and telling me dahling. Now, run off. I'm sure you've got somewhere to be, as do I, and-,"

"So that's it then?" she stopped him. "That's it? 'My sister's dead, and my niece is alone in Tortuga, so I think I'll go and have another rum and shag a wench while I'm at it?' That's all the emotion you can drum up?"

"You should probably get home, love."

"Don't you get it!? I don't have a home anymore!" She snapped. "My essence of home died along with her! And here I am, looking for somewhere to turn, and you're the only person I have!? Nice to know how much you bloody care!" she yelled. His eyes widened. Amy turned on her heel and ran a few steps, tears streaming down her face, but Jack caught her shoulder and turned her around. He was about to yell right back at her, but his mouth quickly closed and his face fell. He hadn't seen his niece cry since was three, and he hated to say it, but it damn near broke his heart. He was going to kick himself for this later, but he pulled her to his chest and held her tightly. Her small frame racked with sobs and she shook in his arms. He felt a bit awkward holding her, but she felt safe, and he supposed that it was sort of his duty to do this.

"There there, lass," he said, patting her back a bit. He pulled away and wiped a tear off of her cheek, smudging dirt on her face in the process. "Tell ya what...and I can't beleive the words are comin' out of me mouth, but...you can stay with me on my ship, but only until ye've found somewhere else to go. Savvy?" She threw her arms around his neck and nuzzled him.

"Oh thank you, Uncle! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!" she exclaimed. He smiled secretly and held her again for a second before snapping out of it and pulling away from her, holding her shoulders an arm's length away."

"But first we're going to lay down some ground rules about that sort of thing!"