Six years later, in Shipwreck Cove...

"You can't catch me!" Six year old Samantha shouted. She was wearing a white shirt, red vest, yellow sash, dark blue trousers, brown boots, a yellow ribbon in her hair to keep it out of her face, and a black pearl pendant hanging on a gold chain, and was carrying a sack. She had a tan from playing out in the sun. She waved at the boys behind her as she ran, before disappearing into a cave that had enough holes on the ceiling to allow the sunlight in. There were four boys, and were the only other kids on the island. Samantha was the second oldest, with only six year old William Turner being older by a month, but she was generally accepted as the group's leader.

Just then, a pair of arms scooped her up and tossed her on his shoulder. Samantha already knew who it was. "Daddy!"

"Miss me, Girlie?" Jack asked, smiling.

"Very much!" The little girl said, hugging her father and kissing his cheek. She then heard running. "Daddy! Put me down!"

"Sammie, why is there a tomato in your hair?" Jack asked flatly, putting her down.

"I'll explain later!" Samantha shouted, already running away.

Pretty soon, Jack saw a six year old boy run in with slightly tanned skin, short brown hair, and brown eyes. He was wearing a white shirt, light brown vest, green sash, dark brown trousers, and black boots. He had tomato all over his clothes. Jack smirked. "Losing again, Willy?"

William sighed sadly. "I don't know how she does it!" He said. Suddenly, he got a tomato in the face. "Hey!"

Jack turned around, just in time to see Samantha run away. William ran after her, followed by three younger boys whose ages ranged from six to three. Jack smirked, walking out. On the way out, he ran into Teague. "Somebody's missing a lot of tomatoes."

"They're at it again?" Teague asked, sighing.

"They do this a lot?"

"It used to be with mud, whenever it rained. Then your kid had the idea of using tomatoes." Teague said. "Whoever gets hit the least wins."

Jack nodded in approval. "That's my girl."

"Your girl is-"

"Getting good exercise, practicing taking aim at moving objects while moving herself, and apparently having a good time." Jack pointed out, smirking.

"Yeah. Just like how Sammie practicing her knots on Jack the Monkey was all fun and games until Barbossa got shot."

"Barbossa was here?"

"Still is." Teague said. "Apparently, my house has become an inn for the weary sailor. Barbossa's been here for a month. The day he was meant to leave, your daughter tied a loaded pistol to the damn monkey's tail. Next thing I know, Barbossa's unconscious from a gunshot wound to the chest. He's been recovering since."

"Da, he's been trying to kill me for seventeen years." Jack said. "Why don't you kick him out?"

"As Keeper of the Code, I have to stay neutral in conflicts between the Pirate Lords. Besides, he's easier to watch when he's in my house." Teague said, before turning to the cave. "Oi! If you all aren't out when I count to three, you all are paying for those tomatoes! One! Two!"

All four boys ran out. Jack looked at the tomato-covered boys and sighed. "Da, we'll be back for dinner." He said, walking back into the cave. "Sammie? Where are you?" Then he heard sniffling. Samantha was kneeling in a dark corner, holding her right hand in her left. Jack walked over and sat down, pulling his daughter on to his lap. "What's wrong?"

"I was petting a kitty and a bug bit me." Samantha said, showing Jack her right index finger. He couldn't see anything.

Smirking, Jack held her hand in his and kissed her finger. "Feeling better?"

Samantha nodded, still pouting. Jack's smirk grew slightly, before he leaned down and started tickling her sides. Her laughing echoed through the cave. "Daddy! Stop it!"

"Not until you say it." Jack said, continuing to tickle her.

"I can't breathe!" She said, still laughing. "Daddy!"

"You know what to say!"

"Parley!" Samantha shouted, playfully pushing Jack's hands away.

Jack scooped her up into his arms. "Let's get you cleaned up for dinner. Afterall, there are about twenty or so men that missed having a certain six year old lass running around." He said, grinning. The Pearl's current crew, with only about five old crew members of the old crew that Jack couldn't seem to get rid of, was absolutely in love with Samantha. They thought of her as their own child. A crazy child who seemed to be a female version of her father, but still adorable.


That night, everyone was in Shipwreck Cove. Samantha was sitting in between Jack and Mr. Gibbs, listening to the first mate tell a story after dinner. Mr. Gibbs had just finished telling his story when he looked down at the little girl. "Are you alright, Lass?"

"My head hurts." She admitted, before wrapping her arms around herself. "And I'm a little cold."

That caught Jack's attention. He placed the back of his hand on his daughter's forehead. "Little warm." He said, picking her up. "Alright Sammie, time for bed."

"But Daddy-"

"No 'buts' Young Lady. You're sick." Jack said, carrying her to her room. Her room was a good size for a six year old, with a window that faced the sea. In her room was a small bed, a small bookcase full of picture books, and some toy ships scattered on the floor that Jack pushed out of the way with his boots. On the bed was a simple white nightgown and a rag doll with brown yarn hair and black button eyes. Samantha was already getting tired and Jack had to help her get her nightgown on. After that, he tucked her in. "Now get some rest."

"But everybody's having fun." The little girl tried, very close to passing out.

"Actually, by the sound of things, everybody just left." Jack whispered, before kissing her forehead. "You'd better be sleeping when I get back."

Samantha was asleep even before Jack reached the door...

In the Kitchen...

Elizabeth was washing dishes in a large bucket when Jack came in. "How is she?" She asked. Jack hated the new Elizabeth. She always seemed detached from the World than she should be. Her mind always seemed to be elsewhere. It was easy for everyone to assume that Elizabeth was simply thinking about her husband. The only other explanation was that the woman had gone mad when Will died in her arms.

"Sammie's got a fever and headache. She's probably sick from not letting herself rest enough. Maybe a cold." Jack answered, grabbing a small bowl and scooping up some water from a bucket, before picking up a rag. He then turned around and caught Elizabeth staring off into space. "Where'd your boy go?"

Elizabeth smiled. Her son seemed to be the only topic that would bring her back down to Earth, without setting off tears. "Mr. Gibbs took him to the Pearl. Something about the Rum Locker being haunted."

"There's spirits in there alright." Jack said, smirking as he picked up a rum bottle. "My favorite kind."

"Are you worried?"

"About what?"

"Samantha."

"Maybe." Jack said, folding the cloth and placing it in the bowl. "But worrying isn't going to make her any better."


My third attempt at writing a serious story...you know what they say "Third time's the charm"

I'm sure laying off the soda-and-chocolate combo probably helps...for this story, it was just chocolate and water...