Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides, Disney does!

Chapter 2

Philip wasn't sure if he liked the idea of Syrena pulling the boat like a slave. She assured him that it was okay and they should be ashore soon. She has been swimming since dusk last night and the sun was about to go down again today.

"I figure that you would have been mermaid bait by now," Jack said to him and Philip stared at him for a bit.

"What do you mean by that," he asked him.

"Well, I'm only saying, considering the mermaids we saw the last time. They weren't exactly the loveliest creatures, you catch my drift mate?" Philip stiffens a bit.

"Syrena isn't like those mermaids at all," He said defending her, "Besides what do you know about mermaid except for what we saw." Jack shrugged his shoulders and remain silent. Philip was certain he was up to no good and was determined to get her away from him as soon as possible. They didn't say much after that, but then Jack stood up and made his way to the bow and gave the rope a tug. The boat slowed and Syrena surfaced and swam to the boat.

"Yes," She said to her, "Why have we stopped?"

"I think we should stop somewhere so we can get the…" He paused for a second to glance at Philip. "Girl some clothes. It would be mighty suspicion if she just walked onto shore without any clothes."

"I agree," Philip said, "But where are we going to get them?" Jack grinned deviously at that.

"Oh you leave that to me, mate," He said. Within the hour, they pulled ashore to some Island that Jack was familiar with. Jack climbed out of the boat. "Now be back here in an hour." Both Philip and Syrena nodded and they hid somewhere in a cave.

"Do you really think he will be back," Syrena asked him. Philip looked at her and she was curled up, her legs to her chest and her arms wrapped around them.

"Unless he finds a ship and a crew then he will," Philip told her. She looked at him.

"Tell me what else we shall do once we get to the new worlds," She asked him and he gladly did so. He told her that they will get a house and some land near some water so she can swim in the moonlight. He told her that she will never be in need of anything she desires. He went on and on and she was enchanted by him and was even more thrilled that she gave him life again. She just hoped that he would still love her when he found out what she did to him. Soon they left the cave to meet Jack at the beach.

They saw him running towards them with a gown in his hands. As it were there was a mob of people behind him yelling.

"Let's go! Let's go!" He yelled as Philip pulled him aboard. Philip turned around and tugged on the rope and Syrena swam as fast as she could.

As soon as they were far enough away from the shore Jack showed Philip his findings. It was a black gown and at first Philip didn't recognize it. Then at once it dawned on him.

"This is a Nun's gown," He said baffled. Jack stopped him from jumping to any conclusion.

"Now," he began, "I didn't anything disreputable."

"I find that a little hard to believe," He said. Jack did some odd motion with his arms and hands.

"Well, that point to the side," He said to him, "I think we have a bigger problem. Get the mermaid aboard." He order him and Philip was about to correct him, but then he looked back and saw a ship coming their way.

"You didn't do anything disreputable you say," Philip said and Jack smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Philip tugged on the rope and Syrena came back to him. "Quick, get on board." He told she and he pulled the dress over her head and she pulled it down the rest of the way. Jack and Philip began rowing and as the ship pulled up beside him. They acted as innocently as possible, which was easy for Philip and Syrena not so much for Jack.

"You there," An old man exclaimed, "Have you seen a man who stole a gown? From a Nun no less?" Before Jack could say anything stupid, Philip stood up and began to speak.

"No sir! As you can tell we have been thrown overboard by a crew of pirates!" Jack mumbled something unintelligent to that. "I'm a Priest and this is a lady that we saved earlier from drowning when we had our ship. The Nun that was with me had given it to hurt since her clothes were so tarnished. Unfortunately, she died when the ship we were taken over." The man's eyes grew sympatric.

"That's a hardship indeed young lad," He said he disappeared for a second then a rope ladder was thrown down to them. Philip let Syrena go up first and then he was next with Jack bringing up the rear. When the man helped him aboard he clasped him on the shoulder. "What be your name, lad?"

"My name is Philip Swift and this is Syrena," He said gesturing his head in her direction. The man nodded at Philip and Syrena.

"Robert Haggins," He told them and Philip shook his extended hand. "What were you traveling for the lad?"

"To journey to the Colonies," He told him.

"Aye," Haggins said nodding his head. "I believe we can help you with that." He then looked at Syrena. "What about you lass? Where will you be heading?" Syrena moved closer to Philip.

"I will go with Philip," She said with assurance in her voice, "he saved my life." She then looked at him.

"Aye," Haggins said with a smile. "Bring her to shore, lads! We have work to do!" At once men began to hurry around them. "Now, let's get some food in your bellies. I'm sure you must be starved." Haggins led them to the captain's quarters and asked one of his crewmen to bring his guest some food at once. "I wouldn't let you guys wait till we get ashore to feed ye." He gestured them to sit and they did as soon as he left Philip grabbed Jack's sleeve.

"I suggest you don't do anything that's to be expected of you until we leave for the colonies," He told him.

"If I didn't know you any better I would say that's a threat," Jack said with an amused look on his face. "But no, I will not do a thing till we get ashore. There was a brothel I fancied on my way back that I have not had the chance to visit." Philip let go of his sleeve and turned his attention back to Syrena.

The change has already begun, Syrena thought. He may not recognize it, but he will eventually. She eyed Jack warily, not sure if he would stay true to his word. Many of her friends die by the hands of Pirates, but she had hope. Hope that she could start a life with Philip.

One part that many people do not know about mermaid is why they hunt men so. It's not because they are notorious, but out of spite. It is however because a mermaid's life truly does not begin until she meets her true love. There are no males of their kind, yet they need to reproduce. Mermaids only have one chance to reproduce, and that's when they find their male human counterpart. There are varying ways to know for certain if you've found the one, and not many of her kind know that. However, she was taught by her mother that was able to keep her kindness even after her father was killed. She was taught that she will know she will feel that he's different from the others. Then the rest will be as so.

She was also taught that once a mermaid had found her true love and performed the sacred kiss that her mate would live as long as she. That he would never age, never die of old age, and the only way to kill him is by mortal wounds. Even so the wounds would have to be deathly serious. Once they get to the colonies, she will tell him what she did to him.

She watched as the man named Haggins walked back into the room and right after him other men with food. She was getting used to human food ever since she went to catch fish for Philip.

Now she understands why mother never feasted on men whilst her father was alive, however, she still kept on eating fish even after he had died. She never understood that most of the mermaids whose true love had died returned to eating the flesh of men. However, her mother still reminds the best of her kind to catch fish and other marine animals.

Philip nudged her and offered her a plate; it had various foods that she didn't even know what they were. He must have noticed her concern or figure that she wouldn't know what human food was and she noticed that he had gotten the same for himself. She watched him as he ate to make sure she didn't do anything odd. The food was truly delicious; she never thought that human food would taste so good. Though he did his best with what she caught this was far better than the fish she ate earlier. She blushed the second after she thought it was a shameful thing to compare what Philip made for her. He did the best with he had and it wasn't as if she even knew how to cook. It was something she must learn how to do for Philip. She made that a priority in her heart.

Sooner than she thought it would take they were ashore. Philip led her out, but the old man stopped him for a second.

"I'll lead her to land," Jack offered and offered her his arm. She stared at him with suspicion but took his arm. She would be able to find him no matter what now. As they made it onto shore, Jack pulled her to the side. "I see you making good use of your land legs now," He said to her.

"I'm sure this isn't about complimenting how well I can walk now," Syrena said to him stoutly,

"So spill it." He chuckled at her comment.

"I see you're rather bolder now," He said, "I'm sure you got that from your dear old' Philip." She eyed him with caution; surely he could not know more about mermaids unless he dealt with some other mermaids. Most of her kind gathered in the cove, but there were other clans elsewhere. "Now I know that little mind of yours is scrambling to make sense of what I'm saying. My question is there others like you, willing to help a human as much as you help your Philip?" She shook her head.

"No," Her voice thick, "Do you wish to employ more of my kind?"

"No, no, of course not my dear," he said gently touching her cheek with a back side of his hand, "just truly an idle thought is all. Now I must say you held up to your side of your bargain. So I take my leave! Cherry o my dear creature," he said to her and she slightly hissed at that comment.

She waited at the docks for Philip to meet her there. When he came into view he looked at her and gave her a questioning look.

"Where's Jack?"

"He said that I held my end of the deal and left," she told him and he nodded.

"Well Haggins has set us up for a room tonight and there we will get some new clothes and some extra new things for the journey to the colonies," He told her and led her to an Inn called Sunny Moore. She was nervous, she has never been around this many humans and especially on land for that matter. But her nerves were calmed as soon as Philip wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Don't worry," He told her, "You're okay nobody is going to do anything to you." He led her to the safety of their room and there were two piles of clothes. "Do you want me to help you with your clothes?"

"Will people talk," she asked him and he smiled at her.

"People will talk no matter what," He told her as he showed her what garments go on first and how they go on. She stared at him suspiciously and he noticed, "My mother was very ill before she died. I helped her get dress every day." She blushed again she assumed that he would have been mischievous like the pirates forgetting that he was a Priest to his kind.

"What are you going to do when we get to the colonies," She asked him, hoping to hear what she wanted to hear.

"I'm going to give up my vows. However, that's not truly necessary since nobody will know who I am to begin with so that should be easy." He told her, "We can start a farm and live off the land. We can find a lake and live near that." It was what he told her before and yet he still held on to that dream, that she was determined to make it come true.

"Do you promise," she asked him still her voice breathless.

"Yes," he said and he kissed her, it was just as wonderful as the first time they kissed. This one was special, though, it was their first kiss to their new life. "Now," he said, "Let's get some sleep we have an early morning tomorrow." Together they got dressed and climbed into the same bed even though there were two. She felt completely safe within his arms his body curled against her back. Feeling warm and complete she fell asleep for the first time on land.

AN: Edited: 10/16/15 I briefly went through this, and if you see any other grammar issues please let me know!