Dahlia broke her gaze from the man only to see two more men staring at her in bewilderment. She brought her eyes back to the first man who was still staring. "Hello." She said quietly.

"What's going on Tia Dalma?" the man asked not taking his eyes off of Dahlia.

"This is the lovely Dahlia. Dahlia this be Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Pleasure to meet you." Dahlia said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at his intense stare.

"I'm sure the pleasure is all mine." Jack said with a grin. His eyes slid back down her body to stare at her bare legs. "Quite the outfit."

Dahlia narrowed her eyes in confusion and looked down only to see her white tank top, pressed up slightly making a sliver of her toned stomach visible; her black boxers had been rolled up and came just above her mid-thigh. Dahlia blushed and noticed the other two men watching her.

The younger of the two men finally spoke, "Joshamee Gibbs."

"Hector Barbossa."

Jack's voice brought her eyes back to his. "Just call him Barbossa."

Tia Dalma took Jack by the arm and led him into another room. A sudden chill caused Dahlia to wrap her arms around herself, trying to tame the hairs on her arms that had risen. A heavy jacket dropped over her shoulders, surprising her; she looked back to see Jack Sparrow walking back towards the waiting Tia Dalma.

"Who are you?" Dahlia heard the older man, Barbossa ask.

Before Dahlia had time to answer she heard heavy boot steps reenter the room. She looked over her shoulder to see Jack staring at her curiously. "Ready the boat." He ordered, his gaze never leaving Dahlia. She saw Mr. Gibbs turn to walk out of the shack, while the other man just stood confused. "Do you have any other clothes?"

"I have some for her." Tia Dalma said stepping into the room holding a bundle.

Jack took a step towards Dahlia, "You should probably change. It's chilly outside and will be much colder on the ship."

"The ship?" Dahlia asked looking between Jack and Tia Dalma.

"Yes, you will be coming with me."

"I don't think so." She said stubbornly earning a grin from the rugged man.

Jack tossed the bundle to her, surprised when she caught it easily. "If you would be so kind, my life seems to depend on you being aboard my ship."

Dahlia's blue eyes widened in surprise. After a moment she sighed and pulled a pair of pants and a top from the bundle. "Where should I change?" Tia Dalma pointed towards the small room she and Jack had just left.

As she walked away she could hear the whispers begin. She could vaguely hear Tia Dalma telling an edited version of the story she had told Dahlia, leaving out the fact that Dahlia had been born nearly 245 years in the future. When she stepped out in the black pants that stopped just beneath her knee and a flowing white top that was nearly see-through all eyes fell on her once again.

"Ready when you are." She said, pushing a piece of her dark hair from her face. She walked closer and handed Jack his jacket. When his hand touched hers, a jolt of electricity rushed through her body; the wide-eyed expression on Jack's face told her that he had felt it too.

"Keep it if you're cold." He said, stunning the others with his gentle tone. Jack himself seemed to be surprised at his reaction to the girl but he quickly hid the embarrassment.

"I'll be fine, but thank you." Jack just nodded and quickly walked out of the room, followed by his companions. Dahlia turned to Tia Dalma, "What do I do?"

"Just do what feels natural. This is your world for the time being." Tia Dalma said then pulled a piece of rolled up paper from behind her. "Read this when you are alone, it'll explain some things."

Dahlia sighed at the less than satisfying answer but followed, her bare feet moving silently out of the house towards the end of what appeared to be a small dock where Jack was standing, watching her. She watched his gaze fall to her feet. "I don't have any shoes." She said before he had time to ask.

Jack nodded then gestured to the ladder leading to a dingy that already held the others. "Be careful. The final rung is a bit loose." He told her, taking the bundle of clothes from her hand. Dahlia nodded then gracefully climbed down the ladder, standing next to Barbossa. Jack tossed her, her clothes before descending into the boat.

The trip down the swampy river was quick and soon the dingy was moving towards a massive ship near the shore. Dahlia jumped slightly when she heard a rough voice near her ear. "Beauty isn't she?" Jack asked. Dahlia could only nod, her eyes wide in awe.

Soon the dinghy was being hoisted towards the deck, and Dahlia found herself being pulled out of the smaller boat and onto the much larger one. She once again found herself the center of attention, with the eyes of about 15 men on her. Some stared in confusion while some stared with lust burning in their eyes. One man in particular was staring so intently at her, that Dahlia instinctively took a step back, only to run into a firm chest. She looked up to see the Jack glaring at the man.

"Boys, and ladies," he added after receiving a throat clearing from the crowd. Dahlia looked over to see a beautiful woman standing amongst the men. "This is Dahlia. She will be the newest member of our merry little crew. Now get off your asses and get back to work; I want this ship to be moving and away from this island before I come out." He demanded before gently grabbing her arm and leading her down a small staircase and into a cabin.

'Captain's room.' Dahlia realized when she saw the desk covered in maps and quills. She realized that Jack was watching her with amusement. "What?"

"Nothing, just look a bit like a frightened fawn." He teased shrugging off his jacket. "Now tell me, what was the dear Tia Dalma leaving out of her explanation?"

"Huh?" Dahlia tried to act stupid. She moved around the room taking in her surroundings.

"Where did she get you from? Hell or heaven?"

Dahlia hesitated then said, "Neither."

Jack frowned from his place leaning against his desk. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not."

"Then tell me the truth."

"The future." Dahlia said as she plopped onto a small couch. She hid a yawn behind her hand and waited for him to speak.

"The future?" Jack asked, disbelief evident in his tone.

"Yes." Dahlia said.

"Where are you from?"

Dahlia hesitated, unsure if Tia Dalma would want her to say. She shoved her hand in her pocket and felt the paper still rolled tightly. "Captain Sparrow, I don't want to be rude but I'm a bit tired. Can we continue this conversation after I've slept for a bit?"

"Just call me Jack, love." He said pushing himself off the desk. "Come upstairs when you're ready."

She watched him walk slowly out of the cabin, glancing over his shoulder once to wink back at her. Once the door was closed she whipped the paper from her pocket and quickly unrolled it. She moved to the desk and spread the paper along the surface, her eyes focusing on messy but legible writing.

Dahlia, I figured it would be easier to explain a few things that will take place if you were not in my presence.

1. Only Jack can know that you are not of this time. He will understand if you give him the opportunity.

2. You will experience dreams that will be so vivid that you will believe them to be true. These are glimpses into the future you could have had if you had lived in this time. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do to stop these would-be memories from coming.

3. Do not let fear stop you from doing what comes naturally to you. The you of the past and the you of the present are one in the same, so use your instincts.

4. He will feel everything you feel.

Be careful little one. If you are to die in this life then there is nothing I can do for you.

Dahlia stared at the paper for what felt like hours but could've only been a few minutes. Her eyes focused on the fourth explanation. "Who is he?" she thought leaning back into the Captain's chair. As her mind swirled with Tia Dalma's words she fell slowly into sleep.

"Lia?" a husky voice broke the reverie of the young brunette woman, standing at the helm of a massive ship. "Are you alright?" She turned her head and saw Jack Sparrow staring at her with a worried expression marring his face. She turned to look back at the never-ending ocean in front of her.

"Yes, I'm fine, love." She stated as she felt his strong arms wrap themselves around her, placing his hands on her flat stomach.

"What are you doing up here alone?" Jack asked stroking his thumb across her stomach. He had woken up in their cabin and reached across the bed only to grasp at cold sheets. Jack kissed along the back of her neck to her shoulder, unable to control his need to touch her.

"Couldn't sleep. What are you doing awake?"

"Well my incredibly sexy bunk mate was not where she was supposed to be." He said brushing his lips along the shell of her ear. "What's on your mind, Lia?"

"Tomorrow."

"I've told you not to worry about that." Jack stated sounding exasperated.

Dahlia turned in his arms to stare up at the pirate captain. "It doesn't matter how many times you tell me. Let me come with you."

"Absolutely not." He said tightening his grip on her waist.

"If I have nothing to worry about then why can't I?"

"It's too dangerous." Jack told her, his eyes pleading with her to drop the subject.

Dahlia pulled out of his embrace and crossed her arms over her chest. "If you go, I go."

"Dammit Lia! For once can you just do as I ask?" Jack asked throwing his hands into the air. "I'm trying to keep you safe and you are making it impossible."

"I don't need you to keep me safe, Jack."

Jack sighed and knew he wasn't going to win this argument. He closed the space between them and pulled her back into his chest; he dropped a kiss on the crown of her head and said, "So damn stubborn."

"I love you Jack."

"I love you too."

Dahlia woke with a start; her eyes flew around the dim room in an attempt to figure out where she was. She was no longer in the chair she had fallen asleep in, but now lay in a soft bed in the corner of the room. After a moment the memories flooded back to her. She got to her feet with a sigh and moved back to the desk glancing back at the letter, now in the corner of the desk. The second explanation glared up at her. 'You will experience dreams that will be so vivid that you will believe them to be true. These are glimpses into the future you could have had if you had lived in this time.' "Holy shit." She groaned covering her face with her hands.