p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was now eight years since the two had met and they were both young adults. Although they did not see each other as much as they wanted to, Jack, now eighteen, was able to visit every couple of months with a bit of persuasion to his father. The pair had gotten rather close, both considering the other their truest friend. Recently, Jack hadn't been able to visit Rebecca in over a year, only talking through sparse letters that took near weeks to reach each other./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Today was Rebecca's sixteenth birthday. It was around noon on a summer day, and she celebrated with a walk through the market with several of her other friends. They giggled and talked and flirted with passing boys just as any other girls their age. Rebecca wore her hair loose as usual, showing off a sea-green dress with an elegant wave pattern that her mother had given to her for her birthday./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh my, Rebecca," called her friend Helen, "I believe there is a handsome man over there just embegging/em for your attention."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"All the girls burst into giggles, including Rebecca, trying to get a glimpse of this mysterious person. Helen stealthily pointed him out in the shadows of the market. A tall figure was leaning against a shop wall and obviously stealing the occasional glance at Rebecca. A red cloth covered his mid-length, brown hair, hiding his face in the shadows. He was clothed in a dirty white shirt with billowing sleeves and a mostly open neckline tucked into brown pants and worn boots. A cutlass was worn at his hip and he held a small box which he turned over in his hands./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Well?" Helen asked. "Go get his attention!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca just gave her a shrug, unsure of what to do. Helen leaned into her ear, explaining her foolproof plan to get any man's attention. Or at least, that's what she said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Careful to follow Helen's plan, Rebecca put on her most innocent face and walked over to the shop that was nearest the wall, pretending to be interested in the heavenly baked goods displayed in the store window. After standing there for a few moments, Rebecca turned around abruptly, just as they had planned, and ran into the nearest passerby that was right in front of the man./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca collided into the random stranger, dropping her handkerchief on the ground in her shock with no notice. The stranger and her exchanged their quick apologies and went about their ways, paying no attention to the handkerchief that had been strategically left behind for their bit of fun. Rebecca continued on, resisting the urge to look back at the man and waited for his response./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Miss? You've dropped something emcoincidentally/em right in front of me, and I believe you'd want it back."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca cringed, and knew she had been caught in her scheme. She hesitantly spun around to face the figure./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A young man with tan complexion and a strong face stood before her, a mischievous twinkle in his kohl-lined eyes. Dark, choppy hair strewn out from his bandana, just long enough to fit in a ponytail if he tried. He was nearly a head taller than Rebecca and stood with a stature not of importance and manner like the other boys she had been interested in, but of carelessness and adventure. Rebecca stared into his familiar brown eyes, pursing her lips./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Miss me, Robin?" he said with a wink./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Jack!" Rebecca exclaimed, running into his arms and embracing him in a hug. "It feels like it's been ages!" She held onto him for a little too long, and stood back to admire how he had changed. "I hardly recognized you!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Aye, a year apart does seem to do that. But you should look at yourself, luv. You've changed quite a bit from the naive eight year old I met long ago," Jack said, beaming at her rather flirtatiously./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca blushed, eager to pull the attention off herself. "Where have you been? Tell me all about your adventures! Are you still working as a merchant under your father? Oh Jack, how I've missed you!" Rebecca said eagerly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack held a straight face, even under the last question about his merchant father. "All answers for another time. But for now, I have something for you. Happy Birthday, Rebecca."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca smiled as Jack handed her the small box he had been keeping safe. She opened it tenderly and gasped. Inside was a beautiful necklace. Two feathers had been tied around a string that dangled two blue beads, so that it looked similar to a tassel, connecting to a long rope chain. She took it in her hand, and admired its beauty./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Will you put it on me?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca turned around so Jack could put it on. He gently pulled back her brown curls from her neck and draped the necklace around her, clasping it in the back. Rebecca 's face shone with joy as she held the necklace carefully in her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It took me awhile to get, but it has one feather from a robin, and one from a sparrow. I have one too," he said. Jack pulled back his messy locks to show the feathers tucked underneath his hair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I love it, Sparrow. I'll wear it always," Rebecca said with utmost sincerity./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca left her friends, telling them she would fill them in later. Jack linked her arm under his and they made their way through the market and into the woods, both knowing where to go without saying a word./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Finally, when they had reached the cover of the trees Rebecca burst out with her questions. "Well? How has the sea life been? I've been emdying/em to know."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack gave a sad smile and turned to Rebecca, sitting with her beneath a tree. "Rebecca, I hate to do this on your birthday, but I need to tell you the whole truth. Even if you will hate me after."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca willed him on hesitantly with her eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack sighed, pulling up the sleeve of his right arm. He turned it over and showed a scarred P shape over his wrist, healing but still inflamed. Rebecca stifled her gasp, knowing the mark as well as any. It was the mark of a pirate. Rebecca looked back and forth from his recent scar to Jack's face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You've been a pirate all along, haven't you?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack rose his eyes, expecting to see a look of judgement and disappointment. Instead, he saw those kind brown eyes of hers looking at him with a hint of wonder./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Not always," he said, dipping his head. "My father is Edward Teague, infamous pirate of the Caribbean. And I am his son, bound to follow in his footsteps. For a while I stepped away from the path of piracy, working under an Englishman. It appears I couldn't stay that way for long."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She considered this, pursing her lips. "Who did this to you?" she said, gesturing to his arm./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack pulled down his sleeve, covering the mark once again. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here, with you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca nodded, unconsciously placing her hand on his for comfort. She buried the disgust she felt towards whoever did this and gave Jack a weak smile./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Don't worry, luv. I left my own mark on him."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly they both realized Rebecca's hand resting on his and they pulled away from each other quickly. Rebecca's face turned red as Jack smiled at her with his classic mischievous look before it turned back into his frown./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'm sorry I have never told you before. I didn't want you to run away from me. From who I really am."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca looked into his eyes. "Jack, I would never run away from you. Pirating is in your blood, so you'll have to square with that someday."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack considered this, toeing a stick on the ground. Rebecca reached for his scarred arm, gently caressing the mark./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Besides, being a pirate is rather exciting," she winked, dropping his hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack looked at her, taking a moment to appreciate her beauty. Not just physically, but the way she walked and talked. The way she looked at the sea, the way she gently held his hand. Rebecca's eyes locked with his and Jack reached a hand to her face, softly holding her cheek./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack leaned in and kissed her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was a while before they pulled apart, but when they did, they both held faint smiles on their faces, not looking away from each other's eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Come with me, Robin," Jack said, taking both her hands in his./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Come with me. To the sea. To the world! Run away with me," he exclaimed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca turned away, hesitation showing on her face. For a moment, Jack was sure she was going to reject his offer. emHow could I have been so stupid? She has everything here, there's nothing a pirate like me could offer her. She has money and-/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Yes," she breathed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Really?" Jack asked, not willing to hide the surprise on his face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Yes! I will go with you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"This time the kiss was more passionate. He held her in his arms./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In all honesty, Rebecca had no idea what she was doing. She knew she shouldn't be doing this and that there would be no turning back to her old life.. She knew she was betraying everything her parents stood for. But she also knew she was not afraid. The bubbling in her chest told her adventure awaited. And she embraced it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They walked back into the town, hand in hand. A silent darkness had fallen over the houses, the only sound was their feet over the cobblestone paths. The pair made their way to the front of Rebecca's house, pausing by the gate. Rebecca took Jack's hands in hers./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""See you again tomorrow?" she asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Tomorrow," Jack grinned./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He reached in and gave her a kiss on the cheek before turning away into the darkness. Rebecca held a hand to her face, admitting to herself that she very much liked his lips on hers./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Jack?" she called out./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Yes, luv?" he smiled, stopping in his tracks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""When will we leave?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack winked at her, replying, "At the opportune moment, luv."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca could only smile as he sauntered away, and could ask for no better response./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The next morning, Rebecca made her way to the forest, just as her and Jack had planned earlier. She skipped giddily past the buildings, unable to keep a smile off her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"As she passed the town jail, she noticed a large rioting crowd had formed. Rebecca stopped, curious and wondering what the commotion was about. She leaned over the outskirts of the crowd, not able to see what everyone was yelling about./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Look! There she is!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A man yelled from the center of the crowd, and everyone moved so that the man was pointing directly at Rebecca./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What, me?" she asked, bewildered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You're the girl that this empirate/em threatened last night!" he yelled louder, rioting up the crowd with him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca looked past the man and saw Jack Sparrow in handcuffs, beaten heavily. Rebecca gasped, ready to defend his honor. She opened her mouth, ready to yell at the crowd when a sharp look from Jack silenced her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emDon't say a word luv, /emhis eyes seemed to say./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca kept her mouth shut, although angry to do so, and a military official pulled Jack away, dragging him in the handcuffs. He winked at her, although it obviously caused him pain to do so. He tried to assure her everything would be alright./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The crowd closed around him, shutting Rebecca off. They cheered as Jack was tossed around, dragged into the jail./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""No! No!" Rebecca yelled, crying to whoever would listen./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her attempts were drowned out in the crowd, and as everyone dispersed she was left standing there, awestruck and confused. A million questions flooded her mind. How had Jack been discovered? Why did that man say he emthreatened /emher? Jack would never harm her in his life. Not intentionally./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly a sharp realization struck through her. Last night. Someone must have seen them together. She wanted to call out whoever that coward was, but she kept her calm and whipped around to face the direction she came./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'll come back, Jack," she whispered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca was in her room, pacing back and forth furiously, her lips tightened and mind racing. It had been several hours since Jack had been tossed away in jail. She flopped on her bed angrily, fiddling with her new necklace./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When her mind had finally been made, she risked a quick look at the door, swinging open her window and jumping swiftly onto the ledge. She braced herself for a moment and jumped onto her tree, eased by years of practice. She leapt down onto the cobblestone, quickly dusted off the lavender dress she wore and stormed off to the town jail./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In moments, Rebecca had made her way down the stairs and into the stench of the generally empty town jail. She saw Jack sitting in the corner of the closest one, messing with a stone on the ground. She rushed over until a rather skinny man stepped in her tracks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Just what do you think you're doing, Miss Waters?" the military official said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I wish to speak with the man who threatened me," Rebecca responded coldly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""An' why would you be wanting to do that?" He sneered, blocking her only view of Jack./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excuse me?" Rebecca said, stepping so close to the man that she could have stepped on his toes. "Do you know who I am? Do you know who my emfather/em is? My father is Commodore Jerome Waters, and do you really think you ought to be questioning his daughter?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The man considered this, but did not back down./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca took another step, this time forcing the man to step backwards. "Last time I checked, my father could take away your job, your money, your status." Rebecca leaned even closer, whispering loudly into his ear, "Your emwomen/em."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The man stumbled and stepped aside, heading up the stairs. He looked back at her, obviously uncomfortable./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Two minutes. That's it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That's all I need," Rebecca smirked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca held her threatening stance until the man had backed out of view. Almost collapsing with relief, she rushed forward to Jack, reaching for him behind the bars. Her hands felt warm on his cold face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh my dear Jack, what happened? Why are they doing this?" Rebecca asked desperately./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack smiled at her, avoiding the question. "Nice job you did there. Getting rid of the guard like that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Sparrow, answer me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack Sparrow rolled his eyes, knowing Rebecca would win no matter what he tried. "Someone saw us together, last night and they believed I was trying to hurt you. Or at least, that's what they pretended they saw. When I was discovered to be a pirate," he said, rubbing his scar, "they found an even better reason to lock me up."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca felt as if her stomach flung to the floor. An accusation like that could easily lead to a hanging, especially when the man is already a pirate and marked as one./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack looked at her shocked face and leaned in close, "Don't worry, luv. I'll find a way to get me out of this particular predicament. Then you and me are free and I'll take you under my arms to sail the seas."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca smiled at the thought, but it soon faltered. "Jack, do you know anything about the person who locked you up?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The dust in the cell seemed to close up his throat. He didn't want to answer, but he feared Rebecca already knew the answer. "Your mother."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca didn't have a chance to respond before the guard came back in with a stern look on his face, not willing to be talked out of his position once again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Your two minutes is up," he said, glancing at Rebecca crouching on the floor next to Jack with a shocked look on her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And I'd gladly meet with you again, luv," Jack said, pretending to be the fiendish pirate he was made out to be and continued the conversation they never had./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca placed a stern, disgusted look over her face and reached through the bars as if to embrace him, but promptly slapped him across the face. Jack was shocked enough by her actions that he need not pretend to be hurt./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She let herself be led out by the guard, throwing an apologetic look over her shoulder. Jack only shrugged and gave her a quick wink. She gave a weak smile. Her stomach seemed to sink into the ground. Her mother! Her own mother did this to her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Tears were brimming her eyes by the time she reached her house, but she quickly wiped them away and stormed up her steps./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Mother!" She called into the empty house, a fire burning in her eyes. "I wish to speak with you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack sat on the dusty cell floor, mindlessly pushing around some pebbles. His mind swarmed over Rebecca, worried she would get herself kicked out or even disowned for kissing a pirate. . As for himself, he barely considered the fact that he would most likely be hanged for his alleged actions. For once in his life, but not the last time, he was worried about someone else's safety over his own./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He clenched his hands, aching to be back on open waters and away from all this. Hopefully with Rebecca by his side. A smile stretched across his lips at the thought./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack missed her plenty this past year, wondering if she was missing him nearly as much. His questions were quickly answered yesterday, only for her to be taken away from him shortly. Jack's thoughts were disrupted by the entrance door clanging loudly, followed by footsteps./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack quickly flopped to his back on the floor, stretching his hands out pretending to be asleep. Pretty soon the footsteps stopped loudly by his door. There was some murmuring, and he cracked open an eye./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A rather short man stood before him, wearing the typical navy blue commodore coat adorned with golden embellishments. He stared down at Sparrow, surveying him over and giving a huff of disapproval from under his neat pompous white wig./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Cutler Beckett."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A short pause before the short man spoke back./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Jack Sparrow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was all Jack could do to not lunge at the despicable man as he said his name. His mind fleetingly drifted to the Black Pearl, his ship still hopefully docked and not burnt once again. He highly doubted Davy Jones would make another deal./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Cutler Beckett laughed haughtily. "It just so happens that I was in town for other matters when you managed to get yourself caught. All it took was a quick match of superiority and I convinced the guards to let me take you back with me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And what exactly gives you the right to do that?" Jack said, rising to his feet and towering over the stout man./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Miss Waters. The girl you threatened? I presume you know her, though I can't tell how well she knows you. I came to this dreary town to ask for her hand in marriage- therefore you are now my business."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack's stomach sunk. "What makes you think she will say yes?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Because she already has. I made way to the Waters' residence within the past half hour and gave her my proposal. She was more than eager to accept the engagement."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Beckett knew his words were a sword, wrenching through Jack's heart. Jack's face and mind went blank- no thoughts or witty remarks ran through his head./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack paused, considering the stakes. "What can I possibly give you that makes it all worth it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Cutler Beckett didn't waste a glance at Jack, reaching into his coat for his pocket watch. He flipped the golden top open, promptly checked the time, and walked out without looking back./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca's mother sat in the parlor; Rebecca, too worried to sit, paced angrily around the room. She whirled toward her mother./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""How could you do this? You sent him to be hung for emnothing/em." The words laced around her tongue./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her mother crossed her legs, straightening slightly. "I did what I had to do to help my daughter live a happy life."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I am happy with Jack."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ah," her mother huffed. "So that's the name of the insufferable pirate who has paraded his way into your heart."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca found it pointless to argue. "Why are you doing this? He has done no wrong."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Except embarrass and deface a Commodore of the Royal Navy, fail to complete orders issued by said Commodore and is taking my daughter away from me," she said promptly. "I will not have my daughter be stricken by a empirate/em," she said, spitting out the word, "when a much more capable suitor has followed through."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excuse me?" Rebecca asked, baffled./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her mother looked smug and proud as she replied. "Commodore Beckett has asked your father for your hand in marriage. We have accepted."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We? Where is my say in this? I will not marry that man!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What, do you plan to run away with this Jack?" she fumed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca gave no answer. She turned toward the door, her hair billowing behind her in a flurry. Her mind was already considering every possible way to get out of this mess./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Besides, you couldn't anyway."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca stopped in her tracks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""He has already made way with Cutler Beckett and agreed to become his personal privateer. In fact, his ship is leaving right now. Any thought he had of you has been left far behind," her mother said, satisfied to have won the battle. "He's a pirate and nothing more. I thought even you would have more common sense than to believe he would ever choose you over an opportunity like this."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""No," Rebecca breathed out./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She raced to the nearest window, flinging open the curtain. Sure enough, the blackest ship of all was quickly making its way out of port, already leaving the town. She almost thought she could make out the speck of black locks swaying in the wind, those dark eyes never once looking back. Everything felt so wrong./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She couldn't believe what Sparrow had done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She just hoped he would be happy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack stood on the helm of his ship, arms shackled behind his back. Here he was, chained on emhis own ship/em like some prisoner. Cutler Beckett's right hand man stood with him, surveying to make sure Jack would not attempt any ill-conceived escapes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Any fight that was left in him was gone. There was no point going back to that island anymore. Oh he would escape, of course, but with Rebecca betrothed to his enemy… what was the point? Jack had truly thought she cared for him and that she would go with him. He hadn't realized their first kiss would also be their last. Everything felt so wrong. Jack scanned the sea, the only love that would not betray him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He couldn't believe what Robin had done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He just hoped she would be happy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"strongAN: Hello! I hope you enjoy the latest chapter. Reviews, comments, and criticisms are very much appreciated! I want you as a reader to help me figure out how to improve this story. :)/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"strongKeep a wary eye on the sea. It's always changing./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Today was Rebecca's sixteenth birthday. It was around noon on a summer day, and she celebrated with a walk through the market with several of her other friends. They giggled and talked and flirted with passing boys just as any other girls their age. Rebecca wore her hair loose as usual, showing off a sea-green dress with an elegant wave pattern that her mother had given to her for her birthday./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh my, Rebecca," called her friend Helen, "I believe there is a handsome man over there just embegging/em for your attention."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"All the girls burst into giggles, including Rebecca, trying to get a glimpse of this mysterious person. Helen stealthily pointed him out in the shadows of the market. A tall figure was leaning against a shop wall and obviously stealing the occasional glance at Rebecca. A red cloth covered his mid-length, brown hair, hiding his face in the shadows. He was clothed in a dirty white shirt with billowing sleeves and a mostly open neckline tucked into brown pants and worn boots. A cutlass was worn at his hip and he held a small box which he turned over in his hands./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Well?" Helen asked. "Go get his attention!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca just gave her a shrug, unsure of what to do. Helen leaned into her ear, explaining her foolproof plan to get any man's attention. Or at least, that's what she said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Careful to follow Helen's plan, Rebecca put on her most innocent face and walked over to the shop that was nearest the wall, pretending to be interested in the heavenly baked goods displayed in the store window. After standing there for a few moments, Rebecca turned around abruptly, just as they had planned, and ran into the nearest passerby that was right in front of the man./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca collided into the random stranger, dropping her handkerchief on the ground in her shock with no notice. The stranger and her exchanged their quick apologies and went about their ways, paying no attention to the handkerchief that had been strategically left behind for their bit of fun. Rebecca continued on, resisting the urge to look back at the man and waited for his response./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Miss? You've dropped something emcoincidentally/em right in front of me, and I believe you'd want it back."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca cringed, and knew she had been caught in her scheme. She hesitantly spun around to face the figure./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A young man with tan complexion and a strong face stood before her, a mischievous twinkle in his kohl-lined eyes. Dark, choppy hair strewn out from his bandana, just long enough to fit in a ponytail if he tried. He was nearly a head taller than Rebecca and stood with a stature not of importance and manner like the other boys she had been interested in, but of carelessness and adventure. Rebecca stared into his familiar brown eyes, pursing her lips./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Miss me, Robin?" he said with a wink./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Jack!" Rebecca exclaimed, running into his arms and embracing him in a hug. "It feels like it's been ages!" She held onto him for a little too long, and stood back to admire how he had changed. "I hardly recognized you!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Aye, a year apart does seem to do that. But you should look at yourself, luv. You've changed quite a bit from the naive eight year old I met long ago," Jack said, beaming at her rather flirtatiously./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca blushed, eager to pull the attention off herself. "Where have you been? Tell me all about your adventures! Are you still working as a merchant under your father? Oh Jack, how I've missed you!" Rebecca said eagerly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack held a straight face, even under the last question about his merchant father. "All answers for another time. But for now, I have something for you. Happy Birthday, Rebecca."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca smiled as Jack handed her the small box he had been keeping safe. She opened it tenderly and gasped. Inside was a beautiful necklace. Two feathers had been tied around a string that dangled two blue beads, so that it looked similar to a tassel, connecting to a long rope chain. She took it in her hand, and admired its beauty./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Will you put it on me?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca turned around so Jack could put it on. He gently pulled back her brown curls from her neck and draped the necklace around her, clasping it in the back. Rebecca 's face shone with joy as she held the necklace carefully in her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It took me awhile to get, but it has one feather from a robin, and one from a sparrow. I have one too," he said. Jack pulled back his messy locks to show the feathers tucked underneath his hair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I love it, Sparrow. I'll wear it always," Rebecca said with utmost sincerity./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca left her friends, telling them she would fill them in later. Jack linked her arm under his and they made their way through the market and into the woods, both knowing where to go without saying a word./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Finally, when they had reached the cover of the trees Rebecca burst out with her questions. "Well? How has the sea life been? I've been emdying/em to know."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack gave a sad smile and turned to Rebecca, sitting with her beneath a tree. "Rebecca, I hate to do this on your birthday, but I need to tell you the whole truth. Even if you will hate me after."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca willed him on hesitantly with her eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack sighed, pulling up the sleeve of his right arm. He turned it over and showed a scarred P shape over his wrist, healing but still inflamed. Rebecca stifled her gasp, knowing the mark as well as any. It was the mark of a pirate. Rebecca looked back and forth from his recent scar to Jack's face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You've been a pirate all along, haven't you?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack rose his eyes, expecting to see a look of judgement and disappointment. Instead, he saw those kind brown eyes of hers looking at him with a hint of wonder./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Not always," he said, dipping his head. "My father is Edward Teague, infamous pirate of the Caribbean. And I am his son, bound to follow in his footsteps. For a while I stepped away from the path of piracy, working under an Englishman. It appears I couldn't stay that way for long."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She considered this, pursing her lips. "Who did this to you?" she said, gesturing to his arm./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack pulled down his sleeve, covering the mark once again. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here, with you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca nodded, unconsciously placing her hand on his for comfort. She buried the disgust she felt towards whoever did this and gave Jack a weak smile./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Don't worry, luv. I left my own mark on him."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly they both realized Rebecca's hand resting on his and they pulled away from each other quickly. Rebecca's face turned red as Jack smiled at her with his classic mischievous look before it turned back into his frown./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'm sorry I have never told you before. I didn't want you to run away from me. From who I really am."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca looked into his eyes. "Jack, I would never run away from you. Pirating is in your blood, so you'll have to square with that someday."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack considered this, toeing a stick on the ground. Rebecca reached for his scarred arm, gently caressing the mark./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Besides, being a pirate is rather exciting," she winked, dropping his hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack looked at her, taking a moment to appreciate her beauty. Not just physically, but the way she walked and talked. The way she looked at the sea, the way she gently held his hand. Rebecca's eyes locked with his and Jack reached a hand to her face, softly holding her cheek./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack leaned in and kissed her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was a while before they pulled apart, but when they did, they both held faint smiles on their faces, not looking away from each other's eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Come with me, Robin," Jack said, taking both her hands in his./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Come with me. To the sea. To the world! Run away with me," he exclaimed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca turned away, hesitation showing on her face. For a moment, Jack was sure she was going to reject his offer. emHow could I have been so stupid? She has everything here, there's nothing a pirate like me could offer her. She has money and-/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Yes," she breathed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Really?" Jack asked, not willing to hide the surprise on his face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Yes! I will go with you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"This time the kiss was more passionate. He held her in his arms./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In all honesty, Rebecca had no idea what she was doing. She knew she shouldn't be doing this and that there would be no turning back to her old life.. She knew she was betraying everything her parents stood for. But she also knew she was not afraid. The bubbling in her chest told her adventure awaited. And she embraced it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They walked back into the town, hand in hand. A silent darkness had fallen over the houses, the only sound was their feet over the cobblestone paths. The pair made their way to the front of Rebecca's house, pausing by the gate. Rebecca took Jack's hands in hers./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""See you again tomorrow?" she asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Tomorrow," Jack grinned./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He reached in and gave her a kiss on the cheek before turning away into the darkness. Rebecca held a hand to her face, admitting to herself that she very much liked his lips on hers./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Jack?" she called out./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Yes, luv?" he smiled, stopping in his tracks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""When will we leave?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack winked at her, replying, "At the opportune moment, luv."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca could only smile as he sauntered away, and could ask for no better response./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The next morning, Rebecca made her way to the forest, just as her and Jack had planned earlier. She skipped giddily past the buildings, unable to keep a smile off her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"As she passed the town jail, she noticed a large rioting crowd had formed. Rebecca stopped, curious and wondering what the commotion was about. She leaned over the outskirts of the crowd, not able to see what everyone was yelling about./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Look! There she is!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A man yelled from the center of the crowd, and everyone moved so that the man was pointing directly at Rebecca./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What, me?" she asked, bewildered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You're the girl that this empirate/em threatened last night!" he yelled louder, rioting up the crowd with him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca looked past the man and saw Jack Sparrow in handcuffs, beaten heavily. Rebecca gasped, ready to defend his honor. She opened her mouth, ready to yell at the crowd when a sharp look from Jack silenced her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emDon't say a word luv, /emhis eyes seemed to say./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca kept her mouth shut, although angry to do so, and a military official pulled Jack away, dragging him in the handcuffs. He winked at her, although it obviously caused him pain to do so. He tried to assure her everything would be alright./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The crowd closed around him, shutting Rebecca off. They cheered as Jack was tossed around, dragged into the jail./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""No! No!" Rebecca yelled, crying to whoever would listen./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her attempts were drowned out in the crowd, and as everyone dispersed she was left standing there, awestruck and confused. A million questions flooded her mind. How had Jack been discovered? Why did that man say he emthreatened /emher? Jack would never harm her in his life. Not intentionally./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly a sharp realization struck through her. Last night. Someone must have seen them together. She wanted to call out whoever that coward was, but she kept her calm and whipped around to face the direction she came./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'll come back, Jack," she whispered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca was in her room, pacing back and forth furiously, her lips tightened and mind racing. It had been several hours since Jack had been tossed away in jail. She flopped on her bed angrily, fiddling with her new necklace./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When her mind had finally been made, she risked a quick look at the door, swinging open her window and jumping swiftly onto the ledge. She braced herself for a moment and jumped onto her tree, eased by years of practice. She leapt down onto the cobblestone, quickly dusted off the lavender dress she wore and stormed off to the town jail./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In moments, Rebecca had made her way down the stairs and into the stench of the generally empty town jail. She saw Jack sitting in the corner of the closest one, messing with a stone on the ground. She rushed over until a rather skinny man stepped in her tracks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Just what do you think you're doing, Miss Waters?" the military official said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I wish to speak with the man who threatened me," Rebecca responded coldly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""An' why would you be wanting to do that?" He sneered, blocking her only view of Jack./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excuse me?" Rebecca said, stepping so close to the man that she could have stepped on his toes. "Do you know who I am? Do you know who my emfather/em is? My father is Commodore Jerome Waters, and do you really think you ought to be questioning his daughter?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The man considered this, but did not back down./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca took another step, this time forcing the man to step backwards. "Last time I checked, my father could take away your job, your money, your status." Rebecca leaned even closer, whispering loudly into his ear, "Your emwomen/em."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The man stumbled and stepped aside, heading up the stairs. He looked back at her, obviously uncomfortable./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Two minutes. That's it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That's all I need," Rebecca smirked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca held her threatening stance until the man had backed out of view. Almost collapsing with relief, she rushed forward to Jack, reaching for him behind the bars. Her hands felt warm on his cold face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh my dear Jack, what happened? Why are they doing this?" Rebecca asked desperately./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack smiled at her, avoiding the question. "Nice job you did there. Getting rid of the guard like that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Sparrow, answer me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack Sparrow rolled his eyes, knowing Rebecca would win no matter what he tried. "Someone saw us together, last night and they believed I was trying to hurt you. Or at least, that's what they pretended they saw. When I was discovered to be a pirate," he said, rubbing his scar, "they found an even better reason to lock me up."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca felt as if her stomach flung to the floor. An accusation like that could easily lead to a hanging, especially when the man is already a pirate and marked as one./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack looked at her shocked face and leaned in close, "Don't worry, luv. I'll find a way to get me out of this particular predicament. Then you and me are free and I'll take you under my arms to sail the seas."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca smiled at the thought, but it soon faltered. "Jack, do you know anything about the person who locked you up?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The dust in the cell seemed to close up his throat. He didn't want to answer, but he feared Rebecca already knew the answer. "Your mother."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca didn't have a chance to respond before the guard came back in with a stern look on his face, not willing to be talked out of his position once again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Your two minutes is up," he said, glancing at Rebecca crouching on the floor next to Jack with a shocked look on her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And I'd gladly meet with you again, luv," Jack said, pretending to be the fiendish pirate he was made out to be and continued the conversation they never had./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca placed a stern, disgusted look over her face and reached through the bars as if to embrace him, but promptly slapped him across the face. Jack was shocked enough by her actions that he need not pretend to be hurt./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She let herself be led out by the guard, throwing an apologetic look over her shoulder. Jack only shrugged and gave her a quick wink. She gave a weak smile. Her stomach seemed to sink into the ground. Her mother! Her own mother did this to her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Tears were brimming her eyes by the time she reached her house, but she quickly wiped them away and stormed up her steps./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Mother!" She called into the empty house, a fire burning in her eyes. "I wish to speak with you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack sat on the dusty cell floor, mindlessly pushing around some pebbles. His mind swarmed over Rebecca, worried she would get herself kicked out or even disowned for kissing a pirate. . As for himself, he barely considered the fact that he would most likely be hanged for his alleged actions. For once in his life, but not the last time, he was worried about someone else's safety over his own./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He clenched his hands, aching to be back on open waters and away from all this. Hopefully with Rebecca by his side. A smile stretched across his lips at the thought./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack missed her plenty this past year, wondering if she was missing him nearly as much. His questions were quickly answered yesterday, only for her to be taken away from him shortly. Jack's thoughts were disrupted by the entrance door clanging loudly, followed by footsteps./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack quickly flopped to his back on the floor, stretching his hands out pretending to be asleep. Pretty soon the footsteps stopped loudly by his door. There was some murmuring, and he cracked open an eye./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A rather short man stood before him, wearing the typical navy blue commodore coat adorned with golden embellishments. He stared down at Sparrow, surveying him over and giving a huff of disapproval from under his neat pompous white wig./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Cutler Beckett."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A short pause before the short man spoke back./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Jack Sparrow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was all Jack could do to not lunge at the despicable man as he said his name. His mind fleetingly drifted to the Black Pearl, his ship still hopefully docked and not burnt once again. He highly doubted Davy Jones would make another deal./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Cutler Beckett laughed haughtily. "It just so happens that I was in town for other matters when you managed to get yourself caught. All it took was a quick match of superiority and I convinced the guards to let me take you back with me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And what exactly gives you the right to do that?" Jack said, rising to his feet and towering over the stout man./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Miss Waters. The girl you threatened? I presume you know her, though I can't tell how well she knows you. I came to this dreary town to ask for her hand in marriage- therefore you are now my business."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack's stomach sunk. "What makes you think she will say yes?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Because she already has. I made way to the Waters' residence within the past half hour and gave her my proposal. She was more than eager to accept the engagement."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Beckett knew his words were a sword, wrenching through Jack's heart. Jack's face and mind went blank- no thoughts or witty remarks ran through his head./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack paused, considering the stakes. "What can I possibly give you that makes it all worth it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Cutler Beckett didn't waste a glance at Jack, reaching into his coat for his pocket watch. He flipped the golden top open, promptly checked the time, and walked out without looking back./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca's mother sat in the parlor; Rebecca, too worried to sit, paced angrily around the room. She whirled toward her mother./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""How could you do this? You sent him to be hung for emnothing/em." The words laced around her tongue./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her mother crossed her legs, straightening slightly. "I did what I had to do to help my daughter live a happy life."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I am happy with Jack."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ah," her mother huffed. "So that's the name of the insufferable pirate who has paraded his way into your heart."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca found it pointless to argue. "Why are you doing this? He has done no wrong."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Except embarrass and deface a Commodore of the Royal Navy, fail to complete orders issued by said Commodore and is taking my daughter away from me," she said promptly. "I will not have my daughter be stricken by a empirate/em," she said, spitting out the word, "when a much more capable suitor has followed through."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excuse me?" Rebecca asked, baffled./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her mother looked smug and proud as she replied. "Commodore Beckett has asked your father for your hand in marriage. We have accepted."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We? Where is my say in this? I will not marry that man!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What, do you plan to run away with this Jack?" she fumed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca gave no answer. She turned toward the door, her hair billowing behind her in a flurry. Her mind was already considering every possible way to get out of this mess./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Besides, you couldn't anyway."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Rebecca stopped in her tracks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""He has already made way with Cutler Beckett and agreed to become his personal privateer. In fact, his ship is leaving right now. Any thought he had of you has been left far behind," her mother said, satisfied to have won the battle. "He's a pirate and nothing more. I thought even you would have more common sense than to believe he would ever choose you over an opportunity like this."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""No," Rebecca breathed out./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She raced to the nearest window, flinging open the curtain. Sure enough, the blackest ship of all was quickly making its way out of port, already leaving the town. She almost thought she could make out the speck of black locks swaying in the wind, those dark eyes never once looking back. Everything felt so wrong./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She couldn't believe what Sparrow had done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She just hoped he would be happy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Jack stood on the helm of his ship, arms shackled behind his back. Here he was, chained on emhis own ship/em like some prisoner. Cutler Beckett's right hand man stood with him, surveying to make sure Jack would not attempt any ill-conceived escapes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Any fight that was left in him was gone. There was no point going back to that island anymore. Oh he would escape, of course, but with Rebecca betrothed to his enemy… what was the point? Jack had truly thought she cared for him and that she would go with him. He hadn't realized their first kiss would also be their last. Everything felt so wrong. Jack scanned the sea, the only love that would not betray him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He couldn't believe what Robin had done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He just hoped she would be happy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"strongAN: Hello! I hope you enjoy the latest chapter. Reviews, comments, and criticisms are very much appreciated! I want you as a reader to help me figure out how to improve this story. :)/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"strongKeep a wary eye on the sea. It's always changing./strong/p