Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. Simple as that.

A/N:If anyone thinks that I'm not doing Jack properly, feel free to speak up and tell me. Otherwise, enjoy.

Jack's Daughter-Matters Behind Closed Doors

Jack was home again. A surprising few weeks after his last visit. He had pulled into port the night before and had spent a night in the town before coming to up to the house. Of course Momma knew what he did, and so did I, but I wasn't about as mad as Momma was about it.

When she saw him coming up the hill, swaying more then usual with a whore gripping his waist, she rushed out of the house flailing a broom at the other woman. I watched from the window giggling as the whore rushed off, flustered and afraid. I was only happy for a moment as Momma grabbed Jack by the ear and dragged him into the house. I was confused; Momma had never treated Jack like that.

"You stay right where you are!"

I jumped away from the window as Momma came into the house. Her voice usually calm and vibrantly rich resonated with anger. Jack was looking at me pleadingly; his hands fashioned in a prayer and thrust toward me. Scared, I back away. I had never heard Momma raise her voice before.

Momma seeing Jack's gesture slapped his hand with her free one, growling under her breath. She gave me another warning glare as she kicked aside a heap of blankets on the floor.

The resonating bang of a slamming door rung in my ears as Momma dragged Jack into her room, there was no where else to go, it was the only other separate room in the house. I winced, tugged my ears and looked around. There were fishnets hanging from the ceiling, a wild sort of design that livened my home. I momentarily considered trying to climb one, before with a shudder I remembered the last time I had tried such a thing.

"Jack, what do you think you're doing!"

The shout drew my attention and my eyes roved toward the door. I saw that Momma's slam had made the door bounce back and it was slightly open. I cocked my head, wondering why she was so mad. Jack hadn't done anything. He was doing what he always did.

Forgetting Momma's order I crept toward the door. It wasn't entirely necessary because I was sure Tortuga on one of her most rowdiest nights would have heard her voice.

"Ow woman!" Jack shouted. "That's me ears! 'aven't you ever heard o' silence!"

I almost giggled but then pressed a hand to my mouth. I didn't want to risk the chance of being seen and getting punished. My face twisted as I imagined Momma making me go down to the docks and gut fish. I nearly puked on the spot at the thought. I would never eat fish again.

"Silence!" Momma shouted back, drawing me away from my wanderings. "What do you think you're doing to my daughter?"

"Our daughter," Jack emphasized. "If ya don't forget we had a beautiful moonlight reunion. Drinks all around!"

I frowned. Momma never talked about the night she had spent with Jack and ended up pregnant with me. Intrigued I slunk closer and peered into the crack. The view wasn't all that good but I could make out Momma advancing on Jack. She was repeatedly poking him in the chest, her face livid. Jack didn't look concerned, but then again, Jack never looked concerned.

"You have to stop this," Momma seethed. "You know what she's learning?"

"Many things?" Jack asked, tugging on his goatee, looking confused. "It's Tortuga luv."

"Don't 'luv' me Jack!" Momma snapped. "You seem to love everyone on this god-forsaken lump of rock."

"What can I say?" Jack grinned, spreading his arms. "The women love me."

Momma stepped back. I could see she was hurt. I was angry. Jack had never hurt Momma before. I had thought he could never harm anyone. I watched as she took a steadying breath.

"I don't want to ever see you in Tortuga again," she said, gritting her teeth. "Dannica is five and a half years old. She sees what you're doing as perfectly acceptable Jack."

"It is." Jack brightened. "Where's the rum?"

"Jack!" Momma screamed. "There is no rum! There is nothing! I want you to never come back here."

Jack shrugged, bent down and picked up my hat off the bedroom floor. "Guess I'll be taking this too?"

I stuffed my fist into my mouth and backed away from the door. I felt like crying. Why was Momma upset? Why was she sending Jack away? Jack never did anything wrong. It was just Jack.

The door opened and Jack came out. He gave me a brief glance as I sat on the floor. "See ya round darling," he grinned, his teeth flashing in the sun coming through the window.

I was momentarily heartened by the smile. Jack called me 'darling,' he never called anyone else that. Sensing Momma I glanced over at her saw her hands on her hips, a stormy expression on her face. I knew what I had seen wasn't a horribly bad nightmare.

I jumped to my feet, but I noticed that Jack had left, ducking out of the house in the silent way he sometimes mustered. Unable to hold back tears I glared at Momma. "I hate you!" I screamed at her. "Why did you let Jack go? He didn't do anything wrong!"

I watched the dumbfounded expression cross her face as she realized that I heard the conversation. I saw her glance at the door and the anger drain from her face. I saw the compassionate look in her eye and I knew that it meant she would try to explain. I was furious. Screaming another 'I hate you', I dashed out of the house.

Jack found me three days later, perfectly content in Bootstrap's arms as he talked to me about his son. Jack was furious, but I won him over, grinning and begging. The crew thought it was funny, but Jack glared them to silence. It was nearly two months before I stepped on land again, and Jack made it clear that he would 'steal' me again if Momma indicated that he couldn't see me again.

Momma and I never got along quite the same afterward. There was always a silent bridge between us that neither of us tried to cross. I might have been young, but I had understood fully what I had done and was not sorry for it.