~Chapter 4: Ghost stories~

"Miss. Miss! Miss Gilbert," James just huffed and puffed before realising what exactly he needed to say, "Abigail, wake up!" James shook the girl on his bed, rousing her from yet another night terror that haunted her mind.

This time, she woke up almost immediately, coughing and spluttering as if she was being suffocated. Reaching towards a table he'd moved closer to the bed, he grabbed a the cup of water (which he thought it best to fill just en case) and helped her sit up, allowing her to take the gulp and slowly sip the water.

"You fainted again. Now Miss Gilbert, I must ask you again-," James didn't finish as her small, yet quite stubborn tone caught him off guard.

"Abigail. Please, I don't like being called Miss Gilbert." She sipped the water and didn't look at him, leaning over slightly as if about to retch.

"...Miss Abigail," he ignored the flicker she sent him beneath her lashes, her gaze slightly obscured by her hair, "I must ask you not to exhaust yourself. You've been through a terrible experience and you could damage your health."

"I'm fine. I've been through tougher and I thank you for your worrying," she lifted her head slightly and looked at him, tiredness evident in her eyes, "I shan't trouble you or exhaust myself. I'm quite al right, all thanks to you."

"Madame," James seemed a little thrown off by her sudden proclamation of thanks to him, "I know...I expect you to uphold common courtesy, but there's no need to thank me. I was doing my duty and-," Again, she interrupted him.

"By saving my life? What you done...sorry," she cast her gaze down again, "my father always said I had the habit of interrupting people. You can continue."

"It's...it's fine Miss," he cleared his throat and wasn't at all offended by her, "I was doing my duty. However...If it was not my duty, I still would have done it."

Abigail lifted her head again and smiled at him, James surprising himself as he smiled back.

"I...feel better and I was wondering," she quickly looked down at the cup in her hand, a faint blush creeping upon her face, "I was...do you think it would be possible if I could, if you would let me," she turned back to him, a small pleading look in her eye, "come on deck? I'll stay out of the way I just...I just really would like to walk around."

James swallowed another lump in his throat as she gave him another simple look, something somersaulting inside of him at such a delicate creature. He couldn't have refused her if he wanted to.

"Of course. Allow me to...to bring you some clothes and I shall escort you."

Quick as a flash, James seemed to run back and forth, gathering her various garments that had been found aboard, most of which were meant for Elizabeth when they found her.

"Here," he gave them to her quickly and stepped back, not wanting to make a sudden skin to skin contact with her, "I hope these would suffice. I apologise if they are not best fit...but...well, I...shall...I shall wait outside for you." He quickly bowed and turned, just reaching the door.

"Jamie!"

He turned, not realising the name change straight away, before staring at her, slightly dumbfounded.

"Thank you."

She gave him her first genuine smile, full of appreciation of hope.

James didn't quite know what to say or do, so he bowed again, mumbled some sort of acceptance and scurried outside, shutting the door quickly behind him.

Again, he leaned against the outside of the door, his hand clasped against the place his heart was and repeating a small prayer to himself.

'Calm. Calm yourself man, calm.' He kept saying, speaking exactly to his thumping heart and buzzing mind.

He'd just adjusted himself accordingly, suddenly straightening up when the soft click of the latch on his door caught his attention.

The door opened and Abigail slowly came forward, gazing up at James, a vision in a pale pink dress.

"I'm ready...Commodore." She smiled at him and for some reason, James felt he preferred it when she called him Jamie, the deep rumbling somewhere in his lower body catching him off guard.

"Right-right this way." He stepped aside and allowed her to go in front, slightly embarrassed at how high-pitched his voice had gone for that moment. She stepped in front of him, the small friction of accidentally rubbing her arm against his chest sent shudders down his spine, but he still managed to compose himself and stay diligent and stride out confidently behind her.

Out on deck, he just observed her, watching her smile and look around at everyone. All the men turned and bowed their heads in her direction, smiling pleasantly at her before quickly scurrying along back to their duties as their Commodore gave them all a very stern look.

"It's a beautiful vessel." She turned to him and smiled sweetly, genuinely impressed with such a magnificent ship.

"Yes. Not as wonderful as the Interceptor. Unfortunately for you Miss, we cannot return straight to land. We have are currently following another vessel. The same vessel which attacked your ship. I promise you, that when we catch it, you and those who were on your ship shall have justice."

James watched her take in all his words, carefully absorbing them. She then smiled at him and seemed very pleased with his promise.

"Thank you again. I just...I wish their was something I could do in return."

James immediately followed her as she wandered over to the edge of the ship and clung onto the railing, just watching the sun at the far end of the sky, hovering dangerously close to the water's edge as it's reflection seemed to mock it from below.

"There's nothing you need to do here Miss. You're safe and a guest upon my ship." James looked out at the sun to, occasionally glimpsing to his side, making sure none of his crew eavesdropped on him.

"My father always used to allow me to help out," she smiled sadly lowered her head to gaze down at her reflection in the water, "he thought you could never have enough help and he was proud of me. He didn't...he didn't believe that everyone was unequal and that everyone should do their fair share of work. He was...a good man."

James turned at the soft sigh that escaped her lips and watched her, expecting her to start crying again. Instead, she gripped onto the railing and took a deep breath, raising her head back up to look out at the sun.

"I can't...I mustn't dwell on what has happened. It happened for a reason. I've lost my mother, my brothers and now my father. I've been preparing myself for such a time like this," She gave a small smile and raised her hand up to the her heart, "I swore to my family I wouldn't dwell in sorrow and mourn for them for the rest of my life."

James' didn't quite realise he was catching flies. His jaw hung open as he gazed at the woman before him. He'd underestimated her greatly, finding some wonderfully strong woman beneath her exterior.

"Abigail." The words escaped his lips and he didn't realise he'd been so improper to call her by her name, but he was just so...bedazzled by this woman.

"Commodore Norrington!" A voice shook him out of his stupor and he turned towards Governor Swann who stood before him.

"Governor," James got rid of his thoughts and remembered all the important events he had momentarily forgotten, "may I introduce Miss Abigail Gilbert. Saved from the wreckage left by the Black Pearl."

James stood back and watched the two interact, Abigail curtseying and smiling politely, whilst Governor Swann took her hand in his.

"You're very lucky young lady," Swann spoke to her and held her hand carefully in his, "the Black Pearl is full of cut throats and degenerates. I'm thankful that you survived my dear. I just hope...hope that my daughter will have the same protection as you have had my dear."

"You're daughter sir?" Abigail passed a quick glance to James, realising he'd missed out on telling her an important detail.

"Yes, she's...she's around your age my dear girl. She was...taken by those pirates."

"Oh. I'm...I'm so sorry." Abigail bit her lower lip and worried it between her teeth, gazing up at the governor.

"No...it's fine, I have faith and confidence in Commodore Norrington that we should find her."

The governor let go of her hand and turned to go, only to be stopped by the gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Sir...my father...he perished in the ship but...I know he treasured me," she looked at him with the most hope filled gaze he'd ever seen, "He told me he loved me everyday and too always have faith. Sir, believe me when I say, your daughter is safe and shall remain that way. I believe so."

James was yet again thoroughly captivated by this change in her character, a person that was once so frail and seemingly helpless stood before him, a strong and quite independent woman. He had just reminded himself that it was not a leisure cruise and in fact he had his fiancé to find, but after Abigail' short speech, he seemed to forget that yet again.

"Thank you, thank you my dear." Governor Swann smiled for the first time since Elizabeth had been taken, quickly taking the woman's hand and rubbing her knuckles with the pad of his thumb.

The day began to darken and after eating a hearty meal, James escorted her back to his quarters. Upon entering his room, she finally looked about the place, something in her head clicking.

"This is...this is your room," she turned to him as he closed the door and walked in after her, "isn't it?"

"Yes, my quarters are more suitable for you than any others." He wasn't exactly lying, he knew Governor Swann and Hughes' would have even been tolerable and comfortable for her, but he didn't want her to catch on to the fact he'd placed her in his room so she could be close to him. And which is why he hadn't permitted her to be moved anywhere else just yet.

"Miss Elizabeth Swann," she turned to him, holding a small silver box that had been on his desk, "she...I heard talk amongst the crew...she is your fiancé."

For some reason, Abigail speaking those words to him felt terrible. James could feel that bit of him (that nagging side) kick himself hard mentally.

"It is true. I proposed to her but...due to complications and...disruptions," he couldn't stop himself as he physically shook his head at the face of Sparrow, cockily grabbing Elizabeth and smiling at Norrington the whole time, "we have yet to make it official."

Abigail quickly turned away from him, James quickly catching a small expression on her face which appeared to be a smile, but he merely got rid of that as he watched her.

"I shall leave you to sleep," James stepped backwards once, hoping she wouldn't notice, "I will come to wake you in the morning and-,"

"You...sorry."

A comfortable silence filled the room as they both chuckled at her little mannerism, James noticing the faint blush that swept across her cheeks.

"Well...goodnight Jamie."

James chuckling stopped and he looked at her, a faint smile on her face.

"Goodnight...Abigail."