Chapter 7

Authors Note: The next chapter is finally here. I was worried about what would happen next, I'm not even sure how this is going to go. I just hope that Jack can guide me well enough so that I can make it match the rest of the chapters and not sound all childish. From here on to meeting Anamara after the mutiny. . . I can see the road stretching out before me with no end.

Jack lay on his stomach with a content smile on his face. Annette lay next to him, her beautiful hair spread over the black satin pillow like finely spun gold. Her complexion fair and figure shapely he'd never known a more beautiful woman.

Well, he twirled a lock of her hair idly between his fingers, Jeria could match her through and through. Just thinking about her made his heart lurch painfully. His beautiful Jeria, hair like molten lava and spirit to match. He could see her emerald green eyes sparkle with laughter and later shine with tears.

Jack unconsciously knotted his fist in the sheets memories rushing through his mind fast as the tide comes in. She was his first love, no matter that she was forced to sell herself to live, he saw underneath that to what she really was.

He had never touched her knowing that she spent much of her time in pain. Jack had done what he could to ease her discomfort. He held her as she fell asleep, whispered soft words to her, promised her things they both knew were lies.

He had always tried to protect her, staying out to all hours in the morning for more coins to try and save her. There was never enough, Kyra was his sister and his blood. It was a hard lesson learned, but life was fragile and there was only so much Jeria could bear before it started taking it's toll.

Brahm had never known or he might have tried to kill her himself. As it was, not even Jack's skill with a sword could have saved her life. He held her in his arms as she breathed her last, her bruised hand rested in his as a single diamond bright tear rolled down her face for their love.

At least there was the knowledge that he had shown her another world, one she wanted to explore with all her heart. He wove stories to mask the horrible truth, while she was strong and willed herself to live. . . inch by inch the fine thread was being unraveled. The scissors of life were taken out and at last the string was cut through. He lost her on a breezy summer day that seemed to mock him with it's beauty when that part of his heart lay dead.

He didn't even know the name of the man who had killed her. Jack went to the meadow to meet her one night not knowing that it would be their last. He would never forget the sick feeling of dread as he saw the drops of blood on the sweet-smelling grass, nor forget the scream of denial that echoed in his soul as he saw her lying on the ground.

Jeria, she had somehow managed to get from the bleak, unmerciful city to their place in the grass. Many times had he met her there and memories went through both their minds as their eyes met.

She whispered his name running her hand down his cheek, the look in her eyes was one of undying love. How sorry she was for all of it, but not a moment would she have changed. Jack was what she lived for, the time when all else fell away and she lost herself in the safety he offered, at least for a few hours. She was glad that she could bring him happiness when all else in his life went against him. The pain in her body was nigh unbearable, but tears rose in her eyes that she would not be able to stay with him.

It was better to have brought a ray of light to both of their lives than to never have met at all. She believed that now with all her heart, she raised her hand to his cheek so that she would remember the look in his tawny-brown eyes forever.

His name was the last word that passed through her lips as the darkness slowly closed in around her. Jack held her far into the night too numb to care if they were found. He smoothed her red hair back from her exquisite face and cursed the gods that she was lost to him.

He buried her the next morning in the place she had loved so much. Every morning the sun would rise, but it's first ray hit the meadow in a specific place making the ground seem to glow. He made sure to lay her in exactly that space so that she would have the sun shine on her every morning to chase away the darkness.

While times might change, the sun never would and she would be remembered by him until the day he died. He walked away and tucked her into the deepest regions of his heart. He needed to stay in control and not fall to his knees as he so wanted to do. There was Brahm to face and Kyra to take care of, he couldn't fail her now. She was all he cared about in the world now and he would never let anything happen to her.

Annette woke breathing in deeply as she felt Jack lying next to her. She sat up and blinked in surprise when she saw the sadness in his eyes.

"Jack?" she called his name hesitantly. He blinked and the sadness was only lingering as he turned to face her.

"Aye, love?" he asked forcing himself back to awareness.

"You looked... as if you weren't entirely here." She kept her gaze lowered on the sheets.

"And what would I do a thing like that for?" Jack grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist, "Why when I have the most beautiful woman in London would I let my thoughts wander?"

Annette shrugged off her worry and relaxed into his arms. "I wouldn't know," she purred seductively. "you want to make amends for it, I warrant."

"You think so, do you?" he kissed her neck and grinned as she giggled at the ticklish sensation.

Gibbs stopped when he heard feminine laughter from Jack's room. He smiled to himself revising his earlier theory. It was about time the boy let himself enjoy life's finer joys.

"Gibbs, back again so soon," a cheery woman came up the stairs and rested her hip against the banister.

"Seems so, Marianne."

Marianne looked him over appreciatively, at only forty years old Gibbs was still handsome and strong. His hair was dark brown and he was of average height, but what attracted women to him was his quick wit and humor. Always ready with a compliment or joke he raised confidence and spirits wherever he went.

"Care for a drink then to take care of your thirst?"

"Rum?" Gibbs asked.

"Is there any other drink worth having," she walked into an unoccupied room and took out two glasses.

The ship wasn't leaving port until the next morning, the mast had to be repaired and that couldn't be taken care of until late evening. Not that the crew minded, it was one more night of freedom for them. He'd talked to the Captain of the ship and he'd agreed to let Jack aboard as a cabin boy.

Jack would gain experience that way and learn how to handle a ship well. Their captain was fair and a firm believer in rules. He would treat the lad right and teach him the way of the sea. Gibbs was convinced, there wasn't a better man to teach Jack then Vinehbalt.

Authors Note: Way to go Jack! Now I explained his, er, learning of love and added just another part to his past. I'm glad of how this all turned out although I am a bit surprised myself. Jeria, wonderful character she and Jack needed a first love. . .