Chapter Seven: Tia Dalma

Rosaline watched the raindrops hit the puddles. It was a grey day, but that perfectly matched her mood. There were tears in her blue eyes and for the first time since arriving here in Dianita, she was longing to return home to England. She had seen a definate change in Kuno's personality, a change that was breaking her heart.

She was sitting on a rock in the vast gardens of the palace, the rain sticking her long hair to her neck. She knew that her beautiful blue dress would probably be ruined after this, but somehow she just couldn't care like she used to.

Her eyes rose to the sea. The waves were grey today, crashing against the shore. She thought of Jack Sparrow, sailing somewhere in that vast ocean, unaware of the pain he was causing her.

"Darling?" asked a quiet voice behind her. She turned to see Kuno, his curls of hair stuck to his forehead. "What are you doing out here, Rosaline?"

"Thinking," she replied honestly. He sat down beside her, hesitated, then took her hand in his.

For a long moment, he studied the slender, pale fingers in his hand, then raised them to his lips and kissed them. "Rosaline, my love, I am so sorry."

She looked into his warm eyes. "Do you mean it?"

He nodded and smiled. "I love you, Rosaline." Then he captured her lips in a lingering, gentle kiss.

The heat in the swamp was almost unbearable; Will felt his shirt sticking to his back as he and Jack rowed towards the home of Tia Dalma. "I hate this place," he said.

Jack chuckled. His hat was low over his face, and through the shadows his golden teeth glittered at Will. "Isn't exactly me favourite place in the world, either."

"Then why are we here?"

"Because we need to find me children," Jack said, "and to be honest, mate, I've no idea where to look."

"What makes you think Tia can help us?" Will asked.

"Because, mate, she can do anything." Jack's beard twitched as he chuckled. "Something not quite... human, if you will, about the mysterious Miss Dalma."

Will didn't reply; personally, he still wasn't sure quite what he thought about all this supernatural talk. He had seen enough strange things to believe in a lot of... abnormal things. But he knew that when he was in bright sunlight, a normal pirate with a lovely wife, it was hard to believe.

They rowed on in silence until the reached Tia's home. She was standing outside, her dark head lowered, but her bright eyes rose as they approached.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," she said, almost mournfully. "And William Turner. Welcome back, my friends."

Jack and Will climbed out of the boat. Jack swept Tia into a tight embrace. "Good ter see you again, Tia, luv."

"In a spot of bother again, eh, Jack?" she said, the words harsh in her hard accent. "And, you, William- in it also, thanks to your beloved Captain, aye?"

"Aye," Will said, shaking her hand. Even now, she made him nervous.

"Queen Noa-" Jack began, but Tia raised a hand.

"Jack, I know of Noa's curse. It is time for us to return to the Pearl; we must find your children, but firstly we need the Emerald Sword."

Kat sat watching the sea, her long, stringy hair blowing around her face. Captain Jack Sparrow...Of course, he was quite a legend in Tortuga. Apparently he often came here, though Kat had never seen him.

She watched the grey waves with a proud smile. She knew the stories of Jack Sparrow.

And he was her father.

Author's Notes
Thank you for the reviews! Keep them coming.

IMPORTANT: Having seen AWE last night, I have decided that this story must be AU. I know some elements don't exactly fit but hey, it's fiction. Roll with it. :)