A/N: I know this one took extremely long! I'm so sorry for that and I'll try not to disappoint. Well nothing more to say except I hope you enjoy this chapter.

On a personal note: This chapter is written in memory of my uncle Jose Marchese-Berrios – 1967 to 2007

Chapter 9: Gentlemen of Fortune

As I began to stir, I could feel the room swaying gently back and forth. I groaned as I pressed my palms to my forehead.

Headaches are never fun.

I threw the covers off me and stood up. I swooned and fell back on the bed as I felt the room spinning around. While I attempted to recover from my dizzy spell, I looked about at my surroundings. I was no longer in Plymouth but alone in a ship's cabin. I stumbled as I tried to stand once again. This time, I was able to hold myself up. After taking a few sluggish steps, I drifted toward the window and unlocked it. It flew open from a gust of wind to unveil nothing but ocean. The soft calls of the seagulls echoed through the air along with the crashing of the waves below.

I turned as I heard the door open. A young dark haired woman walked in. She took one look at me and sneered as she crossed over to the desk and set down a tray full of fruit.

"So you're the squirt Jack ordered us to find." She said as she looked me over, seemingly unimpressed. I cocked an eyebrow at her, ignoring her comment, "As in Jack Sparrow?"

I jumped as she turned to me sharply, "That's Captain Jack Sparrow."

"You have got to be kidding me." I pushed past her and toward the door. I swung it open and proceeded to the main deck. It was quite sunny and I squinted as I took a moment to let my eyes adjust after being in the dimly lit cabin for so long. I turned and went for the stairs leading up to the quarter deck. An arm came down in front of me as a rather large man with a beard blocked the front of the stairs, "And what business do ye have with the Cap'n', lass?"

I grimaced as his stench began to hit me. This man looked liked he hadn't bathed in ages. Seeing past the stairs, I could see Jack Sparrow up above, just as I remembered him. His pride and dignity radiated as he stood at the helm, his eyes fixated on the horizon. However, it reminded me of my reason for storming out here. I turned to the man blocking my way, "Sorry but I don't intend on making it your business." I stated firmly. I pushed his arm out of the way and scurried up the steps. I stopped at the top as Jack's eyes fell upon me.

"You!" I stomped towards him and without even thinking I drew my hand back and smacked him hard across the face. I growled in rage as I jumped on him. I could hear footsteps hastily coming up the stairs behind me but I didn't care, "You wretched, heartless, loathsome…!" I reached back my hand to slap him again. Only this time he caught my wrist just in time. A sly smile smirk stretched across his face, "Now that wasn't very nice."

All around me the pirates howled with laughter but I didn't care. I was furious, "If not your mother, I was pretty sure that so called father of yours taught you some proper manners."

The pirates continued to laugh. I roughly pulled my hand out of Jack's grasp, "You ordered for me to be kidnapped!?" Jack leaned against the capstan, gesturing with one hand as he spoke, "Now kidnapping isn't really the way I'd put it." He said, "You are anything but a prisoner aboard my ship. However we would have to fix that if you attack me like that again."

His arrogance did nothing more than aggravate me further. I fought the urge to attack Jack again as I became aware of all the pirates eyeing me dangerously. Some eyed lustfully while others showed warning.

Feeling my throat dry up, I pointed a finger threateningly at Jack before whirling around and stomping back to the Captain's quarters. As I pushed open the heavy doors, I stumbled but quickly caught myself. I looked down to see what I had tripped on.

An empty glass bottle rolled around on the floor. I kicked it hard and watched it explode into a million pieces as it struck the corner of the desk. As I moved further in the room, I noticed quite a number of bottles scattered about, some empty and others half filled with rum. "Of course." I said wryly to myself.

As I sat on the bed, I took a moment to observe the room. Overall it seemed pretty bare with not much decoration. A huge table sat in the middle of the room with a single chair. All kinds of maps and charts lay spread out on the top. Occupying the far side near the door was a wooden cabinet where I'm sure Jack had stashed more rum and stolen trinkets.

When the sun began to set, my eyes sprang to the door as it opened and I was greeted by the same burly man who was guarding the quarter deck stairs. "So Jack Sparrow has got a daughter." He said in amazement, "Guess he ain't the bloody blagueur I thought he was."

I shifted my eyes, feeling wary on his intentions, "Who are you?"

The man smiled, "You can call me Mr. Gibbs."

I backed up until I felt the back of the headboard pressing against my back. Noticing my apprehension, Mr. Gibbs laughed. "That won't be necessary, Ms. Sparrow. I'm not here to hurt you."

"Then why are you here?" I relaxed as he chuckled lightly.

"Just had to see for meself the reason for why Jack had us sail all the way out here."

I frowned, "Wait, so this was his plan all along? To find me?"

Mr. Gibbs nodded, "Yeah, he really pushed hard for us to get here and locate you. I'd never seen him so serious."

To me the whole thing seemed preposterous. My mind scrambled to think why Jack would go through so much urgency on account of me.

"Aye, I did my best to talk him out of it but Jack just kept on pushin'."

His story left me flabbergasted, "But why?"

He shook his head, "You'd have to talk to the Captain 'bout that."

I was about to ask more but he left me alone. I felt the frustration brewing up. I had so many questions but I feared that I wouldn't get my answers here from anyone, not even Jack. Despite my fear, I knew I had to ask and I would ask tonight.

xxx

That Night…

Although my conclusions were merely theoretical, I left the cabin to find Jack. The sun had just finished setting over the horizon and the first few stars began to emerge.

I didn't have to wander too far to find Jack, for he was only a few feet away from me busy tying down the sails.

"Jack?"

He turned around, "Oh good, you're awake."

I didn't waste a second, "Jack, I want to know why I'm here."

Jack just grinned, "I knew you'd ask sooner or later but unfortunately luv, I can't tell you." My jaw dropped, "What?"

"That's just the way it is, Lia," he shrugged as he tossed some ropes aside, "I'm afraid you're not ready to know right now."

I didn't bother to correct him on my name. I came to get an answer and wasn't leaving until I got one.

"That's not the answer I'm looking for," My voice shook a little. "I need to know."

"And eventually you will," Jack said, "But in the meantime…"

I jumped, completely thrown off guard as Jack swiftly turned and tossed a sword at me. Instinctively I caught it. I swiped the air with it before setting it down on a crate, "Is there a point to this sword?"

"By all means there is," He explained, "You will start training tomorrow. Now I suggest you get a good night sleep."

"But I…"

"Good night, luv."Jack abruptly moved toward the cabin and went inside, not giving me a chance to say anymore. I grabbed the sword and awkwardly swung it around. I had no experience except for the wooden swords I fiddled around with in my childhood. I could feel a small part of me look forward to my first lesson in the morning.

After tossing my sword on a pile of heavy rope, I trudged down the steps leading down into the gundeck. Huge cannons and barrels took up most of the space and on the far side of the room were the hammocks, strung up with only enough space in between for the crew to get in and out.

Feeling the sleep coming on, I went for the first hammock and quickly settled in. I sighed in gratification as I felt the comfort from the hammock swaying back and forth with the ship. Just as my eyes started to close, it felt as if the deck came up and slammed me in the face.

"Get off there missy! This here's mine!"

I scrambled away on all fours as one of Jack's crew members got on the hammock I was just on. I snatched the thin blanket that fell with me and hurried out of there, not wanting to cause anymore of a fuss.

I turned a corner and descended another flight of stairs which led down to the brig. With nothing but the silence and the empty cells, I was convinced that I would be safer down here.

I opened the door to the first cell and laid my blanket on the floor. Not wanting to have any of the crew take advantage if they found me, I closed the cell door and tied it with a piece of chain that was loose from one of the shackles.

Curling up on the blanket, I pulled the bottom of it over my legs. I listened to the soft crashing of the waves against the ship. I felt an enormous deal of sadness at that moment as I yearned for my home so greatly that I almost couldn't breathe. I closed my eyes and imagined myself back in my room with my father reading to me like he did when I was little. Oh how I missed him...missed my life...

A/N: :Sings: I'm back! I'm so sorry again for the long, long break but this stops now. Of course breaks will be a bit long due to work and school but not as long as this last one. Thank you everyone for your patience.