Anne was still worrying about Jack, leaning on the rail and staring out to sea. She was worrying about herself as well. Lately it seemed like her every thought circled around the captain. She was enthralled by the new emotions she was experiencing, yet frightened and appalled by them. She kept thinking over and over again; It's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong. It echoed, like a mantra through her brain. How she wished she had never married James Bonny. Her father had been cruel, but not like James. Her father called her all sorts of ugly names and sometimes slapped her, but never hit her, never raped her. She had thought she was escaping cruelty by marrying Bonny, but had thrown herself out of the frying pan and into the fire. Perhaps that was why she felt so free here, surrounded by nothing but water and accompanied by a man who would not even kiss her, just because it was wrong. She couldn't remember if there had ever been a time in her life when she felt so safe, so protected. She was a pirate by necessity, had learned to protect herself because she had to. But with Jack around, she felt like, for the first time in her life, she could relax and feel safe.
Jack had been there for her. When Jack heard of James' mistreatment of her, he was willing to buy her. When James had nearly ripped her clothes from her body, Jack had given her his coat to cover her. Where James had had her flogged, Jack offered salve to soothe the wounds. When James chased them, Jack chased him away. He was wonderful; strong and compassionate, willing to set aside his own sorrows until she was safe.
She found herself longing to be there for him the way he had for her. To comfort him when the memories rushed back. To help him understand that memories were good as long as they did not take one away from the present. To sit and just let him talk about whatever it was that bothered him. What was bothering him?
He was the best friend she had ever had. Even Davy wasn't really that much of a friend. He hadn't known she was a woman, had attached himself to her because it made them more likely to get jobs; she did skill work and he did strength work. Back in Ireland, she had been tormented by peers because she was illegitimate; her mother had been a maid in her father's house. Here, she was among those like her. She wondered if there was a single legitimate child in the crew. Jack didn't look down on her. He respected her and protected her. She had never been so happy in her life. It's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong.
Jack was the most handsome man she had ever met, especially now that he had regained a healthy weight and some sparkle had returned to his gorgeous eyes. When he smiled that golden smiled, her heart jumped at his beautiful boyishness. She loved the way his eyes laughed when he was happy. She loved the way he couldn't sit still, was constantly moving and fidgeting like a little boy in church. She loved every strange quirk and eccentricity in him.
She was in love with him. A tear rolled down her cheek .
A/N: Sry, kind of short chap. Wanted to have both characters realize the same thing at roughly the same time.