Comfort

A Depp Girl- Jamie: You'll be glad to know mum is gone after this chapter.

Mrs.Depp63- Jamie: Ah thanks hun. We love the compliments. Makes us feel special.

(JAMIE'S POV)

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak but then closed it. I couldn't lie…not again. God…every fucking sentence I said to Jack was a fucking lie. Great…now I was crying again. Jack looked completely confused and uncertain now. I laughed slightly before walking over to him and hugging him. I felt his arms go around me in a comforting way.

"That's all it takes Jack." I muttered. "All you need to do to comfort someone is like…hug them or make them laugh. I know you can people laugh."

"Are you saying I just accomplished what I was planning on?" Jack asked. I laughed then pulled away enough to look at him before nodding. He smiled. "I think I should get a reward." I laughed again before kissing him. Ok so all the other kisses were like…just getting something out of my system and really demanding. This was one different. I'm not sure how, but I could tell that Jack needed some kind of reassurance about where we stood, and I really hoped this worked. When I pulled back to look at him, he was smiling. "I know I was joking about the reward thing."

"Yeah…" I said, smiling. "But you do deserve it." Jack looked like he was thinking then nodded and I laughed again. He lifted a hand and, with the gentlest of touches, wiped away the tears on my cheeks with his thumb before resting the palm against my cheek. Now normally…this is where I more then likely would be going kinda crazy and saying 'DAMN HIM' or something…but I'm pretty sure, what with the new information about mum not actually being my mum…I think I'm a totally different person now…

"Awww…too bad we can't capture this moment." Jacklyn's voice rang out. I stood on tip toes to see over Jack's shoulder. Ok…what I said earlier…about being a totally different person…I lied. I got away from Jack before running at and tackling Jacklyn. "AH! Jams get off!"

"Not until I win." I said before attacking Jacklyn with tickles. Jacklyn tried…and failed miserably I might add…to hold in laughing. But I could tell…as soon as the memories of us doing this when we were kids came back, she would break. And she did. I could tell that Jack and Will were giving us odd looks but I didn't care. Only half an hour ago did I find out that Jacklyn was really the only family I have now. And she was saying something. I stood up and pulled Jacklyn to her feet, laughing.

"Ok…I guess…wait…who won?" Jacklyn asked.

"Tie game." I said. Suddenly I sobered up. "Umm…guys…there's something I have to do."

"What?" Jack asked from behind me.

"Make long overdue peace." I said.

"With mum?" Jacklyn asked. I nodded. "Ok…umm…why?"

"Well…if I don't now…I know for a fact that it'll just haunt me forever." I said. "She may not have been my birth mother…but she was a mother to me for twenty years."

"Ok I obviously missed something." Jack said.

"These two will fill you in…" I said before going off to mother's room for what I knew would be the last time. When I got there, Mel was leaving with the doctor. "How much longer?"

"A few hours." Mel said.

"That's long enough." I said. I nodded at them and they left. I walked into the room, grabbed a chair and dragged it next to mother's bed. She looked over at me. "Ok…I'm gonna jump right to the chase here…I have one question. And I want you to answer it as truthfully as possible. Can you do that?"

"Jamie…" Mother started but I raised my hand to stop her.

"Mum…Lydia." I said, remembering her first name and deciding to go with that. "Answer."

"Yes." Lydia said, after sighing.

"Why?" I asked. "Why didn't you ever tell Alex…or Jacklyn…or me?"

"You were all too young." Lydia said. "Alex must have figured it out but he never said anything."

"So you just let an infant believe that the reason you hated her was because that she was the youngest? Because that was the reason you gave me every time I asked you." I said. I looked at Lydia and took notice to the hurt look in her face. "Mum…Lydia…why didn't you ever say anything?"

"You were too young to understand. Jamie…I'm sorry for the way I behaved." Lydia said, and she really did mean it…I could tell. "It was nothing against you…I just…"

"You just couldn't stand me because I was a reminder of what dad did." I filled in. Lydia nodded and blew her nose. There was a long silence where we both pondered our thoughts.

"I really am sorry." Lydia said. "I know now…how wrong I was. I wish there was more time…"

"There's no more time." I muttered. "But I guess…this is as good as we're gonna get." Lydia nodded. At that moment I could tell there was only a short time left…she was dying right in front of me.

"Jamie…I never said it…because I never understood until now…but I do love you." Lydia said.

"Well…" I said, sighing. "I can't say it back…you know I can't…I never could. Not since Dad died…that was the last thing I said to him." Lydia nodded. "But…I guess…you're not such a witch afterall." There was another silence before Lydia's eyes closed and her chest stopped rising. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath before giving her the hug that I had never given her. I left the room only to find Jack, Jacklyn and Will standing just around the corner.

(THIRD PERSON POV)

The three new arrivals stood staring at Jamie, waiting for her to say something.

"She's dead." Jamie said finally. Jacklyn hugged her. The two guys looked at each other but did and said nothing.

"I'm so sorry Jams." Jacklyn said.

"What for?" Jamie asked.

"I don't know…but I am." Jacklyn said. Jamie laughed before looking out the window. Will followed her gaze.

"It's morning." Jamie said. Her eyes brighten and went wide slightly. "Oh…Happy Birthday Jack!'

"You told them?" Jack asked Will.

"No…I told Jacklyn." Will said. "Who told Jamie." The girls laughed and stood next to each other with arm around the others' waist.

"We'll give you your presents later…let's go for a walk." Jamie said, walking over to Jack and putting an arm around his waist. "Come on. You two coming?"

"Sure." Jacklyn said. The four of them left. The first thing they did was go to the doctor's house and tell him Lydia was dead, then the guys let the girls lead them into a diner for breakfast. Will and Jacklyn were all cuddly and Jamie, who was still really tired from all her crying and yelling, was leaning against Jack who had his arm around her shoulders. Anyone would have called them a couple from looking at them.

Everything was going nicely, Jamie even paid for the breakfast. While they were walking around though the crowd…that was when things went wrong.

"Jamie!" Jamie turned around when her name was called. A guy, who couldn't have been much older then Jacklyn, came through the crowd. Jack, Will and Jacklyn all turned around at the same time that the guy put his arms around Jamie and kissed her.

"Andrew…" Jamie said, once he had pulled away. "What…what are you doing here?"

"Uh…I live here…remember." Andrew said. Jamie looked at Jack with a semi frightful look. "Hey Jacklyn."

"Andrew." Jacklyn said, nodding.

"I meant…umm…" Jamie said. "Wha…uh…"

"I know…I know…you don't need to tell me." Andrew said.

"I don't?" Jamie asked.

"No…I'm sorry I haven't visited you yet." Andrew said. Jamie opened her mouth to say something but he covered it with his hand. "I just found out about your ship. I'm so glad you're safe." He again kissed her. Jack, who was already way past pissed when he first saw Andrew kiss Jamie, had now left without being noticed by anyone but Will.

"Jackie…" Will whispered. Jacklyn looked around before nodding and Will left after Jack.

(JACK'S POV)

Everything was going fine…which normally meant something bad was going to happen. Leaving the diner, me and Jamie weren't walking as close as we were when we came, but we still were pretty good. That was until someone called her name and she turned around. I turned around just in time to see some guy kiss her.

"Andrew…" Jamie said, after the guy moved away from her. "What…what are you doing here?"

"Uh…I live here…remember." Andrew said. I looked at Jamie who looked at me with a sort of frightened look. What was she scared of? "Hey Jacklyn."

"Andrew." Jacklyn said, nodding. I figured she didn't like him…especially from the cold look she was giving him.

"I meant….umm…" Jamie said. I looked at her again. "Wha…uh…"

"I know…I know…you don't need to tell me." Andrew said.

"I don't?" Jamie asked. I looked at Andrew.

"No…I'm sorry I haven't visited you yet." Andrew said. I looked at Jamie to see her open her mouth but have it covered by Andrew's hand. "I just found out about your ship. I'm so glad you're safe." I didn't wait to see or hear anything else. I just turned and left, heading to my ship.

"JACK!" Will called. I sighed then stopped, turning around to look at him. "Where are you going?"

"Where do you think I'm going? I'm going to my ship." I said angrily.

"I meant why are you walking away from Jamie?" Will asked. God the man was dense.

"In case you didn't notice back there…she's snogging with Andrew." I said. God how I hated that name all of a sudden.

"No…he was kissing her. She wasn't even responding." Will said. I felt like punching him but restrained. I turned around and continued to the dock.

(JAMIE'S POV)

I finally managed to push Andrew away. He looked confused but I didn't care. I looked around desperately, trying to find Jack. I looked at Jacklyn who just shrugged.

"Jamie…" Andrew said, making me turn and look at him.

"Don't even go there Andrew." I said. "You know bloody well we broke it all off last time I was here because you wanted me to stop being a pirate and I didn't want to."

"That was so long ago." Andrew said.

"I DON'T CARE!" I screamed, pulling attention to myself, but I didn't care. "It's over alright! Do you want me to make another scene about it?"

"No." Andrew said quickly. He had enough public humiliation the last time and I knew it. I pushed him away, grabbed Jacklyn and headed back to our house. I ignored everything she tried saying to me but stopped dead when we got to our house and the wide open front door to see a few men carrying a stretcher that obviously had Lydia's body on it, covered in a white sheet. I took a few deep breaths, let go of Jacklyn's arm, then went into the house and up to my room.

(JACKLYN'S POV)

I watched Jamie march up to her room. I knew where she was going. Her secret place in the garden was only her night time one. Her room was like her sanctuary. I watched as the men carried away the body of my mother before getting an idea and going down the docks, figuring that's where Jack would be.

Sure enough, when I got there, I saw him arguing with Will aboard the Pearl.

"We're not leaving Jack!" Will shouted.

"It's my bloody ship and I'll do what I want!" Jack shouted back.

"Whoa! Stop!" I shouted, running aboard. "What is going on?"

"He wants to leave." Will said.

"What? Why?" I asked, looking at Jack. He rolled his eyes and mumbled something. I didn't catch what he said but I instantly knew. "It's because of Andrew. Listen Jack…they broke it off last time we were here. He's a creep and a jerk and an asshole." Jack still didn't look at me. I sighed, getting very impatient. "Alright you…come on." I grabbed Jack's arm and Will, obviously figuring out what I was trying to do, grabbed Jack's other arm and together we pulled him all the way back to my house.

(JACK'S POV)

"Alright you…come on." Jacklyn said, grabbing one of my arms. I would have been able to resist getting pulled if it wasn't for the fact that Will grabbed the other arm. I knew they were taking me back to the house but it was hard to fight against the both of them together.

When they managed to drag me up the stairs, I realized instantly where they were pulling me to and started to try and tug my arms out of their grasps. That didn't work. Jacklyn was fast and opened the door before pushing me inside and closing the door.

"Bloody hell! NOT FAIR!" I shouted through the door.

"DEAL WITH IT!" Jacklyn shouted back.

"Stupid sister." Jamie muttered. I turned around and saw her lying on her bed, reading a book. In front of her was a perfectly wrapped…something. I sighed and leaned against the wall, watching her. Very slowly Jamie finished the page she was on and closed the book. She sat up and looked at me. "Jack…I did not want to kiss Andrew."

"Yeah right." I said.

"God…is it impossible for you to believe me?" Jamie asked.

"Well sorry but everything you've bloody well told me has been a bloody lie." I said. That was partially true. Practically every thing she's told me was a lie. I looked at Jamie's face and saw the hurt in it. She tried hiding it, that was obvious, but it didn't work. She wasn't looking at me either but I could still tell. "What's wrong? Afraid to admit the truth?"

"No…I'm not." Jamie said. "You wanna know the truth Jack?"

"That'll be a change." I said, realizing that our voices were rising.

"Ok…here it is." Jamie said. She was now really pissed off. In the back of my mind I couldn't help but thinking I was pushing my luck but I didn't care. "The truth is…you were right…I do want you. God…ever since I first kissed you that's all I fucking thought about. I have no clue why but it is." She got off the bed and grabbed the wrapped thing. I saw there was a note attached to it and, thanks to Jacklyn, Will and Gibbs, I could just slightly make out some words written on it. I did see my name though. "And you know what…last night…all I thought was…screw it…I've been strong long enough…might as well let someone in. You know…get rid of this damn emotional wall I put up." She took a few steps closer to me and I could see anger flaring in her eyes. "But you know what…thanks so much for proving me wrong. I'm better off the way I am. A bratty, loveless little girl." She threw the wrapped thing at me and I caught it. "Happy birthday Jack…now stay the fuck away from me." With that Jamie marched over to her window, threw it open and climbed up onto the roof.

"Well…" I muttered, looking at the thing I now held. I sighed then sat down on a chair and read the note.

Dear Jack,


Ok first off, happy birthday. I really should ask Will how old you are now. You are such an amazing person to me. In all honesty, around you, I feel safer then I ever did when I was around Alex. I guess Jackie was right…I do have some kind of feelings for you. I never thought I could be this happy around anyone. You can ask Jackie and she'll probably tell you that this is the happiest I've ever been. You make everything better. I know at first I was a mega bitch and I said some things that we both know were complete lies. You know…if someone had told me a few months ago, that I would be acting like this and writing this note to Jack Sparrow, I would have laughed. I never imagined I could be like this…with anyone. I loved my dad, and I loved Alex. But you…you have a different kind of love…

I stopped reading there. The note was making me feel worse then I was before. God…I am a jerk. I looked at the present and carefully unwrapped it. Great…now I feel like a bigger jerk. This was the best bloody sword I ever got. I pulled it out to admire it more and saw, near the hilt, that my name was on the sword itself. I slid it back into it's case before dropping my head into my hands.

(WILL'S POV)

"You think they killed each other?" I asked, looking at Jacklyn.

"I don't think so." Jacklyn said, but sounded unsure. We opened the doors and saw the window wide open and Jack sitting in a chair with his head in his hands and a brand new sword in his lap. "Jack?"

"I am the biggest bloody jerk on this bloody planet." Jack muttered. I felt too sorry to for him to make fun of him.

"Where'd Jamie go?" I asked.

"Probably on the roof." Jack muttered. I looked at Jacklyn.

"Go." Jacklyn said, nodding out the window.

"Why me?" I asked.

"Because…she told me…you're like a big brother to her. And that's what she needs right now. Not a sister…but a brother." Jacklyn said. I realized she was right so I nodded and headed out the window, onto the balcony, and onto the roof. Sure enough, there was Jamie, lying on her side with her hands under her head. She looked like she was asleep.

"Jamie?" I said, walking over to her before sitting down next to her. Jamie opened her eyes and sat up. She gave me a 'what do you want' look. I sighed…she was stubborn, like Jack, meaning that this was going to take a while.

Jamie: Keeps her back to Jack

Jack: I said I'm sorry.

Will: Jack…you should know by now that sorry doesn't help.

Jacklyn: Yeah…you gotta buy girls gifts and stuff to make them forgive you.

Jack: Oh bloody hell.