Disclaimer: Mmm…Jack…*Comes back to reality* Oh, oops! Hehe I still don't own nothin', except this computer and the clothes on my back.

AN: Well, I hope the last one wasn't too sappy for you! ;) This one won't be quite so bad, at least in terms of Jack being sappy! Although there is quite a revelation coming for dear Nora…so read on! And if you like it, tell me so! *Points to review button* I won't write more until I get reviews!

Chapter Twelve

Nora woke and looked at her surroundings. For a moment, she wondered if the adventure in the cave had been a dream, for she found herself back in the captain's cabin, where she had been for the duration of her illness. Then she sensed the warmth next to her, smelling faintly of seawater and rum, and something else that she could never quite place. She smiled and turned to Jack, who was still asleep, and began kissing him lightly on his face and neck. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"That's the best wake-up call I've had in a long time." She continued her ministrations, until he spoke again. "Is something the matter?"

She stopped, confused. "Why would anything be the matter?"

"No snide comment, no comeback. Are you sure you don't have a fever or something?"

Nora couldn't help but smile as she replied "You are a complete bastard. Have I told you that lately?"

Jack laughed. "Now that's the Nora Williams I know and love!"

He got up and Nora watched him as he moved about the cabin, getting dressed. Despite the swaying, unsteady walk he showed in public, when he thought no one was watching he moved with a certain feline grace that Nora found entrancing.

"Well," he said, grabbing his effects, "see you on deck love." And he shut the door behind him.

Nora buried her face in the pillow, taking a deep breath as she did so, and closed her eyes, smiling to herself. No, she thought, this adventure wasn't a total loss after all. She rose a little reluctantly, picking up her clothes from where they had fallen on the floor the night before.

As she made to put her breeches on, Nora heard rustling and remembered with a start the piece of parchment she had put in her pocket the night before. Now she pulled it out, looking at it curiously. She really had no idea what it meant, if someone had left it in the chest intentionally, or if it was just what it looked like: an old scrap of parchment. She unfolded it carefully and let out a gasp. It was a letter, a letter written by her father.

Nora, it read, please forgive me for leading you so astray. I hope you will come to understand why I did this. There is something I want you to learn from all this. The reward lies not in the finding, but the quest. And of course, not all treasure is silver and gold. Nora smiled to herself as she read, hearing the shouts of captain and crew coming from outside. She wondered if her father had suspected something like this would happen. She read on. If you find this, I am probably dead, so I suppose it doesn't matter anymore. I feel I must confess something to you Nora. You see I have always told you the story of how we came upon the wreckage of the ship you had been sailing on. That is not entirely true. I have always claimed ignorance of your parentage, which was untrue as well. I knew your mother, I loved your mother very much in fact. She was a noblewoman from Ireland, betrothed to the son of a wealthy merchant living in Kingston. On her journey here, pirates captured the ship she traveled on. I captured her ship. Mary and I fell in love, and she became pregnant. Of course, this situation was not acceptable to her future in-laws, so she was put back on board a ship bound for Ireland in disgrace. You had just been born then. I followed the ship, intending to capture it by force and rescue Mary from the fate she would have been condemned to in Ireland. Unfortunately, Blackheart, who had held a grudge against me, got to the ship first. You were the only survivor. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for not telling you the real story, but I didn't think it right for you to know of your illegitimacy. Please forgive me, and accept the gift of a beautiful island that had been shared by your mother and I. The cove on the northeastern tip of the island was always our favorite spot. And remember: always keep to the code.

Nora saw the words on the page begin to blur, as her eyes filled with tears and her heart with rage. She loved her father more than ever, and Billy would pay. She would have her revenge, or die in the attempt.

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Unfortunately, Nora was forced to put off her plan for revenge, as the Pearl was running low on supplies.

"For the last time, Nora, no! I don't have the manpower or the firepower to take on Billy Blackheart all by me onesies."

"But Jack, we can pick up more crewmembers in Tortuga! I know you hate him as much as I do, and think about the reputation you'd gain as being the man who brought down that scallywag! And besides," Nora added, putting her arms around Jack's neck "isn't it your job to protect me honor?"

Jack gave one of those disarming half-smiles, and began nibbling Nora's neck. "What honor?" he asked.

Nora pushed him away abruptly. "You are a coward, Jack Sparrow!" she spat out angrily. She could tell he was stung, but wasn't sure if he'd take the bait.

"Why are you so Hell-bent on revenge all of a sudden?" he asked inquiringly.

Nora sighed, her anger draining away instantly. "I…"

"Nora," Jack began, "Don't you trust me, love?"

Nora sighed again, then silently handed him the letter from her father. He read it silently, then met Nora's eyes with his own. She couldn't read them.

"I'll see what I can do once we land in Tortuga."

Nora smiled in relief. "Thank you Jack."

He snorted. "One of these days, I'll actually get the strength to deny you something…I hope."