Chapter 8

Catherine finally came out the Captains' Cabin and went on deck to look. As she emerged from below deck she noticed at how graceful a ship could be at night with only a handful of people scurrying around. The smell of the sea was a smell she had known since she could remember. She went over to the side of the ship and sat on some boxes near the railing. Jack saw her sitting with her hand resting on the railing.

Catherine was looking out over the water when she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to see who it was. It was Jack. She smiled.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to…" She trailed off.

"It's fine. Cat, tell me about your childhood love." Jack asked her.

"My childhood? Are you that interested in it?" She laughed.

"I could be if you'd talk about it."

"Fine…umm, I grew up in London while my father worked along side of other Governors and other men of stature. I was schooled in London, with Elizabeth, till I was thirteen. Elizabeth and Uncle Weatherby came to Port Royal to be Governor. Growing up in the Swann family wasn't easy as many would think. I had my moments, but none ever compared to Elizabeth's conquests. My mother, had died when I was younger, I don't really remember her that well anymore. I just remember her taking me to the docks as a child and watching me play with the other children that were there. She never cared much for the order of classes. To her everyone was the same, something that she instilled in me early in life." She sighed. "I wish she could have gotten to see me grow up. One cannot always dream of fruitless wishes though."

"Why are ye attracted to the sea?" Jack asked sitting on a box in front of her.

"Because it's the only thing in this world that is truly free. I'm sure that you can understand that Jack." She smiled.

"Aye, I can." He looked out into the mysterious depths of the sea.

"Let me tell you something about my fascination with the sea. Imagine, if you will Jack, each wave upon the ocean having its own life. It starts way out in the middle of nowhere following the one before it, living recklessly, carefree, not knowing that its life could end at any moment. They are like people, each wave being different by means of size, power, and even color. As they grow they become fascinated by their own strength and size, but before they know it, it's over. They crash into rocks, ships and land. Then their supreme reign is done, only to begin again another day."

"You're a scholar Cat. You're brighter than you let on to be." Jack stated getting a bit excited.

"A scholar I am not. Ladies do not become scholars, they become trapped in the traditional roles of gender Jack. Enough about me, what about you?" She stated putting her hand on his, and quickly removing it, a bit embarrassed by her own bold movement.

"I wasn't always a bloody pirate Cat."

"You weren't? I thought that everyone who was a pirate was born and bred a pirate. Like running the family shop." She laughed.

"Not always true, love. I grew up in some bloody town in England. It's been so long I don't remember the name of the place. My father decided that he wanted to become a merchant trader, my mother didn't approve of the idea at all. Wanted him to be more of a traditional man, I suppose. Anyway, she became ill two weeks before he was due to leave. I wanted to be near her, I wasn't allowed because of some kind of influenza. She died within those two weeks and I was only a young lad then. I might have been ten. After that last week, my father packed our things and sold everything that we couldn't take with us. I became a merchant trader, like my father." Jack paused looking at the confused look on Catherine's face.

"But Jack you're a pirate. How does one go from being a merchant trader to a pirate?"

"Easy when you're a witness to your father's death. My father was a good man by nature. But one day when my father was in the crows nest, he spotted a ship coming towards them. I was busy doing what I was told to since I had to earn my keep. It was a pirate ship, like many kids I had never seen a pirate before let alone a pirate ship. When this other crew attacked us, I saw my father shot in front of me. I did the only thing that would come natural. I drew my blade and ran at the man who shot my father and stabbed him through. When all was said and done, I was lying in a bed with my arm bandaged up from being stabbed." Jack rubbed his forearm where the scars rest to remind him of that fateful night. "When the merchant ship stopped in Tortuga, I got off and never returned to them again. As a child I lived with a few people who kept inns. The man that I killed had a brother who was out for me, name was Barbossa. I eventually teamed up with a man named William Turner or as his crew called him, Bootstrap Bill. And the rest is history." Jack finished looking into her eyes.

"It seems we've lead interesting childhoods. But now that we're out here, what's to become of the adult versions?"

"Well love, first stop is Tortuga, then where the wind takes us. It could be an adventure, a discovery, or freedom." Jack smiled. Catherine smiled back.

Jack stood up and offered his hand to Catherine, who took it and stood.

"We might need to find ye a place to sleep love. Gibbs and Ana weren't quite prepared for three extra passengers."

"Oh, um, I could always…I don't know." Catherine stumbled over her own words.

"I'll tell ye what. I'll share my cabin with you. You can have the bed I'll make a pact on the floor or chair, or I'll take the bed…" Catherine interjected. "Or we could share your bed."

"For a young lass you sure are willing to be with a pirate."

"I never said I was going to be with you Jack, it just seems the easier thing to do at the moment. But you dare try anything and back to the floor with you." Catherine giggled.

"Aye milady."

~*~

As Jack and Catherine lay in the same bed facing each other, Jack asked Catherine about Collins.

"How did ye get to know Collins Cat?"

"I've known him since I can remember. He's been by my side since I was a young girl. Father said that he was to protect me." She looked down and played with a stray string.

"Do you love him Cat?" Jack put his finger under her chin and lifted her face.

"He's always been there for me Jack. No one else is there to love me. I love him for loving the person that I am, even when I did not know who I was myself. But as much as I do think I love him. I'm just not so sure anymore." She smiled shyly.

"Please don't slap me for this…" Jack leaned in and brushed his lips against hers in an innocent kiss.

Catherine felt warm and tingly. She smiled as they broke apart and to his amazement she didn't slap him for it. He could tell that she was blushing. He watched her as she slowly fell asleep. As soon as he knew she was sleeping peacefully, he whispered to her.

"When I saw you from afar, I knew you were special. I just wanted to be near you. Precious Cat."

Authors Note: Now that I've realized that I've written FLUFF, ok well it seems like fluff to me, I may or may not rewrite this chapter. I think I can save myself from the fluff monster soon. I guess I'm in a fluffy kinda mood. The next chapter should be different, I think LOL! Thanks again!