A/N: I don't own PoTC, for the 80 millionth time!
7 Years Later
For two whole years I had lived on a ship with Tara. Five years before that I have waited for my family to come and get me. Tara had cried after spring came and went, without even a letter from them. I promised myself I would never cry. Tears would not make anything any better. It would only make things worse. Tara was ten now, and I was eighteen. I had heard rumors about my family, but I gave up on my search for them a year or so ago. Tara hated living on a ship, but I was home here, and as long as I was older than her, until she was a good deal older at least, she would listen to me.
No one minded that I was a girl, or that I could climb faster, yell louder, and work harder then most crewmembers. They excepted me, especially when I out drank them with rum. I sailed on a ship called the Freedom's Light. A good deal of the crewmembers had been under attack by one of my family some time or another, so I tried my best to hide my last name. They called me Kid, or Abe, rather than risk telling my full name to them, I called myself Abby Gillmire. I used my mother's maiden name. It was better to say I was related to my mother distantly, rather than say I was her daughter.
My hair was cut in the same way; I never let it grow too long. All I wore each day were pants with baggy legs that cut off mid calf and some old shirt I picked up. I didn't bother with boots. I might not be on a pirate ship, but people are only human, the last time I bought a pair they were stolen in my sleep. While I spent my days working up in the ratlines and rigging, Tara worked in the kitchen, making meals and mid-day snacks for those who grew hungry. She also washed the deck or 'swabbed' the deck every now and then when she wasn't doing laundry or cleaning. Tara was fine with this work, and I with mine. I sailed everywhere a person could think of. And I gathered things from each place. I sailed to Ireland once, and I almost didn't get back on the boat. I have a trunk in which I keep all my trinkets, such as my stone's, marked from where I got them, drawings that Tara made of shorelines and sunsets. A dress that was left behind at the old Inn that I kept in case I ever needed it. I once more wore glasses, and had a few replacements in case a pair should brake.
Many of the crewmembers that were my family now said I had grown up nicely, and they joked about how my body finally matched my frame. I was as skinny as a rail when I was growing up, but eating Tara's mixtures finally filled me out. I never minded their jokes about finding me a husband and taunting about me becoming a nice little homebred girl some day. Once I had lost a bet that I had made when I was drunk. I had to wear a dress for two weeks on the ship, and I helped Tara with her work. I felt so out of place among everyone in a dress, I wasn't myself and I hated it. And unlike the tall tails many sailors told about me, I was as 'clean' or 'pure' as any good little girl. That was the one thing that I would never change.
When I wasn't working, I was either sleeping, or writing in a little book. I read poetry and every now and then took up my little blue; ribbon bound book and jotted down a few words. It was no big deal. I even got the urge to write a short story or two. I wrote In the ship's log and when the sailors couldn't remember a story just right, I had probably written it down while they were telling it years ago. I just had to look through my trunk. Every now and again a pirate ship would show up, and they usually ended up losing. On a ship full of men I had learned not only how to sword fight, but how to fist fight as well as any of them. But at the moment, I was totally focused on one thing only, and that was sleeping.
I heard Tara's light, energetic knock and rolled over in bed, pretending to be asleep again. Tara rapped again at the door, and I ignored her.again. Tara finally opened the door, and came into the room, with a pail of water. I got out of bed before she could splash it on me. I was already dressed, having fallen asleep in my clothes once more. I washed my face and Tara watched me, her eyes boring holes into me head. Once my face was dry I turned to face her, and she looked as if she was going to toss water on me away, and that's just what she did. "What the bloody 'ell did you do that for?" I couldn't go up to tend the sails soaking wet, the both of us knew I would get sick, even with the hot sun on my back. "You have been wearing those clothes for two weeks straight, you smell like a pig!" I looked at Tara and groaned, "Well you've soaked my only clothing, what am I to do now?" Tara eyed me before continuing," Well, you do have that nice dress-" I cut Tara off, "Don't even go there Tara!"
"Well how else am I going to get you to wear something other than a dirty shirt and pants to Elizabeth's wedding?" I groaned and slapped my forehead. "You didn't forget already did you?" I banged my head against the wall a few times before turning back to Tara, "Fine. You win. I'll wear the bloody thing and stop off at the nearest tavern to get them some wine. Are you happy now?" Tara nodded and left the room. When she came back, she had a bodice slung over her arm and a pair of shoes in her hand. "Oh no you don't, Tara, Wearing a dress in embarrassing enough. I'm wearing my own boots and my normal clothes under the dress." Tara rolled her eyes, "Unless you have forgotten, Abigail, you are Elizabeth's maid of honor. She has already made a dress for you to wear and this is just so you don't get arrested while going into whatever tavern you plan to get wine at."
"So your saying a woman walking into a tavern wearing a dress and skimpy outfit is far less likely to stand out than one walking in dressed as a sailor?" Tara smiled, "Exactly. That is unless you are going to some horrid bar for wine. And don't you dare try to back out of this." I sighed and put my hands on my hips for a moment, looking at my younger sister. It wasn't going to work. Tara was younger than me, but she was far more rational and had that mother's look and voice that made you snap to attention whenever you hear it. I nodded and gave in.again.
Half and hour later, I was standing on the deck of the ship, watching the shores of Port Royal get closer and closer. The dress wasn't that bad. The one I had in the trunk was too small, so the captain's daughter, who was a good friend of Tara, let me barrow one. It was forest green with white lace. My curves could clearly be seen and Tara had me take my hair down from the bun that I normally had it in. The dress was rather low, and I found myself trying to fix it to my liking more than Tara thought was respectable. I glanced at my twelve-year-old sister. Her dark skin was lightened by not standing in the sun and power she was given as a good-bye gift from the captain's daughter. Her dress was a Very light and pale pink. Her black hair curled about her face. And for a moment I was taken aback by how much my sister had grown up in the last few years.
My thoughts drifted about the day I met Elizabeth and Will. I was 12 when I met her. I had snuck on a ship and sailed to Port Royal on an army ship. Elizabeth was eight, and the governor gave me work instead of arresting me. I looked over William while he was getting better. I always knew they would end up together. I was 21 now. So much time had passed since I had last seen them. I couldn't wait to see how Will and Elizabeth were doing. From what I could remember, they were both 15 the last time I saw them. Now they were 18 and going to get married. It's really funny how life seems to fly by on land, but on sea, everything is long and there is enough time to do whatever you want. That's the magic that the ocean and seas have, they can stop time if you try hard enough, or even reverse it, if need be. I came back down to Earth when a shout from the crow's nest rang out, "Home Again."
7 Years Later
For two whole years I had lived on a ship with Tara. Five years before that I have waited for my family to come and get me. Tara had cried after spring came and went, without even a letter from them. I promised myself I would never cry. Tears would not make anything any better. It would only make things worse. Tara was ten now, and I was eighteen. I had heard rumors about my family, but I gave up on my search for them a year or so ago. Tara hated living on a ship, but I was home here, and as long as I was older than her, until she was a good deal older at least, she would listen to me.
No one minded that I was a girl, or that I could climb faster, yell louder, and work harder then most crewmembers. They excepted me, especially when I out drank them with rum. I sailed on a ship called the Freedom's Light. A good deal of the crewmembers had been under attack by one of my family some time or another, so I tried my best to hide my last name. They called me Kid, or Abe, rather than risk telling my full name to them, I called myself Abby Gillmire. I used my mother's maiden name. It was better to say I was related to my mother distantly, rather than say I was her daughter.
My hair was cut in the same way; I never let it grow too long. All I wore each day were pants with baggy legs that cut off mid calf and some old shirt I picked up. I didn't bother with boots. I might not be on a pirate ship, but people are only human, the last time I bought a pair they were stolen in my sleep. While I spent my days working up in the ratlines and rigging, Tara worked in the kitchen, making meals and mid-day snacks for those who grew hungry. She also washed the deck or 'swabbed' the deck every now and then when she wasn't doing laundry or cleaning. Tara was fine with this work, and I with mine. I sailed everywhere a person could think of. And I gathered things from each place. I sailed to Ireland once, and I almost didn't get back on the boat. I have a trunk in which I keep all my trinkets, such as my stone's, marked from where I got them, drawings that Tara made of shorelines and sunsets. A dress that was left behind at the old Inn that I kept in case I ever needed it. I once more wore glasses, and had a few replacements in case a pair should brake.
Many of the crewmembers that were my family now said I had grown up nicely, and they joked about how my body finally matched my frame. I was as skinny as a rail when I was growing up, but eating Tara's mixtures finally filled me out. I never minded their jokes about finding me a husband and taunting about me becoming a nice little homebred girl some day. Once I had lost a bet that I had made when I was drunk. I had to wear a dress for two weeks on the ship, and I helped Tara with her work. I felt so out of place among everyone in a dress, I wasn't myself and I hated it. And unlike the tall tails many sailors told about me, I was as 'clean' or 'pure' as any good little girl. That was the one thing that I would never change.
When I wasn't working, I was either sleeping, or writing in a little book. I read poetry and every now and then took up my little blue; ribbon bound book and jotted down a few words. It was no big deal. I even got the urge to write a short story or two. I wrote In the ship's log and when the sailors couldn't remember a story just right, I had probably written it down while they were telling it years ago. I just had to look through my trunk. Every now and again a pirate ship would show up, and they usually ended up losing. On a ship full of men I had learned not only how to sword fight, but how to fist fight as well as any of them. But at the moment, I was totally focused on one thing only, and that was sleeping.
I heard Tara's light, energetic knock and rolled over in bed, pretending to be asleep again. Tara rapped again at the door, and I ignored her.again. Tara finally opened the door, and came into the room, with a pail of water. I got out of bed before she could splash it on me. I was already dressed, having fallen asleep in my clothes once more. I washed my face and Tara watched me, her eyes boring holes into me head. Once my face was dry I turned to face her, and she looked as if she was going to toss water on me away, and that's just what she did. "What the bloody 'ell did you do that for?" I couldn't go up to tend the sails soaking wet, the both of us knew I would get sick, even with the hot sun on my back. "You have been wearing those clothes for two weeks straight, you smell like a pig!" I looked at Tara and groaned, "Well you've soaked my only clothing, what am I to do now?" Tara eyed me before continuing," Well, you do have that nice dress-" I cut Tara off, "Don't even go there Tara!"
"Well how else am I going to get you to wear something other than a dirty shirt and pants to Elizabeth's wedding?" I groaned and slapped my forehead. "You didn't forget already did you?" I banged my head against the wall a few times before turning back to Tara, "Fine. You win. I'll wear the bloody thing and stop off at the nearest tavern to get them some wine. Are you happy now?" Tara nodded and left the room. When she came back, she had a bodice slung over her arm and a pair of shoes in her hand. "Oh no you don't, Tara, Wearing a dress in embarrassing enough. I'm wearing my own boots and my normal clothes under the dress." Tara rolled her eyes, "Unless you have forgotten, Abigail, you are Elizabeth's maid of honor. She has already made a dress for you to wear and this is just so you don't get arrested while going into whatever tavern you plan to get wine at."
"So your saying a woman walking into a tavern wearing a dress and skimpy outfit is far less likely to stand out than one walking in dressed as a sailor?" Tara smiled, "Exactly. That is unless you are going to some horrid bar for wine. And don't you dare try to back out of this." I sighed and put my hands on my hips for a moment, looking at my younger sister. It wasn't going to work. Tara was younger than me, but she was far more rational and had that mother's look and voice that made you snap to attention whenever you hear it. I nodded and gave in.again.
Half and hour later, I was standing on the deck of the ship, watching the shores of Port Royal get closer and closer. The dress wasn't that bad. The one I had in the trunk was too small, so the captain's daughter, who was a good friend of Tara, let me barrow one. It was forest green with white lace. My curves could clearly be seen and Tara had me take my hair down from the bun that I normally had it in. The dress was rather low, and I found myself trying to fix it to my liking more than Tara thought was respectable. I glanced at my twelve-year-old sister. Her dark skin was lightened by not standing in the sun and power she was given as a good-bye gift from the captain's daughter. Her dress was a Very light and pale pink. Her black hair curled about her face. And for a moment I was taken aback by how much my sister had grown up in the last few years.
My thoughts drifted about the day I met Elizabeth and Will. I was 12 when I met her. I had snuck on a ship and sailed to Port Royal on an army ship. Elizabeth was eight, and the governor gave me work instead of arresting me. I looked over William while he was getting better. I always knew they would end up together. I was 21 now. So much time had passed since I had last seen them. I couldn't wait to see how Will and Elizabeth were doing. From what I could remember, they were both 15 the last time I saw them. Now they were 18 and going to get married. It's really funny how life seems to fly by on land, but on sea, everything is long and there is enough time to do whatever you want. That's the magic that the ocean and seas have, they can stop time if you try hard enough, or even reverse it, if need be. I came back down to Earth when a shout from the crow's nest rang out, "Home Again."
