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(_)-AN

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A pirate's Life for me

Part 6- The Yearing Pass

It was the next day. Jack sat down in the study, having help to walk there from Maria. She left him to himself at his request. Maria was going to go fetch her daughter.

Jack looked out the window. It was directly infront of the ocean. He could clearly make out the many coves and rock clifts that made up the great shore of Port Royal. Jack watched as the distant ocean waves crashed against the rocks and boats rocked on it's surface. The sails difting along with the wind, tossing and turning.

A squeak of a door hinge, made him turn his head. His head wasn't pounding in pain anymore. And he finally looked at himself in the mirror. He shuddered as he thought about it. His left eye was swollen to the point that it looked like a fruit was stored in his eye socket. His nose had a small cut on the side of his right nostril, followed by a dark blue bruise next to it. His bottom lip on the left hand side was swollen also.

His hair, amazingly, covered the small bruises on his cheeks from veiw, as well as some of his swollen eye. So, he left his hair down.

His arms were sore still and would twinge in pain sometimes. Other then that, they were fine to move. They were bruised only in a few places. His chest was bruised as well. His stomach had a foot print bruise on it, from his father kicking him. His back had lash marks on it. Apparently his father found a few new 'toys' to punish him with.

So, in responce, Jack wore a poet shirt with a small neck line cut. The sleeves, wide and covered all of his arm and a little of his hands.

His breeches covered the bruise on his left thigh. His father hadn't bothered beating his legs. But, they did have a small rug burn on them from sliding on the rug during the punishment.

Jack winced a little at the sudden squeaking of the hinged door. There, appeared a small girl from behind the door. She was shy, with dark hair that was cut short. Her dark skin contrasted her rosey lips and her strangely colored eyes. He couldn't say they were brown, nor could he say they were dark blue. They seemed like a mix.

Her clothes were that of a lower class child. Dirty at the elbows. The front of her off-white shirt was stained a bit with food and dirt. Her skirt, which she looked rather uncomfortable with, was loose and also dirty.

She glanced up at him, before giving a slight bow motion with her head. "M-May I come in, sir?"

"..yes.." Jack answered back. he was used to some of the maids doing this, but not a kid only a few years younger then him. Well, she might be more then a few. She seemed to be barely three right now. If she was three.

She walked in and closed the door behind her. She kept her eyes on the rug infront of her.

"You can come sit with me, if you like to." Jack said, still watching her. She was interesting. He never say anyone with that complection before. Her mother had darker skin yes, but not that shade.

".Thank you.." She said very quietly. She shuffled her feet as she walked. She pulled out the chair and sat across from him. That's when she took her first glance at him. Her eyes widen. She couldn't help but openly stare at him. He was so bruised.

"....I know.. I look terrible." Jack said, looking away from her.

"..No.. just... umm.." She started, not finding any words in her small vocabulary.

"I was told you like Pirates." Jack said, rethinking a bit about his conversation with Maria.

"AYE! Pirate's are the best." Anamaria said with a small squeal. "My daddy was one."

"Really?" Jack questioned, surprised but not quite so. That would explain why she had the coloring she did. Since her father could easily have been from somewhere else.

"Aye. James, the dreaded." Anamaria said, tring to act scary, but giggling at the end.

"My mother was one... well.. as far as I know. Her name was Captain Ginger Peter." Jack said.

"Captain... Ginger?! THE Cap'n Ginger?" Anamaria asked.

"Aye. You know about her?" Jack questioned.

"What pirate on the bloody ocean doesn't know Cap'n Ginger?! She was one of the best pirates ever. She was known for her cutlass she named 'Black heart'. She was the best sword fighter on the seas! Even outsmarted the India company." She said, getting excitied.

Jack said back in awe. He was somewhat jealous though. This girl wasn't even HALF his age, yet knew more about pirates then he did. It was a pure shame to him. "How did you know all this?"

"Me mom." She answered with a smile. "She told me all about pirates and the seas."

"I never knew my mom." Jack answered in a low tone.

"Oh.." She said with a sad voice. "It's alright. You can hear some great adventures she had. She's me favorite pirate! Well, next to Cap'n Sparrow of course."

"Cap'n Sparrow? Which one?" Jack questioned, becoming interested.

"Cap'n Sparrow the third of course! She is the first woman to be named a true pirate! Then, became a Sparrow herself! She's the best when it comes to figger out stuff. She can think her way out of anything. Not that great with a cutlass though. Never was her strong side. But other then that, she's a great pirate." Anamaria said.

"'Ello Jack!" A voice came ringing through the rather large study room. Both Jack and Anamaria turned. It was of course, Miss. Sparrow. She was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed. "Looks like ye made a friend while I was away."

"Yes." Jack said, smiling. He loved seeing her. He always felt safe when she was around. Jack cleared his throat to get Anamaria's attention. "This, is Miss. Sparrow. She's my teacher."

Anamaria's jaw dropped. She turned and looked at Miss. Sparrow. "Cap'n Sparrow?"

"Aye?" Miss. Sparrow replied.

Anamaria jumped from her chair and ran all the way to Miss. Sparrow. She clapped her arms to the side, then gave her a salute. "Please Cap'n Sparrow! Bring me on board the ship at your next mission? It would be a GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, honor!"

Miss. Sparrow put a hand down on Anamaria's head and ruffled her hair. "Nah Lass. I got to be getting a REAL crew together before I start thinking about bringing young ones onboard me ship."

Then she crouched down to Anamaria's level. "Now, you don't be tellin' ANYONE that I'm here, Savvy?"

"Savvy!" She chripped. "No one will know Cap'n." She gave her another salute. Miss. Sparrow patted her shoulder.

"That's a good Pirate. Now, I'd hate to ask this of you, but would you mind leaving and coming back tomorrow? I have to get to Jack's lessons 'bout now." She said.

"Aye aye Cap'n Sparrow." She said. She turned to jack. "Good bye Jack." She then skipped out of the room before Jack could reply.

"Miss. Sparrow. Are we going to go on a ship today?" He questioned, hoping she would let him. His mind already knew she was going to say no. Not in his condiction. he shouldn't even leave the house yet.

"Can't Jack. We got some things to go over first." She said, walking over to him and sitting down in the chair Anamaria was just sitting in.

"Like what?" He questioned, courious.

"Well, for starters the Pirate's code." She said, smiling at him.

"We're going to go over that? But, I thought-" But Jack was cut off.

"Well, ye thought wrong. You think I'd let a boy with Pirate's blood in him go without knowing the code?" Miss. Sparrow raised an eyebrow.

Jack smiled. "Well, let's get started."

"Alright." She said. She watched him as she went over it. "Now, the first thing you need to know about the pirate's code is...."

They worked on the Pirate's code for the next two hours. They went to eat lunch. This time, Miss. Sparrow stayed for it. She kept glaring at his father, who tried to ignore the cold glares coming his way. Jack could notice he's father's wariness. It was almost written all over the man's face!

Jack nearly laughed when his father poured hot tea in his lap from the shiver that Miss. Sparrow's glare gave him.

After Lunch, They continued with the lesson. This time they talked about the workings of a ship.

Jack learned how to handle a ship and set for sail in one from the lesson he recieved today. He smiled. He couldn't believe it. He was really going to become a pirate! Then, he would be free from here once and for all.

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The rest year went on like that. He would recieve his lessons everyday, learning more about the ways of a pirate along with regular studing. He learned a large portion of math and science. They helped him with figuring out problems, regular problems of life.

Every day, Anamaria came over. Sometimes they would play around the house. Like hide and go seek. Other times they would sit by the beach, talking about Pirates. They grew a strong friendship from all the time spent together. Jack was sure that when he became a captain, Anamaria would be his first mate. And Anamaria was sure when SHE became a captain, Jack would be the cabin boy.

They both laughed as they talk about the future. Anamaria mostly made fun of jack, saying he would be caught by the british officers and hung the first five minutes of his pirate life. And Jack would just say that no matter what, he would escape.

Jack was a boy of 9 now. He had grown a little. About an inch. Nothing much... yet. He felt taller now, atleast. His muscles were starting to become a little more defined. He was working out everyday with Miss. Sparrow. He was learning the art of the sword.

Jack fell on his backside again, letting his cutlass fall to the ground with a clatter. Miss. Sparrow shook her head at him.

"No, no, no. You're holding it much too tight. If you hold it like that, you're sure to fell an aweful sting when someone hits your blade." She explained, helping him to his feet.

"I'll try it once more." Jack said. The lesson was supposed to end ten minutes ago, but he wanted to try again... and again.

He grabbed his cutlass from the ground and rejusted his hold on it. He let his wrist wave a bit while holding, showing he was holding it with a looser grip.

"Keep your arm ready for any attacks, but make sure you don't tence up again. That's why you lost your balance." She explained, extending her cutlass out, making contact with his.

Jack nodded, showing he was ready for the attack. They began. A quick thrust with his sword to her side. She easily blocked it with her cutlass. She lunged in abit, then striked at his open stomach. Jack backed up abit with a jump, then blocked the tip of the blade with his.

He then spun on his front foot, right into a turning attack. Miss. Sparrow ducked under the blade, then attacked from her lowered position. She knocked his cutlass from his hand, with flew across the room. Jack lost his balance again and fell.

Miss. Sparrow gave a hearty laugh at her fallen student. "jack old boy. You need to keep ready for all attacks. if you are to become a pirate, you need to learn to stand on your own two feet."

"I can't help it. It feels like the ground is moving, but it's not." He explained.

"Aww.. that Pirate blood." She said knowingly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He questioned.

"It means, you were born on a ship and that's how you live your life. You're only going to feel comfortable on a ship." She said. By his confused look, she answered again. "You have sea legs."

"Oh.." Jack brillanty answered back. He grabbed his cutlass and put it away. Miss. Sparrow put hers away also.

"Jack. What do ye say about going down to the east coast and seeing me ship?" Miss. Sparrow asked with a smile. She put an arm around his shoulder.

"I would love that!" He said with a huge smile. He knew she was still working on it. As far as he knew, she was done with the outside of the ship. She just needed to finish the inside of the ship, then put a mass and sails on.

Miss. Sparrow and Jack walked out of the study, only to come face to face with Jack's Father.

"Would ye mind moving?" Miss. Sparrow asked in a polite manner.

"Don't mess with me today Miss. Sparrow. I have enough bad news today." He said, grunting at her with a frown on his face.

"And what would that be sir?" She questioned, honestly wanting to know.

"My company was robbed again! This is the fifth time it has been robbed! My company is becoming a laughing stalk!" He said, throwing up his arms in complete disgust. "And who would steal from a wood factory?"

"Don't be asking me sir." Miss. Sparrow said. Jack looked up at her. he started to notice her little quirks and see behind her ever calm and happy mask. A smile was being fought at her lips. She was tring her dammest not to smile. Jack wondered why, then was pulled out of his thoughts.

"Well, be on with ye." Jack's father said. Jack noticed a huge change in his father since Miss. Sparrow threatened him. He no longer even looked at Jack. Only at Miss. Sparrow. Jack was starting to think his father now thought of him as dead. It certainly seemed that way.

But jack didn't care. As long as he had Miss. Sparrow, Anamaria and the maids, he was fine. He took only last glance at his father as him and Miss. Sparrow left the house.

They continued down the road, getting hats tipped at them from Pirates in hiding. Jack noticed that Grimsbe was there. He smiled down at Jack and patted his shoulder. Jack heard him mumble something about being a strong lad.

Jack also saw the Princess Pearl in the docks. Apparantly their friend was back. Jack was excitied. He hadn't seen him since his adventure at the Taloon.

Jack and Miss. Sparrow rounded a few corners. They continued up at very rough trail through some deep brush around the coast, until they reached the cove where Miss. Sparrow's ship was kept.

Jack stared at the ship. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen! The ship's basic design was there and so was the wheel, decks and rails. The outside of his was almost complete. It only needed a mast for the outside to be done.

Jack ran to the ship, leaving Miss. Sparrow to caught up to him. Jack ran up the plank that connected the ship to the beach. He stopped on the top deck, looking around. It was one of the biggest ships he had ever seen! The detail put into the rails was enough to impress him beyound belief! It must have cost a fortune to make this ship!

Jack wasn't stupid. He knew Miss. Sparrow didn't have enough money to buy all this. He turned towards her as she walked onto the ship.

"You that impressed?" She questioned with a small smirk on her face. Jack could tell she was really looking for his approval of the ship.

"It's the greatest ship I've ever seen in my whole life!" Jack said, showing his emotion by waving his arms as he talked.

Miss. Sparrow laughed as she saw her student infront of her. His brown eyes were wide with excitiment. His finely made face was alive with the pure happiness that could only have been born from the sea. His arms waved like the waves themselves. His hair had been let loose upon his face now. He almost always had it out of a pony-tail now. Besides the occational ball he was to attend, he let it go. His hair was still brushed to a shine. But, now a red bandanna held his hair in place instead of a tie.

His shirt was a V-neck that dipped into his chest, exposing his skin more. Before, he was ashamed to show any skin because of the bruises he would have. Now, he could show off his skin. A small tan line was shown, showing he recently started to wear low cut v-necks. His dark blue vest over it, was finely made. A few hand stitched designs inbeded in his vest. A sash to hold it to his waist. His breeches were dark grey. Almost brown in color. They seemed to be his favorite.

She smiled at him. He was becoming more and more like a pirate every day. Soon, she would have a full blown outlaw of a pirate on her hands. But, that was nothing she couldn't handle.

"Miss. Sparrow?" Jack questioned.

"Aye?" She questioned.

"Where did you get all this wood?" he said, with a raised eyebrow.

She smiled. He was a lot smarter then anyone gave him credit for. "I stole it." She answered like he was asking her favorite color.

"From where?" he inquired.

"From your father's company." She said with a grin.

Jack shared her grin. "I thought you were the one. Wasn't sure until now."

"Aye." She said in a dramatic voice. She swaggered over to him, still using the same voice. "Oh Jack. Will ye turn this devil of a pirate in for that grand reward they'd be offering for me head?"

Jack rubbed his chin with his hand. "I'd been thinking you could repay me in another way, me lady."

"And how would that be?" She questioned, like she was in trouble.

"I pirate could always use a cabin boy." He said with an upturned smile. Miss. Sparrow slapped his back in a friendly manner.

"You sea dog." She commented.

"Aye?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

They both shared a laugh from their antics. Jack surely had grown a lot from that scared 8 year old boy she first meet. He was now, very vocal in what he wanted. he was also, more darring and had a will of pure iron.

"I forgot to ask you. What will you call this ship?" He questioned.

"Well lad. You're not supposed to name a ship til you finish building her. Then, before you set sail... you have to name it from the bottom of your heart. The name the ship truely deserves." She said.

"How would you know what the ship's true name should be?" Jack questioned.

"There will be a sign of some sort. Like when I named me first ship, the 'Savor rose'. I named it after me mom. Her name was rose and she saved me hide more then I can count. The ship I made, me first one.. was a ship that looked just like her's. That's how I came up with the name. There are always signs... always. You just have to look for them." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm getting a sign right now." Jack said, looking very serious.

Miss. Sparrow blinked. "What's it say lad?"

"I'm hungry." He answered back with a smile. They both laughed. Miss. Sparrow and Jack headed back to his house to eat lunch while sharing a conversation about pirates all the way there.

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I know. I kinda skipped a year and only added Anamaria in there for a little bit. I promise she will be in the story alot more then she is now. Oh and if you're wondering why I changed Jack's father like that, it will be explained in the next chapter.

And for all those who HATE Jack's father and our ready to jump into the computer screen just the kill the man, hold back for awhile. There's a deeper story to everyone. Not everything is what it seems. Remember that boys and girls. ^_^ I love those twists.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!