Author's note: okay, there's mention of a tiny island called "Rum Cay" and it's described as off the coast of Jamaica…when in reality, it's mixed in with the Bahamas…so don't shoot me…I needed a small island near Port Royal, but I couldn't find any in my atlas…so just ignore that it's wrong, and remember, I warned you ahead of time.

________________

       "I hope this works…" Mark said as he put the last finishing touches on Gwyneth's cake.  It had been about a week since she had come home crying from Jack, and the family practically walked on eggs when around her.  She had kept the unemotional nature, staying in her room except when she came down for meals and then when she went to brush Pearl after dinner.  All of them knew to leave her alone.

        "I just hope this will get her to react…in any way." Caitlin added, watching her brother.  She and Rebecca had gone in during the night that one night to make their aunt feel loved.  But, when they tried the next night, the door was locked.  Gwyneth seemed to have locked it every night after she went in after brushing Pearl.  The children wondered if she locked it any other time during the day, but none of them were brave enough to try.

        Except for Brenda.

        She had gone in a couple days ago, trying to get a reaction out of her, but she got nothing.  Gwyneth asked her to walk Suzette and to take care of her for the time being.  "You understand of course, don't you?" Gwyneth had said, not explaining what Brenda should understand.  But she obeyed.  Suzette slept with Brenda at nights, but during the day whimpered at Gwyneth's door.  She even locked her puppy out of her life… Brenda thought sadly, who oddly enough had gotten attached to the little pup. 

        This whole situation was frustrating and depressing Brenda at the same time.  She wanted Gwyneth to cheer up already!  "Yes, but if you think about it, Aunt Gwyneth has been through a lot…" Jonathan commented. 

        That caught Brenda's attention.  She had been staring out the windows, looking at the rain.  It was only the second time the rain had come, but for the Caribbean, two times in two weeks, wasn't very common.  "What do you mean?"

        Jonathan looked up, "Well, surely you must know…she was on her way to getting married when he got murdered.  Elizabeth Turner's brother in fact.  Well the ship she was on was attacked by pirates…killed her husband-to-be.  Then on the way for revenge…she ran into your father."

        Brenda paused and thought about this new information.  That's must've been when she stayed with us… Brenda thought about what she must've went through, her love dying right before they were to be married.  "That must've been horrible…"

        "Yes, well she obviously fell for the wrong guy." Trevor said, looking at Brenda.

        Brenda grimaced.  How embarrassing.  Usually her father's name brought pride to her heart and fear into other's hearts.  Now it just brought her shame.  She was having a hard time feeling sorry for her father.  She had gone to see him the day before and had talked to him about Gwyneth, not telling him how she was acting.     Brenda of course was surprised to see her father acting like a love-sick puppy.  He stunk in general, his clothes were filthy, and either he was growing a full beard or refused to shave.  He had dark circles under each eye and didn't say more than five words for an answer or question.  Pitiful was the first word that came to her mind when she thought of him.

        "We ready?" Mark asked, looking around. 

        "Yea!  Let's bring plates and forks just in case she wants to share!" Rebecca said.  They half laughed, knowing Gwyneth might just sit it on her vanity and let it rot.  But they let the little girl do so, her older sister carrying the plates and herself carrying the silver. 

        Trevor sighed, and led the way, Brenda followed, then Jonathan, then Mark with the cake and so on.  They went up stairs in this little procession and finally reached her door.  Trevor took a deep breath and knocked.  There was no answer.  Trevor frowned and jiggled the handle.  Locked.

        "She locked it." He told everyone.  Brenda rolled her eyes and pulled something out of her hair.  A loose hairpin was her tool to try to pick Gwyneth's lock.  She growled when she noticed that there was no hole for a key on the outside of the door.  She relayed the message down. 

        "What are we supposed to do?" Caitlin asked, "It's not like we can slide this thing under the door!"

        Brenda agreed.  She looked down, hearing Suzie whimpering.  Brenda suddenly came up with an idea.  "Trevor, get Suzie and tell everyone to back away from the door."

        He obeyed but said, "What are you going to do?"

        She ignored the question, thinking it would be obvious soon enough, "Are you sure your parents aren't home?"

        "I'm positive…Brenda…don't do something stupid please."

        She turned, looking at him, "You sound like my father…" she pulled out one of the many pistols she had on her. 

        Trevor rolled his eyes, "Brenda…I'm serious…"

        "Do you have a better way?"

        "She's going to kill us!"

        "Locks can be fixed…and let's just call this a pay back for the way she's been acting."

        Everyone held their breath while Brenda took a deep breath, hoping her aim would be perfect today.  She cocked the gun and slowly pulled the trigger.  Brenda watched as the door lazily swung open and there was Gwyneth's distraught face.  Brenda tucked her gun away and swallowed, ready to face this woman's wrath.

        Gwyneth calmly looked at her door and then at each of the children.  "And what do I owe this…surprise?"

        Brenda's mouth dropped at her response.  So calm, so controlled… "What the blast is wrong with you, woman?!" she yelled through the house, "I'm more upset over the stupid lock than you are!  Doesn't that seem a tab bit wrong to you?"

        "Locks can be fixed, right Brenda?"

        It's almost as if this woman is trying to infuriate me!  "Yes of course bloody locks can be fixed!  But can you?!"

        Everyone paused, Gwyneth raised an eyebrow and Brenda crossed her arms, wanting some kind of response out of her.  Any kind of response that was more than a calm and cool-headed response.  "I'm sure you'll be happy to fix my lock then?"

        Brenda sneered, "You can fix it yourself." Along with your cold heart, "But maybe if you had just opened the door…"

        "There was no reason to."

        Brenda stared, moved aside from the cake, plates and silver that had been left.  Both the girls were probably in their room, Mark, Jonathan and Trevor stayed however, half angry half depressed.  Gwyneth looked at the cake and the left silver and sighed.  Her figure faulted, her shoulders sagged and her face drooped.  This touch of kindness was obviously what she needed, even if Brenda thought she needed a slap in the face. 

        She went to Trevor and kissed his face, making him giggle a little.  Next she went to Jonathan, doing the same thing, kissing each glass spectacle on his face and then to Mark.  She hugged all three of them and whispered something.  Mark picked up the cake, Jonathan the silver and followed Gwyneth into the barged girls' room. 

        Trevor looked at Brenda, who was reloading her pistol.  "You coming?"

        Brenda kept her eyes on her weapon, "I don't think so…This was really a family thing to begin with…I'll just be in the way."

        "But you got her out here…you got her to realize what she was doing…she's going to be okay because of you."

        Brenda sighed, looking down onto the lower part of the house, "Yes, but whether I did that or not, this is obviously still a family deal…" she tried to hold the rush of emotions that were threatening to burst out of her, "And I…I'm not part of her family."  She started to walk down the stairs, wanting to get out of the house as soon as possible.

        "And you think having a pity party for yourself will help?!" he called down to her. 

        She stopped, turned on her heel and looked at him, "Just consider me blowin' her lock off, a…benefit to the community."

        "Where are you going?" he tried again, after she had reached the floor and was headed towards the side door that lead to the stable.

        "It's a nice day out, I'm going to enjoy it," she answered and then quickly left before he could say anything more.  He sighed and looked out the bay windows, it was still pouring rain. 

****

        "I don't want to talk to you!"       

        Rick sighed, "Are you gunna hold this thing against me for the rest of yer life?"

        "It's possible!" Jack called over his shoulder.

        "Jack I wrote her."

        Jack stopped dead in his tracks.  There was only three "hers" he could be talking about.  Gwyneth, Brenda or the Pearl.  Rick had come into the house saying that there was something important he needed to talk to Jack about.  Jack wasn't in the mood to talk to him again, although he wasn't going to end their friendship over this.  He still had the little hope that he might be able to talk some since into Gwyneth.

        For the past week, Jack had had nightmares about Gwyneth and the past that they both shared.  He dreamed about when she got stabbed over and over.  He dreamed about when she and Brenda were in danger in the galley with the Spanish man.  But the thing that had been plaguing him for days on end were the three words he had told Gwyneth when she got stabbed, stay with me, just stay with me Gwen.

          "Who did you write, exactly?" Jack asked, turning around.

        Rick sighed, "The Black Pearl.  I thought I should tell you."

        "Why even tell me in the first place?"

        "Because I got a reply back."

        Jack paused, "Why would you write them?"

        "I thought that after the way you've been hurt…that you would need a refuge free of the Commodore and Captain Briscoe…"

        Jack looked out the windows, the ocean was in sight, and it wasn't a pretty thing.  Jack grimaced, oh yea, that's all I need right now.  He looked back at Rick, "What did they say?"

        "They said they'll be here tomorrow."

        Jack narrowed his eyes, they must've been bloody close to Port Royal then.  "Where were they?"

        "Off the west coast…tiny island…somewhere called Rum Cay."

        "And they're going to be here…tomorrow, you say?"

        "Aye.  You going?"

        Jack sighed, was he going to go? That was a question that needed to be thought out, that needed to be carefully thought about.  I need to tell Brenda. Jack thought to himself, thinking of how much Brenda had yearned to go home.  He looked at Rick, "What about you?"

        He shrugged, "I've caused enough trouble…I'm catchin' the next cargo ship off this island.  Back to my home.  You're welcome to come along…but I figured you'd have other plans."

        Jack nodded, "We'll see if I do or not…but in the mean time…I don't think I'll go with you."

        Rick slowly nodded, "I understand mate."

        Jack looked away, "Good."

****

        "You know, the other brush is better."

        Brenda paused, recognizing the voice behind her, "You want me to fix that too?"

        She heard footsteps come closer, but kept her face towards the black beast.  "I was thinking we could fix the lock…together.  I'm sure you're better at fixing things than I am."

        Brenda backed away from the horse, seeing Gwyneth's soft hand touch the animal.  "I wouldn't want to catch frostbite from you."

        Gwyneth sighed, "Brenda, can't you understand that I was going through a rough time?!"

        "So rough that a dogs whimpering couldn't soften that heart of yours?"

        "Why is this affecting you so much?" Gwyneth asked, somewhat changing the topic.

        Brenda turned around, "Because yer the first woman I've ever gotten close to!"  Gwyneth's face filled with understanding, but Brenda went on, tears brimming, "You made me get close to you!  You taught me that I don't have to be a grown up when my father's taught me the exact opposite my entire life!  But for some strange reason…I believed you.  I trusted you more than anything!  Gwyneth, yer the first mother figure I've ever had…"

        Gwyneth took a step near her and kept going when Brenda didn't move.  "And when you pushed everyone away, including me, I felt like my mother was pushing me away."  Gwyneth reached her and wrapped her arms around her, Brenda quickly falling into the embrace and leaving her pride in the dust.  She had prided herself on be tough and strong, but whenever Gwyneth was around, she was about strong as an egg.

        "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I've felt like you were the first child that actually belonged to me…" Gwyneth confessed.  "And I'm sorry I pushed you away.  I tried to consider you as everyone else, not as the person who hurt me daughter…I really did.  But I suppose it didn't work, did it?"

        Brenda shook her head.  Gwyneth kissed her head and moved some hair that was getting her face, out of her face.  This is what she had yearned after for fourteen years.  And when she thought of Jack being the father of her child, she considered it ironic that she thought of Jack's daughter as her own. 

        Their brief but meaningful embrace was cut short when Trevor interrupted them, breathless.  "Brenda, Gwyneth…someone's here to see both of you."

****

        "Dad…what are you doing here?" Brenda whispered harshly as she and Gwyneth came into the house with Trevor.  Gwyneth returned to her emotionless demeanor, for the time being and stood back and listened while father and daughter talked. 

        Jack sighed, looking at Gwyneth and then at his daughter, "I have something to tell both of you…" Gwyneth looked up, bit her lip and walked forward. 

        "Shall we go into the drawing room then?" She asked.  Jack sighed and nodded.  She nodded back and led the way.  There, her back facing the two Sparrows, she was free to express her feelings.  He has his beads back…the braid…the dreads were always there…but the beads, the braid, the scarf, the boots…his rings are back on his fingers and his sash and sword are back around his waist.  She sighed, if she wasn't so hurt, she would've kissed him.  All he's missing is his coat and hat…  All of them sat down and Gwyneth tried to remind herself she needed to act like an adult. 

        Brenda and Gwyneth both waited for Jack to say something.  Of course he was trying to keep his eyes off Gwyneth.  She really does look good in pale green…that dress looks beautiful on her… He sighed, I'm not going to get through this…He took in a deep breath and let it out, "Rick has written the Pearl…" Jack started off, thinking that was all he needed to say.  He watched Gwyneth's face carefully.  Stay with me.  He shook his head slightly, getting rid of that thought.      

        Gwyneth's face slowly contorted from its calm place and her eyes darted to Brenda and then Jack.  When she met his gaze, her green eyes quickly found their place on the floor rug.  Brenda sighed and leaned back, "What's that supposed to mean dad?"

        He paused, "Well, it's up to you and Gwen."

        Brenda looked at Gwyneth and then back at her dad, "Why both of us?"

        "I know you want to leave…but you and Gwen have gotten attached, right?"  Brenda nodded.  "Well," he said, "then you can decide whether to leave or not.  But the Pearl will be here tomorrow."

        She paused, "What does that have to do with Gwyneth?"

        He slowly looked up, looking at Gwyneth's eyes that were still staring at the floor, "She can decide whether she wants me to leave and if she wants you to leave."

        Gwyneth's eyes immediately shot up, meeting Jack's gaze.  She bit her lip and Brenda quickly stood up, "I think I heard the girls callin' my name…no doubt wantin' t'hear a story…" when either of them said anything Brenda quickly made her exit, closing the room's door behind her.

        "What's it gunna be, love?"

        She swallowed, somewhat noticing how he said 'love' a little differently.  She raised an eyebrow, "It doesn't seem like it's my decision, Captain.  It's your ship, your daughter…you decision."

        "Gwen, as much as you might think it's up to me…part of me wants to stay here, unless you give me a reason to stay…" he said, getting up and slowly walking towards her. 

        She quickly got up from the chair she was sitting in and got behind it, to put some distance between them.  "Captain…Jack…I think you've given yourself a reason to not stay."

        He paused, not going to give up so easily, "Gwyneth, do you want me here?"

        She lifted her eyes from the chair seat she was staring at.  She met his dark brown eyes and bit her lip to keep from crying.  She felt so much emotion from just looking in his eyes.  The main two being love and hurt.  She licked her chapped lips, "Jack…what do you expect me to do after what happened?  Kiss you and forgive you right off the bat?  I can't do that without an explanation."

        "I tried to explain, Gwyneth, but you wouldn't let me!"

        "That's because I don't want an explanation for why you did that, I don't want to hear all the excuses you have for agreeing to something like that!  I just can't deal with it.  I can't deal with thinking about it, let alone hearing an explanation and excuse for it!"

        "Well then how are you ever going to forgive me?" He asked desperately.

        She paused, looking away, thinking the answer was obvious.  She wasn't going to.  "Jack, how am I ever going to trust you again?"

        "If you forgive me, then you'll build that trust!  I'm willing to help you build that trust!"

        "How?!  If you're leaving on your ship?!"

        "I'm not leaving unless you tell me to!"

        She paused, looking at him once more, "Jack, you know you can't stay here…"

        "I can try…we can work it out, Gwen…I want you with me…" he said desperately.

        She shook her head, "If you wanted me with you, then you wouldn't have done that to me."

        His mouth slightly dropped, this couldn't be her answer, could it? He thought that it would turn out better than this.  "Gwyneth please," he said, grabbing for her hand but she pulled away, backing up towards the wall, "Gwen, you know that I love you!"

        She shook her head, the candle light reflecting off her eyes, making them shimmer with her tears, "I don't know that Jack, and I'm not ever going to know that."  She swallowed the lump in her throat, "Just leave…it's better for everyone that way…just leave."

        Just stay with me.  Those three words rang throughout Jack's entire being, Just stay with me.  He couldn't force her to do anything though.  He had come here asking an honest question, hoping to get an honest answer, and he did.  He nodded once and slowly walked towards the door to the room, hoping she would call him back.  She didn't.

        Then he walked through the house, meeting Brenda and telling her to get her trunk ready for tomorrow, they were leaving.  Jack sighed and straightened his back and held his head high as he exited the Johnson house, even though he felt like keeling over and dying.

****

        That night at dinner, Jack told everyone he was leaving the next day.  He tried as hard as he could to shake off the feeling he had.  The feeling of despair and of something not fitting.  So he slapped on a smile and joked around with Rick and the kids, all the while, trying to ignore the look he was getting from Elizabeth.  He needed to get back into his Captain Jack Sparrow shoes, get that edge and that sarcasm.  Now was not the time to be crying over lost love. 

        It happens all the time…no big deal.

        It doesn't happen all the time to you!

        Jack shook his head, thinking that either way, he need to get back into character, so to speak.  After dinner he made his way to Will and Elizabeth before they approached him, "Are you sure about this?" Elizabeth asked.

        Jack nodded, "Aye…I've never been on land this long, and though I have enjoyed it, I don't want to stay on Port Royal."  He shrugged, "I have no reason to stay."

        Elizabeth was about to say something but Will stopped her by putting his arm around her and saying, "What time are you expecting to get out tomorrow?"

        "Early.  I have to go pick up Brenda from the Johnson's…Rick said the Pearl should be here a little after sunrise.  I don't want to keep them waiting…"

        "Well how about this, when I go to work tomorrow, I'll take the carriage, you and I will go get Brenda and then I'll drop you off at the cove…where I'm assuming the Pearl will be anchored…and then you'll be on your way.  I'll be a little late to work, but I can afford it." He said with a shrug.

        Jack smiled, "I'd like that. 

****

        "Brenda, stop giving me those eyes…"

        "Well I can't help it!  I want to leave more than anything…yet I want to stay.  I've never been on land more than a few days…and well I got bloody attached!"

        Gwyneth nodded, "It's understandable."

        "Why do land and sea have to be so different but both have such wonderful qualities?"

        "When you figure that out, tell me."  Brenda rolled her eyes and kept packing.  Not like she had a lot to pack.  A few pants and shirts that Gwyneth had bought and then her corset that she had only worn once, but might come in handy sooner or later.  Caitlin and Rebecca had drawn some interesting pictures for her from the past week and Brenda tucked them away also, knowing they would make a nice addition to her desk along with maps of the Caribbean.

        Brenda sighed, trying not to blame Gwyneth for all this.  But if she had just said yes to dad…I would be here.

        Yes, but you probably leave without your father again.

          Brenda stopped and stared at the women sitting on the bed, with an elegant dress on, her hair done up perfectly and her posture near perfect.  A silly though crossed Brenda's mind and came out her lips, "You could learn to wear pants…right?"

        Gwyneth stared at her and shook her head slightly.  "I have been known to wear pants…and on the Pearl in fact, but there's no way Brenda…"

        She sighed, "It's not fair.  I just realized that I do have a soft side, and I can open up to a woman who I admire and trust in everyway…and consider a mother…and I have to leave."

        Gwyneth was going to say they could write each other, but then the thought of Brenda's reading disability came to mind.  "We'll see each other soon…"

        Brenda looked at her and nodded even though deep down, she knew this was the last time she was going to see Gwyneth.  If she and Jack had made up, Brenda might've had hope for the future, but the future looked grim.  No, this was the last time the Sparrows were going to see Port Royal and the people who inhabited it.

****

        Gwyneth's dreams that night were anything but peaceful and calm.  Visions of her and Jack's first meeting fluttered into her dreams, forcing her to go through it without waking up.

        Will smiled, "Gwyneth…you're on the Black Pearl."

          Gwyneth's eyes widened and she met Jack's eyes.  "Then that means you're Captain Jack Sparrow."  Her first encounter with the pirate captain was more or less pleasant.  Her dream went through the memory at the slowest speed almost.  Her sub-consciousness making sure it went over each detail of the memory. 

        Then the dream skipped to a memory of her coming home for the last time, the talk her and Faith had had, about how Jack had captured Gwyneth's heart so quickly.  "Gwen, I noticed something the last time you came back…a certain air about you.  Could it have been a certain Captain?"  Faith talking to her seemed so real, like it was in the present.  But when Gwyneth sat up straight in her bed with a cold sweat, the memories dispersed in the air almost.

        She took in a deep breath to contain her rush of tears.  I've done the right thing…there's nothing else left to do.  I did the right thing…making him go to his ship…yes, the right thing.  She sighed and lay back down, hoping to get some more rest before daybreak.

        The next morning Gwyneth woke up early, with mixed thoughts about having the two Sparrows leave.  She knew she didn't want Brenda to leave, but Jack?  She wasn't sure.  She would figure it out soon if it meant they both would stay.  She ran out of her room, hoping to catch Brenda before she even woke up, to talk to her and to tell her she didn't want her to leave and she would try talking to her father, if it meant she would stay. 

        But when Gwyneth turned Brenda's door handle and the door swung open, Gwyneth was met with the sight of a neatly made bed, an open window with flowing curtains but no signs that Brenda was here, and more importantly, no Brenda.

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A/N2: Okay!  So some of you have decided that you would like to see a third story, preferably revolving around Brenda and Trevor.  Some of you have said that this is story is fine now, but if another story came up, you'd read it.  And others have said they'll wait to see how this ends…the trouble is, I was going to base the ending chapter on your responses!  But I have decided…knowing the PotC2 won't be coming out until next year…I will keep myself busy by writing another story.  I will give you details later…

Author Thanks:

          ThePinkPanther

          Dragonflygirl

          Bitty-Buffy: Uh…you do know that Rythmteck is my sister, right?  Because if you didn't, that's really ironic.  I'm glad you're back and reviewing.

          Dragon Girl Revlis: HEY!  New reviewer!  Yesh!  Have you been reading this whole time?  And obviously you read the last story…did you review for it?  Your name sounds familiar. 

          Albe-Chan: heh…dash of excitement…I like that.

          Vicki Turner

          Piper8188: That is weird that it's your favorite quote…No, I just found a bunch of quotes off people's IM profiles…and then I went to this one website with a bunch of quotes done by famous people…and yea.

          Emma436: YOU ARE INSANE.  I love it tho.  Lol.  You're reviews are hilarious.  When are you going to update your story?  I know your beta reader is back so…yea!  Oh!  This is the chapter where you predicted Jack leaving!  Can you believe how freaky that is?  I mean, when you wrote that in a review, I hadn't even written this chapter yet!  It freaked me out big time.  But oh well.  Did any of your other theories come true in this chapter?  Let me know if they did…and then we can talk about how scary that is…lol.  Oh, and Brenda Trevor thing…close…but no.  It's a good idea though- it just never entered my brain.  The very last chapter I think…yea, the last chapter I'm going to have some drama between Brenda and Trevor.  Since the drama thing with Gwen and Jack, I've kinda blocked out their "love fest" or romance, so I need to put that in… And of course I feel special, I absolutely LOVE hearing your thoughts and ideas.  Nice work.

          Dawnie-7:  Tears?  Oh…how cool!  Well, I think I finally reviewed for the one shot, so yea…and I have a question, will you read my story if I continue on with it? *puppy-dog eyes*