I read over my last chapter and noticed that it was a bit rushed...so apologies if anyone thought that too...

Once again, I can't say thank you enough for the reviews! Too Great! :)

artsigirl16 and HappyBunny1 ~ Thanks for the Reviews!

artsigirl16 - I was about to head up to bed, but I noticed your review and decided that I mustn't keep you waiting! :) So here you are, darlin! Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 8

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Kate's mind was on one thing as she made her way out of the mansion: Jonathan. She couldn't look back at him, because she knew if she did then her heart would persuade her to stay. But, Jack was her uncle...and she couldn't say that she and Jonathan were ever going to get married or fall in love. In her heart, she knew she loved him. She always had, but sometimes, she knew, one can't always follow his heart.

The mansion was quiet; all were abed. Kate opened the back door slowly, fearing it would creak. She lifted her gaze to see a very impatient Jack stomping his foot and looking at her.

"What took so bloody long?" asked Jack.

"Sorry...are you mad?" she closed the door behind her.

He sighed, "No, Love...let's get going, then. Hope me ship hasn't left me." Jack grunted.

"Where are we going?" Kate and Jack walked swiftly under the moonlight; Kate looked back at the Colonel's mansion once more. It was very likely that she would never see it again.

"Yer a pirate now, missy. Got to be prepared to go anywhere, anytime. Me guess is that our first stop will be Tortuga, ye know. To fill up on rum and such." Jack smiled with a wink and Kate frowned, though Jack couldn't see in the dark.

"Tortuga?" Kate wasn't sure she liked the idea. She had heard all sorts of stories about Tortuga from Jonathan. It was the pirate "hang-out" where the wenches gathered and the rum flowed. An ideal place for a pirate, if you were a man.

Suddenly, Jack stopped, "Ye sure you want to be doin this, mate?" she could see those familiar eyes again in the moonlight. "My guess is that ye haven't had yer sea legs in a while...could be difficult amongst pirates."

"Mr. Sparrow," Kate wasn't sure what to call Jack, so she settled with a simple 'Mr.' , "I grew up with pirates. I'll be okay."

"Alrighty, then."

They continued to walk quickly towards the docks, where Kate caught her first glimpse of the entire ship, The Black Pearl. It looked strangely unwelcoming...the black sails were torn, and the sail posts looked as if they had been long past due for a paint job. Gibbs was waiting for Jack by the docks.

"Ye remember me niece, don't ye, Gibbs? Miss Kate." Jack smiled at Kate proudly, and Kate couldn't help feeling a warm feeling inside her.

Jack and Gibbs led Kate onto the small boat that would take them out to the Black Pearl, but they froze when they heard a voice from behind them.

"Jack! Jack!" said the voice. It was William Turner. Kate recognized him--he was the local blacksmith. Beside him was his wife, Elizabeth, whom Kate also recognized as the Governor's daughter.

"What? William? What do you want, mate?" Jack staggered past Kate and Gibbs, who were left standing in the small boat. He approached Will.

"Leaving so soon?" Will asked.

"Yes, well, for some odd reason, I get the sensation that I'm not very, well -- welcome -- here."

"Nonsense!" Will glanced at Elizabeth who shrugged, as if to say 'He's NOT welcome here.'

"All right, maybe you aren't. But, why are you leaving?" he glanced at Kate, "Did you kidnap her?" he demanded with a finger.

"Course not, mate. Wouldn't kidnap me own niece." He turned to wink at Kate, and then swung back around.

"Let me come with you, Jack." Said Will, after a pause. Elizabeth jumped in.

"What? Will! I thought we agreed we'd had enough piracy for a lifetime!" she gripped Will's shoulder.

"No, dear, you decided that we had had enough piracy for a lifetime. I'm half-pirate, you know. I can't keep my sea legs on land forever." Will said in the nicest way he could to Elizabeth.

Jack thought for a moment; then nodded.

"Aye, William, I'll take ye. Ye best make yer decision now, because we don't plan on coming back here for a time."

Kate watched as Will quietly pleaded Elizabeth to allow him to accompany Jack. After much negotiating, they turned back to Jack.

"I'm coming too," Elizabeth said boldly. Jack groaned.

"Why don't we just throw in the whole bloody navy while we're at it?!"

"Is that a yes?" Elizabeth inquired. Will pleaded with his eyes.

"Aye, Welcome aboard, then."

Will helped Elizabeth into the small boat. She sat down beside Kate and politely introduced herself. After Will had climbed in, Jack untied the boat from the dock and jumped in the boat himself. The boat moved slowly due to the weight of the five people in it, but soon they were on their way to the Black Pearl.

"Jack, you're splashing me with that oar." Complained Elizabeth. Jack frowned.

"Would ye like me to turn me boat around, Mrs. Turner?" Jack asked rather rudely.

Elizabeth pouted silently as Will shot her an apologetic glance. He then turned to Kate.

"So, you're Jack's niece, eh?" he asked, studying her.

"That's what it looks like." Kate nodded shyly.

"Lucky you." Grunted Elizabeth, gazing back at Port Royal. She was angry because she hadn't been allowed time to return to the Turner house to collect her belongings.

"Is she going to be nagging at me the entire trip, mate?" Jack frowned at Elizabeth, and then looked at Will.

"Probably."

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The four finally reached Jack's ship, and the crew hoisted them aboard. Will and Elizabeth already knew Jack's crew, but Kate was the newcomer. Jack put an arm around Kate when his crew shot her questioning glances.

"Who's the girl, Jack?" asked Anamaria, who had been the only woman of the crew until Elizabeth and Kate had suddenly joined it.

"Captain, Anamaria, Captain Jack." Corrected Jack. "And this -- is my niece."

The crew frowned, confused. Not long ago, Jack had been a simple pirate. Now, he was a simple pirate/uncle.

Kate smiled and waved a hello. The crew instantly warmed up to her, except for Anamaria. Kate was suddenly bombarded with slaps on the back and shouts from all but Anamaria, who stood back and looked at Kate as if she were a bug.

"Where we headed, Cap'n?" asked Gibbs.

"Tortuga." Jack smiled again and winked at Kate. Gibbs began to yell orders and soon the Black Pearl was sailing away into the night sky.

Kate's eyes drifted to the Colonel's mansion, where the light from her room was still alit. Her eyes stared at it, and suddenly she felt tears stinging her eyes. She had lived there since her father died...it had become her home. And now she was leaving...probably forever. She was leaving her old life behind, and it had all happened so quickly. All in one day, she had met her uncle and left Jonathan. It was bit overwhelming, but she took a deep breath and fell asleep on the deck of the Black Pearl.

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Alrighty, mate! Long chapter, I'm very proud! Please review!

Love Always!

Anna