A/N: *sniff* It's official, I love all my reviewers!!!! You guys liked it! Actually, now that I've had a day to get back to thinking about it, I think the only two reasons I didn't like it was because it wasn't as long as I had originally hoped, and that I'm still shocked that people like what I write. Still expecting everyone to come up and say, "You suck," "You're a bad writer," etc, etc so yes. But hey! Thrilled that you all aren't. Anyway, review responses will be at the end of each chapter from now on and only for some reviews. On other news, things are going to start loosening up this chapter, I think. I'm not sure yet. We'll see how it goes. Also, I've finally decided where this story is going! It came to me in the middle of reading reviews. No one particularly inspired it, just sort of... popped up. But I've taken suggestions and twisted them in. When I started writing I had no clue what would happen after the Pearl arrived at Port Royale, but I had just figured I would do one of two things that would have the story end shortly thereafter. I have now come up with choice three, which means, there will be at least three of four chapters after they arrive at Port Royale, possibly more. We'll have to see how much I come up with for a plot line. Hehe. The last thing I can think of is that it has been pointed out to me that Jack doesn't ever really say "ye". (Thanks Pirate) Thinking back on it, it came to mind that Jack really spoke more of a mix of pirate and a more refined speech, so from now on, Jack's speech will seem rather… mixed. Because, well, it is. I may have him still say "ye" on occasion of course, and he'll still say "aye" but just... not all so much I think. We'll see. I'm shocked at myself though. I wrote another chapter so soon! Hehe. But what can I say, you all inspired me! And actually, I already have the beginning of the next chapter in my head! Heh. Well, I believe that's all for now… Onto the story!
Chapter 4: Day 3
"Cap'n!" Gibbs's voice carried across the deck to Jack's position at the wheel.
"Aye!" Jack yelled back at him.
"Uh, well ye see, cap'n…" Gibbs said, walking over to Jack.
"What is it, mate?"
"Do ye know where the girl is?" Gibbs looked worried.
"What?" Jack asked him, stunned.
"The girl. She's not in yer cabin anymore."
"Well where is she?"
"I thought ye'd know, Jack."
Jack had a look of slight concern on his face. "Take the wheel, Gibbs," he said, letting go as Gibbs grabbed hold.
Jack looked around above deck, but didn't see anything. He went and checked through his cabin, but still couldn't find Abby. Getting a little frantic now, he hurried below deck, looking inside every door he came across.
Finally, he heard what sounded like grumbling and a little girl's laugh… Jack hurried to the end of the corridor he was in and flung open a door. Then he doubled over laughing.
"Jack!" screeched Anamaria. She grabbed a nearby shirt and threw it at him. It was no use though. Jack continued to laugh, almost falling on the ground as he clutched his sides and gasped for breath, and Abby continued to giggle. Anamaria switched her glare between the two.
"An- Anamaria…" Jack gasped out. "Where did you… possibly find such a lovely, pink, dress?" he burst into fits of laughter again. Anamaria sent him a look of death, but he continued on, either unnoticing or the glare losing some effectiveness because of the pink dress that was covered in bows, which she was wearing, obviously with a corset as well. "It's so…" Jack seemed to be searching for the right word.
"Frilly?" Abby suggested.
"Aye! That's it!" Jack said before going into a new fit of laughter, and Abby practically giggling her head off.
"Abby came down here. Found it and wanted to see me in it," Anamaria grumbled. Jack fell to the floor. She glared at him, and then kicked him out, literally. She shut the door as Jack continued to laugh, tears streaming down his face.
A few moments later, Anamaria emerged still in the dress, Abby at her heels.
"It's not that funny, ye know," she grumbled.
"Oh, but it is. For as long as I live, I will never forget this," Jack told her. Then he pulled himself off the ground and stood, turning to look down at Abby.
"Abby, you're a bloody genius!" he said, picking her up and carrying her back above deck, leaving Anamaria behind them.
Jack walked over to Gibbs with a huge grin on his face, chuckles escaping every now and then. From her place on his hip, giggles were occasionally escaping Abby as well.
"Cap'n?" Gibbs looked confused. Jack merely shook his head and took the wheel back after setting Abby down.
Abby smiled up at Jack as he stared out at sea. She remained oblivious to Gibbs's confused person.
"Er, cap'n?" Gibbs questioned.
"Eeeek!" Abby leapt behind Jack and clung to his leg. Jack only laughed at her actions, beginning to get used to them.
"Aye, Gibbs?"
"If ye don't mind me askin', what be so funny?"
Just then, Anamaria walked above deck, dressed in her reagular clothing, and glared over at Jack and Abby as the two burst into laughter. Gibbs looked completely lost at this.
"I'll just be… goin' back t' work now…" Gibbs was about to turn and walk away when he stopped in amazement, staring slack-jawed as Jack fell on butt to the deck, Abby falling into his lap. Gibbs quickly recovered and grabbed the wheel before looking around the deck. The entire crew was looking as Jack as though he had finally lost his last shred of sanity and had found some odd way to take the little girl with him. All except Anamaria that was. Gibbs winced as he saw the glare she was sending the two laughing bodies at Gibbs's feet. He looked with a baffled face from Jack and Abby to Anamaria and back again.
Seeing that the two weren't going to be stopping for a while, Anamaria shook her head and went back below deck. About five minutes later, Abby and Jack managed to regain control of themselves.
Jack took the wheel from Gibbs, who now figured it best to just not ask. Abby looked up at Jack, and then around the deck. She walked cautiously to the door of Jack's cabin, yet just as she was about to open it, she seemed to change her mind as she turned to go below deck, throwing one last glance at Jack over her shoulder.
*****
That night, the crew ate a dinner cooked by Anamaria, with Abby's help. Jack and Abby ate in his cabin, as they had the previous two nights.
Thomas and Ron, two of the crewmembers, sat talking about Abby as they ate.
"I don't know. The girl seems a bit… odd," Thomas said.
"I agree wit' ye. And Jack seems a bit attached t' 'er too," Ron responded.
"Aye. Ye saw t'day on the deck. Th' two just kept on laughing at… something," Thomas shook his head.
"I think it had somethin' t' do wit' Anamaria. Did ye see her glarin' at them when they were laughin'?" Ron looked at his companion.
"No, I didn' notice," Thomas looked surprised.
"Well, I saw it," Jimmy, another member of the crew, joined their conversation. "I don't like the girl. But the cap'n seems fond of 'er. So's Anamaria an' Gibbs, I think."
"Aye, that I did notice," Thomas nodded his head.
"Ye know the girl helped Anamaria cook this?" Ron asked them. The other two looked up from their food in surprise.
"Really?" Jimmy looked at him doubtfully.
"Aye, 'tis the truth," Ron nodded his head solemnly.
"Well, whatever it is, I still don't like 'er. She screams too bloody much. But we should be rid of 'er in another day or two," Thomas went back to eating, showing he was through with the conversation. Ron and Jimmy looked at each other and shrugged, returning to their food as well.
A few feet away, Gibbs stood up from his seat and made his way to where Anamaria sat.
"I don't think some of the crew likes our small passenger," he said as he sat next to her.
She looked up at him. "Who?"
"A few of the boys sitting over there," Gibbs nodded his head in the general direction in which he had just come from.
Ana looked over, but couldn't even guess at whom it might have been. Then she looked back at Gibbs, and shrugged. "So they don't like 'er. We'll be rid of her by tomorrow or the next day, an' if Jack becomes so attached as t' keep 'er… Well… They'll jus' have t' adjust."
Gibbs nodded his agreement, and the two fell into silence, both thinking over how the rest of the crew might feel if there were already a few that seemed against Abby's staying.
A/N: You know I just loved the beginning of this chapter. Hehe. Don't you all agree? I thought it was great. Lol. Poor Anamaria. And actually, I had been going to end this after the part about dinner and Jack and Abby in the cabin, but then I decided it needed more, so Ron, Jimmy, and Thomas were created. Lol. I think I may have overdone some of the pirate speech but… *shrugs* Oh well. Hehe. Anyways, hope you liked this chapter and here are my review comments for it:
saiyan-girl-cheetah: One of my most faithful reviewers thus far… As you noticed, I sort of used part of your suggestion. I may use more… We'll have to see how the story goes. Glad you liked the last chapter! Hoped you enjoyed this one too.
Kungfuchick: I've inspired… Well I feel just… special. Lol. I'm glad you like my fic so far! When (or if) you post your fic let me know! Thanks. =)
Pirate: Again, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!
BlueberryPancakes: Thanks for all the encouragement! It's sort of… weird to write something like this, but I'm enjoying it, and everyone else seems to be as well! Hehe.
szhismine: Woo! You don't think it sucked! Lol. Suspicions… Well, they'll have to be left at suspicions for now! But it does seem to be building to that… We'll just have to see… Lol. I'm honored that you're adding me to your faves! Thanks a lot!
Xw0kenn0wX: I'm glad you're enjoying this so much! And in no way do I think you're a loser… Gotta love those people who are so dedicated to reading your stuff… Hehe. Thanks so much!
Jareths girl-Moro Shapeshifter: I agree with ya, but the last chapter is sort of growing on me, so I may leave it. If anything I'll just mess with it when Im through with the story, but I think I'll just leave it as is. I'll be sure to read your story too!
Much thanks to everyone else who reviewed, but isn't mentioned here. You all helped inspire me to write this so soon! And now I'm off to go sleep and then sometime in class tomorrow (probably in math again, heh heh) I'll most likely start the next chapter. The beginning is running circles in my head. Lol. Well, thanks again to everyone reading and/or reviewing!