DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything POTC related or the towns mentioned (which really do exist or existed at one point or another) I did research. All I own are Hope and misc. characters.

Chapter 8

Jacoby Mathers and The Past

"Uncle?" Elizabeth asked. No one could believe it.

"How did you know my name?" Jacoby asked.

"I didn't. At least not until the tavern."

"Well. Ye have me name right, lass. But I'm afraid ye may be mistakin' me for someone else. I'm not yer uncle. My two nieces were killed a long time ago, the eldest 18 years ago and the youngest 10 years."

"I see. Well then there's no point in him staying on board then is there?" Jack said putting his sword at Jacoby's eye level.

"Jack, he's not a threat." Hope said placing her hand on his out stretched arm.

"You don't still believe you're related do you?" he asked. Hope glared at Jack before stepping closer to Jacoby.

"Are you Isabelle Danforth's brother or are you not?" Jacoby was shocked.

"Yes. I am."

"There are several rumors going around. Three of the four men that challenged us at the tavern I heard talking when I was at the bar. They said many things I don't want to believe, but I have to. Isabelle Danforth was my mother and you are my uncle. I didn't disappear ten years ago, at least not in the way that you and others believe. I left Port Royal of my own free will and went with Jack."

"And ye married him? Ye married a pirate? Yer mother would love this. Her youngest daughter turnin'

pirate. Her wishes for you are shattered."

"What are you talking about?"

"She had hoped that you wouldn't turn out like your sister and fall for a pirate. But you took that one step further and married one." Jacoby said laughing. Jack was growing angered and impatient with him.

"I say we just shoot him now, Cap'n." Gibbs said from behind Jack.

"No one is shooting anyone. Put your weapons down and be quiet." Hope yelled irritated. They all listened for they had never heard or seen her so mad before. "Even if that is the case. I don't regret my choice. You obviously haven't found someone to love with your whole heart. If you love someone enough it doesn't matter whether they are a pirate or a proper man or woman." Jack smiled. Jacoby stared at in her anger. "Why do you have a problem with this? You're a pirate yourself."

"And I've regretted that decision ever since yer father banished me from Port Royal." He yelled catching Hope off guard.

"He banished you because you were a pirate?"

"Aye."

"Then we have more in common than you think. He banished me as me in a way falling for a pirate. You may not like this new situation you're in but this is just as hard for me as it is for you, savvy? So I don't think it would kill you to be a little nicer." Jacoby just looked at her. "Why did you help us back there? You didn't even know who I was at the time?"

"I wouldn't have helped ye either if the old man hadn't mentioned the stones of the dragon."

"What is the issue with this necklace?"

"It's evil. It's a danger to ye and anyone with ye. That stone hanging around yer neck be known as the heart of the dragon. It's brother be the eye of the dragon. Both linked by blood as were its past owners. The legend goes that the past owners were two brothers, William and Edward. They were born to a farming family in England, who were very religious. The mother gave them each a necklace with almost identical stones. She said it was to remind them of their bond of blood if anything bad were to happen. Well, one brother, William, the eldest, went rogue, and was the embodiment of what came to be piracy. He stole from his village and the surrounding areas. He killed without regret and didn't care about the consequences for his actions. Prices were put on his head and when caught he would hang. Edward thought that he could save his brother from the gallows if he got to him before anyone else did. He searched from the coast to as far inland as he could go. When he finally found William there was an argument and Edward was killed by the sword of his own brother. This angered the ancient gods and William was struck down with a plague and a spell was placed on both the stones. The stone William wore was named the eye of the dragon and Edward's was the heart of the dragon. Those two stones have been passed down through the family for generations."

"So if all that is true then I have Edward's necklace, the good brother. What harm would come from me keeping it?" Hope asked.

"Because the eye of the dragon is already in the hands of the rightful owner. A pirate, possessed by everything that is evil. He kills at random, and like William, doesn't show any remorse."

"You still haven't answered my question. There was a card that came with the necklace. It said that the spell will only be cast if the owner of the eye of the dragon sheds the blood of the owner of the heart of the dragon. Then as a result both will become immortal and fight an epic battle."

"Bloody hell. We'll be at this all night. Long story short. Ye been hearin' of Captain Draco haven't ye?" The crew members flinched at the sound of his name.

"Yes, I've heard of him."

"He's the descendent from that bloodline and possesses the eye of the dragon. Named his ship after it as well."

"The Dragon's Eye."

"Aye. The stone ye possess is also called the dragon's heart, which only belongs to the other descendent of that bloodline. Draco is feared throughout the Caribbean, Africa, India, and England. Every Royal Navy soldier or bounty hunter is after him. What happens if he encounters the rightful owner of the dragon's heart and they are killed. He turns immortal and no hope will be left. Ye will have countless deaths on yer hands for possessing that which does not belong to ye. And from what I hear Draco is after the son of Bootstrap Bill Turner and his family. Ye and yer husband appear to be giving them sanctuary." Jacoby said, speaking the word 'husband' with disdain. "So, thanks to yer pirate loving mother and sister, if Draco finds out who ye are he will kill ye and take the necklace. Yer death will be tragic but I'm sure Sparrow will move on seeing as that he be havin' many women in the past." This infuriated Jack and he hit Jacoby knocking him to the deck.

"You talk to her like again. I'll kill you." Jack said. Jacoby wiped the blood from his mouth as he got up and glared at Jack.

"I can't believe you. She's your sister's daughter. You could be a little more nicer to her." Elizabeth said walking over.

"She deserves everything she gets. She married a pirate, one of the most infamous ones I might add. Falling in love with a pirate is what killed her sister in the first place."

"Well you're the one that started that family tradition now didn't you," Hope said glaring at him. Jacoby reached out to slap Hope but before he could do so, even before Jack could do anything, Hope drew her own sword and placed it at his throat.

"You attempt to hit me one more time I will slit your throat. I don't care if you are family. And don't you ever talk about my mother or sister like that again. Catherine's death has haunted me for the past 17 years. She was shot right in front of her fiancé. She was still alive when he carried her back to the house. Two of our workers went into town to find someone to help but they wouldn't make it back in time." Hope said as she started to cry remembering that fateful night.

FLASHBACK

"Catherine. You have to hold on, help is coming, you just have stay with us." Norrington said to her. Shortly after Catherine opened her eyes.

"James?" Norrington got up from his knees and leaned over her.

"I'm here. I'm right here," he said squeezing her hand and touching her cheek.

"Hope?"

"Right here," Hope said coming around and facing her.

"I love you both so very much. Do not forget that. Tell father that as well."

"I will, I promise." Hope said tears filling her eyes. After a few moments of silence Catherine spoke, her voice breaking as she did.

"I don't want to leave you like this, Hope,"

"Then don't. You just have too hold on a little while longer, help is coming."

"I cannot."

"Please, Catherine. Don't leave me, I still need you, James needs you, father needs you, we all need you." Catherine was silent, as if she didn't hear anything.

"Catherine?"

"You remember our song," Catherine asked and Hope nodded slowly.

"Yes."

"I want you to remember that I love you baby sister and whenever you need me just sing that song and I will be right beside you even though you won't see me." They were both silent for a moment before Catherine asked softly. "Sing to me."

"Hark, a solemn bell is ringing, clear through the night. Thou, my love, art heavenward winging, home through the night. Earthly dust from off thee shaken. Soul immortal shalt thou awaken. With thy last dim journey taken, home through the night." Just as she finished that last word Catherine's body went limp. "Catherine?" Hope said shaking her sister a little. "Catherine!" She shook her body again and then what she had been fearing was now a reality. END FLASHBACK

The Turner's, Jack, Jacoby, and the crew saw how much pain and sadness was etched on Hopes face as she spoke. "The maids came back with the midwife a minute later, but it was too late." Everyone was silent. "I was only 14 at the time. My mother was already gone and my father was tending to the needs of another at a different town. He didn't even stay to console me at her funeral. The only one's there for me was the man I was betrothed to, at the time and Elizabeth." Jacoby looked at her sympathetically knowing what she said about the family and pirates were true to an extent. Hope lowered her sword and walked into the cabin. Jack glared at him.

"Lock him in the brig." Jack said as four crew members grabbed Jacoby and lead him below deck. Elizabeth attempted to go after Hope but Jack stopped her.

"Let her be, love." He said glancing sadly at the cabin before walking up to the helm. Elizabeth stood beside Will and watched Jack for a moment.

"I can't believe she's been able to keep that hidden for this long. It had to have been so hard for her all these years for her to be reminded of her sister's death every time she walked through Port Royal." Will said in sadness.

"A person's heart is a great mystery of things. Some people carry with them memories from when they were children and it stays with them even after death with no one else ever knowing." Elizabeth said. "I can't believe that man. It's like he has no heart."

"Most pirates don't. Sometimes I think Jack is the exception, but I'm sure he has his insensitive side," Will said.

"I don't care what Jack said I'm going to talk to her."

"No. Best just let her be for awhile like Jack said."

"What if she doesn't want to be alone? What if she is expecting someone to come through that door?" Will looked at the cabin door.

"Believe me. I'm pretty sure she wants to be left alone for awhile." Will said.

"How do you know that? Hope and I have the best of friends since I was 12 and she was 13. I know her better than you or Jack."

"He may have the advantage, they are married you know."

"10 years of marriage versus 18 years of friendship."

"All right. Go. You'll still talk to her even if I think you shouldn't." Elizabeth walked to the cabin and knocked softly before entering.

SCENE CHANGE

Hope was sitting on the bed with a picture in her hands of her mother holding her sister Catherine as a baby. She looked up at Elizabeth and gave her a small smile.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Hope gestured to the spot next to her. As Elizabeth sat she looked at the picture.

"Is that your mother?"
"Yes. She's beautiful isn't she?" Hope said. Elizabeth looked down at the picture again then back at Hope.

"Yes, she is. You look just like her you know."

"You think?"

"I do. Same hair and eyes." Hope smiled and fingered the picture. "It's ironic."

"What is?"

"I loved pirates. We'd always sing that song of yours as we stood down on the dock, do you remember?"

"I do. You would always make up that story that some pirate would come and take you on his ship, marry you, and sail into the horizon." Hope laughed.

"Yes. But after Catherine was killed, I hated them. I didn't want to hear or see them. Now I'm married to one."

"Do you ever think it was your destiny?"

"My destiny?"

"Yes. Just like you said. You loved pirates and that story was always fun to hear. Then you despised pirates only to fall in love with one, while, may I add, you were engaged to a Royal Navy officer. You ended up marrying a pirate. It's your story come to life."

"You know. I never realized that until now. I wish the situation right now was better than it was. Jacoby acts like he could care less about me."

"Maybe he has a hidden agenda."

"Yes, probably to take this necklace and sell it on the black market."

"Do you believe what he said at all?"

"I don't know. Part of me wants to believe him but then the other part doesn't."

"So why don't you just give the necklace to him and be done with it?"

"Normally I would but the woman who gave it to me, gave it to me for no price. Her words were: Who you are is enough."

"Do you know what she meant?"

"No. But there was something about her that called to me. It was the strangest feeling I've ever had. She looked just like my mother in this picture, only the woman was much older. Since she put the necklace on me I feel like something bad will happen if I take it off."

"Then don't." Hope looked at her.

"You don't think I chose the wrong path do you?" Hope asked.

"About the necklace?"

"No. I meant Jack and Katie. The Black Pearl. The life of a pirate."

"You chose the right path. In the many years we have been friends I've never seen you so happy then when you are with Jack or Katie. It's like you were reborn again." Hope smiled. "Jack's a good man. A pirate, yes, but still a good man."

"Thank you, Elizabeth. You've always been a good friend. I needed someone to talk to."

"That's what friends are for." Elizabeth said as they hugged. "Are you going to stay in here a little while longer or come out?"

"Come out. I need to see what trouble Katie is getting herself into."

"Yes. I need to check on James as well." Elizabeth said as the two walked out on deck to find their children.

NOTE: I know what you're thinking. That's the big surprise she was telling us about. Well it is part of it, but the juicy shock is coming later. What did you think? Please please review?

Next Chapter: Daughter of a Pirate