Jeyke: I just realized, I've got a good friend named Jake. Hmm, not a very good friend if I just now remembered him...*shrugs* Me is glad you loves it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cptjcksparrow: Puppy doggies, CUTE! I don't know why I made that the title of the chapter. Here's your update!

Rainey: YOUR DAY HAS COME! HERE'S CHAPTER SIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *does the yogurt dance*

Chapter 6

Melia went to the now empty galley and slipped to the back part to grab something that could be called soup. She went to the far corner of the room so no one could see her at first glance. She quickly drank the brothy soup, forgetting to bring a spoon and not wanting to get up again. After she was done she drew her knees up to her chest and just sat there for a long time, exhaustion sweeping over her.

That's how Jack found her when he was planning on telling her the tub was ready. He looked at her suspiciously, then poked her arm. When she didn't budge, he began to contemplate the consequences of waking her. After a moment he decided it would be more deadly not to wake her and gave her gentle shake. When that didn't work he gave her a not-so-gentle shake. As her head shot up, she let out a shriek. A frown flitted across her face, but then was gone.

"How is it that you always manage to scare me to death?"

"Tis a gift luv. I figured you'd want yer bath warm." She immediately stood up.

"Why didn't you say so?" And with that she flew up the stairs with eager anticipation.

An hour later Melia left the room dressed in the peach gown she now felt worthy of. Her hair was pulled back in a long French braid, unruly stranded framing her face. An opal necklace fall just above the neckline and the metallic click of her high heeled shoes followed her down the short hallway. she followed sounds of the men to the galley. When she entered the room, it fell completely silent. She ignored it and strode towards a table surrounded by men. In the middle of the group sat Jack, staring at her openly.

"What's the matter? Have you never seen a women in a decent dress before?" She snapped. Immediately the room went back to it's several different card games.

"Is this what you do for fun?" She asked nodding toward the table covered with an odd assortment of cards, coins and even a few liquor flasks in the middle.

"Aye luv. As long as you kin bet money we play it. Do you know haw ta play anyting?

"Only a bit of blackjack."

"That'll do. Want ta have a round?"

"Will your men mind?"

"What do you say gents? Shall we let the fine lady play?"

A hearty "aye" went around the table. All the men were interested in their captain's new friend.

Jack shuffled the cards and handed them to her.

"There always is a pretty blackjack dealer, eh?"

Two hours later, the men were grouped on Melia's side of the table, watching the game intensely. She had beaten Jack down to his very last shilling, and there was an immense pile of loot in the middle of the table.

"Are ye sure ye want to do this Sparrow? I'd hate to see a grown man cry."

"Captain Sparrow luv, an' I said I wanted another hit!"

"Fine, fine. But you asked for it."

She passed him another card. He picked it up and a small smile flitted across his face.

"What say you iffin we raise the stakes a bit?"

She glanced down at her cards.

"Alright. What do you propose?"

"I say iffin I win, you tell me 'bout this."

He produced her ring from his breast pocket. She lunged across the table at him.

"Where did you find that?!"

He moved back a bit as Mitty roughly pulled her back into her seat. He held up a hand to stop the angry words from pouring from he mouth.

"You didn't let me finish my proposition luv. As I was saying, I win an' you tell me bout the ring, an' I give it back. You win an' I give you back yer purty ring."

If looks could kill...Well, Jack would've been dead long ago.

"Fine, show your cards."

"Ladies first." She flipped her cards over.

"Twenty." She grinned triumphantly.

"That's good luv..."Something in his voice made her grin disappear. "But not good enough. Twenty-one."

"Gentlemen, help yourselves to what's left on the table." She said, voice soft and trembly.

She rose and began to ascend to the deck. She turned slightly.

"Captain, are you coming?"

Jack slowly stepped away from the table, stuffing the remainder of the coins in his hands into his pockets.

She walked to the railing that separated herself from the water, staring out into the open sea.

"So what would you like to know about it, Captain?"

"Who's it from?"

"A wonderful, amazing man. Captain Jonathan Davis." Her voice was sad.

"I take it you were planin' on marryin' him?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Until...?"

"Until he was mercilessly slaughtered by pirates."

Jack tried to look at her face, just to see her expression, to trace her voice. She was staring out to sea, face completely vacant. He'd expected to hear resentment, but oddly enough it was simply empty and cold.

"So that's it."

She sniffed.

"What?"

"Why you're so hostile toward us pirates."

"I don't see I shouldn't be Pirates are the reason my father died when I was but four. Pirates are the reason my mother was crying on her second wedding day. Pirates are the reason she had that second wedding, so I could have a good life. Pirates are the reason my stepfather had to root us up and take us to the Caribbean so we could start fresh. Pirates are the reason my mother grieved for thirteen years until she joined my father in heaven. Pirates are the reason the only man I ever loved was murdered in cold blood before my very eyes. Pirates are the reason I barely slept for eight weeks even though there were three locks on my door. Pirates are the reason my ba...Never mind."

"Well don't stop there luv. You were just gettin yourself all worked up. Yer what?"

"Pirates are the reason my baby was conceived." Jack felt his jaw dropped.

"Yer...yer...yer..?"

Authors Notes: Should I stop here????

Nah!

"Yes Jack! My baby! My baby is coming into this world because it's mother was half starved to death and was willing to do anything for decent food. There! Are you happy now? You've gotten my secret out! Are you pleased with yourself Jack?! Are you?! Someone should get some sort of pleasure out of this!" She spun around to face him, dark green eyes sparkling with anger, or was that fear?

"How long have you known?"

She recoiled, not expecting to see compassion in his eyes.

"About...about a month, a month and a half." She turned around, not being able to bear the heaviness of his gaze. She felt tears flood her eyes and fall down her cheeks.

"Melia...Please lemme hold you..." She shied away from his outstretched hand.

"No Jack, er..Captain. I don't deserve to be comforted. It's because of my selfishness that I reduced myself to a common harlot. I don't deserve to be..."

He grabbed her by her shoulders and roughly spun her around to face him.

"Let me tell you what you don't deserve. You don't deserve to be stuck here. You don't deserve the way life's treated you. You don't deserve me to comfort you, but I'm all dat's here. So please lemme take away some of the pain. Please...?"

He tipped her face up to look him in the eye. She tried to look away, but his eyes drew her in. She began to tremble as she willed the tears not to fall. A prodigal one fell from her eyelashes. Jack reached up and with a touch like fairy wings, wiped it away. That was it! She dropped against his shoulder and broke down sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her hair and rubbing her back.

"Hush now. It's all right. Jack'll make it better. Don't worry luv. We'll figure out somethin'. Shhh. Quiet now. There's a good girl. it'll be all right."

"Jack what am I going to do?" She whimpered against his shoulder.

"I quite know luv. We'll figure out somethin'. You got Jack here to make things better."