Okay I know I've been promising to try and update faster (and I swear I do try) but after my last post, I was buried under a mountain of schoolwork, and then my finals came so my dad didn't let me on the computer because I had to study. But my last exam was this morning, so I am now on Summer break and I really can update more often! So here's the next chapter. I'm trying my hand at a songfic. I heard this song the other day and I thought it fit in so well with the story that I would use it in one of the chapters. Let me know what you think. The song is Learning to Fall by Martina Mcbride.

Chapter 11: Learning to Fall

I was alone in the dark

Alone. That was how Kay had lived most of her life. Ever since her parents had died she had pretty much been alone, Kay reflected bitterly as she leaned against the rail of the ship, dejectedly staring down at the water below.

Never let down my guard

She had built up walls around herself to keep out the world. She had been so afraid of getting hurt again. She had always been walking on eggshells, protective and defensive.

Closed the curtain on my heart

She'd locked her heart away behind those walls, tried to protect it from the rest of the world. She'd kept herself bottled up inside.

So the world could not see All the demons in me

She hadn't wanted to let anyone in again. She knew that if people saw past her mask, they would see the agonized, lost little girl she really was and feel sorry for her. She didn't anyone's pity. She didn't want anyone to care for her because they would just wind up getting hurt.

Told myself I was free

She'd had herself convinced that that was the best way to go. She wouldn't have to worry about those she cared for getting hurt if she didn't care for anyone. She'd had herself convinced that she was well off.

Then you showed me how wrong I could be

Then she had met Jack, and all that had changed. Kay looked back over the time she had been here, and smiled to herself as she realized that Jack had done what she had previously thought was impossible.

Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble That once was a wall

Inside, she started picking her way down the pile of debris that was the only remnants of the walls that she had hidden behind for so long.

Took years to build around me

She had spent ten years building them up and strengthening them. Ten years hiding away from the rest of the world. Ten years successfully avoiding getting close to people.

And you came along

Then she had met Jack. Thrown together under impossible circumstances it had been impossible to avoid getting close to him. But she hadn't expected what had happened.

And you tore it down

Like it was nothing at all

The walls that Kay had spent years reinforcing, Jack had crumbled into dust in less than a week. Kay smiled to herself. Despite everything he had managed to reach through to her, to the real her.

Now it's a little scary Learning to fall

She had been so afraid of being hurt and now she was falling. She wondered what would happen when she hit bottom, and found that she was no longer afraid to find out.

When you looked in my eyes

Even the first time Jack had looked at her he hadn't been fooled by the detached, indifferent mask that she wore.

Past the fear and false pride

You saw goodness inside

He had seen straight through her, straight to the scared, lost, and lonely child that she really was.

I can't believe how I feel

In less than a week Kay had become a completely different person. She was no longer a scared, helpless child, but a happy, daring young woman.

I believe love is real

And she had fallen in love. She had thought she would go through life all alone, but then she had surprised even herself.

And I'm ready to heal

The wounds of hurt and loss that she had carried for the better part of ten years were now starting to heal. Thanks to Jack, she was finally ready to try and live again.

You show me how right I can be

Kay continued to stare out at the water, not noticing when the commodore walked by her, slowing as he reached her, as if debating whether or not to stop and talk to her, then hurry on faster than he had come.

Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble That once was a wall

Kay examined the debris that had been her wall, having second thoughts. Was it such a good thing that it had fallen? She was free now yes, but now Jack was facing hanging. How was she supposed to deal with that?

Took years to build around me

And you came along

And you tore it down

Like it was nothing at all

He had torn down her walls, he had promised that he would take care of her. But how could he do that now, if he was sentenced to death?

Now it's a little scary Learning to fall

Kay was back to square one again. She was starting to become afraid of what would happen when she stopped falling. She teetered precariously on the edge of a cliff, staring down at the abyss. Jack had brought her there, but it was up to her to make the final leap of faith.

I was holding on, now I'm letting go

Jack had promised to help her. Now he couldn't. Kay swallowed hard, then reached her decision. She had to help him now, now it was her turn. She had to prove that she no longer needed to hide, that she could act for herself.

I was holding on, now I'm letting go

Without another backward glance Kay leaped out over the chasm, the wind whipping at her as she fell. She turned away from the railing of the ship. She would help Jack. But she would need help too. And for that she needed to find...

I was holding on, now I'm letting go

"Will." Will looked up as someone spoke his name. He saw Kay standing next to him. For the past few days she had been walking around in a kind of shocked daze. He was surprised at the sudden change in her manner. She looked suddenly determined, as if she had made up her mind about something, and was not about to be deterred from her chosen track. She look him in the eyes and said "I need your help."

Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble

That once was a wall

Took years to build around me

And you came along And you tore it down

Like it was nothing at all

Now it's a little scary

Learning to fall

"Here's what we need to do..."

Wow. My first attempt at a song fic. Hope you like it. Anyway I baked more cookies for my reviewers! We have soft chocolate chip, fudge cookies, cinnamon cookies, soft sugar cookies, and oatmeal cookies (without raisons. I HATE raisons.). If you would like another type review and let me know! But review fast or my dragon will steal all the cookies. Oh, and please tell me what a Marry Sue is, I still don't know!