Sorry it took me a while guys, I've been working on this new LOTR story (will be posted probably by tomorrow for those interested) and some chemistry stuff. Here ya go!!

Oh, and Christina, I'll try workin' in the girls soon (you know what I mean, just don't wanna give it away to everyone else yet ;) )

Chapter 2

Tortuga.

The place hadn't changed as long as Jack Sparrow had been visiting it. Except for maybe the styles of the dresses worn by the various prostitutes.

He received a nod from a passing fellow pirate, complete with eye patch, which Jack considered rather cliché. The man probably wasn't even missing an eye.

Jack turned back to his rum, gesturing for the tavern owner to bring him another. Propping his feet up on the table and barely missing Gibbs' drink in the process, he pulled his tri-cornered hat down over his eyes.

It wasn't long before Gibbs reached over to nudge him, clearing his throat pointedly.

"Mr. Gibbs," Jack began, still leaning back in his chair, "as superstitious a man as you are, I should think you'd know it's bad luck to be disturbin' a man who's restin'."

"Jack," Gibbs said warningly, ignoring the comment.

Jack finally tipped his hat up to look in the direction Gibbs was jerking his head in. Three scraggly men had entered the pub and were slowly, but purposefully approaching their table.

Jack removed his feet from their position in order to sit up, taking a sip from his mug nonchalantly.

"Sparrow," one greeted him, obviously the designated leader of the trio.

"McKinley," Jack acknowledged, sighing.

"I was just wonderin'," McKinley began, his clearly Irish accent slurring his words, "what some interestin' information might be worth to someone such as yerself."

Jack glanced over at Gibbs, who looked rather nervous and removed a double-edged dagger from somewhere on his belt. He stared at its sharp blade curiously, as if contemplating what to do with it. Then he sat back in his seat again and carelessly tossed it in McKinley's direction. It stuck fast in the wooden wall beside his head, and he jumped slightly, startled.

"I think the better question would be whether or not withholdin' said 'information' is really worth yer life."

He saw McKinley swallow, his Adam's apple working up and down. "Just thought ye'd like to know that The Black Pearl has been spotted sailin' near Jamaica."

Jack didn't move, playing absently with one of the many dangling trinkets hanging from his hair. "That's interesting."

"Aye," McKinley agreed. "Like I said."

Jack's hand moved down to stroke at the braids in his beard thoughtfully. "Well, then," He stood abruptly and faced McKinley, not intimidated by the other man's greater height. "Thank you so much for your services," he said, grinning to reveal a mouth half full of golden-capped teeth. "However," his tone turned menacing and the smile faded as if it had never existed in the first place, "the next time you try keeping something like this from me," He lifted his hand and pulled his dagger back out of the wall roughly, pleased by McKinley's flinch, "I won't miss." The grin returned. "Savvy?"

McKinley swallowed again and nodded his understanding, gesturing for his men to follow him back outside.

Jack stared after them, not noticing Gibbs rising from the table and coming around it to stand behind him.

"Should we be headin' out then?" he inquired, glancing back and forth from Jack to the doors McKinley had exited through.

Jack sighed. "We'll need a ship."

* * * * *

"Gin," Elizabeth began, handing Virginia a cup of tea and sitting down across from her at the round kitchen table. Hopefully the late hour and their being in the maids' section of the house would offer some manner of privacy. "She's…grown."

"I know what you're thinking," Gin replied, glancing at the doorway that led to the dining room, as if expecting her husband or daughter to barge in at any moment. "And I've noticed it. It's just…it's been so many years…" she began, scoffing lightly at herself, "and yet I almost cried when I saw her."

Elizabeth sighed and placed a comforting hand over her friend's. She did not envy Gin her memories. She could not imagine anything worse than losing Will. Let alone if it involved having to marry Norrington after.

"I honestly don't know how you do it," she admitted. Gin looked back at her, her expression quizzical. "Live this way. I couldn't."

"Gets easier." Gin stared down at her folded hands resting on the table. "I know this sounds terrible, but it got a lot easier while Katherine was away at school." Elizabeth nodded her understanding. "Her eyes…"

"I know." Elizabeth sighed, glancing at the door herself. "Richard…he has no idea?"

"No, and I don't see how he can't. I suppose he's a firm believer in 'ignorance is bliss'." Gin's breathing hitched momentarily and Elizabeth turned back to find that she was obviously about to cry. "Alright, I lied," Gin conceded. "It's not easier, not with her home. And if that makes me a bad mother, I'm sorry, I can't help it." She paused to gulp in a breath and Elizabeth slid out of her chair to kneel in front of hers. "I just…" Another sob racked her body. "It doesn't matter how long it's been, when I look at her…I miss him so much, I can't breathe sometimes." Elizabeth's brow furrowed and she pulled Gin into a hug, which she hoped would offer some manner of comfort.

"Gin, I'm sorry," she apologized. "Inviting you back here, in addition to Katherine coming home…it was a bad idea. She sat back while Gin attempted to collect herself. "But now that you're here…back in Port Royal, I mean…maybe it's time you told her."

Gin shook her head vehemently. "I can't," she said firmly. "That's not something I can just…tell her out of nowhere." A wistful smile crossed her face and she wiped another tear from her cheek, her eyes returning to her hands. "When Katherine was young…she was a lot like you. This…fascination with pirates. And she used to read a lot about the famous ones." She shook her head again in defiance. "I can't tell her she was reading about her own father, Elizabeth, you know that."

"Gin," Elizabeth said. Her friend lifted her gaze. "She deserves to know where she comes from."

"Who?" a voice called suddenly. Both Elizabeth and Gin rose abruptly to their feet to find Katherine standing in the doorway, her expression expectant.

"No one," Gin assured her, the first of the two to manage speech.  Katherine arched an eyebrow, making it obvious she didn't believe her mother. Gin stared steadily back at her, marveling at the realization of just how many mannerisms were genetic.

"Mind if I join you?" Katherine asked, gesturing toward the table the older women had been seated at. Her brow furrowed when she got a closer look at her mother. "You've been crying."

"Oh, yes." Gin forced a laugh and wiped at her eyes. "Motherly jitters with you being home and all."

Though Katherine still appeared skeptical, she nodded and crossed the room to the wood-burning stove in the corner, lifting the hot tea kettle off it with a rag and pouring herself a cup.

"It's rather late for you to be up," Elizabeth began.

"Likewise," Katherine countered, lowering herself into the third chair at the table.

Elizabeth nodded and sat down beside her as Gin reluctantly sat across from them. "Your mother was um, just telling me about your interest in pirates."

Katherine laughed, almost scoffing. "Good Lord, I haven't thought about pirates in years."

"Ever had the pleasure of meeting one?" Elizabeth prodded, ignoring Gin's warning glance.

"Can't say as I have, nor do I want to." Katherine waved a dismissive hand. "Their hay day is long past as it is. They don't interest or frighten me half as much as they once did." She stopped here to sip her tea. "Most unpleasant creatures, I'm sure."

"Not all," Gin found herself murmuring.

"Oh, you've met one?" Katherine asked her.

Gin looked up from her tea, realizing her daughter had heard her. "No," She shook her head. "No, I never met one." She cleared her throat and rose to her feet. "Look, it's been a long day and it's late. We should all get some sleep." She began heading for the door, stopping by Katherine's chair to place a hand on her shoulder.  "Don't be too long." Katherine nodded and she and Elizabeth watched her leave.

* * * * *

More soon guys, assuming you comment! Heehee!