Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or the places, just the plot and imaginative background collaborating this story. The standard disclaimer and all: Writer to reader and but to butt; stay off my ass you crazy nut. --;;

A/N: Just a quick note to say this story was previously started by Tortuga Wench, however, she's hit a rough spot and passed it to me where she'll continue to work on it as a co-writer with myself.

Exodus: From Past to Present

Previously on Exodus: "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked skeptically, a hand on his shoulder as she suddenly remembered the trunk. "We'll be opening up everything we locked away."

Jack glanced at her and tenderly took her hand in his. "Aye, I'm sure." She nodded solemnly as she turned her gaze back to the chest, her fingers gripping his arm. With a deep breath and his heart racing, he pushed the dusty, old lid open...

Thirty years earlier...

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

His tone was firm, but gentle as he asked the question, his face etched in worry. The woman before him nodded silently before whispering, "Yes."

Jack turned away angrily, his hands balled up tightly as he remembered her comment.

"I'm leaving, Jack. I just can't stay here- the memories are too painful."

They were the first words she had spoken in the three days that they had lowered their small daughter six feet under after she contracted malaria. She was less than a year old and had been unable to fight it. Jack's heart felt crushed and he knew the woman opposite him had suffered so much worse.

They had never been married, he and Ana- but their daughter was a slight remembrance of the passion that once was there and Jack cherished the little girl despite that fact. Maybe what they did was wrong, but they both got caught up in the moment- the rum and celebration playing a big part. And then one day Ana came to him, her face downcast as she calmly explained to him that she was pregnant.

Jack's life had been thrown for a loop at that precise moment, a thousand thoughts rushing through his mind. Ana was pregnant. More so, it was his child she was pregnant with. She looked almost terrified at this revelation and he himself was at his wit's end, what was he to do? So, he did what any respectable man would do: he hugged her and told her things would be okay.

And things had been okay for them, at least until the small girl began showing symptoms of an illness. Jack took her to every doctor in England he could find before finally docking in Port Royal and getting the opinion of the physician there. With the doctor's visit came renewed hope, but it was too late. The little girl took a turn for the worse and several days later, she breathed her last.

Both the pirates were distraught but deep down, Jack knew Ana was suffering. She withdrew from the crew and him, locking herself into her cabin. As much as he tried, the pirate captain could not get her to come out- not to eat, talk or even to get some fresh air.

And now she had emerged only to say she was leaving. Jack was angry, but above all else he was upset. Did she not think that he was distressed over the loss of his daughter too, or did she not even care how he felt? Jack did not know and at this point, he wasn't sure he wanted to.

He turned back to face her, her own head bowed as she adverted her gaze. They stood there in silence before Ana couldn't take it any more and she quietly slipped out of his cabin and retreated to her own. Jack sighed as he picked a wooden frame from his desk, a charcoal drawing inside. He rubbed a finger over, a frown covering his features as he sat down heavily in his chair.

His daughter, she had been so young, so full of life, how could it just be taken away from her, from them? It all happened too soon and neither Jack nor Ana were prepared for it. But happen it did and angry they got. There was no silent comforting between the two and each mourned in their own way; leaving just happened to be Ana's way of dealing with it.

But Jack wouldn't give up so easily, he would not run and he could never bury the memory of his daughter.

---

When the day for Ana to leave finally came, Jack steeled himself and trekked his way down to the dock. Several of his crew surrounded the young woman, murmuring their farewells and best wishes. As he approached, the grimy men parted and soon all had scattered giving the two some privacy.

Ana fidgeted before saying, "I guess this is good-bye."

Jack nodded sadly. "Aye, guess it is," he paused, his hat in his hands. "Look Ana, I just want to tell you that, you've been a wonderful friend and a loyal first mate. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't gonna miss you."

The young woman picked her head up, her dark eyes misting slightly. "I'm going to miss you too," she whispered, her attention suddenly focused on her feet. She felt a hand on her arm and glanced up just as Jack gently kissed her cheek.

"Take care of yourself," he offered.

She nodded, taking a step back. "I shall and you do the same."

With last regrets, Jack watched her sail away until she became a small dot on the horizon before completely disappearing all together.

Author's Note: Yup, we know, yet another short chappie, but hey- we can only collaborate so fast. But we hoped you enjoyed this and we are steadfastly working on a chapter three to bring to you as soon as possible. Until then... make good choices!

-TW and J.L. Dexter

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