I was thinking that it was about time for me to update. First, an update on my life:

I'm moving! My mom is about to move us into a house that is right behind our island's only library. Prime location, because it is right in town, much closer to my father's house. I'm really excited, because I get my own room finally!

It's around 60 degrees outside, and the weather is blech. Overcast. Icky. And, to top it off, I have a head cold.

Quote: "Life is pain, princess. . . anyone who says differently is selling something" --Westley of 'The Princess Bride'

Disclaimer: Get outta here. Do you really think anything has changed yet? Fine, let me spell it out for you. I still don't own POTC.

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Chapter 5: Desperate Solution

Rhia took a step closer to her father. "Sorry for what?"

"I thought they would have forgotten by now, and it isn't fair! If only she could've had one, this wouldn't have happened. I should have told you as well. Oh god, I can't… I can't-."

"Please, father. I don't quite understand." Rhia looked over to Jack to see if he had caught any of the meaning behind her fathers stammering. Jack shook his head.

Evan took a steadying breath. "Back when I was a… commodore, I was one of the…" He looked at the letter. "Blimey… He's governor now… Well, I was one of his lesser boasted about friends, though friends we were, and great ones at that."

Rhia glanced at large signature at the bottom. 'Governor Swann… Dad's never mentioned him before.'

"After I had met and married your mother, I became a late apprentice in a small blacksmith shop. He thought it was a terrible thing to do, just stopping our small work contract." He looked up at Rhia again. "You know, I'm really sor-."

"-Continue." She interrupted. 'Where is this leading?'

Evan took a huge gulp of air. "For two years, your mother and I tried to get a child. In the one time that we did, it was a stillbirth. By then, the Governor had impregnated not only his wife, but one of the women he had multiple affairs with." Evan winced at a memory he wished to conceal from Rhia.

"Father…"

Jack, from on the sidelines was in shock. 'He didn't…'

Evan kept his eyes on the dirty table. "He knew of my troubles. The woman he had an affair with gave birth weeks before his wife was due. He meant never to let his wife know. He was at the birthing of the child, with your mother, who worked as a midwife."

"You never told me that before." Rhia said, only fuming slightly while still in sympathy with her father's situation.

"The woman died right after the baby was born. He was to take it and tell his wife the truth, but instead of doing so, he gave it to your mother… You were that baby, Rhiannon. I should have told you before." Evan's heart ripped and burned as he saw his daughter's face.

Rhia felt like crying, but the tears never came. She felt like yelling, but all she could do was stare at the man she knew all her life as 'Father'. She cleared her throat and fixated her look on the letter. "You said you hoped they had forgotten by now. What should he have forgotten?"

Evan looked again at the letter. "He told me, that when you come to a decent age, you should be given back to him to learn the proper life and be married to a respectable person in society… I even remember his exact words… 'I've worked too hard in life to have any daughter of mine become a common peasant'."

"… You promised to give me back to him?" Rhia felt her heart ache for the first time in years. She took a step back from him. "You can't! Father, I-."

"Don't call me father. I have not earned such a title."

Rhia watched a tear roll down his face. She wrapped her arms around him and said, "Yes you have."

Evan blinked through his watery eyes and felt for the second time in his life, true sorrow. "What am I to do, then?" he asked. "I can't let them have you."

Rhia let go of her father and looked in his eyes. "What can you do about it?" She pleaded.

Evan searched his mind for anything that would stop this from happening. "I… I don't know…" He glanced down at the paper. "I don't even know how they know where we are…"

Jack glanced at the doorway to the privacy of his own room. 'I shouldn't be hearing this. Maybe they won't notice…' He crept slightly to the door.

Rhia noticed the movement. "Don't bother. The walls are thin here, remember?"

Evan looked up and only just remembered the pirate sitting in the corner. He turned his attention back towards Rhia. "I don't think anything can be done…"

"Have you even read the letter yet? Maybe he actually doesn't want to take me in."

Evan sighed. "I looked it over. He does, and he is sending someone to get you…" Evan snapped his fingers. "That's it! We can just run away from this town together, and he'll never find us!"

"An' how come he found ye this time, then?" Jack interjected. He shut up after receiving two nasty glares.

"No… It's all we can do, I'm afraid. Just keep on the run." Evan ripped the letter. "Alright, we'll be taking off in two or so days, just so we can get things wrapped up." He pointed at Rhia. "Do not tell anyone what we're doing. If they ask, I'm retiring early, and nothing more."

"I promise."

"Especially not Middy." He warned. He looked back at the pirate. "And I want you to come with us."

Jack looked around as if hoping to find another 'you' behind him. "Maybe I can just stay 'ere."

"I don't think so… If we ever get a ship, I'll need someone to remind me how to do small tasks aboard."

"But even I need a bit of 'elp in tha' respect."

Evan nodded. "Which is more than enough reason to take you with me."

Jack sighed. "Fine."

"Do you swear that you will not abandon us, and always keep us away from anyone wanting to take her?"

"…An oath?" Jack asked with little jest.

"I need to know my daughter will be safe even if I fail." He said.

"You won't fail." Rhia piped in.

Evan stretched. "Haven't I already?"

"Never." Rhia said.

"Alright, I ask again, do you swear-."

"-Yes, yes. I swear." Jack said hurriedly to get it over with.

"-By pain of death-."

"Wait now…" Jack protested. "I hardly know ye…"

"You know us more than you know yourself." Rhia said.

Jack grinned. "I guess tha' is abou' righ'… Alrigh'. I swear by pain of death tha' I'll keep you an' your daughter safe from them. An' who knows, maybe I'll remember who I am in no time."

Evan put an arm around Rhia and squeezed tightly. "Well… This'll be quite an adventure."

Rhia looked out the window and tried to keep from imagining that there were spies in the late afternoon shadows watching for their next move. She failed horribly, but it made her feel she needed to be really careful.

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I didn't use a cliffhanger this time, so no need to be angry in reviews, yes?

As an answer to the last question, I relax mostly by reading or writing.

I don't have any school tomorrow! And, it's a Monday! I'm really happy about that.

QUESTION FOR REVIEWERS: What is the best movie you have seen that did NOT include Johnny Depp?

(I know… That question is a bit of a stretch.)

Terriah – Okay, thank you! I'm an easily confuzzled person, and if I become confused, it's one heck of a confusion due to my overactive imagination. I'm sure it would be obvious what it meant to others, but I'm slow on the uptake.

untouchable1400 – Hmm… No, not quite a slave. Maybe you could use that in a story of your own!

Blackcharityflint – I actually have heard of that book, it's just my library doesn't have it. I have to order it from another library, and I guess I'll do that since you think it's a good book. I like getting suggestions from others.

ProudMuggleGirl – Billie didn't actually reform, he was the same old Billie, but with a new pirate aspect. I'm upset about losing those crucial chapters…. Grumble….

Morgan Martin-Jordan – Yeah, like I was stuck on this chapter, but then I finally just sat down with nothing in mind and I got something. It was my main idea anyway, I just couldn't put it in words until I sat down and typed.

LoloFruit – I pretty much based Middy off of one of my sisters. My older one in fact. She is the inspiration for a character in one of the stories by ProudMuggleGirl, but it was taken down. Haha! I've actually seen that cartoon! I know, but Mickey had classed up since the dark ages of black and white cartoons.

Lady Fae – Yep! My mother already installed it and it's working like a charm! I think her computer is going to crash again, though. It's just one of those gut feelings.