Usual disclaimers... sigh!

Okay... now I've had a long, hard think about these next two chapters, especially with the reviews that have called Jack sweet... he is a pirate! This is why I am uploading six chapters today so you can see where I am going with this. Please don't judge Jack or Bessie (or me!). Bessie is having to come to terms with a life she has spent her entire life trying to avoid and is finding the matter of trust a hard thing to handle. Jack is shocked to discover how much he wants Bessie... which is hard for a man more used to dealing with whores and for any sign of softness is considered a weakness...

You honestly didn't think love between these two would run smoothly... did you?

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Chapter 31 - Jack's Dilemma

Jack woke the following morning to find Daffodil pushing her face into his, purring with delight. "An' good morning to you too cat!" he groaned, reaching sleepily to scratch behind her ears. Bessie stirred against him, blinking as she slowly woke. "Mornin'," he grinned. "How d' yer feel?"

She blushed, not quite able to meet his eyes. "I never realised it could be like...like that."

He grinned, putting the cat onto the deck with his free hand. "I'll take that as a compliment," he smiled, leaning across to nibble her ear.

"I still hate you though," Bessie said quietly, lamenting her lost dreams.

Jack frowned. "Yer can still marry an' have children," he protested, having realised what she meant.

"How?" She looked at him sadly. "Who would have me - especially if I am now with child... again..." She sighed heavily. "But I suppose there are worse things in the world than being your woman," she admitted. "I'm glad you came for me..."

"D' yer want t' feel glad again?" he teased.

"Shouldn't you be on deck?" Bessie frowned.

Jack shrugged. "Maybe," he admitted, "but Gibbs knows the way t' Port Royal... an' he won't be expectin' me b'fore midday when I've got yer in m' bunk!"

"If I am to stay onboard, what will I do?" Bessie asked. "Apart from keeping your bunk warm that is..."

"Yer took th' words right out of m' mouth," Jack grinned before looking at her, considering. "Yer could help Cotton in th' galley if yer like... an' do m' laundry?"

"Do you have any other clothes I could wear? I cannot wear that beautiful dress in the galley!" she said ruefully.

"I'll find yer out an old shirt an' trousers," Jack offered. "Once we're rid of the women an' Hughes I'll see t' some sensible clothes fer yer... alright?"

"Thank you," she smiled gratefully.

"How about thankin' me properly," Jack suggested, pulling her closer to him. He brushed the hair from her face, kissing her eagerly. He smiled in delight as she responded, kissing him back with increasing eagerness.

"Please..." Bessie whispered, her body arching for his touch.

"Yer do Bessie - yer please me very much!" Jack grinned.

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When Jack led Bessie out on deck it was indeed nearly midday and Bessie was dressed in his spare trousers and an old shirt. She padded barefoot beside Jack, following him to the galley where Ned Cotton was already at work preparing the evening meal. Her stomach rumbled as she saw the food and Jack snared an apple, handing it to her. Ned looked up, questioningly.

"Bessie 'ere will be helpin' yer in th' galley," Jack explained. "She's a good cook so use her wisely..."

Ned Cotton nodded, pointing to a large pile of vegetables that needed preparing. He handed Bessie a knife and she perched on a stool, starting work. It would be a pleasant change to have some competent help in th galley he reasoned, smiling encouragingly at her as she started on another carrot. Most of the crew were useless in the galley and viewed helping him as a punishment duty... hopefully Bessie did not see it as such and would be willing to help on a regular basis. Any help was always gratefully appreciated.

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Bessie was still wearing the work clothes when it was meal time, her clothing causing as much comment as the dress had the day before. Again Jack guided her to the senior crew area, sitting her next to him.

"Your cooking is improving Cotton!" Paul Barker laughed, knowing full well that Bessie had been working in the galley.

"God save the King!" Ned's parrot squawked from nearby.

"Yeah, up yours too!" Paul snorted with laughter as those within earshot chuckled at his retort. He turned to Bessie. "I take it you are staying with us?" he queried.

"So Jack has said..." she replied cautiously, still uncomfortable around the pirates.

"Well bless you then darling!" he smiled. "Much as we love old Cotton here, he can't cook to save his life!"

"Yer haven't starved yet though!" Jack interrupted, poking Paul's stomach where it strained against his shirt.

Bessie smiled as the whole crew burst into laughter. She looked at them cautiously, telling herself that they were just men and nothing to be frightened of... but still she was. She jumped, feeling something brush her leg, but - looking down - realised it was just Daffodil. She smiled, picking her up and placing the cat on her lap, feeding her titbits from her plate.

"Dance the jig!" hissed Ned's parrot as he spotted the cat, causing the crew to laugh even more loudly than before.

"What's with the collar?" Henry Holt asked, frowning. It was common for dogs to wear collars, but less so for cats.

"It belonged to my mother... it is the only thing I have left of hers," Bessie explained. "Everything else we sold..." She sighed regretfully. "You can't eat jewellery."

"What happened to your mother?" Paul asked. They all knew that Horace Masters had been hanged at Port Royal, but her mother had simply disappeared.

"Excuse me." Bessie rose sharply, almost running up the stairs in her need to be away from them. She had been alone for so long now that so many people around her, asking questions, expecting her to talk was too much - and when it involved her mother it was unbearable.

"Bessie?" Jack frowned, but she did not hear him. He glared at Paul.

"What did I say?" Paul protested.

Jack rose to follow Bessie. "I guess I'd better find out," he sighed, climbing up onto deck to find where she had gone. The cabin doors were ajar and he cautiously walked in. "Bessie?" Sounds of sobbing could be heard from his side cabin and he slowly pulled the drape aside. "Bessie?"

"Please put me ashore with the women..." She turned to him tearfully. "I cannot stay here!"

"Bessie," he sighed, sitting on the bunk next to her. "Yer can't return t' Port Royal. Th' other women have guessed yer are m' woman an' will waste no time in tellin' th' authorities!"

"Well then put me ashore somewhere else!" she cried.

"I can not Bessie!" Jack replied. "It would not be safe!" He reached out to hold her. "An' yer could be with child again... yer must stay with me."

"I don't want to stay," she sniffed, looking at him miserably.

Jack frowned for she was making no sense to him - he had thought that she trusted him and had agreed to stay onboard even if reluctantly. "What did happen to yer mother?" he asked quietly.

Bessie looked at him bitterly. "She killed herself - alright? Slit her own wrists because she couldn't take being chased by pirates any longer!" Jack held his tongue, unsure what to say. "The church wouldn't bury her so I had to dig her grave," she said quietly. "I was twelve... twelve Jack! And I've been running ever since from bloody pirates!"

Jack tightened his grip about her body, holding her tightly to him. "Bessie..." he murmured. "Bessie..." He realised now why she worked as a below-stairs maid for she had had to support herself whilst only a child. He also sadly realised that she would never be comfortable living onboard his ship. He sighed heavily. "At least stay until Hughes is dead an' once we find th' treasure I'll put yer ashore..."

She stiffened in his arms, turning sharply to face him. "That's what it is all about, isn't it?" She pushed him away from her, wriggling to the far side of the bunk. "It's not about me being safe, or being with child - it's all about the bloody treasure!" She looked at him dejectedly. "I thought you were different - that I could trust you but it's all been a lie..."

"Bessie!" Jack protested, startled when she lunged at him, reaching for his dagger. In horror he realised what she intended, forcing her back onto the bunk and holding her down. "No you don't Missy!" he hissed, pulling his sash off and tying her securely. "You aren't going t' follow her down that path! Savvy?"

"Let me go!" she shouted, wriggling frantically although she was firmly bound. Jack reached behind her, pulling free the storm ties and lashing her to the bunk.

"You are not going anywhere Missy!" he argued angrily. "An' don't yer dare think of hurtin' yerself again!"

"I hate you!" she shouted, not caring who heard. "I hate you, you bastard!"

Jack sighed, reluctantly gagging her too. "Believe it or not Bessie, it might have started out as fer th' treasure, but m' priorities have changed! Yer are m' woman and yer will stay m' woman - treasure or no treasure!" Unable to bear the accusing look in her eyes he rose, pulling the drapes shut behind him and locking the cabin door.

"Captain?" Paul Barker stood before him. "Is Miss Bessie alright?"

He never even saw the fist that floored him. "No, she isn't alright!" Jack hissed. "Thanks t' yer she now hates me, an' I've had t' tie her to th' bunk as she's just tried t' kill herself..."

"But why?" Paul sat up, dabbing his split lip with his hand.

"B'cause her mother killed herself when Bessie was just twelve!" Jack replied "Killed herself b'cause pirates wouldn't leave her alone!"

Joshamee gasped in disbelief nearby. "Why don't you tell her the truth then Jack?" he said quietly, ensuring nobody but Paul could overhear. Jack looked at him suspiciously. "We know it isn't just about the treasure any more... you're not fooling anyone!"

"Except yourself!" Paul smiled, wincing as his tongue checked his teeth.

"Now get back inside that cabin and tell her what you really feel and stop acting like an ass..." Joshamee sighed, belatedly adding "Captain".

Jack narrowed his eyes, scowling at his quartermaster. "How..." he began.

"I've known you too long Jack," Joshamee said. "The fact that you killed Thomson only confirmed my guess... plus the cross, the dress, the way your eyes follow her... do you want me to continue?"

"Does th' whole crew know?" Jack frowned worriedly He looked around the deck at a number of men who suddenly found they had chores elsewhere..

"Some," Paul admitted. "But after this they all will..."

Jack scowled at both of them, turning and unlocking his cabin doors. "I'll be out when I'm out," he said, slamming them behind him.