Okay this was too much to fit into one chapter so here's the rest of it.  Enjoy everyone!

Chapter 7

Three days later found Kea in the market square with Jeremy by her side while Ria took a short trip to an acquaintance's.  Not that Kea minded having him; it was a special time to spend together since they didn't do so very often.  As she was looking at some light yellow silk, someone placed a small box into her hand.

"Excuse me, miss, but you dropped this a few steps back."

Kea looked down at the box; it was exactly the one commented upon in the letter, "Thank you."

The person bowed and then left.  Kea slid the box into her money purse while taking out coins to pay for a few yards of silk fabric.  After thanking the clerk she found Jeremy looking at some wood carved toys.  He looked up with hopeful chocolate eyes at her approach.

"Toy, pweese?"  He asked, with two year old innocence, pointing to one in particular.  It was an exact mini replica of the Black Pearl, carved out of wood and painted all black.

Kea smiled, amused that he'd pick the ship his father sailed.  Although she didn't necessarily like kids, Jeremy was quickly making his way into her heart.  Crouching down she put the ship in his hands, "You want this one?"  He nodded in acquiesce.

After paying for the toy they went home, where Kea kissed him and handed him over to Kate for his nap.  She then headed to her room to check out the box she'd been given in the market place.  Ringing for some tea and a sandwich she opened the box and pulled out two letters that were in it.  She furrowed her brow in thought while unfolding the top one.  It read:

Your next message is waiting for you in a Tortuga tavern.

She stared at it.  Why can't they ever be more specific?  There are a lot of taverns in Tortuga.  She thought, setting the opened letter aside and picked up the second one.  This time she did recognize the handwriting.  This one said:

My dear Kea,

          How I have tried and yet have not succeeded in getting you out of my mind.  Every night for the past six years I have longed for the silkiness of your hair; the smoothness of your skin; and the sparkly of your blue eyes when you laugh.  Please, follow what those other messages say.  Also enclosed in this box is something I thought would match your eyes.  I do indeed look forward to seeing you.  We have a lot to talk about.

                                      I remain,

                             Captain Dylan Sparrow 

A tear fell on the page and she wiped away the others following it before they could run the ink.  Yes, she and Dylan had a lot to talk about when they met again.  She looked in the box and pulled out a gold chain with a light blue heart shaped sapphire pendant.  As soon as Ria returned she would show her the letter.

Jack was on his ship inspecting it like he routinely did everyday, just in case.  It was his beloved Pearl after all, while thinking about his relationship with Calandria, the woman that he still loved after all the years gone by.  Though he'd be damned if he told any of his crew that, they'd just give him hell. 

Captain Jack Sparrow smitten with a woman?  Perish the thought, because nobody would ever believe it.  His reputation tended to precede him.  He thought back to when he'd seen her at the Turner's, there had been a few moments when even he knew he was lost.  God help him if he was downright, head over heals in love with the woman.  If he was a landlubber, he would settle down, marry her, and have a family.  Unfortunately he wasn't, at all. 

There had been that bit of time in England, after meeting Ria, that he had been about ready to do it.  The Pearl being lost from him, he'd felt there was no need to do anything else other than settle down with her to live a long and fruitful life together.  But rumors had circulated and he found his onesies desiring to get his ship back at all costs, even if it meant fight a bunch of undead skeleton pirates. 

But, leaving her had been one of the hardest things to do.  Though he'd figured there would be another woman to fill that empty spot she'd left.  No such luck though, he'd found it was only Ria that would fill the void.  When he saw her again in Singapore it was a dream-come true.  Still beautiful as ever, she had once again claimed control over his heart.   

On the last night in Singapore together she'd given him her innocence with love.  In all his life no other woman had ever done that.  Whores didn't love their customers, neither were they virgins.  So when they'd been together that one night, Jack realized how much Ria truly meant to him.  Unfortunately marriage, at the time, was still not an option since they were both pirates, so they had to part ways.  Once again, leaving Jack with that little hole in his heart, only for it to fill when he saw her recently.

This time, Jack vowed, would be different.  They would not part on any terms unless they were parting together.  Too many years had passed with loveless relations for him to be lonely once more and he felt he could change that with beloved Ria by his side.  He needed her in his life to make him whole.

Suddenly his love struck thoughts were interrupted when he heard raised voices.  Looking around he spotted Kea and Ria on shore arguing together.  Intrigued he went to investigate.

The arguing friends were debating over what ship to sail to Tortuga since both their crews were restless.  If they didn't do anything soon there was going to be mutiny, both Captains knew it.  That was how the argument came about.

"If ye don't mind te much, we could take the Pearl?"  Jack's sensuous voice interrupted as he sauntered over to them, Ria's eyes watching his every movement.  She knew how perfect those movements were when used for a different, more intimate, action.  Jack grinned at the blatant stare, causing her to blush and look away.  He raised an eyebrow till it disappeared into his bandana, knowing what she was thinking about, it was in her eyes.  The longingly hungry look that made them a dark midnight blue color, which he had been imprinted in his mind during their last night in Singapore together.

"Good idea," Kea spoke up first.  Sailing on the Black Pearl would give her a chance to ask Jack about his brother, Dylan.  The only thing was that she had to wait until the opportune moment.  She didn't want Jack to know the real story behind her and Dylan meeting, yet.

Ria, having recovered, sent a puzzled look at Kea, "Okay, savvy, but there are a few things we need to take care of first, Jack."

"My ship is at your disposal, luv," Jack found and held Ria's gaze, then turned to Kea with a nod, "mate."

"Savvy, we'll be back in thirty minutes."  The two quickly went to speak with their crews.  Instructing them to sail for their hidden island where they hid their booty, then to meet them in Tortuga where they could drink and wench for a bit.

Stopping back in Port Royal, Ria arranged for the Turners to watch over Jeremy.  Kissing him goodbye she knew she'd left him in good hands.

A man from Kea's crew, who was of retiring age, volunteered to watch over the bat Sigmund for his Captain.  After giving orders to their household, they returned to where Jack and the Black Pearl awaited them.  When their stuff was loaded on, they set off towards Tortuga.

In Tortuga a day later. 

Kea and Ria followed Jack to the Faithful Bride tavern.  Avoiding the bustle they found a table in the corner. 

They ordered some rum tankards and sat down at an empty table.  Nervously Kea glanced around looking for anyone that may strike her as the person she was to meet.  She was also really nervous but did everything to conceal it, hoping this was the supposed tavern she would meet the person.  She took a deep drink of her rum that had been set in front of her just then to calm her nerves.

"Easy there mate," Jack commented as he watched her gulp the rum down.  "One would think ye were facing the gallows tomorrow, and that this is yer last drink."

Kea glared at him.  "I have no plan on doing that anytime soon," she snapped.  Jack reached over to take the tankard away from her.  "Don't even think about it."

Jack looked at Ria for an answer to Kea's possessiveness but she just shrugged.  She was just as puzzled as him, for Kea rarely drank rum.  Just then he reached over and squeezed Ria's hand in his causing her to give him a confused look.  Jack just smiled and kissed the appendage. 

Taken aback with his actions Ria looked to Kea for help.  But Kea just sat back with a raised eyebrow and grinned, folding her arms over her breasts.  Turning back to Jack, Ria frowned at him.

"Jack, what are you doing?"  He grinned at the question and began to stroke her hand.  She was totally caught off guard and tried to remove it from his but he held on tight.

"Nothing luv, just spending time with me special lady."  He smiled, sincerely this time, and almost lovingly. 

Lovingly?  Special lady?  Ria thought, confused again.  What does he mean by that?  I still love him, but one can never tell with Captain Jack Sparrow and his feelings.  She was starting to think that she had way to much time on her hands to analyze these things.

She cleared her throat, "Seriously, what are you doing?  This isn't like you at all."

"I told ye, I'm spending time with me special lady.  And this may not be like me but fer all ye know I've totally changed me onesies since ye last saw me.  'Sides I like being with ye luv, very much so."  He whispered huskily, making Ria's eyes widen.  "And claiming ye fer me own in front of all these people."

"Oh no!  Don't start that Jack Sparrow.  The last time we were together was wonderful, but it had its consequences.  One of which is back in Port Royal with the Turners.  I hope Jeremy's alright," She mutter the last part to herself.  Just then she saw someone across the bar she hadn't seen in a long time.  Getting up, she ignored Jack's surprised look, and made her way over to the friend who happened to be female Captain of her own ship; thankful to get away from the mind boggling situation that involved Jack. 

She smiled, "Hey Simone, long time, no see."

"That's Captain Simone te ye wench, and don't ferget it," the Captain said jokingly as she stood up and embraced Ria.  Gesturing to Ria to join her they sat down at the table Simone was at with another pirate, the infamous Captain Pierre Williams.

The man looked Ria up and down with obvious appreciation, "I've sailed the seven seas and you're the sleekest schooner I've ever sighted.  I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon."

Ria just laughed, "You always had the worst ways of complimenting a woman, Pierre."  They all laughed at that.

"Sorry Pierre, I believe the woman is already taken.  Didn't you see her come in with Captain Jack Sparrow?"  Simone commented and they all glanced to Jack.  He was bantering back and forth with Kea when suddenly Kea leaned over and kissed him full on the lips.  And Kea was smiling.

Ria sat there, her hands balled into fists, in a silent rage.  Knowing how wrong the scene they'd just saw was, Simone and Pierre looked at Ria, shocked.  Everyone who was a pirate knew Jack Sparrow loved Calandria Morgan.  He never said it out loud but it had been talked about after Gibbs had gotten drunk in a tavern one night and the whole story Jack had told him had come out.  Since then it was the hottest pirate gossip around.

Jumping up Ria made her way over to Kea and Jack where she cleared her throat loudly, "What the hell are you doing?!!!"

Kea and Jack parted, looking up at her.  A guilty flush appeared on Jack's tanned face, "Ria, luv, it's not like that?  I swear."  He held his hands up in mock surrender.

Ria glared daggers; if looks could kill Jack Sparrow would be dead.  "Oh really?  Well, excuse me if I get upset by seeing the man I love kissing my best friend."

With that she picked up a rum tankard and "accidentally" spilled the drink on Kea.  Then she turned and ran outside before she burst into tears.

Realizing what he'd done Jack rushed out after her, leaving Kea sitting at the table.  Once he reached the street he glanced around and but didn't immediately see Ria.  He then remembered that her ship, The Golden Lark, was supposed to meet her there in Tortuga.  She must 'ave headed to the docks, he thought rushing off in that direction.

Ria stopped running when she reached the docks, looking through tear clouded eyes she tried to see if her ship was there yet.  The island they'd sent them to in order to get their hidden treasure was along the way so they must be there by now.  In the distance she was able to see that it was in fact there, having just docked in the darkness.  Letting out a sob she made her way towards it.

Jack ran to the docks just in time to see Ria clumping her way to her newly docked ship, her crew watching with surprised looks.  Panting from exertion he waited a minute to catch his breath.

"Calandria, luv!  Wait up!"  He yelled, waving his hands around.  She ignored him, but collapsed next to some barrels a few yards from the gang plank.  Jack was able to catch up with her then and kneeled by her sobbing body.

"How could you?  I know we haven't exactly said we're together or that we love each other.  That you've been with other women when we've been apart.  But, Kea's my best friend and that makes it worse.  And to think I thought it better not to tell you about our son Jeremy.  I mean, imagine what would happen if I did?  You'd probably run off and find another woman to kiss instead of me, leaving Jeremy and I alone once again.  Aren't I a lucky woman?"  She yelled sarcastically, not realizing she let out the biggest secret she had.

Jack cringed at what she said, "It wasn't like that luv; Kea means nothing to me but a sister and…wait!  Hold on jus' one minute!  Son?  Jeremy?   Ria, me beauty, what are ye talking about?"

Ria's eyes widened with surprise as she tried to clamp her hands over her mouth but Jack stopped her.  She gave him a weak look, "Ummm…what?"

"Ye just said something about us having a son named Jeremy.  Is that true?  And how?"  He shook his head, braids flapping around, "I mean when?"

"Oh Jack, I wanted to tell you but never had the heart to write it in a letter.  Remember our last night in Singapore?"  Jack nodded.  "Well because of that we now have a son named Jeremy who's staying with the Turners back in Port Royal.  Don't hate me for not telling you!  I'm still mad about what just happened."  She sobbed once again.  "I have to go back to him, my baby.  I can't stay here anymore."  She stood up and ran onto her ship yelling orders to the crew to right to set sail right away for Port Royal which they did without any questions, having witnessed everything. 

Jack was left still kneeling on the dock as the Golden Lark made a hasty retreat to Port Royal.  Stunned at what he'd just learned.

He, Captain Jack Sparrow, had a son named Jeremy.