Kate couldn't believe that this was THE Captain Jack Sparrow! In fact, now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure if she entirely believed him.

This man was a pirate, no doubt about that. But being so, he wouldn't be new to lying. How could she be sure he was really who he said he was? She tried to remember something from the stories Will had told her about Jack.

"Now, you still haven't answered my question, luv.", said the supposed Jack, "Do you have any rum in this shop or not!"

That was it! Jack Sparrow's love for rum. Suddenly remembering a small detail of one story, she hatched an idea.

"Well, Jack", she said, "I used to have some. But I couldn't get the coals in the pit to lit properly. So I poured the rum on them to get them going. Sorry, but the rum's gone."

"WHY'S THE RUM GONE!"

"You are Jack Sparrow!"

"First of all, it's CAPTAIN! Second, blast you for burning the rum! And third, I thought I had already established that!"

"You did.", said Kate, "I was just trying to make sure you were telling the truth. And at that, there never was any rum."

"Well, can't say that I blame you. Not for making up the rum! Almost gave me a bloody heart attack, you did! But getting back to my point, I must say, not a high chance of someone trying to pass themselves off as me. I'm wanted for the gallows in almost every town in the Caribbean."

"As if I didn't already know that!", Kate though. "Well, in that case", she said, switching to talking out-loud, "You should come inside."

Jack left the window he'd been leaning into and swaggered through the front door. "Well, this place hasn't changed much.", he commented, making strange hand gestures as he spoke. "Say, could I trouble you for a place to sit down, luv?"

Kate pointed to Mr. Brown's chair in the corner. When Jack had sat down, she approached him. "Now, what was that you were saying bout my parents and cursed pirates?", she asked, smiling eagerly.

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Not needing much more insisting, Jack began the true telling of the stories Kate had fallen asleep to not so long ago. But, even though it was the middle of the night, Kate didn't feel one bit sleepy as Jack wove the tale of adventure.

"So what happened after you fell of the wall?", she asked, toward the end of the story.

"You see, as I said, I had seen Mr. Cotton's parrot on one of the flag poles, so I knew the Pearl had to be close. As it turned out, it was right behind one of those cliffs! So I swam to it, the crew pulled me up, and I was named Captain!"

"And what became of Will and Elizabeth?"

"Well, seeing as you're here and the people in question are your PARENTS, I suppose the logically answer would be that the governor wouldn't allow the marriage to take place and sent Will to a deserted island where he was never heard from again, and Elizabeth committed suicide because she couldn't be with her one true love."

Kate laughed at herself, "Yeah, guess that was a stupid question."

"Just a little.", said Jack, grinning, "Anyway, now that I've told you my story, why don't you tell me yours? What have those parents of your been up to for the past 12 years?"

Jack stopped and thought for a second, glancing at Kate. "Actually, I know one thing they've been up to, but I'm definitely not going to get into that with someone of your age."

"But I never told you how old I was."

"OK, let me rephrase that. I'm not going to get into that with you or, for that matter, anybody else………ever!"

"Well, just so you know, I'm 9 and ½ years old. I have a brother named Anthony and he's 11."

"They had a boy and didn't name him after me!", exclaimed Jack, "That's mutiny!"

"His middle name's Jack."

"Well it's better than nothing. Getting back to my original question………"

"Oh yeah. Well, I guess Mommy and Daddy are nice most of the time."

"Why only most?"

"Because the rest of the time they're usually punishing me for stuff, and that's not very nice of them."

"Now why would they do that, luv?", Jack asked, "Fine young lady like yourself."

Kate scowled. "I wish I wasn't. Being a lady is so boring! All you do is sit around all day doing needlepoint! I'd much rather be outside, playing pirates with Stephen and John or learning swordplay! It must be great being a boy!"

"Clearly her father's daughter, this one.", Jack said to himself. "Well, no offense on your honor, luv", he said out-loud, "But I think I might have better luck getting filled in on this by your parents in person. Almost dawn, now. Your father should be here in a few hours."

"DAWN!",gasped Kate. She looked out the window and saw that the horizon was just starting to turn pink. "Oh no! I have to get back! My Dad doesn't know I'm here! If he finds out, I'll be dead!"

"So you DID sneak out!", said Jack, "I was wondering what you were doing out here in the middle of the night! And being a girl no less! Figured you snuck out. Um, mind filling me in on the reason why, though?"

"Long story short, I want to train in black-smithing instead of being a lady.", Kate explained as she franticly put things away. "Mom and Dad hate it and refuse to let me do it. They want me to be a 'polished young lady of society' I started sneaking out so I could make something in the shop. Something that's so good, they'll be forced to give in!"

Jack, as well as any adult who heard this plan, knew very well that it probably wouldn't work. However, he did know potential what he saw it, and Kate had it. He had met many women like Kate and he knew what they were like! This girl wasn't meant to do needlepoint or dance or sit still for more that 5 seconds, and from the looks of it, she wasn't going to. But she was never going to succeed if she didn't get a better strategy. She needed a new plan, and Jack Sparrow had enough plans to satisfy 10 Kate's.

"Well, we wouldn't want to ruin your perfect set up.", he said, "So why don't you run off and I'll take care of things here."

Kate breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, Jack! Dad will be here soon. Will I see you again?"

"It's possible.", he said. And with that, Kate flew out the door.

Jack grinned, as the wheels in his conniving mind turned faster and faster. "Very possible indeed."

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DO YOU LOVE IT! Teehee; I love leaving the readers in suspense!