A/N: I hope you all had a wonderful halloween! I'm sorry this chapter is a bit on the short side...I'll try not to make it a habit.

There is one thing you all must do as soon as you can, go and see Finding Neverland. I watched it at the weekend and oh...my....it's a wonderful film. Please go and see it, you won't regret it. :) (oh, and let me know what you think of it)

Thanks once again to everyone who reviewed, you keep this story moving. :D


Chapter 4: When the sea says yes

That night Jack did stay for dinner and he behaved perfectly even though George was at the table as well. Sylvia looked up as something brushed against her leg. She blushed as she realised it was Jack's boot.

"When are you to set sail Mr Sparrow?" asked George.

"Captain," corrected Jack, "Whenever I be wanting to."

"And might that be any time soon Captain?" George asked the stress on the last word leaving no one in any doubt as to what he thought of Jack's authority.

"Oh, I don't think so," said Jack as he caught Sylvia's eye, "I be enjoying meself." George threw his napkin onto the table and looked about to fly off the handle but Lord Ryecroft gave him a stern look so George simply excused himself and left. Jack watched him leave with a smile on his face and a sparkle in his dark eyes.

Sylvia found that when she spent a day without Jack she missed him so much that her chest would actually ache. The pain would disappear the instant she saw him again. She thought that perhaps she should not be feeling this way but it seemed to be utterly out of her control.

It was a blazing hot day; Jack and Sylvia were sitting on the beach. Sylvia was seated on a large flat rock so as not to ruin her pink dress.

"The sea looks so inviting," said Sylvia as the light danced on the water like gold. It looked cool too, something which definitely appealed to Sylvia immensely.

"Aye, it does," said Jack. He bent down and began to remove his boots.

"What are you doing?" Sylvia asked.

"I be flying, what does it look like I'm doing?" Jack stood up, his boots beside him.

"Are ye coming?" he asked Sylvia.

"Coming where? Into the sea?!"

"Aye," said Jack amused at Sylvia's shocked expression.

"I can't," said Sylvia as she looked down at her long dress.

"Suit yourself," said Jack and he sauntered off towards the shore.

"Jack! Jack!" Sylvia called after him but he did not turn back. She looked longingly after him. Suddenly she found herself removing her shoes and then her stockings.

Jack had his trousers rolled up above his knees. He was shin deep in the cool water. He heard a splash behind him. Turning he saw Sylvia right on the edge of the sea. She was holding her dress up high, her bare feet just submerged in the water. Jack grinned.

"It's cold," said Sylvia with wide eyes.

"Come here," said Jack and he reached out his hand.

"I can't take your hand and hold my dress at the same time," said Sylvia.

"Then drop yer dress," said Jack. Sylvia did as she was told. Jack took her hand and she waded in deeper to join him. Sylvia found that it wasn't cold after a while; in fact it was quite warm. Jack was still holding her hand. Her dress floated around her looking like a particularly bright species of seaweed. Something caught Sylvia's eye just underneath the surface of the water. She gave a small scream and grabbed hold of Jack's arm her fingernails digging into him.

"A fish!" she said in a terrified voice, "Right there in the water!" Jack put his arm around her and drew her close.

"It's alright," he said smiling, "It won't hurt ye." Sylvia was leaning against Jack now, she could feel his warmth. She could feel his arm around her and she found she wasn't scared any more. For a moment they stayed as they were then Sylvia looked up into Jack's face and felt a definite glow inside her heart. His face was lit by the sun. He looked down at her and Sylvia was instantly lost in those eyes that seemed to possess a depth beyond that of any man. Their eye contact was only broken when a stray wave made them both wet above the knees. Sylvia squealed delightedly and Jack grinned. He scooped up some water in both his hands and splashed Sylvia. She looked mock affronted and then proceeded to splash Jack in return.

When they finally left the sea and returned to the beach they were both soaking wet. Sylvia's wet dress trailed on the ground and stuck to her body. She was laughing happily, more happily than she had done in years. It was like she had been transported back to childhood but at the same time she felt older, it was almost like she had the best of both worlds. Jack collapsed on the sand and Sylvia, who had long since forgotten about caring for her dress, flopped down beside him.

"Jack?"

"Mm," said Jack who was now lying with his hands behind his head.

"Do you like spending time with me?" Sylvia wished she hadn't said it as soon as the words had left her mouth, she felt like a schoolgirl with a crush. Jack sat slightly, resting on his elbows.

"Course I do luv," he said, "I don't need t' ask ye the same question."

"Why ever not?" asked Sylvia.

"Because I see the way you smile and I be sure you haven't smiled like that fer a while," said Jack wisely, "Am I right?"

"Maybe," said Sylvia feeling slightly dissatisfied that he had been able to tell all that without asking.

"Of course," Jack said, "Tha' doesn't mean ye like me." Sylvia looked at him in surprise as he continued to speak. "Just coz I tell ye how to do things and show ye things ye wanna see doesn't mean you actually like me. I mean ye might..."

"I do like you Jack," said Sylvia truthfully, "I like you very much." Jack stopped talking at once. He seemed a little lost for words. Sylvia looked over at her stockings and wondered why she had ever been wearing them in the first place. The sand felt nice under her bare feet but her wet dress was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Jack appeared to have read her mind.

"Ye best be getting back and into some dry clothes," he said.

"You're right," said Sylvia reluctantly then she suddenly burst out passionately, "Oh I wish I didn't have to wear dresses all the time!" Jack said nothing.

"Will you walk me back to my ship?" Sylvia asked shyly.

"Of course," said Jack and he got up. He helped Sylvia to her feet and then picked up his boots. Sylvia almost forgot her own shoes; she was so used to people remembering and carrying things for her but Jack was not here to do her bidding. She was wondering what Jack was here for when he stopped. They had reached the Conqueror.

"I had a wonderful day Jack," said Sylvia, "Thank you." Jack touched his hat, smiled and turned around. Sylvia smiled too before walking barefoot into the ship.

"Sylvia! What on earth happened to you?!" cried Lord Ryecroft when he saw his daughter wearing a dress which was completely sodden and covered in sand.

"Life happened to me," Sylvia replied in a daydreamy voice, "The sea looked too lovely to resist that's all." She waltzed past her father before he could say another word.

Jack sent a message that evening to say he would not be available the next day but he added that he would have something special for Sylvia the day after that. Sylvia was heading for the upper deck wondering what Jack could possibly mean by 'something special' when she heard someone say Jack's name.

"That Jack Sparrow is nothing but trouble." Sylvia froze and listened hard.

"Indeed." That was George's voice, Sylvia was sure of it.

"He's escaped the noose more times than I've had hot dinners." Sylvia recognised that voice as belonging to Henry, one of the cook's assistant. He was only a young lad.

"I know," said George, "He's a wanted man in almost every decent port."

"I heard he shot a man dead just to get his hat," said Henry in a fearfully awed voice.

"I wouldn't be surprised," said George loftily, "That man appears to believe he is above the law. I know the East India Trading Company caught him once. Burnt a P into his arm so everyone would know he was a pirate, not that it isn't obvious." Henry gave a little gasp then he asked in a whisper, "Is it true he escaped from Port Royal guards without ever firing a shot?"

"I've heard a rumour," said George in a tone which implied he was reluctant to confirm such a story. Anything that pointed at heroism had to be squashed when it was associated with pirates.

"If I may ask sir, why is Lord Ryecroft allowing young Miss Ryecroft to be alone with such a man?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," replied George, "He should have paid the pirate off and then threatened him with death. If Sylvia were my daughter I would not allow her to set foot off this ship until the pirates had set sail."

"I agree sir," said Henry fervently, "Pirates are terrible trouble. I wonder what surprise Sparrow has for Miss Ryecroft, sir."

"I dread to think," said George darkly.

"And I wonder what's going to be keeping him busy tomorrow?" Henry mused aloud.

"I expect he has some women to rape, some gold to steal and some houses to burn," reeled off George contemptuously. Henry gave a nervous little laugh.

"You don't really think he...?" he asked quietly.

"What?" asked George.

"Rapes women," Henry whispered in a scared voice.

"I'm sure of it," said George confidently, "He should be shot before he steals another innocent maidens chance of happiness."

"Quite right sir," agreed Henry.

"Anyway young Henry, you and I both have duties to attend to."

"Yes, sir," said Henry hurriedly. Sylvia pressed herself into the shadows so neither of them would see her. When she was sure they were both gone she sunk to the floor. Surely what George said wasn't true. Of course she had heard the stories about pirates taking advantage of women but not Jack, no, not Jack.

All next day Sylvia found her mind wandering back to George and Henry's conversation. She just couldn't seem to forget it. She needed to know the truth but she couldn't ask Jack, no way. Her preoccupation was all too obvious. She dropped a stack of books, spilt ink all over her desk and knocked over two glasses of water at dinner.

"Is something that matter?" asked Lord Ryecroft.

"No," said Sylvia as she attempted to mop up the second spill with her napkin, "No, nothing's the matter. I'm just having one of those days." Lord Ryecroft smiled sympathetically, he sometimes had those days himself. Sylvia went to bed early that night. She had the familiar ache she got when she hadn't seen Jack but now it was combined with something else, fear of finding out something she really did not want to know.

Sylvia awoke to the sound of voices outside her bedroom door. Her sleepy mind took a few moments to recognise who they belonged to. Betty, Milly and Lotte were all talking at once and sounded quite agitated. Sylvia sat up wondering what had got into them but then she heard another voice which made her heart leap.

"I appreciate yer concern but I am not intending t' barge in there and slice Miss Ryecroft t' pieces however much ye might think so." This did not help calm the maids down.

"Really sir, our lady is not dressed yet, if you could just..." protested Lotte shrilly.

"Are ye going t' let me past or not?"

"Sir, it isn't proper for a lady to be seen at this hour by a gentleman!" implored Milly.

"It's a good thing I'm not a gentlemen then eh?" With that Sylvia heard three small screams and the door to her room opened. Jack closed the door behind him and turned the key in the lock before looking over at the bed where Sylvia was sat.

"Good mornin' luv," he said seemingly at ease with walking uninvited into her bedroom.

"Good morning," said Sylvia who could think of nothing else to say.

"Yer maids are a bit o' a handful," Jack said as he looked around the room, "Acting like there's ne'er been a man in 'ere before."

"That will be because there never has been a man in here before," said Sylvia simply.

"Ah," said Jack looking back at her, "Well, I be honoured luv." He stepped forwards and Sylvia only just realised he was holding something. Jack saw her looking.

"I told ye I'd be bringing ye somethin' special," he said. He put whatever it was on the bed. Sylvia, wrapped firmly in her bedclothes, reached over with a feeling of childish excitement. She pulled the items close to her and saw they were clothes. With dawning comprehension Sylvia looked at a pair of brown trousers, a white shirt and a belt with a large metal buckle.

"Oh Jack," she said in choked voice, "Are they for me?" Jack, who was inspecting her jewellery box carefully, looked over.

"They wouldn't fit me luv," he said. Sylvia, forgetting she was only dressed in her nightdress, jumped out of bed. Jack watched her until he realised she was going to strip right in front of him. She seemed to have forgotten he was there. Thinking she would not be too pleased to realise he was gawping at her Jack forced himself to turn around. He stared intently at a picture of a stormy seascape but strangely enough the painting was not enough to prevent him wondering how far along with dressing Sylvia had got. He briefly wondered why he had turned round without being asked but before he could come up with an answer he felt Sylvia's hand on his arm. The shirt hung about her slim figure and the belt was pulled tight around her waist.

"How do I look?" Sylvia asked twirling around.

"Comfortable," was Jack's answer. Sylvia beamed at him, her mouth opened to thank him again when there was a sudden loud knocking at the door.

"Sylvia? Sylvia?! Are you alright?" Jack rolled his eyes.

"That's George," said Sylvia recognising his voice.

"She be changing," said Jack loudly. George pounded at the door.

"Sparrow, you open this door right now! Sparrow, open this door right now and I'll give you what for."

"That be some incentive," said Jack to Sylvia. She noticed he did not look in the least bit concerned.

"Sparrow! Do you hear me? Right, that's it, I'm coming in!" The sound of maids gasping was heard. Jack waited a second more and then pulled the door open. George was running down the corridor to build up enough momentum to break the door down. Jack neatly sidestepped him and, unable to stop, George flew into the room and straight into the wall.

"We'll be going now," said Sylvia quickly and she and Jack walked off leaving the maids staring from their lady's unbecoming outfit to the heap that was George and back again.

Jack suggested they visit the rock pools as it was an unusually low tide. Sylvia agreed at once. She felt wonderful in these new clothes. Climbing the rocks was no problem when there was no skirt to step on and getting wet was not an issue, she merely rolled her trousers up and waded like Jack did. They could reach places they could never have got to if Sylvia had been decked out in what she should have been.

"You climb like a boy," said Jack as Sylvia nimbly reached the top of a large rock.

"No," said Sylvia, "You climb like a girl." She stuck her tongue out at Jack who caught her up and threatened to push her into the sea if she did not take that back.

"Ok, ok," she said laughing, "But you have to agree that I don't climb like a boy. After all how many girls have you seen climbing?"

"A few," said Jack with a grin. Sylvia brushed some hair out of her face.

"One day all women will be free," she said looking out at the ocean.

"Aye," said Jack in support, "And then where will we men be?"

"By our side," said Sylvia smiling at him. They set off again. By midday the sun was so hot that they sought shelter in the shadow of the cliffs. It was only then Sylvia remembered what she had overheard George saying to Henry, the memory had been wiped from her mind by all the excitement but now it came back with full force. She took a deep breath.

"Where were you yesterday?" she asked. Her eyes were watching her fingers which were drawing patterns in the sand. Jack, who had his hat over his eyes, said, "I were busy."

"Yes, I know that," said Sylvia struggling to keep her tone casual, "But where were you?"

"Around an' about," came Jack's vague answer. Sylvia found herself becoming angry. Her fingers had stopped moving.

"Why won't you tell me where you were?" she asked.

"Why do ye want t' know?" asked Jack removing his hat from his face so he could look at her. Sylvia sighed in an infuriated way.

"Can't you just answer?"

"Since when do I need to be telling ye everything I do?" Jack asked. He sounded merely curious.

"Jack! Just answer the question, I need to know."

"Why?" asked Jack and now there was suspicion in his eyes. Sylvia, still not looking at him, felt the words coming out before she could stop them.

"If you won't tell me then maybe you were out stealing, setting fire to things or raping..." Jack was on his feet in an instant. He looked furious and very hurt.

"O' course," he said sarcastically, "If I won't tell ye where I was then I must 'ave been raping women, tis the logical conclusion. Well done fer finding out me guilty secret so quickly. I'll be going back to me ship now t' plan me next murder if ye don't mind so I suggest ye run along back to yer own." He stormed back down the beach in the direction of the Black Pearl.

"Jack!" Sylvia called after him but he neither slowed down nor turned around. Sylvia watched him until he was out of sight. She felt tears in her eyes. She hadn't meant to say those things, she hadn't meant to hurt him, it had just happened. She stayed alone by the cliff for another hour before slowly beginning the walk back home wishing with every step that she had the power to turn back time.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed that, let me know what you thought. Oh, and ff .net keeps playing me up and not letting me see people's email addresses so if you don't get a reply to your review, that will be why. If it keeps happening I'll start replying here.

Have a great day!