A/N: Fireworks are going off left, right and centre...feels like I'm caught in a battle or something. :S That's bonfire night for you...we can all thank Guy Faulks for that.

A big thank you to everyone who reviewed, I loved reading your comments. I updated as soon as I could, unfortunately that turned out to be almost a week.


Chapter 5: The Pearl

Sylvia was coming up to the Black Pearl. Her heart was constricting painfully. Jack had to be onboard somewhere. She had to know how badly she had hurt him. Why had she said those things? Why had she listened to George's lies at all? For she was sure now that Jack would never do those things, no, not Jack. The look in his eyes when she had accused him, no, he would never. Could he ever forgive her?

She had made the decision before she was in full sight of the Conqueror. She found herself walking up the gang plank into the Black Pearl before she had really thought the move through properly. She was uncomfortably aware that her shoes made echoing noises against the wood as she walked. She did not want to meet another pirate in case they lived up to their stereotype, but she was willing to risk it; she just had to find Jack. The hull of the Pearl creaked eerily. It struck Sylvia as ominous that the whole place was deserted. To take her mind off that she concentrated on taking in what was around her. It was a very different layout from her own ship, so different that she was quite disorientated. The only thing that kept her from running away was the thought of Jack's hurt expression before he had stormed off, she owed it to him. She crept down some steps hoping she was going the right way to the Captain's cabin. She jumped as something caught her eye but it was only her shadow dancing in the flickering light of a candle suspended on a bracket on the wall. Sylvia shivered. She didn't like the way the whole ship was black, it gave the horrible impression that there were people lurking close by but out of sight. Sylvia turned each corner with her heart thumping, she was petrified.

The ship seemed almost maze like but it could have just been because Sylvia could not distinguish one passageway from the other. They all looked as dark and dingy as the last one; in fact Sylvia became quite convinced that she really was just going in circles. The sudden realisation that she did not know the way out nearly made her scream but the thought of alerting anyone other than Jack to her presence was not an attractive one so she kept quiet and kept walking.

Jack heard the knock and stopped pacing the floor at once. He had not been expecting any of his crew to return. There was no need for any of them to stay and guard the Pearl, no one was brave enough to come near it let alone steal it. Jack removed his pistol and unlocked the safety latch before heading to the door. He put his hand on the doorknob and then slowly turned it before throwing the door open and pointing his pistol at...Sylvia? He thought Sylvia was going to faint. She was as white as a sheet and trembling all over. Jack put his pistol away hastily and Sylvia found her voice.

"Oh Jack," she said apparently not noticing the weapon, "I'm so glad it's you." Jack snarled. Initially the sight of her had made him want to smile but then he remembered with painful clarity what had brought him into the Pearl in the first place.

"If ye don't mind there be young maids I need to be seeing to," he said and he half closed the door but Sylvia got in the way.

"Don't," she pleaded, "I didn't mean it."

"Oh, ye didn't mean it? I guess that be all well and good then," snapped Jack, "After all I be a pirate and pirates don' have feelings now do they?"

"Please Jack, I..." Jack cut her off and continued in a much quieter voice.

"I would never touch a woman like that," he said, "I never have and I never will. Bein' accused o' something doesn't mean ye did it."

"I shouldn't have said it, I...oh, I'm so sorry Jack, please forgive me." Jack looked at her; she looked to be almost in tears. He felt his anger melting away.

"S'alright," he said and he opened the door fully, "Come in." Sylvia walked past him. The room was black like everything else; the only thing warm about it was Jack himself. Sylvia sat down on an old chair. Jack sat behind a somewhat battered desk and promptly put his feet up on it.

"Do ye believe me?" he asked. Sylvia could tell she had not been forgiven yet.

"Yes," said Sylvia, "Of course I do. I'm sorry for everything I said, I am such a fool. Can you forgive me?"

"I been accused of a lot o' things luv," said Jack a little stiffly, "Merely fer the purpose of sending me to the gallows most times but no accusation has ever hurt more than yours. I thought ye trusted me." Sylvia's eyes filled with tears again. She could tell Jack was not accustomed to talking so freely about his feelings. Her guilt had intensified to such a degree that she felt it was burning a hole right through her.

"I'm sorry," Sylvia repeated in a voice brimming with emotion, "I never even suspected you of anything bad, the thought wouldn't have even crossed my mind if I hadn't heard George talking to someone else. He sounded so sure that I began to doubt myself and I..." She now had tears streaming down her cheeks. She tried to carry on speaking but found she couldn't. Jack was suddenly in front of her. He bent down so he was at her eye level.

"Don't be crying luv," he said gently, "There's nothing t' be upset about." He wiped her tears away carefully. Now he understood, Sylvia had not formed those thoughts by herself. Now it was Jack who felt guilty. He would definitely have to make that idiot George pay now.

"I'm really sorry," Sylvia said yet again.

"Sssh," said Jack, "It's alright now, I forgive ye." Sylvia looked at him as if hardly daring to believe what she had just heard. She gave a small smile through her tears.

"I ruined our lovely day," she said.

"The day's not over," said Jack before she could start crying again, "What do ye think of me ship then?"

"It's creepy," replied Sylvia honestly wiping her eyes with her shirt sleeve. Jack laughed and Sylvia felt much better then she remembered something else she had overheard George say.

"Jack, can I ask you something?"

"Ye just did," said Jack, "Ask away."

"Did you ever get into trouble with the East India Trading Company?" Jack's smile faded. Sylvia was afraid she had said something terribly wrong and was just about to apologise again when Jack suddenly rolled up his sleeve and then held out his arm for her to see. There was a letter P branded clearly onto the skin, just like George had said. Sylvia felt her insides go cold; they would have done that to him with a hot iron.

"There be your answer," said Jack.

"Oh Jack, did it hurt terribly?" Sylvia asked her eyes fixed on his arm.

"I've 'ad worse," said Jack lightly.

"Worse?" Sylvia asked but Jack did not go on. Sylvia's eyes suddenly fell upon a tattoo above the P; it was a bird flying across the sky with the sun setting in the background.

"That's pretty," she said, "Is the bird a sparrow?"

"Aye," said Jack as he rolled his sleeve down again. He clearly did not want to get talk about either of the two marks. Sylvia placed her hand very gently on the place where the P was. Jack did not move.

"You're a very brave man Captain Sparrow," she said.

"Sometimes ye have no choice," said Jack and their eyes met. Sylvia felt like she was drowning in darkness. Her hand still had not left his arm. She was breathing fast, blood pumping in her ears. The connection was broken when Jack abruptly turned away.

"Ye be wanting anything t' drink?" he asked.

Jack showed Sylvia around the Pearl and with him beside her she began to see past the ship's haunted appearance. This had a lot to do with the way Jack's eyes lit as he talked about his ship.

"You know," he said as he ran his hands along the helm, "Not all pirates be wicked men."

"I'm discovering that," said Sylvia then she asked, "Are you a wicked man?" Jack looked at her and a truly wicked grin played across his face.

"Well, it depends on the occasion luv," he said and he winked. He let go of the helm and looked out at the other boats.

"Yer father would have me guts if he knew you'd been on the Pearl," he said as he looked over at the Conqueror.

"I had to find you," said Sylvia, "I didn't want you to think that I was afraid of you, or that I thought badly of you. I never meant to hurt you. You saved my life and you've given me freedom. I didn't want you to never want to see me again." All the time she had been talking her eyes had been on her father's ship but now she turned to look into those intoxicating eyes.

"I would 'ave got over it luv," he said kindly, "As long as ye want me around I see no reason why I would want t' leave. Happy t' be at yer service." This last sentence was said in his pretentious high class voice which did not suit him at all.

"You never have to be at my service," said Sylvia, "How about being my friend?"

"I think I could stretch t' that," said Jack grinning. Sylvia smiled and felt patches of colour rising upon her cheeks.

"What are ye doing this evening?" Jack asked.

"I don't know," said Sylvia, "Eating dinner with my father, maybe reading for a bit. Nothing exciting."

"Then maybe ye wanna join me," said Jack, "I'll give ye excitement if that's what ye want." How could she refuse?

And that was how Sylvia found herself standing outside her first pub. She could already hear a great deal of noise coming from the interior. She heard something that sounded suspiciously like glass breaking and swallowed nervously.

"Yer not scared are ye?" Jack asked gently. Sylvia shook her head quickly.

"I'm not gonna let anything happen t' ye," said Jack seeing the apprehensive look on her face, "Tha's a promise." Jack led her inside, his hand on her arm. Sylvia was instantly overwhelmed. She did not know which way to look. There was a fight going on in one corner than no one seemed too bothered about. There were a few women with very exposing dresses on getting men drunk on one table, but other than that all the people were male. The whole place smelt strongly of smoke and alcohol.

"Jack!" Someone was calling for Jack from across the room. He turned out to be a grizzled man with beady eyes that twinkled when he talked.

"We ain't seen ye fer a little while," said Gibbs.

"I been busy," said Jack simply, "I 'ave a guest tonight." Sylvia appeared from behind Jack nervously. Gibbs' jaw dropped.

"This be Sylvia," said Jack, "And Sylvia this be Gibbs, me first mate." Gibbs' still hadn't closed his mouth so Jack stood on his foot hard to snap him out of it.

"Pleased to meet ye lass," said Gibbs after wincing from Jack's none too subtle prompt. Sylvia shook his hand. Gibbs gave Jack a meaningful look but Jack shook his head very slightly. The two men who were fighting knocked over a table with an ear splitting crunch. Sylvia looked over and Gibbs took the opportunity to hiss in Jack's ear, "This ain't no place fer a lady like that."

"Anyone touches her and they'll be sorry," said Jack and he ran his hand over his pistol.

"She be wearing odd clothes fer a fancy lady too," said Gibbs looking at Sylvia's trousers and shirt, "Ye wouldn't be having anythin' t' do with that would ye Jack?" Jack looked at Sylvia too but didn't reply.

"I hope ye know what yer getting yerself into," said Gibbs warningly. Jack said nothing because at that moment Sylvia turned back to them. She smiled when she saw Jack looking at her. Gibbs saw the light in her eyes and could not help a feeling of foreboding from creeping up on him. They all got a table together.

"What do ye want t' drink luv?" asked Jack.

"I don't know," said Sylvia, "I'll just have what you're having." Gibbs looked at Jack who had stood up at Sylvia's answer.

"Rum be no drink fer a lady," said Gibbs.

"Well tonight I be no lady," said Sylvia with a broad smile. It seemed she was beginning to enjoy herself. Jack grinned and then went to get drinks.

"You be a surprise miss," Gibbs said to Sylvia who had been watching Jack.

"How is that?" she asked.

"We be getting no proper ladies here in the Lamb's Heart," said Gibbs indicating the men and the loose women, "Trust Jack t' change things. How'd ye be meeting Jack anyway? He didn't threaten ye did he?"

"No," said Sylvia, "He saved my life." Gibbs' eyes widened.

"Is tha' right?" he said, "Aye, well, Jack be a good man. He's had it tough sometimes but he's still a good man."

"How long have you known him?" Sylvia asked curiously. It had suddenly struck her how little she knew about Jack Sparrow.

"Around ten years now," replied Gibbs, "Only been first mate fer a year or so though."

"Who was first mate before then?" asked Sylvia trying to sustain the conversation.

"Well," said Gibbs his beady eyes looking at her intently, "There be a period where Jack didn' 'ave a crew at all."

"Why is that?" asked Sylvia. Gibbs leaned closer to her.

"I'll tell ye," he said dropping his voice low, "While he were cap'n of the Black Pearl there were a mutiny and the crew marooned Jack on an island." Sylvia looked horrified.

"How did...?" she began but just then Jack returned.

"Ye be getting t' know each other?" he asked as he put the drinks down on the table.

"Aye," said Gibbs which told Sylvia he did not want to continue their conversation now Jack was present. Sylvia looked at her rum. She wasn't sure this was such a good idea after all but when in Rome...she lifted the tankard to her lips and drank. She swallowed a great mouthful and immediately regretted it. Her eyes watered and her mouth felt like it was burning. She coughed and Jack looked over.

"I told ye it were no drink fer a lady," said Gibbs. Jack put his hand on Sylvia's arm.

"Y'alright?" he asked. Sylvia nodded and then began to laugh. Soon they had all joined in.

"Ye'll get used t' it," said Jack and get used to it she did. She drank the whole tankard full so Jack bought her another one. She found that everything became a lot more pleasurable after that. She didn't notice the fighting much any more but she did notice how extraordinarily handsome Jack looked and she kept wishing he would put his hands on hers again but he did not.

It was gone midnight. Sylvia was sitting on the table singing a song Gibbs had taught her.

"She be a fine one," said Gibbs to Jack as people joined in Sylvia's sea shanty.

"Aye," said Jack, "That she is." Gibbs looked at his Captain but Jack's eyes were firmly fixed on Sylvia who had suddenly hiccupped and forgotten the rest of the words. When they finally emerged from the Lamb's Heart Jack was half carrying Sylvia to keep her from falling over. She clung to him feeling very light headed.

"Oh Jack, I had a wonderful time," she said, "Your friend Gibbs is very nice. Is what he told me true?"

"What did he tell ye luv?" Jack asked more to keep her talking than anything else.

"That you were marooned," said Sylvia, "Because your crew did a...oh, what did he call it again? They..."

"They mutinied," said Jack flatly, "Yes, that be true lass." Sylvia stopped walking.

"You were left all alone?" she asked. She had to blink quite fast to keep him in focus.

"I've had worse luv," said Jack with an effort to be casual but Sylvia wasn't fooled.

"I want to hear about it," she said but then her eyes closed and Jack had to catch her as she fell.

"Wake up luv," he said urgently and he shook her gently, one arm around her waist, "Wake up Sylvia." Sylvia's eyes opened.

"That's the first time I've heard you say my name," she said and then she yawned.

"Time t' get ye home," said Jack and they began to walk again, Sylvia leaning heavily on Jack. She wanted more information out of him but right now her tiredness was weighing everything down, more than information she wanted to go to sleep.

"What time do you call this?!" demanded Lord Ryecroft. He was dressed in his nightgown and was almost beside himself but Sylvia did not have the energy left to notice.

"It's well past one in the morning!" Lord Ryecroft continued.

"Yes father, I know," said Sylvia. Her head was beginning to ache.

"I'm very tired so if you'll please excuse me." Sylvia walked straight past him and into her rooms brushing away her maids who all flapped and fussed around her with their hair in rags.

Sylvia woke with a splitting headache. She thought someone was actually trying to break open her skull. Groaning, she sat up.

"You're awake at last Miss," said Betty, "Drink this; you'll feel a lot better." Sylvia felt a cup being thrust into her hands. She curled her fingers around it and drank, it was only water.

"What's the time?" Sylvia asked groggily.

"Why, it's gone midday Miss," Betty said and there was an edge of nerves to her voice.

Lord Ryecroft was waiting up on deck. Sylvia had been summoned to see him and she knew it would be bad. Sylvia had put on a dress she knew her father liked but she had flatly refused to wear a corset despite her maid's cajoling. Her headache had faded but she still felt quite queasy.

"You wanted to see me?" Sylvia asked nervously.

"Yes," said Lord Ryecroft sternly, "I want an explanation as to your conduct yesterday."

"I didn't do anything wrong," Sylvia said at once. She was determined to defend herself, and Jack who would undoubtedly be brought into the discussion sooner rather than later.

"Didn't do anything wrong?!" cried Lord Ryecroft, "You behaved thoroughly inappropriately for a lady in your position, for any lady come to that! Firstly, you permit a man into your bed chamber. Your lady maids tell me you were not even dressed! Then you dress in an outfit that suits not a lady but a boy and attired in this way you proceeded to spend the whole day in the company of a pirate. You did not come home before dark; I was worried sick about you! When you eventually did come home it was the most ungodly hour of the morning and you had quite clearly been drinking. I have never been more ashamed in all my life." Lord Ryecroft turned away from his daughter in apparent disgust.

"You must promise never to behave in such a way again," he said.

"I shall do no such thing," said Sylvia defiantly. Lord Ryecroft span round.

"I beg your pardon!"

"I had some fun," said Sylvia hot flushes of colour staining her cheeks, "That's all I did and that is not a crime. I'm sick of being caged! I thought you would understand!" She was shouting now, her chest heaving with emotion.

"But you put yourself in danger," Lord Ryecroft protested his own voice becoming more feeble, "You were in the company of a dangerous man, and no doubt he was drunk..."

"Jack wasn't drunk," said Sylvia.

"Sorry?"

"Jack wasn't drunk," repeated Sylvia.

"She be telling the truth mate," said a voice from behind them both. Sylvia whirled round delightedly.

"I came to check on ye," Jack informed her, "I be getting the feeling ye don't drink very often, and I was wanting t' see if ye was alright."

"That's very considerate of you Captain Sparrow," said Lord Ryecroft who was alarmed that the man seemed able to appear as if from no where, "But you..." Jack raised up one hand and to Sylvia's great surprise her father fell silent. Jack walked right up to him and looking in his eyes asked, "Have I ever given you reason not t' trust me?" Lord Ryecroft blinked but said nothing. Jack backed away from him much to his relief.

"In my opinion," said Jack, "Ye need t' lighten up. Birds don't like having their wings clipped, savvy?"

"Do you have children Captain Sparrow?" Jack was obviously as surprised by this question as Sylvia because he looked at Lord Ryecroft and blinked a couple of times before answering.

"Not that I'm aware of," he answered finally with a small smile.

"Then I hardly think you should be giving me parental advice Captain Sparrow," said Lord Ryecroft forcing these last two words out through gritted teeth as he struggled to remain polite. Jack put his hands together in an ironic submissive gesture. Lord Ryecroft felt himself regretting ever setting eyes on the pirate as Jack turned towards Sylvia.

"I'll be goin' then," he said, "As long as ye be well and...happy?" Sylvia gave Jack a small smile which was all he needed.

"I'll be seeing ye soon I expect," he said and he sauntered off. Lord Ryecroft sat down and put his face in his hands.

"I wish you wouldn't spend time with him Sylvia, he's bad for you," he said desperately.

"That's where you're wrong," said Sylvia so quietly her father could not hear her, "He's just the opposite. You just can't see it. Can't or won't."


A/N: (returns from watching a neighbour's fireworks out of the window) I always worry when people have fireworks...they never look safe. :S

Anyway...hope you enjoyed the chapter!