I do not own Potc. Blah blah....

Victoria was sat at the front of the ship looking out towards the golden sunset with her arms crossed. The sea breeze gently ruffled her hair.

"I hope your taking good care of her Jack," said Mr Gibbs.

"I've been trying to, believe me" Jack replied.

Suddenly, the bell rang for tea and the crew all headed for the stairs, their stomachs growling in protest. Mr Gibbs turned to leave. "You coming Jack?" he said.

"In a minute" Jack replied.

He stood watching Victoria a while longer then walked over to her.

"You eat or what love?" he asked.

"I'm not hungry" she answered, avoiding eye contact.

He took a piece of her shirt and rubbed it between his fingers. "Where'd you get the money to buy all this?"

She pulled her arm away "I didn't steal it if that's what you're implying"

"I didn't imply anything," he said.

"Good" she replied.

"If you want to join us your more than welcome"

"I'm fine," she muttered.

Jack shrugged and walked downstairs. Mr Gibbs was waiting at the bottom. "See to it she gets some food sent to her room" he said.

And in the fading light Mr Gibbs nodded his head slightly.



Night had fallen and Victoria had long since retired to her room. She had taken off her hat, boots and sashes and was now looking at herself closely in the mirror. Her father would have killed her if he saw her dressed like this, but he had always told her to do the right thing and she had...hadn't she? Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a tray with a plate of stew on. Her stomach ached like hell but she wasn't going to give Jack the satisfaction of letting him know she'd forgiven him. Instead she blew out the candle, which was burning brightly next to her bed and drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
Jack entered Victoria's room two hours later, bringing with him the smell of rum. He took the tray and sighed, it hadn't been touched. He looked over at her, she was breathing quietly and the covers had slipped around her waist. He sighed again. She was certainly very pretty but also very stubborn. Jack shut the door and made his way onto deck with they tray still in his hands. He placed the tray down and stood looking over the edge of the ship at the dark waters below, frowning slightly.

"Something bothering you?" Mr Gibbs asked, joining Jack.

"It's the girl" he replied "there's something strange about her but I don't know what"

"You worry yourself too much Jack, stop fretting and start enjoying yourself a bit more"

"This is different though. On the first day she was on board, Captain Johnson and his crew attacked us then, a few moments later, the whole ship disappeared!"

Mr Gibbs' eyes widened in the moonlight. "Disappeared y'say?"

"Aye, disappeared" Jack repeated.

"I'll ask around, see if anyone knows about this girl"

"No!" Jack said "This mustn't get out, it might put her life as well as ours in danger. Savvy?"

Mr Gibbs nodded. Jack turned and walked away to his room leaving Gibbs looking after him.

The next morning Jack was up early. He had heard Victoria walking around on deck and he decided that maybe he should try and talk to her. She was again sitting at the front of the ship, but not with her arms folded. Instead, one leg was tucked underneath her and the other was dangling over the side of the ship.

"Nice mornin' isn't it?" he said, looking out towards sea.

She jumped "Oh it's you, bet you thought that was really funny"

"Yeah, haha, hilarious" Jack rolled his eyes "I actually came here to make it up to you"

Victoria snorted.

"Here" he said, producing a bunch of flowers "it's not much but maybe it's enough to get us talking like civil people again?"

Victoria eyed the flowers with interest. "Fine" she said, taking them "But you pull a stunt like that again and I'll burn your ship until it's nothing more than a pile of ashes"

"We have an agreement love" he said, tipping his hat to her "Now, are you going to come have breakfast?"

"Sure, I'll just put these in my room" she replied. Jack walked over to the staircase when the boson appeared.

"Jack, you're not actually falling for her are you? That's the first time I've seen you do anything kind for a lady in the whole time I've known you. You better watch out, you spent a long time getting your reputation as a feared pirate, you don't want to throw it all away for some girl do you?"

"Of course I'm not, I just don't want my head sliced while I'm asleep. Anyway, don't you have a job to do?"

The boson smirked and walked away. The Captain watched him go. Maybe he was right; maybe he really was falling for her?

Meanwhile, Victoria was in her room arranging the flowers. She had been foolish to judge Jack so quickly. He wasn't so bad when you got to know him a little better and he did look quite handsome in the sunrise... Victoria shook herself; all this pirating was putting silly ideas into her head. After she had arranged the flowers to her liking she checked herself in the mirror, applied a bit of kohl around her eyes and went to breakfast.
The galley was filled with the sound of laughter and talking as Victoria walked in. Some men turned to look at her, others wolf whistled. She took a bowl and Jenson the cook ladled out some porridge and gave her a bread roll. She squeezed in next to Mr Gibbs and a young lad who made it plainly obvious that he was staring at her chest. She began tearing at the bread and spooning large quantities of porridge into her mouth.

"Not hungry by any chance are ye?" Mr Gibbs asked.

"Ravenous" she replied.

"Looks like the Captain's taken quite a shine to you" he said.

Victoria laughed, "Who's been telling you that cock and bull story?"

"Everyone can see it you know" he replied.

Victoria decided to change the subject "Tell me Mr Gibbs, where are we headed?"

"Port Royal, should be there in a couple of days," answered Mr Gibbs.

"Why? Is there any reason?"

"Aye, there is, but I can't tell you why. Very secretive is the Captain"

Suddenly, the Captain appeared at the doorway. He thrust his hands into his belt "Alright you seadogs" he said "I expect to be in Port Royal in four days time, savvy?"

"Aye, aye Captain!" the crew shouted. Amongst the rabble, Jack spotted Victoria. He walked up to her.

"You know love, you could have eaten with me"

"It's ok, I'm finished anyway" she replied. She stood up and made her way out of the galley. She could feel the stare of every man in the room bore into her. Before she walked out of the door she quickly looked at them and looked away again. Suddenly, three bowls of porridge fell, simultaneously and clattered to the floor. Jack quickly appeared at the doorway.

"Which idiot did this?"

"No one did anything Captain" said the first mate.

"So, the bowls magically grew legs and jumped off the table? Is that what your telling me?" he asked.

"Captain, they're telling the truth," said Mr Gibbs standing up.

Jack took a sideways glance at Victoria. "Very well. Jenson, make sure this mess is cleaned up" "Yes Captain" Jenson muttered.
Later that day, Jack was in his room, maps were spread over an oak table and various books had been left open on his bed. He paced up and down, stroking his beard and muttering to himself. He just couldn't figure out this girl. Was she making these things happen or was it a coincidence that these things were happening while she was onboard? One thing was for certain, he couldn't wait to get to Port Royal, maybe Commodore Norrington would have something on her... Suddenly from on deck came a cry.

"Storm a comin'!"

Jack came out of his room barking orders. "Baton down the hatches! All hands on deck!" he turned to Victoria "You better go inside love, don't want you goin' overboard"

"I'm staying here to help," she said defiantly

"You're going inside" he replied.

"Make me," she answered.