A/N: Yay! Another chappie! SO SORRY for the two weeks it took me to update, but let's just say that certain people are making my life far more complicated than it needs to be, savvy? PLEASE don't let my delays in updating stop y'all from reading this! I swear, I will TRY to update faster. I'm not going to made any promises though. *Sighs* Life is evil at times. But, on the bright side, it's a SUPER LONG CHAPPIE! Woot! Double the wait, double the length! ;-) Heh… :P So…. Enjoy! ~XD

A/N2: :P All right, basically guys, this is one big flashback, but not quite. Just kinda Leah going over the events of the past 4 years, kinda like an overview, savvy? Just…. Read. You'll see what I'm talking about. I must warn y'all, though, this chapter really lives up to it's PG-13 rating in sexual content. Nothing explicit, mind you, but explicit enough. "Ye be warned," in other words. Personally, I think you're all fine reading this, but you never know, eh? So, read at your own peril. ;-)

Jack: Hmmm, I'm still out of the closet. Should I be frightened?

Me: Oh yes, very.

Jack: All right, then. *to Leah* When you're not in the closet, where does she keep you, anyway?

Leah: Keep me? O.o Nowhere. I'm free to go where I want when I want as I please.

Jack: Just me then, eh?

Leah and Me: Yup!

Me: ^___________________^

Jack:…….I hate you, luv.

Me: Well if THAT'S not a contradictory phrase, I don't know what is.

Jack: Shush.

                                                ***Special thanks to Kizume, Kirie, and Pendragon for betaing. What would I do without you guys? :P

                                                                        ***EXTRA special thanks to Kizume for not just betaing but going above and beyond. You ROCK! ~XD

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The trip to Tortuga was… a quiet one, to say the least. Throughout the entire voyage, not one word was spoken between Jack and Leah, not one word that was not absolutely necessary, and even then, the two wouldn't even look at one other. Though the journey took nearly an entire day, they stayed silent. In the back of Leah's mind, she knew that they were acting like immature children, but she was so infuriated that she really didn't care. And the same went for Jack. Any onlooker would have rolled his eyes in exasperation and smacked the both of them, smacked the both of them hard. After all, they had more important things to worry about than petty arguments and the silent treatment!

But sadly enough, there was no such onlooker, and the two wasted a perfectly good day in which they could have actually talked. It probably would have made things just that much simpler in the long run.

As Leah tightened a rope gone slack along the mast, she watched Jack out of the corner of her eye. She truly did love him, and him her… but if he was going to be this much of an ass, who was she to act all kind and forgiving and oblivious? With him, that didn't work very well, not to mention the fact that this act would go against everything in her. She had done it once before, after all, and she was not about to do it again.

So, in the twenty-four hours of silence on the boat, what was she supposed to do? No matter how hard she fought it, Leah found herself remembering…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That very first night on the Pearl, the first day of her escape from Port Royale, Leah had… given herself to Jack. Of course, it had been very apparent from her trip to Tortuga that the man was experienced to say the least, and that night… Well, she never regretted it. That night was pure bliss.

But then they had docked, and at Tortuga, of all places, the rattiest, seediest, and outlandish port town in the area, and one with a great big supply of "unfortunate" women. Captain Jack Sparrow, loyal, especially to someone he'd just met? Ha! What a laugh.

Leah was hurt, there was no denying it, but what was she supposed to do? So she stayed silent about the whole thing, pretended as if she didn't care or was simply very oblivious, becoming more and more the pirate all the while. And the night she told him she loved him… Ugh, that had been horrible. He did love her, she knew that, knew it from what he said that day, and from how he acted, but he would not say "those" words, and his reasoning-that it would make her a target, that it would be dangerous for both of them, and so on and so forth-were complete, well, crap. Needless to say, she didn't share his bed or even really speak to him for a good month after that.

And, naturally, she still knew next to nothing about his past. She knew the stories, knew what she'd either read or heard… but that was about it.

Oh yes, though happy and joyful on the surface, if Leah allowed herself to dwell… she was miserable. Not as hopeless as she had been in Port Royale, no, almost anything would have been better than that hell, but she was miserable nonetheless.

It was during this time in her life that the legend of Leah's… "Poison Kiss" came about, something that made her irrefutably famous. In a routine ambush of one of Her Majesty's ships, Leah happened to be somewhat drunk, in an exceptionally bad mood, and just feeling, well, creative, altogether not the best of combinations. So, many of those she killed, she kissed on the lips either the moment right before or right after she finally allowed them to meet their Maker. Those she just knocked out… well those lucky souls she gave a light peck on the cheek after knocking them unconscious. The same went for those she wounded.

Though she didn't do this very often after this one plundering, the story was still spread far and wide by the survivors, and then by those the survivors told, and then by those they told, and so on and so forth… not to mention by Jack, who just really loved to hear himself talk. At least, that was how it seemed to Leah.

But, the tale became so twisted in certain places that she had ostensibly once slaughtered the entire crew of an enemy ship by blowing a kiss. It was ridiculous! Even when she stopped this behavior altogether and would only do so much as the peck on the cheek, the story stuck. What was there to do? The fact that she was the only woman to ever become a member of Jack's crew, share his quarters, and to have been born and raised a noblewoman yet still become so skilled, that only contributed all the more to her growing reputation. Though at first thoroughly uncomfortable with the fame, Leah soon learned to live with this renown.

One day, though, Leah made a discovery of sorts, one completely unrelated to her adventures as a pirate. She was pregnant. How did she discern this little fact, you ask? Simple. A certain… monthly event… had not occurred. For nearly three months straight. Using the excuse that she needed to see her sister, Leah convinced Jack to come with her to Port Royale in a boat that was not the Pearl, obviously. Though he wasn't aware of it, a physician there examined her, one fetched by her sister at Leah's request, and her suspicions were confirmed.

A short while after, Leah and Jack were back on the Pearl, and Leah had still not informed him. She didn't know how to. Sadly, she waited too long, and, well, to put it bluntly, she miscarried. One morning, she simple woke up, and found a great load of blood on the sheets and on her lower body, mainly along insides of her thighs. Obviously, she'd been bleeding all night.

Blankly, she stared at the crimson. She was frozen, she couldn't think straight. What….? How…?

Leah didn't know how long she just… sat there, the blood entrancing her fully with its harsh allure. When the door to Jack's "sleeping quarters" opened (Leah had been upset at Jack for one thing or another the other night and had consequently decided to sleep in her lone cot in the "dining" area of the captain's cabin… alone), she gasped, her heart rate instantly speeding up, and pulled her thin blanket over her lower body, lying back and closing her eyes. She was giving off the perfect image of troubled sleep as Jack walked in. She clearly heard his footsteps halt as he stood still to, well, look her over for a moment, and then his gait picked right back up until he was out of the room and out on deck.

The moment she was absolutely certain he wasn't going to come back in, Leah slowly sat up, an obscure fog clouding her senses and hindering her thoughts. Blankly, she pushed the covers away again and, after sitting up, reached out, putting her palm to the moist fabric hesitantly, her hand coming back wet and sticky. She was left to look back and forth from her bloodstained digits and palm, and the bed, unable to process the very apparent.

Leah didn't know how long she sat there, but it must have been a very long time, as Jack himself came back into the cabin to check on her. Some dim part of her mind noticed this and directed her hands to the blanket, pulling it back over her legs and lower body, but this time she remained in an upright position. Therefore, Jack knew very well that she was awake.

"Leah, are you all right, darling?" he asked, walking forward. He appeared as if he expected Leah to leap to her feet and dive for him screeching like a banshee at any moment. They had had one of their legendary "battles" the night before, sword and all. No, the two of them didn't quarrel; it was never that tame. When they fought, they battled. They went all out. And Leah had gone to bed furious.

Nevertheless, it was obvious to him now that something was terribly, terribly wrong. There was just something too vacant in Leah's expression, something too empty and hollow in her movements, in the way she turned her head to face him.

And that was when he noticed the blood. Not just on her hands, no. In her stunned stupor, she had not pulled up her covers all the way, and so… the crimson on the sheets was also just visible, as was the blood near the very bottom of her long loose cotton shirt, her bedclothes. "Leah, what'd you do?" he demanded, moving forward quickly and kneeling down along the side of the cot.

At the first touch of his on her upper arm, the fragile shell of shock protecting the young female shattered, and Leah was forced to come to terms with the obvious. And so, Leah Swann began to weep, the sobbing somehow desolate and broken, a heartwrenching sound.

Before long, through many embraces and further tears and certain deductions on Jack's part, he finally solved the mystery of what had occurred.

That was the first time Jack ever told Leah how he truly felt. That was the first time he ever told her that he loved her, knowing full well that she needed to hear it. And though it was a dreadful and despicable process, that miscarriage and the pain that followed, Leah recovered from it all, at least, as best she could. And Jack was by her side the entire time.

After this little incident, Jack did not go out into a port town seeking some "fun" for a good month, though he did start right back up again eventually. Shortly after this brief period of fidelity, though, Jack found Leah getting drunk in a bar in one of the seediest parts of one of the seediest ports in the Caribbean. This was strange to say the least, as she usually tended to deplore alcohol and would only drink if he talked her into it using his amazing wit and charm. A tad bit worried, Jack approached her.

That night was when Jack finally told Leah his history, anything and everything she wanted to know… supposedly. Now, it was obvious he'd left a few key parts out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

                        Gritting her teeth in rage, Leah glanced at Jack out of the corner of her eye and squeezed her hand into a tight fist, wishing she had something to slam it into. "Left a few key parts out" was right.

                        Ugh, she didn't want to remember anymore. She wanted to stare out at the clear blue sky, the setting sun, the fading light glimmering along the placid water. She wanted to merely drift, thoughtless, worriless… but that was impossible, and she knew it. Her children, her babies, were gone, Jack was being… well, she couldn't find a word to describe it. And she, she was in such a horrible mood that the beauty and calm of the day only managed to infuriate her. Why should she be so full of turmoil while the world slept? And why couldn't she just will the memories away?

                        But she couldn't, she knew this too. And no matter how hard she tried, Leah was left to relive the rest of the past four years with Jack Sparrow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Only a month or two after she learned Jack's past, that was the day Leah saw something that made her sick to her stomach, something that made her want to scream and rage and sob all at the same time. Oh yes, Jack… Jack was certainly something. In a secluded corner of one of Tortuga's most reputable inns-in fact, the same one she had seen on her first trip to that wondrous port-Leah found Jack… with one of Tortuga's many whores. As for what the two of them were doing… well, let's just say that it was obvious they didn't need to rent a room. They were having a grand enough time down in the bar.

Stunned, Leah could do nothing but stand there, completely unnoticed by either Jack or the little harlot. Naturally, the thick throng of people around her hid her from sight, and she very well could have stood there until they were done without being spotted, so enrapt were the two in each other. It was obvious the whore wasn't just pretending to enjoy herself, oh no. This was Captain Jack Sparrow. She was having the time of her life.

When Leah was knocked to the side by one drunk pouncing on another, she was knocked sharply back to her senses, along with into a table. And when this happened… well let us just say Leah was no longer feeling so elated, nor was she angry. No, Leah wasn't angry in the least. She was livid, absolutely and completely livid… and out for revenge. One would think she would be used to this type of behavior, wouldn't one? But no, this was the first time after her miscarriage that she'd ever found him doing anything quite so… perverse in public. And she wanted revenge.

Any fool can see how this whole debacle turned out. Leah really hadn't planned on doing anything, truly she hadn't… but when she saw her and Jack's mutual friend, their kindhearted fellow pirate, first mate on the Gilded Crown, by the name of Kevin… the opportunity was just too good to pass up. Though he had misgivings over it, within the next fifteen minutes, the two had a room upstairs. No, Leah wouldn't stoop so low as Jack as to stay down there while she did the deed with this fine man, one only two years older than her at most.

Just as Kevin and Leah were in the middle of the "final act", though, who comes in but none other than… Captain Jack Sparrow. Neither Leah nor Kevin even noticed him until he was directly beside the bed, his sword to Kevin's throat. Eyes widening, the younger male froze.

"What do you think you're doing, Kevin?" he asked softly, though the danger in his tone and eerily cold visage was clear. Kevin was lucky that he hadn't been beheaded and cut into little tiny pieces already. He was lucky that Jack didn't just ruthlessly murder him on the spot. This had to be one of the stupidest things he'd ever done in his life.

Before the man straddling her could say a word, Leah spoke up, sliding up into a sitting position. There was no need to cover herself, though. Her shirt was still on. "What does it look like we're doing, Sparrow?" she snapped, her heart still pounding, a thin layer of sweat coating her flesh, her breathing yet haggard. Kevin was in much the same state, with his two-inch long brown hair in complete disarray, his hazel eyes barely visible in the dim light. His lightly stubbled face was just as sweaty as Leah's, as was the rest of his well-muscled and tanned five foot nine body. His heavy breathing and heart rate now, though, were becoming more a result of fear rather than passion.

"Nothing, Jack. I was just leaving," Kevin said without even glancing at Leah, his voice strangely calm for one in such mortal danger. His eyes fixed on Jack's face, Kevin moved back away from Leah and got himself into a sitting position, grabbing the blanket falling off of the very edge of the bed and wrapping it around his waist. Jack said not a word, but his blade followed Kevin's throat.

"Get dressed, Kevin," he said at last, and it was obvious he was not only telling the young man this, but ordering him to do it. "Get your clothes on and leave. I don't even want to so much as hear your voice for the next few days, savvy? Go."

"Understood," Kevin replied, his eyes still never leaving Jack's, and then he stood, finally turning away and moving steadily but without a trace of fear towards his clothing, strewn all across the floor. His gaze never leaving Kevin, Jack sheathed his sword.

"You pompous hypocritical bastard…" Leah called her true lover under her breath, pulling her knees up to her chest and covering her lower body as best she could, but she was ignored by all. Neither Jack nor Kevin said a thing.

Before long, Kevin was dressed. "I'm sorry, Jack. Goodbye, Leah," were the very last things he said, with a nod of his head towards each of them in turn. And then he was gone, leaving Leah and Jack very much alone.

"Did you enjoy yourself, darling?" he asked, the sarcasm in his voice very apparent.

"Oh, but of course!" she retorted, her tongue just as biting with cynicism.

"Well then, I hope you have many more fun times to count, Miss Swann. And so… ta," he said, giving her a small salute, and just like that, he turned on his heel and was gone, the door slamming shut behind him.

Too surprised to speak, much less move, Leah simply stared at the doorway for a moment, her mind having trouble wrapping itself around what had just happened. Had he just… She had expected a screaming match, one of their trademark arguments. Not… this.

Recovering, the Swann swore under her breath and dove into her clothing as fast as she possibly could, not even bothering with her boots. Those, she carried in her hand as she dashed out the door. Leah managed to reach the bottom of the stairs to the first floor just as Jack was about to reach the exit.

"Jack, wait!" she cried out, taking just one step forward. He halted for a moment, seeming to debate whether or not to stay, but the latter option seemed to win out as he turned, swaggering back over to her with a small smile on his lips. It was not a typical Jack smile, oh no. This one was for more forced, more sinister, more hurt… truly, she would have preferred him to be in a rage. Actually, it was very likely that he was, but he was Captain Jack Sparrow. He was not about to lose control.

"What do you want, darling?" he asked her, his expression darkening, his hands clearly emphasizing his point.

"For the love of God, call me Leah…" she told him quietly, literally forcing herself to not look down.

Well, the outcome of this battle betwixt the two of them, Leah and Jack, is really not that difficult to ascertain. Leah had never done anything of this sort before, ever, and did not plan to again. And Jack, he now had a taste of his own medicine, and what's more, he discovered something. For you see, within minutes after Leah went after Jack, they were back in that room, performing certain… activities. And that night, Jack found out that he really didn't need to seek "comfort" in other women. He had all he needed in Leah, and he didn't have to treat her like a little fragile flower that would disintegrate at the slightest force, at the slightest "harsh handling".

With the exception of two or three more "occurrences", Jack Sparrow became loyal in the fidelity department.

It was only a year and a few months after Leah had first become a part of the Black Pearl's crew and Jack's lover that she became pregnant again… and though she was terrified of another miscarriage, this time, she didn't have one. In fact, the pregnancy went off more or less without a hitch. And so, on May 3rd, in the year 1687, John Sparrow was born in the relative safety of Port Royale.

Just four months after that, Jack married Leah in the Church Leah used to attend with her father and sister, and was actually married by none other than the kindly priest there who could not have cared less that Leah, once one of his favorite parishioners, was now an outlaw. True, he did scold her thoroughly… but what was he to do? Refuse to marry her to someone she obviously loved, someone who loved her back, and someone whom she had a child with?

It was a bit ironic, really. Jack had never even proposed! They had simply gone to Port Royale one day, with John, naturally, and after a very odd day, they ended up in the Church just before dawn. Will and Elizabeth, strangely enough, had actually helped Jack with this plan of his, and John and Tom was even present for the entire ceremony.

Things were about to become very different very quickly, though. The day the Black Pearl was to leave Tortuga following the marriage (Where else was it going to be docked during the wedding in Port Royale?), Scarlet, one of Jack's old favorites in the port, came up to him and Leah in the Green Dragon, practically dragging beside her a little crimson-cloaked something by its little white hand. This little something was a two-year-old girl, and Scarlet was her aunt, though neither Jack nor Leah knew it.

"It's your turn, Jack," Scarlet informed him the moment she had reached the pair at their table, not even bothering to fake a greeting or take a seat.

"What's my turn, luv?" he asked her, eyeing the toddler with the downcast face for only a moment before looking back at Scarlet.

Rolling her eyes, Scarlet pointed to the little someone beside her with her left hand, her free hand. "That. This. Her." There was a moment of silence… and then Jack began to grin, Leah uttering a nervous laugh from beside him.

"I see. And how many other men have you tried this on? Really, darling, if you don't know who the father i-"

"She's not mine, if that's what you think," Scarlet said brusquely, glaring, and bent down beside the child. His grin only somewhat diminished, Jack watched with an amused smile. Leah managed one of her own, but her heart was pounding, and there were little beads of sweat popping out along her brow. She sincerely doubted how Scarlet would know who the father of this child was, especially if it wasn't hers, but if this little girl really was Jack's…

With one last pointed glower at Jack, Scarlet turned her face back to the child and pulled down her hood, revealing a head full of vivid red curls and a downcast pale face with a splash of freckles across the cheeks and nose. "Claire, hon', look up," Scarlet commanded, her voice far softer than it had been with the pirate captain. Wordlessly, Claire obeyed, looking up and revealing sharp emerald eyes. She wasn't smiling.

"She's Kat's," Scarlet told them softly, straightening up with Claire's little hand gripping her far larger one tightly.

"Kat's…" Jack echoed, any and all traces of his arrogant grin gone now. He hadn't so much as seen Kat in over a year, and when he had seen her last, she never mentioned…

"Yeah, Kat's. You know, the gal you abandoned for this twerp?" Scarlet said vehemently, motioning to Leah with her free hand. Leah said nothing.

Although she didn't know it then, Leah found out just who Kat was that night. Her full name Katherine, and she was Scarlet's sister… well, had been. She'd died, taken ill around the time she'd last run into Jack, and had died naught a year after giving birth to their daughter.

Shy, stubborn, and kind by nature, Kat' had never taken up her sister's occupation upon arriving in Tortuga. While Scarlet went and made money her way, Scarlet would at most serve tables in a bar or mend clothing. She would never, ever take a man to bed for money, nor even for pleasure. It was not in her to do such… that is, until she met Captain Jack Sparrow. Cocky, shrewd, and flamboyant to a fault, he was the only man who ever came close to seizing her heart, and visa versa. Too bad he never stayed in one place for too long, and, well, wasn't exactly one to settle down. Still, Kat held out hope that one day, maybe, he would just stay with her and leave the ocean, the silver and gold and adventure and other women. Scarlet knew better, knew his kind very well, but how was she supposed to convince her sister of this? After servicing the man, or perhaps before, she would constantly yell and fervidly reprimand Jack for what he was doing to her older sister, but other than that, there wasn't much she could do.

Consequently, there was no possible way Claire could have been anyone else's. Jack was the only person to have ever gotten Kat to bed, and therefore, Claire was his, had to be. Nor was she a product of unfaithfulness to Leah. Claire had been conceived, well, almost a year before Jack had even met the daughter of the governor of Port Royale, and she must have been born… most likely right before or right after he met said lady, most likely the former. So… this must have been why Scarlet had smacked him that night in Tortuga, the night Gibbs was finding them a crew to go after Barbossa and the Black Pearl. Apparently, he had deserved it.

And him, after he'd met Leah… he just hadn't been able to see Kat. Oh yes, he had his share of excuses, of "reasons" that he fed himself, but the truth of the matter was, he just couldn't. He couldn't face her. It was as simple as that. At first, it was only the fact that he had just met Leah and wanted to see how things worked with her. Kat would be there no matter what, after all. He knew that he could always seek her out and she'd be there, no questions asked… but then, after he found himself in, well, love with the young Miss Swann, he just couldn't bear to see Kat.

So, the night he saw her, only a short while after he'd learned Leah was pregnant with their soon-to-be son Jonathon (though Jack would never call him Jonathon, but John, just as no one ever called Katherine "Katherine", but "Kat"), their meeting was far more bitter than sweet. She was all smiles and sweetness and didn't act in the least bit upset or angry, but in a way, that would have been better. He could see the hurt in her eyes, could hear it in her voice and in the way she spoke, and it was clearly visible from her visibly haggard appearance, from the shadows under her eyes, the far too thin face with the cheekbones jutting out, the whole of her practically emaciated and altogether sickly, completely unlike what she had been like before, that things were not going well for her. Altogether, the meeting nearly broke his heart.

When she left, they had spoken for barely ten minutes, but that had been enough. She left all grace and smiles, but he could tell the encounter had done her far more harm than good, could tell that she was leaving to just be by herself and cry, bawl her heart out. Her hope was gone, and though he tried to call after her as she walked away, she did not even turn, did not even look back. She walked away, and he left it at that. How was he to know that he had fathered her child, that she was miserable beyond words? And how was he to know that she had taken seriously ill and would soon start coughing up blood until her final demise?

She had said not one word about any sort of child that day, not one word. If she had, it wasn't as if he would have abandoned her! He tried not to give it much thought after that, and more or less even succeeded, but, for him to have not even known that she had died…

And Claire looked just like her.

"I didn't abandon her, Scarlet," Jack argued softly, but the words sounded hollow even to him.

"Jack-" Leah began, but Scarlet interrupted her.

"Right," she smirked, but then changed the subject. She had come here for a purpose. "But like I said, it's your turn now. I've raised her all by meself for over a year now, and it's your turn, Pa. I gotta take care of m'self, and you're her dad, aintcha? Now take her." Again, Jack said nothing, and giving him a small bitter smile, Claire's aunt bent down beside her niece, taking both of her little hands in her own. Without saying a thing, little Claire looked up into her aunty's face. "I'm gonna leave you with this nice man now, darlin'," she said, the tone she used far gentler than the one she used with Jack.

"Bu' why?" Claire asked, her small heart-shaped mouth forming the sweetest of pouts, her eyebrows coming together and forming the smallest of creases in the middle of her brow.

"He's your da', and it's about time ya went to live with him on his nice pretty ship. You'll love it, I promise ya." Claire didn't respond, only turned to look at Jack. His face was utterly devoid of emotion as he glanced at the girl, and then back at Scarlet as she straightened, her utterly exposing low-cut jade green dress rustling softly with the motion, though he couldn't hear it. "Just… take her Jack. You owe it to Kat, at the least."

After only a moment's hesitation, Jack nodded. "Aye, I'll take her."

Not even a trace of happiness on her face, Scarlet nodded, completely and utterly grave. "Thank you," she said quietly, and then turned her head to take a good look at the little something beside her. Tears were springing to her eyes, and it was taking all she had to keep them at bay.

"You be a good girl, eh?" Scarlet asked of the girl.

"'K," Claire agreed, nodding.

"Goodbye, love," whispered Scarlet, gave her niece a kiss on the cheek, and then she was gone.

One would expect that the little two-year-Claire would burst into tears at the sudden departure of the only thing her conscious mind had ever known as a mother, but no. Instead, after staring off in the direction Scarlet had gone off in, she turned to Leah and Jack, mainly to the latter. Tentatively, she took one step forward. "Da'?" she inquired, taking another.

"Jack, are you… I hate to say this, but are you certain she's yours?" Leah asked, tearing her eyes off of the little redhead and facing her husband. He was giving the girl a small grin and making a beckoning motion with his hands. Once she reached him, he took one good look at her and asked her if she wanted to sit. She nodded "yes", and put her hands out to be lifted. With only the smallest hesitation, he hoisted her up and put her on his lap. "Jack…" Leah pressed.

Looking away from Claire (she looked so much like her mother, small nose, slightly pointed chin, and basically the whole package identical to Kat', that it almost hurt), he turned to face Leah, his face uncharacteristically serious. "She's mine, luv. I'd be willing to bet the Pearl on it. She's mine."

Wordlessly, Leah swallowed and nodded. And just like that, the Black Pearl now had two toddlers growing up on it, something very awkward and difficult for the crew at first. A system was soon worked out, though, and before long, everyone loved the two, even welcomed their presence. Anamaria and Gibbs were soon called "Aunty" and "Uncle", and were bombarded with questions by the highly inquisitive redhead. Cotton's parrot was a favorite of young Claire, and she spent time on end laughing over it and playing with it, bringing a smile to its old owner's face.

Though at first, Leah also had absolutely no idea how to treat Jack's daughter, she soon grew to love Claire as her own, and treat her as such. The same occurred on Claire's part, and an eerily flawless pronunciation of "Leah" soon grew into "Ma" or "Mom" or "Mommy", just as Jack was "Pa" or "Dad" or "Daddy". And before long, it was as normal as normal could be.

Within three months of the day, Leah and Jack's marriage was common knowledge, mainly because of Leah. The fact that everyone seemed to know this now was certainly difficult… especially for Jack, but after a time, it was old news. That was what it was now, old news. But apparently, their children, Claire and John, were not.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Her thoughts of the past had really gotten Leah thinking. She and Jack had been through so much together, and this "no speaking" business was utterly childish! So, she made the first move, said the first words as she jumped to the dock from the gently swaying boat. "Jack?"

"Aye?"

"You're a miserable cheating bastard." And with that, she walked away, set on finding the portion of their crew that Jack would no doubt miss. Just because she saw what fools they were being, it didn't mean her anger had dissipated any. If anything, remembering all those hurtful events that she had supposedly "forgiven" at a time when any and all professions of love seemed to be complete false… well, these memories had only managed to build up the fire within her to a roaring thousand-foot high blaze. The hurt was buried deep within it, a lone stone below the kindling that could not be devoured by the flames, and though pushed away into a hidden recess of shadow, it was something that was nevertheless there.

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A/N: So, watchall think? Any good? As Jack is going to be in the closet for the next chappie or two, a FULL HOUR in there with him for every reviewer!!!

Jack: Why do you sell me for reviews, luv?

Me: Cuz it's fun.

Jack: You are a sick sick girl, you realize that, eh?

Me: But of course!

Jinxd: Glad ye like, mate. And I read. VERY nice. ~XD

TriGem: Yup, things are just kinda all-round bad for all involved, right now… except for maybe Eric, Swanson, and their crew of merry miscreants. But Gov. Swann really does care about the kids, he does! He's just too enrapt in politics and yeah… @.@ And sadly, as for now… on with the drama and guilt. :P

Sara: Woot! XD Fun being an author… Thankees! And YOU CAN'T GET JACK! SO HA!

Gwyn: Aw, I'm sry! But context clues very fun. :P And I'm SO sorry for that long wait for the update… life is TOO hectic. Hoping this was worth the wait! :P

jeyke: Yupperz. Now can they get along, that's the real question.

Vagrant: Why, what's wrong with being evil? O:-) And a drama queen? O.o :P ;-)

Keira: Hehehe, definitely. He's lucky Leah doesn't murder him in his sleep and take the Pearl with him. And I'm really glad ye enjoyed, mate. Here's hoping this chap was also up to thy standards! :-D

Sarra: Hehe, don't worry, the doggy toy is safe. I have pitchforks with witch to prod, poke, and otherwise jab, and Jack's going back in the closet next chappie. 'Sides, Leah only has a stuffy nose now. As for thy question, I'm thinking it's going to be WAY longer. O.o Here's hoping that's good! ;-) And YEEEK, EVIL DENTIST! RUN! FAST AND FAR! TO THE HILLS OF ASIA!!! Oh, wait, the appointment has already come and gone…. Oops. How'd it go, then? :-P Didja beat him? And don't beat me cuz it took me so long to update! Pweeeeeez…? *big wide eyes to the point of anime and offers cookies* (And GO LONG REVIEWS! WOOT'! ~XD)

Kizume: Hehe, did I mention I LOVE ye for betaing? *Gives a lifetime supply of "closet" passes* And you got your advance copy! Woot!

Riley: Yupperz, mucho happenings in the world of Pirates. Where will it all end? Dundundun…! As for flashbacks, well, here was one giant one, and I should have 'em scattered throughout, I think, elaborating on alla this. Hope ye enjoyed this one! :-D

Kirie: Hehehe, Ash is confuzzled…

Shane: Yayios, I'm glad you like! :-D