Disclaimer: I don't own PotC stuff except for my own characters which are property of, moi.

Note: Hi guys! Sorry this has taken so long, but I've had finals and been busy, but I only have 2 more days of school left so I can devote more time to this fan fic. Hope you like it, please R&R! Thanks!

CHAPTER 10 - The Kiss

"Victoria? Vicky, Pet, wake up! Victoria? Victoria! Are you up! Are you decent!" Jonathan Carlynton bellowed through the door at an empty room. "Alright, you'd better be decent, I'm coming in," he said as he kicked the door open.

The cotton sheets were tangled up on the bed; no body lie between them. The tall white box, which housed Victoria's wedding dress, was open and lay across the floor. The window was open as the soft white curtains blew into the room. The blue shudders banged about outside on the side of the house. The sweet tropical breeze made Jonathan not as angry that his daughter was not in her room.

"Maid! Maid!" Jonathan called as he again scanned the room for a body.

"Yes sir," Jenny said, panting into the bedroom.

"Where is Miss Victoria?" Jonathan asked heatedly.

"I don't know, sir, I wasn't hear last night, you'd let me have it off,"

"Well how long have you been here this morning?"

"Around sun up, sir. I assumed Miss Victoria was gettin' sleep for her big day today, I didn't want t' disturb 'er, sir."

Quickly turning to the maid, his hand immediately connected with her cheek.

"Tidy this room up, it's a sty," Jonathan ordered as he stomped out of the room.

APL4H

"Corner up, tuck under, corner down," Victoria muttered to herself as she made her bed up. This was a new concept to her, this 'tidying up', but she figured that since it was now her 'official quarters', she would keep it as nice as possible. She had left her wedding dress draped across the nearest chair in the room. Looking up at it every once in a while made her smile. Although she was comfortable in one of her new dresses, a mint green day dress with eyelet lace detail, she longed to climb into her wedding gown, which fit her like a second skin.

Once she had made up her bed and fluffed her pillows, Victoria found an empty wooden hanger in her armoire and hung the wedding dress inside, so she wouldn't be forcing herself to admire it.

Leaving the room, she was welcomed as if she had been on the ship all her life. Everyone smiled at her as she confidently walked across the deck. She moved to the helm where she was met with the back of the local captain, who looked quite delicious from behind. The night before she had had a very interesting dream, which involved him. In it, Victoria was wearing her wedding dress and running through a dark space, passing up random men. The farther she ran the more men she recognized. The dream ended with her passing up Commodore Norrington and meeting Jack at the end. He took her hand and grinned, and then she had woken up. This dream had puzzled Victoria, she knew not what it meant, but felt it would be best to keep it to herself. Without thinking, she reached up and patted Jack's shoulder.

"Good morning, Captain Sparrow," Victoria said smoothly.

Jack turned and looked Victoria over. "Mornin' luv," he said, sighing.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, just tired, that's all. You do realize that I go out of my way to rescue you lately?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, you shouldn't," Victoria said, staring at her feet.

"Well, luv, I think it's only fair that you return the favor sometime," Jack said, turning back to the ocean.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Oh, well, I'm not sure. You can decide I s'pose," he said tentatively.

"Well, alright," Victoria said, turning to go. "I'll see what I can think of."

"You do that," Jack called after her. After Victoria had gone, he turned around and slid down to sit on deck, hitting his head against the rail.

"Damn it," he muttered to himself as he shut his eyes.

APL4H

"Elizabeth, I need to tell you something," Victoria said as she entered Elizabeth's cabin.

"Oh, hello, Vicky, I thought you'd be asleep," Elizabeth said as she stood from her desk.

"I'm just writing a letter to my father, I'd mail it at the next port."

"Oh, well, I just woke up," Victoria replied.

"I'd thought you'd be out cold, considering what went on last night."

"I know. It was thrilling. Exciting. I'd love to relive it, to be honest."

"Good. Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?" Elizabeth reminded her.

"Oh yes," Victoria said as she went to sit on the bed. "I think that I am in love with someone."

Elizabeth stopped pushing in her chair and turned to Victoria, her mouth hanging open. It took her another five seconds or so for her to register what Victoria had said.

"Oh Vicky," Elizabeth said, swiftly moving to Victoria, "are you sure?"

She took a deep breath. "Yes, I am,"

Elizabeth grabbed her hands eagerly. "Well, who?"

Victoria brought her gaze to the floor. "Someone on this ship…"

"Vicky, out with it, you can tell me," Elizabeth reinforced.

Her voice was hardly a whisper. "Jack…"

APL4H

"Sir, please. Be reasonable," the Commodore insisted to Jonathan Carlynton. "She obviously escaped again because she is unhappy here."

"How could she be? I have always given her everything she has ever wanted! I had her betrothed to a respectable gentleman! What else was there?" Jonathan asked himself angrily.

"I'm not quite sure, Sir," Norrington said, staring out to the sea. "Perhaps more love, compassion. Not necessarily material things."

"Oh, I don't even know anymore. But I want you to find her and bring her back immediately. I will pay you. And believe me, as soon as she is returned, she will be issued into one of the finest mental institutions in London."

"Sir, I don't think I can this time. The Navy has other duties; we simply cannot drop everything to begin these expeditions at moments notice when there are other things that need attention. Why, the sea crime rate is steadily rising, my men have other duties. I'm sorry, Sir."

"Well, Commodore, that is an interesting reply I am hearing from you. But I will speak to the Governor immediately. Do not be surprised if you are stripped of your title by tomorrow."

With that, Jonathan briskly walked away. Norrington watched him go, looking out towards the fort which was North of where he was standing. So, he might loose his job, and everything that he had worked for. But it was worth it, helping an unhappy girl hopefully find her happiness.

APL4H

The sun was beginning to set over the Black Pearl. And still it seemed, that the ship was merely floating at sea, they had approached no islands in the past few days and Victoria was beginning to think she was getting cabin fever. After admitting to Elizabeth the previous afternoon that she was in love with Jack, she could do nothing but sit in her cabin and wallow, too frightened and embarrassed to come outside.

Sitting on her bed, she flipped through The Odyssey, which she had found in Elizabeth and Will's room the day before. She enjoyed reading, but this novel was quite uneventful. Sighing, she tugged at the puffy sleeve of her new beige floral print dress. Then there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said as the door opened slowly and the setting sunlight streamed into the room.

"'Ello luv," Jack said to her as he pranced into the cabin. He glanced over the room. "Hmm…looks a lot nicer since I've last seen it."

Chills went up Victoria's spine as she sat up and he moved closer to her. She clutched Homer's book to her chest. "Is there something I can do for you, Captain?" she asked him politely.

"No, luv, truth be told I just wanted t' see ya. You haven't been out much lately," he said as he sat down.

"I've been busy I suppose."

"You know, luv, this doesn't have to be so formal. I'm your friend, ya know. What are you reading?" He asked as his hand moved to the book. "Oh, this. A little uneventful if I do say so myself."

Victoria smiled at him. "Yes, I think so too. I was bored by the fifth page!" she said laughing.

"Well," Jack said, smiling. "Some of the words in that there novel are too advanced for a lowly sea captain like myself,"

"Oh, Captain-"

"Jack," he corrected her.

"Oh, Jack, don't say that about yourself, your just as intelligent as many men I've met in London and other places. I'm sure if you wanted to really read it you could."

"Yes, but I don't. And I've got no time either. Pillaging and plundering can really wear a man out, ya know"

They talked for a little longer about other things. The topics got more and more general. After they spoke about the weather, they were sitting in awkward silence. Victoria saw that Jack was getting ready to stand up and leave, so she took her chances.

"Jack, I…" she said. He sat, looking at her through his gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, and impulsively, Victoria leaned over and kissed his cheek. After, she sat back, and looked down at her hands, she could feel her cheeks getting crimson. Then, Jack's strong hands gently turned her face to his, and they looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"Do you know how long I've waited for you t' do that?" he whispered to her.

She shook her head and in turn kissed him again. On the lips.

Well, What did you think? Review please! ;)