Disclaimer: I don't own PotC stuff; if I did, I wouldn't be writing on fan fic, I would be a multi-millionaire...!

Note: Hi people! I have had this chapter done for a while, but just hadn't gotten to putting it online. Hope you like it, please review, I LUVV hearing what you think about the story. Thanks for reading! I should be updating again in a few weeks! ;)

CHAPTER 13 - A Familiar Face

The crew of the Black Pearl all agreed that they had had excellent adventures the previous day in Tortuga, and decided to spend another day there before moving onto the Western coast of Hispaniola, which would have only taken about a night anyway.

Will and Elizabeth seemed to be the only two people who disagreed with this decision. They both had trouble fitting into the awkward lifestyle that residents of Tortuga lived. Will was far too shy and secretive; Elizabeth was too prim and proper. They chose to spend the day on the ship and in the nicer parts of town. Victoria, however, had little trouble adjusting, and even had the courage to walk the streets alone.

She accompanied Elizabeth around midday to go dress shopping, got lunch at a "respectable" tavern (although Elizabeth requested tea with her meal, which caused the entire bar to laugh, and put her in a sour mood for the rest of the afternoon), looked at the other ships in port, and finally boarded the Pearl.

Victoria went to her cabin, placed the small box that contained a new corset into a drawer, and went back out to deck.

"Vicky," Elizabeth called to her from a few feet away. "Are you staying on board tonight?"

"No, I will probably take a room with Jack at that tavern we stayed at last night," she replied honestly.

"Oh, Vicky are you sure? Do you really want to spend another night on that wretched island?"

"Yes, I propose I do! I happen to enjoy it, mind you. Everyone is so carefree, and has so much character."

"Suit yourself," Elizabeth stated and walked to the galley.

Victoria reminded herself that Jack said he would meet her at sundown. Looking up at the sky, she realized that it was only a little past four, and she had some hours to go. She decided that she would go back into town and stroll for a while.

As she walked down the main square, she saw Jack and Gibbs talking on a corner of the dirt path. She proudly walked up to them, not thinking that she could be interrupting something.

"'Ello Luv," Jack said, crossing his arms and looking at her inquisitively.

"Hello to you as well," she replied, narrowing her eyes at him. Gibbs stood to the side and didn't speak.

"We were just finishin' up, weren't we Gibbs?" Jack spoke, indicating for Gibbs to leave.

"But Cap'n, we still need t' discuss-"

"Gibbs? Kindly will you…" Jack said as he directed to the road.

"Fine, Cap'n, fine. Dear Mother of God…" Gibbs said as he began to walk away and remove a flask from his pocket.

"Now, Luv, where were we?" Jack asked as he slipped his arms around her waist.

"Well, I wanted to see you…"

"Ah, yes, I know. Can't get enough of me, can ya?"

"Hardly," Victoria told him. Her eyes darted around the square. She couldn't help feeling that she was being watched.

"What's the trouble?" Jack asked, turning her face so she fixed her gaze on him.

"It's nothing. Perhaps I'm imagining things. Anyway, will you get us a room for the night?" Victoria couldn't help but notice that Jack was also beginning to look around as she had just done.

"Of course. I best be off." He placed a quick kiss on her forehead, and quickly turned the corner and left her.

APL4H

Jack moved as quickly away from the corner as he could without breaking into a run. He knew that Victoria was uncomfortable about the woman across the road, but after Jack registered who she was as well, he had felt just as uneasy. He had known her from a long time before, she was his lover in England around ten years prior.

"Has it been that long?" Jack wondered as he made his way through the busy streets. "Yes, it must be," he told himself. This fact was proven because he remembered leaving her in Tortuga, one decision he had always regretted. Two days later, the crew of the Black Pearl, led by one angry first mate, committed mutiny and dropped him on a deserted island.

He would always tell people a rather colorful tale regarding being stranded on that island. That story was far from the truth. Rumrunners who stored goods on the island let him bargain a passage off. Then he met Anamaria in Hispaniola, 'borrowed' her boat, came to Port Royal, got arrested, escaped by help of one William Turner, and the rest was history.

Seeing her face brought everything back. Every emotion: love, passion, hatred, sadness, regret, disapproval. Seeing her have to sell herself to make ends meet deeply saddened him. He would find her later and explain. Catch up on old times. Help her in anyway he could. After all, it was his fault that she was living the way she did.

Of course, there was only one problem: What would Victoria think?

APL4H

Jack's behavior puzzled Victoria, but not enough for her to worry. Looking straight across the road, she saw a woman staring at her with a frown on her face.

She was wearing a cheap looking satin dress, which was an ugly puce color. She was voluptuous and had a pretty face; her lips were contorted into an angry pout. Her dark blonde hair was set in ringlets the way that Victoria used to wear her own hair in Port Royal. Her breasts seemed to be popping right out of her bodice. There were two (rather old and fat) men talking to her with rum flasks in their hands, although the woman didn't seem to be listening.

Boldly, Victoria crossed the road and went right up the woman, who was about four inches taller than Victoria.

"Miss, is there something wrong?" Victoria asked as she looked up at the woman.

"Oh, no. I just couldn't help seeing you and your pirate friend," she said, trying to sound as educated as she could. She glared down at Victoria to intimidate her to back away, but Victoria refused and kept asking questions.

"And what about my pirate friend?"

"I know 'im. I know 'im very well." Then one of the men interrupted, tugging at the woman's waist.

"Say, Lucy, d'ya want to leave now? I gots a nice room at The Swordfish. Me money's up there." He grinned at her, revealing few teeth. Then the other man spoke up.

"An' you," he said to Victoria. "You're a lovely one. How much d'ya go fer?"

"If you think I am a prostitute, you are highly mistaken. Now, I am sorry, gentlemen, but Miss Lucy and I need to have a discussion. Cheerio." Victoria got a hold of Lucy's arm and tugged her as hard as she could into the nearest ally.

"Aye! Excuse me, Miss, but you just lost me a coupla customers. What the hell do you want with me?"

"I saw you watching my-my…" she paused as to think of what she could refer to Jack as. "My friend and I and I want to know why."

"Alright, fine," Lucy stated as she dragged a barrel from a few feet away to sit on. Victoria noticed that she began to speak properly. "I will tell you a lovely little story. Care to listen?"

"Why not," Victoria said, propping herself up against the stone wall of a building.

"That man you were with--Captain Jack Sparrow--he's pretty infamous, at least around here.

"So I've heard."

"I knew him in England. I was about your age, when I met him. And I fancied him so. We would see each other when he came to the small port town where I lived. I was educated, and came from a fairly respectable family.

About ten years ago, he brought me onto the Pearl. Said he wanted me to be a 'permanent fixture' on his ship. So I agreed, and I was his wench for about five months. During that time, I had money. My family was well off, and I was used to having nice things.

When I took to the ship, your Captain insisted that I leave everything behind to be with him. Then, he got tired of me when we reached the Caribbean. He let me go at the next port the ship happened to come to pass, which happened to be Tortuga. I had no money, nowhere to go. So I had to sell myself, and eventually become the whore I am today," Lucy said sadly.

"I-I'm sorry," Victoria said, thinking of ways to comfort her. "You are very beautiful."

"Thank you, but that gets me nowhere. I have a miserable life thanks to your Captain,"

"Well…"

"You just be careful. How long have you been with him?"

"Well, on the ship a few months. But-"

"You've never been with him. Oh, I understand. Well, I wouldn't think of doing that any time soon. Just watch yourself, he will get tired of you. Just a matter of time. Now if you will excuse me, I have my business to attend to."

Lucy stormed off, pulling a handkerchief from her cleavage and dabbing her eyes. Victoria watched as a man approached her, took her arm, and went to the nearest tavern.

Disgusted, angry, and a little worried, Victoria made her way back to the ship. It was getting dark, and she didn't want to be mistaken for someone she wasn't.