Captain Jack Sparrow has always prided himself on keeping his cool under all situations. No matter what was going on around him, Jack could always keep a clear mind and thing through the problem and quickly come to a solution. Even when women were involved.

This afternoon, however, that all seemed to change when Jill Warrick walked back into his life after seventeen years. Almost immediately he felt his mind cloud over as if he'd taken in to much rum and his clear thoughts became oddly mottled.

Jack leaned heavily on the railing, watching the moonlight dancing over the gentle waves in Tortuga's bay, trying to clear his mind. Raising his face to the full moon, Jack closed his eyes and immediately saw Jill, not as she was today but as he remembered her when they were kids. Her hair was curlier then and fell around her ears, bouncing as she moved around the store chasing Jack. Even at his young age Jack was entranced by her eyes, which were as blue and clear as ice. Jack hated to admit it, but he missed those days, playing in the Warrick's store with Jill. Even as he'd grown, he'd never forgotten her and here she was, back from the dead almost. It must have been a sign when Gibbs bought her and Jack was determined not to let her go again.

Turning quickly, he saw Jill emerging from his quarters, hesitantly. The dress looked remarkable on her, causing Jack's stomach to somersault in place. He watched her look around for him in the darkness before he called out to her, beckoning her to join him at the rail.

"Good evening, Jack," she said as she laid her hands lightly on the rail. Even in the absence of sunlight her eyes still shone, and Jack found he couldn't look directly in them for to long.

"Evening. The dress fit ok?" he asked, mimicking her current position overlooking the water.

"Perfect, Jack. Thank you."

"You know, you don't have to play games with me, love. This act you're putting on doesn't fool me."

Jill's face twisted a bit but she didn't answer him immediately. When the silence stretched between them once more, Jack found he was drumming his fingers hard against the wood in an effort to restrain himself.

"What happened to he ol' Jill? The one who didn't take any crap from anyone?"

"I'm hungry, Jack. What's for dinner?" Jill asked, clearly avoiding Jack's question.

Jack pushed off the railing and held his hand out for Jill. She took it and he led her up another flight of stairs to a table near the wheel. He pulled her seat out for her before taking the other one for himself. When Jill just sat there watching Jack fill his plate with salted pork, beans, bread and other food, Jack stopped.

"Dig in," he said, pushing plates toward Jill.

Slowly she began to pick small portions from each plate, adding them to her own. Jill watched out of the cored of her eye as Jack poured her some wine in a deep goblet.

"I've changed, Jack," Jill said a few minutes into the meal. She'd barely touched the food even though she was starving. When Jack didn't interrupt, just stopped eating and fixed Jill with his stunning gaze, she continued.

"After the store burned, I was taken in by the same women on the street who had done business with father. They respected him for the kind way he treated them and were angry at what had happened. I lived with them for five or so years, helping them dress, clean and other things. I was a daughter to all of them and well taken care of.

"A few days after my twelfth birthday a man broke into our quarters and took the younger girls, including myself, away for slavery. At first I just did house work. Cooking, cleaning washing.

"After a few years of bouncing from family to family, an older man named Sir Ronald Jabir bought me as a companion. His own children had died and he was lonely. He treated me like a daughter and helped expand my reading and writing skills. I was only with him a year before he died suddenly. I was put back into the market and eventually bought by Arthur Conn.

"I was nineteen by that time and Conn thought he could make me his wife. He beat me viciously on a daily basis and them when I was lying there bleeding he'd force himself on me. It took me two and a half years to escape. I think Conn didn't notice I was gone because he never came after me. After that I waited a few weeks on the out skirts of the city before seeking out friends. The traders are smart though and soon I was back in the trade. And that's really it. I've had to change out of necessity, Jack. I can barely remember the girl you knew," Jill said, tears welling up in her eyes at the memories.

"I promise you, Jill. I will never let you return to Tortuga after we set sail tomorrow, unless you want. You're mind now and I'm not getting rid of you anytime soon. You are safe here, love, and always will be," Jack said softly.

Jill fixed Jack with tearful eyes, a smile blooming on her face.

"I love you, Jill," Jack whispered, trying to tear his gaze from hers.

"Jack…," Jill said, lowering her eyes to her lap.

"I do. I think I always have."

"Stop, Jack."

Jack stood and came around the table to snatch Jill out of her chair and kiss her deeply. She didn't hesitate this time in placing her arms around his neck.

"I love you to, Jack. I love you to," Jill mumbled against Jack's lips, causing him to kiss her deeper.

Jack surprised them both when he picked Jill up in his arms and carried her back to his quarters, dinner all but forgotten.