Hey everyone, the adventure is about to begin! Hope you all like this chapter. It's setting up the story.

Chapter Three: Small Cargo

"So, we are taking this woman with us?" Jack nodded and handed another crate to Gibbs, who in turn handed it to Cotton and so on. Anamaria wrapped her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow. "Are you insane?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Jack asked absent mindedly, hauling another crate into his arms. Gibbs snorted beside him and looked up at Anamaria, ignoring Jack who was trying to pass him the next (very heavy) crate.

"Its bad luck to be bringing this woman on board. No one listens to me, never." Gibbs grunted as Jack heaved the enormous crate into his unprepared arms. There was a loud crash as Gibbs dropped the load and the box split, spilling food all over the floor.

Jack moved away from the crew as they began to clean up and grabbed Anamaria by the arm, leading her away from the mess and out of ear shot of the crew.

"Anamaria…darling." Jack started, earning a glare from Anamaria. "We're only taking her as far as Port Royal. He's my friend after all…"

"Was, Jack. He was your friend." Anamaria corrected him. Jack sighed and suddenly there was a glint in his eyes.

"Wait a moment…" He whispered. "Are you jealous?" Anamaria's face suddenly split into an angry mask.

"Jealous? Of what! What does she have that haven't? What can I possibly be jealous about?" Jack grinned viciously.

"Another woman on board means the possibility that I will be not watching you as much anymore." Anamaria's hand was raising ever so slightly and Jack shut up quickly, knowing that any moment he may have a soar face.

"Even you thinking that you may be watching her makes me sick." Anamaria spat. With that, she left him, crossing the deck and helping the men clean up. Jack breathed deeply and began crewing on the inside of his cheek. Maybe having two women on board would be harder then he thought…but enjoyable none the less.

A movement down on the dock caught his eye. Victoria was wending her way between large crates destined for other ships. Finally, Jack thought, he'd told her to be here two hours ago. Crossing the deck, he staggered down the plank and waited for her on the dock, only realizing when she was a few paces away, that she wasn't alone.

"What is that?" Jack asked, pointing to the small creature walking behind her. Victoria stopped and turned, looking up the dock behind her as the creature, which turned out to be a small child, came to her side, holding her hand. Looking back, confused, Victoria stared at him.

"What is what?" She asked. The child held Jack's gaze for the longest time as she chewed on a long strand of blond hair. She could be no older then six or seven, small and cute. Jack cringed and pointed to the little girl.

"That." He said. Victoria looked down at the child and her face dissolved from confusion to love so fast it made Jack's head spin.

"My daughter." She said fondly, looking up. "Her name is Lydia."

"I don't care what her name is, what is she doing here?" Jack asked. Anamaria had come to the top of the plank and was listening to the conversation. Victoria glanced at her before turning back to Jack.

"I can't leave her here. We have no family. I had no one to leave her with." Victoria answered, panicky. Jack shook his head and staggered forward a few steps making the little girl shrink back behind her mother.

"No, you're not bringing her on board." He said. Victoria's hand tightened on her daughter's.

"I must." She answered. Jack was about to reply when he felt a female hand on his shoulder. Anamaria had come down the plank and was smiling at the little girl fondly.

"Hello." She said, reaching out a hand. The little girl didn't move but gazed at Anamaria fearfully. "My name's Ana. Do you want to come and see the ship?" Lydia looked up at her mother who was still having a glaring match with Jack and shook her head. "Okay, we can bring your mother to if you want."

"No. The child stays in Tortuga." Jack hissed. The little girl stared up at him in alarm.

"Are you a pirate?" She asked suddenly. Jack's eyes moved from Victoria to Lydia slowly and he raised his eyebrows.

"Yes." He answered. Lydia nodded and crept out from behind her mother.

"Are you a mean pirate?" She asked. Anamaria smiled, trying not to laugh. Jack stayed silent for a moment.

"Yes." He answered. Lydia nodded, still chewing on the end of her hair.

"I don't like you." She said finally. Jack's face was impassive, Anamaria burst into silent laughter and Victoria yanked Lydia's arm, whispering that she shouldn't be so rude.

"The feeling is mutual." Jack answer blandly. Looking back up at Victoria, he said, "If you want to come, you leave the child. We leave in ten minutes. You'll either be on the ship alone, or not at all." With that, he turned and made his way back up the ramp.

"Wait!" Jack turned and looked back down at Victoria who seemed panicky. "If she stays silent, not a word and you forget about her, can she come? I promise, she'll behave. You won't even know she's there."

"Jack, please." Anamaria called. Jack studied her face as the woman stared at the little girl still hiding behind her mother. Finally, he gave in. It was something about women. He knew he was being manipulated but he couldn't help it.

"Fine." Victoria's face broke into a smile. "But, if I hear one word from her, I will throw her to the sharks." Lydia's eyes widened. Jack left the plank and walked across the deck.

"Sir!" Gibbs yelled frantically. Jack turned and waited until the man was right in front of him. "There are going to be three women on board! We'll never make it out of the bay." Jack eyed the little girl who was moving across the deck with her mother and Anamaria. Many of the pirates had stopped what they were doing to watch in disbelief.

"Unfortunately, I believe we'll be stuck with that little brat for longer then that, Mr. Gibbs." Raising his voice, Jack called over the silent deck, "Make ready to sail! We leave in nine minutes!"

At the end of the dock, a dark figure watched the Pearl make ready to sail. The only person who noticed was a little girl, leaning on the railing. As the ship began to move, she waved to the stranger who stood watching her…and he waved back.

TO MY REVEIWERS:

Ilana Starr: Thanks. I hope you liked this chapter.

forceflow46: Hey. You'll see about Morgan and Norrington… it'll be great. This story is going to be bigger then the first just the way it's been planned. There are so many loose ends I have to tie up from the other one, all these new characters I have and all…LOL. It makes me nervous.

Oocssuck: You'll see a lot of familiar faces and new ones. LOL. Poor Gibbs, he always walks in/interrupts Jack and Ana. Yeah, I wonder how often Jack gets accused of fathering someone's child. Ana, I think, will slow down on her slaps…for now…you'll find out who the shadow was, don't worry.

nykky: I'm glad you like it. Keep reading. It'll get better.

To anyone I may have missed or is simply not reveiwing, Thank you.