A/N: Not really on subject, but… last night, I dreamt that I met Johnny Depp, and he said that he had read my story and loved it. )sigh…( nice to dream.

Review answers: (BTW, when I checked my e-mail and saw all the review alerts, I nearly passed out. In a GOOD way! I love getting reviews! I know that there were a lot because some people posted a new review every chapter even though they were all up, but it's still nice. Keep 'em coming, people!)

Well, I actually can't answer them here anymore (dammit), but I will say one thing: someone had asked about the song in the last chapter: it was just to tie in about the emotions. No one in the fic was actually singing.
From now on, I will send answers to people who are either leave a signed review, or if they leave their e-mail. Can't do it any other way.

Disclaimer: since I didn't post it on the other ones, here it is finally, just for reassurances: all I own is a copy of the DVD, a journal with Will and Jack on the front, NOTHING else PotC related. As for anything else Disney, anyone who works with Disney should be able to know that I had nothing to do with any of the song lyrics posted in future chapters or the last one (I've been able to find a few that can match with things I have in store).

Last, but not least, I have another PotC fic up, for which I hope I will receive as positive a welcome as this one. It's along the lines of Jack falling in love. Just look for Franglish love.

Anamaria had grown up in the same area as Jack, and she knew him very well. Jack Sparrow did not cry unless something was really bothering him. The next morning, Anamaria found Jack at the helm of his ship. She wanted to ask him about what happened before she saw him crying in the cabin, holding the Black Sparrow (also crying) to him.

''Cap'n, do ye mind tellin' me what happened with the Black Sparrow last night?''

Jack snapped out of his musings and turned to Anamaria, his hands on the wheel.

''Happened?''

''You were holdin' 'er, and from the sound o' things, you were both crying. The Captain Sparrow I know doesn't cry, and in front of a young girl, no less.'' The truth was that he didn't cry as often as most. She had seen him cry. But she knew he'd prefer the words she had picked.

Jack sighed. He'd have to tell Anamaria at least. She was his first mate, after all. He'd probably be better off telling Gibbs later, as well.

''For one thing, her full name is Katarina Sparrow.'' he ignored her shocked expression. ''She prefers to be called Kat. And, she's me daughter.''

''Your WHAT?''

Jack started and looked around at the people staring due to Anamaria's outburst.

''Ye think you could yell a little louder, Ana?''

Once he made sure that everyone had gone back to their business and was no longer listening, Jack turned back to Anamaria.

''She's my daughter.''

''And who's the mother?'' she asked with great interest.

''Me late wife. Jessica.''

Anamaria's face shone with comprehension. She had known Jack when he and Jessica were playing games of hard-to-get with each other. There was a point when they had sort of vanished from the area, and now Anamaria knew they must have eloped.

''How do you know this is your daughter?''

''She's the right age. Jessica had gone to land near the end of her term, and Kat knew her name and mine. Said the midwife, who later became her guardian, told her all she needed to know before the lady died herself two years ago.''

''So what are you gonna do now?''

''Well, we'll stop in Port Royal te see Will an' Elizabeth, as planned. I don't want te leave her after having just found her, but I don't want te put her life in danger. I'm sure Will and Elizabeth wouldn't mind watching over her for me while we chase the Devil's Gauntlet.''

''Aye. That is dangerous. Question is: Will you be coming back from that mission?''

Jack sighed and bowed his head. He turned to face the horizon they were going towards, and saw that through their conversation, they had gone a bit off course. He made the proper correction as Anamaria walked around to face him from the other side of the wheel.

''Should Kat be left behind, do you intend on coming back from this adventure?''

''I do not intend ta leave her an orphan.''

''Should Kat come with us, would you die just to keep her alive?''

''Yes.''

''Then that's all that matters. I'm sure she'd rather be with her father, but I'm also sure she'd understand if you leave her in Port Royal to keep her alive.''

Jack sighed, but Anamaria did not press the matter.

Instead, she asked ''Where is she, anyway?''

Jack pointed upward, and Anamaria looked at the lookout mast. There was Kat, looking straight ahead with a telescope.

''You let her go up there?'' Anamaria asked, astonished.

''She said she wanted te go someplace high. I didn't like it, but by the time I turned around, all I could do was yell for her te come back down, which she did not do, obviously.''

Anamaria burst out laughing.

''What's so funny?'' Jack asked with shock.

''Oh, Jack.'' Anamaria said between peals of laughter. ''She's just like you! You were always in and out of trees when you weren't admiring the boats down by the docks.''

Jack snorted, and bowed his head. He had wanted a son that would be just like him. Instead, it was a daughter who was every bit like him except in gender and looks. She had clearly inherited her mother's face and hair, which had always been easier to tame than his own. The eyes were his, though. That much was certain.

''Captain?''

Jack turned and saw Kat behind him.

''I spotted land, sir.''

Jack smiled.

''Good. Ana?'' he said, turning towards Anamaria.

''Aye, sir?''

''Tell the crew we'll be arriving very soon and to get below deck. I may have found myself in the commodore's good graces, but the rest of the navy isn't supposed ta know that. Also…''

Jack whispered something in her ear, and Anamaria nodded. She then set off to inform the crew, leaving Jack with Kat.

''Kat?'' Jack said, turning to his daughter.

''Yes, sir?''

Jack smiled again.

''Unless we're in the presence of people other than the crew and the two people I shall be introducing ye to, there's no need for Captain-crewmember formalities. But if ye don' feel comfortable wi' 'dad' yet, then it's Jack te you. Savvy?''

''Alright, Jack.''

''And, um…''

Jack looked down and scuffled his feet.

''Ye may not like this, luv, but…'' he broke off as Anamaria approached.

''The crew is ready, captain.''

''Thanks. Could ye take the wheel for bit?''

Jack made room for Anamaria and began marching Kat towards what was now their cabin. He had set up a hammock for himself on one side of the room until they could make a bed for Kat. There was also a curtain between the two sides of the room for, daughter or not, Jack didn't feel it appropriate if they saw each other naked. Maybe if he had been there when she was small and needed help bathing, but not now when he only met her at fourteen.

''The thing is, luv.'' he said as he shut the door behind him. ''I'm chasing after a very dangerous ship, an' I don't want you getting hurt.''

''Why chase it at all? Can't you get loot other places?'' Kat asked, feeling a very unbecoming of her age tantrum coming on.

''It's not as simple as loot, luv.'' Jack sighed and scratched the back of his neck. ''This is the ship that destroyed the town where you were born. The crew that killed your mother and very near killed you.''

Kat gasped.

''Jack, I wanna help! I wanna get back at them!''

''Now, listen here missy: This isn' like a local boy who did a wrong that you can beat up.'' Jack said, pulling example from what Kat had told him of her life.

At ten years old, a local boy had thrown rotten fruit at Kat from a tree while she was walking home from the market.

Melissa was just beginning to feel her years, but she knew a few neighbours around who would keep an eye on Kat for her, which was why she was absent.

Imagine the boy's surprise when Kat climbed up the tree to get at him. He had climbed down as quick as he could, but she was down nearly as quick.

He hadn't run far when Kat jumped him from behind and began hitting every inch of him she could get.

By the time a neighbour had run down from his farm and pulled them apart, Kat's dress was torn, her lip bloody and she was sporting a black eye.

The boy had worse, though. His clothes were also torn, and had mostly the same injuries, with the addition of a bloody nose and he was clutching an injured wrist which Kat had hit with the side of her hand while trying to deflect a blow. Melissa had been furious.

''Girls don't go around beating up people! I don't care what he did, you should've just run! Look at your dress, now. Is this any way for a young girl to behave?''

Kat had to put on a shirt and some pants a neighbour lent her while Melissa sewed her dress. Kat preferred pants anyway.

''Are ye listening, luv? This is very dangerous.''

Kat bowed her head, feeling defeated. She wanted revenge, and she didn't want to be away from her father so soon. But she also knew that he was right, and she didn't want to upset him. She wanted to try to be as pleasant as possible, and she could sense that he wouldn't take this as lightly as when she climbed the mast.

''Alright, Jack.'' She said, but she failed to keep the tone of displeasure out of her voice, even though she was already planning her comeback.

This is only a brief reprieve, Jack, she thought.

Jack ignored her tone.

''Now,'' he began ''I'll be leavin' ye with some friends of mine that live in Port Royal. They're a married couple known as the Turners. William is a blacksmith and his wife, Elizabeth, is the governor's daughter. They have a young boy of three who's pretty scruffy from what they said in their last letter.''

Kat smiled. She used to help some of the neighbours with their young ones after Melissa died. Scruffiness was nothing new.

''Also,'' he continued ''I'm a wanted man in Port Royal. The commodore is willing to leave me be so long's I don' cause any trouble, but he can't exactly let everyone know that. So we'll be sneakin' in after dark, and we'll have to get out of the pirate clothes. I asked Anamaria to go check our chests from the last ship we looted, just te see if we might have picked up anything besides treasure. It happens sometimes. If we're lucky, we can find a dress that'll fit ye.''

''I am NOT wearing a dress.'' Kat exclaimed indignantly.

''There's no way out o' this one either. In Port Royal, only pirate women wear pants. In Port Royal, any pirate who gets caught is sent to the gallows. After dark is on'y so they don' see my face properly. Ye'll be wearin' a dress, no matter how much ye don' like it. If ye wanna wear ye're slacks under, go ahead. But with the way dresses are these days, it's not recommended. Gets rather warm, from what Elizabeth says.''

Anamaria came from below holding something pink and frilly.

''Found one, but there may be a problem.''

''Yeah,'' Kat piped up. ''It's pink.''

Anamaria snorted.

''That's not it.'' She said seriously. ''This dress must've been made for someone much smaller, say about nine or ten. There's another one the same colour, so I could lengthen it, but it'd prolly be a bit snug around the waist. And dresses like these aren't made for taking stress, even in small amounts. All she'd have to do is bend over and…''

Anamaria made a ripping sound with her throat.

''What'll we do?'' asked Jack.

''You could have me NOT wear it.'' Kat suggested hopefully.

Jack gave her a look.

''I have another suggestion.'' Anamaria said. ''If it is too small, then there's a corset that Elizabeth left last time she visited.''

''You're gonna make me wear one o' THOSE?'' Kat yelled. ''There is no way in bloody hell ye're gonna make me wear one o' those stupid things!''

Anamaria sighed, knowing what she meant. Ana had once gone with Jack to visit, and she had been forced into a corset herself.

''I know it's uncomfortable, but it's only te get you to the house. After ye're there, I'm sure Elizabeth can find you some dresses that you won' need any corset for.''

Kat growled, but nodded.

''How soon can ye have it ready?'' asked Jack.

''I'll need to have Kat with me so I can fit it as best I can for length. If I have any material left over, then I'll try to see if I can widen it as well, but that's unlikely. It'll prolly take over an hour, but it should be done before lunch.''

Jack nodded.

''Ye can use my cabin for the fitting. Less chances of Kat bumpin' 'er ' ead agains' the ceilin' if she stands on a chair.''

As Kat walked to the cabin and Anamaria below to get the other dress and needed sewing supplies, Jack turned his attention back to the wheel.

Kat may have given in, but she was still letting her displeasure with the situation show.

Guess bein' raised by the midwife gave her a few manners. If not, I woulda had to knock her out just to take her to the house. Even if I wasn't her father, just having Jessica for a mother woulda meant she would never give in.

About ten minutes after the sun had dipped below the horizon, Gibbs was rowing Jack and Kat to shore. Jack was dressed in an outfit Will had left him in case of visits, with his hair back in a ribbon and a great plumed hat, under which was tucked his beads. He also had gloves which were a little longer than normal in order to effectively hide his brand and tattoo. The sleeves of the shirt were of normal length, however, but they still hid the true length of his gloves. He also had a cloak for warmth.

Just by glancing at Kat, he could see how uncomfortable she was. She had a fan, which was supposed to be for show, but she was finding real use for it due to the corset. The stress to breathe was making her perspire. She was also obviously very stiff. Jack had had to help her into the boat, as she couldn't bend properly.

She was also constantly tugging at the lace ribbon holding the tiny hat down. Anamaria had brushed and styled her hair into something Elizabeth had taught her to do. It was mostly in a bun, with a few locks cascading down on the side of her neck.

Once they arrived at the shore, Jack had to help Kat out again, and motioned to Gibbs to start rowing out. Gibbs was to row back to shore before dawn.

''Alright, luv?'' Jack inquired.

''I'll be fine once I'm outta this portable torture chamber.'' She said stiffly, her shortness of breath apparent.

Jack patted her back, and the two started for the town.

Even though it was early in the evening, there weren't many people around. Kat was surprised by this, as Tortuga had a lot of activity at night. It gave her a bit of an eerie feeling.

Jack must have picked up on this, because he took her arm and asked:

''What's wrong, luv?''

''Where is everybody?'' Kat asked in turn.

''Port Royal is mostly, and I emphasize mostly, filled with well-to-do people who consider it fun to be in their 'omes having quiet dinners and lazy talk at this hour.''

Kat raised an eyebrow, but didn't push the matter further.

''When you loot a ship, how do you go about it? Do you open fire first, or just try to make 'em shake in their boots by introducin' yerself?''

Jack laughed.

''Well, it depends what kinda ship it is. We avoid navy ships altogether, so's we don' risk comin' across commodore Norrington. If it's a passenger or merchant ship, we normally just try te make 'em hand it over nice an' easy. Passenger ships are easier, cause the other ship's crew is tryin' to ensure passenger safety first. Then we go through the ship grabbin' whatever looks worth keepin'. If it's a ship that's got cannons, we try scarin' em first, cause normally no one wants te mess with my ship. Ye get occasional crazies, but then we just aim right at their cannons, and give 'em another chance te surrender.''

Kat tried to keep her laughter down so as not to crack her ribs against the corset, but the grin was enough to make Jack happy.

After several minutes of walking, they finally arrived at a huge house surrounded by a gate-enclosed garden.

Kat saw it as two things: a beautiful house and a prison.

Jack pushed the gate open and walked Kat up to the front door. Just before knocking, he turned to her.

''Now, try to be nice. Will an' Elizabeth may be used to pirate ways, but most of their 'friends', whom they have to stand just for social face, are not. If Will an' Elizabeth tell you how to conduct yourself at dinners, then you better conduct yourself that way. It won' be fun, but I know they won' force you to be that way when it's just you an' them. However, do try not te eat like a pig, even if it is just the four o' you. Four meanin' them an' their son with you.''

Kat nodded, still not happy.

Jack knocked, and an old man with a powdered wig answered a couple of minutes later.

''Ah, mister Sparrow. Do come in. I shall fetch to mister and missus.''

Jack led Kat by the arm into the house. They waited by a large staircase as the old man (whom Kat assumed must be a butler) went into the next room. Kat heard incoherent voices, and two of them sounded rather excited.

A short moment later, a well-dressed man with brown hair just brushing his shoulders and a woman, also well-dressed with her sun-bleached hair in a style similar to Kat's, came walking quickly into the foyer.

''Jack!'' exclaimed the man, who must have been Will, took Jack enthusiastically by the hand and the two smiled at each other.

''Oh, Jack, it's been so long!'' said the woman, obviously Elizabeth, as she hugged Jack in greeting.

The two then turned their attention to the young girl who had stayed near the staircase, leaning on the banister.

''Taking them rather young, Jack?'' inquired Will, with a slightly concerned look on his face.

"No, um…" Jack turned to Kat and beckoned her forward. "This is my daughter, Katarina. Though she prefers Kat. Kat, this is Will and Elizabeth, very good friends of mine."

Kat waved lightly.

"A daughter, Jack?"

"Yes, um…" Jack struggled to find how to begin, when a tiny figure ran into the foyer.

"Uncle Jack!" the exclaim came from a small boy whom Jack took into his arms.

"Look at you!" Jack put him back down and looked at him as though something was odd about him.

"I think there's somethin' diffren' about you." He said, falsely considering what it might be. He then placed his hand on the boy's head and compared it to a spot just above his own knee. "Yep. I believe ye've grown a full inch since I saw ye last."

Jack then seemed to have an idea.

"Will, is there somewhere we could talk while they play around?"

"They could stay here while we go to the parlour?"

"Sounds great." Jack said. "Kat, you watch over Jeremy. I'll just be over there talking with Will and Elizabeth."

"Alright."

Will lead his wife by the arm as Jack followed them into the parlour.

Jack sat in a comfy armchair as Will and Elizabeth took the sofa opposite.

"Alright, here's as much, or as little, as I can tell ye from what I know."

Jack told them about Jessica, what he had found when he arrived where he was supposed to pick her up, and the bits of what Kat had told him. He left out such things as how they had both broken down after realising they had found each other. Nor did he say, although he supposed they could guess this, that it was Jessica's death that had turned him to drink and philandering.

"Now, I know I already owe you both for saving my life the day I was nearly hanged,"

"Jack," Elizabeth interrupted. "It's thanks to you we're both alive and together. You don't owe us anything."

"If you want us to do something for you," Will added "then we'll be only too happy to help."

Jack smiled at his two friends,

"Alright, here it is. I've managed te pick up trace o' the ship that attacked the town where Jessica was killed, an' I'm goin' after it."

Both Will and Elizabeth felt waves of worry reach them, though neither was surprised.

"I don' wan' anythin' te happen to Kat. Would you mind her living with you for a bit?"

"How long do you think you'll be?" Elizabeth asked. "Of course we don't mind, but if she's anything like you, she's not going to like living here."

"That's another problem: I don't know how long I'll be. Also, while I don't intend to leave her orphaned, I don't know if I'll be coming back alive. Savvy?"

Will nodded.

"If anything happens, we'll look after her."

"Thank ye. Also," Jack pulled out a large sack of money he as carrying. "If nothin' else," he said, seeing that the couple was about to protest, "use this money to buy her some new clothes. The dress she's wearing was one that Anamaria had te fix up that we had in a trunk from a raid. 'Coordin to Ana, it was made for a youngin', so we 'ad te squeeze 'er in a corset."

"Uh-oh." said Elizabeth.

"That plus the style made Kat try to argue outta it, but she gave in in the end." continued Jack.

He handed the money to Will, who handed it to Elizabeth.

"You'll have a better idea of what to get for her." He said with a smile. He then turned back to Jack. "Will you be spending the night, as usual?"

"Just before first light. Then I can run down to shore for Gibbs to pick me up."

"Well, we have a couple of rooms we could put you in, Jack." said Elizabeth "Why don't we have Martin show you and Kat where you'll be sleeping, and you can both freshen up for dinner?"

"Sounds great, I'm famished."

Just as the three were going to get up, Jeremy came running into the room.

"Mummy! Kat fell down! She won't wake when I shake her!"

Jack felt dread wash over him.

A/N: Ooh… I'm being mean, aren't I? Leaving it right there. For now. Just wait for chapter 8, k?

And the name I have for the other ship, the Devil's Gauntlet, is from a Canadian folk tale. In the story, it says that anyone left in the woods at night that sees the Devil's Gauntlet (which is actually a canoe) has to run it. If they don't get to their village before dawn (the canoe chasing all the while), then they are forced to forever be one of the paddlers on the canoe. Kinda like the plot line for PotC2. If Jack doesn't get out of his blood debt with Davy Jones, he'll be forever condemned to be part of the crew of the Flying Dutchman.