Author's Note: Thanks a bunch again to my brother, Mark. Well, I recently broke my finger playing tennis, (thanks a lot Steven) so it's hard to type up the stories. I have my brother helping me type up the next chapter. I'm working on it right now, but this should tide you over till I get that finished. Here you go. It's been a long time. Chapter 18. Solia's POV.

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Tortuga. The thoughts of the city kept flowing through my mind. I had read about it, heard about it, but I never imagined I would get to go there. Jack didn't answer all of my questions, but at least I know a little bit. He says we're going for Daniels. Who is he, and why does he need to see him? It seems like my questions never get answered until it's too late. The next day came and went, nothing important or out of the ordinary happened, yet Tortuga was on the horizon. I decided to take a look and went above deck. The sweet smell of the ocean was heavy in the air. It took me back a little, I was back in my room in Port Royal looking at the sea from my balcony.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I knew the voice immediately. Jack. I smiled quickly before I turned around to answer.

"Mmm hmm." He smiled.

"We should get into Tortuga by nightfall." He says. "It's better at night anyway." He stopped to search for the words. "More...lively." He's got something in his hands.

"What's that?" I ask and point to the bundle. What is he doing?

"This?" I nod. "Oh, well this is for you." He says and hands it to me. I unfold it.

"It's beautiful!" The dress is the color of red wine, with black lace. I've never seen anything like it. "Why?" I ask. Yes, why do you have to question him?

"Just something to wear when we go to Tortuga." He says. See, he's not so bad after all. There's got to be some catch. You know that. What's too good to be true usually is. I smile, ignoring that ongoing inner battle.

"Thank you." I smile, then I remember his words. "Wait. Why would I need something to wear in Tortuga?"

"I just thought that you may want to wear something nicer for a change." He says casually.

"Oh, and I don't look nice now?" Why do you care so much about how he thinks you look? You say he doesn't matter to you, but you think about him, and you know you're offended. Stop lying to yourself.

"You look fine." He says. "But those aren't going out clothes." He stresses the words going out as if there's something more, some double meaning only he is allowed to know. Why does it matter what I wear into Tortuga as long as I go?

"Jack, what is going on?" I need some answers. No more mysteries, no more lies. I just want the truth. Maybe it's best you didn't know the truth. Some questions are best left unanswered and you know this. "Please, just tell me." He sighs, as if the question exhausts him.

"I just thought you would want something nicer to wear when we go into Tortuga." His face is unreadable, but I can't sense any frustration or anger. He's good at hiding his emotions, too bad you can't be like that. Too bad you can't decide what you want, or how you feel. "In all honesty, the only dress you own is quite simple." Why do you have to be so difficult? He can't do something nice for you? You rescued him for god's sake! "...I just thought you'd like to get a little dressed up for a change, rather then staying in your work clothes..." I interrupt him before he can say anymore.

"It's fine." I say. "Thank you." He smiles. "I...I should go change..." What is with this sudden change of heart? It's only a dress, it's not like he's asking me to marry him. He nods, yet says nothing as I head below deck. I pass Gibbs on my way into my cabin, he tilts his head in my direction and goes on his way.

"I'm assuming you told her..." I can hear him say, yet there is no response from Jack. I'm assuming you told her what? What is he talking about? Why do you think Sparrow can't be trusted? You know he's talking about the dress. I ignore my curiosity and that little tug begging me to search for another answer. I start to change into the dress, the cloth so smooth compared to the rough clothes I was wearing. I pulled the dress over my head and remembered getting ready for dinner parties, and gatherings back in Port Royal, but I keep in mind that this is nothing like that. I'm not getting engaged, or sold off without my knowledge, I'm just going into a pub with Jack. It's something different, it's better. I don't have to worry about slipping and saying something wrongyou've proven that already. I don't have to act, be proper and polite. I love that about Jack. Love, and Jack in the same sentence does not work. You don't love him. You're not attracted to him. He was your way out of Port Royal, and that's all. Nothing more. Don't fall for him. Not Jack, not the pirate. Not Jack Sparrow. He can't love, and love is what you are running away from in the first place. Fall in love with someone who is actually capable of loving you back. Someone who doesn't care about your past, and someone that you are positive will love you back. I pull the laces on the dress tight, trying to guarantee that nothing will happen, that Jack, or anyone else, won't be able to see anything. I look in the small mirror that Ana had left for me. Yards of soft fabric cover my body, yet I still feel naked. My goal was to put on the dress, and have Jack focus on me, on my face, but this dress would make it impossible. I thought you would like something nice to wear to Tortuga. Like hell he did! I look like a whore! He wanted me to wear this dress so that he could see me in it, not because it would actually matter what I wear. That bastard! Jack Sparrow is not going to see my face, or any other part of my body, because I am not leaving this room. If the only way I can go to Tortuga is to wear something like this, then he can forget it. I'm not leaving the ship, hell, I'm not leaving the cabin. He can go into Tortuga without me.