AN: Hey all! I am so sorry that it has been such a long time since I updated. This story has been so difficult to write after all this time. I try to alternate between writing this story and then writing my other two, but sometimes it gets a little hard. I'm sure you guys understand. But, I'm through with school for the summer so I hope that I'll have enough time to write more and maybe finish this story or one of my others. I hope you like!

Ashes to Ashes

Chapter 12: Possibilities

Fingers caressed soft flesh. Lips trailed down hot skin. Dark hair tumbled in wild strands, falling down bare shoulders. Lips found their way back, hungrily kissing the other already swollen mouth.

He pulled away slowly, placing one last kiss on her soft lips. His dark eyes gazed down into hers, reading the hazed emotions hidden there. He traced the contours of her pale face, her dark hair clinging to her sweaty skin.

"Jack," she whispered, drawing him out of his reverie.

His eyes narrowed slightly, leaning his head back. Her voice. There was something different about her voice. It had grown deeper somehow, changing from her sweet tones to a voice that seemed quite capable of commanding a crew.

Jack watched, stunned, as Ashleigh's features transformed slowly. Her once pale face tanned, her startling green eyes changing to a blue as bright as the sky. The long strands of black hair that were wrapped around his fingers shifted into a bright, fiery red. Rough fingers grazed his face, hands cupping his cheeks, forcing him to look into her eyes.

"Jack," Daveigh whispered. "Jack please stop this. Stop this now. I've tried. . ." she paused, her voice pleading. "I've tried talking to my sister but she won't listen. She's so thick headed sometimes. More people are gonna get hurt or killed Jack, even your new lover."

"Daveigh, she's. . ."

Daveigh smiled sadly, placing her calloused thumb over his lips. "Hush. I know what she is to you. You need happiness Jack, and if you continue this, you will lose her. Alexi will not hesitate to kill her," she paused again, gazing longingly into his eyes. "Don't risk it Jack. Don't risk her life."

Jack bolted up in bed, sweat rolling down his bare skin. Flashes of the dream floated through his suddenly alert mind. Was it just a dream? Or was it something else? He wiped his eyes, confusion settling in. What was the dream supposed to mean? He hadn't had a dream that vivid since after Daveigh had died. And never had it been a dream about her.

Why had she warned him? Why did she try to tell him to stop looking for Ashleigh? Why would she tell him to sacrifice Ashleigh just so that no one else would get hurt? What was she trying to do? Was she trying to help him? Or stop him from doing something stupid?

Jack turned his gaze to the full moon hanging in the dark night sky. He had a lot to think about. A lot to figure out. And it could take all night.

"So what you are telling me, Commodore, is that my son and daughter are both in the hands of pirates?"

Norrington stared unflinchingly up into the older man's heated gaze.

"You could say that, sir, yes," he replied calmly.

Lord Robert O'Shannon slammed his fist into the hard wood of the desk. "And how the hell did this happen?" he exploded.

Norrington sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes closed. "Apparently, Lord O'Shannon, your son did not wish to leave your daughter on the ship alone. He requested to stay on board with her to ensure her safety."

"Why was she not taken off immediately?"

Norrington gazed up into the other man's eyes. "Your daughter, sir, has joined a pirate crew. She cannot be freed unless she wishes to do so. I assure you that if we had tried to take her against her will, the captain would have attacked. His ship was larger and more heavily gunned. It was a wise choice to allow him to stay on board the other ship."

"And where are they now?"

"They went in search of two of Port Royal's citizens that had been kidnapped in a recent pirate attack."

"When do you expect them to return? If they do?"

Norrington hesitated for a moment, steepling his fingers at his mouth. "Three days ago."

AN: I am so sorry that this chapter is so short! But I couldn't think of anything else to put in it! Don't be too mad!

AN: Up next, Chapter 13: Lost Hope?. Will Jack continue his search? Or will he take Daveigh's advice and stop? What will Lord O'Shannon do after this news? What does he have planned for Ashleigh? Read next time to find out!

Dawnie-7: No, things aren't looking too good for her, are they? But I promise that one day, they will get better. I just have to figure out how. . .

NazgulGirl: Band Cake? I'm not sure I want to know. I'll update as fast as I can!

DaydreamBeliever14: I'm glad you're happy that she's alive. I'll try to keep you that happy for the rest of the story.

PineAppleLint: I'm glad you liked the chapter. And as for what's going to happen next? I have no idea. I'm not sure how I'm going to save her, but I'll figure it out eventually.

Jaxindi: Yeah, I like to make it where the characters are getting confused. As for her brother . . . if you don't like him, how do you like her father? He's a whole lot worse than Michael. Michael is the lesser of two evils.