Sorry I haven't updated in a while, i have been busy and needed someone to do a quick proof read over this chappy. Plus i cou;dn't get the story to upload! But its here now, so please enjoy and leave a comment if you wish, I would love to hear you thoughts! Oh and this chapter is one of the longer ones, sorry that some are short!!!!

And... no, I still don't own PPTC characters (i wish) i own new characters though!! xoxo

8: Freedom

Once in Jacks cabin I got changed out of Elizabeth's clothes and into my daggy dress that I'd had for years. Elizabeth must have washed it because it was whiter than I remembered and felt so much softer on my skin. I laid my pants, shirt, vest and coat out over the end of the bed, allowing them to dry.

I walked over to Jack's book collection, walking back a forth, looking at each row. Shivering, I held my arms against stomach drawing in warmth. The dress wasn't at all cosy, in fact it had thinned with age, and shrunk, or I had gotten taller. The dress was an aged white, creases flowing right down to my ankles. The three quarter sleeves made my wrists visible. Each with clothe wrapped around, one for my wound the other, my brand. And the slight dipped neckline, showed enough to make aware that I had some cleavage. Drawing my arm away from my body I continued to run my fingers along the shelves, small particles of dust shifted into the air. I got to the second row when I seen a book that caught my eye, Famous Rogues of the Sea. I smiled to myself pulling it off the shelve and moving towards the table. I sat down on the seat opposite from where Jack had sat the day of my wakening and began to read.

I had reached the second paragraph when the cabin door opened; it was Jack with his arm full of bottles, full bottles.

"Thought I'd keep you company," he said, placing all the bottles on the table and then passing me one. He watched with wonder.

"Thanks" I smiled; taking the rum and looking back down at the page I'd opened the book to. I took a mouthful and began to read.

He sat on the opposite side of me and moved his chair a little. "Come sit round 'ere" he said.

I had just gotten comfy, but knew I should be a little bit considerate to his feelings. So I pulled my chair round. We remained a good metre away from another. I sat down, tucking my legs underneath me and took a long swig of rum and began to read once again.

A few moments passed and I looked up after reading another paragraph; Jack was peering around the room looking bored. His dark hair was brightened with small beads and tokens, and even a blue opal was stranded into a lock of hair. Even though he had facial hair, it was completely over grown and there were small beads in the end of his beard. I gazed down at his hands, bejewelled with rings. Smiling I thought that each piece must have some sentimental value belonging to him. The same value I had with my rings. I took another sip of rum, and tried to think how to start a conversation.

"It's been a while since I've drunk rum" I commented.

He gave a sympathetic smile, not knowing if he should dip into my past. He took the risk.

"How long was you… imprisoned for? If you don't mind me asking" he turned his chair towards me so we were now facing one another.

"Four years, I was sixteen when I was first sold" I answered, continuing to read. Multitasking came in handy for us women. I wasn't fussed telling him, I'd said a fair bit about my family already today.

"And you, a girl, drank rum at the age of sixteen?" he asked, lightening the situation.

I looked up from the book. "What? Just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't drink. Anyway what else do pirates drink? The seawater?" Probably not the best way to break it to him that I'm a pirate, but oh well, I thought.

"You're a pirate?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeh… I was meaning to tell you." I hesitated, lifting my arm, revealing my pirate brand from underneath the cloth. "Have been since birth really. Born on my fathers ship, he was a pirate." I sighed, not knowing if I should continue. He seemed to be listening intently, so I carried on. "I didn't get my brand 'til the day my father died. The East India Trading Company branded me, naturally. I was then held captive, until they sold me." I stopped, realising what I'd just said. "I've never told anyone that before"

"Tis alright, love. Your secrets safe with me. Besides I kinda figured you were a pirate when you said your name was Starling, I've heard stories of your mother. I thought I'd let you be the one to tell me. I didn't want to go questioning you straightaway, thought I'd let you tell me when the time was right. I want you to know that you can trust me."

"Never trust a pirate," I whispered, closing the book. How did he know if I was a pirate if I was named after my mother? Pirate stories, rumours, probably.

"Hmm?" asked Jack, he'd obviously heard.

"Never trust a pirate," I repeated louder. "My father used to say that all the time"

"Smart man."

"A bit contradictory really." I said, thinking and taking a sip of rum. I was feeling giggly and tipsy; the rum was taking its toll.

He took a mouthful of rum. "How so, love?"

"Well my father was a pirate, and so are you. So saying never trust a pirate, he was saying that his own daughter shouldn't trust her father. And you said I can trust you"

"You saying you trust me?"

I looked away. My feelings for Jack were growing. But I still had this feeling that I couldn't shake. I wanted to trust him. My heart wanted me to, but my head didn't.

"A little" I commented. "Do you trust me?"

"More than I should" He admitted.

I paused, taking another sip of rum; he had said it with so much ease. "Why are you so nice? Most pirates I know are conniving and ruthless"

"Cause…I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"

I gave a small smile, thinking things through.

We sat silently for a few minutes. I had been drinking through the whole conversation and was starting to feel the side effects of the nearing empty bottle. I was only two bottles down. Maybe I couldn't handle rum as well as I'd thought.

"You wanna know something?" I began "…Never mind"

"No, lets hear it"

"No, I feel so open to you, yet I know nothing about you. You talk and… and then I will" I said smiling. Oh god… I think I am tipsy, I thought to myself. Oh well! I sculled the remainder of the bottle's contents and reached for another bottle.

"There's not much to know"

"Oh Whatever.' I said, flinging my arm in the air as if giving a speech. 'There's nothing interesting about the infamous Jack Sparrow. Yeah that's really easy to believe."

"That's Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please" he corrected. "And did I hint sarcasm there?" He corrected.

"Just a little"

"Hmm… What do you want to know?"

"Tell me something, tell me something you've never told anyone else"

"Hmmm………. I feel the most comfortable I've ever felt when I'm with you"

I sat there, shocked. Not knowing what to say. I felt the same way, but didn't know if I should say that. I sat there, knowing he was completely sober after a bottle and a half while I was almost about to break into song, having a little more than he had.

"You know, your one of the few people that have actually made me laugh"

"You're lying," I said, shaking my head. There was silence and I began to scull the bottle, not taking any breaks.

"Its true. I mean sure lots of people have made me laugh, but none like you. When I first seen you give the finger to that guy, I couldn't help but laugh" He watched with some curiosity as I drank nearly three quarters of the bottle within such a short amount of time.

"Why? It wasn't that funny" I asked interested, taking a breath from the rum.

"Because I guess I could sense that you had a tough life, but you still managed to fight your way through. I guess having pirate in your blood explains your feistiness."

I gave a small smile. Thanks dad, I thought. You have rubbed off on me.

"So what were you going to say before?" Jack asked.

"It doesn't matter." I took another sip.

"No, tell 'ol Jack"

"No"

"Tell me"

"No"

"Your a determined one too."

I didn't answer, so we just sat there in silence. He sat there with a sad look upon his face, pouting his lips. Bloody pirate, I thought. Making me feel bad. I grabbed another bottle taking a long mouthful then sighed, giving in.

"When I stand out on the deck of a ship and look out at the sea surrounding me and the wind blows through my hair. I feel, so, happy, ya know? The sun is warming my face, the mist of the sea, sprays my skin. The smell of the ocean is all around, and I taste that familiar salt flavour on is on my lips. And then I look all around me, all I see is water, no land. All that lies ahead is the unknown. And it feels so right, ya know? Like I've found my place in the world. I have complete freedom. That's what the sea is…. freedom"

Jack sat there, his brown eyes looking into mine. He remembered when Elizabeth and him were marooned on an island. He had talked of freedom.

Jack went to speak.

"I dunno. It might just be the rum talking. But I lost that freedom a long time ago, and you gave it back to me" I continued, holding in tears. It was merely a tear of happiness and realisation. I was free. But it didn't fall from my eyes.

He grabbed a bottle of rum. "To freedom"

"To freedom" I said, tapping my rum onto his. To freedom, I thought swallowing yet another mouthful.

"So what book are you reading there?" he asked after letting the rum settle.

"Famous Rogues of the Sea" I answered. Opening the book again and flipping through a few pages, until I came to the page I wanted. On one side were writing and the other a large picture of a man. "That's my dad," I said turning the picture towards Jack. "­­­­­ Thomas Riley, a famous rogue, and… and that's my mum" I turned the page. Showing Jack the black and white drawing of my mother. "Cute 'lil lass wasn't she?" I said stupidly admiring my mother's features.

Jack expressed his amusement with a chuckle.

"What's so funny Captain Sparrow?" I asked.

"You are"

"That's only cause I've had a little bit toooo much to drink, but hey I could be wrong" I giggled.

"I think your right"

"Yep, I think so. Lets read what they've written about my dad shall we?"

"Go ahead, didn't know you could read," he teased.

I opened my mouth in shock. "I'll have you know I can read intoxicated or not, thank you" I said proudly.

He grinned and took another sip of his rum. I put mine down. I cleared my throat, ready to read. " 'Born in Spain, it's believed that Thomas Riley was a peasant. Stealing whatever food he could to keep his family and himself alive. When captured for theft, he was taken prisoner and detained. After two years behind bars he escaped and stowed away on a ship. Thomas was found shortly after and he became the first mate within weeks and soon to be captain when his current captain died in battle. It's unknown when he came to the Caribbean but he quickly became well known and feared by merchant sailors and other pirates. He rarely killed people, unless threatened; mostly just taking their belongings and leaving them with nothing. After twenty-seven years pirating he met an English girl in Tortuga, he was forty-three. Claiming he had fallen in love, he vowed never feel the same way to another women, she was his one and only. Sophia Starling was of high society in England, blonde hair and brown eyed. After her father's assassination, her sister, Marie and her moved to the Caribbean for their safety. Their life of luxury was left behind. The two became working girls in a pirate port, also known as Tortuga. Sophia Starling was well known in Tortuga as one of the most free spirited and entertaining girls. Even though she was always thought to like her job she was on a fixed contract. When Sophia was twenty when she ran away from her obligation of a job and went aboard with Thomas Riley. When Thomas was forty-seven, Sophia was twenty-four she gave birth to a child and passed away minutes later. Not much was known about their child, except she was raised under the protective eyes of her father on his second ship, the Ocean Breeze. ­­­­­Thomas Riley died sixteen years later, when the East India Trading Company, came across him and his crew out at sea one day. The two were in a cross fire where Thomas and his crew was heavily out numbered, and most the crew were slaughtered a cruel death. Its believed Thomas stopped his daughter from being killed by taking a bullet in the stomach. It wasn't a fatal wound. Knowing his fate if he was to be taken to land, Thomas shot himself with his most prized effect, his silver pistol. He ended his life saying "Freedom forever for pirates".' I stopped, absorbing the text I'd just read. "This book was written a year after his death" I added.

"Hard to believe you've got such a fierce pirate's blood running through your veins" Jack commented.

"My dad wasn't as scary as he was made out to be, survivors like to exaggerate to make themselves sound more heroic for surviving. He was very protective though" I got up from my chair and almost fell, the rum had defiantly absorbed. I laughed, regaining myself.

"You all right?" asked Jack.

"Yep… just a little bit drunk" I said in a silly tone. I drunkenly walked over to the bookshelf placing the book back in its spot. I walked back around Jack to my seat. Jack had a compass hanging from his belt, which caught my eye. I stood back up again, and sat on Jacks lap.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I reached down near his belt and unlatched the compass. "I wanna look at this" I smiled.

"I think you should go to bed," he said uncomfortably.

"Noooo, its far too early" I said over exaggerating on my words. I opened the compass. It spun around crazily, then stopped pointing to Jack then spun around again and pointed out to the cabin door, where it stopped. My eyelids were growing heavier. I closed the compass, and shifted my body weight leaning into Jack more. I rested my head on his shoulder. He seemed to relax.

"Jack…" I began, closing my eyes and grasping the compass as if it were the most valuable item on the seas. "You can sleep in your bed if ya want. Jack…"

"Yeh?"

"Wanna know something?"

"Lets hear it"

"I'm extraordinarily drunk, I mean… intoxicated. I'm extraordinarily intoxicated and you, you smell nice. No, no, no you smell… aromatic." I said, giggling at my words.

I felt his chest move, he was chuckling at me. I frowned, keeping my eyes closed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You use such big words when you're drunk, ya know that love?"

"Mmmhmm…. I do indeed." I said half asleep.

Jack tried to move in his seat. "Come on. You need some sleep, it's been a tiring day" I didn't budge, I was too tired. "Am I gonna have to carry you?" he asked.

"Well I could walk, but that seems like a health and safety hazard at this particular moment." Every word was slurred.

"Yeh that's true." He placed his left hand under the back of my knees and the other around my waist. He sent a shiver up my spine, but I moved my arms around his neck to feel safer. By time I was in the bed I could barely think, I was almost instantly lost in a deep sleep. The bed moved as Jack got in along side me and turned onto his side. His back facing towards me, keeping some distance. I clasped my hands and realising I was still holding Jack's compass. I shivered in my fine cotton dress. I shuffled my body backwards, moving close to Jack so I could just feel his presence and then feel into a deep sleep.

Hope you liked it!!!! xox