Disclaimer: Don't own POTC simple as that. I can only claim possession over Emily and Dannie.

A/N: Oops. If I forgot to respond to any of your wonderful reviews from last chapter, my sincerest apologies. As it, thanks a million to:Captain Kris, Rebell, MentalPatient911, Wednesday Adams and Nerd's United, for supporting this story.

Jack's Daughter-Chap9-

The ship was silent. Most of the crew was below deck, snoring away the morning, or perhaps the ill-effects of the drink that they had snuck behind the Commodore's back. They may have been English men, but even English men were wont to drink when no one was looking.

As it was, the skeletal remains of the night crew lay either slouched at any convenient corner, snoring loudly, or stumbling around deck, trying to make it appear that they were alert and otherwise ready for action. That morning's change of watch had yet to make an appearance, and as the Commodore had not yet seen himself from his stateroom, the overall mood settling over the ship was one of relaxed quiet and peacefulness.

I was hanging over the railing myself, my skirts 'indecently' hitched up to my knees, as I braced my weight on the shining black top of a rounded cannon. My hair was blowing about without a care, occasionally testing its freedom by entangling itself in my mouth. Feeling in no mood to wrest it back into a secure knot I spit it out with only minor frustration.

It was a good morning and made all the better by the knowledge that Norrington would not come from his stateroom, until I had abandoned deck and returned to my room below. Of course, too much enjoying the game I had set up, I wasn't about to leave. Besides the morning air did well for me, and the gentle swell of the ship breaking the water below, made me feel like I was flying and free.

I closed my eyes, relishing in the thrum that coursed through my blood. Jack was right. A ship was freedom. There was nowhere else I would have rather been. I had been a fool to listen to Mamma's stories about how it was better to keep my feet on dry land. I guess, I couldn't blame her either, she'd already lost Jack to the Sea, and when he was home, it was for barely a moment before he vanished once again. She didn't want to lose me either.

Hearing the sound of footsteps behind me, I let my skirt drop and hopped from my precarious balance atop the canon. Using one of the rigging ropes I secured my poise, and turned to face the man who was walking toward me.

I was slightly surprised at the appearance of a man I did not recognize. Granted, I had not been aboard the Dauntless for more then a day, but I had made it my business to know every man who sailed under its name. Emily had scoffed at this, asking what need there was to know the name of every man aboard a ship. I had merely winked and sauntered off, a woman meant for land, would not have never understood.

"Good morning to you Miss Dannie."

I smiled politely at the stranger, and nodded my head in greeting. I was sure he had seen me acting indecently, but I made no attempt to fix the mistake. News of my flirtations with Norrington had spread like a storm about the ship. There was no hiding from the rumors that had started, not that I felt embarrassed about them, to say the least. The catcalls that were thrown carelessly in my direction had me playing along, and parting with a promising word. As it were, Emily had been mortified at the Navy men's responses, but I, true to a pirate, and a native of Tortuga, had brushed it aside with a mere shrug. I had even gone so far as to sit upon one man's lap, but I drew the line here.

This stranger, I did not know him, but from the way he stood and watched me, he had already heard of my 'reputation' and judging from said look, I would ruin any attempts of leverage if I dared so much as try what I had done with Norrington. With the Commodore it had mattered little, he had been no part of my cause from the moment he laid eyes on me. Stiff-backed English man, I nearly laughed before realizing the stranger was still looking at me. There was a quizzical expression on his lined face, and I sensed he had asked me a question, a question that I had failed to answer.

"Forgive me," I smiled, leaning against the railing. "The morning air does little to calm my thoughts..." I paused significantly, waiting for him to answer my unspoken question.

"Governor Swann," he said, taking my hand and kissing it, as decorum decreed. "It is a pleasure to meet you..."

I laughed, drawing my hand away, even as my insides twisted. I was no good at playing this game! Why was it always me that got caught like this? "Miss Dannie."

"Do you have a last name?" the Governor asked, moving to stand beside me.

Ya, I thought, its Sparrow, but I doubt that's the answer you want. I fumbled, struggling to come up with some witty comment that would not drive the man away. Damn and blast!

"You must forgive her Governor. She took a nasty spill when she was just a child and hasn't been in the right mind since."

I glanced toward the owner of the voice, and visibly slouched in relief. It was Emily, all pretty and dignified in proper English manner. I nearly choked, and quickly with a flash of my hands, pretended to make a noose around my neck.

Catching the gesture Emily delicately raised a hand and laughed into it. I dropped my hands hastily as the Governor turned to see what was so funny.

"Ain't haven't been in a right mind since," I agreed, standing up. "I try my damnedest though...my apologies for my language, Governor."

"No problem my dear," he said, awkwardly patting my arm. "I'm sure everything's going to turn out just right."

"I do hope so Governor," Emily replied, walking up to us. She held her hands clasped before her. "Beautiful morning don't you agree?" She glanced around, sending me a pointed stare. "Have you seen the Commodore around?"

"No," the Governor replied. "Frightfully odd I must say. He's an early riser."

I followed the man's gaze around at the Dauntless's crew and snorted indelicately at the deck beneath my feet. No doubt Norrington didn't approve of this kind of laziness and seeing it with no attempt to hide it must have been quite shocking for the man before me. "Some pride of the King's Navy."

"Excuse me, what did you say?"

I glanced up innocently, pulling my teasing hair away from my face. "Nothing Governor, perhaps though you should see if the Commodore is ill?"

"Yes, yes," Governor Swann murmured, as he moved off.

I sighed, and hardly waited before I collapsed onto the cannon I had earlier been standing on and laughed. I laughed all the harder when Emily dealt me a firm thwack to the back of my head. "His face! Oh! I'm afraid I may have lost any ground I may I have made, but by Mary Mother of God that was priceless."

"You're creating quite a name for yourself," Emily hissed down at me.

Wiping tears from my eyes I looked up, only to find my view was restricted by the glare of the sun behind Emily's body. Shielding my eyes I sent her a lopsided smile. "All in the name of good, I assure you."

Emily stiffened, and I could tell that she was wondering how she had ever thought of befriending a pirate's daughter.

"You're despicable sometimes Dannie. You know that?"

"Sticks and stones," I grinned reclining, and nearly succeeded in falling off my perch. I had forgotten the railing wasn't completely behind my back.

Emily's eyes darkened and she stamped her foot petulantly. "Dannie, I'm trying to help you."

Forced to tear my eyes away from my studying of her mood by a cough, I bent over, hacking. I raised a finger to let her know that I wasn't about to keel over and die, and waited for it pass. Once it had, I lifted my head again, and instantly frowned.

"What? Don't give me that look Dannie."

"No, no," I murmured, standing up, and shoving her aside. "There's smoke."

"What?" Emily turned around. "I don't see smoke."

I narrowed my eyes, watching the thin thread that curled itself up into the sky. I whirled around and rushed for the bell that stood innocently in the middle of the deck. Stumbling, as in my haste I tripped over my skirt, I grabbed the rope and yanked hard.

The peal ran over the morning, echoing out with a boom across the silent Caribbean water. "Smoke!" I screamed. "Smoke on the horizon."

Alerted by the call the drowsing men snapped to attention and rushed toward me.

"Smoke? Where Miss Dannie?"

"There Master Portman! See there? On the horizon," I pointed out. "Can you see it?"

"Aye, I see it!" the elderly navy man, with a receding hairline cried. He clapped a hand on my back. "John see to it that the Commodore is told. Hard to port! Hard to port!" He was about to rush away, toward the wheel before he paused, as if considering adding something to his earlier words.

I watched him a smile on my face, as he tipped his hat to me and smirked.

"My hat off to you Miss Dannie, a sharp eye you have there," he said. "Now mind your toes and keep out of our way while we found out who's blowing smoke to the heavens."

"Aye Master Portman," I grinned and did a sharp, mock salute that left him laughing as climbed the stairs to the wheel.

Smirking, and doing nothing to hide it, I flounced back to Emily, who was staring at me grouchily from the rail. Her hair had come loose from its knot, and flapped freely around her face. Her arms were crossed as well.

Unable to resist, I casually leaned my arms on the railing, and watched as the ship tilted, aiming for the smoke flare on the horizon. Sending her a quick look, I giggled. "And see Emily that is why I get to know every man on a ship."

She glared, huffed, and stormed away, leaving me to laugh over my victory. Well, no one could blame me for rubbing it in, could they? After all, I was a Sparrow.