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

A/N: Well MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! This is my little gift to ya'll and I hope you enjoy. Hope you have a great day!

Jack's Daughter-Chap8-

I stared at my reflection in the small cabin mirror. Making a funny face I pulled up my hair, twisting it elaborately, while letting a few loose spirals hang around my neck. Turning my head, I pretended to admire the image staring back at me and made a little pout with my lips.

"Aren't you going to do anything?"

With a half sigh I let my hair drop. Turning I faced Emily who was sitting on the bed, with her back leaning against the wall. She had drawn her knees up to her chest and was staring at me with petulant frown.

"I can't," I shrugged, facing away. "Its Jack's fault that he decided to get himself marooned—again—on an island. His choice of companions though, that I must question. Why the Governor's daughter?" I made another childish face, thoroughly enjoying myself, though Emily could have certainly been left out the whole mix.

We had resolved our argument while the longboat had made its slow way toward the island to retrieve the person who had started the signal fire. Our camaraderie had settled back into its familiar groove, with a fragile truce holding it in place. Nevertheless, once I had discovered that it was Jack—still shouting the indecencies of Elizabeth Swann burning his rum—it had once again fallen apart.

The reason for the anger was something of ignorance. Emily could not clearly see why I had refused to help my Father, even when he had recognized me. As far as I was concerned she was too British for her own good.

"She's the Governor's daughter, you can't get much better company," Emily said haughtily. "At least she has more honesty then you."

I turned around and did a little flourish, waving my arm dramatically as I bowed. "Half-pirate my dear," I said, showing my teeth, and mimicking Jack's tone. "Honesty is a little something we like to take target practice at and is not to be taken seriously."

"How!...How indecent," Emily spluttered, jumping to her feet. "I've had enough of this! I helped you escape, and this is how you repay me?"

I turned back to her, and tilted my head. "Emily," I said slowly, like I was speaking to a two-year old. "I would have gotten away with or without your help. You were but a means of an end, and now..." I spread my arms and watched the horror befall her pretty little face.

Yes, definitely too British to understand life and its deeper meanings.

"I'm telling the Commodore," she stuttered. "And what will you do then?"

My teeth showed. "Mutiny," I hissed it out, my words whistling with an ominous tune. "Mutiny Emily. How would you like that? To be responsible for the downfall of a Commodore?"

"The men are loyal!" Emily protested. "They would never mutiny."

"I know the Dauntless's crew better than the Captain himself. Go ahead Emily, try, but all its going to get you, is a rowboat and pistol. And what a shame, you probably don't know how to use it."

Emily's mouth worked, her eyes went wide. Hurt touched her eyes and tears trailed down her face. "I thought you were my friend."

"Acquaintances at best Emily. You refuse to see eye level with my life, and because of that, it simply won't work."

Giving another mocking bow I left the crying girl behind. I almost felt bad...almost. Then again, she needed to grow up, to know that life wasn't as sheltered as she wished it to be. If she was going to be a runaway, then she'd better start acting it soon.

I paused only briefly in my mission to snag a rum bottle. It was one of the few that was still half-full and intact from the festivities the night before. None of the crew protested as I snuck through the hold of the ship toward the brig and while I felt questioning eyes they pretended not to know.

As my feet creaked down the brig steps, I heard a shuffle, barely heard above the noise of the ship pushing down on me.

"Who's there?"

I sighed, and walked out into the open, letting the solitary lantern bathe my body in a grimy light. I do not know when the last time the glass had been cleaned. "Well Jack, looks like you got yourself into a fix."

For a moment Jack's mouth widened and he eyed the rum bottle I was throwing between my hands. Then, quite to my surprise his eyes grew stormy. "Dannie Sparrow!" he yelled loudly. "What do you think you're doing?"

I winced; it wasn't exactly the happy reunion I had expected to receive. "I suppose you don't want the rum then?"

"Give me the rum!" Jack's hand shot out from the bars and waved me forward. There was still the dangerous glint in his eyes. "But you're helpless if you get within reach of my hands. I'm going to strangle you!"

My half-step forward became two steps back. "What's the matter Jack? Aren't you happy to see your daughter?"

Breathing heavily the pirate leaned against the bars, crossing his arms out front. "Last I saw you darlin' you were in the grips of a fever," Jack drawled, flicking his wrists around. "I didn't think you'd be up and about so soon, and your choice of ship is questionable."

I coughed, and blushed a bit when Jack's eyebrow rose up. Way to go Dannie, I thought to myself; just let Jack know that you're still sick! That will really help things.

"Miss Dannie?"

I jumped and whirled around, clutching the rum bottle possessively. "Master Portman," I exclaimed breathlessly. I could feel color creeping up across my face.

The man nodded, and crossed his arms, casually waiting for me to continue.

"The pirate," I waved to the bars. "He wanted rum..." I trailed off, my eyes wide. My brain had completely shut down, I couldn't think of a response.

"Emily said you were down here, so I decided to check on you," Portman said, uncrossing his arms. "Always knew there was something different about you Miss Dannie."

"Yes sir," I mumbled, and could hear Jack quietly chortling at me. Apparently the man was no longer furious.

"But," Portman let out a drawn sigh. "As long as you're not stirring up trouble and causing the Commodore more grief then he deserves, I think I might just turn a blind eye."

"Thank ye Master Portman," I said, straightening immediately. "I'm in your debt now."

"Just keep it quiet," he said, a slow smile stretching across his face. "And I'll be having a talk with Miss Emily."

The heavy clomp of his boots against the wood signified the end of the discussion. Breathing a little easier I turned back to Jack, whose face had returned to its previous expression. Irritation.

"You could have done it a little better."

"What did you want me to do? Spring you out!"

Jack waved his hands again and shrugged. "For starters."

"You're an impossible man," I snapped thrusting the bottle at him, not caring for my own safety. "You go off and disappear for God knows how many years, creating the worst child you've ever seen. And when you finally show up, which I may add was after, I got some sense knocked into me, you don't even recognize me! What kind of Father are you really Jack? Not a very good one it seems."

"Dannica," Jack said moving back and uncorking his bottle. He took an appreciate swig, still watching me. "Are you finished?"

"No I'm not!" I yelled, jabbing a finger through the bars. "You make it worse too. You don't care. You leave Mamma all alone and go womanizing with every drunk you see in Tortuga. Have a little shame! You know what that's done to me? You know what kind of child I am?"

"You're not a child Dannica."

"No! Shut up! I'm talking you bastard. When I finally get my hands on you again Jack you waltz off and go throw me in some town just for the sake of some gold. That's all it's really been hasn't it? You wouldn't have come back to Tortuga if you'd known I would have seen you. You wouldn't have come back had Mamma not been a willing customer. You don't care for anyone, and that's how I turned out! I don't give a damn anymore Jack..."

"Dannica..."

"No!" I yelled hysterically, grabbing the bars. My face was livid and I was breathing heavily. The words were rushing out of me, and I couldn't stop. Half the things I said ashamed me but it felt good. I had held things back too long. "I can go around and act like you Jack. I have so many faces I don't know which one is mine. I tried to make a friend and then I get all flippant and rude and..."

"Dannie, Dannie," Jack said, setting his bottle carefully on the floor. His voice had changed to a timbre I had never heard before.

He swaggered to the bars and reached out, drawing me as close as he could. "Shh my Dannica. Shh, don't cry."

I reached through and pulled my Father closer. I was ashamed of the tears in my eyes but they wouldn't stop flowing. All the anger, frustration and underlying seething that had been burdening me since that day on the dock, the day that seemed so long ago, had come out. "I'm so scared to lose you Jack. I already lost Mamma."

"You could never lose me Dannica, you're more than silver and gold to me."

I pulled back, brushing a hand under my nose. "Don't lie to me Jack," I sniffed. "Nothing means more to you than silver and gold."

A cheeky grin crossed the pirate's face. "True darlin', but I'm thinking that if we dress you in silver and gold, you'll come pretty close."

I could help it, I couldn't hold it back. I let out a watery laugh and let him hold me again.