A/N: Alright, this is a pretty long chapter...sorry, I was having some trouble finding a good place to end the chapter. But, nonetheless, here it is. Again, thanks to those of you who took the time to review. It helps motivate me to actually get the next chapter up. Thanks to those of you who read it, as well, even if you didn't review. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 3

My skin was still damp with sweat from the long labor. I waited impatiently until finally Regina appeared at my side, a small bundle in her arms.

"She's so beautiful, Claire." She sighed dreamily, handing me my newborn daughter. And she was. I stared at her, her eyes shut, mouth slightly agape, arms flailing gently. A tear glided down my cheek. Regina placed a hand on my shoulder. I patted it lightly.

"I'll give you two a few minutes. I'll be back to check on you later," she whispered. I smiled gratefully. The door shut quietly behind her. When I was sure I was alone, I reached under my pillow. Cradling the gold medallion in my hand, I put it around my newborn daughter's neck. I smiled, another tear escaping.

I woke up, unable to open my eyes against the unrelenting sunlight glaring through the small window of my cabin. Plus, factor in my pounding headache. I thought about my dream, wondering why I could remember it so clearly. I hardly ever remembered my dreams, but lately they'd been more like flashbacks, more vivid with each passing night. When I finally mustered enough strength to open my eyes, I sat up. I felt very light-headed, from sitting up too fast. That's when I noticed Jack on the other side of the room, staring at me.

"Mornin'" he smiled, then paused thoughtfully, staring out the window. "Actually, afternoon, I s'pose, if we're speaking technically…" he teased. I didn't exactly feel like smiling. "Why did you leave?" I had asked stupidly. "Why wouldn't I?" he had answered cruelly. No, I suppose he hadn't meant to be cruel. But then why had it hurt me so deeply? I had to cut off my train of thoughts, because I felt a prickling in the back of my eyes that could've been disastrous. I refused to show him the power had had over me.

"Good afternoon, Jack," I sad coolly. He approached my bed, lifting the bandage on my forehead once more.

"Looks better today. Best be keeping a bandage on it though," he mumbled more to himself than to me, then deftly replaced the old bandage with a new one. "So I s'pose ye'll be wantin' to be dropped off at the next port?" he asked me. I furrowed my brow

"I hadn't really thought about it," I muttered distractedly, admitting it more to myself than to Jack. "I have nowhere to go, Jack. I've got almost nothing to support myself, let alone my daughter." I stressed the "my" when I said "my daughter" for some reason. I hoped Jack hadn't noticed. The wound on my pride widened more as I had to admit to Jack my pitiful situation. He nodded solemnly, then suddenly became distracted, examining his hand.

"So…what became of that medallion I left ye with?" he asked almost too casually. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Why does it matter?" He continued to appear unnaturally fascinated with his hand, clearly doing everything humanly possible to avoid eye contact with me.

"No reason…" and with that, he rose. I decided to catch him off guard.

"I know what it is, Jack, so you can drop the act. My only question is…what made you come back for it? And why did you leave it with me in the first place? Why the bloody hell did you even take it in the first place?" he stopped dead in his tracks, then turned slowly to face me. Okay, so it was technically more than only one question, but it had the desired effect.

"How—"

"You have plenty of friends and admirers around Tortuga, Jack. I was bound to hear the stories." He studied me curiously.

"I think you're bluffing…" he told me in feigned confidence.

"The curse has gotten to be too much to handle, hasn't it?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise, in a "guess you caught me" kind of way.

"No!" he retorted, defensively. "I don't have to worry about anything on a raid. Got meself more swag in the last few years than I've seen in me entire life!" he boasted. Then he turned to all business. "But I'll be needing that medallion back, love. Barbossa's dead enough, but some of his crew's still alive. Le's just say they'e not entirely thrilled with the idea of competing with an immortal pirate, especially one they've wanted dead from the beginning. That man who attacked you back in Tortuga was part of Barbossa's crew. I hadn't thought of the fact that ye'd be in danger if I left it with you. Was a stupid mistake, really," he concluded. I was almost speechless…almost.

"Then why in the world did you give it to me in the first place?" I practically shouted. I don't think he was exactly prepared for it.

"It was an impulse! I figured it'd be safe from harm's way since nobody knew about you. Plus, I knew ye'd never give it away," he smiled devilishly.

"And just what made you assume that?"

"Ye loved me, darling." I felt my face grow hot. So he did know.

"And now I can't begin to remember why." I felt the tears sting the corners of my eyes. I fought them back this time, but I probably wouldn't be able to do it again. I was humiliated. And furious! How could he do this? Take advantage of my emotions that way. He suddenly grew serious.

"I'm sorry, love. That was a stupid thing to say. I jus' mean that I trusted you, tha's all." He tried to cover himself.

"No. No, you didn't. You meant that I was a naïve, cock-eyed little girl who made the mistake of falling for a pirate. You can have your damned medallion, it's on a chain around Brianna's neck." His eyebrows rose again.

"Why the hell did ye trust it to the lass?" His voice began to rise with his eyebrows. I bit my lip, staring at the ground. He paused in thought, then a bitter smile formed its way across his lips, and he began to laugh. "I see where this is going. I get it. What d'ye want?"

"What…what are you talking about?" He raised a chiding finger to me.

"Apparently I'm not the only one who can put on a good act here. 'Oh Jack, the girl is yours. We spent a few passionate weeks together and I was left with child. Can't you see the resemblance?'" He mocked cruelly in a high-pitched voice. This time, there was no hiding my tears. One slid down my cheek, and I wiped it away furiously. "D'ye really think this is the first time a woman has claimed to 'ave me child, hoping to guilt me into relinquishing some of my rightfully stolen plunder?" He laughed cynically. "I must admit, ye 'ad me going for a while. Brilliant act, really. Couldn't have pulled it off better meself. And I don't impress easily." His expression was smug as he applauded despicably.

"You're right," I told him, refusing to meet his eyes. He smiled.

"I'm always right. So, whose is she really? She even yours?"

"I meant you're right, we'll be getting off at the next port." My voice was cold, almost as cold as my eyes as they bored into his. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Thank you so much for your hospitality Jack, you can have your medallion back. Now, kindly get out." My voice was a furious whisper.

"Love, I—"

"I said, get OUT!" I demanded, and had I not known better, I thought I detected guilt in his expression. But I did know better. He then retreated, closing the door behind him. I buried my face in my hands. In the security of solitude, I let the tears fall freely in anguished sobs. How could I have fallen in love with someone so cold, so cruel? It had all been such a joke. And I was the punch line. I was caught up in this fantasy of taming the untamable. I'd been arrogant, naïve, and just plain stupid enough to believe that I was special enough to offer him what others couldn't. I knew better now. I'd learned my lesson the hard way. Jack Sparrow was incapable of loving anything except his ship, his rum, and himself. He made that painfully obvious.

When my tears finally subsided, I rose slowly, putting the weight on my good leg. Limping over to a small table, I saw that Jack had left some water. I scooped some into my hands and splashed it over my face, now stiff from tears. I let the cool runnels glide down my face and neck, then removed my bandana, patting my face dry. As I tied it back around my unruly mass of dark hair, Brianna opened the door slowly. "Come in, darling," I told her. She ran to me, hugging me around the waist. I smoothed her hair lovingly, then knelt to look her in the eyes. "Are you alright?" I asked, deathly serious. She nodded quickly. I sighed. "Darling, I have to take your necklace. It belongs to Jack, and he needs it back," I tried to explain. She took a few steps back, pulling the medallion from under her shirt and cradling it lovingly, just as I had before I placed it around her neck for the first time.

"But I've had it since the day I was born you said! Please don't take it!" I frowned tiredly.

"I know, and I'm sorry, I really am. But it's very important Jack gets it back. I'll get you a new necklace as soon as we find somewhere to live, alright?"

"Let 'er keep it," Jack slurred, having returned to the doorway. I rose cautiously.

"Brianna, go on deck and get some fresh air while I talk to Jack," I told her. She nodded obediently, scurrying out of the cabin.

"It'll be quite some time before we get to the next port," he told me. I kept my face in check, remaining expressionless.

"Then we'll be leaving,"

"Don't," he said quickly. His tone surprised me, as it almost seemed to plead with me. "I mean, you can't," he corrected himself, gesturing to my ankle. "I can't allow you to leave, not with your injuries. You said yourself ye got nothing. Plus, ye can barely walk, love. I'm sorry I said those things. I…" he waved his hand. I knew apologies were not something one often heard from Jack Sparrow. "I guess I forgot how it was back then."

"You can't forget something if it was never true. You couldn't have loved me." His eyes were so dark and mysterious. He was expressionless, unreadable.

"And you did love me? I'm s'posed to believe tha'? Drop it already. There was no appeal to the fact that I was one o' the richest pirates in the Caribbean? He had nothing, and ye had to support yourself. I'm not blaming you, I woulda done the same thing. I guess I—" I was too furious to let him utter another single word.

"How…dare you? How dare you? Maybe that's the way you operate, Jack Sparrow! I've kept my mouth shut long enough. I'm sick of pretending you didn't hurt me. I loved you, Jack! Stupidly enough, I loved you! Doesn't that mean anything, even to you? I finally see you again, and now you're looking me in the eyes, trying to accuse me of sleeping with your for the money? What kind of man are you? How did I ever love you? You are a cruel, selfish, arrogant wretch who stomps on anyone it takes to get what you want!" My voice was at a virulent shout at this point, yet he remained expressionless. If anything, there was a look of relief, almost mild amusement, across his face.

"Finally," he mumbled. My eyes were wide, completely dumbfounded. He seemed to be enjoying this. I was breathing heavily.

"What the bloody hell does THAT mean?" I practically screamed.

"Finally you come out and say it. I didn't mean wha' I said jus' now, love. But since the second I saw you conscious on me ship yesterday, I knew ye needed to get it off your chest. I was starting to think ye never would. Ye looked completely tortured. So I did something 'bout it." My mouth was agape, and I was at a complete loss. To my dismay, a fresh tear rolled down my check.

"Why would you do that?" I asked in total disbelief.

"I told you…I knew ye needed it." He smiled slightly, almost cautiously. "I have a very keen intuition when it comes to the female species," he added cheekily. I looked to the ceiling as if hoping my tears would sink back into my eyes. He took that opportunity to approach me, embracing me warily…and rather uncomfortably, I gathered from the tightness of his muscles. I linked my arms around him, placing my head on his shoulder. To my disgust, I realized I liked the feeling. Quite a lot, actually. As a few more tears trickled out of my eyes, I felt him loosen slightly, and he pulled away gently. "I'm truly sorry. An' it takes a lot for me to say that, you probably know," he mumbled grudgingly. I attempted a smile. "Does this mean ye'll be staying for a while?" I nodded, not sure the lump in my throat would allow me to speak just yet. He handed me a handkerchief from the folds of his sash. His face was writ with rather apparent discomfort. "Jus' promise me ye won't be doing the crying thing anymore," he grimaced. In spite of myself, I laughed.

"You asked for it," I giggled, my breaths sporadic from the crying. He grinned, turned, and left. This man was truly unpredictable. Reluctantly, I had to admit to myself what was true: he really was a good man. I apologized mentally for thinking otherwise. But it hadn't changed the fact that he hurt me more deeply than any other person in my life ever had. And I was no stranger to pain. But it was time to finally move on.

I limped onto the deck into the sensationally warm sun, inhaling deeply. It was refreshing. Placing my hands on the railing, I stared out into the seemingly endless sea. I suddenly felt an indescribable feeling of belonging that I had never experienced before. Quite frankly, it felt nice. I closed my eyes against the wind, until I was startled by the screeches of a rather unpleasant monkey. I turned to find Brianna, hand-in-hand with a blonde woman. She was slightly shorter than me, very slender, and her wavy blond locks were so blond they almost looked white. She was very pretty, but her eyes were…in a word, haunting. They were silvery-gray with a hint of blue, and they most clearly resembled the sky before a violent storm. I had a feeling this woman had known true pain in her lifetime. Despite my assumption, she smiled pleasantly.

"Don't let him startle you. He's cursed," she explained, referring to the monkey now swinging on a nearby rope. "I've been watching your daughter while you've been recovering. I hope that's alright." I smiled back.

"It's more than alright. I'm extremely grateful. Thank you. I'm Claire." I held out my hand.

"Leah. It's a pleasure." She spoke in a smooth, whispery voice. She seemed to have a pleasant personality. I had a feeling we could be very good friends. Brianna was smiling. I held out my arms to embrace her, and she came quickly.

"Don't leave me anymore, Mommy," she pleaded.

"Not really anywhere for me to go, darling," I smiled, referring to the ocean currently surrounding us on all sides. She giggled.

"You must be starving. Can I bring you down to the galley?" Leah asked me. I suddenly realized how empty my stomach felt.

"Yes, that'd be wonderful. Thank you." I clutched Brianna's hand, and we headed to get something to eat.

"How long have you been on the Pearl, Leah?" I asked her. She thought for a moment.

"We're nearing four years now. Jack's crew found me on Landrene Island. It's a port similar to Tortuga. Just not quite as large, nor as famed. I was hurt from a bar scuffle, apparently much like yourself," she smiled.

"I've heard of Landrene Island. I've been working as a barmaid in Tortuga the past few years. We've had a lot of people come in who spoke of connections to Landrene Island." We chatted casually over lunch. Leah seemed like a wonderful person, and I was glad to have another woman on board to talk to.

"So, how do you know Jack exactly?" she inquired. I paused for a moment, thinking how exactly to word my response. Brianna had gone back on deck to play with Cotton's parrot and Jack (the monkey version).

"We were…close…nearly six years back. He was staying in Tortuga for a while, right after he'd gotten the Pearl back. He came into the Rusty Tankard, the bar I worked at, and we got to know each other. He left suddenly one night though, and that was the last time I saw him before he rescued me." She had probably detected the slight and indisguisable sadness in my voice, deciding not to press me any further on that particular subject.

"How old is Brianna? She's so sweet. Smart, too." I smiled.

"Thank you. She learned it all on her own, I can tell you that!" I laughed self-deprecatingly. "She's a month past five." She nodded, then paused in thought. I had said too much.

"You said…you said you and Jack were 'close' nearly six years ago…and you say Brianna is just over five?" I looked at the table, nodding. "Does that mean…Claire, is she Jack's?" I sighed in submission.

"Yes. He doesn't know though, Leah. Promise me you'll keep this between us?" She nodded sincerely.

"Not my place to tell," she promised. I sighed, in relief from both her promise, and the fact that somebody finally knew. However, worry began to creep into my mind. After all, I barely knew this woman. "You're the first person I've ever told, aside from my dearest friend Regina back home," I mused, suddenly overcome by a wave of guilt over never telling my friend, who had helped me through so much, that I was leaving. Leah smiled.

"Your secret is safe with me."