Yay! I'm updating! I was getting boerd with all the un-update-ness.

Remember, Tacos make wonderful pets.

The moment I woke up, even before I opened my eyes, I knew that something was different. Not necessarily a bad thing, but different. I opened one eye warily, leaving the other still squeezed tightly shut.

Taking a look around, I could see nothing out of the ordinary. My room appeared to be swaying, rocking in the Caribbean waves. Sunlight streamed through my single round window, projecting a oval of light on my quilt. With my one eye I looked through the window at the clear blue sky. Perfected further by the fluffy white clouds floating along in a slight breeze

I told myself that the strange feeling was nonsense as I snuggled back down in to my bed and closed my eyes.

Suddenly my eyes flew open. I jumped out of bed and stood on the mangled bed-clothes to peer out the window. What I saw made me the happiest girl on earth.

The sky was a clear crystal blue, all traces of the storm were gone. Gulls circled the air, celebrating the much welcome sun.

I wasted not a second more. In a quick flourish I jumped off my bed and dove for the dresser. Reaching in side I pulled off my night gown and shoved my legs in to some trousers. I pulled on a white shirt, reaching for my boots at the speed of light. In only about two minutes I was out the door, my bandanna in my freshly groomed hair and my spirits high. I dashed down the hallway, almost missing the stairs. I tried my best to run up the bloody steps, falling many times. Finally I was there, standing in the sunlight.

I tipped my head back, allowing the sweet sun to fall over my face. I felt like screaming, or twirling, but then I remembered I was a pirate, among pirates, who would most likely throw me overboard if I so much as giggled.

Instead I satisfied myself with a sigh of pleasure, the first time I'd sighed in a while.

"Enjoying the warm weather?" came a casual voice from beside me.

I turned to see Harrison grinning down at me from his height advantage. Slung over his arm was a great length of rope, rolled in to a large loop.

I grinned.

"The sun sure is welcoming after four days of Hell." I replied.

Harrison smirked, "Hell because of the storm, or because I was avoiding you?"

I raised my eyebrows, placing a hand on my waist.

"Don't you have work to do?"

Harrison just grinned before turning and walking to who knows where.

I continued walking along the deck, making my way to the hull. As I passed the members of the crew I noticed that their spirits were most definitely in a better condition. Everyone just looked so much happier. It was like we were puppets, our emotions controlled by Mother Nature. I stood at the front of the Pearl, feeling the wind blow my hair back and the sun beat down, probably burning my skin. I took a deep breath of the salty sea air, holding it in my lungs for a while before letting it out slowly. I let my fingers run slowly over the rough wood of the rail, not caring in the least that tiny splinters were embedding themselves deeply in to the flesh of my palm. I had never felt more free, more alive. My biggest dream had come true, well not my biggest, my biggest dream was pushing a drunken Giselle down a flight of stairs, but hey, this wasn't at all bad.

I jumped a foot when all of a sudden a pair of muscular arms snaked themselves around my waist. All thoughts of Giselle falling to her fate were dissolved when Harrison pulled me closer to his bare chest, his breath tickling my ear.

"Don't you have work to do?" I mumbled in a voice barley above a whisper.

XxX

I looked at the closely approaching land. Tortuga was just ahead, the lights in the houses and shops making it look like a million candles on a lake. Far away it looked beautiful. How funny. I was exited to be docking , we had had to make an emergency stop here due to lack of provisions, but I was also dreading seeing the city. I had hoped never to see the Hell-Hole ever again. It was just a bunch of my childhood nightmares bundled up in to one city of grief. Why would I ever want to return to a place where there was such crime, such filth. A place with Drinking, Fighting, Giselle. . .and my siblings. I had betrayed them, left them to fend for themselves just as Giselle had done to me. The thought of poor Lindsey, walking through the streets among drunks and tramps infuriated and saddened me. I slammed my fist down on to the rail, ashamed when I felt tears spring to my eyes, and even more ashamed when I realized that the tears had nothing to do with my throbbing fist.

Harrison was beside me in a second. It was amazing how that boy managed to be wherever I needed him.

He looked at me, analyzing my face, his brow creased with worry. "Briar? What's wrong?"

I looked at him, knowing that he would do whatever it took to make me happy, and in an instant, I knew what I had to do.

"Harrison," I said grabbing his hand, "I need your help."

And with that, I pulled a very confused Harrison Gibbs below deck.

XxX

"You want to what!"

Harrison was sitting on my bed, trying to understand my psychopathic plan. Poor Poor Boy.

I looked at him, my brow furrowed, wondering how many times I was going to have to go through this. Hey, third time's the charm.

I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I want you to stay with the crew once we get in Tortuga, get them all nice and drunk, make them think up is down. I on the other hand need to slip away, check on my siblings, throw some snide remarks at Giselle and get back here before Jack and the others leave." I said all in one breath, "Will you help me?"

Harrison no longer looked confused, just amused.

"You are one strange lass."

"Was that a 'yes, you are one strange lass' or a 'no you are one strange lass'?" I asked biting my lip.

Harrison shook his head.

"That was a 'these are the times when I wonder if you are sane, you are on strange lass' but yes, I will help you." Harrison still looked worried.

"Relax," I told him. "I think I'm old enough to walk around Tortuga alone."

Harrison comprehended this before nodding in agreement.

I grinned extending my hand for Harisson to shake. Harisson stood and took my hand, but instead of shaking it he pulled me to himself, tilting his head ever so slightly to press his lips against mine.

XxX

I peeked out from behind the barrel I was using as a cover. I wasn't quite sure why I was hiding. It's not like anyone cared if I left. I guess it was mostly for fun. I made sure that all the crew was in the pub before turning and sprinting as fast as I could through the twisting and winding streets of Tortuga. I stopped only when a large cart threatened to flatted me if I moved another inch.

Finally I was in the ally where I hoped my mother still lived. I decided to go in the back way, not wanting to meet up with Giselle.

I looked through one of the many cracks in the door at the room Edward and Lindsey shared. I could see Lindsey, curled up in a ball sleeping. Her blonde hair fanned out like an angles. Her pale skin looked almost ghostly. I could see that she hadn't eaten well in a while. I couldn't believe that I was scared to go in. It was just that I had left them, I had abandoned them. How were they going to take it. I was about to open the door and step in when someone grabbed my forearms. I whirled around, ready to fight if necessary, only to come eye to nose with Harisson. I glared at him.

"You have got to stop doing that! And what are you doing! You're supposed to be with the crew." I was sincerely angry.

"Oh, calm down. Marty passed out, Pintel and Ragetti are talking about their clothes, and Jack is on his sixth bottle. I think we're fine." It was hard to stay angry at the smug smile on Harrison's face.

"What are you doing anyway?" I asked.

"I lied, your not old enough to be in Tortuga alone at night." Harrison shrugged his shoulders simply. I had to strongly resist the urge to stick out my tongue like a five year old.

Slowly, I stepped forward and pushed open the door. Lindsey moved in her sleep when the hinges let out a loud groan. I stepped inside, sensing Harrison closely behind me. I knelt next to Lindsey, shaking her shoulder softly to awaken her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching. When she opened her eyes, she looked very confused to see me.

"Bwiaw?" she said groggily, still half asleep. He gaze moved from me t Harrison. Her eyes widened and she began screaming when she saw him. Way to go Lindsey, scream when you see a strange man. Good Girl.

"Shh, Shh," I tried soothing her with no avail.

I heard footsteps running down the hall way. Harrison looked at me worriedly.

"Just Edward." I said, not worried. Even so, Lindsey's shrieks were getting annoying. Harrison seemed to feel the same way. He clamped his hand over her mouth, shutting her up.

"Lindsey," I said in a calm voice, "It's me, Briar, this is Harrison, he's ok. Calm down"

Lindsey stopped struggling and Harrison removed his hand from her mouth. Fear and uncertainty were still present in Lindsey's eyes though.

Edward burst in to the room, hands balled in to fists, face angry, ready to kill whoever was messing with his sister. It relieved me to see that Edward was taking care of her. Edward relaxed when he saw me and a smile crossed his face.

"Briar!" He cried, running over and allowing himself to be embraced in a hug.

We sat there on the dirty floor, sharing what had happened since I'd been gone, for hours. Finally Harrison nudged me, his expression telling me that it was time to go. Sadly I said my good-byes, giving hugs and kisses to both Edward and Lindsey.

I stepped out the door, shivering with a cool breeze. I tried to keep the tears that were forming in my eyes from overflowing. Harrison seemed to sense my sadness because he simply squeezed my hand. We turned a corner and I came face to face with a bayonet. I turned around but they were surrounding us. British soldiers, their crisp uniforms standing out among the bleak sky. They had trapped us. We were surrounded in a circle of the guns.

Harrison wrapped his arms around me, protecting me in his strong arms. A lone figure stepped out of the fog that was just beginning to seep in form the sea.

He spoke in a low but athorative voice.

"You are hereby arrested for crimes of piracy by the British army. . ."

Uh-Oh, this cannot be good! Hey you guys, I'm going on Vacation starting today so don't expect any writing from me for a week. We get back I think either Sunday or Monday so I guess you will just have to deal. However, being greeted with reviews may just inspire me to update soon. . .just a thought. . .