Belle woke up early the next morning and decided to lie in for a while because it was still dark outside. She turned over on her back and looked up at the ceiling, she thought about what had happened last night and suddenly remembered that Jack said he would give her fighting lessons today. She leaped out of bed, got her boots on and ran up out on deck. She saw the crew was already up and working.
"Gibbs!" she called running up to the helm where Gibbs was. "Where's Jack?"
"He's in the captains quarters" said Gibbs.
"Thanks" said Belle running back down the stairs and knocking on Jack's door.
"Come in" called Jack.
Belle opened the door and walked in. She found Jack looking over the maps again. When she saw him look up, he face lit up at the sight of her.
"Belle!" he cried happily, which made Belle smile as she walked over and sat down in the opposite chair to Jack. "What can I do for you?"
"You said that you would give me fighting lessons today," said Belle simply.
"Your right I did!" said Jack pointing a finger at Belle. "Meet me in the galley after breakfast and we'll start then."
"OK" said Belle, who then jumped up out of her chair and left the room.
After breakfast was over Belle stayed behind when everyone else left. After waiting about ten minutes Jack appeared. Belle stood up and Jack threw her a sword, which she amazingly caught.
"Ready?" asked Jack walking towards her. Belle nodded. "You're being taught by the best here you know," said Jack. Belle just laughed.
"So what's first?" asked Belle.
"I'll think we will work on some basic blocking and parrying first, then disarming and then we will work on footwork which is the most difficult," said Jack as if it were simple. Belle looked slightly nervous. "You look nervous now."
"Do I?" asked Belle who sounded nervous.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. So blocking and parrying…"
It was now sunset in the Caribbean and Jack and Belle had finished their lessons for the day. Jack thought that she was a quick learner, just like he was when he was taught how to fight with a sword. She had mastered the blocking and parrying quite quickly and had managed to disarm Jack at one point. Her footwork wasn't quite there yet but it would eventually.
"You did well today," said Jack when they were both sitting at the table in the galley.
"Really?" asked Belle.
"Aye! You're a fast learner, just like I was when I was learning to sword fight."
"You sure you're not just saying that to be nice?"
"Belle, you disarmed me on your first day of learning, I've never known anyone to do that! Not even me!"
Belle couldn't help but smile. "Like father like daughter" said Belle.
"Yes I guess you could say that," said Jack smiling.
"Captain!" yelled Gibbs from the doorway.
"Yes Gibbs" said Jack looking round at him.
"We've got company," said Gibbs.
Jack looked confused. So him and Belle got up and went to see what was going on. Jack saw a great huge ship with white sails next to the Pearl, he saw the name The White Flag written on the side. They lowered the gangplank and Jack's heart almost stopped when he saw who was walking across it: Barbosa.
"Get off my ship" said Jack angrily.
"You mean my ship" said Barbosa as he stepped of the gangplank on to the Pearl.
"It's not your ship!" said Jack who was getting angrier by the second.
"Yes it-"
"No it's not!" said Belle loudly from behind Jack. Jack and Barbosa both looked round at where the voice came from.
"Who's your little friend Jack?" said Barbosa evilly walking over to where Belle was standing but Jack stopped him.
"No one, she's no one important, just a member of the crew like everyone else" said Jack. But Barbosa just gave him a look that told him to get out of his way, which Jack did so.
"What's your name missy?" asked Barbosa.
"Belle" said Belle, she looked at Jack who shook his and gave her a look that said 'don't tell him you're my daughter'. "Just Belle."
"Well then, Belle, why are ye on the Pearl?" said Barbosa.
"Um, Jack had a um, a spare place on the Pearl, so um I asked if I um could come along and he said yes" said Belle who was almost shaking.
"That doesn't seem like Jack to give up a place on the Pearl that easily, especially to a young girl such as yourself," said Barbosa evilly while walking behind her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Belle confused.
"Well it means that he is capable of getting any girl he wants no matter how young, and just take advantage of them," said Barbosa walking back in front of her again.
"Really?" said Belle like she didn't believe a word of it. "Or are you just saying that because he is capable of getting any woman he wants and you're not?" said Belle. She saw Barbosa's face turn to one of evil.
"You best watch what you say missy, It would be a shame to a mark on the pretty neck of yours" said Barbosa coldly while running a thumb down the centre of her neck.
"I'll take my chances," said Belle coldly.
Barbosa turned back round again and walked over to stand opposite Jack. "I'll let you go today Jack, but that girl of yours might be useful for the goods, you know what I mean?" said Barbosa quietly so Belle couldn't hear.
This made Jack's blood boil with anger and hatred. "I'll be back for her," said Barbosa coldly as he turned around and stepped up on to the gangplank.
"You stay away from my daughter!" Jack blurted out loudly. Realising what he had just done he sighed and closed his eyes and looked at the floor.
Barbosa stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to find Jack staring at the ground over his mistake. "Your daughter eh?" said Barbosa cackling evilly who then crossed the gangplank on to the other ship. "I'll definitely be back, for your little girl too!" shouted Barbosa laughing at the same time.
Jack took his pistol out and aimed it at Barbosa's heart, he cocked the pistol and pulled the trigger but the bullet missed its aim and it hit Barbosa in the shoulder. Jack put the pistol back in his trousers and walked over to Belle who looked as if she was about to burst in to tears.
"It's all right sweetheart," said Jack as he hugged his daughter tightly.
"Don't let him take me" sobbed Belle in to Jack's shoulder.
"I won't. I promise," said Jack.
A few hours later Belle was lying wide awake staring at the ceiling of her cabin when there was a knock at the door. "Come in" she called. The door opened and she saw Jack standing in the doorway.
"I just came to see if you were all right," he said shutting the door and sitting at the end of the bed.
"I'm fine," said Belle tiredly. "Jack can I ask you a question?" she asked sitting up. Jack nodded.
"Was that Barbosa, the one you talking about back in Tortuga?" Jack nodded again. "OK, so why didn't you want him to know that I was your daughter?"
Jack sighed. "Barbosa is the type of pirate who uses people's weaknesses to get to his enemies, and if he knew you my daughter he would try and take you away from me."
"Oh" said Belle dumbly looking at the floor.
"I can't lose you Belle. Not now, I've only just found you" said Jack who looked as if he was about to cry himself.
He couldn't believe how much he had changed as a person since finding out Belle was his daughter. He had found himself to be a lot kinder and caring, he would always be like this around Belle and sometimes the crew but he would be his usual cocky and witty self around everyone else.
"Can I ask you a question?" asked Jack. Belle nodded. "Am I being a good father?"
Belle was quite surprised to hear that kind of question. "Why do you ask?"
"Well because for a pirate to find out they have a daughter who's seventeen years old and then try and be a good father is a big thing to take on" said Jack.
Belle thought about an answer to his question. He had been kind and loving like a father should be, been there for her when she's been upset and he's protected her in every way that he can. "Yeah, you are," she said. This made Jack happy and she knew this because a big smile appeared on his face.
"Good" said Jack standing up. "Goodnight" he said kissing Belle on the top of her head.
"Goodnight" she said back as he left the room.
Even though they had only known each other a couple of weeks they were as close as any father and daughter should be.