Nine Months Later

It had been nearly nine months since Barbosa had made his threat to Belle but hadn't shown up. Jack wasn't taken any risks; he didn't care how long it would take Barbosa to come back, if he ever did. He would have several members of the crew on night watch every night even if it were to go on for the rest of their lives. Him and Belle were closer than ever now and he couldn't bare the thought of losing her.

"Jack, don't you think this whole Barbosa thing has passed over now? Do you really need half the crew on watch every night?" asked Gibbs with Jack at the wheel.

"No to the first and yes to the second" said Jack simply.

"But is it really necessary?" asked Gibbs.

Jack looked to his right towards Gibbs not seeing Belle climb to the top of the stairs and stand behind him. "Yes Gibbs it is necessary to have half the crew on watch every night, I'm not taking any risks. Barbosa could show up in fifty years time and half the crew will still be on watch every night, because I am not going to risk having the most precious thing in my life taken away from me. Not now" said Jack impatiently.

Gibbs had seen Belle standing behind Jack. "And what would be the most precious thing in your life Captain?" asked Gibbs, he wanted Belle to hear this for her own sake. Knowing her dad was a pirate, she still believed she wasn't the most important thing in his life.

"Well my daughter Belle of course!" said Jack as if it were obvious. He then saw Gibbs smile and look at something behind him. Jack looked round and saw Belle standing there.

"Did you really mean that?" said Belle walking over to stand next to Jack.

"Of course I did! Sweetheart, what kind of father would I be if I didn't?" said Jack putting an arm around Belle's shoulders.

"Not a very good one" said Belle smiling.

"Exactly! And I intend to be a good one" said Jack. He looked at Belle then he kissed the side of her head and hugged her and she gladly returned the hug.

"You do know it's my birthday next week?" said Belle sounding like Jack had forgotten.

"Of course I do! How could I forget that?!" said Jack. Jack knew very well it was her birthday and that she was going to be eighteen years old. On their last trip to Tortuga a month ago, Jack had made an order for a sword to be specially made for Belle.

"I'm just making sure you knew that's all," said Belle.

"Speaking about your birthday, what do you want because the crew want to get you something because we will be arriving in Tortuga tomorrow?" said Jack.

"Um, I don't know, I've never had a birthday present before," said Belle sadly looking at the floor.

"Never had a birthday present?" said Jack slightly shocked looking at his daughter. Belle shook her head and looked at her father who had a face of disbelief. "That's awful," said Jack.

"Is it?" asked Belle confused.

"Well you have no childhood toys or memories to hold on to. Now I know I'm a pirate, but I still remember getting birthday presents when I was little lad until I left my parents and went off and did me own thing. Now all I get is a barrel of rum from the crew every year" said Jack. He was then suddenly hit with an idea on what else he could get for her birthday.

One Week Later

It was the morning of Belle's birthday and Belle was the first one up. She sat up in her bed and the first thing she noticed was a load of presents in the corner, she got out of bed to get a closer look and saw things like children's books, little girls dolls and things such as ornaments. She suddenly felt like she wasn't the only one in the room. She looked behind her and saw Jack standing in the doorway.

"Was this your idea?" she asked.

"Well I missed out on seventeen years," said Jack.

Belle then counted the presents in front of her. "Seventeen years, seventeen presents" she said, almost in tears that Jack Sparrow, one of the most fearsome pirates in the Caribbean, who had turned out to be her father had come up with the idea to do such a thoughtful thing. She was quite overwhelmed by it. She stood up and walked over to Jack and hugged him. "Thank you" she said with tears falling down her cheeks now.

"You're welcome sweetheart," said Jack kissing the top of her head.

"So where is my eighteenth present?" asked Belle.

"Wait here," said Jack and he left the room and disappeared up stairs. A few minutes later he came back down.

Belle had noticed he had his hands behind his back and thought that he must be hiding something. "Where is it then?" said Belle.

"Now I know you like surprises, so close your eyes" said Jack. Belle could barely contain her excitement. "Now I really hope you like this" said Jack who sounded nervous now.

"I'm sure I will," said Belle who had closed her eyes.

"Hold both yours hands out," said Jack. Belle felt something metal like and cold on the palm of her hands. "Open your eyes."

Belle gasped when she saw the sword in front of her. It had a solid gold handle and silver blade. "Thank you" she squealed excitedly hugging Jack.

"Look at the handle," said Jack.

"Yes, it's solid gold."

"Look closer."

Belle looked closer at the handle and saw the initials B.S on it. She looked at Jack and smiled. "Belle Sparrow."

"And don't you forget it" said Jack. Belle started crying again and hugged Jack.

It was sunset now in the Caribbean and the entire crew, including Jack and Belle were on deck celebrating Belle's birthday. Belle and Jack were at the helm having a duel with Belle using her new sword. She had already disarmed Jack three times. He had to admit she was outstandingly good he even thought she was better than he was.

It was dark now and no one had noticed another ship wasn't that far behind them, it wasn't until Gibbs had shouted down from the helm. Jack ran to the side of the ship and saw the words The White Flag and recognised the ship to be Barbosa's from nine months ago.

"Pull the anchor!" yelled Jack. The other ship was only a few feet away. By the time the Pearl started moving, Barbosa was right next to the ship and he noticed it sailing away, he knew he wouldn't be able to catch up with it.

"I'm not having that bastard ruining my Belle's birthday" Jack said angrily more to himself than anyone.

"You can't run forever Jack!" Barbosa yelled pulling out his pistol and aiming it at Belle.

"NO!" yelled Jack running up behind Belle who had her back to Barbosa, and he wrapped his arms around her for protection. Jack felt something painful hit him in the shoulder and he yelled out in pain and fell to his knees with a hand over his shoulder.

"Jack!" yelled Belle kneeling down next to him. "What's wrong?"

"Captain, are you alright?" asked Gibbs running down the stairs. Jack shook his head. Gibbs saw him grabbing his shoulder and had seen that Jack had been shot. "He's been hit in the shoulder," said Gibbs. "Cotton help me lift him up, you too Belle."

The three of them lifted up Jack took him to his quarters and placed him on the bed.

"Now Belle, fetch me a bucket of water, a cloth and a bottle of rum" said Gibbs. Belle then disappeared out of the room and returned five minutes later with the three requested items. "Wait outside" Gibbs told Belle. She did as she was told without question and waited patiently by sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

An hour later Gibbs emerged from the quarters and Belle saw what looked like to be blood on his hands. "Is he going to be all right?" asked Belle who had worry written all over her face.

"He's going to be fine. I've taken the bullet out and bandaged up his shoulder all he needs now is to rest and he should be better in no time" said Gibbs wiping his hands with a cloth.

"OK good" said Belle with a sigh of relief. "Is it all right if I go and see him?"

"Yes, he wants to see you," said Gibbs walking up to the helm.

Belle opened the door gently in case Jack had gone to sleep, but instead found him sitting up looking out the window. "Jack," she said quietly not to startle him. He looked round at her and she saw a big smile appear on his face and she smiled back.

"Come in" he said gesturing for her to come over. She closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed opposite Jack. "Are you all right?"

"Yes I'm fine," said Belle. "More importantly, are you all right?" she asked.

Jack could see the worry in her face.

"I'll be fine, don't you worry about that. After all I am Captain Jack Sparrow!" he declared lifting up his arms, obviously forgetting about his bad shoulder. He winced from the pain and grabbed his shoulder.

"You need to rest," said Belle. "Thank you" she said hugging him gently so she wouldn't hurt him.

"For what?" he asked.

"For saving my life, by risking your own" she said looking at him, almost in tears.

"Just shows how much I love you," said Jack. And he saw Belle smile at him and he smiled back.

"Goodnight" she said getting up, but Jack managed to pull her back down.

"Goodnight" he said kissing the top of her head. And she left the room leaving Jack alone.

Jack did love his daughter, the minute he found out that she was, he would quite literally do anything for her and risking his life for her was one of them. He no doubt enjoyed being a father, he knew it was a big responsibility to take on and he found it easier then he thought he would and he enjoyed it a lot more than he thought he ever would.