Chapter 2

The Black Pearl

"Hale aft the sheets boy!" yelled Mr. Gibbs to Johnny Turner, "Grab that line and heave".

Johnny grabbed the rope behind Mr. Gibbs and helped to raise the sails. When most of the hard heaving was through he glanced over to the helm of the ship to see Captain Jack Sparrow gesticulating wildly while the strange girl stood with her hands on her hips.

"That girl," Johnny said to Gibbs, "Who is she?"

Gibbs turned to look, "Oh that be Margot".

"Is she the Captain's lady then?" asked Johnny.

Gibbs let out a loud laugh, "The Captain's lady? Oh don't be telling Margot you said such. She be the Captain's daughter. Margot Sparrow".

"He allows his daughter on board a pirate ship?" Johnny was incredulous.

"Oh I'd like to see him try and stop her I would. Lad, Margot be as stubborn as an ox. Jack can't control the lass".

Johnny stared back to the feuding father and daughter just in time to see Margot punch Jack in the stomach. Jack bent over in pain as Margot smirked, patted him on the back, and strolled off.

"Mind the line boyo," warned another pirate in front of Gibbs as the rope jerked out of Johnny's hands.

"Told you she be a handful," laughed Gibbs as he handed the end of the rope to Johnny and wandered over to talk to Jack.

"But what a beautiful handful," murmured Johnny staring at her as she climbed the rigging.

"Don't be thinking inappropriate thoughts about Margot now," commented the pirate in front of him, "Lest they be yer last".

"Sparrow protective of his daughter then?" Johnny raised his eyebrow.

"That's Cap'n Sparrow to ye. And it's Margot who be protective of herself. Just ask Smitty. That lad will never father children," the pirate shook his head sadly.

Johnny laughed as they belayed the line. They stepped away as the ship was finally ready to set sail.

"Good work men!" roared Jack Sparrow.

The men roared back and then started singing shanties as they finished up the work on deck.

"Cap'n wants to see you," said Mr. Gibbs patting Johnny on the back, "Good work with the sheet lad".

Johnny nodded and headed over to Jack who was staring at a compass. He cleared his throat and Jack glanced up, "There you are Turner. You be wanting to hear about your parents?"

Johnny opened his mouth in surprise, stuttering, "Ye…Aye".

Sparrow grinned, "Aye, well you'll dine with me in my cabin tonight. But first, swab the decks".

He pointed to a bucket and a rag. Johnny sighed and grabbed the rag, dunking it in the bucket and began to wash the deck.

Margot was up in the crow's nest again, watching Johnny Turner.

The Turners. The stories her mother used to tell her. And now to find out her father had been lying? He certainly had some explaining to do.

She continued to stare at Johnny Turner, damn his handsome eyes. She kept clear of pirates generally. She saw what unrequited love had done to her mother. And she wasn't about to settle down with a pirate from her father's crew. But Johnny Turner sure was a…

"Bonny lad," commented Weebles as he climbed into the crow's nest, startling Margot.

"Pardon?"

"That Johnny Turner. Ye be staring hard at him," smirked Weebles knowingly.

"I don't know what you're talking about Weebles," Margot stiffly replied, turning on her heel and scurrying down the rigging.

She hopped on deck and suddenly her feet slipped out from under her. She braced herself, prepared for the hard deck when suddenly she was wrapped in strong arms.

"Watch your step," his breath tickled her ear and she shivered.

He set her straight and she whirled around angrily, "What did I say about minding your hands?"

Johnny held up his hands in mock surrender, "Sorry. Next time you can fall flat on your arse".

Margot glared, advancing on him, "I wouldn't have slipped if you were better at swabbing you lubber".

Johnny glowered back at her and she pushed past him, "What no thank you?"

Johnny heard a chuckle behind him and turned to see Mr. Gibbs watching him, "You sure do get that lass's knickers in a twist faster than the entire crew put together".

"Believe me. I have no effect whatsoever on her knickers. She's a menace," muttered Johnny as he finished swabbing the deck.

Jack Sparrow's Cabin

Jack poured Margot a glass of rum, "Drink this love. What's gotten you all in a tizzy?"

"Nothing Da," Margot downed the glass of rum in one gulp.

"So that's where all the rum's gone," murmured Jack, pouring himself a drink.

Margot sighed, "So let's have these honest tales then".

There was a knock at the door and Sparrow opened it admitting Johnny Turner.

"Did I mention we have a guest for supper?" said Jack as he caught Margot's glare.

Margot opened her mouth to respond and Jack shoved another glass of rum at her, "Sit down mate. Don't mind Margot. She's all bark".

Johnny raised his eyebrows, "That's not what Smitty claims".

"I still maintain that Smitty kicked himself in the…"

"Margot, drink your rum love," interrupted Jack.

Margot picked up her glass as Johnny sat at the table. Cook brought a steaming platter in and they all dug in to their meals with relish.

When they had finished and Jack had poured them after-dinner drinks he leaned back in his chair saying, "Time to tell you both a few tales".

Jack started with Barbossa's mutiny and told them all about Isla de Muerta. He then went on to describe Davy Jones and the Dead Man's Chest.

"Me and my ship were taken down by the Kraken into the depths of the ocean. Will and Elizabeth traveled to the end of the world to save me and resurrect The Black Pearl" continued Jack.

He finished by telling them about the adventure at World's End, "That was the last time I saw the Turners. I found out they had a son, and your father wrote me of Elizabeth's death. Soon after I met Sabine and had a daughter of my own, unbeknownst to me. Will disappeared a few years later and Old Weatherby sent me his last testament. Soon after, Sabine died and I found out about Margot".

"I was 10 years old," muttered Margot, "Mum always blamed the Turners for turning you heartless and keeping you from us".

Johnny looked offended and Jack sighed, "I know lass. But it was my own doing that kept me from Sabine. I'm a dishonest man. But that William Turner, now he was an honest man".

"And my father's will stipulated that you take care of me when my grandfather was no longer able," stated Johnny finishing off his rum.

"Aye. And your nefarious tendencies made that day come sooner rather than later," Jack shook his head.

"Nefarious tendencies?" Margot furrowed her brow.

"Aye love. You're looking at the Casanova of Port Royal," grinned Jack.

Margot laughed as Johnny shrugged his shoulders, "I can't help it. Women love me".

"So those are the honest tales then?" Margot asked and Jack nodded, "You owe the Turners your life. Mayhap you shouldn't be forcing their only son to swab the decks. Give him a real job".

As Johnny smiled at her in thanks she continued, "Besides, he's a terrible swabber".