Oh my goodness, it has been a long time since I updated. I have found that life had gotten in the way of my writing for a while and when I came back to finish the story all of my work had gone. I am now trying to remember all that I had planned Josephine and Jack. I hope this chapter is worthy of my efforts. Please review if you can to let me know how I am doing.

On with the story.

Chapter 4

"Well dear William, are you still practising 3 hours a day or do you no longer feel the need for such a pastime?"

"Why don't you tell me?" Will said before turning quickly. The tip of the sword he was working on just millimetres away from Jacks throat.

"Is that any way to treat an old friend?" Jack said swallowing hard.

"It is when said friend sneaks up on me after being away for months with no word to say that he is safe."

"I'm safe." Jack said spreading his hands with a small grin. He then looked down at the sword and back up at Will. "Well I was."

"Jack!" Will said with a laugh. He lowered the sword and set it down. "When did you get back? You are going to stay for a while aren't you? What are you doing here? Why didn't you write?"

"One question at a time mate," Jack grinned, "Don't let it go to your head when I say that you are the first person I've seen since we docked."

"Could that be because I am the only person who would be glad to see you?" Will said returning the grin.

"Below the belt mate."

"Though I dare say Elizabeth will be equally delighted, if not disappointed that I got to see you before she did."

"I'm sure she will come to terms with it in time, "Jack said, throwing an arm across Will's shoulders. "So, what's for dinner?"

"From what I remember of your appetite, rum."

Jacks laugh could be heard all the way out of the door.

"Elizabeth, I'm home," Will called out as Jack closed the door behind him.

"you're home early." Her reply could be heard from somewhere above them. "Jack!" She exclaimed, appearing at the top of the stairs. "How wonderful to see you." She then stopped and looked at him suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"You know me too well love," Jack said.

"Well, let me fix us some drinks and you can tell us all about your adventures."

Once they were settled in the drawing room Elizabeth turned to Jack. "So, what trouble are you in this time and what can we do to help?"

"First, I have a question that I must ask you. What do you know of an Edward Matterson?

Will and Elizabeth exchanged looks before stating that they have never heard of him.

"Come now Elizabeth, there must be something in those books of yours," Jack said leaning forward. "What about Josephine Bell? Her fathers name is Charles. Please Elizabeth, this is important."

"Wait," she said closing her eyes. "I do remember something." She screwed up her face in concentration. "It was a long time ago, when I was still a child. It was when I first came to Port Royal and I met Will. Josephine was a quiet girl. She was hardly ever seen without one particular boy. Eddie, she called him. Then one day he disappeared and never came back. It was about 6 months after that that her mother died. Josephine became withdrawn. Then one day she too disappeared. I suppose her father took her away to make a fresh start, although I don't know where. It's been a long time since I thought of her. Too long. Will reached out to take her hand in his and Elizabeth smiled at the small gesture.

"Eddie you say?" Jack muttered, playing with the twin braids at his chin. "No doubt short for Edward. The question is, is it the same one?"

"What's all this about?" Will asked. "Why did you want to know about Josephine Bell?"

Jack then told them everything. From when he found her by the wreck, to when he left her on his ship near on an hour ago.

"And she doesn't remember anything?

"Not about herself anyway. " At their puzzled look he went on. "She seems to have quite the knowledge where pirates are concerned."

"But that doesn't make any sense. Why remember that but not who she is?" Will asked.

"I don't know lad. I don't know where this Eddie comes into it either, but I'm sure as hell going to find out."

"And she's on your ship right now?" Elizabeth asked.

"That is correct."

"Take me to her."

"What?" Jacks expression looked like it was the last thing he was expecting her to say.

"Oh come on Jack. You didn't think you could tell us all that and not expect me to want to see her did you? And why did you leave the poor girl there all by herself anyway?"

"For her own protection. You would understand had you been there in Tortuga. Come on then," Jack said with a sigh, "I'll take you to see her."

As he got up he was horrified to see that he hadn't even touched his rum. Picking up the tankard, he drained it's contents without stopping for breath and wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve. "Shall we?" He asked, making for the door.

"So," Will said, struggling to keep up with the pirate. "Where are you docked this time Sparrow?"

"That would be telling," Jack grinned over his shoulder.

He stopped at a small row boat and gestured for them to get in. As the rounded the cliffs they saw The Pearl looming above them, as intimidating as ever.

"Josie's in my cabin," Jack said once they had climbed aboard.

Deciding to give her plenty of warning, Elizabeth knocked then paused before letting herself in. When Josephine heard the knock she looked up from the book, slightly disappointed her moment of solitude had been intruded upon. She was most surprised to see a woman, other than Anamaria, enter the cabin.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, " she said. "My name is Elizabeth and I'm a friend of Jack's. You must be Josephine."

"Yes," she replied. "At least I believe so."

"Please don't worry," Elizabeth said. "Jack has explained everything to me. Please don't be embarrassed."

"Thank you," Josie said with a sigh. "You have no idea how maddening it is, not knowing anything about yourself except a name."

"It must be terrible for you. But you are in good hands with Jack. He may be a pirate, but he is a good man. He will keep you safe until your memory returns and you can go home. Actually," Elizabeth said a little hesitantly, "I suppose you aren't aware that you used to live here?"

"Really?" Josephine exclaimed, as though the woman sat before her was the key to unlocking her entire past. "I lived here? In Port Royal?"

"Yes, about 10 years ago. I actually sort of knew you. Not all that well. What I mean is, we weren't close or anything. You used to spend most of your time in the company of a boy called Eddie."

'Eddie,' Josephine thought. 'The boy from my vision'. "Tell me more," she pleaded. "Tell me everything you know."

There isn't much more to tell," Elizabeth said. "Like I said, I didn't really know you that well. The only person you ever spent any time with was Eddie. You were quiet, but seemed…content."

Josephine smiled.

"You didn't mix with other children until after Eddie left."

"He left?" Josie asked, nervously picking at a fingernail. "Why did he leave?"

"I'm not sure. I think it may have had something to do with his father. I don't remember him ever being there. Eddie lived with his mother. But one day a ship arrived at Port Royal and the day the ship sailed was the same day Eddie disappeared."

"But how do you know it was his father?" Josie asked, desperately hoping her vision wasn't real.

"After he left you began to receive letters. Once a month or so I would see you sat alone reading them. I am ashamed to say that I overheard you once, reading out loud. I don't remember exactly what was said in the letter, it was such a long time ago. But I do know that it was about the life he had with his father."

"So, after Eddie left, did you and I ever speak?"

"Once or twice, but that was only to exchange pleasantries." Elizabeth explained. "I tried to get you to spend some time with Will and myself but you wouldn't."

"Who is Will?" Josie asked.

"He was my best friend as a child. We married a year ago." Elizabeth said blushing slightly. He is up on deck talking to Jack right now."

"I should like to meet him."

"And so you shall," Elizabeth said smiling.

"Did Eddie ever come back?" Josie asked, wanting to know as much as she could before they were interrupted.

"Not to Port Royal. But then about 6 months after he left, so did you."

"I left too? Where did I go?"

"No one knew," Elizabeth said with an apologetic look. "One day you were there, the next, all that was left was an empty house."

"But why? There must be a reason why I left so quickly."

"I'm not sure I'm the right person to tell you," Elizabeth said, feeling increasing uncomfortable.

"You must," Josie cried. "You are the only person who can tell me. I do not know anyone else. Please Elizabeth, you must tell me what you know. I am begging you.

"Very well. There was a… misfortune. You became withdrawn. I hardly saw you outside, and when I did it was clear that you did not wish to be seen. Your father, he must have thought it best to take you away, to make a new start."

"What new start? What misfortune? Elizabeth please, stop stalling," Josie pleaded.

Elizabeth just looked at her for a moment, the sadness evident in her eyes. "Your mother," she said eventually. "The fever took her. I am so very sorry Josephine."

Josephine sat there for a moment before her eyes began to fill with tears. Jumping from the bunk, Elizabeth flew to the door and threw it open. "Jack, we need rum."

"What do you want my rum for?" He asked looking horrified.

"I've just told the poor girl about her mother. Now get me that rum or so help me I will throw each and every crate overboard." And she turned to go back inside to take the sobbing woman into her arms.

Moments later Will entered carrying two mugs of rum. He placed them on the floor next to the bunk and paused to give Elizabeth's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he left.

Once he had gone, Josephine sat up straight and Elizabeth bent down to retrieve the mugs from the floor. "Drink this," she said, handing one of them to Josie. "It will help to calm you."

"Thank you," she said, accepting it gratefully.

"Has Jack given you any of this before?" Elizabeth asked, taking a sip from her own mug.

"Yes, she replied. "On my first day aboard. I found it a little too strong for my taste though."

"Only the best for Jack. Unfortunately, what Jack considers the best also happens to be the strongest. Try a little, it will help."

She watched as Josie raised the mug to her lips and took a sip. Patting her on the back until her coughing subsided before continuing. "Would you like to talk about it?" She asked.

"What is there to talk about? I don't remember anything about her. I don't remember if her hair was red like mine or if our hands were the same. How am I expected to grieve for someone I do not know? If only I had a picture." Josie sighed. "The picture!" She exclaimed jumping up from the bunk and flying over to the desk. "Where is it?" She asked herself, rifling through all the maps and spare pieces of parchment all over the desk top. Finally finding what she was looking for, she slowly walked back over to Elizabeth. "It's a portrait. Jack said they found it among my belongings they rescued from the sea the day I was brought aboard. I don't even know if it was mine. It could have belonged to anyone that was on board that ship. I believe that was my mother," she said showing the portrait to Elizabeth.

"She was very beautiful."

"Yes, she was. How old was I? When it happened?"

"You must have been about sixteen."

"And you said it happened about ten years ago? That would make me twenty six, although I shall not know for certain until my memory returns. How old are you Elizabeth? If you don't mind my asking?"

"Not at all. I am twenty one."

Without warning Josie burst into tears again. "What am I going to do? I want to go home, but how am I to do that when I don't even know where home is?"

"I don't know," Elizabeth said consolingly. "But Jack will find a way, I promise. Drink a little more of the rum and try to get some rest, you will feel better after some sleep.

As Josephine's sobs died down she continued to sip the rum, and although she was still in obvious distress she could feel it warm her, forcing her to become calmer. It wasn't too long before she felt her eyes slip closed and she lay on the bunk drifting off into an uneasy slumber. Seeing that Josephine had fallen asleep, Elizabeth gently covered her with a blanket and quietly left the cabin. When Will saw her, he left Jack's side and hurried over to her.

"How is she?" He asked her.

"Asleep for now," Elizabeth replied.

"That would be the rum," Jack stated proudly, as though he was the sole creator of said beverage.

"She should be asleep for a few hours maybe longer if my first experience with rum is anything to go by," Elizabeth said with a small smile.

Jack didn't wish to remember that particular day and the demise of his beloved stash.

To be continued…

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