Author Note: Sorry this chapter took so long to update. I've been really busy lately what with the bazillion essays in three different classes I had to do and prom on May 3rd (which was completely marvy and fabtastic, by the way) . I promise I'll try not to take a million years to update the next chappy, but high school in Kansas at the end of the year is quite insane. Also, part of my lateness might have been laziness on my part as well; I can't seem to get motivated at the end of the school year. I just have far too many things to look forward to when school gets out. First I'm going to Florida for two weeks (Disney world anyone?) and then I'm going to see family in Kentucky (they have the most horrid mosquitoes there; they're like vampirized mosquitoes) and I can't wait to get on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to see how it's changed (I still wish they hadn't done that, but, oh well). Anyway, I've been rambling on about nonsense for far too long and I'm sure everyone just wants to read this chapter now. ¡Adios mí amigos! (goodbye as well)

"You. . . saw who I was?" Davy asked, suddenly looking at the girl closely for the first time.

"Mama said it was my gift; being able to see things that other people can't" Michaela replied.

"And what are you not telling me about this gift?" Davy asked.

"Well, there are a few other things, but I'm not sure how to explain them, you see. I don't even really know what all I can do, but mama always told me to practice using my gifts so I could get really good at using them without having to concentrate so hard" Michaela replied, her little brow furrowing in thought.

"Think about it then" Davy said, a bit of amusement in his voice that surprised both of them. Michaela couldn't help but giggle at his odd behavior, which somehow brought a smile to the grim pirate's face. Michaela then thought about her explanation for several minutes, and the whole while her hand was lightly tapping the side of Davy's claw. When she finally gave an exasperated sigh, Davy had almost fallen asleep and it surprised him.

"I think the best way to describe it, is that I feel things, hear things, and see things around me that other people don't notice. Sometimes I can hear peoples' thoughts, and sometimes I hear the wind, or the water, or the plants telling me things. I don't always understand what they're saying, but I can still hear them. I don't know how else to explain it" she replied.

"Your soul is in tune with the earth and all her secrets" Davy said, staring not at her face, but at the stark yet beautiful difference between her small hands and his large, crude claw. Looking down at that beautiful little girl, Davy was unhappily confronted with how much of a monster he was. He was the most feared man on the sea, yet this darling child had opened up her heart to him as if that fact didn't matter to her at all. Against his better judgment, Davy had to admit to himself that he'd begun to care about her, and almost wished that he was her father instead of Sparrow. A huge welling of anger filled him when he thought about Sparrow now. Any man who would abandon the woman he claimed to love, was not fit to be called a man.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Michaela asked suddenly, looking away as if she was embarrassed about something. Davy nodded.

"Mama once told me that my home wasn't really in Port Royal; she said the sea was my true home, that I would always feel safe here. She also called me princess when we didn't have any company. I always wondered why she did that, and now I think it has something to do with the sea being my home" Michaela said.

"Lots of parents call their daughters princess, I'm sure. What was so strange about your mother calling you princess?" Davy asked, frowning slightly.

"It was the way she said it; like I really was a princess instead of her just using it as a nickname. And now that I think about it, I never really knew that much about mama; I only knew as much as everyone else in town and that wasn't very much. Mama was very mysterious to the town folk; they were always uncomfortable around her and she was uncomfortable around them. The only times she was open and talkative was when she had sailors over for supper and they would all sit in the garden talking about life on the sea" Michaela said.

"You sound as if you enjoyed listening to them" Davy commented.

"I loved hearing their stories, and after supper I would often go down to the beach and play pirates with the boys who lived nearby. We'd always end up playing 'catch the wave' where everyone would take turns seeing how close to open water they could get; I always won that game 'cause I wasn't afraid of the water like the boys were" she replied, grinning broadly. Davy nodded.

"Where is your mother now?" he asked.

"I don't know. Everyone said she died, but I think maybe she just disappeared" Michaela replied, frowning slightly.

"Perhaps she went to the place she refers to as your 'true' home" Davy said.

"Hey, Davy. Can I really stay with you if my papa won't keep me?' Michaela asked quietly. Davy chuckled.

"Of course you can, Kay" Davy replied. Michaela gave him a relieved smile, then sighed. Then she got up on her knees to wrap her arms around his neck in a hug. Davy surprised himself by hugging her back tightly. He was unused to this kind of affection, but he didn't want it to end. He'd been deprived of love for so long that he'd forgotten what it felt like, yet he vaguely remembered that forgetting had been the whole point. As Michaela pulled away, she stopped to whisper in Davy's ear.

"I'll always be your friend, Davy Jones, no matter where fate may lead us. I won't ever forget you" she said.