I looked up to see a face I was sure I'd never forget. This man had skin tanned from sun exposure. His hair was long, dark, and twisted like dreadlocks. His beard matched the darkness of his hair and was braided into two minute braids. He gave off an air of eccentricity that I found very interesting. Who was he?

I wiped my eyes to answer his previous question.

" Nothing." I sniffled.

" Well nothing doesn't make young maiden's like yourself cry. Unless that nothing was in fact something that you would probably not tell a complete stranger such as myself about."

Confusion tore at my brain. Was he drunk? Did he come from the party? One quick glance at his clothing assured me that he didn't. But how on earth did he wander on to my beach.

" If I knew your name then perhaps you would not be a stranger." I said trying to use the weird kind of logic he was.

" Aye lass. You are correct. I am the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow. And you are?"

I ran his name through my head wondering if I had previously heard of this man. But nothing came to mind.

" Bella Dawson." I said crisply. Then surveying his rather ragged outfit I asked the awkward question, " Are you a pirate?"

At first his eyes widened a bit at my name as though he was realizing something but after my question hilarity overcame him.

" Aye I am luv." Jack said after regaining composure. " But you seem rather unafraid, am I right?"

" You are." I said softly. I had long forgotten about my troubles. My heart now welled with unexplainable excitement. I was in the pressence of a pirate! And not just any ordinary pirate a captain! Unless he'd been lying which for some reason I doubted. I couldn't put my finger on it but there was something about Jack Sparrow that mystified me. That had me craving to know more.

How long I had been simply sitting there staring into his light brown eyes I didn't know. I was sure he'd think there was something wrong with me. His expression told me that he didn't though. His eyes held as much wonder for me as mines for him. But why? I was just Bella. Normal plain Bella. Nothing more nothing less.

" So unlike your father." Jack murmured chortling. " It's strange."

" You know my father?" I asked leaping up in surprise. " The Governor? Edward Dawson?"

He rolled his captivating eyes at the name.

" Yes I know the bloody coward." Jack snarled unexpectedly.

I opened my mouth to spring another question upon him when he interrupted.

" You wish to know how I know him? And I shall tell you after you answer my original question."

" Which was?" I inquired not even remembering.

" I just simply wonder what could've made a lovely woman as yourself cry?"

I blushed at the pirate's compliment hoping that the darkness would conceal the rose color that was my cheeks. I wondered why he cared. He didn't know me. At first I thought he was joking or mocking me but he earnestly seemed to care. I'd find out why he cared before I answered anything.

" I shall answer that but first will you answer me once more"

He sighed.

" I never met anyone who took so damn long to respond to one measly question." Jack sneered. " But ask away if you must luv"

Another blush hit me. I had not a clue why. My heart was racing and I couldn't look in his eyes.

I felt like a young girl again.

" Well I just wanted to know why you cared?" I asked slowly and carefully.

Jack shrugged.

" I don't know." He replied. " Just wonderin' what ailed you that's all. I mean if you rather not say I won't pry."

" No!" I insisted far too loudly. I began spilling every detail of my life to him. To a total stranger that I met maybe ten minutes ago. But there was just something about Jack something that made me so comfortable in telling him my life story. And he sat there adsorbing it all. The man had excellent listening skills.

" Ah so now you must marry Beckett?" He asked after I'd finished.

I nodded solemnly shoving my foot deeper into the sand like I had been doing my entire speech.

" Unfortunately." I sighed. " It isn't fair though! I never asked for this life! All I want...Is to be free. To be like you."

" To be a pirate."

I nodded again. That was what my heart most desired. To sail the seas bound to no one. Pure freedom.

" Why do you think I took the sword lessons? I had planned on attempting an escape but now hope seems lost."

There was a brief moment of silence before Jack spoke again.

" Your Father has something of mine." He explained. " Something he had taken a long time ago. Would you mind showing me up to your home dear Bella so I can see my two old friends."

I raised an eyebrow.

" I know young Beckett as well."

" Oh." I breathed.

I absolutely dreaded returning to my so called home. But with Jack with me it suddenly didn't seem as bad.

" Just follow me."

The two of us trudged uphill from the beautiful beach. We were maybe halfway to the estate when alarm hit me.

" NO!" I damn near shouted at Jack.

" You're a pirate! And if my Father sees you he'll..."

My mind instantly created the image of Jack Sparrow hanging in Destile's courtyard. The image caused me pain. That couldn't happen.

Jack gently put his calloused hand on my slightly trembling shoulder.

" Listen luv." He started. " I am confident that nothing terrible will happen to me or yourself in fact tonight."

" But how?" I cried shrugging his hand off.

For some odd reason tears were threatening to fall. Ugh! What was wrong with me!

" No more hour long questions. Okay? Let's move."

Reluctantly I listened and took us into hell.

Everyone from the party had left I noticed when we came in. Probably my Father's doing. My Father, Anna, and Beckett stood up when I entered the room. The same looks from earlier imprinted on their faces though my Father surprisingly looked a little worried under his ferocity.

" Where were you!" The three devils shouted in unison.

I was about to answer when Jack moved in. His face a mixture of calmness, determination, and even a little resentment.

Father lost all color. He was acting like he'd seen a ghost.

" N-no!" He stuttered. " They marooned you I heard! You should be-!"

" Dead?" Jack interjected. " You should know the old saying Edward. You just can't keep a good pirate down. Though you were a horrible pirate shouldn't surprise me if you didn't hear that one."

My Father was sickly green now.

" Pirate?" Anna spluttered before the drama queen fainted.

Only Beckett looked not shocked at this information. My head was a buzz however. My Father a pirate? He'd lie to me! All my life was nothing but only filthy lie!

" You!" I snapped at him. " You lied to me! About everything! Why?"

Both he and Jack turned their attention to me while Beckett remained fixated on Jack with an expression of hatred plastered to his face.

" Look at yourself Isabella!" Father yelled. " You already run around the world biggest pirate lover! Imagine what would've happened if I'd told you that you actually had pirate blood in you."

" We'd probably get along more." I hissed.

He ignored my comment.

" All I wanted was to be like my cousin, your Uncle!" He bellowed. His voice was scratching now. " I turned my life around! I left those evil ways behind! I became a new man! I have built so much since then and you will not ruin it!"

" Don't try to justify your actions Edward." Jack barked. " Once a pirate always a pirate."

" Never!"

" What happened to my mother?" I slipped in quickly wanting all my questions answered.

" She was a good woman Bella." Jack said. " Your Father met Amira on one of our voyages. They fell madly in love, with you as the product."

My Father actually agreed to this.

" She was an amazing woman, incredible actually." He whispered. " She died moments after you were delivered."

I frowned. I had hoped she had somehow survived.

"It's a shame to see you're still alive Jack." Beckett said speaking up. "When I heard rumor that you had died I couldn't help but believe it. However it seems you are very much alive."

Jack surveyed Beckett for a second before answering. "Nice to see you haven't changed. Haven't grown an inch since the last time I saw you. Now Edward you know what I've come for."

" Nooooo!" Father shouted looking terribly insane. " It's mine! No one's but mine!"

" Don't lie to yourself there."

My Father glared at Jack for a second. His eyes were wild.

" GUARDS!" He screeched. " Take this scum to the jail!"

Two burly soldiers stormed in and seized Jack who put up no fight.

" NO!" I shrieked in panic.

Before I even had a chance to do anything I was knock hard onto the marble floor by my father.

" Don't despair luv." Jack said winking as they drug him out.

The image of him hanging become very real now. Real and sick.t was overwhelming and scary all I was feeling but I knew one thing through it all. I would set Jack Sparrow free.