Once again, I don't own Jack or anyone/anything from the original Pirates films.

I know I haven't updated for a while but it's hard to get motivated when no one reviews. I can see how many of you are reading and it's kind of disappointing so this is just a gentle reminder that if you're reading, please take the time to review.

Anney ran and fell at her daughter's feet and for the first time that day Jack knew she wasn't acting. "Oh, Charlotte!" she cried, grasping her little girl's hands, "I've missed you so much." Realising what she had said, she quickly added, "And so has your father."

The young nun stood behind her, holding a few tattered grey tunics like the one she was wearing and a few other small items. "Charlotte," her mother asked, confused, "Where are the rest of your things?"

The nine year old furrowed her brow in confusion. "Those are my things, Mummy." Captain Fox looked scandalised. Jack chuckled in what was the only drop in completely plausible character the lady had maintained all day. He had never really considered it before but the idea of her daughter living in poverty must horrify a woman who had been surrounded with riches her entire life.

"We have plenty for her at home though, don't we?" he prompted Anney, proper speech back once more. Pulling herself together for the sake of appearances, Anney scrambled up from the floor, dusting herself off.

"Of course...Dear," she replied and Jack took her look of acceptance of her unusually emotional behaviour as a compliment.

"Well, Charlotte," the blind old woman spoke up from her chair after watching the family be reunited, "We will miss you but I see no problem in turning you over to your parents once more." Anney looked victorious. "You are officially Charlotte Smith once more."

"If that's all in order then," Anney piped up, back to her brash self, "We had best be off." She turned back to her beloved little girl, "Are you ready, Charlotte?"

"Yes Mummy," the girl replied dutifully, although she was still eyeing Jack with interest. She knew they had never met but when she looked into his face, she saw herself.

"Then I will say farewell to you, Smiths," the Mother Superior waved them off from her seat, "And may God bless you."

"And you too, Mother Superior," Charlotte chimed in immediately.

"Thank you, my child," the older woman smiled once more. Although she couldn't be sure, she turned her face to where she believed Mr and Mrs Smith to be, "Sister Bernard will see you out." Just as they had entered the room, they filed out following the young French nun, except this time they had the addition of Charlotte and Jack was bringing up the rear. As he crossed the threshold, Jack could have sworn that the silver candlestick that had been next to the Madonna statuette was gone; no doubt Anney had thought it would make a fine addition to her collection.

Charlotte still seemed slightly confused by Jack's presence but he thought he was beginning to win her over. While they were making their way back down the stairs that had led the Smith's to the Mother Superior's office, Sister Bernard had been yabbering away about something of no interest to anyone but herself. When he caught Charlotte staring at him, Jack had pulled a ridiculous face and she had giggled.

When they arrived back in the yard, it was time for Charlotte to say her final goodbyes to both the nuns and the other children, the latter of whom were more jealous than overwrought with the fact that they were losing a friend. Anney, who was growing more impatient by the minute, made sure these didn't take too long, however.

"Come on, Charlotte," the Captain demanded, tugging her daughter by the hand. Charlotte looked back at the place that had been her home for the last four years over her shoulder. Jack did the same but instead tried to catch the eye of the young nun, who hastily looked away. Christopher was waiting for the family outside the gate. Much to Jack's surprise, Charlotte leapt forward to hug him. Christopher had never really struck Jack as the type who would be a big hit with kids, mainly because he was the most terrifying human being he had ever seen.

"Christopher," the little girl cried, flinging her arms around him. The hulking mass of a man looked uncomfortable, but nevertheless pleased to see the child.

"Hello, Miss Charlotte."

Anney's miniature was practically bounding around with delight. "Did you miss me while I was gone, Christopher? It's been such an awfully long time!" Jack was surprised she could still remember people from her past so vividly, considering she had only been four when Anney had left her behind but then again, the nuns had said she was an exceptionally gifted child.

Still seemingly against spending one minute longer on the land, Anney was already making her way back through the town, with the other three bringing up the rear. The town was now with buzzing with the news that the Smiths appeared to have adopted a child from the local cathedral orphanage but Anney was clearly less concerned with keeping up appearances this time around. Face set, she was making her way strictly and strategically back to her boat, with no time whatsoever for questions from the locals. Jack wasn't answering them either but that was more due to the fact that he was struggling to keep up with his pretend wife than rudeness.

Charlotte stood next to her mother but was walking backwards, still surveying Jack with her head tilted to one side; If was as if she saw something familiar about him but him but she couldn't quite place it. "Are you my father?" she finally asked, with the kind of curiosity only a child could muster. Charlotte had spent her entire nine years on Earth wondering about her absent father so the idea of finally meeting him was one she had played over again and again in her mind.

"I ain't, my love," he answered kindly, before being silenced by the young girl.

"But they think you are at the orphanage?" she cut him off. The little one really was a chip off the old block, wasn't she? Normally Jack would have found his every move being questioned annoying but there was just something so endearing about her.

"What I was going to say," he smirked, looking down his nose at her, "Was that I know yer father. However, ye did cut me off quite harshly there, which- even among pirates- ain't really considered good manners." He narrowed his eyes in mock suspicion. "Ye do know ye mother's a pirate, don't cha?"

His niece exhibited one of the classic rolls of the eyes he had come to associate only with Anney. "Of course, I lived on a pirate ship with her until I was four." She glanced quickly at a few of the townspeople before dropping her voice, "But I couldn't talk about that at the cathedral or else Mummy said they would never let her come back for me." Jack silently agreed that this was probably true. "Who are you then?" she asked suddenly, changing the subject back, as children are prone to doing.

She was still walking backwards and he was impressed that she hadn't yet stumbled but then again, he'd always had deplorable coordination which his own father had never failed to bring to his attention. "I'm your Uncle Jack," he told her proudly, "Yer father, Ed, was me own brother."

Charlotte stared at him in wide-eyed wonder; she had never met any of the infamous Sparrows (or Teagues, rather) that made up the paternal part of her family. Then again, that probably wasn't saying much, considering she had never met any Foxes either but she was still impressed. Her dark brown eyes grew even larger, "Really? So are you a pirate too, then?" Jack was understandably offended but quickly remembered the child had spent the last five years of her life in a Catholic orphanage.

"My darlin'" he announced, "It may shock ye to know, that yer in the presence of the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow- the greatest pirate to ever sail the Seven Seas." He finished by throwing one arm out to the side, as if presenting some great artwork but the little girl's face remained blank. "Well, I've never heard of you," she replied, as though suspecting he was making the whole thing up. Anney sorted, making it obvious that she had been able to hear the entire exchange up until this point. Fortunately for Jack's pride, they were now making their way down the dock and it was Anney's turn to do all the talking again. Being born into piracy, Charlotte still remembered the drill and she fell silent too.

"Mr and Mrs Smith," the officer patrolling greeted them cheerfully, "What brings you down here to the dock again so soon? I had imagined you'd be wanting to get settled in." The fact that there behaviour was being noted as strange was of no consequence, as Anney and Jack had developed a comprehensive list of valid excuses for all sorts of things the night before.

"We do of course," Anney smiled regretfully, "But moving is such a chore!" For a moment Captain Fox was disappointed at the fact that these simple people would never know how brilliantly she had fooled them all. She still ploughed on, however, "There's still so much to get off our boat."

Spotting an obvious chance for a chivalrous deed that would help him land himself in the new couple's good books, the officer was quick to volunteer his services but Anney waved him off. "Oh no, it's all right. Christopher here has it all under control." The officer looked upon the mountain of a man in front of him and gulped, knowing this was probably too right.

"Well, good day the-" he continued swiftly, before abruptly stopping; he had noticed Charlotte. "And who is this charming young lady, he inquired. Charlotte did not grant him even a smile in response.

"That's Charlotte," Anney explained, "She's coming to live with us." The officer was almost jealous.

"Well, you've been given quite a gift, Miss Charlotte," the officer addressed the child, "So mind you do exactly what the Smith's say." Charlotte tried to hide her shock at the insinuation that she wouldn't be ruling the roost now she was back in her proper place.

Jack had to admit, Anney had thought this out well. The officers would switch within the next two hours, and as long as the crew remained quiet, no one would have any idea they were on the boat. Captain Fox was clearly in a good mood now she had both her daughter and her ship back and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to brief her on his plan.

"Anney, my darlin'" he began, as the Captain was opening her door, "I was just wonderin' if I could continue that little chat we were havin' earlier. Barbossa, Great Southern Continent..." He waved his hands around as if to say, what now?

Anney sighed, ushering Charlotte inside, who rushed to jump onto her mother's huge bed. "Not now Jack," she said, but it was still the calmest he had ever seen her, "If it's really that important, come talk to me this evening." She smiled, gazing lovingly at her precious daughter. "I've just got Charlotte back and I've just to reintroduce her to the crew."

This wasn't what Jack had been expecting but it wasn't a flat out no either so he was willing to accept it. "Aye! Well, I'll see ye then... Captain." He saluted and Anney smiled despite herself.

A/N: Kind of a quick chapter and basically follows on from the last one, I know. Let me know what you think though :)