HEY, REMEMEBER THAT GUY I MADE UP IN THE BLACKSMITH'S WIDOW, WHO'S INTERESTED IN ANAMARIA? WELL, THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO THEM.
Anamaria stood on the deck of The Black Pearl, looking out into the Caribbean night. Jack had been down to the dock today to announce that his cousin had given birth to a beautiful baby girl. He had relayed Katrina's invitation for Anamaria to visit, and informed the crew they would be leaving in two days. Anamaria envied both Katrina and Elizabeth. They both had husbands who loved them, and who they loved. Anamaria thought back over her past and how unfit it had made her for love.
She would never know who her father was. Her mother didn't even know. She remembered her three brothers and her sister. None of them knew who their fathers were. She remembered how her mother had a different man every night. She was a Tortugan whore. Ananmaria was the second child of the five. When the fifth was born, her mother was no longer popular with the men. Most of the prostitutes were careful not to get pregnant, but her mother was careless. The men stopped coming. Her mother took in washing to earn a bit of money, and eventually married a drunk who ordered them all about like so many servants. He slapped them all, but never really did any damage, which Anamaria had always been glad for. Then, when she was thirteen, her mother forced her to put on a tight, revealing dress; and sent her out on the streets to "provide for the family." That was the night she met Jack Sparrow. He was drunk, and when he looked at her, she was terrified. She didn't have any clue how to please a man. But instead of insisting she do what she was obviously supposed to do, he hauled her along to where two prostitutes she had seen wandering about stood, and did something shocking. "Scarlet, Giselle." He addressed them familiarly. They grinned at him suggestively, but frowned when they saw the little girl. They had not been much older than her then, probably about sixteen, but they seemed troubled by her extreme youth. The strange pirate had pulled out a small bag of gold. He handed it to Giselle. Then another one to Scarlet. Then he pulled out a large bag and handed it to Anamaria. Her eyes widened. If he was paying her…he must want something. But then he spoke. "Scarlet, Giselle, I want you to keep this kid under your guidance. Teach her the trade verbally, but don't let her do it. Not 'til she's older. I'll be checking whenever I'm around, and if she ain't been properly sheltered, you won't get no more business from me. She can keep taking little bits of this gold back to whoever sent her out, and they'll think she's doing her job. Got it?" The two harlots nodded. "Good, now decide which of ya's first tonight." Giselle won, and she and the pirate left together. Scarlet seemed put out by this, but soon began teaching Anamaria things. She didn't really want to learn them, but it was far better than doing them.
When Anamaria was sixteen, Jack Sparrow came back, for the tenth time since she met him. A young man, Ben Hartney, was with him. She found herself attracted to him. Jack seemed to consider her old enough now, because he didn't give her money to keep herself free. Hartney paid her well for that night. She was attracted to him, but she still felt guilty. She had always wanted to be married, to have children, to be loved and to love. But that night, Ben Hartney made her into something she detested. A harlot. Something no decent man would marry. Ben had been back, time after time, to her. She was more his mistress than a whore. He had other girls, but she never had other customers. It was always him. She fell in love with him. Somewhere in her heart, she had a tiny hope that he might love her someday. Then, one night, when she was eighteen, he came to her wearing a wedding ring. She confronted him. He was upset that he had not taken it off, and somewhere in the argument that followed, it came out that he had been married as long as he'd known Anamaria. She was heartbroken. Ben stormed out. Jack came to check on her the next night. He didn't know about her discovery. When he found Ana alone and crying in her room, he was shocked at the tale she told. He had not known that Ben was married. He swore he would never have introduced them if he had known. He promised not to keep Brent with him anymore. He tried to comfort her, which involved rum, so they got drunk, and somehow they ended up kissing, and it went from there.
That was the one time she and Jack had been anything but friends. It was also the one time she had ever gotten pregnant. She had miscarried in the third month. Jack didn't know, even to this day. She had considered telling him so many times, but why bother? The child was dead. A piece of her heart had died with it. She had loved the idea of a child. After that one night with Jack, she had never had another man. She was twenty-five now. The years had been lonely. Her mother had died, her stepfather had disappeared. She had taken in her siblings, but they had all been born within a few years, so they were all independent not long after. She supported herself by doing various odd jobs. Three years ago, Jack had stolen the boat she used for fishing, and from there, it had all been an adventure. Between the time of Barbossa's death and Will Turner's, Anamaria had visited various friends, including Katrina and Brent, and gone back to Tortuga to see her siblings. There, Jack found her and told her he wanted her on the crew again, since Elizabeth had been widowed and was soon to give birth. She knew Elizabeth knew about the one night she and Jack had spent together. She had been glad to return, but had found something she was not prepared for upon her return.
Carl Four-finger.
He was incredibly handsome. He had a perfect, white smile. His hair was curly and black. His eyes were even darker than Jack's. He had a gold ring in his ear that contrasted delightfully with his chocolate brown skin. None of this affected her unusually, however. She was used to being attracted to handsome men. It was the underlying emotions that frightened her. That and the way he seemed to be falling in love with her, even as she fell in love with him. She didn't want him hurt, but despite the fact that he was a pirate, she knew he was a very decent fellow. He never left the ship when they docked in ports full of harlots. She had a sneaking suspicion that he may be virginal. These facts assured her that when he knew about her past, he would not be able to accept her. She considered telling him and getting it over with. But she couldn't seem to build up the courage.
He was watching her now. Most of the crew had gone out looking for women and rum. As far as she knew, they were the only ones left on the ship. This would be the perfect time to tell him. She forced herself to walk over to where he sat mending a sail, and sat down beside him. He smiled his blinding smile, and she couldn't help returning it. She finally spoke. "I need to tell you some things." He grinned, though he must be able to see that she was troubled. "About your past?" She nodded, puzzled. He knew she was from Tortuga, so he must know that whatever she had to say could not be good. So why was he still smiling? "No need. I already know all about it." "What!?" "Jack told me all about you on the first night I told him I thought you were beautiful. He didn't want me to get hurt if I fell in love with you, then found out I couldn't live with your past. I love you, Anamaria, despite all the wrong choices you made, and all the wrongs others did to you. I love what you are now." She stared at him in shock for a long moment. "He…Jack told you everything? Even about…?" "The night he spent with you? Yes, he told me that. I was a bit tempted to punch his face in for that, but he said he meant well, was just trying to cheer you up with rum, didn't mean to get drunk or get you drunk." "or pregnant." She said the words quietly. He was the first person she had ever told. She half hoped he hadn't heard. "Jack got you pregnant?!" She could hear his shock. She just nodded. "I miscarried a few months later." "Does he know?" She shook her head. "Do you want him to?" "I don't know. I don't think it makes any difference." He nodded understandingly. "I really do love you. In spite of everything. Do you believe me?" She looked into his eyes and saw the truth written there. "Yes. And…I love you too." His eyes lit up. He grinned and lowered his head to hers. His kiss was gentle and undemanding.
He pulled back slowly. "Ana, will you marry me?" She was sure she must be dreaming. That night, when she was sixteen and she had sold herself, she had become sure she would never hear those words, especially from a man who loved her and who she loved. If she were ever to get married, she had been sure it would be to a man like the one her mother married. Now, this wonderful man was actually asking her to marry him! And the only word she could form was "Yes".