Thank you for all the lovely reviews! Here's the next chapter, longer as promised, and yes, a little on the boring side. But I promise next chapter will be so so much better and worth waiting for! Let the fun begin! Tons more Jack next chapter as well, so woohoo let's cheer! Thank you and reviews very much loved, thank you again! It's your support that feeds a writers muse. x

Anastasia woke up with a cough, raising a hand to her forehead with closed eyes, rubbing her left temple in a messaging manner, wondering just why she had the headache of the century.

Then she remembered, and her movements stopped dead.

Her eyes flickered open as she sat up, looking around, suddenly having the need to find her balance as the world below her rocked wildly, finding herself in a canvas hammock erected in her cell in the brig. Another glance around made her aware that she wasn't locked up anymore, that the door was open and that she'd survived her wild stint trying to escape, not knowing what had overcome her, for she wasn't a fiery girl by nature.

Maybe it was the impending danger that had made her react so… violently.

Anastasia thought back now to before she'd been kidnapped, staring around to see if there were more hammocks where the crew were fast asleep in the other room, snores renting the air at odd intervals-

It had been her engagement party. She and the handsome, but arrogant Captain Franklin Castello who sailed under the Kings colors. Anastasia knew that one day she would be matched up to a man by her father, but not him. Not Franklin, the man she despised more with each passing day. But her fathers money was running out, they wouldn't even have a home unless something was done. So, she had accepted the pairing for her families sake. Ever since they had moved from Paris to London when she was thirteen, things had started to slowly but surely go downhill. Her father had started to drink in his spare time, and that spare time was increasing evermore. Something Anastasias mother sorely disapproved of, but kept her silence. Just as her daughter did about the man she didn't want to marry.

It was as she made her way to open the front door, seeing her supposed horse and cart outside that she'd been suddenly hit over the head, knocking her out.

Anastasia got to her feet now, thankful that the floor was still, only moving the slightest from the calm swell of the ocean. She tiptoed over to the hatch and left the sleeping quarters as quiet as possible to face the dawn, blinking as the sun burned her eyes from its brightness. With quiet, swift steps, she crossed over to the side and placed her hands upon the black wood, staring out over the ocean that was blue shot with pink and gold, the reflection from the sky.

If she wasn't in such a situation, she would have watched it until the sun fully rose. But not this morning. Not when a- "Another early bird eh?"

She jumped violently at the sudden words, looking up with wide, dark sapphire eyes at the man in the crows nest, seemingly just watching the sunrise as she was. Anastasia recognized him though, narrowing her eyes. "You."

There was silence, in which Anastasia stepped backwards, pressing the small of her back to the side as the man climbed down with ease to stand before her, minus his hat she noted as he went. "Sunrise on the Black Pearl, that's something you can say you've seen."

"And who am I to tell?" She quipped, making him pause, then shrug as he walked past and up to the foot of the mast, replying. "Go tell a gull if one lands on the stern."

"Oh ha-ha. (!)" Anastasia replied, adding after a moment. "Why am I even here?"

"What was your name again?"

"I didn't tell you it in the first place."

"Do speak up. You're mumbling."

A pause, "Miss. Holt to you."

"And your first?"

Anastasia was silent, in which the slight smirk appeared upon the captains face once more. "Tell me your first name, or I'll throw you off this ship to drown myself."

Another pause.

"Anastasia."

"She can follow orders, good." He nodded, full on smirking in a way that made her ask with a frown. "Just what is your problem with me? What did I do to deserve this?"

"Oh, nothing." Jack shrugged, taking Anastasia back as she muttered. "Then why am I here?"

"To cook me breakfast for a start." Was the only reply she got, in which she retorted, "You're not getting under my skirt if that's what you have in mind."

Jack actually laughed as he strolled forwards, and his narrowed eyes made Anastasia want to flinch; why did he just… hate her? Why had he himself dragged her on this ship?

"Oh lass, I've no desire to get up your layers upon layers of skirts. I don't know where you've been."

"Excuse me?" she shot back, in which the words "And you'll address me as Captain or Sir when speaking to me now, am I clear?"

Pauses were popular this morning, and she inclined her head, muttering. "Sir."

"Excellent. Now down to the galley and start on breakfast. Everything's down there. Do the washing up first. I want the place spotless."

"I'm not some silly little slave! You have men to do that job! Not me!"

"Sir. You missed out Sir."

Anastasia refused to say in, making the captain growl out, taking a step towards her, watching the step back she took, hissing out. "Sir."

She was gone as soon as he blinked, failing to suppress a snigger as he turned around and retreated back to his cabin, planning on catching a few more hours sleep, trying not to laugh as he imagined the look on her pretty little face when she saw the mountain of pots she had to wash.

He wondered now if he was being too hard on the girl, and keeping her in the dark about just why she was here. She was a timid thing, but fiery at times as his bruised foot reminded him. Had to keep an eye on that one, or she'd jump over the sides again.

Maybe he'd let her drown this time.

Anastasia fought back tears as she finished the last of the pots, her hands red raw as she set the last bowl down, glancing at her dress- it was becoming more and more restricting as she tried to go about her chores. Wait, why was she doing this-? Why was she even allowed to roam the ship? Oh, they were in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go. She was a woman, so why would she have to be locked up?

He was playing games with her, daring her to make her next move against him. But to what end? And just why was she even here?

A list as long and high as the clean pots built up in her head as she rummaged around for something to make breakfast with. She didn't want to get on the captains bad side even more. If she had done something to him, Anastasia didn't know.

Maybe I know him from somewhere… or he knows me. Or something. A captain wouldn't just stroll up to a random door and knock out a girl, taking her back to her ship. Was what she was thinking, and it confused her even more, so she grabbed the oats she found and set about making a form of porridge. It came out a tad too thick, but all Anastasia could think was that it'd match the mens thick skulls.

The smell of cooking roused them from their hammocks, wandering down to find a large, steaming pot on the stove of sorts, each bleary eyed man presented with a bowl full of breakfast.

Loud chatter and laughter woke Jack up, and he frowned, getting to his feet and strolling over to the door, letting it open a fraction as he sneaked a look out at the crew, frowning- this wasn't supposed to be happening. What were all the bowls in their hands.

He yanked the door open now and strolled out barefooted, asking loudly. "And what is all this?"

"The lass, she made us breakfast." A man told him with a wide grin, indicating that it was the best thing he'd tasted in ages. It made Jacks smile that had been creeping onto his face falter, going emotionlessly. "What." He didn't wait for anyone else to speak as he walked into the galley to find the girl in her dress, sweating profusely as she served up another bowl, the captain narrowing his eyes as he repeated.

"And what is all this?"

Anastasia didn't even look up as she replied, voice rather chipper. "You asked me to clean up and make breakfast, so I did… sir."

He was speechless, and Anastasia added, voice darker. "It's almost like you wanted me to fail and make an utter fool of myself."

"You think so little of me love."

"Then let me go home, captain. Or at least grace my ears with the reason why I'm being suggested to this pile of shit. Why I'm here. Or at least why you want me here, and make a fool of myself."

"Spoilers." He shot back, then waved a hand seemingly nowhere in particular. "Finish up, then go down to your cell and stay there unless I say you can leave."

"No." Anastasia hissed back, narrowing her eyes. "I'm sorry, whatever your name is, but I'm not taking orders!"

"Either do them, or you'll soon find yourself trying to swim again." He threatened, making Anastasia shake her head a little, whispering. "What have I ever done to you?"

The captain chuckled quietly. "Ah.." With that, he turned and left, but not before he'd snapped out. "Go. Now."

Anastasia was thinking on his words, confused. Had they met before? Did he know her? The Black Pearl, that name was familiar to her. An infamous ship. And an infamous captain she couldn't place a name next to, so she asked the next man that came down, in which he replied. "Jack Sparrow."

She muttered her thanks, realizing that the captain had ordered him to take her to her cell. He didn't trust her.

Anastasia was silent as the lock clicked shut behind the man, the door slamming shut behind him as he left, things suddenly making sense to her.

She knew the stories, even read them with great interest. When she was younger, Anastasia had often dreamed of escaping the life she disliked and lost herself within the pirate stories that she read.

And with that, Anastasia found herself locked in the brig all day long, ignoring the men that came to ogle her, lying in her hammock with eyes closed, trying not to feel seasick as the boat rose and fell with the swell.

When someone relatively normal came down later on, Anastasia sat up and asked before he could leave. "Can I have something to eat?"

The pirate stumbled as she spoke up, looking over to her with a light frown as he walked over, staring at her through the bars, Anastasia noted that he was young, maybe twenty or similar with blonde hair that fell to his shoulders in light waves, eyes that matched the captains deep dark brown ones.

"Uhh, I'd have to ask the captain."

"Can you not just sneak me something?" she sighed, resting her forehead against the bars, staring at him. He shook his head, laughing out lightly. "I'd be thrown over the side for not obeying."

"Your name?" Anastasia asked, cocking her head a little, in which he replied after a moment. "Alex."

"Please, Alex?"

The young man never moved, and Anastasia gave up, lying back down in her hammock.

Half an hour later, she found a bowl of her porridge on the floor with a spoon.

When the ships movement stopped, Anastasia heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs, so she called. "Come to let me out?"

"Actually, yes."

She opened an eye now, spying the one she knew to be named Gibbs who walked over, sighing out at the sight of her. "So I figured out just why the captain has you."

"Gibbs, just let me go home. Even that place is better than here at the moment."

A moment later, the first mate asked with a slight frown. "Is your father named Captain Eric Holt by any chance?"

"What's it to you, pirate?" she snapped, past any patience by now. She was confused beyond anything she had been before. He groaned quietly and nodded. "Thank you Miss. Anastasia." Then he was turning around, heading for the exit and making her sigh in annoyance, lying back down.

What the hell was going on?

Suddenly, the ship rocked wildly, making Anastasia squeal, grabbing the sides of the hammock, heart thumping wildly as Gibbs grabbed a post, cursing under his breath before going. "There's a storm coming lass, better hold on tight."

She nodded in silence, sinking back into her hammock, wishing he'd told her just why the captain seemed to despise her. Keeping her here, seemingly without a reason.

Time would tell, she guessed.

-Reviews are very much loved! Thank you!-