Chapter 2
Nellie's eyes slowly fluttered open, her roamed over the room she was in a smiled.
Instead of white tapestries, carpets, expensive dressers and an overly large bed she saw wooden walls and floors, a chest being used as a desk, said 'desk' covered with various maps, a coat hanger with a long coat hanging from it and the single bunk she laid on.
The room didn't smell of various soaps, perfumes, and flowery incense that made her choke from the strength of it, rather of the sharp salty sea air, tinged with rum and the bed smelt strongly sweat.
She eagerly swung her feet over the edge of the cot, slipped her boots on and half ran out of onto the deck, shielding her eyes from the brightness of the sun until they adjusted, inhaling deeply the clear air. Her eyes immediately scanned across the deck before settling on the crows nest.
With quick eager steps, she headed over to the rope ladder and hoisted herself up with ease and looked in to see a short man that was bald.
The male looked over at her, " 'Ello lass, what're ye doin' here?"
She smiled and climbed into the crows nest, "Cap'n Sparrow invited me on board, I'm Nellie."
"Me name is Marty, "Marty replied as he tipped his head in a slight nod. "Welcome to the Black Pearl."
She nodded back, "Thanks!"
"I'm goin' te get meself some rum, can ye keep an eye on the sea's fer me?" Marty asked as he began to climb out.
"Aye!" she smiled then turned and laid back with a content sigh, enjoying the warmth of the sun high in the sky.
"Ye enjoying yerself luv?" Jack asked from behind her.
She turned to him and smirked, "Yeah, I am! Bein' on th' ocean sailin' is incredible!"
Jack pulled himself up a bit more, "move over darlin' an' make some room," then he pulled himself up into the small amount of space beside her. "So tell me 'bout yerself."
"Do ye really want te know or ye just tryin' te be nice?" she asked while staring at Jack carefully.
"I do wan' te know, yer me…Bonnylass," Jack reassured her while giving her a small smile.
"Before I do, I wanted te ask if ye were goin' te tell the crew I'm yer…offspring," she asked anxiously while searching his dark eyes questioningly. Ye sure seem te like pushin yer luck.
Jack stood up and looked down, "Crew gather 'round!" He hollered feeling almost like he were some immortal god. One can only wish.
The crew slowly shuffled up to the main mast from below deck and whatever job they had been previously doing. "Aye Cap'n?" Mister Gibbs called.
Jack smirked to himself then grabbed her arm gently and pulled her to her feet. "This 'ere is a new crew member an' me…" Ye can still turn back Jackie. In reality he knew the option of turning back was lost when he allowed her to stay on the ship. "She's me offspring so treat 'er th' way ye would treat yer Cap'n!"
She held her head up and tried to look as confident as she could under so many eyes, "'Ello mates! I'm Nellie."
"Th' lass looks exactly like 'im!" A crew member named Ragetti stated in surprise to another.
"Is it safe te 'ave yer own child on a pirate ship? Wha' if th' lass gets 'erself hurt?" A newer member named Smith.
She swung herself over the edge, plunging quickly before grabbing at the rope ladder, slowing her descend and landed before the man bent down onto her hands and feet.
A loud gasp went through the crew, all taking a couple steps back. All had a similar thought running through their heads, if it had been a man that had done that it would have been no big deal or a bad attempt at showing off but for a young lady it was not only inappropriate but also quite shocking.
She straightened herself up, ignoring the burn in her hands and feet. "Sir I am 15 years old an' quite capable of caring for myself!"
"Are ye Miss. Elizabeth's daughter?" Ragetti asked curiously.
Ragetti's shorter friend Pinetti hit his arm, "Why'd ye ask tha'?"
Jack climbed down faster from the crows nest to better hear what the lanky younger male's response was going to be.
"Well when th' young Poppet was angry she looked an awful lot like Miss. Elizabeth," Pinetti Replied quietly.
She smiled brightly, eyes filled with excitement. "Really? Everyone is always sayin' tha' I only look like my…" She looked over at Jack out of the corner of her eye. "An' not many girls like te hear they look like a man."
"Ye scabrous dogs get back te work!" Jack called out loudly causing all the crew to scatter and go back to doing what they had been previously doing.
Jack turned to smile at her, his golden tooth glinted in the sunlight. "Feel free te do wha' ye can luv."
A week had passed since she had joined Jack Sparrows crew and she had been enjoying every moment of it.
The crew was nice to her although some still believed that women should not be on ships so she mostly stayed around Mister. Gibbs, Ragetti, and Pinetti.
Also she and Jack had been getting much closer with their similar personalities and antics they got along quite well whether it be just talking or pulling jokes on crew members.
As of that moment she was slowly tiptoeing over to the hammock on the other side of the Captains quarters where Jack was sleeping soundly.
She had just experienced the absolute most horrible dream she had ever had. Her entire family had been hung right before her and then she was just about to be hung when she had awoken.
She finally made it to the hammock, then slowly and crefully she climbed into it beside Jack.
Jack stirred slightly then lifted hishead, "Wha' ye doin'?"
"Can I sleep with you?" She asked sounding very much like a scared little child.
A sigh came from Jack as he sat up, then took her arm and led her back over to the bed. "Lay down."
She got onto the bed and moved over near the wall, tears burned at her eyes and a couple slipped down. I should have known he wouldn't.
Then Jack climbed onto the bed next to her and laid down on his back, "Night luv."
She smiled and moved somewhat closer to Jack's side. "Night Jack." She closed her eyes.
Jack slipped his arm underneath her waist, and grasped her side in his hand, attempting to make her feel comforted. Warmth radiated through her thin shirt, I need te get 'er a vest, he thought when he remembered a few days ago when it had rained and he had practically tossed her into his cabin when her shirt had started to become see through. "Luv whens yer bithday?"
She yawned loudly, "I's in three days."
Elizabeth stared out the window at the full moon a few tears silently slipped down her pale cheek.
In her right hand she gripped a crumpled up note that she had found in her daughters room. "Please be alright my little Nell."
She closed her eyes tightly causing a few more tears to leak from her red swollen eyes. "Jack you better take care of her."