Hey: Thank you to everyone who's read it so far and thanks to SaveroftheMoon and Blacky for reviewing it. Blacky pointed out my mistakes over James Norrington's description, I am sorry and I have changed it. Anyway... on with the story.

LittleVampirateXX

As I had predicated the ceremony was unbelievably boring. My mind wandered past the Redcoats parading around in their wigs and hats and over the walls of the Fort to where the sea was. It was like a sparkling beacon of …of… well, I wasn't sure what, but I liked it. I knew there were dangers on the waters, the most dangerous of which being pirates, but I longed to sail again. James scolded my for my foolishness the one time I mentioned it to him. He told me that it wasn't all fun and games. I know that. I'm not an imbecile. I have seen the dangers for myself and I have heard tales of those lost at sea. I have seen the devastation caused by pirates when they attack ports. It had happened here often enough. But to sail just once more…

Elizabeth nudged me.

I had been looking in completely the wrong direction. I turned my head. James was walking between two lines of Redcoats. I felt pride swell in my chest. I did tease him awfully, but only because I loved him so much. I smiled at him, but he kept an annoyingly straight face, his noble features set. When he reached the end of the line Governor Swann handed him the sword. Everyone murmured and gasped in astonishment when James showed off with it, but I'd seen him practicing it at home. I'd also seen him drop it. Nonetheless I clapped louder than everyone else when he was finished.

After painfully long speeches form, it seemed, just about everyone who was there, the celebrations began. Everyone was talking politely to one another, which was just as boring as he speeches, but that's the upper-class for you. I only took my eyes off Elizabeth for a second to answer Mrs Spencer's "Aren't we having lovely weather" comment with "Yes, Mrs Spencer, thank you for coming. What a lovely dress you are wearing!" Although I have to admit that I was actually thinking "It's the Caribbean and it's not hurricane season! We haven't had any rain for two days! What kind of weather were you expecting?"

But anyway, when I turned back to Elizabeth, she wasn't there. I looked around. I scanned the faces around me. There were two missing; James and Elizabeth. I spotted them at the top of the fort. This was it.

"James!" I called. His ears went red. He'd heard me, but wasn't admitting it. He carried on talking. I started to run towards him. "James! James! I really, really need to-"

I didn't get any further.

I had my hand outstretched to grab onto James and make him listen, but he saw me coming and moved. I blundered forward, elbowing Elizabeth in the nose. I had almost stopped myself when my foot met James's and I tripped. I flew forwards. The ground beneath my feet became sky and I plummeted off the edge of the fort. My heart was beating and I was sure it had lodged itself in my throat. I do not know where my stomach was, but t didn't feel as if it was still in my insides.

The water hit me like a slap. The shock caused me to inhale, but all that happened was my lungs filled with water. I couldn't move. I sank down. I tried to swim upwards, by my dress was so heavy and waterlogged I didn't have the strength. The water filled my brain and I couldn't think. I hit the seabed. It was in my lungs. My eyes rolled back. I tried to fight it, but the light from the surface was fading rapidly. My waterlogged heart lifted as a pair of strong arms grabbed me round the waist and pulled my up. I couldn't look to see my saviour's face. Everything was black.

***

Water was being pushed from my lungs. I coughed it up onto the wet wood. My head was pounding. I lay back. A pair of dark brown eyes met mine. I didn't know who they belonged to, but they were so deep that for a second they were all I could see. I blinked. A man's voice, light and teasing reached my ears and broke through the watery stupor of my brain.

"I know those events can be boring, love, but there's no need for you to throw yourself off a cliff." he smiled at me. I felt myself half-smile back, but then my brain woke up and I saw him. Properly saw him. He was a pirate. His clothes were old and faded and his eyes were outlined by something which looked like kohl. His long dark hair was intricately braded and adorned with beads. It was also wet. I had been saved by a pirate. That didn't make any sense at all. He frowned as his eyes travelled from my face to my neckline. He reached out a hand covered with rings and examined the medallion. His eyes filled with curiosity, "Now where did you get that?" he asked.

I could do nothing but stare at him. Then I heard the sounds of several hurrying pairs of feet and the clicks of many guns as I was hauled to my feet by Governor Swann and Elizabeth.

"On your feet!" James snarled. I shivered, not only because I was cold, but because James was so terrifying when was angry. His tone was icy and hostile, his eyes full of anger. Governor Swann handed me a blanket. I pulled it round my shoulders. My face grew hot as I realized that I was standing in nothing but my under garments. Whilst saving me the pirate had removed my dress.

"I'm sorry." she hissed.

"Not you fault. Bought you some time though." I muttered. She nodded. I pause for thought. "Take this!" I hissed handing her the medallion. "The pirate saw it and if he says anything we're in so much trouble."

She took it from me and I turned to James. "James. Do you really intend to kill my rescuer?"

He gave me a look that could turn milk sour, but he nodded for the guns to be lowered. The pirate smiled at me. I almost smiled back, but I managed to stop myself. He had a nice smile, cheeky, but nice.

"I believe thanks are in order." James's tones were no warmer. I found myself silently willing the pirate not to take it. I don't know why. I had to remind my self that he was a pirate! What was I doing? What was I thinking? I vowed to keep my mouth closed from here onwards. The pirate slowly reached out his hand. James grabbed it a roughly pulled up the man's sleeve. I could see the pirate inwardly cursing as the 'P' branded on his arm became visable. James smirked, "Had a brush with the East India Traiding Company have we? Pirate."

"Hang him!" Governor Swann commanded, his voice a few tones higher that usual.

James nodded. "Keep your guns on him men! Gillette fetch some irons!" he commanded. He continued to pull up the pirate's sleeve. He had a tattoo of a bird on his arm. A sparrow by the look of it. James tutted, "Well, well, Jack Sparrow isn't it."

"It's Captain actually." Sparrow countered. James raised his eyebrows and looked around him with mock interest.

"I don't see your ship, Captain." he said.

"I'm in the market, as it were."

One of the Redcoats standing beside Mr Sparrow chipped in, "He said he'd come to commandeer one."

"Told you he was telling the truth!" said the Redcoat on the other side of Sparrow. He picked up an assortment of belongings from the dock and held them out for James. "These are his, sir."

James began to pick through Sparrow's things. He held up a pistol and inspected it, "No additional shot or powder." He threw it back on the pile and picked something else up, "A compass that doesn't point north." He pulled the sword out of its sheath. His voice was full of scorn, "And I half expected it to be made of wood."

Sparrow said nothing to defend himself.

"Ignore him Captain Sparrow, everyone else does." I said. So much for keeping my mouth closed! And Captain Sparrow? I thought we'd just established that he was not a Captain at all. He smiled at me again. The corners of my mouth twitched, but I kept it under control. Why was my mouth not listening to my brain? James was glaring at me. Oh dear, I was in trouble. But for just now James had more troublesome people to deal with.

"You are undoubtedly the worst pirate I've ever heard of." he said.

"But you have heard of me." Sparrow smiled. I gave a soft laugh. I don't think James heard me. Either that or he was ignoring me. I'm sure Sparrow did, as he was glancing at me with growing interest. I flushed and avoided his gaze. What was wrong with me?

James grabbed Sparrow roughly by the shoulder and pulled him up the jetty to where Gillette had the irons waiting. I was surprised when Elizabeth stepped forward and spoke and it gave me strength to realise she was on my side. "Commodore, I really must protest!" He looked at her in surprise. As their eyes me I saw his soften. It was the first time I'd noticed just how completely in love with her he was. Elizabeth either hadn't noticed or was using it to our advantage, "Pirate or not, this man saved Izzy's life."

James looked torn between giving her what she wanted and impressing her. "One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness."

"Though it seems enough to condemn him." Sparrow said, as Gillette chained his hands together.

"Indeed." James snarled. Gillette moved away from Sparrow.

"Finally!" the pirate muttered. Then he threw the chains joining his hands around Elizabeth's neck. Guns were still pointed at him, but now Elizabeth was in the line of fire.

"No! Don't shoot!" Governor Swann shouted.

"I knew you'd warm up to me." Sparrow smiled. He looked at James, "Commodore Norrington, my effects please… and my hat!" James hesitated. Sparrow pulled the chains tighter. "Commodore!" he said in warning tones. James got Sparrow's belongings from the Redcoat. Sparrow turned his attention to my friend, "Elizabeth. It is Elizabeth, isn't it?"

"It's Miss Swann." she corrected him coldly.

"Miss Swann, if you'd be so kind. Come, come dear, we don't have all day." His tone wasn't as light as it had been prior to him being chained up. James handed Elizabeth Sparrow's possessions and we waited with baited breath as he grabbed his pistol from the top and place it to her temple. He turned her around, "Now if you'd be very kind."

We watched as Elizabeth put his hat on him and then as she reached around him to put on his holster Sparrow looked at James over her shoulder and smiled. There was a meaning behind his smile. He knew how James felt. He'd seen the look in James's eyes. James sighed.

"Easy on the goods, darlin'" Sparrow muttered.

"You're despicable!" she replied with venom in her voice. She stepped back when she'd finished.

He shrugged, "Sticks and stones, love." He whirled he back around and began backing towards the end of the jetty. "Gentlemen, ladies, you will always remember this as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"

And with that he pushed Elizabeth away from him and dashed to the end of the jetty. James caught her and the soldiers began to open fire on Sparrow as he grabbed a rope and kicked off. He was hoisted into the air. I'll never know how he managed to dodge so many bullets, but he did. He got into Port Royale without being hit and without firing a single shot himself.

I hate to admit it, but I was a little impressed.