Gah, writers block has struck again making it nearly impossible to get this chapter up to scratch xO But please tell me what you think and what I could do better etc. you know the review drill :) I really do appreciate every one I get.

Enjoy!

Chapter 16

Samuel had been standing outside Lily's door for five minutes when Pontac walked past.

"Pining, lover boy?" he sneered and Samuel rolled his eyes.

"No."

Pontac raised his eyebrows and walked off but not without a mocking look over his shoulder. Samuel himself wasn't sure why he wasn't just going in but something was stopping him, perhaps it was that stupid bet he'd made but whatever it was he needed to get over it. Squaring his shoulders and preparing himself for a very angry/emotionally unstable Lily he threw open the door and quickly walked into the room.

She was asleep.

He was caught off guard by how...innocent she looked. Signs of a temper tantrum lingered – her dress was thrown into a corner, her cheeks were flushed and a chair was overturned – and he could see the scene unfolding, her stamping her foot and screaming into her pillow. However any anger was gone now as he looked at her. She was curled around herself, one hand draped across her forehead and the other tangled in her wild hair. Her breathing was light and occasionally her intake of breath would shudder slightly, a sure sign that she had been crying.

For someone who was so wild and constantly moving the change in her was enough to unnerve Samuel – she was so still!

Unsure what to do he crossed his arms and rocked back onto his heels, he should never have made that bet.

As if she could sense him watching her Lily began to stir and her eyelashes started to flutter.

"Mother I'm sorry..." she muttered, a crease appearing in her porcelain forehead.

Awkwardly Samuel ran a hand through his hair and turned to go, but as his hand found the doorknob Lily sat bolt upright, drawing the covers close around her.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled, still acting like she was half-asleep.

"My job," was Samuels blunt reply.

She shook her head slowly, "I thought you gave up your position to Pontac," she said, confused thoughts churning in her head. For a moment she'd thought she was back at home with her mother and Will, talking about everything that had happened as if it was a distant memory.

Long gone...

But here she was, and there he was.

"Father and I had matters to discuss," Samuel said vaguely, his expression almost wary as he continued to watch her.

"What, and then you decided to come in here and watch me sleep? Weird," she half-teased, stretching.

Samuels only response was to roll his eyes and she tilted her head to the side, wondering what had changed about him. Because there was certainly something different, she mused, she just couldn't pinpoint it.

"What's wrong?" she asked, rubbing her eyes gently.

Caught off guard by her question Samuel narrowed his eyes at the floor, shifting slightly under her curious gaze.

Everything. My father thinks you're a temptress, plotting to trick me, I've made a bet to bed you and I've pretended (to everyone and myself as well) that I don't care about you but really...

"Nothing."

Lily frowned and threw a pillow at him which he deftly dodged, looking at her like she was insane.

"Clearly something's bothering you so you might as well tell me. It's not like we don't know each other, in fact we have become quite well acquainted of late," she arched one eyebrow at him, obviously referring to their...previous encounter.

Despite himself Samuel had to force back a smile at her logic.

"I'm fine. And since when did you care anyway?" Samuel said, the words coming out sharper than he'd intended.

If he wasn't mistaken it was hurt that flashed across her face. Samuel clenched his fists – why did she have to make everything so damn difficult? It should be easy. She was a spoilt brat who thought she could get her way by seducing him, the way she'd bewitched all those other men, and he was her guard. Sure she was beautiful and different but that didn't mean he cared about her and it definitely didn't mean she cared about him.

She was pretending.

"You know, you're being even more of an idiot than normal," she muttered through the pout that her lips had shaped themselves into. She was refusing to look at him, her eyes fixed on her bedclothes.

"I really couldn't care less," Samuel snapped.

Again the hurt look flitted across her features, tugging her lips downwards into a frown. After a few moments of silence she opened her mouth to reply but before any words could be spoken a torrent of cries were heard from on deck. Lily looked at Samuel with wide eyes and he opened the door, motioning for her to stay there.

As if.

Lily walked swiftly over to join him and slipped round him, ignoring him as he made a swipe for her, and looking in shock at the scene before her.

"Jack?"

The pirate in question turned to her from his position pressed against the mast and his outlined eyes widened.

"Why the 'ell is she still alive?" he rasped out, shock making his eyes bulge.

The pirates were gathered round him, all pointing their weapons at him and looking all too eager to use them. Barbossa was stood apart from all of them, a savage grin on his face. Before Lily could register what was happening he had strode over to her and slung his arm round her shoulder, hauling her towards Jack and away from Samuel who was standing with his fists clenched.

"Change of plan, Jacky," the captain barked, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"Let go of me. Jack what are you doing?" Lily squeaked, trying to wriggle away but finding Barbossa entirely too strong for her.

Jack had dropped into a crouch and was making wild chopping movements with his hands, glaring round at the hostile crowd surrounding him.

His movements were even less coordinated than usual and Lily gradually realized as she watched him flailing around, that he was roaring drunk.

"Jack," she said in a tone of forced calm, "did you manage to get free and then proceed to get drunk?"

Jack straightened up and looped his hands in his belt, looking idiotically proud of himself.

"Very astute!" he congratulated, rocking forwards on the balls of his feet and overbalancing, stumbling towards the captain and Lily. Ignoring the growls and gritted teeth of the pirates he swaggered his way through them until he'd reached Lily.

"Don't worry – I do all me best work under the influence...affluence...influx?" he tailed off, a confused look on his tanned face as he tapped his chin lightly and then shrugged. "Whatever. Drunk."

Now instead of holding her in place Barbossa was holding her back as the furious Lily tried in vain to punch Jack, preferably in the gut. Or somewhere less pleasant. Wherever would hurt more.

"You absolute idiot!" she seethed, "you arrogant pig, you – you drunken fool!"

Jacks only response to the insults hurled at him was a low bow.

"I am indeed all of those things and more," he slurred and Lily uttered a small frustrated scream, stamping her foot.

"Ugh! Now I know where people got the word Jackass from! Insupportable -" she continued to mutter insults under her breath, to Samuels amusements.

"Alright gents, shows over – lock him in the brig," Barbossa ordered and the pirates started to roughly enforce his command but just at that moment Jack broke free, pointing to something behind Barbossa.

"It's the Dutchman!" he shouted, staggering forward.

Barbossa rolled his eyes but didn't turn round.

"Jack, if ye think I'll fall for that trick ye'll be disappointed," he growled, still sounding amused.

"Not a trick! True!" Jack protested, waving his arms.

From his position in the background Samuel turned round to look where Sparrow was pointing and his face paled.

"No, Father, he's telling the truth," he yelled, running to the side of the ship and watching with a mixture of awe and horror as the majestic ship gained on them.

However mixed his feelings were, they couldn't compare to Lilys. As soon as the Dutchman had been mentioned she'd frozen, her mind a whirlwind of unanswerable questions and homespun fears.

Her Father...she was about to see her Father.

Unfortunately, Barbossa had other ideas. Cursing, he ran to the side and squinted at the approaching ship.

"Get her out of here!" he bawled at Samuel, gesturing impatiently to Lily.

"No!" she shrieked, backing away from Samuel. "I have a right to see my father!"

"NOW boy," Barbossa screamed.

Samuel didn't really have a choice, he quickly closed the distance between himself and Lily and, ignoring her cries, slung her over his shoulder.

"Sorry," he muttered out of the corner of his mouth and Lily was so surprised that she stopped hitting his back – since when had he apologized for being such a cad?

She recovered quickly from her surprise and resumed her attack of his back and shoulders but by that time he had already carried her halfway down the stairs to the galley.

"Please, Samuel! Please let me go back, put me down – my father, Samuel! My father!" she screamed, drumming on his back with her fists whilst simultaneously kicking his chest with her bare feet.

"No. Lily, stop it," he said, as if she was a rather irritating fly that wouldn't stop buzzing round his head.

"I won't stop it, I need to see him!" she cried, actually going so far as to sink her teeth into his shoulder.

"Did you just bite me?" he asked incredulously as he carefully lifted her down, keeping his arms locked around her as she fought him.

Meanwhile the Black Pearl was being boarded. Barbossa's crew stood littered around the deck in various frozen postures as they awaited their orders but Barbossa, at that moment, had none. His eyes were fixed on Will as the man swung onto the deck, looking round him with eyes almost the exact shape and hue of those of the girl downstairs.

"Barbossa," Will greeted him warily.

"William. To what do we owe this...honor," Barbossa replied, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"I received a message," Will said, walking closer to the captain, "it wasn't very clear, it just told me to pay you a visit. I don't – Jack?"

His eyes had fallen on Jack and widened, "what are you doing here?"

Jack took two swaying steps forward and grasped Wills shoulders.

"I, you see am here because -" he broke off to hiccup and adjust his hat, Will waited patiently, bracing himself against the smell of alcohol on his friends breath, "there is someone here who -"

Jack paused once more, smacking his lips and Barbossa started forward- he was going to tell him about Lily! But at that moment Jacks eyes rolled and he slumped forwards onto Will, unconscious.

The questioning look Will aimed at Barbossa was brushed aside by the captain as he swept his oversized hat off his head.

"Ah don't mind him, he's roarin' drunk," he said smoothly.

Hearing her own words repeated Lily let out a scream of frustration and Samuel clapped his hand over her mouth, giving her a small shake.

"Stop," he hissed, tightening his hold on her. She stilled, shaking from the physical effort she'd put into escaping. After holding her for a few more seconds to make sure she'd stopped Samuel let her go.

Big mistake.

Heart in her mouth she bolted away and up the stairs, Samuel hot on her heels, but she managed to fling the hatch open and scramble onto deck just in time.

Two pairs of identical eyes met as father and daughter saw each other for the first time.

"Elizabeth?" Will spoke in a hushed whisper.

Trying to speak and failing, Lily burst into tears.