To Hate Her Own

A/n: This chapter is A LOT longer. Oh, boy, am I gonna have fun typing it all out, lol. Anyway, please review! I'll give you two cookies! Not one, two! C'mon, you know you want the cookies...and I'll update quicker if I get reviews, anyway. :-)

Thanks to all my earlier reviewers!

Dancing In The Dark

Disclaimer: Look to earlier chapters.

Chapter Five

The day started out like any other. Warm and sunny, like most in Port Royal. Kayley and Daniel had decided to visit the market place that morning, neither having anything to do. Harold was at sea on business, and Kayley's nerves were on edge. Her sleep had been filled with dreams she didn't want for the last three weeks. And thanks to that she woke up sporadically, each night. She was sure she looked washed out today. Could there be more to her raw nerves? She could almost feel, half expected, something world tipping to happen. She turned to her right, about to ask Daniel if they could head home, when she found him in deep discussion with a man about swords. Good Lord, was Daniel just like their father. Will Turner was a well known blacksmith, now with his own business. He'd taught Daniel all he knew, and that was a lot. Especially about the quality of swords.

Kayley had just tagged along with her older brother to the shop, and watched them. Ever perceptive, she knew just as much as Daniel. Not something a lady should know. But, she couldn't help herself. It was like a moth to a flame. She'd been drawn to it. Nowadays she just showed quiet interest. Knowing Daniel would probably be there half the day, Kayley decided to go visit her father. Years ago, when she'd been in the Turner household for no more than a month, Will Turner had been wonderful with her. Gentle, patient, caring. Coming into her room at night when she woke up screaming for her daddy. And now he was her father. Elizabeth the mother she'd never had. After about a year, they'd begun to doubt Jack would ever be coming back. Eight-year-old Kayley had already given up. She would never see Daddy again. And she didn't want to. The Turners ended up adopting her, making the fact that they were her parents, legal. And no one had ever come to regret it. No one. The small child had risen from her pain and stolen everyone's heart.

Kayley paused for a minute in the entrance of her father's shop. She had to catch her breath. Had she been running? For a minute there, she had been lost in thought, unaware of her surroundings. The corset, which never really bothered her much, felt like a boa constrictor coiling itself tighter and tighter around her abdomen. She opened the heavy wooden door, and was blasted by heat. Closing the door behind her, and squinting into the darkness, she found her father hard at work hammering metal. Red pepper sparks flew around him. Her father was a big man, all muscles, thanks to his line of work. In his early thirties, Will Turner looked the same as when she'd first seen him. The only difference was that his features were more mature. But that was all. Waiting for him to pause for a brief second so he could hear her, Kayley called to him.

"Hello Father!" Will turned with a start towards the voice.

"Kayley? What are you doing here?"

"Daniel and I were in the market place. He's debating swords with a merchant. I'm afraid I'm all alone."

Her father grinned at the mention of his son. So much like him. "Well, you're welcome to stay here, sweetheart. Care to help me?"

Kayley turned her nose up at the idea, although deep down, in her truest self, she wanted to. Oh, how she did! But on the outside, her exterior, she had to act the perfect lady. Even in front of one of the people she was closest to.

"Father!" She chided with a smile.

He tapped the tip of her nose with his index finger, leaving behind a spot of soot.

"I know, sweet pea. Don't want to dirty that dress." He teased.

Despite his teasing tone, Kayley heard the challenge in it. Her eyes replied to the challenge.

"You think that, do you? Where's that spare smock?" Will smiled.

"Back room. Hurry up." Kayley smiled back and went to the back room. Her father's office, really. She removed her large hat that protected her fair skin from the sun, and lifted the smock around her neck and tied it securely at the back. Well, at least it would protect her dress rather well. Mother would kill her if she got a stain in it that wouldn't come out. She'd never be able to wear white again! She walked back into the main room to see her father back at work. When he finally noticed her there, he motioned for her to come to his side. He handed her a tool.

"Could you heat this up for me? And be careful, it gets really hot." Kayley nodded and made her way over to the fire. As she held the tool to the flames, she stood mesmerized, staring. The orange-red embers reflected in her eyes. A feeling of deja-vu swept over her. A memory long forgotten emerged. Sweat beaded her brow. She became hypnotized, lost in the depths of her insistent mind.

(Memory)

Blue eyes peered over the table. The tiny two-year-old girl was too short to stand over it's great height. The ship's cook was busy making dinner for the Captain, lighting candles and setting the table. The toddler, with a head of thick black curls, stared curiously at a melting candle. The dripping wax sliding slowly down from the wick, drew her closer. She climbed onto a small chair, and reached a tiny hand towards the dancing flame. An itty-bitty finger touched the flame, startling her. She began to cry, a shrill wail that was loud enough to rival the cry of a banshee.

Holding her finger as fat tears rolled down her plump cheeks, the kitchen went into chaos. Cook dropped the pan he'd been making fish in, looking around frantically to see what had happened. Someone burst through the door, not using the knob. Brown eyes that looked slightly panicked, scanned the room. When they rested on the little girl, they became filled with concern. Jack Sparrow knelt down to his daughter's height.

"Kayley, lass, wha' happened?" She cried even harder. The Captain noticed her holding her finger. Knowing she hated to be touched when she was injured, Jack had to tread lightly.

"Did ye hurt yerself, love?" She nodded her tiny head.

"Will ye let me see? I can make it feel better..." Her eyes looked like glass as she considered him. She had stopped crying and now hiccuped with the after affects. He pulled her grip off of her index finger and examined the swollen burn. He looked at the candle angrily, as if he would kill it, were it alive, for hurting his daughter. He took her in his arms and went to his cabin. Sitting her down on the bed, he told her to stay put as he grabbed a cloth and a tub of cold water. He took her hand firmly in his as he cleaned the burn. She began to cry again, trying futilely to pull away.

"Just a minute, love. Hold on." He soothed the child when he was finished. She was crying so hard, Jack was afraid she'd make herself sick. He pulled her into his lap, and stroked her hair.

"Shh, shh, little one. Daddy's here. Yer all right now, yer all right." Soon enough, she fell asleep, tiring herself out. He laid her on the bed and pulled the covers over her. She was a daddy's girl, no doubt about it. He marveled at the child, amazed that she was his. He'd never let any harm come to his little girl.

(End Of Memory)

"Kayley, look out!" Her father's urgent voice broke her out of the trance. Will pulled her arm back just in time. It was about to get scorched by the fire.

Kayley blinked. "Oh, my...I-I'm sorry."

Will examined her hand, just making sure she hadn't touched the flames even a little. She was shaking, trembling. Will grew even more concerned.

"Where were you a minute ago?" Kayley couldn't meet his eyes.

"I must have zoned out. I didn't get much sleep last night." Will's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anymore.

"Well, I think that's enough for today. Thank-you for your help." Kayley nodded absently, still not quite there. She removed the smock and dropped it in the back room. Just as she was coming out, her brother walked into the shop.

"Oh, there you are. Was wondering where you'd gone off to." He noticed her pallor, suddenly.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. May we go now?"

Daniel looked at her suspiciously. "All right, let's go."

She nodded her thanks.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Kayley was lost in another world as they walked home. She had to snap out of this! Why did that memory have to surface at the least opportune time? She winced at her selection of words. It seemed he wasn't as out of her system as she had thought him. No, no that was silly. Of course he was. She hadn't seen him in nine years! Many people used that phrase, her own father included. Finally calming a little, Kayley's thoughts drifted back to her original worry. Why were all these memories choosing to dredge themselves up now, right before she was to be married? She would be better off just forgetting it all as she had for all this time. How could they still be there, in the deep recesses of her mind, like this? She was a completely different person. A Tuner now. Miss Kayley Turner, soon to me Mrs. Harold Norrington. She shuddered as she found she didn't want to think of that either. And so she forced herself to focus on the large group of boys sitting in a circle, in front of a stand at the very end of the market place. What were they all laughing and whooping about? Once she and Daniel had passed them, the boys suddenly all jumped up and began battling with wooden swords. The noise caused Kayley to turn in curiosity. And when she did, she wished she hadn't, for what she saw made her stop in mid-step and nearly fall to her knees. What she saw was a face that she had never in all her wildest dreams even thought she'd ever see again. The face of Captain Jack Sparrow.

A/n: So, that's all for now. What did you guys think? If you review, I may just update sooner...

Anyway, I want to say thanks.

-Dancing In The Dark