Disclaimer: PotC is Disney's m'dears and don't you forget it. A short story about a brief reunion many years after my story Shipwreck: Murtogg and Mullroy between Jack and the two redcoats.

A Brief Reunion

Murtogg and Mullroy were enjoying a holiday in Port Royal. They strolled down the docks, enjoying the sea air, the smell of stinky sailors, caged chickens and tied up goats preparing for a sea voyage. They were having such a wonderful time observing the marines who weren't on holiday that they hardly noticed a friendly sign that warned: The Bad Side of the Docks Law Abiders Beware-Why Are You Still Here?

"And remember when I told them about how we were on the island with the crabs and such? They didn't believe me!" sighed Murtogg shaking his head.

"You would think they'd wonder where we had been." nodded Mullroy.

"It's like what Mr. Sparrow said they didn't believe the truth even when we told it to them."Click."Mully, don't jab me-"

"Raise 'em high!" said a strange voice behind him. Their new hats dropped to the ground. The owner of the voice jabbed him in the back again. "Ya skinny bones stand an' deliv-ah!"

"It's my day off, sir. Please don't rob me on my-"

"Oh, Rob ye say? ME NAME'S NOT ROBERT!" growled the voice. Murtogg gulped. Mullroy cautiously tried to look over his shoulder, to see who this person might be.

"EYES FORWARD!" commanded a second voice barely able to keep from snickering in evil delight. "What y'think we should do wit' 'em, eh?"

"We don't have much to steal, sirs," said Mullroy, "unless you like hats and duck figurines. We bought them from-"

"We didn't say a word 'bout taking yer things. Did we, Chuck?" said the first voice.

"I'm not a chunk!" said a third voice indignantly that sounded very different from the first two. I only saw two, thought Mullroy more perplexed than ever. One with red hair and one with dark.

"What are you doing? Giving us away and-"said a fourth voice. "Oh, you two can turn around now. It's alright."

Murtogg and Mullroy exchanged silent what's-going-on looks and turned around. Their captors were both young men. The red head was slightly taller than his dark haired friend who had a mustache. It was an odd mustache that looked slightly like a furry caterpillar and seemed very out of place on the young man's face. The most peculiar part was that they truly didn't seem so set on robbing Murtogg and Mullroy and they too wore red uniforms with shiny black boots.

"I'm not a chunk, honestly!" said the dark haired one irritably. Murtogg couldn't place where he had heard the slightly familiar voice before. Mullroy stared thoughtfully at the two young men.

"I didn't call you a chunk!You sure the bees didn't fly in there when you stole the honey?"

"I paid for that and-and you know it!"

"An apology note doesn't count, honey hostage taker."

"Why do they seem so familiar?" asked Murtogg. Mullroy didn't answer. He was listening and studying the strangers.

"Yeah, yeah, and I suppose you didn't borrow his wig?"

"You did that."

"Oh…right."

Something about sobbing and disbelief over an acronym flickered in the back of Mullroy's mind. Sudden Apple Hating Denial. He hopped up and tapped Murtogg on the shoulder and exclaimed, "That's them!" Murtogg gave him a strange look.

"What?" said a confused Charlie suddenly realizing he had forgotten about them."Oh, right." The two smiled and snapped into a proper salute. "Mercer and Wainwright reporting for duty, sirs!"

"You-you two actually did it!" laughed Murtogg. "And Jon?"

"That's Lieutenant Green, naturally." Charlie said a hint of pride at his friend's achievement and annoyance. "Remember that ol' high-toned fancy lady he worked for?"

".She put in a good word for him," sighed Oliver. "He told her the truth about our pirating."

"-she didn't believe him." continued Charlie. "So-"

"-we went in and told her we had to visit his sick grandfather in England and apologized on his behalf."

"She believed us."

"Surprisingly."

"I thought she hated us." Charlie said matter-of-factly. Oliver shook his head, "Nah, she hated you."

"Why d'you say that?"said Charlie miffed rounding on Oliver. Oliver stepped back, pulled an apple out of his pocket and rolled it in the opposite direction.

"APPLE!" said Charlie diving for it, he tackled it, landing hard on his knees, laughing in triumph and forgetting to be mad at Oliver for the slight.

"Grown out of apples?" commented Mullroy observing how he hadn't given a second thought to rolling it on the ground. He watched the new mustached Charlie hug the apple.

"Ridiculous notion." Oliver said offended, pulling one out from his tricorn. "You can't grow out of apples."

"Shouldn't you two be doing patrolling or guarding or something?" said Murtogg. Before Oliver could respond to the question the sound of shouts and running interrupted. A figure jumped down from a tall pile of crates and raced down planks. He must have been set on avoiding his pursuers as fell flat on his face after tripping over Charlie.

"ACK! No, you can't have it!" Charlie said clutching the fruit close in paranoia.

The figure groaned and lifted his head. Oh, bugger. More redcoats. He slowly rose to his feet, "Good evening, gents I-" Oliver dropped his apple, rushed forward and gave the pirate a tight hug, "Captain! It's so good to see you!"

"Erm…" Jack said speechlessly. That wasn't what he had been expecting. Usually when he ran into the King's navy (as he had a few minutes ago) they froze, pointed their rifles at him, started shooting, chasing and shouting, "STOP IN THE NAME OF THE KING!" After that they were outwitted or out-run or caught him, were outwitted or out-run or a combination of the two. Never before had he been greeted so affably.

"Remember what you said?" Oliver held him at arms length and removed his hat revealing his red hair. "'…contradicting a captain? You lads really aren't going to do well in the king's navy.'"

Jack backed away slightly and regarded the person in front of him suspiciously. He looked at Charlie and his apple. "Clearly, I assessed the situation well…"

"Beg pardon?"

"You're not shouting 'clap him in irons'." explained Jack still not entirely convinced. He turned around and saw Murtogg and Mullroy. "Ah, you two I do know!"

Murtogg and Mullroy came forward and shook his hand energetically, "It's wonderful to see you, Mr. Sparrow!"

"Audacious Angus and Jumping Joe…They made very good stories."Jack tossed an apple in the air. Charlie jumped up, caught it and said, "Ollie! Another apple! Hey, when did Captain Jack Sparrow get here?"

Oliver sighed, " Convinced yet, Captain?" Jack brought out another apple and feigned throwing it harshly. Oliver gasped in horror and dove for the apple that had never hit the ground.

"I'm convinced," Jack said tossing it to him. Oliver was relieved and quite thankful. He placed the apple in his hat, "That's not fair."

"Well…FALL DOWN!" Jack urged as the familiar sounds of boots and the arrival of his pursuers came. Murtogg and Mullroy quickly understood and pushed Charlie and Oliver's weapons to Jack's feet.

"What?"said Oliver. Jack groaned, pushed him down and dove into the water.

"Wainwright and Mercer! Why didn't you catch him?"

"Huh?" Oliver said confused, sitting up as the redcoats came. Murtogg and Mullroy pointed to the rifles that were far out of their reach. "Sparrow knocked them out and had us at rifle point. They're disoriented."

"Why didn't you two go after him when he dove off?"

All four of the former pirates smiled. "We can't swim!"