This was originally the ending to "Sparrow" before I decided that it was not what I wanted. But I love this scene. I will just let you read it so I will not give it away. I will say, however, that if the ending seems familiar, it's because I eventually used that for the actual chapter.

#unity shows Jack getting an uncomfortable revelation about his friend.

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No stronger love in this world
Oh, baby no, you're my man, I'm your girl
I'll never go, wait and see, can't be wrong
Don't you know this is where you belong

Sweet this dream how lovely baby
Stay right here, never fear
I will be all that you need
Never leave, 'cause baby, I believe

- Anita Baker, "Sweet Love

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The Commodore's Wife: Alternate

#unity

Jack and Danie waited at the water line, scanning the darkness for Jessica. Danie stood, arms crossed over her chest, while Jack paced.

"She'll be here, Sparrow," Danie assured him.

Jack shook his head. "That woman is unlike any I have ever met. There's little telling what baggage she'll bring when she finally does appear."

Confusion marred Danie's brow. "Baggage?"

Before he could elaborate, the woman in question appeared. Jack paused and put his hands together in satisfaction. "There she is," he murmured with a note of relief.

His smile faded instantly when a group of redcoats marched up behind her. They stopped at her back, and dread pooled in Jack's belly as they parted strategically for a tall man in a navy blue jacket. The man strode through the break in bodies with his hands clasped behind his back, smooth as shaving cream. He stopped next to his wife, face expressionless but eyes emanating a cool smugness. Jack heaved a large, long-suffering sigh.

"Jay, this is not what we agreed upon," he reminded her. "When I offered you the chance to go after Barbossa I didn't mean you and him and his little gang of redcoat lackeys. I meant you alone. On your onesies. Sans your supercilious spouse." He pointed at her with an accusing finger. "For a smart lass you sure have forgotten how to do sums."

"I know how to add, Jack," she shot back. "It seems you were the one underestimating."

Danie strode up, wanting to keep the peace. "All right, children." They both went silent. She decided to play negotiator, addressing her older sister. "Hermana, think about what this will mean. You're asking us to work with our enemy." Jessica tilted her head disapprovingly. "Well, you know what I mean! He locked you up twice. What makes you think that he won't do the same to us once we reach our goal?"

"He won't do that, Danie," Jessica responded. "Because he's not my enemy, nor is he yours."

"What kinda magic spell did you have to put on him so he'd consent to that?" Jack wondered aloud.

Danie grimaced at him. "Oh I think you know," she quipped, nudging him suggestively. He looked positively green as he imagined it and visibly shuddered. Norrington flushed a bit but said nothing.

"My participation comes with a caveat," Jessica advised them firmly, trampling all over their impertinent exchange. "Bottom line: if I go, the Commodore comes with me."

"And if I accompany you on this dubious mission, I will have the power and authority of the Royal Navy at my beck," Norrington added, speaking for the first time. "That is non-negotiable, Captain Sparrow."

Jack looked like someone had just burned his hat.

He shifted to appeal to his old friend as he figured addressing Commodore Norrington would land him with accessories made of iron. "But Jay! He's the Commodore!"

Jessica shook her head as her husband rolled his eyes at Jack's remark. "Yes, he is the Commodore, and trust me I know that fact well." Norrington quirked an eyebrow at the ironic tone of her voice in the latter part of her statement. "But he's also my husband, Jack. That may mean nothing to you, but it means a great deal to me." She paused to place a hand on Jack's shoulder. "The Commodore and I are a team now. I'm sorry."

After a long moment, he stepped away from her and her hand slid down to her side. Jack stepped up to Norrington, causing the former to narrow his eyes slightly. He flicked a glance from Norrington's feet back up to his face. "Commodore Norrington, I hope you know how lucky you are to have her, mate. If you hurt her I will come after you. Personally."

"An empty threat, Sparrow," Norrington said blandly.

His mouth curved on one side. Anyone who knew him well enough could spot the threat and challenge in his eyes. "Wanna push your luck?"

Norrington's face remained serious. "I don't intend to incite your disapproval, Sparrow, because I will never hurt her."

Jack's dark gaze lingered for a couple of beats before he moved back. Beside Norrington, Jessica's eyes softened at the revelation. She looked up at him sidelong. He met her gaze, and Jack spied the sentiment that passed between them. He was an intelligent fellow, and he knew when he had been bested.

Sometime later, they watched Danie and Jack sail away, Norrington with relief, and Jessica with a bit of regret. Norrington turned and ordered his men back to the fort but he lingered at his wife's side. When they were finally alone, Norrington stepped into her line of sight, hands still clasped behind his back. She looked up at him.

"I am well aware of what you relinquished to include me." He paused, then added after a beat, "Captain."

"And I am well aware of what you would have risked to flank me." Her lips curved slightly. "Commodore."

"Well, as you explained to Sparrow, we're a team now. If you take up arms, darling, I take up arms with you." The cadence of his voice deepened faintly. "We work best that way, remember?"

Her smile faded as he stepped closer. He leaned in until their lips were a breath apart. Despite her resolve to restrain herself she felt her pulse quicken. Damn this man and his pull on her. She firmed her mouth and decided to give as good as she got.

"I suppose we ought to go home now," she murmured.

"I believe you are obligated to uphold your end of our bargain as I behaved myself," he reminded her softly.

"Right you are, Commodore. But I never said when, did I?"

She stepped away as his brows furrowed in disbelief. She turned from him, smiling mischievously.