Author's Note: Wow! I have to say I really didn't like that last chapter I wrote as it definately was not one of my better works and yet I still got reviews claiming they loved it. Thank you so much to Pup-of-Power for the constructive criticism, again I really appreciate it a lot and if anyone else has something that they think would help me become better in my writing please don't hesitate to say, although no flmaes please. Also thanks to NightStormBlaze, johnnydepluver89, and QueenOfWeird1995 for the always encouraging words, and what would be my story without you Purpleness? Seriously everyone without her continued support and help with all my muddled thinking these chapters would not be up very often...most likely once every three months or so at the least. Oh and i forgot to metion that the character Brandy is based off of her...hense the purple.

Warning: ooc in this chapter (but that is to be expected as their relationship progresses)

Alina lay on the bed thinking, she had her left leg hanging off the side of the bed to rest her foot on the floor and her right arm slung over her eyes as she attempted to keep them closed. Her thoughts, unfortunately, were racing too fast for her to sleep. Though her body longed for the peaceful relief of a sound rest, her mind would never settle long enough for her to relax. She felt tired though. She also felt nauseous. She felt worried and panicked, and she felt anger and frustration. Most of all, she felt confused.

In so little time so much had occurred and for some reason her thoughts whipped through the last year from that fateful day she rediscovered her best friend/love was still alive, to the events that passed merely moments ago. She felt that Jack was right in wanting to go see Tia Dalma as the strange voodoo priestess usually knew what to do to get Jack out of a pickle when he couldn't do it himself. However something did not sit right with Alina about the woman. Something about her seemed off.

Alina got the feeling that Tia Dalma was playing Jack at his own game. Jack, who many times said one thing that although stated was completely true, meant something entirely different. For some odd reason she believed that Tia was using Jack for her hidden agenda. That woman had never sat right with Alina and she imagined this time would be no different. Unfortunately, Alina could not simply stay behind and give Jack the impression that she still feared the old hag as she had once stupidly admitted to him and rumor had it that Jack had once been intimate with her.

Alina shuddered. Honestly how could that man possibly have gotten a rise out of that woman? More importantly why had he even bothered to try? Along with the disgust and confusion she felt with the woman she also felt jealous. That thought bothered her more than any other. She was jealous of that hag witch. Jealous that there was the possibility that the woman had gotten to something she had so desperately desired. Jealous that such a horrid woman had gotten close to the man she loved. Yes she knew she loved her best friend. And she knew he did not.

A knock sounded at her door.

"Come in." She called in an almost groaning voice.

The door banged open and in strode the subject of her thoughts as he dragged a nervous looking Brandy behind him. "Who the bloody hell is this?" He asked, throwing her slightly into the room and closing the door behind him. Alina did not have to uncover her eyes to know who he was referring to and so, without moving an inch, she answered him.

"Her name is Brandy and she's joining the crew and if you have any objections then might I remind you of my objection to one Mr. Keller."

"But Keller actually works and doesn't drink much rum, we're keeping him." Jack protested.

"He also stares below me chin and attempts to grope me arse but that's beside the point and we're keeping her." Alina mumbled tiredly, still without moving and wishing she could sleep.

"I don't know her."

"I do."

"She's another mouth to feed."

"She helped us off the island."

"She probably doesn't know the first thing about sailing."

"She can learn."

"She's only standing right here!" Brandy interrupted getting slightly tired of their constant back and forth bickering.

"Her name's Brandy and she's staying," Alina ignored Brandy's outburst and continued, "might do me some good to have another woman on board considering Anna up and left, might help me keep whatever sanity I have left." She then rolled over to attempt sleep once more. Her attempt was in vain however as Jack then stomped over to her and flipped her over.

"What happened to making decisions together?" He asked, glaring at her as he pinned her arms to her side and sat on the bed by her hip to avoid any pain she may seek to inflict upon him.

"Number one," Alina attempted to wriggle out of his grasp though she knew it was futile, "I don't recall you asking me when you decided to go see that retched old, ruttish fastilarian! Number two have you forgotten this entire crew has been recruited by you?! It won't do you any harm to let me have one friend aboard! And number three, let go of me you blasted old puttock!"

At this Jack cocked a brow, "What in the name of all that is crooked is a puttock?"

"It's a buzzard now please let me go." Alina's voice had returned to normal and as Brandy was stunned at the sudden turn about, Jack just sighed aggrievedly and let her go, making sure to stand quickly and step out of way of any of the flailing limbs she would have whacked him with had she the chance. "Jay," she whined, knowing how to play her strengths, "what's the harm of having her on board with us eh?"

"Ali," he sighed, he knew what she was doing and yet he was powerless to resist as he looked down on her, still lying on the bed comfortably, "it's just that I..." he turned to Brandy at this point, "I'm sorry could you leave?" He made a shooing motion with his hand as he pushed her out the door and closed it again. "Ali," he returned to sitting on the bed next to her lying form, "I just don't know who to trust right now and it's slightly more than infuriating."

"You let Pintel and Raghetti come back. If you can trust them enough, why can't ye trust me in my judgement?"

"Now that's not fair and you know it." He semi-glared at her knowing, even as the words left his mouth, that his argument held no ground.

"Why?" She asked, catching his slip as she sat upright so she was sitting next to him and turned her head to the side to look directly at him, "Why is it different? Jay they were working directly for Hector and Brandy never did. Plus she said she's heard of us on the island and she said she admired our expeditions. She doesn't seem all that bad and she just really wanted a way off that island." As Jack opened his mouth to speak, Alina cut him off and added, "How about this, we keep her on board until the next time we make port, not land, port. If by that time she hasn't proved herself worthy of being a crew member then we drop her off and never worry about her again but if she has we make it her decision whether she wishes to stay or go."

Jack sighed, knowing he'd been defeated, "Alright then. We'll go with that idea." He then smirked, "But if things don't work out can I make her walk the plank? Near whatever port we're at of course, I wouldn't leave her out to open sea."

Alina chuckled, "Yes you crazed pirate man, you may make her walk the dreaded plank if it makes you feel better." She leaned in and kissed his lips gently, "Thanks Jay."

"Ali?" Jack asked as she pulled away.

"Hmm?"

"This is something we've yet to discuss." He motioned to their closeness and then their lips in turn, "What are we making of this and how does it affect things?"

"I thought that was supposed to be my line." She sighed and turned her head away so as not to show her embarrassment to him. "Jack, you make whatever you would like to make of it. I'm not putting any restraints on you and if you feel the need for a whore in Tortuga then go right ahead. I know you and I aren't tied and I know you'd never wish to be. This is enough for me Jay. I don't need more if you don't." She cursed herself as she spoke. She knew she should just shut up but she couldn't stop herself from blathering on and on. She knew she had inadvertently given her feelings away but she knew not if Jack had picked up on it. Thankfully, if he had, he had not shown it. Instead he leaned in, and kissed her again.

He moved one hand to her neck and the other to her waist as they sat as close to each other as they could and kissed with such intensity that they both had to remind themselves constantly that they thought the other did not want more. They both fought an internal battle on whether they should let their intimacy continue, or leave it at what it was and at least know they could share in moments such as this. Jack was the first to pull back, scared that if he let such acts continue he would not be able to stop himself from pursuing her further and now was neither the time nor place. He kept his face close though as he rested his forehead against hers and both could feel the other's hot breath on their face as they panted and gasped for air.

"We should get some rest." Alina whispered as she carefully got her breath back, "We should be arriving soon and I don't think you'll want us to be dead on our feet. I suspect you haven't slept in as long as I haven't either."

"You'd probably be correct." He whispered back, but as he began to rise Alina grabbed his hand.

"Stay, please. My mind keeps wandering and I can't bloody sleep. Can you lie with me like you used to when I had nightmares? It'd probably help."

Jack said nothing, but a soft and reminiscent look came on his face as he lay down on the bed and wrapped her in his arms so that her head lay on his chest. He kissed her temple and soon both were drifting off into a peaceful rest that they both deserved.

Two hours later both had awoken to a knocking at the door. Alina grumbled and rolled out of the bed and Jack sat up while rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"So can I stay?" Came the voice of Brandy as the door was opened.

"On a trial basis yes." Jack answered from his position on the bed, it was then that he took the time to actually look at his newest crewman...or rather crew woman.

She was a fairly petite woman, her clothes were a bit ragged from having been in the cave Alina had mentioned earlier to him and her dark blonde hair was hanging to her hip but what was truly odd about her was the purple in her hair. She had an odd fascination with the color as he noted her clothes were a slightly darker shade of it.

"Can I ask you one question though?" He asked, cocking his head to the side as he surveyed her.

"Fire away Captain."

"What's with the color in yer hair?"

"Yeah I was curious about that too." Alina commented, "How did you do it?"

Brandy winked as she replied, "Grapes! Wonderful fruit they are, did you know wine comes from grapes? Used them to do it." With that said she turned with a flourish and skipped away to the upper deck, leaving Alina and Jack dumbfounded and yet chuckling at the eccentric nature of their new comrade. This was going to be interesting.

Very interesting indeed.