Observe the disclaimer:
Tra la la, I don't own it, tra la la, never will. I just like to play with them and put them back after I'm done no hard will be done to them I swear! Well… I might steal some of Jack's beads, but that's it!
Several hours later Alex stood over a large boiling pot of fish stew. She'd seasoned it with the spices she'd found, Cumin, Ginger, even some chilli. These must cost a fortune in this day and age. She made best use of what fresh vegetable were left on the ship, these included peas, a few potatoes and a few onions. Jack's ship had began to thoroughly amaze her. For such bad cooking its Galley was well kept under the grime and the cooking utensils pretty good considering the time.
"Call the angry hordes in for Dinner, Tom m'boy." She waved at him as she began filling the innumerable bowls that waited next to her.
She brushed the stray dark curls out of her face as she continued pouring the bowls of stew, they began to file in and taking the bowls that sat on the counter that adjoined to the crew's Mess. No one seemed to be complaining, the very fact she hadn't heard much noise was a good thing, she thought, maybe pirates didn't react to good food like normal people.
"That's everyone for now." Tom voiced as he picked up his own bowl.
"For now?" She replied looking at him.
"The Cap'n, Ana and a few of the crew are still in the rigging." He replied as he went to sit down.
"Still in the rigging? Can't Jack bloody well weigh anchor? Its dinner for heaven's sake,"
Grumbling about the mans lack of respect for food she stalked up on deck, to confront him about it.
"Jack!" She cried out as she walked out onto the deck mesmerised, for a moment, at how the sea looked at night.
There Jack stood at the helm, his eyes out to sea, lost in thought she caught sight of Ana and a few other members making their way to the galley, so she'd have the argument in peace.
"Jack," She repeated walking up the stair so she didn't have to yell.
"Aye? Oh, Alex, luv… it's you." His eyes sharpened as he sized up her unhappy look.
"Yes, Jack it's me. Weigh anchor." He lifted an eyebrow at her brusque command.
"I don't think so, luv, we're making good time."
"Your dinner is down in the galley, quickly being eaten up by the rest of the crew, I suggest if you want to eat get moving."
Jack gave her a once over, the woman meant business. Most women did when it came to food and such things. He held up a hand in apology and shook his head.
"Who will steer the Pearl, everyone else is away eatin' which leaves me to be tending to the Pearl."
Alex waved him off and put a hand on the wheel.
"She's not too hard to steer, Jack, by the looks of it you haven't turned the wheel at all, and we've been going straight for a while."
She moved closer and took hold of the wheel with two hand and staring down the middle of the ship and the ocean beyond she knew why Jack liked being in this spot, even if he wasn't doing much.
"Harder than it looks, luv." Jack replied putting his hands on the wheel, covering hers as a result. He moved his body close to hers and moved so he could talk softly in her right ear.
"You have to feel the movement of the ship, know how she's going, all her aches and groans."
He whispered to her his warm breath in her ear made Alex's stomach flutter ad the soft tickling of his beard made her just a bit too under his control.
"Gibbs, should be finished, Jack, he can take over. You need to eat, Jack." She said still lost in the view before her. Jack's hands slowly moved from the wheel to her waist where he pulled her softly against him, in a gentle embrace.
"What if I'm not hungry?"
Breaking her gaze she turned in his hold and stared matter-of-factly into his eyes.
"You're too thin Jack, besides you look famished."
"Aye, that I am luv, but not for food." Alex let out a laugh and shook her head.
"It's not going to be that easy to consummate this marriage of ours, go and eat before I threaten you with a knife."
He let out a disparaging sigh and moved back making Alex shiver at the loss of his body heat.
"Keep the wheel in that position, I'll send Gibb's up and I'll eat your bloody stew."
She just nodded still looking out to sea, she couldn't seem to look away, it seemed so desolate and lonely and yet so free and magical.
"She's beautiful."
Jack broke her out of her reverie; his voice seemed so gentle and soft, nothing husky in it.
"Yes," Alex agreed staring out to sea, "she is."
He walked down to the galley; Alex hadn't noticed that he'd just been staring at her.
"I'll take that off ye missy, the Cap'n wants te be seein' ye."
Gibbs hand seemed to envelop the wheel, there was power there, and knowledge, he was a man who knew what he was doing, clearly a man who was in love with the sea.
Alex meandered toward the cabin enjoying the sounds of the ocean and the motions of the ship and its crew. This in its quiet moments, this part right here, she though, I could handle dealing with this. She finally wandered into the cabin to see Jack pouring over maps and consulting the compass, pausing to look up and smile only to go back to them. For a moment Alex was disconcerted, there was no conversation, no leering, Jack was… almost serious looking.
She walked around the desk and settled herself on the bay window seat to stare out at the endless water behind them, it was so gentle, and yet a little strange. She'd been on boats before, even a ship or three, but this with its creaking and groaning, seemed to have an agreement with the sea, it didn't want to overpower it like the modern ones did.
Unconsciously she began running her hands on the stained wooden panels with the yearning that she would want to have a relationship with 'the Pearl'.
"What's on yer mind, luv?"
She turned sharply and looked at Jack who seemed to be intently observing her, what happened to his map fiddling?
Letting out a sigh she shrugged, "nothing I guess, just getting to know the Pearl. She's very pretty."
Jack seemed to be affronted for a moment and standing, unsteadily he gestured around the room.
"Pretty? The Pearl's pretty? This ship right here is a masterpiece, she is gorgeous. A work of art for…"
"I get it Jack. You're in love with your ship."
She help up a hand to halt what had sounded like the beginning of a monologue and was stopped herself when he grasped her hand and pulled her up.
"Have you ever seen a more magnificent ship, luv? Not one is like the Pearl."
He spun her as he continued his praise, stopping herself from going into another spin he took it upon himself to pull her in, cunningly wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Wedding waltz?"
She questioned, deadpan as he directed their haphazard movements around the cabin.
"Live in the moment, Alex, luv."
He replied, his hand slowly slipping further down her waist, it was at that point Alex initiated her own spin. They seemed to sway for a few moments in silence before he broke the truce that the lack of noise has created.
"I'm glad you like her."
She lifted her head which had seemed to be lolling towards resting on his shoulder.
"Who? The Pearl? How could I not? Considering I was tricked into being the woman in your life the only thing to do is to get along with the love of your life."
He laughed at that, using that very sneaky I'm-up-to-something smile, Alex was starting to learn the cornucopia that was Jack's facial expressions, the amount was steadily growing longer and decidedly more debauched. As his hand began slipping once again she nodded her head towards the table.
"Where are we heading?"
Jack shrugged.
"Port. Not exactly sure which one yet, but you can't continue to wear my clothes, thought I might pay a visit to some old acquaintances."
"Your Rum bottles empty."
She commented offhand as she continued to look around the cabin. Look away, she thought, don't look into his eyes you can't trust your impulses if you look into his eyes.
"Yes." He said, his voice short and resigned.
"Fate has decreed that the Rum with disappear whenever I need it."
She raised an unconvinced eyebrow.
"I think considering the amount you smell like you drink a day you would just absorb it via Osmosis now."
He raised a mirrored eyebrow, looking completely confused.
"You manage to be very articulate for a cook."
"Chef." She retorted sharply. "I'm a Chef, Jack Sparrow.
"Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow."
Biting her lip she couldn't resist teasing him just a little.
"I'll use your title if you use mine."
Well my one update and I actually get hits on my fiction! So here is my shout out to my 3 reviews, possibly not much in some opinions but at least people are responding.
Anguloce: Thanks for the review. I actually haven't got a completely clear idea of what my premise is but the essential Big 5 of the story is worked out so maybe the mud will clear soon enough and I'll get down to the nitty, gritty of it.
Soaringphoenix86: Wahay! You've now reviewed it twice, I have a fan! I really had to give the fic a proper read-over when I saw DMC, some things may be a little more vague because of it in the future, I mean we don't know what's coming up in POTC 3. Thanks for reviewing again. Hugs and cookies for the review.
Captainsallymae: I don't have much more to say than thanks for the review, and for calling me dearie! It makes me feel special.
I'm placing my warning at the end here. I'm back for my second sem of Uni tomorrow so if I'm back to my lazy updating habits, just bug me till I do update. I'll try my best. CC