AN: I apologize that this is sort of short. I'm tired, and I just wanted to do a weekly update. Happy Turkey Day to you all!!! Read, review, and enjoy!

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"Ah, I was wonderin' when you'd… Oh, Jack, I didn't think you'd really come," Barbossa grumbled as we made our way to the cell where he and the others were imprisoned.

As Jack began to make idle chitchat with the elder pirate, I wandered down the row of cells, looking for the dog with the keys. The pup was a replacement for the other dog, who strangely enough, had seemed to have become a pirate itself. According to a story that Jack had told me as we'd snuck through the harbor, the dog had been with the former pirate king, which had left me speechless.

"Come on, where are you?" I whispered, looking in a few of the empty cells.

Finally, I saw a little white-headed creature peaking out of a cell. It was rather adorable, for it was still a puppy despite that it was slightly large. It was something called a 'West Highland Terrier', and I loved her; she would no doubt grow to be nearly twice her size, and she was given the keys on a collar until she was older. "Come on, little one," I cooed as I crouched down in the floor. Shyly, the animal progressed towards me, sniffing my hand that was holding me stable on the floor. "Good girl," I praised as I picked her up gingerly.

I walked over to where Jack and Barbossa were apparently arguing, the pirates behind Barbossa acting nonchalant and calm. Apparently it was nothing new. I fumbled for the keys and I took off her collar long enough to get the key ring. After much trying, I found the correct key and handed the pup over to Jack, who looked unsure about it as I pulled open the loud and creaking gate. "Someone was bound to hear that, come on!" I whispered, the pirates following my lead. That is, all but Jack. I turned to see him setting the dog down. "No, bring her. She's so adorable…"

"There's no reason to have a dog aboard the ship, darling. She'll make it smell…"

"We can train her to do her business in a low basket or something, like we do, now come along!"

That got him moving and he handed me the small creature, her nose immediately burying into the crook of my arm. I hung the keys on the end of a candleholder and with that, we exited.

Once we were out of the stone structure, Jack raced to catch up with Barbossa, who was leading the pack of pirates. An elderly man with a parrot adorning his shoulder slowed down in the sneaking to stay behind with me, for my dress was slowing me down. Grateful, I smiled kindly, whispering my thanks. In return, he nodded, and then showed me his mouth. Even in the dark I could see that his tongue had indeed been cut out. I grimaced, trying to catch up to the group.

Up ahead, I could see Barbossa and Jack arguing rather loudly about who was going to be captain of the Pearl. Pulling the confused puppy to my body, I jogged to them, scolding them. "The both of you, quiet! Why don't we settle this once we're out of reach, hm? Unless either of you want to be caught once again, I suggest you be quiet. We're nearly to the docks. What're we going to do?"

Jack answered, for Barbossa was too busy glaring at me. "When we reach there, you all get on board and I'll cut the ropes. Untying them will take too much time."

I gave him a confused look as we tiptoed onto the wooden platform, knowing that the Navy was more than likely circling the town. "How will you get on?"

He paused his movements for a moment to give me a look of awe. "Darling, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"

I rolled my eyes and nodded as we did as we'd been told. Quickly, I raced up the ramp and onto the fabled ship. It was quite beautiful and made of dark, nearly black, wood. No doubt that was why it was called the Black Pearl. It was certainly a pearl, that was for certain. As soon as the remainder of the crew was on board, I saw Jack struggling with the rope closest to the mainland. Apparently his knife wasn't cutting it properly. "Jack needs help," I told Barbossa, who merely chuckled as he went to the rail to look for himself.

"The kind of help he needs is somethin' I can't give 'im…" He shut up when he saw that the ship was already sailing backwards due to the wind, the rope starting to become tight and pulled to its limit. About that time, I looked up to the mainland, and I saw the Navy coming towards the docks. "Sparrow, get on board."

He looked up and then followed my worried gaze. Seeing the approaching trouble, he quickly grabbed a hold of the ladder near him and climbed onto the deck. "What're you going to do?" I said as I followed him to the helm, where he firmly grasped the wheel.

Jack grinned his handsome grin and waited a few moments, waiting until the back of the ship was out of harm's way. As soon as the Navy was on the dock, he turned the wheel to the right sharply, causing the rope to pull free, taking that support beam with it. He chuckled as a few men toppled into the water, taken off balance. Before we faced the open ocean, however, I couldn't help but see Aaron's face, disappointment written across it.

Turning away, I grasped the small puppy to me, cradling her close. I could hear her whimper softly as the men around us were trying to prepare the ship should we be pursued. "Come on, little one," I whispered as I took her into the captain's quarters just to stay out of the way. "Shush, it's alright," I cooed.

I heard her make another small noise as I dug through a desk drawer to find some matches. The cabin was rather spacey, with a large map table and a couple of desks with chairs all around. To one side there was a bedroom, no doubt where the captain of the ship slept.

I found what I was looking for and I lit various candles and lanterns, sitting in one of the desk chairs. Gently, I sat the puppy on the wooden desktop and watched her as she sniffed around then laid down, watching me intently. "What should I name you, huh?" I whispered, scratching her behind her ears.

The creature closed her eyes in contentment, obviously enjoying the attention I was giving her. As we sat there, I couldn't help but to let the guilt of what I'd done sink in. I'd committed piracy. And frankly, that bothered me more than anything.

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On deck, Jack watched from the wheel in all directions in case any ships arose. After a long debate, which had been settled only moments earlier, he'd won over Barbossa. The lass had put a damper on their squabble earlier, and he wasn't entirely sure if he liked that. She was too headstrong when she wanted to be, it seemed.

Thinking about Natalie made him realize that he hadn't seen her for a while. Then he remembered that she'd had that pup in her arms, and more than likely she would've went into the closest cabin; specifically, his. "Mr. Cotton," he beckoned the eldest crew member, "take over and alert me if trouble ensues." After receiving a nod, Jack bolted down the steps to his cabin.

Stealthily, he opened the doors slightly to see the governor's daughter sitting at his main desk, the pup lying in front of her. She was talking to the small creature, no doubt grateful to have a companion. Grinning like a madman, which he happened to think he was most of the time, he backed away and turned to go below deck to Lizzie and Will's old cabin, allowing the door to shut loud enough for her to hear.

Quickly, he disappeared beneath deck, entering the long-abandoned cabin. It would take some getting used to; not having the lovebirds aboard, constantly bickering then making up. Chuckling at many of the memories, Jack dug through an old trunk, finding what he'd been hoping to find.

Apparently Lizzie had left behind several pairs of breeches and a few shirts, which would without a doubt fit the slim-figured Natalie. Although, he thought to himself as he laid an outfit out on the bed, laying an abandoned hairbrush with it, I have a feeling she'll get a little more meat on her bones once she gets an opportunity to eat properly. Elizabeth was pale mostly to the lack of food, and she gained a little weight.

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When I heard the door open, I turned my head to see Jack raising his eyebrows at me in amusement. "Comfortable, darling?"

I immediately jumped up, gathering the slumbering puppy in my arms. "Sorry, I just didn't know where anything else was and…"

He cut me off by showing me out of the room and leading me below deck. "No trouble at all. Just wanted you to know that I've made arrangements for you to have this room," he opened the door to a cabin and we stepped inside. "I don't think dear William nor his bonny wife will be returning anytime soon, so consider it yours."

"What about the first mate?" I questioned. Wasn't it customary for the first mate to get dibs on the other cabin?

Jack chuckled as he turned to leave. "Aye, well, first we'll have to pick up said first mate, then we'll go from there. Gibb's will understand. After all, we've all experienced Lizzie, and I must say if you're anything like her, we won't be pestering you long to move." He closed the door behind him, yelling, "breakfast is in the galley. Come when you're ready."

I sighed, turning to the outfit before me on the bed. Before I got dressed, however, I did a quick evaluation of my new quarters. There was a privy across from the bed, which was pretty decent for a pirate ship. There was a small desk in one corner and it was windowless, which didn't shock me for it was literally in the middle of the ship.

Sighing once more, I laid the puppy on the floor, regretting it instantly. Seeing it begin to squat, I picked it up carefully and quickly, racing to take it to the privy. Knowing that I'd have to find a smaller, more shallow bucket, I laid the creature on a random paper I'd found. As the she did her business, I sighed, knowing that it was going to be a long journey to wherever the first mate was.