Author's Note:
We meet again! Whoop whoop! Sorry it took so long to update this story, but now updates shall continue regularly. And for all you "Meeting His Match" fans: I am starting to research for a sequel! There will be many INTERESTING things ahead, mates! I have kept you without any kind of update for so long, so please, without further ado, enjoy Chapter TEN!
PineAppleLint
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
Where we left off in case you forgot.........
Jack awoke early, as always, but his skin was slick with sweat and his heart beat was fast and rapid.
"Damn her," he muttered, standing up and leaning in the doorframe for a moment, watching her as she breathed deeply in her sleep. Sparrow shook his head and then made his way towards the helm. Sparrow always went to the helm of his beloved ship when he had to ponder hard about something, or when he wanted to watch the sunrise.
He ran his hands along the dark wood, caressing it like a lover. In a few minutes, dawn would break and the sun would gleam over the waves, casting new colors across the heavens like a painter with his pallet. Jack spent many mornings like this one, just gazing at the sky.
Sure enough, the sky began its vivid transformation, changing from blue to yellow to pink to a dazzling red.
"Now bring me that horizon," Sparrow murmured.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
A cool, moist cloth was pressed to her forehead and she groaned softly.
"Jack?" she asked in a pained whisper.
"No, Miss Priss, yer knight in shinin' armor isn't here right now," a gruff female voice proclaimed.
Belle's eyelids flickered open and she came face to face with a frowning Ana Maria. Ana's face was smudged with dirt and her wild raven locks were plastered to her forehead as if she had just come from being hard at work above deck.
"Where's Jack?" Belle questioned and winced, her head hurting like mad and her skin feeling cold and clammy.
"He's captainin' his ship like he's supposed to. Ordered me to come in an' check on ye. He's been actin' strange. What the hell did ye do to him?" Ana Maria's tone was harsh and unforgiving, only adding nervousness to Belle's distressed and sick state.
"For goodness sakes, keep it down," Belle pleaded, "I had a little too much rum last night."
"An' acted like a downright fool," Ana Maria pointed out with a glare, "I don' appreciate some stuck up princess climbin' aboard and instantly thinkin' she owns the place."
"What? Ana Maria, this is nonsense!"
"Jack has taken a likin' to ye and has cut ye some slack. I, on the other hand, won't be so forgivin'," she threatened, "Ye will work yer ass off as long as ye stay on the Pearl, aristocrat o' not."
"And I would not think otherwise," Belle said tiredly, "I must earn my keep." She tried to sit up in bed but Ana Maria just pushed her back down.
"Ye have a fever. Ye stay in here today, Jack's orders," Ana Maria informed her.
"Well Miss Maria," Belle spat in a fed-up tone of voice, "After that little lecture of yours, I suppose I should be working today. So if you'll excuse me......." And Belle slowly, painfully leaned over the side and began to pull on her shoes.
"Ye better listen to me, ye stupid twit," Ana snarled.
"Fuck off," Belle growled and her eyes widened instantly. Such harsh words to be coming from such a prim and proper woman! She hadn't been raised to use such vile language! But some part of her felt good at witnessing Ana Maria's startled reaction.
Narrowing her eyes, Ana Maria stomped off to the door, opened it, and yelled, "I need some assistance, Cap'n!" and slammed it shut once more.
Belle moaned and held her head, the loud noises not making her headache any better. She leaned against the bedpost, feeling a bit dizzy right as Jack Sparrow barged in, not looking pleased.
His deep brown eyes scanned the room, taking in his surroundings. He saw Belle fully dressed and his eyes narrowed when his gaze reached Ana Maria, who had her arms folded and looked cross.
"I thought ye were to follow me orders," Jack said solemnly.
"That ruddy lil' bitch isn't listen to one word I say! Even told me to fuck off, she did!" Ana argued, "So I'm through with actin' as babysitter."
"Did she now?" Jack asked, intrigued, slowly running his fingers along his goatee, "I see."
"She is tellin' me I'm lazy, so I am working today whether you like it or not, Captain!" Belle said and took one step towards the door. Her dizziness instantly doubled, causing her to lose her footing and fall.
Before she could hit the ground, Jack caught her gracefully in his arms, picking her up and carrying her to bed once more.
"I really do protest!" she murmured weakly and Jack grinned, lying her down gently on top of the goose feather mattress.
"Ye need yer rest, luv. Stay in bed today. For me?" Jack said and picked up her hand, kissing her fingers one by one, softly and seductively.
Through the haziness of her sickness, Belle's heart rate still shot up and her lower abdomen burned with a heat Jack Sparrow always seemed to kindle inside of her.
"All right," she whispered.
"That's me girl," he said with a slow smile.
Ana Maria snorted and left the room in disgust.
He pulled the covers up around Belle and she said sleepily, "But tomorrow I will be at work with the lot of them, I promise. No duty of mine will be left undone."
"I wouldn't doubt it for a second, Belle. Sweet dreams. Perhaps dream about me."
"You have a very big ego," she retorted and yawned, her eyes slowly losing their focus.
"Aye, the biggest in the Caribbean," Jack answered and by that time, she was already asleep.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
The next day drifted by lazily without problems, that is, until Ana Maria and Belle started to rub each other the wrong way again.
Belle accidentally dropped a bucket full of fresh water, it hitting the deck with a loud thud and the liquid pouring onto the wooden surface.
"Stupid cow!" Ana Maria said and pushed her out of the way as she walked by, "Ye wasted perfectly good water!"
"I'm sorry," Belle sputtered, her eyes lowered in shame, "It twas nothing but an accident."
"Any more accidents and I will have to have a talk with the Cap'n," Ana Maria said thoughtfully, but then frowned, adding, "But I don' think that will do much good, considering ye are sleepin' wit' him."
"I am not!" Belle cried, "What hogwash!"
"I bet that's why he's been so easy on ye. When I got on board the Pearl he made me work till me hands bled. Ye traded sex for a free ticket, hmm?"
Ana Maria didn't even see it coming. Belle flung her fist and socked her square in the eye. Ana lost her balance and hit the ground with a thud.
The crew paused with what they were doing and stared in open mouthed shock.
Ana Maria unsheathed her sword and snarled, "Oh, yer goin' to pay for that one, missy!"
"Belle!" one old man called, "Take this!" She glanced over and caught the sword hilt first which he had thrown in her direction. Staring at it, Belle shook her head. She didn't know how to handle a cutlass! Who did they think she was, anyways?
Ana swung the sword at her and with a small cry she blocked the first blow, the tremor of the hit jolting up her arm. Ana whirled around and the swords clashed with such force, Belle lost her grip, watching in horror as the blade went flying through the air and hit the floor fifteen yards away. The crew laughed, making fun of her obvious lack of fighting skills.
"This should teach ye for messin' with a pirate, society girl," Ana Maria stated and was about to fling the blade at her and wound her, but a hand grabbed hers in mid motion. It was Jack.
"Now that's not very nice, ladies," he scolded playfully before turning around and yelling to the crew, "Back to work! All of ye!" Belle, her cheeks flushed with anger, brushed off her skirts and was about to scamper off until a rough hand caught her by the scruff of the neck.
"Ye and I need to have a lil' talk, Miss Blake," Sparrow whispered into her ear.
"Ana Maria, any more trouble and I see to it that ye swab the decks here on out," Jack said with a nod in her direction. Ana Maria grumbled an apology, sheathed her sword, and made her way up the crow's nest.
Jack guided Belle down into the empty mess hall, shut the door, and motioned for her to have a seat.
"I'll stand, thank you," she said crisply.
"All right, then I'll get to the point," Jack stated with a flourish of hand movements, "Stop messin' with me crew o' else I will have to drop ye off at the next spit o' land we cross, savvy?"
Belle gawked, "Ana Maria started it!"
"And what did Ana say to upset ye so?" Jack asked, intrigued.
Belle reddened and lowered her gaze.
"Well?" Jack asked, crossing his arms.
"I think such foul remarks should not be repeated," she said, holding her head high.
"Ah, so that's it then. Was it about me?" Jack questioned wickedly, "Was it naughty?"
"I do not have time for this," Belle said harshly and attempted to storm out of the mess hall, but Jack grabbed her arm and pulled her to him roughly.
"Hmmm, it is quite fun playin' these games with ye, luv. It excites me."
"That is it. I want off of this ship!" Belle shouted in exasperation, "No one takes me seriously! The crew hates me and all you do is sexually harass me!"
"Ye want off o' the Pearl, missy? Then why didn' ye ask?" Jack said innocently and grabbed her before she could put up a fight, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out to the poop deck while she was kicking and yelling.
"Let me down at once, Sparrow!" she screamed.
He took her to the edge of the ship and held her there. If he let go, she would go tumbling into the raging waves of the fathomless, endless ocean.
"Oh goodness, please don't!" Belle pleaded, "I didn't mean it! Honest!"
The crew chuckled at the interesting display in front of them, giving it a quick glance and then carrying on with their duties.
He dropped her onto the wooden deck without grace, so that she tumbled head over heels out of his arms.
"Ye are weak, Belle. Miserable. Kind o' like an abused dog, ye are, with ye always scurryin' off with yer tail between yer legs."
"That's wonderful," Belle sniffed, "How am I supposed to get my father's ship back and become a pirate when I don't even know the first thing about being one?"
"That is where I come in," Jack winked.
"And what do ye have to offer me, Jack Sparrow?" she huffed.
"Everythin', luv! Pirate lessons from the best pirate known to man!" Jack said proudly, "How can ye pass that offer up?"
"What is the catch?" Belle said uneasily, "There is always a catch when it comes to you."
"Since ye don' seem very comfortable with the suggestion o' sleepin' with me," Jack said thoughtfully, "I would like ye to be me friend. I enjoy yer company, Belle. Perhaps when I teach ye a few things, ye can teach me a few things in return."
"Like what? What knowledge would you possibly want to gain from me?"
"I want to learn more about ye. I want to learn more about......." he paused, trying to think of a correct term, "Your way o' life. Or perhaps yer 'past' way o' life."
"On what it's like to be an aristocrat?"
"That's it, luv. Yes."
"But you are a pirate. Why do you care?"
"I visit a few places that don' accept pirates in a kindly fashion, if ye catch me drift. If I blended in with the high society folk, I wouldn' have any problems."
"Blend in?" Belle laughed and tugged on one of his goatee braids to make a point.
Jack narrowed his eyes and said, "So do we have an accord?"
"Aye aye, Cap'n," she said with a warm smile, "Yes we do," and took his rough hand in hers, shaking it firmly.
And that was the exact moment Belle knew she was starting a new life, never to look back again. To throw away her manners, her distinguished state of mind, and grasp something that meant more to her than anything else.
Freedom.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
One and a half months later.............
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
CLASH.
"Watch yer step, dear Sparrow! I wouldn' want to see ye cry when I beat ye!"
"Ye always did have too much sarcasm for yer own good, Belle," Jack Sparrow said and blocked her sword, "I always beat ye. No one can beat the infamous Jack Sparrow!"
"Oh, go keelhaul yerself!" said through clenched teeth as his blade whizzed an inch past her arm, not cutting flesh but slicing a nice tear in her stained baggy shirt.
"Mmm, a bit too close for comfort, Belle?"
"I wouldn' be talkin', Sparrow, for that was yer own shirt ye just ruined!"
Jack growled playfully and lunged at her, knocking her off of her feet, going down with her.
They both landed on their backs next to each other, breathing hard and grinning foolishly.
Jack was the first to speak, turning to her and propping his head up with his arm to get a better look at her: "Ye are getting better, luv. I'll be damned."
"I'm a fast learner, what can I say?" Belle smiled and shrugged lazily, "So who won this round?"
"I think it was a tie."
Belle gasped mockingly and cried, "Oh dear! The infamous Sparrow TIED with a lass in a duel? That is unheard of! The world is ending! Pigs are flying! Up is down! Right is left! Woe is meeeeeee!"
"I've had about enuff from ye!" Jack said and stood up, offering her a hand. She took it and got to her feet.
"What are ye goin' to do about it?" she asked slyly.
"Well, Blake, I would love to go another round but I have a ship to captain," Jack informed her and placed his hat on his head, tipping it in her direction.
She brushed off her breeches and said, "Next time I will beat ye, Sparrow. Don't worry. That's a promise."
"Don't make promises ye can't keep," Jack remarked and kissed the tip of her nose lightly, "Now go help hoist the sails. The wind has picked up."
"Kiss me again and I will surely toss ye overboard while ye are asleep!" she said with a shake of her finger. He knew the rules. For weeks they had played nice and kept things between them strictly business. Friendly business. Now she wasn't so sure how to handle Jack's strategies and tricks. She had almost fallen for Sparrow's charms in the beginning, but as time wore on she got to know him as a person. The man behind the helm.
Getting intimate could ruin everything. Was that a price she was willing to pay?
But lurking in the back of her mind she knew the truth. Ever since she had met Sparrow, she had cared for him more than she would ever have liked to.
"Luv," Jack sighed, "Ye definitely have more to learn."
"Like what?"
"That was no kiss, ye sweet lil' virgin," Jack said devilishly, "Remember that kiss I gave ye a matter o' weeks back?"
Belle gawked and said, "Well, yeah, I guess I do."
Jack smiled and said, "Do ye want to know something important?"
Belle nodded hesitantly, not knowing what to expect.
Jack leaned in close so that their noses touched, his eyes growing darker, his gaze serious and enticing.
Belle closed her eyes, half in fright and shock.
The other in excitement and blissful pleasure.
Two sides of her felt different emotions, one affecting the other like cause and effect, such as the sides of a scale. It just mattered what side would weigh more in Belle's bewildered mind.
She felt his breath on her ear as he whispered, "The Pearl waits for no one. Get above deck and get to work."
Belle's eyes opened in surprise as she said, "What else were you going to tell me?"
Jack strutted through the doorway, whistling cheerfully. He stopped for a moment, turned to her and said evilly, "Wouldn't YOU like to know?"
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
You know what to do! aRRRRRgh and ARrrrrgh! (psst: Read and Review!) I love hearing your thoughts. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
We meet again! Whoop whoop! Sorry it took so long to update this story, but now updates shall continue regularly. And for all you "Meeting His Match" fans: I am starting to research for a sequel! There will be many INTERESTING things ahead, mates! I have kept you without any kind of update for so long, so please, without further ado, enjoy Chapter TEN!
PineAppleLint
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
Where we left off in case you forgot.........
Jack awoke early, as always, but his skin was slick with sweat and his heart beat was fast and rapid.
"Damn her," he muttered, standing up and leaning in the doorframe for a moment, watching her as she breathed deeply in her sleep. Sparrow shook his head and then made his way towards the helm. Sparrow always went to the helm of his beloved ship when he had to ponder hard about something, or when he wanted to watch the sunrise.
He ran his hands along the dark wood, caressing it like a lover. In a few minutes, dawn would break and the sun would gleam over the waves, casting new colors across the heavens like a painter with his pallet. Jack spent many mornings like this one, just gazing at the sky.
Sure enough, the sky began its vivid transformation, changing from blue to yellow to pink to a dazzling red.
"Now bring me that horizon," Sparrow murmured.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
A cool, moist cloth was pressed to her forehead and she groaned softly.
"Jack?" she asked in a pained whisper.
"No, Miss Priss, yer knight in shinin' armor isn't here right now," a gruff female voice proclaimed.
Belle's eyelids flickered open and she came face to face with a frowning Ana Maria. Ana's face was smudged with dirt and her wild raven locks were plastered to her forehead as if she had just come from being hard at work above deck.
"Where's Jack?" Belle questioned and winced, her head hurting like mad and her skin feeling cold and clammy.
"He's captainin' his ship like he's supposed to. Ordered me to come in an' check on ye. He's been actin' strange. What the hell did ye do to him?" Ana Maria's tone was harsh and unforgiving, only adding nervousness to Belle's distressed and sick state.
"For goodness sakes, keep it down," Belle pleaded, "I had a little too much rum last night."
"An' acted like a downright fool," Ana Maria pointed out with a glare, "I don' appreciate some stuck up princess climbin' aboard and instantly thinkin' she owns the place."
"What? Ana Maria, this is nonsense!"
"Jack has taken a likin' to ye and has cut ye some slack. I, on the other hand, won't be so forgivin'," she threatened, "Ye will work yer ass off as long as ye stay on the Pearl, aristocrat o' not."
"And I would not think otherwise," Belle said tiredly, "I must earn my keep." She tried to sit up in bed but Ana Maria just pushed her back down.
"Ye have a fever. Ye stay in here today, Jack's orders," Ana Maria informed her.
"Well Miss Maria," Belle spat in a fed-up tone of voice, "After that little lecture of yours, I suppose I should be working today. So if you'll excuse me......." And Belle slowly, painfully leaned over the side and began to pull on her shoes.
"Ye better listen to me, ye stupid twit," Ana snarled.
"Fuck off," Belle growled and her eyes widened instantly. Such harsh words to be coming from such a prim and proper woman! She hadn't been raised to use such vile language! But some part of her felt good at witnessing Ana Maria's startled reaction.
Narrowing her eyes, Ana Maria stomped off to the door, opened it, and yelled, "I need some assistance, Cap'n!" and slammed it shut once more.
Belle moaned and held her head, the loud noises not making her headache any better. She leaned against the bedpost, feeling a bit dizzy right as Jack Sparrow barged in, not looking pleased.
His deep brown eyes scanned the room, taking in his surroundings. He saw Belle fully dressed and his eyes narrowed when his gaze reached Ana Maria, who had her arms folded and looked cross.
"I thought ye were to follow me orders," Jack said solemnly.
"That ruddy lil' bitch isn't listen to one word I say! Even told me to fuck off, she did!" Ana argued, "So I'm through with actin' as babysitter."
"Did she now?" Jack asked, intrigued, slowly running his fingers along his goatee, "I see."
"She is tellin' me I'm lazy, so I am working today whether you like it or not, Captain!" Belle said and took one step towards the door. Her dizziness instantly doubled, causing her to lose her footing and fall.
Before she could hit the ground, Jack caught her gracefully in his arms, picking her up and carrying her to bed once more.
"I really do protest!" she murmured weakly and Jack grinned, lying her down gently on top of the goose feather mattress.
"Ye need yer rest, luv. Stay in bed today. For me?" Jack said and picked up her hand, kissing her fingers one by one, softly and seductively.
Through the haziness of her sickness, Belle's heart rate still shot up and her lower abdomen burned with a heat Jack Sparrow always seemed to kindle inside of her.
"All right," she whispered.
"That's me girl," he said with a slow smile.
Ana Maria snorted and left the room in disgust.
He pulled the covers up around Belle and she said sleepily, "But tomorrow I will be at work with the lot of them, I promise. No duty of mine will be left undone."
"I wouldn't doubt it for a second, Belle. Sweet dreams. Perhaps dream about me."
"You have a very big ego," she retorted and yawned, her eyes slowly losing their focus.
"Aye, the biggest in the Caribbean," Jack answered and by that time, she was already asleep.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
The next day drifted by lazily without problems, that is, until Ana Maria and Belle started to rub each other the wrong way again.
Belle accidentally dropped a bucket full of fresh water, it hitting the deck with a loud thud and the liquid pouring onto the wooden surface.
"Stupid cow!" Ana Maria said and pushed her out of the way as she walked by, "Ye wasted perfectly good water!"
"I'm sorry," Belle sputtered, her eyes lowered in shame, "It twas nothing but an accident."
"Any more accidents and I will have to have a talk with the Cap'n," Ana Maria said thoughtfully, but then frowned, adding, "But I don' think that will do much good, considering ye are sleepin' wit' him."
"I am not!" Belle cried, "What hogwash!"
"I bet that's why he's been so easy on ye. When I got on board the Pearl he made me work till me hands bled. Ye traded sex for a free ticket, hmm?"
Ana Maria didn't even see it coming. Belle flung her fist and socked her square in the eye. Ana lost her balance and hit the ground with a thud.
The crew paused with what they were doing and stared in open mouthed shock.
Ana Maria unsheathed her sword and snarled, "Oh, yer goin' to pay for that one, missy!"
"Belle!" one old man called, "Take this!" She glanced over and caught the sword hilt first which he had thrown in her direction. Staring at it, Belle shook her head. She didn't know how to handle a cutlass! Who did they think she was, anyways?
Ana swung the sword at her and with a small cry she blocked the first blow, the tremor of the hit jolting up her arm. Ana whirled around and the swords clashed with such force, Belle lost her grip, watching in horror as the blade went flying through the air and hit the floor fifteen yards away. The crew laughed, making fun of her obvious lack of fighting skills.
"This should teach ye for messin' with a pirate, society girl," Ana Maria stated and was about to fling the blade at her and wound her, but a hand grabbed hers in mid motion. It was Jack.
"Now that's not very nice, ladies," he scolded playfully before turning around and yelling to the crew, "Back to work! All of ye!" Belle, her cheeks flushed with anger, brushed off her skirts and was about to scamper off until a rough hand caught her by the scruff of the neck.
"Ye and I need to have a lil' talk, Miss Blake," Sparrow whispered into her ear.
"Ana Maria, any more trouble and I see to it that ye swab the decks here on out," Jack said with a nod in her direction. Ana Maria grumbled an apology, sheathed her sword, and made her way up the crow's nest.
Jack guided Belle down into the empty mess hall, shut the door, and motioned for her to have a seat.
"I'll stand, thank you," she said crisply.
"All right, then I'll get to the point," Jack stated with a flourish of hand movements, "Stop messin' with me crew o' else I will have to drop ye off at the next spit o' land we cross, savvy?"
Belle gawked, "Ana Maria started it!"
"And what did Ana say to upset ye so?" Jack asked, intrigued.
Belle reddened and lowered her gaze.
"Well?" Jack asked, crossing his arms.
"I think such foul remarks should not be repeated," she said, holding her head high.
"Ah, so that's it then. Was it about me?" Jack questioned wickedly, "Was it naughty?"
"I do not have time for this," Belle said harshly and attempted to storm out of the mess hall, but Jack grabbed her arm and pulled her to him roughly.
"Hmmm, it is quite fun playin' these games with ye, luv. It excites me."
"That is it. I want off of this ship!" Belle shouted in exasperation, "No one takes me seriously! The crew hates me and all you do is sexually harass me!"
"Ye want off o' the Pearl, missy? Then why didn' ye ask?" Jack said innocently and grabbed her before she could put up a fight, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out to the poop deck while she was kicking and yelling.
"Let me down at once, Sparrow!" she screamed.
He took her to the edge of the ship and held her there. If he let go, she would go tumbling into the raging waves of the fathomless, endless ocean.
"Oh goodness, please don't!" Belle pleaded, "I didn't mean it! Honest!"
The crew chuckled at the interesting display in front of them, giving it a quick glance and then carrying on with their duties.
He dropped her onto the wooden deck without grace, so that she tumbled head over heels out of his arms.
"Ye are weak, Belle. Miserable. Kind o' like an abused dog, ye are, with ye always scurryin' off with yer tail between yer legs."
"That's wonderful," Belle sniffed, "How am I supposed to get my father's ship back and become a pirate when I don't even know the first thing about being one?"
"That is where I come in," Jack winked.
"And what do ye have to offer me, Jack Sparrow?" she huffed.
"Everythin', luv! Pirate lessons from the best pirate known to man!" Jack said proudly, "How can ye pass that offer up?"
"What is the catch?" Belle said uneasily, "There is always a catch when it comes to you."
"Since ye don' seem very comfortable with the suggestion o' sleepin' with me," Jack said thoughtfully, "I would like ye to be me friend. I enjoy yer company, Belle. Perhaps when I teach ye a few things, ye can teach me a few things in return."
"Like what? What knowledge would you possibly want to gain from me?"
"I want to learn more about ye. I want to learn more about......." he paused, trying to think of a correct term, "Your way o' life. Or perhaps yer 'past' way o' life."
"On what it's like to be an aristocrat?"
"That's it, luv. Yes."
"But you are a pirate. Why do you care?"
"I visit a few places that don' accept pirates in a kindly fashion, if ye catch me drift. If I blended in with the high society folk, I wouldn' have any problems."
"Blend in?" Belle laughed and tugged on one of his goatee braids to make a point.
Jack narrowed his eyes and said, "So do we have an accord?"
"Aye aye, Cap'n," she said with a warm smile, "Yes we do," and took his rough hand in hers, shaking it firmly.
And that was the exact moment Belle knew she was starting a new life, never to look back again. To throw away her manners, her distinguished state of mind, and grasp something that meant more to her than anything else.
Freedom.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
One and a half months later.............
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
CLASH.
"Watch yer step, dear Sparrow! I wouldn' want to see ye cry when I beat ye!"
"Ye always did have too much sarcasm for yer own good, Belle," Jack Sparrow said and blocked her sword, "I always beat ye. No one can beat the infamous Jack Sparrow!"
"Oh, go keelhaul yerself!" said through clenched teeth as his blade whizzed an inch past her arm, not cutting flesh but slicing a nice tear in her stained baggy shirt.
"Mmm, a bit too close for comfort, Belle?"
"I wouldn' be talkin', Sparrow, for that was yer own shirt ye just ruined!"
Jack growled playfully and lunged at her, knocking her off of her feet, going down with her.
They both landed on their backs next to each other, breathing hard and grinning foolishly.
Jack was the first to speak, turning to her and propping his head up with his arm to get a better look at her: "Ye are getting better, luv. I'll be damned."
"I'm a fast learner, what can I say?" Belle smiled and shrugged lazily, "So who won this round?"
"I think it was a tie."
Belle gasped mockingly and cried, "Oh dear! The infamous Sparrow TIED with a lass in a duel? That is unheard of! The world is ending! Pigs are flying! Up is down! Right is left! Woe is meeeeeee!"
"I've had about enuff from ye!" Jack said and stood up, offering her a hand. She took it and got to her feet.
"What are ye goin' to do about it?" she asked slyly.
"Well, Blake, I would love to go another round but I have a ship to captain," Jack informed her and placed his hat on his head, tipping it in her direction.
She brushed off her breeches and said, "Next time I will beat ye, Sparrow. Don't worry. That's a promise."
"Don't make promises ye can't keep," Jack remarked and kissed the tip of her nose lightly, "Now go help hoist the sails. The wind has picked up."
"Kiss me again and I will surely toss ye overboard while ye are asleep!" she said with a shake of her finger. He knew the rules. For weeks they had played nice and kept things between them strictly business. Friendly business. Now she wasn't so sure how to handle Jack's strategies and tricks. She had almost fallen for Sparrow's charms in the beginning, but as time wore on she got to know him as a person. The man behind the helm.
Getting intimate could ruin everything. Was that a price she was willing to pay?
But lurking in the back of her mind she knew the truth. Ever since she had met Sparrow, she had cared for him more than she would ever have liked to.
"Luv," Jack sighed, "Ye definitely have more to learn."
"Like what?"
"That was no kiss, ye sweet lil' virgin," Jack said devilishly, "Remember that kiss I gave ye a matter o' weeks back?"
Belle gawked and said, "Well, yeah, I guess I do."
Jack smiled and said, "Do ye want to know something important?"
Belle nodded hesitantly, not knowing what to expect.
Jack leaned in close so that their noses touched, his eyes growing darker, his gaze serious and enticing.
Belle closed her eyes, half in fright and shock.
The other in excitement and blissful pleasure.
Two sides of her felt different emotions, one affecting the other like cause and effect, such as the sides of a scale. It just mattered what side would weigh more in Belle's bewildered mind.
She felt his breath on her ear as he whispered, "The Pearl waits for no one. Get above deck and get to work."
Belle's eyes opened in surprise as she said, "What else were you going to tell me?"
Jack strutted through the doorway, whistling cheerfully. He stopped for a moment, turned to her and said evilly, "Wouldn't YOU like to know?"
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You know what to do! aRRRRRgh and ARrrrrgh! (psst: Read and Review!) I love hearing your thoughts. Constructive criticism is always welcome.