Chocolate brown eyes fluttered open and eyebrows crinkled. Had he just imagined that voice whispering his ear? Or-

"Theodore Groves! Is ye awake or not?" the voice hissed again and he jumped up in surprise, landing on the floor with a thud. Somebody snored off in the distance. "Can't ye be a bit more…discreet?"

He sat up and squinted through the dark to find a vague outline of somebody crouched over. He wouldn't have known who it was if he hadn't immediately recognized the voice.

"Miss. Bloodrayne?"

"Aye, 'tis me."

"I-what-why have you woken me up?"

"Guitar lessons."

"…now?"

"Yes, now! C'mon, get yer lazy arse off the floor!" she whisper-shouted and he immediately scrambled up, quickly grabbing his coat and throwing it over himself. "This way," she whispered and started to walk off. Groves frowned, glancing around in the dark.

"Where'd you go?" he whispered and heard a small groan in response. A hand grasped onto his and started to tug him along.

"I can walk on my own!" he huffed in embarrassment, pulling his hand away from hers. She stopped and turned to face him with a raised eyebrow even though he couldn't see it.

"Shush! Now c'mon, yer so damn slow," she said and before he could say anything else, she grabbed onto his hand again and continued to drag him. They reached the main deck and Groves shivered as the wind blew at him.

"Were that so hard?" Gwen asked, facing Groves with a smirk, dropping his hand. He scowled and opened his mouth to say something but Gwen gasped. "Ye ain't wearin' yer wig!"

He patted his head where his wig usually was, only to feel soft brown hair. "Oh, I must've left it below deck," he said and glanced back at the stairs. He turned back around to look at her stunned face. "What?"

"Damn," she said with raised eyebrows. "Ye've always been attractive and all but..." She looked at him from head to toe, back up again. "Damn!"

He shuffled his feet uncomfortably, cheeks tinged pink. "Are you going to teach me how to play the guitar or not?"

"Hmm? Oh, right," she said and shook her head. "Yer attractiveness be distractin' me," she said and winked. "All right, let's go then," she said and started to walk toward the cabin, Groves right behind her.

"We're going to your cabin?" Groves asked curiously.

"Aye, 'tis more bright in here," she said as she opened the door and walked in. She walked toward the other side of the room, allowing Groves to glance around it. It was fairly clean and didn't contain many things. There were two tables; one large one with a map on it, and another small one with parchment and ink. Off in the corner was her bed, the blankets disheveled.

"Oh, ye like me bed?" she commented and he turned to look at her. She was holding a guitar and was smirking widely. "We can skip the guitar lesson and go straight to bed...which means that either way I'll be teachin' ye a lesson."

He blushed furiously and quickly looked away. "N-no, I think the guitar lesson is fine," he stammered and she pursed her lips.

"Yer no fun," she said as she walked over to him. "Now get on the bed."

He looked up so quickly that she jumped a bit. "What?" he said quickly. She stared at him for a long moment before she burst out in a fit of laughter.

"Ye sit on the edge of the bed, silly boy!"

His cheeks went as red as they could go. "Oh."

"C'mon," she said and gently took his arm, still giggling, and sat him down. She plopped down beside him and handed him her guitar. "Okay, ye 'old it like this…"

She got up behind him, on her knees, and adjusted the guitar on him. She grabbed his hands and put them in the proper places on the guitar, keeping a hold of one hand and leaning in toward him.

"Ye got soft hands, Theodore Groves," she purred against his ear, her lips brushing against it slightly.

His face that had just returned to its normal color went back to a bright red. "Thank you…" he muttered foolishly.

"I can only imagine the things ye could do wif 'em," she breathed, sending shivers down his back.

"Like playing the guitar?" he squeaked, feeling his head spin. She chuckled and took her seat back down next to him.

"Aye. Now…lemme think…let's try startin' somethin' basic. Put one finger 'ere," she said and pointed to a string. "And the next two right beside it…" He did as he was told and looked at her expectantly. "Now, take this," she said and handed him a wooden pick. "And just gently put it across the bottom strings…"

"Like this?" he asked and went down the very bottom of the guitar, brushing the pick against the strings.

"No," she said and moved behind him again. "Like this," she said and grabbed his hand holding the pick, moving it up and brushing it against the strings. This time a chord played out beautifully. "See?"

"Yes," he choked out.

"Ye alright?" she asked curiously. "Ye don't look too good."

"I'm fine," he said hurriedly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Ye sure? Ye can go back ta sleep if ye wanna."

"No, I'm alright," he reassured her. "Really."

"Good," she purred, resting her hands on his clothed chest. He hoped she didn't feel his heart beating ten times faster than usual. "Then ye can 'ave fun with me tonight."

He stood up quickly, nearly knocking her back in the process. "Actually, I think I should go back to sleep," he said hastily as he placed the guitar against her desk. "Thanks for teaching me that…err…one chord."

"Ye don't 'ave ta leave so soon," she said with a seductive smirk, walking over to him slowly. "Take yer time."

Her voice sounded like sweet honey to him. "R-really, I have work to do tomorrow-"

"I'm yer Captain," she purred as she stopped in front of him, grabbing onto his jacket lining. "I'll give ye a day's rest."

He didn't bother to argue back that she wasn't his Captain. His head was spinning wildly and he couldn't remember how to breathe. "I-you-" He was running out of excuses.

"Yes?" She pulled his jacket, pulling him close to her. Her eyebrows jutted up the second they made contact. "Oh, what's this?"

He quickly pulled away and somehow managed to move to the other side of the room, breathing hard against the wall.

"No need ta be embarrassed, love," she said genuinely, tilting her head to the right. "I was feeling quite aroused meself."

His face and neck turned a bright red. He avoided her gaze, finding a spot on the floor much more intriguing. If he stared at it long enough, maybe she would just leave him alone. Then again, he was in her room.

"Ye know, I love yer hair," Gwen said conversationally. "I didn't expect it ta look so silky."

"Oh?" he said quietly, still looking down at spot on the floor. The longer he looked at it, the more it looked like a dog.

"Aye. I thought it'd be all wiry or somethin' since 'tis always hidden in that damn wig o' yers."

"I do wash it."

"I can tell."

A silence filled the room and Groves looked up cautiously to see that Gwen was leaning back on a chair, legs propped up on a table. She looked tired and bored, ruffling her short hair.

"I'm sorry."

She looked at him, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Fer what, darlin'?"

"I don't know…" he said and awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "You look sad."

"Oh, do I?" she asked, sounding genuinely surprised. "I guess I is a little, since ye refuse ta bed wif me," she said, feigning hurt. "I don't bite…actually, I probably would've," she finished with a smirk and a wink.

He didn't know what to say so he walked over to her and peered at the map. "Is this the map that leads to the Fountain of Youth?"

"Aye," she said and yawned. "Damn, I is tired...maybe we should-"

"What are you willing to die for?" he asked suddenly and she looked up at him curiously.

"What?"

"Captain Barbossa asked us once," Groves said and looked at her. "The journey to the Fountain will be harsh, he said. So he asked us what we were willing to die for."

"The journey to the Fountain ain't harsh," she snorted. "We is already on the right track and we is all still alive. The only 'obstacle' we've faced were the storm-and that were just fun."

"But Captain Barbossa-"

"Ye still 'ave quite a few things ta learn, love. Firstly, ye don't believe every single word ye 'ear. Anyway, 'tis not the journey that are hard; the hard part is when we get there."

He looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

She sighed and put her feet down, chair swinging back down onto the floor. "The Fountain of Youth is heavily guarded, of course. If it weren't, just 'bout anybody would go there and drink the water. So on the island itself, there is obstacles."

"How do you know this?"

"Me dad told me," she answered shortly.

"I see…" he murmured and was quiet for a moment. "You never answered my question."

"What question?"

"What are you willing to die for?"

She was quiet for a long moment, eyebrows knotted in thought. "Me dad, I suppose, and Captain Teague."

"You know Captain Teague?" Groves asked with wide eyes and she grinned. "The Captain Teague?"

"Know 'im? 'E be more like a second father ta me!" she said and he gaped, causing her to giggle. "Are it that amazin'?"

"Of course I'm amazed! It's...it's Captain Teague! He's a legend!"

"Even in the Navy?" she asked playfully.

"Even in the Navy; he's known everywhere!"

"Feared, I suppose?"

"Of course! Who doesn't fear him? He's one of the most infamous pirates ever!" he said, sounding awed, eyes twinkling like a little child. Gwen stared at him briefly and giggled.

"Yer cute, Theodore Groves," she said and he blushed, muttering something underneath his breath. "And aye, 'e are a legend. A feared legend. I hope ta be like 'im one day," she smiled. "Inspirin' man 'e is."

"Well, you're quite famous too," Groves pointed out.

She snorted. "Thanks darlin', but...I ain't so famous no more. Even I know so. Nowadays all the people talk about are Jack bloody Sparrow and all 'is brave, heroic actions," she said and rolled her eyes. He didn't respond, for he knew that what she said was true-Jack Sparrow was the hot topic these days. "And nobody knows 'ow pathetic the bastard truly be."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because there was this one time when Captain Sparrow-"

"'E ain't no Captain-"

"-escaped from the Endeavor with a cannon, destroying a mast as he did."

"So what?" she huffed. "No big deal."

"And he defeated Davy Jones."

"'E got 'elp."

"He was brought back from the dead."

"Again, 'e got 'elp."

"He got rid of the curse of the Black Pearl."

She shot him a look. "Whose side is ye on?" she barked angrily. "Jack Sparrow still be a bloody eunuch who always 'as and always will put 'is own useless life in front of others. 'E's a bloody coward, if ye ask me!"

Groves was quiet for a moment before he said, "You don't know Captain Sparrow; I don't think you have a right to be talking about him like that."

She jumped off her chair, causing Groves to jump as well, and there was fury in her eyes."Don't ye tell me who I can and can't talk 'bout! Do not test me, boy," she said angrily, shaking a finger in his face. He stared at her with wide eyes and dropped his head after a moment.

"I apologize."

"Ye better," she spat. "Ye really don't wanna anger me, Groves, especially when I is tired!"

"I'm sorry."

She sighed and ran her fingers through her jet black hair. "All right," she murmured and walked over to her bed, plopping onto her backside. "All right."

"...Miss. Bloodrayne?"

"Mm?"

"Are you still mad at me?"

"Nay."

"Are you sure?"

"If ye don't shut the hell up I is gonna get angry again!" she snapped.

"Sorry."

"And stop apologizing!" she groaned, rolling over to her side. A moment of silence followed. "Sit 'ere," she said and patted the bed, making the blankets even messier. He hesitated for a moment but walked over to her and sat down.

"If you don't mind me asking...what is about Captain Sparrow that makes you hate him so much?" Groves asked curiously and looked down at her. She was quiet for a moment, playing with her blanket.

"Well, fer one, 'e stole me ship."

"Oh."

"But...I knew 'im before as well," she said and sighed. "Was good friends wif 'im 'till 'e turned into the bloody rat's arse 'e is today."

"I see...so did-"

"Can we stop talking 'bout Sparrow?" she groaned. "It's gonna make me sick."

He chuckled softly. "Of course."

"I find ye much more interestin'," she purred and he rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Can I touch yer hair?" she asked him suddenly.

He looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Can I touch yer hair?" she repeated.

"Uh…sure," he said and she grinned.

"Well, c'mon then," she said and gestured for him to lay down as well. He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not lying down."

She frowned. "Why not?"

"It's already bad enough that I'm sitting on the same bed as a woman."

She rolled her eyes and snorted. "Would ye like me ta get ma boy Johnny fer ye, then?"

"NO!" he said hurriedly, eyes wide. She laughed loudly.

"What, big blond idiots isn't yer type?" she asked playfully.

"No."

"Then what kind of men, dare I ask, are yer type?"

"I don't like men," he said and scrunched his nose. "That is just..." He shivered. "Strange."

She giggled. "Aw, Johnny's gonna be so heartbroken."

"Miss. Bloodrayne...I hope you do realize that Johnny is actually interested in women."

She stared at him for a long moment before she burst out laughing. "Ye think I don't know?" she asked through laughs, wiping the tears from her eyes. "A little bit naïve, ain't ye?"

"So after all this time...you've always known that...?"

"Of course!" she said and snorted. "I've worked wif the fellow fer ten years! I think I'd be able ta tell whether or not 'e be a sodomite."

For a reason he didn't know of, he felt annoyed and angered that Johnny got to spend so many years with her. "Huh," he said blankly and looked away.

She looked at him curiously. "Somethin' wrong?"

"No." He had no idea what had made him act so rude, but he did it anyway. He found the spot on the floor again, and from here it looked like a bat...

He was pulled down onto the bed and bounced a bit because of the mattress. He turned his head, his back still against the bed, to look at a giggling Gwen. Her hair was a mess, her green eyes twinkled mischievously, and her wide grin showed two golden teeth along the white. If one of his Navy officers had walked in at the sight, he would've been aghast at the woman and probably would've lectured her on how to be a more proper, attractive lady. Well, then again, she was a pirate. He probably would've just shot her.

Either way, in Groves's eyes at that very moment, Gwen looked so utterly beautiful.

A hand roved through his hair and he snapped out of his thoughts. Gwen looked surprised but content at the same time.

"'Tis soft."

Maybe it was the rush of the moment, maybe it was because he felt so peaceful and comfortable, or maybe it was because his head was spinning so crazily that he couldn't think: He reached out and caressed her cheek.

"Well well well," she purred, putting her hand over his, looping her fingers through them. Her hands were rough yet very warm. "Someone 'ad a bottle of rum today."

He chuckled and used his other hand to brush back the hair that was hiding her face. "Or maybe it's just that you're so intoxicating."

She raised her eyebrows but giggled, scooting closer to him. "Since when do ye 'ave a way wif words?"

"Okay, so maybe I did have a bottle of rum today," he smiled as he scooted closer as well, touching his forehead against hers. She laughed softly.

"I honestly can't imagine that at all, darlin'."

"Yeah, neither can I."

"I should get ye drunk sometime," she said thoughtfully. "That'd be very amusin'..."

"No, it would not be," he said stiffly, frowning.

She giggled. "What, 'ave ye gotten drunk before?" She got her answer when he looked away and didn't respond. She put a hand to her mouth scandalously. "Theodore Groves getting drunk? I don't approve of this!" she teased.

"It was one time!" he huffed defensively and she smirked mischievously.

"That number will change soon."

The loud knocking of the door quickly caused both of them to jump. "What?" Gwen shouted, lifting her head, annoyance sketched across her face.

"Captain!" the worried voice of a man came from behind the door, "there are a ship up ahead!"

"WHAT?" she shouted even louder, jumping out of bed. She rushed over to the door and flung it open. "What did ye say?"

"A ship, Captain," Marty said dutifully. "Up ahead. No colors."

Grabbing her coat off the coat hanger, she ran out of the room, swinging her hands through the arm holes. The sun had already risen, the seagulls weren't honking, and the sky was a deep blue. Well, she'd stayed up much longer than she'd anticipated.

"'Ave they attempted ta shoot at us?" Gwen asked Marty as she ran over to the railing, snatching the spyglass out of Ragetti's hands.

Groves sneaked out of the cabin, glancing around every few seconds. Everybody seemed too busy to notice him; the crew shouted at one another as they ran across the ship.

"Well," Gwen said as she clamped the spyglass shut, "it wouldn't hurt ta go say hi ta our new friends, would it?" she grinned at the nervous looking Ragetti beside her. His Adam's apple bobbed and he nodded uncertainly.

"I need some wind ta be coaxed from 'em sails!" she shouted as she ran up to the helm. "Where are me quartermaster?" she demanded and turned the wheel.

"I think he's still sleepin', Captain," Pintel shouted back as he glanced around.

"Then go get 'im!" she barked. "I need the bloody git at times like this!"

"Captain!" one of the men shouted desperately, "the sails...they won't budge!"

Angrily, she glared up at the man struggling up in the rigging. "I'll be right there!" she shouted back as she jumped over the helm railing and landed on the main deck with a loud thud.

"Groves," she said as she noticed him trying to help out, "take control of the wheel."

His eyes widened. "But-"

"Don't worry, ye'll be fine," she said reassuringly and dashed off to climb up the ropes that lead to the top of the masts. Groves hurriedly rushed off to the helm and took control of the wheel. The feeling of the wind against his face was nice and made him feel powerful. The roar of the ocean and the creak of the wheel as he turned it sounded beautiful.

Groves smiled. He could get used to this.

"Oi! What do ye think yer doin'?" a low growl from his right interrupted his thoughts. He glanced over to see Johnny, looking messy and tired, tank put on backwards, glaring at him with his muscular arms folded across his chest. "The quartermaster takes control of the wheel when the Cap'n be busy."

"Miss. Bloodrayne told me to take care of the wheel," Groves said in a matter-of-a-fact tone, feeling a sly smirk snake across his lips. He felt like bragging to the blond that Gwen had chosen him over Johnny. "Maybe you shouldn't have been sleeping."

Johnny scowled darkly. "Don't ye give me that attitude, ye filthy li'l-"

"Shush, ye ninnies!" Gwen's shout echoed throughout the bustling of the crew. "And get yer pistols," she added warningly.

Pintel and Ragetti looked over at each other, gulping nervously.

"Does we get ta attack?" Johnny asked her excitedly over the helm railing and Groves raised an eyebrow.

"Not yet," she said to him over her shoulder. "Let's just see if they is worth battlin' or not." She walked over to the railing and looked out her spyglass.

Men were scattered around the ship, all of them looking nervous, as a man descended from the stairs. He appeared to be talking to somebody and then grabbed onto his neck, dragging him over the railing. Gwen's eyes widened as she realized who that someone was. Despite his worried expression, he was still incredibly handsome, beads and dreadlocks clinking against his face as he walked.

"Sparrow?"

Oho! I must say that this was a very interesting chapter...quite a bit of romance, eh?

And Jackie's coming up! Yay! This is gonna be fun to write about... *Mischievous smirk*

Review!