Chapter 11

Disclaimer: Disney's characters, makes Disney captain. But it be my plot! That makes me . . . Plot Woman!

(Plot Woman apologizes in advance if she's botched up Jack or Tia in this chappie. Or both of them, for that matter. She really did make an effort to get them in character.)

Elizabeth had not known what to expect the following morning, but did not regret her actions in the least. There was a tense moment between them when she emerged from the cabin, almost walking smack into him, although she had told herself that he was more than likely just outside waiting for her. There were no words spoken, however it was more than clear to her, despite the stern calmness of his expression, that she had earned his respect. When he finally broke the silence, it was to complacently inform her that he would he having his bed back that night and it was entirely up to her if she were to join him, however he did expect her to put everything back the way she found it before her adventure in pilfering. She did, to some extent, but was not above adding a few extra furs to her own bed coverings; surely he had noticed, but never said anything about it. Whether she had taken them for the warmth or for the fact that they simply reminded her of his presence was a question she not would confront herself with until later. She was also ever nagged by the feeling that, although respect may have been earned, it was certainly no guarantee that he would not have some counter attack working itself out in his mind.

The remainder of the journey back to the bayou was fairly uneventful; life aboard the Orpheus held routine that everyone seemed more than willing to settle into for the time being. Elizabeth and Barbossa, for the first time, were able to simply enjoy one another's company without tension lying between them or worries of what lay ahead. She did not make a habit of curling up beside him each night, save for when it they had endured particularly rough weather or she was once again plagued by the past haunting her sleep, both of which were becoming more rare events as of late. They mostly had taken to enjoying conversation over dinner in his cabin, which was startlingly reminiscent to their first meeting and yet so very different. It was nearly unnerving for her when she realized just how well they got along when there was a lack of mistrust and animosity between them. And he certainly would never complain; she made him feel as if years were lifted from him and life added that had nothing to do with being freed of heathen curses. Perhaps he had grown so used to only the plain and sometimes less than intelligent company of his crews and only the occasional warmth of woman's body that a few coins could buy; it was refreshing to have a spirit of youth and enthusiasm about him for so long a time and at such proximity, and one so very easy on the eyes to boot. Not that there weren't fleeting times in which they were at odds with one another and he would have very much liked to dump her overboard for a few minutes or maybe just dangle her over the railing by her feet, but he was always averted from doing so by that ever present softness that had the irritating habit of rearing its head at him as of late, and also by the thought that once she was properly fished back out and dried off, she was capable of carrying out an equally nasty and unkind vengeance of some sort. She had confessed to him late one evening that the incident involving the cannonball and his foot all those weeks ago had not been an accident by any means, and although forgiven, he would never forget her actions with the table knife aboard the Pearl.

Further meetings with the captain and crew of said ship were few and far between; there was certainly no great love between Jack and Barbossa and it went without saying that the less they were in each other's presence, the better it would be for everyone. Barbossa was not abashed in the least about casting long, desirous glances at the vessel he had commanded for nearly a decade, and Jack did not pretend to ignore them. It was during such tense moments that Elizabeth and Will wished there was some way they could pull their respective captains out of feeding the old hatred and bad blood that existed between them, but both knew it would have been easier to take the salt from the ocean. Thankfully such times were also few and far between.

Jack could not help but be slightly bewildered whenever he caught a glimpse of the captain of Orpheus making seemingly flirtatious gestures with the governor's daughter. On one hand, he thought, it should not surprise him in the least; during their time spent marooned on the rumrunner's cache together, he had learned enough about young Miss Swann to know that she had always had an odd affinity for pirates. Unhealthy and absurd, it would be called by those of the world who chose to be referred to as 'civilized,' though Jack of all people knew that the so-called doers of justice could be just as barbaric as any man who called himself pirate. Choosing to put the memories of the various arrests and attempts at executing him aside, he let his thoughts go back to the woman who had betrayed him with a kiss and a lie. While Captain Sparrow would never be one to deny himself the pleasure of the carnal variety, he knew that their encounter was something he should never have allowed himself to partake in. The comradeship she now shared with Barbossa, while perhaps not so uncharacteristic as he first thought, still disturbed him somewhat, but he was not nearly as bothered by that circumstance as he was by the one that was aboard his Pearl at the time. It made him uneasy, to say the least, the way Will was forever insistent on taking the wheel, and the longing, possessive, almost lustful look that came over his face when he was allowed to do so. Being that Will's sudden affinity for the ship was rather useful to him at the time, Jack chose not to make an issue over it, but still kept a watchful eye on him. He had lost the Pearl enough times already and was determined not to let another incident take place. There was a part of Jack, however, that had to laugh just a bit at the irony of the situation. He had never really considered that when caught between Will Turner and Hector Barbossa, that the former would cause him to feel more threatened regarding his ship than the latter. Although Will and Elizabeth had certainly chosen quite different paths than he would have ever fathomed upon first meeting them, they had done him proud.

Jack however, was not the only person trying to suppress a smirk when they reached their destination and young William sat in of one of the longboats wearing a most amusing and previously uncharacteristic grin. Had Barbossa commented, he would have said that Will shared a semblance with that of a young rooster entering a new coop for the first time; he certainly had the lusty approach about him, and it only grew more amusing and somewhat ridiculous as they continually floated down the murky stream that took them to Tia's abode.

Jack could suppress his amusement no longer and felt it was only fair to give the boy some warning; he'd been amongst enough cocky young sailors in his time, and it was perhaps not so long ago that he had been one himself.

"Don't let that 'knowing' comment go to your head, William." Will cocked an eyebrow at him, forcing Jack to push back the fleeting but terribly irresistible urge to slap the haughty expression off his young companion's face.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean by that, Jack," was his snide reply.

'Let it go, Jack . . . ' he told himself. There were some things still, apparently, that Will would simply have to learn on his own.

The respective captains both stood at the front of their longboats, each seeming oblivious to the other's ardent dislike and mistrust. Elizabeth, however, currently held the old rivalry in little regard, her thoughts being fixed on the uncertainty that loomed in her stomach with every stroke closer they came to the hut in the bayou. The voyage had more than taken its toll on her, and though her pride resisted such ideas, she would have liked nothing better at the moment than to be encircled by a set of lithe and sinewy arms, her face pressed against a strong chest as she drank in the essence that was Barbossa. He was prone to being a bit rough most of the time, at least when in sight of subordinates, but there were those fleeting moments in which his steeliness gave way to the person he might have become had he chosen a different path for himself in life. One on which he likely never would have crossed paths with her, she thought. She always relished such moments, as they were somewhat rare occurrences and she had yet to figure a way of coaxing them from him; he was very much seasoned with keeping the emotional side of himself locked away, at least when she was not asleep. For now, she would simply have to be contented with letting her foot rest near where he stood, now and again letting it brush ever so slightly against his own. It may or may not have been the reason for the otherwise inexplicable twitch that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

The shack came into view soon after, much to the relief of most of the crew, although far too soon for Elizabeth, who was growing irritated with herself for being so uneasy about the matter. She couldn't help but feel slightly foolish when they finally reached the seemingly commonplace abode and many of her surrounding crew mates seemed more than happy to exchange the unpredictable rolling of water for someplace solid to step foot on, if only for a little while. She noted that Barbossa in particular seemed rather pleased with the situation and tried to ignore the stab of disapproval that stirred within her at the thought. She furrowed her brow, wondering why the stab turned to a quiet churning of jealousy within her at the smile with which the priestess met him. Jack found it horribly amusing to observe Elizabeth's annoyance at seeing Tia violate Barbossa's personal space both with eyes and touch. It was entirely too amusing, in fact, than to simply inform her that Tia Dalma greeted everyone in such a manner, be they man or woman; he had learned much from Tia about flirtatiousness that would prove valuable to his dealings in life.

However her smile for Barbossa today was neither playful nor flirtatious. What was spoken in silent profoundness between them when he stepped into her home that evening would forever remain unknown to anyone besides themselves, although if anyone guessed, they might have read 'Our debt is settled.' Her gaze pulled away from him and settled upon Jack, and their silent converse would be equally mysterious.

"Come," she beckoned, taking him by the hands in a way that was neither scolding or romantic, and they disappeared into the next room, if it could be called that, seeing as the wall consisted of little more than a curtain. The rest of them shuffled about uneasily, save for Barbossa, who wasted no time in making himself at home; he settled into a rickety chair, sifting absent-mindedly through a pile of trinkets that lay nearby. As had been her shipboard habit, Elizabeth found a dark corner and retreated there, leaning against the wall with her arms folded across her chest as she watched the captain musing over the various shiny bits that he rolled in his hands. How long she stood like this was difficult to say, but it seemed only a few short moments passed before Tia reappeared with Jack, who looked as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He shot a complacent smile in Barbossa's direction, causing the older man to furrow his brow, the beginnings of a scowl forming on his face. Whether they were relieved to take a short rest from the voyage or not, it was safe to say that everyone's nerves were on end; a spat might have erupted had Tia not then called upon the elder captain to come with her. Jack allowed himself a cheeky smile when this time Elizabeth, and Will as well, seemed to be bristling with irritation. He enjoyed letting them silently fume and fret for a few minutes before breaking the tense silence with a deep, throaty laugh.

"You've no idea what's going on in there, do you?"

"Well enough," they had replied in near unison, eliciting more amusement from Captain Sparrow.

"Clearly you don't know Tia Dalma." The grin never left his face, though it struck his younger companions that this was likely one of the times in which he was being perfectly honest. Jack and Elizabeth however, were a bit puzzled as to why Will had gotten worked up over the matter in the first place. Jack could still only shake his head at the stubborn naivety of the Turner family, though now more than ever he began to feel pangs of guilt and ingratitude stinging within him. He asked himself if he might have done the same had their places been exchanged, and was unable to produce an honest answer. He allowed his upper lip to curl up in a somewhat disgusted manner; it sank in all too heavily now as he recalled how he had tried to evade Bill when he delivered that fateful and deadly warning to him on that quiet evening, and had attempted just as earnestly to evade Will over the idea of retrieving the one man who had shown a shred of loyalty in standing up for him, never mind it had been too little, too late. Then there was that awful feeling rearing up again, as Gibbs called it, that honest streak. He inwardly groaned to himself, thinking that the streak was making a habit of showing up far too often as of late. With a great sigh, he turned to face the man with the ever-brewing storm of emotions pent within him. The time for being hesitant and reluctant had drawn to a close.

"Will," he began, but was cut off by Tia beckoning once again, wearing a calm smile.

"Jack Sparrow, you and Turna come wit' me please." Will cast a questioning look at the pirate, who only shrugged in reply. They followed silently after her, into a room with a low table covered in burlap. Barbossa was still seated on the floor, looking rather pale and worn, reluctant compliance evident in his features. Will and Jack sat on either side of him, and Tia opposite, still with her quiet smile, and facing the younger of the three.

"And what brings you back here three time, William Turna?"

"My father."

"No doubt no ordinary ship can accomplish that which you seek to do, do it?"

"I've secured a ship with which to pursue the Dutchman," he replied, although he was unable to meet her gaze as he spoke. He knew all too well that the expression that would have met him would be all too critically knowing.

"You make dis agreement with Barbossa. Concerning that which does not belong to 'im."

"I did what I had to," he answered, unable now more than ever to look her in the face. The cockiness that had accompanied him in the longboat had quickly and mysteriously vanished, replaced by his more characteristic sobriety. He now very much resembled the man who sat to his left; they both looked altogether defeated, but completely without remorse, feeling that it was no fault of theirs if people disagreed with their means. It was Captain Sparrow who broke the discomforting silence.

'E's an awful habit of claiming that which isn't his," gesturing towards Barbossa. "Ships among other things." His statement was met with aggravated glares from both men, who looked ready to counter the statement and more than likely disagree on the ownership of the Black Pearl. Tia would hear no such arguments, quickly snapping a hand up in the air to curb their dissensions.

"Surely you would not take something a man love so dearly dat he sell his own soul for it. Some t'ings be cruel beyond the capacity even of dose whom hell does not wish to keep, and dey know it." The last words had been spoken with a shrewd glance at one Hector Barbossa. The gaze had been met with suppressed defiance. The entire matter had just been settled, without further words being exchanged.

Elizabeth, in the meanwhile, had resigned to sitting in the chair formerly occupied by Barbossa while her three madmen were summoned away. Despite their lapses in sanity at times, there were no other people who made her feel quite so safe, excepting her father. She bit her lip and struggled with threatening tears as she thought of him. She did so frequently, often wondering what sort of a state he might be in and utterly despising herself for leaving him so recklessly at the mercy of Lord Beckett. God only knew what may have befallen him by this time, and should he be safe and alive, what would he think of her now? She had abandoned, rebelled, betrayed, embraced piracy with open arms and occasionally shared the sleeping quarters of one of the worst reputed criminals and legends of their time. And it was a lifestyle which she did not see herself relinquishing anytime soon. She also highly doubted that her society would be willing to reaccept her now; she did not even want to think of the accusing looks and whispers that would ensue upon her returning as she was, dressed in sailor's clothing, having willingly spent the past few months almost entirely surrounded by only those of the male persuasion. She had already dealt with such accusations in the past, always having been fond of the naval officers and preferring them to a quiet afternoon of tea with other 'proper' young ladies. Hours she would spend listening to their stories of war and life at sea, or of the best way to navigate on a windy day. Those afternoons of soaking up the information that was given her by Norrington's officers, who doted more than willingly on her ceaseless appetite for seafaring, would grow less frequent as she grew older, when it was simply deemed not appropriate for her reputation. Also frowned upon were her visits to the smithy to see Brown's young apprentice, with whom she had shared a kindred spirit since they day they had met. An acquaintance for which they could thank Barbossa, though neither of them would know it until years later. Their fates had always been intermingled, though only one of them had been painfully aware of it for that long decade while the other two passed their youth in happy naivety. Happily as circumstances would allow them; Elizabeth would have been more than happy to exchange the stuffy bonds of propriety to have the experience of the seamen she saw coming and going at the ports. No, it was certainly not a society that she wished to return to now.

This gloomy line of thoughts, however much she might have liked to dwell on it longer, was broken when Tia re-emerged from the curtained room with the three men trailing behind her; two of them looked decidedly more satisfied about the situation than the other. Whether or not he had made an agreement with him, Will had not been heartily thrilled about the idea of taking favors from Barbossa. And while he would probably never entirely trust Jack, his experiences with the latter had not been quite so unsettling as having a notched and frigid blade pressed to his throat. Although mistrust and suspicion might always lie between the two, Will also could not help but admire the man, the captain that Barbossa was. He trusted at least that he would care for what he claimed to be his own, and found it to be a comforting thought. He brought his mind away from where thoughts like that would certainly lead to, instead choosing to dwell on what lay ahead. He had secured use of the Pearl, the legendary speed of which he knew to be hardly rumor, and now it seemed that Jack was assisting him willingly rather than from being persuaded or forced. Everyone seemed to be of the idea that they were to now relieve Tia's shack of its sudden crowd; Jack and Will shuffled out first with Barbossa stopping to drape an arm around Elizabeth and hug her to himself, his hand resting snugly against her hip. She could not help but blush at such intimate contact in the sight of others; apparently he had meant it when he had said he was tired of sharing her. She just had not assumed it would mean graduating to more public displays of his feelings. He made to usher her from the door behind Jack and Will, his hand straying steadily closer to her backside where he no doubt had intentions of placing it.

"Capt'in." He was roused from his current distraction, which he found to be enjoyable to say the least, by the scolding tone of Tia Dalma. He met her accusing gaze with an expression of innocence that might have charmed the queen of England, however Tia was keen to such devices coming from him and Jack, only meeting him with a look of rebuke. When he responded to the priestess, Elizabeth was thankful that Jack and Will had paid no mind to what went on behind them and were already boarding their longboat. The captain approached Tia with steady deliberation; though he was at an advantage in height and weight, it was plain which of them was a more intimidating figure.

"If ye be findin' the sight of us disagreeable to your less than mortal eyes, I can inform you that Miss Swann and I were just leavin'."

Tia raised her brows. "Miss Swann is goin' wit' you den?"

"Aye," he responded, daring to grow a bit impertinent with her. Tia merely glanced at Elizabeth and questioned her.

"Capt'in says you are going wit' him, has he bother to ask if you wish to do so?"

In the moment that followed, Elizabeth gaped like a fish out of water, Barbossa silently fumed, willing his blood not to boil, and Tia merely grinned with smug satisfaction, watching the pair with keen amusement. Barbossa turned to Elizabeth and forced a smile; she pursed her lips, suppressing her own amusement, knowing that he was fit to be tied beneath the stiffly pleasant facade.

"Miss Swann," he began with as suave a tone as he could manage, extending a hand towards her. "Would you care to accompany me in boarding the Orpheus?"

"Of course," was the pert response he received, accompanied by her pressing her hand gracefully into his own. He shot a defiant look in the voodoo woman's direction; she remained amused, however her face was soon clouded with emotion of a different sort. Elizabeth found it all too familiar and grew inexplicably uncomfortable. The older woman's glance fell to the floor for a moment before she spoke again, quietly clearing her throat.

"If you be so kind to be waitin' for me. I must gather a few t'ings before I go."

Barbossa felt as if his belly had attempted a leap to the throat. "Ye be plannin' to haunt my ship then, eh?"

"We already been through dis. De Pearl is not your ship. I have unfinished business in which Jack and Turner are now involved and I be goin' with them." No more words were exchanged for some time; Tia had quietly gathered a few belongings, most of which were thought by her two companions to be rather odd items necessary for sea travel, but there was never any point in questioning an enigma that was shrouded in mystery. Barbossa allowed himself another of his haughty smiles over the fact that he was leaving with two women in his longboat, eagerly awaiting the jealous glare that would cloud Will's face. He had grown to have an odd fondness for the way he and Bootstrap's boy were always at odds in their alliance with one another, and he knew that he would be sorry to have it end. Despite all the mud in their past, Will had been well on his way to becoming worthy enough of the title 'pirate,' and Hector Barbossa could not ignore the sinking feeling in his gut that told him the young sailor would soon undergo events that would change him forever. He sighed at the thought; it was hardly any of his problem. He had his own concerns to worry about, namely one young lady whose surname grew inexplicably weary for his liking.

A/N: I feel I owe you all an apology for the ridiculously long wait; I'm terribly, terribly sorry but my inspiration was more than lacking this go-round. I'm indebted to you for hanging in there with me! I know there wasn't a whole lot of shippiness in this chapter, but I can assure you that the next installment will more than make up for it; I've already begun work on it and I must say, banter between the Captain and Elizabeth is simply far too much fun to write. This one was a bit lengthy but I had to do what I did in order to get the plot moving along a bit better; I hope you enjoyed it despite the lack of Barbossabeth. And speaking of which, I know this seemed like it was going in the direction of "My version of AWE" type stories, but I'd say that it's taken on the personality of a very character-driven plot, don't you think? I see it as more of Hector and Elizabeth's story than the large one that will be covered in the actual film, and I've decided to keep it on a more intimate level with those two characters. Also, I'd like to get this story wrapped up and finished (I know, I'm really going to hate letting it end, too) before the release of said film. Otherwise, once I've seen it, I'll forever have "It didn't happen like that!" in the back of my mind and won't do my fiction justice the way I could with the small knowledge I have of AWE now. But I've reached a point where I definitely know where I'm going with this thing, and I'd like to do a series of ficlets and vignettes with these two, they're entirely too much fun to write for me to stop just with this. Oh and P.S., let me know what you think of how I've written Tia. Between having to write her and Jack as well, I've been pulling my hair out as they're both such unique characters.