A/N: Thanks for the reviews. They give me so much positive energy. You have no idea how much I appreciate them! I read every single one and as far as now I have only smiled widely when I've read them.

A quick new update! I hope you will enjoy this chapter!

Como la flor

Pirates of the Caribbean

Chapter IV – In his latest love

Not much time was wasted before Angelica had rushed out of bed and slammed her body against the door. She pushed it closed again before if had opened properly, or at least enough for the person to get a glimpse of Jack. If the person had seen Jack, she'd be dead.

"Miss Angelica? Is there a problem?" it was Ms Gertrude's concerned voice coming from the other side of the door. She tried once again to pull down the handle and shove the door open.

"No! I'm getting dressed!" she yelled back.

Jack hurried out of bed and practically threw the clothes on him. Only managing to pull the pants on him while jumping around in the room on one foot, he figured he'd have to leave half dressed by Angelica's gesture.

"Out the window!" Angelica hissed and pointed straight to the window. Her back was still pressing against the banging door.

He threw his coat out and hurried over to Angelica. She gave him a questioning look but then he put his hands on her waist and leaned down to lip lock with her again. She responded right away without any hesitation that time.

"I'll see ye soon," he said and ran to the window. He swung his legs over the windowsill and began climbing down. Leaving Angelica with a goofy smile on her face.

She was so lost in the moment that she had let go of the door and it crashed into her back, causing her to lose balance and fall to the floor with a thud.

"Oh, miss Angelica! I am so sorry ma'am!" Ms Gertrude knelt down next to Angelica. She helped the Teach up to her feet, waiting to hear the ramble of angry comments getting burst out by Angelica. Instead, Angelica avoided responding and only took the tray of food from the apologizing Duck.

"Thank you, and please leave," she ordered them, no glare involved. Again they excused themselves and disappeared.

After taking a deep breath, Angelica put the tray down on her bed and closed the window. There was no traces left from Jack, so he should have made it safely back to the entrance.

And he did. But first with a pause behind a tree in the garden to get fully dressed.

Lunch was finished so Angelica and Antonia remained in their seats, relaxed and enjoying the day. Beatrice had already left the dining room to head downtown with a couple of friends. Apparently, they needed to shop and order new gowns for the summer. New broad hats had to get designed to not let the sunbeams hit their beautiful and light faces. What a nightmare to get tanned. It was already enough that Beatrice and her children had it in their genes. Edward, the father though, didn't anyone mind being tanned since everybody knew he worked high class and was wealthy. It was hard for him to not get tanned from all the sailing he did.

"So, the tutor is coming by any minute," Antonia announced.

Angelica raised her eyebrows. What was her sister talking about? What tutor? Sure, they had many tutors for everything, but she couldn't remember them having a special one that day. "What tutor?"

"Don't you remember what mother told us before lunch?" she quested.

Angelica slowly shook her head and mouthed a 'no'.

Antonia rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "It's like you have been dreaming yourself away in the past time. What is going on with you? You're not like you used to be," she stated.

Angelica looked at her big sister as if she didn't know what she was talking about.

"Don't give me that look. You know exactly what I am talking about, Angelica. Because you dreamt yourself away, you apparently missed what mother informed us about."

Sighing, Angelica gave in. "Fine, I suppose I dreamt myself away again. What did I miss?"

Antonia wiped her mouth with a napkin. "The tutor is going to teach us about marriage."

Angelica's eyebrow quirked. "We have been taught about that ever since we were children."

Antonia nodded. "But this time it's also about the wedding night."

Oh, no. Angelica just wanted to escape. On the other hand, she knew way more about wedding nights now than Antonia by her own experience.

"Fantastic," Angelica muttered to no one in particular.

Antonia let out a laugh. "I know it's a bit embarrassing, but come on; one day it's going to happen and we better know what to do!"

Angelica didn't know if she wanted to cry or laugh. She was a dead woman. And her life hadn't even begun.

"Unfortunately, yes," she mumbled. Antonia gave her a weird look.

"What do you mean "unfortunately"?"

Making up a lie wasn't that hard. "Well, aren't you nervous for the night?"

"I see," Antonia understood her sister. She was just nervous for the wedding night. Not that she didn't want a wedding but because she was nervous of the other part. "It will be alright, I assure you that."

Angelica didn't believe her sister at all. The wedding night was going to become a disaster and she wasn't even sure anymore she wanted to marry this Lord Christian V. Jack had been right all along. She didn't know Lord Christian the fifth and then how could she possible be in love with him? On the other hand, she knew how strongly she had begun feeling for Jack and after last night… she didn't know if there was any return.

"Miss Antonia, Miss Angelica."

Ms Gertrude stood in the doorway with clasped hands. Then she gestured for them to head down the hallway. "Mrs Jolene McKenzie is in the fourth lounge room ready to have a lesson."

Antonia and Angelica shared a look before they stood up and followed Ms Gertrude to the lounge room. Jolene was a splendid and fine woman around their mother's age. She had a perfect coiffure under the broad hat on top of her ash-blond hair. It was in a blue colour, matching the blue dress.

As soon as she saw the young women arrive, she guided them to sit down at the couch.

"May I present you to Mrs Jolene McKenzie," Ms Gertrude introduced Mrs McKenzie. "Mrs McKenzie, this is Miss Antonia and Miss Angelica."

The two girls said something quick for a greeting with a smile on their lips. Angelica only wanted this to get over with.

"Good day Miss Antonia and Miss Angelica," Mrs McKenzie started. "Let's begin this lesson right away."

Antonia and Angelica sat down quietly and listened intently to what she had to say. Antonia more interested while Angelica squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. She just wanted to run out of the room. Run out of her life actually. But then in the middle of everything, she saw Jack enter the room and immediately calmed down. Even though she perhaps should go crazy by the fact that he was dusting the decorations off and heard what the tutor told her. It was another reminder to Jack that Angelica belonged to someone else. Still, they shared a discreet and playful smile. She was fast though to turn her attention back to the lecture to not get revealed.

Eventually when the lesson was over, Antonia decided to stay and ask questions which she had many of. Being tired of the long lecture that had lasted for hours, Angelica left the room and headed along the hallway. Of all sudden someone grabbed her and pulled her inside the piano room, closing the door after her.

Jack's hand had a hold on some loose fabric at her chest area and pressed her close to him. A tingling sensation rushed through Angelica that caused her to long for another bedtime with him again. The feeling went down her spine.

She looked up to him with a smirk.

"Coming with me to the Johnsons tonight, love?" he asked.

"What for?"

With his free hand, Jack fumbled up two silver forks. "Stole 'em from Fiona's mansion moments ago."

It caused Angelica to let out a laugh. Of course he had that. Only Jack would do something like that, including his friend Gibbs. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Be careful. What if someone would catch you," she said, worry in her amused voice.

Jack put the items back in his pocket. "That won't happen." He let go of her dress.

Angelica grabbed his hands in hers and fingered on them. Her gaze was down on them, examining them carefully. "If you are so sure," she said and looked up to him from under her long black eyelashes.

Jack grinned. "Aye. So are ye coming tonight?"

After sighing, she made up her mind. Why not? "Pick me up after sunset?"

"Agreed," Jack said and then opened the door and gently shoved her out of the room. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.

Antonia saw her little sister and approached her. "Come here. We need to choose new fans to this fall. And also change address so they will get sent to wherever we will live together with our husbands."

After an afternoon spent in a livingroom with a personal shopper, Angelica was quite exhausted. She and Antonia had been viewing over fans in all different colors and shapes. After much consideration, she had chosen a couple her shopper had suggested. She was updated with the latest fashion from France so her opinion was absolutely one to listen to. At last, Angelica had ordered a dozen and so had Antonia. Then they had spent some time in the livingroom, Antonia all the while trying to force something out of Angelica. She knew very well her big sister could sense that something was different with Angelica, but couldn't put her finger on what. She could easily tell by the strange and suspicious looks Antonia gave her once in a while. Although, yet Antonia hadn't figured out what. And Angelica was happy she hadn't. Hopefully she never would.

Before going to her bedroom, Angelica took a quick walk outside to bring a new and fresh flower with her. She put in the vase on the desk in her bedroom. The withered one was thrown out through her window.

Like she and Jack had planned, he knocked on her door after sunset. As the routine, she went down the window, climbing along the wall. Jack was lucky that time and caught her. That time was distinct from others, because that time Angelica wanted to fall into his embrace.

They kissed and he carried her to the ports. She laughed while he tried to hush her.

"Ye be waking the whole neighbourhood up, darlin'," he said and kissed her cheek.

She continued giggling and stroked his jaw line with the tips of her fingers. "Put me down then!" she laughed.

Jack grinned mischievously and put her down. She took a step in a tryout of walking but he grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back.

She laughed into the kiss he had pulled her in, her lying in the air with Jack holding her. Just in that moment, horse hooves clattered on the gravel road from further away. Within a brief second, Jack had pulled them down in a trench as the cart passed them in high speed.

Angelica looked up, happy she wore one of her maid's attire. For sure there must have got stuck lots of mud on the long skirt.

She continued laughing and rolled on her back. "That was close," she let out in relief.

Jack smiled and moved over to straddle her. True, he felt pleased from the yesterday's events, but seeing her practically lying down in front of him gave him back the desires. Angelica let him lean down and met his lips halfway when she leaned upwards. She moaned in the kiss but broke free sooner than Jack had preferred.

He looked like a lost and sad puppy when he looked at her. Angelica brushed her skirt and shook her head with a smile.

"Not now and definitely not here. I'm still sore from last night."

Jack rolled over to his back and groaned before he stood up. Angelica grabbed his wrist to hurry the pace. "We do not have all night, I must say."

At the walls they gave their names and passed smoothly. After that it didn't take long until they had reached town and the Johnsons' accommodation. Jack placed himself behind Angelica after knocking on the door. She looked over her shoulder and let out a laugh.

"What's wrong with Mary's hugs?" she asked teasingly. Jack gave her a glare and she had to stifle the laughter.

As predicted, Mary opened the door and pulled Angelica into a tight hug. Jack took the opportunity to say a welcoming "Good evening" to Mary and slip inside before the two women had pulled away from each other. He made it as far as through the doorway until he felt the hand on his shoulder. He was dragged back into Mary's embrace. She kissed his cheek in her happy mood, Angelica hiding her smile as she walked past them into the dining room.

Jack made a face and wiped his cheek like a child. "Mary," he complained. Of course he had no problem getting kissed by women, but Mary was like a mother to him.

"Oh, Jack. Don't try to escape my hugs," she said and ruffled his hair. He gave her another annoyed glare but she ignored it. She ushered him inside the livingroom where he immediately greeted the people and sat down next to Gibbs.

"Gibbs, mate! Nobody be telling ye be here tonight," Jack said happily and opened a bottle of rum. He toasted with Gibbs.

Gibbs shrugged. "Nothing better to do. Many pubs be closed tonight."

Jack looked understandingly. "Ah, I see."

A bit further away from them sat Angelica. She had seen a woman around her own age, or maybe she was a year or two older. She had blonde long hair that reached to her waist. It was flat and for being a poor woman, she had a beautiful figure that was filled in all the right places. Of course, what Angelica saw was simply someone she maybe could talk to. The other women usually had their own children or husbands around, but this woman seemed to sit there all alone. She participated in conversations, but no child clung to her neck.

"Hello there," she greeted Angelica.

By the great looks that woman had, she must for sure have had a fiancée or a husband. Someone as beautiful as her could possibly not walk freely around in this world. Angelica could at least bet that if she would have been a daughter of a rich Lord or so, she'd have several suitors lined up. Suddenly she felt lucky that woman wasn't rich. It would have given her a large concurrence.

"Good afternoon," Angelica greeted politely.

"Rum?"

Angelica shook her head. "No thank you," she declined.

"So… are you Jack's new lass for the night?" she asked bluntly, causing Angelica to become quite speechless.

"Um…," she didn't know what to answer. But she wasn't Jack's woman for the night, right? She wasn't just some random wench. They had actually seen each other every single day for the past months, so he hadn't really only picked her for the night. Or had he…? "No, I am not," she told firmly the woman at last.

The woman nodded. "Forgive for asking so bluntly. Just prefer not getting into trouble."

Angelica didn't know what she meant with that. She didn't care either.

"May I ask if you are often here?"

The woman gave Angelica a look. Who was that perfect little dark haired woman? Talking all nicely and finely like a lady. There were no ladies around.

"I am. I usually drop by at least three times a week. And you?"

Angelica shrugged slightly. "Not that much. I try to come as much as possible though."

The woman smiled. "Oftentimes I do not meet women like you. All polite when they look good."

Angelica smiled at that compliment. She started to like this woman. Maybe they would become friends in the future if they met here more frequent.

"Thank you very much. That was nice said of you," Angelica replied, feeling how the statement for once had been sincere. When she spoke with her own friends, it was always such jealousy behind their words if any compliment would slip.

"I hope to see more of you. You seem nice," the woman continued and smiled warmly. "Almost every time I come there are only men here, and the women are elder."

Angelica nodded. "I understand what you mean."

The woman looked wonderingly at Angelica. "I am so sorry. I completely forgot to present myself! What is your name?"

Angelica's smile had remained on her face. "Miss Angelica Teach. And you are?"

The woman shook Angelica's hand. "Valerie. Only Valerie."

Angelica's smile continued being plastered on her face whilst she tried to recall from where she had heard that name before. Unfortunately, she got the answer sooner than she wanted.

Valerie stood up. "Well, Angelica. It was nice meeting you, but I'm going to head over to the lads for a while," she excused herself and moved over to another part of the table. Angelica still smiled, happy to meet someone like Valerie. What a nice woman complimenting her like that.

Maybe she had spoken too soon.

Valerie sat down next to Jack and began caressing his coat, trying to pull it off of him with a seductive look. She talked to him about something Angelica couldn't hear. But surely it was flirtatious comments coming from her. A few "You look so good, Jack," , "Let's catch up like old times," and similar sentences still managed to reach Angelica's ears. Her smile fell in an instant and she saw red instead. That woman was stealing Jack from her!

Suddenly, she remembered from where she had heard her name. Jack had confused her with Ingrid Anderson whom she had met the first time there. Ugh, it disgusted Angelica to see that woman Valerie drooling over Jack. Jack was hers! And no one else's!

Angelica's eyes narrowed, deeply cutting in the air to Jack's direction which she stared into. Jack didn't really respond to Valerie's ways of trying to get him, but he still laughed at her jokes and talked back to her.

And then, he laid his arm on her chair's backrest, letting it rest there!

Angelica thought she was going to go insane. She could feel how her nails dug into her skin by the fist she tightened harder and harder. She grabbed a glass bottle, a secret desire to throw it across the table. She wouldn't care if it hit Jack or Valerie.

Valerie kissed Jack's shoulder and that's when the glass bottle broke in Angelica's hands. She didn't notice it, nor the blood streaming along her fingers until the exclaiming Mary had grabbed her sore hands into hers. She snatched a piece of fabric from her skirt and tied it around Angelica's hands.

"Angelica!" she burst out and ordered a man to clean the glass pieces that were shattered all over the floor below the table. Jack had also rushed up to assist Mary.

It stung in her hands when Mary poured water over the wounds. "Little girl, what happened?"

Angelica's gaze met Valerie's lost one for a brief moment. She then turned to Mary and smiled falsely. "I think it was cracked."

Jack crouched and tied another piece of fabric around her hands. "What happened?" he asked her worriedly.

Angelica let out a sound from her clenched jaw that she tried to form to a warm smile. When Jack and everybody else focused on her hands, she looked across the table to Valerie. Her eyes narrowed warningly to Valerie that still looked confused to Angelica. Once she figured what Angelica meant, she returned it equal warningly, also determined to win Jack.

With her hurt hands, Angelica fumbled up forks from her pockets and put them on the table.

"I want to go home," she said, indicating to Jack. He put his items on the table as well.

"Alright, let's head home then," he agreed and handed some items over to Gibbs. "Oi! Hand these out and sell 'em."

Gibbs nodded. "Aye."

Jack made a nod to the whole gang before he walked out of the house, his hand on Angelica's lower back. Her hands were clasped carefully together when they walked. Jack took them in his and examined them.

"What happened?" he asked concerned, for like the hundredth time.

Angelica shrugged. "I suppose the bottle was broken already. Cracked."

Jack gave her look that showed how little he believed her. "What happened, love?" he repeated.

She sighed. "That's the veracity, Jack."

Jack smirked at her but gestured for her to continue walk. He put his hand around her waist as they strolled, and it was probably the first time she didn't want to wriggle out the hold.

Although the previous vision of Valerie still played in her mind. That wench was not going to do that ever again. Jack was hers and not anyone else's.

Feeling the energy around Angelica, Jack stopped babbling about everything from the bright sky to how he was about to steal a clock from Fiona's house. Instead, he drifted back to the previous subject.

"Just admit it, sweetness."

It had come out of the blue. They had passed the guards, wandered along the road and finally entered her giant garden.

"Admit what?" Angelica asked, even if she could sense where that chat was going.

Jack smiled wryly to her. "Ye were jealous."

Playing dumbfounded, Angelica looked questioning to him. "Of who?"

Jack caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Do not play with me. Donna."

Angelica's eyes darkened. "Valerie!" she snapped in correction. She couldn't believe he had been with even more women! Who in the world was this Donna?!

Jack's eyes popped open. Ups, another mistake. Women and their names. Couldn't they all just be named the same so he wouldn't confuse them and get into trouble?

"Valerie or whatever her name be," Jack said. "Ye were jealous. Didn't know ye had such strength to break a bottle with ye firm grasp - by envy."

Angelica snorted. "Hardly! Why would I be jealous of that wench anyhow?"

Jack shrugged. "Ye tell me. Perhaps because she was next by me, what do I be knowing?"

Seeing that Jack didn't notice the error in the whole event, she wriggled out of his grip and shot him a death glare. Jack looked surprised to her. What now…? Wasn't he allowed to play a little with her? Just to tease and annoy her slightly?

"She's a wench and if she is ever near you again – I will hire a personal assassin myself!"

Jack was completely taken aback. Where did the air come from? He had to let out a laugh. She had been jealous. So jealous.

"To kill her or me?" Jack asked amused. Angelica was still furious though. She saw no entertainment in the conversation.

"Would it matter?" she retorted nonchalantly.

Jack's amused smile remained on his lips as he followed her to down her window. "Ye have nothing to worry 'bout, love."

She didn't look sure.

She didn't know why she felt like this. She knew for sure that she would not be able to talk this way to her future husband. He'd own her, and she would not have a say in their marriage. Except for what to buy to the house and stuff like that. With Jack it was different. Maybe because he was in a lower title than her. Or maybe because if they'd get married instead, there would be something beyond simple vows between them. But that would never happen. She couldn't and wouldn't marry Jack. It was out of question. Then she'd be poor, to not mention the scandal. Her parents would never allow it.

She stood up on her toes and kissed Jack. Giving him a big wet kiss that took him by surprise. He had expected her to fume at him in anger, but here she was; kissing him. He smiled when she pulled back.

"What was that for?" he asked.

Angelica swung her body to the ivy and began climbing upwards. She looked over her shoulder, down to Jack, her now defined lover. "To remind you of whom you belong to."

Jack gave her a playful smile from down on the ground. He looked up to her and watched her swing herself over the windowsill and disappear into her room with one last glimpse to him.

Angelica crossed her room and went into her closet. She pulled the dirty attire off of her, moved a couple of gowns aside to later push her maid's clothing in there. She pulled the gallows with dresses back to cover the attire and began searching for her nightgown. Putting up her mind for a white silky one, she chose one she had received in gift and threw it over her head.

Feeling the tiredness slowly taking more and more control of her, she walked over to her window. Her eyes travelled over the spot where Jack had been, but he had left. The wind blew inside her room and chilled her slightly. Sure, it wasn't that cold outside but enough to cool her down. Plus, the air was fresh and voluptuous to breathe.

She closed the large window and swept the curtains over the two big windows. With sloping eyes, she headed to bed and sat down on the edge. She yawned broadly and fell down across the mattress with her back down.

"Hello, love."

Immediately she was alerted and sat up. Jack was lying next to her comfortably with a content expression.

Jack was in her bed, again. What was he doing there? How had he sneaked inside without her noticing him?

"How did you get in here?" she demanded, but still felt amused. There was no accusation in her voice anymore. It was just fun Jack was such a daring person. Only gave her more excitement in this dangerous and adventurous game.

"Through the window," he said and nodded towards the window that now had curtains covering it.

Angelica smiled seductively. "And what are you doing here?" she asked and relocated herself to sit over his middle area, straddling position.

His hands found hers tender ones and fingered on them carefully. Then he placed his hands on her hips and began stroking her there. "To remind ye of whom ye belong to," he said, playing her words from before.

They had reflected grins for a moment until she leaned down and he upwards, meeting each other in a longing kiss.

Angelica on top of him, moved in a rhythm together with Jack through the night until he had to roll them over to finish them off.

He helped wrapping her in covers and waited for her to fall asleep. He leaned down and kissed her forehead before he sunk down comfortably next to her. His hands were behind his head as he stared up to the ceiling.

He had never thought he'd lay there next to Angelica months ago. Of course he knew he'd done a move sooner or later, but he had thought it would lead him to the gallows. Never had he believed it would work.

He glanced to the sleeping and naked woman next to him. She seemed so peaceful. Deep down she was. She had just been raised in the wrong life. Usually, he'd dump the woman and head to the pub the following day to find a new one. But somehow it seemed odd for him now. He didn't want to do that. He just wanted more and more from this woman. As if he dared thinking about a possible future with her.

Ha, what a joke. He had no future with her. And he hated to admit it, but his mind had several times the past time drifted to imagine how life could be with her.

He sat up suddenly as if it hit him like a ton of bricks. She wasn't like any woman he'd met. She was different. He studied her carefully and realized the truth. He hated it and he wanted to kill himself for it, but he couldn't denial it to himself anymore. No more trying to fool his mind.

He was falling in love with her.

A/N: Awww, little Jackie. It seems as if Cupid's arrows have hit you? Haha, joking.

I see in your reviews that you want Lord Christian the fifth to arrive. I promise you that soon he will, but maybe in like two-three chapters. So it's not that long time left now. That's going to be interesting...

And to an anonymous reviewer Laura; about that part when Angelica discovers Jack being a pirate... Well, haha. Do you think it will be pretty? I'm not so sure… But well, let's see ;)

What did you think of this chapter? Like it/Hate it? Be prepared for next chapter. Their relationship has kind of been just roses and drama-free. But that will change in Chapter 15!