If the Endeavour knew she was being followed, she certainly didn't let on, though it seemed impossible that Ruby's ship had not been spotted. Norrington had instructed the helmsman not to let the Endeavour out of sight, and, if possible, to catch her. He expected Lord Beckett to notice that he was being followed and do something about it, but half a day after their abrupt departure, the Endeavour had made no change to either her speed or her course.

Norrington stood at the bow, staring out at Lord Beckett's ship, trying to decide whether its shape was actually growing larger, or whether he was just tricking his eyes into seeing what he wanted to see.

Groves stepped up next to the Commodore. "Surely Lord Beckett knows we're following him."

"He must have seen us by sunrise at least," Norrington replied. "That is, if we weren't spotted right away."

"Where do you think he's going?"

Norrington's response was bitter. "Perhaps to another little fortress only he and the pirates know about."

Groves raised an eyebrow. "I don't suppose you slept last night."

Norrington sighed. "Forgive me." He glanced over at the lieutenant, then down at the water. "I didn't mean to sound so harsh. And actually, I did sleep."

"I'm impressed," Groves said. "You, actually getting some sleep."

Norrington shot his lieutenant an annoyed glance.

Groves pretended not to notice. "So if it's not lack of sleep that's bothering you," he continued, "it must be that Lord Beckett's been conducting his secret business in your waters, right under your nose, and you never knew about it until it literally hit you over the head."

Norrington looked up. "I know about it now," he said. Groves always seemed to read his mind, and it never grew any less disconcerting.

"We're catching up," Groves commented, looking out towards the Endeavour.

"You think so?"

"She wasn't that close an hour ago."

"Good," Norrington said. "It's not just my mind playing tricks on me."

"No, she's definitely closer."

The Commodore nodded, then rested a hand on the ship's railing. "I hope we can match her," he said, then simply walked away.

Groves couldn't think of anything else to say, so he just thought about the Commodore's words. Even daring to hope that Ruby's ship might be a match for Lord Beckett's Endeavour was optimistic, almost foolishly so. Ruby's ship was sturdy and quick enough. Her size was on the small end of average, but still average enough. She was even armed. But the ship was not meant for battle, and though she was armed, she was barely even armed for defense. The Endeavour was the superior ship in all respects. Groves suddenly thought of the Dauntless, Norrington's flagship. She hadn't been seen or heard from since Tortuga. Groves frowned to himself, puzzling over where the Dauntless could have gone.

"Something on your mind?"

Groves looked over at Anamaria and sighed. "Lots of somethings," he said. "I'd tell you it's none of your concern, but..." He let the sentence trail off and looked back out towards the shape of Beckett's ship. "If we're to face the Endeavour alone, in this ship, I'm afraid we won't fare very well against her."

"We might not be alone. Jack thinks Beckett's headed towards the blockade. You've got allies there."

Groves frowned. "Why would Beckett be going there?"

"To try to break it," she replied, shrugging. "Whatever he wants with those islands, he wants badly, and he wants it soon."

"I wonder what it is," Groves said. "And I hope we can catch him before he gets it."

"Me too, Lieutenant."

He looked over at her. "Theodore," he said, smiling slightly. "Any woman I've kissed ought to call me by my first name."

She glanced at him sharply for a moment, then her face softened and she looked away.

"I'm sorry," Groves said quickly, also looking away. "I shouldn't have mentioned it."

"I was wondering how long you were going to pretend it didn't happen."

He ventured a cautious glance back over at her. "What?"

"There's no point in denying it, seeing as we both remember it happened."

"Of course I remember."

"So it happened."

"Did you ever doubt?"

Anamaria shrugged. She rested her forearms on the railing and stared out to sea. "Only what it meant."

Groves stared down at the railing in front of him. For a moment there was silence. They both remembered the secret island village, the rainstorm, and the kiss in the jungle. They remembered how they had afterwards looked at each other in shock, choosing to say nothing, and returned to the village perplexed, but without regrets.

"So what do we do now?" Groves asked.

Anamaria looked up at him from where she leaned on the railing. "Nothing," she said. "What else can we do?"

Groves nodded. He doubted anything good would come of anything else, and he was sure it wouldn't be worth it to attempt to prove otherwise. She was a pirate, and stood for everything he had devoted himself to fighting against. He was a member of the navy, and represented all that oppressed and threatened her freedom. Groves looked over at Anamaria and saw that she was looking back at him.

"So you do think of it sometimes?" she asked.

He smiled slightly and glanced up at the sky. "Only when it rains."

By evening, it was obvious that the gap between Ruby's ship and the Endeavour was closing, and Norrington realized that he had to consider how he would go about confronting Lord Beckett once the ships faced each other. He doubted that Ruby's ship could survive much battering from the Endeavour's cannons, but he also doubted that Beckett would open fire without negotiations. But then, what was to be said in a negotiation that hadn't already been said or ruled out?

"I think she's stopped," Jack commented, doing his best to sound gravely serious as he joined Norrington at the rail. Jack stared out towards the Endeavour with what was supposed to be a contemplative frown.

"Or else we're the faster," Norrington replied, barely acknowledging the pirate's presence.

"Oh, no," Jack argued. "She's definitely stopped."

"And why would she stop now?"

"Because she's reached her destination, of course!"

Norrington sighed. "And what destination might that be?"

"Why, the Northwest Shortcut, of course. Where else would she be headed?"

"I'm sure your guess is at least as good as mine."

Jack made a face. "I hardly think I deserved that," he said, indignantly. "Especially since you so egregiously misjudged me."

Norrington raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Jack. "Egregiously?"

"Happens to be my favorite word," Jack replied. "Besides rum, of course."

"Of course." Norrington paused, letting silence settle in for a long moment while he decided whether or not to speak. He half-hoped Jack would either walk away or start rambling again, just to spare him the trouble, but the pirate remained silently where he was. Finally Norrington gave in and just said, "I had noticed my error, Mr. Sparrow."

"Oh, is that so?" Jack turned towards the Commodore, immensely interested in what was coming next.

"I'm sure you've noticed you're not in the brig."

"Oh," Jack said, frowning and glancing around. Then his face brightened. "So I'm not. Thanks very much, mate."

"That is not to say I don't have reservations about this little alliance we've formed, and it certainly doesn't mean I have any confidence in your motives. However, I do realize that you had nothing to do with the Governor's kidnapping."

"I think you've just given me a compliment," Jack said. "I'm flattered."

"Then perhaps you'd do me the favor of explaining what your interest is in the Shortcut."

Jack hesitated. "Let's just say that ever since I sprang you and the muffin-faced lieutenant from Cutler Beckett's prison, he and I haven't exactly been on speaking terms. Parted ways, as it were, and set up our own private business ventures which are not only separate, but also quite opposite, from each other. That is, what's good for Lord Cutler Beckett is not so good for me."

Norrington frowned at the vague explanation, but decided it would have to do. Jack Sparrow was a fortress when it came to information. The Commodore sighed and looked back out to sea. "I suppose that's twice now you've saved my life."

Jack screwed up his face in concentration, cocking his head up to the sky, and started counting on his fingers.

"Why did you pull me out of that burning shack?" Norrington said, turning to face the pirate. He stared Jack down with eyes that demanded an answer. "I asked you before, and you weaseled your way out of answering, but now I want you to tell me plainly. What advantage is it to you if I'm alive?"

Jack squirmed for a moment under Norrington's gaze, and his hands fidgeted with the air. Finally the pirate shrugged and dropped his arms. "Look, mate," he said. "A pirate hasn't got many friends in this world. I certainly have many enemies and not much else. You and I are by no means comrades, which is something you take every opportunity to remind me of, and I'd stake my life that someday you'll be the one to take it. Either that, or I'll give it up running from you. But what I'm trying to say is this. When it comes down to it, I count you among my assets."

Norrington puzzled over the pirate's words for the rest of the evening and into the night, setting them aside only when he fell asleep, and then only to make room for new troubles. Again he dreamed of fire and panic, and woke up with his heart racing. He got up and went to pace the deck. The night was warm and balmy, but there was a breeze. He closed his eyes and let the damp air extinguish the last blazing images from his mind.

When he opened his eyes again and saw Ruby standing along the railing several feet away, Norrington thought he might be in another dream. But then she turned her head, and in the dark he saw her smile as she came to join him.

"Did I wake you up?" he asked.

"No," she said. "I don't know what did. I just came up here to look at the stars, as long as I was awake." She gazed up at the sky for a moment, then looked back at him. "What are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep," he said. "I have a lot on my mind."

She nodded.

"Sparrow thinks Lord Beckett may be headed towards the blockade," he said, to make conversation.

"What do you think?"

Norrington hesitated, regretting that he had brought it up. "He's right," he finally answered. "By morning the two islands will be visible there." He pointed out into the blackness. "They would be already if it were light."

Ruby nodded again, staring absently out at the place Norrington had pointed to.

Norrington looked at her, while she was turned away and couldn't see him. He remembered Elizabeth's words insisting that Ruby cared for him. He thought of how she had sent for help when he was captured, how she had opened her home and helped care for him, and how she had been willing to give him her ship and crew just so that he could complete a voyage with no certain outcome, in which she had no particular interest. Except him, a naval officer she had met only once, and not under the best of circumstances. Norrington was afraid to wonder if Elizabeth could be right. He watched Ruby watching the darkness, and knew he should speak to her, thank her for her kindness and loyalty, tell her that he was glad for the chance to see her again.

But instead he just bid her goodnight, and went back to his cabin.

The plot still exists, don't worry. I just felt like putting in a bit (okay, not "a bit," I know it was long) of a filler chapter, so hopefully you got some enjoyment out of it. :) Also, in case you haven't read my previous story, Some Sort of Misunderstanding, that's where all the referenced past events took place. Reviews are much appreciated, even if you just leave one to say you're still reading! :)