Hello all! I know it's been hideously long since I updated but I got the most lovely review from Morose Scarlet and she has convinced me to keep this going. I don't own Tia, she's Jerry Bruckheimer's. The lyrics to "Calypso" are property of Suzanne Vega. R&R still rocks!

2-33: Who

Rose was lost. Green rushed past on either side. Vines choked, roots tripped, leaves blocked her view, but she ran and ran. Frightened and unheeding.

Suddenly another figure just inside her vision. A brunette blur. Dancing. Calling.

"Striapach… Rua striapach…Chugainn…"

Female, accent coffee dark. Called her "red whore," urged forward. How could a native know Irish speak?

Running. Breath gone, muscles afire. The voice laughed everywhere.

"Gasta, striapach! Faster, whore!"

Rose felt she'd die with the pain in her legs. She could see the form once more. Turning hips, arms leafless trees. One last push.

White sunlight sliced eyes. Cloudless, cyan sky. Sand. Water. The black woman sat upon a rock. Tattered dress, arms like branches. A night sky mouth. A mother's smile.

"Welcome, whore."

Rose wasn't afraid. Took her hand. Teeth made of moon. The woman kissed her passionately. Rose had never kissed a woman. She was breathless when they came apart.

"Who are you?"

A smile.

"Yeh want to know me."

She danced Rose in a circle. Hands rougher than driftwood, seastone cool. Faster, faster, faster. The coarse dreadlocks against her face. Dizzy, slipping. The woman caught her when she tripped. Held on. Sang. It haunted. It made Rose ache.

My name is Calypso

And I have lived alone

I live on an island

And I waken to the dawn

A long time ago

I watched him struggle with the sea

I knew that he was drowning

And I brought him into me

Now today

Come morning light

He sails away

After one last night

She began to weep against the woman's bronze shoulder, and was hushed and rocked like a child as they resumed a slow dance. Then again they picked up pace. Rose wanted to stop. Suddenly the woman threw her off, her face crumpled in upon itself like the dry leaves amidst her hair.

"What's wrong?" pleaded Rose.

She looked up from the sand, arms around herself. Her eyes swam with grief.

When Calypso screamed the sky blackened.

It was like the roar of waves, the call of a falcon and the roar of a lioness. The wind whipped. Rose fell to the earth in its embrace.

Suddenly on the water, there appeared a host of ships. They blazed with fire. Calypso stood. Tears cut runnels down her face. She led Rose to the shoreline with a hand on her shoulder. Orange light danced across faces. Heat blazed.

Rose was terrified. She made to run but the woman held her fast. She struggled.

"Please…" Sobbing. "Please."

Calypso turned her to face the burning horizon. Again that terrible, wonderful song at her back. This time it was a blade buried deep between the shoulders.

The sand will sting the feet

And the sky will burn

It's a lonely time ahead

Forcibly turned again. Eyes bored black into her. Sweet and sad and commanding.

"You must not ask him to return."

"Who? Who are you talking about?" Rose was screaming, fighting against her.

"You let him go…Let him go…"

Fading away. Heat replaced with cold. Struggling to hold on.

"Wait! Calypso!"

Rose walked the Port Royal streets for hours following her nightmare. Her eyesight was blurred. The sun was rising. The song tortured her mind.

It was an accident she wound up at his door.

Just before dawn James was awakened by one of his maids, quite sleepy herself.

"Someone here to see you, sir," she mumbled.

James raised his tousled head.

"Who?" he inquired.

Seeing her at the bottom of the stairs, tired face broke into a smile. In spite of herself, she felt better.