Usual disclaimers: If you recognise anything in this, it belongs to Disney. Anything else belongs to me.

Thanks to Pendragginink for being my beta and slapping my English into something resembling proper grammer!

Now, what would a Jack tale be without getting wet somewhere along the tale…. reviews as ever welcomed!

Chapter 25 – The Bath

"Come on then," Jack urged, glad that the arrival of the bath had cheered Mab a little. "In yer get whilst it's hot!"

"Can you unlace me?" Mab asked uncertainly, offering him her back.

"Always," Jack smiled, risking planting a kiss on her shoulder blades as he worked the laces undone. "There," he said as he finished, stepping regretfully back.

"Grazie," Mab acknowledged, sliding the dress from her shoulders, unable to help but smile as she cautiously stepped into the warm water.

"Don't flood th' place," he cautioned, laughing and sitting back on the stool, enjoying the look of bliss on her face. Mab ignored his comment, washing her hair first, grateful to be able to clean it properly for the first time since her abduction. "So do you want me ter do your back?" Jack asked hopefully once she had rinsed her hair.

Mab looked at him, considering. "Do you want to?" she asked cautiously.

"Of course I do!" he exclaimed. "But only if you want me to…"

"If you like," she replied, tentatively handing him the soap.

"What's wrong?" Jack sighed as he rubbed the soap into a lather. "I'm not goin' ter bite you!"

"I just don't want another argument," she admitted. "I don't like it when we argue…"

"Neither do I," Jack agreed. "Look, we're both in a situation we've never been in before, so how about we give each other a little leeway, eh?" he suggested. "I've never had t' live with a woman in m' cabin before an' you've never been in love with such a devilishly handsome rogue before," he teased.

"Sì… I will try…" she admitted, the corners of her lips quivering as she tried not to smile at his words. She failed.

"Deal?" he asked, holding out his hand to her as her smile broadened. Mab spat in her hand, holding it out to him. "We have an accord," Jack grinned, shaking her hand and then leaning forward, kissing her.

"I am not sure Papà would approve of me making accords with pirates," she confessed.

"Tough!" Jack retorted. "He did!"

"I suppose he did," she agreed, chuckling slowly.

"That's m' girl," Jack smiled, glad that she appeared to be happier. He rubbed the soap gently across her back, his hands moving slowly as he determined to make the most of the opportunity. "Now," he sighed as he finished, "is there anywhere else yer want washing?"

"I can manage," she assured him. "Grazie." She held her hand out for the soap.

"Spoilsport," he pouted theatrically, handing over the bar.

"Will you be bathing after me?" she asked. "Or would being clean ruin your reputation too?" she added innocently.

"I do bathe," he protested. "Sometimes…"

"So, will you?" she pressed, starting to lather her long legs, her motion drawing Jack's eyes. He watched with growing interest, adjusting his position as his breeches started to become tight.

"If you insist," he growled, regretting that there would not be enough time to love her before their meal.

"I do not, I was just asking," Mab insisted.

"I will – but only if you wash me…" Jack announced, wondering if she would balk at his request.

"Pardon?" Mab dropped the soap in surprise, having to fish beneath the water for it before she could start to lather her other leg.

"I want yer t' wash me – all over," Jack grinned at her reaction.

"I have never washed a man before," she admitted, thinking that bathing her younger brother, Pericles, did not count.

"You don't have ter then," Jack shrugged, trying to hide his disappointment.

"I did not say I would not," she protested, soaping her arms and body. "I just said that I have not before." She twisted slightly in the bath, looking at him. "If you want me to, then I will," she agreed.

"Thank you," Jack smiled in delight, watching as Mab dunked herself under the water, coming up spluttering a moment later. Shaking herself, she rose, stepping from the bath and reaching for one of the towels. She started to rub her hair dry whilst he started to eagerly strip his clothes off.

"Do you want me to wash your hair?" she puzzled, looking at his plaited braids in confusion.

"It'd mean takin' all th' trinkets out an' I can't manage them easily on m' own," Jack admitted.

"I would help you," Mab offered. "That is if you want it washed?"

"Yes, it's been a while since it was done," he sighed ruefully. "In fact, I can't remember th' last time it was washed."

"Well then, I think it needs doing," she reasoned.

"Aye, it probably does," he agreed, chuckling.

"Get in then, and I'll take them out for you," she offered. Jack clambered in, causing a wave over the side of the tub. "And you told me not to flood the place," she smiled, reaching for the first of his braids.

"Oops!" Jack laughed as she started on the beads, putting them carefully to one side in his up-turned hat.

"I hope you can remember the order," she smiled.

"I hope yer can remember where they all go again," he said simultaneously, causing both of them to laugh.

"I doubt anyone will notice the odd one or two in a different place," Mab reasoned.

"I will…" Jack pouted.

"Well, hopefully we will remember between us," she remarked, dunking him unexpectedly under the water.

Jack emerged, coughing and spluttering, his hands clenching the sides of the tub with a vice-like grip. "Yer might give me warnin' when yer goin' to do that!" he wheezed, shaking his head and spraying Mab with water.

"I can't wash your hair when it is dry," she sighed, beginning to lather his tangled locks.

"No, but you could try not ter drown me," Jack protested.

"It would take more water than we have got here," she remarked dryly.

Jack turned and looked at her, arching a brow. "Don't get any ideas, missy…" he warned jokingly, glad that her earlier unhappiness had passed and that she felt confident enough to joke with him again.

"Me?" she asked innocently, a smile flitting across her lips as she worked the lather through his hair. When she was happy that she had not missed any of his luxuriant mane, she dunked him again.

"At least I got ter hold my breath that time!" Jack retorted as he re-emerged.

"Indeed," she smirked, dunking him a third time to remove the last of the soap from his hair.

"Happy now?" Jack spluttered, tensing in case she decided to try to drown him again. "Too bad if yer not, because I'm not goin' back under!" He glared at her but, to his relief, she seemed to have finished his hair.

"Your hair is clean – now give me your leg!" she ordered. Jack stuck his left leg in the air and leaned back as she dutifully washed, dunked the leg, and washed the other one. "Arms," she prompted.

"Here yer go," Jack chuckled, lifting his arm, trying not to wriggle as she neared his armpit and then repeated her ministrations on his other arm. "Where now?" he grinned in anticipation.

Mab started to soap his back, rinsing it with her hands before turning her attention to his chest. Her hands lingered briefly on his scars. "Do they hurt?" she asked quietly.

"Sometimes," Jack admitted. "But not at th' moment." He smiled, covering her hand with his before allowing her to finish. Cupping her hands, she rinsed the lather from his chest.

"And the rest of you?" she puzzled.

"If you want," Jack replied, smiling wolfishly.

"You said I had to wash all of you," she reminded him. "If you want me to do the rest of you, then you will have to stand up." She leaned back, looking at him expectantly.

"You can put yer hands in th' water an' feel," he chuckled.

"The soap won't work beneath the water," she sighed in exasperation. "Either stand up or do it yourself!"

"All right." Jack stood, dripping water running in rivulets down his body.

Mab raised an eyebrow as he grinned at her, smiling herself as she walked behind him, washing his backside before turning her attention to his front. She knew that Jack was enjoying this, his arousal proof of his pleasure at her touch. She suspected that he was waiting for her to comment or pull back, but she was determined not to give him the satisfaction. "There," she smiled, holding his gaze. "You are done."

"Ta," Jack grinned, stepping from the tub and taking the towel that Mab handed to him. "That wasn't so bad now, eh?" he murmured, approaching her, wanting more than ever to make love to her there and then.

"At least you are clean," she smiled. "Do you want me to do your hair now? We'll need to be dressed if we are eating in the common room…"

"Do your own first, before it gets tangled," Jack suggested, turning and reaching into one of the pockets of his discarded waistcoat to find the comb that he had brought with him, knowing that he intended staying at the inn overnight.

"Grazie," she nodded, taking the comb from him, raking her own hair before cautiously approaching him with it. "Do you want to sit?" she asked, indicating the floor beside the bed as he pulled his breeches back on.

"Do I have ter have this done?" he pouted, plonking himself on the floor at her feet.

"I will not be able to do your plaits again if you do not," she apologised, starting to tease the knots of long neglect from it.

"Ow! That hurt!" he whinged.

"Sorry," Mab apologised, but she did not pause in her combing of his hair until it hung down his back in a dark, silken wave. "There, knot free," she smiled, thinking how beautiful his hair was and wishing her own was as long.

"Thanks luv," Jack nodded. "I might leave th' trinkets out fer tonight…" He could not remember the last time his hair had been not only clean but combed too. He smiled as he felt Mab start to weave his hair into a sailor's plait for him, using one of the pieces of string that she had taken from his hair to fasten it.

"I bet I look somewhere near respectable," he grinned.

"I doubt you were even when you were new born," she retorted, laughing.

"Probably not," he agreed, hoisting himself up off the floor and rummaging through his pockets again until he found his kohl. He watched in the small looking glass as Mab untied her package again, opening it and taking out the undergarments and undershift.

"At least I can be respectable tonight," she smiled, putting on her new clothes before pulling the burgundy dress over her head. "Will you lace me?" she asked as she adjusted her cleavage.

"That's what I'm here for," Jack grinned, rising as he pulled his shirt on.

"Really?" Mab remarked, arching an eyebrow at him. "I thought you were here to take it off?"

"Well yes, but later," Jack chuckled. "I want ter show you off first in th' common room… an' see who else is in." He shook the dust from his waistcoat, not bothering to button it.

"I see, business and pleasure?" she teased as he reached for her laces.

"Th' other way around," he assured her. "Pleasure an' business…" He kissed her shoulders, running his tongue up towards her ear. "I'm here fer you first an' foremost, savvy?" he insisted, determined to make amends for upsetting her earlier.

"And what time is dinner?" Mab asked, dancing out of his reach.

"Should be soon," he mused, fixing his sash about his waist before his sword belt. He sat on the bed, pulling his boots on before deciding he was ready. "How about we go an' have a drink first?" he suggested. "We can send someone up ter deal with th' bath then…"

"All right," Mab agreed, brushing her skirts smooth. "You had best lead on…"

"Allow me, M'lady," Jack grinned, offering his arm. Mab placed her hand on his arm, waiting whilst he unlocked and then relocked the door behind them. He led the way down the two flights of stairs to the bar before spotting the young lad clearing tables. Jack caught his eye. Sp: "We have finished with the bath now if you want to remove it," he told the boy.

Sp: "I will see it is done, Capitán," the youngster replied, giving Jack a double-take over his changed appearance.

"Let's go to a booth," Jack offered, leading Mab to a quiet corner. "I'll fetch us a drink… ale or rum?"

"Rum, per favore," Mab grinned.

"Sì," he smiled, his Italian earning him an even broader smile. Humming to himself, he headed for the bar, watching carefully a number of men who were looking towards Mab as she sat waiting for him to return. As soon as he was served, he hurried back. "Here yer go, Missy," he announced, scowling at the men as he placed the mugs down on the table. "I've ordered us dinner," he said as he sat. "There wasn't any choice…"

"Grazie," Mab acknowledged, wondering exactly what the meal was going to be but she reasoned that as there had been only one option, she had better like it.