Alright, so I apologise for not updating for along time. But I recieved my exam results and...well let's just say that I felt I did better than the marks I recieved. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thanks go to LORI, trainsgirl13 and ValueMyHeart. Thanks a lot for your lovely comments!

Reply to LORI:

Thanks for your advice (review for chapter 51), I really appreciate :). And yeah, Pia has gone through quite a lot, hasn't she? And it doesn't end here...That's all I'm saying ;) ! Thanks for your reviews, I really appreciate them!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I'm only borrowing POTC.

The months gradually passed, and my flesh wounds healed. Slowly, but steadily.

However, the drink's effects were still present. Sometimes they would weaken, and then they would come back with a vengeance. But they were always there.

My situation with Jack slowly improved. 'How?' you might ask. Simple; I convinced myself that he never ran after a woman as much as he ran after me.

He never accepted a woman as part of his own crew if he wasn't going to gain something from it.

He never shared his cabin aboard the Pearl with any other woman (or any other person for that matter).

He never ran after any woman to rescue her, if it wasn't going to benefit him.

He never went to rescue a woman who was in prison.

He never sailed to place that a woman asked just for the heck of it.

And he never tolerated meeting a woman's family, much less a family that she herself didn't even know she had.

All in all, he never helped a person as much as he helped me, for nothing.

After all, he was a pirate. I knew that he felt something for me, but I wasn't sure what. Was it friendship?

After all, it was hard to find a friend in our world.

Was it perhaps a brotherly bond?

Well, it could be, but I doubted it. After all, he'd have to be sick to sleep with a woman whom he considered as a sister.

As I was saying, before I got side-tracked in analysing Jack's character, my wounds healed but the nightmares continued, reminding me of every bad memory. As a result of my fitful nights, my strength started to weaken, and I was no longer fit to work on the Pearl.

But during those months, I didn't only think about Jack. No, far from it. I also discovered a secret that Elizabeth was keeping buried in her conscience.

She was with child, and she hadn't told anyone, not even Will.

Needless to say, I 'encouraged' her to tell Will and Jack. Will because he was the father and Jack because he was the Captain. And even if she didn't speak up anyway, someone would've noticed; what with her developing baby-bump, morning sickness, mood swings...

Elizabeth's pregnancy had progressed and was in the later stages, and the Pearl was headed towards Shipwreck Cove. I figured that Jack wanted to get Elizabeth out of his hair seeing as she was nearing the end of her pregnancy.

And so, it was that one morning when I walked out on deck, after a particularly difficult night, to see the Pearl was docking at Shipwreck Cove. Gibbs was also out there, arguing with Jack, nothing out of the ordinary. However, as soon as I was within ear-shot they stopped abruptly and Jack, acting all fidgety swayed over to me.

"Pia, da'lin'. Wha're you doin' out here all by lonesome?" he asked, steering me towards the cabin. I frowned.

"I'm not 'by my lonesome'. What were you talking about?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you and Gibbs were talking, earlier. You stopped when you saw me. What were you talking about?"

"Ah, that. Nothing, luv. Just Mr. Gibbs complain' about the low amount of rum."

"Then why stop when I approach?"

"Because he didn' take his daily dose, luv." He said as he closed the door. I narrowed my eyes at him, not believing one word he said.

"Come on, get dressed, luv. We're goin' ashore." He said.

I strode over to my chest and picked up my breeches.

"Ah, no, no, no luv. Put on a dress today. We're be visitin' me da'."

"I am not putting on a dress!"

"But luv, I haven't seen me da' in ages,"

"But I saw him! In Port Royal! And you don't rule me!"

"I'm the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean!"

"And I'm the Pirate Lord of the Mediterranean!"

"But we're closer to the Caribbean than the Mediterranean, so we'll be doing what I said. Savvy?"

"No! Not savvy! I don't give one blasted cursed damn about what you said! I'll wear my breeches, and that's final!"

"No! Not final! Captain gives orders on this ship!"

"I am a Captain!"

"But we're not on the Star, eh? This is the Black Pearl! I am Captain of the Pearl! You lost your ship!" He said, as he turned around, giving me his back.

"Yeah, why don't you rub it in my face, you bloody fool!" I screamed.

"Pia, I-I didn' mean it like th-"

"Of course, you didn't," I scoffed.

"I didn' mean it like tha' and you know it!"

"No, you didn't, you only wanted to throw salt on the wound, didn't you?"

"Just shut up, will you?"

"No, I won't! I'm not some simpering doll that will stay as she's put! And you don't rule me!"

"I said shut up, you fishwife!" He said as he turned to face me and swung his hand.

His hand connected with my face and the resounding slap resounded in the suddenly quiet cabin. My red cheek hurt, but not as much as my pride, and (as cheesy as it sounds) my heart. I turned around, holding my cheek, silently.

He sighed.

"I-Pia, I didn' mean-"

"Stop trying to sugar coat me, Jack. I'm still not wearing a dress though." I said as I turned to face him again. He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips into a thin line, turning white with anger.

"This is my ship. I'll do as I please. And you'll do I say, savvy?"

"Of course, you'll do as you'll please, which includes hitting me. Don't you?" I said popping the T in anger.

"Oh, don't be silly. That was only one time, by mistake. It was your fault and I-"

"Stop trying to excuse yourself, you sorry excuse for a man! And it was every bit your fucking fault! Not mine! I do not control your hand with a string!" I shouted.

"You're the one who jus' don' fuck' listen, you wench! You never do as you're told, and you always end in trouble! And who's the one to have to save you every bloody time? ME!"

"Oh, so according to you, that mutiny was my fault? I was the cause for THIS?" I screamed, as I ripped the bandages from around my brand and shoved the pearly white 'P' brand under his noes.

"WELL DONE! YE FINALLY GOT SOMETHIN' RIGHT! ISN' IT OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS YER FAULT?"

"Well, guess what Captain, Barbossa's mutiny must've been your fault, not once, but twice, remember that. and I got this, because I defended you and refused to fart information about you to Beckett, you ungrateful wretch!"

His eyes darkened, and his nostrils flared in anger.

"Don't-you-dare-and-go- there?" He spluttered as his fist raised in anger.

"Go on! Hit me again! And I'll cut your fucking balls!"

His lips were a thin white line, and his eye twitched in fury.

"Do as I say, or you're shark bait!"

"Fine, Captain. I'll do what you say, lest you throw me in the brig for disobeying." I hissed at him. "Now if you don't mind, please go out. I have a dress to put on, Captain."

His eyes narrowed even more, and a muscle twitched in his jaw in annoyance. "Very well, Miss Sterlin. I'll ask Mr. Ragetti and Mr. Pintel to bring you the wooden tub with hot water. We wouldn't want to appear improper now, would we?" he said through gritted teeth, as he strode over to the door, sway forgotten, and slammed the door shut.

I smiled a small smile.

"So that's the way you want it to be, isn't it? I'll show you how 'proper' I can be. I learned from the best after all."

And so I pulled a chest from underneath the bed and, while waiting for the hot water, started to search for the dress that I was to wear. I took out a corset that was tied from the front, wincing in disgust, and one petticoat along with a pair of white silk stockings.

That was when I saw the black silk of the dress.

It was a very simple dress; made of black silk with a square neckline. The sleeves ended somewhere around my elbows with a simple white satin ruffle. White roses were embroidered on the stomacher and down the middle of the skirt; a white water fall ruffle made of chiffon fell elegantly, attached from a silver brooch.

The brooch was very simple; it only consisted of a single large black pearl in the middle surrounded by five silver large petals. In the chest, I also found a pair of black satin slippers with a white rose embroidered on it. I immediately knew that that was the dress I was to wear. I put the dress and shoes on the bed, and after pushing the chest under the bed with a squeaky protest, hurried over to Jack's treasure chest.

I knew what he had hidden in there, even though he didn't suspect it. After all, how could I have escaped from the boredom of being in the cabin without admiring the lovely glimmer of gold every now and then?

I smiled to myself as I picked the lock with a thin golden wire that was once a hair ornament with a rose at the end of it. The familiar click of the lock opening was like music to my ears as I removed the golden wire and opened the small treasure chest. There was a heap of gold, silver and white gold in the chest, studded by the glint of the occasional gem and the shimmer of a couple of pearls.

I disregarded nearly everything in the chest as I pushed aside the expensive jewels away from where I had put my favourites. However, I shut the lid with a snap as I heard scrapings at the door and realised that Pintel and Ragetti had arrived with the tub of water, along with a ragged towel and a cloth bag "from the Cap'n."

As soon as the door closed behind them, I opened the bag and emptied its contents on the bag. A piece of lavender soap, a crystal bottle of oil, a piece of kohl, some rouge and powder lay before on the bed, along with a scrappy piece of yellowed parchment. I instantly recognized Jack's loopy and elegant handwriting.

Use these. I want to impress me da'.

That was all that was written.

And my eye twitched in anger. He was treating me like a trophy, something he could flash around and brag about. As if I was some parrot caught during one of his travels.

I chucked the soap in the tub, where it landed with a splash. I removed my clothes and slowly eased myself in the water, trying to remove the frown from my face and actually enjoy the warm bath, which was a rare commodity aboard a pirate ship. I took the lavender scented soap in my hands and rubbed it over my body, lathering myself. I would've preferred if I used a small cloth to do that, but you know, being on a pirate ship, doesn't always come equipped with all my desires.

Pretty soon, I was wrapped in the towel and brushing (or perhaps I should say wrestling) with my hair. After several sighs of frustration, my hair was brushed and coiled in large loose curls.

You might wonder how I did it, and the answer is quite simple. By winding the curls around my finger while my hair was still wet and pinning the curls on one side of my head, so the right side I could fit a hair ornament and on the left side the curls looked like a silky mist.

I opened Jack's treasure chest and moved the gold to the side again, uncovering my favourites of the small fortune. I took out a white gold comb. It wasn't very large but it wasn't very small either. It could fit in the palm of my hand quite comfortably.

It was a dainty comb with four flowers over it. Two were quite prominent and in the centre of the ornamental part. They were quite large in comparison to the two smaller ones at the sides and all four flowers were encrusted with rhinestones. The two small ones had a tiny black pearl in their centre while the two large ones had a large rhinestone surrounded by three rhinestone encrusted petals. Around the flowers were several other small black pearls.

It was a sight to behold, especially when it was pinned in dark black curly tresses, such as mine. I took a small mirror which had its frame encrusted with rubies from Jack's chest, and applied the kohl around my eyes, very much like Jack's but with a lot more style. Then I applied a tiny amount of rouge to my cheeks and turned towards the bed, where I had deposited several items of clothing earlier and winced.

I sighed.

There was no getting out of it.

So I first put on the stockings and then the petticoat and slippers. Next came the corset. I won't go into detail describing it, I'll only say that it crushed the air out of me. Lastly came the dress, which fit like a glove, thanks to the corset's help.

I took the crystal bottle from the bed, opened it and smelled its oil. I instantly knew that it was perfume oil, as a strong smell of gardenias wafted out. So I applied a tiny dab on my wrists, the insides of my elbows, below my ears, on my chin and in the hollow at the base of my neck.

As I put the perfume bottle next to the chest, I took three last items from the chest before closing it. A pair of earrings and a ring. First I put on the earrings.

They were quite simple, but very beautiful. They had a small crystal stud and from it dropped a sparkling rhinestone ball that shone when the light was caught in it. From the crystals, a black pearl was attached.

I also put on my silver sparrow necklace and lastly the ring.

This was my favourite article of clothing. The band itself was composed of three bands; white gold, yellow gold and white gold. At the top was the form of a shell made of white gold and encrusted with eighty two white diamonds. (Yes, I actually counted the diamonds when I had nothing better to do). The shell was designed in a way that it looked as if it was shyly showing its prize; a shiny black pearl. On the inside of the ring's band there were two words engraved; 'My Love'. Obviously, this ring had once been an engagement ring, or at least a man had intended to give it to his woman.

I slipped it on my left ring finger and looked at myself in the glass windows of the cabin. I could almost pass for an upper class young woman. And I say almost because my tanned skin and the silvery 'P' scar on my right arm revealed me for who I was.

Before I left, I checked that Calypso's bangle was still secured tightly around my wrist and that the golden pendant of the piece of eight was well hidden in my bosom.

And I walked out, closing the door behind me.

Jack's Point of View

He was tired of waiting for her. He had washed himself as well, and wasn't as 'friendly' with washing as she was. And still he was ready before her...women; always the same. He heard the door creak open and looked at Pia as she walked out.

And his jaw dropped open.

She was beautiful.

There was no other word for it.

Wonderful, amazing, lovely, gorgeous, ravishing.

Alright, so maybe there were other words.

But you can't really blame a man for not knowing what to say when seeing the woman he wants and loves looking like a goddess.

The black dress looked as if it was weaved from the night sky and the sea foam. Her skin; so velvety and such a lovely golden-brown. Her eyes; inky pools of mystery which were accentuated with the kohl I had given her. And her lips, God, her plush lips looked like soft petals, slightly parted. Her hair was like a dark mist around her head, pinned only on one side, where the tell tale glitter of diamonds and pearls was too obvious. Her earrings looked as she had stars hanging from her ears.

And when she stepped towards him, that smell; that wonderful smell of lavender and gardenias... so intoxicating, so...bewitching.

He swallowed his spit and shuffled his feet, as he pulled his coat to cover the front of his breeches, as it was already feeling uncomfortably tight.

She stopped and looked at him.

The look in her eyes told him that she knew exactly what her effect was on him and that she was suddenly unsure of how to proceed, even though this had been her plan all along.

'I knew that I should have chosen her clothes and not let her decide.'

"Shall we proceed, Captain?" she said politely. Even though she said it in a very polite way, he could still detect the slightly icy undertone, laced in her words delicately.

"Yes, milady." He said in the same tone as her, as he took her hand and led her off the ship.

It took all his will power to hold her hand instead of grab her; take her back to his cabin and keep her occupied all day and night.

Alright, so this was more like...a fillery chapter, but I hope the description of Pia makes up for it!

The reason that I did this chapter this way was because I wanted to ask all my readers a question. I'm thinking of inserting a love-scene, and here's the question: Do you want me to write the love-scene or skip it?

Thanks! Review and reply!