Lately I've been obsessed with pirate Jily and ran out of fics for it... so I decided to write my own! I went a little darker with it because it's not how I usually write and I haven't seen a lot of Jily pirate fics like it. Let me know what you think, enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

From the corner where she sat, the pub was mildly busy. The evening was winding down and the drunks of the town were just settling in for a long night. The crew of the Marauder was expected any minute now, much to the high anxiety of Lily. She'd worn her most ladylike - and clean - dress. The bartender had just slipped her another glass when the bell alerted the arrival of the racaucious men. The final lot stumbled in, topped off by four men laughing in unison over the clinks and conversation across the bar.

Lily recognized him instantly, though the wanted posters certainly didn't do Captain James Potter justice. The crude drawings always portrayed his features as harsh, but they were actually very soft. A good shave and shower, maybe a wholesome meal and he might even pass as a gentleman. There was a certain way in how he held himself that gave off an air of military tactfulness, even if long in the past. Any doubts about his integrity were instantly satisfied by his manner towards his crewmates and the patron.

As the captain's mates set off to find a table, he ordered their lot drinks. Lily studied him from the side of her eye. Evidently not enough to the side as he leaned her way and remarked. "Like what you see, lass?"

"You're Captain Potter, are you not?"

"Who might be asking?"

"My name is Lily. I seek asylum on your ship -"

"I'm going to stop you there, love, I'm a pirate, not a taxi service."

Lily drew back the side of her cloak to reveal a large satchel of gold, as well as give tactical sight to her neckline. "I know you're going to Diagon, and I'll pay you to take me. While on board I'll cook and clean and mind my own, and I hope you'll do yours."

James gazed at her inquisitively. She was certainly an intriguing girl, this Lily. There was a fair amount of gold in her bag, enough to not have to pillage for two or three months. Diagon was about that, and it was on their route. Plus a woman doing the cooking on board could be a nice change, he hadn't eaten anything but gruel since they last went to port and his stomach greatly supported real food...

"Do we have an accord?" spoke up Lily, breaking his train of thought.

"We leave tomorrow at dawn,"

He reached for the bag but Lily drew back. She took a single coin from it and slid it towards him. "I'll see you at dawn then."

Lily stepped foot on the docks and strode towards the modest ship. It was large enough, undeniably, for a crew of his size. They ported enough that they needn't be stocked to excess, leaving the Marauder one of the fastest in all the sea. James was at the loading plank, finishing up the docking papers.

This time when James extended his hand, Lily gave the bag to him. He jostled the contents in his palm and smiled.

"Welcome aboard, Miss Lily."

James offered his hand once more, to which Lily accepted. As he assisted her on board, Lily remarked, "I thought pirates were supposed to be cruel."

"I may be a pirate but I still understand how a lady should be treated, even if she boards my ship without relaying all the incentives for her trip."

"I paid for passage; I expect you to be satisfied that that's all you'll get from me."

Whatever James had expected as an answer, that was certainly not it. This was very obviously not the first time a woman has been aboard, but this is the first time one had been so obstinate against him. As a result he was momentarily speechless from her boldness, only to regain his words from the approaching steps of Sirius.

"Ah Sirius, I'd like you to meet our new guest for a few weeks: Miss Lily. She'll be staying in your room, while you bunk with Remus."

Sirius opened his mouth to question his captain, but one look from James silenced him.

"Please take her things to her room and prepare it while I show our guest her home for the foreseeable future."

They started towards the helm of the ship, giving James the sought out opportunity to find out more about his guest.

"So then, Lily, do you have a last name?"

"Captain Potter I hardly think it's necessary for you to know-"

"James," he interrupted.

"Pardon?"

"Call me James. We're going to be seeing a lot of each other with nowhere to go but the watery depths. I think it's fitting we get along to make it easy enough for both of us."

"Well then, James, I thank you for your hospitality, it's certainly more than I expected from a pirate. And as we're on a first name basis, it appears you don't need to know my last. After I settle in, I'll be happy to get started with work…" She hesitated before adding the next part. "The deck appears to need a mopping"

Lily's innocent smile accompanied by the dig she'd given to James left him scoffing and murmuring a retort through gritted teeth.

"I'll show your to your room then," he said and stalked off towards the galley, leaving her to catch up to his great strides.