"The Return"

AUTHOR: Melissa (otherwise know as, JohnnyDee)

RATING: PG-13 for later chapters.

EMAIL: melismelli_101_@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own POTC, blah, blah, blah.

TIMELINE: A year after the end of POTC.

DISTRIBUTION: johnnydeppzone.com, fanfiction.net, and other sites.

CHAPTER: 6.Falling for You

Charlotte watched as one by one the crew headed below deck for dinner.

The sun was nearing its final destination and it appeared that only her and Jack were left

on deck. She carefully walked over to where he was near the bow, his arms haphazardly

flailed on the railing. She stood next to him, looking out over the water. The sun's final

rays were all that were left as it went into a deep slumber, only to awake the next day.

Charlotte looked over at Jack and saw something that no one had ever seen before.

he apparently did not notice her standing there. His eyes were in the same

direction. The horizon. Yet, it was no the direction he was looking in but his eyes that

amazed her. They deep black orbs seemed like an endless abyss, and if you looked long

enough, you yourself would fall into the swirling blackness. His face was serious and

concentrated. Though she had been on the boat one day, Charlotte felt like she knew what

type of man he was, but this proved that he was much deeper. A mysterious Pirate whose

purpose in life was not to pillage but to discover. It seemed that he had yet to find that

thing he wanted or needed.

When they sky turned a pale blue and the first stars showed their faces,

Jack awoke from his dream-like state. He turned and saw Charlotte next to him. Yet

again, Jack felt that pang of embarrassment. He, Jack Sparrow, ravager of the high seas,

the most feared Pirate in the Spanish Main, watching the sunset. He smiled and said,

"Whatcha doin', young lass?" as he poised himself. Charlotte continued to stare out

towards the horizon. "Oh, just thinking." Jack piddled his fingers on the railing, watching

his rings glint occasionally. "Thinking? Be it bold if I ask about what?" Charlotte averted

her attention to him and sighed. "Oh, just about life and the sort. How messed up

everything is right now."

Jack furrowed his brow in utter confusion. "Messed up, miss? You need to

set your priorities straight." He turned towards her and waved his hand a little. "Look,

lass. Right now, you are the Black Pearl, sailing under the colors of the dashing Captain

Jack Sparrow. We've got a load of treasure, lots of rum and apples, and." he paused for

effect as he twirled his beard. He moved closer to wear she could feel his hot breath on

her right ear. "You're going to Tortugas, mate."

Jack immediately caught Charlotte's attention with this comment. Her

eyes' sparkled and danced. "I have heard lots about Tortugas. In fact."she lowered her

voice, as if he were trying to tell a secret. "My father says that no man would ever feel

unwanted there." Jack laughed outwardly but inside his very suspicions were confirmed

about this girl and her parents, though Jack showed no mention of it.

Charlotte sheepishly watched as emotions played across his face. "Tis

true, I'm afraid. There be no worry though, I'll keep you out of the puddles of corruption.

Wouldn't want to hurt your parent's rearing of their bonny child." He grinned but

Charlotte didn't not share his feelings. She was tired of talking about her past. Charlotte

wanted to do her best and forget everything.

Remembering that dinner awaited them below deck, Charlotte took

advantage of Jack being courteous, and accepted his offered arm. Both went below deck,

laughing heartily all the way. The upper decks of the Black Pearl deserted, all except for

Charles.

* * *

Charles remained hidden in the shadows until the two were no longer to be

seen or heard. He slowly rose, trying not to make sounds that could be heard from those

below. Though he himself DID NOT feel like an eavesdropper, he still though that he

heard some entertaining things. For one, he knew they were going to Tortugas. Secondly,

his suspicions about there being more to Jack than he really knew were confirmed and

thirdly, there was more to this Charlotte lass that she was letting on. Somehow, he'd get

to the bottom of this.

He carefully tiptoed across the deck and traveled down the stairs. He

turned down the hall and slipped past the mess hall to his cabin. He could skip dinner.

Charles did not want anyone knowing that he had been up there. As he quietly shut the

door to his cabin door, he heard raucous laughter trickle from the mess hall into his room.

Charles plopped down on the bed, kicked up his feet, and closed his eyes, only to find

himself dreaming about that brown-eyed-girl he met.

************************************************************************

Charlotte sat on the deck with her legs crossed next to Annemarie. (Never

would she be allowed to sit like this at home). They were silently chatting about when

Annemarie first met Jack. "I woke up the next morning and it was gone!" Annemarie

retorted, glaring at her hands. "You mean he stole it?" Charlotte asked with

bewilderment. Annemarie turned around and when Charlotte followed suit, she knew

why. Jack was kneeling behind them fingering the pistol in his hand. "More

like.'borrowed without permission' I'd say," he interjected giving Annemarie a

sarcastic smile.

Annemarie immediately stood up and walked away, obviously still mad at

Jack. Jack sighed and said, "What is with women? They can never let go of past

grudges." He covered his face with his hands and sighed into them. Jack stayed like this

for a while until he slowly spread apart his fingers to find Charlotte staring back at him.

He pulled his hands off his face and found her with her hands firmly on

her hips. "Honestly.you really think that after pulling a stunt like that, she'd be ready to

forgive you?" Charlotte laughed as she shook her head. Jack searched his brain and

finally mustered up, "Well.yes, I did!" Jack walked, or more like, skipped off and

headed back to the wheel. Charlotte stood there a while just staring ahead when an idea

came to her head.

Charlotte quietly tiptoed over to the mast, making sure that now one saw

her. She gripped the rope in her hands and slowly but surely began to climb up the

rigging. The ropes felt slippery in her hands, but as she gained more height, she gained

more confidence. She paused to look down below, which was a bad idea. Charlotte

caught her breath and used one hand to hold on to her stomach.

Charlotte felt a lurching feeling in her stomach as felt like all of the breath

in her lungs had been ripped from her body. Finally, gaining composure, she continued

on with her plan. keeping her grip on the rope, she yelled down, "Oh, Jack!"

Jack stopped, looking for that bloody girl that was always following him.

Where could she be now? He looked behind him, in front of him, to the left and the

right.then up. There she was, feet gangling in the air, staring down at him like he was

some ant and she was God.

Charlotte watched with amusement as he waved his arms about in a

disorderly fashion as he yelled in what sounded like a drunken rage, "No.NO. Not

good. Get yore bloody." Charlotte ignored him as she continued to climb higher. She

paused as she yelled back, "What, you think I'll hurt myself, Mr. Sparrow!"

Jack gave up his attempts and mumbled to himself, "How many times do I

need to say it? Captain Sparrow!" He stared back up to see her climbing even further. -

sigh- "Just know that I won't be saving you when you fall off." Jack muttered again to

himself. Meanwhile.

Charlotte paused to catch her breath, only to find it uncatchable. She

breathed in as deep as she could, but hr corset prevented her from doing so. She leaned

her head back to rest only to find nothing there. Charlotte felt herself falling as nearly

missed the deck and fell into the water, feeling her whole body being crushed by the

pressure.

Jack waltzed back to the wheel when he heard what sounded like

screaming. Turning his head up him watched as a body fell from the sky and landed in

the water with a splash. Somewhat dazed, he stared for a moment, recollecting what

happened. Charles wasted no time as he dived in to the water, bringing Jack back to

earth. jack ran towards the edge when he heard Annemarie cry, "Charlotte!" as she ALSO

dived in. Jack yelled, frustrated, "Why am I losing my whole crew?" as he ran his fingers

through his hair.

He watched, waiting for someone to pop up when Charles rose to the

surface with Annemarie; both of them holding up a limp body of Charlotte. Jack quickly

found a rope and tossed to the tow of them, heavingly pulling them up. All three

collapsed on deck as jack knelt next to Charlotte, pulling his knife from his boot, cutting

her corset open. Charlotte sputtered and coughed, finally getting the air she needed. Jack

stood up and shook his hands off. "Well, that was weird." he replied.

Charles lifted Charlotte and allowed her to get more air into her lungs.

Charlotte's coughs finally ceased as she looked to Charles and said feebly, "Now, who

might have been my brave rescuer?" Jack laughed and said, "That would be our dear,

Charles." Jack watched as the two stared at each other, silence wrapping around them.

Breaking the moment, Jack said, "Get back to work!"

Charlotte turned from Charles and stood up. "Would you help me change,

Annemarie?" Annemarie smiled and followed Charlotte below deck. Jack turned to

Charles and replied with a flashy smile, "It looks like you've found yourself a girl,

mate!"

NOTE: I've tried to shorten so they should be like 5 more Chapters!! I will post soon.

Sorry it took a while. I got this weird computer virus, but it's gone now!!