*Disclaimer*: I don't own POTC, I own anyone else mentioned in this fic that you don't recognize from the movie. If there's a character in here actually from POTC that you honestly /didn't/ notice when /you/ saw the movie… you're the blind moron and I get to skip away scott free, savvy? Muah.
^Lil Note^: Dontcha hate these things? All they do is delay the story. They suck, don't they? They just need to burn and die and shrivel up to nothing. Am I right? Huh? Am I? I know I am. But ya know, I think as much as these things are the Devil's spawn themselves, you should read them anyway. I'm serious, if you aren't reading this you have no respect! Not wanting to listen to what your beloved author of such a wonderful story has to say. Pff! If you are a dear little angel, when you review this chapter put 'lemonyfreshechidna' in your review. This way I know that you love me and that you are a true reader of my little piece of heavenly script ^^ Now, ONTO CHAPTER 6 N MUCH ROMANCE N… SHTOOF!
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After a seemingly endless boat ride in what Sam hoped would be peaceful silence but instead was flirtatious bickering, the little row boat drifted to the dock and bumped gently against the sun-bleached wood. Lee hopped onto the dock after Jack, waving her arms and humming her own tune as she skipped past him with a grin. Sam shook his head as he tied the boat.
/Ah, that lass. She marches to the beat of maracas, she does./
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The crew was surprised when the door to the old tavern swung open and a most joyous Lee strode through. Jack was beside her, also happy as a lark that he wasn't receiving anymore threats or glances from scowling faces. He stepped in front of Lee and plopped down in the only empty chair, and she sat on his lap without so much as a second's hesitation. She looked quite natural just sitting there, as did Jack. Neither of them were aware that they had their arms wrapped around each other and that it was the first actual sign of affection the crew had witnessed. After a few moments the conversation begin to stir up again and things went back to normal, except Booker would still cut his eyes at Lee and Jack skeptically.
It was some hours later and evening had descended upon the busy little town when the hoots and howls could be heard inside the tavern. The entire crew of the Mare Orientale was drunk. The older, scraggly men were slurring their words and falling off their chairs while everyone else just laughed at them. One old man was scrambling back into his chair when he noticed, for the first time within the entire hour, that Lee had her own bottle of rum.
"'Ey! How come you git yer own bottle?"
Lee grinned and batted her eyelashes. "'Cause I'm the captain, and I'm special."
The old man frowned and a few others chimed into the disapproval. "Well can't ya share it?"
She shook her head "Nope."
"Come on! It ain't fair!" Pretty soon the rest of the men (and Lana) were all nodding their heads in agreement. Why should Lee get all the rum? And in the pretty bottle, too.
"You want this rum?" She said as she raised her eyebrows.
"Yes!" The crew said in unison.
"Well, gentleman. This is how you have to get it." Lee glanced sideways at Jack and he tilted his head curiously. She grasped the bottle's narrow neck tightly and brought the opening to her lips, flinging her head back and letting the liquid flood into her mouth. She didn't swallow. Instead she turned to Jack, who wore the most interesting grin, and they dove into a very unique kiss. It was quite messy as well, with rum dripping down Lee's chin and sliding from the corners of Jack's mouth. When finally the kiss was broken, Jack swallowed with a look of satisfaction on his face and the crew roared with amusement. The skinny man who had been the diversion for Jack's rescue leaned over the table with a toothy smile.
"I'm up fer it!"
A look of shock flashed across Lee's features and she pushed his face back with her hand. The pitiful crew fell out of chairs and choked on their beer as they laughed. Lee stood and set her bottle of rum on the table, then grabbed Jack's hand and pulled him up.
"I'll tell ya what. Because I'm such a wonderfully gracious captain, I'll leave what's left in this bottle for all of ya to fight over. How's that sound?"
They all nodded and began trying to snatch the bottle from one another. Lee laughed and stumbled away from the mass of drunks.
"We're going to the Inn, see ya in the mornin'!" She yelled, but she didn't get any response so they must not have heard her. Oh well, they were drunk so they wouldn't remember even if they did hear her.
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Lee and Jack burst through the door to the Inn and nearly gave the old man at the desk a heart attack. There was no one else around and he had been in utter silence, probably asleep, before they came stumbling in and laughing. Lee leaned over the desk with a grin and rum on her breath.
"May we have a room please?"
The old man stared through his large round glasses for a moment. "One… room?"
"Yes. The bed's big enough, right? Well I guess it doesn't really matter anyway…" She shifted her eyes to Jack who gave a crooked smile. The poor old man's jaw dropped slightly and he turned to grab a key and then held it out to Lee. She snatched it with a wide grin and hopped up the stairs with Jack scrambling behind.
"Thanks!" She called down to the old man.
The old door creaked lazily as Lee pushed it open with her foot. She giggled and tip toed inside as if someone might be sleeping. Jack shut the door behind him and put a hand on her waist. She turned and looked at his face for a moment. His eyes were so dark, they matched his hair and his beard just as her eyes matched her hair. His face was browned by the sun and dirty from his travels, but it was charming to Lee. His hand moved to her cheek and it was so rough and worn from his adventures as a pirate, but it was strong and Lee felt a sense of protection from his gentle touch. Their faces moved steadily closer until they both closed their eyes and their lips locked. A rush of excitement flooded through Lee's body and she drew in her breath quickly. Her arms wrapped around his neck and through his hair, and his hand caressed her back. Within moments their clothes lay in twisted piles on the floor and they had somehow migrated to the bed without breaking in their kiss. Jack almost couldn't believe that such a snappy little wench could be so desirable. For a split second Lee wondered what this meant to Jack. Was she just another whore that Captain Jack Sparrow saw and couldn't resist? Most likely. But the feeling he gave her pushed the thought from her mind. She felt like he loved her. She knew it was stupid. He was a man, after all, and usually men only love the pleasure women give them. But for now she could believe it, even if in the morning it all turned into a dream.
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Lee was sleeping quite peacefully with Jack's arms wrapped around her warm skin when she was awakened by a soft knock at the door. She slipped out from under Jack's arms and he shifted, but remained asleep. She pulled the sheet around her and walked to the door, opening it just slightly. Lana peeked through at Lee and looked her up and down, then she glanced over Lee's naked shoulder and saw Jack. It took a moment for the pieces to fall into place, and when they did her face lit up and her jaw dropped. She gasped and her eyes widened, but the corners of her mouth curled upward, indicating a smile. Lee pulled her inside.
They were sitting on the floor and leaning against the walls, Lee had her knees drawn to her chest and Lana was begging Lee for details.
"There aren't any details, ya wench!" Lee whispered.
"Oh come on, it ain't nothin' ya can't tell me!"
Lee gave her a hard stare.
"Oh dontcha give me that! Tell me, Lee! Do ya love 'im?"
"Honestly!"
Lana grinned.
"I… I don't know. I like being with him."
Lana jabbed her elbow into Lee's arm. "Ya like bein' with 'im, or ya like /bein'/ with 'im?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Lee's jaw dropped.
"Lana!"
Lana giggled and patted Lee's head. "Seriously, now. What do ya feel about 'im?"
Lee was silent for a moment as she stared at the floor. "I just… Somethin' about him just makes me love him. I feel like there's just nothin' fer me to worry about. He just calms me somehow, ya know?"
Lana nodded. "So ya love 'im, then?"
"I think so."
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The next morning, Lee's eyes fluttered open. For a moment she had forgotten where she was, but then she felt Jack's warm, strong arm draped across her bare waist. She turned and face him and he stared back at her. She smiled and kissed him gently, then snuggled close to him and rested her head against his chest. He stroked her face softly and ran his fingers through her sun kissed hair. They sat in peaceful silence for a moment, but inside Lee was fighting with herself. She spoke softly.
"Jack?"
"Yes, luv?"
She couldn't decide what to ask first. She wasn't even sure she wanted to ask. Maybe she just shouldn't analyze it. Just stand back and wait for him to do something. But it was on her mind so strong, she couldn't just sit and wait.
"Were you drunk?"
"Last night? Ah, not as drunk as I would've liked to be. Just a bit tipsy, I'd say."
Lee laughed slightly, but continued. "Jack… did--" She paused. "Last night. Did it… mean anything… to you?" She scrunched up her face and shut her eyes tight.
/Stupid. Stupid stupid, yer a stupid little girl. Ya shouldn't have said that. He's a man, a pirate! 'Course it didn't mean anythin'. He was tipsy and you were right on the border./ Lee wanted to slap herself, but she resisted. Jack's brow flattened and he seemed puzzled. He stopped combing her hair with his fingers for a moment.
"Aye. I definitely think it meant somethin', luv. It always means somethin'."
The hope that had been rising within Lee suddenly dropped and she felt it crash at the bottom of her stomach. Tears crept into her eyes and she shut them tight. So it always meant something? It always meant the same thing, she supposed. She held her breath to keep from sobbing. Jack noticed she had quit breathing and almost wanted to kick himself. That's not what he'd meant! His hand began rubbing gently across her waist to soothe her.
"But this is different, luv. I dunno why, it just is." He stopped there, afraid he might say something wrong again. He felt Lee's body rise against his hand as she slowly drew in a breath, and then he felt it gently descend again as she released it. Jack put his hand under her chin and she looked up at him. He gave a soft, crooked smile.
"Maybe it's love, huh? I think maybe I love ya, mate."
Lee froze, almost literally as a wave of coldness swept through her body, but then she was filled with an overwhelming warmth. Had he just said it? No, no he couldn't have. She was right, it had all turned into a dream. But the kiss Jack gave her at that moment, that warm and gentle kiss that made Lee nearly fall apart. That was real.
^Note^: GAH! Caer sucks at love scenes. Ugh, someone shoot me. Ya know it's really hard to write about something when you've never experienced it x_X Like kissing. And… this. But yeah, I finally scribbled out a chapter. Hope it makes ya happy! More soon, although school just started today (no online class! Yay!) so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to work on this now. Maybe weekends .o Plus I start riding Shameless this week and that horse has got the WORST attitude. If you walk by he'll dive at your head! With TEETH! Ass. But he's supposed to teach me a lot about western pleasure. Anyway, I gots meh work cut out fer me but I'll try to keep up with the chapters. Au revior! -is taking French this year-
