More! Thanks for all the replies too guys! I love it when you comment on my writing as well as the story (and I think this post has gotten the most replies on its own more than any of the others…hmm…*pulls out notepad* note to self…MUSH SELLS heehee) Now, on with the story!

Chapter 11

Gin's eyes fluttered open to the sight of harsh daylight streaming through one of the few port holes in the wall opposite her bed. Obviously this cabin had not been meant for someone who didn't rise with the sun. Blinking, she turned on her side to find Jack lying beside her, still asleep, his left arm wrapped around her waist.

Smiling, she leaned over, brushed one of his braids off his forehead, and kissed him softly.

"Mmm," he mumbled, responding by sliding his lips slowly across hers. She sighed and laid back against the pillows, enjoying the moment.

"Morning," she breathed against his mouth.

"Mornin'," he echoed, pulling her closer by the hand he had on her back. She burrowed her face into the crook of his neck. "So," he began, placing a kiss on her bare shoulder. "You a fan of breakin' the rules yet?"

She twined his beaded hair through her fingers and lifted her eyes to his reluctantly. "Jack…" she trailed off, "as incredible as last night was…we're still no better off. This is square one, much more complicated."

Jack didn't reply to this, remaining silent and simply staring at her.

The sounds above their heads were beginning to indicate that the crew was awake and moving around. The last thing Jack needed this morning was questions about what had happened between him and his 'guest' when everyone realized he wasn't up there with them. Especially when said 'guest' seemed to be having regrets all of a sudden.

Sighing, he snatched his pants off the floor and any other article of clothing that had been tossed carelessly aside the night before.

"Where are you going?" she asked. She sat up and secured the sheet around her chest, her curls spilling across her shoulders, even more mussed than when she had answered the door in the middle of the night.

"Up on deck," he replied, pulling a boot on. "Come on up when yer ready." Noticing that she was growing a little nervous, most likely wondering if she was going to end up one of the many women that actually had a valid reason for slapping him, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss that she didn't consider very reassuring. "And we'll…talk about this later."

She nodded submissively and watched him pull his shirt on and, leaving it unbuttoned, exit the room.

* * * * *

Following Jack up to the deck had ended up being a bad idea. Though she had waited a good twenty minutes before leaving her cabin, more than half the crew members gave her confused, and sometimes, knowing stares.

Among the knowing stares was Mr. Cotton. And accompanying that stare had been a grin. It was then that Gin remembered that although her cabin was near the stern of the ship at the end of the small hallway below deck, its north wall was adjacent to the mute pirate's. And she was perfectly aware that her moans had grown rather loud the previous night, especially at climax and there was no doubt in her mind that Mr. Cotton had heard most of them. For once, and though it was a terrible thing to think, she was grateful that his tongue had been cut out.

Moving past him and to the bow of the ship, she saw that the Avenger was still moving swiftly through the water directly in front of them, with Will still at the wheel as far as she could see, his back turned to her.

Gibbs, turning around from staring at the Avenger as well, nodded stiffly in acknowledgement and walked past her up to the wheel where Jack stood. Managing to follow him without making it appear as though she was doing so, she leaned against the raised wall of the platform and listened to them talk in hushed tones, their voices filtering down from above and behind her.

"…been following us for a while now," she heard Gibbs say. Then a pause which she assumed was Jack searching for whatever was doing the following, or possibly missed bits of the conversation. "and it ain't Navy. Managing to keep a good distance behind us and them though."

"Keep an eye on it," she heard Jack advise. "Tell me if it isn't gone by sundown." She heard Gibbs' "Aye" and then nothing but footsteps, no doubt the old pirate descending the steps again.

"What are ye doin' down 'ere?" she heard Jack demand. She spun around to face him, startled. He must have left Gibbs at the wheel.

"What's following us?" she asked, not bothering to answer him.

"Nothin' you need to worry about," he assured her. "Many a ship likes to try boostin' its reputation by going after a ship like the Pearl. Ain't nothin' unusual."

"But someone is following us?" she pressed.

He sighed, reluctant. "Aye."

"Have you told Will?" she asked, glancing forward at the Avenger again.

"And how would I do that?" he said sarcastically. "By carrier pigeon? Besides, just found out meself. If this turns out to be someone stirrin' up trouble, me, Will, and the crew can handle it."

Her expression proved her skeptical of this. "And you have no idea who it is?"

He shook his head. "Well, no." She opened her mouth to speak, but he managed to cut her off. "Now calm down, love. Only one ship in the Caribbean that poses any real threat to a lady such as yerself and you're aboard it."

"So you're saying that…you're the only one I have to watch out for?" she asked coyly, giving him a small smile.

"Yes," He grinned in return. "I'm extremely dangerous." He grabbed her waist and pulled her up against him.

"Mmm, just the sort my parents always warned me about," she mumbled, allowing him to lean down and capture her lips with his own, regardless of whether or not any of the crew happened to be watching. She was beyond caring at this point. Her family was what she needed to be worrying about. And they were two thousand miles away at the moment.

Jack pulled away slightly and leaned his forehead against hers. Then, staring at her, uttered the last thing she had ever expected him to say.

"I love you."

The man was full of surprises, she would give him that.

Gin stood there, completely silent, which she hoped he assumed was from shock, although that was only true to a certain extent. And even though his eyes didn't seem to indicate that he was waiting for some kind of response, she desperately felt the need to give him one. But she couldn't just say it back. No matter how much she wanted to. Someone had to be the practical one here.

She hesitated. "I think it's time we had that talk," she told him. Nodding in agreement, he checked to make sure Gibbs was fine to steer for a while and led her below deck.

* * * * *

I'm on a role with this story! It's the only one I post everyday on (or pretty much) and probably will till it's finished. I know exactly where I'm going in it and that always makes me happy :). Major MUSH next post!

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