AN: Thanks to The Prima Donna and Suzy-400 for beta-reading this chapter!

Also, thank you to those of you who have reviewed!

Part Four: Morning

Morning light filtered in through the fine curtains and washed over the two figures on the bed under the window. The early light was barely muted by its passage through the material and its caresses on the man's sleeping face brought him out of his slumber.

Captain Jack Sparrow muttered an incoherent response to the last lingering fragments of a dream and opened his eyes. He blinked against the glare and rolled his head on the pillow to gaze at the woman beside him.

The young light gave the girl innocence as she slept, unguarded by the mask she wore by day. Jack smiled and sighed with content. Helene's features shifted, as she too rose to consciousness.

"Jack…"

"Morning, love."

Helene's hazel eyes were pleased with what they found to greet them and her lips curved into a contented smile that matched Jack's. She slid her arm further up his chest and her fingers played with the longest thread of beads in his hair. Her gaze drifted over his face, as if memorising every curve and line. With slow loving, she took in his moustache and beard split into two plaits each ended with two beads, the red die with white dots at the bottom of the shorter strand of trinkets, the metal disc laid over his bandanna and another tied with thin red cloth to the end of one of the braids in the thick waves of his black hair, the dreadlocks and the long thin bone. A tiny scar cut through his right eyebrow and to the side, mostly hidden by his red bandanna, there were the fading traces of a newer wound. Finally, her stare arrived at his charcoal-lined, dark-brown eyes.

Helene sighed and pushed herself up, untangling herself from Jack and the blankets. He propped his head up with a hand and watched her get dressed.

"Find yourself something to eat," she said, turning and tossing him his breeches. "I'll mend your shirt."

Helene re-lit the burnt-out stove, scrubbed the remains of the bloodstain from Jack's shirtsleeve, and then sat down at the table to sew up the matching slits in his shirt and coat. Meanwhile, the pirate captain pulled on his trousers and found half a loaf of bread, some apples, cheese and water. He perched on the table to eat, as Helene draped his wet shirt over the back of the chair in front of the stove. She returned and sat next to Jack, who passed her some bread.

"Are you leaving Tortuga this morning?" Helene asked, looking down at the food she turned over in her hands.

"In a few hours."

"Where will you go?"

"Not sure. I've been thinking about maybe taking a trip to Europe."

"Freedom…" Helene murmured so quietly Jack only just heard.

There came a crashing sound from downstairs, startling both of them.

"That'll be my aunt returning from Madame Claudette's," Helene said, disdain apparent in her voice. She jumped down from the table and tossed Jack an apple. "Well, I guess you'll be wanting to get back to the docks."

Helene bit into an apple, as she walked over to put out the fire in the stove and picked up Jack's shirt. She passed the damp shirt to Jack, then cleared away the remains of breakfast and tidied the rest of the room, while he dressed and strapped on his effects. He slung his coat over his arm and munched on the apple she'd given him, waiting for her to gather her own belongings.

Helene made to head straight to the door, but Jack moved in front of her and caught her arm. He kissed her once more, and she pressed close to him.

After a lingering moment in the pirate captain's arms, Helene broke away and opened the door onto the balcony.

He followed her out into the bright sunlight and waited while she locked up, then they descended the wooden steps and went out into the street. Jack looked around and worked out whereabouts the house she'd led him to was. He went to move in the direction of the coast, but Helene slipped her hand into his and gently tugged him towards a different road going in the same direction, which was apparently a better route to the docks. Helene's route avoided the main streets until the coast was in sight, thus avoiding the wreckage of the night for as long as possible.

Captain Jack Sparrow paused with Helene on the dockside, gazing out over the glinting crystalline blue waters to where the Black Pearl quietly waited.

"Make sure you don't ever lose that last name of yours, Helene Ffoulkes," he whispered, softly, in the girl's ear. "It's a pretty name."

She smiled and looked up into his kind eyes.

Behind them the door of a tavern suddenly crashed open and three men and two girls nosily stumbled out.

"Jaaaack!" the dark-haired girl cried, breaking away from the small group and wobbling over to him.

"Blanche," Jack reluctantly greeted. He cringed as she draped herself over him, alcohol both stale and fresh on her breath.

"Look fer me next time yer be visitin' this rock," she slurred, kissing his cheek and then almost knocking him over as she struggled with the basics of balance.

"Sure, love," Jack told her. His false grin dropping into a grimace, as she pushed off him and staggered, laughing crazily, back to the group.

Jack turned to see that Helene had stepped away from him, her face twisted with anger and hurt. Her mouth moved as if she was about to speak, but then set into a firm line.

A palm caught Jack sharply across the left cheek.

Helene then swiftly whirled around and stormed off.

"Hey! Helene!" Jack cried after her. "It's not…she… Helene, I'm sorry. Come back!"

"I know, I know. It's this bloody island!" she yelled, angrily, without glancing back.

Helene Ffoulkes quickened her step, turned off into a side street and disappeared from view.

Captain Jack Sparrow sighed and walked down to the pier.

"Upsetting the locals again, Jack?"

He looked down to see Anamaria smirking at him from where she waited in a rowing boat.

"Hmm." Jack climbed down into the boat. "A man never feels unwanted in Tortuga," he told her, dryly.

Anamaria laughed and slid the paddles into the water. Jack looked back at the town for a short while, then turned to face the Pearl, all regrets fading from his face as they approached his ship. A smile lurked on his lips and his expression became thoughtful. His gaze shifted to the woman in front of him.

"Anamaria…have you ever been to Spain?"

~ Finis ~