Chapter Nine:

A Moment in Time

It was much later that day when Sofia finally emerged from Jack's cabin. Jack had left hours before, and Sofia had wanted to enjoy the luxury of a real bed a bit longer. When she stepped onto the deck, every eye turned towards her and not a few members of the crew snickered softly. She tilted her chin defiantly and set to work with the others, as she had done every day she was aboard the Pearl.

"Bit late in risin', eh?" Miguel asked, grinning cheekily. Sofia cast him a glare and he laughed, but he also scurried up the shrouds far faster than usual. Sofia shook her head and smiled slightly- they were good men, but sometimes it took a woman to put them back in their place.

A hand rested on Sofia's shoulder. She straightened and spun, startled. When she realized who it was, her surprise grew.

"Ana Maria," Sofia said cordially. "What is it?"

Ana Maria met her gaze evenly, her dark eyes giving away nothing. "Be careful," she said, her tone a mix of command and sympathy. "He'll forget last night far faster than any other man."

Sofia's brow puckered in confusion, but her chest felt tight. "Whatever are you talking about?" she said. Her voice was calmly curious, but her eyes were ice chips.

Ana Maria shook her head and patted the other woman's shoulder. "Trust me, Sofia. Jack only knows one mistress, and we stand upon her."

Sofia raised an eyebrow. "Not jealous, are we?" she drawled.

Ana Maria glared at her. "Never," she said irritably. "I thought ye could do with fair warning, that you're not to expect more from Jack Sparrow than perhaps one night's warm bed."

"Is that what you got from him?"

Ana Maria's eyes narrowed and she turned away, disappearing below decks. Sofia waited until she was gone to release the breath she had been holding.

"I didn't expect more than that anyway," Sofia muttered angrily to herself. "Nor wanted more."

"What's that?"

Sofia looked up, startled yet again. Gibbs was giving her a questioning look, mingled with paternal amusement.

"Nothing," Sofia said quickly. Gibbs nodded slightly.

"Right then. The deck needs swabbin', miss, ye'd best get to it." He handed a bucket to her, smirking slightly. Sofia sighed and set to her work, grateful for something to keep her mind off Ana Maria's words.

Because no matter what she said, she knew she felt different.

* * *

"Have a moment, love?"

Sofia looked up. Her face was flushed due to her scrubbing madly at one spot on the deck for the past five minutes, and her hair was stuck to her face with sweat. Jack, by comparison, looked as fresh as a daisy. Sofia grumbled slightly, but stood up and nodded. Jack gestured that she follow him and led her to his cabin. Sofia knew everyone on deck was watching, but she felt trepidation gnawing away at her gut over something quite separate. What was Jack going to tell her?

Once inside, Jack closed the hatch behind her and waved vaguely at the large table. Sofia plopped into one of the high-backed chairs, grateful for the reprieve. Jack, on the other hand, paced about the cabin like an anxious cat. Sofia watched him, amused.

Finally Jack paused and spoke, gesturing as if trying to physically frame his words. "You're after the man what murdered your mum. I can respect that, can even condone it. Heaven knows I've killed in revenge over less. But-" here he stepped forward, eyes steely, "I can't endanger my crew."

Sofia clenched her jaw and nodded tersely. He was either going to tell her she was leaving at the next port, or that she wasn't to chase Jordan, in which case she would leave at next port of her own free will. She should have expected it, really, but that knowledge didn't make the sick feeling in her stomach dissipate.

Jack stepped back. "So, I'm going to have to train you up a bit. Jordan won't be as chivalrous as I've been, darling, he won't let you win."

Sofia gaped at him, aghast. "What?"

Jack grinned. "Unless you hadn't noticed, you are a part of my crew. Jordan knows where you are, so he'll be coming for us, but not any time soon, after that beating we gave him. So I've a mind to prepare you for him."

Sofia stood up, trembling, although she wasn't entirely sure why. "You're going to teach me to fight better?" she asked dubiously.

"O' course love," Jack drawled, eyes glinting with amusement. "I've a vested interest now."

Sofia glared at him. "Vested interest?"

Jack's eyebrows went skywards. He'd chosen the wrong words indeed. "Sort of," he said lamely. "But that's beside the point, darling."

Sofia folded her arms. "Arrogant man," she muttered darkly.

"Of course I am," Jack said blithely, easily regaining his verbal footing. "Now, I'll tutor you in the fine art of sword-fighting, but you've got to promise me something in return."

Sofia's gut clenched. Here it came. "What's that?" she asked, trying to keep her caustic thoughts out of her voice and very nearly succeeding.

Jack wagged a finger in front of her nose. "You're not to confront Jordan, even should he sail up to us and board the bloody ship, unless you can beat me in a full confrontation, no punches pulled. Savvy?"

Sofia had a sudden guilty feeling. She'd seriously underestimated him. Maybe what Ana Maria had said was true, and he'd never touch her again. She didn't know if the idea appealed or not. She shoved the thoughts aside and nodded. "Sounds good to me, Cap'n."

"We have an accord, then," said Jack, extending his hand. Sofia grasped it firmly. They shook hands, and then Sofia turned to leave. Just as she was opening the door, Jack spoke again.

"Oh, Sofia?"

She turned. "Yes?"

"Name's Jack Sparrow. Use it."

Sofia smiled slightly. "Aye, Cap'n."

She left to the sound of Jack's laughter.

* * *

"Welcome," said Miguel, with an impish smile, "to Tortuga."

Joseph stared at the spectacle before him, caught between amazement and distaste. Sofia laughed at his expression and slapped him on the back. "It's a sight, isn't it?"

"Aye," said Joseph weakly. "A more hazardous place I should never hope to see."

Miguel roared with laughter, nearly falling out of the little rowboat in his hilarity. Sofia chuckled softly. "Aye," she said. "But it's a friendly place."

"Quite friendly," put in Tuck with a lecherous grin. "'Leastwise, to them what can afford it." He laughed at Joseph's mildly confused expression.

"We shall have to introduce you to the finer side of Tortuga," Miguel said. Joseph looked dubious.

"Shush, the lot of you," said Sofia, taking one hand from her oar long enough to smack Miguel's arm. "Let the whelp be."

That sparked another round of laughter, during which Joseph grinned sheepishly.

"Oh, he's a good lad," Gibbs said, giving Joseph a poke in the ribs. "His stews are beyond reproach by mortal men."

"Amen," said Crimp in his high-pitched voice. The men laughed again.

The boat stopped with a crunching sound. The crew jumped out and pulled it fully onto the beach, beyond the lapping waves. The docks had all been full, so the Black Pearl was anchored in the bay and the crew on leave had taken the rowboat to reach shore. Jack, Duncan, and a few others were still aboard, but mostly the Pearl's sailors had crammed into the little boat in search of Tortuga's many pleasures.

Sofia checked the little money-purse at her belt, then looked up at Joseph. "Come on, whelp, I'll buy ye a pint," she said cheerfully. "Come along, we haven't all night."

Joseph clambered out of the boat and staggered slightly. "I'm not used to still ground anymore," he said sheepishly. Sofia shrugged.

"It'll pass. Come on, Tortuga awaits." She grinned impishly, grabbed Joseph by the arm, and off they went.

Tortuga hadn't changed in the month and a half since Sofia had left. Most of the faces had changed, but it still had that delightful atmosphere of revelry and defiance of rules. Sofia loved it. Joseph seemed a bit uncertain, but two taverns and two ales, a tot of rum, and three whiskey shots later, Joseph was very happy indeed.

"It's a lovely town," Joseph said loudly, slurring horrendously. Sofia giggled- she had drunk just as much, but was merely mellow rather than drunk. "It is indeed," she agreed amiably, lifting her shot glass in salute and then knocking back the contents.

A short, busty girl with blonde hair sat in the empty chair at their table. "Hello," she said, leaning close to Joseph so as to give him a good view. "My, aren't you a pretty one," she giggled. She ignored Sofia's glare.

"Really?" Joseph asked, surprised. "I'm not- not-" his brow furrowed as he tried to remember what he was saying, "well, I'm just not," he finished lamely.

"Indeed," Sofia said coolly. The girl looked up, as if just noticing him.

"What's this? Out drinking with your mum?" The girl laughed airily. "Oh, you poor boy."

Tuck sauntered over and slapped his drink on the table. "Boy's right," he slurred. "You, miss, will be wantin' a man."

"Here now," Joseph protested. "Go away, Tuck."

"What, and pass up such a sweet young thing?"

Sofia let out an irritated sound. "Girl, please go away. I am much a mother as you are a society wife."

The girl giggled. "Really now. Then you won't mind me having a bit of fun with the boy." She nibbled on Joseph's ear. He looked surprised, but rather pleasantly so.

Tuck grinned. "Ah, that's the way of it," he said. "All right girl, what say you take the whelp upstairs and teach him a bit?"

"Gladly," the girl purred. Tuck handed her a few coins and the girl walked off, dragging the rather drunk Joseph behind her.

"What'd you do that for?" Sofia asked as Tuck took up Joseph's vacated seat. Tuck shrugged.

"Feelin' generous. He needed a bit of a push."

"Some push," Sofia muttered. "He won't even remember anything!"

Tuck shrugged again. "Oh well."

"If she robs him blind it'll be your fault," Sofia said. "I, on the other hand, am wantin' a bit o' sleep. Seein' as you menfolk will be doing so here," she cast a disgusted look at the various whores about the tavern, "I'll take the boat to the ship and send it back tomorrow."

"Mmmm," Tuck said absently. While Sofia spoke a redheaded woman had taken up residence in his lap and he was otherwise occupied. Sofia rolled her eyes, tossed a shilling on the table, and left.

She didn't know at first why it bothered her so much, but during the exhausting row back to the ship she figured it out. Joseph was uncorrupted, as pure a soul as any pirate could be. She didn't want him to end up another Gibbs or, heavens forbid, another Tuck. She laughed at the image- Joseph would never be as crass as Tuck. He was too polite, too sweet a boy. Which was why Sofia found him so endearing.

Sofia boarded the ship to the sound of silence. The Pearl was quiet, its sheets furled and its deck empty of all but Jack. He was standing at the bowsprit, watching the flickering lights of the town.

"I can watch, if ye like," Sofia said as she approached. "You'd be free to gallivant about town."

Jack beckoned Sofia forward silently, gesturing with an almost-empty bottle of rum. Curious, Sofia stood beside him and watched his face, trying to divine his thoughts.

"Listen," Jack murmured. His voice was rougher than usual, the single word slow and slurred. Somehow he didn't really seem drunk, more like he was lost in old memories and current intimacies. He was quite definitely drunk, though.

"To what?"

There was no response. Sofia sighed and did as requested.

The sea was lapping at the ship's hull, kissing it gently. A warm breeze made the lines whisper. A faint roar of revelry drifted across the water from Tortuga, but the breeze brought only the smell of salt and distant horizons.

Jack smiled slightly, hearing Sofia's soft 'hmm' as she took it all in. "That, love," he said, breaking the bubble of silence around them, "is the sound of freedom."

"I'm not sure I understand."

Jack laughed softly. "I don't rightly understand neither. But there's somethin' out there, if you listen, somethin' that says this ship can go anywhere an' no one can stop us. You can almost feel it, if you try." He took another swig of rum and let out a soft, contented sound. "Freedom."

Sofia's lips twitched with a suppressed smile. "You're drunk, Jack."

"That I am," Jack agreed amiably. "An' on more than rum, darling."

They stood there in silence for a time, enjoying the breeze and the intangible; fleeting thing Jack called freedom.

It was the most peaceful time Sofia had ever known. A single crystallized moment when her problems and fears and memories melted away, replaced by Jack's presence and the world around her. In later years, it was a great comfort to her to look back and see that yes, once she had been at peace.

And she was.