"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate."

Chapter 4:

Barbossa: For too long I've been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I've been starving to death and haven't died. I feel nothing. Not the wind on my face nor the spray of the sea. Nor the warmth of a woman's flesh.

Author's Note: Okay…if you look at it in the right light, that quote fits. And no, I do not intend anything dirty with it…you'll just have to take my word for it.

Disclaimer: As with many a times of misfortune…I still do not own PotC…*sigh*

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Captain Jack Sparrow woke up to a slightly unfamiliar sensation. Someone's warm body was cuddled up to him, breathing slowly and softly. A strumpet's time was not to be spent on sleeping, there were always better things to do. And while still in that state of mind right after waking up - where everything is a bit fuzzy and confusing - he looked down to see who exactly it was.

Unwanted advances, eh lass? Sparrow grinned to himself as he watched Amy sleep for a few minutes. Her hair was falling miserably out of the ponytail she'd put it in the previous day. And her make-up was in a sorry shape too. Her sleeves, that had appeared to be tied at the elbow, were now undone and strewn about. Not to mention her shirt which was falling off her shoulders and exposing the skin and the two straps - one black and one white - that had been hidden underneath.

Is that silk? Sparrow pondered. How would she get silk? And why would you make it into a shirt like that?

She let out a soft moan, momentarily stretching and then cuddling up closer, her forehead pressed tightly to his shoulder.

"Not quite the type of moan I'm used to…" he muttered to himself, smiling despite the awkwardness of the situation. He wasn't sure if it would be best to go back to sleep - he still had duties aboard the Pearl to tend to after all - or to wake her up and then go from there.

It really wasn't all that unpleasant with her small frame snuggled up next to him.

And even if he was to wake her up, how would he do it? Undoubtedly she'd be volatile when awoken. And he'd prefer not to have her scream, flail, or kick. Especially not kick. Her tucked up legs were a little too close to comfort if she were to start kicking wildly.

"Five more minutes…" she mumbled, stretching her arms out again, one brushing against his side, before she paused in her movements and opened her eyes slowly. "What…?"

"Good morning, love."

She gasped for air, but froze instead of moving away. "W-w-what h-happened? Did I…did you…what…uh…"

"I know for a fact that I didn't move last night. So that leaves the perpetrator to be you, love. Not that I'm complaining…but I've only been awake for a short time and I have not taken any liberties with ye."

She lowered her face more, brushing her nose against his chest. "My sister did say I was a heat seeking submarine…"

"A heat seeking what, love?"

"Submarine, another kind of ship from back home." She smiled weakly and looked up at him. "I used to share a bed with my sister, and…I'd do this to her too."

"Did ye fondle her?"

Her cheeks turned a dark red shade and she jerked all appendages back that could do anything that he was referring to. "N-no…did I…er…do that to…er…um…"

"Nay, love." He grinned deviously, "Just wanted to see ye blush. Now, if ye'd let me get out…I have a ship to look after."

She nodded and scooted out, sitting on the edge of the bed, trying hopelessly to have her cheeks return to their normal color. Sparrow climbed out and grinned at her.

"Think ye'll be ready for breakfast today, love?"

"I…I'm not sure." Her stomach let out a large growl and she blinked, looking down at it and fixing her shirt's slipping shoulders. "Well…I guess I could try to eat something."

Sparrow looked to the door for a moment, then pulled on his shirt and other accessories, tossing her his coat. "Ye'll be wanting that."

"Your coat…?" she numbly commented, looking to him in confusion and picking it up from the bed beside her.

"Aye, I imagine ye'll be cold out there this early in the morning. With only that thin shirt of yours to keep ye warm, at least. Do ye know where the galley is?"

She thought for a moment. "I think I can find it. T-thank you, Captain Sparrow."

He had started for the door, and paused, looking back. "For what, lass?"

Amy smiled. "For letting me sleep here. For everything."

He nodded in response, "Me pleasure, lass, 'specially if ye keep sleeping next to me."

As expected, the blush returned and Sparrow then walked out the door, closing it behind him. Amy looked around for a moment, then put on her shoes and shrugged on his jacket, finding herself swimming in it. But being only the slight size of five foot three inches tall, she was used to wearing clothes much too large for her. Her older siblings were all much taller and larger than her, hand-me-downs tended to be a bit on the large size. After fixing her hair and splashing some water on her face, effectively removing the make-up, she took a deep breath and headed for the door. Before reaching it, she spotted her purse, discarded on a table. She hurried to it and made sure everything was in order, which it was. Whew…at least I know where it is now. She put her purse on under the coat and then returned her gaze to the door, soon striding towards it.

Here goes. This is real. I just have to keep remembering that. Don't freak out, just breathe and take everything in stride. I'll be okay, I'll be okay…

She continued her internal mantra and opened the door, peeking out. Glad that no one was in sight, she stepped out and closed the door behind her, looking both ways before deciding to go to the right. She reached the main deck and stared in awe at the scenery. The sun had risen not too long ago, and the last vestiges of pinks, purples, and oranges were still visible.

"Wow…" she mumbled, continuing to look awestruck.

"I see that ye slept well, lass," a male voice said from behind her.

She tensed and glanced over her shoulder. Seeing that it was Mr. Gibbs she smiled softly.

"I guess I slept pretty well."

Mr. Gibbs' smile turned a bit lecherous. "Kept the Captain warm, did ye?"

Amy stared at him in confusion for a few seconds, before she finally understood his implication, and turned bright red.

"Now hold on there. I…I did not do anything of that sort with Captain Sparrow last night. Now if you would be so kind as to tell me where the galley is?"

"Aye, lass." His grin broadened. "It's over there," he pointed to her left.

She nodded and hoped her blush would go away quickly. "Thank you."

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Peeking down a long stairwell, Amy felt that her limits of trust were being pushed. Pirate ships, sure. Pirate captains, no problem. Sleeping in their quarters…well, that was a separate matter. But heading down large, dark stairwells? She wasn't quite so sure of that. Who knows who or what would be down there?

Logic says it should just be a galley…but then again, whenever girls got attacked on ships, they were heading down dark stairwells… I didn't read all of those fanfic's for nothing…or so I hope. Here goes. Taking a deep breath, she took a hesitant step forward, entering the stairwell. She started to let her eyes adjust to the lack of light, and took another step.

Unfortunately, as she was attempting to accomplish this task, the ship jerked in response to a larger wave and…she lost her balance, tumbling down the stairs.

Amy slowly sat up and was glad that after several minutes of utter confusion and slight twinges of pain, the world stopped spinning. And there stood another pirate, this time a woman. She recognized her as Anamaria.

"Are ye all right?" the darker woman asked, standing a few feet away.

She forced a small smile. "I think so. The room stopped spinning, and I think I can still stand." Amy then pushed her legs underneath her and slowly attempted to stand. Though wobbly, she accomplished the task and put a hand on the railing that was beside her.

Anamaria nodded. "What were ye looking for?"

"The galley, I believe." Amy frowned in thought. "Yeah…it was the galley."

Pausing in her reply, Anamaria looked the smaller girl over. "Why are ye wearing the captain's coat?"

Amy repositioned the garment, as it had almost fallen off. "He gave it to me. Said I would be cold I think. In my opinion, it's best to obey Captain Sparrow rather than question his judgment. At least in this type of thing."

For this comment, Amy received a small grin in reply. "Will ye be needing any more directions to the galley?"

Scanning over the dim room, Amy shook her head. "I think I can handle it. Thanks anyway."

Anamaria nodded and headed up the stairs, leaving Amy to find her way around. Okay… at least I can still move okay. I'm probably gonna have some bruises, but oh well. Amy continued in her search, and soon walked into a large dining area. Bingo. If this isn't the galley, I don't know what would be. There was a pirate cooking…something, and Amy tentatively walked a few feet closer to him.

"Um…excuse me."

He turned slightly and smiled. "Ah, the lass from the chest. Hungry, are ye?"

She nodded. "Yes. Um…what is there to eat?"

"Well," the pirate scanned his domain, "there's some hardtack, I'm making some stew, there's rum, some fish in the barrel over there, some fruit, got a few chickens I could cook up…"

So…nothing breakfast oriented other than the fruit. "I've never tried it before but…where's the hardtack?"

"O'er there lass," the pirate cook gestured to his left and Amy's gaze followed his movements, spotting the chest instantly.

She walked over to it and glanced over the seemingly rock hard biscuits. Cringing, she spotted a basket of apples and grabbed one, sitting down at a table and rubbing off the small amount of grime on her current coat's sleeve.

"Bon appetite," Amy mumbled, and sunk her teeth into the apple. She let it run down her chin, smiling blissfully. After sitting there and chewing methodically, Amy wiped off her chin and began to vigorously eat the apple. Her stomach demanded food.

Hearing the cook chuckle, she lifted her gaze and saw him looking over his shoulder at her.

"Want another, lass?" he held a second apple, his amusement obvious.

She glanced around, and then noted that she was down to just the core of the first apple. "Sure."

With a casual flick of the wrist, Amy saw the apple coming at her…very quickly. She dropped the core and barely was able to catch the rest of her breakfast before it impacted her face. She smiled and hid her anxiety, then picked up the dropped core and set it on the table, starting in the second part of her meal.

She finished this with a little less speed, but nonetheless it was thoroughly enjoyed. By now, the cook was busy with his stew again, and Amy grabbed the two cores and looked for somewhere to discard them. I guess they just put them out to sea. Nodding to herself, she headed back towards the stairs.

"Thank you for the apples."

The cook nodded, and continued working.

Here I go again. Perhaps going up the stairs won't be quite so bad. Amy tromped up the stairs, keeping a tight grip on the handrail, and was glad for the salty tang of the sea air. It really is a bit musty down there… She breathed deep and then walked over to the railing, flinging the apples as far as she could, grinning as they finally made a splash.

Wow…I'm doing really good with this sea sickness thing. Not feeling the least bit nauseous. I just hope it keeps up. Amy smiled broader and surveyed the ocean for a few minutes before, then looked behind her and idly observed the pirates working about the deck. Captain Sparrow was up at the helm, and to this vision, Amy could not suppress a sigh.

If nothing else, this sight was worth the gagging yesterday. Plus being able to wear his coat… She smiled and pulled it tighter as a cool breeze whipped past her. Surely enough, if not for the extra layer, Amy would have been shivering or at least gotten the least bit cold.

And then it hit her. Her stomach started doing loops and her senses returned their previous state…nauseous. She jerked a hand to her mouth and ran to the side, soon regretting even daring to think her previous thoughts.

No sea sickness…sure I'm over it…

After emptying the contents of her stomach - successfully this time - she sat down on the deck and felt miserable.

Amy muttered to no one but herself. "Is it so much to ask for the ability to eat? Really…I just want to eat…"

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Completeopposites: Wow…you think it's well written? *blushes* Oh gosh… thanks. *grins* Keep reviewing and I'll keep writin'!

Lady J. Riddle: Yeah! I'm glad you agree! I read so many fic's and wonder if the authors try to put a slight touch of reality into it…*shrug* Oh well, at least I enjoy putting a tinge of reality into it. Thanks for all the support!

Amirawen: Yeah! Go Amy's! *smirks* World domination eh? Hmm… Oh yeah, Go Sparrow! Whoop!

Bluesky: Oh yes…the glory of world domination. *manical laughter*

Tina: *blinks* Seriously really? Amazing! *grins* That adds a whole new dimension to that line! Awesome! And…thanks for not being mad at me. Hope you get more reviews to your story.

Thanks for readin' all! Keep the reviews coming!