Disclaimer: I'm still just borrowing the PotC characters.

A/N: Thanks again for the great reviews. I'm so glad you are keeping with my ever growing story.

Chapter 19:

"Miguel?" Anamaria peered into the darkness that hid the Spanish captain's face. "What are you doing here?"

"Searching for you, Señora," he answered.

Ana crossed her arms skeptically. The Spaniard was no longer wearing his uniform coat and his black hair was falling out of his pigtail. He seemed out of breath. Both of the times she had encountered Miguel before, he had been immaculately dressed and not a single lock of hair was out of place. What was he doing in the woods so close to the cabin that Ana and Jack had been hiding in and why was he really there?

"Searching for me?" Ana repeated. "Congratulations, then. You've found me." Her voice was colder than she had intended, but she was still reeling from her last encounter with a certain pirate. Not to mention the fact that, she had no idea who Miguel Cornado really was. According to the man he claimed was his father, she was speaking to a ghost.

"Better that it was I that found you."

Ana arched an eyebrow. "Is it?"

"The alarm has been raised at the fort. They are looking for the pirate and . . . and you, Señora."

"How do I know you won't go and tell the soldiers where I am?"

Even in the darkness, Ana could see the hurt expression flicker across Miguel's face. "Why would I do this?"

"I don't know. Why would you tell me you're Don Antonio's son?"

"I do not understand," Miguel said. "I've told you this, because I am Don Antonio's son."

"Don Antonio has no son."

The Spanish captain's body stiffened and his lips parted slightly. He had been caught off guard by Ana's gruff manner and her accusatory words.

"Why would you say this?"

"Because it's the truth. I heard the words from his own mouth."

"Anamaria."

At the sound of her name, Ana turned around and could just make out the silhouette of Jack Sparrow coming towards them.

"Anamaria," the pirate repeated when he stood right in front of her. "What are you doing out here, luv?"

She turned back to where Miguel had been standing to find him gone. Typical. She sighed and tried to remind herself that she was angry with Jack, despite the happiness she was feeling. He could very well have stayed in the cabin and let her walk alone in the woods all night. With her back turned, she smiled. She was pleased that Jack had followed her, but he did not have to know that just yet. Then, she felt his hand on her shoulder. Her skin ignited beneath the touch of his weathered hand. Her resolve nearly crumbled.

"What do you want?" she asked softly, not turning around so that Jack's hand would not have to leave her shoulder.

"August 11th and red."

Ana turned to face the pirate, unfortunately breaking contact. "What?"

"My birthday and my favorite color."

Ana smiled in spite of herself, remembering her early tyraid. He had found exactly the right words to break through the last of her tenacity. The man was infuriating, but now all she wanted was to return with him to the little cabin.

Back in the cottage, Ana once again sat at the small dusty table. Sparrow sat across from her and crossed his arms on the tabletop.

"Do you trust me, Jack Sparrow?"

The pirate's dark eyes locked on Ana's, but he said nothing. His stare was intense, mesmerizing. If he would just let her see beyond his mask and bravado, Jack could speak volumes with his eyes, but now they were black and unyielding.

"What does Cornado have against you?" she asked quietly.

Sparrow's eyes dropped to the table. He turned his face away and Ana was about to give up on ever hearing him answer her question, when he began to speak.

"Cornado fought a duel years ago." Jack's voice was low and even, but Ana could not help but feel that it was hard for the pirate to open up to her. Tentatively, she extended her hand and placed it on the pirate's tattooed forearm. His eyes snapped up from the table. At first he looked annoyed by her touch, but his face softened when Ana gently squeezed his arm.

"Go on," she said.

"He lost. The man he fought against had his sword pointed at Cornado's throat, but instead of killing Cornado, he showed mercy."

Jack paused briefly. He was gazing out the window, but Ana doubted he was actually looking at anything in the woods. Ana's own face was twisted with confusion and the feeling that she had heard this story before.

"Cornado shot his opponent in the back as he was walking away. He was going to shoot the man again to kill him . . ."

"But you didn't let him."

Sparrow nodded.

She had heard this story before. Ana put her hand to her forehead. Cornado had said that his son died in a duel, a duel that his son had technically won. Cornado claimed that his son had not been "man enough" to kill his opponent. Ana shook her head in an attempt to make sense of what Jack had just told her. Surely, the exact same circumstances could not have happened in two different duels. A lump began to form in her throat. Had Cornado fought a duel with his own son?

"What happened to the man you saved?" Ana asked.

Jack shrugged slightly. "I took him to the doctor."

"Did he live?"

"Don't know, luv."

"Did he have a cut or a scar on his face?"

The pirate's eyes narrowed. "Aye."

Ana closed her eyes as she forced herself to confront the truth. Don Cornado had fought a duel with his son. His son had won that duel, and, when he refused to kill his own father, Cornado shot him in the back. Coward.

"What's wrong, Anamaria? How did you know that?"

Ana swallowed. "The man that fought Cornado was his son." She pictured Miguel. She remembered the hurt expression on his face. He had been honest with her. He had helped her, and she had taken the word of a tyrant over his.

"His son?"

"Yes," Ana ran her hand over her face. She did not really know how to explain any of this to the pirate. She had never mentioned Miguel before. Sparrow hardly seemed to be listening to her anyway as he was once again staring out the window to her right. "His name is Miguel. He helped me get into the hold so you could escape. Maybe he's trying to repay you for saving his life. Maybe –"

Sparrow reached across the table and clamped his hand over Ana's mouth mid sentence. Placing his finger over his lips, he gestured for her to keep quiet. In the silence, Ana could hear what had caused the pirate's action. Someone was coming. Her heart started to pound in her ears. The pirate removed his hand from her mouth and placed it on her arm. The pair stood up and backed away from the opening door.

Ana felt the warmth of the pirate's chest against her back. She could feel his breath on her neck. She hoped he could not hear her heart hammering inside of her body. They were caught. There was no hiding and the cabin had no rear entrance.

The door opened wider. Ana closed her eyes and held her breath.

Wow, sorry to leave you with such a mean cliffy, but I have to keep it interesting don't I? I live for your reviews so don't forget to let me know how I'm doing.