okay i know this chapter is sad.. warns everyone now lol.. juss a small little author note today, im busy workin on the next chapter. thanks to all the great reviews i got for the last 2 chapters though!

Chapter 31
"Loss of a Luv"

I woke and opened my eyes. My head was resting on Jack's shoulder, his left arm around me. I sat on his lap; I looked around, wondering how I ended up in his lap. I felt a calm that I hadn't felt in days. Was the storm actually over now? I debated between going and checking or staying with Jack. I looked at his sleeping form his face was calm and relaxed. I could hear his deep even breaths.

Then I noticed something, I rose a brow, "'e stole me hat!" I whispered. "Jack?"

Which got no reply, only his head falling to rest on my shoulder and burrow into my neck. I could feel his breath against my neck. I sighed, as good as that felt, I wanted to get back to my ship. I poked him softly in the ribs.

"Jack?" I whispered again I looked from side to side, wondering if anyone had noticed the predicament I was in. Nope no one was looking at me. I grinned slightly, my left hand ever so slowly coming up, reaching for his hat. I chuckled evilly every so lightly. My fingertips grazed his hat. My fingers moving slightly, like Jack's usually did.

'I've got to stop spending so much time with him.' I thought as I noticed my fingers moving. Out of completely nowhere Jack's hand shot up, grabbing my wrist. A gasp escaped my lips; I calmed myself and looked Jack straight in the eyes. "Ye scared the shit out of me! Don't ever do that again!"

"Sorry, luv. I just didn't want ye to steal me 'at, again."

"I didn't steal it in the first place." I protested, trying to get my wrist free from his grip. "But, we have a whole other issue at hand."

"What's that?" he asked, curiosity running over his features

"How is it that I ended up in your lap?" I questioned, my brows furrowed.

He grinned slightly as he thought it over, running the fingers of his right hand over his moustache. It seemed as if he had gotten lost in thought.

"Well?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Well, ye just climbed up in me lap and went to sleep!" he grinned, showing his gold teeth

I eyed him. "That has to be the worst lie I 'ave ever 'eard in all me years!"

"Not a lie, luv. Truth!" he grinned I rolled my eyes, standing up slowly.

"Where ye be goin off to?" Jack asked, looking up at me

"To see if the storm is over."

"I'm coming too." He said, standing up

He followed me toward the entrance of the cave. I looked at Jack before exiting slowly, as he followed. A smile spread across my lips, the sun was beating down on the shore.

"It's finally over." I breathed

"Aye, finally over. I'll get the crew so we can get off this damn island." Jack stated before turning on his heel and walking back into the cave.

I walked out further, looking at the discarded pieces of wood and trees that had fallen from the storm's force. I wondered if my ship still remained. I walked closer to the shore, the men came running out yelling something fierce as they rejoiced to get back to sea. My eyes searched for The Gauntlet, over the calm waters.

"So ye are juss planning to leave me on this island?" I heard a voice yell

I turned on my heel, finding Ana Maria walking toward me. Her clothes were torn and she was still soaked from being out in the storm. Her hair was a big tangled mess.

"The thought did cross me mind." I said under my breath.

She stood in front of me, a fire in her eyes. "Why didn't ye send anyone after me?"

"Ye fell behind, ye were left behind. We had the code to consider."

"I don't care, I was stranded out here by meself."

"So what? Ye should 'ave known better."

"Yer the one who sent Lefty and meself out into the storm!" she yelled, coming closer to my face I stood straighter, wondering where she got the incentive to talk to me in such a way.

"Ye know what, ye know the code, its not me fault ye got lost in the storm! Lefty made it back, and don't ye ever raise yer voice to me!"

"I can if I want, yer not me captain!" She yelled back

I kept my face free of all emotion. "Is that so? Well last I remember I AM the captain, Jack's authority is just as good as mine! Ye have no right to undermine me authority!"

She growled in her throat, as she looked me over. "If yer a captain, yer not a very good one." She Stated

"What?" I questioned

"Yer ship its gone, gone to sea." She stated, a smug grin coming across her face.

My eyes went wide with confusion. She was just trying to screw with my mind, my ship wasn't gone it was sitting out at sea. I gave her a deathly glare.

"And I know why yer ship is gone, ye want to take over The Pearl. In order to do that, ye had to get rid of yer ship to go back to living on The Pearl."

My blood ran cold as I looked at her, my eyes shooting daggers at her. "If I wanted to take over The Pearl don't ye think I would 'ave done it by now? And Since when are ye so worried about Jack? Are ye upset because ye happen to think I stopped him from goin after ye?" My lips came together in thought. "Or are ye jealous because he has taken a liking to me and still doesn't notice ye."

Ana Maria's face turned red, as the fire in her eyes grew wild, the next thing I knew she tackled me to the ground. She sat practically on top of me, sending a fist to connect square with my jaw. Lefty and Gibbs tore her from my body. I quickly stood.

"What the bloody 'ell is goin on here?" Jack yelled, stomping angrily as he came to stand between Ana Maria and myself.

"Well, yer little crew member here is under minding my authority and tried to harm me." I stated, wondering how Jack was going to handle this. "If it were up to me, id leave her here."

"Jack would never let ye do that!" Ana Maria yelled, trying to break free from Gibbs and Lefty.

I looked at her, having enough of her outbursts. I walked over to her, an evil smile playing on my lips. I clenched my fist as hard as possible. "Don't ye ever accuse me of anything, I'll beat ye and leave ye to die. I'm also sure Jack won't 'ave any problems wit that. As I have told ye before, Jack sees ye as nothing but a crewmember. He doesn't see ye as a woman." I stated

"Yer not a woman either, ye are a raunchy man want to be!"

That was it I had enough of this. I punched her as hard as I could, my fist connecting with her cheek, I watched her head snap backwards and then up enough to glare at me.

"That's going to leave a mark." Gibbs smirked

"Take her to the brig!!" He yelled, looking at her with disgust.

I sighed and watched Ana Maria be taken away.

"Wonder what's gotten into her." I said, watching Lefty and Gibbs pull her along.

"Who knows." Jack said with a shrug.

My eyes became wide as I thought about what she had said, about The Gauntlet. I looked at Jack, my eyes wide as could be.

"What is it, luv?" he questioned, a look of concern coming to his eyes

"She was mumbling something, About The Gauntlet. Sounded like during the storm she had gone to the docks and let it be 'armed, and sent to the depths of the sea." I breathed, the confusion setting over my features once again.

"She wouldn't..." Jack trailed off as my eyes trailed back to the sea, looking for The Gauntlet. It had to be there, it just had to be. I swallowed hard, my eyes searching. I waded out to the water, figuring it may have come loose and drifted further out into the sea. I waded in the water; not wanting to believe my ship was gone. I felt tears sting at the back of my eyes as realization came over me. I felt something hit my leg; I looked down, picking up an old board. I flipped it over, it read "The Gauntlet" my breath caught in my throat, my luv, was gone. I noticed different sized pieces of wood floating onto shore. I dropped to my knees, my head in my hands; I closed my eyes tight, hoping it was only a dream. That I would wake from this nightmare and everything would be fine. I felt a hand on my shoulder; I looked up at Jack, blinking away my tears.

"It's gone." I stated simply

He nodded slowly. "Aye, I'm sorry for yer loss."

"I can't believe she's gone, my life, Jack.. It's all gone."

I felt his hand come to rest on my right shoulder; I turned my head to look up at him. I sighed and looked back to the ocean, I hung my head. I didn't have the strength to deal with this right now. What was I to do? I was a captain without a ship.

"Come, luv. To The Pearl." He said softly.

"Right, to The Pearl." I said, giving a fake smile.

Hoping to cover up that my heart had just sunk into my stomach. We rowed the boats to The Pearl in silence. No one dared speak to me, knowing I was probably enraged. I felt the boat brush against The Pearl, knocking me out of my thoughts. I quickly climbed aboard The Pearl, half thankful that at least one ship was left behind. I watched as the men hauled the prisoners and Ana Maria below. I walked across the deck and to the captain's quarters, not wanting to talk to anyone at the moment. I closed the door behind me, putting my back to the door. I closed my eyes and sighed. My luv was gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.