A/N: So, you may be wondering how far Jack and Juliet went last night. Let me assure you, they didn't renew too many memories, lol. Just a kiss, promise. Well, let's not go past second base. That's my limit for now. Work it out in your head. And don't get any in-the-gutter ideas from the opening paragraph. They fell asleep. They're fully clothed. Okay, now that that's all cleared up, here we go, lol. ;)

Oh, and the song lyrics at the beginning of the chapter.. I dunno I liked the song and it reminded me of Jack and Juliet... =) I use too many smiley faces.

Chapter 15: Passing Notes and Stupid Parrots

"Tell me what you thought about
when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
you can have the best of me
we got older but we're still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up."
--- "Best of Me" - The Starting Line

Jack awoke to the sound of waves gently brushing against the Black Pearl and beams of light shooting through the windows. Wondering how long he'd been asleep, he made to stretch his arms and get up, but then realized he couldn't feel his left arm. Looking to his side he was momentarily taken aback by the presence of Juliet. She was stretched out next to him in an obviously deep sleep, mumbling incoherently as she unknowingly scooted herself closer to him. Her shoulderblades were digging into his arm, explaining why it was asleep along with her. Jack carefully reached over to his left arm and began pulling it out from underneath her, finally letting her shoulders down onto the mattress.

"Stupid parrots, go home," Juliet muttered into the pillow as she rolled into the formerly occupied space next to her.

"You tell those parrots, Jules." Jack smirked and swaggered as quietly as possible to the door.

"Yeah... yeah, I will," she responded through the pillow, and then slipped back into her dreams. As soon as Jack had closed the door, he proceeded to noisily click his way towards the helm.

Anamaria was steering the ship and Gibbs was hovering around her. The two were obviously debating where they were supposed to be heading.

"Tortuga," Jack declared as he approached them. Then he added quietly, "and then on to the Port Peligro area." Anamaria and Gibbs looked up as if he had said that after Tortuga they would all be diving into a firepit.

"What's in your head, Sparrow?!" Anamaria yelled loudly enough for the entire crew to hear.

"Gibbs," Jack whined. "Did I not tell you to let her read the note? Well, to make a long story short," he continued, turning to Anamaria, "Juliet has a child and she's been kidnapped. I know where she's going to be, and I'm gonna take her." He conveniently left out the part about the child also being his, so the blame wouldn't need to fall on him. He knew they wouldn't give Juliet a hard time about it, but it would be another story with him.

"Jack..." Gibbs began, looking a little nervous. "You know better 'en us the way pirates are treated at Port Peligro. They'll take one look at ye and toss a rope 'round yer neck. We don't be needin to lose the entire crew to the hangman."

"Well, you see, that would be a problem, if we were going to Port Peligro itself. But that's not where we're going..." Jack lowered his voice and motioned for Anamaria and Gibbs to lean in a bit. "Not far off the coast lies an island very similar to Isla de Muerta. It's not often found, because it's very small, but upon it, lies a treasure so voluptuous that the man who finds it will not have to work another day in his entire life. The only way to find this treasure is with a map that there is only one copy of. However, the map is divided into two sections. Put together, you can be led to the most extraordinary treasure imaginable. Juliet and I, together, have this map. Conway knows that I have one. That's why he took Juliet's child- he's keeping her there to get me there. Dear Juliet, however, does not know I have one. Nor does she know about the map she possesses. And she mustn't learn it yet. Because if she knew that I knew that he knew that I had one and I knew she had one, then she'd know I'm the reason her child's been kidnapped and we wouldn't want her to know that, savvy?"

Gibbs and Anamaria exchanged anxious glances, then looked back at Jack, hoping for a clearer idea of what exactly they'd be doing. Noticing this, he thought of a quick escape to avoid explaining himself.

"AND! You'll each get fifteen percent of me plunder." Jack grinned seeing the more convinced expressions that were now on their faces. "What say you?" he bellowed enthusiastically.

"Aye!" Anamaria responded in her typical fashion after a moment's hesitation. Gibbs nodded uncertainly and headed towards the riggings, muttering loudly about how he wouldn't say "I told you so" if they got killed.

Happy to have the agreement of Anamaria and Gibbs, Jack marched back to his cabin to see if Juliet was awake yet. As the door opened, Juliet paused and looked up. She had been making the bed and all the while wondering how it had gotten that messy. Last night was a bit of a blur in her mind, and she desperately wanted to know if anything had happened. Luckily, Jack was here and they could have a little chat. Oh, how she would hurt him if they had gone too far...

"Morning, luv!" said Jack as he quickly approached Juliet and wrapped his arms around her. "Did the parrots finally leave you alone?" She wondered what in the world he was talking about as he leaned in close to her, obviously about to kiss her. She was a fast thinker, however, and instead of his lips meeting hers, they met her fingertips, and not in a seductive type of way. He opened his eyes and was obviously surprised and a little confused. Juliet was smiling uneasily and removed her hand from his lips and put it on his shoulder. He leaned in again but this time she leaned out of the way, causing another surprised eye-pop.

"Um, Jack..." she began, laughing nervously. "Last night was a bit of a blur, and I... umm... I don't exactly remember..." She raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders, trying to communicate her meaning without saying it. Realization hit Jack, but instead of being disappointed, he grinned devilishly and pulled her even closer to him.

"Would you like me to remind you?" he asked in a soft, coy tone.

"Well, it kind of depends on whether-" Juliet was cut off by Jack swooping down on her again, but this time she didn't have time to move. So, sadly, she was forced to endure this horrible reminder. She slowly pulled away and clapped her hands together.

"Aha... well, if that was all, than I don't see any harm in it. Do you, Jack? Since there's no permanent damage involved..." Juliet smiled in response to Jack's widening grin and then went and sat down on the bed. "Sorry to bring up a rather morbid topic, and I don't mean to force this venture on you and your crew, Jack, but have you figured out where it is we're supposed to be heading, and what exactly we'll be doing there?"

"Well," Jack began, swinging the chair from his desk over to the bed and sitting down, "We'll first be making a brief stop in Tortuga. Just one night, for, umm... supplies. Yes, supplies for the journey! Then, we're on to the Port Peligro area." Juliet gave a response that was similar to Anamaria and Gibbs', but after a careful explanation from Jack, who purposely left out the part about the map, she agreed. Jack had decided now would not be the best time to explain this, but Juliet seemed to disagree.

"Why does Conway want us to come there? What does he need us, or our daughter for?" Juliet looked anxious to hear Jack's response, and he resolved that he shouldn't lie to her.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to know?" he ventured, hoping she might change her mind.

"No," Juliet replied, "But try me." Jack sighed and scratched his head, trying to decide where to begin. He ran his finger over the small scar on his wrist, the one that read "J2."

"Well... I don't really know where to begin, but here's my best shot. Roll up your sleeve."

........................

A/N: I am really really sorry. It took me a while to do AND the chapter sucks AND it's a cliffie. I just wanted to get something posted, so this is it. But, the next chapter should be pretty good, as it'll explain a LOT. Thanks for reading, please review!

Deyna: thanks for reviewing!! And you can write like that, you're really good!! I think you'll like the next chapter ;) Isn't Jack the best? Lol of course he is!! And very sorry that the chapter is short! Next one will be up quicker I hope. I miss your POTC writing, btw, you should start a new fanfic! I have a new one in the works, but I'm not sure whether it'll work out yet, lol! Oh, and it seems some romance is here to stay, but we'll just have to see. Thanks again!