Jack walked down the street from the Pearl. Not one of his crewmembers from before had returned. Not that it really surprised him. They were good men, and had their own adventures to find.

He had only walked a short distance when he caught sight of the girl he and William had seen the day before. He took a minute to enjoy her beauty, then realized she was headed toward him. This was a surprise, because she looked far too well bred to even be in this part of town, let alone looking for him.

"Hello," she said as she reached him. "My name is Isabella Mara. My father is the town jeweler."

Though surprised, Jack shook her extended hand. "Captain Jack Sparrow, at your service."

"Captain?" she asked, looking mildly amused. Her voice wasn't as high as he had expected. "Might I say you look too young to be a captain?"

Jack gave her an airy look. "Might I say you look too young and too proper to be around here, particularly unaccompanied."

Isabella's face took on a stubborn look. "It is beyond your place to make such assumptions."

It was Jack's turn to look amused. "Oh, I see. I can't make assumptions because I'm a lowly ship's captain, but it's perfectly alright for you to make them- unfounded ones at that- because you're the jeweler's daughter."

For a moment Isabella looked angry, then she laughed. "I can see I've met one of my own kind. Alright then, Captain Sparrow. Where's your ship."

"At the docks of course. I don't generally make a habit of mooring her on the streets."

Isabella gave him a dirty look. "That's not what I meant, and you know it full well."

Jack grinned infuriatingly back at her. "Well, one can never be too sure, with your type."

Isabella looked as though she were about to ask exactly what he meant by that, but let it go. "What I was trying to get across is, well, what does your ship look like?"

A dreamy look came across Jack's face. "The Black Pearl is the most beautiful ship you'll ever see."

Far from taking him seriously, Isabella laughed, pulling Jack out of his reverie. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you'd prefer your ship to a woman."

"Well, that would depend," Jack began, "On exactly what activities with said woman should entail." Jack was pleased to see that Isabella didn't blush, as any proper woman should. "I think the best of all would be a woman on the Pearl." A sudden look came across Jack's face. "Would you like to see her? The Pearl?"

Isabella raised her eyebrow.

Jack sighed. "I don't mean in that way." It was true; he'd had no intention of seducing her. Alarm bells were going off in the back of his mind, warning him that this girl could end him up in serious trouble. "I just want you to see her. She's just down at the docks."

"Oh!" Isabella looked startled. "I do apologize, it's just..." She wasn't sure exactly what to say. That she wasn't permitted at the docks? The captain would never give her the time of day again.

But Jack recognized the look that had crept across her face. A grin spread across his, no longer dreamy, but rather dangerous. "I understand. You don't exactly have full permission to be down here, eh?"

Isabella stared at him, amazed that he could pick up on so much.

He leaned close, as though he intended to kiss her neck. But instead he whispered in her ear, "Fear not, darling. I won't tell a soul." Then he straightened, and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Isabella found herself calling after him.

Jack turned back and looked at her, still walking. "I'm terribly sorry. I have some urgent business to attend to."

L'AMOUR

The urgent business was in fact William. He had requested a day to set his affairs straight, and now Jack was to meet him in the tavern in order to acquaint him with the Pearl. Fortunately, William was already waiting when he arrived. They set off straight for the docks, down the same road Jack had already gone. Isabella, he saw, had left.

As the Pearl came in sight, Jack couldn't help but shiver with delight. He still had difficulty believing she was his sometimes. Even William looked surprised, as Jack led him aboard the beautiful ship, bobbing slightly with the waves.

"This is your ship?"

"You expected something else?"

"No... well, yes... something... smaller."

Jack grinned. "Smaller?"

"Well, you know." William suddenly looked worried, that he'd offended his new captain. "It's just surprising is all... usually it takes years to get a ship such as this."

"And you think I'm too young?" Jack asked, looking annoyed.

"Well, you know..."

Jack burst out laughing, wondering how someone so innocent as William had become a pirate. "If you must know, I grew up with my father, who was a blacksmith. We lived in a tiny room, but it overlooked the dock that berthed the Pearl. I grew up watching that ship. I've been saving up to buy her for as long as I can remember."

William looked at him curiously. "What about your father?"

"He still lives in the same place. I've promised to visit him, and bring him all my treasure. He's blind, you see. He can't work anymore." Jack looked embarrassed at the information he'd given away. "Alright, I've told you something about my past. It's your turn."

But William only grinned at him. "Where are my quarters?"

Jack glared at him, but relented. "Follow me." He led William deep inside, to a room, that was bigger than William had expected.

"A window?"

Jack shrugged. "You are the first mate. And it has nothing on my room."

William laughed, throwing his things on the bed. "I think I'm going to enjoy it here."

Jack grabbed his hand, shaking it enthusiastically. "Welcome aboard, mate."