Chapter Fourteen: That's Amore!

"Hullo, darlin'." Jack murmured in my ear flirtatiously, dropping an arm casually across my shoulders. My eyes narrowed dangerously and I turned, grabbing his braided chin hair in a fist.

"Don't you 'darling' me you dirty pirate." I hissed, before I released him and marched away. The nerve! I huffed. Jack caught me easily, and I wondered if the man had really been as injured as we had first suspected. He tutted into my hair.

"That's no' very nice lovey." He complained, turning me around to face him. I stuck my tongue out, allowing myself the one small childish pleasure before closing my eyes and sticking my nose in the air.

"Hmph," was all I said. He chuckled.

"Come, now Chloe. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." I rolled my eyes, wondering just what his title had to do with anything.

"Well I think you are selfish, moronic and...and...a drunk!" I declared, desperately trying to remain focused on my anger as his thumb traced little circles on the back of my hand. He was entirely too good at that. I decided, wrenching my hand from his grip. "Why do you have to be so damn difficult?" I demanded.

"'Cause I can." He said simply, grabbing my hand with his again. "Don't be angry with me love, I just want to make sure you don't get yourself shot in the back." I glowered. The man was absolutely insufferable.

"So, because I'm a woman, I am incapable of doing any sort of covert operation?" I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. He shook his head.

"Nay, lassie. I just want to make sure you're safe." He grabbed my face and rubbed my nose against his. "You're special." I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly.

"So are you Jack." I grinned and reached up, shoving the hat off of his head. "Special ED!" I ran off and he stared at me blankly.

"My name's not Ed." He said after a long moment of confusion. He looked a Zhao, who just shrugged, shaking his head and mumbling, "Women."

I was at the bow, hidden in the shadows of the railing, watching the hesitant dance of affection the Commodore and Anamaria were dancing around one another. Again I was stunned by the connection they seemed to display. I would have never paired them together, never in a million years. Of course, I mused sarcastically, I never would have paired me with Jack. My eyes drifted from the couple laughing by the mast, up to the helm.
Jack had chased Gibbs away, waving his sword in the air like a mad man, and none of his crew had dared venture near it, for fear of being skewered. His eyes were on the horizon, and in his hand he had the map, crunched up so it looked like a little brown tuft sticking out horizontally from the wheel. I shook my head. I admit I acted like a bitch earlier. But, I reasoned the arrogant pirate deserved it. I frowned. But still, what he had said made sense.

He wanted to keep me safe. But, on the flip side, I wanted to keep him safe too. It would come down to whoever's will was stronger. And I had a plan to make it so that I was the one who would be victorious. With a grunt I heaved me to my feet and marched up to the helm. "Hey Sparrow! I've got a bone to pick with you!"

"What?" He looked at me curiously and I rolled my eyes.

"I need to talk to you." I reiterated. He nodded and motioned for the hovering Gibbs to take the wheel. Said pirate pounced on it like a starving man on a crumb of bread and Jack stepped towards me.

"What be on your mind, lassie?" He asked. I took a deep breath.

"I wanted to apologize about being a royal bitch earlier." Jack shook his head but I covered his mouth with my hand. "Lemme talk, all right? I just wanted to tell you that, and also let you know I only wanted you to stay behind because I wanted to keep you safe, kinda like how you wanted to keep me safe." He frowned and I smiled. "I understand that, but I want you to understand that I can take care of myself." He quirked a brow, obviously bringing up my captivity aboard Renfield's ship. "Besides that, I am very capable of fighting my own battles. So I want to ask you one last time to stay here. You're hurt, and if you go off, waving your sword like a sugar- high schitzo...I don't know what will happen to you."

"Wait a minute here..." He cautioned and again, I covered his mouth with my hand.

"Please, Jack?"

He shook his head. "I will not. I need to do this." I groaned and grabbed a handful of his shirt.

"You are insufferable!" I declared, making him grin.

"That I am." He nodded sagely and I groaned again. "Chloe, love, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. I can handle anything that comes along." I grabbed his shirt in both hands and dragged him closer. My plan was falling apart at my feet and all I could think about was how handsome he looked, for a raccoon. I smiled and dragged his face down to mine.

We kissed in the setting sun, with the bustle of the crew around us. For one blinding moment, nothing existed in the world except for us, except for this.

Anamaria sighed as she watched the scene unfolding by the helm. She grinned at James who looked at her questioningly. His gaze shifted and a small smile creased his face. She stared hard at the navy man, curiosity overwhelming the caution as she raised a hand, pushing the gray wig and hat from his head. He gasped and looked at her. She blushed and smiled a little.

"I just wanted to see what you looked like without it." She murmured. He nodded slightly, and stood still, letting her look. The sun had tanned his skin to perfection, his dark brows finally matching the dark curling strands on his head. His eyes were set off by the dark hair, making them appear a fierce green as they gazed at her upturned face. It was unnerving and soothing at the same time to have to look up at him. She wasn't used to having to look up, most people were shorter than she was. She had to admit it was a nice change.

"What do you think?" He asked at length.

She edged her way closer to him, smiling. She rose up on her toes and leaned in, both hands resting on the taut muscles of his chest and bringing her mouth within a breath of his ear. "Leave it off." She whispered; reveling in the shiver that wracked his body, despite the heat of the day. This voyage was going to be a lot of fun, she decided, dropping back onto her feet and heading off to do some menial chore leaving James watching her curiously.

Jack had dragged me back to his cabin after a few minutes of tongue twining kisses. We were now curled together on the covers, one of his hands running up and down one of my arms, and my hand running through the hair that spilled onto the pillow beneath his head. "Jack?" I asked quietly, moving my arms to encircle his neck. He looked down at me.

"Mmm?" He murmured, burying his face in my neck. I sighed.

"Can we stay like this until we get there?" He sighed and brought his arms around my waist, pulling me close.

"We can do whatever you want, love." He whispered, making me shiver and reach up with my mouth, kissing him fervently. He answered the kiss with a heated one of his own. With less caution and more passion, we shifted and the kiss went deeper, as though we were both desperate to take our mind off of the destination the wind was bearing us towards.