A/N: Well, I'm back with another chapter. Now this one might be a little bit shorter but don't worry there will be many more. I'm so proud, this story is shaping up very nicely in my head, now all I have to do is get up off my lazy arse and type it up..which-knowing me-could take a while. *Sighs* Oh well at least I'm trying.

Jen/Draca: *Sighs again* Yes Jen, Will is hot but he won't be having a very big part in this story. He might appear at some point though, just to please the rabid fangirls. Mwahahaha there will be many more cliffies (just to bother you).

Random Character: Yay! You found it on your own! I'm so proud *wipes a tear away*. Glad you liked the banter, I promise there will be a lot more to come.

Dreamgirl21147: Wow, you're going to make me really conceited. Lol. I hope the story will continue to impress you.

Perpetual Masquerade: Awww you reviewed again. That makes me feel special. Thanx a bunch, I'm happy that you still like my story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Jack Sparrow or the Black Pearl, savvy?

On with show.story..whatever.

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"Storm," Jack held out his hands, his face-for once-was serious "just tell me. What do you have to lose?"

"Alright, I tell you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Storm leaned back in her chair, searching for the right way to begin. So much had happened in such a short period of time..

"Do you remember me brother James?" she asked finally.

"Aye." "Well James had heard tell of a treasure-and not just any treasure, mind you. This could have put James and meself into retirement and bought a ship for each of the girls."

Jack raised his eyebrows, "That much, eh?"

Her eyes twinkling at the memory, Storm nodded. "That much." She grimaced then, "Unfortunately there was an ambush."

"Navy?"

"Privateers," answered Finn, re-entering the conversation.

"Traitorous scum," spat her mother disgustedly.

Jack thought this over, "So it was a trap." He stated.

Storm shook her head, "Actually not entirely. I checked with all my sources. The treasure's real enough, just someone betrayed our whereabouts. James was taken prisoner and his ship was destroyed. I've been hoping to rescue him /and/ retrieve the treasure. I just need a ship."

Jack was perplexed, "What's wrong with yours?"

The female captain looked at Jack as though he had just asked why the sea was wet.

"Did ye not notice?"

"Notice what?"

Finn held up a hand, "He hasn't been on deck for very long, captain."

"And when he was, he was blinkin' a lot," added Sam.

"Hmmm that explains it," muttered Storm, then speaking louder she looked again at Jack, "Alright, mate, follow me."

She rose and padded through the double doors of her cabin, not even casting a glance to see if the other captain was following her. Jack stared after her for a moment, then stumbled forward as both of his daughters pushed him. "Go!" They whispered.

He had to shade his eyes for a moment, blinded by the midday sunshine, but when his vision cleared he could only stare in shock. It was obvious that The Rising Phoenix had been in bloody battle. One mast had been completely knocked over, the sails were in rags and cannon-fire had created all sorts of other damage.

Personally, Jack was amazed that the ship hadn't sunk let alone make it into port. She was in bad shape and it would take months before she'd be ready to go out on open water again. Months that Storm O'Connor and her brother didn't have.

He let out a low whistle, "So ye were there."

"Oh we were there alright," said Storm grimly as she surveyed her broken ship, "right beside him." She turned and looked out over the water. "Until we had to leave or be sunk."

For a moment the woman was lost in thought, then she sighed and turned back to Jack. "So, are ye still willin' to help?"

Jack leaned against one of the masts that still stood, looking casual, it was time to bargain. "Well," he said lazily, "what would I have to do?"

"Basically, lend me the use of your ship," Storm replied, "You'd remain captain of course," she assured him, "I'd give you the co-ordinates, we'd set sail and.well, go from there."

The pirate thought about it, he really did want to make it up to Storm. However, he didn't want to die..He shrugged, he was a pirate after all, taking stupid risks on treasure was his business.

"Well, the Pearl is temporarily between adventures," he smiled, "I think we could arrange something."

Jack was interrupted as his two daughters pounced upon him, hugging him so tightly he almost couldn't breathe.

Finn stepped back for a moment, her small face shining with joy, "Oh, thank you dad."

"I knew you'd help us," praised Sam, her voice slightly muffled.

Jack beamed at the twin girls and glanced up at Storm. His smile was infectious, and for a moment the female pirate softened and flashed a small smile of her own.

"Go on girls," she motioned for them to leave, "Yer father and I have business to discuss."

****

"I'm just sayin' cap'n, that it's bad luck."

"To have a woman aboard," finished Jack, rolling his eyes, "yes, Gibbs, we've heard it all before. She's a bloody pirate captain, I don't think she'd be in that position if every ship she'd ever boarded sank."

"True enough," conceded Gibbs begrudgingly, "but her ship did run into trouble."

"All ships run into trouble!" exclaimed Jack, waving his arms in exasperation. "It doesn't bloody matter whether there's a bloody woman aboard or not!"

"Excuse me," interrupted a soft and vaguely threatening voice. Both men turned to face Captain Storm O'Connor as she sauntered up to them, her arms held behind her back in a relaxed manner. Her calm expression was belied by her grey-blue eyes that were flashing angrily.

"I couldn't help but overhear your loud argument concerning myself and certain members of my crew." She said serenely, "Might I set the record straight with your crewman, Jack?" Jack nodded, curious as to how Gibbs would fare against the most dangerous woman in the Caribbean.

Storm continued, "You see, my good man, there is a certain truth to that superstition, on two counts. One; that most women are raised to be nothing more than empty-headed ninnies, betrothed at the age of ten to some male ninny so they can pump out babies for the rest of their bloody useless lives. These women would probably burn down a ship while trying to light a candle. Two;" Storm held up two fingers, "some women are not like that. In this case another saying applies to them; 'Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn'."

The female captain was slowly backing Gibbs up against a nearby wall her eyes even more menacing than before. "These women only create bad luck if you make them angry. You see, Jack here," she nodded towards him, "he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. He's letting me on board but as he's made me really bloody mad at him I'm going to punch him whenever I get the chance. Whereas, if he wasn't letting me on board, I probably would have scuttled his ship and tortured him to death. As you can tell I'm sure, I am the second type of woman and I can make your life very unlucky indeed if you continue to talk about me behind me back."

She smiled like a snake and patted Gibbs cheek, "I'm glad we had this little talk."

It was all Jack could do to keep from laughing as Storm left a practically shaking and wide-eyed Gibbs and ambled lazily up to him.

"We should set sail while the tide is still with us." She said calmly as though nothing had happened.

"We shall, don't worry Storm."

She murmured something.

"What?"

"I said; Captain O'Connor, I'll let you know when you can call me Storm again."

"Ouch," Jack winked, "That hurts luv-captain." He corrected as he caught her dark look. He decided to change the subject, "Are all the members of your crew that you wanted on board?"

"Aye," Storm nodded, "Just a few; Faye, Nicolas, a couple others. I know you already have a fully capable crew." Jack was about to comment on this when two small shapes ran past, one yelling, "You stole my bloody belt! I swear I'll skewer you and feed you to the-Oh hi dad!"

The twins stopped when they saw their parents and grinned as innocently as they could.

Jack turned slowly to Storm, "You're bringing your-our children on this venture?" He asked in disbelief.

"I didn't think you'd have any objections."

"I may not be virtuous, my dear lady, but I don't put my own daughters in danger."

Storm waved her hand, "They'll be fine, if you knew them better you'd know they can take care of themselves."

Finn spoke up, "We've almost died three times already," she said proudly.

"On non-consecutive occasions," added Sam.

"See? They'll be fine!" Storm thought for a moment and shrugged, "They'd only stowaway in any case."

She marched off to consult Faye. Her daughters flashed Jack identical mischievous grins before racing off to explore the Pearl.

The pirate captain merely shook his head, "I think it's time we made way," he said to himself.

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A/N: I guess that wasn't so short after all. *Feels proud* I promise to try and update regularly though. I think once a week is reasonable, eh? Well catch ya later, I have to go work on my next chapter. Don't forget REVIEW!!!!!!!!