Author Ramble #4: Y'all might as well get used to these being at the beginning of every chapter. I like to chat it up! LoL! Just skip it if you don't care to read this ramble. Anyway, I'm very proud of myself for cranking out so many chapters in such a short span of time. Its amazing what comes out of writer's block toward another fic (aka The Past Doesn't Forget) and procrastination toward one's term paper. I'm glad you all are enjoying the story so far and I hope you approve of this chapter, yet another short one. You'd have to be quite clueless not to figure the identity of Dean, but I'm sure there is at least one of you out there. It will officially come out soon, if Jack doesn't figure it out himself, being as daft as he is.Dean may seem slightly out of character, but it won't last long. I swear! Enjoy.

Staring out over the open waters of the Caribbean Sea, Jack contemplated Dean's words to him. 'Why do you dislike me so?' 'I'm sure that is you review your own recollections, Mr. Sparrow, you will find the answer all on your own.' He had been probing his memories tirelessly since that moment. He leaned against the railing leisurely, listening to the waves crashing against the hull of the ship as it glided through the water.

"Shouldn't you be below deck, Sparrow!" Jack was pulled from his thoughts abruptly by the unwelcome loathing, commanding voice of Dean.

"I was under the impression that I was Captain Morel's guest," he replied, staring into her spiteful blue eyes. "That implies that I'm am able to be on deck."

Jack turned back to the sea, returning to his thoughts. An awkward silence fell over the pair. Jack was trying to remember all the female pirates he had come into contact with and how he could have possibly down to anger them. It was quite a short list of woman, though many possible causes for anger.

"Have you still not figured out the reason for my hatred of you, Jack?"

He was shaken from his thoughts once more. Not because of her question, but because she had used is first name. He looked up at Dean, who was now positioned beside him, leaning against the railing. Her expression had softened slightly. Jack even believed to have caught a slight hint of a smile.

"'Tis proving rather difficult. I've haven't met enough of your lot to gain this much hatred in one meeting."

She laughed. "My lot? Are you implying that you don't meet many women? Your reputation must be a lie, Jack."

Jack's eyes met her own. They seemed so familiar to him, yet so puzzling. Beyond the vindictive facade, her eyes revealed a comforting warmth he had yet to notice. Those icy pools of raw emotion seemed to longing for him, pleading with him to remember her.

"Allow me to refresh your memory." She paused, breaking their eye contact, and looked up at the clouds overhead. Jack listened intently, gladly accepting any assistance in the game they seemed to be playing. "We last met by the water's edge as we watched the sun set on our time together. Fate took you away from me, and seems to have brought us back together again. But things have changed. I have changed."

Dean looked back up at him, finding some amusement in his dumbfounded reaction. "That was many years ago, Jack. Remember that sun set, and I promise you will find the reason for my hatred."

A small smile crossed her face as she pulled away from him. "Think about that," she muttered as she made her way up to the quarter deck. Jack couldn't help but stare after her, still quite baffled by the woman's ramblings.

"How the bloody hell was that supposed to be helpful?" Jack spat, trying to decipher her clue.

Jack turned back to the serenity of the water, trying to clear his head and think once more.