I 'aven't really got anythin' interestin' ta say so wha' the hell. Let's jus' go fer an' ol' trusty discaimer, eh? I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean or most of the characters in this story. Savvy?

"An' so I'd like to thank the kind Captain for his incredible hospitality an' assistance," Violet crowed, holding a mug of rum above her head.

There was a hearty roar from the crew in agreement before they drank to the toast. Jack unsteadily stood as Violet sat back down, lifting his own mug. He frowned at it, noticing that there was but a mouthful inside.

"Where's me rum?" he shouted drunkenly. Slowly, a bottle was passed up the table towards it's owner, losing some of it's contents to spillages on the table but mostly to the mouth of the man holding it at the time. "Careful! Stop stealin' me drink, ye selfish git!" Jack exclaimed, clenching his fists nervously until the heaven sent bottle finally reached him. Promptly, he refilled his mug and was ready to make his toast.

"Well, I fer one woul' like t'thank Violet fer once again, provin' wrong Joshamee's theory of a woman on board bein' bad luck!"

The crew laughed at Mr Gibb's who rolled his eyes. All took a couple of swigs of rum.

Christina had been turning in her bed for the past three hours that the toasting had been going on. Sleep was impossible when pirates were drinking. For some reason, they insisted on the activity being a very loud one. Pulling her pillow over her head, Christina attempted to drift off again.

Back at the festivities, Mr Cotton stood, a huge, open grin on his tongueless mouth. Seeing this, Jack resisted the urge to curl his lips in disgust and put on his most welcoming smile.

"Walk the plank, ye scurvy rats! Swash swash, buckle buckle!" Mr Cotton's parrot squawked, flapping it's wings furiously.

The crew fell silent despite Mr Cotton's continual grinning.

After a few long moments of silence, Jack cleared his throat and raised his mug towards the mute man, "Beautifully said. May it be so." The crew muttered in confused affirmative and drank from their mugs hesitantly. Satisfied, Mr Cotton sat back down.

Mr Gibbs stood and the crew cheered in approval of the idea of someone able to speak making a sensible toast.

"T'the Cap'n bein', once again, a common criminal. None of this clemency business 'ny more. We all know that he's a scoundrel of the worst!"

The crew laughed and Jack frowned at them all before breaking into a devious grin and downing some rum with them all.

Christina threw the pillow to the floor and swung her feet out of the bed abruptly. She sat there in the darkness of the cabin for a moment, seething inwardly at the rowdy crew down the hall. When all of her deathly thoughts focused on the lot of them did nothing she growled and stepped purposefully out of the bed. She threw open the doors of the wardrobe and retrieved one of Jack's coats to put over her shirt and slammed them closed again. Taking a deep breath, she stalked out of the room, towards the offending ruckus.

"Christina! Finally come to join the celebration, eh?" Jack called out joyfully when he spotted her scowling in the doorway. Deciding it senseless for her to try and answer over the crew's noise, she marched angrily towards him, coming to a stop to sit in the empty space of bench beside him so that he could hear every word of her rage filled lecture. Violet noticed this with a sideways glance from where she sat a few spaces down, on the opposite side of the table from the two.

"Did it occur to you at all that people might be trying to sleep, Jack?" Christina demanded huffily.

"On a beau'iful night like this, luv? Nay, can't say it did," Jack grinned, intoxicated to the point of immense and unexplainable happiness.

"Well, I was! And I can't with all this noise," Christina informed him, shoulders sagging upon realizing that the only person in the room that was not drunk out of their mind was the last one who entered. Her.

"Wha' noise?" Jack frowned, "Are ye ...alrigh', Christina?"

"I'm fine!" she spat bitterly.

Jack nodded, unconvinced. Suddenly, and very disturbingly to Christina, his eyes lit up with an idea that could only be a bad one. Christina watched in horror as he stood to get the crew's attention. He was successful, Christina noted sadly.

"Christina 'ere want's t'make a toast!" Jack roared happily. Christina shook her head violently and tugged his arm, urgently trying to get him to sit back down. Her efforts went unnoticed. Jack smiled encouragingly down at her, pulling her up gently but firmly by her elbow. Looking around, he frowned.

"Where's yer drink, luv?" he whispered.

"I haven't got one. I just came here, you fool," Christina replied through clenched teeth.

"Someone get the lass a drink!" Jack called as though pleading for medical assistance. He turned back to her, seemingly unable to focus, "Ye can't make a toast without a drink, luv."

"Thanks for letting me know," Christina hissed and he nodded, patting her back to let her know she was welcome. Soon enough, a mug was shoved into Christina's hand and Jack sat down to let her have the stage. Christina gulped at the expectant faces of the crew. And Violet, whom she could've sworn to be smirking. Damn her.

"Jack, don' put the girl on the spot. I'm sure she's not used t'havin' t'speak her mind. Livin' in Governor Swann's house an' all. There's maids tha' have tha' job, I'm sure," Violet giggled and those around her laughed loudly. Christina narrowed her eyes murderously at the blonde pirate who smiled back at her innocently.

That was it.

Taking a deep breath, Christina lifted her mug, "To... the Pearl... and her crew..." A pathetic start to be sure. She swallowed and continued anyway. "... And to the Captain, of course. To finding Violet's boat..." Yes, the 'boat' reference had been on purpose and Violet seemed to have her feathers ruffled by it. Christina resisted a grin and kept going, digging her hole deeper for the hell of it, "Let's all hope we find it, eh? Like most Captains would be in the same position, I'm sure, Violet seems to be nothing without her boat. And as pleasurable as her company is, I'm sure her own crew misses her... Oh no, that's right. Sorry," Christina apologized with a tiniest of tiny smiles curling her lips, "Silly me. But anyway, as I said, to finding Violet's boat!"

The toast was followed by a very heavy silence that rung throughout the Pearl. Finally, the crew swigged rum in agreement, chatting uncomfortably amongst themselves to banish the piercing quiet. Violet and Christina stared at eachother throughout all of this until a suddenly sober Jack stood, grabbed Christina's arm and led her out of the room.

"But I didn't even get a chance to drink to it," Christina protested as they left.

"What was that about, Christina?" Jack hissed once they were a safe distance away.

"I made a toast," Christina shrugged. It was true.

"Aye, and what a charming toast it was," Jack agreed sarcastically, "A little uncalled fer though, don't ye think?"

Christina lifted her brows, "Did you not hear what she said?"

"She was joking, Christina. It's what drunk pirates do," Jack replied listlessly.

"So I had no right to be offended, right?" Christina spat, "Because she's a drunk pirate?"

"Ye say it like it's a bad thing," Jack smirked. His eyes widened innocently when Christina pierced him with a fierce scowl, "Aye, ye did. But ye didn' have t'do that, luv."

"You left me no choice but to make a toast-"

"Aye, a toast. About the crew. 'Bout the weather even. Hell, somethin' about the King would've made fer good entertainment at least. But ye humiliated her in front of everyone instead," Jack interrupted.

"I wouldn't say I humiliated her. Everyone knew it already," Christina reminded.

"But ye didn' have t'rub it in. It wasn' a very nice thing t'do," Jack said simply.

"And since when have you been worried about nice things to do, Jack?" Christina chuckled. Jack lifted his brows with feigned holiness.

"I 'ave always been concerned about such things, luv."

"Right," Christina nodded with wavering seriousness, "Always. Since you met Violet and decided you wanted to bed her."

Jack's eyes widened in suprise, "My, you are quite the charmer t'night, aren't ye?"

Christina rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

"Yer jealous, aye?"

Christina froze, wondering if the voice had been Jack or some celestial being that had been watching her all her life and chose now as the opportune moment to intervene and voice it's opinion. After weighing up the possibilities for a few seconds, she decided the earlier as the most likely.

"Excuse me?" she asked as she turned to see Jack, baring his teeth in his most cocky grin.

"Yer jealous."

"That's ridiculous. What could I possibly have to be jealous of?"

"Yer jealous of Violet 'cause I've been payin' her attention. S'obvious, luv."

"You are way to full of yourself for your own good, Jack."

"Don' go puttin' this on me, Christina. Yer the one who's turning green at this very moment," Jack replied smirkingly.

For a very, very short and shameful split second, Christina had the immense fear that she was in fact turning green with envy. She slapped herself inwardly for such foolishness as, a.) turning green with envy was impossible in the first place and b.) it was doubly impossible for her as she was not envious. She eyed Jack with hostility.

"What on earth gave you the impression that I was jealous of Violet?"

"First, there's the fact tha' ye've barely uttered a word t'the lass at all, save fer t'night."

Christina shrugged in acceptance.

"Then there's ye lookin' yearningly at me all the time-"

"I do not! That's a lie!" Christina spluttered and Jack grinned, mid counting his clues on his fingers, casually stepping closer.

"Ye keep tellin' the crew how dashingly handsome I am-"

"Jack!"

"Ye keep tryin' kiss me all the time-"

"You tried to kiss me!" Christina cried at the false accusation. She gulped when she picked up on just how close the pirate was to her now. He chuckled, noticing her sudden nervousness.

"Ah, yer right," he whispered. He quickly sought out her mouth before she could protest. Feeling a lack of being sharply pushed away or slapped across the cheek, Jack took the opportunity to kiss her deeper, entwining a lock of her hair around one of his fingers to keep her there for a moment longer.

Christina tasted the rum on Jack's breath as his lips parted hers. She tensed as she felt his hand roaming her back and the other entangling itself in her hair. But she kissed him back. Out of obligation, her mind reasoned. Her mind, for once and suprisingly, was in favor of her and Jack. Taking this into account, she lifted her hand to his face encouragingly. She felt him grin and pull her impossibly closer. The hand that had been freely roaming her back now crawled slowly towards the buttons of his jacket and she laughed into his mouth.

Suddenly, the two became aware that the door where they had come from was opening and Christina moved to pull back. However, she found herself incapable to do so. Once she discovered why, she hissed at Jack, "Let go of my hair!"

"Let go of me hand!" Jack yelped back as Violet and Mr Gibbs approached. The two who had been caught widened their eyes in shock. Jack's hand, or more notably, his numerous rings, had become caught in Christina's hair during the encounter.

"What's happenin' 'ere?" Mr Gibbs inquired lightly when he saw the odd postion Jack and Christina were in that prohibited the two from standing more than a few inches away from eachother.

Jack fished for an excuse that would save him receiving a slap from either of the women present, "Well... I was jus'... helpin' Christina with her hair."

"She was havin' trouble?" Violet smirked and Christina turned her head to glare at her but instead yelped in pain when she found she couldn't.

"Aye. She wanted me t'show her how the ladies do their hair in... Singapore," Jack improvised as more of the crew appeared, looking amused by the show.

"Looks painful," Ana Maria grimaced as she emerged from her cabin groggily. The crew murmured in agreement, studying the odd angle at which Christina had to hold her neck to minimise her discomfort.

"Nay, Ana. On the contrary. 'Sposed t'be rather calming," Jack informed her. Christina had to bite her lip to stop from correcting him.

"Would everybody be quiet... Jack. What are you doing to Chris?" Elizabeth frowned sleepily as she stepped out of her cabin, Will close behind. Christina rolled her eyes. Just her luck that the one time she was not intoxicated and decided to let Jack kiss her, the whole ship knows about it.

"Showin' her how they do hair in Singapore," Violet offered quickly.

"Singapore?" Will repeated in puzzlement.

"Aye. A long an' tryin' progress. I'm only half way done. I'll call ye all when I'm finished but fer now I need me artistic space," Jack announced. Slowly, grudingly, the audience dispersed.

Jack let out a shout of pain when Christina kicked him angrily in the shin.

"You bloody pirate! I knew nothing good could come of a man wearing so much jewellery!" Christina groaned as he led her carefully back to the Captain's Cabin. After a good fifteen minutes of no progress, Christina started to sob.

"I'm stuck to a pirate forever!"

"Why is that such a bad thing?"

"Can't you take the bloody rings off?"

"Ye see, I would. If doing so would not result in the removal of the hair from your scalp."

Another sob sounded from Christina and Jack sighed.

"It's almost out. Not too long now, luv," he soothed.

"Liar," Christina accused bitterly as she sniffled.

Jack let the insult slide and continued gently untangling his hand from her hair. Soon, the sobs subsided and Christina settled down, drawing in a sharp breath when Jack would pull a wrong strand of hair. He would apologise softly and keep going in slience. She was drifting off to sleep when he finished.

"All done, luv. Didn' I tell ye it wouldn' be long?" he asked triumphantly, ignoring the contradicting fact that first light was showing itself over the horizon outside.

"Liar," Christina mumbled. She pretended to not notice when he climbed underneath the sheets beside her, quite exhausted himself. She carefully removed the arm that he had snaked around her waist and he didn't place it back.

Until he was sure she was asleep.

An' that's the end of chapter 21. Please take the time t'let me know if ye enjoyed it as reviews 'ave been lackin' lately an' it makes me sad...

Siriusly Sirius Lily Black: Jack is very glad tha' once again ye seem t'see things from his perspective! 'Cept fer the fact tha' he is obviously rather fond of Violet. An' he is on t'the trail of Violet stealin' his rum. He appreciates the tip off greatly. Best wishes t'yerself too, lass. From the Cap'n an' me.

ChaosLightning13: Ah, tha' certainly explains a lot. Sort of. Well not really bu' at lest I've been informed, right? I'm glad the Jaffa warriors aren't tryin' ta kill me. I was rather concerned 'bout that.

Whims: Nay, lass, Jack ain't dead! He's alive an' kickin' so ye can relax. AYE! AUSTRALIANS RULE! Never said better, luv. Yer definately in me good books fer tha'.

Forensic Photographer711: There's ye new chapter, lass. Hope ye weren't waitin' too long. Aye, ye 'ave read into things, aven't ye? S'alright. It's the between the lines things tha' the readers 'ave t'make their minds up about. Hope ye liked this edition, luv.

Natalie: Ah, someone who's read Bridget Jones! Hope ye liked me attempt at it. Think some people took it more seriously than it was meant though. Oops. I'm goin' ta assume this was quickly.

angedemusica: Don't worry, luv. The writin' was jus' in the style of the book, s'all. I didn' really mean it all. Quite the opposite, I can be rather full of meself at times an' it drives others up the wall but ye get that. Thankye fer encouragin' me anyways. An' I hope ye'll continue readin'.

Karibbean: Aye, jealousy is the name of th' game, luv. An' Christina is the main player. Hope ye liked the chapter.

PirateLass1963: Well, thank the heavens she's holdin' back the pitchfork. How truly kind of ye! Ha. See? Jack's attention is still on Christina, much t'Violet's delight, obviously (Note sarcasm). Aye, I hope Jack an' Chris and up t'gether too but it all depends on how I'm feelin' at the time! An' the jealousy phase is still in high gear. This chapter jus' needed closure 'cause I felt sorry fer Christina.

Ailuro: Ah! I knew there was another term fer kitchen. I'd correct it but it's 1:34am an' I jus' got home from work. I liked tha' line too!