Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. This chapter is titled after another Johnny Depp movie.

Chapter 35: Nick of Time

Jack covered her in the rest of the blankets, making sure she was asleep before he did so. Before he knew it, the sun was rising. He was hungry, but he didn't dare leave Camille's side. He sat in the room, and sometimes paced back and forth, continuing his newly adjusted train of thought. He was going to have to wake her.

She looked so beautiful and peaceful. He approached her cautiously, wondering how to wake a woman up. This was also something that he didn't remember ever doing before. After pondering for a moment, he went over and gently shook her.

"Camille," he whispered.

"Mmm," she moaned, turning her head over and blinking. "What time is it?" she mumbled.

"It's almost nine of the clock, darling."

She raised her head, brushing her hair out of her face and searching for the clock. He was right. She rubbed her eyes, sitting up and letting the covers fall off. "Annie is going to be very upset with me," she sighed. And even though she was tired, she still looked beautiful.

They hurried out of the inn, leaving a small bag of money on the front desk. They were extremely stealthy, since it was broad daylight out. The hardest part of getting home was going from the front gate to the house without being seen. There were no trees in the front of the house, so they painstakingly snuck around the back, which was very difficult to do since the house was on somewhat of a small cliff. But they made it, sneaking in the back door almost silently when Will appeared.

"Camille, where the hell have you been!" Will demanded in a tone that he rarely used. Cadence was sitting at his feet, chewing on her doll. She waved her little hand at Camille.

Camille smiled at the baby. "Hello, darling," she said, ignoring Will and locking the back door.

But Will continued. "We've all been worried sick about you; you had better have a brilliant excuse as to why you've been missing!"

Jack said nothing, knowing that he was entirely at fault for not seeing Camille back sooner. But Camille began loosening her makeshift belt, laying her weapons across the kitchen counters. She avoided making eye contact again. "I really don't wish to speak about it, Will."

"That's really not good enough for me," Will said sourly.

Camille rolled her eyes, taking off her green bandana. "I was simply out for a walk."

"Out for a walk? It was the middle of the night, Camille! And dressed like a bloody pirate? You could have been arrested!" he ranted.

She proceeded to take her boots off. "Will please, I was perfectly safe. After all, Jack was with me."

"Oh, indeed," Will said angrily, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Perfectly safe."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Jack asked, offended. But Will just glared at him.

Camille straightened up, placing her hands on her hips. She looked absolutely gorgeous, standing there looking so upset. "William dearest, could we please have this conversation at some other time? You're being quite rude in front of company," she said, nodding in Jack's direction.

Will was about to explode. His face was red, and there was a vain throbbing in his forehead. But Camille was very entertained by this reprimanding session. She felt a small tug at her trousers and looked down. It was little Cadence, and she smiled, showing her mouth almost full of teeth now.

Camille knelt down and picked her up, nuzzling her. She looked at Will, knowing that he couldn't stay mad at her while she interacted with his daughter. "Did you really believe that I would put myself in any danger, Will?" she asked.

"Yes, I do. You're a pirate," he said, accentuating the last word.

"And have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

Will's eyes widened, just like they did every time she reminded him of Jack. It was shocking to him, and he had never noticed it before just how perfect they were together.

"Miss Camille!" came high-pitched shriek. Sheila came running down the stairs, and embraced Camille's legs. "Mother, Miss Camille's back!" she exclaimed gleefully. Then she stepped away, looking up at Camille. "I told them that you wouldn't leave us."

Camille smiled. "I certainly would not. Not without saying goodbye, first."

Annie appeared next, lifting up her skirts and running toward Camille. She embraced her, and Camille was expected a lecture from her as well, but it never came. Instead, Annie just hugged her.

"Camille, I was so worried about ya, I didn't know what was goin' through yer head," Annie confessed.

"I'm all right Annie, I just went to the inn," Camille said in a calm voice.

At this, Annie pulled away and narrowed her eyes at Jack.

Jack cleared his throat. "Morning," he said cheerfully.

Annie looked at him disdainfully. "Good mornin', Captain Sparrow," she almost spat as she took Camille's arm and began leading her away. "Come, Sheila."

"Mother, can't I stay with Captain Sparrow?" Sheila asked hopefully, looking at Jack who smiled at her.

"You most certainly may not!" Annie said. "Come on, now. Upstairs. We've got a service to attend, and you've got to help me get Miss Camille ready."