Disclaimer: I don't own POTC.

Chapter 38: An Unrivaled Jealousy

Camille knew better than to stand out in the hallway and listen in on children's games uninvited, so she made her way downstairs. Cadence had been growing "like a tree", according to Will, so she had gotten together some of Sheila's old clothes and began to hem them up.

Will emerged from the library, and Camille was so into her work that she didn't even look up. She was still feeling a little apathetic after the morning's accusations. He stood there for a moment, waiting for her to notice him. When she didn't, he politely cleared his throat. She glanced up.

"May I sit?" he inquired.

"No," she answered simply.

"Camille, are you still angry with me? I was only worried about you."

"I told you I don't wish to speak about it," she said, losing focus and pricking her finger.

"Then I shan't say anything about that."

"Then you may have a seat," she said, moving the pile of clothes to the floor.

Will sat down. "This is about Jack."

"What about him?" she said, sucking on her finger.

"Well, he seems to have gotten the impression that you and I are…together."

A look of surprise came over Camille's face. "Really? Then we must have been putting on quite a show for him and everyone else, the way our friendship has been blossoming. That poor man must be so confused."

Will nodded. "I agree."

"Does he know yet that Ana Maria is not returning to the Pearl?"

"No, I don't think he knows."

"Don't think he knows what?" Jack asked, descending the staircase with his charming style.

Camille smiled upon seeing him. "How was the tea, Captain?"

"Oh, it was quite lovely," Jack said, fixing the little bead thingy that hung down over his bandana. "You know darling, I do think I may have grown rather attached to that one," he said, gesturing to Sheila's room.

"Well she is very fond of you, Jack. You seem to have broken her shyness like no other," Camille said as they heard a cry.

Jack looked up. "I swear to God mate, that infant does not sleep," he said to Will.

"Welcome to fatherhood, Jack," Will said, standing up.

But Jack motioned for him to sit back down. "Unlikely," he replied, ascending the stairs and reappearing with Cadence, who was rubbing her eyes and holding her doll.

"Daddy!" she squealed, putting her arms out as Jack came downstairs.

"Hello, Cadence," Will said, receiving her on his lap. "Were you a good girl for Jack?"

Cadence nodded, dropping her doll on the floor as she did so. Her head snapped down, and she grabbed for it, but too slowly. "Dam mit," she said.

Will and Camille both exchanged glances. "Did she just say what I think she said?" Camille asked unsurely, not catching the horrified look on Jack's face.

Will looked at her, then at his daughter. "What did you say just now, Cadence?" he asked her.

"God dam mit," Cadence said, in three short syllables.

Will looked directly at Jack, narrowing his eyes. "I wonder where you learned that," he said almost threateningly.

Camille clapped her hand over her mouth, trying to contain her laughter, but she saw the look on Jack's face and couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing, putting Jack a bit at ease.

"Camille please, this is no laughing matter," Will said, reaching down to get the doll. Cadence reached for it, but he held it just out of her reach. "Not so fast. We don't say that word, young lady. Do you understand?"

Cadence nodded, still reaching for her doll. Will dropped it, and she hugged it as he stood up, carrying her.

"Come now Will, I'm sure it was an accident," Camille said, calming down.

Jack nodded. "I assure you, it won't happen again," he said, still casting a nervous glance at the baby.

But Will just didn't see the humor in it. He looked at Camille, and then at Jack, then back at Camille. "The two of you are incorrigible," he said before leaving the room with Cadence.

Camille looked at Jack. "Was that all you said?" she asked in a low voice.

"Not entirely. I stubbed my toe on the end of Will's bed just before I put the little runt down to sleep. There was a five minute lapse of, shall we say, 'pirate-like language'."

Camille laughed again. "Will is going to be tearing his hair out."

Jack nodded. "Precisely. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea for me to be alone with these children. Pilfering Pete already has it in for him."

Camille looked at him oddly.

"He took a pirate name," Jack explained.

"Oh, I see. So you're teaching them bad language and lines that would get them slapped by whores?"

"Well, I'd prefer the term 'moral values'," he corrected her.

"Of course, of course. Jack, I must inform you that Ana Maria is not coming aboard The Black Pearl when we leave. She wants to remain with her family for a while."

Jack looked at her. "I see."

"Don't worry, you'll still have me," she said happily. "I've had just about all the corsets I can take."

"Darling, did you and William get into a nasty squabble or what?" Jack asked her, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"No, Jack. Will couldn't stay angry with me to save his life. I mean, it's not as if he's my lover or anything like that," she said casually, observing the expression on Jack's face. Perhaps she imagined it, but she thought she could see a little bit of a smirk run across his face for a split second.

"No, I suppose not," he said, stroking his beard.

"Besides," Camille added, standing up and make her way towards Jack, "He's got nothing on you, Jack," she said, standing as close as she could to him without touching him.

"So does that mean you didn't sleep with him?" he asked, hoping she'd say that she didn't. But as soon as the words left his mouth he regretted it. That was one of the last things to say, besides touching a woman's age.

She looked at him, not believing he'd just said that to her. "I really don't see how that's any of your business," she said, taking a step backward.

"No, no, don't go that way, I didn't mean it, honest," he begged.

"Jack, you sleep with plenty of women and I never ask you about it," she said, remaining in her place.

"Let's face it, you don't kiss a man like that you've never slept with," Jack said. "Just admit it."

Camille looked at him, and kissed him lightly beside his mouth like she did with Will. "That's to prove you wrong." Then she slapped him REALLY hard. "And that's because you just wanted me to kiss you." She gathered the pile of clothes and said and added, "And you should really learn how to speak to a lady." As she left, she turned around. "Perhaps you could take a few lessons from Will. He got me into bed on the first try," she said before turning on her heel.

"What?" Jack demanded.

"You heard me correctly, Captain Sparrow!" she said, making her way through the hall as he followed her.

Will appeared. "Camille, what are you shouting about?"

She glanced back to make sure that Jack was in sight, and grabbed Will around the neck. Before he was aware what was happening, she kissed him, pressing him into the wall. His grip on her tightened, and she finally pulled away. Will was speechless, and the two of them looked at Jack, not knowing what to expect.

"You bloody tramp!" he bellowed, picking up a candlestick and throwing it to the ground, shattering it into pieces. He left, slamming the door and stomping down the hallway.

Will just looked at Camille. "Sorry," she quickly apologized.

But Will understood enough. He rolled his eyes. "That man really needs to learn how to talk to a woman."

"Aye."