Disclaimer: I don't own POTC.

Chapter 40: Back on the Pearl

She woke up with his arms around her. She was facing in the other direction, towards her wardrobe and dresser and that furniture. It took her a moment to remember what had happened last night, but she did.

"Morning, love," Jack said lazily. She was about to ask how he knew, but he replied, "Your breathing changed."

She stood up, running her hands through her red hair and letting it fall back down as she reached for a brush. She could see Jack in the mirror, sitting up on the bed and stretching a little. She turned around, still brushing out her hair. "Did you sleep well?"

Jack nodded, standing up. "Camille, there's something that I must tell you."

"Can it wait until after we leave?" she asked him.

He approached her, taking her hairbrush from her and placing on the dresser. She stood there, drawing nearer to him as he pulled her. Without saying a word he simply looked at her and kissed her like the night at the tavern. It was a very passionate kiss, and made Camille weak in the knees.

He pulled away, and she stood there with a serene look on her face. "Is that all, Jack?"

"Well there are more things that will come eventually, but for now let's just keep it sexual," he said honestly.

She laughed, making him smile. "Kiss me again, you filthy pirate," she said just as playfully, and he did so.

It was finally time for the two of them to leave. There were no tearful goodbyes between any of them, because Camille reassured everyone that she would be back. The girls all hugged for a very long time, and Jack waited patiently.

"You know what I'm going to say," Will said.

"Oh, I know. And I'll find you a woman, but I can't guarantee that you won't have to pay for her," Jack teased. Will rolled his eyes.

"Annie, I promise I'll write whenever I'm given the opportunity," Camille was saying. She held Cadence in her arms, and Sheila was clinging to her leg.

"Wait a minute," Jack noticed. "Somebody's missing. Peter!" he called.

No reply. Jack cleared his throat. "Pilfering Pete!" he bellowed. Almost immediately, the boy appeared and stumbled down the stairs, standing up straight in front of Jack. "Yes, Captain!"

This was all very amusing to Jack, but he resisted the urge to grin. "I am leaving the Quartermaine household under your watch, sir," he said very formally, with his hands behind his back.

Peter nodded. "Aye, Captain. Anything else?"

"Well, no. I suppose you already have it in your head to obey your mother," Jack said casually.

"But Captain, pirates don't listen to their mothers!" Peter stated. "They go around pillaging and plundering, and sailing at sea…" he trailed off.

"Aye, that they do. But not until their chores are completed, Master Williams. And a good pirate is always the first one to the dinner table. With clean hands, of course."

Peter looked at him.

"Do you think I be lyin' to you, boy?" Jack questioned.

Peter quickly shook his head. "N-no, sir," he replied.

"I didn't think so. Dismissed," Jack said. But as Peter began to move, he loudly cleared his throat.

Peter looked from Jack to Annie. "Mother, could I be excused?" he asked politely.

She nodded, casting a grateful glance at Jack, who winked back at her before Peter and Sheila scampered off. Everyone had said their farewells, except Will and Camille.

The three of them headed towards the door, and Camille turned to Will. "I'm afraid I can't guarantee that we won't get into trouble," she explained. "But I'll try my best not to get us in too deep."

Will smiled. "Please write. And please, come back someday. Even if only for Cadence's sake; you really have been like a mother to her."

Camille could feel a lump in her throat, so she hugged Will tightly, kissing him lightly on the cheek as he did the same. Jack nodded at Will before shutting the door.

Once outside, Camille took a deep breath. "That was very hard," she admitted.

"You'll see them again, darling," Jack said, taking her arm. "But I still think that-"

"I didn't sleep with him," she protested, knowing what Jack was going to say. "Honestly Jack, I wanted to, but I didn't. He's still getting over Elizabeth, and you know as well as I do that women only complicate things."

"Oh, I do."

"Besides, it would have been incredibly awkward."

"I suppose so," Jack said. They had reached the docks, and were right beside the Pearl. Jack took in a deep breath of salty air. "Have you ever seen a better sight? Besides me naked, of course."

She laughed, stroking his arm. "Jack, I haven't seen you naked yet," she said softly.

He looked down at her. "All in good time, my love. But you'll have to wait. I do have a crew to command."

"Yes, Captain," she said, not bruising his ego just yet. She ascended the gangplank, saying 'hello' to all of the men, catching them up in the events of Port Celebros as they did the same with the whole Norrington incident. Apparently, he didn't cause much trouble once he believed them to be nothing more than a group of merchant sailors.

Camille got right back into her habit of cleaning and cooking the meals. It felt wonderful to be doing work again, and not just sitting around. But she tried her very hardest not to think about baby Cadence and the children, whom she would have the toughest time without. And it would be hard to adjust to life without Ana Maria, as well.

Mr. Earl appeared in the galley as she was cleaning up. "Captain Sparrow wants to see you in his quarters. He told me to take over," he said shortly.

"All right, then. Thank you, Mr. Earl."