Chapter 7: Back Home

The woman beneath him was beautiful. Her golden curls were spread out on the soft pillow her head lay on, full pink lips separated in a look of surprise. James wasn't sure how he had ended up from walking on the street back to his house to laying in bed with this beauty, but at the moment he didn't really mind nor care.

Suddenly another set of thoughts filled his mind, as if he were two people in one body. He had snuck into the mansion with the intention to make himself some money for rum and maybe something to eat. He knew the Black Pearl was docked offshore and since the lady of the ship was staying in the mansion, there would surely be something worth stealing there. But now why was he laying on top of Miss Elizabeth? Just a moment before he had been in the room outside?

Elizabeth finally regained her senses and tried to push the man off her. However, he was heavier and stronger than she had been expecting and all she did was make him smile.

James did not mind at all having a half-naked woman underneath him. No, that was wrong. He didn't know her- he should leave. But she was so beautiful in the moonlight and he liked how she moved underneath him. Carefully he moved his lips down to meet hers, and when she did not resist he moved deeper.

Jack was very wet and laying in a very uncomfortable position. Gibbs was laughing somewhere above his head. Groggily Jack lifted himself halfway up into a sitting position, his eyes blinking against the bright sun.

"Glad you finally decided to join us again," Gibbs said. "Where you been?"

"Long story, don't need telling right now. We on the Pearl?"

"We are indeed. She's as good as new Captain. Crew fixed her up after the storm."

"Good. Where's Will? Did he make it?"

"He did. Lying over there near the mast. Out like a light."

Will groaned and Jack laughed.

"Its good to be back," Jack said as Gibbs offered a hand to help him up. "Where's the rest of the crew?"

"They've been ashore for the last few days with Miss Elizabeth. She's staying up in an old mansion on the outside of the town with the crew. I've been going up every day to check on her, don't worry." Gibbs winked.

Jack laughed heartily. "Good thing Will's still out. He wouldn't want to hear that."

"Too late," Will replied as he sat up and rubbed his head. "When's breakfast?"

Jack began to laugh at his friend again when he realized that he, Will, and Gibbs were the only three aboard the Black Pearl. "Eh Gibbs, did two girls show up on the ship with us."

Gibbs shook his head. "Not that I noticed. You two've been out cold for some time. They nice looking?" He winked again.

Jack winked back. Turning to Will he said. "Well we better get ashore and get your girl and the crew. Portia and Emily might be up there."

Still rubbing his head, Will followed Jack down off the ship.

Portia woke naked in bed with a pile of gold coins lying near her head. From the rumpled look of the sheets it had been a rough night. At least the man had paid her well. Jon would be pleased with the half of her pay that he got. Her thoughts turned over and she remembered her other self. Startled she sat up in bed and looked around. This certainly wasn't New York and she was pretty sure she was in a tavern from the smell that was coming to her nose. Why did she seem to have two memories? Last night she had come home from work and fallen asleep almost immediately, but she had also managed to woo the richest man in the tavern upstairs to finish off with a good pile of gold for the night.

"What the hell is going on?" Portia thought. "Where are Jack and Will?"

Somewhere from downstairs Jon called for her and the regular routine of the day in the tavern in Tortuga began.

Emily woke to the luxurious feel of silk sheets on bare skin. Stretching lazily like a cat, her leg bumped into the form laying next to her. It was her fiancée lying in a semi-formed ball near the edge of the bed. It seemed he always ended up there in the morning for some reason.

"Wait, fiancée?" Emily's heart began to race. She didn't have a fiancée. She didn't even have a boyfriend. "Silk sheets? Where the hell am I?" her thoughts screamed at her. But she knew where she was- the small mansion at the top of the hill that overlooked the town of Port Royal. She had been living there for the last year, ever since she had been engaged to James.

A/N- This is a different James who will be more properly identified in a moment.

Carefully she put a hand to her head. Surely she was dreaming? But which life was a dream? They both seemed as clear as the other. The room was dark, but she knew without being able to see every detail of it. After all she had redecorated the whole house hadn't she?

The door to the bedroom cracked open a small slit and a voice issued from outside.

"Commodore?"

James sat up with a start, sheets half pulled over his nude body, hair mussed with sleep. "Yes?" he replied, his voice clear and deep despite his disheveled appearance.

"You have a visitor here to see you."

"Very well. I will meet them downstairs shortly." James replied.

As soon as the man closed the door, putting the room back into darkness James kissed Emily softly on the lips and then slowly pulled himself out of bed to get dressed.

TBC...