AN: My Muse is back! I picked up the Visual Guide and the junior novelization to Dead Man's Chest. Definitely worth a read for all you diehards out there. Three more weeks!

I'm in the process of revamping this a bit. I'm only changing a few minor details, ie. How Jack and Evelyn get the Pearl, etc. to fit in better with Dead Man's Chest. I've also done some editing.

This story contains SPOILERS! If you don't want to be spoiled, then wait until you've seen the movie, and then read it, okay? Okay!

Every Rose Has It's Thorns

Chapter Eight: The Black Pearl

A few days later in Tortuga:

Jack and Evelyn walked into The Faithful Bride and took a seat at a table in a corner. The tavern was a noisy and busy place. Wenches ran around getting orders, customers got into fights and spoke loudly to one another. One man was even harassing the wench that had just delivered his drink.

Evelyn had been in a tavern before, but when she had, it was not this busy or this violent. Jack remained calm but Evelyn was a little weary of her surroundings.

Jack answered. "Excuse me, luv," Jack said as he pulled a bar wench by the sleeve as she passed. "Two grogs, please," He said as he winked at her. The wench smiled and ran up to the bar.

"Arrogant bastard," Evelyn said to him, glaring. "So who do we ask ter get a crew?" She asked, leaning forward.

"Watch," Jack stood up on the table. "Excuse me!" He shouted. The crowded room quieted a bit. "I've jes' come across the fastest ship in the world and I be lookin' fer a crew! If any o' ye scallywags be willin' ter join, Be at the docks at dawn."

"And whos ter say this ship be the fastest?" A man with a long dark beard and long dark hair asked as he stepped through the crowd toward Jack and Evelyn's table.

"Ye'd jes' have ter trust me on that, mate," Jack said. "An' if she isn't, what have ye got ter loose?"

"Fair 'nough," The man answered. "I'll be there at dawn ter see what ye have, lad."

"As will I," another man said, making his way through the crowd. Jack found his voice strangely familiar. A little too familiar in fact.

As the man stepped further forward, Evelyn stood and stared at the man wide-eyed. "Bootstrap!" She yelled, running towards him. She gave him a hug and a pat on the back. "Where 'ave ye been, ye old seadog?"

"Had some business ter attend ter," Bill said, as Jack came up and patted him on the back. "Would ye be Captain of this here 'fastest ship'?" He asked Jack, grinning.

"Aye, that I would," Jack answered.

"Then I'd be honored ter be under yer command," Bill said, tipping his hat to Jack.

Jack and Evelyn waited at the end of the docks waiting for the sun to rise. A light chill hung in the air and clouds coated the sky. Jack kept glancing towards the horizon watching for a storm. He would hate for a tempest to ruin his first sail.
Bootstrap Bill was the first to arrive. He stood on the dock at the ship's side and eyed her carefully. "This is a thing o' beauty, Jack," he said, his mouth hanging open.

"Why thank ye, sir," Jack said with a smug look on his face.

"No need ter be callin' me 'sir', lad," Bill said, putting an arm around Jack's shoulder. "Ye be the Captain. If ye don' mind me askin', how did ye come across it?"

"Long story," Jack answered. "Let's just say I made a wager with Davy Jones himself."

"Bad move, Jack," Bill said, concerned. "You know what he'll do to you-"

"Aye," Jack interrupted, "I know. But I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He smirked. "If anybody can out run Davy Jones it would be me, eh? Especially with The Black Pearl…"

Bill's eyes went wide. "The Black Pearl?" He shook his head. "You always were a cocky one, Jack."

At that, the first of the aspirant crewmembers entered the dock. There were about ten of them at first, including the man who had questioned Jack the night before in The Faithful Bride, and about a dozen more soon followed. Jack was overwhelmed with the turnout. He had never expected this many to show up.

"Alrigh'," Jack said when the sailors seemed to stop coming. "Is there any among ye who have never sailed before?" No one stepped forward, "Good." He began to walk along the deck in front of the men as he spoke. "My rules are as follows: Captain, tha's me," He grinned, "Has got final word, no exceptions, there will be no intoxication while on duty, no snapping of arms in the hold, and lastly, no bloodshed or pointless brawling on deck. The rest of me ship's articles will be settled tonight over supper and appointments of positions will be made. Savvy?"

"Aye!" The line of scallywags yelled simultaneously.

"Good, then," Jack said. "Welcome aboard The Black Pearl." He gestured to the ship, grinning intensely as he watched the men look at her in a stupor.

Jack and his crew sat around a large table in the galley. They were waiting for the appointment of positions before they ate. Evelyn said next to him beaming. She was so excited. She grabbed his hand under the table without even realizing it. Jack smiled at her lightly.

"Captain," one of Jack's new crewmembers, with a wooden eye, said, "Who's our first mate?"

"Well," Jack started, "Wat's yer name, again?"

"Ragetti, sir," He replied.

"Well, Ragetti," Jack continued, "I was just getting to that." Jack said. "I've already chosen Evelyn here as Firs' Mate." Grumbles were heard around the table. No one seemed to appreciate being under the command of a woman.

"I object," Bootstrap said, standing. Jack looked at him in askance. "Porthos put her in my watch. She isn't ter take on a position dangerous as that."

Evelyn stood up and glared at Bill. "Wat! I've survived on me own the las' few years! I can bloody well do it now!"

"It's jes to dangerous," Bill replied.

"'E's right, luv," Jack said. Evelyn stared at him wide eyed, "It is too dangerous. Bill an' I couldn't live with ourselves if anythin' ever happed ter ye." Evelyn pulled her hand out of Jack's, sat down, and fumed silently. "Bill, would ye like the position, then?"

"I don't think I could handle all o' that, Jack," Bill answered.

"Alrigh'," Jack continued. "Has anyone had experience as a Firs' Mate before?" The man who had questioned The Pearl the night before slowly stood up. Jack grinned, "Good. Ye seem ter have a good head on yer shoulders, anyway. What's yer name?"

"Barbossa," the man replied with a grin.

"How 'bout a Bo'sun?" Jack queried. A very strong, tall, dark, man stood up. "Great! Now dig in!"

Jack walked into his quarters after dinner. He thought things had gone very well. Everything was in order, all of the articles were in place, and everyone seemed to be pleased with the arrangements. Well, almost everyone.

Evelyn swung open the door to his cabin and stomped over to the bed. She sat down and glared at Jack.

"I can't believe this! What 'appened ter our plan? Yer Captain, I'm Firs' Mate? I agreed ter stick with it, but wat about ye?" She stood up and stood in front of him, looking him right in the eyes. "No! Of course not! Why would ye ever let me do somethin' I could have a chance ter be good at. Ye still think I'm a little girl an' I'm tired o' it!"

"Calm down, luv," Jack said, putting his hands on her shoulders. She pushed them off.

"No! Don't ye dare even think yer gettin' outta this with yer charm!" Evelyn fumed. Jack rolled his eyes, walked past her and sat down on the bed, trying to escape her wrath. Evelyn wasn't going to let him be, however. She stood in front of him again. She glared down into his eyes. He suddenly looked hurt. She softened her glare a bit and sat down next to him on the bed. She looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry," She said. "Maybe yer right. Maybe I wouldn't make a good Firs' Mate."

"What are ye talkin' 'bout? O' course ye would!" Jack said, putting an arm around her shoulders. "It's jes' that," he paused searching for the right words to use. "It's jes' that I don't know what I'd do ter meself if somethin' happened ter ye." He paused. "Not ter mention what yer father would do to me."

They stared at each other in a moment in awkward silence. Evelyn looked down toward the floor. Jack took this as an opportunity to sneak in and kiss her. Startled, Evelyn pulled back. She looked at him as if he were insane.

"Don' ye dare try that again," Evelyn said, looking both annoyed and frightened.

Jack closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sor-" Before Jack could finish, she returned his kiss with a deeper one. When the few, short minutes of bliss ended, Evelyn pushed Jack back onto the bed.

A Few Months later:

Evelyn awoke in the night to see Jack sitting at his desk looking at something. She eyed him curiously. "What are ye doin', luv?" She asked.

"I've found something." Jack said. "Remember that chest I had that went down with The Proteus?"

"The one with yer only possessions in it? The one ye bitched about relentlessly fer months?" She paused. "Nope. Never heard of it."

"I was looking through some boxes in the hold," he hadn't looked up at her once. "and I found this." He held up a small box, with a lapis lazuli cover.

"What is it?" She asked, coming up behind him.

"It's a gift. From a voodoo woman I knew when I was young." Jack stared at it curiously. "It was in that chest."

Evelyn took it from him and opened it. It was a compass. Its needle pointed straight at Jack. "It's broken Jack."

"No," Jack said, taking it back from her. "It's not meant to find North."

"Then what's the-"

"It's meant to find what someone most desires in this world," Jack interrupted.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "If you lost it, then what's it doing here?"

"I don't know." He stared at it again. "That is interesting…"

AN: Please tell me what you think whether you're a first time reader, or just rereading for the changes!