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. Two 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.

I feel so bad about leaving this story for so long, I'm going to give you three new chapters, alright?

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 Thirteen: Vega

Evelyn had waited long enough for Jack to return from his cabin. This was getting ridiculous. She had thought him dead for so many years. She was now upset that they had both reacted so poorly to their reuniting. She proudly strode up to the door and swung it wide open. Gibbs went to stop her but decided against it.

"Jack," Evelyn started loudly, "I came 'ere lookin' fer Barbossa. I wouldn't have attacked if I knew it was ye."

"I don't want ter fight, Evelyn," Jack said, staring at the map of the Caribbean on his desk.

"Look at me, Jack," Evelyn all but screamed at him. The crew could hear every word. Evelyn had left the door wide open. "I thought ye were dead." She smiled and walked over to where he was seated. She placed her hands on the desk in front of him.

He reached out and took one of her hands in his own. She pulled it away.

"Fine," he said, glaring at her, "If yer gonna play that game, get off me ship."

"She's part mine, ye know."

"No, you don't have a debt to pay, remember?" Jack crossed his arms over his chest, like a child in a battle of 'I told you so'. "But I do recall you being the reason for that debt."

Evelyn let out a deep sigh. "People change, Jack. They move on. It's been ten years for Chrissake!"

"I got The Pearl back, fair and square. She's mine now." Jack smirked, changing the subject.

"Not this again!" shouted Evelyn. "Look, keep her fer all I care! You've only got, what? A year left?"

He stared at her. Has it been that long already? Fate has a cruel sense of humor.

"Don't tell me ye haven't done anything in the past twelve years ter prevent that?"

"I've only had her back three months, Evelyn!" Jack screamed.

Evelyn felt like hitting him. "I see ye haven't changed one bit, Jack." She shook her head. "Still just as foolish as ever." She stared right at him. "Jus' don't come crying ter me when yer soul's at ransom." She stormed out of the cabin.

She has grown up, Jack thought. He didn't remember her having that much fire in her. People do change. A tiny knock at the door made him jump a little.

Gibbs stood there, his hands clasped together, "I know now's not a good time, but we've got trouble."

Jack put a hand on his forehead. "Wat is it now?"

"Sails to the stern, Capt'n. She's flyin' a Jolly Roger."

"Bloody hell," Jack whined. He stood and followed Gibbs to the main deck. He took out his spyglass and brought the ship in to view. It was a galleon and it was even bigger than The Pearl.

Evelyn approached him from behind and took the spyglass from him. She brought it up to her eye. "Bleedin' Hellfire!" She cursed, shoving the spyglass back at Jack.

"Wat is it?" Jack asked.

"Vega," Evelyn replied. Her crew started preparing to board their ship.

"I take it he's not a friendly," Jack said.

"Not when he wants me dead," Evelyn answered. "All aboard The Dolphine! Drift from The Pearl and ready the guns!" A round of 'aye, capt'n's' could be heard as her crew acquiesced her request.

"He's been following me, Evelyn," Jack said from her side.

"If he sees me here we're all as good as dead." She looked at him wide eyed. She ran to one of the gang planks and balanced across to her ship.

"Prepare for battle!" Jack turned and shouted to his crew. "Draw anchor! Get et 'er in between us and give 'er all ye got!" He ran to the bridge and took the helm. He watched as Evelyn and her crew turned their ship around to face the same direction as The Pearl. He eyed her as she stood at the helm, carefully navigating The Dolphine. She would have made a great First Mate, he thought to himself.

On board his mighty galleon, Alejo Vega eyed The Black Pearl with interest. Tall with a handsome face and clearly Spanish appearance, Vega had an arrogance that told all who saw him that he was not only a very wealthy pirate, but a very cruel one.

He couldn't tell what the other ship was until he got a glimpse of the woman at the helm. "Rose," he muttered to himself. "Take The Dolphine down. Forget The Pearl. She's worth less to me than Rose is," He said to the portly man at his side.

"Aye, sir," the man replied.

Vega looked focused his attention on The Dolphine. Watch your self, Rose, he thought, you're in for one hell of an attack. He smirked as his passed The Pearl and gained on The Dolphine.

On board The Black Pearl, Jack watched as the mighty galleon approached Evelyn's ship. Oh, no you don't, he thought. "Catch her with the long nines, boys!" He shouted. He looked over to The Dolphine. Evelyn's crew was readying their guns, pulling them back and loading. He noticed how many gun ports were on Vega's ship. His eyes went wide. He'll take her down, easily.

The Pearl came alongside Vega's ship. "Fire all!" Jack shouted. He noticed the guns on the side of Vega's ship that faced The Pearl were being ignored. He's only after her!

Evelyn was focusing on the sea ahead of her as her ship fired on Vega. He was far enough away from her that his crew couldn't board, but within firing range. She caught Jack's eye as he started shooting at Vega with his pistol. Vega started firing his guns on The Pearl. Damned fool. He's not after you! As she observed Jack, Vega had his own tricks up his sleeve. She was too late to notice when he swung his ship right into her starboard side, the great metal beam sticking out of the front of his ship puncturing the hull of The Dolphine. As her mind raced beyond her control, her shipwas lurching on its side to the sea. Before Evelyn could grab onto anything, The Dolphine sinking fast.

AN: Please tell me what you think! This thing has been a long time coming, and there's still so much more on the way!