AN: Still wondering how to make a sequel... I have a few ideas but most of them sound lame to me. Ah well. Perhaps I should just wait 'til May. It's only ten months right?

What am I saying? Thank goodness for fanfiction. I can't go that long without Captain Jack Sparrow!

This story is also located on my POTC website, Nigh Uncatchable. There's also other stuff on there, too so feel free to look around. I have a costume guide I'm working on, as well as an interactive look at the Black Pearl and some history that can be linked to the movies. There are also biographies for the characters of this story, complete with actors I had in mind while writing them, and a soundtrack listing is in the works.

I'd love for you all to check it out! There's a link to it on the bottom of my summary on my author page.

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 Its Thorns

Chapter 17: Strange Meetings

Jack was having a wonderful time in the lowly dive he was sitting in. The rum was never ending, the wenches weren't too bad to look at, and there was musical entertainment. How I've missed Paris.

He noticed Michael walk in the door and quickly hid his face behind his bottle of rum. He watched as the man who had stolen his love's heart sat at a table with a short man donning a white powder wig.

"Can you tell me where she is?" The man asked.

"Not yet," Michael answered. "The ship's been destroyed."

The man's eyes went wide. "What about our deal?"

"I'll bring you her." He leaned in closer. "On one condition. She doesn't hang."

"That ship was worth more than her life."

"I know. Her father's rich. I'm sure we can make some kind of arrangement." Michael smiled.

"Good. Meet me in Port Royal in four months. Bring her with you." The man in the wig stood. He turned in Jack's direction for the briefest of seconds.

Jack's eyes went wide in horror as he placed where he had seen the man before. The man strode out the door of the tavern, his cane clinking against the floor. The very cane that had branded the 'P' in Jack's forearm. Beckett.

The next night, Evelyn and Elizabeth suggested that everyone stay on The Pearl since not everyone could stay at her father's flat, and Jack would probably be safer in the hidden alcove were Porthos had placed the ship in.

Liliana had brought her pet artic fox named Loki. She had found it on a trip to Norway. It had simply started following her around and she took it in. While she was at sea, she simply left it in Porthos' care, despite Porthos' distaste for the creature. Liliana gave it commands in its native Slavic. In the short time the little beast had graced The Black Pearl with its presence, Jack had grown to hate it.

This particular night was no exception. Jack was minding his own business, well not if you include the fact that he was spying on Evelyn while she was changing, when Jayde came up from behind him.

"Stop starin' or I won't give ye this little black pearl I have," she said, a bit of feistiness in her voice.

Jack turned toward her. He took the bit of something in his hand and brought it to his face for closer examination.

"This isn't a black pearl! It's shell shot!" He whispered, but Jayde was already gone. In her stead was the blasted little fox.

Loki started growling at the pirate in front of him. He leapt forward and bit him on the leg. Jack let out a yelp of pain as the fox took off down the deck.

Evelyn emerged from the cabin and stared at him. "Yer pathetic, Jack."

His eyes went wide. "Jus' fer that, I'm not going ter tell ye what I know about yer fiancé."

"I don't have the patience ter listen ter yer tall tales, Sparrow."

"Fine." He smirked. "I'll let him have all the secret meetin's with our pirate branding friend he wants."

Her eyes went wide. "What did ye say?"

"Ye heard me."

"Yer lyin." She started walking away from him.

"Believe you me, darling. I wish I was."

Jack returned to his cabin fully prepared to get a good night's sleep. What he found in there made him slightly angry.

There on his pillow, curled up in a ball was Loki, his tail waving in the air as if he was mocking the pirate.

Jack's face turned three shades of red. "Would someone get this bloody little pest out of me cabin!" He screamed.

Liliana stalked into his cabin. She scooped her pet into her arms. "Come then, Loki. Leave the mean nasty pirate alone."

Jack glared at her as she disappeared through the doorway. He could hear her giggles fading into the night. He thought forcertain he saw the fox stick its tongue out at him from over her shoulder.

Why is it that everyone thinks me ship is a bloody zoo? He thought. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

Evelyn walked into the hold to find Michael reading over a bit of parchment in the lantern light. He quickly pocketed the paper when he saw her enter.

"What have ye got there, me love?" Evelyn asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," he answered, smiling nervously.

"Who was that man I saw ye with last night?" She smirked.

Michael looked horrified. She knew. "You saw me?" She nodded. "Just a friend."

"You make strange friends, my dear." She got in his face. "The East India Company is not a friend in my book."

"I swear I didn't know," Michael said nervously.

"Then why so nervous, my love?" She looked concerned. "Could it be that you're up to something?" She cocked her head to one side. "I doubt yer as innocent as ye claim to be."

"I swear I don't mean you any harm. They just want their ship back." She had her confession.

"It's a little late fer that, ain't it?" She glared at him.

"I do love you, Evy," Michael said, sorrowfully. "I just feel ye should have a better life."

Evelyn put her face in his. "My life is my choice and I could be a noble woman anytime I wanted, but the sea is my first love." She paused. "And Jack is my second." He looked confused.

"Jack!" She yelled.

Jack slinked from the shadows a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Lock him in the brig."

"Gladly, me luv." Jack grabbed the boy by the arms and shoved him in a cell. Michael fell to the floor and glared at him.

Jack stuck his tongue out at him and turned to follow Evelyn. He took Evelyn by the elbow. "I hate ter say it luv, but I told ye so."

She shook her head and grinned. "Enjoy it while it lasts, Jack." She smirked. "Ye being right is a rare occurrence."

He frowned as they emerged from the hold. "Ah, but ye see, luv," he turned and pulled her towards him. "Yer jus' like me. Yer entirely too trusting." He kissed her, right there, in front of the entire crew.

Everyone, including Porthos, cheered and whistled. Their celebration echoed into the night sky.

The next morning as they prepared for sea, Liliana sat on the rail with Loki in her lap. The little fox suddenly leapt from her lap and began chasing Jack the monkey. In one fluid movement, he managed to get his jaws around the monkey's head. The tiny primate held Loki's jaws open with all his might.

"Loki, that's dirty! Spit that out!" Lilia yelled. Loki spit Jack out and knocked the little creature overboard. "Now go wash your mouth. " Liliana glared at her pet, as it stalked off.

"What was all that about?" Evelyn asked, approaching her friend.

"Loki ate Jack!" She said, disbelieving.

"WHAT? How?"

"The monkey!" Liliana said, laughing. "Are you daft? A fox couldn't eat 'em! He's too fat!"

Evelyn chuckled. "What about 'little Jack'?" She smirked.

The pair raised an eyebrow.

"What's Jack gotten hisself into now?" Gibbs asked, walking up at the wrong moment.

The women laughed to them selves.

Jack strode up to them, placing a kiss on Evelyn's head. "Say goodbye ter yer pet, Lilia. He wouldn't do well in battle."

Liliana handed Loki over to D'Artagnon. Oddly enough, the fox cuddled up to him.

"Porthos, Aramis," Jack started, "yer welcome to come along."

"I don't intend on letting her go off to her death without me," Porthos said, patting Jack on the back.

AN: Please give me a nice, juicy review! It helps me write faster! It does! I know you guys are reading this… That's why there's a nice little function called STATS on here…