Chapter 5 - It Started With a Kiss

Jack lightly knocked on the door of Louise's cabin hoping that she was already awake, but after opening the door a few inches and peeking in, he saw she wasn't. In fact she was in the same position he had left her in the night before, sprawled out half on and half off the bed.

--The Night Before--

Jack lifted Louise up from her chair and carried her to the cabin. As he walked men were exchanging money over bets as to whether Ana or Louise would win. He was sure he saw Danny handing a large amount to Gibbs. Once at her cabin he opened the door and went to lay her on the bed, it was at this point that she woke up.

"Jack! Oh Jack did I win?" she looked at him with glazed over eyes but they were excited all the same.

"Erm...no luv Ana's still standin' but you passed out darlin" he watched her reaction, at first she seemed like she couldn't process the information then her eyes lit up with renewed happiness.

"Oh Jack you didn't call me pet" she giggled and Jack felt a strange feeling at knowing he had made her giggle. She jumped down from his arms, he hadn't realised he was still holding her, "Night jack". With that she pulled him to her and kissed him. He hadn't expected it and at first was confused but this was Jack Sparrow and his hand quickly wove itself into her hair and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Breaking apart she flashed a large grin and feel back onto the bed, asleep.

--End of Flashback--

Jack looked at Louise sleeping and didn't quite know what to do, but he needed to find out what was going on in that head of hers and if she was angry at him for waking her he could always say he needed her on deck. He moved quietly into the room and nudged her, she just groaned and rolled over. He tried again, another groan. He shook her vigorously.

"Bugger off Craig" she pulled the blanket over her head.

"Who's Craig luv?", her eyes flashed open and she realised where she was and that she wasn't being shook by a angry flat mate but in fact the captain of a pirate ship.

"Erm...morning Jack" she sat up rubbing her eyes, "What brings you to my cabin this early?"

"Well actually luv it's about noon and I need you on deck" he didn't know how to bring it up but he had to try. "Listen luv do you remember anything that happened last night?".

She frowned as she tried to remember, "Bits and pieces but not much after Ana slapped you" she smiled at the memory of seeing Jack being slapped, it was so much funnier in reality rather than on screen, it helped that she had been drunk.

He absent mind-idly rubbed his cheek "Ahh well that was rather memorable" he didn't know whether he felt relieved or hurt.

"Oh Jack", her voice brought him back from his wandering thoughts "I was wondering do you need me in the crows nest again today? because I may have neglected to mention I can cook" she enjoyed the calculating look in his eyes and she wondered how long it had been since he had a good cook onboard.

"You can cook?" he practically shouted, "Why didn't yes say luv? We need some good grub". Then he practically skipped from the room, leaving her staring at where he had stood 'he's acting weird, how much has he drunk today?' she thought not realising the irony of her words.

Later, as day turned to night Louise stood in the gallery serving up what she was pleased to say was the greatest stew she had ever made, and she would be happy enough if it tempted the crew away from their rum, even for a moment. She had already endured taunts from Ana that day, but she was fast forming a friendship with her and it was all in good fun. However Ana couldn't understand why Louise had volunteered to work in the galley, Louise had just smiled at her and said "well my clothes aren't exactly thick and it's warmer here than in the crows nest".

"Want me to do the honors?" Ana asked seeing she was nearly done.

"Yeah sure, I'm not sure I have the voice for it after that singing last night"

Ana just laughed "Yeah you were terrible". Louise may have been offended if she thought it wasn't true, but she really couldn't sing. Ana yelled up onto deck that dinner was served and Louise heard the steady thumping of many boots hitting the stairs. Taking seats next to each other Louise and Ana sat down as the crew slowly filed in, but Jack was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Jack?" Louise asked Gibbs, slightly down-heartened that after his earlier enthusiasm he hadn't come to try the food.

"At the helm, been in a terrible mood all afternoon but says he needs steer us through this much" Gibbs replied as he tried the stew, there was a ripple effect as the crew tried the stew, realised it was actually edible they began lapping it up like dogs. Ana even said it was worth Louise working in the galley. Louise wasn't paying attention to the thankful crew though she ate as much as she needed and excused herself. Getting a bowl of fresh stew she was determined Jack would try it. She was angry, she didn't work all afternoon on this for nothing. She stomped loudly up onto the deck and saw Jack, not looking out to sea but to the stars. Pausing for a moment she looked up and was breathless, it was the most beautiful evening sky she had ever seen, in London you were lucky to see any stars but here on the sea she could see everything for miles.

After a few moments of staring with her mouth hanging open she remembered her mission, striding up to Jack she held out the bowl, "try it you'll like it, I promise". He stared at her as if seeing her for the first time, then shaking his head as if shaking off a trance he took the bowl.

"Thanks luv"

She took a seat on the floor of the deck and made herself comfortable "Word is you've been in a mood, Captain"

He chuckled and took a seat next to her as he continued to eat, it was surprisingly good and he was finding it fill him up more than any food had in a long time. "So Gibbs has been spreading rumors again"

"Yeah, but you didn't help by not coming to dinner"

"Had to steer luv", he now had a lump of stew caught in his mustache and she couldn't help but smile.

"If you had to steer why are you taking the time now to sit and eat?" she knew she had him.

"Ye got me darlin', to tell you the truth I wanted a night off"

"From what being a pirate?"

He had now finished the stew in record time, "No luv from carrying you to your cabin drunk"

"You carried me to my cabin drunk?" she asked amused "Well I don't remember that"

"I do", he had said it in a whisper but despite their proximity she hadn't heard it due to the whistling of the night wind. But Jack did remember, he remembered making her laugh, he remembered the way her lips had felt against his, he remembered the smile she gave him before passing out again. He remembered and what was worse was he couldn't understand why he cared, why it bothered him to remember. Why had he avoided her since this morning? Why had thinking about last night made him angry, happy and sad all at the same time?

They sat like this, just enjoying the peace of the night, watching the stars, admiring the sea, and lost in thought for what could have been hours, but was really around 25 minutes.

"We'll reach Tortuga in the morning" he hadn't meant anything by this but Louise thought maybe he wanted to be alone.

"Oh yeah, well I suppose I need some sleep after last nights drunken-ness, night Jack" she rose and made her way to her cabin. Jack watched her leave, he hadn't meant for her to leave but with her gone his thoughts only went back to the night before when she had said goodnight, he had much preferred last night. He slapped his forehead with his palm, trying to expel these thoughts. Pirates don't think like this, especially not this Pirate, this was Captain Jack Sparrow, not some whelp like Will with 'feelings'. He needed a good lay, and rum, lots of rum and there was one place to get the best of both of these...Tortuga.

--Authors Notes--

Hellloo!

Little over excited, maybe it's because I got 5 chapters written in one day. Go me. Also I know this chapter seems a little obvious, oh there's Jack trying not to fall in love but it's happening anyway. Well loves course does not run smoothly, or something like that. I was never good with famous phrases, but trust me it won't be easy.