See Chapter One for all Disclaimers.

AN: Thanks for all reviews, I'm not being nasty and not replying to them all, I've just got a ton of stuff to work through. Thank you to everyone for their time though.

Chapter 4

Jack woke almost two hours later to find a very naked AnaMaria lying on his very naked self on top of the galley table. Jack looked down at the snoozing pirate and smiled. She was so peaceful when she slept, with a small pout on her soft lips. Jack sighed in content; she was a comfortable weight on his chest, and one he could definitely get used to. But you won't will you? A small voice whispered in the back of his head. She's got her own ship, you've got yours, so once you reach Tortuga you're both heading different ways. We went over this before. Jack frowned. He was talking to himself inside his head again. Not good. Just then Ana stirred in his arms and Jack watched her slowly open her eyes.

"Afternoon luv." Ana smiled at him, a fully smile that lit up her entire face. "Now you gotta do that more often." Ana just smirked, and Jack kissed her softly. "As much as I would love to sit here with you Ana, I'm afraid we must find me some rum, eat, possibly sail the ship and get dressed. Not necessarily in that order." Ana laughed.

"All you think of is rum Jack Sparrow."

"Actually, Captain Ana, there has been a little something else on my mind of late." Jack said vaguely as he and Ana hunted for all articles of their clothing. Jack managed to get his breeches and belt along with the makeshift sash of his, then picked up his shirt. "Ahem." Ana turned and looked at Jack.

"I'll by you a new one." Jack stared at the ripped shirt he had been wearing that day, now in two pieces. Ana had apparently been in hurry earlier.

"I liked that shirt." Ana laughed again as she headed up deck, Jack did a quick scan around him and grabbed two bottles of rum and his jacket before following the other pirate up deck.

- - - - -

Ana stood at the helm, a smug smile on her face. She was more than happy right then, she was more than ecstatic. She had a ship of her own, she had the waves behind her, wind in the sails and Jack. What more could she want? Do you really have Jack? She wondered to herself. No, she didn't, she only 'had' him until Tortuga. Now thinking that over she should have really found someone to sail them to Tortuga while she bunked up with Jack in her cabin along with some food and lots of rum. But that might seem a little desperate and forward. Jack walked, if you could call it that, up from the deck to the helm, two bottles in his hand and his jacket thrown on his back. He handed her a bottle of rum and stood behind her, AnaMaria had the distinct feeling he was looking her over again.

"What's so interesting back there?" Ana asked.

"You mean apart from your ass?" Jack said with a chuckle. He walked forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. "Why? Would you rather I was somewhere else?" Ana smiled, at least he wasn't avoiding the fact that they had slept together, without actually sleeping for a long period of time.

"I can think of a few places." Ana said slyly. "Jack?"

"Hmm."

"What exactly happened? Between us."

"Isn't it a bit late for that luv? I thought you knew about the birds and the bees." Ana felt the urge to slap Jack there.

"Not like that you daft blighter." Ana turned in his embrace. "I mean what happened? How did we end up…doing what we did?"

"I believe it might have started when you kissed me in the galley, or in the inn. Or when I kissed you on the Pearl. There are a few possibilities luv." Ana sighed.

"Yes, that I can tell." Ana leaned her head against Jack's shoulder. "What about Tortuga? Are we just going to ignore that?" Jack's arms wrapped around her tighter.

"Well, we still have two days to figure that out. But for now, I say we drink, sail then eat food. In that order." Ana smiled up at him, and he gave her a light kiss. Ana shook her head. She always had been a sucker for romance, it was strange that she would fall for this pirate. But in a way it wasn't. Jack drank his rum, Ana steered the ship, they ate a little later and by nightfall Jack had come up with something else for them to do.

- - - - -

Tortuga. A place Jack Sparrow never thought he'd be disappointed to see. He and Ana had avoided talking about the imminent separation that would occur when the docks of Tortuga came into view. And Jack was beginning to regret it. He knew he couldn't leave the Pearl, not after just getting her back, and he wasn't expecting Ana to leave the Red Lady, not only had she always wanted her own ship but Jack had paid a good deal of swag on getting the ship and he knew Ana wasn't going to give it up.

"Well, Jack, there's the Pearl." Ana stated, pointing to the large dark ship. Jack had seen to it that the black sails were put up again, only after the tares had been mended. It was after all what gave the ship her demonic look. And Jack wasn't about to give any reason for the superstitions of the Black Pearl to be taken lightly.

"Aye. We'll have to dock a few days Ana. Because you and I need to talk." Jack said seriously. AnaMaria nodded.

However things did not go according to plan. Once the Red Lady had docked and Jack had jumped to the port there were several of his crew over, grabbing him and dragging him to the Pearl. Jack tried to get them off but they seemed to be in too much of a rush. There were a few calls back to AnaMaria and Jack could hear her voice.

"Put me down now you bloody ingrates." But Jack wasn't released till they were on the Pearl and she had started sailing out. "Mr Gibbs!"

"Aye Jack?" Gibbs asked from beside Jack.

"What the blazes is going on here?" Jack asked resisting the temptation to straggled Gibbs with his ever-present pouch of rum.

"Well Captain, two of Port Royal's fleet are sitting over there. They know this is the Pearl and they knew you were still to come into harbour. So, we figured once you and AnaMaria docked we'd get you out of there as soon as possible. Unless you really want to go back to the noose." Gibbs said. Jack turned and looked to the ever fading dot that was Tortuga, then back to Gibbs.

"I need some rum." And Jack left, heading for his cabin. It was good while it lasted, Jack thought to himself. But if this lot hadn't jumped in it could've lasted longer, he argued with himself. It's your own bloody fault; you could've talked to the lass before you reached Tortuga.

"I'm arguing with meself. Not good."

- - - - -

# Two Months Later #

After two months of being away from Jack, AnaMaria had everything she ever dreamed of. She had a loyal crew, she had looted as many ships in as many days, had all the swag she wanted and a man to call her own. Brent Jameson was a fine pirate and a good loyal love. Ana had no doubt that his heart belonged to her and her alone. But after only six weeks Ana found herself comparing the blond haired pirate to her past lover, Jack Sparrow. Instead of Jack's smouldering dark eyes Brent had crystal blue eyes, his blond hair was cut close to his head and always tidy. The man never drank and was one of the most practical pirates going. Everything was assessed before being carried out and nothing was spur of the moment.

"Captain Ana! Pirate ship off the starboard side!" Ana looked and sure enough there was a pirate ship, flag held high, approaching with speed unlike any ship.

"Bring out the guns, make ready for a battle men." Brent called beside her, Ana couldn't speak. The pirate ship was black with the evil-looking black sails billowing in the wind. Brent ordered the crew about while Ana just stared at the ship. Could it be? Could it really be him? What if he didn't recognise the ship? What if they were fired upon?

"Hold fire until fired upon." Ana called, she received strange looks from the crew but her order was obeyed.

"Ana? Are you sure that we shouldn't open fire first?" Ana smiled at Brent. She saw the love him his eyes and felt her own love swell, but it wasn't an ache. It was contentment for him she felt right then. She was too giddy about the possibility of a confrontation with the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow.

"Brent, darling, prepare yourself for nothing you've ever experienced before." Brent frowned at her as she walked down to the deck. "Make ready the gangplank." Once more, her order was followed with confusion but no questioning.

Sure enough they were not fired upon, and the other pirate ship came to a stand beside the Red Lady. Ana smiled at the familiar faces of the crew in the other ship.

"Captain! Captain!" There were cries from the other ship, Ana's crew stood prepared for battle. Ana felt a strange flutter in her stomach as the mysterious and graceful form of Jack came into view. She felt her insides turn to goo as he smiled at her.

"Drop the stern side anchor!" Jack's eyes didn't waver from Ana's.

"Lower the gangplank." Ana ordered. Jack climbed up and literally staggered over to the Red Lady, only just remaining out of the water.

"AnaMaria." She smiled at him.

"Jack." Without even thinking she threw her arms around his neck and held him close. Inhaling the scent of him, the sea, the spice and the rum.

"Been too long luv." Ana smiled, he hadn't changed at all.

"And you are?" Brent asked from beside Ana, an arm wrapping around her waist possessively.

"Captain Jack Sparrow." Jack offered with a slight sway on his feet.

"Brent Jameson. So you're the infamous Jack Sparrow. I thought you'd be…sober." Brent said with a slight hint of distaste in his voice, his grip on Ana tightening.

"CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow. And why would I be sober?" Jack seemed thoroughly interested in why Brent thought this of him.

"Well, all the stories, outsmarting Barbossa, escaping from the Spanish fleet no less than six times, vanishing from the East India Trading Company, escaping from being marooned twice. That must have taken a lot of planning." Jack quirked his eyebrow, looking from Ana to Brent.

"Mate, if I'm ever sober, it's through no choice of my own."

"But all the things that you've done…" Ana held her hand up to Brent's chest.

"No, drunk through the lot of them." Ana smiled. "Very little planning went into most of those little conquests." Jack considered it.

"Mind, I was sober the second time off that blasted island." Ana was surprised, and Jack must've seen that. "Elizabeth burnt the rum. Bloody woman."

"Jack, it really has been too long." Ana said.

"Hey Jack, is it really her?" Gibbs shouted over from the Pearl.

"Aye, looks like yer were wrong mate!" Jack called over, once more swaying, with a smug look on his face. Ana heard Gibbs curse then saw the older man walk off.

"What?"

"Well, ye see luv, Gibbs and the rest of the crew had a little wager going with me. And I've just become considerably richer than I already am." Jack said, moving to stand beside Ana. Looping an arm around her shoulder, Ana felt a shiver run through her body and Brent tense on her other side. "So, as a celebration, why don't you and your crew come on over to the Pearl? I think we have enough food for a feast. And we need to catch up. You and lover boy here can come and dine with us. Savvy?" Brent was about to protest when Ana smiled.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world Jack."

"Great, come on over then. Just make sure they don't drink all me rum." Jack smiled, his gold teeth glinting in the sun, before heading over to the Black Pearl. Ana followed, behind her was Brent and the rest of her crew made their way over after that. When Ana set feet on the Black Pearl she was greeted warmly by all of Jack's crew.

"Great to see ye again lass." Gibbs said giving her shoulders a squeeze and a hard pat on the back. Ana smiled, happy to be back aboard the Pearl, and noticed Jack standing at the helm watching everything that was unfolding on the deck.

- - - - -

Jack watched as Ana was welcomed back to the Pear, her lap dog always a few steps behind her. The blond never moved from her side and Jack had to wonder what was going on with Ana and him, he reminded Jack of a certain whelp who would give his left arm for a certain governor's daughter. Jack momentarily wondered how the whelp was doing. But only for a moment, because at that moment Crimp, the dwarf, appeared beside him.

"Captain, what will we do about food?"

"Cook everything you want. Eat up on deck, there isn't enough room for everyone down in the galley." Crimp nodded.

"Aye Captain." The smaller man headed down to the galley as everyone boarded the Pearl. Jack stood there watching everyone for a good ten minutes longer before Gibbs approached him.

"Well, Jack, looks like you were correct. The crew and I want to know though…" Jack held up his hand.

"You all keep your share of the swag. I'm not taking anything from you." Gibbs nodded.

"Aye Jack. Knew you wouldn't." And with that Gibbs left Jack to his thoughts once more. He knew Ana would move on, it wasn't as if they had professed undying love for one another, so why shouldn't she? The crew had bet that Ana would come back to the Pearl, that she belonged on the Pearl. But Jack knew better, Ana wanted her own freedom, and with her own ship she could flow those clouds and be free. Jack's spirits had dropped since earlier, looking around the crew were all eating, Ana's crew mixed with his own, Ana herself sitting with Cotton and Gibbs, her new one next to her as always. Jack was sure that Brent Jameson's eyes didn't once leave AnaMaria. Well, that proves how right you were Jack, of all the things you had be right of!

"I need more rum." Jack said to himself before heading down to the galley, hunting once more for his beloved drink.

- - - - -

Ana managed to convince Brent to stay on deck and talk to Gibbs while she went to see Jack. She had used the excuse that Jack owed her something, something that was private and personal. Reluctantly Brent agreed to stay on deck while Ana went down to the galley. As much as Ana loved Brent she was beginning to see who he was. Of course she had only just started to see who he was because Jack was now around, and who Brent was…well, that was simple. He wasn't Jack. Ana reached the galley and couldn't see Jack anywhere, but heard his voice.

"We're devils, we're black sheep and really bag eggs, drink up me hearties yo ho." Ana smiled, nothing seemed to stop that man from singing that song. And Ana missed the song as much as the tone-deaf pirate who sang it. "Yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for…ouch!" Ana almost laughed at the noise. Walking through the galley to the back of the ship where the supplies were kept she saw Jack, with rum in one hand and a large fish in the other.

"You like fish?" Ana asked. Jack looked at her then back to the green scaled animal.

"No, can't stand them." Jack dropped the fish to the chest that lay open in front of him. "Just looking around. Need more rum you see. What you doing down here?" Jack said, as if suddenly realising Ana was there.

"You said we needed to talk."

"Ah, yes, I did. But you see Ana, I'm not one for talking so there ain't much point is there?" Jack said before moving to go past her.

"How about listening? Can you do that?" Jack stared at AnaMaria, who was now standing in front of Jack, hands on hips, effectively blocking his way out.

"Ana, luv, would ye just move? Run on up deck and have some fun, savvy?" Jack seemed to lose his joyous manner, a slight hint of depression in his voice.

"Jack, it's been two months. Don't you have anything to say to me?" Jack seemed to consider that.

"How the pillaging been this weather?" Ana flared her nostrils and lashed out. Slapping Jack across the face hard before turning and heading back up deck. In her mind she could hear the muttering of Jack's voice, "I don't think I deserved that." But there was no noise from Jack in the galley as he watched her leave.

- - - - -

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