Chapter 4: Aboard the Black Pearl

The Scoobies boarded the Black Pearl with mixed feelings of

apprehension and excitement. All around them pirates were

preparing to set sail. Xander spotted a man with a parrot on his

shoulder and commented, "Now all we need is a guy with a

wooden leg and an eye patch." The girls laughed, but Giles

shot Xander a disapproving glance. Fortunately none of the

crew had overheard him. Willow looked over toward the helm

and felt the breath catch in her throat. The man standing by

the wheel was absolutely gorgeous. He was in his early-to-mid

twenties with long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and

deep brown eyes. Willow smiled at him then frowned slightly as

he looked away. A hand touched her shoulder and she

jumped. "Will?", Buffy asked snapping Willow out of her daze.

"What?", Willow asked distractedly. "The rest of us are going to

tour the ship. We thought you might like to join us. Unless of

course your own little world is more interesting." "Huh? I mean

no. I mean let's tour.", Willow said quickly. As they started

walking Buffy fell in step with Willow. "What is it?", she asked.

Willow blushed slightly. "What do you think about him?", she

asked in an undertone. Buffy followed her gaze. "Isn't he a

hottie?", Willow asked. "Definitely crush worthy.", Buffy replied

with a smile. "Do you ladies have any questions?", Jack asked,

noticing their whispered conversation. "Um, no. No questions.",

Willow said "How long will it take for us to catch up with this

other ship?", Buffy asked. "About two weeks give or take.",

Jack answered. Buffy looked troubled by the answer. Two

weeks was a long time. Giles seemed to sense her concern

and spoke to her quietly. "We have the talisman, Buffy. They

can't do anything without it." "Yeah, except kill a lot of

people.", Buffy replied.

The tour ended at the helm where an older man was

talking to the younger man. Jack introduced them as "Mr.

Gibbs, my first mate and my second mate, Will Turner." As the

Scoobies introduced them selves Willow smiled at Will who

returned it then looked away. Jack suggested that they get

some rest and make plans in the morning. Xander and Giles

were to sleep with the crew, but Buffy and Willow were to share

the cabin of the only female crew member on board, a tall

dark skinned woman named Ana Maria. At first Ana Maria was

understandably upset about having to share her room, but her

initial reservations faded as she got to know the two girls. She

was very curious about the Twentieth Century. She was even

more curious about Buffy being a Slayer and Willow being a

witch. "Don't tell Gibbs about that.", she said with an amused

smile, "He thinks it's bad luck to have a woman on board. No

telling what he'll say about a witch. Probably that will sink

halfway there or something." "So what do you think about us?",

Buffy demanded. Hearing the question come out more

challengingly than she had intended she softed it with a

friendly smile. "I don't know what to think about you. I believe

what you told me if that's what you mean.", Ana Maria replied.

"What can you tell us about the Black Pearl?", Wilow asked,

"Jack told us some stuff, but I have the feeling he was

exaggerating a little." "Just a little?", Ana Maria asked with a

laugh. "So what would you like to know?", she asked more

seriously. "What ever you feel like telling us. I think Willow would

like to know a bit about Will Turner.", Buffy added with a

wicked smile. Willow gave her a look and threw her pillow at

her. Ana Maria laughed then suddenly looked serious. "I think

you would be good together. Of course getting you together

will be damned near impossible." "Why is that?", Buffy asked.

"It's a long story.", Ana Maria said, settling back to get more

comfortable as she began to tell it.

A/N: yes I know, short chapter and cliff hanger. Don't worry more coming soon.