Chapter 3: Rascals and Scoundrels

AnaMaria leaned on the bow's railing, looking through the thick fog that always surrounded Isla de Muerta. It put a chill in the bones, seeing how many ships were down there. It also put a regret there was no way to salvage any cargos they might have, save using the curse. Maybe someday, she'd put the idea by Jack.

But for now, she watched for any new obstacles in the gloom. Then a ghostly mast drifted by, with a skeleton dangling from it. She shuddered as she recalled a ship with a similar fate far from here, and the story behind that ship-not how it crashed, but how it had impacted her life.

"Ana? Ana! Ana!"

AnaMaria turned to the voice calling her, turning from the view of the sunset the Oceanic presented her. "Ana, didn' ya hear me callin' ya?" The man who called her was rather handsome. He was tall, American, and, if he were chasing you, very intimidating. But there was nothing intimidating about the way he moved toward her. His long sandy blonde hair was waving in the sea breeze. His blue eyes were warm and glowed with something Ana liked very much.

"I did. I was just looking out to sea."

"Ah. So the sea is more interesting than I am?" The man smiled devilishly.

Ana was about to retort when a sailor walked up to him. "Who's this, eh, James?"

"This? Well..." James trailed off, not sure how to explain it. So he just looped his arm 'round Ana and said, "Why don't you explain, sweetheart?"

"Sweetheart? Didn't figure you for the type to settle down, Sawyer," the sailor grinned at James.

"Well, he has, it seems," Ana said, waving her hand before them. "He's my husband."

"Married? Sawyer, you scoundrel, why didn't ye tell anyone?"

"Didn't want this kind of heckling you're givin' me, Jack." He turned to Ana. "Have I introduced you to the most useless rascal on our crew, Ana?"

"No, I don't think you have. Who is this...charming character, James?"

"His name is Jack. Jack Shepard. He's a doctor, heading to England to go to Oxford." Ana studied the man. He was tall as well, but his hair and eyes were a dark brown. He was not clean-shaven, and his hair was very short. "So, Jack, how about you? You getting anybody yet?"

"Actually, I took the same route as you, James, 'cept I stayed closer to home." He gestured to his hand, also ringed. "My girl's the lookout, Kate." He smiled as he looked forward to the girl at the bow, with flowing brown hair. "Well, I'll leave you two to it." He smiled at Ana as he left.

Sawyer looked down to her and said, "Well, ready to go to bed?"

"Yeah, I think so." She walked with Sawyer to their cabin below.

"Ana? Ana! Ana!"

AnaMaria turned to the now-familiar voice. "What d'you need, Gibbs?"

The old pirate gestured. "Come to Jack's cabin with me. We've some ideas on what to do next, and need some fresh input." Ana smiled and followed Gibbs to Jack's cabin.

Author's note:

Yes, yes, yes. 1. I'm horrible. 2. I did say Ana was married. 3. I did, in fact, steal the ship Oceanic and her crew from LOST. I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I AM BAD! And will she crash on an island that is incredibly creepy? Hmmm...must think on that...mooses...moo...hey hey, Canadian, hey?...rambling...REVIEW!