Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 7 of Jaded. Thank you to all of those who have left reviews, it really does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying this story. I hope that you continue liking Rose and like this next part of this story. She's slowly beginning to grow as a character and I hope to have her fully grown in this story. I do apologize that it's taking so long for her development. Without Further ado Chapter 7.

Chapter 7

A weather beaten group of swabs stood in a ragged line-up.

Rose pursed her lips softly as she looked at the group.

"Feast your eyes, Cap'n. All of 'em faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt and crazy, to boot."

Jack moved down the line looking at the group. Gibbs was right at his side as Jack gave a long, contemplative look at a diminutive sailor then continued on.

Will looked on unimpressed with the group of people that was before them. "So THIS is your able-bodied crew?"

Rose elbowed him sharply causing Will to gasp.

Jack nodded his head as he continued to walk. He came to a stop in front of Cotton, a short sailor with a large, colorful parrot on his shoulder. Jack raised his brow. "You, sailor!"

"Cotton, sir."

"Mr. Cotton. Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" He looked at Cotton and waited for him to answer, but none came. "Mr. Cotton ! Answer me! "

"He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out." Gibbs explained.

Cotton opened his mouth to show this to Jack who grimaced.

"So he trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's yet figured how."

Jack took a breath understanding what he had to do now. "Mr. Cotton-'s Parrot. Same question."

"Wind in your SAILS! Wind in your SAILS!" The Parrot parroted back.

"Mostly, we figure that means 'yes.'" Gibbs said, looking over at Jack.

"Of course it does." Jack looked over at Will and Rose. "Satisfied?"

"Well, you've proved they're mad."

"And what's the benefit for us?" A woman's voice rang out causing Jack to turn. Jack moved along, and stopped in front of a hunched sailor, eyes downcasted, face shaded by a buckled tricorn hat. Jack leaned to the side, trying to peer beneath the hat.

The sailor looked up, and it was a woman, Anamaria, and she was very angry.

"AnaMaria."

AnaMaria suddenly slapped Jack with a hard right cross.

"I suppose you didn't deserve that one, either?" Will questioned looking at Jack who was holding his jaw.

"No, that one I deserved." Jack called back to the two port royal civilians.

"You stole my boat!" AnaMaria snapped, narrowing her eyes at Jack.

"Actually -"

AnaMaria smacked him again even harder.

"Borrowed. Borrowed without permission. But with every intention of bringing it back."

"But you didn't!"

"You'll get another one!"

"I will."

"A better one." Will said, trying to smooth everything over between the two of them.

"A better one!" Jack agreed with what Will said.

Will pointed to the Interceptor. "That one."

Jack whirled around with a wide eyed look at what Will had said. "What one?"

Will gave him a hard look in return.

Jack and the crew turned to look at the Interceptor. Jack turned sharply to Will. "THAT one?!" Jack thought for a moment then realized it was a good plan. "Aye, that one! What say you?"

"Aye!" The crew yelled.

"Anchors Aweigh!"

"No, no, no, no. It's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir." Gibbs said, trying to get Rose and AnaMaria to stay behind.

Jack glanced up at the sky before looking back at Gibbs. "It'll be far worse not to have her." He moved away.

Gibbs and Will exchanged a look.

"You aren't leaving me behind either… I am bringing my sister back home…"

Gibbs let out a soft breath knowing that was true. Rose was headstrong he remembered how she was when they had sailed to the new land of where her father was Governor of.

CBPCBP

Rose let out a soft breath leaning against the edge of the ship looking out at the water. Her arms up near her face, her light brown hair blew in the wind, and her blue eyes looked around seeing an occasional dolphin jump up from the sea and back down.

AnaMaria looked over at the young woman and her brows furrowed. She walked over to the young woman. "I am surprised Jack allowed yer to join us."

Rose looked over at AnaMaria and slowly moved her arms from the edge of the ship. She let out a soft chuckle. "Jack could've tried, but he wouldn't have stopped me from coming." She admitted softly.

"You sound so sure of that." AnaMaria said with a raised brow.

"I am." She said as she wrapped her arms around herself. "My sister is out there… on the Pearl… I want to bring her home safely."

AnaMaria looked at the young woman in awe. She hadn't expected a young well raised woman to do such a thing, but perhaps that was something that was part of the sisterly bond that she had.

CBPCBP

A flash of lighting and a clack of thunder shook around them. The canvas of the sails were stretched and taut. The ship rocked into a swell, climbing up the other side.

The crew was excellent, well practiced sailors, but it still took everything that they had to keep the ship afloat.

Jack stood at the helm steering the ship.

Will looked forward to where Jack faced the storm head on.

Jack looked down at his compass and nodded.

"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work?" Will questioned raising his voice so Gibbs could hear him.

Rose shook her head lightly as she gripped a rope to keep herself balanced.

"Aye, the compass doesn't point north. But we're not trying to find north, are we?" Gibbs nodded his head moving away. Gibbs climbed the tilted deck towards Jack. "We should drop canvas, sir!"

"She can hold a bit longer." Jack hollered out.

Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as the wind began to howl even more.

Jack smiled a smirk.

"What's in your head as puts you in such a fine mood, Captain?"

"We're catching up!" Jack looked back to the sea liking the fact that they were well on their way.

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This is the end of Chapter 7 of Jaded. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. I tried to give Rose a little bit more of a personality. Reviews keep me going and I hope to have the next chapter out soon. Until next time guys.