A/N: I recently took another glance at this story and realized how poorly written it was. So I've decided to polish it up one piece at a time. I don't know if anyone is still reading it, but for my sanity, I am going to retool it chapter by chapter. Maybe I will be struck with new inspiration and finish it.

Disclaimer: I own neither Pirates of the Caribbean nor any of it's characters, names or locations. This is a simple exercise in creativity that I will not try to sell or profit from. All credit goes to Disney.

"Ana?" Laura opened the door to the cabin the two of them shared. Alone, on one of the two narrow beds pushed along opposite walls, was Anamaria. She sat, her legs folded under her, her arms cradling her head, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed silently. "Oh, Ana…" Laura was at her side in a second, wondering what had reduced her normally composed sister to tears. "What's wrong?" she asked, rubbing circles on Ana's back.

"Jack kissed me," her sister managed to mumble through her tears.

"And that's a bad thing?" Laura couldn't hide her confusion.

"Once upon a time no. But tonight, yes." Ana sat up slowly, wiping her eyes. "I never told you, but Jack and I once were what you might call lovers."

"Might?" Laura asked. She had suspected that all along. Jack came around far too often when she was younger.

"Lovers then." Ana sighed. "You were young, I didn't want you to find out. For the first year or so, we were just mates. Then one night…" she bit her lip, searching for words, "well, it developed into more."

"What happened to the two of you?" Laura sensed she might be getting the full story at last.

"He became the infamous Jack Sparrow. And there wasn't room in that title for me," Ana looked broken.

"I don't understand," Laura pushed her sister's hair out of the tear tracks on her face.

"It's simple enough really. He left a lot, going on his adventurers. And I stayed behind. And soon, I started hearing things. Horrible things from all sorts of women…"

"Oh," Laura's stomach turned a little at the thought. "Did you ask him?"

"Yes. Didn't need to though. He came back and said that he thought he was holding me back. That I ought to find someone ready to settle down. Bull. He just wanted to dip his wick in whatever moved. I heard enough talk from the whores of Tortuga to know that. I broke it off, sailed on a merchant ship for a bit."

"That's why you left those months?" Laura was beginning to understand.

"Aye. I earned enough for our place on the beach." both women smiled fondly at the thought of their little cabin. It had been months since they had last been home. "A few years went by. I heard about Jack's adventures, how he got his branded by the East India Trading Company and sacked Nassau. And then I heard he was looking for the Isla De Muerta." Laura nodded. She knew all of that story. "And how he needed help. And I don't know. Something inside of me wanted to see him, to see if he had become as crazy as everyone said. So I went to port that day to join his crew…"

"And now we're here," Laura finished for her.

"Aye." Ana sighed.

"Did he apologize?" Laura asked.

"Once. That night we saved him from the noose in Port Royal. When I was stitching him up, he said his biggest regret was losing me. Andnnow that he'd gotten the Pearl back, he wanted me back."

"Did he?" Laura's eyes went wide. "And what did you tell him?"

"I told him to lay off the ale and get some sleep. He hasn't spoken off it since then. That was months ago."

"But he made you first mate. And he gives you these looks. And tonight--"

"He kissed me," Ana sounded disgusted, "And I let the bloody fool do it. I expect he's just missing female company at the moment, looking for a bed warmer."

"Do you really think so?" Laura asked gently. "Because he could get plenty of that on shore leave. And he never seems to."

"I know." Ana sighed again. "I don't know what to make of it. He seems like he's changed. But I don't want to put myself in a position to be hurt again. And I won't be second to a ship or a lifestyle."

"Then why are we here?" Laura asked, already knowing the answer.

Ana looked up at her. "I wish I knew."

"Perhaps you just need to go talk to him. Get closure." Laura suggested.

"And you're the relationship expert now?" Ana's tone held a bit of amusement. "That lad's really making an impression on you." Laura's cheeks flushed.

"He's very nice…" she mumbled.

"That he is," Ana agreed knowingly. "And good looking."

"Isn't he?" Laura perked up. "I mean, in a baby-faced way." she amended.

Ana laughed softly. "You've been getting close with him. Does he treat you right?"

"He does." Laura smiled. "Though he's just my mate."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Having a male best mate can only last so long." Ana said cryptically.

"What do you mean?" Laura asked sharply.

"I mean that more often than not, they turn into something more. Whether or not you expect it to."

"Like you and Jack?"

"Except I'm betting he's a fair bit nicer than Jack." Laura gave her sister a sympathetic look. "What I'm saying," Ana continued, "is to take things slow. The things in life that really matter are worth waiting for and working on."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning get a genuine profession of love before you dive into bed with him." Ana said bluntly.

"I'm not-- I mean--" Laura protested.

"I didn't think I would either. But beautiful men can have ways. Just be on the lookout. You're boy seems fair, but I won't hesitate to tie sand bags to his feet and let the sharks have him if he hurts you." Ana's tears were dry now. She had reverted back to big sister mode.

"I'll let him know you said that," Laura laughed.

"I'll let him know myself. Although I suppose I can wait until you are an actual couple to threaten him. In the meantime I'll just passive aggressively assign him to the hardest work." Ana winked at her. Laura shoved her playfully.

"Thanks. What are you going to do about Jack?"

Ana exhaled. "I suppose I'm going to take a cold bath and go talk to him."

"The kiss was that good, eh?" Laura smirked.

"Aye," Ana admitted. "And it had a tenth of the passion he used to kiss me with. But something about it was different."

"Jack's a bit more grown now. Perhaps he's learned to treat you better. Being marooned twice might make you think twice about holding onto things that mean something to you."

"Well, we'll see." Ana gave her a hug. "Go back and join the celebrations. Thanks for coming to check on me."

"You aren't going to start crying the moment I leave are you?" Laura asked her, half jokingly.

"No. I'm going to smile." Laura looked skeptic. "Or at least deal with the issue head on." Ana rephrased. She was already on her feet.

"That's my Ana," Laura smiled proudly. "Good luck."

Ana watched her sister leave the room. She crossed the cabin to the small porcelain basin in the corner. She wet a cloth and washed her face, dabbing her neck and chest. She pulled off the shirt that smelled like smoke and rum and salt, pulling on a clean white cotton one to replace it. She finger-combed her ebony waves of hair, peering into the glass above the basin. In the dark, she couldn't get a good bearing on her appearance. It would have to do.

She pulled her shoulders back, steeled her face, and walked out of the cabin. Time to get closure.