Jack, her monkey, jumped down from the rafters to his shoulder and squealed as the man raised a fresh apple to his mouth and took a large bite, the juice dripping down his chin. And then he laughed and it was exactly like she remembered it.

"No." Nicolette whispered as she took several minuscule steps back, only stopping when she felt her back softly collide with the edge of Will's shoulder. Her eyes darted back and forth between Tia and the man, only one of which took to staring back at her in return. "Hec- no…" Nic turned to Tia, jaw set in anger as she gestured towards Hector. "He is dead."

"Was…" Barbossa corrected her and Nicolette's fiery glare turned onto him. Funny, how once one had died they could miss even the worst in people. Her temper for one, once more irritating than a Navy officer and uglier than the oldest sea wench, had still been missed and he grinned smugly as she so quickly reminded him of what he had been missing.

"Oh P- Balderdash!" She cursed, his smirk pushing her over the edge. "How! And since when?" Gibbs, who had come to stand behind her, was watching the man with just as much curiosity as his hand came down to reassuringly rest on her shoulder.

"Calm, my child. ''Tis a shock to you."

"Shock?" Nicolette barked, outraged. "No, no. Shock is..shock!…This is completely different!"

"Still got that fiery temper I see." Barbossa grinned and Nic's whole being stiffened, becoming as rigid as a board.

"You!" She exclaimed as she tilted her head and her tongue played with the roof of her mouth. "You, shhh…" And then she began to back away with her hand going to her head, rubbing her temple. "This is a dream…it must be a dream."

She turned fast and walked towards the balcony she had been seeking refuge on just moments ago, returning to her spot on the rail. Hector made a move to go after her but was stopped by Tia's hand as it fell down in front of his chest.

"Leave her, she had been through too much tonight. Give her time."

How could any of this be? Nicolette must have been sat outside for a good hour, maybe more, and she still could not wrap her head around it all. First Jack and now...

It was too much, too much for one person to live through in one day. So when the footsteps came from behind her she sighed, knowing she wasn't ready. She would never be ready.

"Never believed in ghosts as a child." Nicolette whispered into the darkness, her focus never leaving the depths of the swamp. Anything farther away than a hundred yards or so was lost and naked to the human eye. There could have been monsters, ghouls and threatening swamp creatures beyond the edging of trees, though in that moment nothing seemed as scary as what was inside of that hut. "Always believed they were old wives tales invented to keep me out of trouble." She almost laughed, nothing boisterous just a simple cough of emotion, but it dimmed just as quick as it rose and Nicolette's mouth turned down into a sullen frown. "Until I met you…" Her head turned slightly, just enough for her to confirm it was Hector and then it turned back away as he took a step forward. "Not even Jack showed them to me and he had lived every story imaginable. You…that's all you are. A ghost."

"I'm not a ghost Nicolette." As Hector's hand touched her shoulder and she felt his fingers land on her skin one by one in a drumming motion like that he had done so many times, Nic gasped and clenched her eyes shut as she bit down on her tongue. "And this isn't a dream."

"But it must be! Can't you see!" She exclaimed and whipped around, throwing the hand off of her shoulder and finally looking at him. He looked the same, a spitting image of the figure she had last seen lying cold amongst the caves of The Isle De Muerta. That same pompous hat and classically masculine attire, he was still a rugged pirate but with much more class than those by the likes of Jack. The burgundy and black patterned waistcoat which matched her own corset and the large statement belt buckles, not one detail, not even a button, was missing. "You cannot be back." She finally followed on as her eyes fell to the floor, her voice shaking. "You just can't be."

"But I am." His deep gravely voice was dropped to a whisper. "It is not a dream." Slowly, with movements so steady it held the grace of a predator, Nicolette looked dead into his dull blue eyes and reached out to touch the cuff of his old roughed up Navy Coat.

As she felt the rough cotton under her finger tips she recoiled her touch and wrapped her hand around the gold encrusted handle of her dagger. It was then that Barbossa began to laugh loud and bellowing.

"There be no need for that lass." He cackled, hooking his hands into his belt as Nicolette stared at him, unsure, and took a step back. "You never once tried to kill me in ten years, are we not going to even make it ten minutes?" Nicolette sucked on her cheeks, her lips pouting softly as her hands relaxed and fell down to hand by her side.

Barbossa may have been smirking at her however he would be lying if he said he hadn't imagined a different greeting. Upon awaking he hadn't been sure she had survived, the last he could remember was the Navy being outside the caves and their crew dispersed across different settings. The thought of her lying to rest as he was being brought back had sickened him but then upon learning of her fate, of how the voodoo priestess had seen her not two moons before he awoke, he had rejoiced. Knowing she was safe had calmed his newly beating heart and he begun to imagine what it would be like when they would be reunited, though none of his dreams were like this.

"You survived I see, did not doubt that you would." He grinned forcefully moments before his expression turned sour. "With Sparrow?"

Of course she was sailing alongside Sparrow, he had known it to be true deep down in his gut. Although each time the idea arose in his mind he banished it and told himself that there was a chance, a hope that she wasn't.

"I did not have much choice." Nicolette whispered in a small voice, more timid than she had sounded for years, a decade even. "I only stayed with him for a while. Then I stayed in Tortuga for a some time. It was only when Turner came looking for Jack I went back to the Pearl." Nicolette wasn't sure why she was justifying what she had done and who she had been with to a ghost. But something about him standing there now, asking her questions and watching her so closely made her feel ashamed. Ashamed of how quickly she had moved on, how suddenly she had gone to Jack and let him touch her in ways this man had not for years and for how she had laughed so easily just days after his death.

Suddenly however, as Hector rolled his eyes and turned to face out at the swamp instead of towards her, she snapped

"Why am I not surprised-"

"I do not want to hear whatever sour jealous comments you have!" Nic snapped, finding her back bone and her voice which caused Hector to jump and look at her. Her eyes were alive now and on fire just as they had been when he had first came down from his rest to greet her. "You died. What did you expect me to do? Find a Cottage on a hillside and mourn you for all my days to come?"

"And if I hadn't would that have mattered?" Nic's eyes widened at Barbossa's words and her jaw fell open as she desperately searched for words. Finally, after a moment and once she had controlled her anger enough to not wipe Hector's smugness away with the back of her hand, she bit her tongue and sighed.

"What is the use of arguing over what never was?" But that did not seem to satisfy him and her glare darkened. "Perhaps. Is that what you want to hear? Perhaps I would have still left with him or perhaps I would have stayed with you on an island, stranded by Jack and allowed you to kill me before I starved…"

"A simple no would have sufficed." Hector rolled his eyes, tutting at her as she sighed.

"This is…so wrong…" Nicolette scoffed and shook her head. "You know what's happening? Out there? Davy Jones." She paused, allowing the name to linger. "I don't know what he will be planning now, and thanks to our old mate Norrington I fear Cutler Beckett has heart or will have by morning. We can't be bickering about who I keep company." Barbossa did a double take at her, hearing only the suggestion in her words and she scowled. "Did you listen to anything I just said?"

"Aye." He nodded sharply, reluctantly turning to her while trying to calm his nerve. The woman wound him up more now than he every remembered. She seemed to have a newly found confidence and with it came no fear of talking to him like he were just a cabin boy. But, she was right, and he had to admit that. "And I must say that I agree with you. We need to focus on what we need, and right now that's Jack, alive."

Nicolette raised a brow at her former husband and gestured for him to go on. She knew they all wanted Jack back but Barbossa, of all people, needing him back and living was a whole other thing.

"What you say is right, and Beckett will become the real threat to all who call themselves Pirate when he gets control of the heart of Davy Jones." Hector began explaining clearly. "The Brethren Court will be called to gather and for that we need Jack." He paused briefly to glance over his shoulder and ensure no one was listening in on them. She too looked back, frowning as she saw Elizabeth staring at them but turning back to Hector when she concluded the girl was not able to hear them. "I don't doubt Sparrow told you of the Brethren Court and of the Nine Pirate Lords?"

Nic nodded, though it was slow as her head was clouded with curiosity. She know of the Pirate Lords, she knew very well that Jack and Barbossa were both one, well enough to know what their pieces of eight were and were they hid them. It was Hector telling her such a thing that actually made her realise he did trust her a little bit.

"The Pieces of Eight?" The words rolled from her tongue, her voice hushed to assure no one heard.

"Aye. Trust Jack to be the only Pirate in history to fail in handing it over to a successor." Barbossa tutted with another roll of his eyes and he shook his head with irritation.

"So…" Nicolette trailed off in thought and only realised she had not carried on speaking aloud until she noticed the curious look Hector was sending her. "That is the only reason you're going to help get Jack back? For one of his little trinkets?" Nic's face contorted in what was meant in disgust of his selfishness but it soon turned to anger as Barbossa grunted and turned his back to her.

"Apologies for not having the same admiration for the man as some others." He growled, snarling over his shoulder like a bitter old man. "Tell me how long was it exactly before you ran back to him?"

The air shifted then and Nicolette stiffened her back and her chin rose ever so slightly as she inhaled deeply. He knew he shouldn't have said it, that it sounded childish like a little boy crying over a toy which had once been his. But that was just it, she had been his and had still wanted that to be the case when they met once more.

Barbossa had imagined Nicolette seeing him and running to him, her arms going around his neck and them embracing and kissing as she wished they had never been apart. But it was obvious that time had not been as kind and she was gone.

"I thought we agreed not to argue on this?" She murmured and bit down on her lip, almost drawing blood. Then she started to take considered and slow steps forward, swaying lightly as she smirked, toying with Hector as he watched her from over his shoulder. "And anyway, that is no longer any of your business. Should I quote 'till death do us part'." Each syllable was pronounced perfectly and the tip of her tongue danced along her teeth as she fell silent and quirked a brow as he turned to meet her, frowning.

She didn't care if she hurt him. Dead or not, he may have loved her but he still mistreated her. He had manipulated her and threatened her and she still wasn't sure what she had ever felt for him at their peak.

It made her feel incredibly awkward to think of the nights they shared, the intimacy they indulged in before the curse. She had enjoyed it, at the time, but there was something in the seams of the memories, a darkness which she could never ignore…and it was always the curse. She knew the curse had driven him to treat her badly, had it not plagued them she did not doubt he would have been quite the fair husband. But it had been there, for almost all of their marriage and it had broken their respect for one another.

As Nicolette sighed, Hector hesitated as his next words became stuck in his throat. "So I'll be addressing you as Miss Barker?"

"Yes." Her answer came after a short pause as she wondered if she could let him down gently, although there only seemed to be one clear way forward. And that was honesty from both of them. She could always however, distract him. "Although it is Captain now, actually." Nic carried on with a light smile and upon seeing his inquisitive look, she nodded towards the door leading back into the cabin. "The crew, after Jack…you know."

Hector only nodded in reply, watching her as her feet turned and she leant over the railing of the small balcony, staring down into the dark waters below. She studied her reflection, still questioning if it were real, and praying it wasn't.

"I am truly sorry." She looked up then, quirking a brow and sending Barbossa a doubtful snarl before she smiled and scoffed. "I am being sincere."

"I know." Her laughter grew then as she turned to lean her back against the railing and shook her head. She knew he was being sincere from that dull sadness clouding his eyes, but that just made it all the more amusing. "It's just he said the same thing after your passing." Their eyes met and it was Barbossa's turn to scoff. "Ironic really, given how he shot-"

"I remember perfectly well without the reminder if you don't mind." He interrupted Nic before she could finish and she finally found herself being the one to smirk. Though, yet again, it dimmed as the silence settled upon them once more and she studied the man closer than she had all evening.

"You think it's possible? To get him back?" She whispered.

"I'm living proof aren't I?" He held his arms out by his side in a gesture to himself but she was not convinced. She was especially not convinced by the fact he would be the one leading them.

"Can I trust you this time?" She asked lowly.

"What reason do I have to lie?" The doubt in her eyes was still as present as ever although she could not answer his question. Fresh from the grave, he had no reason to lead them astray. He hated Beckett just as much as she did and they appeared to be on the same team. And yet still…her trust in him had utterly diminished. He had after all held a gun to her chest as he himself had been shot dead.

Barbossa seemed to notice her hesitation and her doubt and decided to take a harsher approach with her.

"You won't get him back without my help." To that she scoffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm sure I would manage…"

"With those men in there as a crew?" His voice was taunting, he meant to tease her but deep down they both knew he was right. Never the less they had named her Captain and they were…could be, good men.

"They're able." She snapped back with a pout. "And who says I'll even let you on my ship."

"You're ship?" Barbossa mused, his tone unchanging as he lowered his chin to peer at her in amusement. "What ship?…The Pearl?"

"No…obviously not, that went down with Jack." Nicolette sneered and out the corner of her eyes she could see her…'ship' bobbing up and down on the river. "It's…we'll it is more of a boat…" He smiled as if to say 'thought so' and she scoffed hardly. "Oh and you have a ship docked out the back door do you?" Barbossa seemed to be taken aback by this and his eyes widened as the roles quickly reversed and Nicolette was left smirking this time as her posture relaxed.

"Well…no. Not yet." He shook his head, hurrying for a come back. "But, as Captain I will acquire a ship and a crew." Her head snapped towards him, pupils dilated as her eyes narrowed.

"I remain Captain. Until Jack returns." Her eyes dropped as she calmed and Hector merely stared at her, both shocked and a little impressed by her forwardness. "And…we can acquire a ship and a crew."

A moment passed and silence fell upon them as they stared at each other. No words were spoken but they were challenging one another, waiting for the other to give in. Nicolette knew she were the weaker contender for he, in his past life, had been a Captain and she had been nothing but a undeserving First Mate in the old crews opinion.

However, Hector shifted on his feet and then nodded once with a light sigh. "Fine, be it." Nicolette tried to not look too shocked but she found that she couldn't smile either as Hector dropped to mockingly bow to her. "Captain." She too nodded before clearing her throat.

"And Gibbs will remain First Mate. You know the way, you can navigate…and do your best to keep those children out of my way…" Her voice dropped into a growl as she saw the silhouette of the boy and girl inside. She could tell Elizabeth was still watching her, only looking away when Barbossa turned towards her.

"Not friends with them yet then?" He didn't receive an answer. "But fine. I'll take that deal as long as you listen to me."

"Me!" Nicolette cried but hushed herself as she felt eyes turning onto her from inside the hut. She warned them off with a glare and then turned back to Hector, forcefully hushed. "…if we are going to do this properly then we need to be honest with each other. No more secrets, no more lies. I know everything before if happens and not just when it suits you. And in return…I may listen to you when it isn't poppycock."

Nicolette held out her hand for him though he did nothing but stare at it. Moving to her eyes every so often, as he thought about it. Then, he grinned that questionable smile and shook her hand in his.

"Deal." He sang huskily, continuing to hold her hand in his. It was only as she raised her brow to test him that he let her go. "In that case. We have need to travel to Singapore."

"Singapore!" Nicolette cried. "Why on Earth do we need to travel all the way to Singapore?" That journey would take over two months, and that's if they weren't delayed, captured or killed on the way.

"Because…we need to speak to Sao Feng…" Upon hearing the name, she recoiled and grimaced. Nicolette felt like she had dealt with her fair share of Pirates Lord drama recently, she didn't really feel like adding a third to the mix especially when that third Pirate would be Sao Feng. One night in his company had been quite enough.

"I was afraid you were going to say that."