Chapter 21

Their eyes met taking in the sight of each other.

Each one didn't know what to say.

Ana felt a rush of feelings come over her. Had it really been 10 years since she had last seen him?

Jack was the 1st one to break the ice.

"Shouldn't ya be pickin' up dat plate?"

Ana looked down at the plate, "oh damn!" she cursed very embarassed as she picked up the plate, "that wuz one of mum's plates."

Jack bent down to help her also, "don't worry it's just 1 plate." He advised.

Their hands touched accidently and their eyes met once again.

Anamaria quickly picked up the last pieces of the plate and threw them away.

"Ya changed ya hair." She commented sourly while walking towards the trash can.

"Well so did ya, but is tha any way ta talk ta a frien ya haven't seen in 10 years?" He asked as he sat down in a chair.

"Oh so is tha all we were, friends?" She asked spitefully as she went back to cooking dinner.

Instantly the room became quiet.

"Ana ya know tha's not what I meant."

"Oh really!" she retorted, why am I getting this angry? she thought, "then wha did ya mean cause I 'ave no bloody idea wha ya mean."

Jack's eyebrows rose in suprise at her anger, "why are ya so mad at me?"

Ana sighed, this was definitely not how she planned on starting things.

"It's not ya, it's just tha kinda person I've become. Bitter, alone, an'...lonely."

Once again she cursed herself mentally, why did he have to know if she was lonely or not.

Jack saw the sadness cloud over her face before it quickly disappeared when she started cooking again.

"Anyways 'nough bout my problems, wha' about ya?" She asked trying to change the subject.

A/N: Sorry to interrupt, but okay this part is kinda messed up, I know that in the movie was on the Pearl when Will and Elizabeth were there and she helped defeated Barbossa's crew, but I think my mind was somewhere on vacation when I was writing this part, anyways think of it as an AU type of moment will you? Sorry for the incovienence, on with the story you go.

While he talked about what he did during those 10 years, Ana found out more about him.

After she left a few days later he rode with Bootstrap Bill and the Black Pearl. Then about 2 years later he became captain under strange circumstances. First mutiny on the ship happened because they had been sailing for about 2 months without any pay or succesful sea battles and the crewmembers were tired of this. Well one day they handed Bill an ultimatum: either he left or they killed him and took over the ship. Bill took the first ultimatum and was thrown overboard and they held a vote on who would be captain either him or another crewmember named Hector Barbossa and Jack won. Barbossa upset about the loss took every precaution to get rid of Sparrow and succeeded 2 years later during another mutiny. They threw him overboard and proclaimed Barbossa the new captain. Luckily they threw him off not too far from a town and he swam to the nearest town Beaubaton in Hispanola. It took him 3 years to find Barbossa and gain the Pearl back with the help of Will and Elizabeth.

As she was listening to him, she remembered him telling her a story about 10 years ago about how much he wanted to own the Pearl and she smiled.

"Wha're ya smilin' about?" He asked curiously.

Ana looked up and saw his brown eyes watching her.

Ana frowned, "nothin'." She answered gruffly as she went back to fixing dinner.

Jack chuckled to himself as he watched her cook some more. She should smile more, it looks good on her.

He refrained from saying that comment because he didn't wanna make her even more angry.

Then Edward came in; he sensed the tension in the room.

"So I see you two have met." He replied sarcastically.

Nobody said anything as he sat down.

"So what's wrong?" He implored gently.

"Nothin'!" They both answered Jack nonchalantly and Ana forcefully.

"Oh come on somethin must be wrong if you both aren't talking to each other."

They both looked at each other, how could they really describe what was going on between them?

"We were talkin," stated Jack, "just not right now."

Edward clapped his hands together, "well good, conversation livens things up a bit. So Serena how's that dinner coming?"

Ana winced even though they couldn't see it. Damn his memory.

"Serena?" Asked Jack with a confused look and raised eyebrows.

"Yes, she's a friend of Ana's." Explained Edward as if he had said it a million times.

"I'll explain it ta ya lata." Clarified Ana as she finished cooking.

Jack just shook his head, he had heard that Edward was losing his mind but he didn't know it had gotten this bad. He then looked over at Ana or was Ana too ashamed about her past that she lied to her dad to disguise herself? Well whatever the deal was he decided not to say anything.

Let them deal with their own problems. He decided as he sat down at the table. The table was polished wood with flowers carved into the border giving it a charming look.

Edward sat down beside him while Ana sat across from them.

The food was laid out before them as if it were a lavish spread. There was roasted chicken, vegetables, and even a small salad with dressing.

After sitting down for a few minutes Ana watched Jack eat hoping to see if he still ate the same way as she remembered.

She smiled to herself as he started chomping down as if he hadn't eaten in a while.

"So Serena what do you do for a living?" Asked Edward.

Ana took a cup of coffee and sipped it slowly while she tried to think of what to say.

After a few minutes she put her cup down.

"I'm a pirate just like Jack."

At the mention of his name Jack looked up from his meal and eyed the two of them solemnly.

"Oh really. So I suppose you don't feel bad about the endagerment of others because of your choice of life?"

Ana shrugged her shoulders, "tha's a price ya have ta be willin' ta pay if ya wanna enter this profession."

"So have you had to kill a lot of people?" He asked quietly.

Ana saw the both of them watching her curiously.

Why was he asking her all of these questions about her being a pirate and killing people? Does it really matter?

She heaved a small sigh, "let's just say I get tha job done." She admitted choosing her words carefully.

"Well," Replied Edward deciding to change the subject, "why don't we finish dinner?"

"Yea." Agreed Ana thankful that the attention was off of her.

Jack just nodded his head before stuffing his face once again.

After dinner Ana and Jack were washing dishes together. Ana who was focused on cleaning didn't say anything while Jack was just staying quiet.

"So," he asked turning towards her, "I heard tha ya're in need of a new ship ta sail on."

Ana's ears perked up at the prospect of a new job, "maybe." she replied wearily.

"Well we'd both be in luck luv, cause I'm in need of a new crewmemba."

Ana eyed him curiously with a raised eyebrow, "well it all depends."

"On wha'?" He asked.

"If ya believe tha havin' a woman on ya ship is bad luck or not." She had been turned down by many ships because of that stupid belief.

Jack thought about who would probably have a problem with her on the ship, and only one person came into his mind: Gibbs. Even when Elizabeth had been on for about a few months, every chance he would Gibbs would voice his complaint about bad luck following women on ships. Even though he had just that bad characteristic, he was a good seaworthy pirate after all.

"I don't have a problem bout women on ships. If ya pull ya weight ya can stay on is my belief." Philosophized Jack.

"So wha do ya say do we 'ave an accord?" He asked stretching his hand out.

Ana just looked at his tanned hand with apprehension. Here was a job, but she was very hesitant to take it just because her ex-boyfriend was there. Never in all of her 10 years at sea had she backed down from a challenge or never taken a job, so why now was she staring at his hand?

Okay what the hell coud go wrong, it's just a job. Thought Ana as she shook his "yea we got an accord."

Jack stood up rubbing his belly happily, "well luv I thank ya for tha lovely dinna ya prepared, an I shall see ya tomorrow."

Before she could stop herself she spoke, "ya're leavin?" She asked in a squeaky tone.

Jack eyed her curiously, "so ya do care bout me."

Ana frowned, "don't get too excited I just mean ya're leavin' early?" She clarified.

"Well yea 'cause I gotta finish some more business."

"Alright."

They walked over to the door, and stood there for a few minutes.

Is this how it's going to be from now on? She thought looking at him, she didn't want life to be filled with awkward silences and hidden glances. Something needed to break.

"Well until tomorrow." She said holding out her hand.

"Until tomorrow, be sure ta be there early." Advised Jack as he shook her hand.

Wow, thought Jack with astonishment which never showed on his face, for a pirate she has really nice hands.

Ana looked down and saw that Jack was still holding her hand.

"Ummm...Jack?"

"Hmm?"

Ana motioned down and Jack saw their combined hands.

"Oops...sorry." He apologized as he removed his hand.

"Tomorrow." Agreed Ana as she closed the door.

After closing the door she leaned her back against the door and stared at the hand that he had held.

It was still a bit warm from his touch, and even though she hated to admit it, it felt good to have it there.

Ana heaved a discontented sigh, "this is not gonna be as easy as I thought."