"Lydia, are you all right?" Will asked. She looked down at her bloodstained shirt.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "Just a few scratches." She smiled. "That was some nice swordplay I saw, where did you learn?"

"I taught myself," Will said, trying not to brag.

"What are you talking about?" Jack interrupted. "I taught him everything he knows," he said to Lydia. She rolled her eyes.

"That's not true," Will countered. "He's just jealous because I'm better." Lydia laughed.

"Who's the pirate here?" Jack said, offended. Lydia walked back to her room laughing all the way.

The next day the Black Pearl left the four islands. Although everyone had become closer, there was still a strange tension between Lydia and Jack. Lydia wasn't a fool; she knew what it was about. The treasure. The kiss meant nothing, and Jack would be stupid not to see that. They left the treasure sitting in the middle of the deck. No one talked about it; no one even heeded its presence. It just sat there, waiting for a decision to be made.

"Lydia," Jack said, "I think we need to have a chat." He led her to his cabin, where Will was waiting. "I suppose you know why you're here," Jack began.

"Of course," Lydia replied. "To discuss my treasure."

"Now wait a minute, it's not just your treasure!" Jack countered.

"Yes it is," she argued. "It's my grandfather's, therefore it's mine."

"But I had the medallion, and the ship, so therefore part of it belongs to me."

"It's still my decision to give any of it to you," she retorted. "And I'm not so sure you deserve any."

"Oh, is that what you think?" Jack stood up. "Well I'll tell you what I think. I think—"

"Jack," Will said warningly.

"What?" he snapped.

"She's right. This is her treasure, it belongs to her family." Will replied.

"Damn right," Lydia muttered under her breath.

"So," Will said, giving Lydia an annoyed glance, "she gets to decide how she's to distribute it."

"But—" Jack began.

"And even though," Will cut in, "you may deserve a portion, it's up to her." Jack sat back down, looking aggravated and defeated.

"Fine," Jack said reluctantly. "Fine, take it all, I'll just steal it back."

"I'd like to see you try," Lydia chuckled. "From a captain who can't even win a sword fight against a woman."

"Fine, you want a sword fight, I'll give you a sword fight." Jack replied angrily. "Right here, right now."

"Fine with me," she said. "But no cheating, Captain," she added sarcastically.

"You're one to talk." He retorted. Lydia stood up and drew her sword. Jack did the same. Lydia lunged, Jack dodged. "Is that the best you can do?" he asked mockingly. As if in answer to his question, Lydia swung at him harder. He barely blocked her attack.

"Now wait a minute," Will intervened. "Let's just talk this out." Lydia turned to Will.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she snapped. "You don't know what he did to me in that cave," she snarled, turning back to Jack.

"What I did to you?" Jack said in disbelief. "As I recall, it was you who started it."

"You know damn well that I was drunk!" she yelled. "You told me so!" She swung at him again, close to the neck. He blocked her in such a manner that he was inches from her face. "You could have stopped it any time, but you didn't because you're a conceited, lying, dirty bastard!" Her anger that had been bubbling up inside her finally burst. And it felt good.

"Such strong language from such a pretty lady, and a good kisser," he said grinning. At this Lydia pressed her sword harder against his, but he was too strong. He threw her back, making her stumble backwards into Will. She didn't notice, immediately she got back to her feet.

"I swear, Jack, if you give me one more reason," she said threw clenched teeth.

"That's Captain Jack, and what?" he asked smiling wider. "You're going to stab me? Good luck." Lydia charged Jack, but he was ready. He blocked her charge, and then responded with one of his own. It soon turned into a full-fledged duel. Will was powerless to stop them, and he had a feeling that Jack was planning this. Jack backed Lydia up against the door; it looked like he had finally won. But Lydia had a different idea; she threw her weight against the door, and turned the knob. Jack went stumbling through, which gave Lydia the advantage. As Jack was trying to get up, he felt a foot on his back, pushing him back down. He rolled over onto his back. A sword tip grazed his throat.

"I won," Lydia said smirking.

"Not yet, love." He kicked her legs out from under her. She fell into a backbend, with her hands catching her before she hit the floor. She threw her legs over her head, so that she flipped over, landing on her feet. For a moment, Jack was stunned, but he quickly recovered, and lunged at her. "That was a nice trick, love," he said. "Could you teach me how to do that?" She responded by cutting him on the arm. "Such a temper," he lamented. Their sword fight continued, taking them up to the helm. By now, all the crew was placing bets on who would win. Lydia had the popular vote. But the helm was Jack's territory, and he knew just what to do. He backed her into the position he wanted, and then he sprinted towards the wheel. Before Lydia could do anything to stop him, he spun the wheel causing a sail mast to swing at her. The pole lifted her up and swung her out over the water. "I do deserve part of that treasure, and you know it," Jack argued.

"I owe you nothing," she snapped.

"If that's the way you fell about it, I think I'll just leave you hanging there." He faced the crew-turned-audience, and bowed to applause. The people who bet on Lydia were reluctantly handing over their money to the very relieved looking Jack followers. Will had come out to see the battle after Lydia and Jack had gotten a safe distance from the door, and was just about to tell Jack to get her down, when he saw something that made him smile. While the commotion was pursuing on deck, Lydia had devised a quick plan. She threw down her sword, so it stuck in the deck, and hoisted herself onto the beam. She stood up on the pole and flipped forward, landing silently by her sword. She picked it up and walked up behind Jack. She slid her sword and her free hand around Jack's neck, with a triumphant grin.

"Guess who won?" she whispered, smirking, into Jack's ear.

"Damn it," Jack muttered. Now the crewmembers who betted on Lydia were collecting money from the very unhappy Jack followers.

"I'll be taking my treasure now," she grinned. She sheathed her sword, and walked toward the chest, sitting in the center of the deck. The silent crew parted like the Red Sea, having either the utmost fear or respect for her. She shoved the chest into her room, and slammed the door. As soon as the door shut, the crew all turned to Jack.

"Well what are you waiting for?" he yelled. "Posts everyone!" The crew scattered, trying to hide their snickers from the captain.

During the next few weeks, Lydia and Jack hardly spoke to each other. They used Will as a go-between. First, they were to stop at Port Royal to drop Will off. As a parting gift, Lydia gave Will the pearl necklace to give to Elizabeth, and a sack of coins. "I see how it is," Jack began, as he saw the Lydia give Will the gifts. "Will gets everything, he always gets everything. The girl, the swords, the hat, and what does poor old Jack get? Nothing!"

"Save it, Jack," Lydia said, exasperated. "Whining won't get you anywhere."

"Right," he muttered, as he walked back to the wheel. "Next stop, Tortuga!" he called to his crew. They cheered in response. Lydia rolled her eyes. A few days later, they reached Tortuga. It hadn't changed at all.

"Here's where I get off," Lydia told Jack, as they docked. "This is the end."

"So it is," Jack replied. "You better get your things."

"I've got them," she said.

"But the treasure—"

"It's all yours, mate," she smiled. "Have fun with it."

"Are you serious?" he asked, incredulous.

"Do you see the chest anywhere near me?" she said. Jack looked around. All she had was a small bag. He suddenly ran off to his room. Lydia chuckled. She walked toward the gangplank.

Jack entered his cabin, and looked around. He saw the chest, sitting in the corner. He ran to it, and hastily opened it. All that lay inside were the gold and silver coins. "What happened to all the jewelry?" he asked to himself. He sat and thought, when Lydia gave Will the pearls, the chest was filled with jewels, including more pearls, the tiara and rings. "Why that little—" he started his sentence, but didn't finish it. He ran back on the deck just in time to see Lydia walk down the gangplank. "Hey!" he called. "I'm missing some treasure!"

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate," she responded. "Some of its jewels." She smiled and waved. Jack could see the sapphire ring she was wearing on her hand, just before she disappeared into the crowd.

He grinned, muttering to himself, "Drink up me 'earty yo ho!"

THE END.