Anamaria felt herself stiffening. Oh no, this was not good. She did not expect to awake within the arms of Jack Sparrow. Out of all people! But she had been so tired the previous night and she had not planned to stay the entire night there. He had been drunk and… Her hands rose to cover her face. This wasn't right, she was the first m…no, a captain for god's sake! She should have more nerve than that! The man had stolen her ship the last time she let her guard down. Of course, that was for completely different reasons and did not involve any touching or physical contact of any kind. Just drinking, lots and lots of drinking. And last night had also involved drinking, but this time, what happened after was different…


How is it that every time Jack Sparrow got drunk, Anamaria always had the unpleasant task of taking him back to his room? Even now, when she had no more obligations to him or the crew, she was still stuck with the job of playing maid.

It was her last night with them, so that meant a farewell (and good riddance) party.

At one point, Gibbs had gotten up, and raised up his cup, "To Anamaria, the most sensible pirate lass on these high seas. May your voyages be smooth and your plunder be many." And everyone had raised their glasses in affirmation, with Jack being the loudest of all. It was then that she had realized how much the crew had become like a family to her and how much she would miss them. Though they had always treated her differently, they had always respected her, and she was thankful for that. So she drank with them and let them slap her on the back one last time. There was bad singing, and teasing, and of course, lots and lots of booze. She had not wanted it to end.

But like most things, the night eventually drew to a close, as seen by the number of crew members slumped over stone-drunk. So, once again, it had been up to Anamaria to make sure the crew's illustrious captain got back to his room in once piece.

"Let me go back downstairs, luv, I'm not that drunk yet," said Jack, stumbling into his room with Anamaria holding him up.

"And let you drink yourself into unconsciousness? Forget about me carrying you into your room after that." She rolled her eyes, one of these days, Jack was going to drink himself into a stupor and no one was going to be there to make sure he didn't make a total arse of himself. Oh how she would like to see that.

She sat him down on the bed and proceeded to take off his shoes.

"You know you would anyway, luv. No one can say no to Jack Sparrow!"

"No. There, I said it." She rolled her eyes, Jack never failed to be self-centered.

He put his hand to his chest, making a mockery of sorrow. "I'm serious, luv. It must be my charms, or my good looks," he said, smiling.

"You keep on saying that Jack." His hat came off next, then his coat.

"Captain Jack, and you do well to remember that." They were silent for a few moments as she busied herself with getting his clothes and shoes in order (for the last time). When she looked at him, really looked at him, she found him examining her face in such a way as to make her feel slightly uncomfortable. "I have a question Anamaria." His eyes seemed to have become quite clear, and she began to doubt if he was really drunk. Then, remembering how much bottles of rum that had been between Gibbs and him, she stopped doubting.

"What?" She asked, in the process of removing his shirt.

"How come, out of the whole crew, you always end up being the one who leads me back to my room?"

"If I don't, no one else will. They'd rather leave you downstairs on a table and I'd rather not everyone know that the captain of the Black Pearl is a crazy drunkard, no matter how tempting that might be."

He stilled her hands as they unbuttoned his shirt. "Or is it because of something else, possibly because you like to see me without a shirt?" He asked, a wicked smile on his face.

Anamaria was caught speechless for a moment. It wasn't like it wasn't a bad sight, though and certainly wasn't the only reason that she took it upon herself to get him to bed every time he got drunk. But it was one of the major reasons… No! Bad thoughts! And she'd be damned before she admitted that to him! How dare he! Accusing her of something like that.

"And that you are secretly attracted to me?" He continued. "And not only that, but you cannot bear to leave dear ol' Jack."

She wanted to laugh; he really did have a big head, only inflated by the rum. "That's a funny joke. Don't think too much of yourself Jack Sparrow," she said, laying him down onto the bed.

"I'm hurt, luv, that you would toy with my feelings like that," he said, with even a slight pout this time.

Anamaria had to keep the urge to giggle at bay. "I wasn't aware you had feelings for anything but the Pearl."

"Not just feelings, luv," Jack said pointedly, "adoration, loyalty, commitment, the best feelings in the world!"

"If I didn't know better, I say you were in love, Jack," she teased.

"Of course," Jack said, liking being in love with one's ship was the most obvious thing in the world. "She and I have been through the thinnest and thickest of adventures, and it nearly broke me heart being separated from her. I would have traded anything to get her back, even me life." Here he paused, as if to rethink, "Well, not my life because why would I give my life for her just to give her to somebody else, but I would have traded Will Turner's life for her (though don't tell him that or he'll be very unhappy with me). And despite everything, get her back I did, though with some holes and split wood because of what you dogs shot at her. But I rebuilt her, I did, and made her as good as new again. Even better than new because she deserves it. So you're damn right I love her."

Anamaria listened intently, her face resting on her hand. Jack had never spoken like this before, it was like a new side of him she had never seen before, and would probably not see again. "I hope I'll be that close to my ship," she said, surprised that her voice sounded so dreamy.

Jack blinked a few times, as if trying to sort out the haze in his mind, and said quietly and clearly, "You will, luv. Once you've been through the depths of hell and back with her, you'll fall in love." He rubbed her hand, as if to assure her that everything will be all right, that she'll survive on her own. "And besides, if anything ever happens, you're welcome back anytime on the Pearl."

"Thanks Jack," she replied, sincerely, "for everything." Even, she thought wryly, for stealing her boat since in return, she did get a bigger, better one.

"Don't mention it, luv, least I can do." He turned her hand over in his, as if mesmerized by it. She felt the calluses of his fingertips, as he traced them over her palm. "I'm gonna miss you Anamaria," he said quietly, in a voice she had never heard him use before.

"Miss me? Or miss a maid," she retorted, trying to ignore his fingers on her palm. They left behind a tingle that she could not identify, that made it hard for her to think. The rum must be affecting her more than she thought.

"No, I have Gibbs for that. You, I'm gonna miss you, luv, and the way you always make sure I know when I'm being daft. 'Tis enough to make a pirate humble."

This caught her pleasantly by surprise. Was that…a compliment? From Jack? And he was so serious when he said it too.

"Thanks Jack, it's been…an adventure," she replied, smiling in turn. "Now if you excuse me, I must be getting my rest, big day tomorrow as it is. And you should too. Good night." She turned to go but then, felt a hand holding her back. It was Jack, and he was holding her hand. And his hand was so rough, yet warm.

"Why don't you stay here and rest? Save yourself the trip back to your room." There was that roguish smile of his again, the one that has succeeded in charming the skirts (in a literal sense) off of a lot of wenches. But no, she was not going to fall for that.

"Very funny, Jack Sparrow. You dirty pirate." She pulled at her hand but his grip was surprisingly strong. "Let go."

"Like you just said, luv, I'm a dirty pirate. And I do expect some payment for that ship of yours since it did cost more that what your old boat was worth." She was about to open her mouth to tell him to save his games for a more naïve woman when he continued, "Unless, of course, you're too scared to lay down her next to ol' Jack."

Oh no, he wasn't going to be bringing this back to her. "Of course not," she said, indignant, "move over." She couldn't believe she was doing this, but Jack Sparrow was not going to get the upper hand on this. To hell with it, she'll show him.

So Anamaria did something that she never in a million years thought she would do, she got into bed with Jack Sparrow. And not only that, a shirtless Jack Sparrow. How did she get herself into these situations?

"Oh wait," he said before she got a chance to lie completely down. He reached over and removed her hat, letting her dark hair flow down freely. "There," he said, smiling and running his hands through it, "that's better."

She sighed irritably and finally laid her head on the pillow. This was going to come back and bite her in the arse, she knew it.

"I knew you'd warm up to me." He hadn't laid down yet but was still sitting up, watching her, moving his eyes up and down her form. To her surprise, she felt herself shiver, just a tad. Was there a breeze? It was probably the rum. She could see the glint of his gold teeth from her present position.

"No funny business Jack. Just sleeping, nothing else," she said warningly.

"Of course, no funny business at all," he replied, finally lying down beside her. She stiffened when she felt him inch closer to her. And she had to fit the urge to jump from the bed when his arm across her chest. So she did the next best thing. She turned over, her back facing him.

In hindsight, that was probably a bad thing to do since it allowed him to get closer to her. His bare chest came to meet her back and she could feel the warmth radiating from it through her blouse. She could feel his face in her hair and against her neck.

Wait a minute…what was that? That seemed like…no…he did not just kiss her. She could feel her heartbeat speed up. Damn it, Sparrow! Anamaria made a mental note to slap him in the morning, particular when he woke up.

But as uncomfortable as she was feeling, she wasn't going to back out now. She wasn't a coward. And besides, he was going to sleep soon and then, she could just crawl out.

"See," he said, speaking against her neck, his voice smug, "isn't this more comfortable than sleeping alone?"

"Sure Jack," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant, even though her heart was beating fast against her chest.

It had been some time since she had had a man lying next to her. The Black Pearl didn't exactly have the king's choice of strapping pirate lads. Of course, if anyone had told her that she would eventually be lying next to Jack Sparrow, she would have laughed. But at the moment, she had to fight to keep herself from shaking, from succumbing to that warmth which was so inviting.

She hoped Jack would go to sleep soon.


A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed the first chapter. You guys are the reason why I put watching "The Libertine" on hold in order to finish this chapter. I hope I kept Jack and Anamaria in character, especially since their banter was so much fun to write. And no worries, the info on Anamaria's new boat will arrive soon.

Review and tell me what you think!