Chapter Five

Captain Jack placed the slimy hat on his head, before charging head on into something with a ton of teeth. The Krakens mouth.

About a mile away, Ana Marie watched from a longboat as he and the ship were destroyed.

Ana Marie jerked awake, a cold sweat covering her body. She threw back her covers and looked out to the ocean, as if that would do her any good.

For the past weeks dreams of Jack had been haunting her, and none of them were good. She couldn't figure out if she had brought it on herself, or if it actually meant something.

He can't be dead, she assured herself. It's Jack Sparrow. He can't be dead.

Unfortunately, she wasn't that easily persuaded. She didn't want to ask around and feel stupid when she found out that he was down the street in a hotel, but at the same time, she was beginning to wonder if he was alright.

She realized that the sun was beginning to fade, and got dressed for her job. The family would be eating soon, and she had stories to tell the children.

.x.

"He what!" Maria exclaimed, as Ana Marie continued. The twins were staring wide-eyed as they ate their stew, but William was looking bored.

"Everyone knows that's not true." he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, but it is. I know it for a fact. I fought the cursed pirates." Ana Marie objected.

"Yeah right!" he exclaimed, "Next you're gonna tell us that you sailed on the Black Pearl, and had a love affair with Jack Sparrow."

"Captain!" the twins chimed in.

"Yes to the first, boat affair to the second." Ana Marie corrected.

"Right." he said, disbelieving, "So you mean to tell me that you were a crewmember for the LEGENDARY Black Pearl, and you just walked away from that. I thought your dream was to be a pirate."

"Walking away from the Pearl was the worst mistake I ever made." Ana Marie admitted solemnly.

"Why did you do it?" Anne piped up.

"Well, me and ole' Jack…he was a little strange for my liking…as a Captain, anyway. And I had my own ship. I was foolish to think that the crew would stand behind a lady captain. They were mutinous, the lot of 'em. Made me walk the plank." Ana Marie explained.

"So wait, now you were the Captain of a ship and were made to walk the plank. This is getting ridiculous." William said. But the look in his eyes betrayed the fact that he was interested in the story.

"Yes, that's how I ended up hereabouts." Ana Maria answered simply.

"Oh, will you tell us about everything you did? From the beginning?" Maria begged.

"Not tonight, darling. I need to get off to work." she answered, tousling Maria and Anne's hair affectionately. She stood up and pulled her hair into her new, girly style, and topped it off with her bandana. She saluted to the family before marching out the door.

.x.

All through the night, Ana Marie listened for signs of what may have happened to Captain Jack, but to no avail. She was beginning to get frustrated with her lack of information, and slumped against the kitchen doorway.

"What's eatin yeh?" the bartender asked.

"I'm worried about a friend of mine." she said, not really wanted to give the bartender details about Jack, or her dreams.

"If yeh tell me who, then I'll relay any informations to yeh." he suggested.

"If you find out anything about the Black Pearl, let me know." she said, after thinking it over.

"And if the news is bad?" he asked.

"I can handle it."

She grabbed drinks and took them to her table, without giving the bartender time to finish.

.x.

The sun was due to come up within the hour, and Ana Marie helped her newfound friend, Felicity to put all the chairs on their tables.

"Hard work, innit?" Felicity grunted as she dragged an overweight man over to the bar.

"Some nights are better than others. I just love being around tales of the sea." Ana Marie sighed.

"Too bad yer not a lad. You'd make a fine pirate." Felicity said, almost adoringly.

"I was a pirate." Ana Marie replied gruffly. "On the Black Pearl."

"In a dream, perhaps, but not for real." Felicity giggled nervously.

"Oh yes, for real. Me and the Cap'n. We were real close." Ana Marie explained. She watched Felicity squirm and decided to take it a little farther, "Real close…if you get what I mean."

Felicity's mouth dropped open, and Ana Marie winked, before going back to stacking chairs.

"So are you mopping tonight, or shall I?" Ana Marie asked. She glanced over at Felicity who was standing there, mouth agape. "I suppose it'll be my duty, then."