Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Pirates of the Caribbean characters. Livna and Thorn, however, are my own creations, as are their histories and what not.

Finally I get my first story up here! I'm not exactly proud of this fanfic in general, but my friends who've read it seem to like it. Please rate and review. I don't mind flames, but they're not exactly appreciated xD


Making the Bet

"Excuse me, Captain," the tone of the female pirate's voice was somewhere in between mocking and incredibly amused. "But you mean to tell me that one such as yourself has never been in love?"

Jack turned to face her, looking mildly hurt. "I have too, and I am to this day. How many times must I tell you, Thorn, my first and only love is-"

She cut him off, slight sigh escaping her pale lips as she rolled her eyes. "The sea, I know. You've told me a thousand times. And if you're so certain that your 'first and only love is the sea,' then why don't we have a…a bet?"

Jack glanced sideways at her, tightening his grip on the ship's neatly carved wheel. "What kind of a bet?" he inquired, looking mildly interested.

Thorn smiled smugly, looking happy with herself. "Give me seven days to get you to fall in love. And," she continued matter-of-factly. "There are no stakes."

This last statement caused Jack to raise an eyebrow. "If there are no stakes, what's the point of a bet?"

Thorn once again rolled her eyes. "I just want to prove you wrong, as usual, Captain." She finished with a smirk, a trait that could've easily been picked up from Jack himself, then stalked down the other end of the deck. Once she was far enough away, she glanced over her shoulder towards Jack. Of course, seeing him watching her with utmost caution and curiosity (apologies for the reference to the movie…) only increased the smug expression that seemed permanently settled on her face.

"Hmm, what's got you so smug today, Thorn?" Another girl, appearing a few years older than Thorn, approached her about halfway through her path to the bow of the ship. She had a face and figure much like Thorn's, although she was taller. And if you were to ask Thorn about her, she would tirelessly reply that she was much prettier.

"Nothing, Liv, nothing." Thorn replied, looking up at the woman who happened to be her sister.

In one word, Livna was beautiful. Her name meant 'White Rose' and fit her quite perfectly. She had fair complexion and a face, framed by feathery wheat-blonde locks. Thorn had indeed taken the meaning of her sister's name into mind when choosing a 'pirate name' to go by. Roses would be perfect, had they not the small burden of thorns adorning their stems. And, although Livna would never admit it, she often got the feeling that without her, Livna would be as perfect as she never ceased to appear.

Exhaling sharply at her own thoughts, she was brought back to reality when Livna spoke again.

"Oh pl-ease, Thorn. Nothing means everything with you. And I'm guessing it has something to do with Jack? Who you love…" she muttered that last part nearly inaudibly under her breath, though it still earned her a glare from Thorn.

"Oh, pl-ease." She echoed, raising her eyebrows. "I don't love him. I hardly even like him! What're you thinking!"

Livna shrugged her off. "Personally, I think you're in denial. But" she continued without giving her sister a chance to cut her off. "Let's drop that, and you can tell me what you did to him this time."

Thorn grinned malevolently. "Oh, we just made a…a bet with no stakes." She explained, the usual sarcastic malice edging her words. She ignored the 'you're insane' look shot at her by Livna, and continued. "I've got seven days to prove that the sea isn't always going to be his 'first and only love.' In other words, I've got a week to get the dear Captain to fall for someone. But that shouldn't be so hard when we've got you on board." She replied, the tiniest hint of jealousy hidden behind a wall of happiness. "I mean, if it's alright with you, of course?" she added, glancing up at her fair-haired companion.

A half-smirk half-grin had spread across Livna's face, and she immediately nodded. "Yes…that's quite alright."

Thorn watched her curiously for a moment. "Why so excited about this?" she questioned, dropping one eyebrow.

Livna just continued grinning. "Nothing, Thorn, nothing." But before Thorn had a chance to reply, she had disappeared into the cabin she slept in.

Deciding that it wasn't worth the trouble of going down and talking to her now, Thorn stayed where she was, leaning on the edge of the ship, gazing out at the now darkened sea. She remained that way for quite some time before retreating to the cabin. Her eyelids were half closed and she hardly even noticed that Livna was already asleep.