Next chapter my friends! Until next time!

Abby POV

The next morning, Will and I followed Jack onto the docks where Gibbs was waiting with the new crew.

"Feast your eyes, Cap'n," Gibbs announced, gesturing proudly at the crew he had gathered. Jack strode down the line, Will and I following behind. "All of 'em faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt." Jack glanced down at a particularly short sailor with a contemplative look. "And crazy to boot."

"So this is your able-bodied crew?" Will asked, unimpressed.

"Haven't you ever heard the saying 'don't judge a book by its cover', Will?" I asked.

"What she said," Jack agreed. He stopped in front of an older sailor with a parrot on his shoulder. "You, sailor!"

"Cotton, sir," Gibbs supplied.

"Mr. Cotton. Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" Jack asked all in one breath.

"Wow!" I commented, lowkey impressed. "How long did it take you to memorize that?" Jack ignored me and waited for Cotton's response which didn't come.

"Mr. Cotton! Answer me!" Jack demanded.

"He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out," Gibbs told Jack. Cotton opened his mouth to show Jack his lack of tongue and the dreadlocked pirate grimaced. "So he trained the parrot to talk for him."

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "How exactly did he manage that?"

"No one's figured that out yet," Gibbs answered with a shrug.

"Mr. Cotton-'s parrot. Same question," Jack said.

"Wind in your sails! Wind in your sails!" The parrot squawked.

"Mostly, we figured that means yes," Gibbs translated.

"Of course it does," Jack agreed. He turned to Will. "Satisfied?"

"Well, you've proved they're mad," Will replied, still unimpressed.

"All the best people are," I added, causing Will to give me a weird look. (Alice in Wonderland reference!)

"And what's the benefit for us?" A female voice called from the end of the line. Jack turned at the voice and the pirates murmured in agreement. Jack moved down the line and stopped in front of a sailor whose face was hidden by a hat. He reached forward and pulled off the sailor's hat revealing a very angry Anamaria.

Jack smiled. "Anamaria." I saw what was coming before it even happened. Anamaria slapped Jack hard across the face.

"I suppose you didn't deserve that one, either?" Will asked sarcastically.

"No, that one I deserved," Jack replied, Anamaria nodding in agreement.

"You stole my boat!" Anamaria yelled, glowering at Jack.

"Actually -" Jack was cut off as Anamaria smacked him harder. "Borrowed! Borrowed without permission," he said, holding up his hands in a placating manner. "But with every intention of bringing it back."

"But you didn't!" Anamaria pointed out angrily.

"You'll get another one!" Jack assured her quickly.

Anamaria held a finger in Jack's face threateningly. "I will."

"A better one," Will told her.

"A better one!" Jack agreed.

"That one," Will suggested, pointing to the Interceptor.

Jack whirled around to face Will. "What one?" Will nodded towards the Interceptor again. "That one?!"

"Why not?" I asked. "You want the Black Pearl. She can have the Interceptor once you get your ship back. I'd say it could be the start of your own fleet, but I don't think she would sail under you." Jack considered my words before apparently realizing it was a good plan.

"Aye, that one!" Jack conceded. "What say you?"

"Aye!" All the sailors yelled.

"Anchors aweigh!" Cotton's parrot called. Anamarie snatched her hat back from Jack and shoved it on her head.

"No, no, no, no. It's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir, let alone two," Gibbs said nervously.

"I'm standing right here, you know," I snapped, putting my hands on my hips and giving Gibbs a warning look.

Jack glanced at the sky. "It'll be far worse not to have her." He headed back to the ship while Gibbs and Will exchanged puzzled looks. I shook my head in exasperation.

Evelyn POV

The next morning, I stood by the helm, leaning against the railing as the ocean breeze ruffled my hair. I gazed out at the vast ocean and smiled softly. No matter how many times I saw it, I still couldn't get used to the beautiful sight.

"Apple?" I turned to see Barbossa holding out a green apple to me. I smiled and took it, taking a rather large bite. Barbossa leaned against the railing next to me, watching me eat his favorite fruit. After I had found out about the curse, he started offering me apples on occasion and would watch me eat them. When I asked why, he told me it was the only way he could get pleasure from food anymore. Eventually, it became quite a common thing for him to offer me apples and watch me eat them. At first, it had been disconcerting just having him stare at me while I ate, but I grew used to it.

"Not too long now and you won't have to simply watch me eat anymore, you'll actually be able to eat yourself," I said.

"It's been too long already," Barbossa grumbled. I took another bite, licking my lips as the juice threatened to dribble down my chin. We stood in silence for a while, Barbossa simply watching me eat the fruit he so longed to taste. It wasn't until I finished the apple that he spoke again. "How was our guest last night?"

"Well, you and the crew gave her quite a scare," I told him, one corner of my lips twitching upward in amusement. "I found her cowering in a corner." Barbossa chuckled, satisfied that he had made an impression. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, wondering if I should ask the question that had been nagging at the back of my mind, triggered by what Elizabeth said last night. "Hector, can I ask you something?"

"Ye just did," he pointed out.

I shot the Captain a halfhearted glare. "Besides that, I mean." He waved his hand as if to say 'go ahead'. "Why did you offer me a place in your crew?"

Barbossa raised an eyebrow. "Ye've been sailing with me for nigh on five years and yer just now asking that question?"

"Well, in all honesty, I've actually been wondering that since the day I joined," I admitted.

"So why bring it up now?" He asked.

I shrugged, crossing my arms over the railing. "I don't know, really. Just happened to come up in my conversation with Elizabeth last night."

"What did she say that made you decide to ask?" The pirate captain inquired.

"Well, she said you didn't seem like the type to bring a woman onto your crew."

"She be right 'bout that," Barbossa said. "I've never considered bringing a woman aboard me crew before you."

I cocked my head to one side. "So what about me changed that?" I asked.

Barbossa took a moment before replying. "Well, I didn't exactly have much of a choice to begin with."

"True, but you still gave me the choice," I pointed out. "Why?"

Barbossa shrugged. "I figured the men would enjoy the presence of a woman on board, should ye be willing. Give them a change o' scenery."

I nodded. "They did seem to enjoy watching me whenever you and I dueled."

"Can't really blame 'em," Barbossa said. "Tis not often to come across a female pirate."

"Probably not used to seeing such a beautiful pirate either," I added with a teasing smile.

"I daresay not," the Captain agreed. I blushed lightly and bowed my head. "Truthfully, ye've made me and my crew feel more human than we have since the curse began," he admitted. "I ne're once regretted my decision to bring you aboard." I smiled, touched by his honesty.

"Neither have I." We fell into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's presence as we watched the sea.