The incongruous sound of an axe striking wood drifted on the light breeze, a muted, rhythmic thud echoing through the trees. He had been sauntering confidently through the forest of this supposedly uninhabited island but the unexpected sound made him pause and then resume his advance at a much more cautious pace. It was not long before he stumbled upon the quiet homestead, fire gently smouldering, skirts hanging to dry on the line, a book lying open and abandoned. He stilled at the tree line, eyes darting back and forth searching for any sign of movement even as his hand slid to his pistol. He cocked it and crept out of the trees. There was no one around but the splintering of logs continued behind the rough wooden hut. He eyed the structure and moved towards the door. It was empty, bunches of herbs hung from the rafters and a neatly made bed the only signs of its occupants. His brow furrowed in perplexity, this was not something he had anticipated and could very well ruin his plans. The crew had been left back at the ship with strict instructions not to stray but he didn't trust them to necessarily keep their word. They were hardly dependable, especially if they caught wind of the real reason they had dropped anchor at this particular island. Some unwanted additional people may cause a setback or, at the very least, an unpleasant and violent interlude which he would like to avoid if possible.

Holding his gun in a deceptively loose grip he rounded the side of the hut. The sight that met his eyes was not at all what he had envisaged.

Billy Bones stared back at him, looking remarkably healthy for a man considered dead these last nine months, frozen in the act of swinging his axe.

The larger man was the first to recover, shifting his stance and his grip on the axe to a more threatening posture.

'Jack Rackham,' he said with a terse nod of his head, eyes furtively scanning the surroundings.

'Billy Bones, this is a surprise,' Jack said expansively. 'Rumours of your demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated.'

Billy just shrugged but didn't relax his stance one iota. Jack raised the pistol just enough to make his point but it didn't seem to deter Billy, the calculating glint in his gaze suggesting he was evaluating potential escape strategies.

'We can do this the easy way, by which I mean you drop the axe and we have a civilised little talk, or the hard way,' Jack said inclining his head meaningfully towards the gun.

Billy didn't move.

'The hard way, is it?' Jack sighed. Billy glared at him and his shoulders tightened. Jack tensed and ran a menacing finger lightly across the trigger of the pistol.

A sudden commotion of swearing and shuffling footsteps broke the deadlock, distracting them as they both looked up. Anne came marching down the path, her arm wrapped around the throat of the unfamiliar dark-haired woman whom she was thrusting awkwardly forward, pistol pressed to her prisoner's temple.

'How in the fuck did you get a woman here?' Anne said, halting next to Jack and scowling at Billy. Jack almost smiled and turned a slightly mocking glance on Billy who had gone very pale and was staring at the unknown woman with horror in his eyes.

'Do you want to drop the axe now? Or would you rather let this play out to the detriment of your lovely companion?'

At Jack's words Anne pressed the gun more firmly to the woman's head, and although Jack noted that her face was as pale as Billy's and her eyes wide with fear, she neither flinched nor uttered a sound.

Billy stood for a moment more, indecision writ large across his face, before he slowly tossed the axe towards them, out of reach, where it fell to the dirt with a dull thump. Anne pushed the woman forward as she moved to collect the fallen weapon. When she had picked it up she shoved her hostage in the back with the handle and stepped back. The woman stumbled and caught herself, seemly uncertain for a second as she glanced back and forth between Billy and her captor before hurrying to Billy's side. He caught her up in his arms and pulled her against him. She tucked her face into his shoulder, shuddering slightly, while he glared at Jack and Anne over the top of her head.

Anne dropped the axe at Jack's feet and then pulled a small dagger from her belt and tossed it down too.

'Cunt tried to stab me,' she said, although Jack couldn't tell if her gruff tones concealed anger or admiration.

Jack watched Billy's arms tighten around his woman and a grim smile tug at the corners of his mouth. The large man maintained his frown at the two pirates while dropping a kiss to the top of the woman's head. She lifted her head and whispered something to Billy. Jack couldn't hear what she said but it sounded like an apology, confirmed by the firm shake of Billy's head and his response.

'It's alright, it's not your fault,' he said softly.

When next the woman spoke Jack heard her distinctly although her voice remained low, her accents those of the gently bred, refined and well-modulated.

'She took me unawares, I tried but…well…she had a gun.'

'It's alright,' Billy repeated before he tucked her behind him, as if to shield her from the threat across the clearing, and faced them fully. Jack noted that the woman kept one hand on his waist and Billy almost unconsciously covered it with his own, lacing their fingers together.

She was tall for a woman, although dwarfed by Billy's bulk, wearing trousers that hugged her long legs and rather deliciously curved rear. Jack licked his lips lasciviously and then hastily moved his gaze to her face when he caught Anne's sidelong glare. The woman's chestnut brown hair was neatly plaited down her back and although her nose was a shade too long and her chin a shade too firm for beauty the large brown eyes that gazed at Billy with such faith made it easy for Jack to understand the tall man's obvious infatuation.

'Shall we be seated?' Jack gestured vaguely back to the clearing. 'I feel there's much to discuss.' He picked up the axe and the knife and turned away, safe in the knowledge that Anne would have everything well in hand.

As he strode away he heard her say roughly, 'Don't fucking try anything.'

He took a seat on one of the chests round the fire, stretching out his legs and watching their reluctant progress. Billy came first, holding the dark-haired woman's hand, his eyes darting between his two foes as if unsure which posed the greatest threat to his lady. Evidently he decided Anne, following them with her gun primed and loaded, was of more concern, especially now that Jack had tucked his pistol back in his belt, and made a point of imposing himself between the two women. Anne, bringing up the rear, took up position poised at Jack's shoulder, her gun still out and her gaze sharp.

The couple in front of him remained standing, Billy glowering impotently at them, the woman's face impassive. She was a mystery, how she came to be here and who she was. She held herself like a lady, despite her less than respectable attire, spine ramrod straight and chin high. Accent aside, there was something about her that reminded Jack of Mrs Guthrie, perhaps the haughty way she was looking down her nose at him but whatever it was, he would be willing to bet a large portion of his cache that she was no whore.

'I feel that introductions are in order. Who is your delightful new acquaintance, Billy?'

An uneasy silence followed his question. Jack could almost hear the tenor of Billy's thoughts as he tried and failed to think of a way to evade the inevitable questions.

'This is Sarah, Sarah…Castle,' Billy capitulated finally, and Jack, noting the slight hesitation, eyed them both speculatively. 'Sarah, this is Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny.'

'Captain Jack Rackham,' Jack corrected tersely, standing to sketch a bow. Sarah inclined her head mutely in response, bobbing an extremely abbreviated curtsey, and Jack gave a wave to indicate they should sit. He watched with amusement as Billy scowled at his confident assumption of control but submitted all the same, leaning forward as if to shield his lover from their gaze. Jack sat down again, leaning back with an exaggerated air of relaxation. He turned to Anne and without a word pressed the muzzle of her gun towards the ground. She rolled her eyes but did not argue. Sarah sat, her ankles neatly crossed and her hands clasped in her lap, every inch the demure lady.

'Now, I am fascinated to hear your tale,' Jack said to his sullen audience.

'There's not much to tell really,' Billy responded in a surly tone. 'You know how I came to be here, I didn't drown. Sarah was travelling from England and she was wrecked here.'

'You really are a favourite of Lady Luck, aren't you? You do like to cheat death at every opportunity.'

Billy shrugged, his brows twitching almost wryly. 'Who doesn't?'

'And where were you headed?' Jack addressed his question to Sarah but it was Billy who spoke.

'She was going to Philadelphia to visit a sick relative but a severe storm destroyed her ship.'

Jack smirked, the man was a dreadful liar, every flicker of dishonesty visible on his terribly earnest face. Inwardly Jack marvelled that Billy had ever been a pirate, he seemed so patently unsuited for the life.

'Philadelphia? Interesting. I have a number of acquaintances in Philadelphia, perhaps I know your relative.'

'I highly doubt that we would move in the same social circles,' Sarah said in a cool tone before Billy could interrupt. 'Besides which, my aunt doesn't leave the house, her infirmity prevents her.'

Although Billy's ineptitude had already exposed the lie, there was not a whisper of insincerity when she spoke of her almost certainly fictitious aunt. A mystery indeed.

'And how long have you been here?'

'I'm not absolutely certain, but approximately three months.'

Jack grinned maliciously. 'Ah yes, three months would be enough for Billy here to…how do I put it? Work his magic?'

Sarah reddened, looking away and Billy angrily started to rise but was restrained by a snarl from Anne. Jack eyed them both sardonically in silence, enjoying the effect of his barb.

'We haven't…' Billy snapped, the muscle in his jaw twitching furiously as he reluctantly resumed his seat. 'Whatever the scandalmongers may choose to say, Sarah is a woman of unwavering virtue.'

The small, grateful smile that Sarah bestowed upon Billy before looking away again left Jack silently bemused. Billy was not lying to protect the lady's reputation and yet that look and the delicate pink of Sarah's cheeks told Jack Billy's self-control was almost certainly unnecessary. Three months had clearly been more than enough time for Billy to seduce her, virtue be damned, he just hadn't the sense to take advantage of the fact. All that time and not once able to lose himself between his companion's soft thighs? It was small wonder that Billy was ill-humoured and curt, frustration must be consuming him.

'I must say, I'm impressed with what you've achieved here,' Jack said airily, as if they had misunderstood his earlier comment, glancing around the clearing. 'A very cosy little home you've created. A woman's touch is a balm to the soul.' He watched in amusement as Billy shifted uncomfortably, failing to stop his eyes darting to Sarah. She appeared oblivious to the double meaning of Jack's words but he couldn't be sure and definitely wondered when she rose to her feet rather abruptly. Jack felt Anne tense behind him but he remained relaxed.

'Can I offer you some refreshment?' Sarah said. The look Billy directed at her was incredulous but when she caught his eye she gave an infinitesimal shrug, barely a hitch to her shoulders, and looked back enquiringly at their visitors. 'I'm afraid we only have water and some fruit but it is refreshing nonetheless.'

Jack gave her a lazy smile and nodded his head. Sarah waited until Anne signalled her permission, which she did with a warning growl and a jerk of her head, and then fetched tin cups of water and a carved platter of sliced fruit. Setting the refreshments down in front of them Sarah resumed her seat next to Billy and graciously gestured that they partake. Again Jack was reminded irresistibly of Mrs Guthrie when he joined her for tea, that same ingrained formality of manner evident in Sarah's conduct. He picked up a piece of yellow fruit and chewed it slowly, savouring the sweet taste as he considered the two across from him.

'We would appreciate your help in returning Sarah to Nassau,' Billy said awkwardly in the silence. Sarah glanced up at him, opening her mouth as if to protest but subsided when he shook his head with a slight frown.

Jack smiled condescendingly, 'Appreciation isn't really a currency in which we tend to trade.'

Billy looked defeated. 'I have nothing to offer you,' he admitted.

'Actually, you might,' Jack said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully at the pair.

'What?' There was a wariness in Billy's tone.

'I'm not sure that you are aware but Flint buried my cache somewhere on this island. Finding out its location from him is not an option, I very much doubt he could be persuaded to tell me and my enquiries would draw notice I would rather avoid.'

Billy gave a derisive snort.

'Quite, I see that you understand. That leaves us in our current predicament. That cache is ours and I will get it back. However, I don't have the time or the inclination for a protracted search for it, besides which, I have other uses for my crew.'

He didn't mention that he didn't want his crew's attention focused on the cache, especially if the search was in vain. A crew disgruntled with their captain was a dangerous thing.

'You want me to what? Find it for you?'

'You're cleverer than you look,' Jack drawled, deliberately baiting him. 'You could find it for me, you have the time. We would return Miss Castle to Nassau where she would be able continue her journey and by the time we return in a few months I'd expect you to have my cache waiting for me.'

'You'll guarantee safe passage for Sarah?'

'Anne will, she has a regrettable soft spot for the ladies.' Jack felt Anne viciously pinch his shoulder but he ignored her.

'And there will be no word of my involvement? No mention of me at all?'

'John Silver has abandoned the fight completely, living in domestic harmony with his Maroon Queen from what I hear, but if it makes you feel better I'm not likely to mention you to Silver given the questions I would then face.'

'I didn't say…' Billy started to say but ground to a halt in the face of Jack's knowing expression.

Yes, you wouldn't want Silver to know of your attachment to her, given that he might still be looking for way to revenge himself on you, Jack thought to himself, but unusually he refrained from saying anything.

'You will take Sarah back to Nassau, with no mention of me, and in return I will search for the cache.'

Jack noticed that as they spoke the little crease between Sarah's dark brows was deepening. There were definitely aspects of their negotiations that she was not happy about. It seemed that she was putting much greater store on her little island romance than Billy apparently suspected.

'When will you bring Billy back to Nassau?' she said, her eyes narrowed, confirming Jack's suspicions.

'Perhaps after he finds my cache, although I very much doubt he will have a hero's welcome to look forward to. Quite the opposite really, the men don't take kindly to a crew killer,' he said reflectively.

Despair flickered briefly in Billy's eyes before he turned to the woman at his side, seemly trying to ignore Jack and Anne, and took her hand in his.

'Sarah, I can't leave the island. If I go back to Nassau my life will be forfeit. I've killed too many men and betrayed too many people, they'll kill me as soon as I set foot on dry land,' he said gently.

She stared at him for a long moment and then nodded.

'Right, so perhaps we could go elsewhere? I really don't have my heart set on going to Nassau.'

'There is no place for me anymore.'

'We could… you could make one? Somewhere new, somewhere far from here, from Nassau.'

That sounded perilously close to a declaration, Jack mused inwardly. And yet still Billy seemed totally unaware. Unaware, or determined to do what was noble and right? There was something cloying about such sentimental decency. Why didn't the idiot drag her into the hut and fuck her as they both so clearly wanted?

'I have to stay here, I'll find the cache and then I'll stay. You will go to Nassau and be safe.'

'But you won't be coming?'

'No,' Billy said firmly.

'But…surely…' she trailed off in the face of his stubborn expression. Billy cupped her face with one hand and smoothed his thumb across her cheekbone, as if he had forgotten his audience. Jack could feel Anne shifting restlessly behind him. He too felt the intimacy of the moment, it almost felt wrong to watch but he didn't let that stop him.

'John Silver will see me dead the moment he realises that I am alive, or he will harm you to punish me. I used Madi to get to him and he will never forgive me for that. If he finds out you mean anything to me then he will use you against me. You can forget we ever met and then you'll be safe.'

Jack rolled his eyes at their mawkishness. Billy's vague confession of his true feelings might be construed as romantic, if wasted opportunities due to honourable intentions were considered romantic. Jack wasn't of that opinion, he just felt mildly nauseated.

He cleared his throat and they both looked up, startled. Billy dropped his hand self-consciously.

'Affecting though this all is, you clearly need some time to discuss my offer. We will come back tomorrow and you can give us an answer.'

'My answer is yes,' Billy said without hesitation but Sarah put a restraining hand on his forearm and shook her head.

'I'm not sure that your lady shares your opinion. We'll be back in the morning and then we will see.'

'She's not my lady, remember,' Billy said quickly, clearly missing the wounded look that flashed in Sarah's eyes.

Jack exchanged a glance over his shoulder with Anne but didn't comment.

'However you wish to describe her,' he said dismissively. He stood and tipped his hat at them both. 'Until tomorrow,' he said taking his leave. Anne followed him without a word leaving Billy and Sarah staring after them, only the chirps of the surrounding bird life to break the silence.

I just couldn't resist introducing a bit of Jack and Anne to the story, they were definitely two of my favourite characters. I wrote the bones of this chapter quite early on and for some reason I wrote it from Jack's perspective. I wasn't sure if I should change it having written sixteen chapters all from Sarah's perspective, I thought it might be a bit jarring to have a sudden alternative point of view, however I decided that I quite liked having Jack's viewpoint on our lovers so I left it as is. I would be interested to know your opinion...