A/N: This chapter uses elements of Dead Men Tell No Tales, which disregards how Jack got the Pearl from The Price of Freedom.
Jack had been irritable ever since they had caught Barbossa and thrown him in the brig, which hadn't been that hard after Angelica showed up and helped. She wasn't sure what was upsetting him; the cut or the attempted mutiny of his second in command. The cut itself wasn't that bad, it would heal to a scar within a few days. But the failed mutiny was impossible to reverse.
A man named William Turner, called Bootstrap Bill by the crew, was moved up to take Barbossa's position as the new first mate of the Black Pearl. The man was about thirty or fourty years older than the captain, but the two seemed close friends.
They had left the port of Seville at the crack of dawn, about three hours ago now. The ship sailed smoothly through the open water, only lurching occasionally. Angelica had spent most of the morning leaning on the rail, watching the sky turn from dark purple to orange to pink and then light blue, as well as watching the water ripple as the ship parted the surface. It had kept her captivated, for awhile.
"Get back to work, ye dogs!" A voice made her jump.
The men scrambled back to their normal positions at their captain's request, clearly not wanting to face the same punishment as their past first mate- or worse. Through the scrambling, she made out normal footsteps heading in her direction.
"Jack." She smiled without turning around.
He stopped beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and drawing her close, each of them still facing the water. "Interesting, isn't it?
"It is." She agreed with a nod. Then her curiosity got the better of her and she asked,"Where are we heading to?"
"Martinique." Jack told her. "It's an island in the east side of the Caribbean Sea; one that I think you'll like."
"What is your favorite sea?" Angelica asked conversationally.
"The Caribbean, of course." The young captain chuckled.
"Why?" She asked, curious.
"You know how I came to be in possession of this ship?" He asked.
She shook her head, waiting.
"A Spanish captain- from the Navy I believe- had taken down the whole fleet that the Brethren Court sent to destroy his ship, the Silent Mary. The Black Pearl- back then the Wicked Wench- was under the command of another captain. The captain went by Morgan- don't remember if it was his first name or last. I was the first mate. Captain Morgan was injured by a cannon shot. He made me captain with his dying breath, making me Pirate Lord of the Caribbean and giving me this." He pulled a box shaped object from a pocket, holding it up for her to see. He opened the box, revealing it to be a compass.
"What is so special about that compass?" She questioned.
His grin grew at the question. "This compass doesn't point north, but rather to the thing that the holder's heart desires most. When I want to go somewhere in particular and can't bother to search for it in my maps, I use this." He explained, before pausing for a moment. "Anyway...the reason I love the Caribbean over the other seas and oceans- I've sailed all seven of them-," He tapped a tattoo she'd failed to notice on his right arm. It was a bird, flying over the waves and seeming to be flying into the sunset. "-Is probably because I've spent so many years on it, being the Pirate Lord in charge of it and all." He paused for a long moment and she thought he'd finished. "And I have Captain Morgan to thank for that."
"If the Caribbean is so far, what were you doing in Spain?" Angelica asked.
"I may not be able to understand even half of what they say in Spain, but I find it interesting there. Especially Seville." Jack admitted. "It was only by chance that you and I met."
She chuckled and then both of them grew silent. She watched the Mediterranean again. She observed how the waves calmly rocked the ship. If she looked closely, she could see some small fish swimming not more than a few feet below the surface. Maybe even the almost microscopic forms of shrimp. She watched how the morning sun was reflected by the water, making the water shine even more. She could smell the salt in the air as the breeze whipped her hair. Jack was right; this was just like freedom.
"You should get some rest." He suggested. "You were up all of last night."
"So were you." She pointed out. "And you're the one who got cut."
"'S just a scratch." He told her.
"Still."
"How about we both rest then?"
"Deal." She smiled.
"Deal." The pirate repeated, lips curling up in amusement.
He took her hand in his and they walked across the deck, to the cabin. They entered, Jack holding it open like a gentleman. He closed it behind them as she climbed into the bed. He stripped down to his trousers, lying down with her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and resting his chin on top of her head as she snuggled into him.
Angelica fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe, secure, and wanted.