A/N: I apologize for the long update. Comp crashed on me. But thanks to Kelixar's new bunch of fanart, I was inspired again. It's from chapter five. Check it out on my profile. Awesome, Kelixar. Awesome.

And to my other fan artist out there, please send me your stuff again. The link didn't work! Keep it simple please. My computer can't handle long complicated links.

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

Mignonette kept glancing out of the corner of her eye at the man whose manner and kiss she could not stop thinking of. He was such a paradox of personality. At first she thought he was a insensitive, crude cad who only thought of himself. Yet when she had spent time with him yesterday, he showed himself to having something akin to manners. Something like consideration. Something like a gentleman. Then with a rush of desire, she remembered his words.

"First of all...a captain I may be...but I'm no gentleman...secondly...nice try..."

He was no gentleman. For a gentleman would not have grown intoxicated in front of a lady. Secondly...a gentleman wouldn't have been so bold as to kiss her and then have the audacity to remember doing it. Oh that kiss! She still felt the ghost of his lips on hers. But it was merely him being drunk and needing a woman. There was no possible way he could actually care anything for her. Then she recalled his other words,

"I'd do anything for you Minnie...I'd even move the stars should you wish..."

She brushed her fingers across her lips figuring that a Queen she may be...but lately she was no lady. She was so distracted by her mixed up emotions, she failed to hear the clunk of Jack's boots on the decks as he came up beside her.

"Beautiful isn't it?" he said as she jumped in surprise. He watched in satisfaction as a blush filled those pretty cheeks of hers. For he could not stop thinking of that kiss either. Mignonette kept her eyes on the descending sun as Jack leaned on the railing with one hand saying to her,

"That's what I love about the sea Luv. That horizon line. There's freedom in it. If I find favor with the Lord, I hope His idea of heaven for me is a ship with a never ending horizon to chase."

Both were surprised at his candor, but they both decided to avoid talking about it. Mignonette merely nodded and said,

"Sounds lovely."

They stood in silence a moment watching the setting sun when Jack pulled out his black compass and opened it, casting his eyes to her a moment before snapping the compass shut. What caused Mignonette to speak up was the stiff manner he then held himself and what looked like a reddening of his own dark tanned complexion. But she asked not of his discomfort, but of their destination.

"So...where are we headed?"

"Just going to sail a bit...sack a few ships maybe." Jack replied with a shrug. Mignonette blanched,

"You mean...go into battle? With me aboard?"

"Don't fret. I'll teach you how to defend yourself if need be. But I have to keep this crew happy. They have families to feed, obligations to fulfill..." Jack said.

"Drink to buy, women to..." Mignonette started dryly before Jack clapped a hand over her mouth. He smiled rakishly at her before pointing to a man with a red beard, sanding a plank of wood,

"See him? That's Marcus O Malley, ship carpenter. He's got a wife of twenty eight years he's crazy about, and eight children. Two of which he's putting through the university."

"Oh..."Mignonette said as if disinterested. Jack sat on the railing and pointed to another crewman,

"Tom Gallagher. Second hand to the Master Gunner. The money he sends home goes to his elderly mother who thinks she's a chipmunk."

"A chipmunk?" asked Mignonette skeptically.

"You should hear her sing. At last but not least, Salvador Motaz, grunt sailor. He's trying to save enough money so he can marry his lady love back in Madrid." Jack explained.

"Oh..." Mignonette said sheepishly. Jack continued,

"So before you start thinking all pirates are rapists and drunkards out for a good time, remember. Not everyone is what they appear to be."

"Truer words never spoken." Mignonette said thinking of her own deception. She looked at him and crossed her arms,

"What of you? Why do you pillage and plunder?"

"So I can drink and fondle women." Jack replied smartly. But at Mignonette's dry look, and dropped chin, he sighed and looked to the setting sun once more,

"That's why."

"What?" Mignonette asked.

"I'm just trying to get a little heaven on earth Luv." Jack said.

"So...no mothers...children...wives or sweethearts?" Mignonette asked trying to tell herself she was just curious. Jack stood and walked off saying,

"Not that I know of."

Mignonette sighed in frustration again. The man was a puzzlement. Then the only other female voice aboard spoke to her left,

"Jack once told me that a ship was more than just a keel and a hull and a lot of sails."

Mignonette turned seeing Elizabeth tying a square knot. The young woman continued, "He said 'that's what a ship needs...But what a ship really is...what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom..' At least if memory serves right."

"How long have you known Jack?" Mignonette asked.

"Five years. It's a rather long story, but if it wasn't for Captain Jack Sparrow I would still be the Governor's daughter in Port Royal and married to the Commodore by now." Elizabeth said. That made Mignonette turn her head,

"You...you're the daughter of Governor Swann? Of Port Royal?"

"Yes, but don't spread it around. Father agreed to the marriage under the agreement The Black Pearl would never raid Port Royal and secretly protect it from other pirates. Well, that and he always liked Will..." Elizabeth said, holding a bit of rigging.

"Was Will a pirate when you met him?" Mignonette asked.

"Oh heavens no. He was a blacksmith apprentice. Until he met Jack anyway..." Elizabeth said. For the next hour, Mignonette learned of the recent adventures Jack Sparrow had with the Turners. How they met, had a miss of a wedding, saved the world a few times and met with the supernatural. Mignonette could scarcely believe a word.

"That's...amazing." she stated coming to the conclusion that anything was possible with Captain Sparrow.

"You know...in an odd way...The small attraction I had for Jack helped me realize what I had with Will. I knew Will was who I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. Jack is nice and handsome to be sure...but we're too alike." Elizabeth concluded.

"And did Jack have feelings for you?" Mignonette asked.

"No...he told me it would take a special woman to turn his head." Elizabeth asked.

"Dare I ask what Jack Sparrow defines as 'special'?" Mignonette asked.

"As if I wasn't already turned off, he told me his greatest fantasy was to have a woman chase him for a change. To surprise him in his cabin and seduce him and a lot of rot and nonsense like that." Elizabeth said not knowing she had set Mignonette's mind into motion.

"Did he?"

"Well I have noticed Jack will agree to anything when he's...shall we say...in the mood?" Elizabeth said walking off towards below, leaving Mignonette to bite her thumbnail. What she didn't see, that in the shadows of the lower decks, Elizabeth said dryly to Jack,

"I still say this is wrong."

"I promise on my sainted father not to let her go too far Savvy?" Jack asked, his metallic grin illuminated in the shadows.

"Your father is still alive Jack." Elizabeth said. Jack furrowed his brow,

"He is?"

Elizabeth shook her head and crossed her arms,

"I feel dirty."

"Just consider it making us square for that wee incident of the kraken and the manacle and my brush with death. Which you caused less we forget." Jack said in good humor.

"Why are you doing this Jack?" Elizabeth asked him. Jack sighed,

"She's going to try to seduce me eventually in hopes of getting us to sail to Genovia. So I save her some trouble and reject her quickly and let her get it out of the way. Sides..." Jack smiled wolfishly as he passed her,

"She a bloody good kisser..."

"What?" Elizabeth asked in surprise after him.

That night, the moon was half full, a light fog drifting over the breaking white caps of the navy ocean. Jack cracked his neck and came down from his post at the helm, the bell of changing watch ringing in the distance. He rounded the edge of the ladder and went to his door, opening it to find a most enticing sight. Mignonette, laying on one side of the bed, her skirts hitch up her calf, and the top three buttons of her dress opened to reveal her white petticoat. Jack gulped at how the candlelight illuminated her pale skin. He wasn't expecting this. She smiled warmly at him and said,

"Hello Captain. Hard night?"

Jack gulped at her intended double innuendo,

"Very..."

"Well...let's help you relax...Shall we?" she said rising from the bed smoothly and walking up to him. When her petite frame stood before him, she raised her hands to his belt buckle and said, "Let's get this off hmm?"

Before Jack could blink, his baldric and coat where gone. And Mignonette was placing his hat on his round table filled with maps and charts.

"Much obliged." Jack said walking to his chair, beginning to think this charade might not be the best idea. He sat down, resolving to calm himself, but he had currently forgotten how to pull off his boots. Mignonette was soon in a pool of skirts on the floor and pulling his boots off,

"Here...Allow me. There we are..." she said with a smile up at him as both boots slipped off. Jack smiled but then if faded when she began to massage his feet,

"You know Captain...I don't think I've thanked you properly for saving my life. Or for your kindness in Tortuga."

Jack managed to gulp out,

"Trifle really..."

"I mean sure...I would love it if you took me back to Genovia...but I understand. Ship and crew come first." Mignonette said.

"Right...ship...crew...first..." Jack said rubbing his neck. Mignonette noticed then asked innocently (but not truly),

"Does your neck hurt Captain?"

Jack hesitated to answer,

"A little."

"Well here..."she said rising and standing behind him, "Let me work that out for you."

"Oh no not necessary...Wow...that...that feels good." Jack groaned as her hand rubbed away and his pain melted alongside his resolution.

"You know Captain...if there's anything I can do to thank you...anything at all...just ask." Mignonette said.

"...Well the second thing..." Jack answered after a minute. That was all Mignonette needed to hear. She reached down, purposely putting her bosom on Jack's shoulder as she began to unbuckle his belt.

"One thing at a time hmm?"

She pulled out the leather from around his waist, giggling at the odd assortment of charms he had hooked on.

"What an odd way to accessorize. But it all suits you. Even this old compass of yours." she said opening it. To her confusion, it pointed to Jack. It continued to point to Jack as he stood before her and said softly,

"Interesting story about that compass. Points to what you want most in this world. Here...let me show you." he said. Mignonette stiffened and snapped it closed.

"No! No. That's quite all right. I...I forgot something I promised to do for Mr. Cotton. If you will excuse me?" she asked. He smiled and stepped aside, gesturing her to continue out. She nodded and began to walk out, spinning on her heel for a moment to return his compass before running out with a blush filling her cheeks. Jack sighed and placed his compass on the table,

"Time for a bath I think...a nice...long...icy cold bath." he muttered to himself.