DISCLAIMER: Update from last disclaimer. I still don't own POTC, sadly. I am still going to play with it so there. This week a dash of 'Pirates of Penzance' for fun, if people can pick the three songs used you get a net cookie! CC.

"Alex."

The voice was hard, decisive and thankfully female. She turned to see the slightly amused face of Anna-marie. The female pirate gestured towards the helm and, not waiting to see if she accepted, headed towards it anyway.

"If you're going to defend-"

"Christ no!" She laughed, "Some of what you said was things I'd been dying to say."

Alex gave Anna a sort of appraising look; clearly she was now a member of the female pirate club.

"Look Alex, Rum is a part of life around here. You can't go crazy because your kitchen boy was drinking some."

Her eyes grew wide.

"That was my Rum,"

"Now you sound like Jack."

Anna-marie retorted quickly.

"Well it was, I stole it fair and square. Honestly I can steal half of the very expensive spices for my galley but one bottle of rum to soak meat in and everyone comes to his defence?"

"Not everyone, I'm just pointing out."

Alex nodded and looked out at the sea; they seemed to be in a deep canal of the water with reefs skirting either side as small islands began to pop up.

"Is it safe to say we're heading to Port?"

Anna-marie shrugged and turned to look at Gibbs who had been listening to the conversation, he'd been so immobile that Alex had almost missed him entirely.

"Cap'n given us a heading I'm following his orders."

With that he went quiet again. Alex looked at him back and nodded her hand motioning for more info.

"What the hell is our heading, Gibbs?"

He turned startled,

"Tortuga to offload the booty and while the crew unwinds and restocks you an the Cap'n are taking another ship to Port Royal."

Alex cocked her head thinking; she didn't have a clue about any of these towns or what they reputations were, so where had they come from?

"Nassau to Tortuga isn't a bad run, Alex don't worry about it."

That was Anna; well at least someone had the foresight to give her information.

The evening came around again slowly, according to the talk they were making good time and the parrot had said that the wind would pick up. Alex guessed that a parrot was probably the best Weather Bureau that they had and she might as well get used to it. Though she had been playing with the thought that if she gave him fruit would the forecast be better?

The meal that night was in the form of broth from bones with some chicken in it from the one she'd done away with earlier, after Jack had gone or she would have preferred to throw the bowl of chicken blood on him. It was with that idea of a piratical slasher movie that she called up to the crew and began dishing out the grub.

"Alex, I'm sorry."

She looked down, beyond the bowl that she was ladling into to see Tom, a very sad and dirty Tom.

"My god boy, what the hell happened to you?"

"Tarred ropes. I think I got sunburnt."

Her eyes narrowed at him and finished with his bowl.

"That'll teach you to go into my kitchen stores. Now if you really want to come back into galley report after you've finished you can do the dishes.

His response was half groan and half cry of joy.

She was reaching the bottom of her pot. The broth was amazingly enough a success, and there was only Jack and herself to feed. Amazingly enough, Jack was not on deck.

"Tom…"

"Cap' n in his, sorry, your cabin, Been checking the maps for shoals. Dangerous reefs around some of the islands, Alex ma'am."

She smiled and taking two bowls she excused herself from the galley. It didn't really hit Alex until she was about to open the door, and with two bowls of soup this was no easy task, that he'd avoided her since her blow up that morning. She had no idea how he would react, it wasn't his fault, really, she was just frustrated and needed to vent.

Ever so hesitantly she pushed the door open and walked inside. Jack sat at his desk yet again maps strewn everywhere, pausing every few seconds to listen, probably to the ship and the water. Alex wasn't sure if he was ignoring her or if he was simply oblivious. She placed his bowl at the edge of the maps and sat away from him so he could continue his work.

They sat there in silence as both of them ate. Jack pausing to point at things on the map and grunt occasionally and Alex watching him out of the corner of her eyes, he was still a curiosity to her.

"Wonderful food, luv."

He said shortly as he pushed the bowl back and went straight back to work. Alex was beginning to wonder if this was his payback, simply ignoring her as much as possible.

"Jack, about the knife in the galley-"

"You missed, luv. I'm busy with these maps for the moment, how about you relax on deck and I'll talk to you in a moment."

Almost without thinking she got up and began to clear the bowls, immediately following his suggestions. They were too softly spoken to be considered an order, but it put her off guard all the same.

"Jack…"

"When I'm finished, luv."

Her eyes grew wide as he cut her off and she was about to snap back when he looked up and gave her a small smile.

"I don't have a chance to do these things all the time, Alex. Give me my peace and I'll meet you out on deck."

He sat back in his chair and smiled sneakily.

"Alternatively you could persuade me to stop work now."

She snorted.

"I don't persuade the way you're thinking. I'll wait on deck."

Alex wasn't sure she'd ever get used to the view that seemed to accompany the Pearl at night. The sound of the waves was soothing but the inky blackness that they sailed through was relaxing and at the same time very disconcerting. This from a girl who was pedantic about using high beam lights at a moments notice when on the road.

"Don't think I like that look on your face."

Jack's voice managed to cut through the relative pensive mood with annoying ease. He managed to say something enticing enough to drag her away from her daydreaming, or in this case night-dreaming, and at the same time make her want to bite at the idea of an argument.

"If you find the look of my thinking upsetting I'm beginning to think you married me for my looks and not for my brains."

She turned to see him smiling.

"Well your looks were the major draw, luv. The fact that you can cook, that was a hidden plus."

Without trying to aim she went to smack him on the shoulder, he not only managed to deflect her half hearted attack but grabbed her arm. Lifting one eyebrow she let out a sigh.

"If you're going to attempt to blind me with your piratical charms again should I pretend to be effected or just watch on with amusement?"

Jack pressed his hands on his heart, and hers with it, Alex noticed exactly how taught the skin was.

"You wound me every time, luv. How can I capture your heart if you don't even let me get close?"

She stuck her tongue out at him and her mind pinged with memory.

"Did ever pirate loathed forsake his hideous mission, to find himself betrothed to a lady of position?"

Her voice lilted slightly with the tune she knew accompanied it. Alex grinned as Jack thought, not letting go of her hand.

"I wouldn't exactly say young Will's mission to rescue Elizabeth 'hideous' and when she went to save him her position had lowered. What are you getting at, luv?"

She sighed and shook her head, tugging at her arm slightly to see if it would budge from within its Jack enfolded prison, it wouldn't.

"I, I'm sorry that I threw the knife at you Jack."

She felt something rough on his fingers and looked up to see he was scratching his chin with her hand.

"You've already apologised, Alex."

"Then why are you holding my arm hostage?"

She countered pulling her arm, this time with more force behind it. Meanwhile Jack began stroking it with one hand whilst keeping it tightly clutched in the other.

"I like your arm. I like your hands better, talented, just imagine what you could do with them outside of the kitchen."

His eyebrows lowered as his eyes half closed in an attempt to arouse her.

"I know what they can do, threaten your lower dangly bits with a good sharp chop."

With a slight flinch and a deep sigh he let her hand drop as he wandered down the stairs towards their cabin.

"Once you've quenched your thirst for castration are you planning on sleeping?"

His question was so bland without ulterior motive that she responded immediately.

"I'm just going to take in a little more air then I'll come to bed. It's been a long day."

Jack seemed to use a new smile this time, one of perfect understanding, before heading down towards bed.

If Gibbs noticed the conversation, or progress of the relationship he didn't say a thing merely stood at the helm with a slight smile on his face as he watched Alex giggle and begin to sing.

"Here's a first-rate opportunity
To get married with impunity,
And indulge in the felicity
Of unbounded domesticity.
You shall quickly be parsonified,
Conjugally matrimonified,
By a doctor of divinity,
Who is located in this vicinity."

She paused for a moment and began again.

"Oh, better far to live and die
Under the brave black flag he fly's,
Than play a sanctimonious part,
With a pirate head and a pirate heart.

For he is the pirate king."

At this she burst out laughing and disappeared down below her head full of thoughts of Jack on stage in a pair of purple pants and mountains of clean clothes, her clean clothes.

Lots of reviews again! I am shocked if this keeps up I might actually have an idea where the rest of the plot will lead… a scary thought.

DugaDugabowbow: Thanks for another review! Glad you liked it.

Enchantersnight: In truth I think I would have collapsed too. Or glomped him! Thanks for reading and reviewing, I hope you like the rest.

soaringphoenix86: Rum meanness is allowed if it's for the greater good! Besides, vodka is better. I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter. SO much in fact I was set straight back to work to it the day after I updated. Your official Pm nags are getting my creativity flowing. I have not given up on it again. Luckily I have my little friend vodka and the 'Phantom of the Opera' soundtrack to help me. With a little Gilbert and Sullivan for flavour, voila! Instant chapter! Coincidently friday is never my day of rest. I work fri, sat ever week. Thanks for the nudges and for the reviews.

IrishLily: I quite enjoyed that kraken like myself. Personally I like the 'cirrhotic livered, bead wearing buffoon' better. I've only got little DMC in it for now i.e. the Kraken but I'm hoping to put a few smatterings around. Thanks for reading and reviewing again!

FancyGalloway: Yes I wanted to break away from that genre with a large flying leap. I can only hope I can keep up the quality of my work, and my attention on it. Thanks for the review.

Xxsparrowlovexx: Yes, violence is on the way. I find the fact that she resort to it to stop herself from giving in to him fun to play around with. Thanks for the review and the v nice words.

Robin Goodlass: God I hope Alex isn't Mary-Sue-esque at all! I've been on a few ships myself and I normally sit there dumbstruck as people rush about. About as useful as a damp cloth really, and Alex isn't any different, bar her amazing expertise in the kitchen. Plus side is I have background knowledge in her 'job' so it makes it all the easier for me to write. Thanks for your review and your comments, they are greatly appreciated.