Disclaimer: I don't own anything POTC other than the DVD, calendar, soundtracks and pics.

Ava arrived at the Ivory Pub early, as usual. She went to the back room where she found her manager, Susan, cleaning a mug; and her friend, Lydia, who was clearing the counter.

"Well, 'ello Ava. Early, as usual," said Susan, with an almost toothless smile.

Ava smiled. "This is the only place where I'm not bored so I might as well come early."

"Well, be prepared for a long night. It's going to be completely insane here. More so than usual. We're going to stay here for a few more hours extra."

Lydia smiled giddily and walked out of the room to clean some tables. Ava looked confused.

"Why are we working overtime? What's so special about this particular Friday?"

Susan looked astonished. She set down the mug she was cleaning and put the drying cloth on the counter.

"Did you not 'ear the news? The Black Pearl's comin' to port. You know how everyone gets when famous pirates come on about 'ere."

Ava's confused look went away. She had had it with crazy nights at the pub whenever 'famous' pirates came about. Pirates were pirates. They pillage and plunder just the same. Ava shrugged off the fact that the Black Pearl was coming and went to put on her apron.

Susan noticed she wasn't excited. "What's wrong, dearie? Everyone's all excited an' you're just poutin' away."

Ava smiled a bit and said, "Nothing's wrong. What's so special about the pirates? They're all the same."

Susan gave her a playful scolding look. "Oh, now. The Black Pearl's the most famous of 'em all. Have you not 'eard the stories the cap'ns had? Far more interestin' than the usual raidin' of a navy ship, if you ask me."

Ava laughed. "Well until someone proves to me that this captain's special, I'll continue to believe that they're not all that almighty and powerful."

Susan laughed and patted her back. "Aye, that's fine by me. Now, you best be goin' off an' help Lydia. It's startin' to get packed. Hopefully the rest of me crew'll show up soon."

Ava grinned and went out to the pub and helped Lydia arrange the chairs, tables and the small platform they all called a stage. Today's performer was a good friend of Ava's and Lydia's. She was a..suggestive dancer but, like Ava, she was just there just so she can pay off any debts she owed to her landlord.

"So, you ready for a rough night?" asked Lydia, smirking.

Ava knew that Lydia was excited. She knew lots of pirates would be there. She loved them. Lydia always went for the bad boys.

"Hmm, I don't know. We'll see," said Ava, slyly.

Lydia laughed. "Well, just don't go dampening all the girls' dreams of being with the ultimate pirate: Jack Sparrow."

Lydia sighed dreamily. Ava raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"Wow. Alright, then. I won't because I'm not interested. Like I told Susan, unless someone proves to me that there is something special in those pirates, I'll stick to my way of thinking."

Lydia chuckled and looked at the entrance, which was becoming packed. She looked at Ava and quietly said, while gleaming, "Here we go."

They both went separate ways, getting everyone's orders.

This process of taking the orders, being hit on, bring the order, being hit on some more went on for a few hours. Luckily, the dancer was there so it didn't happen all the time because all the men were drooling over the dancer's movements.

Around midnight, things were still rowdy until some people near the entrance heard footsteps inside. The person there gasped and everyone turned around. It was him. The captain everyone was waiting for: Captain Jack Sparrow.

Ava was in the backroom, filling 3 mugs with rum and put them on a tray.

"Oi, Ava! He's here! Sparrow's here!" squealed Lydia as she poked her head from the pub.

All of the waitresses dropped what they were doing and ran out to catch a glimpse of him. Ava watched them scramble towards the pub and chuckled.

After a few moments, she went out to the pub to serve the drinks. There was a crowd around Sparrow. She glanced at him and went on to serve the drinks. Unfortunately, for her, she had to walk past him. As she was going back to the backroom to take a break, Sparrow called to her.

"'Ey, love. What say you you come ove' here and bring me a drink, eh?"

Ava nodded and went to pour him what he always gets, rum. As she walked in, she felt a rush of emotion come over her. His voice was so lustful and mysterious-sounding. She sort of liked it. As she was pouring his drink, Lydia came running into the room.

"Oh my God! Oh my God! He's bloody amazing isn't he!"

Ava glanced at her and smiled. "Not to me."

Lydia looked incredulous and put her hands to on her waist. "You mean to tell me that you still don't feel anything towards pirates even after you looked at him?"

Ava sighed and laughed. "Alright, fine. I'll admit that he was a bit exciting. Being famous and all. But-!"

Lydia squealed like a little child. "Ha! I knew it! I told you so!"

Ava held up her hand and continued what she was going to say, "But, I'm still not convinced."

Lydia crossed her arms and sighed. "Fine. But I'll have you know that you'll come to my side one of these days."

Ava raised her eyebrow.

"You'll see," said Lydia as she walked out.

Ava shrugged that comment out and followed her with the drink. She served it to Sparrow.

He was handsome, she had to admit that. He had beautiful chocolate brown eyes. His grin was enough to make any woman's heart flutter. It made Ava's flutter but only a little bit.

"Ye got a name, missy?" asked Jack Sparrow.

"Yes. Ava Benford."

"Ah, a very nice name. I suppose you already know mine."

Ava smiled slightly and said, "Yes. Everyone does. You're Jack Sparrow."

Jack looked frustrated. "Captain. Captain Jack Sparrow. Why is it that no one remembers?"

Ava laughed. "Who knows. Either way, I'd like to have my payment…Captain," she said, seductively.

"Only if you come with me, love. If you know wha' I mean," he said, equally seductively. He winked.

Ava blushed slightly. "I'm afraid, Captain, that I cannot leave."

Jack sat back in his chair and said, "Then I'll wait."

Ava raised her eyebrow and said, "Just give the tip to me when the pub closes."

She went to the backroom and started to fill more mugs with booze for the next hour.

Her shift was finally over. It was one in the morning and Ava had long forgotten about Sparrow.

She put her apron back on the hook and said goodbye to Lydia and Susan and headed home.

It was a nice night with a nice Caribbean breeze.

Ava was only a block away from her house when it happened. She felt a tap on her shoulder. Ava turned around and a hand grabbed her mouth and waist.

"'Ello, lovey."

Ava squirmed in the man's grip. His hands were sticky with rum and old food.

"I've been followin' you 'round, lovey. I ne'er been able to take me eyes off of ye."

Ava squirmed more and was trying to hit him somewhere where it would hurt. But he was too strong for her. He started to laugh as she tried to find a way to escape his grasp.

"Let go of me!"

The man held onto her wrists. Tightly. Ava could feel the blood being drained from her hands.

"Don' ye yell at me, girl! Ye can't do anythin' 'bout it!"

Ava tried to free her hands but the man just slapped her across the face. She crumpled to the floor, while her hands were still being held. The man shook her.

"Get up! Don' make me hit ye again!"

Ava was too stunned by the slap to get up again. She tried to, but she kept stumbling. The man kicked her in the stomach.

"Get up! C'mon!"

Finally, he had had enough, he started to drag her back to his dwelling. Ava started to scream for help.

"No! Stop! Get your grimy hands off me! Help!!"

The man threw her against a wall and started to slap her.

"Don' scream for help, missy! No one ain't comin' for ye! No one care 'bout you! Ye best stop screamin', lovey, 'cause no one ain't goin' to save yer pretty face."

Tears poured down Ava's face. This wasn't the first time she was pursued by crazy drunken men. However, this was the first time she was abused this horribly. This was one of the many reasons why she hated being here.

All of a sudden, Ava hear a click. The sound of someone cocking a pistol. She looked up. She saw a figure hidden in the shadows pointing a pistol at the man's head.

"Just wha' do ye think your doin'? Get out of me way!"

"You don't want to be doin' that, mate."

The voice sounded familiar. So seductive and mysterious. It was Jack…Captain Jack Sparrow coming to rescue her!

"Shu' up! She's mine. Get yer own wench!"

Wench. That word echoed in Ava's mind. She was not a wench. She was not even close to being one. Since the man wasn't paying attention, she lifted her knee and kicked him where it really hurt. The man let go of her and fell down to his knees and then on lay on the floor completely.

Ava pressed herself against the wall, still fearing the man even though he was in deep pain.

"Good kick, love."

She looked at Sparrow, who was smiling slyly at her. She backed towards him and stood behind him as if he was a shield that would protect her. She clung onto his shoulders and rested her forehead on his shoulder and sighed with relief.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Jack uncocked his gun and turned around putting his hands on her arms and asked her, "You alright?"

She looked up and tried to smile bravely. "Yes. No! I'm not. I-I can't. I-."

"Can't what, love?"

Ava gasped for breath in the midst of her tears. "I can't carry on living like this. You don't know how many times this has happened to me."

A groan was heard behind Jack. He turned around, drunkenly, and raised his eyebrows and turned back to Ava.

"We best be goin' somewhere. This chum 'ere's going to bounce back any moment now."

With a final glace at the man, Ava and Jack began walking (or walking drunkenly, if you're talking about Jack) to her house.

It was this night that would change Ava's life forever.

Hehe, cheesy cliffhanger. Sorry. J