A/N: Look at me! I'm updating two stories in one night! I love days off! Well, the character casting call for my new POTC story is on hold until someone teaches me how to make my own website. Any takers?

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

In his twenty year career as a sailor and a pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow had kissed many women. His first kiss, contrary to the current belief of the crew was not with Arabella but with a very grateful young lass who had been cursed to be a mangy ol' cat. Jack saved her from the curse and had to fight off her very protective older Cajun brother. After Arabella, Jack kissed many other women, trying to find that same spark that had been in her touch and shiver that had gone up and down his spine every time her lips touched his. He tried hundreds of women. The only thing that sent a shiver up and down his spine was when they had slapped him too hard. Elizabeth Swann came close the first time she kissed him, but lying on his back now, poor, inexperienced, but naturally talented Elizabeth was trying her hardest to arouse him. But he stood by his first evaluation. No fireworks. He merely waited until she done. He knew she was done when she pulled back suddenly and whispered,

"You're right..."

"Always am. What am I right about this time?" Jack asked casually. Elizabeth climbed off him and sat on the edge of the bed,

"It was nice and all, but I kept thinking about Will...and that I only want to kiss him...for the rest of my life."

"I know exactly what you mean Luv." Jack said echoing the very words he had said on an island not too long ago. She looked at his face and smiled,

"You knew the whole time didn't you? That's why you tried to seduce me on the Black Pearl."

"Well partly...I figured you might be confusing your reality with your fantasies...but mostly I wanted to bunk ya." Jack said nonplussed. He couldn't fool Elizabeth though. After all, they were just alike.

"You are a good man Captain Jack Sparrow." she said. Jack scoffed, hating sentiment,

"Just don't let it get 'round aye Luv? This blasted honest streak in me has haunted my whole career as a pirate!" He got up and opened the door to leave. But he paused and sighed,

"One more thing Lizabeth...When Barbossa first kidnapped you...Will told me he'd die for you. So don't you go doubting that he's stopped loving you 'cause he's a tiny bit mad at you."

"How do you know I would doubt it?" she asked.

"Peas in a pod Luv." Jack told her softly before walking off toward the deck.

Elizabeth sighed and got up herself to return to her duties. A while later she returned to the deck and walked up to Barbossa who were directing Pintel and Ragetti and told him,

"Supper's ready."

"Well now don't act so cheerful about it Miss Swann!" Barbossa chuckled with his old shipmates. Without batting an eye, Elizabeth said,

"Well considering it's poisoned I figured it would be rude to be happy about it." Pintel, Ragetti and Barbossa stopped laughing, the latter understanding her joke, the former looking at each other in fear. Barbossa tipped his hat to her and called out,

"Grubs on lads! Weigh anchor and take in canvas! Miss Morgan! You keep a sharp eye with Miss Swann here!"

Elizabeth looked nervously at Arabella who was pulling in rope and puffing on one of her cigars, her white shirt billowing in the breeze. Will protested,

"Shouldn't we let the ladies eat first?"

"It ain't our turn to eat Mr. Turner. You go and gather your strength. We'll need it if we're to pull into the Pantano River by nightfall." Arabella spoke up. Will looked at Elizabeth then went down below with the rest of the crew. Gibbs stayed behind a moment to softly tell Arabella,

"Take it easy on the lass ay, Miss Bell?"

"Why do you say that Mr. Gibbs?" Arabella asked innocently.

"Because I had three sisters growin' up an' whenever I saw them with the look you've got in your eye now, I knew trouble was brewing." Gibb told her sternly.

"Go and eat Mr. Gibbs." Arabella ordered coolly. Gibbs nodded and went below, feeling the tension as the two women began to work in silence.

Norrington watched the ghostly Flying Dutchmen sailing alongside the new ship Beckett had taken for their journey. It was oddly beautiful. It looked like it came from the sea itself with sea weed sails and coral hulls. It glowed green in the moonlight and the stench of death followed behind it. Norrington guessed that was the faithful Kraken. The beast he watched devour the Black Pearl from the cliffs of that cursed island where they had found that cursed chest. The same island he saw only Turner, Elizabeth, Mr. Gibbs the dwarf and mute and those two idiots escape to. Sparrow was nowhere to be found. He was a true Captain then. He went down with his ship. He didn't run off with the treasure the first chance he got. Norrington raised his flask of rum and muttered,

"To you Jack Sparrow."

He took a swallow when a feminine voice said behind him,

"Captain Jack Sparrow."

Norrington turned to see Anamaria joining him by the rail. She too was oddly beautiful in the moonlight. Then he absorbed her words.

"How did you know to correct me about Sparrow...unless..."

"I'm a pirate?" she offered with a smile. He nodded and she replied, "Sometimes. All depends on where the money is."

"This whole time...you know Captain Sparrow?" Norrington asked hardly forming coherent sentences.

"I was there at the Isle de Muerta. I was part of Jack's crew. He promised me a boat. Specifically the Interceptor." Anamaria told him.

"He got her blown up you know." Norrington smirked.

"I watched...stupid blighter...Firsts steal my first boat then blows up my second one!" Anamaria huffed. Then she looked at Norrington, "So are you going to turn me into Beckett?"

"Surprisingly no." Norrington said furrowing his brow. Smiling at his confusion and leaning her back against the railing, she said,

"I knew you wouldn't. Not with you trying to protect me from Jones and his crew all the time."

"Have I?" Norrington said with a small smile.

"You can't help it. You're a gentleman. It's your nature to protect a woman. I'm just saying...well...it's nice to get treated like a lady every once in a while." Anamaria said shifting. Norrington smiled,

"You are a lady. Don't let anyone tell you different." They locked eyes and took in the moment, reflecting on words just said. Then the silence was broken when Beckett joined them on deck,

"Ah, Norrington. There you are. Just the man I wanted to see. I thought before turning in I'd tell you of the decision I've made."

"Decision, my Lord?" Norrington asked respectfully, his hands behind his ramrod straight back.

"Sao Feng may respect and fear Jones, but I need him to respect me as well. I have no doubt I can make him fear me." Beckett said darkly casting a leering glance at Anamaria. Norrington stiffened, eyes hot towards Beckett as he snapped a little impatiently,

"And how exactly are you going to make him...respect...you my Lord?"

"Asians are notorious for respecting men of high rank. Therefore, I'm promoting you Norrington." Beckett said.

"I am to be a Commodore again Sir?" Norrington asked.

"I thought Admiral James Norrington had a better ring to it." Beckett said. Norrington blinked,

"Admiral?"

"You don't have to thank me." Beckett said smiling, "There's a uniform waiting for you in your quarters. And for God's sake, clean up, sober up and shave. You look like a bloody pirate." He chuckled all the way back below deck. Anamaria watched the conflicting emotions play on Norrington's face before he started off towards the lower decks himself. Sensing he needed to talk, Anamaria followed him all the way to his cabin, which he left open a crack. No candles or lamps were to be lit after eight according to the ships articles, but the moonlight illuminated the gold buttons and the glittering medals on the red admiral uniform beautifully. Even the tall black boots seemed to sparkle and shine. There was even a new white powdered wig waiting for a head. Norrington took the uniform in his hands and sighed,

"All my life I worked to be an Admiral."

"You'll be the youngest in the Caribbean I imagine." Anamaria said coming into the room. Norrington scoffed,

"I thought that was what I wanted."

"But it's not what you want anymore is it?" Anamaria stated.

"My father was a sailor in the King's Navy. He was killed by pirates when I was born. He was the same age I am now. He wasn't even a first Lieutenant." Norrington said.

"And now you can't help but think you're fighting on the wrong side?" Anamaria offered as Norrington merely nodded.

"Well...when I'm caught between deciding to starve now and eat later by earning an honest wage or steal some old bird's jewels so I can eat well for six months...I always shove the old lady down figuring she don't need jewels so long as she can eat." Anamaria said.

"When Beckett said I looked like a pirate...I wasn't ashamed." Norrington said.

"Sounds like you have your answer then." Anamaria smiled. Norrington looked up at her,

"We have to get off this ship and find Turner and Elizabeth. Maybe get the Governor to come with us. I can no longer fight on the side of wolves in sheep's clothing."

"Us? What the benefit for me?" Anamaria asked folding her arms.

"You don't expect me to just leave you here with Beckett and Jones? Between the two of them they'll pillage and plunder you!" Norrington exclaimed incredulously.

"I can take care of myself." Anamaria stated stubbornly taking a step towards him.

"I won't allow it." Norrington said stepping closer to her. Anamaria searched his eyes a moment before grabbing his face and attacking his lips to hers. Norrington was wide eyed with surprise a moment, before instinct took over and he closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her waist and edging her closer to the bunk.

Arabella was nearing the end of her cigar. She hated to see it end, because it gave her something to do besides talk to that Swann girl. And as much as Arabella was reminded of herself when she had first put out to sea, Miss Elizabeth Swann had helped herself to something that wasn't hers. Something Arabella was still possessive of after all these years. Jack.

Sure enough as soon as Arabella flicked her cigar away in the sea, Elizabeth spoke up,

"So...what happened between you and Jack?"

"What happened between you and Will?" Arabella asked in reply.

"That's none of your business..." Elizabeth started.

"But I already know..."Arabella interrupted with a smile as she worked on some knots, "As you must know about me and Jack."

"He told me he thought you were dead." Elizabeth said.

"Since when does that stop Jack Sparrow?" Arabella asked.

"He was devastated. He thought..."

Arabella interrupted again,

"Look...Just because we're the only women on board, doesn't mean I have to like ye. Which I don't get it? Got it? Good, moving on!"

Arabella made to cross the deck but Elizabeth followed and stopped her,

"I'm only trying to help!"

"You already helped yourself darlin'. An' from what I hears, you helped yourself to a Commodore too before you hooked up with Will. Tell me. Do you just like moving from man to man or do you wait till they come to you?"

This set Elizabeth off. When Arabella walked away, Elizabeth grabbed an old wet rag from a mop bucket and hurled it at Arabella's back.

"Aha!" cried Arabella. Then she turned and glared at Elizabeth. Then she pulled her cutlass from her scabbard,

"You don't want to be starting anything with me Missy..."

"And why is that?" Elizabeth spat unsheathing her own new sword.

"Because I've got twenty years of fighting under my belt and a good thirty pounds on your scrawny hide." Arabella spat. Then Arabella lunged and clashed with Elizabeth's sword, the metal singing off each other. Arabella growled to Elizabeth through gritted teeth,

"Plus...it's my twenty eight day of the month!"