A/N: Happy New Year! This year, I resolve to update more often, finish my current stories before starting any new ones and inspire more fanart! And maybe...just maybe...do some fanart of my own...We'll see. Meanwhile, this chapter is super long and doesn't feature Norrington and Anamaria cause they're...um...preoccupied...and the Flying Dutchman's got a long way to go before it meets up with Sao Feng. But a lot of important stuff happens! Like fluff! We like fluff right? Review!

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

Elizabeth could have sworn Arabella's eyes growled bright red before the older woman pushed her away and lunged her sword near her side. Elizabeth's sword clashed her and met and parried with it for several minutes. Arabella backed Elizabeth up a bit, unly to have Elizabeth swipe at her head, narrowly missing it. This time Elizabeth backed Arabella up to the railing.

Their swords met and Elizabeth pushed Arabella backwards, hoping she would fall overboard. But Arabella gritted her teeth and with amazing force for a woman her size, pushed the young woman back. Then with a flick of her wrist, Arabella freed her whip from her belt and cracked it towards Elizabeth. Elizabeth cried out, but managed to weave and duck, her sword still clashing with Arabella's. But Arabella's whip pulled Elizabeth's sword out of her hand, sending it flying across the deck.

Elizabeth glanced back and forth from her sword to the smug Arabella. Elizabeth waited until Arabella raised her sword to strike before making a dash towards her sword. But Arabella's reflexes were faster. She pulled her whip back and cracked, managing to catch Elizabeth's ankle and sending her crashing down to the deck. Arabella began to pull her back, but Elizabeth raised her other leg up and around, kicking Arabella in the face.

As Arabella shook her head clear of stars, Elizabeth got to her feet and rushed to retrieve her sword. She turned just in time to block Arabella's vicious attack. Arabella was definitely gaining the advantage, cause she was backing Elizabeth into a corner by the railing and the riggings. Elizabeth swiped at Arabella's middle, causing her to step back, giving Elizabeth time to climb up on the railing, her hand firmly holding tight to the rope rigging. But rather than let Elizabeth take advantage of the height, Arabella jumped (to Elizabeth's surprise) and she was on the rigging as well.

They climbed and dueled. Going around the front, hanging upside down, swinging dangerously over the edge until they came up to the yardarm of the mizzen mast. That was when Elizabeth jumped on the yardarm, causing the staysail to swing about, the ship pitching to change direction. Elizabeth hung precariously a moment or two before pulling herself up on the spar, only to gasp as she saw Arabella swing on a rope in her direction.

Below in the galley, the men had gathered round the table. An uncomfortable silence permeated the air. Jack glared at Barbossa every minute or two, and then shifted his eye back to Will, nervous about their upcoming confrontation that was due anytime now. Pintel and Ragetti, never one's for serious silence, began talking quietly amongst themselves.

"The sunrise was red this morning." Ragetti said.

"So what?" Pintel asked taking a sip of grog.

"So red in the mornin', sailor take warning remember? There's a spot of trouble heading our way." Ragetti said.

"Ah poppycock! The rest of that verse says red at night, sailor's delight, true?" Pintel asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, last night, the sunset was red too. Which means we had a pleasant night which we did. Now why would be have a spot of trouble as you say if we had such a pleasant evening beforehand?" Pintel asked as Barbossa rolled his eyes and exchanged a dry look with Gibbs.

"It don't matter none if the previous night was pleasant." Ragetti said.

"Oh yes it does." Pintel argued.

"Prove it." Ragetti said folding his arms.

"It's all gots to do with weather patterns, the currents, humidity and atmospheric conditions see...and..."

Pintel's explaination was cut off by the rolling ship. The men felt the lurch, and grabbed up their glasses so not to spill anything, though a few apples did roll to the floor. Jack set his boots down from the table and looked to the port hole, seeing the changing horizon line. He asked Barbossa,

"Did you order a change in course?"

"No...Did you?" asked Barboosa in return. The men were all silent a moment, before Will jumped up, tipping his chair over as he cried,

"Elizabeth!" The others soon followed behind, all stopping short of crashing into each other as Will paused on the ladder leading up to the main deck, his eyes searching the seemingly empty decks for the two women.

"Arabella?" questioned Jack.

"Elizabeth!" called Will praying she had not gone over into the sea. Suddenly, Mr. Cotton's parrot squawked out with a flap of his wings,

"Raise the Jolly Roger! Awk!"

Marty pointed a chubby little finger up and told them,

"Up there!"

They cast their eyes up, gasping a bit as they saw the two women clashing swords on the mizzen mast yardarm about fifty feet away.

"Miss Elizabeth!" cried Gibbs as they rushed the decks.

"They're practically mauling each other!" Will cried.

Jack gave a slight shrug,

"Girls fight dirty."

Barbossa had enough of this nonsense. He brushed past Will and Jack barking out orders.

"Pintel! Ragetti! Grab the lines! Cotton! Take the tiller and correct our course, but not before I give the word!"

"But if you move that sail they'll plunge to their deaths!" Will barked at him in outrage.

"Not necessarily Mr. Turner." Barbossa said going to a corner of the deck filled with crates and barrels. He rummaged about a moment or two before pulling out a large old stretch of canvas. "Ah! This shall do nicely!" he exclaimed with a smile as his monkey jumped off his shoulder to climb the riggings. He went just below the quarterdeck railing on the main deck. He tossed Jack a bit of the cloth ordering,

"Here Sparrow! Take a corner!"

"Quit bossing me about Barbossa or I'll have to kill ye again." Jack threatened tightlipped as Will took some of the old sail as well and passed some along.

"Then I'll have Tia Dalma raise me up again." Barbossa replied with a cocky grin.

"Then I'll kill ye again. It'll be excellent target practice...like your stupid monkey!" Jack countered with a mad grin.

"Git!" Barbossa spat.

"Betrayer!"

"Loon!"

"Stupidhead!"

"Shut it both of you and pull this canvas tight before I shoot you both!" Will snapped at them. Jack pouted and Barbossa grumbled about whelps as they set their minds to the tasks of rescuing the fair ladies from well...themselves. Above, Arabella clashed with Elizabeth's sword three times, every time making Elizabeth take a shaky step back. Then Elizabeth backed Arabella up two steps, the pair of them toppling and threatening to send each other crashing to the deck below. The canvas tight, Barbossa met Mr. Cotton's silent waiting gaze and nodded. Mr. Cotton turned the wheel to the right, and the yardarm swung about, making Elizabeth and Arabella drop their swords, and fall back wards towards the decks, both of them screaming all the way.

The men went back and forth a bit, making to catch them, even Marty was holding a bit of the canvas thought it lifted him two feet off the ground. With one more step to the left, they caught the two women who once they realized their safety, went right back to attacking each other! This time, they clawed at each others hair, rolling about the canvas like a pair of fish. The men slacked their grip on the canvas, but as they did, the women rolled off the edge towards poor Marty, who was squished beneath them, pinned to the deck as they continued to fight on top of him. Releashing their hold on the cloth, Barbossa was the first to reach them. He pried Arabella off and to her feet, pushing her away from a fuming Elizabeth sitting on the deck.

"That's enough of that!"

The women caught their breath, chests heaving, before Elizabeth spat out hotly at Arabella,

"Witch!"

"Maggot!" Arabella yelled trying to rush Elizabeth again. This time though, Jack intercepted her and in one swift move lifted her onto his shoulder, slung over like a sack of potatoes. Elizabeth had stood, trying to attack as well, but Will grabbed onto her waist from behind.

"Elizabeth!" he shouted, trying to calm the struggling female down. Nonplussed and casual as the raving redhead beat on his back and kicking her legs, screaming with rage, Jack grinned and said,

"Best to divide and conquer, Savvy?"

"Get those two off my deck! They're not allowed topside till we go out to the swamp tomorrow morn." Barbossa barked angrily.

"Done and done. Mr. Turner. Take your fiance to the galley while I take my fiance to the captain's quarters." Jack said turning on his heel with Arabella still struggling on his shoulder. Gibbs exclaimed a look with Barbossa.

"Fiance?"

"Don't act so bloody surprised Gents." Jack called before disappearing into the cabin. Will shrugged as he drug his own lady below, while Cotton helped a stunned Marty to his feet

"Nothing surprises me about Jack anymore."

"Same here." Gibbs chimed in.

"Ditto." Ragetti said.

"Agreed!" Barbossa nodded.

Meanwhile, Jack just closed the door of the captain's cabin and locked it, Arabella screaming painfully in his ear,

"Jack! Turn me loose!"

"No." he replied simply.

"Jack!"

"Not until Little Bell promises to be a good girl." Jack cooed.

"Oh fine!" Arabella spat going still. Jack nodded and set her on her feet saying,

"That's better. Now Bell..."

She pushed him away, stalking over to the windows of the cabin,

"Don't call me Bell! You only call me Bell when you want something!"

Jack grinned his famous half grin, thumbs hooked into his belt,

"So you do remember."

"Of course I bloody remember! I remember the Barnacle, Tumen, Fitz...hell's bell's I even remember when you started doing your hair that way. But I don't want to remember." Arabella said folding her arms and looking out to sea. She felt rather than saw Jack stalk closer, smelled his heavenly scent of musk right by her ear, his breath tickling her neck,

"Why not Bell?"

She dared to look at him, and her constitution began to crumble. Those dark and soft brown eyes that haunted her dreams stared back at her with such longing and warmth. Her bottom lip quivered as she whispered,

"Damn those eyes...damn them to the depths..."

Jack took an impossible step closer, a small grin on his lips as he stared at hers,

"Why not Bell?"

"Because...because...because it'll make me remember how much I love you...And I don't want to love you...because it hurts too much...and I want to stay mad at you...But...but...I CAN'T!" Arabella said, the last part breaking away to an almost comical sobbing that Jack found absolutely adorable. Only on Arabella it was adorable. He folded her into his arms and sighed happily rubbing her back,

"Welcome back Arabella. Welcome back."

Then he jumped slightly as she blew her nose into his vest. He grimaced then asked,

"Does...this mean you've forgiven me? Cause I'm certainly asking for forgiveness." She nodded and hiccuped,

"Uh-huh..."

"Good! Let's seal this apology with a kiss aye?" Jack said eagerly. Arabella backed away and shook her head,

"I'm not ready yet Jack...not yet."

"Why not?" Jack asked disappointed.

"Jack it's been thirteen years. We're different people than we were. We should get to know each other again." Arabella said. But that wasn't good enough for Jack Sparrow. He knew she was just scared to lose herself to him again. Afraid of getting hurt. But Jack Sparrow being Jack Sparrow, he knew exactly how to get what he wanted. He shrugged and said backing away from her,

"No matter. I imagine your kiss ain't what I remember anyhow."

Arabella sniffled and whipped her runny nose with her sleeve,

"What?"

"Well like you said...it's been thirteen years. For all I know, your kisses may have been one boy's inexperienced imagination working overtime and building them up in his brain. Looking back I have to wonder if they were so great after all." Jack said watching her inner flame flicker on and her temper roar to life again. She came forward, her finger jabbing his chest,

"Now see here...Jacob Timothy Sparrow!"

"Oh cripes...not my whole name..." Jack groaned. Then his eyes widened as she made him step backwards towards the round desk.

"I don't know who you're remembering...but mark my words...it ain't me and I aim to prove it!" she told him.

"And how are you..."

Before he could finish, Jack felt himself being pushed onto the table, Arabella grasping the lapels of his collar and crashing her lips to his. There it was. The thunderbolt. The heat. The desire. The fireworks. They moved as one, desire overcoming anger, hurt, loneliness and betrayal. Jack moved one hand to her neck, the other around her waist and dangerously close to her luscious backside. They inhaled through their noses, Jack tilting his head to deepen the kiss. When they broke apart for air, Jack said huskily,

"Bugger I missed you!"

Their lips met again, Jack's leg coming up to pull her closer to his aching body, when a voice cleared his throat at the door. They broke apart and looked up at the door, seeing a rather bored Barbossa with his grinning monkey Jack.

"We're dropping anchor. We could use your help Sparrow."

"Course. I shall be there momentarily mate." Jack told him looking at his old first mate upside down, his hair dangling over. Barbossa nodded to Arabella,

"Arabella."

"Hector." Arabella nodded as he left. Jack sighed happily, sitting up and caressing her neck with both sides of his hands. He brushed her lips with his before saying,

"Don't move...Don't move...Wait here and I'll be right back with some food and some rum...and tonight...we're going to make up for lost time Savvy?"

"Savvy." Arabella sighed rubbing her nose with his. Jack grinned and got to his feet and gave her a few departing pecks on the lips before going out the door. Arabella sighed and rubbed her arms, unable to fight off the smile on her lips. But that smile faded the moment she saw the scene outside. The sun was setting, a heavy fog was rolling in and the moon was rising. A full moon.

"No...no...not now! Not tonight!" she whispered to herself in fear as she looked to the door and the latch.

Below deck, Will silently treated Elizabeth's many scraps and injuries sustained in the fight. Elizabeth was miserable. She wanted him to lecture, to scream, to shout, anything but the silent treatment. She quietly asked him,

"Are you angry with me?"

"For nearly getting yourself killed? No, I think I'm getting used to it." Will said.

"I'm sorry. About everything. Jack, the kiss, the kraken, the Pearl, Arabella...us..." Elizabeth said. Will sighed and examined her begging eyes and her quivering lips a moment before saying,

"You know...right after we thought Jack was dead, I had thought to let you be with Jack if that was what you truly wanted."

"You did? Why?" Elizabeth asked.

"To make you happy." Will said but then he put on a mischievous smirk, a smirk he could have only learned from a certain pirate,

"But then I realized that if Jack were in my boots, he wouldn't give you up so easily. I decided to take what was mine. And that's you."

"Will..." Elizabeth started stunned at his newfound boldness. He shushed her and claimed her lips with his own, soft, firm and desirous. Elizabeth smiled through the kiss, crying happy tears, when they were interrupted by Jack coming down into the galley humming and whistling a merry version of 'A Pirate's Life for Me'. They stared curiously at the more than chipper pirate as he filled up a plate of food and grabbed one bottle for rum, then changing his mind and going back for two. They watched confused as he headed back up to the main deck, a skip in his step.

But Jack slowed as he got topside when he heard a lonely howling over the waters. All his experience with the supernatural had taught him to be wary of such sounds, so he went to Gibbs and asked,

"What goes?"

"Started a few minutes ago Cap'n. There's a dark presence lurking nearby. Be it in the seas or on the nearby shore is hard to say...but something's out there mark my words. Something dangerous and evil...and hungry for blood." Gibbs said, his old suspicious eyes scanning the seas. Pintel and Ragetti exchanged a lot and a gulp as Jack said, undeterred,

"Well, if you'll need me, I shall be retiring to the cabin."

"With Miss Arabella too I wager." Barbossa suggested giving him a knowing look. Jack grinned back at him, unable to resist a little dig,

"Too bad you ain't got that curse on ye still Barbossa. Must be hell knowing there's a practical reason why you are not getting the attentions of a lovely female. Speaking of which, if you'll excuse me Gents...a certain redhead awaits me...with open arms!"

And with that Jack turned to the cabin, ready to enter and have the time of his life when he was stopped. The handle wouldn't turn. It was locked from the inside. Jack knocked on the door and called within,

"Arabella! Sweetheart! Let Daddy in!"

"Jack...Go away..."Arabella called out miserably through the door. Jack cast a nervous grin to the smug Barbossa and the waiting crew. Then he knocked harder on the door calling sweetly,

"Bell! Come on and open the door for Jacky!"

"No!"

"Arabella! You're embarrassing me!" Jack chuckled.

"Go away Jack!" came Arabella's muffled yell to a confused Jack.

"Too bad you weren't taken by the kraken Jack. Must be hell knowin' there's a practical reason why you are not gaining the attentions of a lovely female." Barbossa said with a laugh threatening to erupt from him.

"Oh shut it!" Jack snapped at him before he continued to pound on the door. Gibbs and the crew turned their heads to hear the howling creature close by.