Disclaimer: Yes, I am a huge, disconcerting cartoon mouse that wears clothes. Not. Translation: I OWN NOTHING.

Chapter 2: Welcome To The Crew

Elizabeth opened the back door of the tavern and stepped into an alley. There, leaning against the wall was Jack. He turned as the door closed and looked at her, taking in the bag she carried and, with only the briefest flicker of irritation, the fact that she had changed out of her dancing outfit and back into sailor's clothes. She stood still, returning his gaze for a moment.

"Jack," she chuckled quietly.

"Mrs Turner- or," his eyes slid over her hand, pretending to look for a ring, "is it 'Miss Swann' again?"

She gave him a dark look. "There wasn't exactly time to get a ring," she said, walking towards him. "And it's not as if it makes a difference." She stopped about a metre away and let her bag fall to the ground. He looked at her in a slyly appraising manner, letting his eyes flicker down over her body for a moment before replying in a voice sultry with feigned innocence.

"Indeed?"

"You look well,"

"Thank you, darling. You look… different," He glanced at her black hair.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I want to know how you became the star of the show. I can't wait to hear how you went from being the governor's daughter to- what shall we call it? Gentleman's entertainer?" he said, taking a step towards her.

"I'm a dancer, Jack," she snapped, "nothing more."

"Oh yes, I saw! A very exotic dance. Not a thing you typically see here. Would that be a skill you picked up in…?"

"Singapore?" She nodded with a venomous smile. "Yes, I've been following you, Jack. I've been trying to track you down."

"Ah, and what can ole Jack do for you, eh?" he said with a smirk and the suggestive twitch of an eyebrow.

Elizabeth opened her mouth then stopped, uncertain.

"Come, now, don't say you've forgotten!" he took another step so that they were very close and, lowering his voice so that it rumbled in his throat, added, "Or have you come this far only to change your mind?" He looked at her. "Again?"

She stared into his eyes, brown, deep and seductive, then let her gaze flicker for a moment to his lips, remembering their warmth against her own. She closed her eyes for a moment, the shadow of a frown briefly passing over her face. When she opened her eyes it was to a flash of gold as Jack grinned. She looked quickly back up at his eyes.

"Well, Miss Swann? What's your… pleasure?"

She narrowed her eyes once more and replied, with another hard smile.

"I'd like to join your crew."

Jack leant back, still smiling, hiding well his disappointment though clearly unsurprised. He looked her up and down, not missing the opportunity.

"Oh you would, would you? And what do you intend to offer as a member of my crew?"

Elizabeth ignored his suggestive grin and answered firmly.

"Hard work, my skill with a sword and my knowledge of the sea."

"Of course," Jack said, tilting his head with a twinkle in his eyes.

She matched his stare, chin up and resolute, though a moment later confusion clouded her face as Jack turned away, chuckling.

"Well, darling, tempted though I am by your offer I'm going to have to turn you down."

"And why is that?" she asked, following him.

Jack turned back to her, grinning.

"Simple, love. I see no profit from my point of view, besides of course your much-desired company and an infinite improvement to the view."

She took another step towards him.

"And what sort of profit did you have in mind?"

Jack was caught off-guard by her sudden interest, so he was unprepared when she pushed his shoulder hard and he slammed against the wall. The next thing he knew she was pressed against him in a way reminiscent of the last time she let her inner pirate out. Just when he was beginning to enjoy himself, despite a dull pain where his shoulder had come into sudden contact with the wall, he felt something cold and hard against his chest. He instantly realised that she had drawn his own gun and now had him rather unpleasantly at her mercy, although she was too close for him to glance down and confirm this theory. A moment later he didn't need to.

"I think, Captain Sparrow, that it is time to start accepting."

He paused for the briefest of moments, summing up the situation as only Captain Jack can.

"You're hired," he replied with a gallant attempt at a winning smile.

"I have your word?"

"My word as a wretched liar?" asked Jack, frowning in confusion.

"And I wouldn't have you any other way," she said, simultaneously withdrawing his gun, grabbing his hand and stepping back. They shook, Jack still looking bewildered, and Elizabeth walked away in the direction of the harbour, tucking Jack's gun into her belt as she went.

Gibbs' eyes flickered open and he fumbled for his gun at the sound of someone boarding the Pearl.

"Don't worry, mate, it's only me."

"Mother's love, Jack, yeh startled me!"

"So I see," Jack looked his sleepy and clearly rum-befuddled first mate up and down. Gibbs' eyes for the first time took in Elizabeth, standing behind his Captain.

"Who's this?" he hissed to Jack, but before he had time to answer Elizabeth stepped forward.

"Mister Gibbs! It's been too long."

"Miss Elizabeth?"

They watched her as she turned to greet the crew.

"How did this come about then?" hissed Gibbs.

"She reverse shanghaied me!"

Gibbs looked at Jack's indignant and upset face.

"I see…" he said, not quite seeing.

"So, Jack," said Elizabeth, returning, "can you find me somewhere to sleep?"

Gibbs caught Jack's eye and hurried away.

"Well, darling, as you know the offer is always open…" He gestured towards the Captain's cabin. "But until you decide to start accepting…" He put one hand on her back and gestured in the other direction towards the officers' cabins.

"Aren't they all being used?" Elizabeth asked as she walked.

"Ah, but we couldn't have you sleeping with the crew! Especially when that privilege is not extended to the Captain."

Elizabeth looked at him sharply, faking indignation to cover a laugh at his good-natured impertinence. She caught up with him as he opened a cabin door and, grimacing, peered in. Elizabeth looked round him.

"It's been like this since we got the Pearl back from that thug that called himself a Captain, Barbossa."

The room was full of junk. There was junk everywhere. The place was worse than Tia Dalma's.

"I'll leave you to-" he paused, searching for the right word, "…explore." He retreated. "Oh, and Elizabeth?"

She looked round. Jack grinned.

"Welcome to the crew."

Hope you're enjoying it, more will be up soon. Don't forget to review! You don't need to be signed in, just leave your email address or let me know your FanFiction PenName or whatever so I can reply.

Who-Wouldn't-Waver-With-You.