A/N: Hi all! Thank you for the kind comments. It's very heartening to know you've enjoyed it so far. To answer Rockstar, thanks for the review and…a time warp storyline? No, I'd never do that, they're a teensy ridiculous, unless done by the right writer, plus having a romance with Jack is not exactly a classic fairytale. That's not how I see Jack. He may be a philandering pig, but he's my philandering pig. :)

Chapter 6: Pirates Are Mean

Evanna spent a good while re-cleaning some of what Evy had already cleaned. Not because it was still dirty, but because she needed time to settle down after the questions Evy had been so brazen to ask. That girl knew just the right questions to ask and never the appropriate time to ask them. It was hard enough having to face him again after so long and now her daughter—whom she'd always thought was on her side—had suddenly defected to her father's side.

They had just helped him to escape from jail! Didn't they even consider the consequences? With a resigned shake of her head, she knew they hadn't thought ahead to the future. Both of her children often leapt ahead without checking to see that a sturdy floor was beneath their feet. It was one of the many traits Jimmy had shown during pirate raids of merchant vessels. He'd run forward, sword drawn and only worry about the consequences later. That was why he'd nearly died in her arms. That was why she left him. Worrying had become an enemy of her mind. Anger, her best friend.

"Seems your family was right, I'd say."

Evanna froze when his deep voice filled the room, sending familiar chills down her spine.

"What do you want?" she asked stiffly, though not unfriendly.

"We need to talk," he said simply.

"Talk? You?" she said in disbelief.

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, I can talk. I'm not as dimwitted as you so obviously believe."

Evanna's cheeks flushed with ire. "Listen here, Jimmy. If you want to talk, say it, and then leave me be."

Jimmy turned his face away from her to glare at the wall. Were a stranger to look at him, they'd not be able to see that he was angry, but to Evanna, the signs were evident. His back stiffened, increasing his height so much that his head nearly brushed the ceiling. Big, hard hands turned bone white as his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. The little vein by his right eye jumped.

When he did look back at her, she was surprised to see the control with which he held himself.

"I'm only doing this as a favor to the children…our children." She waited, too curious to stop him. "We need to make a truce, Evanna."

"What for?"

"Emerson told me that Evy was crying all night."

"Crying?" she said with concern. "She didn't say anything to me."

"Well, she wouldn't would she? Too much like you."

Evanna scowled. "I was always under the impression they took after you, what with invading a jail to rescue one of its prisoners."

"You just had to bring that up," he muttered.

She folded her arms. "What if they'd been caught? What if they'd been sentenced to the gallows? What then?"

"Stop 'what iffing'. That didn't happen. They're alive and safe."

"For how long?" she pressed. "That guard on duty saw their faces. They've no doubt got a warrant for their arrest by now."

"We'll figure that out later, all right," he said, aggravated.

"What did you mean about my family?" she asked quickly.

"What?" he asked, looking confused at her abrupt change of subject.

"When you came in, you said it looked as if my family was right. What was that supposed to mean?"

"Forget it, Evanna," he said gruffly. "I just came in here to make a truce."

"Fine, then. We have a truce. Now what did you mean about—my—family?" she asked pointedly.

"Marrying a pirate ruins a lady's future and her reputation."

She laughed. "Jimmy, there is nothing wrong with my reputation. I own a respectable business in Nassau, and—"

"Owned, past tense," he interrupted.

"And…" she went on as though he hadn't interrupted. "My future wasn't ruined."

"According to your family it was."

Scoffing, she rolled her eyes. "Since when do you care what my family thinks? You didn't care the day we sailed away. Why now?"

Jimmy turned as though to leave, but gripped the doorframe hard. "Because you were right. They can't go back to Nassau. They can't have a future because I'm a pirate."

Evanna's icy feelings melted some, but she said, "Jimmy, you don't have the right to take full credit. They're old enough to make their own decisions. Evy and Emerson could have just as easily let you hang, but they didn't because…well, because they love you."

"Sometimes I think they love me too much," he said with a sad smile.

For once in her life, Evanna was speechless. She hadn't expected to see this side of Jimmy. He was regretting the decision he'd made to involve Evy and Emerson. It was so startling that she couldn't think of anything to say.

He cleared his throat, dismissing the solemnity of the moment. "No more fighting, Evanna. What do you say?"

She nodded. "Agreed." With a half smile, he turned to go. "Wait, Jimmy!"

He stopped, watching her curiously with those big blue eyes that used to take her breath away. She couldn't help but feel a little lightheaded though.

"Does it still hurt?"

He didn't have to ask what she meant and placed a hand over the right side of his chest. "Yeah, it does, but only when it rains a lot."

"So today is not one of those days?"

"Nope. Strength of a young sailor, I've got."

"Good," she said quietly.

They just stared at each other in uncomfortable silence until he cleared his throat again.

"Right. Guess I'd better get back to it."

He hurried out the door without giving her a chance to say anything else.

Jack and Jim sat alone at the captain's table in his cabin. For the past couple of hours they had holed themselves inside. They sat across from each other, boots propped on top of the table. Their two glasses of rum slid up and down the table along with the rhythm of the sea. Jim distractedly drummed his fingers against the table. Jack had slouched down into the chair; resting his head on the hard back and letting his arms hang over the sides. He hummed along to the tune in his head.

"How many days' head start do you think he has?" asked Jim.

"At least three, mate, providing the weather 'olds up for 'im."

"Or the ocean doesn't swallow his ship alive."

Jack grunted his agreement.

"Do you believe any of those stories, about the missing ships and the sea snakes?"

He grinned knowingly. "I've seen enough weird stuff lately to answer that with a firm yes.

"Oh, right. The walking skeletons," he said, nodding. "But we're still going after the treasure."

Jack grabbed his mug and emptied it fast. "Of course, mate. Not going to let a little sea monster put a damper on our quest, now are we?"

"Just so long as it eats you before it eats me, Jack," he said with a chuckle. "But are you sure this is still worth it?"

"Worth what?" Jim dodged Jack's sharp eye. "Ah, you're worried abou' your little family."

"Well, I was all for it at first," he said uncomfortably. "Now that they're here, though…Emerson can handle himself fine. I've been giving him pointers, but it's been ten years since Evanna's traveled by ship and Evy seems to be adjusting well, but she's no sailor."

"I'll order Evanna and Evy to stay below deck if a sea snake decides to suddenly drop in for tea time, and if they refuse, I'll lock them in the brig."

"Brilliant. And if the ship sinks?" he snorted, not impressed.

"Then we'll all go to merry little 'eaven together, won't we?"

"Be serious, Jack. There's a real threat here to those women."

"You're the one who insisted on bringing them along for the ride, mate."

"I know," he said, annoyed, "So if I can keep them from getting into a worse situation, I will."

"There's no island out 'ere 'cept for the one we're trying to find. We can't let them off somewhere and we can't turn back."

Jim frowned.

"Look, Jim, it's like you said. Young Emerson looks to be shaping 'imself into a fine pirate. Evanna has grit enough that she could probably kill a sea snake just by looking at it, and your baby girl is a scrappy duck. So do yourself a favor and stop fretting like a mother 'en."

"More words of wisdom from the famous Captain Sparrow."

With a self-indulgent grin, Jack reached for the bottle and helped himself to more rum. "You were right 'bout your little girl."

"What do you mean?" he asked, interested.

He swallowed a rather large mouthful with difficulty, nearing choking. "That lass is the most disagreeable female I've ever met, and I've known quite a few females in my day," Jack grinned as he recalled a few interesting situations.

Jim gave him an odd look and cocked his head to the side. "In what way disagreeable?"

"For one, her mouth is larger than the 'ull of this vessel."

He choked on his rum as a laugh bubbled in his throat. "I'd like to take credit for that, but it's her mum who gave her that."

"I was tempted to throw little Evy overboard a few days back."

Jim laughed. "I 'ad the same thought about Evanna, actually."

"So what's the story there with your little woman, eh? Will she be able to cope on another pirate ship? The last one wasn't too good for 'er."

"She'll be all right. I think," he added uncertainly.

Jack frowned. "You might want to think about giving the ship's captain a little more confidence, mate."

"We've had a talk and come to an understanding of sorts," he said soothingly.

"Oh, that's good. Could you make some understanding with your daughter? She's bloody irritating."

Jim laughed heartily. "You'll get used to her. Put it in perspective, Jack. Piracy was never a welcomed practice in the family. Now they're aboard a pirate ship with the most pirate of them all."

Jack grinned smugly. "Pirate of them all, eh?" Yep, that was him.

"She seems to have made a place for herself though," he pointed out.

Jack shrugged indifferently. "She's all right, I s'pose. Food ain't burned at least."

"Come on, Jack. It was better than all right. These meals are the best I've ever had on a pirate ship."

"Just what exactly are you sayin', mate?" Jack eyed him shrewdly.

"Peggy's a bit slow isn't he, Jack? I'll bet he enjoys 'aving 'elp."

"You think I should keep 'er? Permanently?" Jack stared at his friend as though he just declared an end to his pirate life to spend his days as a respectable man.

"Why not? She's already on the run with pirates. What's left for 'er to go back to?"

Jack's feet dropped off the table, landing with a loud thwap on the floor. "I can't 'ave 'er cooking 'ere forever. A woman on board is bad luck."

Jim rolled his eyes and snorted. "When 'as bad luck ever stopped you from allowin' a bonnie lass aboard?"

"Because it could be dangerous. Now we 'ave no choice, but in the future…"

Jim stood abruptly. "Sure, Jack. Deny it."

"Deny what?" he asked, perplexed.

"I think you like 'er."

"Sure I like 'er. I'd like to throw 'er overboard. She's a bloody nuisance."

"Yeah, and I don't think you mind that."

Jack slowly stood too. "I need to get back to being ship's captain."

"Gibbs is a capable first mate."

He shrugged. "If you must know this conversation 'as become boring."

"Whatever you say, Jack."

Once the wheel was back in his hands, Jack relaxed and kept a steady eye on the horizon. The island was getting closer. He knew this with certainty because he'd been this way before…and he knew there would be surprises in store. The island had a habit of disappearing into thin air. That was why he'd come up empty handed the last time he'd been in this part of the ocean. The bearings were never the same. He expected as much this time. As far as he knew, no one had taken so much as a single piece of treasure away from the island. If they had managed it, they'd never been seen again.

Course, Jack was never one to back down from a challenge when it came to treasure. This time would be different.

Jack's attention wandered away from the island to the crew member that had just come above deck. She looked up and waved at the figure high above in the crow's nest. To his amazement, she began climbing to join her brother. Then he nearly jumped out of his skin when she slipped, but quickly caught herself and laughed the rest of the way up. Emerson pulled her in and she stumbled again because she couldn't stop laughing.

Jack scowled. Bloody foolish thing to do. Didn't she understand that the crow's nest was for experts only? How could she leave poor Peggy by himself? Had she become bored with her new duty already? Peggy needed help, so why wasn't she helping him?

His concern, of course, was only for his ship's ailing cook and not for the girl who'd slipped while very high in the air. He most definitely wasn't bothered with the images of her falling and splattering all over the deck. She still just stood up there with her brother, laughing about her near death experience as though laughing at a joke she'd just heard.

"Bloody woman," he grumbled.

"A word, Cap'n?"

Jack broke from his tumultuous musings. "Mr. Gibbs!"

Gibbs approached and spoke softly as though hoping to keep their conversation private. He even glanced over his shoulder before speaking.

"If I've said it before, I'll just have to say it again. Having a woman aboard is bad luck. But we're not going to have bad luck. We're all going to drown as the ship sinks because there are two women on board."

Jack couldn't disagree with that. "Aye. Women are worth more trouble than good."

Gibbs scratched his long sideburns nervously. "So what'll it be, Captain? Shall we dump them as soon as possible?"

"And where do you suggest we dump 'em?" he asked, indicating the vast ocean with no sight of land.

Gibbs darted his eyes to the ocean and back to Jack. "Women are light, airy creatures. Perhaps they could float back to whence they came."

Jack nodded. "Tempting, Gibbs. Tempting. And as I've said before, it'd be far worse not to 'ave 'em on board, seeing as they're both daft little things. Jim wouldn't like it either."

Gibbs looked as though his candy had just been stolen. "O' course, Cap'n." He stomped off in a pout, eying the girl in the crow's nest with distrust.

It really wasn't such a bad idea. She wasn't all that useful. Well, maybe the meals were better than Peggy's because they weren't burned or reused for days on end, but she was still a nuisance who could do nothing else but argue.

For what it was worth though, he did enjoy annoying Evy. It helped to pass the time at least. Besides, she deserved some bullying seeing as she was a double crosser when it came to rum. It wasn't as if she needed special treatment. There was nothing extraordinary about her. She wasn't even pretty to tell the truth. Hair the color of mud, which was getting frizzier the further they got out to sea. Cold blue eyes that fired icy daggers were hardly appealing. Plus, that mouth was too big for her own good. Course, he had thought about kissing that mouth a couple of days ago, but that was just habit.

Evy laughed yet again as she leaned over the railing. What possessed her to be in such a good mood today? She was really leaning over much too far. Jack held his breath. The ridiculous girl was going to fall.

"Evy!!" he shouted, not managing to stop himself.

She straightened up quickly and looked around, searching for him. When she found the source of the voice, the laughter in her face disappeared and she glared back. He pointed to her, then to the deck and finally at himself. She apparently got the message and made her way down the mast, a little too quickly in his opinion and stalked over.

"You called?"

"Let's you and I 'ave a talk, darling." He strung rope over the spoke of the wheel to hold it in place, took her by the arm and marched her down to his cabin.

She cast him a cagey eye as he shut the doors and rounded on her. "You do realize where you are, don't you, luv?"

"In your cabin, on your ship," she supplied flippantly.

"Precisely. Just what do you think you were doing up there?" he asked quietly.

"Talking to my brother. Is that a crime? Are you going to demand I stay holed up in the galley?" she asked, blue eyes flashing dangerously.

"Not at all, luv. Go anywhere on deck you like, 'cept the crow's nest."

"Why?" she asked, confused.

"Because, darling. It's not a toy."

"I know that."

"Do you? It looked as though you were 'bout to take a nose dive onto my deck, which was just swabbed this morning, and which you couldn't clean if you had taken a nose dive because you would now be dead and unable to."

"I wasn't going to fall."

"Looked that way to me, luv."

She narrowed her eyes. "What would you care if I fell?"

"I don't care, luv," he said carelessly, "'owever, you 'appen to be Jim's daughter and 'e wouldn't be too pleased."

"You don't care about my father," she scoffed. "All you care about is your precious treasure, pilfering pirate that you are."

He stuck his nose in her face, also narrowing his eyes. "You're not so far from piracy yourself, girlie. You lied to a Royal Navy officer to break your father—a pirate—out of jail. You then evaded capture and boarded a pirate ship willingly. You're living the life of a pirate whether you like it or not."

"Don't call me that, Jack," she whispered, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Callin' it like I see it, luv," he shot back.

"I am not a pirate. I'll never be as pathetic or a…as—or," she spluttered, searching for strong enough words. "…or as mean!"

"Mean?" he laughed. "Ha! Is that the best you can come up with?" Jack didn't understand why he was goading her, but he couldn't stop. "Such a fancy English princess ought to know bigger words than that."

"Bigger words? I'll give you bigger words, Captain Jack Sparrow!!" she yelled.

Jack took two steps away from her. The look in her eyes suggested she was about to spit fire. She marched forward until his back hit the wall with a bang.

"I'll never descend to the depths of the abhorrence in which you have elected to live nor will I permit myself to exist as a degenerate miscreant to gratify my unseemly desires all for the sake of gold that does not belong to me!"

Jack had raised his hands in front of him in case she decided to induce bodily harm upon his person. She blew loose hair away from her face, placed her hands on her hips and fixed him with her steely blue eyes.

"Are those big enough words for you, oh great pirate?"

Jack was usually a pretty even-tempered man, but something about this bloody wench made him desperately want to shoot her, but as he couldn't do that, he did something much worse. The horrible words were flying from his mouth before he could stop them.

"Seems to me your father was lucky the day your mum decided to jump ship with two brats in tow."

"Excuse me?" she asked in shock.

"She passed on 'er lovely gift to 'er charming daughter. Pity the man who gets landed with you, luv, because your mouth is enough to drive any man to go down with 'is ship just to get away from you."

Evy's mouth slowly fell open. Jack's blood ran cold. He saw it there in her eyes, eyes that were no longer shooting daggers, but were filling with tears. She just stood there, staring at him as though unable to comprehend what he'd just done. He took a step towards her.

"Evy," he whispered. "I…"

She hurried past him, shrinking away as he tried to reach for her and leaving him alone in the dead quiet of his cabin.