Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own anything related to Pirates of the Caribbean. Well, except a Jack Sparrow poster, but that's pretty much it. Only original creations (characters, places, etc) are mine.

AN: A bit of romance in this chapter, and some angst, just to make things more interesting for everyone. Thanks so much for reading, and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 20: Conflicts:

Pacing his cabin, Jack tried to keep his emotions in check. He'd been in a wonderful mood earlier, but now he was ready to shoot something.

The evening had started out so well. Evie had been in his arms, dancing so close to him that he could feel the warmth of her body through her enticing gown. He had been able to put his arms around her waist, and put hands on her, and had scented the enticing perfume that she'd not only worn tonight, but the night before.

Everything had been perfect. Oh, he'd noticed the other women at the masquerade eying him, but why would he want one of them when he had a perfectly fetching one already? What more could he possibly ask for?

Of course, that was when things began to go wrong.

After taking Evie off of the floor and seeing to her rather shocked senses, the dance performance had begun, drawing almost everyone's attention…almost. The dancers were exquisite, but Jack hadn't been paying attention to them –he'd been watching the young fellow who had turned his attention towards Evie. Actually, Jack wouldn't be surprised if there had been more blokes paying attention to the ravishing young woman, and that just made his blood boil.

He'd gotten them out of there quickly when the dancers were finished, but now he had another problem: Jack had told her that they would be leaving port within the next day or two, and he had no idea where they were going.

'Spain?' he wondered, pacing his cabin. 'Or Persia, perhaps?'

No, the desert was the worst place for a sailor. The Caribbean heat he could handle, but Jack couldn't abide someplace hot and dry, which always made him feel oppressed, a sensation he detested. So where did that leave him?

Perhaps one of the island nations off of Italy, or one of its territories? Malta was good, as were several others. Some of them were even tolerant of pirates, which would be a welcome change.

'No, I want someplace that will impress her,' Jack scowled. 'Someplace with fantastic structures, art, and history…someplace like…'

Greece! Of course! Why hadn't he thought of that? It had been home to one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, and there were dozens of little coastal towns, islands and beaches to visit.

'And from what I've heard, their food is pretty decent, too.'

That was it, then. In a few days, they would be in Greece, and Jack wouldn't have to worry about any suave Italians stealing Evie away from him.

Instead, he only had to worry about handsome Greek men. Oh, bother.

Two days after the masquerade, the Black Pearl set sail for…well, I had no idea where, but it was sure to be an adventure.

Sadly, I'd been unable to give Venice one last exploration, because when a ship is due to set sail, a great deal of work has to be done. The girls and I spent much of our time checking and rechecking the supplies, making sure that we had enough food, medicine, and other necessities, in case Jack had secretly planned a long voyage.

Although I was sad to leave the beautiful, elegant city, I was excited at the prospect of seeing something new. I had seen most of what Venice was infamous for, and was now ready for some new experiences, as well as new cultures.

Glancing out at the shimmering water, I inhaled the fresh air and savored the warmth of the Mediterranean sunshine on my skin. It was good to be at sea again.

"Evie, come join us for lunch!" Selene cried, interrupting my reverie. "Come on!"

Smiling, I followed her to the stern of the ship, where the others were gathered. Individual plates of food were waiting, and the others had set up on barrel ends or overturned buckets, which served as tables and chairs for us. To my relief, we were as far away from other members of the crew as possible, giving us a sense of privacy.

Today's meal was fish and cooked potatoes –light fare, but delicious, thanks to Rosa's cooking. The air was filled with chatter, the sound of waves crashing against the hull, and of gulls on the wind. It was wonderful.

I was scraping the last of the fish into my mouth when Penny poked me in the side. "So, Evie, how goes it between you and Jack? Well, I hope?"

The delicate fish suddenly turned to dust in my mouth. I managed to swallow it, and gulped down a cupful of water, avoiding any kind of eye contact. "There's nothing between me and Jack," I softly said, for my friends' ears only. "Nothing at all."

The others looked confused. "Nothing?" Rosa said doubtfully. "But after all of the outings you've gone on together, something must be happening. Surely he's kissed you, at least!"

"No, nothing," I said more forcefully, taking my plate and cup as I stood up, all the while appearing calm and collected. "We are merely friends. He has simply taken me to events or places that are educational and public. There is nothing romantic going on between the two of us. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get back to work."

I could feel their eyes on me as I left, but I didn't go back to work, because there was nothing for me to do. Instead, I went to my cabin to finish my meal and have a good, long think.

Half hour later, after setting aside my empty plate and cup, I found myself staring out the window of my cabin, lost in thought. My friends' questions rang through my head, and brought up others I hadn't been able to bear the thought of until now.

'Why has Jack been doing all of this?' I wondered, staring at the blue ocean. 'Was he trying to be kind by showing me all the wonders of Venice? And if he was merely trying to be kind, why hadn't he invited any of the others along with us?'

Had he been trying to court me? No, that made no sense. I wasn't an exotic beauty like Rosa, or fiery like Anna-Maria, or sweet and gentle like Selene or Penny. I had little money, and only one skill, which was matchmaking, a talent that was hardly worth anything to a pirate. So what did that leave?

'Not much,' I sadly reflected. 'Men always want a wife with money, skills, beauty, or sweetness, though they'd rather have at least two or three of those qualities in a bride. When you've got none of them, all that's left for you is spinsterhood or a convent.'

Neither one of those appealed to me, which was why I was counting on the gold that Jack and his crew were going to pile on me as soon as my task was done. Privately, I hoped it would be sooner rather than later; most of the men had no inkling of wanting wives just yet (or perhaps they didn't want one before their Captain wedded), so all that was left was for me to find Jack the bride he wanted.

That thought brought me back to the previous ones: what was Jack up to, and why?

I thought carefully. Obviously, Jack didn't think of me in that way –it was silly to think he did. Romance and such weren't part of his nature, which was why I'd been hired to find him a wife. He had to be doing it to be kind, possibly to thank me for finding three good women for some of his men? Considering one of those men was Mr. Gibbs, who had long considered himself a bachelor, it was quite a feat.

'Or is there something else behind it?' whispered part of my mind.

Oh, I did not want to think about what that might be, but ideas flooded my head anyway. Was he merely trying to 'keep company' with me, as my mother would say?

When I was a child, Mama had often commented on the wenches in town, and pitied them for their choice of trade. Men often acted romantically towards them, and made them promises that sounded genuine, but which always turned out to be false.

"In the end," Mother had said, "The poor souls learn to distrust everyone and to think that there's no one in the world who cares for them, or is trustworthy. If they give their hearts out far too often, and have them broken into too many pieces too many times, one day, they will have no heart, for there will be nothing left."

Her lesson had been clear: never give your heart away to a man who obviously had no cares for anyone but himself.

I chewed my lower lip and carefully went over everything I knew. Jack was a pirate, one with a tremendous reputation with women. He was a heartbreaker, and had at least one or a dozen women in every port. Now that he was attempting to settle down, he was either attempting to have one last "hurrah" before marriage, or trying to get used to the idea of focusing all of his attentions on one particular woman. Unfortunately, the only 'unclaimed woman' onboard was me. That explained all of the outings, and the rather intimate ways he'd been holding me at the masquerade –he'd been trying to seduce me into bed, or was merely toying with me.

With that one thought, I felt my heart collapse in on itself. Jack was using me as a 'test subject' until I found him a bride. That was the only explanation I could think of.

'But what if he is in love with you?' asked a hopeful part of my heart.

Well, if he was, why hadn't shown any sign of outward affection, other than holding me at the masquerade? Most men tried to hold their sweetheart's hand, or attempted to sneak a kiss, even on their first outing together. Jack, a man infamous for his attentions towards women, had tried none of these.

'Although…he did hold me very close during the masquerade. I could his breath on my neck and everything.'

The memory made me blush and smile, but then it died. Jack hadn't tried to kiss me as a suitor would, because he wasn't courting me. Instead, he'd acted rather enticingly, which meant he was trying to lure me into his bed. That was all.

A knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts. "Who is it?" I called, hoping that it wasn't Jack. I didn't think I could bear seeing him just now.

"It's just me," Anna-Maria replied through the wood. "Can I come in?"

I truly did not want to talk, but knowing Anna, she wouldn't leave without a very good reason. So, of course, I went and unlocked the door, letting her slip into the cabin and take a seat in my chair.

"I'd have been here sooner, but it took me ages to get Selene and Penny to stay with Rosa," she said apologetically. "Honestly, Evie, they didn't mean anything by asking. They were just curious as to how things were progressing between you and Jack, though it's pretty clear that they aren't."

Sighing, I sat down on my bed and tucked my legs up under me. "It's alright, Anna. I know they didn't mean any harm, but it still hurts. I'm just so confused about this whole thing."

She gave me an odd look. "What do you mean? Because I swear, if Jack has been acting like an idiot again, I'll knock him into next month!"

That startled a laugh out of me. "Well, all of my confusion is because of Jack and his intentions towards me."

Anna rolled her eyes. "Oh, bother," she muttered. "If a woman isn't sure about a man and his intentions, then we have problems. Tell me, what are you confused about?"

I told her everything, knowing that, somehow, Anna would be able to help me. She was my closest, dearest friend, and since she knew Jack better than most people, perhaps she would be able to tell me what I needed to know.

"Now, Evie," she said, leaning forward in her chair. "You have to realize that Jack has no knowledge whatsoever of courtship and romance. Oh, he thinks he does, but when you boil down what he thinks he knows, you end up scraping the bottom of the pot."

We both smiled and shared a small giggle before Anna continued. "If he were trying to win you over, believe me when I say that it's as new an experience for him as it is you. Jack knows what romance is, and might even come up with ideas that appear romantic, at least to him. Hell, he might even try acting appropriately, which means not kissing you before he thinks it's time, but that's the best he can do when it comes to that sort of thing. Just give it a little while, and eventually, he'll do the right thing."

I sighed and shook my head. "I don't know, Anna. I just don't think that he's interested in me that way. And if he tried to act affectionate, I don't know what I would do."

Anna chuckled. "Oh, Evie," she said. "You're wonderful. You can find love and romance for others, but you don't even recognize it yourself. All you can do now is let Jack act the fool for you, and see where it takes you. Let yourself take the risk of having your heart wooed or broken. It's a part of life, so go ahead and live it!"

Heaving another sigh, I nodded. "Alight, I'll try. Right now, though, I need to go assure the others that everything's alright between us, so there's no need for us to avoid one another."

After leaving Evie, Anna went right next door and barged right into Jack's main cabin. It usually wasn't a good idea to just march inside, but if Jack wanted a 'private moment' to himself, he'd lock himself inside his sleeping quarters. The main cabin was more public.

Lucky for her, he was there, seated at his desk, pouring over a map of some sort. When he looked up and saw her, he heaved a groan and got up, an act that almost had Anna grinning in amusement. Oh, how she loved annoying this man!

"What is it now, Anna-Maria?" he asked, clearly exasperated. "Say it quickly so that I can try and get some peace and quiet as soon as possible."

She rolled her eyes. "Sparrow, do I have to slap you to knock some sense into that rum-soaked mind of yours? Have you any idea what kind of conversation I've just had with Evie in regards to you and your antics?"

He froze, his face going pale under his tan. "What did she say?" he demanded. "Tell me right now, Anna! What did you two talk about?"

"Oh, not much," Anna sarcastically remarked, "Only that Evie is confused beyond measure as to whether you're truly interested in her, or if you're merely toying with her. For God's sake, Jack, the least you could do is show a bit of affection to prove that you care for her!"

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he spoke. "She doesn't think I want her that way?"

She snorted. "Of course not! She thinks that you either want her as a mere distraction until she finds you a bride, or that you're being kind to her."

Several seconds went by in total silence, and that was when Jack began cursing. "I'm just trying to keep my distance and not frighten her off," he ranted. "Damn it, why does love have to be so complicated when it comes to women?"

Anna felt her jaw drop. "You love her?" she asked in disbelief. "You can't be serious, Jack! Think about what you just said!"

"I have," Jack said, pacing the cabin. "I can't get her out of my head. There's something about her that just makes me want to hold her close and never let her go. I need her, and just when I think I'm getting closer to winning her over, this happens!"

"Drastic times call for drastic measures, then," Anna said, feeling her pirate side take over. "What are you going to do?"

Jack paced the room for a few more minutes, then stopped. "I might change plans," he said. "There are only two people whose advice I trust when it comes to love, and both of them are at Shipwreck Island."

"Oh, no," she groaned. "Your parents? Honestly, Jack, you want to go all the way to Shipwreck to ask your parents for help? What are you, fifteen again?"

"I've got no choice," he snapped. "I won't risk losing Evie just because I haven't tried hard enough, or tried everything there is to win her heart."

"Alright, alright, calm down," Anna hastily said. "Why don't we head to Greece, and you can try a few romantic things there? Shipwreck is a long ways out there, and it's not like we visit Europe all that often. Show Evie a few coastal towns, maybe a Greek temple or two, and see where things lead. Greece can be romantic, and interesting to boot. What do you say?"

He appeared to consider it a moment, right before he nodded his agreement. "Alright, we'll stay for a few days. If Evie gives any sign that she's having doubts about my intentions, you tell me straight away. Then we head for Shipwreck, no arguments, savvy?"

Anna nodded. "Aye, Captain. I'll keep you posted."

"Good woman," Jack said with approval. "Off you go, and don't forget to tell Marty that the decks need a good swabbing."

Left alone in his cabin, Jack ran a hand over his face, feeling frustrated. Lord, how could love be so complicated? Honestly, as soon as he got to Greece, he was going to have to send a prayer to Poseidon (his favorite sea god), and Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Hopefully one of them would grant his wish for patience and success in love!

His head instantly filled with ideas on what to do in that great country. A visit to a local temple, perhaps, or maybe a romantic walk along a beach? Venice had been far too bustling for romantic walks, and perhaps a walk along white sand would be just what Evie needed.

'And if all else fails, Mum and Dad will lend their help.'

His mother especially, bless her soul. She'd been after him for ages to get married, so the least she could do was help him get what both of them wanted!

His father, however, would be more likely to knock him in the head with the butt of a pistol for being such an idiot.

"Well, one thing at a time," Jack muttered out loud. "First Greece, and then Shipwreck."

Sitting down at his desk, Jack pulled out a piece of parchment and began to scribble out ideas.

AN: Apparently there are a few bumps in the road for poor Jack! More to come soon, I promise. Review?