Author's Note: this is more of a filler chapter with a bit of plot thrown in there

thank yous go out to: QueenOfWeird1995 , supercalifragilisticexplalidoc , gothicluver13 , -Valor- , bittersweetxsymphony , -sparrow and sorry but i've rightfully claimed the title of mrs. sparrow...along with five thousand OTHER fans...(sigh)...never mind :) oh! and thanks a BUNDLE to ThePurpleness who helped me work through what I wanted to do with this chapter, luv yous!

As the two friends entered the open area of the deck, covering their eyes against the harsh sunlight contrasting against the darkness of the corridors below, they heard the familiar drawl of their half-captain's voice.

"As if I could be bought for such a low price." He muttered, placing something rectangular within his coat pocket.

"Jack, the letters, give them back." Elizabeth called, moving forward and attempting to take them from him.

"No." Jack replied in a matter-of-fact tone before adding with a smirk, "Persuade me."

Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and smirked herself before narrowing in on Jack's shoulder, bringing her lips close to his ear as she replied, "You do know Will taught me how to use a sword."

Jack turned back to face her, bringing his face that much closer to hers. His voice dropped into a seemingly silky whisper as he reiterated, "Persuade me."

Brandy's face twisted into confusion as she leaned into Alina who's eyes had widened and mouth dropped open in shock, "Did Tweety just imply what I think he just implied?"

Alina, still in shock, could do nothing but nod her head dumbfounded, before she shook her head and turned to look curiously at Brandy, "Tweety?" She asked with a cocked brow.

"Yeah." Brandy replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Don't parakeets go 'tweet'?"

Alina could do nothing other than shake her head and grin before turning back to see Jack's face as Elizabeth walked away from him. He seemed to contemplate following her for a moment before he let out the smallest grunt of discomfort. His face dropped in thought, as he realized the position he'd placed himself in. Not knowing much about love, being the pirate that he was, he wasn't completely sure that was what he felt towards his friend and co-captain. He simply knew it was strong, and he couldn't bare to be torn from her. On the other hand, he felt a strange and compelling attraction towards the young Miss Swan. It almost felt like the gods were playing with his fragile innards, pushing him towards one he knew could be no good for him, away from the one he somehow felt could change the entire meaning of the world for him. He walked away, choosing to leave the vixen to herself. He would do his best, he vowed, to stay away from her. She was not the one he was meant to chase. He just knew it.

"I'm going to go have a little chat with our dear co-captain." Alina spat with a glare as she stepped further out onto the deck. Just as she had taken her fourth hateful step towards the man that kept her mind reeling, James Norrington stepped in her path.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said with a smirk.

"Well yer damn lucky ye aren't me then, aren't ya?" She spat back at him, fire burning in her eyes meant for one drunken bastard. James only chuckled.

"You know that used to be something I admired about you Johnson. Or should I say Carter?" He replied as he steered her towards the bow, out of sight from others and far away from Jack at the helm. "Of all the women of Port Royal, you were the one that stood out. You never seemed to quite fit in. And now I see why."

"Is that a compliment?" Alina asked confused.

"Of sorts. Miss Carter-"

"Alina."

James turned to face her with a bemused expression, "Alina then, I always noted this certain spunk, should I say, that seemed to be swimming under the surface that was your farce in Port Royal. I never said anything regarding it however, convinced that your hidden identity would show itself when it deemed appropriate. You showed yourself the morning after Miss Swan's kidnapping in my office. Though admittedly, I was quite surprised and thoroughly agitated; I secretly but greatly admired the fact that you were willing to stand up to me. You went as far as to condemn yourself to the gallows for treason and thievery of the pride of our main. Of course the moment you revealed yourself a pirate everything connected and the only thought of admiration for you became, 'how in the world did you manage to hide from everyone for so long'?"

"Wasn't that hard, you lot really aren't as clever as you like to believe." Alina replied bluntly.

"Them lot. I am no longer associated with them remember?"

"You were while I was hiding."

"Touché." He replied.

"Was there a point to this Mr. Norrington?"

"James."

"James then."

"No, not really. But you're no longer contemplating the murder of your best friend are you?" He smirked at her and chuckled.

"Why would you save him? I thought you hated him."

"Oh don't get me wrong, I do. I would not lament to be rid of him and I'm sure neither would most of the world. In fact, the only people who would miss him in the world, I'm certain are either on this ship or tending their bars." At this Alina couldn't help but laugh openly, James had hit the nail on the head, "But I recognize the looks you send him when he's not looking, the ones you wear on your face when you think no one is looking. As a former man of the navy I take pride in my observational skills Alina. You love him dearly."

"My facial expressions are highly guarded James, and I highly doubt you could have read them so easily." She replied.

"Yes they are guarded, and under normal circumstances they are nearly impossible to read, though I'm sure Mr. Sparrow would have no troubles."

"Captain."

"Right. The point is, I can in fact tell you are in love him and would you like to know why?" When the only answer he received was a slight inclination of her head he continued, "Because your face gets softer, like you're imagining a life together with him; you seem to escape from the world around you as you drift in a fantasy all your own; and almost always, you'll sigh in want."

"Since when did you pay so much attention to me?"

"Since I joined this ruddy ship and had nothing better to do than watch another's love life enfold. It's quite entertaining actually, like reading a drama in the paper." He replied with another chuckle.

"Oh ha-ha, and here I was thinking we were having a moment."

"In all honesty though, I expect you feel about him, what I felt for Miss Swan. Many people do not know this Miss Carter but I was...am, very much in love with Elizabeth Swan. It was not just a marriage of convenience to up my social hierarchy."

"Forgive me for being one to think the same."

"Forgiven, I suppose it did look rather odd, I realize now that I was far too many years her senior for our marriage to have ever been satisfactory. However that does not stop my heart from accelerating at the thought of being with her."

"You really do love her."

"Indeed, I believe I would give my life for her. And I've heard that you've traded yours to be with him." James made a jerking motion with his head indicating the helm.

"You've heard correctly."

"So I suppose that leaves us here. Too fools in love. Forever following our minds despite what our hearts beg of us."

"Fools indeed." Alina muttered thinking about the words spoken not too long ago by Tia Dalma, I've followed my body and I've followed my mind. All that's left is when I'll follow my heart. She thought before murmuring under her breath, "I will not destroy myself."

"What was that?" James asked.

"Nothing. Just me, finally figuring something out."

"Well Miss Alina, just know that should you ever need an ear, I've got two." He smiled briefly before returning to the quarterdeck to swab.

This has certainly been a strange and tiring day. Alina thought before groaning, "And it's not even half over!"

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