A/N: Ahhh, this chappy took a little out of me. Hard to write for some reason, but it turned out quite a few little pieces of gold that I am quite proud of. Hopefully, this will be enough to provide you for a little tie over until we finally get to see our two pirates together again at last. I assure you all that this will not be the end of the two, no matter what is coming in the near future. We must always look towards the bigger picture!

JackNAnamaria – It is a bit easier to handle when Jack takes up with a whore, isn't it? I know this chapter will pacify you at least temporarily. Enjoy!

Fredsonetrueluv – Aye, matey, there be some dark waters ahead. A bit of smooth sailing I've provided ye with in this chapter to look back on in the dark times to come.

LongingforLlangarlia – What is Ana hiding? I've got you all very curious now, don't I? I love it! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy…I think you will like this one.

Captainme – Yes, no in depth Jack and Elizabeth…trying to avoid that lest everyone begin yelling at me again ;-) Another guess as to what is up with Ana? I love the drama she's causing. And by the way…I didn't take too long this time, so where's my cookie?!

Kungfuchick – The wedding was nice…very simple…thanks for asking  Yes, Braden tends to get on one's nerves almost as bad as Lizzie, doesn't he?

Ejm1059 – Yea! A new reader! Welcome aboard mate! Does happy dance for new reader/reviewer

Eddie – Hmmm…yes, this is the pivotal point in the story most definitely. I feel a change in the winds says I…

SouthSideGurl – Double yea for another new reader/reviewer! does another happy dance That line did make me laugh as I wrote it…Elizabeth can seem so needy sometimes!!

Chapter Forty Two

They set out across the sand and it took them less than an hour to reach The Pearl. The girl huddled against him for most of their walk, but it wasn't as cool outside as Jack had expected it to be. The night air was still warm and he suspected that she only wanted to remain close to him and that she was not in need of the warmth his body provided.

The two shared idle conversation as they walked, but Jack was unable to really focus on anything other than the dark thoughts that were haunting him inside his head. Eventually the girl stopped trying and they walked the rest of the way in silence.

As The Black Pearl came into view, she could not contain her excitement and she let go of Jack, running towards the large ship as her long red hair flew out behind her in the wind. He wondered what kind of stories she had heard and where she had heard them that would cause her such happiness at seeing the pirate ship. It was almost strange to see someone else as ecstatically happy as he found himself when he stared at her beauty.

Had he been younger, he also might have run to her and put his hands on her smooth dark skin, practically embracing her in a hug. But now he found himself wandering slowly towards her, studying her radiant beauty in the moonlit night. There was a comfort in her presence and he found much of his anger from the day's previous events melting away as he studied her. In a few short weeks' time she would be back floating in the deep blue waters of the ocean, back where she belonged. How he longed to feel the rock of the ocean's waters under his feet again. How he missed the spray of the sea against his face. The last month he had been landlocked and he found himself craving time with his love, his lady, out at sea. He hated seeing her here like this, broken on the beach.

"Oh Jack," the redheaded girl had come running back to him. "She's beautiful. She's everything I imagined she would be. Can we go on board?"

As much as Jack wanted to find himself comfortably at home inside her walls, as much as he wanted to feel her underneath him, he knew that it would be dangerous for the girl. She probably had little experience on ships and walking around on a ship lying on its side took careful skill and maneuvering, even for the most experienced sailors.

He shook his head, "Not tonight."

The girl pouted, "She's so beautiful."

"I know," he whispered, pulling a bottle of rum from a pocket inside his coat. "Can you imagine what she would look like out there?" he nodded to the ocean. "With her sails unfurled and stretched against the wind?" he popped the cork from the rum and handed it to the girl.

She took the bottle and drank a long sip, "I can only imagine."

She passed the rum back to him and he took it, using his other hand to pull her against him. He kissed her hard and she kissed him back. They both knew why they had come here.

Pulling away for a brief moment, Jack went to speak, only to realize that the girl had never properly introduced herself. He smiled awkwardly, "I'm sorry, but in the excitement of seeing The Pearl," he gestured towards his ship, "I don't believe you ever told me your name."

"Mary," she smiled, flipping her long red hair over her shoulder.

Jack took a drink of rum and passed the bottle back to her. "Well Mary, I hope you don't mind the sand."

"I'm sure you know it's nothing new to me," she commented.

Still, Jack took off his coat, spreading it out on the sand before pulling her roughly to him. The gesture was thoughtful, much more than most sailors would have even thought of being. The rum bottle was abandoned on the sand as the two began to kiss. The whore moved quickly and they were both undressed in a matter of minutes.

Jack's theory proved correct in that she was well experienced. She had no doubt spent many nights lying on her back in the sand to earn money. There were several times she tried to gain control of the situation, to put herself on top and let Jack lie back and enjoy himself, but the pirate wasn't interested. He needed to be in control tonight.

After another of her attempts, he had her get on her knees so that he could take her from behind. He needed to be rough tonight, to take out his aggressions from the day. He felt her bucking underneath him and he knew this was why he hadn't gone back to the inn. He would have hurt Elizabeth and he hadn't wanted to be responsible for that. He was supposed to be taking care of her now that Will was gone and he already questioned his capability of doing that since he had taken her into his bed.

Mary, however, seemed to be enjoying herself. She was moaning loudly and he was glad there was no one around to hear her screams of pleasure. Jack felt her come several times before he was ready to give himself over to his own orgasm. He was glad she had enjoyed herself as it was always much more fun to be with a willing and participating partner as opposed to a girl who simply laid back and let him use her body. He had run into too many women like that, but then he assumed it was typical of whores who slept with men daily that they had little interest in aside from the gold they could offer.

As soon as Jack pulled out, the two collapsed side by side on the sand, trying to catch their breath. Jack recovered first and sat up, pulling his shirt on.

"Thanks for the release luv. You've no idea how I needed that tonight. So what do I owe you?" he asked, standing and beginning to search for the rest of his clothes.

"It's on me Captain Sparrow," she stated, pulling herself up as well. "It's not every night that a man like you comes needing my services. I've 'eard stories about you my entire life and now I get to meet you and see The Black Pearl for meself? I don't need any payment."

Jack was reluctant not to give her anything however, lest it come back to haunt him in the future, and he slipped a normal fare out of his pocket and passed it to her. She held her hands up, refusing to take the money and he slipped the coins back into his vest. He pulled on his boots and the rest of his clothing, trying to think of a substitute she might actually accept.

"Here then, at least take this," he slipped a ring off his finger that he had pocketed earlier in the week. It was simple, but beautiful, made of silver with a tiny jade stone set in the middle. "I want you to have it," he insisted.

"Very well," she agreed.

The two were both completely dressed now and she took the ring, slipping it on her finger. It fit perfectly and she wiggled her fingers under the moonlight watching the stone glisten. She smiled and Jack was glad to see the genuineness.

"I suppose we should be getting back to town," he stated, gesturing towards the direction of the taverns.

"Ahhh, yes, I suppose so," Mary said, looking back at The Pearl.

"Wouldn't want anyone to notice you've been missing for too long," Jack smiled.

"No one would notice. I work for meself, makes more money that way," she said. "She's everything I always dreamed she would be. Thanks for letting me see her."

Jack took a look back at The Pearl as well. He had never met anyone who seemed as enchanted by her as he was. As Jack bent to pick up his coat and brush the sand off, they heard the voice echo through the night.

"Well, well, if it isn't Captain Jack Sparrow!" It wouldn't have been a difficult guess for the pirate to make, but through the light of the moon, Jack could see Braden stepping into view. "It seems that it's not just Captain Saldana you have trouble appreciating, but rather all the women in your life."

Mary shot Jack a questioning look, but the pirate did not respond.

"What would dear sweet Elizabeth think about this little soiree?" Braden mocked. "She really does seem quite taken with you and yet I'm sure she has no idea you still manage to find time to spend with other ladies on the side."

"This is none of your business sailor," Jack stated, pulling his coat on.

"How is it that you keep the women in your life so uninformed of your promiscuous ways?" he asked. "I do believe Anamaria was rather smitten with you at one point as well, wasn't she?"

Jack drew his sword, silencing him. "What is it that you are doing out here in the middle of the night anyway?" he asked. "You should be back in town, drinking or finding a whore of your own, not sneaking around my ship."

"I've already been drinking and who needs a whore when Anamaria is willing to invite you to her bed? I'm sure you haven't already forgotten those days…"

Jack raised his sword and Braden drew his, just in time to block the Captain's swing. Mary shrieked, backing away from the two as they dueled on the beach, unsure of whether to stay and watch the fight or run back to town. She finally decided to leave, fairly sure that Jack would come out victorious in the battle, but not wanting to see might happen if he did not. She took off running towards the town, distracting Jack slightly as he watched her flee.

Seconds later another voice was heard.

"What the hell is going on here?" Anamaria said loud and clear as she stepped up to the two, her blade drawn as well.

Braden used the distractions to slice the top of Jack's arm and the pirate winced slightly in pain. Anamaria quickly turned her sword on Braden and the young man held his hands up in surrender before dropping his blade on the sand. While he might have been able to hold his own against Jack, he was smart enough to know he would be no match for the two of them.

"You better have a good explanation for this bo'sun because to be honest with you, you're in pretty deep trouble," Anamaria stated, sheathing her sword.

Jack followed suit.

"And I better not find out this is some sort of silly ego thing you provoked Sparrow," she said, folding her arms as she turned to Jack.

Jack gave a small pout. "So what are you doing at my ship in the middle of the night sailor?"

Braden gave Jack a tightlipped stare.

"You see, I thought you must be up to no good when I saw you sneaking out of town earlier. That's why I decided to follow you," Anamaria stated. "It's also why I decided to bring Starling here, with me."

Starling stepped forward out of the shadows, causing Braden to take a small step back. Starling had grown to be one of Jack's best sailors over the years and he had been one of the few who had sailed off and on with either Jack or Anamaria, depending upon where he was needed at the time.

He was an impressive man, standing over six feet tall with long curly black hair and a moustache. He had large muscles and was a good fighter. Seeing him standing on the beach beside Anamaria, Jack wondered why the pirate captain had never thought of him for her first mate. He was trustworthy and a much more capable sailor than Braden. Jack assumed that at some point Anamaria had let her feelings for the young man cloud her good judgment.

"Starling is going to stay with you for the next two days," Anamaria explained to Braden, "and make sure you don't try anything else sneaky before we leave port. He's also going to make sure that you're on The Sea Wench when she leaves port just in case you decide you don't want to stick around."

Braden remained silent.

"I suggest you don't disrespect him as you have Captain Sparrow and me, as you'll find he will be my new first mate."

Jack smiled at her wise decision just as Starling stepped forward and shackled his own arm to Braden's.

"Thank you Starling," Anamaria nodded. "You can take Braden back to town now."

Starling nodded, a small smile of his own crossing his face as he started off across the sand taking long strides. Braden found himself practically running to keep up and Jack turned to share a private chuckle with Anamaria.

"How's your arm?" she asked.

Jack slipped his coat off to reveal his bloodstained shirt. Rolling up his sleeve, he surveyed the gash across his bicep. It was still bleeding and Anamaria quickly ripped off a strip of her sash to tie around the wound as a tourniquet.

"That'll have to do for now," she said. "Does it hurt?"

"Of course," Jack said, forcing a smile. "Thank you."

"Anytime," Anamaria said.

"You made a good decision there. Starling will be an excellent first mate."

Anamaria nodded, "I think so, yeah."

"You're still taking Braden along with you though?" Jack asked, skeptical.

"Just far enough to get him away from you while you get The Pearl fixed," she answered. "I wouldn't want him to give you any more trouble," she smiled.

"I could have handled him," Jack insisted.

Anamaria nodded jokingly, "Sure."

"I could have!" Jack insisted again.

"I know," she said, turning more serious.

Jack stepped forward instinctively, reaching out for her hand. "Don't go," he said softly, just above a whisper. "Wait for us."

Anamaria shook her head, stepping away, "Jack, I can't."

"Why not?" Jack asked, his voice growing louder. "I know it was Braden pushing you to leave me behind, but if he's not going to be sailing with…"

Anamaria cut him off, "It wasn't Braden. It had nothing to do with Braden. It was my idea. I need to go," she said, turning and walking towards The Pearl. Having her back to him prevented the tears forming in her eyes from spilling down her cheeks. "I want to stay and I wish you could understand, but that's not an option and you're never going to. I must go," she paused. "When The Pearl is repaired…"

"We'll meet you in Madagascar," Jack filled in. "We'll speed the repairs along and we won't be too far behind you."

She took a deep breath before turning to meet his eyes and continuing her thought, "I think you should sail back to the Caribbean."

Jack was confused, "But…"

"I'm sorry for bringing you out here, but I should be doing this on my own. I need to do this on my own," she reasoned.

"Anamaria, I…"

"I need you to understand Jack. Please try to understand. I love sailing with you. I love having The Pearl as my sister ship." The tears were beginning to form again. "But we always knew this was coming. We always knew the day was coming that we would go our separate ways. I need to see for myself that I can do this on my own."

Jack was devastated, but in that second, staring into her eyes, he understood. "You're perfectly capable of doing this on your own," he paused. "You've always been capable of doing this on your own, but if you need to prove it to yourself, I understand." He lowered his head, nodding mostly to himself, trying to convince himself it was going to be ok, that he was going to be ok without her.

Anamaria stepped forward, "Jack, I'm so sorry."

A single tear slipped down her cheek and she reached out, not knowing what she was reaching for. He caught her hands and pulled her into him, crushing her in a hug. She wrapped her arm around him and hugged him back hard.

"Jack," she whispered, tilting her head up to his.

He caught her lips in a kiss and she slipped her tongue inside his mouth. It didn't matter that Jack had given himself over to reckless abandon, gotten into a sword fight and been dealt a serious injury all in less than an hour; he felt himself hardening against her. In seconds they had each other's clothes off and were in the sand together, wrapped in one another's embrace.

The rhythm came easily to them, each knowing how to satisfy the other in ways they knew no one else would ever be capable of. Anamaria may have sworn to herself that she would never give herself over to Jack again, but she knew in her heart that she could never resist him. Jack may have spent the past month instructing Elizabeth on how to please a man, but Anamaria would never need instruction on knowing how to please him.

It had been too long since the two had been with one another and they were rough, each forcing themselves on the other. As Anamaria came the first time, Jack felt her digging her nails into his skin and knew they would leave a mark that he would have to explain later on, but the thought was brief in passing. She felt so good around him. No one made him feel like this but her. He fought off the wave of his own orgasm and continued on, wanting to savor the pleasure she was providing him as long as possible.

She was biting and suckling at his neck now, swirling her tongue in the hollow of his throat the way she always did when she wanted to drive him wild. He brushed her hair back and nipped at her throat, returning the gesture, marking her now as his own. She moaned loudly, tossing back her head and allowing him full access to her chest and throat. He took advantage of her, burying his head in her chest and being rewarded soon there after with another of her orgasms. Still, he held out.

She came two more times before he finally gave himself over and came powerfully inside her. She pulled him tightly against her and they lay in the sand, catching their breath for several minutes before he removed his flaccid member from her and collapsed beside her. She regretted the separation and rolled over to face him.

The two made no move to get up, nor say a word. They simply lay side by side, staring in one another's eyes. Minutes passed and when they had both cooled off, they began to gather their clothing and dress.

"I'm going to miss The Pearl," Anamaria said, glancing over at the ship as she pulled on her pants.

"Well, you always know how to find us," Jack said. "We'll never be too hard to catch up with. Not from you at least."

Anamaria smiled, "I'll let you know before we leave town."

"Come on," Jack said, wrapping his arm around her. "I'll walk you back to the inn for tonight."

Anamaria nestled closer to him and he turned his head to kiss her temple. The gesture was sweet and soft, but seemed completely natural to him and he knew that he missed her already.