Title: Send Her My Love Title: Send Her My Love

Pairings: JS/OC, WT/ES

Overview: The Infamous Captain Jack Sparrow has had interesting acquaintances and activities in the past. This story is of a chain of many events that have gone awry, and come back to haunt him.

Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine.

A/N: I really really liked twelve just so you all know. So far, it's been my favourite chapter. This one should be amusing too though, as it is mostly fluff, with some interesting little bits and pieces worked in.

To my reviewers…

HeavenlyKitty, well, given how often Jack gets slapped in the movies, it's kinda applicable. And she's currently in the stage of denial, as is Jack. Mind you, Jack seems to be doing better with the whole love thing. I figured the banana scene (which I had been planning since the beginning) would be hilarious, especially given where I got that whole scene from, which I'll explain in a moment.

Sirenne Claire, I know exactly how you feel… -grins- I mean, consider the value, a stack of bananas versus a kiss from Jack… hmmm… I think that's a steal.

Princess-Maiden, I'm always glad to get input from new people, and I'm really glad you liked the chapter and story. It's good to hear that Payton is receiving good reviews, it makes where I'm going with this one even more interesting.

To Nelle07, yay indeed. –grins- Glad to have another new body reviewing my work, it makes me feel happy.

Okay, regarding the bananas… this came from a family vacation to California over the March Break. (from ebil snow and ice to gorgeous beaches and blue skies… ahhhh…how I miss it, I wish it would get warmer faster.) My sister asked me to get her a banana from the buffet table, so, I went and got one. However, me being an evil individual, and her being shorter than I, I couldn't resist holding it over her head, saying "dance, monkey, dance". From there, when we were all heading home (on the plane), I was struck with ideas for this fic, and thus the banana scene was formed.

I do have more thoughts and news regarding this story, however, I'm going to let you all suffer until I post up part two, as in, when you're all dying. In addition to that, I've got a new story idea forming, which I'm getting Isabella to look over. So far she seems impressed, so it seems like a good thing to be doing. Oh, and until you get to the 6000 words Isabella, you're not my official beta, so I don't hafta send you the fic first! Bwahaha! So, post more, post!

-ahem- Right, to the story…

Chapter Thirteen: A Comforting Lull

Where we have a little break in the story for character development, plot development, and random fluff – this one's mostly filler.

For a few moments, Payton lay there on the sand, unable to move, unable to get up, barely able to think. Concentrating on the sky, and how much she wanted to kill Jack at that very moment, she took deep breaths in. She focussed on laying in the cool shade of the palm trees, with gritty sand underneath her fingers, staring up at the blue arc of sky above her, and the faint breeze blowing off the ocean which she could hear rolling against the shore. Listening more carefully, she could make out the sounds of the crewmembers straining and grunting, working on the repairs to the Black Pearl.

She viciously pushed the events of the last few moments towards the back of her head – especially the part where she enjoyed the situation. She vowed that she would forget them in entirety.

Standing up, she cursed herself for having weak knees, and with a furious gaze, she scanned the surroundings for a certain pirate captain. He hadn't gone very far, not yet at the area where the camp was being set up. In fact, the arrogant jerk was leaning against a palm tree, looking out at the ocean, the bananas loosely held in his left, as if he was waiting for Payton to get up and join him.

Jack was in fact, lost in thought, the bananas forgotten, but Payton, being irrational and at her limit for the amount of things which she would forgive Jack Sparrow for in a day, wouldn't know that.

Payton walked to Jack, fully intending to slap him across the face. As she got closer, he turned to face her, a lop-sided grin on his face.

"Hello luv, how ye feeling?" He held up the stalk of bananas, mischief glinting in his eyes. "Fancy a banana?"

The murderous glare he received should have made him back down, or move away, but he stood his ground, waiting for her response. Schooling her features, Payton smiled innocently at him.

"Certainly Captain." The saccharine sweet tone alone should have informed him that he was in all manner of trouble.

"Well, I'm terribly sorry darlin', but ye can't have any." He smirked at her, and that sent her over the edge. With a growl, she moved forward to slap him, but before she could connect with his face, her toe got stuck on something, and she fell forward … right into his waiting arms.

"I knew I had this kind of effect on most women, but luv, never thought ye'd be swoonin' inta me arms." Even though she couldn't see his face, she just knew that he was smirking at her.

Angrily, she pushed herself away from him, and then, thankfully, Anamaria intervened in the situation.

"There ye are Payton, I've been meaning ta talk ta ye…" She appeared by Payton's elbow, turning the girl way from the campsite.

"About?" Both Jack and Payton asked at the same time.

"Women type things." Ana waved a hand, hiding a smile as Jack blanched slightly. The two females disappeared before he could say anything more, and before Payton could do anything to Jack which could severely maim him.

Another knock came at the door of the dimly lit room. The dark curtains were drawn across the windows so no light would enter. Dust hang in the air, and coated nearly everything in that room.

"What is it now?" asked an angry voice, the man not looking up from his desk.

"Sir, we've lost them." Came the timid reply.

An enraged roar, and a bulky man stood. "What do ye mean we've lost 'em?! It'll be on yer head if we cannot find the wench!"

The other man was trembling. "Sir, we know where they last were seen, but not where they've gone – there's a terrible storm. We think they've stopped for repairs sir."
The man moved to them, surprisingly fast for all his bulk. "We? Who is we?" He looked the smaller man in the eye.

"A-a few of the crew Captain." The smaller man seemed to want to disappear, or escape.

"How many?! An' who?!" He moved even closer to the smaller man.

"Ten of us sir, meself, Montgomry, Schabel, Jacobs, Gilles –"

"Gilles believes this to be so?" The man seemed less enraged.

"Y-yes Captain! He even pointed to an island where they might be sir."

The bulky man went back to his desk and sat down, looking over a set of books. "Set a course to the island then."

"Y-yes sir, immediately!" The smaller man all but ran out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

The bulky man chuckled, rubbing his hand against the cover of a book. "Soon my pet, soon…"

Anamaria took Payton to a secluded spot on the island, away from Jack and the rest of the crew. Sitting Payton down with her back against a tree, Ana sat beside her on a rock, the both of them looking out at the sea.

"Alright." Anamaria looked at her friend. "What did the idiot do this time?"

The first response from Payton was relatively indistinguishable. Anamaria raised an eyebrow speculatively. "I can't understand that, yer going ta have ta tell me again Payton. And this time in English."

"The bloody bastard stole my bananas!" Came the disgruntled response from the glowering female.

Anamaria tried not to laugh, she really did. However, with a statement like that, she all but fell off the rock, thus causing Payton to glare at her. After she had calmed down a bit, Ana tried to speak to Payton again. "Alright then, you're annoyed with him because he took your bananas?"

"Yeah, I was really hungry too." She kicked at a stone in the sand, and missed.

Anamaria laughed. "What was this really about?"
"He stole my bananas!" Payton protested, looking up.

"No, other than that?" Anamaria grinned.

"Well… he's being a jerk." Payton looked back down at her feet.

"How so?" Pried Anamaria. Again, something intelligible came from Payton, and Anamaria groaned. "English is the only language I speak Payton."

"He kissed me." She muttered, slightly louder than before.

"Again? Twice in one day?" Payton glared at Anamaria, knowing that the mulatto woman was gloating. In response, her friend only smiled at Payton. "So… how many has it been now?"

Another glare followed that, then Payton stared at the sea, thinking. "Um… well, there was one after I decided to stay a few days back – "

"I never heard about that one." Anamaria seemed eager for details. Payton shot her a look.

"You never asked. And then… there was one the morning after that… and then at the storm, and then… today. So, erm, four."

"And you still say that he doesn't care for you?" Anamaria teased.

Payton nodded stubbornly. "Aye, that I do."

"An' nothin' I can say will make ye change yer mind?"
"Aye." Payton replied resolutely.

"Let's try something different then… D'you have any proof that he doesn't care fer you?" Anamaria's smile broadened as Payton seemed unable to respond.

After a few moments, Payton replied with, "Just because there's no evidence of an absence doesn't mean that there is not an absence."

"An' just 'cus you claim black is white and white black doesn't mean that that's true either Payton."

"Oh? And what do you have as proof then?" She glared at Ana.

Anamaria laughed softly. "He takes interest in you, he tries to protect you, he helps you out when you're hurt, he talks to you, he kisses you… Tell me, how can you deny that he cares for you?"

"Easily. Just watch me." She turned away from her friend.

Anamaria sighed. "I have been, and it's annoying. You need to talk to him."

"Whatever for? There's nothing happening."

"Oh? Does this mean you don't feel something for him?" A muttered reply followed. "English Payton, for Christ's sake!"

"I said, what's the point if he doesn't feel anything?"

"That doesn't answer my question Payton. Do you feel something for Jack Sparrow?"

"Captain…" The response was so ingrained, that Payton's eyes widened in realisation. "Captain Jack Sparrow." She swallowed. "I… I suppose that… I might."

Anamaria looked her over. Then she nodded. "Well, not quite definite, but closer. Come on then you, we need ta get back ta the campfire, I smell food…"

"You go Ana… I'd like to stay here for a while, okay?" Payton stared off at the sea.

"Eh, fine, yer funeral."

After the sun had set, Jack appeared behind Payton, holding a plate of food. He stopped a little left of her, sitting down beside her. Offering the food to her, he asked, "Hungry?"

She glanced over at him, then back out at the darkened water. Wordlessly, she took the proffered plate, placing it on her crossed legs, and began to eat slowly. They sat in silence together, and a little while later, Jack tried to talk to her again.

"Payton… ye seem ta be bothered by summat."

She pushed around a carrot on the plate with her index finger, still not speaking. Jack gently pulled the plate away from her, placing it on the ground on the other side of him.

"Hey, I wasn't finished!" She protested.

"And neither am I. Now, luv, tell me… why aren't ye talkin' ta me?" His gaze was piercing, scrutinizing her.

"No reason…" She mumbled toward the ground. "Maybe I just wanted some time for myself…"

He looked her over. "An' why don't I believe that?" Payton said nothing, trying to inconspicuously get away. Jack noticed this, and grasped her arm firmly, not so much as to hurt her, but enough to get her attention. "Look at me Payton."

She ignored him, trying to pry his hand off.

"Payton! Look at me." He spoke more insistently, using his other hand to tilt up her chin so that their eyes would meet.

She struggled to get away from him. "No, let me go. You don't care…" She stopped, unable to continue.

"What d'ye mean I don't care?" His gaze grew more intense than before, causing her to back away from him.

"Nothing, nothing… just, leave me be." She backed up against a tree, and was effectively out of options, no way to escape as he moved even closer to her, his body overlapping hers. His nose nearly touched hers.

"What d'ye mean by that Payton?"

"Stop it! If ye care about me at all, ye'd stop doing this ta me!"

"Doing what?" He backed away slightly, waiting for her response.

"Being an ass." She glared at him.

He regarded her carefully. "You believe that I'm tryin' ta bother you?" She nodded slightly, feeling extremely guilty for a reason she could not explain. "Then I'll leave ye be Payton." He stood up to leave, and she grabbed his arm.

"Don't. Please." She spoke quietly, but her grip was strong.

"Ye're sure I'll not bother ye?" Jack asked bitterly.

"I… I'm sorry."

He sighed, and sat back down beside her. "S'alright luv. Don't fret." He gave Payton her food back, letting her poke at it some more. "Are you even going to eat that?"

She shrugged, pushing the plate away. "Dunno."

Jack sighed. "What's on yer mind?"

"Nothing…" She looked away from him again.

"Payton. Answer the question."

She sighed at him. "Alright, fine. If I asked you why you were a complete and utter ass, could you tell me?"

He paused, considering the question. Finally, he spoke. "No."

She smiled at him, but quickly became serious again, her voice sad. "I'm tried of being mad at you Jack. Give me a reason to care."

He pulled her into an unexpected hug. "What were ye lookin' for?"

"I… don't know. I don't know if I can trust you." She started fiddling with a loose fibre in her shirt, and he quickly still her hand.

"How can I regain yer trust then luv?" His dark eyes were intense, deep pools which were sucking her in. She couldn't think, could barely breathe. She moved closer to him, inch by inch, neither of them speaking, holding to the spell being woven around them.

And she kissed him. Hesitant at first, she gained confidence when he didn't push her away, and instead pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and held him to her. When they did have to break for air, she was smiling, and he was watching her intently.

"Did that help ye luv?"

She nodded at him, and leaned her head against his shoulder. The two of them looked out at the ocean and stars in silence.

"I'm sorry Jack. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

He raised an eyebrow, looking down at the woman in his arms. He was already confused by her change in mood from furious to lusting. "What do ye mean?"

"I wasn't really mad at you… I was afraid." She stared off at the horizon.

"Of what?"

"I'm not sure."

Heh, mostly fluff. Like I said at the beginning, this one is mostly filler. However, things should get interesting from here on in, so be prepared for action packed chapters the further we get to the ending of Send Her My Love.

Until then, please review!