Hey! Back for the third one, eh? I hope you enjoy it! And I hope you will not kill me for what will be happening in the course of the first chapters, lol. You all will, I already know it. The first chapter of this, I admit is definitely one of my shortest, it worked out like that. I attempted some Chinese language in it as well, haha, key word: attempted. Google translator sometimes isn't a good source and I hoped it didn't give me the wrong sayings or anything.

I tried not to make the summary to revealing as well, when I started this series I really wanted it to be so different and drastic and I backed out of it so many times because I was scared of how to write it without having a group of people carrying pitch forks pointed at me ready to kill me. I wanted to take a risk, which is why her brother was added into the story in the middle of the first so this could actually happen. (yes everyone... he was never really supposed to be in it :o. My secret is revealed!)

See? My insanity has reason.

Summary: During the struggle of piracy, Nicolette Brown finds herself in a web mixed with piracy and East India Trading Company that is spun by her brother. Dealing with the situation, she learns new things about herself, Jack's past, and her new feelings toward a man she would never expect. Nic never thought to be in love with two men at the same time, until meeting with James again.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. This includes the characters, the places, the words that they said in the movie, along with the plot, etc. However, I do own my OC (s) Nicolette Brown, Christopher Grayson/Brown, and Deborah Sheppard.

Chapter One: Second Thoughts.

"Don't mess this up." He stated through his teeth while he and Will were in an alley somewhere close to Sao Feng's uncle's temple. He was holding his arm tightly in his grip and made him look at him unsure. Christopher held this intensity in his eye that Will thought was foreign. For weeks (two months worth) now, they both had been talking on their way there from Cuba, they seemed to be coming to an agreement in Christopher's eyes, but Will wasn't as heavy-footed as he thought he was moments ago. He saw the hesitance in his eyes somehow, which was why Christopher was confronting him at the moment.

He added, "If you don't do anything we discussed, then I promise, I would do everything in my power to not let you get the Pearl for your father from Beckett. Got it? Just make sure that Sao Feng is on our side."

Will gritted his teeth agitated, "I won't do anything stupid if that's what you mean. I'm tired of people like you underestimating me as an idiot."

"And with good reason." Christopher muttered under his breath beyond his control. Will caught it and his eyes narrowed at him slightly. Christopher didn't notice and stated to Will, "Look, I got the East India Company for you and I here, so if you don't get Sao Feng with him, then it won't just be my neck around the noose, but yours too."

Will thrashed his arm out of Chris' hold and he glared at him. "I have good reason for being hesitant, though."

Christopher rolled his eyes and placed a hand on his hip. "What reason is that? Afraid that your fiancé might find out, you whipped bastard?"

"What makes you think that I care what she thinks?" He snapped back. Will knew that was a lie, but didn't express it as he snapped at Christopher annoyed. He didn't seem phased at all and looked behind his shoulder carefully to see a group of EITC soldiers past them. He would have to meet with Mercer soon to seal the deal of this. The man was wasting his time, he just wanted to make sure that he didn't mess this up. He couldn't afford another mess up like this right now. Especially now, it was really the worst time to mess up.

"You know what? Do what you have to do. I have to go seal this damn deal and go back to Barbossa because none of them trust me at all upon hearing about the chest. Okay?" Will nodded and then with one last look he had ran off to retrieve the charts that they needed to go to World's End. Christopher watched him until he was a fully faded image, hopefully it would be the last time he would see of him. Ever. And thank God for it. He hated that man more than any other, so annoying. Christopher turned on his heel, lowering his hat as he entered the foggy town.

Around him people were in the marketplace, buying goods for their ships or for themselves to supply them. The sounds of chatter and bargaining filled his ears and he kept a careful eye open to search for a random man. He would have to be poor, when you were in poverty you would most likely do stuff that you would never imagine for a bit of change. Christopher walked forward and went to a stand that had several of fruits and vegetables. He learned Chinese before, he was slightly rusty, but not as rusty as others. He could at least hold a conversation and understand the basic language.

The man behind the stand asked him, "Nǐ xiǎng yào shénme?" ('What do you want?') Christopher didn't answer, but he nodded toward a yellow apple that was in a basket as he dug into his pocket taking a few coins out for him. The man handed him the apple for the coins. He took the apple in his hands and threw it up in the air and caught it with a smug smile. He walked off then and took a bite out of it.

A man passed him with his clothing all in rags and dirt and grime on his face. Christopher raised his eyebrow, seeing the man stagger away from him with his back arched forward. Christopher started to contemplate an idea and then walked after him.

He called, "Nǐ, lǎoxiōng! Dào zhèlǐ lái." (You, man! Come here.) The man turned around slowly as Christopher jogged toward him. He grabbed the poor man's arm roughly in his grip and then walked forward, ignoring the man's whiny protests to let him go.

When Christopher was getting annoyed by it, he shouted, "Ānjìng! Shāo hòu wǒ huì jiěshì." (Quiet! I'll explain later.) The man barely complied, but by the forcefulness of his voice he had no choice but to. It was only a little farther than Christopher expected. Looking over the maps of Singapore, he didn't realize where the ship they had bartered passage from and where the alleyway were located. Before they had left Cuba, he wrote a letter to Mercer and Beckett that they were heading to Singapore and to meet him where he would tell them vital information.

Judging by the amount of soldiers that were there the same day they had arrived only showed that they were expecting him. The alleyway was long and secluded, it wasn't near any form of market nor did people seem to be lurking in the shadows. All but one though. Ian Mercer stepped out of the shadows with a serious frown playing on his lips. He nodded to the man that was still in Christopher's grasp, "In the letter you said no one was to come. Who is he?"

"He's not our man." Christopher stated to him as they moved to Mercer. "He's yours." With that, Christopher pushed him roughly toward Mercer who had took him roughly by the same arm as well. "You'd need him when you go to Sao Feng."

"Does he at least speak English?" He asked and Christopher shrugged, he didn't know that. He didn't think that he really had to speak English. Mercer looked at him like he was a fool and ordered him, knowing that he was able to speak it. "Ask him."

"Nǐ huì jiǎng yīngyǔ ma?" (Do you speak English?) The man nodded quickly and Christopher sighed and then continued in his own native language, "We need you to act as a decoy in Sao Feng's bathhouse. We are willing to pay you, too. Any amount you want." When Sao Feng was out of his mouth, the man had a look of fear crossing his face. Christopher rolled his eyes, he didn't feel like explaining to him any more. He looked to Mercer who knew what he wanted he to do and nodded.

In a flash, Mercer had taken out his pistol and cocked it ready at the side of the man's head.

His eyes had grown wide, worried that these might be his last moments alive. Christopher crouched down in front of him slightly and sighed, "Sir, you'd be doing us and yourself a big favour if you comply with what we are offering you. I'm losing patience with people like you so if you please, I'd rather not you be blown by my colleague's pistol. You won't die now, and you won't die tonight. Trust me. And after we are done with this ordeal we'll award you with a nice chunk of change. Probably an amount that you could use to get out of those shabby clothes." The man's fear seemed to drop a little when Christopher gestured to put the safety back. Mercer did so without delay.

"So, do we have an agreement?" He extended his hand for the man in poverty to take and hesitantly he did. Christopher smiled at him and then straightened up to talk to Mercer. "Do whatever it takes to make him look like a pirate, braid his beard, give him a tattoo, I don't care just do it. Barbossa and the rest of the crew including Miss. Swann are going to the bathhouse and if we want information on the Brethren Court then we need at least one Pirate Lord on our side, especially one with a dark past with Sparrow."

"You think just because you are helping us now that you can regain our loyalty in return?" Mercer retorted and Christopher didn't know how to answer to that. Or even if there was an answer to that. He shrugged and looked to one side to show his unsure expression slightly away from him.

Christopher looked back at him and stated, "I wasn't expecting anything to be honest, but a job back in the company would be grand. I did mention that I think in my letter, am I correct?"

"Yes, I believe so. Grayson, we'll establish your employment with us back after this is all done. We will clear your name in association with piracy and likewise with your sister—."

Christopher interrupted, "Oh no, that isn't necessary." Mercer arched his eyebrow and looked at Christopher questionably. That was strange. He seemed eager last time when he offered this in Tortuga to accept. He continued with an explanation, "My sister and I are on different sides, therefore on different terms at the moment. Not only that, she has a mouth on her and the bravery of a lion. She would turn against us in no time if she were to come. She belongs on their side, while I belong with yours." It definitely pained him for a moment, he added to assure himself that it was the best for her, instead of further explanation, "It's just how it is." Mercer didn't notice the certain change in tone he had suddenly.

"And what about Mr. Turner?"

Christopher pursed his lips for a moment, "Turner." What exactly did that man want? Ah, that was right. He wanted the Pearl for himself, to free his father. He took it upon himself to tell Mercer about the present situation, "Did Beckett tell you the Brethren Court of pirates were called for a meeting?" Mercer cocked his eyebrow, but he nodded. Christopher chuckled to himself before continuing, "Turner, wants to become Captain Turner. To free his father from the Flying Dutchman. He said that he has an eternity aboard that ship. The crew of Jack Sparrow, are going to retrieve Sparrow and the Black Pearl from the locker. Something I'm sure that Beckett would be pleased about. Since, Will is willing to join sides with the Company."

"He is?" Pondered Mercer. "So you're telling me that we are going to let a common blacksmith or pirate, whatever the man in question is, have the only ship that can outrun the Dutchman?" Christopher laughed out loud at that, that was ridiculous. They would be total fools to let that happen. Mercer eyes furrowed at him. "Then, what do you say we are going to do?"

Christopher explained, "Captain Barbossa, Miss. Brown, and Miss. Swann are meeting with Sao Feng for a particular reason. They are going to need a ship and a crew that are under Sao Feng. We convince him to use his own crew and from talk around Singapore when I was strolling around, I've heard that Jack and him had a past. Jack paid him disrespect, which only means that Sao Feng, one of the most fierce pirate lords next to Gentleman Jocard, may actually want to help us. We get him on our side and offer him Sparrow. He will use his own crew and they will meet at an island along with Turner and the rest of them. We surprise them and take the Pearl for ourselves. We will have the advantage over them."

"And with the Pearl in the Armada—."

"It's a sure win. And piracy will be terminated, for the most part."

Mercer nodded in agreement and while still holding the man in his hand, he went to go get a small pouch that had been attached to his person. Christopher cocked his eyebrow as the pouch was thrown to him, he caught it with ease. It jingled an alluring, but unsettling tune as he shook it by his ear. He sighed, moving it away from his ear, "I don't need money."

"Take it." Mercer demanded, watching Christopher who was looking at him with caution. It was insurance, wasn't it? Mercer added, "We may need more information from you further and you are the only man that could provide it for us, and only us." In other words, it was insurance. He forced himself to open it and look to see more than two shillings... a lot more than two shillings. Christopher quickly closed it and looked up to protest the amount of money that was in it, but before he knew it the man in poverty and the assistant of Lord Cutler Beckett were turning on their heels and walking away, back into the shadows.

Christopher stood there with his head down, he was staring at the floor seeing it suddenly churn, it seemed that it could slip right from under him. He put a hand on his forehead, rubbing it to ease his sudden second thoughts. Was this right? Should he do this? A moment ago he was questioning Will's second thoughts, but now he was questioning his own. There were two sides, both sides were completely different in customs, in ways that he couldn't possibly begin to explain. Which was in the right and which was in the wrong?

He slowly backed up from where he had stood and shook the pouch in his hand to hear the familiar jingle of change once more. Maybe that was why Mercer had given it to him, like he had known that these second thoughts would come to Christopher like the Big Bang that some had said started Earth. With a deep breath, Christopher finally accepted the given money and pushes the pouch in his pocket then turned on his heel to walk back to the Hinterland Thane to meet with Barbossa and the rest to get started. Christopher took another bite of his apple and then threw it to the side.

She looked around the alley corner she was in, it was dark and in the deep shadows of Singapore. She couldn't help but feel this weak feeling developing in her chest that was there throughout thee week. Her breathing was shallow and she saw several EITC soldiers pass it with their muskets and bayonets pointed toward the foggy and humid sky. Where was he? Her hazel eyes wandered looking for the damn pirate with the wooden eye she had sent to get her some new clothes.

She knew that if she needed a weapon, (weapons weren't necessarily allowed in the bathhouse of Sao Feng) it would be hidden in somewhere that was clothed. Therefore, she needed to wear less clothing, it sounded better in her head when she first thought of it... actually. Not one of her best ideas... but one of the most creative. I try to think like Jack and this is what I come up with?

"Nic!" About bloody time. She looked over to see Ragetti carrying a long skirt with slits on the side. The top was rather revealing it seemed and the dagger that Nicolette Brown had in her hand made her uneasy of where it was to go. It would be strange if something were to go wrong and she had to go to the back of her thigh to get to her nearest weapon of choice. She actually felt herself slowly retreating from her little plan. "I gotten what you 'ave told me to get."

Ragetti came to her and halted handing the articles of clothing to her. She hesitantly took it out of the pirate's hands, unsure all of a sudden. "Thank you." She said to him, running her hand over the silky fabric. "Do I want to ask where you have gotten clothes like this from, Ragetti?"

He only said to her, "No, not really." Great, she didn't want to know anyway. Nicolette placed the clothes on the nearest barrel by her and examined each piece of clothing in her hold. "Now, Nic, why are ye actually putting said clothing on?" How did she know that he was going to ask that?

Putting the skirt over her breeches and then unbuckling them in front of him, taking them off from underneath the skirt, she answered shortly, "I'm smuggling."

She kicked off her boots seeing the breeches ring around her ankles. She then kicked off her worn out breeches onto the ally ground. Ragetti took in the bottom half of her, seeing the slits reach up to slightly below her crouch. She didn't pay mind to that, seeing the top he had given her. She held it and with an eyebrow raised, she asked him, "Did this woman happen to be very small? I don't think it would really fit."

"She was your build, Nic. That 'tis what you had told me to do." He gulped and she looked over at him unsure if she should believe him. "What be the thing that you're smuggling in there anyway, miss?" She smirked lightly and then placed the shirt back on the barrel and then took her prized dagger off of it. She waved it by the handle. "A dagger, where are ye going to put that?"

She rolled her eyes, "I was going to do it under the skirt you given me, but look at me," she gestured for herself to him, and he didn't mind eyeing her, really. Nicolette still didn't seem to note it at all, she added, "this is going to be close to impossible now with me looking more whorish than intended. Thanks to you."

The dimwitted pirate looked up into her eyes and stated to her not noticing the sarcasm tracing in it at all, "You're welcome!" Nicolette rolled her eyes and took the shirt in her hands again, balling it in them. Ragetti didn't hold his tongue like he should've though, "I could help ye with your problem in putting that dagger somewhere. Me thinks, I have the perfect place 'or it." Nicolette's face turned into disbelief and she crossed her arms over her chest, not saying a word to him. It was supposed to be directed as a no, but he didn't seem to ponder the silence thoroughly.

"I'm guessing by the silence, that be a yes!"

"No." She corrected him and feeling a slight breeze coming up from the slits of the skirt she was wearing, she gladly directed Ragetti out. "Go before I knock out that eye of yours and throw it somewhere where you will never find it. All right? Don't want to keep the cur waiting for you to get under way." The cur meant Barbossa, since that was the only way that she could actually call him when he, himself, called her Sparrow's mutt. Still. It did help her a bit to not say anything that she would regret on-board with him. She had no idea how she was going to survive the entire voyage with him without being allowed to strangle him.

"But what 'ould I tell 'em about you?" She really didn't think about that. Nicolette knew that they would be waiting for her as well to get there. She looked left then right and sighed, she really didn't know.

"Tell them that I'm a bit detained."

"Detained?"

She sighed annoyed, "Yes. I'm busy and that I'll meet them at the bathhouse. I know where it is. I can direct myself without their help."

Ragetti reluctantly nodded and turned on his heel away from Nicolette, going back to the ship hoping that he was unnoticed by his absence. Pintel knew where he was and was covering for him.

Nicolette stood and watched his retreating shadow walking out of the shadows she was in. When she felt that she was alone, she looked to the silk shirt, taking off her vest that was over her white shirt. She didn't realize it was the same shirt she was wearing when Jack had died on the Pearl. She sighed, and threw the vest onto the ground backing into the cold wall of the building behind her.

Her hand immediately went to her black trinket, she never took it off. No matter how much she told herself she would, she never had. The pad of her thumb rubbed it gently and she whispered, closing her eyes as if she was feeling Jack's breath in her ear, his braided beard tickling her neck, the last kiss on her forehead and the last intense kiss they shared before he died, "I wish you were here." Though, how much she had rubbed it for him to come back to her, her magic genie didn't show up.

Her breath caught in her throat, feeling the tears starting to develop. Jack's face before the Black Pearl was sinking into the depths only led Nicolette to keep it enveloped in her memory. She never touched upon it. She really didn't want to and no matter how many people tried to talk to her about anything that was remotely close to the subject of Jack since the conversation at Tia Dalma's with her brother, she disregarded it, that conversation being the last of the subject. Coming to Singapore, she only talked to selected people over the two months, two very long months. These people were only insults toward Barbossa whenever he would insult her, the awkward conversations between her and Will, which only lasted for a second, and to the also silent Elizabeth. Since they were both silent, they let their thoughts do the conversation for them. It wasn't awkward actually, it was comfortable for the two of them.

Then there was Tia Dalma, who somehow intrigued her in a way that made her wonder what was so strange about being in her presence. She almost felt inferior to her as if the woman was actually superior. She made great effort to not talk to her as often as she could, but Tia made efforts, great efforts, strangely, to talk to her.

Christopher and Gibbs made efforts. Christopher did it out of guilt, he always seemed like he wanted to tell her something, about Jack and Elizabeth, but Nicolette would leave before he could. Gibbs, was Gibbs. He was the father figure in her life, it was likely for him to be concerned. She didn't want to talk about it. Though, she showed her emotions a lot, she was a private person. She had been a private person. She learned that from her actual father, since he also never showed actual emotion after her mother died.

She felt her back rub against the wall and her head leaned back onto it, looking at the entrance. It seemed to get blurrier as she continued to fixate onto it. Her hand moved away from the black necklace around her neck. Different. He called her different from everyone else. She wished she was. All she did was wallow in grief, in despair. All she did, was feel like others. She cursed, she hurt, she hurt others, while she felt the hurt like others. She was far from different. So far from different than those words of, 'You are the different one,' seemed like a load of shit for all she cared.

Had she still felt that angst she exposed to her brother? That if Jack stayed, none of this would happen. If he stayed, she wouldn't be miserable, she hid it well, however. If he stayed, they would fight Jones together. No Barbossa. No need to get him out. It would've made everything a hundred—

NO! Why am I thinking like this? What's wrong with me? Everything. Yes, everything is wrong, Jack's gone, my home is gone, my... I mean... my... whatever he was to me is gone, too... with the heart, no less. Probably given it to Beckett, I would not be surprised even if I am still hoping not. I'm rotting, slowly. Everyone sees it, is this what my hell feels like? "Stop!"

Her voice rang out in the dark corner and her face fell when she heard it in her hearing and not in her head. That wasn't supposed to be heard by others, but by the absence of others she presumed that no one heard it. She glanced around the corner she was in. Suddenly frightened by herself, that was out loud? "Oh..." A pit in her stomach suddenly formed and she looked down at the ground with her hands balling into fists. It wasn't that he would be alive if he went with them, she didn't believe that Jack stayed by choice. It was so unbelievable. It wasn't like him... he would still try. For all she knew, the last person with him was... Elizabeth.

She was there! She could tell her what he said when he said it! Why hadn't she think of this before? Two months and she didn't even think of it! They were bound to be having a conversation for being up there so long... right? They did take their time up there, she remembered. Maybe if she could...

No, she couldn't think like that. She couldn't at all. She didn't want to know anything about it. There was no point in it at all if she were to find it out. She straightened up and looked to the sleeve of her shirt. She ripped it off without questioning herself and then noticed the long slash at her arm that was still there. It faded, but it was still rather noticeable for her receiving it a year and a half ago. Not only that, the sleeve in her hand had a blood stain that was still from that point. It never seemed to come out whenever she washed it.

Nicolette took the dagger and her silk, whorish shirt in hand walking cautiously in the even darker corner, so if someone were to happen to pass by, she would barely be seen by them.

Like I said, small first chapter, but it ended where it should. Lol. I hope some of you all are interested in it, judging by the drastic change I want to do and the summary I left you all with. Just don't kill me when it happens. Please, don't kill me when it happens. Pretty please, with sugar on top, don't kill me when it happens. The outfit, it was in the movie, but you really have to pay attention, I didn't notice it either. It's like right at the very beginning of AWE when there were entering the bathhouse. Hope you liked it! :)

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