The promotion ceremony was a noisy, boisterous and otherwise outstanding occasion with the crew and officers haphazardly gathered aboard HMS Providence where encouraged fraternising and drinking elicited the heartiest congratulations to the newly made Captain even from the deepest sceptics and envy riddled colleagues. They slapped Groves on the back with cheery guffaws in anticipation of the main event to come.

"We hope you will rise up to the occasion, Mr Groves," James quipped when his friend was sufficiently prepared for the task. He pointed at the wobbling plank above which a Captain's hat dangled temptingly like a ripe fruit. The promoted officer's task was to walk the plank to the tip where he faced the cheery perspective of retrieving the hat. The desired object was obtainable only through jumping and nimbleness of a cat with a minimal guarantee for an ambitious go getter to land safely.

"Two shillings, the lad'll taste the water. The odds are no greater than one to five," an elderly bassoon, who had witnessed many ceremonies over his thirty five years of service, uttered with an all knowing look that attracted many sailors to bet against Theodore's chances.

"Three that he'll make it," Gillette came to his friend's defence.

"Unless Mr Kinsman throws a Bible at the back of his head and knocks him off the plank before the Captain reaches his target," Norrington added, closely observing an increasingly unchristian glare marring the ship vicar's face, originating the moment he happened to stand in close proximity to the Captain when Groves had been notified about an upcoming ceremony.

Groves uttered a few colourful phrases underneath his breath unbefitting an officer of the Royal Navy as he discovered that the plank was quite slippery by stepping onto it. Thusly, he added to the list of the offences overheard by the vicar who in spite of an old age had ears of a veteran fox. Kinsman fidgeted with the Bible, clearly dissatisfied with the one who defiled the deities so. In his mind, it was the Captain's responsibility to serve as a model of virtue for those following his command, though virtue certainly wasn't on Theodore's mind, especially the last night when he was flirting with Kinsman's niece. Before the vicar made up his mind, however, Groves jumped.

He grabbed the hat before a stray gust of wind blew it out of his grasp and landed at the very tip of the plank, fighting to keep his balance. It looked like the freshly made Captain was about to emerge victorious, when James with a precious smile that could have caused angels to sing in a choir nudged the plank with his foot, shifting the precarious balance in favour of gravity.

Gillette's indignant scoff was accompanied by a loud splash, followed by a ferocious argument whether Groves had accomplished the task. The bickering ended in a merry round of drinking; meanwhile, Mr Kinsman threw the Bible at Groves when the later emerged from the water with his soaked prize in hand.

The ceremony could not have passed better. The sailors and officers extended it from the ship into the heart of the town, rejuvenating a long missed cheer and good morale. Riding along a path that winded parallel to the beach, Renee heard their singing and music a good couple of miles away, although she no longer saw the town. She was alone. The Admiral had been detained after the ceremony's official conclusion to address a prisoner riot. She supposed that's how it was going to be, cancelled dates and interrupted privacy. They were ingrained in his job, which Renee didn't begrudge, as much as she wished to strengthen their still fragile romantic connection. She knew that James cared when he stayed beside her during the ceremony and his arm occasionally came to rest on her waist possessively. She may have spared little regard for the strangers' dislike of her, but she was glad that the crew reacted well to her presence, helped by Katelyn who didn't hesitate to glare down anyone who sent Renee a questionable look, not that many dared to pester her with one of those. It was nothing like her first experience on the ship. Unwittingly so, she became a part these people.

Her mount's disturbed snort alerted Renee to two voices on her right. As she touched the reigns and came to a halt, the shrubbery parted less than a step away, letting through Elizabeth in a company of a man dressed nothing like a peaceful civilian.

The man reacted in a flash of beads entangled in his black hair. He grabbed the reigns to prevent an escape, but before Renee could truly grow frightened, Elizabeth pushed him aside unceremoniously and greeted her.

"Dare I ask what you're doing in a company of these pirates?" said Renee as two more men, by the looks of them less trustworthy than the first one, joined the group, dragging a large chest through the sand with the help of an endless chain of complaints coming from them. The governor's daughter hardly looked a reputable young lady as well. She was dressed in brown tunic and leggings. A wide belt encompassed her hips, holding a sword sheath that she left visible and within easy reach.

"I'm leaving." Elizabeth lifted her chin stubbornly, anticipating an argument. "I cannot stay within the confines of this town when there is a chance to free my husband. I'll regret to the last day of my life should I not go on this quest."

"Is this what he told you?" Renee nodded at the pirate who was making a pest of himself in close proximity by taking a peek at her mount's nostrils.

"We've rescued Jack from the Locker," Elizabeth pointed out. "Other miracles are bound to be. No other man knows this better."

"What about your father?"

A first sting of hesitation coursed through her frame, but that reason wasn't enough to change Elizabeth's mind. "I've explained it all in a letter. I'd appreciate your assistance in helping him understand that when Jack told me…"

"I beg your pardon," the pirate suddenly interfered. He circled around them as they spoke with most disconcerting and immodest stares at Renee. "I must most urgently inquire as in ask, would this be x-Commodore's bony lass?"

"You're very informed about the Admiral's personal life for someone who's been far far away from Port Royal for over a year," Renee said wearily.

"Thought she'd be prettier," he muttered.

Before common sense told her that it's not wise to slap an armed and unstable in his mind pirate, her hand connected with his face soundly.

"Ow!" The pirate rubbed his much abused cheek, which didn't deter him from acting. In one fluent motion his arm snaked around her waist and Renee was pulled off the horse. Rough strands of hair felt scratchy on her cheek as he leaned in to mutter into her ear, "Renee. Is it?"

"It's Miss Ash."

"Miss Ash. I'm afraid I must detain you."

"Jack! Release her at once!" Elizabeth demanded. "You can trust she will not tell a soul. James will not come after us."

The pirate regarded angered woman with a confidence of a man who knew what plagued everyone's mind, except perhaps his own. "Ah, but maybe we want dear old x-Commodore to come after us as we cannot part from these parts without parting him from a highly useful to us and therefore must be obtainable object," he procured.

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed into daggers ready to be hurled at the offender. "What do you mean?"

Sparrow waved a blistered finger under her nose. "There's a trinket of significance in the x-Commodore's possession, which you must desire to dispossess him of because the possession of the dispossessed from the above mentioned party item will help you possess William once more. However, the x-Commodore may not wish to be dispossessed of such a valuable, therefore we must threaten to dispossess him of another much more valuable valuable to get the item of dispossession. Savvy?"

"James has something that will help us save William?"

"In so many words, yes."

Renee suppressed a sigh as Elizabeth rode away on her horse, leaving her in the maddening company. Once she was gone, the pirate seemed comfortable enough to let Renee stray a few feet, which she did, keeping maximum distance between them. The deranged Captain ordered the two remaining pirates to drag away the supply crates down the beach where a boat was waiting for them while he guarded the prisoner. Renee couldn't see his ship. Yet, it was easy to assume she was nearby, hidden behind a think line of jungle.

As they waited in queer silence for Elizabeth's return, Renee threw a side glance at a sword in his possession. She observed that he always instantly caught veiled scrutiny. He gave her a half-crooked smile as his black eyes glimmered with understanding.

"As a matter of fact, I was wishing I could fight like you, rather than thinking about escaping," said Renee. She was confident that James would come for her. There was no need to risk her life prematurely.

The pirate raised a suggestive eyebrow and glided over the sand closer to her. "How would that be, love?" he purred. "Splendidly? Magnificently?"

"Dirtily," said Renee, wrinkling her nose and edging away from him. "It's not a bad thing to cheat," she added, considering that mocking her capturer was unwise. "I'd never be able to learn the Admiral's technique. He is a powerful man, whereas I'm a scrawny woman. Only underhanded pirate tricks would help me in a fight." She did trust her ability to judge character, which told her this man did not have sadistic instincts of a murderer, not that he hadn't killed men out of necessity. Such was life.

He met the statement with a knowing smirk, directed behind her. Guided by his strange expression, she turned and instantly cursed the impulse for he twisted her arm in a hard grasp, pulling her tight against his body and pressed a pistol to her temple.

"I still do not see you ship, Captain."

Disdainful and dripping with irony tone was unmistakable. Once more James had to come to her rescue. It seemed her fate to balance on an edge of a knife or at a tip of a firearm. Although she shot the last man who threatened her, it wasn't enough to abate her fears.

Perfectly calm, Norrington helped Elizabeth dismount and then followed quite skilfully for a man who lived mostly at sea. He regarded the antagonistic pair like they were drinking tea rather than threatening murder. "Commendably so, you have perfected cheap dramatics," drawled out, advancing on them.

"That's far enough," Jack warned. "It be mutually agreeable for x-Commodores and Captains to keep a distance between them long enough to prevent triggers being pulled."

James stopped. "You're not much of a Captain. Sparrow. Still, given that you've chosen to name yourself such, you should familiarise naval hierarchy. A rank above Commodore is Admiral."

"Captain," Jack corrected.

"I rejoice at your brevity," Norrington retorted. "State what it is that you want from me."

"No."

The pirate had an innate ability to frustrate even a rock. Norrington crossed his arms on his chest to stop himself from losing his patience and strangling that for some reason still living nuisance.

The pirate rubbed Renee's cheek with a pistol barrel due to a temporary inability to scratch his chin. "It appears to me, you'll be disinclined to produce an object should I name it."

"It appears I'm disinclined to listen to your drivel until you release Miss Ash," Norrington snapped impatiently.

"You never have, mate. Didn't bring you much luck, did it?"

The mark hit the nerve. Renee had no way of knowing that the pirate was hinting at Isle the Muerta, but Elizabeth knew that James regretted the losses on the Dauntless that dreary night.

"It appears I'll shoot you both unless you speed up these negotiations!" she warned, perhaps intending to do so as she stepped in between the two men, threateningly close to Jack. The Captain used that instance to make a brief nod in Norrington's general direction. The gesture didn't elude an Admiral.

"You want my sword," he stated.

"No," said Jack once more, cutting off any questions. "Elizabeth wants the finest sword created by William Bootstrap junior. You wouldn't have an objection to permanently yielding it into her care, would you?" He made a wide, magnanimous gesture with his weapon, at last removing it from Renee's temple. "Lizzy if you please, liberate x-Commodore of the object of mutual interest."

James' fingers sunk deep into the sleeve of his coat as Elizabeth removed the disputed sword from the sheath. Jack released the prisoner as soon as Elizabeth reached his side, receiving another slap for trying to point his weapon at his King as an insurance that Norrington wouldn't do anything stupid.

It seemed that Elizabeth already said a goodbye to James during their ride because she silently motioned Jack to return to the Black Pearl. The pirate fidgeted and walked sideway like a crab, sizing up nearby leaves and plants for cover as Norrington steadily followed the pair several feet behind.

"You don't need to follow us," Jack assured nervously, though the later was partially an act. Watching him closely, Renee realised that he was far more dangerous than she first thought.

"Yes I do," James cut him off in a tone devoid of negotiation. He wanted to be absolutely sure that Sparrow was off his island. He looked menacing indeed because as they reached the awaiting boat an appearance of their Captain closely escorted by an authority figure caused an upheaval.

A short, balding pirate jumped to his feet abruptly, grabbing his pistol. But, a heavy trunk underfoot and a sharply craned boat did their treacherous job and tipped him overboard with a spectacular splash where he swallowed a mouthful of water and one unfortunate fish that happened to swim by. The second pirate, seeing his mates' untimely demise grabbed the oars and fervently began rowing away from the shore.

"No! Halt!" Jack screamed, forgetting that it wasn't prudent to turn his back on his enemy as he gallivanted across the sand and waves after his running crew. He reached the boat shoulders deep in the water, stepping onto his crewman's head to climb inside. Elizabeth followed his suit. Only then the pair dragged in the sputtering and coughing pirate who upon regaining his breath turned his rage onto the offender for intending to leave him behind. The boat was making a steady getaway with Jack rowing and Elizabeth screaming at the squabbling duo to cease the fight else they'd tip over as one of them pulled a wriggling fish out of the water and hit the other over the head with it repeatedly.

The leaving boat was pursued by uncontrollable laughter. Renee plopped down on the sand, gasping for breath and wiping tears from her cheeks. "You don't suppose they will reach their destination?" she questioned once the boat grew small and her laughter somewhat subsided.

"I must firmly believe first that Satan will baptise children before I'll admit that Sparrow can do something right."

James took a seat beside Renee. Their proximity made her feel light as a bird. He had been looking at her only while she laughed, never seeing a legendary ship that appeared from the turquoise horizon, gliding on waves like a dark cloud, to collect her captain.

"Will you choose to pursue him?" asked Renee.

James shook his head.

"Judging by an insane demeanour and an absent minded disposition, he intends to sail some god forsaken waters where I pray a crusading sea monster will eat him, though I wouldn't be so lucky. In either case, he will be far away from here, which suits me well. Rather than pursuing a man I don't want to see, I will find greater pleasure in offering that cancelled walk to a wonderful lady once more."

"And I will accept," she muttered, making no attempt to rise. She was drowning in his green eyes that regarded her with love. When she had first looked into them, they've spoken about freedom, which he eventually brought. In turn, she freed him from serving only one purpose in life, his duty. This time he had a reason to stay in Port Royal. She was that reason.

On the bridge of the Black Pearl, the Captain spying on the kissing couple ashore lifted his hat in salute.

"I've always been rooting fer you, mate."

Aaaaaaaaaand FINISHED! XD

Thank you thank you thank you for reading and commenting. Your comments mean my writing isn't a waste of space!

It's an incredible feeling to look back and realise that the writing process took nearly a year! I hope it was worth all the time and effort! =D

Since I'm all happy and cheery, I'll share a few quotes that I've written for but chose not to add into the story.

Bonus!

"There are two things in the world; one I love and one I hate the most. I love liars. Whenever a man lies, it tells me that I am more powerful. Consequently, most of all I hate liars who lie to me successfully. Sadly you've accomplished the second. I hate you little girl and I will squish you like a bug." (Lord Cutler Beckett)

"You've thrown away my rum!" James accused.

He pouted like a child. Renee almost felt a surge of sympathy for him and almost felt like allowing him one more gulp. Almost. She glowered at him instead. (Renee and James Norrington)

"I don't judge your education and intelligence based on the layer of mud on you. I've also had the time in my life when I was dressed better and passed for a better person. None of that knowledge had been taken away, regardless of how drunk I get." (James Norrington)

Cheers!