It was the fifth day spent anchored in Tortuga Bay and the company lay splayed out in various bored poses on deck. They had been asking around every day for the weapon trader but to no avail, he was expected back soon but nobody could say for sure when it would be.

"I can't stand another night cramped on board," Elizabeth complained. "This boat was not built for four people."

"Are there no hotels in Tortuga?" asked Rose.

"What's a hotel?" she replied.

"A place where you can rent rooms for the night."

"I know a place where you can rent rooms for the night." Jack grinned smugly.

"Not that kind of place."

"I think you mean an inn," Gibbs suggested. "And I know of a nice, clean one, where you'll get yourself a warm meal too." There was longing in his voice.

"I have money. I can pay for the stay," said Rose.

"We can't leave the boat." Elizabeth sighed.

"You can guard the boat and we go sleep in the inn," Jack suggested. "That solves your issue with crowding, savvy? Will be nice and quiet for you without us."

"Why should I stay? You can guard the boat," she bit back.

"Now, now, don't fight. Let's draw straws about it," said Gibbs.

Thankfully the others decided Rose did not have to partake, as she would not be able to defend the boat anyway. The other three drew a straw each.

"Blast it." Gibbs looked at the short piece of wood in his hand with dismay.

"That settles it then. Gibbs stays, we go." Jack chuckled. He moved his fingers subtly, almost like he was hiding something in his sleeve. It would not surprise Rose if he had cheated.

.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.

They had to walk quite a while to get to the inn. It was located in a finer area of the town, built on the slope of one of the densely forested hills that surrounded Tortuga. The smell was less prominent here and the streets were dryer and cleaner.

Inside, a stout woman with dark brown skin, greying curls and an enormous bosom welcomed them. Rose paid for two rooms, one for her and Elizabeth and one for Jack. The woman showed the way upstairs, walking nimbly despite her ample size.

"If you want company tonight I shall be next door, love," Jack murmured in Rose's ear, but before she could frown at him and give a caustic reply he had disappeared behind his door. Scoundrel!

The room was simple with a wide bed and a small table, but really did look clean, just like Gibbs had said. Best of all, there was a wooden bathtub that could be prepared for an extra fee.

"An actual bath! Oh how I missed those!" Rose readily counted out the money, and paid for one for Jack too. "Tell the man next door I recommended he make use of it because he stinks again," she said smugly.

It took an hour for the inn maids to heat water and fill the bath, but the bliss of finally sinking into it was well worth the wait. To have actual soap, and warm water, and wash her hair! Rose had not realized how much she had missed hygiene.

She could have stayed in that bath forever, but knew she could not make Elizabeth wait needlessly, she had been kind enough as it was to let Rose begin. But it was not without regret she gave it up.

After bathing they changed into finer clothes for dinner, helping each other with the corsets and making their hair. It almost felt like Elizabeth was her older sister.

When they were ready to go down, merry music spilled out from the inn's main room. It reminded Rose of the kind of Irish pub music the third class passengers had danced to on the Titanic. She had enjoyed herself so much that evening; watching the boys' arm wrestling, dancing with Jack, trying to speak with Olaf who only knew Swedish and drinking lots of cheap beer.

Rose and Elizabeth chose a small table near the musicians and were soon joined by Jack. To Rose's surprise it looked like he had taken that bath she suggested, and even changed into a clean shirt under his vest – an actual white one!

The inn lady served them some sort of spicy stew which looked like she had gone down to the beach and gathered all the sea creatures she could find and boiled them together, but strangely enough it tasted amazing. They all hungrily cleaned their plates and wiped the last of the gravy with cornbread.

As for drinks Jack preferred rum as usual and Elizabeth drank port wine, but to Rose's immense pleasure they also served a lovely ale. She emptied two pints in quick succession.

"Ey, Liz!" Rose had to lean close to Elizabeth to make herself heard in the cheery music. "You know, last time I was at a party like this I learned a funny dance. It was great."

"Show me." Elizabeth took her hand and pulled her up to an empty spot between the tables.

"No, Liz... not here!"

"Come on. I wanna see!"

"Well, you kind of improvise the steps. Like this." She took off her shoes – she wore the pumps again tonight – and quickly moved her bare feet in rhythm with the music. The men at the nearby tables cheered encouragingly and Elizabeth clapped her hands.

"I love it! Let me try." She made a series of steps on her own. "I agree, this was fun!"

Rose hooked her arm in Elizabeth's and they began to spin, laughing until their stomachs' hurt.

Jack was watching them with an amused smile on his lips.

"Come, join us." Rose took his hand and pulled him up. Soon the three of them were busy improvising steps and that seemed to get the rest of the inn's clientele moving too. Tables were pushed against the walls to make room for the impromptu dance party and the musicians played like there was no tomorrow.

An empty spot formed in the middle where people showed off their skills. A young sailor with a wooden leg procured much cheer when he tap-danced with it, and Rose could not resist her barefoot standing-on-toe-tips trick. It hurt like crazy but the others' awe and applauds made it worthwhile. Then Jack, not wishing to be outdone, made a series of one-handed backflips, but due to the large amounts of rum he had consumed he crashed into the audience in the process. That only had them laughing, and several others tried to do similar stunts.

Things soon became rather chaotic.

"I think it's bedtime now," Elizabeth decided and Rose heartily agreed. Leaving Jack with his newfound friends, they unsteadily walked up the stairs, supporting each other. Below, the music and laughter continued, and probably would do so well into the night.

Rose was glad to get out of her uncomfortable dress and corset and crawl down into the bed with Elizabeth. Again it felt like sharing bed with a big sister, cozy and safe.

The improvised party tonight had made her very tired but in a good way. Rose realized she had felt happy for the first time since she died. Elizabeth on the other hand seemed a bit downcast.

"This is nice. I hate sleeping alone." Her voice was bitter. Rose understood and felt a sharp pang of sympathy.

"It must be awful. Ten years alone..."

"It is. I don't... I don't know how to manage it, really. First I was just happy he had survived that gruesome stab, but now..." She sniffed and Rose hugged her close.

"Is there no way to free him?"

"I don't think so. The Dutchman must have a captain."

Rose pondered the problem while softly stroking Elizabeth's back over her chemise. There was something... something someone had said, not long ago. Then she remembered.

"Didn't Gibbs say it was Calypso who started the whole Dutchman business? By striking a deal with Davy Jones?"

"Yes... You mean...?"

"If we return her Heart, she will be happy, right? Maybe we could strike a deal of our own. I could ask her to let me stay alive, and you could free your husband."

Elizabeth hugged Rose almost painfully hard. "That's brilliant! Well, awfully risky too, bargaining with a sea goddess, but who cares! If it works it will be worth anything."

A/N:

Bargaining with Calypso could be risky indeed... If you saw the movies, you'll remember she was pretty terrifying!

Image credits:

Screenshot from the Titanic.