Authors Note: I haven't written to this story for SO long! I was just watching Chicago, really good movie, and an idea came to me. The best place to hide something is out in the open, isn't that the saying? I was just thinking. . .

Authors Note2: The song is to the beat and tune of 'All that Jazz' from Chicago. Haha, written in the car on the way to Pennsylvania, my sister was going to kill me from all the times I rewound the DVD scene to make sure the words fit with the beat.

Katiana was in a fine rage, she practically threw people who stepped into our path out of the way. Not that I was complaining, after all it saved up the trouble. There was no doubt of where we were and what they thought of us. Men had the nerve to simply reach out and grab whatever piece of skin was there.

Alexia was doing really well, one man yanked on her dress and she turned eyes that fairy sparked on him. Needless to say, it wasn't too long before he went to find easier, more compliant company.

"Free rein, she says." Katiana hissed, "I'll show her free rein."

"What. . . is that?" Alexia asked staring into one of the crowded rooms interestedly. I knew as soon as I saw the drawn crowd. This was one of those singing rooms some of my customers talked so much about. Here, whomever was the main attraction would get up and dance, and sing for extra coin.

"Oh, she didn't!" Katiana gasped. I glanced at her in bemusement, what had the lass gotten into her head now? For all her not wanting to be here and the fear and revulsion behind her eyes, she was hiding it well.

"What?" I asked when she made no more motion to say anything else.

"Look up at the stage." Alexia whispered wide-eyed.

Sure enough to the left propped in the open arms of a woman-like statuette sat the largest black pearl I've ever seen. Amber had it hidden well in the props, but if the audience was looking for it they would have found it.

"How are we going to get it off the stage and hidden without anyone seeing us?" Alexia asked.

We stared as a blue-clad woman threw up her heels and wiggled her hips while smiling at the men in the audience. She held them in the palm of her hand, at the end of the number she threw up her arms and held on to a high-note. Money pooled at her feet and she picked up one of the bills as she walked off the stage and kissed it.

A blonde-man in the back hooted and was clapped on the back by one of his friends. They were clearly ecstatic that it was his money she had kissed, even if the woman had no idea.

"I can think of a way." The same glint was in Katiana's eyes as there had been on the ship before she rescued Cotton's parrot. I gladly let her go, there was no way I wanted to go onstage and try to steal the rarest gem in plain view. Now if she needed someone to protect her if she were caught, I'd be there. "I'll be back as soon as I can. One of you get Chris and Jack for me? There's no need to continue searching."

"Katy! Wait!" Alexia called looking fascinated, exasperated, and worried at the same time.

"There's no use in that, lass." It was pointless to try and stop her now. I've seen that same look in Jack's eyes every time he looks into the ocean, the yearning, the understanding. . . it was the same here.

Katiana stepped out on stage wearing a red sequined mask that only showed her grey eyes, which seemed almost purple now. Her red dress matched it perfectly and her black hair seemed to glow in the bright lights. Alexia ran to get Jack and Chris and I watched to see what she was going to say.

"'ello, mates!" she called to the crowd holding up a bottle of rum. A few cheers went up but everyone was wondering who the masked newcomer was. "This might be a little. . . new to all of you." She smiled seductively warming to the crowd and all the eyes focused on her, "But I'm sure you can all keep up."

Raising an eyebrow challengingly towards the music-men and snapped her fingers in the pulse she wanted for the beat. They looked at one another and shrugged, then began to play what she led them too.

"You're out for. . . pleasure tonight, eh?" she stepped to center- stage. Bawdy laughter met her innuendo, she was already beginning to get the crowd in her favor. She tapped her foot as the bass picked up and as the musicians improvised.

"Give me some rum, I'll put my garters on." She sang and raised her dress enough to give the men a glimpse, "We'll have some fun."

She timed her walk perfectly and flipped her hair, "I'll paint my eyes and leave you all behind. . . you'll have some fun." She looked over her shoulder, "Come on gents, and let your pants roll down, your coin is nothing here, I'm naught to you I fear. So this is all for you, I need a laugh or two. . . so come. . . up. . . here."

The crowd sat on the edge of their seats, the men who were standing found themselves inexplicably taking a step towards the stage.

The music went on and Katiana was lost to the song. The musicians were too, they could no more stop playing than cut off their own hands. She threw her hip to the side and the silk of her dress accentuated her flashy movements. "Fun." She whispered as a note struck, and licked her crimson red lips suggestively. She high-kicked and the men in the front row leaned forward, their drinks forgotten.

One of the guys fell forward towards the stage, so Katiana went with it and saved him the embarrassment from the rest of his friends. She pouted her lips and gave him an understanding wink as she purred and ran a nail along his cheek. Then in a flurry of skirts she pranced away with another high-kick over his head.

"Fresh off your ships, you don't care for news. . . that's why you're here. I hear you pirate lot, you all collect your dues. . . aint it fun?" she smiled brazenly and lowered her eyes to show the decadent black they were painted, "Hold on men, this is a night you won't. . . e-ever ever forget, I'll bet my talent that. . . ohhh, once you leave, you'll beg ooohhh please! Just one. . . more. . . thrrroowww."

She lifted the hem of her dress higher and then sang, "find a flask it's getting' warm in here. . . oh, it's really hot." She lowered the front of her dress and rolled her eyes as if about to faint, "Up on stage is where it's all at. And are you having fun?"

Jack and Chris stepped to my side and Jack's jaw nearly dropped to the ground when he saw Katiana. "Is that. . ." he folded his arms relaxing as she started another verse all the while subtly moving closer to where the black pearl rested.

"So show me what you like, I can learn anything, I'm your ticket out, if you'll just put in. You'll be the best I've had, I can prove it now. It's what. . . you. . . waannt."

"Ooohhh. . .you're gonna be so glad you came. . . tell your friends."

"Oohhh. . . I'll dance the night away, until you break, come up here."

"Yooouu're the best I've had, I-I'll swear it while oh gents it's your meal. It's just such fun!"

"Give me some rum, I'll put my garters on. . . we'll have some fun." Her eyes found Jack's, but she twitched a leg out and sank to the floor dramatically with her red dress contrasting with the black floor.

"I'll paint my eyes and leave you all behind. . . it's real fun. Come on gents, and let your pants roll down, your coin is nothing here, I'm naught to you I fear. So this is all for you, I need a laugh or two. . . so come. . . up. . . hee-eere."

She inched the dress higher and slowly lay down until her back touched the floor, her knees in front of her. She stared at the audience and trailed a hand across her stomach.

"Nnoo. . . I'm no ones own. . . but I love my life. And all. . . one. . . night."

She uncorked the rum and drank some. As the music reached a crescendo she jumped to her feet, smashed the bottle against where the pearl rested, and in the space it took to blink palmed the jewel.

Cat-calls and hollers rose in the crowd, money was thrown in handfuls to the stage, and Katiana looked as if she were about to faint. She kept the seductive smile in place, danced around the coins as the song finally ended, then shook her head as black ebony tresses swirled around her shoulders like smoke. No one but we saw how pale she'd gone as the mask was long gone.

"I'll call you for tonight, darlin.'" One called from the audience.

"Be mine, Scarletta!"

"Marry me, woman in red."

The applause and offers continued, Katiana curtsied one last time, winked over her shoulder and exited the stage. I chanced a look at Jack, he looked so proud of her but worry darkened his eyes.

"Come on, she'll have changed and will meet us in back." As he turned I saw the flare of anticipation on his face.

Authors Note 3: I thought it was pretty good, I could sing it when I watched Chicago, so I was happy with it. What do you think? I shouldn't become a song writer, I agree. This is the one and only time, haha aren't you all relieved?