Disclaimer: If I owned POTC, Will would not exist….But as I don't, I'm forced to amuse myself with make-believe and fairy-tales…sigh
A/N: I wrote this before AWE came out, and I spent a LONG time perfecting it, so I didn't get it up…and I still firmly believe that this (or something rather like it) is what SHOULD have happened. So screw the movie.
Elizabeth's eyes burned as she watched the crew of the Black Pearl greet Jack. She couldn't join in their celebration, their happiness and relief at finally finding him. She felt like crying.
He was back. Alive and breathing, standing just feet away from her. She could lay her guilt to rest. She could close her eyes and sleep at night without dreaming of his face, his eyes, his accusing last words…his lips.
Elizabeth swallowed, forcing her attention back to the present, focusing her energy on trying to composer herself.
"Barbossa, you traitorous oozing scum! Last time I saw you, ye were on the smoky end of me pistol!" Jack yelped. "Hope ye 'aven't hurt me ship, or there ye'll be again," he growled menacingly.
Barbossa smirked, his rotting teeth showing prominently, his yellow eyes gleaming.
"Dontch'a be frettin' now Jack. 'Twasn't even me been sleepin' in yer cabin."
Elizabeth's breath caught suddenly in her throat and she stiffened, willing Barbossa not to inform Jack just who exactly had been sleeping in his cabin
He didn't. Instead, he flashed a provocative smirk in her direction, drawing Jack's attention to her. When his eyes found her, a slow, roguish grin spread over Jack's face.
Elizabeth looked away quickly. She turned her eyes to Will, who was standing some few feet away, watching her. She felt Jack's eyes boring indo her back.
Jack swaggered up to Will in his usual way and clapped him on the shoulder in a brotherly way, greeting him like some long-lost best friend.
"'Ello, Mister Turner. 'Aven't seen you or yer troublesome lass in a while, aye? And have ye managed to woo your pretty lady yet?""
Will just raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes, having expected no less. Jack turned his attention to Elizabeth now, with a smirk capable of bringing her to her knees.
"Ah, at last, Miss Swann. Or is it Mrs. Turner now? Possibly even Mrs. Ex-Commodore? Hard for me to keep up, as it is. Which is it then, love, out wiv it." Jack prompted. His eyes challenged her; she knew how much he was relishing this confrontation.
"It's still Miss Swann- to you specifically." Elizabeth replied stiffly, the steadiness of her voice surprising her. Her voice betrayed nothing of her inner turmoil.
"Oh, I had hoped we were past all of these…formalities. Particularly after our last meeting. Elizabeth." Jack emphasized her name, still taunting her with his dancing eyes.
Will took a step back from Jack, his face darkening. He looked fleetingly at Elizabeth, eyes piercing.
Jack's eyes danced mischievously as he watched her, looking as if he could see right through her into her soul, into her most private feelings.
"You wouldn't mind if I 'ave a friendly chat with your dolly belle here, wouldja, Mr. Turner? Captain to Crew?" he asked lightly.
"Wouldn't mind a bit, Jack. Go right ahead." Will invited, a touch of sarcasm in his tone.
Jack grabbed Elizabeth's arm tightly just above the elbow, so tightly she gasped. Will's hand leapt to his pistol, gripping it tightly as her moved towards Jack aggressively.
"I think right here is a fine place to chat with her, eh Captain Sparrow?" Will snarled mockingly.
Elizabeth stared at him, a bit angered by his behavior. He was acting hostile, protective, almost as if she was his property. Not like his usual, gently self at all.
Jack sighed in mock exasperation and leaned a bit loser to Will.
"William. Son. I'm rather positive your ears would bleed uncontrollably should you be allowed to hear this…chat. I don't like blood in on me ship, see. Its sticky. And I believe, so long as Elizabeth has no objection, your opinion is of no consequence in the delicate matter. You don't own her, boy."
A touch of a dangerous threat crept into Jack's voice at the last. Will relaxed his grip on his pistol reluctantly, scowling. He looked to Elizabeth.
"Have you an objection?" he asked shortly, through tight lips.
Elizabeth swallowed, her mouth dry, acutely aware of Jack's grip on her arm.
"No." she answered before she knew what she was saying, her voice sounding faraway and foreign to her ears.
"Good. It's settled then. I promise she'll turn to you with all major body parts touched- er, untouched, savvy?" Jack jerked her arm and dragged her towards his cabin, leaving Will looking livid and capable of murder.
Elizabeth wrenched her arm from Jack's grasp and rubbed her elbow.
"There's no need to drag me, Jack. I am perfectly capable of walking." She hissed.
"Dragging you is infinitely more enjoyable. And I don't want ye getting away." Jack answered smartly, throwing his cabin door open for her with a flourish and a showy, mock bow. He shut it quickly behind her with a loud click, and she felt as if with that one sound he had her trapped completely, that there was no way out this time.
"You look bloody miserable, love. Any particular reason?"
A/N (again): Well, I hope that was vastly enjoyable to you all. Now, see that cute little button down there? Says' review'? PRESS IT. It's a very enticing little button, and you know you want to. Just do it. Give in to the button…..lol. I'll post the next chapter soon, hopefully!