Elizabeth gazed forlornly at the cold, damp floor of the deck bellow her feet as she slumped on the steps that led to above deck. She'd been sitting here for only God knew how long. Jack hadn't spoken to her. Not once. Not once in this whole damned time! Even when he'd revealed to the crew her sinful crime when they'd first washed-up on the shore of the Locker to rescue him, he hadn't been actually speaking to her… more so at her. But the look in his eyes, try as he might to avert them from her, spoke even louder than his silence of unspoken, painful words. The trouble was, she couldn't truly read what was written in those eyes. And the notion of that was driving her mad.

Will hadn't been much better. He kept glancing at her, and his eyes were nearly as difficult to read as Jack's. She needed to do something - fast! Before she lost him, too. But what was she to tell Will? Of course, he mustn't truly be upset with her for having killed Jack - only a few hours prior to her actions had Will himself attempted the task. Elizabeth couldn't help but suppress the tiniest hint of a smile. In her mind's eye, she still sometimes saw the three of them, locked in epic battle aboard a rolling, riveting wheel. No, truly that couldn't be the reason. Surely he must be hurt that she had not shared with him her plans; even told him about it. But if she was to address the matter, what was she to tell him? How could she ever possibly explain why she had kept the horrid sin a secret from him? Because you kissed him, Elizabeth. A voice inside her whispered, Because you wanted to kiss Jack. Your curiosity got the best of you. Had Will seen them kiss?

Words drifted and seeped throughout the chasm of her mind like the tentacles of the Kraken, slicing and piercing from deep within her like broken shards of glass.

Curiosity

Marr-iage.

Peas in a pod.

Good man.

Persuade Me

Darlin'

Lizzie

Dearie

Luv

Pirate

Yes, she was a pirate. She always had been, from the moment when she'd first begun to poor over pirate's tales as a child in secret. She was a pirate in every respect and way that Jack was a good man.

Elizabeth's heart was aching. It had been so, so long since Jack had purred into her ear or flashed her one of his charming smirks. And oh so long since he'd spoken to her and called her pet names…

I'm not sorry…

The words echoed within the captivating hollow of her mind, her heart, her soul, her spirit… he very being. She was sorry. She was sorry for so, so many things…

A chill ran up Elizabeth's spine. She nearly froze as Will's frigid form loomed above her. They shared a long, emotionally straining gaze before he finally broke the moment and spoke, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Yes, why indeed, Elizabeth? Her mind whispered cruelly, taunting her, Because you didn't want to believe you were a murderer? Because you just couldn't admit that you killed someone you cared so deeply about? Was it because you would break Will's heart when he discovered that you cheated? Or was it because you were afraid of something else? Something far, far greater. Were you afraid to admit that you've fallen in love with another man? With somebody you're not supposed to love?

Her thoughts wandered back to that infamous day when she'd engaged, spellbound, in that lingering conversation with her sweet, sweet Sparrow.

"Why doesn't your compass work?"

"My compass works fine."

Elizabeth violently shook herself back into the cruel reality of where she was now… of a pitiless, brutally cold place to which it seemed no light from previous days could shine and warm a spirit. But all she could feel was the damp and the cold and the pain. And the unrelenting cruelty of guilt and regret. "It wasn't your burden to bear."

Will was silent a few moments, then suddenly he spoke with such emotion thickening his tongue and hurt in his eyes that the impact of it struck her, "But I was bearing it, wasn't I?"

Elizabeth caught her breath. Her head shot up to gaze at him in despair. So he had seen it, then. He had witnessed their forbidden kiss. He thought that she loved Jack. But why, then, had he not acted? She puzzled a moment, but the answer surfaced almost instantly: because he loves you. Another realization struck her so abruptly and severely in the following moments, as she glanced up into his eyes, that she nearly doubled back in pain: That had been the reason for his determination to retrieve Jack from even the farthest reaches of death - he loved her, and he thought that she loved…

Elizabeth glanced up and held Will's gaze as the ripples emitted by her initial wave of shock coursed painfully throughout her body, her heart leaping to her throat while tears began to crowd her eyes, "You thought I loved him."

What was even worse than the pain in his eyes was the growing feeling that he was right. Yes, he was right… All at once, the intensity of the situation overcame her. Elizabeth gasped for air, heaving in heavy sobs of breath. She dismally attempted to stand. She couldn't be here with him. She couldn't confront this now, as much as she may need to… because the pain constricting and eating away at her was finally taking control. She turned and went to flee, but Will snatched at her arm and roughly pulled her back up against the hard wood of a wall, pinning her. As he gazed into her face intently, Elizabeth felt a thousand emotions surge between them. At last, still holding her firmly, Will spoke, "If you make your decisions alone, how can I trust you?"

What was coming next nearly broke her heart. And she knew it would break his. But she had had enough of broken hearts. The pathway they were headed to would only end in tears, and she had to do something before all was lost. I must salvage what I can from among the pieces I have strewn.

Pushing roughly away from him, she quickly slipped the engagement ring from her finger. In one smooth movement, Elizabeth pressed the ring into his hand and swept past him, along with all the dreams she'd ever cherished until she'd entered her life of piracy. Of Curiosity. "You can't," she sobbed, quickly fleeing the room.

* * *

Jack groaned. He was coming-to. The bleak light of a single candle and the soft moonlight flooding in through the window of his cabin burned something bloody awful right straight through his eyelids, with absolutely no consideration. Couldn't the light appreciate the pain that it was putting him through and step it down a notch? How long had he been hung-over this time? Since that bloody eunuch and his ever-so-charming to-be-wedded murderous, along with that traitorous son of a bilge rat had lead all of them miscreants to save him, he'd done little more than drink, snooze, and bark orders. That was, when he wasn't avoiding her. Not only must he be under constant watchful eye to avoid her physically, but also mentally… not to even mention emotionally, nor any other form.

I'm not sorry.

The words echoed across the dimly lit, cold and empty… utterly hollow room. Not nearly as hollow as himself. They were cruel as they danced… and vivid. As vivid as her face, etched into his mind for all eternity. The moments as she walked away, condemning him to death and leaving him to die, replayed a thousand, million times all within an instant. Her face, her taste, her voice… they burned his memory and tortured his heart. Maybe this was the real hell. If it was, then perhaps Jack finally understood just what drove them so mad that they would sell themselves to the Dutchman. Jack stumbled his way to the bed, fumbling with the sheets. Emitting yet another groan, he sank back and allowed his alcohol-induced sleep to overtake him once more. But even in his dreams, he could not escape her.

Jack dreamed of that night they'd been marooned together on that small, deserted island. The way that they'd frolicked and danced about the fire, shamelessly flirting and drifting searchingly closer… as though they had each found in each other something that they needed, yet felt that they did not deserve. He dreamed of her eyes… of the amber flames burning deep inside of them. All at once, Elizabeth's face contorted sharply and the scenery began to change. They were still… close… but the atmosphere had now changed, too. Youthful, joyous spirit had evolved into a mature bloom of passion. "I'm not sorry…" Those words still seared him deeply. So deep…

Jack awoke with a start. It was still dark, but the gray light drowsily seeping in through the window emitted a whisper that the sun would soon be rising. As he lazily gathered his effects, Jack noticed something odd. There lay on the floor near the doorway a single sheet of parchment. The only half-conscious pirate muttered a curse under his breath as he swaggered over to the measly thing. It had assumabley been slipped in underneath the door. Jack first considered shredding the thing - what if it held another black spot on it, only this time from the crew? He'd seen far too much of them recently for his liking. However, as per usual, curiosity got the best of poor old Jack. In one swift swipe, Jack snatched-up the piece of paper and began to divulge its contents.

Meet me on deck at sunrise. Make sure no one follows you.

~ Will

"Oh buggar," Well, there certainly was not much to divulge. Jack sighed in frustration. This should be interesting… what more could that eunuch possibly want with him, now that he was all set-up to marry his bonny lass? Ah, well. Buggar.

Jack reluctantly swaggered his way towards the door.