Author's note: This is my first fanfic ever, and I am very new to the sort of thing so of course, I write it very much like I'd write a book (I apologize to those of you who like fast-moving fanfics without the surrounding details). I found the plot of AWE very interesting and I felt spin-offs wouldn't be as good as a continuation. I really love the chemistry between Jack and Elizabeth (despite its rather fleeting characteristics) depsite what many people say. I for one always think chemistry triumphs over right placement in any movie. Also, I am quite aware that a 'deleted' scene exists that explains in a conversation between Jones and Calypso that the curse is broken when Elizabeth is faithful, and of course who could forget the 'young William' seen at the end of the credits. I WILL NOT exclude these facts but I will suitably work around them, making my fic more true to the movies and somehow incoporate a 'Sparrabeth.' Why? Simply because I can luv ;b

Disclaimer: Oh Mickey you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind. Hey MICKEY! These char's are all your's mate ;o

------SAVVY?------

The Captain Returns

A contented sigh left Elizabeth's lips as she made her way through the port. The smells of the sea left her joyous, remembering past days when it meant everything and nothing. And yes, oh yes how she missed those days, how she.. Yearned… for them. The stars glittered above her as she stepped further across a dock, watching the scattered beams of moonlight shimmer across the seaIt had been weeks since she had returned to Port Royal, only to discover her father had left his one and only daughter his entire estate. With no male heirs and no present suitors (of whom anyone was aware) she was seen as a lonesome daughter in mourning, the death of her father and fiancé leaving her a wandering wreck. Though perceived as such her clean visage and now well-polished appearance meant nothing of the sort, for she knew deep within that in ten years time he would return. "My William is alive and well." she thought to herself as she relished the warm sea breeze, "and my father is joined with my mother."

Only at the very start of her weeks at home did she cry for odd moments at a time, self-pity and sorrow wildly entwining within her. She grieved at the vision of her father leaving for his small passage across worlds, and she was tormented at how hopeless her love had become. "Ten years…" she sighed, her sudden bliss leaving her once again, "…ten long years…"

Elizabeth shook her head, attempting to shy away the last of her saddening thoughts. Now however her curiosity took place of her sadness. She smiled at the memory of her clinging to a ragged pirate who had ingeniously created a parachute from tarp and rope, the last time he had saved her through his whit and sheer luck. Jack… the name came to her along with the image of his sun-tanned grin and rum soaked lips, the slightly charming half-lidded stare he had given her on more than one occasion, and the terribly unkempt gleam of gold and dirt within his smirk. What had become of him? She laughed lightly to herself, the thought being left unspoken due to her own pride. "I miss him…" she thought silently, "I actually miss Jack…"

Suddenly, a soiled hand wrapped itself around her mouth and she tensed as another grabbed her waist. "MMmmm"! Was all that sounded of her muffled yell. She frowned when only a "shhhh" was given in response. Elizabeth's eyes slightly narrowed as she filled with anger, readying herself to knee the man rightly below his belt. Her eyes widened however, when a group of soldiers marched past their shadowed spot carrying torches and rifles. A man with a scarred face walked slowly behind them, his palms carefully weaved behind his back. The man looked around him before calling over one of the soldiers, waiting to be left in their own privacy as the rest marched further on.

"Sparrow is to be found, and he is to be brought to me…" the man pointed out, grasping the soldier by his collar "search the Swann estate, his alliance with Mrs. Turner is quite… inimitable."

The soldier's voice trembled under the man's grasp "What if she refuses to cooperate sir?" The scarred man grinned with a devilish glare "Then she is to be hung alongside her fellow vagabond as a pirate. I give no leisure for any vagrant… even a woman."

The man released the soldier with ease, "Besides, Mrs. Turner and Captain Sparrow have had one too many a leisure from the law as it is." The soldier nodded in agreement as he followed after the others, the man following warily after them.

Once the soldiers were long gone the hand that grasped her mouth released its grip, however the one wrapped around her waist only tightened. A hoarse voice then followed after in slight amusement.

"Inimitable?" the man behind her commented with a slurred tongue, "…well, thas' a funny way to put it now isn' it?"

Elizabeth's expression turned to one of sweet relief as she turned suddenly, her delicate eyes falling on the face she had just pictured only a second ago. "Jack!" she smiled in happiness, wrapping her arms around his neck. She allowed herself this simple pleasure of embracing him, for now there was no jealous glance from Will to hold her back. The pirate stiffened at first, however realizing that there was no attempt on his life he simply softened and embraced her as well. He grinned slightly at hearing her exclaim his name once again.

"Jack…" she whispered softly, pulling away from him only to gaze up into his dark eyes happily, "…I've missed you."

Jack's hands entwined themselves within her hair, running down the soft strands and ending at her shoulders. "I've missed you too luv." He charmingly grinned, causing her to smile in delight. His dark eyes wandered from her head to her toe, admiring her in such a suitable dress. His gaze of course ended at her chest. The small spark at which he alone seemed to ignite within her flickered wildly once again under his touch and his simple yet alluring grin of sincerity. The warmth of the moment however was shattered as he suddenly flung his arms to wave them at his sides, attempting to balance his unsteady gate.

"But, as with every delightful meeting with a woman…" he slurred, removing his tri-fold from his head, "I must be off..." He bowed unnecessarily low as he waved his hat behind him then placed it on his head. "Ta then!" he grinned, swaying quickly away towards his present ship.

Elizabeth gritted her teeth in reproach, once again her liking for him had left her with a terrible aftertaste. "That's it then? You're leaving me here to hang?" she noted loudly, causing Jack to swerve in her direction.

"Unlike you Lizzy I find you a very capable girl… woman… quite able to fend for her own pretty self." Jack grinned reassuringly, hushing his tone in an attempt to quiet her own, "Besides, dear William will be back in whot? Ten years? You can tell him all abou' mean ol' Jackie then ey? Or…" he said hurriedly, "You could take the hanging and be remembered as the saucy ill-tempered dewy known as the wonderful Elizabeth Swann…erm, Turner… the Pirate King of the sea and await your dutiful husband to sail off with you, savvy?"

Elizabeth frowned, "As a dead woman?" she questioned, her anger rising slightly.

"Well as you so grimly put it… yes. It's your sort anyways… All… Tragic romanticism." he answered so boldly, causing her to point her index finger at him with anger.

"I'm going with you, and that was not a request."

Jack's lip curled slightly, "Er.. is that another way of saying that you won't be going then?" From above the familiar voice of Mr. Gibbs called.

"Capn' they're coming back!" he said in a loud hush. Elizabeth shot Jack an outraged look before hurrying towards the plank leading aboard the ship. Jack rolled his eyes and followed after her as the crew pulled up the plank and sailed off into the darkness.

"Bugger, I can never quite rid meself of her can I?" Jack mumbled to himself, "…distressing woman as she is."

As Elizabeth walked across the deck with Jack following after her one of the crew commented to their captain, "Capn' is' bad luck ta have a wo"- Jack waved his hand at the man dismissively, letting out a "yeeehh" as he passed. Elizabeth stopped and stood near the wheel, her arms crossed with disappointment. Mr. Gibbs grinned from behind the wheel in greeting however when seeing the looks of turmoil expressed by both her and Jack he considered fully absorbing himself in his duties a better option.

"In what way dear Lizzy have I given you allowance onto my ship?" he questioned with a slur, waving his arms unnecessarily before him as he often spoke. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes in defense, not remarking how relieved she was to see him waving before her once again-drunken slur and all.

"But you would so readily give me allowance to hang?" she queried in indignation. Jack's lip curled as his dark eyes narrowed, Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as well, the fire within them burning ever so fierce. Mr. Gibbs eyed the two silently glaring with fighting spirits, sighing as the child-like battle began with the simple words:

"Twiddled twarrel speak"

"You're a cold-hearted pit who has no sense of morale what so ever!"

"Well you're a terrible pirate…captain…king!"

"You're a mangy unkempt dog!"

"You smell like an old auntie!"

Mr. Gibbs cleared his throat, causing the two to direct their attention to him.

"Tha'd be all fine an' dandy Capn' an' Miss Elizabeth but I'd advise we stay a bit low till we're further away from the docks and its men."

At this both reluctantly ceased their quarrel, Jack however shot Elizabeth a toothy grin.

"Yes Miss Swann, please do lower that reeling shrill we've been so well acquainted with… Rather falls ill on the ears."

Elizabeth turned in agitation; "It's Mrs. Turner now if you fail to recall."

A puckish grin crossed Jack's lips as he spoke, "Ah yes, how could we forget dear Willy-Will-William as you two seem to be so repeatedly separated! Will you fail to recall him whence the merry ten years 'ave came their way I wonder?"

Elizabeth stiffened at his comment; the very fact that had so plagued her subconscious had taken hold of her once again. How could he know her so well to be fully aware of the only fact that had troubled her till now? Seeing her stare at him speechless with an otherwise blank expression only heightened Jack's yearn to prod her further.

He neared her slowly; bringing his lips only a breath away from her ear. Elizabeth gasped as a warm mouthful of air caressed her ear and neck. "Or will you latch onto some helpless cad and divulge in whoteversos left of your youth, when young Mr. Turner is forever young Mr. Turner and an' you luv…" Jack pulled away from her ear with a smirk, "…are simply less of the pretty whelp than you once were." Elizabeth's lips tensed defensively as she brought her face very close to his all-knowing smirk.

"And you Captain Jack Sparrow?" she said rather tartly, putting a sarcastic emphasis on his title of endearment. "I am otherwise content with the fate I have chosen and the time at which my youth will so willingly pass. How will you, the legendary Captain Sparrow pass what's left of this quickly fading youth? Chase one last fleeting adventure I suppose? My, you really are a helpless cad."

Jack frowned at her comment, puckering his lips as he spoke, "I am not nor ever of the sort of whatsit will be a 'helpless cad'" he pointed out, "…particularly one of your dangerous womanly uses." His eyes then suddenly widened with an incompetent curl of his lip. Elizabeth felt unexpectedly pierced by his expression; no doubt he had remembered her deed or rather deeds quite clearly. She felt a pang of regret as she moved away from him, feeling guilt take over her.

" I bare no regrets towards the decisions I have made!" She said, making her way below deck.

"You keep tellin' yourself that luv." Jack remarked to her with a touch of sarcasm. Elizabeth glimmered with anger as she marched into the shadow of the bunkers. Jack turned his head, "Mr. Gibbs!"

"Aye Capn'!"

"I'll be needin' me rum now…"

"Aye…"