Love for the Sea Chapter 1, a pirates of the caribbean fanfic

I know, I know. I own nothing. Trust me, if I did, I wouldn't have confused the plot lines in DMC so much.

I certainly don't own the lyrics of "A Pirate's Life for me. For that, I credit the Mouse. "javascript:parent.closeit()". Compliments of Walt Disney.

Oh yeah, the pre-quel to this Fic is called 'The Sparrow and the Swan". It has two 'companion' type Fics, "Desperate Men", dealing with Norrington, Beckett and a little Davy Jones, and also "The Summoning", dealing with Will, Barbossa, Gibbs and the rest of the crew. There'll be a final sequel to all three, but I'm yet sure what I'll call it. Enjoy!

Chapter One: Discovering

Jack watched Elizabeth brush her hair. Since they'd lowered sails at Port Royale, she'd been making all efforts to improve her looks. Full of a previously unknown patience, she had men bring back a few liters of warm soapy water in addition to what was needed for stores. She'd used this to wash her shifts and stockings, though he suspected she wore neither, and then finally her hair. As she squeezed the last drops from the strands, he found his mind wandering and wondering about the young woman on board his ship.

Seducing her would be easy. He'd already learned the most important facts. She was easily charmed by his humor, rather than his usual foray of smooth talking. Laughing made her put her guard down. Good. He could be funny. Captain Jack Sparrow: funniest man on the sea.

But he couldn't find the strength to even speak to her without an important reason. The idea of purposely tricking her into doing something against her better judgment made him feel…unclean. Ever since he'd decided to be a 'good man', life seemed to have lost its former luster. Or was it just the lust? Yes, he knew very well how it would go with Lizzie if he failed to practice self-restraint. She'd be fooled into thinking it was something...emotional. Jack stuck out his tongue at the thought of such silly sentiments. She'd fall for him, than he would stick to the pirates' code; "Take what ye can, give nothin' back!" He will have certainly found something else to fascinate him by then, and would leave her. Turner would be there to pick up the pieces...maybe. Otherwise, even Norrington was there. Captain Idiot. Jack stood up from the railing he'd been leaning on, and walked on into his quarters. Elizabeth watched him as he walked by, but said nothing.

Norrington's name had set off an alarm in his mind, a reminder of something important.

Ah, yes, Jamesy. They'd made berf at Port Royale. Were even being guarded. Lord Becket had found it necessary to evaluate the crewmen before allowing any of them on shore. But Jack knew his intentions. He was searching for pirates. And the Interceptor II, now void of any markings or titles as most ships had, was very suspicious indeed. Jack had wanted to put a new title on the sides, but the mate informed him that wasn't any better. An unregistered ship was even worse then a nameless one. At least a nameless ship could be 'receiving a new porter on her skin'. Jack found these men from Norrington's crew relatively easy to manipulate, even for Navy gits. Until Lewis had explained that he and the rest of the crew had not 'voluntarily' enlisted. According to the first mate's knowledge, Lord Beckett couldn't expend any more men to Norrington. When Jack had asked why it was that the favorite pet of the now infamous Lord Becket wasn't allowed any royally trained men, he received a numbing answer,

"I thought ye knew? Well, while he Norrington was pursuing ye off the coast of Trinidad…that storm"

Jack smiled, recalling the pursuit. He'd given the captain the slip in the fog of an oncoming storm.

"Well, the Captain, he thought it was a minor swell of sorts, but it turned out to be much worse."

The man paused, collecting his thoughts, or perhaps his emotions. It was difficult to tell with this type. Jack nodded in encouragement, he was curious.

"As I said, it turned out to be a bad one. What the locals call a hurricane. No survivors but Norrington 'isself. He stayed onboard the ship, but the crew was lost in the storm. Nothing to give 'em shelter from the howling winds and tossing waves."

Jack dropped his head in solemnity. For any captain, losing his entire crew would put quite a blemish on his record, no to mention his pride.

But Jack still didn't understand one thing,

"If its not too prying…if Beckett would not extend any more crewmen to said Captain Norrington, how is it that I managed to commandeer an entire crew from him?"

The mate looked confused,

"Meaning us?"

"Aye, meaning you."

"We're not 'is majesty's men, no. Most of us is lawbreakers, of the common type, taken off the merry ol' streets o' London town and set down in a ship."

So, the men, or most of them, were crooked to begin with. Good, Jack knew how to deal with that type. Rousing him from his reveries, Lewis now informed Jack that he had dispatched the ransom note to Norrington's office. Written as though it were from Jones himself, it outlined the procedure of exchanging Elizabeth for the Heart. Sparrow was slightly nervous that Navy Boy might see right through it to the truth. But it was a necessary risk. He thanked Lewis, and dismissed the man. After he was gone, Jack tried to work on his maps. But he could find no focus. Instead, he left the small captain's office, and locked it. He began to pace the decks-it helped him think.

He heard Elizabeth sigh in her sleep as he passed her chamber. He stopped and peered in. She lay on the rough cot, obviously uncomfortable. Jack smirked; she was used to a soft feather-down mattress. This life on the sea certainly wouldn't suit her. Besides, she did look much better in a dress...or nothing at all. Those ridiculous sailor rags just didn't suit her. She had changed back into a dress, against her wish, but according to his. It made the men nervous to have her walking about in men's clothes, or so Jack had told her. As he thought of her, Jack began to muse on what that kiss really meant. Did she have feelings for him? Not the sappy 'love' she had for Will. Jack had no interest in such things…or at least that's what he'd told himself all these years, ever since Victoria. Must not think about that…His thoughts returned to Elizabeth, and he began to seriously consider what might be there. But she could never get used to this rough life. Not to mention she would probably just fall in love with the sea, instead of him. Wait, what was he thinking? He shook his skull, hoping to dislodge the heady feelings. But it was pointless to assault his mind-the feelings were in his heart.

Elizabeth started. She'd been woken by that familiar tinkling sound of metal, what was that again? Her mind pushed through the barriers of drowsiness to remember. Jack's hair trinkets. She opened her eyes to squint at him. He didn't seem to notice her consciousness. She continued to stare. His usually vacant expression was replaced by one of deep sorrow.

"Now what?" she thought.

She heard him mutter something, but wasn't sure what he'd said. It had sounded like,

"My first and only love is the sea."

Yes, that must be it. He'd said that before. She felt a pang in her heart at this thought. For a little while, she'd thought he might actually care for her. But, no. He was a pirate...and a good man. Her mind argued with itself,

"But that doesn't mean he'll ever give up wenching. Or any of his other bad habits."

"No, but one can adjust to life. Build resilience, character."

Why was she fighting with her own better judgment? Sparrow, even if he was a good man, had just said it. His first and only love was the sea. But what about her? She allowed her eyes to open a little more. He was rubbing his forehead. Probably from a hangover. And don't forget the rum. Nothing could separate that man from his bottle.

"Da-da-duh, and something...about sheep? Or was it eggs?"

He was obviously staggering drunk. Then again, he always seemed drunk. She recalled the lyrics of the song she'd taught him on that island. He'd certainly had too much to drink that night.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.