For a long time, I've been dying to write a story that included the inevitable "Jack x Elizabeth" romance that has never happened. After a long time of planning, and waiting for the movie to come out so I could finally get the facts, I compiled a story that is worthy of being the next movie. It fits. For those who wish to know, I got rid of one thing that happens in "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" to make this story work. And that is...

Will and Elizabeth do conceive a child on the beach that day in the end of the movie.

Why? Well, I'll tell you... Because it would be hard to create the woman's ambitions of falling in love with a man who just happens to be a pirate when she is carrying a child. Elizabeth would have to be fragile, heartbroken, craving love to fall for Jack's romantic pleas. After all, once she finds herself alone with Jack, what can only happen be those feelings she has been hiding for so long?

And so, I present to you my work. I know, I know, it's been done a thousand times. But this is different. My story has a moral: "Everything happens for a reason. And if one thing happens, there is a chain reaction to everything else."

There is a price to pay for everything. Think about it. Ten years from now, in my story, what will happen to Will when she does not appear on the beach because she is with Jack?

So, we return to the precious "Calypso" arc of the story.

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

"Abound to Sea"

Staring into the deepest pits of ash black eyes was Elizabeth Swann; before her was Captain Jack Sparrow, looking at her from a distance. He was standing there, trying to be nonchalant. After Elizabeth had boarded back on the ship, she had found that Jack had been looking at her with a weary eye. Nothing had happened, nothing between her and Will… So why was he acting so strange?

While on the island, Will had asked her if she wanted to bear a child. Elizabeth wanted to, but in her heart she knew it would be hard to conceive a child with a man that she would never be around. Though she loved Will, she knew that she would wait ten years for him. At least then, she would be ready. A young girl still, she knew she could wait for her pirate.

But Jack was looking at her like he had pierced his own heart with his dagger. Why was he so sullen? Did he truly feel remorse over Elizabeth choosing Will Turner? "It would have never worked out between us, Jack…" The words echoed into her mind again and again. He had said those words to her the first time he had left them at Port Royal, and now she had spoken them to him once more. Why, though? Why would it never have worked out? She always wondered how Jack could care for her in a way that Will couldn't? Was Will a true pirate, or was Jack the true pirate that had sailed the seven seas before Will was even old enough to know about piracy?

"You look like you're in a daze," he said, looking over to her. "Is it really hard to leave young Bootstrap behind?"

Elizabeth looked up from the boards of the ship and to Jack. Was he onto what she was thinking—could he read minds? "No, I'm fine. Really," she lied, even though she wasn't. Not with a completely savvy pirate looking at her in a way that made the hairs on her arms stand on end.

Jack smiled his drunken smile and began to walk crookedly around the wheel of the ship. "…Well, you seem like you're heartbroken. Of course, I would be too if I lost someone I loved for ten years. After all, what's next for you? Returning to high society Port Royal or staying aboard the crew?"

"I love the sea, you know that." Elizabeth turned away and clung to her pirate gown, the same outfit that Captain Sao Feng had given her to wear before he had passed away. "How can I leave the ocean when I'm bound to it?"

Jack looked at her curiously. "I see."

Though she did not understand how she was 'bound' to it, Will came to mind. But another person came to mind, as well. Being without Jack would make her feel like the puzzle in her life had no meaning. The last piece gone, the absence of Jack would cause her to feel obligated to find that missing piece—no matter what it took her.

"It would have never worked out between us…."

"You're getting that look again," he said as he made his way towards her and pulled off his jacket and put it on her. "You look seasick and heartbroken."

Elizabeth felt his jacket on her shoulders, the warmth of his body on her skin. His jacket smelled of spices, and a touch of rum. It smelled tempting, yet she didn't know why. She didn't "love" Jack, so why was she tempted by his presence?

Because he's a man, a voice in her head answered. A pirate. The same one you met that saved your life…nearly the first time you drowned in that ocean. If it wasn't for him, you'd be dead.

Elizabeth swallowed hard and then smiled at him. "Thank you. You didn't have to…" she broke off.

"It's no problem. Anything to the Pirate King." He cracked a smile.

Oh, she thought to herself. Maybe he's just being nice because I'm the Pirate King… Maybe he doesn't… Doesn't what?

Elizabeth turned away. "Well, I'm starving."

"So am I," Jack responded. They were close…too close right now, she could practically feel his body heat.

Why was he so tempting to her? Was it because she had once desired him, kissed his lips and tasted him that she craved more? She had only kissed him, she reminded herself, to handcuff him to the ship.

…But was that really the reason? Did she really do it just because of that?

Jack pulled away from her and stepped back. "Well, I'll have the crew start dinner."

"…All right," Elizabeth said despondently. Jack walked away.

Somehow, as he left, she felt her heart sink too.

- - -

She found herself sitting on the edge of her bed in the Master's quarters in the bottom of the Black Pearl looking at the heart-shaped locket that she promised to cherish while she waited for Will. Ten years. Somehow, it seemed right to wait. So easy at the time. But now, why did it seem so hard? She found herself longing to be with Jack, even though she assured herself that no feelings existed. She could still smell him on his jacket that she still adorned. Spices. The gentle smell of the sea…. And the smell of a man. A man who just happened to be a pirate.

Elizabeth shook her head. Why was she doing this to herself? She was married to Will. She loved Will… didn't she? Yes. But now, she felt this silly crush on Jack overtaking her. She longed for that kiss again, even if it was just for a second. In her dreams, she kissed him a thousand times. Each time, lasting forever until she woke. She had never told Will that her dreams didn't center around him, but around Jack. She couldn't bare to tell anyone, since it would be a disgrace to her promise and to her marriage to Will.

It was then that a knock on her door halted her thoughts. "Who is it?" she asked, looking at the wooden frame of the door.

"It's me," Jack said. Elizabeth felt her heart race. What was he doing down here?

"Come…come in," she stuttered, as she rose to her feet. The door opened and Jack appeared.

"I want you to see something," Jack said with a smile. "Come with me," he ushered her to follow. She began to walk out from the room and up the stairs. She could see darkness and stars all around. "Close your eyes," he said as he covered her eyes with his hands.

She obeyed as she felt his touch against her face. So warm, yet she calloused those fingers were. "Now," he continued, "walk forward."

And so she did. He led her to the bow of the ship and he told her to stop; from how she felt, his body was pressed against her back. Tempting…

No, she countered, I won't be tempted by him.

"Now, open your eyes."

She opened, and saw the moon bright as a hallucination before her. Illuminated by the stars, it was bright and big…beautiful. "Oh, Jack. It's beautiful," she said.

"Yes, I thought so, too. Many nights I have seen this moon, but…" he broke off, as he wanting not to continue. "I think Will is looking at it, too."

Elizabeth turned to face Jack. "…Yes," she said despondently.

"You seem distant at that," he said with a frown.

"I…" she began, but then turned her body fully towards him; he stepped back to give her room. "I've looked at this moon many times, too. And as a young girl, I dreamt of being a pirate. I've always wanted to be one, even though I was often told women can't be pirates. Such a silly ambition… But yet, I am here. And I know that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you…"

He blinked and stared at her. "What do you mean?"

"You may have forgotten," she said, looking down with a smile. "But I haven't. That day we met, you saved my life. I would have drowned if it wasn't for you."

Jack looked at her curiously. "Oh."

"What made you save me?" Elizabeth asked. "A man like you has better things to do than to save a foolish girl like me."

Jack touched his finger to her lips. "Don't talk about yourself like that. I didn't save you because of the gold, you know. I…I saved you because of another reason."

Elizabeth looked at him intensely. "Why?"

He looked at her slowly and then she stared back. But he didn't speak any words. He only tried his luck one more time, hoping that the young girl would understand. She never would, would she?

"I'm bound to you," he said, as he leaned forward. Elizabeth didn't dodge, she nearly followed as he kissed her lips gently. It started out gently at first and then grew into a passionate kiss. Jack held onto her body and she held onto his, and she didn't feel it then, but she was betraying Will….

"I'm bound to you."

Perhaps he was. And perhaps it was because she was the Sea, and he was the foolish pirate that craved it.