(All characters belong to Walt Disney)

I Love...

By

Professor Hermione Granger

Part I

A Proposal During Battle

Clash, clang, clang. The sounds of battle were all around as Elizabeth Swann ran her sword through the fish-like creature she was fighting. She grimaced as she yanked the blade out, preparing to go after another enemy. The creature she was fighting staggered back, before growling, running at her again. She groaned silently, letting out a battle cry as she knocked him into the ocean. Alright, so attacks to the stomach don't work. She turned to attack another enemy, slicing off his arm when he made a grab for her. She cursed when the injury didn't seem to phase him. She knocked the monster down, killing him. Ok, don't aim for their limbs either.

"Elizabeth!"

She turned at the sound of her betrothed -- William Turner's -- voice, stabbing the enemy he was fighting at the exact same time he did. The creature fell to the ground, temporarily incapacitated. The woman turned to go after another one of the creatures when Will shot his arm out to grab her arm, effectively stopping her from going anywhere. Breathing heavily, she whipped around so she could stare at him impatiently.

"Elizabeth, will you marry me?" he asked her.

She stared at him in shock for the few seconds before an enemy attacked from her right. She swung her blade up, the clang of steel upon steel signifying the successful block. What on earth could Will be thinking? she thought. She was pressed against the enemy, sword stuck to sword. "I don't think now's the best time!" she yelled over the noise of the battle and rain. Another enemy came up behind her. Ripping her sword away, she ducked just as the one behind her swung at her head. She jumped up when the fish-pirate she had previously been engaged with lost his head, ramming her blade through the new one. As he fell to the deck she looked back over at Will, tightening her grip on her sword.

As he slashed through one of the monster's chests, knocking him back, Will yelled, "Now might be the only time." While Elizabeth was stabbing one Cutler Beckett's men Will ran over, killing him. He grabbed her arm again, pulling her closer to him. "I love you."

They broke apart to once again fight separate enemies. When both were defeated -- temporarily or permanently -- Will ran to her again, stopping her from moving. "I've made my choice. What's yours?"

Elizabeth panted, staring at the man that she had loved for so many years. She wanted desperately to say yes, to marry him like she was supposed to months ago. But she knew she couldn't in good conscience say yes to this man. He deserved someone who's entire heart he would occupy, like he once did hers. She no longer loved him as anything more than a good friend.

"I'm sorry," she said, taking a step away from him. Tears filled her eyes as she stared at his shocked and hurt face. She hadn't wanted to hurt him, but she knew this was the only way. They weren't meant to be together. Not anymore, and possibly not ever. "I can't." She turned away from him to rush away, wanting to do something other than stand there pathetically under the gaze of the person who's heart she had just broken.

The tears stung her eyes as she swung at another of Beckett's soldiers, but to her horror she missed.

"Get down!"

The words barely even registered in her mind. What did snap her out of her thoughts was the sound of metal upon metal above her. Startled, she jumped out of the way before whirling around to stare in shock at Hector Barbossa and the soldier she had tried to attack. The pirate captain made short work of the soldier before turning on her.

"What the hell are ye doing?" he yelled at her.

She flinched, lowering her gaze to the deck, amazed by how quickly it had become tinted red with the blood of the fallen. "I... I don't know... I... I don't..." Tears slipped from her eyes as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

Barbossa grunted, moving closer to her. What the hell had happened to make her like this? She was such a fiery young woman. This was not anything like how she was. He hesitated before placing a hand heavily on her shoulder. She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. It was like everything was going in slow motion. She blinked, as though realizing what was going on, gasped, and took a step back.

"I'm sorry. This is not the time for this," she said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

He nodded before replying gruffly, "Just so ye be careful from now on Miss Swann. Wouldn't want to lose the Pirate Queen." He smirked a little. His smirk grew when she returned it with a faint smile and a light laugh.

"Yes, the Pirate Queen." Her eyes widened as one of Jones's crew tried to sneak up on Barbossa. The older captain didn't even flinch as he rammed his sword handle into the creature's face, knocking him backward.

"Till later than, Miss Swann." Barbossa gave her a brief smile before turning and disappearing into the depths of the battle.

Elizabeth stared after him in shock. What had just happened? He had smiled at her, but there had been something else. Her heart raced as she whirled to fight again, and somehow she knew it wasn't because of the fight she was in. She shook her head. She could think about it later. She had to pay attention to what was happening in the fight or else she would probably end up being killed.

Bloody Pirates

Two hours later both sides had retreated, needing to recuperate and find new ways to attack since neither had made a leeway in the battle. Elizabeth was at the ship's helm in the rain, staring out at the ocean, her arms on top of the wooden railing. She shivered as the freezing cold water showered down on her. Despite the cold, she was glad for the rain. It was washing away the blood that had soaked the deck, and the smell of death that lingered even after the bodies were removed. Both sides had taken loses, and severe ones at them. Luckily for them Beckett had lost many of his men so until he could acquire the replacement crew the pirates were relatively safe from his assault. However, they still had to worry about Davy Jones.

When she was on the Flying Dutchman she had learned that Beckett was in control of the entire ship because James Norrington had given him the heart. She silently cursed him before lowering her head, leaning against the rail. Tears filled her eyes as she thought about the former commodore. Why hadn't he tried to escape with them? He could have lived if only he hadn't been so foolish. No, brave. He was a very brave man. Speaking of brave men, where was Will? Elizabeth hadn't seen her former love since the battle. She knew he hadn't died, but she still didn't know where he went. She assumed he was talking to the crew, or resting, so she didn't worry.

Sensing someone coming up behind her, the young pirate queen reached down to draw her sword but stopped when she heard the person speak.

"Ye froze."

She turned to stare at Barbossa, her eyes dark. "I did not freeze, I just missed."

"Ye froze. Ye didn't move when I called out to ye."

"I..." Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head. "I know... I did freeze... I just... I don't know... I hurt Will, and I..."

He cocked his head to the side, "Ye thought ye'd get yerself killed?"

"No, of course not!" she said angrily, folding her arms across her chest. She sighed in exasperation. "I just... I missed him, and then I... I just don't know."

Barbossa shrugged, moving to stand next to her. "Is it really that complicated?" he asked, staring out at the sea.

"Yes."

"No?"

"No?"

"Ah-hah!" he said triumphantly.

"What are you going on about?" Elizabeth asked in utter confusion.

"Ye just admitted to it not being that complicated." She just stared at him blankly. "Nevermind." She continued to stare at him blankly so he said, "What did ye fight about?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Why should I tell you?"

"I didn't say you should. I just asked a question."

"You confuse me to no end," she said with a shake of her head. Yes, he may confuse her, and even annoy her, but she still found the man a mystery. And a mystery she wanted to solve at that. Her eyes widened when she thought that. What the hell was she thinking? She wanted to solve him? She must have sunstroke or something for she was certainly going mad. She shook her head again before turning as she too stared out at the sea. "It looks so calm. You can't even tell a battle took place only hours ago."

Barbossa glanced over at the woman next to him out of the corner of his eye before looking back at the water. "Aye. Calm now, but could at any moment choose to turn against us. The sea is a fair weather friend to be sure."

"Perhaps, but it is calm now. Isn't it better to just live for now?"

He grinned down at her, "Ye certainly have changed tunes quickly, Miss Swann."

She grimaced. "Oh stop it. My mood was fine before you came out here."

"I didn't say it wasn't, Miss."

Miss again? she wondered. "Why do you keep calling me 'Miss?'" she asked curiously. "The others all call me Elizabeth, except for Mr. Gibbs and Jack."

He stared down at her, the grin still in place, although it had turned smug. "And why do You call Gibbs Mr.?" he asked her.

She looked up at him in confusion. "Because that's how I was brought --" She was starting to get his meaning, but that was impossible, wasn't it? "But you're a pirate!"

"So are ye, Miss. Swann. I was once something other than a pirate, much like yourself."

"But but... You're so... So..."

"Not well-bred?"

"Exactly," she said.

"So I'm just an average pirate?"

No, she wanted to say, but instead said, "Precisely."

He grinned again. He knew she was lying, but he wouldn't call her on it right now. Perhaps at a later time. He noticed her shiver a little and sighed. In under thirty seconds the blue overcoat he wore was unbuttoned and on her shoulders. She looked at him strangely.

"You knew I was cold?" she asked him.

Barbossa shrugged, looking back at the ocean, suppressing a shiver from the cold rain. "Twasn't hard to notice."

She noticed him shiver, even though it wasn't very noticeable and began to take the coat off. "No, you should keep it. You're cold." She tried to give it back to him but he shook his head, placing it back on her shoulders.

"I prefer the cold. When you aren't able to feel anything for ten years even cold is a luxury."

She sighed, glowering up at him from under her long lashes. "You are such a stubborn... pirate!"

"Why thank ye."

"You're impossible too," she said with a groan.

"I thank ye again," he retorted. Folding his arms across his chest he smirked.

"I hate bloody pirates!"

"Good thing I'm not bloody."

"...I give up."

"Finally."

She glanced over at him, rolled her eyes and looked back at the sea again.

Admittance

The two had stood in silence for some time, neither having anything to say to the other. Elizabeth had watched Barbossa out of the corner of her eye for awhile, but had stopped when their eyes met. She had been tempted to look back again, but hadn't given in to the temptation. Finally she sighed.

"...asked me to marry him."

Barbossa looked over at her. "Turner did?"

"Yes," she answered. "During the battle. That's when I... I froze."

"Ye do realize that as captain I could have married you two, don't ye?"

She nodded her head. "I... said no."

He looked over at her in shock, although his face didn't show anything. She had said no? But didn't she love him? From what he understood, and from what he had seen back when he was still cursed, she loved him enough to risk everything; even her life. "Did he do something to ye?"

She shook her head. "No, he didn't."

"Did he do something with another woman?"

She slapped his arm. "No!"

"Do you love him?"

She froze. "I... no... I don't..." she whispered defeated, hanging her head in shame.

"Good."

"What?" She looked up at him incredulously. "Good? How can you say good?"

He stared down at her. "Well, ye are the Pirate Queen."

Her eyes narrowed, her face saddened. "Is that... all that I am?" she questioned softly.

Barbossa knew he had done it this time. He had said something he hadn't meant and now he had to live with the consequences. Unfortunately, this was the worst kind of consequence. Shaking his head he reached out to her. Elizabeth gasped when she felt his calloused fingers on her chin, pulling her face up so that she had to look at him.

"You are not just the Pirate Queen. You are a beautiful, intelligent, elegant, fiery young woman who can catch the attention of any man no matter how strong his will."

Elizabeth stared at him, unable to do anything else. She couldn't find any words to say to that. He said she was intelligence, but if she was, why couldn't she think of anything? She suddenly felt very warm, despite the cold water that was still falling on the two of them. She felt like she should slap him or something, if only to ease the warm and fuzzy sensation that was slowly creeping it's way throughout her entire body. Before she knew what was happening a pair of warm soft lips were on hers, kissing her roughly. The more surprising part was that Elizabeth found herself kissing those lips - and their own - back with just as much fervor. She wrapped her arms around the captain's neck as he pulled her closer, crushing her to him.

They broke apart reluctantly over a minute later, both breathing heavily from lack of air. Elizabeth's eyes were glazed, her lips slightly swollen as she stared up at him, her body swaying slightly. Maybe it wasn't so bad that she and Will weren't together anymore. Wait a minute. She blinked. She had just kissed Barbossa, a man who had tried to kill her in the past. He was handsome, but -- no, that's wrong! Not handsome! Definitely not! Flushed, she gently touched her lips with one hand before glaring up at him.

"You... You disgusting pirate!" Swinging her arm back she slapped him hard across the face before turning and storming away. How dare he do that to her anyway?

Hector Barbossa grinned as he watched her go below deck. She really was a feisty one. He rubbed his cheek where he had been slapped. Strong too. There was a good chance he'd even have a bruise from that slap. It was all worth it though. She would certainly be a challenge. She needed to open up. And he was the one to do it.