Disclaimer: All hail the mouse, cause Disney owns.

"He needs the Pearl. Captain Turner needs the Pearl!" Jack turned to Elizabeth, "And you felt guilty!" then to Barbossa. "And you and your Brethren Court. Did no one come to save me just because they missed me?"

'I did.' Elizabeth thought to herself as she saw Jack the monkey raise his hand along with a few crew members.

"I'm standing over there with them!"

'Stand with me…'

"Will… You thought I loved him."

The look in his eye was unbearable. It danced between the deepest emotions of love, disgust, guilt, hurt, disappointment, wonder and rage. "If you make your choices alone, how can I trust you?"

"You can't." She answered honestly. 'Because maybe I do love him… and it's my burden to bear even if I care for you too...'

Elizabeth had never seen eyes so full of sorrow. "I had nothing to do with your father's death, but that does not absolve me of my other sins."

"It's too late to earn my forgiveness."

'But I forgive you James Norrington, I forgive you with everything I have. Do you forgive me? Our fates were always intertwined, why did they never join? I'm sorry James, I loved you too.'

"Forgive me… Calypso."

"Aye, we're good 'n lost now." Barbossa was confident and almost joyful in his words.

"Lost?" Elizabeth asked.

"For sure you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was."

'What about myself Captain? Can you find me? I'm lost. Can I be found?'

"Nay, belay that! Let her run straight and true!"

'He's insane', Elizabeth thought to herself. 'But he's the most remarkable Captain I've ever seen.'

Her stomach sank at the sight of the water fall. "You've doomed us all!"

Barbossa grabbed her by the face, with a rough authoritative hand, "Don't be so unkind, you may not survive to pass this way again and these be the last friendly words you'll hear." He leaned in with a kiss even more authoritative than his hand and she savored the moment.

'I should have had more faith in you Captain.'

But that's not how it happened. That's not how many of the moments between them happened, save for one.

Elizabeth stood looking over the edge of the ship lost in the aquatic melancholy of her sins.

"Need not be wallowin' in yer sorrows Miss Swann. Why not enjoy the beauty for jus' a moment?"

Elizabeth whirled around at the sound of Barbossa's voice. "You are hardly one to pass judgment Captain Barbossa."

"No one here passin' judgment but yerself. I was merely statin' the obvious." He said taking a place by her side. "Seems you've been out here, but have yet to take a look." Barbossa tilted his head back, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath of the salty air. Elizabeth saw a smile creep across his face, envying the pleasure apparent on every inch of his weathered face.

A quick glace around herself and Elizabeth suddenly noticed she was surrounded by stars, not only in the skies above but in the still waters below. For a brief instant she felt as if she were sailing through the heavens. "It is beautiful." She breathed.

"Aye." Barbossa replied. "Best be makin' the most of it while you can." He turned to her, offering a hand. "Miss Swann, if you would be so kind."

She stared down at his hand; her eyes wondered up and he held her there with his own gaze, a raised eyebrow and a shine in his blue eyes waiting for her to accept his offer. She obliged to his request, allowing him her hand. He took her into an embrace and flashed a smile that she could not help returning. They swayed together to a soundless melody none but the two of them could hear. And for a moment Barbossa was not a pirate, but a gentleman.

She was sitting alone in a darkened corner near the helm, a blanket draped around her shoulders when he found her and offered her the bottle of wine taking a seat next to her.

"Elizabeth, are you dead?" Her father asked.

"No." She replied.

"I think I am."

The words replayed in her mind over and over again. Will held her, but he wasn't truly there and she had wished for Jack.

She took a swig from the bottle and handed it back over to Barbossa. "He's dead." Her voice lacked any type of emotion.

"He's moved on to a bet'er place and made peace. Makin' peace with yourself is a rare thing Miss Swann, it be something we all can only hope to find one day." He consoled.

Elizabeth tightened the blanket around her shoulders and moved closer to Barbossa. She buried her face in his coat, resting her head against his chest as he did his best to put a comforting arm around her. The sound of his heart beat and steady breathing soothed her. He was warm. He was alive.

The deal had been made and she was to be Sao Feng's.

"A moment with the lady." Barbossa had convinced Sao Feng to give him a moment alone with Elizabeth before their departure.

Barbossa had taken her out of view, "I trust you can find a place to hide this Miss Swann." He said as he reached into his coat. He produced a dagger and handed it her. "Since I cannot be there it is the best protection I can offer."

Elizabeth ran her fingers over the dagger. Suddenly she was angry. Angry that Will had not been the one to hand it to her. "Thank you." She whispered. She reached up, pulling Barbossa's face to hers as she kissed him softly and he allowed his lips to linger wishing for a better taste.

"I have faith in you 'Lizabeth." Those were his last words as he escorted her back to Sao Feng.

That was how the kiss really happened.

"Dearly Beloved, we be gathered here today..."

Elizabeth woke up in a cold sweat. The same dream had been plaguing her for nights on end. Every night it had been the same. Every night it left her with the same empty feeling. She reached over for the rum bottle on top of the night stand. She took a swig, enjoying the sweet burn of relief as it went down. She flopped back down on the bed.

"What am I going to do?" She asked the empty room.

NA - So this is my first stab at Barbossabeth and I quite enjoy it so I hope at least ONE person here enjoys it as well. May be adding more... we'll see. Later babes.