So! Here we are again! :) Sorry it has genuinely been forever since I last posted, but I honestly didn't know whether I was going to continue this story at all! But after some truly lovely comments from some truly lovely readers, I decided that Jack and Elizabeth's story was not quite finished! I do intend to write more after this, but I can't really commit to any sort of uploading schedule. I write when I have time/when I am super inspired to just pump out heaps of words to match my never ending flow of ideas, but I promise I will not just leave you guys hanging on a half finished story forever!

So until we meet again, enjoy some complicated Sparrabeth!

Thank you for sticking around, I truly love you all! Follows and favourites do motivate me to keep going, so do that if you feel this is worthy, but even a simple comment is much appreciated!

xxx

A small groan escaped Elizabeth's mouth as a dull throbbing pain in her head dragged her from the sweet embraces of sleep. She shut her eyes tight against the rays of light breaking through the gap between the curtains and hauled the covers up over her head. Fragments of the night before began to sift through her foggy mind; going to the tavern with Jack, just to get her mind off of things, walking home with Jack, or rather Jack half carrying her home, Jack helping her into bed, her begging him to stay with her, just for a little while…

She couldn't quite put her finger on what had happened between and after those moments. She felt like there was something important she was forgetting, a big gaping chunk of nothing that came just after she had gotten into bed.

Suddenly, the door to her room burst open, accompanied by thumping footsteps.

"Morning, Lizzie!" Jack called, pulling the covers halfway down the bed to reveal his face smiling cheekily down at her, a bottle swinging loosely in his hand.

"For goodness sake!" Elizabeth moaned, and had to bite her tongue to stem the stream of curses that were about to escape her. "Jack Sparrow, you are very close to forcing a lady to say something particularly unladylike."

Jack flopped down on his back next to her.

"I believe you mean Captain Jack Sparrow, my dear." He teased, offering her the bottle. Elizabeth crinkled her nose and pushed the bottle away.

"It's never too early for you to crack open the rum is it, Captain?"

Jack barked a laugh and grinned at her.

"It's water Lizzie, I promise." Elizabeth looked sceptically at the bottle being held out to her, it didn't smell particularly offensive, and her aching throat and foul tasting mouth were desperate for some relief, so she shrugged and took a gulp. The water, although lukewarm, was soothing to her assaulted organs. "I do love it when you call me Captain, though." Jack whispered in her ear, smirking.

Elizabeth choked on the water and started to laugh, punching Jack lightly on his shoulder. Jack chortled along with her, but his comment had only been half teasing, and they both knew it. They always joked around with each other like that, flirting and messing around with the other, sweet nothings here and suggestive glances there. It wasn't the pirate part of Jack that put her off from actually acting on her brazen, impulsive thoughts, on the contrary it was what drew her to him. His confident swagger, his easy, sure movements, his rough, cunning speech had all fascinated her from their first meeting.

They'd learnt a lot from each other over the time they had spent together, adventuring and otherwise. He had become a better man, more selfless and more aware of others. She had grown into herself, become brave and strong and more independent than anyone would have ever expected of her, except perhaps Will. Will had always believed in her, had always seen the best parts of her soul and had loved all of the turmoil within her just as much as the good.

Despite everything they shared, despite the obvious love between them, platonic and lustful, nothing serious ever happened between them; they both knew it wasn't worth the inevitable implications. Elizabeth refused to hurt Will in that way, to hurt their son in that way. She loved Will, she knew she did, sometimes the loneliness just really took a hold on her and placed crazy thoughts laced with desire in her head. And that's all it was; pure desire. Nothing romantic could ever grow between her and Jack… it couldn't. She refused to add more complications to her already Byzantine life.

The only time either of them had actually acted upon their desires had occurred long, long ago. It had been many years since Elizabeth had used carefully chosen, softly spoken, words to manipulate Jack's lips onto hers…

Thank you, Jack… you came back… I always knew you were a good man…

Elizabeth shivered as a wave of guilt rushed over her. She'd been telling herself for so long that she had done what had needed to be done, that everything had turned out for the better in the end; Jack was okay now, he was safe, he had forgiven her and understood. But it still niggled in the back of her mind, the regret, the self-loathing, the feel of that pirate's mouth against her own…

Elizabeth's eyes widened and she stifled a gasp as the gaping chunk of missing memory from the night before came rushing back.

Oh no… oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!

She turned to look at Jack, only to see him peering right back at her, a peculiar expression on his face. Her cheeks flushed at the memory of what he'd done… what she'd done! She had been drunk, but that was no excuse for the way she had encouraged him! Then a pit of anger burst into her stomach. He'd had no right to take advantage of her in that way! He'd had no right to act upon the impulses they had both been fighting for longer than they cared to remember…

"Lizzie?"

"Hmm?" Jack's voice snapped Elizabeth back to reality.

"Do you uh… do you remember anything that happened last night?" he was trying to keep his voice light and inquisitive, but they both knew exactly what specific event he was referring to.

Play dumb, play dumb! Elizabeth told herself. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and forced her delicate features into a tight smile as Will's face came swimming into her mind.

"I remember drinking more than I should have, I remember you helping me home, and I remember you tucking me into bed like a child. Have I forgotten anything?" she replied with a small laugh, "Don't tell me I started singing sea chanties at the tavern again?" she shuddered for emphasis and looked sideways at Jack to gage his reaction.

"No, you didn't try that one again," he chortled. Neither of them said anything more, they both knew Elizabeth was not being entirely truthful, but Jack was grateful for the time. He wasn't really up for admitting to the wrong he had committed this soon after it had happened; he was still trying to figure out what had happened himself. He knew that they would have to address it eventually, that they wouldn't be able to ignore it forever, but he was happy to wait for as long as Elizabeth wanted, until she was ready to confront it.

"Alright you," Elizabeth said finally, sitting up, "get out of here! I'm getting dressed." Jack sprung up and bowed to her in jest.

"Of course, my dear, wouldn't want to ruin your modesty!" he regretted the joking words the minute they left his mouth, and mentally cursed himself for not thinking before he spoke. Why did it seem he was always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time around Elizabeth?

Thankfully, Elizabeth didn't react, at least not noticeably, but stuck out her tongue at Jack playfully. Jack tried to grin back at her as he swaggered out of her room, cursing himself and his stupid, impulsive nature.

For a few moments, Elizabeth just stared after Jack as the door swung shut behind him. Her modesty? She laughed grimly to herself.

Always had a way with words, haven't you Jack?

Will's face swam back into Elizabeth's thoughts, and her eyes filled with tears at the thought of his face if he knew what had happened between her and Jack. His reaction when he had accidently caught her kissing Jack as a distraction so she could cuff him to the Black Pearl came to mind, and instantly shattered apart the emotions she was desperately trying to hold together. She gave into the regret and the guilt and let the tears pour down her cheeks. She fell back into her covers and rolled over, burying her face in the pillows. She released a muffled moan and sobbed her remorse and confusion into the soft fabric.

What have I done? She lamented.

What have we done?