Two months later…

Elizabeth watched as the sun slowly sank below the horizon. She sighed, a feeling of deep contentment enveloping her like a warm blanket. Her time at sea had given her a new appreciation for things she'd previously taken for granted, such as simply watching the sun set on another day.

"Bored?" came Jack's voice beside her. Elizabeth jumped slightly; she hadn't even heard him approach.

"Never." She took the bottle of rum he handed her and smiled.

It had become a nightly ritual with them, always beginning with those two words. They would share a bottle of rum and discuss every topic under the sun, from religion to their fondest wishes and desires. Elizabeth never dreamed she'd share the secrets of her heart with Jack Sparrow, but she found herself confiding in him night after night things she hadn't even told Will. She often felt, however, that Jack sometimes held back, as if there were things he didn't want to divulge.

Taking a generous swallow of rum, Jack regarded her with interest. "Now, then, what's to be the subject of tonight's discourse?"

"Love," Elizabeth responded automatically.

Jack blinked, nonplussed. "Love?" he repeated slowly, as if it were a new word he was trying out for the first time.

Elizabeth nearly groaned aloud. What on earth made me say that? But she knew. Of all the things she and Jack had spoken freely of, love was not one of them. Whenever she broached the subject, even if only in reference to her past with Will, Jack managed to skirt around it, and Elizabeth found herself wondering why. Oh, why should I even care? She thought to herself. It's not as if –

Jack cleared his throat in an exaggerated fashion, startling her out of her thoughts. "Darling, I'm feeling a mite tired at the moment. Perhaps we can continue this – "

"What are you afraid of, Jack?" Elizabeth interrupted.

Jack's eyes widened slightly. "Me? Afraid? Don't be absurd."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as she leaned closer. "Yes, you. You've always avoided talking about it. Why?"

Jack sighed. "I hate to disappoint you, love, but there's no great mystery here. I don't avoid talking about love so much as I avoid it altogether." He wrinkled his nose. "Terrible thing. Makes even the most steadfast of sailors do…" He frowned and waved the rum bottle wildly. "…funny things."

Elizabeth smirked. "I see. And has it ever made you do funny things?"

Jack handed the rum back to her and clasped his hands behind his head. "I always do funny things."

Elizabeth tilted the bottle and gulped down a few fiery mouthfuls. "Have you ever been in love, Captain Sparrow?" she asked playfully.

Jack stared at her a long moment before turning toward the sea. "No."

Perhaps it was the rum, but Elizabeth was feeling bolder than usual. She moved a bit closer, until her face was mere inches from his. "Are you sure?"

Jack could see Elizabeth's lips out of the corner of his eye. His throat suddenly felt bone dry. The conversation was taking a dangerous turn, he decided. He needed to turn the tables on her, tout de suite. He swiveled his head in her direction, almost brushing her lips with his own. "Did you have someone in particular in mind?" he purred.

Elizabeth drew back slightly and shifted uncomfortably.

Jack smiled.

"Cap'n!" Gibbs shouted. "Come look at this!"

With a courtly bow to Elizabeth, Jack hurried over to where Gibbs was standing at the helm. "A ship," Gibbs said, handing him the spyglass.

"Colors?"

"She's a merchant ship, sir, and a small one at that."

Raising the glass to his eye, Jack could see there was indeed a rather small ship floating about a quarter of a mile away off the starboard side of the Pearl. "Excellent." He closed the glass with a snap and handed it back to his first mate. "Round up the rest of the crew. We should be able to board her without difficulty."

"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs replied as he began shouting orders to various crewmen.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked, coming to stand beside him.

Jack grinned. "Ready to do some honest pirating?"