A/N: I have yet to decide whether I want to write a conclusion to this collection. If you have an opinion on the matter, feel free to express it in a review. Also: Jack is harder to write than the other two, so, if you see ways I could make him better, please let me know. Danke!

Disclaimer: God owns pirates. Disney owns Pirates. I own nothing. Don't sue me, please.

Jack leaned back in his chair, one hand wrapped around a bottle of rum and the other thoughtfully fingering the magic compass that had caused all these problems. God, it felt good to be alive! Barbossa gone, Jones gone, the Pearl regained, Jack was free to roam the seas again. He should have been happy.

But he wasn't. In fact, the jumbled and confused thoughts that filled his mind were rather troubling. And all of them focused around one specific person. Elizabeth Swann.

Jack had not yet talked to his murderess, or her fiancée, but he had been surprised to find that she and young William weren't acting very much like an engaged couple. Did Will think he had something to do with the unmanageability of his wife-to-be? How could that be? Unless Lizzie was in love with him or something.

Which, after all, was a possibility. He was quite impressive.

But back to the matter at hand! Lizzie. Elizabeth. Even if she did love him, she would leave with William as soon as they reached Port Royal. Then again, if she wanted to stay aboard the Pearl, Jack would have no problem letting her. But it was simple respect, was all. He would not be fooled by her wily ways again.

Not that he had been before. He'd seen something in her eyes that should have warned him off. But who would he be if he had refused a woman's kiss? Certainly not Captain Jack Sparrow.

Honestly, she had impressed him. A woman willing to throw away her morals and societal restrictions and do what ever the hell she pleased was the kind he liked. That is, if he were to ever fall in love, which he wouldn't. Captain Jack Sparrow wouldn't fall in love with the likes of a Governor's daughter either! No, he was better off as a man standing alone.

Though, he realized, with chagrin, he did esteem Lizzie higher than other women. He wouldn't consider "taking advantage" of her and then leaving like he would with other women. But that had nothing to do with love. Yes, the compass had pointed to her and yes, he had turned around to save her when he had the option of saving himself. But that meant nothing! This mess wasn't the compass' fault. It was Lizzie's.

He shouldn't have kissed her. But he did. Why? It wasn't to take advantage of her. She had wanted it as much as he had. He had been curious. Why should she, a rich, beautiful, high class lady want to kiss him, a scallywag, a dirty, coarse pirate? They say curiosity killed the cat. Maybe it had been fate. He wasn't sure.

But he had done it. So what? Just because of that, just because of how similar they were, how brave and free she was…this argument was going nowhere. He was just going to have to talk to her.

Sooner or later.

Hopefully later.

They said curiosity killed the cat. Apparently, curiosity had killed the Sparrow just as quickly. But he was ready this time.

It wouldn't happen again.

At least, he hoped not.