I'm really getting into this story, everything is turning out right. I write as I go along, so I guess what comes to me happens. A lot of things happened in this chapter that I never expected to... But I guess it fits with my moral, eh?

This chapter is short, but was originally supposed to be part of Chapter Two... Oh well. I'm really getting into my characters. It's so much fun!

Hope you enjoy!

Elizabeth was standing outside the ship, looking out to the ocean. She couldn't stop thinking about Jack or even the feelings she had that she tried to dismiss. It made her upset to know that she would betray Will, even though she knew otherwise that she loved Jack just as much. Who to choose, she didn't know. She had owed Jack her life since he had given her back her life, but even he didn't remember that debt as fondly as she did. Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if she never met Jack Sparrow. A lot of things in her life would be life unchanged and she would never have discovered that she was a true ruffian pirate on her own; Jack had helped her with that.

As she looked out to the sea, timeless waves flowed by and reminded her of her own dilemma. She wanted to forget everything and start over with a new fresh sheet of paper—she wanted her problems to be solved and for everything to go right. If she choose the wrong person, no one would be happy; it was a win-lose situation, and nothing good could come of it.

"You're getting that look again," a voice said from beside her. Elizabeth turned and saw that it was Jack. She looked away. "Sometimes you should just relax, you know? You overwork yourself, and you really need to just cool it with your thoughts. Have some rum, ya hear?"

Elizabeth looked down. "I'm quite alright if you don't mind."

"Lies. I know you better than that. Trust me, there's nothing old Jack doesn't know." He handed her a bottle of rum, not too much. "Here, just…stop worrying about things. Honestly, Elizabeth—you spend your whole life thinking about your next step, when you could be enjoying the one you just took."

She looked at him and took the rum; she sipped it slowly. "I'm sorry."

"Forgiven," he said with a smile. He took his bottle of rum and clinked it with hers. "Now, stop being so dramatic—you worry me."

"I worry you?" she asked, looking at him curiously.

"You always worry me. Even when you used to get kidnapped, I'd always have to worry about saving you, even if I didn't. You're a magnet for trouble, I knew that the moment I met you. Your father was right, you're definitely something."

Elizabeth looked up from her rum bottle. "…He said that?"

"Yeah," Jack said looking at her. "He said a lot of good things about you, even some bad. But all in all, you're neutral."

"My father…" she said, looking down.

"I know," Jack started as he set his rum bottle down, "that it must have been hard for you to know he died. I'm sorry for your loss; he was a good man. He would have had great pirate potential, seeing as he knew the seas, too."

Elizabeth nodded, she stared at the rum bottle. "…Well," she said clearing her throat.

"Do you really think…that I'm the one for you, Elizabeth?"

She looked up. "Do you think you're the one for me?"

"I asked you first." He made a face.

Elizabeth stuck her tongue out. Jack did so as well, and she socked him in the arm. Jack rubbed his arm and Elizabeth grinned. "Hah. See you are worthless without me," she teased.

"Am not."

"Are so," Elizabeth said as she made her way into his arms. He held her back gently, but he was surprised that she made contact with him so confidently.

"You're too bold, Elizabeth."

"I know," she said, as she closed her eyes. Jack began to rock her back and forth with his arms and hummed.

"Yo ho," she said with a laugh.

"And really bad eggs," he continued.

The sun set in the horizon, and time seemed to stand still on the Black Pearl.

- - -

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Elizabeth said as she sat on Jack's lap looking out to the stars. "I really can't."

"You don't have to do anything," he said, as he moved her hands over the wheel. "Just relax and let it come natural. It's not that hard."

Elizabeth took the wheel and turned it a little. "So, tell me, what were you like as a little kid?"

"Oh, no," Jack said tightening his grip on her waist playfully. "I'm not going to spill my whole life's secrets to you."

"That's not fair," she said as she turned to face him. "I told you mine."

"I never asked you to tell me yours."

Elizabeth stuck her tongue out. "Captain Jack Sparrow, I do believe you're the most impossible man I've ever met."

"Pirate," he corrected.

"Whatever," she said as she rose from his lap.

"Where are you going?" he asked. "Come on, I was only joking."

"I know, but I don't forgive you," she said as she made her way to the railing and looked out to the ocean.

Jack rose from the chair and stood next to her. "Elizabeth Turner-Swann, I do believe you're the most impossible woman I've ever met."

"Pirate," she corrected. "And it's Swann now. I don't think…I'm…" she broke off. She then looked back at the sea.

"You do that…a lot."

"What?"

"Look out at the sea. You always do that."

"It fascinates me, don't you know that?"

"Love, I'm a pirate…and it doesn't do that as much as it does for you."

Elizabeth turned to face him. "I guess…because I really am Calypso."

"Are you now? Gonna swallow me into the sea if I make you mad?" Jack teased as he looked at her with a serious face.

She touched his bandanna on his head. "Hmmm. Maybe," she said with a smile. He looked at her seriously.

"I'm joking," she said looking seriously too. "Jack, you know I'd never hurt you."

"I can't be sure of that."

She touched his cheek. "Jack, I wouldn't."

He turned away and let out a sigh. "Sure. I know, you wouldn't. But … you're Elizabeth Swann."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're you, and I'm me. I'm the famous Captain Jack Sparrow, while you…you're Elizabeth Swann. We're two completely different people," he said as he turned to face her and cupped her face in his hands. "I've seen you when you're angry—it's not a pretty sight."

"We're not that different, Jack." She said moving closer to him. He pulled away. "You see? Why do you keep doing that? I want to be close to you, but you keep pushing me away."

"Because I'm scared of you," he said, looking at her. "You're like the sea, ever-changing and constantly moving. You could love me, truly. We could love each other for years, and it would be the most amazing thing to happen. But one day, you might not love me anymore…and I could be just a passing thought. And I can't afford that, not now."

"Are you saying you don't want to be with me?" she asked, looking into his eyes; tears began to form.

He looked at her, warily, not wanting her to cry. It was the last thing he wanted. He loved her, but he didn't want her to look back at this ten years from now and regret her decision. "I don't," he said. As he spoke it, it pierced his heart and made him feel weaker than he did before. Elizabeth was his stronghold—and he had just lost his strength.

Elizabeth turned away, as a tear fell down her cheek. "Fine. Once you dock in
Tortuga, I'll get off with my belongings. I'll find my way back to Port Royal on my own." She turned away and walked down the deck and then down the stairs to the Master's quarters.

He stood there, as he watched her go. Once again, the famous Captain Jack Sparrow had shut someone out of his life, and it wasn't pretty. It hurt, but he'd get over it. Wouldn't he?

He could only hope….

- - -