Chapter 3

A/Note: This was written during President's Week break (CHYEAH, we got the whole week off) and Viet New Years' celebration. I was dead tired most of the time I wrote this and apologize for grammatical mistakes and the like.

Disclaimer: PotC belongs to Disney, no matter how much I wish it was not so. D: )

What an odd pair they made, Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann. She led the way to her modest home, and he followed, wondering what to expect. A mansion? A flimsy shack?

Her home came into view. "Nice house," he said, more to himself. "Must have a nice landlady."

"Landlady?" she snorted. "I own this home."

"You – what?" he asked, dumbfounded. "Where'd you get the gold, dearie?"

"I'm not Pirate King for nothing," she said, suppressing a smile.

After Jack had come into the house, Elizabeth closed the door, latched it, locked it, and bolted it. Jack raised his eyebrows. She just shrugged. "Safety precaution," she told him, and went to fetch the rum.

"Nothing like some rum," he said, licking his lips.

"So, Jack."

"So, Elizabeth," he mimicked her. She paid him no attention.

"Really, why are you here? No more lies."

"Why, even the Pearl needs to stock up, love." He took a swig of his rum. "Tortuga was the nearest port." He sneaked a glance at her.

She sipped the rum, pretending to be unaware of Jack's gaze. "Why'd you come back?" she asked abruptly. "You know as well as I do there are many ships out in the Caribbean to raid. You left. Why here, why now?"

For once, Jack Sparrow couldn't respond with a witty comeback. He watched as a tear slid down her creamy cheek, yearning to lean forward and wipe it away.

"I was trying so hard to forget," she continued. "And I almost could."

"Love -"

"Oh, who am I kidding?" she sobbed, hiding her face in her hands. He watched, helpless, as she braced herself against the wooden table and cried her heart out.

"Oh, Lizzie. Please don't cry dearie. It's alright, you got me here." He was unsure about how to comfort her, probably because he was never taught by example.

With a squeak of protest from the wooden chair, he stood and embraced the crying woman.

"I missed you, Jack…"

"Captain," he corrected softly. She hiccupped, not bothering to change her mistake. "I know you did."

"You don't!" Tears coursed down her cheeks. "You have your freedom, don't you? You have the PEARL! You never knew what it was like to watch the years crawl by!"

To this he had no reply. Unable to do anything more, he held the distraught woman in his arms and waited for her sobs to subside.

He held her for what seemed like a century. When Elizabeth had stopped crying, he gently set her back in her seat and said, "We have a lot to talk about."

She nodded, rubbing her puffy eyes.

"Let's see. Shall we begin with my death?"

She cringed. This was the one subject she had been avoiding for the last 6 years.

"Why?" he asked. It was a simple enough word, but it did not mask the anguish and pain that had brewed within him since that fateful day.

"I was selfish. I wanted to live. There was no other way," she said softly.

"Why did you say it? Were you truly not sorry? Not sorry for killing a man that did you no harm?"

"I wanted to live!" she cried. "I was NOT sorry. That was my choice, and my mistake."

"You really were not sorry? Did you not question your morals?"

"No! I didn't mean it that way. I meant – I meant I was not sorry for kissing you."
Both looked away, overcome by the sudden awkwardness. "I am sorry for murdering you, however," she said in a tiny voice.

Captain Jack Sparrow stayed silent.

"Do you – do you forgive me?"

"'Tis not a question of forgivingness."

"Of what, then?"

"Trust."

"I see." She did see. She had known it was a betrayal. Right now, nothing seemed more underhanded than the crime she had committed all those years ago.

"I trusted you, love." He sounded pained. "You don't know what it did to me. You don't know the significance of trust to a pirate. Trust," he said, turning the word around in his mouth. "Was it really all selfishness? Is that all trust is? Is trust just a condition between two people, where one fools himself into thinking the second it worthy or keeping a secret?"

"You don't know what it did to me… Oh, God. I… I missed it. I missed he sea. I missed the Pearl. I missed you!"

She launched herself at him, once again sobbing openly.

Jack stroked her hair. Her HAIR! That was a first for him. Pirates did not stroke anyone's hair, especially not THIS pirate.

"I missed you too, love," he murmured. "More than you know."

"Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow, perhaps before lunch."

"… Let me come with you."
"What?"

"I miss the sea."
"You can't! Haven't I explained to you -?"

"Well, the Pearl's yours now. So I don't HAVE to worry about any rogue pirates, do I now?"

"Well…" Jack had never acquired the ability to say no to Elizabeth Swann.

"Jack, please?"

"Look, love," he began slowly. "You're willing to give all this up?" he gestured towards her home and furniture.

"Anything to be free again."

"Once a pirate, always a pirate. Remember that, Lizzie."

"I know. I am willing to give up Tortuga life. You know I loathed being without a ship.*"

"Alright, love. Then you are pronounced crew member of the Black Pearl."

"Thank you, Jack!" She launched herself at him yet again.

"That's 'Captain' Jack to you," he said, voice muffled by her shoulder.

"Aye, aye, sir," she said, saluting proudly.

"Good. Now your first orders from your captain are…" he paused dramatically. "To get 9 hours of rest tonight. At a minimum."

"Aye, aye – wait, what? NINE hours?"

"Don't question your captain. Now get to sleep." He ushered her upstairs and tucked her in. "Goodnight, love."

He kissed her forehead and headed downstairs to sleep.

Oh yeah, and go read the author's note.

A/Note: I have to end it here, 'cos I'm too tired to type the rest. I assure you that the real version of chapter three was much lengthier, but… yeah. Too lazy.

You may have noted the asterisk I inserted (… You know I loathed being without a ship.*") I'm using asterisks to denote where I want to insert an author's note. The reasons for the asterisk will be explained in the author's note.

*: Before she became Pirate King, she was the Pirate Lord of Singapore, I believe. Sao Feng or whatshisname's ship was called the Empress. I think. But at the end, there was no mention of the Empress, so I assumed Elizabeth gave it up to her predecessor's supposed successor, the other Singapore guy. I forget the names, sorry, guys!

I promise chapter four's coming soon. All my love,

IceCweamWuver.

PS. Please review. Tell me if you'd like to be a beta. You must be qualified.

PPS. Kudos to geniusfantasygirl, my first reviewer. I am eternally grateful!

Edit:

Just so you know, I'm not posting a siiiiingle chapter unless I get at lease five more reviews. Please no 'OMG I LOVE YOU STORY UPDATE's. PLEASE.

Also, I've just edited my BetaReader profile. Accepting beta requests.

FURTHER, I'm looking for a beta for this story.

Okey? The end. REVIEW!