Chapter 4

Elizabeth woke up to the sun shining brightly on her face and the sound of the waves crashing up against the Pearl. She got up and dressed, spotting her sword and hat, both gifts from Jack. She smiled at the memory as she put them on.

"Come on, close your eyes!"

"Jack, what's going on?" She protested as he put a cloth around her eyes.

"It's a surprise, don't want to ruin it now, do ye?" He guided her outside the cabin, hoping she would except his gifts to her. Jack untied the knot and she gasped at what she saw.

"SURPRISE!" All of the crew were on deck, some even bearing gifts. In the distance, she spotted an island with a big campfire. She squinted and also saw rum, lots and lots of rum. Lizzy felt him put his hands on her shoulders and say,
"Happy Birthday, luv. Do you like it?"

"Jack...this is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me!" She turned around to meet him face to face. "Usually, back home, my birthdays were spent with stuck-up english men and their wives who barely knew me and probably didn't even care. Now, I truly feel at home." A tear managed to escape, but she wore a giant grin.

"Miss Elizabeth," Gibbs replied,"since it be yer birthday 'n all, we thought, why not celebrate the proper way?" The crew replied with an "aye".

"Thank you all. I will always remember this." For the rest of the night, they drank, ate, and entertained her by singing traditional pirate songs, most of which she joined in with them and danced around the fire with others. Later on, Jack had pulled her to the side,
covering her eyes with his hands this time.

"Jack"
"No protests, surprise!" He let her go, revealing a new sword and a tri-cornered leather hat like his, except it was a darker brown. She looked at the handle of the weapon and saw an engravement:
Lizzie, Once a pirate, Always a pirate Jack

She turned around to face him, completely in shock and awe. Elizabeth wrapped in a bear hug before replying,
"Jack, the party was more than enough. But this...this just makes the night more unbelievable. Thank you for everything." She suddenly realized that they were close, really close. Their lips locked and the rest of their chemistry is history.

Lizzy smiled faintly as she walked out onto the deck, spotting him instantly. Her heart raced as his written words flowed through her mind. She held onto the railing, not sure if she was able to face him yet.

Jack ordered Cotton to take over as he saw Elizabeth walk out of her cabin. He saw her standing at her regular spot with the sun shining down on her, making her look as radiant as ever. He walked over to her in his usual drunken stagger.

"Morning Miss Swan." Her reply was hardly above a whisper.

"Elizabeth." Turning around, she added, "Call me Elizabeth. You always have, why stop now." Her eyes still didn't meet his.

"Elizabeth, we need to talk. Since you really didn't give me a chance to reply last time, I'll be the one speaking first..."

more later