A/N: This chapter is a little longer, with good reason. I won't say any more than that, but please read and review if you like it.
Elizabeth woke up groggily, her eyes opening slowly to the light that filled in from the windows of the cabin. She turned her head and saw that Jack was still asleep.
He looks strange without his bandanna, Elizabeth thought, and made to get out of the bed.
She groaned inwardly as she noticed that she and Jack had become tangled in the night. She couldn't move without waking him, and she didn't need to be told, to assume that he wasn't a morning person. Hours without rum, asleep or otherwise, would surely make him irritable, she'd learnt that on the island. Or had that just been the circumstances? Well she was about to find out.
"Jack." she murmured quietly, gaining no response. And then louder.
"Jack!" she hissed. The pirate grunted and half-opened his eyes, looking around the room, and then landing his eyes on Elizabeth.
"Did you say my name love?" he asked sleepily.
"Yes." she replied, starting to feel a little embarrassed. "I, um, I can't get up." she gestured towards their entangled legs.
Jack laughed and moved himself out of the way.
"You could have just moved Elizabeth, its not as if I'm going to strangle you if you wake me up. I'm not that grouchy, although I could do with some rum." he thought aloud, earning a chuckle from the woman beside him.
"You and your bloody rum."
"Aye, but even you can't deny that rum's good, Lizzie. I mean we had a fun time on that island thanks to rum didn't we?" Jack pointed out then added under his breath, "Until you burnt it all that is."
The sun rose high over the ocean, and the sky was painted a brilliant clear blue, almost as blue as the ocean. Elizabeth leaned over the edge of the ship, breathing in the sea air. She never felt more relaxed than when she was at sea... On the Pearl... With Jack. With Will she'd felt restrained, but Jack had freed her.
I'm happier here with Jack than I ever was with will.
You did not just say that, how could you! He's a lying, cheating, drunken pirate!
You're a pirate too.
Shut up!
To her distress, Elizabeth often found that she would be arguing with herself, mainly over Jack. Somewhere in the back of her head the repressed feelings and the attraction she had felt when they were trying to Will were still there, trying to force their way out at any chance. Sometimes she found herself wanting to kiss him like she had done before, only this time without the intent of sending him to his death. But she pushed back the thoughts, it wouldn't do her any good.
Jack walked down from the wheel to where Elizabeth was standing at the side of the ship.
"We'll be heading into Tortuga soon, just need to pick up some supplies. Gibbs and I will probably be off to one of the local taverns if you fancy joining us."
Elizabeth turned round to face him, and frowned slightly. The last time she'd been in a Tortugan tavern it had ended in James Norrington being thrown into a pig sty. It had been utter madness in there.
Though I highly doubt James is going to be popping up any time soon. She thought tearfully, but blinked them back, not wanting to look weak.
"Of course, how long until we make port?" she asked.
Jack turned and shouted over to Gibbs who had taken over the wheel.
"Mister Gibbs, how long, say you, until we reach Tortuga?" he yelled.
"Not to long now Cap'n. A couple of hours I would say."
Sure enough, just as the sun was beginning to set, they pulled into the Tortuga docks. After making sure the ship was secure, most of the men vacated it, leaving only a few to see that it wasn't stolen. Elizabeth followed Jack and Gibbs as they climbed overboard and onto the pier. Elizabeth found herself laughing at how much Jack seemed to struggle, walking on solid land.
They made their way through the bus streets, having to dodge out of the way a few times as wenches ran past, and drunkards were thrown out of taverns onto the ground outside.
You'd never see my father here. Elizabeth noted to herself.
Jack stayed close to Elizabeth as they walked towards his favourite tavern, making sure that she didn't notice as he threw a dirty look to the many men that were staring at her greedily. But she seemed oblivious. All the better really, he couldn't be seen to look like he cared for the girl.
The tavern was relatively busy, full of desperate wenches following their chosen 'clients', and rowdy sailors causing fights in the middle of the room. Towards the far end of the tavern was a bar with a few tables nearby that were a little less noisy. Jack led the way for them to one of those tables and went to get them all drinks. No sooner had Jack left than Gibbs started talking to her, quiet enough that Jack wouldn't notice.
"The Cap'n seems to be acting a bit strange don't you think?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Jack is strange Mister Gibbs, I thought you would have noticed that by now." Elizabeth laughed.
Gibbs looked as if he wanted to say more, but thought better of it, and looked up towards where Jack was being passed the rum over the counter.
"I'll have three tankards of rum mate." he said to the barman, and turned his head to look back over to the table where Gibbs seemed to be asking Elizabeth something, judging by the thoughtful look on her face.
On her beautiful face.
Shut it!
But now she was laughing. Why was she laughing? Secretly he loved to see her laugh. In those first few weeks following his rescue from the Locker, he hadn't spotted even a smile on her face. Guilt, he supposed. But lately, he'd spotted that smile a lot more. He supposed being back on the Pearl made her as happy as it made him. People always wondered why he spent thirteen years going after one ship, but it was true what he'd said on the island. The Black Pearl wasn't just a ship, it was freedom. And that was what Elizabeth yearned for, he knew that from the first time he'd met her.
Jack turned back to the bar as the drinks were passed over and her handed the bartender a few coins, before making his way over to the table.
He, Gibbs and Elizabeth each took a tankard from the table and he watched in amusement as Elizabeth took a large gulp of the rum and pulled a funny face.
"Vile drink.." he heard her mutter and grinned.
"Drink up me hearties yo ho!"
A couple of hours later they were all feeling jolly from the rum, joking, laughing and remembering fun times from the past.
"I remember when you was just a small girl 'Lizabeth. Always did like the idea of pirates didn't ye." Gibbs smiled and took another drink.
"Yes, I suppose I did." she laughed back, then realized suddenly that she was in dire need of relieving herself. "I'll be back in a minute." she said, and walked towards the toilet.
After a few minutes Elizabeth walked back through into the tavern, to where they had been sitting. A sight met her eyes that made her irritated. And she was irritated that the sight irritated her. Jack and Gibbs were still there, sat at the table, but with another guest who was currently perched on Jack's knee whispering into his ear with an mischievous smile. Elizabeth knew instantly that the woman was a common Tortugan whore, and this is what they did. But she was still angry.
She's sitting on Jack's knee. That filthy whore is sitting on his lap.
Why do you care?
I don't.
Without the time to realize what she was doing, Elizabeth stormed over to the table and grabbed the woman by the hair.
"Get off of him. Now." she hissed to the woman, who was yelling.
"Why should I, not like he's got anything holding him down, is it?" the wench sneered.
"Just piss off, before that pretty face of yours is no longer of use to you."
The whore huffed and stumbled away to another table a few over.
Elizabeth sobered up instantly. What a show she'd made of herself. In front of Jack and Gibbs, what would they think of her. The mad woman they'd come to the tavern with. The mad woman who was sailing aboard Jack's ship.
"Lizzie, what the hell was that?" Jack asked incredulously, but she was already running away out of the tavern and onto the street, not hearing the footsteps running after her.
Once she was outside in the night air, she let her tears take over her. She let them fall freely. Why had she done that?
Because you want him for yourself.
What!?
You don't want anyone else to be with him but you.
Of course not, that's ridiculous!
You love him.
Elizabeth gave up fighting with herself and slumped down onto the floor against the wall, only to be pulled back up again by familiar arms.
"Lizzie, what's wrong with you love? You were fine one minute, the next you went berserk on that wench!" he asked, a hint of amusement laced in his voice.
"She deserved it." she muttered.
"And why is that?" he asked, gazing down, his dark eyes smouldering her.
Without a thought, she leaned forward and kissed him, hungrily and passionately.
At first Jack was surprised. Why the hell was she kissing him. But he didn't care, and he felt himself respond to the kiss, it felt like a wait had been lifted. His hands wrapped around her waist, as hers tangled themselves into his dreadlocks. All too soon she pulled away.
"That's why." she replied simply, and reached forward to continue the kiss.
