A/N – Thanks so much for the kind reviews…and not to worry, this is definitely Sparrabeth. All good things in good time. The attraction is there, and Elizabeth seems to be the last one to notice that her feelings have changed. Just like in DMC, if only, if only, - - - but I digress. Please read and review!!

Disclaimer: Jack. Elizabeth. Don't own 'em. Will. Don't own him and don't want to anyway. The rest of the POTC characters and even the ships are all NOT owned by me, myself, I…..you know the drill.

xxxx - Four -xxxx

"I suggest we move further inland," Jack said as he gathered blankets and tried to balance four bottles of rum in his arms. "We'll need some sort of shelter, and I've no idea when they'll be back."

Elizabeth said nothing; she gathered as many supplies as she could carry and followed Jack away from the beach. They followed the same path she had just traveled with Will.

Elizabeth felt a kind of calming relief knowing that she wasn't going to be subjected to Will's questions for some time. His tone was most decidedly aloof and she needed time alone. To think. Her mind wandered as she followed Jack through the grass, and her thoughts were decidedly not on her fiancée. She found herself thinking about her most recent actions – I sent Jack to his death! – and to work through the guilt that was making even simple thought appear challenging.

I tricked him. I kissed him. And I left him no means of escape from that monster. But the worst part is that I feel more guilt about the kiss than chaining him to the mast! That damned kiss...it shocked me. It wasn't supposed to be enjoyable. It wasn't supposed to be exciting and passionate. But it was. And if I dare compare that one kiss to the ones I've shared with Will…I never kissed Will like that. It was all I could do to stop kissing Jack, to walk away with no regrets. But inside, in my deepest, most honest thoughts, I know I regret leaving him.

Why won't Jack talk about what I did? Is he waiting to exact some sort of revenge? Is he going to leave me on this island to die? Just like I left him to die?

She tried to think of something else. Like the fact that she didn't want to walk too far from the beach, because when the Pearl returned for them, it would be that much harder for them to be found, and she might not see the ship arrive. Her mouth was getting very dry now, and she thought of stopping for a drink of water, but she didn't want to be left behind. Thinking about her mouth….which brought her right back to that kiss.

And tongues.

All of her kisses with Will had been with their mouths closed. That was the proper, civilized way to kiss your betrothed. But when she leaned in for that kiss with Jack, it was so different. Intense, full of longing, and it felt so natural to open her mouth to his.

The heat started in her face and worked it's way downward. She knew she must be red with embarrassment. Because that's what it was, right? Embarrassment. Surely nothing else. That burning sensation, the way her pulse was racing – embarrassment. Of course.

Enough!!

She stopped short. A flask began to slide out of her arms. She adjusted the pile in frustration. I should have made HIM carry all of this! Just as she was about to continue on, she looked ahead.

Jack was gone.

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Mr. Gibbs inspected the side of the Pearl as the longboat pulled alongside, but he didn't notice any significant damage. The vessel appeared to still be seaworthy, so he ordered the crew to go aboard.

As Will climbed the rope ladder, his gaze fell on the deck. And immediately to the mast. He tried to fight it, but the vision reappeared. Elizabeth was kissing Jack, pushing him toward the mast. She had instigated that kiss. And Jack hadn't done a thing to prevent it. He searched his memory, but Will could not remember a time when she had kissed him that passionately. That was not a goodbye kiss. It was a kiss of desire. Maybe even….love?

Once he was on deck and the crew resumed their duties, Will sought out Mr. Gibbs. Gibbs was manning the wheel, shouting orders to Cotton and his parrot.

"When you retrieved Jack from the ship," Will said quietly over Gibbs' shoulder, "what

state did you find Jack in, exactly?"

"I'm not sure what ye mean, Mister Turner."

"Was he below deck? In his cabin?"

"No. He was on deck. Why?" Gibbs looked worried, and pretended to study the horizon.

"I saw them. Together."

Gibbs started to speak, but no sound came out. He couldn't be honest with Will. What if the Cap'n found out he'd betrayed his little secret? Did Jack want him to talk about Miss Elizabeth and how she'd shackled him to the mast?

"How long has it been going on?"

Gibbs looked confused. "Goin' on? I'm not followin' yer meanin'."

"Them. I saw them kissing. I saw her kissing him. And is wasn't a quick kiss on the cheek." Will's face felt hot and he clenched his fist, fighting the urge to hit something. Maybe a plank on the ship would do because he would relish the pain right now.

Gibbs swallowed. Well this is unexpected. Jack didn't say a word. He's usually one to brag about his conquests, but not this time. What's so different?...Oh. No…can't be.

"They kissed? Ye sure ye weren't seein' somethin' else? Like a fight or somethin'"

Will's angry expression spoke for him.

"Aye, I s'pose ye did see somethin' you weren't expectin' then," Gibbs clenched the wheel, not sure why the boy was confiding him, knowing Gibbs' loyalty to Jack. He started to feel a bit angry that he was put in the middle of such a difficult situation.

"You had no knowledge of their, uh, attraction to each other? No indication from Jack or Elizabeth?" Will continued to prod for information.

"Nuthin'. I think ye must be mistakin' lad. If ye saw somethin' it surely was a mistake. A misunderstandin', fer I know Jack is not particularly fond of yer young lass."

Will looked doubtful. "Perhaps," Will exhaled loudly. "Mr. Gibbs, it's time we find the Kraken and finish this little voyage. I do not want my fiancée on that island any longer than need be."

"Right ye are, lad. Why don't ye help the crew repair the deck from our last encounter with the beast, while I steer the ship?" Gibbs asserted his authority as de facto Captain, designated by one Jack Sparrow.

As Will walked away, Mr. Gibbs shook his head. Jack, what have ye gotten us into now? The East India Company, Davy Jones, underhanded pirates --- nothin' to fear compared to the wrath of a spurned fiancée.

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"Jack!!" Elizabeth set her belongings on the ground and spun in a quick circle. "Jack?"

She ran along the path, calling his name, her heart racing for a different reason now. He wouldn't have just left her there to fend for herself, would he? She felt a twinge of panic, and fought it to the back of her mind. She looked desperately in every direction as she ran, and only her superb reflexes prevented her from toppling over the edge.

Of a shallow ravine leading to a small creek.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as her toes touched the edge and sent dirt and stones rolling down the side and into the water. She glanced down and saw Jack, flat on his back, his arms above his head, his hat some distance from his body. He appeared to be unconscious, laying near the edge of the flowing creek.

"Jack?" Elizabeth called, begging him to wake. She had no way to carry him out of the ravine, so her only hope was to get him to wake up and make his way back up the side of the hill.

Elizabeth continued to call, but Jack didn't move. She threw a small rock at his boot, missing it completely but it rolled against his heel. Nothing. His eyelids didn't flutter.

He can't be dead! I can't remain here alone for days, weeks…months! And he just escaped a gruesome death, he can't leave me now!

Elizabeth looked around and saw a winding path leading to the bottom of the short ravine. It wasn't all that far down, but she couldn't go straight down without suffering a major fall. Just as it appeared Jack had done. She stood and brushed the dirt from her trousers and began the short descent toward the creek.

She knelt beside Jack and shook him by the shoulder. She watched his eyelids. No movement. Leaning down to press her ear to his chest, she heard a strong heartbeat.

"Jack? Wake up!" Elizabeth tried to shake him but he was still not responding.

As Elizabeth leaned forward, she felt strong arms pull her closer. Before she could utter a sound, his lips were on hers. Warm, demanding, prying lips. Taking what he felt he was owed. No!! She gasped and tried to back away, but his grip on her shoulders was too strong, and her arms were pinned to his chest. She opened her mouth to protest but her words were captured by his tongue, demanding she return his kiss. She felt like she was back on the Pearl again, tasting his lips, his mouth, for the first time. But this was so much more than that first time. Her mind struggled against her attraction to him, while her body slowly gave up the fight and surrendered to his kisses. She felt her weight collapsing on top of him, and he rolled her onto her back, never breaking the kiss.

The realization that he was on top of her, kissing her, tasting her….

"I trust you, Elizabeth."

Will.

She pushed with everything she had, locking her arms against his shoulders until he pulled away.

"Stop, Jack!!"

He looked at her for a moment, then stood and offered his hand to help her get up.

She swatted his hand away. "I can get up by myself, thank you."

"Sorry luv, just tryin' to help." Jack's eyes kept returning to her mouth.

"You tricked me!" Elizabeth wiped another layer of dust and dirt from her trousers, thinking she'd never be clean again.

"An eye for an eye, eh, luv?" Jack walked away and retrieved his hat.

"You pretended to be injured…or practically dead, just to lure me here so you could take advantage of me?"

"No, no pretendin' dearie."

She started back toward the trail before she realized what he'd meant. An eye for an eye. Deception and a kiss.

"I actually was unconcious for several minutes. Not the first time I've fallen into a hole. A depression. A ravine. It must have been your very presence that brought me back from the brink, luv," Jack grinned.

Elizabeth marched back to the top of the ravine and retrieved her collection of blankets and supplies. Looking over the edge of the small ravine, she announced,

"I'm going back to the beach to wait for the Pearl. And my fiancée."

"I wouldn't be doin' that, young missy." Jack quickly followed her steps up the gentle incline. "Ye see, I found an abandoned building, of sorts, just a few steps from here. It will make a much better shelter than those exposed palm trees. And we wouldn't want one of those big, hard coconuts fallin' on yer pretty lil' head, now would we?" He traced the curves of a lock of her hair that framed her face.

She pulled away from his touch and frowned. "I'll inspect this building of yours, but I reserve the right to return to the beach if the accommodations prove to be unsuitable."

As Jack walked away, Elizabeth shouted, "And by the way, Jack, I dearly want to slap you for that completely inappropriate and unwelcome kiss. You do remember I am engaged, don't you?"

"Oh, you remind me of that quite often. But my question to you is…. do you?"