Disclaimer: I don't own these characters (and according to my writer's block) I don't own the right to write with them either.

A/N: It has been a little while since my last update hasn't it? Ah yes, the wonders of school and a happy part in a play. Because I have homework and I have to be off book for Act I on Friday, here is my attempt at a decent chapter. Hope it is enjoyed or at least tolerated. ; D

Beau Porteur De Diamant: Thanks...um...I tried on the updating soon part. *sheepish smile*

El Diablo Firestarter: Thanks, that's been my favorite chapter so far too and the Jack suggestion has seemed to be the overwhelming consensus.

pirate-princess: : D Thanks for using my full title. I am and will remain the Evil Queen of Cliffhangers and Pushpins. LOL.

Erica: Thanks so very much!

Erinya: Don't worry, I believe you. LOL. And then in an amazing twist of fate, our plots start to mirror each other. JK. It was a creepy dream, but hey, it had Jack so I'm not complaining either. Yeah, I'm trying to make the "mushy" side of Jack Sparrow work and thanks for the input. It's always necessary to make sure he's in character. Thanks again.

Shadow Phenix: I love the POC soundtrack, it rarely leaves my CD player. : ) And hey, if you actually ever manage to fall asleep to it, you might have a Jack dream too! Urgh...poems for class, I'm sorry. Thanks, I hoped that the chapter actually moved things along a bit. And thanks for the long happy review!!!!!

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Footsteps resounded outside the door of Elizabeth's small room and for a moment her heart skipped a beat and rose high into her throat. Taking a few quick steps toward the door and looking through a small crack in the wood, Elizabeth held her breath, her eyes searching for the dark silhouette she so desperately wanted to see. Brown eyes gazing into the unintelligible darkness for several more moments, she sighed and moved back to the small, comfortable cot against the wall. Biting her lower lip softly, Elizabeth's head fell against the timber wall of her cabin.

It hadn't been Jack. Elizabeth silently chided herself for the thoughts running through her head. She was acting like a schoolgirl; not the intelligent young married woman that she was. For a moment her mind paused; the thought was almost laughable: married. In the eyes of the law, yes but in her own eyes, never.

Elizabeth clutched the light sheets on her bed as she once again heard the sound of slow, steady footsteps hitting the deck and approaching her door. When the sound began to die away and fade from her hearing, butterflies rising in her stomach slowly replaced the strength of her heart beating. She would have to put her plan into action and convince Jack that he was the father, or who knows where he would be dropping her off. Finding herself on a small coconut infested island in the middle of the Caribbean was not her idea of a nice life; or nice death, as the eventuality would be.

At the thought of palm trees, warm ocean and sand, memories returned to her that she had only previously allowed herself for brief amounts of time. Before now, the memory of what she had done had left her with a horrible amount of guilt and it had taken all of her strength just to look Will in the eye. Now it was different and now it wouldn't be something full of guilt and pain but a cherished memory.

Yes, it is possible that he could be the father. Heat rushed into her pale cheeks and a small blush decorated her face as thoughts of their last encounter came flying back. It had been the same day that she had declared her love for Will; the same day that Captain Jack Sparrow had narrowly avoided his neck being unalterably stretched. She still remembered the scent that lingered behind him as Jack walked past her and firmly placed a small scrap of paper in her hand. Only momentarily surprised, Elizabeth pocketed the tiny piece of parchment and waited for the "opportune moment" to read it.

It wasn't until almost sunset that night that the message was remembered and freed from the pocket in her skirts. In large, unsteady and smeared lettering, the note was simple and to the point and also obviously scrawled by someone with a small grasp of the written English language. Arriving at the pre-appointed meeting place well after dark, Elizabeth had been met with a small campfire and only one other person enjoying its heat. That was how it had begun. The blush on her face grew more intense with the thoughts of what had followed. It had definitely not been an activity that a proper young woman should engage in, to say the least.

Elizabeth buried her head into the soft mattress to cool her increasingly warmer face and tried to clear her mind. Yes, she thought, he could probably be convinced; it was at least worth a try. A single tear streamed down her face as Elizabeth firmly told herself that she was doing the right thing for both her and her child.

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Sunbeams beat down hot and strong as Elizabeth climbed up the rigging, trying to keep up with the woman in front of her. Anamaria didn't seem the least concerned that the young woman following her had no experience with what she was currently doing and that a strong breeze was blowing. Grasping the salt-weathered rope with both hands, Elizabeth pulled herself close to the rigging and tried to hang on as another fervent burst of wind thrashed her around far above the deck. Before the gust had subsided and Elizabeth could catch up, Anamaria was climbing up further and reaching out for another rope.

Slightly panicked at the thought of falling behind, Elizabeth climbed up behind Anamaria, not entirely sure of what part of her body was moving where or how. What she was keenly aware of, however, was that all of a sudden no part of her was making contact with the ropes. The world blurred as her petite form plummeted toward the deck and suddenly stopped when her aching arms grabbed splintered rope and kept her from falling. Feeling the sudden jar below her, Anamaria turned and smiled down, more at the momentary slip of the Captain's face (and the horror apparent on it) than for the improvement of the newest crew member.

As Elizabeth caught her breath and looked around her, she slowly began to appreciate her surroundings. High above the swirling Caribbean, with a cool breeze and a bright sky enveloping her, Elizabeth's worries began to melt. Unintentionally loosening her grip on the ropes protecting her, she began to fall again but unable this time to catch herself, let out a blood curdling scream. The clear sky began to swirl away from her and Elizabeth braced herself for sharp contact with the deck of the Pearl. That sharp contact never came.

Feeling strong arms catch her, Elizabeth looked up into the face of Jack Sparrow and promptly buried her head in his shirt. The last thing that she recognized before a dark comfort overcame her was the wonderful smell of salt and rum.

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Flickering candlelight in the warm, dark room matched the pounding rhythm of the pain in Elizabeth's head as she slowly opened her eyes and sat up. With the drowsy state of her mind and the pounding headache in her skull, it was easy to see how any conversation or conversation at all would confuse Elizabeth beyond belief. With this in mind, Jack's next comment came completely out of nowhere.

"Why did you leave Port Royal?" Jack spoke, voice slightly horse and eyes gazing straight at Elizabeth. Silence reigned in the room as Elizabeth tried in vain to get Jack's words through her head, much less why she was in his room and why it was now night.

"What?" She sighed while sinking into the soft mattress and smooth sheets beneath her.

"I asked ya. Why did you leave Port Royal?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes and looked down at the sheets, away from Jack.

"Jack...not now."

"Then when, luv?" He responded, giving her almost a tender look for a short moment, but breaking her gaze by taking a swig of rum. Elizabeth looked as if she would protest for a moment but then she just silently nodded and ran her hand through her hair.

"I left because...because I couldn't..."

"I's alrigh'. Go on."

"I left because I couldn't..." Elizabeth looked at Jack and something flashed in her, something almost unrecognizable. Anger changed the color of her eyes from a soft brown to an angry dark chocolate.

"No, Jack! I don't need to tell you anything, especially not now and not here. Why and how I came to be on this ship is mine to know. I'm doing what you ask of me and putting in my fair share. That is all that you need to know."

In spite of Elizabeth's anger and random outburst, Jack laughed. And for Jack at that moment, laughing was not the smartest thing to do.

"Actually, luv, since I am the Captain of this ship, yur business is my business and that's enough reason for me to know." Despite, and maybe because of the confusion still fogging her thoughts, Elizabeth jumped up and walked quickly, if not unsteadily, over to Jack.

"Why am I in your cabin?"

"Because you fell and I, being the charming Captain that I am, caught you and saved you from a rather messy death if I do say so meself."

"Well," she said tiredly, seeing some logic in what he had said, "why are you interrogating me?" Jack nonchalantly took another drink from his bottle of rum and sat up straighter in his chair, his voice taking on a serious note.

"Because, Miss Elizabeth, I wanted to know why a lovely devoted wife such as yourself would be on a pirate ship in the middle of the Caribbean and not at home with the father of her child?" Elizabeth's jaw dropped slightly and her breath came faster as she stared into Jack's unemotional eyes.

"How do you..." She began quietly, but quickly shook herself out of those thoughts.

"Why aren' you with the father of your child, Elizabeth?" He asked again, face still showing every sign of utter seriousness. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned away from Jack and muttered under her breath.

"I am." She spoke quietly, wiping away the tears that were running down her cheeks. Jack looked for a moment as if he had heard her and got up to turn her around slowly towards him.

"Wha...what?" At first the word came out as a choked sound but quickly righted itself. Looking into his dark eyes, Elizabeth took a breath, drew up all of her courage and tore herself away, walking towards the door. Before opening the door and walking out, Elizabeth turned back towards him.

"You are the father."

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Wow, in my mind that sucked. Okay, not that bad but it took forever to write and wasn't one of the best turnouts. I apologize in advance. Hehe..I am still the evil queen of cliffhangers.