A/N: Thank you to all my fabulous reviewers. I know its taking a while to get to the 'good stuff' as you might say, but we will get there, thats a promise ;-)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
J is for... Journey
"This is pointless" sighed Elizabeth from the helm of the ship, pouring over the map that was supposed to lead to the Fountain of Youth, for what must have been the hundredth time at least.
"Not at all, luv" Jack told her from his place at the wheel, peering briefly over her shoulder before returning his eyes to the horizon he loved so much, "Surely for those of us who made it to worlds end and back, this should be but a mere trifle of a map to solve" he waved his hand in some random gesture as was his way.
It was a sore point that he never should have brought up and Jack knew it the moment he glanced once again at Elizabeth and found her eyes downcast.
He had long since forgiven dear Miss Swann for sending him to Davy Jones locker, and had told her as much, in a round about way, and though she was proud enough of most of her pirate traits, it never would sit well with her to know she had condemned him, he supposed.
"You know, Elizabeth, the point of us finding the Fountain of Youth, is not so very much the Fountain and its finding, but the journey which we take in order to do so" he explained in that way that only Captain Jack Sparrow could.
The change of subject was deliberate, she realised, and Elizabeth was glad enough for it given the circumstances, plus what Jack had said did actually make sense when she let his jumbled words unscramble in her mind and sink into her brain.
"So then" Elizabeth smiled then, looking over at the Captain, "you would happily stay forever as we are now and never find this fountain we are searching for?" she challenged him, sure he would immediately back-track what he had said at the idea of not getting to the prize he sought.
"As we are now is not so very bad though, is it, luv?" he asked, eyes still facing forward and never shifting Elizabeth realised as she stared up at him.
Was he still talking about the same thing? About the course they were travelling to find the Fountain of Youth?
Elizabeth seriously wondered now if he in fact had something else in mind, the relationship between them perhaps?
In just a moment she dismissed the thoughts that he was sure to find ridiculous, shaking her head free of them in a second.
Still, she could not answer Jack's question, she had no words to do so, and hurried away just as soon as she could find an excuse; she never saw the smile that came to Captain's Sparrow's lips as a result of her antics.