Ah ha, here we are my dear readers! Didn't think I'd get another one up this evening, but here we are.

Cat Girl Utah and Dead Girl's Watch  thanks for the quick reviews ;-)

On with the story!!

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Jack made his way back towards the ship as the sun kissed the horizon, a smirk settled on his face at the previous nights activities. Nothing could please him more than an over night stopover with one of the woman of the town. He'd met Kay, a new girl, within twenty minutes of being in the bar and had succeeded in wooing her well enough to have another blissful night, which he had missed dreadfully over the past month.

He stepped onto deck and looked up at the helm, smiling. But nothing would every replace this ship. His eyes shifted from the helm to his quarters, he grinned and made his way towards the door, pushing it open, quietly, as he made his way in. As he closed the door, his eyes rested on Ellie, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed opposite. Her hair lightly framed her face, one hand resting on the pillow in front of her face. He had to smile.

He walked over to her and reached for the bedclothes, lifted them and tucked it around her, before he turned and made his way over to his chair, sitting down on it. Jack looked back over at her, but his mind drifted back in time, back to a memory of his mother.

~~Flashback~~       

He ran into the house, clutching the small box in his hand, 'Mam!' He hurried down the hall and into his mother's bedroom, 'Mam! It's from father!' He walked around the side of her bed and held the box out to her.

Katherine yawned, tiredly, as she took the box, 'Jack? What time is it?'

'Just past nine,' he replied, 'I was goin' t' school, but Theo gave it to me 'fore I got there.'

Katherine opened the box, not surprised that her husband had sent them their Christmas gifts two weeks late. She had barely had a letter from the past year; she was surprised the nine year old held no resentment towards his father. She smiled at her son as he impatiently awaited his gift. She frowned a little, as she pulled out a gold pocket watch from the box.

Jack eagerly grasped the gift from her and broke into a smile, opening it. He chuckled a little and showed it to his mother, 'Look, it's at the right time an' everythin'.'

Her mother just smiled back at him, 'Your grandfather gave that to your father when he was a boy.' Jack just smiled not looking up as he admired his new gift. He suddenly looked up.

'What he send ye?'

Katherine looked into the box and smiled, pulling out a small, gold anchor charm.

Jack smiled, 'How many ye got now?'

'Five.' She lifted up her left arm where the charm bracelet was and held the charm to it, her smile brightening more.

He grinned again and looked back down at his pocket watch, before he turned and made his way out the room.

~~End Of Flashback~~  

Jack stood from his chair and made his way over to his desk, pulling out one of the drawers. He stuffed his hand in and rummage about towards the back then closed his hand around a small pouch, pulling his arm back out. He tipped the pouch upside down and a charm bracelet fell into his other hand. He eyed it, eight charms were soldered to the gold bracelet, each of them having something to do with the sea…well, pirates. An anchor, a pistol, a chest…He could always remember the look on his mother's face when she received a new charm from his absent father.

After a few moments he dropped the charm back into the pouch, then mimicked the same action by dropping the pouch back into the drawer, pushing it to the far back. He could feel the gold pocket watch at the back, brush against his fingers, but he resisted the urge to bring it out. He pulled his arm back out the drawer then pushed it shut, making his way back over to the chair. He sat down on it and drummed his fingers on the arms, mumbling to himself.

Elizabeth's eyes flicked open at the sound of Jack's voice. She squinted a little, noticing him sitting not too far from her, his eyes resting on the floor. She frowned and raised up a little, 'Jack?'

Jack's eyes lifted to meet her look. He broke into a grin, 'Well, sleeping beauty awakens!'

She rolled her eyes and threw the covers off, sitting up, 'Jack…'

'Yes, luv?' he interrupted her, still grinning.

'This is serious,' she snapped, standing, 'Why did you bring me here?'

Jack frowned and stood from the chair, 'What?'

'You heard me, Jack,' she walked closer to him, 'Why? I'm not a pirate. I don't have an intimate relationship with you. I'm only a burden to you. Someone here to take up space. I have no place here, I'm of no use to…'    

'Hold up, there, darlin'!' Jack interrupted her sudden rant, surprised at her outburst, 'Where's all this comin' from? I thought ye were startin' t'like it 'ere?'

She lowered her eyes, then looked back at him, 'I just feel that…I'm not wanted here. Not by the crew…'

'What's she been sayin' t' ya?' he suddenly realised what would have brought this about. His question was only greeted with silence. 'Listen, Ellie. Me 'n' you we're…friends, y'know,' he felt slightly embarrassed saying it, 'I weren't ;bout to leave ya back in Port Royal, not when ye were in that state.'

'But still, I present a burden to you, do I not?' she looked up at him.

He rolled his eyes, 'Look, Elle. Ye got a place 'ere. I'm captain an' I'm a pirate, savvy? If I wanted ye t' go, I woulda said so by now,' he grinned, 'truth is, it's nice to see a pretty face everyday.'

She blushed a little, but he spoke again before she could speak, 'But, if you wanna go back, I'll have this ship on the way back to Port Royal soon as ye say the word,' he paused for a moment, not really sure if he was prepared for the answer to his next question, 'Ye wanna go back?'

Silence filled the room, as Elizabeth seemed to seriously ponder the idea of returning. He swallowed, nervously, wondering why he cared so much that she would even consider leaving the ship. He looked down, then back up again at her face. A small smile lit up her features, 'No.'

Jack grinned and chuckled, 'Knew ye were smitten with me all along. Can't leave me behind can ye?'

Elizabeth had to force a smile at this, as she thought back to the other perception she had enquired about. She took a deep, silent breath before speaking again, 'The crew believe we are…intimate with one another.'

Jack frowned, but couldn't hold it. A tiny smirk appeared on his face at her uncomfortable expression, 'Is that a problem, Miss Turner?'

Her expression slowly went into one of shock, 'You didn't tell them…'

'Nah, course not,' he waved off the notion, 'but what d'ya expect? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow,' he grinned.

His look didn't receive a smile in response, just one of anger, 'I do not appreciate being used to enhance your reputation, Jack,' she glared, 'In case you have forgotten, Will has been dead for barely three weeks…'

'Ellie, I haven't been sayin' nothin', don't worry,' he quickly spoke up, before she could give him another rant, 'Look, I know the crew been suspectin', but we know it aint true, so it don't matter, does it?'

He gave her a meaningful gaze. Her eyes flickered over his face and down to his lips, she couldn't help imagining them against hers. His hands touching her. Her eyes drifted over his facial features, trying to imagine what it would feel like to have his whiskers tickling her skin as he kissed her. Suddenly, she thought of Will. Even thinking such things about another man so soon after his death was an act of betrayal. Especially towards one of his dearest friends. But she couldn't help the way she felt in that moment. Her eyes met with Jack's once again, deep brown eyes lined with kohl. She could easily become lost in their depths. Suddenly, she realised he'd notice her gaze and was now staring back at her. 

She took a step back, and smiled at him, 'You're right. It doesn't matter.' He smiled at her, fondly. She could feel herself becoming lost in his eyes again. She drew in a deep breath and smiled affectionately at him. She reached over, taking his hand in hers and squeezed it lightly, 'You're a good man, Jack.'

Jack held her look for another moment, his hand remaining clasped in hers. He swallowed hard; longing for her suddenly soared through him. He pulled his hand free and took her face in his hands, pressing his lips to hers, slowly deepening the kiss.

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Dum-dum-dum. Spontaneous moment, couldn't help myself :-P Next one up soon, folks!