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Chapter Eleven: Rumrunners Island

Jack dragged Ella up onto the beach, and lay her down on the warm sand. He checked to see if she was breathing, she was. Satisfied that she would be fine he flopped down next to her and closed his eyes. Elizabeth ran over and knelt beside her. She moved some wet hair from Ella's face and watched to see if she was okay.

"What happened?" she said holding Ella's face.

"What do you think happened?" Jack asked sarcastically, his eyes closed. Ella moaned and slowly opened her eyes. At the sound Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief and Jack looked over at her, not bothering to get up.

"Ow," she said rubbing her head.

"Oh, thank god you're alright," Elizabeth breathed hugging her close.

"That's the second time I've had to watch that man sail away on my ship," Jack said with a frown. He was sitting up and staring at the Black Pearl as it sailed away.

"Jack!" Elizabeth yelled angry at his inconsideration. Ella let out a laugh and looked over to him, squinting to block out the sun as best she could.

"Sorry, Jack," she said as she sat up and Elizabeth moved to let her. He sighed and looked out to sea. Ella shuffled closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. Jack glanced at her and looked back to the sea, ignoring the look Elizabeth gave him before she stormed off.

"Thank you for saving me," Ella mumbled as she kept her gaze on the sparkling water. "Again."

"We should really teach you how to swim," he mused.

She gave a light laugh as Jack smiled down at her. She didn't see it, but she could feel it. They stayed like that for ten or fifteen minutes, sitting on the warm sand, her head on his shoulder. Jack shifted slightly to have her move closer, which she did. He smiled to himself, liking that she did it without protest- or slapping him. He felt her bandage that he'd wrapped the slice on her arm with touch his arm and he remembered how she'd looked fighting. In control, graceful and deadly. He'd been impressed.

"I've been meaning to ask you something," he almost whispered.

"Hmm," she said in place of asking what it was.

"Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"Well, I taught myself."

"But, where? You said you lived in an orphanage. Last time I checked they didn't have swords to practice with," he said confused.

"I never said that. I said my parents died. I lived with my uncle in London," she explained. Now she'd have to tell him. He was bound to ask about him and there was no point in lying.

"So your uncle taught you?"

"Ha, no," she laughed. "My uncle has no idea I can fight."

Jack stayed quiet waiting for her to go on. She sighed and reluctantly did so.

"My mother died when I was a baby. She was very ill after I was born, I was only several months when she passed. My father raised me as best he could. He had a decent job and wage, so we were fine," she took in a shaky breath and felt Jack's arms tighten around her. "One day, when I was ten, my father was sent to meet a man who the company had ordered a shipment of parts from. They were to meet in another city and load the shipment onto the boat my father was on. The ship he waited for was very late, it turned out they had wrecked and never made it. My father got back onto the ship and while they sailed back they came under attack. Pirates. The crew were killed or taken and the captain and my father hid. They were found eventually and they were both killed," she said as tears began to blur her vision.

"I was notified and taken to an orphanage until they could figure out what to do with me. I had no other family except my uncle. My father had never mentioned him, but because he was indeed my only relative, I was sent to live with him. He didn't want me. In fact, he hated my parents and me. He thought his brother could have been rich and powerful. That my mother had ruined his life for "tricking" him into thinking all he needed was love and family. He saw me as a reminder of that, almost as if I was a product of his brother's downfall. He hated me. And made sure I knew it," her words got more hurt and angry as she went on describing her uncle.

"He kept me locked in my room and wouldn't let me go out. I was homeschooled so I wouldn't have to leave the house. That, of course, meant I didn't get to meet anyone. I had no friends, no contacts with anyone other than the maids and butlers. His house was quiet large, as he has a very high job for the king. He would hold large, fancy balls for all his Nobel "friends", which of course I could never go to," she was now sitting upright drawing patterns with her finger in the sand, Jack watched as she spoke.

"One time, my uncle was out on a business trip for a few days, and I was bored. The lock on my door was open because the maids and butlers had agreed amongst themselves that when my uncle was on business trips, they'd let me out. And just lock me back in before he came back. I was so grateful to them. I would explore the house on those occasions. There were many rooms and wings I had never been in, so I would sneak in to see them. Most of them were quiet boring. Empty or only a few pieces of covered furniture. Then, one day I went into a wing I had never been in, on the top floor. There was only one room. I was about twelve, so I'd gotten used to living there, and I wasn't as nervous as I was when I was younger and explored. The feeling was replaced with excitement, and when I found that room I just knew it hid something. The door was locked though, so I had to use a master key I had stolen from my uncle's desk. Inside the room was a fully equipped fighting center. There were hundreds of swords, and dummies to practice on. There were even a few guns and bows. I decided to learn. It didn't seem if anyone had used the room in years, so I thought he'd never notice. Which he didn't. I practiced every chance I got," she said excited as she remembered the fun she would have.

"As I got older, I started to change, naturally. Suddenly I wasn't this little annoying girl. I was a 'beautiful' young lady that he could show off. I gave up fighting him and just did what he said. My uncle took it like he finally got threw to me. He finally broke me. He started making me have etiquette lessons and piano after that. So he could have me dressed up at his parties and I'd look and act perfect while I played for his guests," she said. "He took pride in my transformation. I was his shiny prize that did exactly what he said when he said it."

Jack looked at her sadly, but she didn't look up. She hadn't told anyone this, and it felt good to tell someone. He let her continue.

"He didn't know that with the new freedom I earned, I got bolder and bolder in exploring that house. I still couldn't go outside though. I had to sneak out disguised," she said laughing at the memory of the first time she'd done so.

"He's on a business trip now. Three years long. I don't know where, but I don't really care. Governor Swann was kind enough to take me in while he traveled. My uncle was nicer to me before I left, I'm not sure if it's because he wanted me not to embarrass him, or that he actually might miss me deep down inside. Probably the former," she sighed as she looked up at Jack.

Jack looked back and said nothing. Before she could say anything else Elizabeth came storming up to them.

"It's not very big, is it?" he said as Elizabeth huffed.

"If you're going to shoot me, please do so without delay," she said standing ready, as if she expected him to whip his pistol out and do it. Ella couldn't help but laugh.

He smiled at her and got up. "Is there a problem between us, Miss Swann?"

"You were going to tell Barbossa about Will in exchange for a ship," Elizabeth accused.

"We could use a ship," Ella pointed out, only to receive a glare from Elizabeth and a smirk from Jack.

"The fact is, I was not going to tell Barbossa about bloody Will in exchange for a ship. Because as long as he didn't know about bloody Will, I had something to bargain with. Which now, no one has, thanks to bloody stupid Will!" Jack yelled as Elizabeth realized he was right.

"Oh," she said sheepishly.

"Oh," Jack mocked.

"He still risked his life to save ourse," she reminded him. Jack rolled his eyes and walking past her.

"Hah," he laughed.

"We have to do something to rescue him."

"Off you go then!" he shooed. "Let me know how that turns out."

"But you were marooned on this island before, so we can escape the same way you did last time!"

"To what point and purpose Missy? The Black Pearl is gone, and unless you have a rudder and a lot of sails hidden in that bodice..." he glanced down. "Unlikely. Young Mr. Turner will be dead before you can reach him." He knocked on a tree and changed direction slightly.

"But your Captain Jack Sparrow! You vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Company. You sacked Nassau Port without firing a single shot. Are you the pirate I've read about or not?"

"I think you have a fan," Ella smirked. He ignored them both as he jumped up and down on the sand. "How did you escape the last time?" she asked curiously.

Jack sighed and looked at her. Of all the people who had to ask, and who could actually get the truth from him, it had to be her. He didn't want to disappoint her, but the curious look on her face forced the honest answer out. He looked at Elizabeth and huffed angrily that she had brought it up.

"Last time? I was here a grand total of three days, all right? Last time, Rumrunners used this island as a cache. Came by and I was able to barter a passage off," he told them, avoiding Ella's eyes. He opened a secret door and descended down into the darkness. "From the looks of things, they've been long out of business. Probably have your bloody friend Norrington to thank for that," Jack yelled up as he grabbed some bottles. He climbed back up, bottles in hand. He smiled at Ella, but it soon dropped when he saw the disappointment in her eyes. He cursed Elizabeth for forcing him to cause it.

"So that's it then? That's the secret grand adventure of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow? You spend three days, laying on the beach, drinking rum?" Elizabeth said upset.

"Welcome to the Caribbean, love," he said sarcastically as he tossed her a bottle. He walked over to Ella and handed her a bottle. She took it wearily and watched as he took a swig of his. She never did get to try any rum on the ship over.

"So, is there any truth to the other stories?" Elizabeth asked. He turned and glared at her before dropping the other bottles on the sand.

"Truth?" he asked in the same sarcastic tone. He rolled his sleeves up revealing the "P" brand, tattoo, and large scar. He rolled up his other sleeves to show a criss-cross scar taking up his entire forearm. They looked painful. He pulled his shirt to the side and revealed two bullet wounds. Both were so close to his heart, too close. Ella looked away quickly, not wanting to think of the pain he must have been in. "No truth at all."

He looked at Ella and saw the pained expression in her eyes. He reached out and pulled her down with him as he sat. She scooted closer to him and looked up.

"We still have a month, maybe more. Keep a weather eye out for passing ships and our chances will..." he trailed off and took a drink of his rum. Ella looked at hers and back at Jack. His eyes were on the sea but she could tell his mind was far away.

"What about Will? We have to do something," Elizabeth persisted. She chose to ignore that Ella had rested her head on Jack's shoulder.

Jack held up a finger and nodded. "You're absolutely right," he said as he rolled the bottle he was drinking to her feet. Elizabeth looked down at it while Jack grabbed another bottle beside him. "Here's luck to you William Turner." He took another swig of rum.

Ella raised her bottle and took gulp of it like she had seen Jack do so many times. She coughed and sputtered, causing Jack to chuckle at her in amusement. Okay, so it's a bit strong. She put the bottle down and stared at the sand to hide the pink on her cheeks. Elizabeth gave up and sat down beside Ella.

"Drink up me hearties, yo ho!" she mumbled to herself before taking a drink. She didn't even cough. Ella eyed her bottle, wondering if she should try again.

"What was that, Elizabeth?" Jack asked turning towards her. While he waited for her to explain, Ella took another sip of her rum, managing this time to only cough slightly. She grinned up at Jack, who gave her a congratulatory smile in response.

"It's miss Swann," Elizabeth corrected him. Ella rolled her eyes at her and played with her rum, swirling it around. Jack faced the water again with a dramatic excuse-me gesture with his hands. Ella smirked at him.

"Nothing, just a song I learned as a child," she told him. "When I actually though it would be exciting to meet a pirate."

"Let's hear it," Jack said. Ella lifted her head to nod in encouragement. Elizabeth glared at her with a look that said don't encourage him.

"No."

"Come on, we've got the time," Ella said with a mischievous smile.

"Let's have it," Jack agreed. The two of them looked expectantly at her.

"No," Elizabeth said stubbornly.

"Please," Ella whined, pouting. Jack smiled at her and waited for Elizabeth, who sighed in return.

"I'd have to have a lot more to drink," she told them. Ella offered her rum, Elizabeth didn't take it. Jack almost did.

"How much more," he asked, his bottle going to his lips. Ella saw the consideration in Elizabeth's eyes and smiled.

Before long they were dancing around a fire Jack had built, and all drunk or close to it.

"We're devils and black sheep and really bad eggs. Drink up me hearties, yo ho," Elizabeth and Jack sang.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!" Elizabeth yelled as she swung Ella around in her arms.

"Yo ho, yo ho, it's a pirate's life for me!" Ella sang back as she was transferred to Jack's arms.

"I LOVE this song!" Jack proclaimed as he caught a slightly tipsy Ella. He was obviously more than tipsy because the moment after he caught her they both fell backwards onto the sand. "Really bad eggs!" he yelled out as they hit the sand. He sat up and took another gulp of rum as Ella crawled closer and leaned into him, his arms wrapping around her automatically.

"When I get the Black Pearl back, I'm going to teach it to the whole crew, and we'll sing it all the time!" he decided as he looked to Ella who gave him a nod in agreement at his grand idea. She took a swig of her bottle and it went down easily, warming her throat. Why didn't I drink before?

"You'll be positively the most fearsome pirates to sail the Spanish Main," Elizabeth shouted as she walked over to them.

"Not just the Spanish Main. The whole ocean," Ella slurred with a giggle.

"The whole world," he corrected as he placed a hand on Ella's thigh. "Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. Not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails. That's what a ship needs. But what a ship is, what the Black Pearl really, is...is freedom," he said drunkenly with a longing look in his eyes.

Elizabeth looked over and noticed where Jack's hand was, and realized the position the two were in. She thought quickly. The last thing she was going to do was let poor Ella fall under his charm.

"Jack, it must be really terrible for you to be trapped on this island," she said as she rested her head on his other shoulder.

He raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat. "Oh, yes... but the company is infinitely than last time," he said to Elizabeth. Just them Ella shifted sleepily in his arms, not paying attention to the conversation. He looked down at her as she glanced up at him sleepily through thick lashes. He smiled at her and moved his hand up and down on her thigh, causing her to close her eyes and relax into his touch. "And the scenery has definitely improved."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him and decided to try a distraction.

"Mr. Sparrow! I'm not sure I've had enough rum to allow that kind of talk."

Jack looked at her confused, until she handed him another bottle and took a drink of her own. He took it, happily ignoring the little alarm going off in the back of his mind.

"I propose a toast!" Elizabeth yelled before the bottle touched his lip. Her obnoxiously loud announcement caused the sleeping Ella in Jack's arms to stir before cuddling closer into Jack. "To freedom," Elizabeth said quickly to keep Jack's concentration on her, and not Ella.

"To the Black Pearl," Jack smiled before he gulped down the rest if his rum and passed out, Ella going with him as his back hit the sand.