11. Notice Me

Jack and I have been at sea for a couple of days. We would be arriving to Tortuga in a day or so, given that the weather holds out. All seems to be going regularly aboard the Pearl. I am helping the crew in working the ship when another pirate has caught my attention.

"Excuse me there, lass. Could ye give me a hand over here with this?" He asks.

"Sure no problem." I reply cheerfully. I help him lift the heavy object and bring it below deck. Suddenly, as I put it down, he sneaks up behind me and holds a knife to my throat.

"I know ye 'ave the music aboard the ship, lass. Just tell me where it is and I won't kill ye."

"What music?" I ask, scared out of my mind.

"Ye know very well the music I speak of."

"No, I really don't."

"The whole reason why we're going to Tortuga is to find the words to it…and ye tell me ye don't know where it is? Are ye sayin' this entire trip is a waste?"

I don't know what to say. Obviously I have the music with me, and Jack and I both know very well that the words aren't in Tortuga. The only reason why Jack is taking me to Tortuga is to give me a taste of real pirate life.

"Well lass, are ye gonna tell me?!" He exclaims, putting the blade closer to my throat.

"No." I reply, a grin forming on my face as I reach beside me and grab a hold of a bottle of rum and smash it into the man's head. He releases me in pain, but grabs me once again and slices the knife across my stomach. I clutch your stomach in pain and scream at the top of my lungs.

"JACK! HELP ME!" The man runs at me with his knife, so I muster up all my remaining strength and haul myself into him, knocking him to the ground. We are both on the floor and I scramble away as the man struggles to get up. Unexpectedly, I see the man being dragged up the stairs and from the deck, I hear a scream from the man and the ma loud splash as someone falls overboard. I just sit there in the dark seclusion of the lower deck until I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. I see Jack and immediately a smile comes to my face.

"Jack!" I sigh in relief as I stand up and walk over to him and hug him.

"Are ye okay, pet?" He asks, suddenly feeling the blood trickling down my body, soaking my dress.

"I'm okay, Jack. I'll be fine…" I stop suddenly, wincing at the pain. I grab your stomach and fall to the ground. Jack drops to his knees and wraps me in his arms

"Luv, c'mere." I bury my face in his chest and shut my eyes tightly.

"Jack, he wanted the music…" I manage to say.

"He did? Well it doesn't matter now, pet. He's dead." He says, trying to soothe my pain. He rubs his hands up and down my arms trying to warm me up.

"Jack, how did you know something was wrong? How did you know it was me?"

"Well, it was pretty easy, luv. I saw some o' yer music strewn all over the place and I know ye'd never do that t' yer music."

"You notice that about me?"

"I notice a lotta things, luv." He grins. "However, I'd notice a lot more if ye got in the sack with me some time." He winks.

"Jack!" I sigh and decide not to care about his sexual comment.

"Seriously though, luv," Jack says, quickly fixing himself on the last comment. "I notice everything about ye. I'll be here for ye always…and that's a promise."

"Promise?"

"I promise, pet."

Later that night, I are in mine and Jack's cabin. Night has fallen so I decide to light some candles for light. I sit down painfully on the bed and touch my stomach. Just as I'm fully sitting down, the door opens and Jack is standing in the doorway holding a bottle of rum with a grin on his face.

"Good evenin' luv." He says charmingly as he shuts the door behind him.

"Rum, Jack?" I ask, not in the mood to drink. Suddenly, I see bandages in his other hand.

"Oh God. Jack, I'm fine! You don't need to clean my wounds!" I say, fearfully as he approaches.

"No no, luv! Ye need t' be taken care of…so here I am. Now come on…let me just…" He tries to grab me but I move away every time he tries to touch me . I jump up from the bed and laugh at this game.

"Okay, if you want to, you have you make me."

"As ye wish." He tackles me down onto the bed and sits on me so I can't move.

"Augh, Jack you weigh too much!" I giggle as he lifts up my shirt.

"I'm gonna ignore that comment, luv." He winks at me. "Thank God yer not wearing that huge dress with the corset, or this would be much more difficult, eh?" I laugh, then wince as he applies the alcohol to the wounds.

"OWWW JACK! I'M FINE! AAAIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"

You're in complete pain and you can't move, but then you feel better. You open your eyes as you feel Jack blowing on your stomach to dry the alcohol. You place your hands on his head and run your hands through his hair. The moment is perfect and you want to kiss him badly.

"It doesn't hurt so badly anymore, Jack." I whisper.

"I have the healin' touch." He whispers back with a wink.

He lifts his head and moves closer to me. I watch him watching my lips and I shut your eyes. I take a sharp breath in, not wanting to stop this moment. I feel Jack's lips finally pressing against mine. He deepens the kiss and I can hear music in my head; I hear the music surrounding both of us as he kisses me, making it the most passionate kiss I've ever felt. Jack stops kissing me for a moment and catches my eyes. In the candlelight, his eyes shine bright and dark, twinkling with utmost brilliance. He moves down and softly touches my stomach where the wounds are and then leans down and kisses my wounds. I smile at Jack's unknown tenderness and pull up close to me again. I press my lips to his and feel a smile forming from him. I pull away from him and hold my head close to his. No words are spoken, just complete understanding of our desires. I gaze into his eyes and nod my head in consent.

Jack and I lay in each other's arms, tangled in the bed sheets. I gaze at the ceiling and watch the light flicker with the candles. I sigh out loud and Jack kisses my cheek. I watch Jack out of the corner of my eye and observe him roll over into his side. I suddenly can't believe what we had just done. Tears begin to form in my eyes at my defeat against society…or did I defeat society? I just slept with Jack! Society definitely has beaten me…but I think more. No…I slept with Jack—it was my own free choice and my free will that led to this decision. I blink away the tears in case Jack rolls back over. I can't stop them though; they keep coming, flowing endlessly down my face. I don't want Jack to know I'm crying—for all he knows, I could be crying because he wasn't as good in bed as I had expected! I breathe out, unfortunately making enough noise to alert Jack. He turns abruptly around and I brush away the tears with haste.

"Pet, what's wrong? I thought ye had a good time!" Jack exclaims, worrying that he's no longer good in bed.

"Jack, it's not that." I cry, the tears flowing back again. "It was great." He snakes his arm around me and lets me cry into his shoulder.

"Then what is it, luv?" He whispers huskily.

"I just did exactly what society wanted me to do…I did what they believe me to be, Jack. What have I done?"

"You did what yer 'eart told ye to, luv. I know ye wouldn't have done it if ye truly didn't believe in yerself and ye 'eart." I soak up Jack's wise words of wisdom and I feel a smile begin to slide across my face.

"Please forgive me, Jack." I say as I kiss him.

"No need to forgive, pet. I understand yer feelings." I don't how to reply to that, all I can do is let the remainder of my tears coat my cheeks once more. Jack wipes my cheeks with his thumb and kisses my mouth.

"I've dreamt of this for so long, Jack and I know this is what I wanted—"

"Then don't think anything more of it."

"I can't Jack. It's not that easy for me." I sit up, comfortable with myself fully revealed in front of him.

"Why luv? What is it?" Jack too sits up.

"I…I don't know if you will…break my heart." I say between sobs.

"Pet! Everyone has had their hearts broken, but —"

"It's been broken so many times before and I don't know if I can take that again."

"Luv, I promise ye I won't break yer heart. I 'ave yet t' break a promise, pet. Trust me. 'ave I ever given ye a reason not to trust me?" I take his hand in mine and look at it, for the first time seeing every detail of extravagance carved into Jack's rough touch.

"Promise?" I ask, looking up at him, absorbed in his strong gaze.

"I promise ye, pet—yer different…yer not like all the other woman I've been with. There's somethin' 'ere in me when I'm with ye." I pause for a moment, taking in his words, realizing he has to be telling the truth. Why would he lie to me? I lean in and kiss him tenderly and he returns the kiss, making it passionate.

"You notice me like no other, Jack Sparrow." I sigh as I flop back down on the bed, my hair falling freely about me.