Catiebug – Thanks for the review.
Q. Annes Lace – Spontaneous indeed. It wasn't until that very paragraph I decided to make it happen. :-D Thanks for the review.
Brittle – Indeed, it must be the hamster. :-P Hmm…I needed one of the pirates to make Elizabeth acknowledged the fact that the crew weren't pleased with having her on board the Pearl. Anamaria seemed like the best choice. Partly because she is a female pirate, completely against the culture Ellie was brought up in, and partly because, from the movie, I believe there has been history between her and Jack. Meaning, she would hold a slight bitterness towards anyone who may be after him, as they say. Hehe. On with the story!
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She felt his hands slowly loosen on her face; his fingers beginning to trail down her neck. Her hands rested on his upper arms. They continued down her shoulders, down over her breasts to her waist, where he began to slip his arms around her. It took a few moments for Elizabeth to register what was happening, and as if on impulse, her hands reached over to his chest and pushed herself away from him.
Her eyes were wide as she looked at him, only partly shocked at his advances. She took a step back from him, distancing herself from him, 'Jack…'
Jack held up a hand to quieten her, 'Nah…forget it, luv.' He'd surprised himself in that spontaneous moment. He gave her a small grin, a hint of regret in his features, 'Couldn't help myself.'
Ellie's expression remained serious. Only moments ago she had been wondering, even wishing, to feel the sensation of his lips against hers and when she'd been allowed that sensation she had pushed it away. However, she didn't regret the impulsive reaction. She knew had she let it continue, it would be a regret she would have to carry with her the rest of her life. She raised her eyes to Jack's, 'Please…leave.'
She saw a flash of hurt over his expression, which instantly diminished as he forced another smile. He just nodded and turned, making his way out the door. He paused, his hand on the handle, and she suspected her was going to say something. If he was, he must've thought against it, because after a few seconds he opened the door and departed.
Elizabeth watched after him, her stomach tightening. She swallowed hard and made her way over to the chair Jack had occupied earlier that morning. She felt sickened at their previous encounter. Not because of the encounter, itself, but because she couldn't help the feeling that she had given him an indication that she wanted him to do that. Perhaps she had been making him feel like she was, indeed, taken by him. And if she had, she had now succeeded in humiliating him, as he would have been acting on the messages she had been giving out.
Guilt overwhelmed her. She lowered her eyes to the wedding band on her finger and bit her lip. She slowly pulled it off and look at it. She wasn't much of the mourning widow she should have been at this time. Already she had kissed another man, a man she had no real romantic feelings for. Merely a lust that she had wanted to satisfy. It was extremely indecent for a woman to allow a man to touch her that way, even if they had been together romantically. Not that she had a strong belief, of course. She had been increasingly frustrated during her and Will's engagement due to the fact he had not made any advances towards any intimacy between the two of them, other than the few light kisses.
That was one of the things that excited her about Jack, though she wouldn't admit it to anyone else. She knew he wouldn't hesitate to initiate, even pressure, intimacy with her should they ever become lovers. But just the concept of the two of them being together was doubtful. There were too many reasons they shouldn't be together; the odds were too strongly against a relationship. He was a pirate. She was a child in his eyes. Or at least she had thought, until earlier. She was shocked at herself for even pondering a relationship with Jack Sparrow. She ran her thumb over the wedding ring, which was held between two fingers. After a few moments she slipped it back onto her finger, then stood, beginning to get ready to go out onto the deck, though dreading facing Jack again.
~~~~~~~
Jack stepped onto the deck, as he pulled the door shut behind him, silently
cursing himself for his irrational act. He didn't even understand
why he'd done it. It was…impulse? Lust? He wasn't sure what it was that had
inspired him to do it, all he knew was that he wished he hadn't. It was one of
the very rare times he'd been rejected, but at the same time one he was most
relieved about. His feelings for her were perplexing, daunting. He couldn't
decide what they were. He was sure it wasn't love. It couldn't be. It felt
different from before. Too different to be love.
He made his way over to front mast of the ship and grasped hold of the rope the hung from it. He tugged on it, making sure it was safe, before he began to pull himself towards the top. It was his safest place to be. No one would bother him while he was up there, no one could. He'd discovered this as a boy, when he'd first climbed the mast of Captain Young's ship. He finally reached the top and stood, clutching onto the top of the ship's mast.
Elizabeth was so different from any of the other women he'd gone for. Well, not gone for…been with. He'd only ever gone for one other girl; their traits were only slightly similar. Megan was only a girl of nineteen when he'd left her. Now that was love.
~~Flashback~~
Megan sat on the docks, staring out at the furthest ship from her. The Black Pearl. That's what Jack had told her she was called. That ship would be the one that took him from her. She felt Jack sit down beside her. She swallowed hard, not really sure if she wanted to ask, 'When are ye leavin'?'
There was a silence for a moment, before he finally replied, 'T'night. After sun sets'
Her eyes drifted to the horizon, where the sun was already setting. She bit her lip, a tear slipping down her cheek. She lowered her eyes to her hands, which were tightly clasped in her lap. A few seconds later, Jack's hand covered one of hers, grasping it tightly in his.
'Come with me.' His voice was quiet, a murmur. Her face turned to his face for the first time. Her eyes were red with the tears that she had forbidden to fall. A small smile appeared on his face as he pressed his forehead to hers, 'I'll show ya the world,' he whispered.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She couldn't deny that she was tempted to go with him. But her place was here. Her home was here. Another tear slipped down her cheek and she shook her head, her voice as quiet as him, 'I can't Jack…I'm not like you.' She lowered her eyes, 'I have a home here. My family. Everything.'
Jack bit back tears, as the reality came to him that he would really be leaving her here, 'I can stay…'
'No…' she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder, 'We've just…grown up. We've gotta accept that this is over,' a tear slipped down her cheek as her voice choked, 'So lets…not make promises we can't keep.'
He slowly leaned back and turned fully to look at her. He reached up and caressed her face, 'I wanna marry you.'
She smiled through her tears and shook her head. She leaned closer to him and pressed her lips to his, kissing him leisurely. A few moments later she pulled back from him, holding his glance for a few seconds before she lowered her eyes, and turned, nodding towards the ship. She looked back at him and grinned, tears still in her eyes, 'Captain Sparrow…your ship awaits.'
Jack looked at her, tears in his eyes. He looked back at her ship, then at Megan. He smiled at her and reached up, caressing her cheek, murmuring, 'I love you.'
Megan's eyes flickered over his face, 'I love you, too,' she whispered.
'Jack,' a voice suddenly spoke behind them. Jack's head flipped around, his eyes meeting with those of William Turner. 'Gotta get movin', Captain.'
Jack looked back at Megan and gave her a last smile, before swiping at his tears, hoping Bill hadn't seen them. He stood from the deck and wiped his palms on his shirt and made his way over to his friend. He grinned at Bill, 'Lets go get that horizon.' Bill grinned and walked off ahead of him. After a few steps, Jack risked another look back at Megan, who was sitting with her back to him. He bit his lip, then turned, following the footsteps Bill had taken.
~End Of Flashback~~
Jack looked behind him at his quarters. The way he felt about Elizabeth was different from Meg. Everything was simple with Meg after they began courting. But with Ellie it's different. Complicated. Overwhelming. With Ellie, all he wanted to do was protect her. He didn't want to see her hurt. Broken; the way he'd found her after Will's death. Wasn't that the feelings a friend would have? Compassion? It was only natural that he should hold some physical attraction towards her. She was, undoubtedly, gorgeous. And he wasn't blind. He could easily fall for her, should he let himself.
He grunted. It didn't matter how he felt about her. She was
Will's. She was devoted to him even after his death. She had made that clear
only a short while ago. And he wasn't about to let himself fall for a woman who
belonged to his friend. A woman who he would never have a chance with…
~~~~~~~~
Ah, isn't Jack lovely? Kiss me anyday. hehe. I hope the flashback wasn't too slushy. I needed to make it touching…but not corny. Hope I succeeded! Next chapter will be up soon, folks!