A/N: Thank you, Crystalyna Du Starrvan for always reading and reviewing - you are super-wonderful. Thanks also to everyone who is reading and favoriting, you're cool, too. :-)

Elizabeth shrugged Jack's arm off her shoulders. She knew he was only doing that to bother Will, and Elizabeth didn't think that was very fair. She took a step closer to Will and held her arms out at her side.

"If you have a better idea, tell us," she stated simply. "Otherwise, the best plan is for me to go ashore dressed like this. No one will know me."

Will stared into Elizabeth's eyes for a long minute, and she stared right back. For some reason this was important to Elizabeth. She needed to do this. She wanted to do something important that would help, rather than just following along all the time. And she wanted to prove to Will and anyone else who might doubt it that she was capable of taking care of herself.

"Fine," Will finally responded tightly. He looked upset, but he didn't say anything more about his feelings on the subject. "Someone will take you ashore." He lowered his voice and took a step closer to Elizabeth. "But if you aren't back within two hours, I am coming after you. Understand?"

Elizabeth nodded, holding in her laughter and keeping a totally straight face. She wouldn't hurt his feelings by laughing at him because he cared, but she couldn't help but think he was being way overprotective. After all, how long had it been since pirates had first shown up in their lives? And Elizabeth had hardly been out of pirate society since.

Elizabeth was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Will lowering his head until his lips met hers. She kissed back, but it was more out of habit than any real desire to kiss him. She finally understood with a jolt that she really didn't have the same kind of feelings for Will that she had.

I need to tell him, she thought when he pulled away. She looked up at him and whispered, "Will…"

Almost as though he knew what she were going to say, Will began talking loudly of the plan. Elizabeth was sure he had heard her, but he was pretending he hadn't. Elizabeth sighed and decided she would just have to talk to him later.

- - - - -

With a lot of grumbling, Elizabeth climbed out of the small boat and made her way up the beach toward the town. She was in a bad mood. Not only had she not had the chance to talk to Will, but neither he nor Jack had left her side the rest of the day. It had been completely impossible to get away from either of them.

What annoyed Elizabeth even more was that she knew they were both doing it on purpose. Will hadn't wanted to leave Elizabeth alone with Jack, showing even less trust for the pirate than usual. Elizabeth was sure Jack was just trying to annoy Will and maybe even prevent Elizabeth from talking to him. The result was a very grumpy Elizabeth who hadn't had a moment to herself all day, a grumpy Will who was tired of Jack's actions, and a cheerful Jack who couldn't seem to be swayed by anyone else's emotions.

Well, good for him, Elizabeth complained to herself. He's the cause of all this trouble and he's the only cheerful one. The least he could do is be as miserable as I am!

Elizabeth walked through the streets of Port Royal, keeping off the main streets and out of the more well-lit places. She was positive no one would recognize her even if there were more people out at night, but she also didn't want to take any chances. Better safe than sorry.

Some time later, Elizabeth reached Lord Beckett's mansion and stood in the brush beside it, trying to decide what was the best way to get in. There were no guards, which seemed strange to Elizabeth if Beckett were keeping anything valuable there – like the heart. She sneaked up to the back door and slowly turned the knob, testing it.

It was unlocked. Elizabeth silently opened the door. Of course it didn't squeak; Beckett would have it kept well-oiled. All the better for her! Elizabeth sneaked into the kitchen and then tried to decide where she should go. She turned down a hallway and then another, and eventually found herself in what appeared to be Beckett's office.

The house remained silent and still as Elizabeth walked over to the desk, preparing to search the drawers. Apparently everyone was asleep, which was fine with Elizabeth. It would be easier to hear if someone began to move around. Elizabeth reached out for one of the desk drawers, but just as she rested her hand on the handle, her eyes caught sight of a map laid on the top of the desk.

She paused to examine the map. Then her eyes widened. She stood motionless for a few moments, taking everything in, every detail. When Elizabeth was sure she would remember, she turned…

…and came face to face with a man standing in the doorway.

Elizabeth muffled a scream of fright, remembering just in time that she was supposed to be a man. All she could see was the man's outline, but he didn't move. She didn't speak a word, but stared at the man, waiting for him to do or say something.

"What are you doing?" he asked, sounding baffled and maybe stunned to find her there.

Elizabeth gasped. It was James Norrington. She debated internally for several moments, trying to decide whether to reveal herself to him or not. She couldn't decide if it would be in her best interest or if it would just get her into more trouble.

"I said, what are you doing?" he asked, this time speaking in a stern voice and even reaching for his sword. "I don't recognize you, so I can only assume you are here on some dishonest errand, probably thievery. " He drew his sword and stepped closer to Elizabeth.

In response, Elizabeth drew her own sword. She had grown quite skillful with a blade and was confident enough in her abilities, at least to defend herself. But she still said nothing, still debating.

And still James hesitated to take any action. "Do I know you?" he asked slowly.

Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder. There was a window, open onto a deck just behind her. She had a way of escape if necessary. She decided to answer. "Yes," she said quietly.

James' head jerked back slightly in shock. "Elizabeth Swann?" he asked.

"Where is it, James?"

"Where is what?" If Elizabeth had thought he were stunned before, he was even more so now.

"The heart. I know you took it. Where is it?" Elizabeth was speaking in a low voice, every muscle tensed to make her escape.

"Beckett has it."

Elizabeth nodded. Exactly what she had surmised from the map. She backed slowly toward the window. "Goodbye, James."

"Wait, don't leave…"

But Elizabeth was already gone, running back toward the beach and the boat that would take her to safety. Strange that she would think of a pirate ship as safe and what had once been her home as just the opposite.

She didn't stop or look behind her, but she felt as though James were still watching her all the way back to the beach.