Rachel couldn't believe her eyes. Jack was here! In Tortuga, in the first tavern she happened to wander into. And he was about to bed two prostitutes. She felt like she had been punched in the gut. The room suddenly blurred... from tears? She turned her back on Jack and shoved angrily through the crowd and out the door, sharply inhaling the salty night air. She had never expected to see Jack again yet here he was. Why was he here? Her breath caught in her throat and she heaved a ragged sigh. How quickly he had forgotten about her...

"Rachel?" he slurred slightly, suddenly afraid that she hadn't been real. He pushed himself away from Giselle and Scarlett and staggered through the crowd.

She didn't know what to do. Should she confront him? Or run away and forget him forever. Where was she going to go? Her thoughts careening, she closed her eyes against the threat of tears. "Rachel," he said softly, right in front of her. Her eyes flew open in shock. He half leaned against the wall of the tavern, one hand outstretched toward her but hesitating to touch her. "Are you really here?" he breathed.

She slapped him as hard as she could across his face. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He winced at her icy tone but couldn't fight the smile slowly creeping onto his face. "Such language is not befitting a lady," he suddenly laughed. The fresh air and stinging slap had sobered him up. "I hoped you would return to Tortuga but when you hadn't, I fancied you decided to marry Cutler Beckett—" he spat the name—"after all."

"Why on earth would I do that?" she asked incredulously. The truth of his words sank in and she gasped. "You were waiting for me?" She recalled the scene in the tavern and her anger returned. "Of course you weren't," she suddenly felt very foolish, "or you wouldn't have been about to... to go upstairs with those whores." She turned away from him but it was impossible to disguise the pain in her voice.

"I was trying to forget you!" he lamented, reaching for her. She tried to jerk away from him but he held her fast, gripping her shoulders. "I knew why you had returned to Port Royal, the rumors didn't escape my notice, but all I could think about was you with him. It haunted me."

Rachel could hardly believe what she was hearing. Jack felt it too. They had been unable to forget each other. "I never imagined that you would be here in Tortuga. I just knew that I couldn't remain in Port Royal with Cutler Beckett."

His still held her by the shoulders, resisting the urge to take her in his arms. "And what do you intend to do now?"

She shrugged helplessly and he dropped his hold. "I don't know. I didn't really have a plan and now you're here..." she was afraid to meet his gaze. If he had been trying so hard to forget her would he want her back in his life? She would not unfairly place that burden on him again. She imagined returning to the life they had briefly shared together and blushed at the memory of their unfulfilled bargain. Was that what she wanted? She felt the intensity of his gaze and dared to meet his eyes. Yes, she realized, she wanted to return to piracy... to Jack, no matter the consequences.

"The Wench sails at dawn. Come with me." He was surprised at the words as soon as he said them. After her absence had tormented him so, why was he so eager to welcome her back into his life again? She brought out feelings in him he didn't know he had, but he also knew that what he really wanted was for her to return to a life of piracy at his side.

She stared at him, unable to find her voice. Rachel was torn. She wanted more than anything to run away with him but she knew Cutler would search for her. She couldn't endanger Jack again. "Cutler has noticed my absence by now and will be searching for me. No doubt he'll still want to find you but with him looking for me you should be able to escape to Shipwreck Cove. I can't put you at risk anymore, Jack..."

"Let him come after me," he growled. "Sail away with me, love. Besides we have a matter of unfinished business to discuss." He tried to kiss her but she recoiled at his words.

"Matter of business?" The words reminded her of the marriage that was being forced upon her. "Is that why you couldn't forget me?" she accused.

"Easy now, love. 'Twas you who struck the accord," Jack pointed out, surprised at her reaction.

Rachel blushed, knowing he was right. If that was all he wanted he wouldn't have suggested she sail away with him. She could fulfill her end of the bargain in this very tavern. "I'll come with you, Jack. Take me to the Wench."

"Aye!" he pulled her to his side. "What say we get a drink first?"

...

Mr. Mercer watched the exchange from the shadows of the building across the street. The night was buzzing with activity, as it always was in the proliferous Tortuga, and he blended seamlessly into the masses. Rachel had no idea that she had been followed. And what a wealth of information he had to report to Beckett and the Admiral! Lord Beckett's strumpet had indeed run off with the pirate and she had led them directly to Sparrow.

...

The Wench set sail at sunrise. Rachel stood at the ship's rail, taking in the cobalt blue expanse of ocean. Tortuga was a mere pinpoint on the horizon and they were venturing into the more frequented shipping channels. Alone now with her thoughts, Rachel recalled the events of the previous night. Against the odds she and Jack had been reunited and this time he had wanted her to run away with him. It was a romantic notion, forsaking the blue-blood fiancé for the dangerous pirate. Though Cutler could have provided her a fine life she had trusted her heart to Jack. And though he hadn't confessed it, nor her to him, she thought that he felt the same way. She had allowed him to buy her that drink, in fact quite a few, and she would have allowed so much more...

It was nearing dawn and Jack knew they needed to return to the Wench. He had convinced Rachel to return with him to the Faithful Bride for a drink. He grinned with satisfaction as he remembered the looks on Giselle and Scarlett's faces. To think if Rachel had shown up moments later that he could have missed her completely... fate had a funny way of revealing herself. A drink turned into a round and Rachel was definitely verging on complete drunkeness. He had reached that point long ago.

"And I guess it's only fair that I make good on my end of the bargain now..." she was saying. She had been talking for a few minutes but that was the only thing Jack heard and his pulse quickened.

"Let's get you back to the Wench then, 'eh?" he helped her to her feet and she leaned against him, stumbling a bit from the rum. In truth it was a matter of minutes but it seemed like hours to Jack before he escorted her into his cabin, his head swimming with the unfinished memories they had already made there. As soon has he shut the door to the cabin and locked it, he didn't want any interruptions this time, he pressed her against it. His lips on hers, moving to her neck... she moaned and his heart thudded at the sound.

"Jack!" she gasped and he pulled away to look at her, his eyes smoldering. "Oh Jack, be gentle with me..."

Though Jack was no novice to this he knew Rachel certainly was and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. The vulnerability in her voice struck a nerve. What was this woman doing to him? She was intoxicatingor he was intoxicatedwhatever it was his thoughts were on a whole new plane. He nodded once and led her to the bed. "We don't have do to anything you don't want to, love."

"But I do want to. It's just that... well, I'm..." she trailed off. Did this truly mean more to him than a conquest? The alcohol clouded her judgment and she lost herself in those smoldering eyes again. This time she leaned in to kiss him. Gently she pressed her lips to his and he allowed her to take the lead. The feel of his soft mouth on hers, tasting of rum, excited her and she intensified the kiss, running her tongue along his lips. Her hands fumbled with his coat, which he removed, then his hat, and finally she somehow got his vest and shirt off too. She ran her hands along his chest and this time he moaned. He swiftly removed his boots and his belt and was now only wearing his pants and Rachel was still fully clothed. He reached for her and she pulled away. "Not yet." She shook her head and slowly removed her hat and boots while he watched impatiently.

He reached for her again and pushed her down onto the bed, his rough hands reaching under her shirt, exploring those places on her body that only he had touched before. She sighed and that was all the encouragement he needed before completely removing her shirt. He inhaled sharply at the sight of her naked torso and knew that it would test all his willpower to be gentle with her. He wanted to take her so badly he could hardly stand it.

"Jack?" Rachel could sense the battle raging within him.

He pulled her to him, feeling her bare skin on his and whispered hoarsely, "No treasure can compare to your beauty, love." Rachel was taken aback at this revelation and said nothing as he held her against him. But after a few moments of silence she realized his breathing had slowed. She couldn't believe it. He had fallen asleep! She felt both misery and relief but suddenly realized that there was no rush. She thought she had been ready but they were drunk. This was not how she wanted to give herself to him. It was no longer about fulfilling an agreement. In her inebriated haze she had a moment of clarityshe was in love with Jack Sparrow.