A/N: Gasp! Remember me? lol. I want to offer my sincerest apologies to my loyal readers for taking so long. I have a better explanation on my profile page (i think that's what it's called?) but it basically boils down to writer's block. I want to thank all of you for reading my story so far and I am officially back in the writing world, I just don't know how fast I'm going to get these chapters up so bear with me. I also want to apologize for the small bits of foul language and sexual references. You will find no AWE spoilers in this story. It is most definitely AU. PLEASE REVIEW!

Disclaimer: If I owned Captain Sparrow, I would not be sitting at my computer right now. Definitely not.

Chapter 25- Thrice

I felt fresh tears building up in my eyes as I faced him, which just added fuel to my anger. I hate crying in front of him…it makes me feel so damned vulnerable. "How could you, Jack? After all we've been through together?"

"Lizzie…" He murmured, pulling me into his arms at the sight of my tears.

I shoved him away violently. "No! Don't touch me!" I spat, moving away from him and feeling mildly satisfied at the hurt look I got in return. Wiping my eyes with my sleeve, I got one of his shirts and put it on, rather annoyed that my own shirt was ripped by that filth of a man that apprehended me.

He sighed. "Lizzie…don't do this…I'm sorry…truly I am…"

"I can agree with that one, Captain Sparrow. You are sorry." I spat, emphasizing his name and watching him cringe as he watched me tighten and tie his shirt with mild interest. "After all, I'm not the one running off to a whore."

"Wait a minute…ye were the one that started this whole blasted mess if I'm not mistaken. One moment ye were in me arms practically begging me to take ye and then the next thing I know, ye go and get me all aroused and then tell me ye don't want me anymore. Then, when I get angry about it you tell me to go find a whore and that ye don't need me, like I'm the villain and I may be a pirate, but ye know more than anyone that I love you!" He practically yelled, angry with me.

"I know! Jack, I was coming to apologize in the tavern! To tell you that I do need you! But NOOOO ye have to go and actually get a sodding whore! All ye had to do was give me more time. I want to trust you, Jack, but you're making it bloody hard to do so."

He stared at me, breathing hard for a few moments. "I'm making it hard for ye? I wasn't the one that condemned anyone to death, love." He spat bluntly.

I winced. "That has nothing to do with this."

His jaw tightened. "It has everything to do with this and ye know it! We wouldn't be in this mess, if ye hadn't done such a thing."

"If I didn't do that, we'd be dead, or worse, I'd be with Will and then I'd be the one chained down or is that what you want? Do you regret loving me, Jack? Is that it?" I questioned, on the verge of more tears.

His anger dissipated at once, hearing my bitter words. "That's not what I meant! Never could I regret that! Maybe it's you, who regrets loving me? Maybe ye don't even love me? Maybe we shouldn't be together." He said bitterly, looking hurt, but from which part, I couldn't decipher.

"Don't say such things!" I gasped. "Dear God…has it really come to this? Jack, I love you, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm just immensely angry with you for being with that… that… Blasted floozy."

He stared blankly at me for a few minutes and then chuckled lightly. "Her name's Jasmine."

"I don't give a flying fuck if she's the new Queen of England! You had no right to have her in your damned lap, Captain Sparrow, especially when you knew I'd be furious with you!"

"Language, Elizabeth!" He gasped sarcastically, his amusement apparent and anger forgotten.

I was seething. "Don't patronize me! You're the one at fault here, need I remind you that I just dragged a whore off of your lap?"

"Yes, well…that whore would have been you, if ye would have slept with me, darling."

"No, if you hadn't gotten angry at me for wanting to wait for the opportune moment, it would have been me."

"If ye hadn't gotten angry for me getting angry at ye for wanting to wait, I might have forgiven ye." He replied.

"If you would have just bedded me when I was begging you to and not losing my nerve, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"If I had bedded ye then, ye would have had regrets."

"How do you know?"

"Ye were too eager and still recovering from Will."

"Bullshit."

"We've stopped yelling." He mused.

I let out an exasperated scream, making him grin.

Then, he turned serious. "I am sorry darling. I wasn't thinking properly. Due to the circumstances, I was thinking ye didn't care enough to be with me."

"No. You weren't thinking at all. You know you're all I think about." I reprimanded.

"Aye, and I hurt both of us in the process." He said in a soft voice, looking at his feet.

Thinking about how I had just felt before having this argument, I began to cry for the third time, or was it fourth? Letting out a loud sob and to Jack's surprise, I flung myself in his arms. "I can't take it anymore! I forgive you! I'm tired of crying! I love you! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I just kept repeating it as Jack wrapped his arms around me.

"Shh…it's all right dearest there's nothing for ye to be sorry for, that's my job…I'm here and I'm sorry for hurting ye…" He murmured.

I just cried all of it out into his chest until I couldn't cry anymore. Then, we just stood there, clinging to one another for dear life. I looked up at him and realized there were tears on his face as well. Not nearly as abundant as mine, but there all the same. The legendary Captain Sparrow is crying over little ol' me? I reached up and wiped them from his face. "Bloody hell, I've missed you." I murmured deciding that it would be better not to mention the tears for fear of another argument.

He smiled slightly. "I've missed you as well, love." He murmured, leaning down to capture my lips in a rough kiss. "Now…what say ye to going back to that tavern for some much needed rum and friends?"

"Sounds like a splendid idea." I replied, entwining my fingers with his as he led us out the door.

☼☼☼☼

As we walked in, everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at us. Jack glared at them. "What are ye lookin' at?" He spat, mildly annoyed. I chuckled and he relaxed, but when I moved to sit in the seat next to him, to the surprise of our friends, he pulled me into his lap. I glanced at him questioningly and he nuzzled my neck. "We don't want to have a repeat of earlier." I smirked and nodded. They all gaped as I rested my head against his shoulder and sighed contentedly. He wrapped his arms around me tightly.

I glanced at the people at our table with a grin and then looked up at Jack. "I don't think I blame those tavern wenches for wanting to be in your lap, Jack. It's quite nice."

He chuckled and kissed me lightly on the lips.

"What are ye looking at? Go get us some rum, Gibbs!" Jack replied when he pulled away and noticed everyone gaping at us.

Barbossa chuckled. "I'm guessing ye made up." He said after Gibbs had brought the drinks.

"That's very observant of ye, mate."

"Jack!" I reprimanded his rudeness and slapped his arm mildly. He stroked my stomach lazily with his thumb and grinned at me. However, I was glad he hadn't mentioned the almost rape. It made me look vulnerable.

Barbossa rolled his eyes and turned back to the previous conversation along with everyone else.

"Lizzie?" Jack murmured against my ear.

"Mmm?"

"Ye look absolutely stunning in me shirt, darling." He replied.

I smirked. "Is that so?"

"Aye."

I looked up at him. "I think I may raid your trunk more often." I said, tugging on his beard suggestively.

He grinned and stroked dangerously close to the waistline of my breeches, making me sigh and shut my eyes. "Something wrong, dearie?"

"Not at all." I breathed. His hands feel so good and warm…oh goodness…is it hot in here or what?

He kissed my temple. "Do ye have any idea what ye do to me, darling?" He breathed.

"I do have an idea." I replied, shifting in his lap.

"Oh." He grunted. "Point taken."

I chuckled and went to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head, so his lips met mine and I immediately deepened the kiss until Barbossa's monkey jumped on Jack's head, knocking his hat to the floor. Jack pulled away and grimaced. "Damned monkey…" He muttered as he leaned over my legs to get the hat, but I found myself falling onto the floor with Jack on top of me, possibly on purpose.

"Dammit Jack! If you wanted me on my back on the floor why didn't you do this in your cabin?" I growled good-naturedly.

He grinned. "Well…it didn't seem like such a good idea when we were in there, love. Ye probably would have murdered me again."

"Ah well in that case you had better get up before that does happen to you again."

His eyes widened and he leaped to his feet, pulling me up as well and whipping me up against him for a rough kiss.

Ignoring the pirates who were all watching our antics with amusement, I leaned up to Jack's ear. "Why don't we go back to your cabin and finish what we started before that argument? I don't think I can wait any longer and those kisses are making me so…incredibly…hot."

Jack pulled back slightly and looked at me. "Are ye sure, darling?"

"Absolutely." I replied in a resolute voice.

He grinned, his eyes taking on something darker that made me want to purr. "Well then…Miss Swann and I shall retire to my cabin." Jack exclaimed, quickly grabbing our rum bottles and my hand as we walked at a brisk pace back to his cabin. "I guess ye know that after this, ye'll be completely and irrevocably mine, don't ye?" He questioned, glancing at me on our way to the dock.

"I already am." I replied.

As soon as the door was shut and locked, I let him slowly march me backwards towards the bed, our tongues locked in a fiery dance and our hands roaming freely. Soon we were ripping each other's effects off and the shirts once again, but this time I knew I would not put that shirt back on until the next day. There would be no more fights tonight, except for maybe who's going to be on top the second time around. I blushed at that last thought, but it soon went away as we divested ourselves of the rest of our clothes and explored each other's battle-scar riddled and bandaged bodies with hot kisses and soft touches with a few bites in between.

Jack was amazing. His body a magnificent wonderland of scars, slim, toned muscles, and the intoxicating scent of rum and his own natural smell that made me giddy for more. We couldn't seem to get enough of each other and he spent the entire night teaching me the wonders that are the art of lovemaking. Who cares about opportune moments? Every moment is an opportune moment with Captain Jack Sparrow.

☼☼☼☼

My eyes snapped open and a silent yawn escaped my mouth as I examined my immediate surroundings. An arm wrapped around me as I stretched and pulled me up against a warm welcoming masculine body and the night before came rushing back to me. This warm body was Jack's body…and it was naked.I, Elizabeth Swann shagged a pirate last night…three times to be exact…not including what he did with his mouth and hands…I blushed and grinned wickedly, rolling over to face the pirate I love. He was still asleep so I rested my head on him and kissed his shoulder.

This did wake him up however. "Mmm… good morning, love." He murmured, as he placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Good morning indeed, Captain Sparrow." I replied, throwing my leg over his hip suggestively.

He chuckled. "Not at all the blushing Governor's daughter I encountered last night, are ye?"

"No…just Captain Sparrow's pirate lover, Lizzie Swann." I murmured, kissing him hungrily.

He kissed back with the same amount of fervor and then pulled back to look at me. "I didn't hurt ye last night did I? Physically?"

"Hurt me? No. Definitely not. Last night was bloody fantastic aside from the fight. I happen to love my captain's body as much as I do his mind, his eccentricities, and his heart."

He smiled. "I must agree with ye, it was fantastic. Who would've known that a blushing virgin would be the best that a man such as Captain Jack Sparrow would bed?"

I blushed. "Yes, but who would have known that Captain Jack Sparrow would moan his love for a girl so loudly that all of Nassau Port must have heard?"

It was his turn to blush, which made me chuckle. "I don't think I've ever seen you blush, Jack."

"I haven't blushed since I was about fifteen, never from the words of a woman as beautiful as you."

I kissed his hand and smiled.

"A right temptress you are." He murmured, leaning in for a hot kiss and running his hand along my thigh.

"I'm not a temptress when the tempting is mutual." I replied.

He chuckled against my mouth. "Aye. True enough."

We lay there a few minutes longer, kissing and touching. "We really should be getting up. We'll need to set sail soon." Jack murmured, pulling away with a sigh.

I sighed and hugged him close to me. "I know, but I must say I'm very hesitant to let you out of this bed after last night." I murmured.

"As I am reluctant to leave after last night." He grinned. "But if I have my way we'll have many a night together soon enough, darling."

"I hope so." I replied, climbing out of bed with him, grabbing the first article of clothing I saw. "Oops. Your pants." I muttered, tossing them at him.

"Thanks." He grunted, pulling on a shirt.

I pulled my shirt on and stood there in just the shirt, staring around the room until Jack came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. "As good as that looks, ye aren't planning on going out there in just that are ye?" He questioned in an amused voice.

I leaned into him. "No. I just can't find my pants."

He wasn't listening though because he was too fascinated with my curves and his hands on them.

"As much as I love the feel of your hands on me, Jack, I suggest we finish getting dressed."

"Ah right." He muttered as I stepped away and I went to dig under the bed. Hmmm…there they are! I let out a triumphant noise and then crawled backwards until I was out from under the bed and sat on my haunches, holding up my pants, which had somehow ended up under the bed, but when I looked up, Jack was still standing in the same place, his mouth hanging open. I blushed and rolled my eyes when I realized he had had a nice view of my 'lower assets'.

I raised an eyebrow at him, still blushing. "Enjoying the view, love?" I asked, a little irritated.

He snapped back to reality. "Very much so actually."

I sighed. "What am I to do with you, Jack?"

"Oh I can think of a few things." He said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

I rolled my eyes and stepped into my pants and he finally went back to getting dressed, adding his coat and hat this time as well as his boots.

"After you, m'lady." He murmured as we headed on deck.

I glanced around while Jack shut the door to his cabin to find that most of the crew were already on board milling around and waiting for their captain to awaken.

"Mornin' gents and ladies! Beautiful mornin' it is eh? We'll be setting sail as soon as possible today so be prepared!" Jack yelled in the most cheerful voice the crew had ever heard.

As I watched him give orders to his crew, I couldn't help but smile at the handsome man. He was considerably happier than he had been in a while, something lighter in his step that hadn't been there before He grinned at me flashing his teeth. "Shall we go wake, Will and Meredith, darling?" He questioned, absentmindedly stroking his fingers across my face.

"Sounds like a most interesting plan of action, Captain." I murmured, grinning.

"Aye." He agreed, gesturing to the plank leading to the dock. Once we were on said dock, I placed my arm in his as he offered it, and we sauntered over to The Black Curse, where we found everyone else standing on deck waiting for us.

They all looked up and said their hellos as we approached and let go of each other's arms. I stayed close to Jack's side and he wrapped his arm around my waist so I rested my head against his shoulder with a smile.

Barbossa took one look at my face and laughed heartily. "Ye finally boffed her, eh Jack?"

"Hector!" Rosalyn hissed, smacking him in the chest.

I blushed and the others just chuckled, including Will, who only cringed a little bit.

"As a matter of fact, I did. Thrice I believe."

"Jack!" I hissed.

"Elizabeth!" He mocked. "Oh don't give me that rubbish. It was your idea to shag last night, Lizzie darling."

"I suggest we get going, Captain Sparrow." Meredith said, amused.

"Aye." He said, frowning at the look I was giving him.

Another A/N: I promise to have the other relationships spoken of in future chapters, but I wanted to focus on the main couple for this particular chapter. Thanks for reading! PLEASE REVIEW!