A/N: Wow…. How long has it been since I've UPDATED? If I ever had any reviewers, I think you're all gone now, but just in case you aren't, here's the next chappie! Really hope it's enjoyable and makes up for the long wait!

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                Elizabeth kept her cloak wrapped tightly about herself as she made her steady way to the blacksmith shop that her husband now owned. Five months ago, the old Master had passed away from drink, and his apprentice, Will, had inherited it. Very convenient for the, now.

Taking a wary glance around, making sure that no one was near, she rapped hard on the door.

"Who is it?" a voice from inside called.

"It's Elizabeth. Will, let me in!" She could hear the wooden bar being lifted from the door right before it swung open. She quickly walked in, Will shutting the door behind her, and made her way down the ramp to the floor. To her right was Jack, reclining back in a chair, but in such a way that his shoulder was not strained. He nodded at her. "How nice to see you again, darling." He did not appear at all happy.

Elizabeth turned to her husband, who had just hopped down to the ground, completely bypassing the ramp, gave him a quick kiss, and turned right back to jack, unfastening her cloak. "Has your wound been looked at, Jack? Bandages changed?" That woman wasted no time.

"You don't have to do that quite so much, lass." Really, she didn't. He'd had injuries of the same severity before, ones even worse.

"Would you rather it never heal?" she demanded.

"It's fine, luv!" he exclaimed, and stood, moving his left arm around in example. Nevertheless, he could not hide a small cringe of pain.

"Fine, is it?"

"We'll check on his wound after we discuss the plan," Will interrupted, breaking the two of them up.

"And what is this grand plan, Will?" Jack asked, sitting back down with a flourish.

Elizabeth let out a deep breath, her cloak hanging over one arm, and moved towards the pirate along with Will. "Well, I've informed them all that Will and I have decided to go on a holiday, in the country, that we left tonight. My maid is to… to take care of the baby, until my father returns. He will find a temporary nurse for her, though he will be furious that we left on such short notice and without telling him exactly where. All that is left is…"

"To commandeer one of those wonderful ships in the harbor," Jack finished, his old cocky attitude coming back in full force. Had it ever really left, though?

"Security has improved since you were last here, Jack," Will informed.

"Not by much," Jack countered, remembering just how easily he'd been able to sneak in… wounded and all.

"We could probably steal one right now," Elizabeth said, "But why not just rent one-"

"Because, darling," Jack interrupted, "if you've already left to the country, how do you expect to rent a vessel, and we do not steal. We commandeer."

"But we do not have to steal anything! We could simply-"

"Simple what, luv?" he asked calmly, taking a sip from the bottle of rum in his hand, but was forced to tilt the bottle all the way back only to receive a few drops. He was out. Frowning, he put it down on the floor, flinching as the act of this caused his shoulder to burn.

"The Defender!" Will suddenly let out. Both looked at him, Elizabeth more in dismay.

"The Defender… Will, that's suicide! It's the newest of the fleet, fastest and strongest! It's too heavily guarded."

Grinning, Jack leaned forward, doing it very carefully. "Then perhaps we should plan this very carefully, eh? After all, the King's men aren't always the best of guards in the dead of night, 'specially when there are other matters at hand, savvy?"

"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth asked, her tone instinctively lowered.

"Here we go," Will muttered to himself, but even he was paying close attention. Whatever the pirate was planning, it was most likely something of some brilliance, though neither he nor his wife would ever admit it.