Night had fallen and the stars began to drop from the sky. They shot out and then disappeared, falling prey to the portal of space. He had built up a roaring fire, using some gunpowder from the cache and setting dry palm branches and sticks on fire. It had worked wonderfully. He now lay, basking in the warmth of the dancing flames, leaning back on one elbow and with one knee pointed to the dancing stars. He had always loved the night. It was better for everything: sneaking, hiding, loving, and of course, drinking. Such a beautiful night should not be wasted. He took a swig of the sour rum and lavished in the burn as it coursed down his parched throat.

Elizabeth had returned awhile back, though said not a word as she helped throw branches onto the fire. The same look of mixed despair and hatred flushed her cheeks as she got closer to the fireside. Now, she sat on the opposite side of Jack, absentmindedly kicking her unopened bottle of rum around with her bare feet.

The fire's glow shrank into her brown hair and allowed it to glow from the inside. Despite the day's unfortunate swim, she had still managed to comb it out with her fingers to the point of a somewhat healthy appearance. The flickering tongues danced in her unblinking brown eyes. Red swam within the despair of brown. Her skin was also set aglow by the fire, sending shadows across her face in a most mysterious way. She was beautiful, no doubt. No wonder Will fancied her as much as any golden treasure.

She gave the rum a harder kick as she sighed and it slowly rolled towards Jack.

"Best be careful with that, love, wouldn't want to waste any," he said suddenly. The silence of hours was broken and he took the bottle in his hands gingerly, his many rings clinking against the glass bottle. She scowled at him.

"And endlessly dumping it down your throat until you pass out isn't wasting it," she asked with a more humorous air. Jack smiled and took another swig of his rum, shaking the bottle in his right hand towards her. "Only half full, love. Fancy a go?"

"Funny. I see it as half empty," she said, sadness punctuating her soft tone.

"See, that's where you're wrong, love. Is that why you're so sad," he asked, crinkling his nose and turning his body a bit towards her. "You're scared to drink because it's almost empty?"

"It has nothing to do with drinking, Mr. Sparrow. Though I wouldn't hold you responsible for matters other than the accused."

"Try me," he said, and he forced the surprise out of his face as he realized his own words. He took a long drink as a cover-up for caring.

"Very well," she said, seeing the command as a challenge. "You want to know what's bothering me?"

The tone in her voice made Jack take another long drink. Now, I don't think so, he thought as he eyed her speculatively over the bottle's rim.

"I'm a little concerned about our situation, here. Unlike you I cannot drink rum like a dog does water-"

"How do you know if you're never tried," Jack slurred.

"I'm not a drunken wench if that's what you mean," she bit back.
"Not what I mean at all," he said calmly. "Let's strike a deeeeaal, shall we mate? I stop the drinking if you start it." He bit his lip and almost cursed at himself for such a stupid trade. STUPID RUM, he swore to himself. She was too smart, however, and saw the pain on Jack's face as he wished he had never spoken those words.

"Deal."

"What," he asked in utter shock.

"Deal. Mr. Sparrow, the rum please," she said in her well-groomed sophisticated voice. Her hand reached out to his shaking one.

"Please, I was only joking. Rum's too hard a liquor for the like's of a sophisticated woman, like yourseeeeeeelf."

But it was too late. She had already snatched Jack's bottle from under his nose and grabbed the unopened one, also.

"I think you're plenty drunk already, Mr. Sparrow," she said. He eyed her angrily as she took his bottle and tipped it back. The sweet nectar drifted from the bottle's rim and fell into her soft mouth. She didn't even cringe as she took the long first gulp. His eyes transformed from angry to amazed. Most people, even the strongest of men, squinted in surprise as the liquid burned down their throats and into the pit of their stomachs.

After only a few minutes, Jack having watched unblinkingly, Elizabeth drank from the bottle fast. The alcohol had turned her pale skin red and he could see her hands trembling as she struggled to take another sip. He took the bottle from her quickly.

"Captain, I do believe we had an agreement," she exclaimed in horror, the bit of rum's mild effects now showing slightly over her face and through her wobbly voice.

"I'm keeping my agreement and stopping yours," Jack replied. He rolled the bottle away so that it was out of immediate reach. Elizabeth's hand shot up towards Jack, in attempt to stop the already done action. He turned his head quickly to her and found her eyes boring down into his. She let her hand linger and Jack relished in the shots of fire that burst from her smooth skin, and no doubt, by watching her breathing quicken, she was getting shocks of her own.

"I think it is wise," she conceded, withdrawing her hand slowly. "Rum is such a vile drink. Turns even the most respectable men into scoundrels."

"And women too, me love," he added quickly, pleased to see the red of her cheeks heighten with embarrassment.

TBC