Things Fall Apart

07 port royal

Disclaimer: See previous chapter.

Author's Note: I hate to switch scenes suddenly, but the fact is, I think that I would butcher a sex scene terribly. I have ideas for one in my head ( not like that, pervs ;x ) but like, what I would write and stuff, but I am sure that I would .. butcher it terribly. I wouldn't want it to come out reading like every other smut fic in the world, and I don't know what's entirely .. tasteful .. to write. And, when do you cross the line between PG13 and R? For now, until I get brave, we'll just skip scenes.

Luby-conner-lizzie: A new reviewer! Yay. Hope you keep reading. :D

Dha-gal: Another great parody! Lol. Keep em comin'.

Qalace: Thank you so much for that awesome compliment! There are times though in the movie where you get the idea that Jack has depth, the 'freedom' rant to Elizabeth, and just look he has on his face in the end when he gets the Pearl back, coupled with the deleted scenes, its just obvious. Hopefully they will do more with him in the second one, god knows Johnny is more than capable of pulling it off. Or anything else for that matter.

****************************************************************************************************

As had been decided during the raid on the Evanescent, the Pearl was headed for Port Royal, for Elizabeth's sake. First though, they put Charles Vane ashore in Tortuga, as was his request. What he planned to do once he was there was unclear.

Elizabeth had been determined to make herself presentable for her sick father. It wasn't that she was ashamed of the road she had taken, but she didn't want to upset him anymore than possible in his condition. She had taken the braids out of her hair and frantically rummaged through clothes that the crew had 'borrowed' from other ships for a suitable dress.

The feeling of a corset crushing her was not something she missed, and so as Anarmaria helped lace her up, she struggled to keep breathing. The pirate woman couldn't help but laugh at the entire thing.

"Never did understand why women do this to themselves." She said as if corsetry was the most absurd idea anyone ever had.

"It's a status symbol." Elizabeth replied simply.

"Ah," Anamaria nodded, "must be why I never had the pleasure."

The dress she had chosen was similar to the ones she had always been made to wear while living in Port Royal. This one in particular was gold, and made of satin, with lace trim here and there. Once every hair was in its place, piled atop her head perfectly, she admired her reflection.

"How do I look?" She cast a worried glance over her shoulder at Anamaria, who began to answer, but was interrupted by another figure who had been darkening the doorway for the past couple of minutes.

"S'pretty as the day I met you." Jack reguarded her, eyes lingering in certain places a bit too long, then suddenly looked worried," Though that looks as heavy as the day I met you, as well. Not planning on fallin' into the sea, are we, luv?"

She looked down at herself and then back up at him, as if saying that he was mad to think she'd ruin such a nice dress by getting it wet, he raised his hands in surrender and shrugged, dark eyes returning to the more defined areas of her anatomy.

After a moment Anamaria addressed the Captain.

"`ow much longer, Cap'n?"

He didn't hear for a moment, eyes still fixed on Elizabeth, but then suddenly noticed the other woman.

"Oh," He stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I'd say an hour, at least."

After another moment of not being noticed by anyone at all Anamaria shrugged and left the room. After noticing that they were alone Elizabeth smoothed some wrinkles on her dress and took a step closer to Jack.

"I haven't told you how much this means to me," She said, "taking me to Port Royal and all."

It did mean a lot to her. It was a risk, and pirates didn't take risks unless their was profit in it for them. But Jack did this because of his feelings for her, and that both worried and comforted her. Worried because of all the things that could go horribly wrong, and comforted to know that he loved her enough to take the chance. Jack was about to say that she should think nothing of it, and that he'd do anything for her, but instead grinned devilishly and closed the gap between them.

"How's about showin' me then?"

He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her head suddenly and his lips met her cheek. Frustrated, he cocked his head to the side gave her a confused look. She faced him again, unsure of why she had really denied him. Maybe it was just nerves, she told herself, her mind was racing with ways to sneak into her own house. Then there was Will. Did she love Jack? More than she ever thought possible. Would Will have a place in her heart til the day she died? You betcha. Though he had given her his blessing to go out and seek her freedom in whatever way she saw fit, she couldn't help but feel wicked at times. Thinking of how lonely he must be, trapped inside a world that she had managed to escape, when he was made for so much more. Sometimes she wondered if he had found someone, but doubted it. Knowing just how devoted he was to her made matters worse. She tried not to let her mind drift to him too often. But the childhood friend turned first love somehow managed to find a place in her thoughts.

Jack thought about the blacksmith, too. Will had become a very good friend during their first adventure. He had saved Jack's life when no one else seemed willing. Also, in a way, he felt as if it was not just Will he was indebted to. Bootstrap Bill Turner had been the lone loyal member of Jack's first mutinous crew, and it had cost him his life. Sparrow felt it was only right to repay the deed by watching out for his son. He had failed in that way, but what he got in return was more than enough to keep him from feeling that bad. The truth was, Jack was fond of the boy, and he hated hurting good people.

Make no mistake, our happy couple is very happy indeed. But, there were times when it felt like the three musketeers -- minus one. There were times when they both felt the minus one. Though, no matter which man Elizabeth was with, how could the three of them co-exist without any hard feelings?

Needless to say, the prospect of running into Turner again had both parties a bit on edge, though neither was going to admit it.

Searching his eyes for a moment, lost in her thoughts, Elizabeth gave in and initiated the kiss Jack had been aiming for. As soon as their lips met Jack began to walk, guiding her to do the same, until she was pinned against the wall. Placing a hand on the wall on either side of her, Jack broke the kiss and shot her a lopsided grin, moving the sensitive area of her neck. She let him go about his business for a moment, but then suddenly realized how much time she had just spent getting prepared to see her father.

"Jack?" She whispered, tapping him lightly on the shoulder in such a simple way that one might think she was going to ask for the time.

He stopped, but didn't move from her neck, she felt him sigh. But, by the time he was looking her in the face again he was smiling. Forced smiling, but smiling none the less.

"Yes, dearest?"

"I don't want to wrinkle my dress." She said, as if her objection should have been obvious.

Jack took a step back and examined her, sizing up his enemy, the dress, fingers ever-dancing. After a moment he nodded.

"Right then," A leather bound hand traveled up the curve of her waist, "I think we can work around it."

What the two did with the spare hour is anyone's guess, but it is clear that by the time the Pearl dropped anchor in an out of the way cove, both Jack and Elizabeth were on deck, the latter hurriedly attempting to push her now mussed hair back into place. What no one aboard the pirate ship noticed, however, were the two men watching them.

Lowering a spyglass Murtogg turned to his faithful companion.

"It's time to alert the Commodore, then."

"I suppose it is." Said Mullroy.

Both men sat in silence for a few seconds, as if waiting for the other to go and get Norrington. When neither moved Mullroy spoke again.

"Shall we go together?"

"No. What if somethin' happens to Miss Swann while we're gone?" Murtogg replied.

"Oh, right." The other man nodded, "You mean cos the Commodore said that Sparrow came and kidnapped her and has been takin' advantage for near a year?"

"Yes, stupid git." Raising the spyglass to his eye again, "Though, you know, she doesn't look like she's in any distress does she?"

Jerking the spyglass away from his friend, Mullroy's gaze fell of Elizabeth, and he shrugged.

"But that's what Norrington said." Thinking it over for a moment he formed what he believed to be a brilliant question, "Do you think he wasn't tellin' the truth?"

After dismissing the thought that their fearless leader was anything less than one hundred percent truthful one hundred percent of the time, the two redcoats abandoned their post and set out for the Commodore's office. The naval officer was no fool, he knew that Port Royal was full of coves and sounds that one could easily hide a ship in, and he knew that Jack would probably do just that. So, he had sent pairs of men out to survey each one, giving them orders to report back to him at once when the Black Pearl made her appearance.

Jack and Elizabeth were the only two to go ashore. Reason being, they didn't expect to remain in port for a long period of time, and need the ship to be ready to make their escape on a moments notice. The pirate and the lady decided that the town had not changed a bit, though there did seem to be more of a military presence. Luckily both had brought disguises. Or, well, shrouds the shield their identity with. Which, while it still made them look wicked conspicuous, didn't betray them as being anyone other than two common townsfolk.

Elizabeth found her way back to the Governor's mansion as if she'd never left. Because of the hour she imagined that all the servants would be about their normal business, and too busy to notice her if she slipped in through the back entrance. She wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt and turned a nervous smile in Jack's direction just as she was about to enter her old house. He returned a smile, though his was meant to be reassuring.

"S'okay, luv, moment of truth. I'll be waitin' when you get done."

He ducked back into his hiding place, near some shrubs, and she disappeared through the door. The minute Elizabeth was gone Jack felt two things in quick succession: a hand covering his mouth, and the sharp end of a bayonet in his beck. The knowledge that one wrong move could have an ill effect kept him from fighting back as he was pulled out of view.