"I'll get Father's razor," Elizabeth said. She left and Jack accidentally walked in.
"AAH!" Victoria squealed, covering herself. Quickly, she marveled at how her personality had dramatically changed since her rescue. She had shame. She had a sense of humor. She had freedom.
"Sorry, apologies, dear me," Jack mumbled, backing out. Trying to shake the image from his head, he bumped into Elizabeth, holding what looked like a knife.
"God, Liz- all I did was just accidentally see 'er naked! Nothin' else!! I swear!" Jack yelped.
Elizabeth looked confused. Then she sighed. "Oh, Jack, just go to bed." She gave him a soft kiss on his forehead which was mainly covered by his bandanna. Then she went off to the bathroom.
"Beddy-byes," Jack muttered. He let himself into a bedroom that was very pale in color, but less of a nightmare of frills that Elizabeth had.
Stripping off his sash, vest, boots, shirt, and even bandanna, he laid out his various weapons on the bed stand. Then he sat on the bed. "Comfy," he purred and stretched out, watching his toes as he wiggled them. Soon he was fast asleep.
Everyone was introduced to their rooms by the maids and butler. They peeked into the snoozing Jack's room and Catherine scooped up his clothes. "I'll just wash these," she said. "He won't mind."
They avoided the bathroom, but Victoria was just getting into her bathrobe, supplied by Elizabeth. Her hair was washed, her skin was glowing.
"Lizzie, I feel beautiful," Victoria said lushly.
"You are, Mother," Elizabeth replied. And they hugged.
Weatherby knocked. "Vicky? Lizzie? Are you decent?"
"Come in, dear," Victoria said.
Weatherby let himself in. "'Allo sweetlings. A light supper is prepared."
"Ooh," Elizabeth said. "I'm famished." She went down the stairs.
"As am I," Victoria agreed, but when she tried to depart, Governor Swann grabbed and looked into her eyes. "Vicky."
"Oh Weatherby," Victoria moaned. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Kiss me."
He took her clean face in his hands and complied. "Oh, Vicky, I've forgotton how you taste."
"There's a way to remember," Victoria said. "Where's your bedroom?"
Downstairs, as they dined on a salad of pears and walnuts, Elizabeth saw her glass of wine rattling. "Is there an earthquake happening? Where's Mama?" she gasped.
Marcella stared stonily into her vibrating goblet. "I'm sure she's fine."
Will, Annamaria, and the maids snickered. Elizabeth, too naive to realize anything, went back to her food.
"Is Jack sleeping?" Will asked Elizabeth after the places were cleared.
"I guess," Elizabeth said.
"Any food left?" chirped Victoria, floating into the dining room.
"Of course, Mother," Elizabeth tweeted. "Allie!" she called to the cook." Can you get something for the lady?" She turned back. "Where's Father?"
"Right here," the governor replied. He took a seat and Mary swooped down on him with a thick, juicy slab of steak. Victoria was served rolls with butter. She dug in happily, not knowing how she was being patronized.
"Was Jack sleeping before you came down here?"
Victoria smirked to herself. "I don't know, actually."
They continued chatting, and soon night fell. It was a hot and stuffy night and Elizabeth couldn't sleep. She pushed back her blankets and padded down the hall to the staircase, and flipped over the banister, very slyly. She slipped out of the mansion.
The moon was full and cast an eerie light on the quiet town. Elizabeth saw the illuminated pale glow of the beach in front of her. She started walking, and then running. But then she tripped and went flying, hitting the sand hard, spraying it everywhere. "Ow," she cried. She checked herself for wounds and found none. She looked up and saw the ocean. It glimmered and beckoned Elizabeth.
"Oh," Elizabeth sighed. She sat down on the sandwich was wonderfully cool. She lay down. The soft salty smell washed over her, as did the sound of the crashing waves.
Then she heard footstep behind her. Far too relaxed to care, she didn't get up.
"Liz?" a gruff voice said.
Elizabeth looked up. "Jack?"
"Couldn' sleep, eh?" He sat down, then positioned himself over her. "Neither could I."
"Jack," Elizabeth said, sitting up. Why, oh, why couldn't her wedding day be now? She reached to kiss him.
About a half hour later, they lay quietly. Elizabeth was watching the stars. Jack was picking his nails. "I love you, Jack," Elizabeth said after awhile.
"I love you too, Elizabeth." Jack paused the picking. "Uh- Lizzie?"
"Yes?"
"Uh, what are we going to do after we marry?"
"Be pirates," said Elizabeth. "Yer pop ain't gonna like that too much, Lizzie." Jack looked over at his bride-to-be. She was still staring at the sky.
"No, he will- he has Mama, now. He doesn't need me."
"Weathy and Vicky," Jack said. "They're back together."
"Well, they never actually were apart in the first place. They never got a divorce. Daddy's Catholic."
Jack burst out laughing.
"What?" Elizabeth said, still very naive.
"You're an only child, eh, Liz?"
"Yes," Elizabeth said.
Jack laughed even more. Elizabeth looked over at him, incredibly confused.
"It's all righ', Lizzie," Jack said, and stroked her hair. "It's good you don't know why that's hilarious."
Elizabeth smiled. "Should we get back?"
"No. Sleep on the beach with me. Get used to it, if yer gonna be a pirate," said Jack sleepily. "Hey, Liz- ma effects were washed when I woke up- clean!"
But Elizabeth was drifting off.