Tara awoke very early the next morning to find Jack lying very close to her, so that his breath tickled her cheek. She tried to sit up but realised that there was something heavy around her waist- Jack's arm. She was very tempted to slide it off, but she felt so safe, so peaceful with his arm around her, that she lay still for a while, watching him sleep.

He awoke with a small, funny spluttering noise, opening his eyes slowly to find Tara staring intently into them. "Tar'?" he asked sleepily.

She was so tempted to confess her true feelings right now, but that nagging doubt about her mother killed her words in her throat. "Morning, Jack."

He groaned, blinked, and shook his head. "Am I dead? B'cause this is how I always imagined heaven."

"Shut up, Jack," she said, unable to hide a small smile. She pushed his arm from her waist and sat up. "How are we going to escape?"

"Well," said Jack thoughtfully, "I was sort of, rather, well..."

"Jack..." Tara scowled.

"...hoping to pass that problem when I reached it," he said quickly.

"What?" she hissed. "Well you'd better bloody start thinking, because- guess what? We have reached it!"

He scratched his beard, yawned and streched, then grinned at her. "Yer worry too much. Don't."

"Why shouldn't I?"

His grin widened. "B'cause I'm Cap'n Jack Sparrow, savvy?"

"Oh, bugger off," she cursed, slapping him around the back of the head.

She stood up and crossed to the desk, resting her palms on it, and closing her eyes. She felt him stand behind her and wrap his arms around her waist. She shook him off. "No, Jack."

He sighed, but did not press the matter. He walked to the door and unlocked it, gesturing to Tara to follow him. She did, and Jack opened the door.

Click.

Tara felt a scream rise in her throat as she stared at the pistol pointed merely an inch from Jack's forehead. Somewhere between her throat and her lips, it died into a small squeak. The person holding the pistol... was Erikson.

"Jack, Jack, Jack," he smiled, "ye didn't really think I only keep one set o' keys, did ye?"

Tara didn't care what Jack thought of her right now; she reached across and gripped his hand with one of her own.

"I suspected yer'd find us, aye," Jack said, earning himself a hurt glance from Tara.

Erikson scoffed. "However, as I now know the truth... yer've free ter leave, Jack."

Jack smirked and pulled Tara closer to him, wrapping one arm protectively around her waist. "I'm not givin' yer Tara."

Erikson laughed. "I didn' expect yer would. Well, I gave yer a chance. Now I'll maroon the pair o' ye."

"Maroon?" repeated Tara hollowly.

Jack pulled her close, holding her tightly. She rested her head on his warm shoulder, closing her eyes, feeling a little bit safer in his arms.

A/N: HELP!!! I've reached a bit of a block here. I can reveal that when I maroon Jack and Tara on the island they will be saved by her old friend Ben Rogers and his ready crew. But what should happen then? Should Tara confess her love to Jack whilst they are marooned? I need your help, please leave me some ideas when you review!