Tara's eyes flickered open. She winced at the bright sunlight, and gave a low moan. She could hear the sound of rushing water, and feel Jack's arm across her stomach, warm against her bare skin...

Wait a second. Bare skin?

She raised her head, and gasped as she saw that she and Jack were lying naked together beside the waterfall. He was still asleep, his face emitting an innocence, one which she could almost believe, if they hadn't been lying like this. Her eyes couldn't help but sweep down his body...

"Oh, God," she whispered, turning her head away.

She scrabbled away from under his arm, over to the pile of clothes, blankets and empty rum bottles lying a few feet away.

"Tar'?"

She gasped, grabbed a rough, brown blanket from the pile, wrapped it around herself, and spun around to see Jack grinning, his eyes closed. He rolled over onto his back, and she gasped.

"For God's sake, Jack!" she cried.

He opened his eyes. "What?"

He saw Tara clearly, and his grin widened.

"Will you cover yourself up?" she hissed.

He lowered his eyebrows. "Wha's wrong?"

"You... me... what did we do last night?"

"Don't yer remember?" he asked.

She sighed and shook her head. "No. Did we...?"

His grin faded slightly. "We did, aye."

He stared as she gave a low scream and ran her hand back through her hair.

"Wha's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh my God, my father will go nuts."

"He's already nuts, from wha' I've heard."

"What man will marry me now? I'm used goods."

"I'll marry yer."

Her eyes sprang back to him. "Was that a proposal, Jack Sparrow?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow, and aye."

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile twisted the corners of her lips. "That has got to be the least romantic marriage proposal I've ever had."

"Are yer making out yer've had a lot of marriage proposals?"

"I have," she said. "For a lady, anyway. There was that time when I was three, and Peter Miller proposed; he was five, and we made sandcastles together on holiday. Then, when I was fourteen, he proposed again. Then there was Gillette. Then there was the first time you proposed."

"So how is this the least romantic time?" Jack asked.

"You're lying naked on the floor, and I'm also naked yet wrapped in this thing."

He smiled. "So how about it? Marry me?"

"Yes. Yes, I will," she beamed.

He sat up, and gestured to her to come and sit beside him. She complied, and he held her close.

"I love you," she whispered.

He looked into her eyes. Then he lowered his mouth to her own gingerly, their lips bumping awkwardly together in a brief kiss. Then she shook her head slightly, and they kissed again, a long, tender, passionate, deep kiss that left them both breathless and tingling.

"Get dressed," she instructed him, standing up, gathering her clothes, and going to get dressed.

&&&&&&

"Tara?"

Tara looked up at the sound of Jack's voice calling her. It was late morning, and she had been relaxing on the beach they started on whilst he explored.

"I'm here, darling!" she shouted, turning to see him cross to her from the trees, and sit down beside her.

"I'm sorry, Tar'," he sighed, wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, everything'll turn out okay," she said, trying to sound positive. "Someone'll save us."

"I feel so responsible," he sighed.

"Nonsense. You're everything I need." She pecked his cheek affectionately.

He smiled over her head. "Tara, if I ain't mistaken, that's me Pearl on the horizon... with another ship..."