Elsa found herself strolling down the meandering streets of Port Royal again. Danielle had to meet Will in the smithy and she had decided to walk around the beach a little before returning to the ship. As she walked, a big, scruffy black dog bounded up to her.
"Hey there, fella!" she said, patting his head and sitting down in the deserted street. The dog licked her face. "Eesh! No! Dog germs!" she laughed. "Where do you live, huh?"
The dog nudged Elsa with its wet nose and tugged at her sash.
"You wanna play, huh? Well, not with my sash, thank you."
The dog apparently didn't understand "not with my sash" and yanked at it again.
"Hey!" she yelled as the dog, with one last tug, ripped the material from her belt and ran off with it. "Come back here with that!"
As they reached the beach, she sat down on the sand.
"Fine!" she panted. "I don't want it anyway."
She turned away from the dog. Soon enough-as was her plan-the animal inched close enough for Elsa to seize the sash and pull it back and tie it to her waist, tighter this time, so it wouldn't loose.
The dog barked and jumped on her.
"Oh, oh! Pirate down!" she gasped and collapsed to the sand again, laughing.
The dog's wet tongue found her face and licked it again.
"Oh, God, no! Dog slobber!" she laughed and stayed the dog with her hands. "Down Bessie!"
The dog stopped and cocked his head to the side, whining.
"You don't like that name?" she gasped. "It's a good name. Are you sure?"
Bark!
"Okay, okay. It's 'cause you're a guy, isn't it? I thought so. What am I gonna call you then? How about...Blackbeard? Can I call ya Blackbeard? You're a pirate after all; stealin' my sash!"
He barked and licked her-again.
"Ick," she said, wiping her face. "Yay! I like that name, too. Blackbeard the dog. I like it. Aw!" she said, petting him. "You're so cute! I may have to smuggle you onto the Pearl."
Bark! Bark!
"It's like Anastasia! When she finds Pooka! Horrible name, I know. But they become inseparable. How did that song go? The one she sings when she first finds him?"
She hummed a little and began singing:

"Heart don't fail me now
Courage don't desert me
Don't turn back, now that we're here!
People always say 'Life is full of choices',
No one ever mentions fear
Or how the world can seem so vast
On a journey to the past…."
She stood up and found a stick lying on the ground. She tossed it to Blackbeard and continued singing.
"Somewhere down this road I know someone's waiting
Years of dreams just can't be wrong!
Arms will open wide, I'll be safe and wanted
Finally home where I belong
Starting now I'm learning fast
On this journey to the past."
Elsa paced on the beach, Blackbeard following her and attacking sea shells along the way.
"Home, love, family
There was once a time I must have had them, too
Home, love, family
I will never be complete until I find you
One step at a time, one hope then another
Who knows where this road may go?
Back to who I was, on to find my future
Things my heart still needs to know
While singing, she climbed up on a work of rocks over looking the ocean.
Yes! Let this be a sign
Let this road be mine
Let it lead me to my past
And bring me home at last!
She finished her ballad and sighed.
"Good song," she laughed, sitting down on the rock she was standing on and looked out to sea, Blackbeard lying at her side, his head on her leg.
Then someone applauded behind her. She and Blackbeard turned to see a smiling Dominic Andrews sitting a few feet away from her.
"What...? How...? I was just...hi," she stuttered. "Dom?"
Bark!
"I never knew you could sing," he smiled, getting up and climbing over a few rocks to get to her.
"Well, you still don't because I can't," she said simply. "Wait-Did that make sense?" She stepped over a rock, moving away from him. "Do I ever make sense?"
He pursued. "You make perfect sense to me," he said, appearing behind her and taking her in his arms.
The waves broke upon the rocks they were standing on with a crash, and they kissed.
They were interrupted by loud barking and growling.
"Blackbeard!" Elsa said, sitting down next to the dog. "He's our friend."
"You have a dog?" Dom asked, allowing the dog to sniff him.
"Not exactly. I was walking down the road and he found me, took my sash and led me to the beach."
"Well, I like him. He's cute."
Blackbeard licked Dom in saying, 'He's okay by me!"
"I've missed you so much," she said looking at him lovingly.
"I've dreamt about you every night and thought about you each day."
"What brings you to Port Royal?" Elsa asked. "I mean of all the places in the Caribbean..."
"I convinced Da into letting me stay in Tortuga for a while, and I thought of you so much I was driving myself crazy." He sat down beside her and ran a hand through Blackbeard's coat. "I had to at least come here and learn more about you," he explained.
"Learn more about me?" she smiled. "From Danielle?"
"She wasn't at home so I seem to be at a loss."
"What would you like to know about me, Dom?"
"Everything!"
She looked at him thoughtfully.
"Come with me."
She took his hand and they made their way to the Pearl, Blackbeard happily running along before them, then stopping to allow them to catch up.
"Jack is up at the blacksmith's shop, visiting Will. We'll be safe for a while. Even you, Blackbeard." She tossed him some spare scraps from the galley and set out a bowl of water for him.
She led him below decks and into her cabin. For hours, Dom and Elsa shared stories about each other's lives and their own personalities. And, of course! about battle techniques.
"...And that is the only way you can successfully defeat a ship who attacks you traveling on a northward wind!" Elsa concluded, smiling widely, knowing she had won.
"No," Dom whispered. He was thinking of something to say-anything to say, but he couldn't think of anything!
"Thank you! I win!"
"But I never loose in a match of wits. Especially never to a woman!"
"Well, hate to break it to you mate-you just did. Now just admit defeat, Dom."
"But-"
"Oh, men!" she cried, exasperated, turning away from him. "God forbid they're ever wrong! And if proven wrong by a woman? Oh! Not even a possibility. Why-"
"Sparrow, I love you," Dom laughed, taking her into his arms.
"Mrs. Parkington!" Elsa said spontaneously.
"What?"
"Never mind," she said, pulling him towards her.
They continued their 'discussion' until Dom heard footfalls on the stairs. He held his hand over Elsa's mouth-she was just about to say something. There was a knock at the door.
"Elsa?" Jack called.
Elsa's heart leapt. What time was it?
"Yes, Jack?" she answered, moving his hand.
"May I come in, luv?"
"Oh, Jack," she said, thinking fast. "I really wouldn't prefer it. I'm...getting dressed!" She flushed, looking at Dom's smiling face.
"But-" The doorknob turned.
"Open that door and I'll shoot you, savvy?" she commanded.
"Women," she heard Jack mutter.
"Heard that!"
"Oy! You hear everything!" he laughed. "Fine! Meet me up on deck when you're done, then. You have some explaining to do."
"Oh, crap, oh crap," she thought. "Whatever do you mean Jack?" she asked, clearing her throat.
"Tell me why there's a dog trying to attack me on my own ship!" he bellowed.
"Oh!" she laughed. "Sure thing, Jack. Be right there!"
Ascending footsteps up the stairs. Jack was gone!
"Oh, God. I'm screwed! I'm screwed!" she whispered, getting up.
"I'll leave," Dom said sadly.
"No! It's too late for that! The whole crew's on board now."
"I guess I'll just have to spend the night here, then," he said into her ear.
She giggled. "I guess you will." She turned and kissed him. "I'll be right back! I have to lock the door...You understand?" He nodded and she quietly left the room and locked it.
Dom settled back onto her bed and rested his head on one of her many pillows. He had just acquired new knowledge of the woman he loved. He lay on her bed and let it all sink in. Consequently, he fell asleep shortly after his head hit the pillow.
Elsa finally reentered her cabin, Blackbeard padding quietly after her, and locked it-just in case. She turned to find Dom quietly sleeping in her bed.
"On top of the covers, of course. And on my favorite pillow, no doubt," she said quietly to the dog, who promptly barked softly.
She had asked Jack not to disturb her, for she had "acquired a substantial headache while visiting the smithy earlier that morning", explaining how "the Turner's and their whacking of anvils did not agree with her aching head". He agreed happily and practically pushed her downstairs to get some rest.
But how was she supposed to get any rest when this man was asleep in her bed? This man who loved her with all his heart. This man who-she took a breath as she thought to herself-she loved as well. How?
After much debate between herself, she climbed into bed beside Dom, cautious not to wake him. She carefully leaned over and kissed him, before losing herself to her newly discovered exhaustion. Blackbeard curled up at the foot of the bed and went to sleep himself.

The next morning, Danielle, using her spare key to Elsa's room-walked into Elsa's cabin to wake her up and bug her about her "love affair" with Jimmy.
Elsa was still asleep, a lump in her bed. But something was wrong. There were two lumps in the bed! And a gigantic dog at the foot of it!
"Oh. My. God. What. Did. You. Do?!?!" Danielle thought. Then she thought about it. And laughed. She situated herself in the chair next to the bed and waited for the pirate to wake up.
Meanwhile, Blackbeard's ears perked up at the sound of footsteps. He opened his eyes and let out a low growl.
"It's okay, doggy, I'm her friend."
Blackbeard snorted and lay his head on his paws, watching the stranger.
Finally, when Elsa woke up, she felt a strange weight on her waist. She panicked and turned her head slightly. Dom was still lying next to her, fast asleep, an arm securely around her waist.
Then she felt someone watching her. Turning again, she found Danielle sitting in a nearby chair, laughing hysterically to herself.
"Have a fun night, Sparrow?" she said, playfully.
Elsa scowled at her and tried to wake Dom.
"Dom!" she whispered. "Dom!"
Dom's eyes fluttered open and he smiled, seeing Elsa bent over him.
"Good mornin'," he sighed, kissing her.
She pushed him away regretfully and said, "Dom, you have to get out of here! If Jack finds us, I'm dead! You're dead! We're all dead!"
"You worry too much, my darling," he said, kissing her again.
"Dom! Get out!"
"What, without breakfast?" he laughed.
She pushed him out of the bed and he landed with a thump! on the floor. Blackbeard made his way over to him and licked him 'good morning'.
"Mornin' Blackbeard," he mumbled, wiping a sleeve over his cheek. "Fine! I'm not hungry anyway!" he said, moving for the door.
"I'm sorry about this Dom," Elsa apologized. "Secrecy sucks," she thought.
"I understand," he said softly, kissing her one last time. He nodded at Danielle and winked at Blackbeard before disappearing from the room.
She sighed and sat back in bed. "What time is it?"
"I have no clue. I can't read sun dials! Do you think he'll be caught?"
"No. Gibbs always falls asleep at his post and no one's up at this hour. My crew has infinite hangovers; they won't be up until noon," she yawned.
"What did you do last night?" she prodded.
"We just talked, Will! For a long time. A long time," she stressed.
"Do you love him?" Danielle asked.
"I think I may," Elsa sighed. "I hate this. Should I just tell Jack?"
"You could."
"What would he say? Would he kill me?"
"Well, his dad's the dude that killed Jack's dad. That would probably scare him. And when he knows you haven't told him the truth, he could be mad at that."
Elsa whacked herself with a pillow.
"I hate this!" she groaned. "I just want to be with him, Will! Ya know? I just want to be able to kiss him without worrying about everything!"
"Now you know how I feel!" Danielle pointed out. "I'm in love with a Commodore's son and you're in love with a rogue pirate's son."
"No, no, not rogue pirate's son. Don't like it. How about...Murdering pirate's son? It just works better."
"Agreed."
"So...who's the dog?" Danielle asked as Blackbeard curled up by the bed again.
"His name is Blackbeard! I found him in Port Royal. You have stray dogs in this city, Will."
"Cool! Are you gonna keep him?" she asked.
"Jack said it was okay with him. Right, puppy?" she asked, looking down at him.
Bark!